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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 8:02:19 GMT
The theatre has air conditioning ducts, don't know why they don't hang some fans from the lighting area. Oh Caiaphas thought tonight was cancelled and you were left without a show to see, so glad it was redeemable. Have to say you seem to love anything biblical? Phantom, you misunderstood: my tickets for Sat 3 Sept have been cancelled. Both the matinee and evening performances that day are off sale. I have rebooked for another date. (My show last night was the Olympics! I shout at the TV a lot and whoop at the end. In the theatre I never shout. But I often whoop. At the end!  ) |
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Post by mikey on Aug 14, 2016 8:23:41 GMT
Glad other people enjoyed it! My matinee yesterday was pretty full, and I don't think many there were cast's friends or family with freebies. But hoping it sells well, because it was a terrific production. Still humming the songs this morning.
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571 posts
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Post by westendwendy on Aug 14, 2016 12:46:44 GMT
I was told that Mark Shenton from the Stage Newspaper is buying air conditioning for the New Union!
Hoorah. Looking forward to seeing this show in two weeks. I do love Christian Durhrams shows.
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Post by mrsdanvers on Aug 22, 2016 8:08:41 GMT
Saw it on Saturday and enjoyed it a lot, great singing. Loved the new venue, but heat in the theatre a bit of a problem, needs urgent attention.
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571 posts
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Post by westendwendy on Aug 24, 2016 7:26:31 GMT
I saw this last night. Everyone has to see this just for Natasha O'Brien - her performance was one of the best off west end I have ever seen. She's Canadian and only been in the UK since January as her husband moved here for a job. Superb.
The show does have many flaws but the music is delightful and you can really feel the pre Wicked melodies and similarities. Anyone who is a Wicked fan must see this. It's a sweet show with messages about life, parenthood, choices and destiny.
Some wonderful ensemble members and a few other parts were miss cast (I felt too young) and you could tell they were new graduates. But overall the new space is wonderful (yes too hot) and I will now book for every new show at the new Union Theatre!!
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Post by mattw on Aug 28, 2016 22:45:51 GMT
Saw the show this afternoon and enjoyed it a lot - agree that Natasha O'Brien is fabulous. It was very warm in there, but had an excellent time
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 6:53:53 GMT
Not for me at all this one, I'm afraid... Hopelessly mis-cast cast, who were mostly too young and inexperienced. Some just not very good. Some uninspired musical direction, with some of the laziest playing I've paid to hear. Set looking riduculous really, with screwed up paper wound around the girders. Props... shockingly poor. Overall this was like a school production at best. (Audience mainly friends, family and this new breed of "followers" I've only recently heard about on here, I would guess. Very few going along for the actual show, I'd imagine.)
Such a pity, as I'd gone along with such fond memories of the Prince Edward production all those years ago.
My faux pas of the evening was that I wore shirt and jeans. Overdressed in both senses, as everyone else rolled up in T shirt, shorts and flip-flops, presumably because of the heat problems. There's heat and there's the Union Theatre heat. The second is just unbearable.
And the whole place looks like it could do with a tidy up. Shabby, shabby, shabby.
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Sept 2, 2016 7:42:56 GMT
Saw this a week ago on Sunday and named this show among the highlights of my trip. Music, voices, acting, direction, costumes and props - it all worked perfectly for me and I left stunned. Reminded me of Dessa Rose at some point
Loved the cast, they worked so well for me that their age didn't seem inappropriate at all!
Natasha OBrien is a star, she is truly brilliant and so beautiful.
Met the director during the interval, and
*bragging starts*
as him and I worked for a same show 4 years ago in Russia (he directed The Little Mermaid in Moscow) and we had a nice chat about the topless actors, Adam in particular. I told him about my "topless guy in a show adds and extra star to my review" idea I've been selling to my director friend back home, and he was like "Wait, we didn't have any in the Mermaid! It's a family show!" - "but it was good anyway!"
*bragging stops*
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Post by andrew on Sept 2, 2016 18:06:16 GMT
I was there last night and would probably come in between caiaphas and stasia's reviews. I did notice the disappointing set although the props were well used, if a bit "cheap Lion King". The acting talent was great and very attractive, didn't notice any issues with the orchestra. The heat was at the very limit of what I could sit through, they can't bring in air con quick enough. I'd never seen this before so I enjoyed a lot of the first act, the second act seemed less interesting. The lack of those massive pecs probably played a role as well as the story and music. I see how the school production comparison applies here, but I enjoyed myself nonetheless.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Sept 2, 2016 21:22:27 GMT
It's a shame people are reporting it's still ridiculously hot in there. The day I went was a very warm day, so I was expecting it to be hot - but it hasn't even been that warm the last few days. I was considering going back to see the show again, seeing how I feel about it without the weight of years of expectations on it, but less sure now.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 22:14:21 GMT
I was there last night and would probably come in between caiaphas and stasia's reviews. I did notice the disappointing set although the props were well used, if a bit "cheap Lion King". The acting talent was great and very attractive, didn't notice any issues with the orchestra. The heat was at the very limit of what I could sit through, they can't bring in air con quick enough. I'd never seen this before so I enjoyed a lot of the first act, the second act seemed less interesting. The lack of those massive pecs probably played a role as well as the story and music. I see how the school production comparison applies here, but I enjoyed myself nonetheless. I thought it was you, andrew! (Were you with two other guys, sitting in the second row?) I was in the first row! I almost plucked up the courage to ask if you were our andrew from the Theatreboard! Re: pecs. Yes... very appealing, but the second the shirt went on, it was like, "Oh, couldn't you just take that shirt...." Reminded me of that song in A Chorus Line. Dance Ten, Looks Three. Here it was Pecs Ten, Acting Two. Ouch! |
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Post by andrew on Sept 2, 2016 22:16:03 GMT
Noooooooo! A missed opportunity! It was me yes. A little lads night out. Apart from the guy right in front of me I don't think I remember any front row people specifically. If only I'd had the badge at that point...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 22:22:58 GMT
Noooooooo! A missed opportunity! It was me yes. A little lads night out. Apart from the guy right in front of me I don't think I remember any front row people specifically. If only I'd had the badge at that point... Gorgeous guy right in front of you (with girlfriend) I was not...! I was next to his girlfriend with my partner. I asked if I should move my seat forward for you all just before Act II! Wish I had said Hello. I could have asked you about your swans! xx |
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Post by max on Sept 3, 2016 9:25:26 GMT
At the risk of taking this off topic: what's the 'followers' thing?. Is it fanboy/girling and Twitter adoring of Fringe/Emerging Talent? And, why is the Union looking shabbyX3 I thought it was all sleek shiny and new. Want to see this, but hate to swelter (personally, and I'm always distracted by how vile it must be for a cast - particularly on a two show day in, presumably, the same Costume!) Not for me at all this one, I'm afraid... Hopelessly mis-cast cast, who were mostly too young and inexperienced. Some just not very good. Some uninspired musical direction, with some of the laziest playing I've paid to hear. Set looking riduculous really, with screwed up paper wound around the girders. Props... shockingly poor. Overall this was like a school production at best. (Audience mainly friends, family and this new breed of "followers" I've only recently heard about on here, I would guess. Very few going along for the actual show, I'd imagine.) Such a pity, as I'd gone along with such fond memories of the Prince Edward production all those years ago. My faux pas of the evening was that I wore shirt and jeans. Overdressed in both senses, as everyone else rolled up in T shirt, shorts and flip-flops, presumably because of the heat problems. There's heat and there's the Union Theatre heat. The second is just unbearable. And the whole place looks like it could do with a tidy up. Shabby, shabby, shabby. |
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Post by Stasia on Sept 3, 2016 14:01:42 GMT
Following someone on twitter basically means subscribing to his posts. It is not fangirling not anything - I follow my school friends, ex colleagues and sending a tweet works just as sending message in a group chat. It is a common thing now for the performers to use twitter as their official channel to notify those who interested about their new shows and days off and everything. They usially leave facebook as more private network and use twitter as more public channel. Of course things may vary  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 16:14:30 GMT
At the risk of taking this off topic: what's the 'followers' thing?. Is it fanboy/girling and Twitter adoring of Fringe/Emerging Talent? And, why is the Union looking shabbyX3 I thought it was all sleek shiny and new. Want to see this, but hate to swelter (personally, and I'm always distracted by how vile it must be for a cast - particularly on a two show day in, presumably, the same Costume!) Not for me at all this one, I'm afraid... Hopelessly mis-cast cast, who were mostly too young and inexperienced. Some just not very good. Some uninspired musical direction, with some of the laziest playing I've paid to hear. Set looking riduculous really, with screwed up paper wound around the girders. Props... shockingly poor. Overall this was like a school production at best. (Audience mainly friends, family and this new breed of "followers" I've only recently heard about on here, I would guess. Very few going along for the actual show, I'd imagine.) Such a pity, as I'd gone along with such fond memories of the Prince Edward production all those years ago. My faux pas of the evening was that I wore shirt and jeans. Overdressed in both senses, as everyone else rolled up in T shirt, shorts and flip-flops, presumably because of the heat problems. There's heat and there's the Union Theatre heat. The second is just unbearable. And the whole place looks like it could do with a tidy up. Shabby, shabby, shabby. Yes, the 'followers' thing is more or less as you say. It's elaborated on in the Understudy thread. Supporting particular actors who have been chorus/understudies in big shows, who subsequently do not get many in the audience for some of the smaller scale shows they go into... A concept I didn't know existed until now, although I had wondered what all the fascination about first cover, second cover etc had been about. Three shabbies, yes: 1) the outside yard is a disgrace. No idea why anyone except those attending a show would want to enter, but they do. (Another type I hate: braying males, all shouting over eachother to be heard, all entering the Loudest Laugh Contest. Drinking after work. No care for anyone else around them... They did not attend the show. But they were still there at the interval.) Yard has a few dirty trestle tables, some other tables from a charity shop, not enough chairs, and very little else going for it. 2) the bar area/ box office needs a proper sort out. At the moment, one unattractive bar, an open "kitchen" area, an old piano, posters stuck up like we used to in our bedrooms when we were 13. 3) the theatre itself contains some individual cushioned seats with no cushioning, a few black curtains strewn in various places, an almost non-existent set, some school platforms, and a space as big as an under stairs WC for four members of the band to accommodate. No wonder the flautist looked pissed off. All in all I didn't feel it gave off a very professional air, and I certainly felt ripped off paying £25 per ticket to go somewhere like this for the show I saw... There's "trendy" and then there's scruffy. This is the latter. Just not my cup of tea at all, and I'm not particularly looking forward to Moby Dick at this venue now. If you want to see it, I wouldn't let the heat, or anything else I've said, put you off. My personal opinions only... And this piece is rarely performed. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2016 10:53:50 GMT
First time I've seen this though I knew the music, and I really liked it; you could easily pick all sorts of holes in it (not least the very dodgy theology!) and it's incredibly, unsubtly emotionally manipulative. I resisted for the first couple of mins but then I switched my brain off and just went with it, and it was great. Definitely mixed ability casting and the set/direction was certainly amateurish. But still - it was just great! One of those 'don't think too much and just enjoy' experiences.
I quite liked the new Union as well - the bar is fine, bigger than the old one, and the outside space is ok. And the toilets are a massive improvement! It's never going to be amazing but it was a much nicer place to spend the interval than before (the bar not the toilet. Though also the toilet).
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Post by CBP1 on Sept 4, 2016 14:47:12 GMT
Here today. They seem to have invested in fans! The cast look pretty warm but it's comfortable for those of us sitting watching.
Definitely an improvement on the old union.
Will post full thoughts later but I can definitely hear Wicked in this.
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Post by schuttep on Sept 5, 2016 9:31:37 GMT
I remember the Prince Edward original version so was back yesterday afternoon to see it at the Union.
It was a colder day than recently but the theatre was still hot. No fans at the matinee that I could see.
Also the positioning of the band between the audience and the stage meant (a) intrusive lights on scores was distracting, and (b) it was often difficult to hear the lyrics when everyone was singing as the band overwhelmed them.
The staging was a cheap copy of other "animal" shows, but I rather liked the earth-coloured hippie costumes.
They must have cleaned up the yard as I couldn't see anything wrong with it and both the yard space and bar space were large and welcoming. The auditorium was no larger than before but with no awkward pillars means better sightlines.
My partner didn't stay for the second act due to the heat and inability to follow the story. I did stay as two of my favourite songs feature then. Overall, I'm glad I saw it, flawed though it was.
But unless they get aircon soon I shall have to think seriously about attending shows there in the summer.
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Post by CBP1 on Sept 5, 2016 9:35:07 GMT
I spoke too soon! It got much warmer in the second Act. Luckily the show improved in that Act too. I thought the first Act dragged but I quite enjoyed the second. I think it's worth seeing. It's not a classic but it was an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I agree with a lot of the previous comments. It's a bit of a mixed bag in terms of casting, but there are some really good performers too and the show has some lovely moments. Particularly when they're singing acapella. In general I thought the keyboard sounded too harsh against the singers. Only a couple of people could really cope with singing over it. I do think the union should consider using microphones for some shows. Perhaps most importantly, the bar at the Union is much improved - I was informed that prosecco on tap is on its way! |
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