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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 11, 2017 20:59:53 GMT
It is becoming common for ATG theatres to search for people bringing in their own alcohol. They will say it is for H&S reasons - not allowing glass into the auditorium - but in reality it is an attempt to force people to buy the over-priced stuff from the bars.
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Post by daniel on Mar 11, 2017 21:34:56 GMT
Many theatres, West End and regional do bag searches, and this became much more common after the Paris attacks.
Obviously they're seeking weapons and any dangerous items, but also hot food and alcohol. Believe it or not, theatres don't stop you taking your own booze in to increase their own sales, they do it because that is what's stipulated by its license. In the same way that you can rarely take your own alcohol into a pub or restaurant, it's no different.
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Post by orchestrator on Mar 12, 2017 0:26:22 GMT
Many theatres, West End and regional do bag searches, and this became much more common after the Paris attacks. Obviously they're seeking weapons and any dangerous items, but also hot food and alcohol. Believe it or not, theatres don't stop you taking your own booze in to increase their own sales, they do it because that is what's stipulated by its license. In the same way that you can rarely take your own alcohol into a pub or restaurant, it's no different. Many restaurants allow you to bring your own wine to drink with the meal and they will normally charge “corkage”—this also happens in the boxes at the Royal Albert Hall. I’d be surprised if the licences for theatres forbid audiences drinking their own alcohol although I’m happy to be proved wrong. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2017 1:23:08 GMT
Surprise! Surprise!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 12, 2017 8:54:37 GMT
WHY WERE WE SEARCHED? People attending the matinee in Edinburgh on March 9th had their bags searched. The searcher said something about looking for high-grade chocolate but I take it that that was a joke meant to make the situation easier (or was the Playhouse trying to stop people bringing in their own chocolate instead of buying it there?). I was too taken aback to ask what it was all about. Does anyone else know? If they find a bag of Malteasers do they confiscate them? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 12, 2017 8:55:22 GMT
Damn. I want some Malteasers now  |
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Post by duncan on Mar 12, 2017 9:30:42 GMT
WHY WERE WE SEARCHED? People attending the matinee in Edinburgh on March 9th had their bags searched. The searcher said something about looking for high-grade chocolate but I take it that that was a joke meant to make the situation easier (or was the Playhouse trying to stop people bringing in their own chocolate instead of buying it there?). I was too taken aback to ask what it was all about. Does anyone else know? The Playhouse have been searching bags at all performances for a while. Its all bags. I only ever take water with me and they were fine with that, its clearly to stop people taking in their own booze so they can sell you their own over priced stuff. ITS NOT A PROBLEM! |
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Post by zsazsa on Mar 12, 2017 10:45:49 GMT
So I attended both performances at the Edinburgh Playhouse yesterday and, for all they are worth, here are my thoughts.
La Cage Aux Folles, you may guess by my username, is my favourite show. I saw the west end revival many times, seeing all the Albins, and have been luck to play Jacob in an amateur production, using the original west end costumes. With the Menier production firmly etched on my mind it was difficult not to make comparisons.
First of all the design, set and costumes, for this tour is beautiful. One of the best touring sets I have seen for a while and hard to believe it is a Bill Kenwright production. I particularly loved the detail of the birdcage in the centre of of the false proscenium arch.
Les cagelles are excellent. I did miss though the individual character traits that the Menier Cagelles brought out, I used to particularly love the grumpy cagelle.
I warmed to John Partridge's Albin/Zsa Zsa. He is feisty and statuesque but can also bring out Albin's vulnerability. His drag persona is nearer that seen on the likes of Ru Paul's Drag Race whereas the Menier Zsa Zsas were closer to the female impersonation of the likes of Danny La Rue. I would not be surprised if we see John Partisge as the M.C. in the forthcoming tour of Cabaret and also would love to see him play Frank N' Furter one day.
Adrian Zmed serves well as Georges and sings well bringing great poignancy to Song On The Sand and Look Over There. Dougie Carter as Jean Michel also as a beautiful voice and is reminiscent of a young Michael Xavier.
How lovely it was to see Marti Webb back on stage. She certainly made the most of her small cameo role. It brought back memories of her portrayal of Anna in The King & I.
I very much enjoyed this tour and hope ticket sales pick up. I will certainly be making a few more visits during the Glasgow run.
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Post by westendcub on Mar 15, 2017 23:08:29 GMT
Well that was an absolute delight this evening, only ever seen the Hollywood film remake (The Birdcage), never the musical..of course I knew 'I Am What I Am' but somehow 'Best of Times' passed me by (a real highlight moment).
Great to see a high production set and costumes.
I rather enjoyed the Marti Webb 'cutting in' to sing moments but this John's show and boy did he impress. He relished the role and I rather loved the Blackpool accent..this great northern queen famous on the Riverina!! There was a brilliant moment when he made a big joke about ensuring we all knew what show we were in for all and it wasn't 'Sunny Afternoon' the signage outside the theatre & in town was 'Sunny Afternoon' overkill so was a great joke!
So glad I've seen this one, must make sure I see 'The Wedding Singer' in the summer!!
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Post by dazzerlump on Mar 15, 2017 23:17:14 GMT
Seeing it next week in Leeds, and with a half price stalls offer too.. cant go wrong!
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Post by paulbrownsey on Mar 16, 2017 10:17:17 GMT
Seeing it next week in Leeds, and with a half price stalls offer too.. cant go wrong! It sounds as if sales are poor. The matinee on March 8 at the Edinburgh Playhouse was very, very thinly attended, with theatre staff herding the widely-scattered audience into the front stalls. I wonder whether the show will complete its tour. |
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Post by lou105 on Mar 16, 2017 15:42:28 GMT
Advice please on how suitable this would be for a relative who has a low tolerance for swearing/strong sexual humour? Obviously I get that it's not The Sound of Music, but is it at the level of cheeky or edging towards filthy? (Genuine question!)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 15:52:45 GMT
Advice please on how suitable this would be for a relative who has a low tolerance for swearing/strong sexual humour? Obviously I get that it's not The Sound of Music, but is it at the level of cheeky or edging towards filthy? (Genuine question!) There's not a great deal of bad language, but there is a lot of sexual humour, so it might depend on their tolerance for that sort of thing. It's not properly 'blue' but it's also not particularly tame. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2017 15:54:15 GMT
I don't remember any swearing from when I saw it. Unless Partridge has filthed it up of course.
It's probably more a question about your relative's tolerance of a gay love story featuring a load of very camp drag.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 15:58:44 GMT
With a fair wind, your relative may leap to their feet and belt out a final reprise of The Best of Times.
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Post by lou105 on Mar 16, 2017 16:03:48 GMT
Thank you. Just looking for something suitable that's showing locally around her birthday, but I don't know if I want to risk the tutting..maybe I'll just go on my own!
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Post by foxa on Mar 16, 2017 16:39:01 GMT
I saw a matinee in Wimbledon and the audience was ancient (I'm not young, but I was definitely in the younger quadrant of this demographic.) I heard a couple of people asking before hand if it was about cancan dancers (I suppose, there is a bit of cancan....) and saying, well, it's nice to get out. Pretty much what Burly Bear said in terms of suitability.
I really didn't like this (I've seen two other productions which I did like.) Although Partridge can sing and I thought would be good in the role, he was very unfunny. Especially in an extended ad lib bit with the audience (I remember Douglas Hodge being delightful and deft with all the comedy/interaction stuff.) Partridge wanted the audience to swing their arms around and did a lot of 'I can't hear you?' stuff. It was excruciating. At one point someone towards the back of the stalls shouted out 'This isn't a pantomime.' Partridge seemed a bit surprised and then said, 'Yes, it is.' Then he did a bit in German to total silence (I don't even know what that was supposed to be - Marlene Dietrich??) After a while, he asked the audience 'Have I lost you?' and clearly he had. There were two young women who he kept calling 'the mutes' (I assume they were on a pay deal so couldn't speak?) and Marti Webb onstage watching him. They were all trying to be game, but Marti Webb began to look stricken as it wore on. Jokes about Primark, Per Una and...Beyonce. For no particular reason, he ended one dance number, leaning over,hoisting his skirt over his head and sticking his sequinned bum out at the audience - why? He actually sang 'I am what I am' well but he paused so long and hammily before beginning it that someone behind me (maybe the 'It's not a pantomime' guy) sighed very loudly, which was annoying but understandable.
They've spent some money on the costumes and some of the singing was fine.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 16:49:33 GMT
Michael Billington has written a Guardian Opinion piece this afternoon, agreeing with everything you say!
However, on the night I saw it, all the above worked, with our audience.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2017 16:51:41 GMT
Oh my. That sounds HIDEOUS!
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Post by westendcub on Mar 16, 2017 20:01:27 GMT
Couldn't disagree more..the Per Una Jokes, Primark jokes were brilliant (I totally knew it wasn't off the cuff but scripted)...hands down one of the best nights I have had in a musical since 'Rent' last December...nice to wipe away the awful 'The Wild Party' (contender for worst show of the year) from memory!
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Post by westendwendy on Mar 17, 2017 0:57:00 GMT
I saw this tonight. First of all what an amazing production standard for Kenwright! Hats off to him. Really looked like a West End show. Amazing costumes and set. Super classy.
The female "mutes" were just chorus girls (someone above didn't get the joke) - they do so little in the show (as Anne covers?) Zaza comments "and you two get paid to do nothing" was hilarious. I chuckled at that one.
Here are the negatives; First of all Albin/Zaza needs to be slightly past it, classy, warm and likeable. Partridge played him like a bitter acid queen on crack with a dreadfully trite and annoying Coronaaaaaation Street northern accent. It changed the characterisation of Albin in a negative way as the audience then cared less about the role. John was great and is a super performer but he was eggy, self indulgent, broke the 4th wall too many times and added too many cheap gags (Primark was funny but this is meant to be St Tropez!) He was too young for the part, voice was shrill also and he came across too harsh and bitchy.
That said it was a wonderful night and we all just loved it. For 15 pounds front row Circle it was a steal and one of the best touring shows I've seen.
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Post by mrdanvers on Mar 17, 2017 10:53:38 GMT
Couldn't agree more, I saw it Tuesday and was blown away by the production. In the long, stand up sequence, JP had the audience eating out of his hands, so I don't recognise any suggestions that it bombed, I don't think I've laughed out loud in the theatre in ages.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 17, 2017 11:09:08 GMT
Do the house lights go up when he does this "stand up routine"?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 11:19:27 GMT
Do the house lights go up when he does this "stand up routine"? As far as I remember, yes. And John Partridge doesn't do a stand-up routine. Albin performs cabaret in the club and we're all part of the club's audience. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 17, 2017 11:21:42 GMT
Well, given that he's doing it with a Blackpool accent and talking about Primark you'll have to forgive me for not entirely buying in to that!
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