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Post by lifewithkirsty on Aug 30, 2016 16:16:19 GMT
Today Jonny Purchase tweeted about not being allowed to reveal his dates in Les Mis.. What's everyone's thoughts on this?
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 30, 2016 16:20:18 GMT
I've heard of this happening in other productions, too. Usually it's because the producers want the show to be about the show, and not who's in it. I can kind of see the reasoning for a new or struggling show, and/or one with a star, but for something that long-running, how does it influence ticket sales?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2016 16:28:12 GMT
I think it's unusual, but I don't automatically think it's unreasonable, as we don't know the reason for it. If we were to find out the reason and it turned out to be something entirely arbitrary and pointless, then I would totally agree that it's unreasonable. But my first response was to assume some kind of personal safety issue, and if it did turn out to be for that reason, then I'd feel properly churlish complaining about it. After all, our right to know which performer we'll be seeing in a role doesn't the trump the performer's right to feel safe in the workplace, and you don't have to be a big name (or even in the public eye) for a stalker to decide to harass you. In some ways I'm a very trusting individual (I trust the producers have a good reason), in other ways I'm REALLY NOT (I don't trust the general public to behave respectfully towards performers)!  |
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 30, 2016 16:35:44 GMT
This is the tweet, btw.
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Post by mallardo on Aug 30, 2016 16:54:27 GMT
I think it's unusual, but I don't automatically think it's unreasonable, as we don't know the reason for it. If we were to find out the reason and it turned out to be something entirely arbitrary and pointless, then I would totally agree that it's unreasonable. But my first response was to assume some kind of personal safety issue, and if it did turn out to be for that reason, then I'd feel properly churlish complaining about it. After all, our right to know which performer we'll be seeing in a role doesn't the trump the performer's right to feel safe in the workplace, and you don't have to be a big name (or even in the public eye) for a stalker to decide to harass you. In some ways I'm a very trusting individual (I trust the producers have a good reason), in other ways I'm REALLY NOT (I don't trust the general public to behave respectfully towards performers)! The reason for it is that the producers think that people might stay away or try to exchange tickets if they knew an understudy was on. One can see their point but it's still very unfair to the understudy in question who wants to alert people to the event. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2016 16:57:51 GMT
The reason for it is that the producers know that people would stay away or try to exchange tickets if they knew an understudy were on.
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Post by lifewithkirsty on Aug 30, 2016 16:58:51 GMT
The tweet has now been deleted
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Post by viserys on Aug 30, 2016 17:00:00 GMT
but would the general public even be aware of such a tweet? I'd assume it's only some hardcore fans and private friends who follow most performers - and those would actually leap at the chance to buy a ticket and see the understudy in question.
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 30, 2016 17:12:35 GMT
The tweet has now been deleted Here it is. Tweetdeck takes a while to refresh deleted tweets sometimes. (The timestamp is for Eastern time US.)  This is the tweet he was replying to: Also, I agree on the exchanging thing. When a show has been running for 30 years, how many of those audiences know or care who is playing Enjolras (or even Valjean) enough to want to change their tickets, no matter how magnificent the performer is? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2016 18:03:28 GMT
Exactly. I think it's pretty obvious by this point that when it comes to Les Mis, the show is the star. Ridiculous policy in my opinion and unfair to the understudies and their fans.
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 30, 2016 18:07:00 GMT
Ahh I was coming here to post about it. I honestly can't understand it. I have read the valid points but I now wonder because they are changing most of the priciple cast in December and prehaps casting big names (ticket exchanges etc) I go to see the covers I go to support the actors. I far past going to the show for the show. I do fan pages for couple of cast members. One is Oli Brenin he is the 2nd cover Jean Valjean. I can't book a ticket because I have no idea when he will cover. I'm not spending thousands of pounds to find out.
I find it quite an insult to be honest to the actors as much as fans. Although it would appear they are allowed to tell family / friends.
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 30, 2016 18:42:32 GMT
Or has the box office/stage door complained about obnoxious fans of anyone in particular? That's the only other thing I can think of, especially if this is LM-exclusive.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2016 18:43:57 GMT
The only person I can imagine having had obnoxious fans is Carrie Hope Fletcher who left a while ago.
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 30, 2016 19:09:14 GMT
Well she left in Feb it's only started this 16/17 cast.
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Post by fiyero on Aug 30, 2016 19:26:57 GMT
The only time I've paid full top price for Wicked was when I new the standby was going to be on (Annalene Beechey for Galinda). I love seeing understudies and am sure not too many people see Les Mis for who is playing Enjrolas but am sure there would be a small minority who would love to see the understudy. I was ecstatic when there was a female chorus member covering Gavroche's part! I guess it could be a problem if all the understudies are announcing in advance and it looks like there is never a full cast on
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 30, 2016 19:35:06 GMT
I wonder if it's just a ban on social media & they'll still be allowed to tell fans at the stage door or if it's total ban? Also are the leads banned from posting any holiday snaps, as that'll show they're on holiday?!
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 30, 2016 21:06:30 GMT
I wonder if it's just a ban on social media & they'll still be allowed to tell fans at the stage door or if it's total ban? Also are the leads banned from posting any holiday snaps, as that'll show they're on holiday?! I just remembered recently Jeremy posted he had a holiday BUT because Adam P was ill (1stcover) Lee was on as Javert. But he never posted he was on. I remember far back as 3weeks in to the new cast. I asked one of them if they were on as a character which once I faved the tweet he deleted. Also recently I tweeted Adam Bayjou about his regular JVJ day if he was on. He posted 'I am' thdn deleted it once I faved. |
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 30, 2016 23:41:29 GMT
This is turning into an interesting situation. Cast are encouraging people to follow West End Covers who for the last 5hours have been retweeting everyone's dismay. I'm sure now it's viral will get people talking about it.
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 31, 2016 0:36:41 GMT
Not to mention that once Jonny Purchase deleted his tweet, Scott Garnham screencapped it and tweeted the same thing as he had in his quote-tweet. Then Garnham deleted THAT. So weird.
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Post by andrew on Aug 31, 2016 1:34:05 GMT
I don't think 99.9% of theatregoers know or care if an understudy is on ahead of time. It only really comes into play if you have a big star in the lead role, and don't want to lose out on ticket sales if people can easily find out when they're not going to be there. In the interests of transparency though, they should allow people to say when they're on, and really they should just publish actor/actresses holidays so people can make informed decisions if they're in the tiny minority that bother to check.
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 31, 2016 2:13:23 GMT
I don't think 99.9% of theatregoers know or care if an understudy is on ahead of time. Right, which is why I had to laugh at all the "this will result in lost sales!" comments on twitter. It's not significant enough for a producer to care. Although this is fun; can't wait to see what happens... |
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Post by Steffi on Aug 31, 2016 5:42:30 GMT
A lot of the time I go and see a show especially because an understudy is on. I don't see the harm in letting the understudies announce their dates so that fans can come see them. I very much doubt sales are dropping when understudy Valjean puts on Twitter that he is playing the lead on certain dates. This might be the case when you have big names in a show but then not announcing scheduled holidays of said names would possibly cause a backlash as some people would start the whole "We came just to see so-and-so! You should have told us! We want our money back." debate.
I'm pretty sure the Les Mis understudies will still tell family and friends about their cover dates. Even if they are not allowed to shout it out on social media I doubt understudies will keep those dates secret from their parents and such.
The extreme example of not announcing who is on would be Punchdrunk. Officially the performers in their shows are not allowed to say at all when they are on. At Sleep no more in New York there is no cast board pre show so you go in without having a clue who is playing who (unless you have your sources). For Punchdrunk it's a case of "the show is the star".
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Post by ctas on Aug 31, 2016 6:06:55 GMT
This is already the policy with other shows in London, eg Book of Mormon don't advertise but do post on the day/are happy to tell anyone in person. I wonder if the new Les Mis cast were just advised to dial it down with advance advertising online. I think this has been blown a little out of proportion anyway!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 7:42:58 GMT
A lot of the time I go and see a show especially because an understudy is on. I think that's true of nearly everyone who sees the same show multiple times. What makes it interesting is seeing different interpretations of the same script. |
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Post by Anniek on Aug 31, 2016 7:44:54 GMT
I guess that if you ask for set dates at SD they might tell you. But sh*t. Especially with Les Mis I loved to go if there was an us on... Hopefully they can still tweet it last minute (lets say a couple of hours beforehand) so I can rush to the theatre and hopefully get myself a ticket
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