2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Jul 20, 2016 10:15:43 GMT
Bit late in posting this but revisited the show last Thursday night and was pleased to find it in very good shape. Phantom holds a special place for me as it my first west end show way back in 198..(cough) yet a previous visit had left me downhearted as it looked and sounded tired. However last week it looked fantastic. The costumes looked brand new and all the cast gave great performances. I had booked on the premise of seeing Ben's interpretation but unfortunately he was off on Thursday night (though it took me ages to work that out as I hadn't checked the cast board). it really felt like I was watching it in its' early years again. I was also amazed to still see the 'house full' sign out and people standing at the back to watch. The only drawback for me was the standard of the audience. Never have I seen so many people trying to use their phones causing the staff to rush up and down stairs to stop them which was most distracting. On the chandelier scene? Yes we had that, it was a swarm of ushers, it was really very distracting and worrying actually. I did wonder to myself that possibly it's best to let people take the photos with their phones as it would be slightly less distracting, I'm not saying it's right to do it, I cannot stand when people use their phones at the theatre, but that was really quite a big rush at the time, very distracting. This does happen in some places, when it's deemed that ushers' interventions would be more distracting than the audience's photography attempts. When Rachel "rises" in the Bodyguard and the lift in Dirty Dancing being a couple of examples. |
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Post by richey on Jul 20, 2016 13:58:55 GMT
On the chandelier scene?
Yes we had that, it was a swarm of ushers, it was really very distracting and worrying actually. I did wonder to myself that possibly it's best to let people take the photos with their phones as it would be slightly less distracting, I'm not saying it's right to do it, I cannot stand when people use their phones at the theatre, but that was really quite a big rush at the time, very distracting.[/quote]
No, all through act one. Not for taking photos but actually using their phones to text etc.
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882 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Jul 22, 2016 0:28:08 GMT
It seems Maria Coyne was on as Christine tonight (Thursday).
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Post by countryjames on Jul 22, 2016 10:27:12 GMT
It seems Maria Coyne was on as Christine tonight (Thursday). Yes, apparently Celene Schienmaker git through the matinee (very well actually, although I'd agree with the poster that she seems a little mature) and then went home: that's what I wa told at stage door by a friend in the show. Not having seen Phantom for around eleven years. I'd forgotten what a well constructed piece it is and how magnificent it looks. Of course, we have allegiances to those we've known and loved over the years, and I missed Rachel Barrell as Christine(who did the pointe work) and Sally Harrison as Carlotta (yesterday afternoon's cover Carlotta did the flouncy, screechy thing which was both annoying and hard on the ears). However, Nadim Naamam was an ardent, well sung Raoul and after a slow start when he seemed low on charisma as well as short at both ends of the vocal range, Scott Davies' experience as The Phantom showed in what becoming a surprisingly moving and involving Second Act. Apart from some chatter during the Act Two Entracte, audience behaviour seemed pretty good (there were one or two usher pounces on phone users) and there was an enthusiastic standing ovation from some which was impressive for a mid week matinee. |
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Jul 25, 2016 13:59:28 GMT
Ben Forster is back tonight - I know some people who booked tonight thinking it was Kieran who won't be best pleased.
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716 posts
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Post by indis on Jul 29, 2016 14:14:26 GMT
Lisa-Anne Wood tweeted she is leaving at CC
soooo...will Celinde leave too?
will Maria get promoted to alternate or will there be a new one?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2016 14:47:32 GMT
Lisa-Anne Wood tweeted she is leaving at CC soooo...will Celinde leave too? will Maria get promoted to alternate or will there be a new one? Only just realised that Lisa has been with the show for 2 years! I thought she joined when she became the Alternate. If Celinde left, I think Zoe Doano could be a good shot for Christine? |
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121 posts
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Post by candela on Jul 31, 2016 19:39:04 GMT
No, Harriet Jones has tweeted she is the new alternate starting September
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716 posts
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Post by indis on Jul 31, 2016 20:05:18 GMT
Sooooo happy!!!! The only nooo is that she should be principal again! My absolute fave! But damn that alternate schedule is stupid because i don't get holidays in fall..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2016 20:35:24 GMT
Glad she's returning. Will Celinde stay on?
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 8, 2016 10:51:10 GMT
Ben, Nadim and Celinde are all staying on along with Megan Llewellyn, Jacinta Mulcahy and a number of the ensemble.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 11:32:14 GMT
Ben is only staying until March, I believe.
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 8, 2016 11:44:01 GMT
Which makes his run about a year - which is a lot longer than his previous runs in shows. I have to say, I saw him last week and was blown away by his performance. He really has come on in leaps and bounds since he started in February..
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 8, 2016 12:35:13 GMT
Ben's contracted to March 4th. Luke McCall is the new 2nd cover Phantom
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19,650 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 8, 2016 13:06:57 GMT
Who is likely to be playing the leads on Saturday matinees in January? Thank you!
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573 posts
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Post by Dave25 on Aug 19, 2016 11:36:14 GMT
Does anyone know if Sierra Boggess will be singing in French in the Paris production?
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590 posts
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Post by lou105 on Aug 19, 2016 12:20:35 GMT
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573 posts
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Post by Dave25 on Aug 19, 2016 12:29:10 GMT
Thanks! That's really interesting. Quite a challenge.
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Post by catqc on Aug 21, 2016 20:07:17 GMT
Will they do rehearsals in English just for her then?
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 24, 2016 9:49:49 GMT
Hey I haven't seen Phantom before planning a trip in November just to see the show. I'm not familiar with the cast set up. When they announced the cast change I saw one of my faves MT actors (Luke McCall) was cast in the show.
I read through the comments someone said he was going to be 2nd cover Phantom / swing. Now does that mean 2nd to cover the role or 2nd after the alternate?
Also are swings in Phantom there to cover certain ensemble roles or all of them? I don't know - I'm used to Les Mis!
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 24, 2016 10:50:24 GMT
Luke McCall would go on as the Phantom when Ben and Scott are both unavailable to perform. The current 2nd cover, Kieran Brown, has done quite a few shows, so Luke should get his chances to play the Phantom.
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223 posts
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Aug 24, 2016 11:11:28 GMT
Luke McCall would go on as the Phantom when Ben and Scott are both unavailable to perform. The current 2nd cover, Kieran Brown, has done quite a few shows, so Luke should get his chances to play the Phantom. Thank you. I probably spending a bit to see Luke as Phantom at short notice. |
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Post by distantcousin on Aug 24, 2016 21:44:20 GMT
Would love to see this again - it's been years. But I shall wait until Miss Forster leaves. She's OK but doesn't really have the gravitas IMO for Phantom.
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Post by chrisorsomething on Aug 25, 2016 6:01:33 GMT
I found Forster okay. Much better as the Phantom than in, erm, Elf which I found him intolerable. Miles better than Scott Davies though. I've seen every Phantom cast for the last 15 years and Forster is comfortably in the middle for me. Bit camp, though.
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Aug 25, 2016 8:07:44 GMT
Definitely interested in seeing the new cast, but I'd definitely opt for an understudy Phantom. What are the box office people like when it comes to buying a short notice ticket? I know they have a very strict Thursday day seat rule, but are they like the Les Mis box office when they'll just sell at full price as more often than not they will sell.
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