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Post by LaLuPone on May 17, 2018 7:04:44 GMT
I’m going tonight and I’ve been checking the Millennium Centre website; the upper circle was never put on sale, the circle is about 10-20% full and the stalls are probably not even half full so just wondering what’s going to happen? Will we get upgraded to the front of the circle (we’re in Row G at the back and off to the side) or should we just move ourselves? Might they close the circle too and move us all down into the stalls? I’ll never have been to a show so empty before, what a real shame for the cast.
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Post by daniel on May 17, 2018 9:27:53 GMT
I’m going tonight and I’ve been checking the Millennium Centre website; the upper circle was never put on sale, the circle is about 10-20% full and the stalls are probably not even half full so just wondering what’s going to happen? Will we get upgraded to the front of the circle (we’re in Row G at the back and off to the side) or should we just move ourselves? Might they close the circle too and move us all down into the stalls? I’ll never have been to a show so empty before, what a real shame for the cast. it's rare that venues will close all the circles and move people down to the Stalls - only because there are specific reasons people book the Circle (like being at a raised viewpoint, can't see over heads in the Stalls etc) so often insisting that people move downstairs can result in more complaints than it's worth. In my experience it's unlikely that they will re-seat you further forwards in the Circle, but if you ask I'd be very surprised if they say no. Or shuffle yourself without asking, but in this case be prepared to be sent back where you came from  |
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1,929 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on May 17, 2018 9:57:28 GMT
I’m going tonight and I’ve been checking the Millennium Centre website; the upper circle was never put on sale, the circle is about 10-20% full and the stalls are probably not even half full so just wondering what’s going to happen? Will we get upgraded to the front of the circle (we’re in Row G at the back and off to the side) or should we just move ourselves? Might they close the circle too and move us all down into the stalls? I’ll never have been to a show so empty before, what a real shame for the cast. it's rare that venues will close all the circles and move people down to the Stalls - only because there are specific reasons people book the Circle (like being at a raised viewpoint, can't see over heads in the Stalls etc) so often insisting that people move downstairs can result in more complaints than it's worth. In my experience it's unlikely that they will re-seat you further forwards in the Circle, but if you ask I'd be very surprised if they say no. Or shuffle yourself without asking, but in this case be prepared to be sent back where you came from Yeah I had thought it unlikely for them to close the circle but my grandparents are off to Art at the Millennium next month and they’ve been contacted this week to say the circle has been taken off sale for their Thursday Matinee and have been moved down to the front of the stalls which they’re not hugely happy about so I guess it can happen occasionally. Anyway thanks for the info! |
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2018 9:03:21 GMT
Saw this last night with viserys very depleted audience- about 500 I'd say. Circle open, a friend who still works there told me the company allowed them to close both circles Tuesday but refused for the rest of the run. The cast made a few remarks about it during the start of both acts where they interact with the audience my favourite being "Have you lot had a fight or something?" to the very spread out lower stalls audience. I went in with no knowledge- I decided not to listen to any of the music so only had a vague notion of the plot. I really enjoyed it overall. In all honesty it could probably benefit from a few trims in the first act but the second act is fantastic. Reading above about the Broadway version, I agree that cutting more of the father/son relationship is a mistake as that could have really rounded out Gideon's character- there was nothing wrong with him/it as is but I could see that really adding an emotional depth to it. The music is great and serves the story well, none of the numbers feel tacked on or artificial and it all flows cohesively and musically. Plot-wise I loved that the older characters and the women get pushed to the forefront in this, and that although there is a love story element, its not the whole story. It's also another firm check in the 'nice to see working class people on stage' and in a genuine represenation of their stories (albeit, as the narrator says, in something of a parable manner) One thing I wasn't sure of was the narrator- it was ok, but also could have worked without, also I think I have an allergy to spoken-word performance which probably didn't help. Spoiler tags ahoy for a couple of bits.... {Spoiler - click to view}
It probably wasn't the show to see after coming from my Uncle's funeral- but the dead eh, no forward planning? suffice to say I found that whole narrative particuarly moving. Even more so because at said funeral we'd been discussing how my Father had said to just 'chuck him in the sea' when he died (we did, after cremating him in that case) My gallows humour aside, I for obvious reasons found that whole segment a harder watch.
But the bit that finished me off completely was the women- when you hear they are stroming the ship yard. The projections of images, and the choreography of the company around that was sublime. And the speech about how they won't fight back- glorious. I love how this version puts the women back at the centre of the story, and it was elegantly done. |
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Post by shady23 on May 21, 2018 17:24:26 GMT
I work near Spillers Wharf, the site of Monday's huge outdoor performance so I went down there at lunch for a nosey and they are already setting up the stage.
It was an old flour mill by the river but they knocked it down and it's now just concreted space, some of which is usually used as a car park. They used to hold concerts here years ago so good to see the space being used well at last!
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Post by christya on May 21, 2018 22:01:07 GMT
Good for everyone except those of us who normally park there! My office will be empty for a week as for some reason they feel the need to close it off from Wednesday. Oh well, I'm sure it'll be a fantastic show.
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Post by haz23 on May 22, 2018 16:03:58 GMT
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Post by shady23 on May 22, 2018 16:04:49 GMT
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Post by christya on May 22, 2018 16:17:14 GMT
And I can't even have my car park back, as the rest of the festival is still going ahead! Pfft.
In all seriousness though, I'm sorry those who had tickets will be disappointed. It sounded like a great event for anyone who didn't need to work nearby!
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Post by Dr Tom on May 26, 2018 19:39:27 GMT
Just read about this in The Times. Only 3,000 tickets sold in a venue that holds 14,000 (even with Sting as the lead), so cancelled by the promoter rather than lose even more money by going ahead. Shame.
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Post by duncan on Jun 15, 2018 7:00:09 GMT
23 - The Last Ship - Festival The old days are closing fast, the shipyard is on its last legs - the workers have been offered the opportunity to break up the last ship they yard has made or face the closure of the yard. Into this maelstrom of change comes the returning Gideon, he left 17 years ago as he didn't want to follow his father into the yards, who is about to find his past catching up with him and his future being linked to the last gasp of shipbuilding. Somewhere down the crazy river is a decent show trying to escape the mess it has been lumbered with in this stolid production. The tale of a way of life being closed down and people being thrown on the scrapheap should be enough to carry this show on its own BUT somewhere someone decided no "what we need is a romance, a romance that doesn’t ring true in the slightest, a romance that will make you think both characters are dull and frankly deserve to wallow in their own beige for evermore!" and this takes away from the overall story. It needs more ooomph, it needs some sparkle but what we get is a bit of fizzing and then longueurs based around the two most boring characters in the show. Even when they kill off the McGann its just brushed aside after 30 seconds and they all forget about him until its expedient for the plot to launch him and the boat off to boating Valhalla - to me its a show that cant decide what it wants to be, someone wants it to be about their life growing up in the shadows of the yard and someone wants it to appeal to a mass audience so sticks in some romance and in the end it falls between the two stools. The yard story is far more interesting than the lurrve story. The set and projections work well and the music/lyrics are nice but that book just isnt up to scratch - it hammers home the political message in such a way that any nuance that could be here is essentially buried under a wearying "tories are bastards" message. What was interesting was seeing this message die on its arse with an Edinburgh audience - we're sophisticated pet, I suspect your tiresome socialist mythologizing will go down better amongst the proles of Glasgow next week but not here, not here! There are whole speeches which seem designed to add nothing but an opportunity for the attendees to clap and cheer but here it all fell flat, even the Baroness who is dressed and made up in a most unsubtle fashion is quite clearly there to be hissed at but here there was nothing, not a pop, not a whisper, nothing. On stage we had the understudy Peggy, a McGann whose sound mix made him sound echoey all night, the central couple being dull and in the character and performance of "Davey" there is quite simply one of the most bizarre writing/performance combinations that I've ever seen - it was impossible to make a single word out that he said, and if you are in the front row take a brolly as he was spittling for Britain. An average house saw an average production. 6/10
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Post by mrtumnus on Jun 23, 2018 12:02:42 GMT
Saw it in Glasgow and thoroughly enjoyed it. Music refreshingly different from the average musical. The political message did go down well this side of the country but can understand how it floundered in the capitalist Capital.
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 29, 2018 13:23:56 GMT
I'm not sure how to break this to you BurlyBeaR. (Takes a deep breath and avoids making eye contact.) The magnet situation is not looking good. There were non on sale in York yesterday, and I can't imagine they'll reorder just for Salford. Sorry! Charlie Hardwick was ill, so Peggy was played by an actor who, if I may be so bold, is a stronger singer. Obligatory standing ovation. There's probably a new law that any production which includes a reference to the NHS, however fleeting, must get one, or else!!! |
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Post by shady23 on Jun 29, 2018 14:05:29 GMT
Peggy was played by Penelope who is usually in the ensemble and plays the Government lady.
Anyone know of any discounts going for Salford?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 29, 2018 14:30:35 GMT
I'm not sure how to break this to you BurlyBeaR . (Takes a deep breath and avoids making eye contact.) The magnet situation is not looking good. There were non on sale in York yesterday, and I can't imagine they'll reorder just for Salford. Sorry! I’m seriously considering not going anyway. Everything I read about it makes me think my original assessment was correct. Dreary with a capital D, Worthy with a capital W. |
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 29, 2018 16:44:36 GMT
Peggy was played by Penelope who is usually in the ensemble and plays the Government lady. Anyone know of any discounts going for Salford? Thanks. I thought the minister yesterday looked smaller than last time. The usual narrator/daughter was also off, with that part covered by Young Meg. Most of the audience wouldn't know the difference, but I kept having to remind myself who she was playing. There is an offer on manchestertheatres.com but the date may not work for you, or perhaps BurlyBeaR will do you a deal with his ticket!!! |
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Post by timetraveller on Jul 8, 2018 18:00:56 GMT
Went to the final show of the tour last night. Lots of emotion and tears at the end.Virtual full house, great audience and the cast giving it their all. Richard Fleeshman and Frances Mcnamee are just class acts. This show has its critics and faults but does seem to have gone down well. Judging by a few cryptic tweets today and a comment last night i think the show will be back in some form possibly next year. Whether its at Northern stage again, a second tour or possible west end or abroad run we will have to wait and see. In paper interview last week Sting said there have been offers to do the show elsewhere which they are considering and something will definitely happen.
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 6, 2018 13:13:41 GMT
Well, we now know that something is indeed definitely happening. Mr Sting himself will play Jackie White at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto for six weeks next February and March. (Bet it's really, really cold in Toronto then.)
It replaces Girl From The North Country, which has been delayed by seven months.
Elaine has her detractors, but I won't have a word said against her!
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Post by sf on Aug 6, 2018 14:38:26 GMT
Well, we now know that something is indeed definitely happening. Mr Sting himself will play Jackie White at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto for six weeks next February and March. (Bet it's really, really cold in Toronto then.) It replaces Girl From The North Country, which has been delayed by seven months. Elaine has her detractors, but I won't have a word said against her!
It is indeed usually really, really cold in Toronto then (I lived there for a few years).
With the theatre's subscription base and Sting in the cast it should sell reasonably well.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 6, 2018 14:49:39 GMT
I'm not sure how to break this to you BurlyBeaR . (Takes a deep breath and avoids making eye contact.) The magnet situation is not looking good. There were non on sale in York yesterday, and I can't imagine they'll reorder just for Salford. Sorry! I’m seriously considering not going anyway. Everything I read about it makes me think my original assessment was correct. Dreary with a capital D, Worthy with a capital W. I didn’t go to the last night at the Lowry. My friends did. They hated it, said it was dreary AF. Glad I trusted my gut. Should have done the same with two other Lowry turkeys, Elf and Titanic. Both rubbish. |
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 6, 2018 15:27:13 GMT
I have to admit, BurlyBeaR, the dreary parts are really dreary, but I took away enough positives from my first viewing to persuade me to make a return visit. For what it's worth, I don't think version 2 is yet the finished article, but there is a really good musical in there somewhere. For me, the title song alone was worth the ticket price. |
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Post by shady23 on Aug 6, 2018 15:29:53 GMT
It should definitely return to Newcastle for a longer run! I loved it.
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Post by learfan on Aug 6, 2018 16:47:39 GMT
Well, we now know that something is indeed definitely happening. Mr Sting himself will play Jackie White at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto for six weeks next February and March. (Bet it's really, really cold in Toronto then.) It replaces Girl From The North Country, which has been delayed by seven months. Elaine has her detractors, but I won't have a word said against her!
It is indeed usually really, really cold in Toronto then (I lived there for a few years).
With the theatre's subscription base and Sting in the cast it should sell reasonably well.
Oh it will, Mr Sting is deified over the pond. |
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Post by Theatre Fan on Dec 20, 2019 0:11:42 GMT
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