Company

[vabbian]

Mar 26, 2019 19:15:43 GMT craig said:

Mar 26, 2019 18:58:36 GMT vabbian said:

What about a gender bender revival of Miss Saigon starring Rosalie and Gok Wan

Faye Tozer has allegedly been cast as Joan, fellow GI to Rosalie's Christine.

Simply can't wait for Faye's homosexual disco rendition of Bui Doi

[Someone in a tree]

For tonight's performance

[Deleted]

I feel that this thread is rapidly turning into a tragedy and is better best forgotten 😉

[craig]

Mar 26, 2019 19:24:18 GMT vabbian said:

Mar 26, 2019 19:15:43 GMT craig said:

Simply can't wait for Faye's homosexual disco rendition of Bui Doi

I wouldn't say no...

[Deleted]

Mar 26, 2019 19:13:02 GMT vabbian said:

Mar 26, 2019 19:09:09 GMT @remark said:

Gok Wan as Kim and Rosalie as the Engineer?
Sounds bonkers enough for me to buy a ticket!

Gok Wan as Kim's child and Rosalie as the Helicopter 

Ha. If the helicopter is depicted by RC windmilling her hair then I’m there.

[jgblunners]

Why must we say goodbye? Can't it just stay forever? Seriously, this is a monumental production. On the third visit I'm still taken aback by just how brilliant it is AND I'm still seeing new details, noticing idiosyncrasies, laughing in different places. Today what really struck me were the lighting design, sound design, and choreography - on my previous two visits I think I was so focussed on character that I sort of glossed over them, but today I definitely noticed. The clarity in the mixing is second-to-none, the lighting is both fun and purposeful, and the choreography is ridiculous but perfectly suits the occasion. 'Side By Side' really hit the spot tonight.

The performances just keep getting better - it's true that both Mel and Jonny were hamming it up a bit on my second visit, but tonight they were (along with the rest of the cast) perfectly pitched, had the audience eating out of the palm of their hands, and induced laughs galore. The whole 'Getting Married Today' scene was the funniest and most poignant tonight of all my trips to the show. And then there's Patti. The Queen. The Empress. The Deity. We truly are not worthy of her presence. Tonight, her voice was the strongest and clearest that I've heard across my visits, and the whole nightclub scene (before, including, and after 'Ladies Who Lunch') was jaw-dropping. She continues to mine new depths of the character, trying out new things but always staying within the remit of Marianne Elliot's direction. Her silences are just as captivating as her biting one-liners and glorious singing.

Of course, I have to mention Jennifer. She was every bit as good as Rosalie. Her voice is not quite as smooth as Rosalie's, but she has a little bit more power when she really belts it out. Her character remained true to Rosalie's interpretation, but (as others have said) was a little more open and emotive. I'm very glad I saw her in the role. Jaimie Pruden also did well as Jenny, and her priest was just as fun as Daisy's. Michael Colbourne is adorable. I want one of my own please.

Regarding those who were commenting on the running time - tonight it clocked in at around 2hrs 45mins, and the first act finished at pretty much 9pm on the dot, so despite the exclusion of Tick Tock it still ran slightly longer than when it opened (although the curtain did go up almost 10 minutes late tonight so that contributed). I think the extra time is coming from the Jiu-Jitsu scene, the pot scene and the 'Getting Married Today' scene - in each case, I think everyone was taking their time a bit more and pushing some more laughs out of it. In my opinion, the pacing of the whole show was perfect tonight.

All that remains to be seen is whether I can restrain myself from making one final (really final this time) trip before the week ends...

[musicalmarge]

I was there tonight super show but DEAR GOD Jennifer Saayeng as BOBBIE was terrible. My friends and I were shocked she was so bad! Jamie Pruden was excellent.

[wickedgrin]

Mar 26, 2019 23:29:14 GMT musicalmarge said:

I was there tonight super show but DEAR GOD Jennifer Saayeng as BOBBIE was terrible. My friends and I were shocked she was so bad!

Art and acting are so subjective aren't they? 

I have seen both Rosalie and Jennifer in the role of Bobbie and I rather liked Jennifers take on the role personally. 

[musicalmarge]

Mar 26, 2019 23:32:07 GMT wickedgrin said:

Mar 26, 2019 23:29:14 GMT musicalmarge said:

I was there tonight super show but DEAR GOD Jennifer Saayeng as BOBBIE was terrible. My friends and I were shocked she was so bad!

Art and acting are so subjective aren't they? 

I have seen both Rosalie and Jennifer in the role of Bobbie and I rather liked Jennifers take on the role personally. 

She’s obvious, no subtext, was flat, bad mix voice of head/chest/belt and not a nice vocal quality. 3/10 The rest as always we’re superb - Patti was on form!!

[lonlad]

Entirely agree with musicalmarge above -- Jennifer, alas, just doesn't suit the role: she can't sing it AT ALL and doesn't have the warmth or charisma necessary to command interest in a slippery, elusive character; Rosie really is genius in the part and let's hope she is back SOON !! Re the person above comparing Rosie and Patti's absences, by the way, Patti's during this run have been entirely to do with her back and never once to do with her voice -- which is in as good form as it has ever been. She's got a much stronger instrument than Rosie, which is just one of those things you either have or not. Doesn't matter: they are both divine.

[Stephen]

Has Tick Tock been taken out again? In the final week?

[apubleed]

It’s never done when Jennifer is on.

I’m a bit surprised at the Jennifer criticism. I did see her just before she was sick and they cancelled the show the next day - and while her vocals were a little shakey at times it is clear that she is a much stronger singer than Craig. For example, those high notes in the title song were much stronger and clearer than Craig and “Being Alive” actually had some texture and belt to it. Craig is fine but definitely an actor who sings rather than a singer who acts. And in terms of acting, I don’t know if her take has changed but I found it interesting that there was a certain sadness and bitterness to her take in the book scenes didn’t feel with Craig (e.g., the park bench when she is told he is moving and getting married). Whereas to me Craig plays the role as this charming, funny, sweet girl everyone loves to be around.

[danb]

Did I read further back that this has been filmed for one of those live cinema thingies or is my addled brain making stuff up again?

[musicalmarge]

Mar 27, 2019 5:48:22 GMT apubleed said:

It’s never done when Jennifer is on.

I’m a bit surprised at the Jennifer criticism. I did see her just before she was sick and they cancelled the show the next day - and while her vocals were a little shakey at times it is clear that she is a much stronger singer than Craig. For example, those high notes in the title song were much stronger and clearer than Craig and “Being Alive” actually had some texture and belt to it. Craig is fine but definitely an actor who sings rather than a singer who acts. And in terms of acting, I don’t know if her take has changed but I found it interesting that there was a certain sadness and bitterness to her take in the book scenes didn’t feel with Craig (e.g., the park bench when she is told he is moving and getting married). Whereas to me Craig plays the role as this charming, funny, sweet girl everyone loves to be around.

Jennifers belt is grounded in a deeper stronger place than RC, who can be a tad nasal and thin yes - neither of them are Broadway standard MT belters, but Jennifer last night was DREADFUL. I’ve seen better amateurs. Nothing worthy of a West End performance - why not give Jamie the cover? So odd. Helena Bonam Carter was sat in front of me FYI.

[distantcousin]

Mar 26, 2019 18:16:37 GMT @happysooz said:

Mar 26, 2019 16:13:15 GMT distantcousin said:

cheers. I'm actually passing through the West End in about an hour. Wondering whether to go the box office...

Would you report back on how that goes? No way I can day seat this week but I have wondered what would happen if I rocked up at 5pm with sad eyes.

They seemed OK on availability at 6pm yesterday. However the cheapest tickets were £55 - front of Dress Circle.

I wasn't prepared to pay that, so I didn't go!

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2019 9:38:46 GMT distantcousin said:

Mar 26, 2019 18:16:37 GMT @happysooz said:

Would you report back on how that goes? No way I can day seat this week but I have wondered what would happen if I rocked up at 5pm with sad eyes.

They seemed OK on availability at 6pm yesterday. However the cheapest tickets were £55 - front of Dress Circle.

I wasn't prepared to pay that, so I didn't go!

If you're on a dayseat budget fair enough, but that is still a very good price for the seat.

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2019 10:15:18 GMT @remark said:

Mar 27, 2019 9:38:46 GMT distantcousin said:

They seemed OK on availability at 6pm yesterday. However the cheapest tickets were £55 - front of Dress Circle.

I wasn't prepared to pay that, so I didn't go!

If you're on a dayseat budget fair enough, but that is still a very good price for the seat.

Yep. I think they are £124 rack rate.

ETA I would have snapped that up. Am eyeing Thursday night but I have an interview day that won’t finish until 6.30pm.

[lonlad]

The argument comparing voices A and B could go on forever to little result but the Saturday night I saw Jennifer, it was clear that she can certainly sing -- that is not in doubt -- but not THIS score and it seemed as if she hadn't ever worked through the songs with Marianne or any of her team, since not one number seemed rooted in the truthfulness that Rosie brings to every moment. Neither of them has the natural Broadway chops of a Patti LuPone but that's OK, too -- Bobbie isn't meant to be Elphaba and I can't imagine anyone inhabiting the role more fully from the inside than RC. Let's hope she is on tonight; if not, I am giving my ticket away to anyone who wants it (probably a colleague from work).

[danb]

TKTS seems to have them too if thats easier; Dress Circle only.

[sparky5000]

There’s some decent (row s) stalls tickets available for tonight’s show for £55! 👍The rest in the stalls are mainly £84.50 or £99.50 but there may come down nearer show time!

[bobbybaby]

I bowled up to the box office 2 Tuesdays ago at 6:30 and they gave me M2 stalls for £27:50. The box office staff are lovely, they seem to try and sell anything left for a decent price just before it starts. I’ve also sat in the dress circle slips for the same price and you’re close and don’t miss much at all. Certainly all Fleesh’s abs were present and correct when I went.

[Deleted]

Never sick my eye. Rosalie is off tonight. At least the real stars of the show are all on though, thank gayness.

Who do YOU think you ARE? Get OUT!

[vabbian]

Praying to baby Jesus that Rosalie is on tomorrow

[Deleted]

I’m surprised she’s been off - she was in fine voice on Saturday. She must be gutted to miss any of these last few performances.

[mrbarnaby]

So Rosalie said in the Times in Sunday she has never missed a show... erm.....