2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Sept 24, 2017 13:09:26 GMT
I hope he remembers that nothing is so good it lasts eternally... ....but hopefully he'll have some great memories... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2017 13:13:11 GMT
I hope he remembers that nothing is so good it lasts eternally... ....but hopefully he'll have some great memories... ...it won't be easy, he'll think it strange... |
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Sept 24, 2017 13:17:52 GMT
....but hopefully he'll have some great memories... ...it won't be easy, he'll think it strange... ...if he's lucky it will be for one night only... |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2017 13:21:41 GMT
I can't decide whether Julian will be dressed as Barbara Dickson or Susan Boyle.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2017 16:36:07 GMT
I can't decide whether Julian will be dressed as Barbara Dickson or Susan Boyle. Julian is far too glamorous to be Susan Boyle |
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 14, 2017 18:39:48 GMT
Aaaaand we're off! Oh. The mystery of the missing tweet.....it was here a minute ago.   |
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Nov 14, 2017 18:55:14 GMT
Lanie P and Julian should do a two person "Cell Block Tango"
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2017 19:16:58 GMT
This has alot to follow after Cinderella, which was amazing, one of the highlights of my Christmas last year! I'll never forget Paul O'Grady walking through the door with a crazy wig and sunglasses, hungover. I get a bit bored of the Diversity routines, but at least Count Arthur Strong isn't anywhere near this one (god awful, what a mess!). Other than that, the cast are great and I have high hopes.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 11:38:15 GMT
“I know him so well” will be in it sung by Julian and Elaine according to Julian on television this morning
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 17:40:38 GMT
I saw this to... I can't imagine that duet, but in the way I don't think it will be good, I just wanna see it! 😂
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 17:42:56 GMT
Julian also revealed his first entrance willbe on a giant Bell. 😂
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2017 13:32:19 GMT
Finally Emma gets her shots released!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 18:44:13 GMT
Anyone going today?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 18:47:13 GMT
The front curtain and stage look amazing based on instagram!
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 19:11:33 GMT
I'm in tonight - will report back later...oh yes I will.
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 23:34:31 GMT
Just made it home from the Palladium, and whilst it definitely is a good show, I have to say that sadly I'm somewhat disappointed overall. One of my major gripes is Paul Zerdin. He's great, but his piece is exactly the same year on year. Other than the addition of one very "current" joke, he brought nothing new. Which I think is a massive shame as he is immensely talented and has so much other material that he could use, but instead he sticks to the same jokes and the same routines, year after year. Elaine Paige was also a massive disappointment for me. She's just not a villain. For me, she just didn't pull it off one bit. Struggled vocally and diction was poor, I felt. Nigel Havers was fab. A lot of the jokes centred around his small part last year and how he wanted a bigger part this time, and that he got! Gary Wilmot is a really great dame. He used the "sweet cart" routine that he's done before (I saw him do it in Birmingham) but the difference between him and Paul is that he changes some lines and adapts it so that it's not just a complete repeat from previous years. He also added some new material, including a song about the London Underground...which brought the house down and probably got the biggest cheer of the night. Diversity are very good, talented lads for sure...but it just didn't fit. I know panto is never the most flowing of shows, but I did feel that their sections really broke the flow. Charlie Stemp and Emma Williams give lovely performances. They have great chemistry from their time in Half A Sixpence, and there are a few references to that, including a Flash Bang Wallop-inspired musical number. Julian Clary absolutely steals the show. He has the audience in the palm of his hand from curtain up to curtain down, with an endless supply of bell-themed humour. There was also an unexpected cameo from Paul O'Grady! He is the voice of the giant rat So in summary, whilst it is a solid pantomime, I think for me it's the weakest Qdos presentation that I've seen (others are Cinderella at the Palladium last year, and Robinson Crusoe, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, and Dick Whittington at B'ham Hipp), based on the disjointed and lacking story - even by panto standards - and the lack of fresh material. Though the latter may be partially my fault for seeing multiple Michael Harrison-directed pantos each year. Cinderella was definitely a lot stronger, a point which I overheard others echoing on the way out. I think they'll need a strong title and casting next year to sustain the momentum. My guess would probably be Snow White, but we'll see. Full cast as follows: Spirit of the Bells: Julian Clary Queen Rat: Elaine Paige The Sultan: Ashley Banjo The Sultan's Special Advisors: Diversity Idle Jack: Paul Zerdin Captain Nigel: Nigel Havers Sarah Fitzwarren: Gary Wilmot Dick Whittington: Charlie Stemp Alice Fitzwarren: Emma Williams Eileen the Cat: Lukus Alexander Ensemble: Lucy Banfield, Faye Best, Callum Clark, Matt Cox, Rachael Crocker, Lisa Darnell, Ivan De Freitas, Ross Finnie, Louis Gaunt, Diana Girbau, James-Lee Harris, Abigayle Honeywell, Kevin Jack, Jemima Loddy, Rebekah Lowings, James Paterson, Oliver Ramsdale, Sam Salter, Carrie Sutton, Ed Wade, Annie Wensak, Anna Woodside. Band is 3 keys, guitar, bass/double bass, drums, percussion, 2 trumpet/flugel horn, alto sax/tenor sax/flute, trombone, bass trombone. As much as I love panto and did have a good time, I don't think I can give it more than three stars this time. If any deals appear towards the end of the run, I'd like to return for a second viewing to see if my opinion changes. |
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1,132 posts
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Post by Stephen on Dec 9, 2017 23:40:52 GMT
I work at the Palladium so hopefully will manage to see it in its entirety at least once before it closes!
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 9, 2017 23:43:45 GMT
I'm going next Wednesday and looking forward to it. Loved Cinderella last year but did feel it would be difficult to equal or top.
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Dec 9, 2017 23:46:42 GMT
I work at the Palladium so hopefully will manage to see it in its entirety at least once before it closes! would you mind clarifying the camera policy Steve? It was awful tonight, as it was last year too. Constant phones and cameras in the Upper, and one person on row A who near enough filmed the entire show, until an usher finally intervened about 10 minutes from the end. Not wanting to vent at you, it's as frustrating to see it not being dealt with as it is the fact that it's happening in the first place! |
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1,132 posts
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Post by Stephen on Dec 9, 2017 23:55:03 GMT
I don't usually usher and haven't for this production but often I think it's up to the producers to set the rules which Front of House staff follow. I will certainly feed it back though.
I am sorry to hear about it though, sounds annoying!
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9 posts
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Post by dannypc on Dec 10, 2017 0:05:29 GMT
Were you really there?
Did you hear the laughter and applause? Did you see the full standing ovation?
Did you see how Elaine Paige roared onto that stage and the laughs she got?
Do I need to say anything about the genius of Clary, Wilmot, Zerdin and Havers? The freshness of Diversity and the impact of Stemp and Williams?
The Wow factor of the effects and the great London theme
It was a much tighter show than last year. Funnier and more spectacular
Good to hear you'd go back on a deal though..... doubt that will happen
I've already paid full price....
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1,349 posts
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Post by CG on the loose on Dec 10, 2017 0:28:31 GMT
Just shows how subjective it is dannypc - I have to agree with daniel, in that I enjoyed last year's far more. I found this more disjointed - largely a consequence of fitting all the 'specialities' into the piece, which Cinderella also suffered from but not to the same degree - less funny and, while certainly packed with spectacle, it somehow left me cold. I didn't hate it... just, a bit meh really. |
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Dec 10, 2017 0:34:23 GMT
Were you really there? Did you hear the laughter and applause? Did you see the full standing ovation? Did you see how Elaine Paige roared onto that stage and the laughs she got? Do I need to say anything about the genius of Clary, Wilmot, Zerdin and Havers? The freshness of Diversity and the impact of Stemp and Williams? The Wow factor of the effects and the great London theme It was a much tighter show than last year. Funnier and more spectacular Good to hear you'd go back on a deal though..... doubt that will happen I've already paid full price.... yes I was there...what an odd thing to ask 🤔 Yes I heard the laughter and applause. Did I not say that I enjoyed the show? Yes I did. Did I see the full standing ovation? No, because there wasn't one in the Upper Circle, and I couldn't see the lower levels. Elaine didn't work for me. I'm wholly aware that I may be in the minority. The beauty of having an opinion, eh. I said how much I enjoyed Clary and Havers. I said how talented Zerdin is, my criticism of him is the way that he uses the exact same material every year. No criticism of Stemp or Williams. No criticism of the set or physical production. I've long maintained that Qdos pantos are the best physical productions with the best sets and effects, and that was no different tonight. You thought this one was funnier and tighter than last year, I didn't. How about we accept each other's opinions as they're both equally valid? Cinderella had TodayTix deals in January last time. If I don't want to pay west end prices to watch it again, then it's entirely my prerogative to take the gamble and hold out for a potential deal. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 5:54:37 GMT
Thanks Daniel, I'm glad I didn't bother with tickets now. Cinderella was quite a disappointment last year for me. Yes the cast were mostly great but it was overlong without much story and what there was was disjointed. Sure panto doesn't have the most in-depth stories but that makes it even worse when it's altered so heavily to fit the stars in.
Best panto I've seen in recent years was Jack and the beanstalk in Southampton about 4 or 5 years ago. It was a real ensemble piece but with a still flowing story and people (Clary, mead, havers, and zerdin) still getting chance to shine
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28 posts
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Post by mrcompanymanager on Dec 10, 2017 10:12:23 GMT
I enjoyed it but it lacks the WOW factor. Thank showbiz for Gary Wilmot, he's the best thing in it.
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