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Post by daniel on Jul 12, 2017 19:07:53 GMT
Today's matinee was Amber, and it was superb. I'm not sure who Deena was played by! But it was just ok. I don't feel the other Deenas bring the same sumptuousness or polish (of course) to the role One time I saw Lily Frazer play Deena and oh gosh... The singing was awful. She is beautiful though Jocasta Almgill was Deena today  |
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Post by showtoones on Jul 12, 2017 19:11:43 GMT
Has Daniel Johnson seen Amber yet?
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Post by welsh_tenor on Jul 12, 2017 19:23:05 GMT
Has Daniel Johnson seen Amber yet? More importantly where has Daniel Johnson gone?!?! |
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Post by daniel on Jul 12, 2017 19:27:08 GMT
Has Daniel Johnson seen Amber yet? More importantly where has Daniel Johnson gone?!?! He hasn't seen Amber no, and sadly he closed his account and has left the Board  |
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Post by daniel on Jul 12, 2017 19:34:33 GMT
Also, the newer programmes have been updated with understudies in their cover order, which they weren't previously. There's also no mention at all of Candace Furbert covering Effie.  |
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Post by d'James on Jul 12, 2017 19:45:26 GMT
So the order does mean something? I wonder why they demoted Jocasta as Lorell, she was great in that role. She covered so many roles in In The Heights, I'm sure she could be first cover for both. Maybe they wanted her as first cover Deena and someone else equally as good as Lorell so if both main actors were off the standard didn't 'slip.' (I know what I mean.)
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Post by showtoones on Jul 12, 2017 21:11:53 GMT
More importantly where has Daniel Johnson gone?!?! He hasn't seen Amber no, and sadly he closed his account and has left the Board That is sad...i always found his posts thoughtful and cheeky...did someone say something here to put him off? |
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Post by theatre on Jul 12, 2017 21:13:21 GMT
I'm not okay with this! Obviously I'm thrilled for Marisha who I adore and for Karen but I do think to do this without a big announcement is a bit sly, especially since people will have booked in advance to see Amber rightully or wrongfully.
I just hope she's on tomorrow evening - It will be my third attempt at seeing her and I may have a minor breakdown if she's not on!
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Post by infofreako on Jul 12, 2017 23:17:47 GMT
More importantly where has Daniel Johnson gone?!?! He hasn't seen Amber no, and sadly he closed his account and has left the Board Miss his input |
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Post by AliceFearnFan2212 on Jul 12, 2017 23:20:49 GMT
The whole cast were on FIRE tonight! Especially Jocasta, so great to see her as Deena!
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Post by welsh_tenor on Jul 13, 2017 11:22:29 GMT
So with the recent removal of the term "alternate" from Marissa and Karen, does anyone know what this means in practice?
I want to see the show and at least be in with a fighting chance to see Amber - do we know if the schedule is still in place where Amber has only 2 shows off?
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Post by daniel on Jul 13, 2017 11:52:43 GMT
So with the recent removal of the term "alternate" from Marissa and Karen, does anyone know what this means in practice? I want to see the show and at least be in with a fighting chance to see Amber - do we know if the schedule is still in place where Amber has only 2 shows off? I think unless we get an official announcement from SFP, it'll be a case of wait and see unfortunately. |
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Post by AliceFearnFan2212 on Jul 13, 2017 17:11:25 GMT
It seems that they've removed Amber's holiday dates from the website...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 17:17:31 GMT
Perhaps they'll get all three to turn up each night and they draw straws to see who gets to play Effie for that show? Like 'Mary Stuart' but with more glitter.
The winner gets to sing "Aaaaaaaand I am telling you, you ARE going . . " at the losing two.
An Effie-off. Or an F-Off if you will.
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Post by theatre on Jul 13, 2017 21:40:53 GMT
Just get back from finally seeing Amber in the role - must be said that I think her and Marisha are on a par! Parts of Amber's performance I preferred like Listen and parts of a Marisha's I preferred like And I Am Telling you. On the whole I'd say Amber is the better vocalist but Marisha is the better actress in this role.
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Post by showtoones on Jul 14, 2017 2:30:28 GMT
Just get back from finally seeing Amber in the role - must be said that I think her and Marisha are on a par! Parts of Amber's performance I preferred like Listen and parts of a Marisha's I preferred like And I Am Telling you. On the whole I'd say Amber is the better vocalist but Marisha is the better actress in this role. Glad you finally got to see Amber! |
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Post by theatre on Jul 14, 2017 7:00:48 GMT
Glad you finally got to see Amber! Thank you - so am I! If I hadn't seen her this time I think I would have had to give up! |
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 14, 2017 12:32:38 GMT
Marisha's on as Effie tonight then according to her instagram.
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Post by theatre on Jul 17, 2017 18:07:06 GMT
Fairly substantial casting adjustment as of today according to the Dreamgirls website... Marisha and Karen have had "alternate" dropped from their title...all three are now just listed as Effie White... As I understand it, Amber's holiday will still be listed but all references to her performing 7 out of 8 shows will be dropped. I don't know if the performances will be split 3-ways, whether Amber will still do the most or if they'll have set days each, but it seems that going forwards the three of them will be equally billed. www.dreamgirlswestend.com/cast-creativeAny idea of a timescale to see the latter part of these changes to be put into action? (I'm sure if you did you would have said but what can I say, I'm an impatient person!) |
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Post by daniel on Jul 17, 2017 22:04:06 GMT
Fairly substantial casting adjustment as of today according to the Dreamgirls website... Marisha and Karen have had "alternate" dropped from their title...all three are now just listed as Effie White... As I understand it, Amber's holiday will still be listed but all references to her performing 7 out of 8 shows will be dropped. I don't know if the performances will be split 3-ways, whether Amber will still do the most or if they'll have set days each, but it seems that going forwards the three of them will be equally billed. www.dreamgirlswestend.com/cast-creativeAny idea of a timescale to see the latter part of these changes to be put into action? (I'm sure if you did you would have said but what can I say, I'm an impatient person!) Sadly no idea! I'll keep my ear to the ground haha. |
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Post by stuart on Jul 18, 2017 22:25:39 GMT
Just been to tonight's show, we had Marisha on as Effie. I was pretty disappointed when I saw her name on the board as Amber was one of my big reasons for booking (and TodayTix hasn't updated their site to reflect the new three-way lead arrangement, still says Amber is performing 7 shows out of 8 and not doing Monday nights). There was a clear sense of disappointment in the audience too. A lady in front of me at the bar almost burst into tears when she saw the sign, this was her 5th attempt at trying to see Amber. A ripple of noise flowed through the audience when Effie first appeared on stage too and it was clear people were shocked not to see Amber.
Marisha absolutely stormed it and won over any doubters in seconds but the producers do have an issue on their hands in that this show has been advertised heavily using Amber's name and personality. If she's now only going to be doing a handful of shows a week, there will be palpable disappointment among audiences night after night and that's just not fair on Marisha or Karen.
Of my 5 close friends who have seen the show over the last few months, not a single one of us has seen Amber. Proud to be a member of the 'I went to see Dreamgirls and Amber wasn't on but the show was still bloody incredible' club.
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Post by daniel on Jul 18, 2017 22:37:26 GMT
Amber's attendance aside, I genuinely don't believe that the show has been advertised on her name. Sure, she's done the publicity, as any lead would do in any show, but at no point was it "Amber Riley in Dreamgirls" or "Amber Riley is Effie White"...she's not on any of the publicity either by photo or name, so in comparison with the likes of Imelda in Gypsy or Sheridan in Funny Girl. Thy said, she's a big name and people will be booking to see her, and her attendance has been sketchy at best. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the show regardless stuart - hopefully you will get to see Amber before she finishes! |
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Post by princeton on Jul 18, 2017 22:41:27 GMT
TodayTix hasn't updated their site to reflect the new three-way lead arrangement, still says Amber is performing 7 shows out of 8 and not doing Monday nights Not just TodayTix - the official Dreamgirls website - despite no longer using the word alternate on Marisha's and Karen's billing - still says on the ticket page: "The producers cannot guarantee the appearance of any particular artist(s). Amber Riley is currently scheduled to play the role of Effie White for 7 out of 8 performances per week. One of the alternates will perform on 1 out of 8 performances per week, currently scheduled on Monday evenings. This is subject to change and may be affected by contracts, holiday, illness, or events beyond the producers’ control." All very confusing for people buying tickets. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 19, 2017 5:38:02 GMT
The website has said she would be doing 7 out of 8 perfs since day 1. As far as I'm concerned that is advertising on the basis of Amber's name. It might not say it now, but what about all of the people who booked in advance using that publicised schedule only to have it changed now?
Not good enough and yet more evidence of Sonia F treating her paying customers shabbily.
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Post by notmymuse on Jul 19, 2017 6:59:30 GMT
You can't help but feel a little sorry for Marisha. It must be really difficult hearing the reaction of disappointment from the audience when you come on and they want someone else, but then carrying on regardless...
Obviously audiences should realise you can never guarantee seeing anyone, but in real life many people will make the trip to the West End once a year and will have booked to see Amber so you can also understand it.
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