264 posts
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Post by squidward on Dec 7, 2017 18:34:56 GMT
What on earth were they doing casting Marcus Brigstocke in the first place? In terms of pulling power, I definitely wouldn't classify him as a 'star' name in TV, Theatre or anywhere else.
With respect, he has no discernible singing or acting chops (and some would add comedy to that list too). I'd be really interested to know what the thinking was behind giving him this role.
The reimagined revival shtick at The Chocolate Factory is wearing very thin at this point.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 8, 2017 0:32:26 GMT
What on earth were they doing casting Marcus Brigstocke in the first place? In terms of pulling power, I definitely wouldn't classify him as a 'star' name in TV, Theatre or anywhere else. With respect, he has no discernible singing or acting chops (and some would add comedy to that list too). I'd be really interested to know what the thinking was behind giving him this role. The reimagined revival shtick at The Chocolate Factory is wearing very thin at this point. And overpriced!! They made a real mistake with this show and the recent prices. I’m glad Southwark Playhouse is over taking them as my fringe theatre of choice. Bah! |
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4,974 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 9, 2017 2:34:19 GMT
Talk of this going to Broadway, but oddly enough not with Marcus Brigstock.
Thought this would transfer to the Marble Arch theatre, if got decent reviews, but it didn’t.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 8:00:49 GMT
^ Mill Hill Broadway more like, from the reviews we’d been reading...
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Post by danb on Dec 9, 2017 8:11:36 GMT
^ Mill Hill Broadway more like, from the reviews we’d been reading... Ahhh, that’s my old stomping ground! ‘El Carpo Doro’ could make a killing with a pre-theatre Fish Supper Special! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 16:52:10 GMT
Well he fell off the tightrope four times and had to be helped across in the end. I don't think he is as bad as made out in terms of an individual performance, its not a disgrace or anything. The trouble is, when stood next to the cast he is with, he is clearly the weakest. The Ensemble are phenomenal! Lead by Dominic who is fabulous. Harry is clearly the star and steals the show with his solo. Celinde is in stunning voice and Laura is beautiful in her role. They are all great. The staging is really impressive for the space and the set and design is wonderful. Its just a shame of the leading man being the weakest of an amazing cast. But I'm enjoying it alot!  |
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Post by herculesmulligan on Dec 9, 2017 16:58:51 GMT
I fully agree with Daniel above. Marcus isn't awful or a disgrace, just not as good as the cast around him. He does a passable attempt. I heard he did the tightrope successfully on Thurs & Fri night. The rest of the cast are incredibly talented, and the design, direction, choreography, magic tricks and lights are all incredible. I really had fun at the show, it's not perfect but it's a really fun night out. So intimate too.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 17:28:24 GMT
I fully agree with Daniel above. Marcus isn't awful or a disgrace, just not as good as the cast around him. He does a passable attempt. I heard he did the tightrope successfully on Thurs & Fri night. The rest of the cast are incredibly talented, and the design, direction, choreography, magic tricks and lights are all incredible. I really had fun at the show, it's not perfect but it's a really fun night out. So intimate too. I’m sorry but is this honestly what audiences are expected to pay for now then? “A passable attempt”? Looking at the Menier website, standard tickets are £47.50! Their premier seats (and there looks to be more of them than ‘standard’) are a whopping £49.50! I can see four restricted view seats on sale at £25 per performance... I call that a lot of money for something that is, in your words, “not perfect”. Shouldn’t we have higher expectations of professional shows at such high prices? I know I do... |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 18:34:31 GMT
I really enjoyed it this afternoon. Great cast, amazing choreography and set. It was lovely to see Dominic ina more major role than Womderland, he really was great. Harry still walked away with the show and his solo. Its alot of fun. I personalky thought the flaw itself was some of the material. Alot of it is very samey and the plot sometimes gets lost from the dazzle of it all. But I expected nothing less. I had alot of fun with it. Glad I went. |
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 9, 2017 20:36:14 GMT
I fully agree with Daniel above. Marcus isn't awful or a disgrace, just not as good as the cast around him. He does a passable attempt. I heard he did the tightrope successfully on Thurs & Fri night. The rest of the cast are incredibly talented, and the design, direction, choreography, magic tricks and lights are all incredible. I really had fun at the show, it's not perfect but it's a really fun night out. So intimate too. I’m sorry but is this honestly what audiences are expected to pay for now then? “A passable attempt”? Looking at the Menier website, standard tickets are £47.50! Their premier seats (and there looks to be more of them than ‘standard’) are a whopping £49.50! I can see four restricted view seats on sale at £25 per performance... I call that a lot of money for something that is, in your words, “not perfect”. Shouldn’t we have higher expectations of professional shows at such high prices? I know I do... Because the mainly middle/upper class successful white audience can afford it so they don’t care! If they cared about students, working class communities of Lambeth or the theatre community they wouldn’t charge those prices or at least have a proper concession scheme. What they offer doesn’t cut it for me. The prices have doubled in recent years. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2017 23:16:47 GMT
Because the mainly middle/upper class successful white audience can afford it so they don’t care! If they cared about students, working class communities of Lambeth or the theatre community they wouldn’t charge those prices or at least have a proper concession scheme. What they offer doesn’t cut it for me. The prices have doubled in recent years. Are you the same musicalmarge who just said on another thread that they saw Newsies in New York? I guess that trip cost more than £47.50. |
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Dec 9, 2017 23:34:58 GMT
I’m sorry but is this honestly what audiences are expected to pay for now then? “A passable attempt”? Looking at the Menier website, standard tickets are £47.50! Their premier seats (and there looks to be more of them than ‘standard’) are a whopping £49.50! I can see four restricted view seats on sale at £25 per performance... I call that a lot of money for something that is, in your words, “not perfect”. Shouldn’t we have higher expectations of professional shows at such high prices? I know I do... Because the mainly middle/upper class successful white audience can afford it so they don’t care! If they cared about students, working class communities of Lambeth or the theatre community they wouldn’t charge those prices or at least have a proper concession scheme. What they offer doesn’t cut it for me. The prices have doubled in recent years. Their prices are lower if you book well in advance. They operate without subsidy, their production values are relatively high compared to places like the Southwark Playhouse, and while there's been the occasional misfire, the standard of work they present is consistently very impressive. They produce shows within extremely tight budgets, they have a limited number of seats, and performers and staff are entitled to be paid for their work. Yes, prices have risen over the past few years - but that's true of theatres right across the country. It isn't just them. Given the kind of financial constraints the venue works within, I doubt any of the Menier's permanent staff are getting rich. |
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 10, 2017 0:26:00 GMT
Because the mainly middle/upper class successful white audience can afford it so they don’t care! If they cared about students, working class communities of Lambeth or the theatre community they wouldn’t charge those prices or at least have a proper concession scheme. What they offer doesn’t cut it for me. The prices have doubled in recent years. Are you the same musicalmarge who just said on another thread that they saw Newsies in New York? I guess that trip cost more than £47.50. I’m not sure you can compare an overpriced basement fringe theatre experience in south London with a trip to New York where I got tickets to the major new Broadway show Newsies for 60 dollars or whatever I paid. Next you’ll want to know where I buy my grocery shopping I suppose? Maybe what area I live in? Annual salary? Weird.... |
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7,054 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 10, 2017 0:32:52 GMT
Because the mainly middle/upper class successful white audience can afford it so they don’t care! If they cared about students, working class communities of Lambeth or the theatre community they wouldn’t charge those prices or at least have a proper concession scheme. What they offer doesn’t cut it for me. The prices have doubled in recent years. Their prices are lower if you book well in advance. They operate without subsidy, their production values are relatively high compared to places like the Southwark Playhouse, and while there's been the occasional misfire, the standard of work they present is consistently very impressive. They produce shows within extremely tight budgets, they have a limited number of seats, and performers and staff are entitled to be paid for their work. Yes, prices have risen over the past few years - but that's true of theatres right across the country. It isn't just them. Given the kind of financial constraints the venue works within, I doubt any of the Menier's permanent staff are getting rich. I never get why musicalmarge keeps insisting it's a grubby fringe venue (which is a bit of an insult to actual fringe venues) when it's not! For one, they pay equity minimum to their cast IIRC and also I don't think any other fringe venue runs a restaurant which is actually pretty decent. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 10, 2017 0:45:35 GMT
The prices do seem high, but this is a venue with very limited seating, but still many of the same expenses (and production values) of a much larger theatre. I suspect that they're dependent on a certain proportion of shows transferring (as with Funny Girl) to make the numbers work.
It's difficult to compare this with other London Fringe venues which aren't really paying their cast (for instance, based on the casting call for Top Hat, the male lead there is on £20 a show).
There's very little on Broadway for $60 (plus tax) right now. Prices for most shows are generally much more expensive than London, even for the fringe venues. I think I read recently that the cheapest tickets for Hamilton there are $250, with many breaking four figures (all plus tax), hence why many Americans are flying to London instead. When I go, for less in demand shows, I usually book through TDF or TodayTix, but there's little, even in the balcony, at $60. Rear side stalls are typically $99 (plus tax) weekdays, or $119 weekends. And I'm pretty savvy in finding discounts, rush tickets and negotiating in box offices. The exchange rate isn't good, but even taking that into account, prices have shot up the past two or three years.
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7,054 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 10, 2017 1:11:46 GMT
The prices do seem high, but this is a venue with very limited seating, but still many of the same expenses (and production values) of a much larger theatre. I suspect that they're dependent on a certain proportion of shows transferring (as with Funny Girl) to make the numbers work. It's difficult to compare this with other London Fringe venues which aren't really paying their cast (for instance, based on the casting call for Top Hat, the male lead there is on £20 a show). There's very little on Broadway for $60 (plus tax) right now. Prices for most shows are generally much more expensive than London, even for the fringe venues. I think I read recently that the cheapest tickets for Hamilton there are $250, with many breaking four figures (all plus tax), hence why many Americans are flying to London instead. When I go, for less in demand shows, I usually book through TDF or TodayTix, but there's little, even in the balcony, at $60. Rear side stalls are typically $99 (plus tax) weekdays, or $119 weekends. And I'm pretty savvy in finding discounts, rush tickets and negotiating in box offices. The exchange rate isn't good, but even taking that into account, prices have shot up the past two or three years. The Menier balances out the musicals with plays which have a lower running costs and the plays do sometime end up transferring, Travesties for example is getting a Broadway run after a successful West End transfer and it originally sold out its run at the Menier. Love in Idleness also transferred for a limited run. IIRC they produce and general manage their transfers so they get royalties and fees going back to the building, something like The Color Purple which did a successful run on Broadway and is doing a US tour means they'll be getting a royalty as originating theatre and producer. |
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Post by Jan on Dec 11, 2017 8:49:11 GMT
I wonder what they were thinking of when they cast Brigstocke in this ? He isn't an actor or a singer, he isn't a celebrity with a following, he isn't really famous at all. Was he at university with the producers or something ? All he has is the cast iron self-confidence a public school education can give you to blag your way into jobs you can't do.
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1,132 posts
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Post by Stephen on Dec 11, 2017 9:22:06 GMT
Must say, with regards to comparing the Menier to seeing a Disney Theatrical Production in New York, it will obviously be different. However, the Menier produces some great work. I personally think that the venue has a great atmosphere and the dinner and show deals are fantastic. Therefore I think that although very different, if the show and company are both good, an evening at the Menier can easily be as enjoyable as one in a Broadway theatre.
Plus, the point made about about nobody at the Menier being rich and the theatre not being subsidised...make sense. They charge what they have to and in return usually produce enjoyable theatre.
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Post by danb on Dec 11, 2017 9:36:10 GMT
Are you the same musicalmarge who just said on another thread that they saw Newsies in New York? I guess that trip cost more than £47.50. I’m not sure you can compare an overpriced basement fringe theatre experience in south London with a trip to New York where I got tickets to the major new Broadway show Newsies for 60 dollars or whatever I paid. Next you’ll want to know where I buy my grocery shopping I suppose? Maybe what area I live in? Annual salary? Weird.... ...and irrelevant to the discussion. Everything has a perceived worth and if folks don’t think that this production is worth nearly £50 they have a right to say. |
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Post by Jan on Dec 11, 2017 9:56:41 GMT
It is OK to say their prices are too high - we are saying the same over in the Old Vic thread and I have recently said it about Jermyn Street too. However for these non-subsidised venues I don't think it is fair to go on and say they should reduce their prices - why should they ? If the prices don't represent value for money for you then don't go - I haven't been to the Old Vic for years even though I could afford their high prices. It is quite a different situation when the venue receives public subsidy, then in my view they have a duty to provide lots of affordable seats (and not just rotten restricted view ones).
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2017 9:58:56 GMT
The point I made, which was ignored, is that the cost of the Newsies trip was far more than the ticket price. On the other thread, it was said that people couldn't afford to pay the Menier ticket prices and yet they can afford to fly to New York for a theatre jaunt. This doesn't make sense to me.
And people on this thread have clearly explained that the ticket price is based on the costs of the production, which seems a fair and sensible pricing policy, so the issue is just that some individuals don't want to pay a fair price because they'd expect to derive insufficient personal benefit from attending. Hold the front page. Then just don't go...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2017 10:01:34 GMT
It is quite a different situation when the venue receives public subsidy, then in my view they have a duty to provide lots of affordable seats (and not just rotten restricted view ones). It's more complicated than that nowadays because many subsidised companies are now co-producing with commercial producers and originating productions in the West End - for example, Headlong's Labour of Love. |
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Post by danb on Dec 11, 2017 10:15:49 GMT
The point I made, which was ignored, is that the cost of the Newsies trip was far more than the ticket price. On the other thread, it was said that people couldn't afford to pay the Menier ticket prices and yet they can afford to fly to New York for a theatre jaunt. This doesn't make sense to me. And people on this thread have clearly explained that the ticket price is based on the costs of the production, which seems a fair and sensible pricing policy, so the issue is just that some individuals don't want to pay a fair price because they'd expect to derive insufficient personal benefit from attending. Hold the front page. Then just don't go... Some of this is still irrelevant. She saw value in a trip to NYC and chose which shows to see; possibly based on budget. She may have saved for two years to afford that trip or she may have paid for it out of a bankers bonus. If she thought Barnum represented poor vfm after seeing it she has a right to say it. If she chose not to see it based on the ticket price she may end up missing out, but has still voted with her feet as it were, but isn’t entitled to moan about it. I’m quite in agreement with your last statement however! |
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 11, 2017 10:36:26 GMT
The point I made, which was ignored, is that the cost of the Newsies trip was far more than the ticket price. On the other thread, it was said that people couldn't afford to pay the Menier ticket prices and yet they can afford to fly to New York for a theatre jaunt. This doesn't make sense to me. And people on this thread have clearly explained that the ticket price is based on the costs of the production, which seems a fair and sensible pricing policy, so the issue is just that some individuals don't want to pay a fair price because they'd expect to derive insufficient personal benefit from attending. Hold the front page. Then just don't go... So you wouldn’t complain if a bottle of water at a theatre was 20 pounds? Of course you would! “Don’t like it? Don’t buy the water!” Nonsense.... |
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Post by danb on Dec 11, 2017 10:47:39 GMT
Did you go and see it or not Marge?
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