Aladdin - Prince Edward Theatre

[trapdoor]

Jun 7, 2016 19:56:14 GMT niklas said:

Speaking of press night, bumping my question from two weeks ago:

May 23, 2016 17:46:04 GMT niklas said:

Me and my friend will go to the opening night on 15 June. We have never been to an opening night on this scale before. Will all the guests who attend the performance walk the red (or in this case purple) carpet or is it for invited guests exclusively and those who regularly booked their tickets will be guided in through a different entrance?

On the website, it says the performance begins at 7pm and guests should be seated by 6:30pm. How early in advance should we be at the Prince Edward to not miss out on any of the pre-show red carpet buzz/publicity?

Does anybody here have experience with London press nights and can help me?

Trust me, the performance will categorically not start bang on 7pm... That said, they'll want the general punters inside the venue by 6.30 (and if you're sat stalls/dress you'll walk the carpet) but you'll be hurried through. From 6.30 the celebs and pap-worthy folk will arrive so they want a clear carpet for photos etc. So, you pretty much will have some of the buzz on the incoming, but not really see much else. 

[SamB (was badoerfan)]

We were at the Funny Girl opening night at the Savoy. We didn't get to walk the carpet (we were shepherded around it while someone I didn't know was having their photo taken). We stayed to watch for a bit, but they were very keen to shepherd everyone inside, though I suspect that's partly because there isn't much space outside the Savoy at all.

And it very much did not start on time, and the interval was about 30 minutes - I was still queueing three deep at the bar when they gave a 'the show will start in one minute' announcement, but it was obvious that was not going to be the case!

That said, I suspect the Aladdin press night will be much more glam than Funny Girl was. It's a bigger show on a bigger scale, and will presumably have a more high-level guestlist than Myleene Klass and Marcus Brigstocke.

[littlefluffychick]

You will most likely get a free programme too. I went to the Miss Saigon press night and on arrival a programme was set out on each seat in the stalls. I met the composers of the show, who signed my program and had a brief chat. I also saw lots of celebs and all in all it added an extra element to the theatre going experience. I find much of the theatre critics these days to be somewhat snobbish and even if a show is good but simply isn't 'worthy' in their eyes they only see the negative. What they forget is that most of the theatre going population are the opposite of them! Just my opinion but there you go...

[alece10]

Ive done a few press nights as as others have said they never start on time, usually up to 30 mins late, which is why I think press nights tend to start at 7pm so that they eventually finish on time. Free programmes are usually only for the "invited" guests and press as is the free bubbles at half time. Interval is usually double the normal time due to the time it takes to serve everyone and get them back into their seats.
Its fun to watch the celebs walking in and playing a game as to guess where you have seen them before.
Atmosphere is always great with the obligitory standing ovations at the end.

[freckles]

Has anyone sat in the upper circle, or whatever they call it?

[bellboard27]

Jun 8, 2016 10:55:34 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Bearing in mind this is Disney, though, and everything they do is stage-managed to total perfection. Should be quite an evening.

Indeed - am looking forward to it. Several on this board seem to be going so will be interesting to compare notes afterwards.

[niklas]

Thanks for the info about press night, trapdoor, badoerfan, littlefluffychick, alece10, and theatremonkey! I'm not an invited guest, me and my friend booked two Grand Circle tickets which were on regular sale online. That probably means no red carpet and no free programme for us, but I'm sure it's still going to be a very well-organized night as we are talking about Disney Theatricals.

[mrbarnaby]

I love all of this 'well organised' talk!

[Deleted]

The first production photos have finally been released... it must be said, the set and costumes are beautiful, and Jade looks stunning!

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/first-look-aladdin-production-images_40928.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=9jun2016

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2016 4:43:58 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

The first production photos have finally been released... it must be said, the set and costumes are beautiful, and Jade looks stunning!

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/first-look-aladdin-production-images_40928.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=9jun2016

Oooh it looks fabulous. I cannot wait.

And a note to Dean John Wilson. Please don't ever put those guns away. Like, ever.

Oh my.

[Deleted]

Saw the show last night...I think the fact I only saw it in New York 3 months ago may have spoiled it for me...there just wasnt the same magic element there was on Broadway.

Trevor as the genie was fabulous...very sassy, he very nearly matched up to James Monroe Inglehart.

Dean as Aladdin was good, very nice to look at, has an amazing voice, but I think the American accent made him sound very child like.

I enjoyed Jade as Jasmine...she had a few mic problems last night, but as I was sitting front row, I could still hear her ok. She made Jasmine a lot more sassier than Courtney Reed on Broadway, and thankfully her voice isn't as nasal.

Jafar, as everyone else has said, is basic panto villan, but I always thought that when I watched the movie as well.

There was a technical issue in Jafar and Iago's scene when they are trying find out who the diamond in the rough is...instead of a video of Aladdin showing up on the backdrop, all we got was a blank circle and the words "Microsoft offline", but the Jafar and Iago very professionally just carried on with the scene.

As I was sitting so close, I saw how the carpet was done, but once the lights went down for 'A Whole New World' it wasnt noticable, and did look very magical.

[theatre-turtle]

uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160615/f77b483dc9ba3c6b344b563a61b3b32e.jpg
Free programme!! Anyone else here?

[theatre-turtle]

I think I like front upper circle better than mid dress or mid stalls in this theatre

[d'James]

Jun 15, 2016 17:57:10 GMT @theatremonkey said:

I was in the mid / rear stalls, and saw perfectly, except missed seeing faces a bit. Upper circle is excellent, but legroom except row G isn't great if over 5ft 7 or so.

As you say, Row G is great if you're tall (like me)!!

[Distant Dreamer...]

I've just seen the trailer...lots of very nice looking topless men!

[theatre-turtle]

What a brilliant show. It's well exceeded my expectations.

The guy playing Aladdin is extremely cute as well. Distracting almost.

[Deleted]

Its one of the hottest casts ive seen in london for quite some time.

[theatre-turtle]

Apologies for the not quite PC question but what race is the guy playing Aladdin?

[hitmewithurbethshot]

I believe Dean John Wilson is half Chinese

[boq1984]

So back home after this evenings Press Night. Have never attended a Press Night before and was a really great experience getting to walk down the purple carpet and the atmosphere was brilliant. Despite being in the Grand Circle everyone was given a free programme and bottle of water. Extra bonus free Prosecco in the interval.

So onto the show itself. On the whole I really enjoyed it, it is a real spectacle and is clear to see money has been spent. From Row G of the Grand Circle it looked amazing, sound was great and the view was really good. Would certainly sit there again.

Now may just me but I have to be honest was a little underwhelmed by Dean. He has had some great reviews on here but for me he sounded like he was really struggling. At times I honestly felt that he was unwell but was powering through as was press night. He was a very likeable Aladdin and having seen him previously I'm "Songs for a new world" know he has a great voice and you could see signs of this tonight but it just never came through. I thought 'A whole new world' was the weakest and that Jade was struggling a bit to sing with him whereas during the rest of the show I thought she was really excellent vocally.

The three friends are great and I really enjoyed Iago. The ensemble are great and and everything you want from an ensemble. Yes Jafar is a tad panto but it works.

However it goes without saying that it is of course Trevor's show. He absolutely steals it. Friend like me was one of the most enjoyable 8 minutes spent in a theatre and well deserved the mid show standing ovation.

So all in all would say it is a great show and I predict will have a pretty healthy run at the Prince Edward.

[theatremadness]

I shouldn't have thought the reviews were exactly what they hoped for, though they aren't terrible:

4.5* The Reviews Hub
4* The Stage
4* The Guardian
3* The Independent
3* Time Out
3* The Telegraph

All drawing reference to panto, the Telegraph tag-line is "makes you pine for panto", which isn't particularly encouraging. 

[dan]

I adored the show. I adored Dean and think he is an absolute feast for the eyes and ears, the tone of his voice really appeals to me. I thought the whole show was an amazing spectacle full of humour and great songs. It was always my favourite Disney animated movie so it had a lot to live up to for me. Genie was fantastic and Friend Like Me is an incredible production number.
I didn't think Jafar was too pantomime or anything, but my one issue is his really rushed ending. I felt I had the same issue with Ursula in Little Mermaid on Broadway, in that their demise is just so understated and quick! I wish they used some theatre magic to make Jafar a bit threatening Genie/Snake and it would have added something amazing to a great show.

I will definitely revisit the show if I can and I'll do anything to see Dean in something anyway, right from From Here to Eternity, Sister Act, Songs for a New World, Miss Atomic Bomb, and now this.

[Jon]

Jun 15, 2016 22:29:53 GMT theatremadness said:

I shouldn't have thought the reviews were exactly what they hoped for, though they aren't terrible:

4.5* The Reviews Hub
4* The Stage
4* The Guardian
3* The Independent
3* Time Out
3* The Telegraph

All drawing reference to panto, the Telegraph tag-line is "makes you pine for panto", which isn't particularly encouraging. 

 4 stars from The Stage and Guardian is good, they can use in marketing, not that it needs it though. 

I sat in the dress circle slips when I saw the show a few weeks back and they're really good with only a small restriction for one scene but that's it. They're £54.75 on Delfont Mackintosh which is pretty good IMO. BTW has anyone sat in the stall boxes? They're priced cheaper than the slips so wondering if there is a reason.

[theatre-turtle]

Jun 15, 2016 23:03:59 GMT Jon said:

Jun 15, 2016 22:29:53 GMT theatremadness said:

I shouldn't have thought the reviews were exactly what they hoped for, though they aren't terrible:

4.5* The Reviews Hub
4* The Stage
4* The Guardian
3* The Independent
3* Time Out
3* The Telegraph

All drawing reference to panto, the Telegraph tag-line is "makes you pine for panto", which isn't particularly encouraging. 

 4 stars from The Stage and Guardian is good, they can use in marketing, not that it needs it though. 

I sat in the dress circle slips when I saw the show a few weeks back and they're really good with only a small restriction for one scene but that's it. They're £54.75 on Delfont Mackintosh which is pretty good IMO. BTW has anyone sat in the stall boxes? They're priced cheaper than the slips so wondering if there is a reason.

Well they're very very far back and suffer from the overhang quite a lot

[theatremadness]

Jun 15, 2016 23:03:59 GMT Jon said:

Jun 15, 2016 22:29:53 GMT theatremadness said:

I shouldn't have thought the reviews were exactly what they hoped for, though they aren't terrible:

4.5* The Reviews Hub
4* The Stage
4* The Guardian
3* The Independent
3* Time Out
3* The Telegraph

All drawing reference to panto, the Telegraph tag-line is "makes you pine for panto", which isn't particularly encouraging. 

 4 stars from The Stage and Guardian is good, they can use in marketing, not that it needs it though. 

I sat in the dress circle slips when I saw the show a few weeks back and they're really good with only a small restriction for one scene but that's it. They're £54.75 on Delfont Mackintosh which is pretty good IMO. BTW has anyone sat in the stall boxes? They're priced cheaper than the slips so wondering if there is a reason.

You're right that they definitely don't need glowing reviews in the marketing for this. They've done an incredible job with the online and physical advertisements and the show does look spectacular. Also, I've not had one friend who has seen it and said they weren't blown away. Plus, a mid-show standing ovation after Friend Like Me on press night, too - I definitely am very excited to see it.