4,172 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 9, 2018 16:11:45 GMT
I'm going tonight. If anyone sees me, feel free to say hello. I won't bite.
Chances are you'll recognise me before I recognise you.
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1,345 posts
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Post by tmesis on Jun 9, 2018 17:41:33 GMT
This is an almost perfect production of a far from perfect musical. That said I still enjoyed it hugely; there are some great songs but the 'plot'... well it just meanders in an aimless way. All the blokes and Caroline O' Connor are superb. Gemma Sutton is OK - she doesn't get right to the emotional core of a song like the others; her soft singing is particularly bland and unfocused, but she is better when using a belt voice.
Still... I found the whole thing very entertaining.
Southwark seem to have at last sorted out the poor sound balance that plagued many of their previous musicals (the sound was excellent this afternoon) - now they will soon be leaving!
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5,139 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 9, 2018 17:54:49 GMT
Was also in this afternoon, and had fun hanging out with fellow board members danieljohnson14 and David J ! Bloody loved the piece - though the design was nice and clever, the direction solid, and the choreography - especially of the title number - incredibly inventive. Caroline O’Connor gave what I think is the best leading lady performance in London right now - we are so lucky to have her. Gemma Sutton was good, but not excellent, and the supporting men also good. Great band - I wish I had time to go again! 5 stars from me! |
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 9, 2018 18:13:29 GMT
Does anyone else think the daughter character is unrealistically bratty for a 30 year old?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2018 18:19:23 GMT
Loved the show this afternoon. Really entertaining, Carolone and Gemma ace, fallen in love with Jason Winter and those hips! Well deserved standing ovation.
I thought ya'll were overreacting about the heat at first, but by the end I felt like I was about to pass out in truth. And those who didn't see, a woman did start to get light headed and her head kept going up and downat the end of the front row and had to be helped out through one of the side wings by an usher toward the end. So the heat is a real issue.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2018 20:23:44 GMT
I was also there, luckily on a front aisle seat with nobody beside me on either side, so it was cool enough. Sweaty waiting to get in, though, and I did feel sorry for the young lady who had to be escorted out. Anyhow, this is utterly stunning, if you can get there, go. Not a weak link in the cast, and the show is way, way deeper than it seems. The rink is a metaphor for so many things, even the illuminated instructions sign is significant when you think about it. And the three lead performances are perfection - I was lucky enough to have some of it happen literally inches from me, wow. The 5 star standing ovation was well earned. Again?!?! Remember Pippin? You like upsetting people, don’t you?  |
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Jun 11, 2018 18:17:58 GMT
Will this show get a West End transfer this fall/winter?
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Jun 11, 2018 19:56:02 GMT
Does anyone else think the daughter character is unrealistically bratty for a 30 year old?
I think she seems brattier than she might have in some previous productions because the song that used to be the opening number - 'Colored Lights' - has been pushed back to a much later point in the show (or rather, there used to be a reprise of it, and the revised version of the script that this production uses cuts the reprise and put the whole number in that slot). That's a very damaging choice: now, the show opens with Anna's big declaration of independence in 'Chief Cook and Bottle Washer', then Angel enters, pisses on her fireworks, and spends the rest of the first act arguing with her. The book is dreadful anyway, for all manner of reasons that have nothing to do with this particular choice, but if Angel gets a gentler introduction at the top of the show she doesn't come across as being as unsympathetic as she is in the first act of this production.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2018 19:57:47 GMT
A linted run in one of the smaller theatres could well work. And with a somewhat weak season thus far for the Oliviers, it could well give both Gemma and Caroline deserved nominations for their performances!  |
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Jun 11, 2018 21:41:57 GMT
A linted run in one of the smaller theatres could well work. And with a somewhat weak season thus far for the Oliviers, it could well give both Gemma and Caroline deserved nominations for their performances! Which theatres will be available for September-Janaury this year? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2018 22:07:19 GMT
A linted run in one of the smaller theatres could well work. And with a somewhat weak season thus far for the Oliviers, it could well give both Gemma and Caroline deserved nominations for their performances! Which theatres will be available for September-Janaury this year? Garrick and Duke of York were the first to come to mind. Trafalgar Studios has nothing in past August at the minute I believe. But then Pheonix hasn't officially announced the closing of Chicago. Its only booking until October at the minute, with Come From Away not coming until March, so whether it extends is yet to be seen? I imagine The Rink would be a limited run anyway. |
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Jun 11, 2018 22:11:07 GMT
I also heard a rumor that Jagged Little Pill may be doing a run at Trafalgar Studios. Maybe just that...a rumor?
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629 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Jun 11, 2018 22:31:11 GMT
This was absolutely fantastic tonight, not much to say that hasn't already been said, but this shot into my number 3 position out of the musicals I've seen this year. My absolute favourite part was looking around the audience during the roller skating number and just seeing a sea of faces with HUGE grins on them. I'd love this to transfer, though seeing it in the round with all the action so close works so well, I'm not sure if some of the magic would be lost in a bigger venue.
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7,054 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 11, 2018 22:59:40 GMT
Which theatres will be available for September-Janaury this year? Garrick and Duke of York were the first to come to mind. Trafalgar Studios has nothing in past August at the minute I believe. But then Pheonix hasn't officially announced the closing of Chicago. Its only booking until October at the minute, with Come From Away not coming until March, so whether it extends is yet to be seen? I imagine The Rink would be a limited run anyway. Summer and Smoke is going to the Duke of York's after King Lear. The Garrick is possible but given Young Frankenstein is limping along, Nimax might opt for a play. It's unlikely they'd go for The Phoenix, it's a 1000 seat theatre and The Rink would die a death there. |
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540 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Jun 12, 2018 0:11:14 GMT
Going sat matinee looking forward to it
I loved the Coventry Belgrade production with Diane Langton the original angel playing Anna was fab and fell in love with the show then and always longed for another production since ... hope it’s good got tickets from today tix they had none on direct website
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540 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Jun 14, 2018 0:10:49 GMT
Parking any advice ?? Sat matinee I know there is some on street parking on side roads and round the back is it safe ? Looked on parkopedia. Car parks close don’t look too good 😟. Says Waterloo is good and around £12 anyone been says 25 min walk thanks in advance
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 6:05:09 GMT
Can't advise on car parks but 25 minutes walk from Waterloo to the Southwark Playhouse is about right. Or it's 10 minutes or so by bus or tube to Elephant and Castle. There's also a car park under the National Theatre if you plan to park in that area.
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Post by dontdreamit on Jun 14, 2018 21:33:55 GMT
I’m just on my way home from seeing this tonight. What an absolute joy of a show!
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 15, 2018 13:09:05 GMT
Parking any advice ?? Sat matinee I know there is some on street parking on side roads and round the back is it safe ? Looked on parkopedia. Car parks close don’t look too good 😟. Says Waterloo is good and around £12 anyone been says 25 min walk thanks in advance I've parked in the street at the back a no of times. NOt that many spaces but arrive early and go and eat. Elephant and Castle, pick the right exit and its more like a 2 min walk., wrong one and I still think 5 mins covers it. There's a large 'food garden' opposite which is a decent place to scoff prior. |
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540 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Jun 15, 2018 16:21:23 GMT
Thanks my snow 👍 is elephant and castle multi storey and safe ? And open till after matinee ? Would you know ... partner has expensive car I have a little Adam ... that not a euphemism lol 😆 thinking if better to use my 4 yr old basic car and park on road ? Or his £££ and park Waterloo car park and walk x
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2,480 posts
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Post by zahidf on Jun 15, 2018 17:43:44 GMT
saw it last night. Thought it was great, though it dragged a LITTLE bit at the end.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jun 15, 2018 21:01:00 GMT
Thanks my snow 👍 is elephant and castle multi storey and safe ? And open till after matinee ? Would you know ... partner has expensive car I have a little Adam ... that not a euphemism lol 😆 thinking if better to use my 4 yr old basic car and park on road ? Or his £££ and park Waterloo car park and walk x Sorry don't know any more. Without wishing to tempt fate, car cime in London is not at all what is was. When Stereo's could be pulled from a dashboard or dirty rings on a windscreen indicated an early expensive TomTom or just plain old keying the paintwork - I dont worrry anymore and I live in the inner city. Good luck. |
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540 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Jun 16, 2018 17:55:21 GMT
Well I’ve been round the rink and did I love it  ? I have both soundtracks and loved the Coventry Belgrade production over 10years ago now I wanted To fall in love with it all over again and to most parts I did .... loved the set and the initimacy of it all works well for this show .... the male cast were really great ... and Caroline o Conner as Anna was FABULOUS! Loved every note and glance and nuance she milked every ounce out of the part and hung it out to dry it deserves a transfer just for her Gemma as angel .... I liked her she has a great rich silky voice but here’s the the big but ..... she didn’t really hit the money notes well she sort of did but seeemd undermiked ? Was difficult to hear a lot of her songs ... The huge disappointment for me was ALL the children the big song with that money note at the end that brings you to your feet had been completely taken out at least 45 sec of the song just cut and faded into another I’d not heard before I loved the first half better than second which is not usually the case .... think I missed the original hers to rink ending And like others have said not too sure about the first song and opening scene being changed and cut out ..... got me thinking with angels first big song moved to end of first half then her big notes in second half being cut out completely was this for the show or for the actress ? Was worth the 260 mile round trip drive ... and managed to park behind theatre so that’s a bonus too .... and glad I saw it but unlike Coventry won’t want to go another 3 times |
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Post by sf on Jun 16, 2018 20:54:28 GMT
And like others have said not too sure about the first song and opening scene being changed and cut out ..... got me thinking with angels first big song moved to end of first half then her big notes in second half being cut out completely was this for the show or for the actress ?
Those changes are both in the currently-licenced version of the script, I think. The revised script was published in 2008 (although there's also a note at the top of it saying it was revised in May 1995 - or at least, there is in the perusal excerpt on the Samuel French website), and the song list at the beginning exactly reflects this production, except this production inserts an interval after 'Colored Lights'.
The original published script, which the 2008 script supersedes, presented the show in two acts. The revised version cuts the intermission and makes some changes to the book - it cuts Uncle Fausto, which is the one change that's an improvement - and it also somewhat rewrites 'All the Children in a Row'. I think the stuff about the phone book dates from this revision as well - at least, there's video floating around of Minnelli singing the song in the original Broadway production and it doesn't include those lines, and I don't remember them in the revival at Richmond (any big changes to the material would have passed me by when I saw the production at the Wythenshawe Forum, but by the time I saw the Orange Tree revival I was familiar enough with the Broadway cast album that I would almost certainly have noticed any changes, and I'm geeky enough about that sort of thing that they'd have stuck in my mind).
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 16, 2018 21:33:15 GMT
How interesting. I went into it with no pre-knowledge or conceptions other than I am a big fan of Kander and Edd (only familiar with their most popular works, I'll admit) and I love Caroline O'Connor.
I must say it wasn't exactly my cup of tea and I was left feeling quite underwhelmed. It was nothing I hadn't seen before. Typical family/domestic drama.
K & E's hallmarks for me are edgy subjects, black comedy, satire, subversion and drama. There was really none of this in The Rink.
It had of moments of sentiments, which I found occasionally touching, but aside from being a star vehicle for whoever plays Arna and some pleasant songs (although only "Coloured Lights" I would truly consider a K & E classic), it was not that much to write home about.
3 and a half out of 5.
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? I have both soundtracks and loved the Coventry Belgrade production over 10years ago now 
