241 posts
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Post by justafan on Dec 19, 2019 0:09:52 GMT
It was a very good 4 stars from me. Excellent Javert; to my ear, Valjean was ever so slightly flat in "Bring Him Home". Nice projections, though the suicide scene was messy - needs more practice. It's Les Mis - the fresher version (now nearly 10 years old) is different but still good. Shame they've taken the epic church organ out/down in "Stars". Nice set, didn't miss the revolve. The theatre is beautiful; as good a job as the Victoria Palace. And free drinks from Cameron - what's not to like? Ummm, the view from C1 of upper circle. Poor in first half, rescued by upper level barricade action second half. The barricade scene loses the impact of the deaths somewhat, and carting Enjolras and Gavroche off in a wheelbarrow feels a bit odd to me. It's a good show though and will outlive most humans. Vive la resistance, and let random clapping in time be reserved for "Only Fools and Horses". EDIT: fantastic sound design which in my opinion set a new bar for quality. Could see the sound design picking up awards. Not so much the surround sound bullet pings, though they are nice. The orchestra sounded utterly fantastic. Oh and Claude Michel Schonberg was in the house too. I was so disappointed with the Javert suicide scene - but listening to two guys on my way out they thought it was a missed stage management cue ... I loved the fact that enjolras punched the air when he took his bow - I’m sure that summed up how the cast felt - I was other end of row C in upper circle to you and the two people in row B in front of me couldn’t see a thing when the people in row A leaned forward so I think row B must be a row to be avoided - certainly at the extremes due to the rake or lack of it. I was very annoyed by the number of people who put their glasses on the brand new cushioned bit of the upper circle and I must be critical of the ushers not shouting at them a lot - out of interest how did the free drink from Cameron work? I’m guessing that when I ordered two glasses of vino - one for the interval and the bill only came to a tenner - that was my free drink (wish I’d ordered champagne now!!) EDIT - oh and I missed the revolve less than I thought I would! |
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 19, 2019 1:04:00 GMT
It was a very good 4 stars from me. Excellent Javert; to my ear, Valjean was ever so slightly flat in "Bring Him Home". Nice projections, though the suicide scene was messy - needs more practice. It's Les Mis - the fresher version (now nearly 10 years old) is different but still good. Shame they've taken the epic church organ out/down in "Stars". Nice set, didn't miss the revolve. The theatre is beautiful; as good a job as the Victoria Palace. And free drinks from Cameron - what's not to like? Ummm, the view from C1 of upper circle. Poor in first half, rescued by upper level barricade action second half. The barricade scene loses the impact of the deaths somewhat, and carting Enjolras and Gavroche off in a wheelbarrow feels a bit odd to me. It's a good show though and will outlive most humans. Vive la resistance, and let random clapping in time be reserved for "Only Fools and Horses". EDIT: fantastic sound design which in my opinion set a new bar for quality. Could see the sound design picking up awards. Not so much the surround sound bullet pings, though they are nice. The orchestra sounded utterly fantastic. Oh and Claude Michel Schonberg was in the house too. I was so disappointed with the Javert suicide scene - but listening to two guys on my way out they thought it was a missed stage management cue ... I loved the fact that enjolras punched the air when he took his bow - I’m sure that summed up how the cast felt - I was other end of row C in upper circle to you and the two people in row B in front of me couldn’t see a thing when the people in row A leaned forward so I think row B must be a row to be avoided - certainly at the extremes due to the rake or lack of it. I was very annoyed by the number of people who put their glasses on the brand new cushioned bit of the upper circle and I must be critical of the ushers not shouting at them a lot - out of interest how did the free drink from Cameron work? I’m guessing that when I ordered two glasses of vino - one for the interval and the bill only came to a tenner - that was my free drink (wish I’d ordered champagne now!!) EDIT - oh and I missed the revolve less than I thought I would! Oh, I know. The level of plebdom hit new heights. What kind of idiot puts their drink on the edge of a balcony in a newly refurbished theatre? Ignorant cretins. Did you see pinky and perky in row b get up in both halves to go for a dubious loo break. Together. I had vowed to throw them over the edge if they did it one more time. Yes, the end seats for rows B and C are appalling. I asked the usher if I could move to the bench seats and she said no. £28.50 seat with a worse view than the bench seats in the Old Vic that cost £10. The sound though... That made up for it... The free drink was for the interval - I think your wine might have been charged... A nice gesture but I'd have preferred a slightly less crap view. Those seats are almost unsellable in my view. Plus far too much wing action and not enough upstage centre action. I'm concerned how many folk in the audience want to panto up the Thenardiers... Sinister is the way forward for those two, not playing for laughs. Anyway, I'm glad I went. I wont be going back any time soon though, although I did enjoy it alot. |
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7,060 posts
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Post by Jon on Dec 19, 2019 1:36:28 GMT
How is The Sondheim? Any difference from when it was the Queen's
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Post by digne on Dec 19, 2019 1:52:43 GMT
We must have been sitting close - I was sitting next to those two guys, who were constantly talking through the entire show. Fortunately they left for good halfway through the second act.
It's interesting how they managed to squash the set down. On Broadway I could swear the stage was at least twice as wide. It did feel a bit claustrophobic on stage at times with all those buildings and barricades taking up nearly all the available space.
Usually, there's some sort of crane that comes out of the back at the stage for Javert's Suicide - it hooks into what I think has to be a harness he's wearing, and that's how you get him floating in the air while the crane slowly pulls him back and out of the door that's usaully too dark for the audience to see. Today, nothing came out of the back, and I wonder if they decided to go without for the Sondheim because of space issues, or if there was some sort of problem?
Instead of floating back and off stage, Bradley just jumped from the bridge onto the stage and then slowly walked backwards - only the door at the back of the stage was slowly closing, and he reached it just when it had completely closed, so he had to awkwardly scurry off stage into the wings instead. Still less awkward that the floating-on-a-crane, in my opinion.
I already knew that I like Bradley's Javert, and nothing has changed there, though I think he'll be really good once another ten years have passed - age does give a certain gravitas that this role needs and which is hard to reach otherwise.
I've never seen Jon Robyns before, and after the recent Valjeans I was a bit worried. I'm not a fan of either Alfie Boe or Killian Donnelly, whose acting mostly tends to consist of looking vaguely angry.
Fortunately, Jon Robyns is a Valjean who actually acts. His BHH still seemed a bit weak, but that's probably nerves; I'm sure he'll grow into the role. Likewise, his acting choices seemed at times almost a little too much, but as it was a first preview, I'm sure he'll settle into it, and I'm just grateful that we're once more having a Valjean capable of expressing emotions.
To my surprise, I really enjoyed Mark Pearce's take on Thénardier, who went on as a cover with only 3 hours notice according to Cameron Mackintosh. After Matt Lucas' panto villain, his Thénardier was a real relief.
All in all, today's show gave me all the joy and excitement that made this my favourite show years ago, although I still think that we lost history with the original staging we shouldn't have lost.
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Post by 141920grm on Dec 19, 2019 1:59:03 GMT
The Thenardiers were a surprise highlight for me! I couldn't always hear Josefina well but she definitely commanded everyone's attention! Really enjoyed her, and such kudos to Mark for stepping in last minute and doing it with such panache! They hit the perfect balance of sinisterness and comedy- the way I enjoy the Thenardiers being played.
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1,929 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Dec 19, 2019 2:23:12 GMT
Does anybody have a full understudy list from the programme or somewhere else?
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Post by 141920grm on Dec 19, 2019 4:19:48 GMT
Does anybody have a full understudy list from the programme or somewhere else? Valjean: - Luke McCall
- Cellen Chugg Jones
Javert: - Richard Carson
- Rodney Earl Clarke
Cosette: - Emma Warren
- Claire O'Leary
Fantine: - Jessica Joslin
- Ellie Ann Lowe
Thenardier: Mme T: Eponine: - Jessie Hart
- Mared Williams
Marius: - Shane O'Riordan
- Harry Dunnett
Enjolras: - Leo Miles
- Samuel Wyn-Morris
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Post by 141920grm on Dec 19, 2019 4:39:39 GMT
Does anyone know who played Gavroche and Young Eponine tonight? lol
I recognised Ellie Shenker as Little Cosette, from the concert, but they hadn't got the cast board in place yet so clueless about the other 2...
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 19, 2019 7:11:58 GMT
Usually, there's some sort of crane that comes out of the back at the stage for Javert's Suicide - it hooks into what I think has to be a harness he's wearing, and that's how you get him floating in the air while the crane slowly pulls him back and out of the door that's usaully too dark for the audience to see. Today, nothing came out of the back, and I wonder if they decided to go without for the Sondheim because of space issues, or if there was some sort of problem? Instead of floating back and off stage, Bradley just jumped from the bridge onto the stage and then slowly walked backwards - only the door at the back of the stage was slowly closing, and he reached it just when it had completely closed, so he had to awkwardly scurry off stage into the wings instead. Still less awkward that the floating-on-a-crane, in my opinion. What a shame. The updated suicide effect is one of the huge improvements in the new version. |
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 19, 2019 7:58:45 GMT
How is The Sondheim? Any difference from when it was the Queen's Beautiful and plush, freshly decorated and fit for 2020. It feels cosy and classy. |
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 19, 2019 8:06:43 GMT
Usually, there's some sort of crane that comes out of the back at the stage for Javert's Suicide - it hooks into what I think has to be a harness he's wearing, and that's how you get him floating in the air while the crane slowly pulls him back and out of the door that's usaully too dark for the audience to see. Today, nothing came out of the back, and I wonder if they decided to go without for the Sondheim because of space issues, or if there was some sort of problem? Instead of floating back and off stage, Bradley just jumped from the bridge onto the stage and then slowly walked backwards - only the door at the back of the stage was slowly closing, and he reached it just when it had completely closed, so he had to awkwardly scurry off stage into the wings instead. Still less awkward that the floating-on-a-crane, in my opinion. What a shame. The updated suicide effect is one of the huge improvements in the new version. I agree - I loved it when I saw Earl Carpenter do it. Something failed last night as the scene kind of collapsed after the jump - the bridge was too slow to rise, the backdrop graphics were too slow to change and the swirl depicting water was also off cue. A general sense of "wtf just happened there" rippled around the audience. Teething problem probably. All in all though, a lovely evening. It'll tighten up. They need to rethink the B1/C1 and equivalent opposites in the upper circle. Truly awful view, though plush and comfortable padding. |
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 19, 2019 8:08:17 GMT
Digne - I pity you being sat next to those two attention seeking morons. Arrogant and disrespectful to the cast, the show and the audience. They also jumped the bar queue at half time.
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236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on Dec 19, 2019 14:26:49 GMT
Are the £17.50 seats in the upper circle worth it or is the view really terrible?
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 19, 2019 15:29:32 GMT
Are the £17.50 seats in the upper circle worth it or is the view really terrible? Where abouts are they? Mine was £28.50, Upper Circle C1 and was truly diabolical. I don't know how they have the audacity to sell it. If it wasn't for the sound (which was excellent) I'd have had a proper beef about it over a glass of mouldy wine with Cameron. |
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236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on Dec 19, 2019 15:47:57 GMT
Are the £17.50 seats in the upper circle worth it or is the view really terrible? Where abouts are they? Mine was £28.50, Upper Circle C1 and was truly diabolical. I don't know how they have the audacity to sell it. If it wasn't for the sound (which was excellent) I'd have had a proper beef about it over a glass of mouldy wine with Cameron. Yeah like the B1 - B2 seats. Is the view really that bad? |
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751 posts
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Post by horton on Dec 19, 2019 17:17:58 GMT
The Mackintosh bots are certainly on overdrive
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Post by 141920grm on Dec 19, 2019 18:05:51 GMT
@theatremonkey thanks for your answer! Would you also know which swing took Mark's place as Brujon? Heard Matthew and Sam both unexpectedly went on.
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Dec 19, 2019 23:34:54 GMT
Where abouts are they? Mine was £28.50, Upper Circle C1 and was truly diabolical. I don't know how they have the audacity to sell it. If it wasn't for the sound (which was excellent) I'd have had a proper beef about it over a glass of mouldy wine with Cameron. Yeah like the B1 - B2 seats. Is the view really that bad? If the people in front of you lean forward, unless you are tall, you'll see 2/3 of the stage. Alot happens DSL (audience right) which you'll miss. Sorry. They'll start getting complaints about the direction if they dont move upstage a bit. |
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Post by anthem on Dec 20, 2019 9:11:50 GMT
In terms of “panto” style, aren’t the Thénardiers meant to add a bit of levity to an otherwise bleak piece? Sure, they’re absolutely awful people but it provides some brief reprieve for the audience.
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Dec 20, 2019 9:55:00 GMT
Matt Lucas rejoining till early Feb.
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Post by 141920grm on Dec 20, 2019 13:22:07 GMT
He’s a popular Thenardier for sure, but if he reintroduces to this production that appalling audience behaviour that started in the concert- cheering and whistling upon entrance onstage, clapping along to Master of the House- I will be quite annoyed.
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 20, 2019 13:48:48 GMT
Matt Lucas rejoining till early Feb. The poor audience |
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Post by 141920grm on Dec 23, 2019 16:38:56 GMT
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526 posts
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Post by danielwhit on Dec 25, 2019 8:30:55 GMT
Twice the opportunity for increased ticket income, perchance? |
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