526 posts
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Post by danielwhit on Dec 22, 2021 23:55:17 GMT
John Owen Jones on as Valjean tonight. Lucky audience! I know Philip Griffiths has the record for the longest continuous playing of a role but surely JOJ must have the record for the longest non-continuous playing of a role! When did JOJ first play Valjean? For that point, when did he first play Phantom? |
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Post by raoul on Dec 23, 2021 0:33:51 GMT
I know Philip Griffiths has the record for the longest continuous playing of a role but surely JOJ must have the record for the longest non-continuous playing of a role! When did JOJ first play Valjean? For that point, when did he first play Phantom? I worked at The Palace Theatre between 95 to 97 and remember he was a well respected member of the cast then, although I believe it was Jeff Leyton mainly on then. I remember John had an accident which rendered him out of the show around then also. Very sketchy memory! |
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Post by digne on Dec 23, 2021 2:45:39 GMT
I bought a last minute ticket for the evening show after they announced all the 2nd covers that were on for the matinee and was surprised by JOJ instead of 2nd cover Valjean - what a treat! The show is staged as a concert with socially distanced folding chairs for the actors on stage; they all put their masks back on after singing their parts. They must be trying really hard to keep the show going until Christmas.
JOJ announced that tomorrow will be the same, if someone wants to grab a last minute ticket. The theatre was half empty, which I've never seen before despite having seen this show more than I can count.
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Post by firefingers on Dec 23, 2021 12:49:15 GMT
Cancelled today and tomorrow. When the longest running musical in town can't field a concert cast you know you've got a big problem.
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4,021 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Dec 23, 2021 20:05:26 GMT
When did JOJ first play Valjean? For that point, when did he first play Phantom? According to Wikipedia, Valjean full time in 1998 having previously understudied, so the understudying must be the 95-97 period referred to by raoul . The Phantom in 2001. |
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Post by scarpia on Dec 23, 2021 21:32:03 GMT
Even though he was a little bit too young for Valjean at that time, JOJ was superb in it even then. And it only got better when he did it later at the Queen's. I liked him in the Connor version when it first toured (in fact I think a lot of the plaudits were for the cast), but as the show has got more and more slimmed down and commercial/tacky, I'm not sure even seeing JOJ in the role again would tempt me back to the Sondheim.
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Post by inthenose on Dec 24, 2021 7:00:10 GMT
JOJ is absolutely phenomenal as JVJ.
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Post by cavocado on Dec 24, 2021 10:39:50 GMT
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Post by tsxmitw on Jan 6, 2022 7:37:57 GMT
Grand Circle was closed last night and half the stalls/dress circle empty.
Is this usual for Les Mis on a weeknight in early Jan or a sign that Covid absences are hitting audience numbers pretty hard?
As for the performance itself, we had a couple of understudies on but it all felt largely phoned in.
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Post by Figaro on Jan 6, 2022 8:02:57 GMT
Grand Circle was closed last night and half the stalls/dress circle empty. Is this usual for Les Mis on a weeknight in early Jan or a sign that Covid absences are hitting audience numbers pretty hard? As for the performance itself, we had a couple of understudies on but it all felt largely phoned in. No tourists. |
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Post by tsxmitw on Jan 6, 2022 8:53:04 GMT
Grand Circle was closed last night and half the stalls/dress circle empty. Is this usual for Les Mis on a weeknight in early Jan or a sign that Covid absences are hitting audience numbers pretty hard? As for the performance itself, we had a couple of understudies on but it all felt largely phoned in. No tourists. Can’t be doing much for company morale. |
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Post by viserys on Jan 6, 2022 10:18:01 GMT
Grand Circle was closed last night and half the stalls/dress circle empty. Is this usual for Les Mis on a weeknight in early Jan or a sign that Covid absences are hitting audience numbers pretty hard? As for the performance itself, we had a couple of understudies on but it all felt largely phoned in. Um, I was there last night, too and the Grand Circle wasn't closed... I'd say it was about half-full, Dress Circle and Stalls about two-thirds full. Do you have a list of who we actually saw? I didn't see a list anywhere. Most first casts I could identify by look but who was Eponine? Agree that some parts felt phoned in, but I was more dismayed how small the orchestra sounded (was the first time I've seen this new version). |
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Post by Dave B on Jan 6, 2022 10:41:26 GMT
Grand Circle was closed last night and half the stalls/dress circle empty. Is this usual for Les Mis on a weeknight in early Jan or a sign that Covid absences are hitting audience numbers pretty hard? As for the performance itself, we had a couple of understudies on but it all felt largely phoned in. Interesting, we were there on Monday Tuesday evening. GC was open and at least half full. DC was a little over half full and only small gaps noticeable in stalls.
No cast sheet and I'm not familiar enough with the normal cast to have noticed any understudies. From our side, it didn't appear phoned in. There wasn't anything lacklustre I could point to and certainly at curtain call the cast seemed pleased there was an audience - I thought they gave us back a very warm reaction.
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Post by daniel on Jan 6, 2022 11:28:45 GMT
Grand Circle was definitely open last night because I was up there!
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Post by digne on Jan 6, 2022 16:43:13 GMT
The cast list is shown on the screen directly next to the door when you get in, left of the merch stand. It slowly circles through slides so you have to stand in front of it for a few minutes and wait, which is quite annoying.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 6, 2022 16:57:17 GMT
The cast list is shown on the screen directly next to the door when you get in, left of the merch stand. It slowly circles through slides so you have to stand in front of it for a few minutes and wait, which is quite annoying. I’m glad I’m in the circle on Sunday so will be able to get to it as there isn’t one for the grand circle. When I last went (pre the current craziness) I asked if any covers were on, was told to wait in the bar and eventually led down to the foyer. |
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Post by tsxmitw on Jan 7, 2022 17:04:48 GMT
Grand Circle was closed last night and half the stalls/dress circle empty. Is this usual for Les Mis on a weeknight in early Jan or a sign that Covid absences are hitting audience numbers pretty hard? As for the performance itself, we had a couple of understudies on but it all felt largely phoned in. Um, I was there last night, too and the Grand Circle wasn't closed... I'd say it was about half-full, Dress Circle and Stalls about two-thirds full. Do you have a list of who we actually saw? I didn't see a list anywhere. Most first casts I could identify by look but who was Eponine? Agree that some parts felt phoned in, but I was more dismayed how small the orchestra sounded (was the first time I've seen this new version). Ah, apologies - our usher said it was closed, but on reflection we may have misinterpreted what she said. It was a full cast with the exception of Luke McCall as understudy valjean and Jessie Hart as 1st cover eponine. |
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Post by viserys on Jan 10, 2022 12:50:11 GMT
It was a full cast with the exception of Luke McCall as understudy valjean and Jessie Hart as 1st cover eponine. Aaaah, thanks! Yes, I thought I recognized Jessie from the photo (I knew it couldn't be the South East Asian first cast!), but I had no idea it was a different Valjean and here was me telling everyone how disappointed I was with Jon Robyns. Couldn't tell one beardy bloke from another but now that I look at McCall, yes, I can see it! |
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Post by amp09 on Jan 11, 2022 0:27:16 GMT
Is this still being staged as a concert version as someone mentioned earlier in the thread? I was going to catch it this week but only if I’m getting the full show.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 11, 2022 9:06:43 GMT
Is this still being staged as a concert version as someone mentioned earlier in the thread? I was going to catch it this week but only if I’m getting the full show. It is the full show again. There were covers for Jean Valjean, Eponine and Cossette (and some other roles but not marked as clearly) but the full staging when I went on Sunday |
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Post by danb on Jan 11, 2022 9:07:17 GMT
Was McCall JVJ cover on the tour at one point? I recognise the name.
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Post by matilda1 on Jan 11, 2022 14:56:58 GMT
I think Luke McCall plays JVJ every. Thursday performance as the alternate plus covering the role at times too.
Hd is generally registered as being a v good JVJ.
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Post by matilda1 on Jan 11, 2022 14:57:30 GMT
regarded!
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Jan 11, 2022 23:21:21 GMT
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Post by LaLuPone on Jan 24, 2022 20:04:02 GMT
Kelly Agbowu will be on as Madame T for both shows this Wednesday and next Wednesday if we have any other fans of her on here! As she proved in Waitress, she’s a fantastic comedy actress.
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