2,394 posts
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Post by theatreian on Sept 10, 2022 9:01:14 GMT
Yes it was strange. I am not a fan of the new staging and the phrasing of many of the songs seemed different. The whole spectacle seemed smaller and why it was messed with so much is beyond me. Although I am sure there are many who feel the opposite.
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Post by SuttonPeron on Sept 10, 2022 10:51:39 GMT
I prefer the original staging, mainly because it´s a very unique concept and extremely well-done, the characters felt more real (especially the Thenardiers), and the story darker. But I agree the sound is absolutely top-notch, the band sounds better than ever and the cast is extraordinary. I can´t wait to go again.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 13, 2022 9:59:24 GMT
Can’t wait to go back to this. Especially as I have some theatre tokens burning a hole in my pocket…
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Post by A.Ham on Sept 27, 2022 9:22:24 GMT
Got to see the final performance of the 2021/22 cast on Sunday afternoon and so glad I was able to be there.
The atmosphere was great - lots of die-hard fans in and the front row was full of excitable ladies of a certain age determined to give Bradley Jaden and the other departing cast members a worthy send off.
Stars got a prolonged standing ovation, as did On My Own and Empty Chairs… with each of the performers clearly moved by the response. By the curtain call many were fighting back tears with Harry Apps in particular crying his eyes out. Many of this cast have been with the show through Covid, into the aborted and socially-distanced runs of the Staged Concert and then this past year in the full production again, which itself has been impacted by Covid-related absences and cancelled shows, particularly last December. So they’ve been through a heck of a lot together and leaving must feel particularly hard when they’ve all pulled together to keep the show running through those hard times. What a cast.
I’ll certainly be going to see the new cast soon, but this particular group of performers have become very special to me, having made repeated visits to the Staged Concert last summer as I first got back to theatre after the long break thanks to the pandemic. Here’s hoping we see Bradley Jaden, Harry Apps, Luke McCall and the others in other shows very soon. Rumours are that Bradley may be going to Phantom so I’d definitely book to see him in that.
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Sept 27, 2022 13:59:31 GMT
Do we know who the covers are for the principal roles?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Sept 27, 2022 14:08:08 GMT
Do we know who the covers are for the principal roles? PRINCIPAL, FIRST COVER, SECOND COVER, THIRD COVER Jon Robyns, Christopher Jacobsen (alt), Brad Barnley David Thaxton, Adam Robert Lewis, Donald Craig Manuel Jordan Shaw, Cameron Burt, Harry Jack Robert Tripolino, Benjamin Karran, Louis Emmanuel Ava Brennan, Natalie Chua, Natalie Green Nathania Ong, Bryony Duncan, Jo Stephenson, Yazmin King Lulu-Mae Pears, Phoebe Williams, Jo Stephenson Gerard Carey, Bart Lambert, Sam Peggs Josefina Gabrielle, Jodie Nolan, Georgie Lovatt edit, wow this did not format well at all but you get the idea |
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Post by inthenose on Sept 27, 2022 14:48:56 GMT
Do we know who the covers are for the principal roles? PRINCIPAL, FIRST COVER, SECOND COVER, THIRD COVER Jon Robyns, Christopher Jacobsen (alt), Brad Barnley David Thaxton, Adam Robert Lewis, Donald Craig Manuel Jordan Shaw, Cameron Burt, Harry Jack Robert Tripolino, Benjamin Karran, Louis Emmanuel Ava Brennan, Natalie Chua, Natalie Green Nathania Ong, Bryony Duncan, Jo Stephenson, Yazmin King Lulu-Mae Pears, Phoebe Williams, Jo Stephenson Gerard Carey, Bart Lambert, Sam Peggs Josefina Gabrielle, Jodie Nolan, Georgie Lovatt edit, wow this did not format well at all but you get the idea Thank you! |
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Post by inthenose on Sept 27, 2022 14:49:36 GMT
Any relation between Donald Craig Manuel and Paul Manuel, do we know?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Sept 27, 2022 22:31:38 GMT
just got home from the new cast and david thaxton is absolutely in top form. I cannot recommend enough going to see him
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Post by inthenose on Sept 28, 2022 4:34:41 GMT
just got home from the new cast and david thaxton is absolutely in top form. I cannot recommend enough going to see him He has improved? Brilliant!!! |
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 4, 2022 10:46:31 GMT
Don't know what was up with Chris Jacobsen yesterday afternoon but he absolutely knocked it out of the park with an iconic 10-second long final note in Valjean's Soliloquy and the most dazzling Bring Him Home I've heard from him yet... all this at a random weekday matinee! Ok, not that random- initially booked to catch Adam Robert Lewis' debut Javert show- a gorgeous debut btw, cannot wait to see more of his Javert- but instead got the most memorable show I've seen in years. Wow! 🤪
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Post by digne on Nov 4, 2022 13:59:47 GMT
I was there yesterday evening after I'd seen the cover announcements, and I also really enjoyed Chris Jacobsen's performance - especially after the last few times I've seen Jon Robyns, he always appeared to be struggling with a few of the notes.
Did the Suicide work at the matinee? In the evening, I saw Adam Robert Lewis reach behind him as if to feel if the crane was in place, then he simply jumped down from the parapet onto the stage and walked backwards off the stage, with the crane nowhere to be seen.
I really enjoyed the physicality he brought to his Javert, without some of the over-the-top martial arts moves I've seen during the Confrontation recently. (David Thaxton's first show, Jon Robyns took him out with a drop kick... Really ridiculous.)
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Post by inthenose on Nov 4, 2022 14:31:54 GMT
You must, he was exceptional when I saw him - also at a random midweek matinee. He’s really very, very good nowadays.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Nov 4, 2022 15:39:25 GMT
David Thaxton's first show, Jon Robyns took him out with a drop kick. This was so funny. I thought surely this isn't the new official blocking. I have since seen Jon and David again and it was the old blocking of the punch to the face, so I assume maybe David hadn't reached his spot in time so Jon improvised? But also yes, I echo what everyone else above has said. Chris is absolutely fantastic as JVJ, vocally better than both Jon and Luke (when he was still in the show). |
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 4, 2022 17:03:29 GMT
digne Yes it worked at the matinee, though one could also clearly see Adam reaching behind him to make sure all was in place (I chalked it up to first performance nerves). I've also heard the swirling projections weren't working either last evening, weird- of all places to fail! In this staging, this scene is the one that needs a bit of stage magic the most, ha Both Thaxton and ARL are a bit lumbering, wolflike, but Adam reveals his meditative/introspective side more- the contrast made his 2 big solos pretty captivating, I thought. inthenose that's so funny, maybe his philosophy is 'random weekday matinee? no we're not going to just go through the motions, let's absolutely knock their socks off'
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 4, 2022 17:05:07 GMT
Which strings do we have to pull to get Chris in Phantom? lol
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Post by inthenose on Nov 4, 2022 17:52:14 GMT
Which strings do we have to pull to get Chris in Phantom? lol Have an agent who is very friendly with Paul Wooller is an excellent idea. Bradley Jaden is the next Phantom. |
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Post by inthenose on Nov 4, 2022 17:53:39 GMT
digne Yes it worked at the matinee, though one could also clearly see Adam reaching behind him to make sure all was in place (I chalked it up to first performance nerves). I've also heard the swirling projections weren't working either last evening, weird- of all places to fail! In this staging, this scene is the one that needs a bit of stage magic the most, ha Both Thaxton and ARL are a bit lumbering, wolflike, but Adam reveals his meditative/introspective side more- the contrast made his 2 big solos pretty captivating, I thought. inthenose that's so funny, maybe his philosophy is 'random weekday matinee? no we're not going to just go through the motions, let's absolutely knock their socks off' Please read my full (very lengthy) review on the previous page. The show is in great nick. |
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 5, 2022 0:09:36 GMT
Please read my full (very lengthy) review on the previous page. The show is in great nick. No, I can definitely attest to that! Only one 5 min show stop over the 12 shows I've seen in the past 4 months...  |
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718 posts
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Post by theatremiss on Nov 5, 2022 14:04:04 GMT
I couldn’t agree more regarding this Jacobsen, one of the most underrated and humble performers I have come across. I’ve been following his career for years and can’t understand why he’s never been the main lead in a West End show. I remember years ago he was alternate JVJ and I’d often go up every couple of weeks to see his performance. I’ve also seen him sing with Ria Jones and Wynne Evans (Go Compare man).who was Chris’s coach as he is opera trained rather than MT I believe. He would make a fabulous Phantom and someone somewhere needs to make it happen
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Post by cezbear on Nov 5, 2022 14:12:25 GMT
Does Chris have a regular scheduled show as Valjean? You've all convinced me I need to go!
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Post by theatremiss on Nov 5, 2022 14:14:53 GMT
Does Chris have a regular scheduled show as Valjean? You've all convinced me I need to go! I believe alternate in Fri, but I’d double check to be sure |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Nov 5, 2022 14:15:34 GMT
his scheduled show is a friday evening, but jon has a few holiday dates which is why he's been on a few mid week shows too
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 5, 2022 16:35:47 GMT
Does Chris have a regular scheduled show as Valjean? You've all convinced me I need to go! all fridays, plus he's on this evening too... then 25-27 nov... then 9-11 dec... |
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 5, 2022 16:59:20 GMT
I couldn’t agree more regarding this Jacobsen, one of the most underrated and humble performers I have come across. I’ve been following his career for years and can’t understand why he’s never been the main lead in a West End show. I remember years ago he was alternate JVJ and I’d often go up every couple of weeks to see his performance. I’ve also seen him sing with Ria Jones and Wynne Evans (Go Compare man).who was Chris’s coach as he is opera trained rather than MT I believe. He would make a fabulous Phantom and someone somewhere needs to make it happen He played Cable in a 2014 production of South Pacific, but that seems to have had absolutely no documentation at all (apart from a few photos) :/ dying to hear his solo in that! (Anyway apologies for going slightly off-topic here) |
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