422 posts
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Post by carmella1 on Jan 27, 2023 15:56:33 GMT
Love Thaxton.
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2,394 posts
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Post by theatreian on Jan 27, 2023 16:12:42 GMT
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 3, 2023 10:44:42 GMT
I'm looking at tickets for next weekend (trying to catch this with a friend while I'm in London) but even the cheapest seat up at the back is almost £60. I don't suppose any discounts ever pop up, do they?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 3, 2023 10:46:43 GMT
I don't suppose any discounts ever pop up, do they? I'd buy via TKTS on the day. They reduce seats to around £35 or £49.50 |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 3, 2023 10:47:10 GMT
Also, looks like Jon's last performance will be February 25th.
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 3, 2023 11:10:58 GMT
I don't suppose any discounts ever pop up, do they? I'd buy via TKTS on the day. They reduce seats to around £35 or £49.50 Ahh perfect, we'll try that. Thanks for your help. We really wanted to catch Jon before he leaves! |
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309 posts
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Post by jm25 on Feb 4, 2023 23:11:46 GMT
Watched this yesterday for the first time in what must be 12+ years. Believe it or not, I hated it the first time I saw it - I was (obviously) much younger and had gone in totally blind, with no idea it was fully sung through. Thought the first song was going on for absolutely ages until I twigged it was just going to keep on going! I was also sat right up at the back of the gods and felt like I missed half of it.
Anyway, wanted to give it a fairer go and went in this time knowing what to expect and with much better seats (front row, half price!)... and I'm pleased to say that I really enjoyed it! The vocal talent on display was just incredible and I felt so much more invested in the story than I did the first time round or indeed in any of the TV/film adaptations I've seen since. The set felt a bit smaller but I'm not sure if that's just my memory playing tricks.
I was admittedly a little disappointed when I realised that the understudies for both JVJ and Javert were on. But that lasted for all of about 10 seconds when I realised how great they both were, Javert especially. I did notice that this JVJ struggled with a note at the end of one of the songs, as I think others on this thread have alluded to, but he more than made up for it with the rest of his performance. If anything, it was perhaps one or two of the other 'regular' cast members I was slightly less impressed by, but Fantine in particular I thought was excellent.
Given its status in West End history, I'm really pleased this return visit changed my mind about the show. Would happily see it again at some point because those ~3 hours were a real delight and just flew by. But I'll need to wait for another OLT sale because those non-discounted prices are insane!
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 12, 2023 13:50:06 GMT
Thanks again thistimetomorrow for the tip - I managed to grab two stalls seats for £50 each, down from £110 on tkts website the morning on the show (still way more than I usually like to spend, but we were determined to see it, and were actually really impressed with the view, and legroom, from our seats in Row R). As for the show itself, I REALLY enjoyed it. I'd seen Les Mis a few years ago and then caught the concert-staged version last summer (also with Jon Robyns as JVJ) but this is definitely the most enjoyable experience I've had seeing Les Mis live. My friend and I had both seen Jon Robyns in several productions before, and he really shone here. A fantastic acting performance which really carried the show (as you would expect from the role of JVJ). I liked how the anger and trauma of JVJ's time in the chain-gang mellowed throughout the show, but was still perceivable until his end - not something I've noticed in other interpretations of the role. The confrontation with Javert was a lot more violent than I remember from the older production (in general there were a lot of enjoyable aspects of the new staging which I think improved upon the previous version). Vocal highlights were Valjean's Soliloquy and, surprisingly for me since it's not a song I usually particularly enjoy, Bring Him Home. Overall, a fantastic performance. I'll definitely be booking to see him as the Phantom in PotO. Other standout performances were Nathania Ong as Eponine, and Robert Tripolino as Marius was much more lovesick and childish than I've previously seen, which really suited the way in which the other student characters regard him. I loved the lighting and sound design for the barricade moments, and the sewers scenes, and didn't miss the turntable at all throughout. Les Mis wasn't a show I was desperate to return to, but I actually really enjoyed it. Goes to show it's worth revisiting the long runners every now and then... |
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41 posts
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Post by llevy453 on Feb 16, 2023 11:15:38 GMT
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Post by danb on Feb 16, 2023 11:26:24 GMT
I love that Sarah Lark is still with the show. I’m surprised that CM would let anyone stay so long in one of his productions these days. It just goes to show what an asset she is.
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Post by digne on Feb 16, 2023 12:24:58 GMT
Interesting - I remember when I saw Stewart Clarke in Be More Chill a while ago, he was the highlight of the show for me and I kept thinking back then he'd make a good Javert.
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5,868 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 16, 2023 14:06:23 GMT
Wow. Hot Javert and Hot Jean Valjean alert.
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146 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 16, 2023 17:56:22 GMT
Any thoughts on Lucie Jones returning?
Hopefully she will appear more regularly?
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219 posts
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Post by benny20 on Feb 16, 2023 17:59:51 GMT
Lucie probably fed up with the crazy Wicked fans
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2,418 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Feb 16, 2023 18:02:18 GMT
She should be fairly reliable this time. It's only 20 minutes' work and then a 90 minute lie-down 😉
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1,046 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 16, 2023 18:03:58 GMT
I just hope she doesn’t riff like she did in the concert version…
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5,168 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 16, 2023 18:19:05 GMT
25 minutes and then a bit of time on the barricade (or do a LuPone and sit in the dressing room/go to the pub for drink and come on for the last 5)
If her attendance isn't better...crikey
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Post by A.Ham on Feb 16, 2023 18:58:46 GMT
I enjoyed Lucie’s performance in the staged concert version of this so will be good to see her perform the role ‘fully’ so to speak. And yep, both Valjean and Javert look hot!
I’m going next week to catch Will Barrett as Valjean but will be booking again for this new cast. Especially excited to see Claire Machin as Madame T - loved her in Memphis and Mary Poppins and reckon she’ll do a great job in this.
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Post by jaybird89 on Feb 16, 2023 19:01:19 GMT
I just hope she doesn’t riff like she did in the concert version… I heard her say on a podcast they asked her to sing the songs more pop sounding and with the riffs so I guess it depends what they want from her? I have really enjoyed her in Wicked but have been a bit surprised by her attendance but it is a much heavier sing and talk as well but I'm looking forward to seeing her in this as much as I don't care much for the new production. |
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Post by A.Ham on Feb 16, 2023 19:30:55 GMT
Just booked front row for my birthday in May - it’d be rude not to, right?!
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653 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 16, 2023 20:29:48 GMT
This is a cast I am excited to see, having not seen the show since last year. I'm not a fan of Jon Robyns as Valjean, so always tried to get a Luke McCall Valjean show whenever I saw it (a Luke McCall/Bradley Jaden combo rivals the new JVJ/Javert pair for good looks), but am excited for Josh and Stewart in this, for the voices as much as the looks! Josh was a great Phantom before his run got cut short by lockdown. Also pleased to see Claire Machin who is great in everything she does, hopefully a step up from Josefina (who was OK at best).
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5,868 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 16, 2023 20:46:31 GMT
Any thoughts on Lucie Jones returning? Hopefully she will appear more regularly? Was she never on as Elphaba then? |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 17, 2023 0:35:45 GMT
A bit unhappy that the principal cast will now only have 1 poc because they've replaced the 2 leaving poc cast members with white performers.
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Post by sukhavati on Feb 17, 2023 8:12:12 GMT
Am I the only person who thinks that Josh is not going to look believable as JVJ? From the stalls, that is not going to look like the face of someone who spent the last 19 years in hard labour. Was he thrown in gael at the age of 8 for stealing "a mouthful of bread?" Granted the makeup and wigs will help as the show moves along, but he's got a baby face...I didn't buy him as the Phantom either.
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121 posts
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Post by candela on Feb 17, 2023 9:26:22 GMT
Any thoughts on Lucie Jones returning? Hopefully she will appear more regularly? Was she never on as Elphaba then? No most of the time it was standby or 1st cover. Bit gutted on Lucie being Fantine. I was really hoping for Lauren Drew |
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