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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 2:10:35 GMT
What is the back row of the Grand like at the Phoenix? £25 tickets entice me. I sat in Row F and it's a great view. You don't miss anything at all and can see facial expressions.  |
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Post by eliza on Feb 11, 2019 7:36:27 GMT
A seating question...are the far side seats of the stalls (slightly reduced in price) that restricted a view? Sorry if this has been asked before! I was C1 and I think there was only one small bit I missed where everyone was looking at someone stood on the right and I couldn't see them, but I still had a good view of the rest of it, much better than I expected. I would probably sit either a bit more central and/or a bit further back if I went again but it was fine. |
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Post by macksennett on Feb 11, 2019 8:38:31 GMT
Thanks, that’s useful information.
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Post by eatbigsea on Feb 12, 2019 8:34:16 GMT
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Post by ensembleswings on Feb 12, 2019 10:34:16 GMT
Managed to grab a rush ticket so I’m heading back to see this again tonight! Does look like TodayTix have a real mix of seats available on rush, may just be any/all unsold seats, tried selling me a grand circle seat to begin with, declined that got offered back row of dress which I declined again then got offered row f of dress which I’ve bought.
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Post by danb on Feb 12, 2019 10:36:45 GMT
All gone when I had a look and only premiums (and rear upper) left. This is really good news moving forward surely?
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8,103 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 12, 2019 11:05:52 GMT
Managed to grab a rush ticket so I’m heading back to see this again tonight! Does look like TodayTix have a real mix of seats available on rush, may just be any/all unsold seats, tried selling me a grand circle seat to begin with, declined that got offered back row of dress which I declined again then got offered row f of dress which I’ve bought. Ah its you holding all the seats back 😁 I tried and couldn't get anything. |
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Post by Mark on Feb 12, 2019 11:13:00 GMT
All gone when I had a look and only premiums (and rear upper) left. This is really good news moving forward surely? Certainly not bad news to be getting 1000 people in every night. It really is a word of mouth show and time will tell if it can sustain. After opening they’ll probably start to do the tv rounds. I’m wondering if they might have some of the real people like Nick/Dianne/Beverley on the one show or something like that. Seems they are being very clever selling off excess seats on TodayTix rush at £25 a pop. Better than having empty seats, |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 14:35:14 GMT
For any like me, engineering and geekily minded, here's the revolve in testing.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 16:10:26 GMT
^ Should probably clarify, that they'll have something slightly more elaborate driving the mechanism on the show not just a standhand underneath with a drill!
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Post by david on Feb 12, 2019 16:13:59 GMT
^ Should probably clarify, that they'll have something slightly more elaborate driving the mechanism on the show not just a standhand underneath with a drill! Do they use very large hamsters on treadmills to drive the mechanism? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 16:20:58 GMT
^ Should probably clarify, that they'll have something slightly more elaborate driving the mechanism on the show not just a standhand underneath with a drill! Do they use very large hamsters on treadmills to drive the mechanism? No, they're very small so they can fit under the stage. Just lots of them. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Feb 12, 2019 16:24:58 GMT
^ Should probably clarify, that they'll have something slightly more elaborate driving the mechanism on the show not just a standhand underneath with a drill! Do they use very large hamsters on treadmills to drive the mechanism? Pfft; beavers. For authenticity. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 21:10:33 GMT
Finally coming in here to give a proper 'review'
I mean firstly what can I say other than to join the chorus of 'I loved it'. I came to this fairly late last year, having not heard it and not tried to see it on visits to New York when I was there. And it was something of not quite a slow burn but a creeping love of the recording, until I got to a point of not being able to put it down. To which end I was quietly devastated that I nearly didn't see it this weekend (long story about work commitments and changing tickets) but thankfully, with a bit of unexpected help I was able to get there!
So where to start? it's such an interesting one, because like in the musical we all will have our own 9/11 stories. For me, 9/11 and Canada has a great deal of resonance. I spent a year in Canada soon after 9/11 so the feel of early 00s Canada is one close to my heart (and one that's hard to explain) I was 17 so I have a pretty strong memory of the day and its aftermath. A little ways down the line too a friend of mine lost her brother, a firefighter to 9/11 related illness and injury...all to say there's some elements in there I felt particularly attached to. oh and I'm also super nerdy about aviation, so Beverley's story in it is one I am attached to.
For me one of the strongest moments in the piece is when the plane people 'see' what's happened for the first time. Because like the people of Gander we're all so used to those images, we forget there is a moment when people hadn't seen them. And the way they stage that, with them all looking outwards at the audience to the TV, it's incredible. Because in that moment we the audience all 'see' what they see on those screens, and that is fascinating, powerful and devastating all at once. But then it snaps back to something else, and moves on again.
And that is what works- it doesn't dwell on those moments, it leaves them with an audience to do what they will and weaves it into something else moving on, in the sense that the world was constantly moving on, things changing while they're all 'caught in a moment' up there, it's a really interesting way of weaving the stories.
And oh the stories. Do you know how weird people are when you interview them? do you know how crap and brilliant all at once their stories are? and to make a verbatim piece out of whatever mess of stories they got...genius. I don't agree that they are characactures, or too slight. I see them as a mish mash of characters like in any town, like you'd get on those planes.
I also appreciated the mix of people, and that cross section of how they were treated. We didn't need to dwell on them that wasn't the point- we saw, and we know how Muslims, people of colour were and are treated in a post 9/11 world and this gave us a taster, and that was enough. And yes, small town Canada is like that. Even the Moose.
Musically, and structurally it's great. Pitch perfect in fact. That's about all I can say on that.
And oh, Me and the Sky. It's devastating and beautiful. It's this gorgeous feminist song, from a woman who is all about who she's made herself and what she does. And then 'the thing I loved more than anything was used as the bomb' it's like a knife blow, and yet it's still an achingly hopeful song.
And that's the whole thing isn't it- full of devastating moments, that utterly cut to the heart of humanity, and the devastation of not just 9/11 but any personal tragedy. But it's also such a beautiful hymn to what humanity can be. And you cry at the sadness but also at how beautiful life and people can be...and couldn't we all do with a little more of that?
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Post by westendcub on Feb 12, 2019 21:47:40 GMT
Back from my 2nd trip to the rock, I can confirm ‘I am islander’ 🇨🇦
Today I could take it all on & way this cast is tight, they all work in unison & have such chemistry (including the band). Can just feel that are loving being part of this show which is so wonderful to be part of the audience.
These time I was up in Grand Circle B13 & it’s an excellent seat - great sightline & it’s a nice small theatre!q
Tears rolled again & the audience reaction at the end is such a buzz! 🎸🎻
Oh and today I put a pin on the board, I honoured Carlisle (where my dad’s side of the family is from & was home to me at my grandparents in Easter & summer’s in my childhood!) ❤️
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 23:33:56 GMT
Just got out of Waitress. I'll be telling all my friends to see this one out of the new musicals opening.
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Post by showtoones on Feb 13, 2019 2:35:30 GMT
Just got out of Waitress. I'll be telling all my friends to see this one out of the new musicals opening. Daniel - did you think Waitress was mediocre or worse? Sadly the show is just so predictable and dull with mundane “choreography” and while SUTBM is a great song, there isn’t one other song that’s memorable. I’m all for full employment for the actors and they’re working hard up there but something doesn’t click for me. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2019 2:52:46 GMT
Just got out of Waitress. I'll be telling all my friends to see this one out of the new musicals opening. Daniel - did you think Waitress was mediocre or worse? Sadly the show is just so predictable and dull with mundane “choreography” and while SUTBM is a great song, there isn’t one other song that’s memorable. I’m all for full employment for the actors and they’re working hard up there but something doesn’t click for me. I've shared my thoughts on the Waitress thread if you're interested as I don't wanna clog up this thread with stuff on another show. But this is the Best New Musical I've seen in a long while. |
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Post by dgjbear on Feb 13, 2019 6:52:42 GMT
Glad I got a ticket to this and not to Waitress
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Post by ctas on Feb 13, 2019 13:56:40 GMT
Saw this last week and absolutely loved it, although from the upper circle the volume was incredibly high. Is that just a curse of being near the speakers thing?
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Post by MrsCondomine on Feb 13, 2019 14:57:15 GMT
Thank you so much for your beautiful review @emicardiff - I think I will be in floods of tears when I go to see this, and your review itself made my eyes prickle.
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Post by theatrenewbie on Feb 13, 2019 16:51:13 GMT
Wow just seen come from away! So so so so good I urge everyone to go see it. The staging was fantastic. And I got very attached to the monkey story (you’ll have to watch it to know)
Got rush seats £22 row e central stalls bargain, at around 10.30.
GO
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Post by leanne23 on Feb 13, 2019 17:49:12 GMT
Managed to get Row L Centre Stalls for this evening via todaytix at 3.45pm!
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Post by musicalmarge on Feb 13, 2019 23:55:10 GMT
Just got out of Waitress. I'll be telling all my friends to see this one out of the new musicals opening. I saw both on broadway last year and also much preferred Come From Away to the slickly sweet Waitress. We are allowed that opinion. Both are good successful shows. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2019 13:19:52 GMT
So I saw this yesterday afternoon - background is that I wasn't a massive fan of the CD but the story and premise intrigued me as did the overwhelmingly positive reviews. 9/11 was also such an important and tragic day that has shaped the world ever since so nobody could deny it's an important topic.
A full house, an immediate standing ovation from a very receptive audience. I still dislike the Phoenix theatre - it's cramped and uncomfortable and I think sight lines are poor. I had aisle row P of Stalls (a deal on GILT) but had a tall man in seat in front of me which as seats are not offset and a poor rake lead to quite a severe view obstruction which had I paid full price would have really annoyed me! Oh and stage looked VERY high - to the extent that the first 4-5 rows really should not be top non premium price.
Anyway, to the show - for me it definitely falls into the category of "glad I've seen it; I enjoyed it; won't be rushing back." Also perhaps, incredible production of a less than incredible musical (a bit like some people on here have said of Company). The cast were all outstanding , the staging was very effective, the set although very simple worked and the lighting and sound were excellent. Having the band on stage and as part of the action in certain scenes was great.
The piece itself I liked but I didn't love. It is of course by it's nature an engaging story, the best of human nature in an awful situation. But it was slightly trans Atlantic saccharine at times (these people were pretty much Saints!) with little light and shade. There was some very lazy stereotyping (the uptight awkward Brit, the camp hysterical gay, the Egyptian obviously being a suspected terrorist etc). And it was for me ultimately TOO feel good. Of course what happened there was inspiring but these were DESPERATE times of intense grief and I'd have rather left theatre feeling melancholy about that time in our history with a silver cloud of what had happened in Gander. Hannah's story for example was the one time I felt real sadness - I could have done with more of that (call me weird lol). The show moved on very quickly and the audience was soon clapping along to the finale as if they were at Joseph.
But my biggest issue - and I acknowledge must people don't have this and it's totally down to personal taste - the music. For me it added very little. I ultimately felt this show was enjoyable and emotional in spite of the score rather than because of it. I was desperate for a sweeping melody or a song to hit me in the gut but it never came. And for me the music in a musical is everything. For the shows I love I listen to the CDs over and over, but after yesterday afternoon I have no desire to hear it again. There was a brief Titanic spoof moment where someone belts "NEAR, FAR, WHEREVER YOU...." and she never reaches ARE. I so wanted to hear more of that lol! Make Me A Channel Of Your Piece woven into the Hebrew song was another highlight. Which is suboptimal!
Like I say though, this is just personal taste. It's not just this show. The current wave of American musicals (Waitress, DEH etc) I also find very bland.
Buy anyway, I know I have dwelled slightly on the negative but I'll finish by reiterating that I did think this was a good show, deserving of a West End theatre and I would recommend it to my mates. I also hope it finds an audience and has a respectable run. And it gave me lots of food for thought which is always good!
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