5,142 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Apr 8, 2019 10:16:39 GMT
Is or has anyone dayseating for this? It is pretty much sold out and the day tickets are the very back row of the 3rd tier And, unless the policy has changed for this production, the very front row of the 1st tier. |
|
12 posts
|
Post by alforshort on Apr 8, 2019 10:35:41 GMT
Is or has anyone dayseating for this? It is pretty much sold out and the day tickets are the very back row of the 3rd tier And, unless the policy has changed for this production, the very front row of the 1st tier. Only 16 day seats - back row of the second gallery, no banquettes. The queue was massive this morning, all tickets spoken for by about 8:30 I think, lots of people got turned away. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2019 10:39:57 GMT
And, unless the policy has changed for this production, the very front row of the 1st tier. Only 16 day seats - back row of the second gallery, no banquettes. The queue was massive this morning, all tickets spoken for by about 8:30 I think, lots of people got turned away. Darn. Did suspect this though with it being a dance heavy show. Presume you mean 9:30 not 8:30, the former being the usual day seat opening time. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2019 10:43:05 GMT
No, I think they meant 8:30. If there are only, say, 20 seats for sale and 20 people are there by 8:30, then even though the tickets won't be sold for another hour, there's not a huge amount of point queuing up after then (unless you're optimistic about returns or hoping that some of the people queuing are just there for fun and not to buy a ticket). That's why they said "spoken for", not "sold".
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2019 10:51:20 GMT
Ok
|
|
|
|
Post by theatre241 on Apr 8, 2019 10:52:43 GMT
The policy has changed because they needed a bigger stage so banquettes have been removed. I think as more people see it (if it is good) the day seat queue will be seeing more people and people queing earlier !
|
|
19,670 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 8, 2019 11:15:47 GMT
Can’t wait to hear feedback. Anyone going to previews?
|
|
3,333 posts
|
Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2019 11:47:31 GMT
Just spotted a seat available for tonight, so have booked (even though I already have a seat booked for later in the run). One of my favourite musicals of all time.
There are seats appearing, so keep a look out.
Now to sort the train and hotel. Luckily I'm off work this week.
|
|
5,142 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Apr 8, 2019 11:53:24 GMT
Thanks for the update, theatre241. You've saved me an early morning trip across the Pennines. Might try and do the tour, though, so at least l can say I was there! |
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Apr 8, 2019 14:45:59 GMT
It pays to keep checking the royalexchange.co.uk website as tickets do indeed pop up!
VERY excited - I have just booked a seat for this for next Monday (15th April) evening! It is a very long time since I was at the Royal Exchange, but when I lived "up north" I went regularly and saw some great theatre in this very exciting space.
Really looking forward to this......
|
|
|
|
Post by theatre241 on Apr 8, 2019 15:07:01 GMT
The set looks very interesting don't think they're using a revolve!
|
|
243 posts
|
Post by musicallady on Apr 8, 2019 18:11:30 GMT
posted in wrong section
|
|
3,333 posts
|
Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2019 18:29:08 GMT
The floor (stage) area looks huge! At least double the usual area.
Not circular and definitely no resolve. The pre-show set is bare bones. I’m anticipating some big dance numbers. Really excited to see the fresh choreography.
|
|
19,670 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 8, 2019 18:57:37 GMT
I suppose if you take out the ‘bonkettes’ and the legroom that serves them you’re going to be adding a fair bit of area to the stage.
|
|
|
|
Post by theatre241 on Apr 8, 2019 19:05:06 GMT
The row after the Banquettes has been removed as well! Has anyone queued for day seats yet
?
|
|
|
|
Post by danb on Apr 8, 2019 19:40:23 GMT
Is the first circle high stools aswell?
|
|
3,333 posts
|
Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2019 20:07:50 GMT
Is the first circle high stools aswell? They look like chairs from where I’m sitting (Stalls). 2nd level, which is I think where the day seats are at the back, must be horrible. I can see everyone desperately leaning forward. Please don’t do that to yourself, particularly if, as another poster reported, you need to be in the queue by 8:30am and even then you’re not guaranteed day seats. This is minimalistic and beautiful. More later. |
|
3,306 posts
|
Post by david on Apr 8, 2019 20:24:59 GMT
Is the first circle high stools aswell? They look like chairs from where I’m sitting (Stalls). 2nd level, which is I think where the day seats are at the back, must be horrible. I can see everyone desperately leaning forward. Please don’t do that to yourself, particularly if, as another poster reported, you need to be in the queue by 8:30am and even then you’re not guaranteed day seats. This is minimalistic and beautiful. More later. I can confirm that the back row seats of the top tier (Gallery 2) aren’t an issue view wise, but lack any sort of comfort in my opinion. I sat up there last year for one show, but asked the FOH if I could move to the stalls as it was very uncomfortable up there. I’d only go up there again if there where no other seats available. |
|
|
|
Post by danb on Apr 8, 2019 20:27:54 GMT
My son has just booked 2 tix for Weds night (£21.50!!!!!) for him & my Mum. Sounds like a right bargain. I’m very jealous indeed; I love WSS and to see it done in any way differently would be a real thrill.
|
|
3,333 posts
|
Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2019 21:45:24 GMT
Whenever I've seen one of my favourites musicals, In The Heights, I always thought it reminded me of West Side Story.
Now, I've seen a production of West Side Story that reminds me of In The Heights. This is, in part, due to the staging, and also because several of the cast were in In The Heights in London.
A full house in previews tonight, with a handful of empty seats right on the end of rows, for some strange reason. A big performance area, little to the set. Two metal structures that are moved about and form balconies, as well as a third metal area that is lowered from the ceiling. The structures did not look easy to climb, Andy Coxon certainly found climbing a metal ladder and singing at the same time difficult, as at all other times he was flawless.
This is staged in the round with new choreography. It's a very modern staging, deliberately positioned as timeless. It would be hard to tell what era the costumes are from and they could very easily be from the streets of New York today.
It is also modern casting. Both the Jets and Sharks contain a variety of ethnicities, which removes all the racial tensions from the piece. The Jets have matching tattoos, the Sharks dress a bit more flamboyantly, but otherwise you have to pay attention to tell them apart.
Other than the two leads, I hadn't seen a cast list, so was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few people I recognised. The standout has to be Jocasta Almgill as Anita, but I fell in love with both the two leads, Gabriela Garcia and Andy Coxon, who both sung beautifully and left me tearful on more than one occasion.
There were a few nods to the original choreography, but otherwise this is modern styled and simpler. The main nod was in the ballet, Somewhere, which now shows no matter what your gender, race or sexuality, you deserve love. Very fitting for Manchester.
There is one person in the audience who should be banned from the theatre forever for laughing when Anita shared news with Maria early in the second half, but otherwise it was a well-behaved audience.
I loved it, but I'm honestly not sure what the audience made of it. I only really caught too audience comments, one finding it funny the tattoos were falling off (which I didn't pick up on at all), the other that it was too expensive for what it was (bear in mind this was a half price preview). I did find myself making up half of the standing ovation, which to me was completely deserved, but maybe Manchester just doesn't do such things.
Quite amusing as well that the musical where Andy Coxon played an excellent Berger in London is touring just down the road in Manchester at the Palace Theatre.
I'd like to think the reviews will be positive. It's both familiar, but different, which will take a bit of getting used to if you're used to the original choreography. It sounds excellent, both the singing and the orchestra. I can't see how you couldn't like it. To me, even based on this preview it's fully deserving of transferring to London, if they can find the right theatre to stage it in. I know not all the audience felt the same way. But please give it a chance. The run is pretty much sold out regardless.
|
|
19,670 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 8, 2019 21:53:39 GMT
Thanks for the early review!
|
|
4,984 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on Apr 8, 2019 22:01:45 GMT
What is the running time? Is there still a gunshot?
|
|
12 posts
|
Post by alforshort on Apr 8, 2019 22:02:09 GMT
There is one person in the audience who should be banned from the theatre forever for laughing when Anita shared news with Maria early in the second half, but otherwise it was a well-behaved audience. I think the laughs were probably because of the lady who said "No he didn't!" indignantly in response to said news. |
|
3,333 posts
|
Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2019 22:11:38 GMT
I think the laughs were probably because of the lady who said "No he didn't!" indignantly in response to said news. I missed that if so.  What is the running time? Is there still a gunshot? 2 hours 30 minutes officially. Started about 7:33, finished about 9:58, didn't time the interval length but the first half is much longer than the second half. Yes, usual place. It's a real gunshot, not recorded. Over quickly, obvious when it's coming if you know the show and not too loud. Another thought as I know it's a trigger for people. Very little smoking in this version, which I guess reflects the current time. |
|
490 posts
|
Post by bimse on Apr 9, 2019 3:58:49 GMT
I suppose if you take out the ‘bonkettes’ and the legroom that serves them you’re going to be adding a fair bit of area to the stage. Not to mention the shopping that matinee audiences in particular seem to spread around those bonkettes 😆 |
|
