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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2019 10:06:50 GMT
So Moss West Side Story. ... Edited to add that despite the production completely sold out for the run - on Monday evening I counted at least 8 empty seats opposite me in the auditorium which were never filled. Yeah, They're running a promo called "West Side Wednesdays" where they kept an allocation of tickets aside and are releasing each week if your sign up for their membership for £50. So to get a seat there it's £50 ticket + £50 membership.... Not surprised theres a few empty seats. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 18, 2019 10:30:38 GMT
A bit greedy. I paid £49 which I thought was expensive for the Exchange, although it must be an expensive production to mount. The view from the front row of the first gallery was terrific though.
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Post by benny20 on Apr 18, 2019 11:01:23 GMT
It is coming back to the Royal Ex next April.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 18, 2019 12:22:58 GMT
Mmmmm, difficult to secure the same cast for a year ahead I would have thought, especially for a limited run. The cast was the strongest element of this production for me - especially the leads.
Apparently it is the first time in the history of the Exchange that a production has been brought back in this way.
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 18, 2019 13:02:14 GMT
Wow just seen this! The way it’s sold I’m not surprised! Do you think it will sell just as well?
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Post by kzf on Apr 18, 2019 14:21:28 GMT
Saw this on Tuesday. Andy and Gabriela were phenomenal, by far and away the highlights, although the whole cast is very strong. But I'm not a big fan of WSS and unfortunately this wasn't the production to convert me. (Please don't burn me at the stake.)
Ignoring the sight line issues that people have brought up, the staging here didn't do anything for me.
Would be a pretty safe bet that there'll still be plenty of demand next year and it'll still be a hot ticket, even with a new cast. But they'll be hard to match!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2019 14:47:05 GMT
Re-running next year, 18 April to Saturday 23 May 2020. Do we call that an encore? Oh good, I can stop checking the website for returns then! Will be interesting to see if the cast changes, I suspect it largely will. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2019 14:48:27 GMT
Re-running next year, 18 April to Saturday 23 May 2020. Do we call that an encore? Oh good, I can stop checking the website for returns then! Will be interesting to see if the cast changes, I suspect it largely will. I'd hope they'd keep the leads atleast. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 18, 2019 16:42:23 GMT
Oh good, I can stop checking the website for returns then! Will be interesting to see if the cast changes, I suspect it largely will. I'd hope they'd keep the leads atleast. I think it will be difficult to retain the leads as it is only about two months work and may prevent them taking a longer, more lucrative contract or TV work etc. Plus artistically they may wish to move on to other projects and challenges. Certainly Andy Coxon who was in the original production of Hair at the Vaults in London has not done the UK tour of the show. I would hope that this production will showcase talent and open other opportunities. |
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Post by danieljohnson14 on Apr 18, 2019 18:11:09 GMT
Oh good, I can stop checking the website for returns then! Will be interesting to see if the cast changes, I suspect it largely will. I'd hope they'd keep the leads atleast. Jordan Cunningham defiantly won't be involved, not that he's a lead by any stretch. But he's doing the Priscilla tour and has already said on Instagram he is doing the full tour so he'll be out. |
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Post by undeuxtrois on Apr 18, 2019 18:20:58 GMT
Saw this today and I was so impressed with the leads. Gabriela Garcia was just stunning and "Tonight" sounded incredible with Andy Coxon. Jocasta Almgill was fantastic as Anita and there wasn't a weak link in the cast. "Somewhere" was especially moving. The view from the 2nd row of the 2nd gallery was actually pretty good, only had to lean forward occasionally.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 18, 2019 21:46:27 GMT
It’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. Great performances apart from one supporting actor who wasn’t up to it vocally, at least at tonight’s performance. The leads are brilliant though. The set was pretty much what I expected, standard minimalist design from the REX as demanded by the unique space. I couldn’t see how else they could stage this without going upwards because every bit of floor is needed for all that leaping about, and they certainly use it.
I thought the costumes were pretty clever really. You could choose to see them as 50’s or if you weren’t familiar with the original you could equally see them as more current street fashion. No complaints about the choreography (is this the actual first EVER production to be staged which hasn’t used the original?) but the dancing in the busier more complex numbers wasn't always synchronised which stood out a lot being so close to the audience.
The orchestra’s soundproof box outside is quite snazzy, it looks like it’s intended to be peered into. Percussion is in a separate smaller box by the cloakroom. Nice touch to bring the orchestra onstage for the curtain call.
Really enjoyed it. It’s another case of the Cabaret Factor though. Nothing will ever live up to the film.
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 18, 2019 21:48:56 GMT
Seeing this on Monday and I watched the prologue of the film and was a tad confused because of the unique dancing/action I needed to know what world we were in. Scared im not going to enjoy but the score is incredible
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 18, 2019 21:56:48 GMT
Seeing this on Monday and I watched the prologue of the film and was a tad confused because of the unique dancing/action I needed to know what world we were in. Scared im not going to enjoy but the score is incredible Try not to overthink it and just take it as it comes. The world is New York, it’s gangs separated by race and culture, and a classic tale of star crossed lovers. There’s nowt complicated about it! Looking forward to hearing what you think as a newbie to the show. |
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 18, 2019 22:09:55 GMT
I know the setting and everything aha its justbthat in some bits its action without dancing then its full on dancing but I will post my thoughts as a newbie! any other reports tonight?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 18, 2019 22:29:53 GMT
Forgot to mention that it passed the “filling up” test.
That bit where he says “See only me...” and she sings “only you, you’re the only thing I’ll see. Forever”
On the film soundtrack that gets me. Every. Single. Time, I can actually just think of that bit and get a bit emoshe. No idea why. I’m normally hard as nails 🙂.
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Post by Jonnyboy on Apr 19, 2019 4:12:13 GMT
Worth checking for returns, people. Last night I bagged some front row first gallery seats for a future Saturday night. Most I’ve ever paid for an Exchange production but couldn’t pass it up.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 19, 2019 9:02:20 GMT
I was on the front row of the first gallery and the view is terrific!
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Post by AddisonMizner on Apr 20, 2019 10:54:02 GMT
Probably ridiculously early to ask this question, as it is over a year away, but when do tickets go on sale for the 2020 run? I can’t find information anywhere.
Late to the party on this one, so haven’t got tickets, but I am seeing the Leicester Curve production at the end of the year. Love WEST SIDE STORY, so looking forward to it.
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 20, 2019 10:58:27 GMT
Probably ridiculously early to ask this question, as it is over a year away, but when do tickets go on sale for the 2020 run? I can’t find information anywhere. Late to the party on this one, so haven’t got tickets, but I am seeing the Leicester Curve production at the end of the year. Love WEST SIDE STORY, so looking forward to it. Tuesday 30 April 2019 is when public booking opens. Booking is open for members now. This is from the press release! |
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 23, 2019 6:25:43 GMT
I’ve just seen this last night and it is stunning! Wow the music is incredible and Maria was brilliant. Their chemistry was so electric. I have never seen West Side Story so I have nothing to compare it too however I did noice the jazz music in some of the dances but the dance is quite contemporary. It worked kinda think because it’s a smoother transition from action the dance.has anyone else seen this?
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Post by sparky5000 on Apr 24, 2019 9:15:54 GMT
I’ve just seen this last night and it is stunning! Wow the music is incredible and Maria was brilliant. Their chemistry was so electric. I have never seen West Side Story so I have nothing to compare it too however I did noice the jazz music in some of the dances but the dance is quite contemporary. It worked kinda think because it’s a smoother transition from action the dance.has anyone else seen this? I saw it over Easter with my mum and loved it, although it was weird to see a version that is so different to the original, and with new choreography! I think my mum struggled with that more than me. |
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Post by eugene24 on Apr 25, 2019 6:49:14 GMT
Has anyone day seated for this? Thinking of dayseating for this on Saturday
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 27, 2019 18:52:00 GMT
2nd visit today. Quite a few changes from the early previews. I found it much easier to tell the Jets and Sharks apart, also had the impression some had changed sides, but may be misremembering.
Sold out and quite a queue for returns when I collected my ticket 15 minutes before the show.
New actor playing Doc and Krupke, David Krellin. There were signs up and an announcement made. The way it was presented, it sounded like a permanent change. He was fine.
I ended up on the seat next to the one I had last time. Unfortunately the show wasn’t without incident.
Minor (in comparison) had a father and son next to me, both feasting on some Chinese snacks with an outer bag, then various small inner bags. The father eventually got the message towards the end of Act 1 after a lot of stares.
The son also made a lot of noise as if he was snoring. For a long time, I assumed he really was asleep until he moved. Not sure if either spoke English.
More major, there was a loud crash about 10 minutes before the end of Act 1. An elderly lady ended up collapsed in the aisle (she had fallen off her seat a row or two behind me). She couldn’t get up and, from the conversation I could hear, I don’t think she should feel her legs.
She was helped by the staff, but remained in the aisle throughout the interval. Customers were sent out through other entrances. I was shocked they restarted for the second half with her still on the floor. Paramedics arrived about 15 minutes into the second half to take her out. I hope she is okay.
Another elderly lady had a fall going back to her seat in the interval (while all this was going on). Thankfully, she wasn’t badly hurt.
Obviously there was a lot of noise while this was going on. Talking to the poor lady, radios going off and all the commotion.
I tried to enjoy the rest of the show, but that rather put a damper on things. I’m still shocked they just continued with the show. I appreciate there was an evening performance later but there was plenty of time between shows. Also rather put off by audience members around me making various jokes with the poor lady in earshot (she couldn’t move, but I’m sure she could still hear).
So there you go. Enough excitement for one day.
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 27, 2019 19:32:26 GMT
Wow! Not sure if im a total fan of theatre in the round. Had a drunk women sat next to me and laughed when ....... dies.
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