4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on May 21, 2019 19:44:02 GMT
Poor Lucie makes her debut last week and cannot announce it.
It gets announced today but it is totally overshadowed by everything else. She must be absolutely fed up!
I also feel very sorry for Ashley who did not decide for Laura to not be in the show, yet she seems to be getting the brunt of the anger today.
You really need to do better Waitress!
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21 posts
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Post by comporhys on May 21, 2019 19:47:18 GMT
I understand the economics mean that it probably made sense to try and give the show a boost with casting a celebrity, but it does feel such a shame for Laura to be treated like this; she was terrific in the show. The communications around it (leaking in the press etc.) has made it seem particularly harsh.
West End Producer mentioned that a cast member has quit in protest, given David seems fairly accepting of the decision on Twitter, I wonder who it was...
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 19:52:00 GMT
I understand the economics mean that it probably made sense to try and give the show a boost with casting a celebrity, but it does feel such a shame for Laura to be treated like this; she was terrific in the show. The communications around it (leaking in the press etc.) has made it seem particularly harsh. West End Producer mentioned that a cast member has quit in protest, given David seems fairly accepting of the decision on Twitter, I wonder who it was... I would imagine either Shaun Prendergast (Joe) or Stephen Leask (Cal) as neither are on tonight. Either that or it’s no one, and purely Chinese whispers. |
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433 posts
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Post by alison on May 21, 2019 19:53:34 GMT
I understand the economics mean that it probably made sense to try and give the show a boost with casting a celebrity, but it does feel such a shame for Laura to be treated like this; she was terrific in the show. The communications around it (leaking in the press etc.) has made it seem particularly harsh. West End Producer mentioned that a cast member has quit in protest, given David seems fairly accepting of the decision on Twitter, I wonder who it was... I would imagine either Shaun Prendergast (Joe) or Stephen Leask (Cal) as neither are on tonight. Either that or it’s no one, and purely Chinese whispers. Stephen hasn't been on for the last week though. He's first cover for Joe, with Chris McGuigan (first cover Cal) going on for Joe for the first time tonight. Not gonna lie, when I saw the announcement that Chris is on as Joe tonight I wondered if maybe there was some truth to the "someone resigned" rumour. Who knows? |
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Post by xanady on May 21, 2019 20:09:19 GMT
The core message of the show does not sit well with all this negativity.It all reeks of chicanery and skullduggery.No smoke without fire etc.Another day,another Waitress marketing farce.I would not be surprised if someone has walked in disgust.We could be on version 9 of the show programme by July! Still at least they are getting publicity out of it🤪
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 20:14:41 GMT
Another day,another Waitress marketing farce To the fans maybe, but to the other 99.9999% of the population who pay full price for a ticket, today they found out that Lucie and Ashley are joining Waitress. No problems there. First World problems. |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on May 21, 2019 20:45:17 GMT
Yes, you keep posting frequently how entitled theatre fans are and how they have no right to comment on such things.
You do realise this is a discussion forum?
Also the insinuation that those commentating just buy the cheap tickets is snobbery at its finest. There were no cheap tickets for this show, until very recently. A lot of fans have paid a lot of money into this show. Although, even if they had paid just a pound their opinions are just as valid.
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Post by xanady on May 21, 2019 20:45:20 GMT
^Yeah,tbfl,but then the whole site deals with first world problems or issues...we are a niche minority group of theatre fanatics.The problem with Waitress is that their working practises are causing a twitter storm and negative comments from respected MT performers outside the show because the careers/reputations of certain cast members are not apparently being treated with due care and attention it is alleged.Don’t really care what the ‘man/woman in the street thinks’ cos they are not on this site.If they want to join us,they are more than welcome and their views can be aired and I for one will respect their right to comment on all matters theatre etc,whether I agree or not with them.
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Post by jcs619 on May 21, 2019 20:47:30 GMT
Two thoughts on today’s Waitress shenanigans- Firstly - what a class act Laura Baldwin is for her dignified silence and secondly I’d love to know what Sara Bareilles thinks of all this...
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19,759 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 21, 2019 21:28:18 GMT
If another cast member has resigned over this then they’re either really daft, or had something else to go to anyway.
I don’t believe a word of it.
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Post by anthem on May 21, 2019 21:29:17 GMT
The core message of the show does not sit well with all this negativity.It all reeks of chicanery and skullduggery.No smoke without fire etc.Another day,another Waitress marketing farce.I would not be surprised if someone has walked in disgust.We could be on version 9 of the show programme by July! Still at least they are getting publicity out of it🤪 I don’t agree with ‘no smoke without fire’ as assuming the worst without evidence is never a good option. |
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583 posts
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Post by princeton on May 21, 2019 21:53:22 GMT
Some random thoughts:
As mentioned above commercial theatre is about making money. For whatever reason Waitress hasn't taken off here as it did in the US and it's not making money. So the producers have to do something to turn that around. They've chosen a bonafide musical theatre actress to take over the lead role - but not someone with enough recognition to translate into big box office returns. Therefore to try to save the show, keep it running and keep people in work they've temporarily put someone in a supporting role who has a higher public profile - who will appear on the Graham Norton Show, the Zoe Ball Show, Allan Carr's Chatty Man etc - which wouldn't happen to Laura Baldwin. It's not pleasant, it might not seem just, but it's a fact. Show business is a business. And people in business are ruthless.
Unlike most people, actors don't negotiate their terms of employment and salary with their bosses/producers, they have agents who do it for them. These agents will have been heavily involved in these interim arrangements, probably for some time. There's every possibility that the settlement which has been agreed between Laura's agents and the producers means that she'll actually be paid more during this period - to compensate for the producers potentially being in breach of the initial contract. I'm sure that she'd rather be on stage than sitting at home/in a dressing room - but I'd be most surprised it she's been penalised financially.
There should be a moratorium on the use of the phrase 'stunt casting' or at least it should be applied sparingly when it is genuinely someone who seems to have no experience or training for an acting role (eg sportspeople/reality 'stars'/social media influencers) - rather than simply casting an actor who has a reasonable public profile. Casting Shane Ritchie as Hugo/Chanelle isn't stunt casting - he's simply an actor with quite a lot of stage experience going into a role previously played by actors who just happen to have less public profile. If Tom Daley or joe Sugg were to be cast as Jamie - that would be stunt casting. Danny Dyer being cast as Billy Flynn (assuming he can sing) would be casting, Dani Dyer as Roxie Hart would be stunt casting. Where Ashley Roberts sits on this spectrum is moot - but she's definitely a performer (it was the main criticism about her Strictly appearance) albeit not from a musical theatre background.
David Hunter is one of the nicest men in the West End. In addition to working hard on stage - he takes his off-stage role as company leader very seriously. He'll be doing everything he can to bring the company together and make it as harmonious as possible, and welcoming for newcomers. And whilst I doubt he'd ever consider that he speaks on behalf of the show or individual company members - I'm sure that his tweets do reflect the feelings of a great number of the cast and team at the Adelphi.
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Post by xanady on May 21, 2019 22:16:42 GMT
^If there’s ‘no smoke without fire’, can someone explain why Oliver,Carrie et al are sticking their collected oars in?Agree that there is no evidence and everything is gossip and supposition,but something feels iffy.No other show seems to be generating such a flurry of consistent and very public confusion and angst with the fans.I am a bystander who is fascinated by the machinations of the producers mainly because I have myself produced and directed shows.The show is amazing imo,but how will it be remembered when it leaves,I wonder?
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 22:19:36 GMT
Yes, you keep posting frequently how entitled theatre fans are and how they have no right to comment on such things. You do realise this is a discussion forum? Also the insinuation that those commentating just buy the cheap tickets is snobbery at its finest. There were no cheap tickets for this show, until very recently. A lot of fans have paid a lot of money into this show. Although, even if they had paid just a pound their opinions are just as valid. I'm pretty sure I've never said that people have no right to comment on anything. After all, this is a discussion forum. I just prefer discussion without all the pearl clutching and over dramatics. But I'll leave you kids to get on with it. Yep, I'm a snob AND ageist!  |
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19,759 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 21, 2019 22:20:19 GMT
Carrie HF will stick her oar into anything if it’s going to get her a reaction on social media.
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438 posts
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Post by Rukaya on May 21, 2019 22:34:02 GMT
Carrie HF will stick her oar into anything if it’s going to get her a reaction on social media. When will this board stop with the aimless hate at Carrie Hope Fletcher. She's perfectly allowed to have an opinion on this, or anything, just as much as we all do. |
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Post by xanady on May 21, 2019 22:38:06 GMT
^Over dramatics on a theatre discussion board?Who would believe it?Lol.
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19,759 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 21, 2019 23:00:52 GMT
Aimless hate? Wow. That’s a leap.
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1,568 posts
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Post by showtoones on May 22, 2019 3:57:02 GMT
The show won’t last the summer
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2019 4:32:36 GMT
Carrie HF will stick her oar into anything if it’s going to get her a reaction on social media. When will this board stop with the aimless hate at Carrie Hope Fletcher. She's perfectly allowed to have an opinion on this, or anything, just as much as we all do. Exactly - no-one batted an eye when it was Michael, Oliver or Sabrina commenting on this, but as soon as Carrie began, so did the anti-Carrie brigade. It’s surprising how people here can ignore the negativity directed towards her when it’s in plain sight. |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2019 6:46:13 GMT
Some random thoughts: As mentioned above commercial theatre is about making money. For whatever reason Waitress hasn't taken off here as it did in the US and it's not making money. So the producers have to do something to turn that around. They've chosen a bonafide musical theatre actress to take over the lead role - but not someone with enough recognition to translate into big box office returns. Therefore to try to save the show, keep it running and keep people in work they've temporarily put someone in a supporting role who has a higher public profile - who will appear on the Graham Norton Show, the Zoe Ball Show, Allan Carr's Chatty Man etc - which wouldn't happen to Laura Baldwin. It's not pleasant, it might not seem just, but it's a fact. Show business is a business. And people in business are ruthless. Unlike most people, actors don't negotiate their terms of employment and salary with their bosses/producers, they have agents who do it for them. These agents will have been heavily involved in these interim arrangements, probably for some time. There's every possibility that the settlement which has been agreed between Laura's agents and the producers means that she'll actually be paid more during this period - to compensate for the producers potentially being in breach of the initial contract. I'm sure that she'd rather be on stage than sitting at home/in a dressing room - but I'd be most surprised it she's been penalised financially. There should be a moratorium on the use of the phrase 'stunt casting' or at least it should be applied sparingly when it is genuinely someone who seems to have no experience or training for an acting role (eg sportspeople/reality 'stars'/social media influencers) - rather than simply casting an actor who has a reasonable public profile. Casting Shane Ritchie as Hugo/Chanelle isn't stunt casting - he's simply an actor with quite a lot of stage experience going into a role previously played by actors who just happen to have less public profile. If Tom Daley or joe Sugg were to be cast as Jamie - that would be stunt casting. Danny Dyer being cast as Billy Flynn (assuming he can sing) would be casting, Dani Dyer as Roxie Hart would be stunt casting. Where Ashley Roberts sits on this spectrum is moot - but she's definitely a performer (it was the main criticism about her Strictly appearance) albeit not from a musical theatre background. David Hunter is one of the nicest men in the West End. In addition to working hard on stage - he takes his off-stage role as company leader very seriously. He'll be doing everything he can to bring the company together and make it as harmonious as possible, and welcoming for newcomers. And whilst I doubt he'd ever consider that he speaks on behalf of the show or individual company members - I'm sure that his tweets do reflect the feelings of a great number of the cast and team at the Adelphi. Excellent post eloquently explained. |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2019 6:48:22 GMT
Oh come on, CHF and Sabrina Aloueche are always the first to wade into anything on Twitter!
I’m sorry, but the Twitter faux outrage has been from all the usual suspects.
People should be more like John Mcrea on Twitter IMHO.
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Post by anthem on May 22, 2019 8:03:13 GMT
The show won’t last the summer To be fair, a few pages back people were expecting a two week closure announcement. This kind of speculation is getting a little tedious. |
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Post by sparky5000 on May 22, 2019 8:07:39 GMT
Oh come on, CHF and Sabrina Aloueche are always the first to wade into anything on Twitter! I’m sorry, but the Twitter faux outrage has been from all the usual suspects. People should be more like John Mcrea on Twitter IMHO. I have an issue with all these performers wading in when they probably don’t know exactly what’s gone down! All they’ve succeeded in doing is creating more negativity around the show, and like everyone else has said, the only people who will suffer here are the cast and crew! For example, I found it weird that Caroline Sheen would wade into this with her outrage about a “name” (in her words), and yet Amber Davies was cast in 9 to 5 exactly because she’s a “name”, and I’ll bet Caroline will defend her to the hilt if anyone came after her. I feel so so bad for Ashley right now, and hope she’s not checking her mentions! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 22, 2019 9:12:22 GMT
Oh come on, CHF and Sabrina Aloueche are always the first to wade into anything on Twitter! I’m sorry, but the Twitter faux outrage has been from all the usual suspects. People should be more like John Mcrea on Twitter IMHO. I have an issue with all these performers wading in when they probably don’t know exactly what’s gone down! All they’ve succeeded in doing is creating more negativity around the show, and like everyone else has said, the only people who will suffer here are the cast and crew! For example, I found it weird that Caroline Sheen would wade into this with her outrage about a “name” (in her words), and yet Amber Davies was cast in 9 to 5 exactly because she’s a “name”, and I’ll bet Caroline will defend her to the hilt if anyone came after her. I feel so so bad for Ashley right now, and hope she’s not checking her mentions! Make that “faux outrage”. It makes you wonder how these people deal when something genuinely bad happens. Everyone’s at a “10” on everything these days. Pathetic. |
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