65 posts
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Post by dazzlair on Jun 22, 2017 15:10:17 GMT
Watched it last night and Joanna was in superb form. Really enjoyed the show - the man with BO in front, not so much.
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 23, 2017 13:04:21 GMT
Watched it last night and Joanna was in superb form. Really enjoyed the show - the man with BO in front, not so much. In a strange way, I find that comforting. I've bought myself a bargain ticket for next Thursday and I did wonder if I would be only male in the audience, surrounded by a sea of pink-rinsed WI members. |
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146 posts
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Post by impossibleprincess73 on Jun 24, 2017 23:31:26 GMT
Wow, Shirley Jamieson really is earning her buck in this production, I see she was on as Chris last night and Jessie today.
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 26, 2017 10:48:21 GMT
I frigging loved this. Managed a bargain £35 seat in the stalls which definitely should have been full price! But wow, these ladies. Shirley Jameson was on for Jessie and you'd never know she'd not done it before.
Jo Riding is something of a heroine of mine, and she was just fantastic. Claire Moore was fabulous, Sophie Louise Dann was HYSTERICAL. I mean, this was probably the best british musical I've seen for a number of years.
The score may be slightly bland, but the moment where it hits you are great. Dare, at the conference, really caught me, and then the ending with Sunflower, I hadn't expected to cry so much!
Get in and see it if you can. Its glorious!
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 26, 2017 14:31:37 GMT
I frigging loved this. Managed a bargain £35 seat in the stalls which definitely should have been full price! But wow, these ladies. Shirley Jameson was on for Jessie and you'd never know she'd not done it before. Jo Riding is something of a heroine of mine, and she was just fantastic. Claire Moore was fabulous, Sophie Louise Dann was HYSTERICAL. I mean, this was probably the best british musical I've seen for a number of years. The score may be slightly bland, but the moment where it hits you are great. Dare, at the conference, really caught me, and then the ending with Sunflower, I hadn't expected to cry so much! Get in and see it if you can. Its glorious! Erm.... ok!  |
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 26, 2017 15:03:52 GMT
Erm.... ok! I know the terms kind of contradict themselves. But the times where the score works are magic. Its the most I've enjoyed a British musical since Dagenham (I think I might have been slightly kind with 'best in years' but I was really moved by it! |
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133 posts
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Post by japhun on Jun 27, 2017 13:46:23 GMT
Erm.... ok! I know the terms kind of contradict themselves. But the times where the score works are magic. Its the most I've enjoyed a British musical since Dagenham (I think I might have been slightly kind with 'best in years' but I was really moved by it! If only the first act had the energy of the second. Many people left at interval the night I saw it...it is WAY too slow. The second act is great...but I honestly can't remember a single song a month after seeing it. I hated Bend It Like Beckham and can remember three songs from it! |
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1 posts
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Post by stusicals on Jun 27, 2017 15:29:46 GMT
I have now seen this wonderful show 5 times, The first time I saw it I was moved to tears on many occasions throughout the production. The first half of the show deals with a lot of issues in relation to the reason for making the Calendar and although this may make the show feel like its going slow it is absolutely essential for the flow of the story.
I love all of the musical numbers and like lots of people on this board cannot wait for the Cast Recording. I am going to be sad when the show closes on the 15th July but I am over the moon that I got to see this wonderful piece of theatre
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313 posts
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Post by macksennett on Jun 27, 2017 19:27:33 GMT
Fabulous debut post - couldn't have put it better myself! Am going back for a second visit soon!
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Post by QueerTheatre on Jun 27, 2017 22:51:13 GMT
I went to see this tonight, and I'll be honest - I did not go in with an open mind. I went in ready to hate watch the sh*t out of it - but i freakin' loved this show! The music really isn't that memorable, but it serves its purpose & the cast are fantastic and the script (which i'm presuming is lifted form the movie/play - i haven't seen either) its hilarious.
It reminded me a lot of my fantastic grandma, and how she dealt with the loss of my granddad & of growing up in a small village. I'll definitely be buying tour tickets for all my family.
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193 posts
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Post by groupbooker on Jun 29, 2017 15:21:31 GMT
I saw this show on Wednesday's matinee and LOVED it!! Never seen the play on its many tours of the UK. I laughed and cried during the show along with most in the audience around me. Being in the same position as John in the story, it was well put over how it all affects the rest of the family and friends. Looking forward to the cast recording as some excellent songs in there. Plus what will upset Honoured Guest, is there was a lot of seniors attending along with quite a LOT of younger people as well!
Cant wait to see this on tour, but I expect a new cast?
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183 posts
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Post by sirdaniel on Jun 29, 2017 16:02:58 GMT
I saw this show on Wednesday's matinee and LOVED it!! Never seen the play on its many tours of the UK. I laughed and cried during the show along with most in the audience around me. Being in the same position as John in the story, it was well put over how it all affects the rest of the family and friends. Looking forward to the cast recording as some excellent songs in there. Plus what will upset Honoured Guest, is there was a lot of seniors attending along with quite a LOT of younger people as well! Cant wait to see this on tour, but I expect a new cast? A couple of the cast have said they'd like to go with it on tour, although doesn't start for over a year so guess it depends on their schedules then. |
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4,021 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jun 29, 2017 22:35:17 GMT
I finally got round to seeing this this afternoon. I am so bad at not getting round to seeing shows till they are closing. I found the show both better & more emotional than I had expected it to be & cried 3 times. I've neither seen the film nor the play so had very little idea of the plot beyond "WI members do nude calendar for charity".
I was lucky enough to see the full cast on - while I like seeing understudies if I'm repeat-viewing a show, it's nice to see all the leads if you're only seeing it once. I particularly wanted to see Joanna Riding & Sophie-Louise Dann, both of who I've seen in multiple other shows, so was relieved they were both on. I thought all the leading ladies were very good. Also very brave: there were more nipples on display than I was expecting!
Anyone wanting to see the show with full cast before it closes, a heads-up that when I spoke to Joanna Riding afterwards she mentioned that she's on holiday Wednesday-Saturday of the last week so there's only just over a week left to see her.
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Post by d'James on Jun 29, 2017 22:45:32 GMT
Really enjoyed the show tonight!!!! Will look forward to buying the CD. Although the Yorkshire song is stuck inn my head, except it's Lisa Simpson singing 'at Yahoo dot com,' from their Evita episode.
One question, does John normally bow at the end? He didn't tonight.
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146 posts
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Post by impossibleprincess73 on Jun 29, 2017 22:59:38 GMT
I finally got round to seeing this this afternoon. I am so bad at not getting round to seeing shows till they are closing. I found the show both better & more emotional than I had expected it to be & cried 3 times. I've neither seen the film nor the play so had very little idea of the plot beyond "WI members do nude calendar for charity". I was lucky enough to see the full cast on - while I like seeing understudies if I'm repeat-viewing a show, it's nice to see all the leads if you're only seeing it once. I particularly wanted to see Joanna Riding & Sophie-Louise Dann, both of who I've seen in multiple other shows, so was relieved they were both on. I thought all the leading ladies were very good. Also very brave: there were more nipples on display than I was expecting! Anyone wanting to see the show with full cast before it closes, a heads-up that when I spoke to Joanna Riding afterwards she mentioned that she's on holiday Wednesday-Saturday of the last week so there's only just over a week left to see her. So Jo is finishing up with the show on Tuesday 11th? That's a shame she's not there for closing night. |
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183 posts
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Post by sirdaniel on Jun 30, 2017 0:26:19 GMT
One question, does John normally bow at the end? He didn't tonight. He did when I went |
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Post by d'James on Jun 30, 2017 0:44:47 GMT
One question, does John normally bow at the end? He didn't tonight. He did when I went Interesting. I wonder why. I kept looking up and down the cast and couldn't see him. Anyway, as I said, I really enjoyed this show. I can't help thinking that if they hadn't already wrung this story dry by having the play, that this show might've had a longer life in the West End. |
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183 posts
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Post by sirdaniel on Jun 30, 2017 2:01:19 GMT
Interesting. I wonder why. I kept looking up and down the cast and couldn't see him. Anyway, as I said, I really enjoyed this show. I can't help thinking that if they hadn't already wrung this story dry by having the play, that this show might've had a longer life in the West End. Totally agree. It's so full of heart and the cast are great. |
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2,679 posts
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Post by viserys on Jun 30, 2017 5:12:17 GMT
Interesting. I wonder why. I kept looking up and down the cast and couldn't see him. Anyway, as I said, I really enjoyed this show. I can't help thinking that if they hadn't already wrung this story dry by having the play, that this show might've had a longer life in the West End. Totally agree. It's so full of heart and the cast are great. I second that. I get the sense from recent comments here that so many people went in not expecting much and came out loving it. Myself included. Maybe they should have kept it running longer so it could build up more word of mouth. Maybe it will come back after the tour? |
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Jun 30, 2017 9:39:29 GMT
I finally got round to seeing this this afternoon. I am so bad at not getting round to seeing shows till they are closing. I found the show both better & more emotional than I had expected it to be & cried 3 times. I've neither seen the film nor the play so had very little idea of the plot beyond "WI members do nude calendar for charity". I was lucky enough to see the full cast on - while I like seeing understudies if I'm repeat-viewing a show, it's nice to see all the leads if you're only seeing it once. I particularly wanted to see Joanna Riding & Sophie-Louise Dann, both of who I've seen in multiple other shows, so was relieved they were both on. I thought all the leading ladies were very good. Also very brave: there were more nipples on display than I was expecting! Anyone wanting to see the show with full cast before it closes, a heads-up that when I spoke to Joanna Riding afterwards she mentioned that she's on holiday Wednesday-Saturday of the last week so there's only just over a week left to see her. So Jo is finishing up with the show on Tuesday 11th? That's a shame she's not there for closing night. Would be sad for the lead to miss the final performances, may need to do some digging on this. |
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 30, 2017 12:58:23 GMT
One question, does John normally bow at the end? He didn't tonight. He did at the matinee, but with nothing to do in Act II, I can perhaps understand why he felt he deserved an early bath.
There were, I'm sure, people on stage for the curtain call who had not previously appeared on stage. The ones dressed as morris dancers, for example.
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Post by d'James on Jun 30, 2017 13:00:08 GMT
One question, does John normally bow at the end? He didn't tonight. He did at the matinee, but with nothing to do in Act II, I can perhaps understand why he felt he deserved an early bath.
There were, I'm sure, people on stage for the curtain call who had not previously appeared on stage. The ones dressed as morris dancers, for example.
Yes I noticed them lurking at the back. |
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 30, 2017 13:26:52 GMT
Okay, so it's not high art, and I'm not even sure it can be categorised as a true musical, but it was a very enjoyable way to spend a Thursday afternoon.
My ramblings, in no particular order:
Sophie-Louise Dann is in danger of typecasting herself, essentially playing the same role she played in Bend It Like Beckham, but with different coloured hair.
Debbie Chazen is Freda's daughter, Freda being the friend of the lady next to me. She gave no outward sign of enjoying it, but was properly roaring by the end.
I was rather surprised to see Ann Widdecombe on stage, especially when she insisted on being fully covered on Strictly Come Dancing, and although not impossible, why was the actor playing her sister a full 40 years younger?
@theatremonkey, rather than a 50/50 spilt, it was more like 98/2. I think there were more males in the cast than in the audience. No queue at the gents, though.
After avoiding the crush and escaping through a side exit, I deliberately went back inside to make a donation to Bloodwise, which, as a Yorkshireman, shows how moved I was.
I'm not sure if I was supposed to see as much as I did during the photography scene, but it must have been very cold on stage. There was a chap in one of the boxes who got up out of his seat and was practically swinging on the lighting rig to get a better view.
The cast must stand on stage at the end of every performance, looking out at a full house on its feet, feeling the love and energy, and wonder why on earth they will be out of work in a fortnight.
Finally, I have to withdraw one of my earlier posts. This will do very well on tour. My advice, for what it is worth, would be to have four matinees and four evening performances each week. |
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70 posts
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Post by lewis on Jun 30, 2017 13:43:09 GMT
One question, does John normally bow at the end? He didn't tonight. He did at the matinee, but with nothing to do in Act II, I can perhaps understand why he felt he deserved an early bath.
There were, I'm sure, people on stage for the curtain call who had not previously appeared on stage. The ones dressed as morris dancers, for example.
The ensemble is featured quite heavily in all the group scenes in the first act. I think they also sing to boost the sound through the rest of the show. |
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 30, 2017 13:46:07 GMT
He did at the matinee, but with nothing to do in Act II, I can perhaps understand why he felt he deserved an early bath.
There were, I'm sure, people on stage for the curtain call who had not previously appeared on stage. The ones dressed as morris dancers, for example.
The ensemble is featured quite heavily in all the group scenes in the first act. I think they also sing to boost the sound through the rest of the show. I must start paying more attention.
I can't even blame it on being in the gods, cos I had a really good seat for once!!
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