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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 14:09:33 GMT
For those that have seen the show, is there any light shining into the audience and/or UV/Deep Blue lighting?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 12, 2019 15:23:17 GMT
I know this sounds silly but they didn't do programmes when I went yesterday and it annoys me because I get a programme for everything I see, as expensive as that is. I was wondering if anyone had one they wouldn't mind sending or world be kind enough to pick one up on the other stops of the tour if they do them? I'd pay obviously!
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Post by Jane Parfitt on Jul 12, 2019 17:02:23 GMT
I know this sounds silly but they didn't do programmes when I went yesterday and it annoys me because I get a programme for everything I see, as expensive as that is. I was wondering if anyone had one they wouldn't mind sending or world be kind enough to pick one up on the other stops of the tour if they do them? I'd pay obviously! I'm seeing the show again in a couple of weeks in Birmingham and am happy to pick up a programme for you |
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jul 13, 2019 19:12:35 GMT
I was thoroughly charmed by this at today’s matinee. In places, it was a really beautiful show. I have seen the film, but if I am honest, I can’t really remember much about it.
Whilst it could possibly be seen as quite ‘samey’, the score was beautiful for me. The stunning orchestrations, played by the band/cast, helped with this appreciation. The piano, strings and cajon combination could be spine-tingling at times. When the whole cast were performing as one, it was thrilling, such as in the opening number. I can certainly understand why there has been some call on here for a cast album - I would certainly like one. For now, I will be listening to the Broadway cast album.
I liked the story, and the questions it posed, such as - What do we do with the little time we have on this earth? - are universal and always relevant. It is a show about living in the present moment, love and ultimately, the importance and need for human connection. It was very moving in places. For example, when Amelie returned the box she found in her flat, and the emotions that stirred up in the owner, I was welling up with tears. I’m sure most people can relate in some way to that moment of reconnection. I also liked the surreal aspects that took place in Amelie’s mind. It again allowed for some creative staging, and stopped the show from being overly sweet.
The staging was brilliant. I loved the set, and how it was used was very imaginative. The lighting was also particularly fantastic, and very effective. The choreography, whilst subtle and simple, added to the style of the style of the piece and helped to convey the inner thoughts of the characters.
The performances were all strong, but the show ultimately belongs to Audrey Brisson as the title character. Hardly off the stage, she gives a very physical performance.
A quiet show, but well worth the visit. I am very tempted to visit this again at the Other Palace.
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Post by ruggerlad on Jul 13, 2019 20:38:21 GMT
I saw this at the Haymarket in Leicester Tuesday evening and loved it so much that I went to the matinee today, party to see it with the different male lead (was this Chris Jared ?)
Anyway I completely adored it, great imaginative staging with her flat and was blown away by the vocal arrangements and musicianship on stage .
Very disappointing to see the level of attendance for both shows, I wonder if there is a lack of awareness locally of the Haymarket being back open and having full shows there again?
They seem to be getting the touring shows that one time would have gone to the slightly unsuitable De Montford Hall.
Have to say I was second row from the front and was amazed at a gentleman in front of me, a regular theatre goer by his comments, slating it. Fair enough thats his opinion but to be on the front row and give no applause at the end I felt was quite appallingly rude.
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Post by ruggerlad on Jul 13, 2019 20:39:27 GMT
Also I was super disappointed and bemused at the lack of, at the very least a generic, programme
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 13, 2019 21:03:11 GMT
Also I was super disappointed and bemused at the lack of, at the very least a generic, programme I'm not sure if this was just a thing for this theatre or the show generally doesn't offer programmes?! Regarding the Haymarket, i do think there is a lack of awareness. I have to say that i didn't know half of the shows they had this year were going there until i looked on the website for something else. There seems to be a lack of communication or advertising or something. Even the theatre itself doesn't seem to really highlight the shows coming up on the building. Though to be fair a lot of the shows that are programmed there are Sell A Door tours, they obviously have some kind of partnership, and unfortunately it is the case that a lot of their touring shows are struggling generally, not just there. |
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Post by ruggerlad on Jul 13, 2019 21:11:43 GMT
I’ve seen the odd bit of postering in the city centre, Madagascar The Musical mainly, but you’d have no idea that Amelie was on in the city.
But on a positive note it’s great to have an alternative large theatre in the city and some of the one night shows are great there. I’m particularly looking forward to Sunday At The Musicals in September after last years genuinely amazing show
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Post by hedda4897 on Jul 13, 2019 21:21:53 GMT
I have booked for this show at The Other Palace and I know I will love it. I have never been to The Other Palace either but I like the look of their next season a lot!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 13, 2019 21:42:03 GMT
I’ve seen the odd bit of postering in the city centre, Madagascar The Musical mainly, but you’d have no idea that Amelie was on in the city. But on a positive note it’s great to have an alternative large theatre in the city and some of the one night shows are great there. I’m particularly looking forward to Sunday At The Musicals in September after last years genuinely amazing show It is good, especially because a lot of the tours they are taking are the ones you'd have normally had to travel to the Alex in Birmingham to see, so it's good we get them in Leicester now. I think that Curve will start getting the bigger tours in now as well because the capacity is increasing. |
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Post by xanady on Jul 24, 2019 22:14:16 GMT
Saw this tonight in Brum and found it to be very quirky,inventive and amusing.Brisson is a pocket rocket as the lead and I thought the actor-musicians on stage were excellent.It is endlessly imaginative in its conception and on bargain tickets,well worth a visit.It is one of those shows that needs to be seen two or three times to pick up all the symbolic and metaphorical references.Simple set but cleverly manipulated.Nice atmospheric lighting design on the Metro/Cafe/Flat set.
Nice range of merch including an interesting house programme.
4 stars.
Btw Back of stalls was too stuffy so we moved forwards into the empty chasm of hundreds of unsold seats.Talking of seats,they are uncomfortable all over this theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2019 23:23:30 GMT
I saw this in Birmingham on Tuesday, inventive staging with on-stage actor musicians, sadly a sparse crowd but with weather and people away on holiday, it could almost be expected. Audrey Brisson is an absolute pocket rocket of energy and brings a certain almost mesmerising quality to her roles.
A chap from Canada was talking to me at the interval and he'd seen Audrey in something in Canada as she did some training over there and when he noticed she was in this show whilst on holiday, he came especially to see it.
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Post by drowseychap on Jul 25, 2019 1:08:45 GMT
Really surprised there’s no offers for this at the Alex usually do travelzoo when sales are so low little miss sunshine which was excellent was only £10
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tft
Auditioning
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Post by tft on Jul 25, 2019 2:50:28 GMT
I'm looking forward to seeing Amelie in Glasgow, and have been following the reviews - fifty of sixty in the national and regional press - and they're overwhelmingly effusive in their praise. So I'm pretty surprised to see a number of really negative appraisals of the show on here. Each to their own, I guess.
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Post by Jane Parfitt on Jul 25, 2019 11:42:09 GMT
Off to see this again this evening, will be the first time I've ever worn shorts at the theatre!
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Post by xanady on Jul 25, 2019 15:38:57 GMT
Still thinking about this nearly 24 hours on...very clever show...going to get the CD as a souvenir of the show...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2019 19:54:51 GMT
Also I was super disappointed and bemused at the lack of, at the very least a generic, programme There are programmes tonight in Manchester. Let me know before 10pm and I’ll try get one on the way out if you want one... |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 6, 2019 21:57:27 GMT
What did you think @remark ? I was there tonight on the ATG half price offer.
I don’t know if it was just me but I couldn’t hear all the lyrics, particularly in the first act which had an impact on my understanding because there’s not a great deal of dialogue in this. People around me were laughing hence me thinking it might be just me because I genuinely think I’m going a bit mutton! The act 1 set up to the fig joke in act 2 I didn’t hear a thing of.
I liked the set and was nice to see couple of old fashioned but very effective illusions such as the backlighting.
Audrey B was adorable in it, Danny Mac gives a very understated and appropriate performance, all of the supporting cast were great and the ending was gorgeous BUT I had some problems with it in addition to the sound...
There seems to be a ‘thing’ where if you have actor musicians they have to be on stage ALL the time. As a result the stage is crowded ALL the time. This is a bit exhausting. Add that to what is a very busy design and you end up being extremely distracted. There were several moments where it would have benefitted the story to have the musicians playing off stage instead of lurking about, adding nothing but the music and cluttering things up. No disrespect to them, there were scenes where they totally added to the story even if only playing, but many others where they didn’t.
The encounters with the various people she helps were so fleeting that I didn’t really care about any of them. Danny’s Act 1 song, dreadful and a waste of him. The whole thing is 25 minutes too long. Curtain down at 10.10 and this for a story where very little really happens. It’s just a series of vignettes leading up to the somewhat inevitable ending (and I hadn’t seen the film). I was a bit past caring by the end to be honest.
Having said all that that I had to drag myself off the sofa to go, cos I wasn’t that in the mood and this no doubt affected my perception. I’m pleased I saw it but it’s only ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
Stalls full, and I think the circle was busy. Upper closed I think.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2019 22:10:48 GMT
I really liked this a couple of weeks ago in Birmingham. Loved the whole Watermill style of actor-musos, I thought it worked really well and sounded beautiful. Would love them to release a new cast recording as the whole thing and songlist is different to Broadway. While I'm glad it has a London run this Christmas, I hope it can find a bigger audience, more people need to see this show.
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Post by drowseychap on Aug 7, 2019 1:36:42 GMT
What did you think @remark ? I was there tonight on the ATG half price offer. I don’t know if it was just me but I couldn’t hear all the lyrics, particularly in the first act which had an impact on my understanding because there’s not a great deal of dialogue in this. People around me were laughing hence me thinking it might be just me because I genuinely think I’m going a bit mutton! The act 1 set up to the fig joke in act 2 I didn’t hear a thing of. I liked the set and was nice to see couple of old fashioned but very effective illusions such as the backlighting. Audrey B was adorable in it, Danny Mac gives a very understated and appropriate performance, all of the supporting cast were great and the ending was gorgeous BUT I had some problems with it in addition to the sound... There seems to be a ‘thing’ where if you have actor musicians they have to be on stage ALL the time. As a result the stage is crowded ALL the time. This is a bit exhausting. Add that to what is a very busy design and you end up being extremely distracted. There were several moments where it would have benefitted the story to have the musicians playing off stage instead of lurking about, adding nothing but the music and cluttering things up. No disrespect to them, there were scenes where they totally added to the story even if only playing, but many others where they didn’t. The encounters with the various people she helps were so fleeting that I didn’t really care about any of them. Danny’s Act 1 song, dreadful and a waste of him. The whole thing is 25 minutes too long. Curtain down at 10.10 and this for a story where very little really happens. It’s just a series of vignettes leading up to the somewhat inevitable ending (and I hadn’t seen the film). I was a bit past caring by the end to be honest. Having said all that that I had to drag myself off the sofa to go, cos I wasn’t that in the mood and this no doubt affected my perception. I’m pleased I saw it but it’s only ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Stalls full, and I think the circle was busy. Upper closed I think. Saw this in Malvern last week was surprised as the had half price offer on all tickets a week before it had sold extremely badly had not seen the film so went in blind I agree with your review .... esp the sound I couldn’t make out the lyrics and had to guess why was going on for most of it which spoilt our connection with it. We both thought it was well staged nice set loved the puppet and the little illusions too The travelzoo offer must have worked as ticket sales shot up .... and miraculously between 1am and performance the day we went they sold around 45 more seats the same block that whooped and cheered and gave standing ovation at the end We enjoyed it but would have liked it more if we could have understood a word of it 😊 |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 7, 2019 7:36:08 GMT
There’s very little sold for the rest of the week so I’m pleased they had a reasonable house last night. Such a shame for that talented cast to be playing to a few people in the centre stalls. I haven’t seen any more ATG offers which I find completely mystifying. Why don’t they get people in for ten or fifteen quid rather than having it so empty?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2019 9:04:15 GMT
That 'twist' at the end. What a cop out! BurlyBeaR exactly the same situation as you. I was sat stalls center of row M and really struggled to understand alot of what was said/sung in Act 1 and some of Act 2 meaning I really didn't care about anything going on in the second act. I think it's a combination of really bad sound design made worse by the forced accents. Whatever PA they were using was definitely the wrong choice for this venue. There was no clarity in anything, you could hear it all, granted, but no definition in the sound. Everything was just there in a mush of sound. I don't think the accents helped at all. They could establish we're in France early on and leave it at that. Phantom manages to place itself in Paris pretty successfully without the need of dodgy accents throughout it. I also though the lighting design was incredibly cheap. That glowing clock and the two specials, the globes, also pulsing away all night needlessly. Far too much LED Tape on the set, probably because it's cheap. A Lot of missed cues and lots of a bad focus meant the wrong characters were lit in people heavy scenes. Musically I really enjoyed it, but unfortunately as mentioned couldn't follow much of it. There was some tittering during bits of the first act, but mostly during the little dialogue there was connecting the songs. It felt a bit underdeveloped to me. Once the guy gets his box back we don't see him again, so we've wasted alot of time following that just to show she likes returning stuff to people. They'd be better off doing more to establish and develop a stronger Amelie/Nino relationship. I had no reason to invest in Nino and didn't see why she would suddenly fall for him. The Elton John scene felt like an unnecessary big finish crowbar-ed in for the sake of a big act closer. Same for the fig attack. Needless distraction from what could be a nice show. Agree there's far too much of people on stage for the sake of seeing them. There was a lot of unnecessary direction, such as when everyone is facing upstage except Amelie, why does the cello player turn round to play facing the audience, with no discernible lead or reason? There were a few understudies on, I'm fairly sure Danny Mac wasn't Danny Mac. Really enjoyed the score but there quite a few flaws in it's execution unfortunately. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2019 9:16:15 GMT
Do have to say, perhaps I didn't get into it because I was far too bemused by the Asian girl sat next to me who had brought along a plate of suishi, which sat on her lap for the duration.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 7, 2019 9:23:57 GMT
There was some minor issues with the sound when i went, i agree it could be quite a bit clearer, but it wasn't a major problem at all. I stand by my review that it was excellent.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 7, 2019 9:25:32 GMT
Maybe I’m not going deaf after all then.
It was definitely Danny Mac. I saw that Sunset Boulevard tour four times, I could pick Danny out of a line up any time, even with his clothes on.
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