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Post by alicechallice on Dec 18, 2019 0:14:03 GMT
Darren Day joins the cast for Northampton and Salisbury. Haven't Salisbury suffered enough recently? |
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Post by xanady on Dec 18, 2019 9:29:18 GMT
^Mame The Panto?
Got an ex-student in the cast and am still going to see it in Northampton but not now with as much eagerness
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 8, 2020 8:04:43 GMT
First performance today.
Anyone going this week?
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 8, 2020 8:29:43 GMT
I'm there tonight 😀
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Post by showgirl on Jan 8, 2020 12:20:32 GMT
Didn't FrontroverPaul say he was going to the Thursday matinee? I'm also seeing it this week though not then. |
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 8, 2020 13:54:07 GMT
I'm seeing the Saturday matinee in Northampton
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 8, 2020 14:25:32 GMT
Didn't FrontroverPaul say he was going to the Thursday matinee? I'm also seeing it this week though not then. . Indeed I am . Mame tomorrow afternoon, then back to London for Ragtime. |
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jan 8, 2020 15:43:01 GMT
Didn't FrontroverPaul say he was going to the Thursday matinee? I'm also seeing it this week though not then. . Indeed I am . Mame tomorrow afternoon, then back to London for Ragtime. OoOoooOo what production of Ragtime is this? X |
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Post by Scswp on Jan 8, 2020 17:57:04 GMT
I'm seeing the Saturday matinee in Northampton Me too! I’m looking forward to it. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 8, 2020 20:26:59 GMT
. Indeed I am . Mame tomorrow afternoon, then back to London for Ragtime. OoOoooOo what production of Ragtime is this? X Sorry, caught out by the predictive text on my mobile there. It's Rags the Musical at the Park Theatre Finsbury park not Ragtime. |
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jan 8, 2020 22:28:57 GMT
OoOoooOo what production of Ragtime is this? X Sorry, caught out by the predictive text on my mobile there. It's Rags the Musical at the Park Theatre Finsbury park not Ragtime. I saw the Sedos production recently, one of my fav shows lol I'm seeing Rags soon too x |
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 8, 2020 23:10:45 GMT
I'm seeing the Saturday matinee in Northampton Me too! I’m looking forward to it.  I've recently moved to Northampton so The Royal and Derngate is walking distance away! |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 9, 2020 0:30:15 GMT
Sorry, caught out by the predictive text on my mobile there. It's Rags the Musical at the Park Theatre Finsbury park not Ragtime. I saw the Sedos production recently, one of my fav shows lol I'm seeing Rags soon too x SEDOS' Ragtime was my number one amateur musical out of over a hundred of them I saw in 2019. Instantly became a fave for me too. The amateur shows at the Bridewell are always of a very high standard. Hoping to be equally impressed by Rags tomorrow evening, as well as Mame of course. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 9, 2020 9:20:34 GMT
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me, but with more positives than negatives.
To get the bad out of the way, it's a little bit slow, dated, and feels like it drags at times. The songs aren't massively strong. Darren Day continues to underwhelm in everything I've seen him, looking awkward and having zero rhythm in the Mame number.
Tracie herself lies somewhere between the two - her voice isn't particularly easy on the ears, and she has now given four practically identical performances in the four shows I've seen her in (End Of The Rainbow, Follies, Ruthless and this), so don't expect anything outside of her usual traits. Having said that, the style suits the piece well and she does perform it as 'a star'.
The good - it's an impressively large cast for our small Royal stage, and it's lovely to have a musical in there. It's predominantly our play house so to have nusoc and dancing in there makes a nice change. Choreography, costumes and wigs are all first-rate, and the whole show has a charming old-school feel to it. Jessie May was good as always (and a nice surprise, I didn't know she was in it). Also, Harriet Thorpe is utterly fabulous. It's the campest turn I've seen since Craig got Dolly-ed up on Strictly and I adored her. The 'Bosom Buddies' duet with Tracie in Act Two is the absolute highlight.
It ran about 2hr 20 including interval. We had around a 10-minute delay starting and the curtain came down around 10.15.
I hope anyone seeing it over the rest of the week enjoys it.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 9, 2020 9:54:27 GMT
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me, but with more positives than negatives. To get the bad out of the way, it's a little bit slow, dated, and feels like it drags at times. The songs aren't massively strong. Darren Day continues to underwhelm in everything I've seen him, looking awkward and having zero rhythm in the Mame number. Tracie herself lies somewhere between the two - her voice isn't particularly easy on the ears, and she has now given four practically identical performances in the four shows I've seen her in (End Of The Rainbow, Follies, Ruthless and this), so don't expect anything outside of her usual traits. Having said that, the style suits the piece well and she does perform it as 'a star'. The good - it's an impressively large cast for our small Royal stage, and it's lovely to have a musical in there. It's predominantly our play house so to have nusoc and dancing in there makes a nice change. Choreography, costumes and wigs are all first-rate, and the whole show has a charming old-school feel to it. Jessie May was good as always (and a nice surprise, I didn't know she was in it). Also, Harriet Thorpe is utterly fabulous. It's the campest turn I've seen since Craig got Dolly-ed up on Strictly and I adored her. The 'Bosom Buddies' duet with Tracie in Act Two is the absolute highlight. It ran about 2hr 20 including interval. We had around a 10-minute delay starting and the curtain came down around 10.15. I hope anyone seeing it over the rest of the week enjoys it. I'm just about to leave for the station. First visit to Northampton for many years. Your info on timings reassure me that I've booked the right train back to London, the 17.36 as I understand the theatre is a 10-15 minutes walk from the theatre. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 9, 2020 10:00:29 GMT
Great, yes you'll be out before 5.00 and then it's only half a mile or so's walk. Enjoy the show!
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Post by notmymuse on Jan 9, 2020 19:06:47 GMT
I saw this last night too and would largely agree. My overall impression was that it's a good production of an average show which makes for an enjoyable night out, but not one I might think back on too often.
The main problem for me was the plot, as it hurtles through a lot of years, without dwelling much in any of them. At least 3 of the major events took place incredibly quickly and for scant reason and were therefore totally unbelievable, and the plot isn't massively interesting or involving. It ran a fair while on Broadway, so perhaps it's just dated and chimed better back in the day.
However, it's a nice production with generally very good turns. There was some lovely choreography and dancing, and the songs were performed well with some memorable numbers and some very funny one-liners. Tracie Bennett plays the part like she seems to play every part, but it really suited Mame, fortunately. The set and costumes were good, especially compared to what some other touring shows give us.
So worth seeing if you can get there and get a reasonable ticket, but I'd not worry too much if you miss it.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jan 11, 2020 12:50:12 GMT
I have two tickets today for Northampton if anyone wants them for free?!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 11, 2020 18:53:20 GMT
First time seeing the Hope Mill Theatre and it is certainly a lovely venue I generally liked this show but it didn’t bowl me over. The strongest parts come from the cast overall giving a classy performance Tracie Bennett does what Tracie Bennett knows best, giving every ounce of energy into this role. Perhaps the best moment though was her and Harriet Thorpe passing barbs between each other during Bosom Buddies Otherwise the book itself is cliched and despite brief moments of poignancy and potential drama it skims along on the light hearted side. The story jumps time when it’s convenient and you think the musical is going somewhere with the Bueregard chap played marvellously by Tim Flavin but no soon are we in the second act then he is discarded. And moments like this and the Great Depression barely make an impact on Mame Lovely direction fitting this musical in the contained set they have but nothing too imaginative A good show but nothing more to me I agree. Very nice show, Lovely performances but far too lightweight.
The bit I couldn't buy was the fact that Beauregard was forgotten about after his demise. Just skimmed over.
The dialogue sparkled, but Herman's music has always generally washed over me. It lacks heft. I was quite bored in Act II and it frustrated me how she seemed to skim through life and everything turned out fine, with no real conflict
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 11, 2020 19:25:14 GMT
Hopped over to Northampton last night and enjoyed this just as much as in Manchester, with almost all of the same cast (plus Darren Day, who did fine in his small role).
I was in a cheap seat a few rows back. The view was good but had to lean around people as the rake is limited. Sound quality was excellent.
Not much more to add. The show is slight but the score is the seller here.
This could easily tour and it’s a pity this isn’t hitting more venues. Sold well yesterday in Northampton too.
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Post by showgirl on Jan 12, 2020 6:57:37 GMT
For once I'm more impressed with a play or show than others here! (Thinking especially of my recent disappointments with Fairview and A Kind Of People, and after promising starts in both cases.) I saw the matinee yesterday and thought this was fabulous from start to finish. No issues with finding the show lightweight or with the performances or plot. If you're in the mood for a song-and-dance show which offers sheer entertainment, this is it imo. I also feel very fortunate to have seen two such satisfying and enjoyable shows in short succession, Curtains being the other.
Plus fabulous value at £11 (senior) for a great aisle seat in row G stalls and nice to have the opportunity to attend a theatre new to me. I had stayed in Northampton once before and checked out the venue but there was nothing for me to see at the time.
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Post by xanady on Jan 12, 2020 9:01:03 GMT
Was there last night with the fam and all agreed it was an OK night out but nothing special.Had exactly similar thoughts when seeing Curtains on tour tbh.
The set design was clunky.The doors on side of the stage were ill-fitting and needed a joiner to have a good look at them.The staircase looked a bit naff.At times I thought the Mischief team were involved lol.Seen better am-dram sets.
The book doesn’t work.Seconds after Day’s character has perished in some horrific accident,the action has moved on to the next plot point.The denouement of the show with Patrick’s character is implausible and forced.Not sure what Mane’s character motivations/agenda were either.The guff about ‘Life’s a banquet...’was just nonsense.I know that it’s MT,but this was stretching things.
Talking of Day...what was the point?
He didn’t know the dance routine and only had a fleeting association with the accent.Basically a walk-on part. ‘Star’casting for the sake of it.Bennett and Thorpe were splendid.Not sure who played the young Patrick but he was very good.
The band did well with what is essentially a one-song show.
The stage was way too small for the dance choreography.
Only really went to support an ex-pupil in the cast,but he will be in better productions than this in his career.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 12, 2020 9:06:34 GMT
Seen better am-dram sets. Thank heavens you didn’t see the set for Jerry Springer at the HM 😯 |
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Post by xanady on Jan 12, 2020 9:15:58 GMT
^Some ticket prices were £40+ last night and those unfortunate enough to pay those silly prices were not getting vfm with the rather shoddy set.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 12, 2020 9:40:48 GMT
I actually thought the Mame set was fine. However expectations of production values at the HM have been low lately so anything with a bit of silver foil on it would be likely to dazzle me, with my simple tastes 🙂.
I thought the Rags set was dreadful but no one else is mentioning it, so maybe that was just my dislike of the show overall. The Spring Awakening and Pippin sets were great without seeming to be particularly extravagant and the HM’s first musical Parade had the simplest of sets but it worked brilliantly. I don’t think it’s entirely down to the amount spent but I do hope that with the new funding model we’ll see a vast improvement moving forward.
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I've recently moved to Northampton so The Royal and Derngate is walking distance away!