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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 14, 2019 10:18:37 GMT
Actually not particularly objecting to them putting on this type of thing, but reviving shows they've done themselves so recently seems very odd. I suppose things could have been worse - it could have been The Winslow Boy, Blithe Spirit and The Importance of Being Earnest. Next season? |
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Post by Polly1 on Feb 14, 2019 10:18:44 GMT
Hugh Bonneville as C.S.Lewis (Shadowlands) is bizarre casting. There was a very good tour a couple of years ago with Stephen Boxer which I'm pretty sure must have visited Chi so another very recent revival. Expected more from Evans after his work in Sheffield, he must be under very different pressures here - I wonder how long before he gets itchy feet. I seem to remember a production of "Shadowlands" at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, a few years ago. That might be the one that you are referring to. I think Tony Slattery had a role in it.
Why blame "the powers that be" for Evans' dud selections? Jonathan Church managed to come up with far more exciting seasons. Sure, Church had a few duds but he seems to have had a far higher hit rate than Evans so far.
Tony Slattery was slated to play Warnie for that tour production but had to withdraw "for health reasons" prior to its commencement, replaced by Dennis Lill (who was brilliant- and much more suited to the role). |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2019 10:19:59 GMT
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Post by Polly1 on Feb 14, 2019 10:22:19 GMT
Re. Evans, I guess I've been so disappointed by his conservatism (recent revivals from Chi and repeats of his Sheffield hits) after his great success at Sheffield that I was looking for some other outside reason.
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 14, 2019 10:27:37 GMT
Yes, interesting article. It mentions that the population of Chichester is only 22.000 20 years ago. I suppose it has risen since but still not enough to maintain a big season. So the theatre must still be trying to attract an audience from London and the larger catchment area.
The financial pressures must be immense and the Artistic Director must be limited with very safe commercial choices combined with the availability of licenses etc. Look at the debacle recently of To Kill A Mockingbird for example. Musical rights must be very difficult to obtain for the big successful shows too.
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Post by emsworthian on Feb 14, 2019 10:35:11 GMT
Thanks for the info about "Shadlowlands", Polly. I checked and it was on in the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, in 2016.
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Post by missthelma on Feb 14, 2019 10:49:36 GMT
Well this really is the most disappointing thing ever since probably the last most disappointing thing ever. It's been a long time since I was excited about the Chichester programme but this years is dire. The only thing that sounds vaguely interesting is 8 Hotels but it's only running in August when I may have commitments which make a day trip to Chicester difficult to plan in advance. And it's in the Minerva so with a reasonable cast there will be no tickets left
As someone said up thread I do love a day trip to Chichester and sometimes an overnight stay, there's enough to do there to keep you occupied but maybe not to make a special trip without the lure of a show. And if they are trying to attract outside audiences why cast the 'big' musical with two almost unknowns and Josie Lawrence, who is fab, but possibly not a draw?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 14, 2019 11:09:36 GMT
Hugh Bonneville as C.S.Lewis (Shadowlands) is bizarre casting. There was a very good tour a couple of years ago with Stephen Boxer which I'm pretty sure must have visited Chi so another very recent revival. Expected more from Evans after his work in Sheffield, he must be under very different pressures here - I wonder how long before he gets itchy feet. More importantly, Amanda Ryan was utterly spectacular as Joy.  |
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Post by learfan on Feb 14, 2019 11:16:34 GMT
Yes, interesting article. It mentions that the population of Chichester is only 22.000 20 years ago. I suppose it has risen since but still not enough to maintain a big season. So the theatre must still be trying to attract an audience from London and the larger catchment area. The financial pressures must be immense and the Artistic Director must be limited with very safe commercial choices combined with the availability of licenses etc. Look at the debacle recently of To Kill A Mockingbird for example. Musical rights must be very difficult to obtain for the big successful shows too. Yes people tend to forget that, for all the talk about "cathedral city" Chichester is actually a small town on a par with Stratford and so does very much rely on its location close to London, especially the southern suburbs. Look at the Michael Rudman debacle in 1990/91 and then the triumvirate at the start of the millennium, lots of exciting programming but noone went! |
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 14, 2019 11:24:10 GMT
One of the most anticipated announcements in theatre but I am afraid it is a yawn, instead of ‘wow’
Never understood why there artistic programme is just a summer thing and why they don’t do another big Christmas musical? I would think Chichester would be beautiful at Christmas.
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 14, 2019 12:53:51 GMT
Yes, mixed feelings: if there's little or nothing of appeal, it will save me the cost of renewing my membership, the stress of booking (9 am on a Saturday, when many regular theatregoers would normally be en route to see something) and fraught journeys with GTR. But I do, travel aside, really enjoy my trips to Chichester, as it's so much more pleasant than yet another visit to London; the shops are worth a look provided it's not too often and there are great exhibitions at Pallant House gallery. GTR aside travelling to Chichester, which is a slow and tedious journey. Summer woukdn’t Be complete with our cream teas, swallows in the air and a trip to Chichester. |
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Post by David J on Feb 14, 2019 13:57:50 GMT
Since Chichester is only a drive away for me, I'll book for some of these. Especially the Minerva ones since there's less tickets that go sooner.
I'll get £10 ones for Macbeth and Oklahoma but wait on Shadowlands (liked the tour but not in hurry to see it again) and will wait for reviews on Plenty.
Otherwise, yeah it's pretty underwhelming. 8 Hotels and Hedda Tesman are the most interesting. Like me some Hadley Fraser in Deep Blue Sea. Not keen on Dervla Kirwan as Lady Macbeth. She delivered the lines very deliberately and carefully as Goneril in the McKellan King Lear, as if she wasn't comfortable with the language
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Post by Rory on Feb 14, 2019 17:39:01 GMT
Re. Evans, I guess I've been so disappointed by his conservatism (recent revivals from Chi and repeats of his Sheffield hits) after his great success at Sheffield that I was looking for some other outside reason. Yes this season is uber conservative. Last year they mixed a Penelope Keith with a Tinuke Craig double bill and Cock by Mike Bartlett. Very little innovation this year really. A missed opportunity for sure. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 14, 2019 17:52:56 GMT
Now I never thought I would see Penelope Keith and Cock in the same sentence!
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Post by Rory on Feb 14, 2019 18:08:01 GMT
I did pause before I typed it! 😂
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Post by hal9000 on Feb 15, 2019 0:49:05 GMT
I saw the film of Oklahoma! over Christmas and Curly’s treatment of Jud may not go over well in this day and age, neither does the kangaroo court. Poor Jud Is Dead is horrifying. One could well frame Jud as an sensitive anti-hero and Curly as dim violent bully.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 15, 2019 7:54:46 GMT
Now I never thought I would see Penelope Keith and Cock in the same sentence! It was a real surprise that Chichester chose to stage 'Cock' which had one of the greatest performances from a young actor I've ever seen on stage. |
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Post by missthelma on Feb 15, 2019 10:35:13 GMT
One of the most anticipated announcements in theatre but I am afraid it is a yawn, instead of ‘wow’ Never understood why there artistic programme is just a summer thing and why they don’t do another big Christmas musical? I would think Chichester would be beautiful at Christmas. I would expect that given the usually shambolic state of Southern rail, if you add in 'weather' in Winter, very few would attempt the journey and any that did would end up on a rail replacement service to Carlisle |
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Post by showgirl on Feb 17, 2019 15:06:25 GMT
Frustrated to realise that my membership expires the day before members' online booking opens but even though it will probably mean paying more for my tickets and having access to reduced availability, I can't justify renewing at £35 when it turns out that this season I wish to book for 2 productions only. The combined cost of the 2 tickets should still be less than the membership fee and leave something over towards the rail fares.
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Post by learfan on Feb 17, 2019 15:45:00 GMT
I renewed the other week and turns out there are at least four i want to see so will take advantage of the festival saver deal.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 22, 2019 13:10:43 GMT
Just bringing back my general annoyance at this season...why couldn't they have done Gigi for the summer musical?
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 22, 2019 14:45:24 GMT
Whilst there is some lovely music in Gigi, the plot is somewhat troubling these days..
Thank Heavens for Little Girls - I know the final line was added - but it is still an uncomfortable message
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 25, 2019 8:36:11 GMT
Whilst there is some lovely music in Gigi, the plot is somewhat troubling these days.. Thank Heavens for Little Girls - I know the final line was added - but it is still an uncomfortable message Indeed...it depends on the director's angle. |
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Post by NeilVHughes on Feb 25, 2019 9:01:37 GMT
Had a look through the season brochure over the weekend to determine what to book for, noticed there is very little overlap between new and old shows at the Minerva and Festival Theatre.
Was looking at Hedda Tasman and Macbeth an there is only one Saturday where you can see both and it was the same for Plenty and Deep Blue Sea.
Maybe it only affects the combinations I would want to see but a longer offset gives plenty more opportunity to mix and match.
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Post by CG on the loose on Feb 25, 2019 9:07:39 GMT
Yes NeilVHughes, I had the same problem. I usually manage to see what I want to see from the season in four two-show days but the overlaps didn't work in my favour this time, so while I've only booked six productions I'm still having to make the long trek four times. |
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