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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 1, 2017 0:02:10 GMT
I think both Sam B and Daniel above have crystalized my view on this show. I have only seen it once early on in the run from the front row with Robert Fairchild who was a dream. In contrast I have been back to 42nd St on (too?) numerous occasions.
As Sam B said the plot made no sense at all to me and was quite uncomfortable at times. I had far more problems with the book of this than the admittedly thin plot of 42nd St.
As Daniel said the show bills itself as a musical but is too clunky in the transitions between book, musical numbers and lengthy ballet sequences. As a musical fan I found it too ballet "heavy" (like Daniel) but I presume ballet lovers will find it too ballet "light". So somehow, for me, it falls between two stools.
Today Tix always seem to have rush seats available for £20 and I might revisit before it closes but then for £5 more I can sit on the front row of Drury Lane and watch those dancing feet and I know which I would rather do for an evening!
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 1, 2017 6:14:03 GMT
I went back a second time and enjoyed it even more. I was able to ignore the plot and luxuriate in the music, colour and dancing. The other big weakness has now gone and Zoe Rainey is fabulous as Milo Davenport
Great value from the half price booth.
As 42nd st will be around for some time, I will try for a third visit before it closes.
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Post by viserys on Nov 1, 2017 8:42:05 GMT
As a musical fan I found it too ballet "heavy" (like Daniel) but I presume ballet lovers will find it too ballet "light". So somehow, for me, it falls between two stools. To some extent, yes. I'm both a musical and ballet lover. When I first saw it in New York I had pretty much expected a full ballet and was very disappointed by how little actual dancing there was. I also had a bad seat on the side where I couldn't really enjoy the lovely stage sets/projections. It was a very different beast in London with managed expectations. Knowing now that there wasn't as much ballet as I had hoped for initially, I really enjoyed the dancing that WAS there as well as the other numbers and the view was so much better from the cheap second row in the stalls. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2017 17:22:07 GMT
Enjoyed it alot more today! The two understudies were amazing, especially buddy there on the piano. I was surprised to see that, bar maybe six seats tops, the stalls were packed out! I was shocked, didn't expect that. But myself and a couple of others were the only ones that stood at the end, those dancers work their asses off!  Its a beautiful show, do try to catch it if you can!  Sidenote: wish I hadn't seen how the dress change and piano bit was done, and I found that magical first time around! |
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Post by talkstageytome on Nov 2, 2017 15:40:29 GMT
Forgot to mention that I saw this last weekend on the same day I saw 42nd Street. Some lovely performances (Max Westwell on for Jerry, Jack Wilcox on for Adam - the former's dancing was gorgeous while the latter has a beautiful voice and lovely stage presence.) I enjoyed the show well enough but it didn't really pop for me. The Choreography was beautiful and the design was lovely, but the story just wasn't enough for me. Also, I've not been following this thread but I assume the uncomfortable way in which Lise is borderline stalked by three different men, despite turning them down several times, has already been discussed? I know it's a show based on a film from 1951, set in 1945, but amid all the sexual assault allegations that have been coming out recently I found that aspect a little bit ick. Also, {Spoiler - click to view} I felt so bad for Adam, he's kind of named as Lise's American In Paris at the end, but considering he's the narrator I felt he was a bit sidelined. Maybe I just wanted to hear more of Wilcox's singing?  |
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Post by theatreian on Dec 20, 2017 16:06:18 GMT
Saw his on Monday night and what a classy production it was. Ashley was the star of the show naturally but it was well staged and the quality of the dancing and performances shone through.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 21, 2017 13:30:45 GMT
Do we know when the cinema broadcast is yet?
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Post by zak97 on Dec 29, 2017 12:14:08 GMT
Thanks to some dynamic pricing there are some very good priced seats available for the final performance. In the stalls and circle there are a few £57.50 seats (were a lot more expensive yesterday) right by the £125+ seats, if anyone is interested. Was very tempted to snag one, but ended up going for a £19.50 seat in the circle (I think the seat was about £50 yesterday) as I've seen the show twice before, and I've already spent a lot on Hamilton.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 13:23:49 GMT
Well. It may have been the brandy in my bloodstream the mince pies but I plumped for a return visit to this show last night before it pirouettes off elsewhere. Ashley Day and Kristen McGarrity were Jerry and Lise this time around. They were delightful and I couldn't tell any real difference between Ms McGarrity and Leanne Cope to be honest. Perhaps it was the wig. I did like Ashley Day, he has a lovely voice, smashing hair and a behind like a peach (but that's enough of 'Call Me By Your Name') but I have to say that I very much preferred Bobby Fairchild though. He was more masculine than Mr Day and I think his dancing was smoother and more effortlessly elegant. David Seadon-Young stole it this time around methinks and how he remembers to keep dragging that foot around all the time is very impressive. Take that Daniel Day Lewis! The beginning is still scrumptious, I still can't see how she changes from the yellow dress to the black one and that stage is ma-hoo-sive but good God, it's an ugly auditorium isn't it? Like a methodist church that's been taken over and decorated by a gang of prostitutes. Edit: Time to drag this one out again I think. You're welcome.  |
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 2, 2018 13:30:59 GMT
I saw this on Broadway in mid 2016 and loved it. Does anyone know if there’s much difference here to warrant another visit?
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Post by zak97 on Jan 2, 2018 13:33:35 GMT
I saw this on Broadway in mid 2016 and loved it. Does anyone know if there’s much difference here to warrant another visit? Well you’ve got till saturday if you want to go again! |
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Post by Elle on Jan 3, 2018 10:50:50 GMT
I know I'm late as this show is closing now but just a little rant about Tripadvisor. The reviews for this show were terrible there and had almost convinced me into not seeing it. I would have skipped it if I had won the lottery for Hamilton or Jamie. It has happened before too, scaring me from perfectly good hotels. Tripadvisor is very useful but I'm starting to lose faith in it as I often don't agree with the bad reviews. Anyway back to the show: I really enjoyed it and am happy I got a chance to see it before it closed. Ashley Day is just dreamy! I have never described anyone that way but it totally fits him.😍
Here's my seat review. As I was dubious about this show I picked a cheap seat in the front row on the side, A6 for about £20. Endless legroom because there's a good amount of space between the front row and the stage. It wasn't a terrible seat and didn't give bad neck strain like 42nd Street did but it was too far to the side. If you looked straight you were not facing the stage but some curtains or a wall. This is because the Dominion theatre is so large. For the money paid it was an all right seat but I would recommend going more central.
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Post by Elle on Jan 3, 2018 11:00:36 GMT
I saw this on Broadway in mid 2016 and loved it. Does anyone know if there’s much difference here to warrant another visit? I did quite a bit of research on this show trying to decide if I should see it in London, as I had skipped it in NYC. I remember reading that apparently there is not much difference between this version and the Broadway one. But maybe someone has seen both and knows the answer? Save |
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Post by Steffi on Jan 3, 2018 11:17:57 GMT
I saw this on Broadway in mid 2016 and loved it. Does anyone know if there’s much difference here to warrant another visit? I saw it on Broadway three times followed by three times in London (yes, I really like the show). No noticeable difference apart from the different cast (except Leanne and Robbie, obviously). I only ever saw Robbie Fairchild as Jerry so can’t comment on Ashley Dale. But I would say unless you are interested in simply seeing the show again or watching different performers‘ takes on the roles there is no need to go again. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2018 10:26:42 GMT
Sad to see this for the final time tonight, such a beautifully staged show. But glad it finally came to the West End and I got to see it 3 times! Is anyone else going to thr final performance tonight, or this afternoon?? I see on the website the final show is pretty much sold out bar a few seats! |
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Post by jamb0r on Jan 6, 2018 12:01:30 GMT
Just managed to bag a TodayTix rush seat for this tonight - seeing it for the first time, and being the final performance is a nice bonus. The rush tickets sold out pretty much instantly at 10am, but they are obviously adding more throughout the day as I just managed to bag one - just incase anyone is still looking.
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Post by nialld on Jan 6, 2018 12:07:29 GMT
Just managed to bag a TodayTix rush seat for this tonight - seeing it for the first time, and being the final performance is a nice bonus. The rush tickets sold out pretty much instantly at 10am, but they are obviously adding more throughout the day as I just managed to bag one - just incase anyone is still looking. Yes I just managed to get one too! I'm really happy as I've wanted to see this for a while and had just never got round to it, and was gutted when the rush tickets all went instantly on today tix this morning! I don't think I've ever seen a west end show on it's closing night as well so excited about that! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2018 13:09:17 GMT
If anyone sees me, feel free to say hi! I'm in rear Circle, Row N. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 0:49:06 GMT
Beautiful final performance tonight. No speeches and no Julie Legrand, but hugely responsive audience, especially in Act 2, with an instant standing ovation in the Circle the moment the curtian rose for the bows. Most of the cast visably crying, and I actually was quite teary toward the end of the show and at the curtian calls. A beautiful show that deserved to run longer. But I'm sure a tour will surface at some point, and that cinema release in the not too distant hopefully. |
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Post by jamb0r on Jan 7, 2018 12:42:58 GMT
Afraid I thought the complete opposite - found this to be an absolute snooze fest! Some beautiful dancing, but other than that I didn't really enjoy much else. Really didn't like the plot - in fact the scene in act 1 by the river made me feel pretty uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of people comparing it to 42nd Street (which I LOVED) so was really disappointed in this. Was hoping for a bit more 'final-performance-atmosphere' too but there wasn't anything of the sort.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 13:11:28 GMT
Afraid I thought the complete opposite - found this to be an absolute snooze fest! Some beautiful dancing, but other than that I didn't really enjoy much else. Really didn't like the plot - in fact the scene in act 1 by the river made me feel pretty uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of people comparing it to 42nd Street (which I LOVED) so was really disappointed in this. Was hoping for a bit more 'final-performance-atmosphere' too but there wasn't anything of the sort. Ah shame you didn't enjoy it as much as me. I've seen it 3 times so clearly I loved it haha. I went in, not expecting much of a final performance atmosphere, mainly due to the demographic this show is aimed at and the fact it was a short run. But it was lovely to see the reaction to the big dance numbers, the orchestra and the standing ovation at the end. The other two times the show didn't get that kind of response bar the end which had patches of standing ovation both times. Again I think just because of the demographic of audience members, so it was lovely to see them deservedly recieve that on their final performance. |
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Post by stageyninja83 on Jan 7, 2018 16:30:32 GMT
Cinema release 16th May.
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Post by LaLuPone on Jan 7, 2018 16:40:27 GMT
With booking opening this Friday I believe. |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 7, 2018 16:49:34 GMT
Is this going to be a one off showing like NT performances or for a longer period?
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4,985 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 7, 2018 18:41:01 GMT
With booking opening this Friday I believe. Any day tickets and how high is the stage? |
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