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Post by theatremadness on Sept 26, 2017 21:59:42 GMT
^There's a sentence I never thought I'd hear!!!!!!!!!
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Post by kathryn on Sept 27, 2017 7:23:14 GMT
To be fair, that sounds like a book/storyline comparison - and we all know that the book is the weakest aspect of Follies!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2017 7:38:03 GMT
Big feature on BBC Breakfast this morning- clips from the show and interviews with Take That (or what remains of them) and Take That Mums (all 5 of them). The show looked....flashy, yeah let's go with that as a descriptor.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 27, 2017 8:10:05 GMT
Also on Lorraine on ITV in a minute.
Four stars from The Stage.
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 27, 2017 9:20:11 GMT
That’s one for the show and three for Lulu.
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Post by richey on Sept 27, 2017 9:53:17 GMT
Four stars from Whatsonstage too. But that's mainly for the songs as there's a few barbed comments hidden in the review
I think the earlier comment about Take That appearing would take precendence has proved true as I can see hardly any reviews online but lots of stories about them performing with Lulu
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2017 5:54:02 GMT
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Sept 28, 2017 15:55:11 GMT
The slotting in of 9-5 or whatever they are called looks so awkward. I think they underestimated accountability after Let it Shine and now trying too hard to make them part of the production.
It is shame because it has potential but once again, as with The Girls, I am not really sure who it is aimed at. It initially appears to be women of a certain age but the women in the pictures look to old to have been Take That fans. It feels like they've remembered what went wrong with The Girls so added some hot young men (The not Band) to the mix. As bad as Viva Forever was it had women singing songs by women, Bat Out of Hell is at least faithful to gendered vocals of the songs we are used to. Women singing Never Forget et al will make it harder for the audience to relate. I don't want to dismiss the 4* reviews because it clearly has an audience but will sustain that into a long-term run.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 28, 2017 16:21:39 GMT
It's clear who it's aimed at. Fans of a band. That's not in doubt. Yes the ladies are of a certain age but Take That began in 1992. Their success is not a new thing. That's the audience of this.
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 28, 2017 17:56:05 GMT
Problem is though, that TT don’t have the worldwide recognition and devotion of ABBA. There isn’t enough fandom to sustain what is a fairly mediocre product.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 28, 2017 19:18:10 GMT
They don't need the worldwide recognition, it's just a UK tour*. They are well known in Europe and sell out tours there and have Australia and Dubai coming up too. They certainly have the fanbase. They've just done a very successful tour in the summer of UK Arenas.
* Although saying that, it now looks like The Band is going to be heading Worldwide too!
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 28, 2017 22:24:58 GMT
They’re not in the same league as ABBA though. And it’s that kind of fan base that’s kept Mamma Mia going.
I maintain my earlier point, if they can’t sell this show in Manchester, which they haven’t done given that they’ve been literally giving tickets away, it doesn’t stand a chance of longevity.
Also I wouldn’t believe a word of any plans for worldwide. Marketing fluff.
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 29, 2017 13:12:07 GMT
There was a half page spread about The Band in yesterday's Yorkshire Post. As The Yorkshire Post is a broadsheet, that's a nice bit of free advertising. I imagine that Gary Barlow doesn't lower himself to speak to regional newspapers, so it was left to Tim Firth.
I had to smile when he said that this isn't a Take That musical. Well someone should tell the marketing department then, because that's how it is being sold on the side of buses.
He also revealed that him and Gary are off on a writing weekend soon. Unless he meant an Arvon courses in Heptonstall, I assume they're going somewhere without any distraction, to throw around ideas for musical number three. You read it here first!
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 29, 2017 14:51:59 GMT
He won't have much time, he is announcing a solo tour soon.
Sorry Gary, but if Howard isn't there I'm not interested!
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 29, 2017 21:27:24 GMT
Is Baz on the payroll now?!
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 30, 2017 7:05:00 GMT
Let’s face it, if whoever is running this is capable of getting free advertising on prime time bbc tv, persuading a few showbiz editors to promote it would be a walk in the park.
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5,138 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 30, 2017 13:07:29 GMT
Great quote from Graham Norton this morning. "It was better than I expected." Bet they don't put that on the poster!
Opening night in Sheffield now has just seven seats left in the stalls and seven in the cirle. (Slightly more in the balcony.)
Closing night has just 18 seats left theatrewide, all singles.
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Post by ptwest on Oct 1, 2017 18:09:30 GMT
Finding any pair of decent seats in the Sheffield run was tricky. Wasn't going to see this, in fact was going to avoid it like the plague but after seeing it in the news last week my wife announced she wanted to go. So, managed to get two mid stall seats for midweek. Not much else left - no point considering the balcony as there is no chance of fitting in those seats. Worth bearing in mind that the Lyceum has almost 900 fewer seats than the Manchester opera house so selling it out is much easier.
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2,242 posts
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Post by richey on Oct 4, 2017 16:09:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 17:58:55 GMT
The other thing Mamma Mia has going for it is it appeals to both sexes. Wives can take their husbands to mamma mia more likely than something about Take That. My dad loved it (despite reservations before hand) and ive heard similar stories from others. even if they dont admit it, most people like at least some abba music.
Baz supporting a show seems to have become a sign a show is maybe in trouble, however it did have massive sales at my local venue when it first on sale, crashed the website etc
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Post by grannyjx6 on Oct 5, 2017 21:52:13 GMT
Well I saw it today and enjoyed it. Yes it probably is aimed at ladies past the first flush of youth (in my case, way past) but it was a nice way of spending a few hours. I thought the 'Band' were very good both singing and dancing and the young and older 'girls' all played their parts really well. The older women were 'real' women, who all had lives nothing like as glamorous or exciting as they planned as youngsters. Standing ovation at the end too. My only criticism is the pricing is way too high for a regional tour at just under £50 for a stalls seat.
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5,138 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 6, 2017 12:37:58 GMT
The first rule of business is to charge what the market will bear. So as long as patrons continue to pay £49.50 for a ticket without complaint or hesitation, then I'm afraid that is the price that will continue to be charged.
Pleased you enjoyed it, though.
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Post by shady23 on Oct 6, 2017 17:25:54 GMT
I know lots of Take That fans and they are booked to go back again and again and again.... its like the concerts, it becomes a competition on who is going the most!
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Post by daniel on Oct 6, 2017 17:42:38 GMT
I know lots of Take That fans and they are booked to go back again and again and again.... its like the concerts, it becomes a competition on who is going the most! What's your tally, Shady?  |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Oct 6, 2017 17:55:35 GMT
I am doing terribly as have only attended at opening night and have no plans to return until it comes to Newcastle.
Must do better! 😂
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