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Post by alece10 on Jul 4, 2019 17:19:42 GMT
Please?  Trevor Nunn directing so running time will probably be just under 5 hours. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 5, 2019 3:47:56 GMT
I think of him as reliable rather than exciting. He should be fine. Exactly what I was going to say. Reliable, but not exciting. And totally not sexy. Really disappointed. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 14, 2019 0:26:05 GMT
David Babani introduced this tonight and said there maybe stoppages as it was the first preview (thankfully there were none) and David set he has a surprise for us, which was not only was it in the first preview, it was the dress rehearsal as well.
Saw the first preview last night and it really was a first preview after loving the cast recording, I felt a bit let down by this, however the show will improve as the performances get tighter. For the Menier it was a complex set that was designed by the Oxford educated Jon Bausor, the set centred around 2 turntables. A lot of crashing and banging backstage.
Thought Jenna Russell and Ed Baker-Duly were very enjoyable and had a lot of chemistry between them. The chemistry and the performances will improve, once the actors get up to spread.
3 Stars
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Post by Stasia on Jul 14, 2019 5:59:06 GMT
David Babani introduced this tonight and said there maybe stoppages as it was the first preview (thankfully there were none) and David set he has a surprise for us, which was not only was it in the first preview, it was the dress rehearsal as well. Saw the first preview last night and it really was a first preview after loving the cast recording, I felt a bit let down by this, however the show will improve as the performances get tighter. For the Menier it was a complex set that was designed by the Oxford educated Jon Bausor, the set centred around 2 turntables. A lot of crashing and banging backstage. Thought Jenna Russell and Ed Baker-Duly were very enjoyable and had a lot of chemistry between them. The chemistry and the performances will improve, once the actors get up to spread. 3 Stars Does making it a dress rehearsal mean people are getting refunds? |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 14, 2019 7:02:06 GMT
“Oxford educated” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 14, 2019 8:57:55 GMT
[The chemistry and the performances will improve, once the actors get up to spread.
3 Stars[/quote]
What were the actors spreading? Jelly Russell? Edward Baked Goods Duly? Is this going to be a Marmite show - Brioches of Marmalade County?
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Post by xanady on Jul 14, 2019 11:57:58 GMT
‘Crashing and banging backstage?’...the mind boggles lol
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Post by amp09 on Jul 14, 2019 13:41:34 GMT
What was the run time last night? Hoping to catch it on Wednesday but got a train to catch at 10.30.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 14, 2019 13:49:28 GMT
Were the vocals good enough? I was a little worried about Russell's less sopranic voice in comparison to O'Hara but Shoshana Bean performed Always Better recently and still sounded great despite her more pop-style voice which has made me a little less worried so I'd love to hear something positive to put my concerns completely to rest.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 14, 2019 13:51:43 GMT
What was the run time last night? Hoping to catch it on Wednesday but got a train to catch at 10.30. It was (according to a friend) 3 hours last night. Starts at 8pm. So down by 11am or hopefully 10.45 on Wednesday. |
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jul 14, 2019 14:13:12 GMT
Were the vocals good enough? I was a little worried about Russell's less sopranic voice in comparison to O'Hara but Shoshana Bean performed Always Better recently and still sounded great despite her more pop-style voice which has made me a little less worried so I'd love to hear something positive to put my concerns completely to rest. It definitely wasn’t cast on vocals. It got better as it went on, probably due to the fact they finished teching act 2 the same day and probably hadn’t touched act 1 for a few days (only assuming this knowing how tech schedules work). Wasn’t overly thrilled by last nights show but hoping it will improve before my next visit. Lots and lots of line flubs and only Shanay stood out for me. Jenna is a wonderful actress but with a score like this I would argue vocals need more weight in the casting process - knowing how Trevor Nunn casts his shows (usually just come in and have a chat then maybe read a scene), the casting process wasn’t the same for this production as with other productions. I am sure as was said above the chemistry will improve over time as the actors become more comfortable and I forgave them a lot considering it was ultimately a dress run. |
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Post by theatre241 on Jul 15, 2019 7:04:34 GMT
Does anyone know what those restricted view seats are like? What is the set like?
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jul 15, 2019 7:31:59 GMT
Does anyone know what those restricted view seats are like? What is the set like? The space is so small I can’t see the restricted view seats being an issue. The set is complicated but not massive - there are two revolves on which different parts of set roll in and out (I assume for Trevor Nunn this signifies the continuation of life and/or Francesca’s leading a double life), and the porch flies in (just once I believe..). Looks beautiful when executed properly but its quite complicated so has a lot of possibilities to go wrong. |
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Post by frosty on Jul 15, 2019 7:48:02 GMT
I was there Saturday too, I've not read the book or seen the film, so only knew the sketchiest of details, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, beautiful story. There were a few glitches, but nothing show stopping. I thought Jenna was wonderful and has a lovely voice. The set is basically wooden slats which have various projections on them, and 2 small revolves for the furniture etc. I can't imagine any of the views are restricted, seating is L shaped across 2 sides and the set is across the other two sides, it was all totally open. The biggest issue for me was the sardine bench seating and the heat. Lordy it was hot, and you certainly get to know your neighbour very well. I was almost looking forward to the end just to get out and get some air! It really would make me think twice about going back there. Perhaps I was unlucky and there were just some larger than average people in my row.
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Post by theatre241 on Jul 15, 2019 7:48:42 GMT
Does anyone know what those restricted view seats are like? What is the set like? The space is so small I can’t see the restricted view seats being an issue. The set is complicated but not massive - there are two revolves on which different parts of set roll in and out (I assume for Trevor Nunn this signifies the continuation of life and/or Francesca’s leading a double life), and the porch flies in (just once I believe..). Looks beautiful when executed properly but its quite complicated so has a lot of possibilities to go wrong. Thank you! How big is the band do you know? |
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Post by andrew on Jul 15, 2019 8:15:14 GMT
I was there Saturday too, I've not read the book or seen the film, so only knew the sketchiest of details, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, beautiful story. There were a few glitches, but nothing show stopping. I thought Jenna was wonderful and has a lovely voice. The set is basically wooden slats which have various projections on them, and 2 small revolves for the furniture etc. I can't imagine any of the views are restricted, seating is L shaped across 2 sides and the set is across the other two sides, it was all totally open. The biggest issue for me was the sardine bench seating and the heat. Lordy it was hot, and you certainly get to know your neighbour very well. I was almost looking forward to the end just to get out and get some air! It really would make me think twice about going back there. Perhaps I was unlucky and there were just some larger than average people in my row. Thanks for the info, as a big JR fan I'm glad you liked her in this. Re: the Menier rows, over the length of the row people tend to try and sit as far away as they can get away with from other people. I've come in and found my seat literally non-existant because from both sides people have edged slightly over where they should be and it just cascades. You've then got to shout at people to shuffle up until they are literally bang in front of their seat number. You do get big people sometimes but more often I think people further up the row are just taking liberties with their personal space in a theatre where there is absolutely 0 personal space. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jul 15, 2019 9:12:28 GMT
What was the run time last night? Hoping to catch it on Wednesday but got a train to catch at 10.30. It was (according to a friend) 3 hours last night. Starts at 8pm. So down by 11am or hopefully 10.45 on Wednesday. I understand why Menier starts their shows at 8pm but to have a show not ending till almost 11pm is bound to cause some travel-home issues. I'm there tonight and really hope nobody will have to leave before the end. |
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Post by frosty on Jul 15, 2019 9:28:46 GMT
<abbr>....</abbr> really hope nobody will have to leave before the end. Annoyingly, the late finish on Saturday, and the slow slow shuffle as everyone leaves the theatre, meant that we missed our fast train home by 2 minutes, so it was another 30 min wait and the slow train for us. Hopefully they will shave some time off the running. I was thinking it would be really difficult to leave early if you had to, you would basically have to walk along the stage. Just out of interest, why do the shows there start at 8? |
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Post by lynette on Jul 15, 2019 10:43:36 GMT
I think they like you eat at the restaurant and when i have the slow service would account for an 8 start 😂
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Post by alece10 on Jul 15, 2019 10:46:39 GMT
<abbr>....</abbr> really hope nobody will have to leave before the end. Annoyingly, the late finish on Saturday, and the slow slow shuffle as everyone leaves the theatre, meant that we missed our fast train home by 2 minutes, so it was another 30 min wait and the slow train for us. Hopefully they will shave some time off the running. I was thinking it would be really difficult to leave early if you had to, you would basically have to walk along the stage. Just out of interest, why do the shows there start at 8? Its mainly due to the fact the theatre has a restaurant and does the meal deal package with dinner and show. It generates quite a bit of money for a non subsidized theater so they have always started the shows at 8pm. Very annoying with the longer shows. Also surprised about the heat as the theatre has air con and people usually complain it's cold. Maybe if they had been teching the show all day then the spotlights would have been on all day which generates a lot of heat. |
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Post by sophie92 on Jul 15, 2019 10:51:46 GMT
Another who was there on Saturday with my mum, and on our walk home we discussed the 8pm start time. I also put it down to being because they want people to eat at the restaurant.
And yes, if anyone does have to leave early, it’s going to be awkward because you do have to walk along the edge of the stage area.
With regards to restricted views, the post is at the far end of row A on the block of seats as you come in. I was sat in the seat next to the post on Saturday but for another visit I have C31 (I think) booked, which is behind the post. However, I think for the most part anyone sat there will be looking past the post into the open space of the stage area so I don’t believe it will cause a massive restriction.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jul 15, 2019 12:26:11 GMT
The space is so small I can’t see the restricted view seats being an issue. The set is complicated but not massive - there are two revolves on which different parts of set roll in and out (I assume for Trevor Nunn this signifies the continuation of life and/or Francesca’s leading a double life), and the porch flies in (just once I believe..). Looks beautiful when executed properly but its quite complicated so has a lot of possibilities to go wrong. Thank you! How big is the band do you know? Not sure but they sounded exquisite. |
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Post by alece10 on Jul 15, 2019 16:26:17 GMT
Maybe if they had been teching the show all day then the spotlights would have been on all day which generates a lot of heat. Don't they use LED which is a lot cooler? Maybe. I'm not up on modern day electrickery. It was just a thought behind the heat issue. |
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Post by frankubelik on Jul 15, 2019 17:47:47 GMT
Gosh I am dreading this. Booked prior to the casting announcement and now can't shift the tickets. I have taken to booking an EXTRA seat so as not to have to be so terribly cramped which is of course wasteful but a choice. So many productions have been ruined for me because of the seating and heat - last year's SPAMILTON a case in point. Roll on Saturday...........................
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Post by alece10 on Jul 15, 2019 18:14:33 GMT
You should have gone there in the days before reserved seating. It was a free for all and at the end there were people with no seats and everyone had to shift up to squeeze everyone in.
And the number of times I've sat at the end of the row with only one buttock on the seat and the other floating in mid air!!!!
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