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Post by FrontroverPaul on Dec 19, 2019 14:03:20 GMT
I'm in Sheffield now but when I get back tomorrow will be phoning Fairfield too if my seats are no longer front row. The Ashcroft seems to be struggling to get a good attendance and messing about with the seating doesn't help
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 19, 2019 21:18:21 GMT
Interval time, very good so far. Many of the same cast at last year.
The pre-show started at 7:32pm, very few people in then, with the main show continuing straight on at 7:48pm. Sound wasn’t perfect for the pre-show but got sorted.
The seating is rather a mess. I have stayed in my original Row F seat but would probably have moved if I could have left the row easily. It’s the distance a lot of people would like. The seating plan showed Rows C to E sold out, but actually there are four people on Row C, a few more on D and E. On Row F, what were the premium seats are empty. Rows A and B are empty so everyone is distant from this intimate show.
The rest of the theatre is busy with both levels open, but not as busy as the seating chart would suggest. In the Stalls behind me, most people are in the front half (don’t know if they were moved forward).
The show is very polished for a first performance (even bearing in mind a lot of the cast are continuing). Plus I hadn’t realised David Heywood had joined the cast even though he’s mostly in the background (perhaps cover Guy), which is a bonus.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 19, 2019 22:46:39 GMT
Second half also very good, with the exception of some microphone feedback.
Main downside was a restless audience, I had shufflers near me, a phone went off, several glasses knocked over etc. This is one of those shows people don’t know what to expect.
A very emotional ending and a standing ovation from a good proportion of the audience. There were more at the back than I’d thought at first glance. There was also some kind of champagne event going on (which I wasn’t part of).
The show finished at 10:25pm, so this is running about 10 minutes longer than scheduled. But I’m sure it will tighten up. Don’t know if I’ll see this again in Croydon, but I’ll definitely catch this later on in the tour.
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Post by jamb0r on Dec 20, 2019 0:17:42 GMT
The seating is rather a mess. I have stayed in my original Row F seat but would probably have moved if I could have left the row easily. It’s the distance a lot of people would like. The seating plan showed Rows C to E sold out, but actually there are four people on Row C, a few more on D and E. On Row F, what were the premium seats are empty. Rows A and B are empty so everyone is distant from this intimate show. Would you say that the £15 seats in rows C to E offer a good view? Or is the stage high? |
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 20, 2019 9:00:44 GMT
Would you say that the £15 seats in rows C to E offer a good view? Or is the stage high? Personally, I’m happy with any of those and I think this is a show to sit close to the front for. I like Row A (for other productions). You look slightly up, but you won’t miss anything. The main downside of the first few rows is the rake is very slight, if there’s any at all. For £15, they’re excellent value. And this venue just doesn’t sell out so you’d always be able to quietly move if you didn’t like the seat (or the people sitting near you). |
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Post by andrew on Dec 20, 2019 16:14:53 GMT
I'm going at tomorrow's matinee and I wanted to call them to change my seat from row F to row C (the entire rows C-D-E were completely unsold yesterday when I checked) but I just saw the seating plan and they all look sold out. Weird...
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 20, 2019 18:38:31 GMT
I'm going at tomorrow's matinee and I wanted to call them to change my seat from row F to row C (the entire rows C-D-E were completely unsold yesterday when I checked) but I just saw the seating plan and they all look sold out. Weird... That's what it looked like yesterday, but under half of them had anyone sat there. Maybe they have had too many complaints after putting them on sale? Or they just want it to look like there are fewer seats left to sell. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Dec 27, 2019 18:44:53 GMT
No problem changing my row F seats for row C but the box office assistant did not know why rows A and B were not available. He said his system just showed they were "on hold" which he thought was most likely at the request of the promoter. Odd.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Dec 30, 2019 14:03:19 GMT
There were very few people there for the matineee on Saturday and I had no problem moving to the front row, together with a Board and theatre illuminary who I was privileged and delighted to meet....
Front row then had 5 people including my family of 4, nobody in rows B or C.
"Girl" was understudied by Hanna Khogali. It was her first ever appearance in the lead role and she did a fine job. I asked my family afterwards if they would have known they were seeing the first performance by an understudy and none of them would.
I do think this show has been given too long a run at Croydon ; three times as many performances compared to other tour venues. With great seats available for £15 it's well worth a visit.
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Post by somnorific on Jan 3, 2020 13:21:08 GMT
Am seeing this on Saturday and was very pleased that the box office happily swapped me into Row C center stalls for a £2.50 charge.  This will be my 4th time seeing this, from 3 different venues and 2 countries. Will tears fall from Girl's eyes again during IYWM? Stay tuned .. |
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Post by Montmartre on Jan 9, 2020 17:30:27 GMT
Saw this yesterday afternoon - quite a good turnout I thought.. I wish it had been announced that there was a pre-show, as I only saw about 10 minutes of it. What fabulous musicians. I felt for that girl carrying the cello.
Having seen the show in London a while ago and not having been that taken by it, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it yesterday. The girl had a beautiful effortless, crystal clear voice. I didn't realise there was so much comedy in it,
Row G is the first raised row - a perfect view.
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Post by justfran on Jan 9, 2020 19:18:31 GMT
Are the audience still able to go to the on-stage bar pre-show?
Can anyone who has seen the show so far also advise any merchandise they have for sale?
Thanks in advance 😊
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 9, 2020 19:31:27 GMT
Are the audience still able to go to the on-stage bar pre-show? Can anyone who has seen the show so far also advise any merchandise they have for sale? Thanks in advance 😊 No, this is a different production without a bar. |
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Post by andrew on Jan 9, 2020 19:54:08 GMT
Are the audience still able to go to the on-stage bar pre-show? Can anyone who has seen the show so far also advise any merchandise they have for sale? Thanks in advance 😊 I didn't see any merch apart from the programme but that might depend on the venue. |
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Post by justfran on Jan 9, 2020 21:56:45 GMT
Thanks for the answers both.
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Post by jamb0r on Jan 10, 2020 9:28:06 GMT
This show means a lot to me. First time I saw it in the West End I had decided a couple of days before that I was going to get out of a terrible long term relationship, but my partner insisted on taking me on a trip to London to try and make things better. Ended up getting day seats to see Once and we were in the middle of the front row. Cut to act 2 with the cast practically screaming the lyrics ‘When your mind’s made up, there’s no point trying to change it’ at me it was the message I needed to turn my life around and get out of that situation, and leaving was the best thing I’ve ever done (been in a MUCH better relationship now for the last 6 years and couldn’t be happier)
Caught this on Wednesday and thought it was WONDERFUL (and I only sobbed (silently!) for about 90% of it). I’ve been pretty desperate for a tour since it closed in the West End, and this production was everything I could have hoped for. The cast are all absolutely perfect and unbelievably talented. The £15 seats at the front were a steal (thanks for the advice!) and it was busier than I was expecting - looks like it’s selling better towards the end of this run. Was hoping to get a return visit in before it moves on from Croydon but most of those cheap seats have gone now. Will probably try and catch it in Woking next month.
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Post by Dave B on Jan 12, 2020 0:14:58 GMT
We caught the last night in Croydon tonight. Really good, a lot of fun. The cast are pretty great. As mentioned above, the bar isn't on the stage at the start however most of the cast are on the stage from at least 20 minutes earlier doing a version of a pub trad session while people take their seats.
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Post by justfran on Jan 13, 2020 9:03:56 GMT
There’s a glowing 5 star review on WOS.
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Post by gazzaw13 on Jan 15, 2020 23:41:51 GMT
Saw this today in Southend. It's stripped back from the original WE production but the music and emotion shine through. I've seen 4 actors play Girl and fallen in love with each of them. It's such a great part and Emma Lucia is excellent - the best vocal performance of the 4. I was pleased they have cut the Billy/Bank Manager relationship which always jarred for me. I hope the tour extends to include London as I want to see it for a 5th time. 5*
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Post by andrew on Jan 16, 2020 2:17:37 GMT
Can anyone who has seen both productions (and has time) elaborate on the differences between the West End (or Broadway) version and the UK tour?
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Post by Stasia on Jan 16, 2020 9:05:53 GMT
Can anyone who has seen both productions (and has time) elaborate on the differences between the West End (or Broadway) version and the UK tour? I have seen West End production 25 times (+5 times in Dublin where it was technically the same production and even the same set travelled from London) and touring production 6 times (in Hornchurch and Croydon). And I always have time to talk about Once! The differences are: Set - the current one looks much more like a pub, the "pre-Sleeping" moment has a huge moon painted ove the characters heads. Costumes - different but same style Onstage swings added - they are actively participating in preshow and in some of the numbers. This makes the sound richer as there are more strings playing. Preshow songs: only 3 or 4 now instead of 6, Irish only (no Czech ones) Texts are the same, except for Billy is not a "big" but a "tall" man. Musically they added a few bars of "North Strand" at the end of it to make the scene change to the Da's shop, they slightly lengthened the start of Sleeping. Also first Falling slowly now does not intercept with the dialogue. Choreo is different but has lots of things that look as they were in WE, probably due to remarks on how to stage the If You Want me or Pada Pada dance. Flamenko scene is slightly longer. Staging is quite different. At some moments it works better, but I still miss the people moving while Say It To Me Now and Sleeping. The Bank Manager and Billy relationship does not differ - as I've seen loads of actors playing the parts, I can say they were allowed to tone the friendship down or make it look as bromance even depending on who is playing with who. I might come up smth else later! |
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Post by Stasia on Jan 16, 2020 9:11:12 GMT
Saw this today in Southend. It's stripped back from the original WE production but the music and emotion shine through. I've seen 4 actors play Girl and fallen in love with each of them. It's such a great part and Emma Lucia is excellent - the best vocal performance of the 4. I was pleased they have cut the Billy/Bank Manager relationship which always jarred for me. I hope the tour extends to include London as I want to see it for a 5th time. 5* I am interested in what you feel as "striped back". For me they are pretty much the same scale as WE was quite intimate (and not very epensive-looking as well) |
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Post by jamb0r on Jan 16, 2020 10:10:16 GMT
Stasia I have a question I am sure you can answer Was the 'Ronan Keeting' line always in the show? Was it also in the show when Ronan was in the cast in the West End?
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Post by Stasia on Jan 16, 2020 10:24:26 GMT
Stasia I have a question I am sure you can answer Was the 'Ronan Keeting' line always in the show? Was it also in the show when Ronan was in the cast in the West End? Nope, West End had Michael Bouble there even in pre_Keating times |
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Post by jamb0r on Jan 16, 2020 10:27:32 GMT
Stasia I have a question I am sure you can answer Was the 'Ronan Keeting' line always in the show? Was it also in the show when Ronan was in the cast in the West End? Nope, West End had Michael Bouble there even in pre_Keating times Ahhh thank you! I was sure I hadn't heard Ronan's name mentioned in the show before, but it's been a long time since seeing it in the West End - thank you for confirming I was remembering correctly. |
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This will be my 4th time seeing this, from 3 different venues and 2 countries. Will tears fall from Girl's eyes again during IYWM? Stay tuned .. 
