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Post by freckles on Apr 21, 2016 20:24:51 GMT
Thanks for the clip danielwhit.
I saw this on Tuesday this week, and that prison cell scene was the first scene.
The end few seats on the front rows of the stalls were left empty.
Really enjoyed the play, difficult to say too much without giving away the gags, but there's so much to enjoy - not to mention admire - in this show.
I laughed so much, and my worries that this slight change in direction for Mischief wouldn't be as funny as the "goes wrong" plays was totally unfounded.
And they can all sing as well. If they ever return to the "goes wrong" format, I'd love them to do The Musical That Goes Wrong!
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 21, 2016 21:29:56 GMT
If they ever return to the "goes wrong" format, I'd love them to do The Musical That Goes Wrong!I think there are quite a few musicals that have already claimed that title! |
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Post by danielwhit on Apr 21, 2016 22:35:19 GMT
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Post by freckles on Apr 22, 2016 7:36:25 GMT
I'm glad Shenton liked it (he's been on a bit of a downer lately with his reviews) but that is a very muddled write up!
What was the opening scene originally - if it doesn't spoil anything? (guess not, if it has been changed.)
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Post by stevej678 on Apr 22, 2016 8:43:30 GMT
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Post by n1david on Apr 22, 2016 8:59:27 GMT
Worth pointing out that there are still limited £25 Band A tickets available for this every Sunday - discount code is SUNDAYS. Just picked up two row C tickets for a Sunday in mid-May at £25 each. Sounded like the perfect Sunday pick-me-up before a Monday morning...
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Post by danielwhit on Apr 22, 2016 11:10:27 GMT
I'm glad Shenton liked it (he's been on a bit of a downer lately with his reviews) but that is a very muddled write up! What was the opening scene originally - if it doesn't spoil anything? (guess not, if it has been changed.) Note I haven't seen the new version so don't know when the two threads join, however the original sequence saw Mitch and a inmate played by Chris L in a cell. A clearly bent cop (who turns out to be Cooper) was deployed by other guards to torture them, which consisted of pieces of set being hit, the two gurgling to simulate being held underwater, that type of thing. They are then placed in a sack inside a laundry hamper and were pushed out by the bent cop, with the idea of being taken out of the prison and escaping. But a hamper switch happens and the two find themselves in the warden's office - crawling around inside the sack (infront of, unbeknownst to them, the warden and others), cutting through washing lines (which they think was the perimeter fence), feeling the wind on their face (a fan), etc. They eventually get revealed and jump out of the window, which then leads into the car escape sequence I presume is still performed. Generally it was good but definitely felt like a slow burn start to the play. And considering how much he disliked Play That Goes Wrong, that's some turn around! Only other two reviews I've spotted so far are: 2* from The Evening Standard www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-comedy-about-a-bank-robbery-theatre-review-so-wrong-it-s-just-not-right-a3231416.html5* from WhatsOnStage, describing it as "the funniest play since Noises Off" www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/the-comedy-about-a-bank-robbery-criterion-theatre_40261.html |
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Post by freckles on Apr 22, 2016 11:30:23 GMT
I'm glad Shenton liked it (he's been on a bit of a downer lately with his reviews) but that is a very muddled write up! What was the opening scene originally - if it doesn't spoil anything? (guess not, if it has been changed.) Note I haven't seen the new version so don't know when the two threads join, however the original sequence saw Mitch and a inmate played by Chris L in a cell. A clearly bent cop (who turns out to be Cooper) was deployed by other guards to torture them, which consisted of pieces of set being hit, the two gurgling to simulate being held underwater, that type of thing. They are then placed in a sack inside a laundry hamper and were pushed out by the bent cop, with the idea of being taken out of the prison and escaping. But a hamper switch happens and the two find themselves in the warden's office - crawling around inside the sack (infront of, unbeknownst to them, the warden and others), cutting through washing lines (which they think was the perimeter fence), feeling the wind on their face (a fan), etc. They eventually get revealed and jump out of the window, which then leads into the car escape sequence I presume is still performed. Generally it was good but definitely felt like a slow burn start to the play. And considering how much he disliked Play That Goes Wrong, that's some turn around! Only other two reviews I've spotted so far are: 2* from The Evening Standard www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-comedy-about-a-bank-robbery-theatre-review-so-wrong-it-s-just-not-right-a3231416.html5* from WhatsOnStage, describing it as "the funniest play since Noises Off" www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/the-comedy-about-a-bank-robbery-criterion-theatre_40261.htmlThanks for explaining. Another review from Gay Times 5/5 www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/34760/review-the-comedy-about-a-bank-robbery/ |
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Post by stefy69 on Apr 22, 2016 15:15:46 GMT
and 5 stars in today's Times  |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 22, 2016 15:58:19 GMT
They eventually get revealed and jump out of the window, which then leads into the car escape sequence I presume is still performed As of last Thursday the old & new versions merged at the point of them jumping out of the window, though goodness knows if that's still the case! Sorry for not replying to your previous query, I'm on holiday so haven't looked at the board for a few days. As I'm on a cruise in Norway & there are lots of seagulls I keep being reminded of the show! I'm pleased to see the reviews are all good so far apart from the Evening Standard. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 22:42:09 GMT
I must admit, Dawnstar's seagull reference had me baffled, but now I totally get it :-)
It took me a few minutes to get into the play tonight, but I think that was entirely down to me being flustered after discovering, 5 minutes to curtain up, an agency had also sold the stalls seat I bought from the theatre back in December! Had to run up to dress circle on opposite side of theatre to find a FOH person. Very helpful chap checked our tickets, ran to box office, got me an alternative seat...on the other side of the auditorium. Scooted round to new seat, to discover it wasn't on an aisle. Had to ask nice couple to move to let me in. Just got backside in seat as lights went down. Arghhh!
Then lights came up - to reveal the guy in front of me was about 6ft4 and built like a tank. Double arghhh!
On the plus side, next season I'll be auditioning for a #GoesWrong show...
Anyway, due to said panic and not being able to see the centre of the stage owing to Mr Tall's head, I think I missed some of the early funnies. But once everyone started running around (and I found a good spot to peer round Mr Tall's head), I barely stopped laughing. I don't know how they sustain that level of frantic activity, show after show. It's incredible. So many brilliant, inventive moments. (The line "She was...crucified!" floated into my head on the tube on the way home and made me giggle; my Central line compatriots were probably edging away from me!) Funny also to hear the audience rooting for Sam - Dave Hearn's just got one of those faces, right?
As ever with Mischief's shows, I'm already planning a return trip...
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Post by stefy69 on Apr 28, 2016 10:30:08 GMT
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Post by freckles on Apr 28, 2016 10:31:28 GMT
Now booking through to April 2017 I am so pleased for them, well deserved. Yes, fantastic news. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 12:12:35 GMT
So happy to hear about the extended booking, gives us all plenty of opportunities to go back as well :-)
Theatremonkey - yes, I'd have expected that, too. In fact, when the nice FOH guy walked me round to the other seat, he said apologetically something along the lines of, "Agencies often mix up the seats" - at which point I said, "But I bought the ticket here" and he looked really surprised. Date of sale was clearly marked as something like 8 Dec - I bought it just a day or two after I'd seen Peter Pan Goes Wrong and they announced from the stage that booking was open. The other lady had an American (or Canadian, sorry, I can never tell the difference) accent, so I assume she probably picked up her ticket at an agency.
But I'm guessing, given at that point we had all of about 3 minutes to go, the box office just wrote an alternate seat number on the first ticket they could reach and it happened to be mine. And since there was no time to argue - and I'm a (relatively) nice person who thought it might be better not to force the foreign visitor to run round the auditorium, I figured I'd just move.
I daresay I could have had a grumble at the interval and maybe got a free programme out of it or something, for the inconvenience, but it seemed churlish given that they reseated me in the same part of the theatre and I saw the show I'd paid for.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 17:59:53 GMT
Though I fear the couple who had to get up to make way for me 30 seconds before the play started may disagree with you, Monkey. ;-)
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 29, 2016 17:15:58 GMT
I must admit, Dawnstar's seagull reference had me baffled, but now I totally get it :-) Funny also to hear the audience rooting for Sam - Dave Hearn's just got one of those faces, right? Yes, my seagull mentions make no sense until you've seen them. Even the first time I saw the show I was thinking what's with the seagulls until the payoff near the end. I do love {Spoiler - click to view}
"Simon. It was his birthday." & "Deborah. She was just getting over Simon." I think it's the deeply reproachful way in which Chris Leask says it! I agree with your comment on Dave Hearn. He manages to get sympathy just by standing there looking at the audience sometimes. I was interested to be told that when the cast were doing early readings of the pics they were swapping around the roles & he read Mitch. I can't really imagine that working on stage, he just comes over as too nice! I have seen him playing baddies in some of the Lights Camera Improvise shows & most of them still ended up being sympathetic! I see via Twitter that Quentin Letts has sort-of reviewed it for the Daily Mail. I guess it's good that he's positive but one or two of the more personal comments made me raise my eyebrows. www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-3564725/All-aboard-fun-trip-Ol-Man-River-Boat-classical-Kern-make-names-stars-writes-QUENTIN-LETTS.html |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 22:18:25 GMT
OMGosh. That's it. I've finally decided, I have but two ambitions in life.
1. I want to join Mischief Theatre. I'll even sell the tickets and fetch their lunch if they want.
2. I want to be Henry Shields' sexy time play thing. This one is not negotiable.
I can't begin to list the things I loved about this show. It's simply hysterical. Some of the set pieces are astonishing and I really haven't laughed so hard and so long (tsk, there I am thinking about Henry Shields again!) in ages. There isn't a weak link in the entire cast - they are truly sensational. I can't wait to go again. And again. And again.
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Post by DuchessConstance on May 4, 2016 18:31:34 GMT
1. I want to join Mischief Theatre. I'll even sell the tickets and fetch their lunch if they want. Same |
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Post by Dawnstar on May 4, 2016 18:40:42 GMT
OMGosh. That's it. I've finally decided, I have but two ambitions in life. 1. I want to join Mischief Theatre. I'll even sell the tickets and fetch their lunch if they want. 2. I want to be Henry Shields' sexy time play thing. This one is not negotiable. I imagine there's a very long queue for no. 1. And quite possibly for no. 2 as well! |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2016 8:23:52 GMT
OMGosh. That's it. I've finally decided, I have but two ambitions in life. 1. I want to join Mischief Theatre. I'll even sell the tickets and fetch their lunch if they want. 2. I want to be Henry Shields' sexy time play thing. This one is not negotiable. I imagine there's a very long queue for no. 1. And quite possibly for no. 2 as well! Who'd have thunk he was so hot?  |
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Post by londonmzfitz on May 5, 2016 8:26:34 GMT
Last comment. Damn, Henry Shields in leather jacket is handsome! Handsome!Me. Damn! |
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Post by showgirl on May 5, 2016 16:06:14 GMT
Which one was he? I don't know who any of the cast were - & prefer not to be distracted by that knowledge - but it was the women who made the greatest impression on me, though everyone worked very hard.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 5, 2016 18:44:20 GMT
I imagine there's a very long queue for no. 1. And quite possibly for no. 2 as well! Who'd have thunk he was so hot? Me. I've thought he was decidedly fanciable ever since I first saw him as Chris Bean, let alone in this one. Which one was he? I don't know who any of the cast were - & prefer not to be distracted by that knowledge - but it was the women who made the greatest impression on me, though everyone worked very hard. He played Mitch Ruscitti, the lead bank robber. |
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Post by showgirl on May 5, 2016 18:48:51 GMT
Ah, the one with the tattoos then, I think? If so, you may have him with my blessing.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 5, 2016 19:58:20 GMT
I only noticed the one tattoo, on his arm. I agree that is a bit off-putting if, like me, you're not a tattoo fan, though it does suit the character. I didn't even realise he had it until this show as in the others his costumes all had long sleeves.
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