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Post by terrylondon79 on Apr 25, 2016 18:20:09 GMT
Just stood outside the playhouse at the moment, watching peoples reaction to finding out Matthew Perry isn't on.
After last week at "Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard" I'm beginning to wonder if theatres should be held more accountable for their advertising.
Unlike the Eno, they are offering exchanges if available dates. The atmosphere here is very different to the Eno. People are happier as they can make the decision that weather to see the show, or wait, rebook and see "the star".
I understand that you buy a ticket it isfor the production. However many first time theatregoers may not.
It is quite understandable that people will expect to get what they see on the posters etc.
I can't think of another instant where you can advertise a product contains one thing and give you another.
If a show is sold on the promise of a star, how can they expect people not to kick off, when they don't provide it.
It is very different, like at the barbican last year when Benediction Cumberland, was is Hamlet . His name was under the play title, in small type, and the production imagery was not just a big picture of him.
If you booked that, it was quite clear it was a production of Hamlet. That happened to have someone famous in. The adverts where not misleading you into thinking it was the Benedict Cumberback show.
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Post by TheatreDust on Apr 25, 2016 18:58:35 GMT
I'm loving your phone's autocorrection to "Benediction Cumberland" which to me sounds like some sort of religious ceremony where the participants are blessed with sausages! Or maybe it's the sausages that are blessed.
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Post by profquatermass on Apr 25, 2016 21:32:29 GMT
It's not really practical to expect the Coliseum (pretty much the biggest theatre in London) to offer alternative dates for a more or less sold out show. Any more than the RSC could have offered alternative dates when David Tennant failed to show. As for Cumberbatch, whatever the poster looked like, it didn't have a very starry cast apart from him. Whereas Tennant's Hamlet probably would have sold very healthily with a nobody in the cast because of Patrick Stewart
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 23:28:38 GMT
The tickets are sold with clear warnings that the producers cannot guarantee the appearance of a particular artist. If people want to take that risk and book tickets in advance, that's their call.
If they also want to hype themselves up about the show just because of the big name in it, that's also their call. But people get ill, there's nothing that can be done about it. The show goes on, the audience gets the show they paid for, so why on earth should they be entitled to a refund/rebooking? If they've focused so much on seeing the star that's no-one's fault but their own, no-one forced them to do so.
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19,856 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 26, 2016 6:38:03 GMT
The tickets are sold with clear warnings that the producers cannot guarantee the appearance of a particular artist. If people want to take that risk and book tickets in advance, that's their call.
If they also want to hype themselves up about the show just because of the big name in it, that's also their call. But people get ill, there's nothing that can be done about it. The show goes on, the audience gets the show they paid for, so why on earth should they be entitled to a refund/rebooking? If they've focused so much on seeing the star that's no-one's fault but their own, no-one forced them to do so. I suppose the problem is the lack of consistency. If some theatre's do let people rebook for another performance it makes any warnings pretty meaningless. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 6:47:39 GMT
I somewhat agree... Sheridan is another example with Funny Girl. Though she had legitimate reasons to miss the few she did at the Meiner, the backlash was huge, and almost nasty. Thankfully Natasha was apparently great but Sheridan didn't deserve that treatment, especially whilst her Dad was ill.
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Post by lesmislover on Apr 26, 2016 14:28:22 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread as it's good to read others' views on the subject.
I have gone to see plays/musicals, with no idea who is starring in them and not that bothered. The title can just sound good!
At other times I have visited the theatre to see a particular leading man/lady. I think there is no greater disappointment when armed with those wrapper free sweets and slurp free drink, it is announced that 'Today the leading lady/man is replaced by'. The heart sinks!
I know very often the cast for the day is shown in the foyer. Perhaps the heart sinking for replacement leading man/lady at this point of realiastion, isn't quite so low as one can always purchase some extra wrapper free sweets and slurp free drink to help compensate?!
It is a difficult situation for the theatre to deal with as quite obviously they can't refund all the charrabang full of fan club goers who's idol isn't appearing but making it clear in the foyer beforehand either by announcement or a clear statement by the entrance, to me would be welcome. I could then decide if I want to carry on in or head for the pub to drown my sorrows (dwelling on those wasted plane tickets and hotel stays, incurred in such a visit).
Oh and the theatre can then make more profit with a possible further ticket being bought to see that 'star'.
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Post by profquatermass on Apr 26, 2016 14:41:22 GMT
The Playhouse kept it pretty secret that they were missing three leads for Woman on the Verge - no announcement, just a small notice by the box office which you'd only have seen if you were collecting tickets before the show. I think that's what *really* annoyed people
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 17:13:13 GMT
I've been following the Sunset Boulevard thread with interest and mostly flip flopping in agreeing with both sides of the debate. I did notice when I walked past the ENO on Sunday that some of the big posters outside said "the theatre event of the year/decade/entire history of the world" (can't remember which) with just a pic of Glenn Close's face - no logo or ref to the show at all. I know you can never guarantee that someone will be on but when the entire marketing drive has been around seeing a certain person in a show rather than the show itself, you can't blame people for being disappointed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 17:40:24 GMT
I think it would be quite annoying if you went to a show for both the show and star, and the star you love isn't on. I would be.
I don't think Funny Girl would've sold out in 90 mins and nearly sold out the Savoy if there wasn't a celebrity involved
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19,856 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 26, 2016 18:04:06 GMT
I've been following the Sunset Boulevard thread with interest and mostly flip flopping in agreeing with both sides of the debate. I did notice when I walked past the ENO on Sunday that some of the big posters outside said "the theatre event of the year/decade/entire history of the world" (can't remember which) with just a pic of Glenn Close's face - no logo or ref to the show at all. I know you can never guarantee that someone will be on but when the entire marketing drive has been around seeing a certain person in a show rather than the show itself, you can't blame people for being disappointed. Ummmm not quite. (Pardon my elbow!) postimg.org/image/wnvpxiagx/ |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 18:13:04 GMT
I think that celebrity casting is a good thing
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7,251 posts
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Post by Jon on Apr 26, 2016 18:16:03 GMT
I think that celebrity casting is a good thing Provided they're any good or suitable for the role. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 18:18:55 GMT
I think that celebrity casting is a good thing Provided they're any good or suitable for the role. Yes! I think most celebrities are very good in their roles, but if they are just hired for fun and can't sing or act then it isn't very good. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 21:04:32 GMT
I've been following the Sunset Boulevard thread with interest and mostly flip flopping in agreeing with both sides of the debate. I did notice when I walked past the ENO on Sunday that some of the big posters outside said "the theatre event of the year/decade/entire history of the world" (can't remember which) with just a pic of Glenn Close's face - no logo or ref to the show at all. I know you can never guarantee that someone will be on but when the entire marketing drive has been around seeing a certain person in a show rather than the show itself, you can't blame people for being disappointed. Ummmm not quite. (Pardon my elbow!) postimg.org/image/wnvpxiagx/Well, that clearly wasn't the poster I was talking about! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 21:11:20 GMT
There's also a difference between celebrity stunt casting and actual star casting
Also, the menier arnt the first to offer alternatives if the star isn't on. There have been other cases over th years, or the shows just cancelled out right. It rare but has happened.
I think the difference is giving people an option. I'm sure many, if faced with a choice of either seeing it without the star or getting a refund would probably say 'well we are here we may as well', but it creates good will by giving the choice.
In the Sunset Blvd case, this whole show has been built around its star. It wouldn't be happening without her, her name and photo are as big as (if not bigger,depending on the poster) than the show logo. Quite clearly 'the show is the star' does not apply here. The music concert argument does hold some weight here. When you make the star bigger than the show itself, especially in a semi staged concert, you need to have a back up plan if your star can't perform. This isn't Sunset Boulevard starring glenn close and michael xavier. This is 'the theatrical event of the year Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard'. No one is saying people don't get ill, but you can't advertise a star event, charge people a lot of money, then say 'oh but you paid for the show' when things don't go to plan.
Some producers are sneaky, and I think it's time they were called out on it. Very few products would you pay all that money and not get the full product. Theatre needs to move with the times. A simple rule like broadway would mean producers can't get away with making their star bigger than the show,and if they do there are consequences if they don't perform. On th broadway boards majority of people are shocked that refunds arnt offered
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 27, 2016 5:45:29 GMT
Well, that clearly wasn't the poster I was talking about!  Which are the posters with "no logo or ref to the show at all"? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 7:38:05 GMT
Can anybody think of any bad celebrity casting?
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Apr 27, 2016 8:01:16 GMT
Can anybody think of any bad celebrity casting? Not only think of, but having witnessed it myself: Amanda Holden in Shrek Kimberley Walsh in Shrek and Elf (shudder) |
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Post by alece10 on Apr 27, 2016 8:22:23 GMT
Can anybody think of any bad celebrity casting? Not only think of, but having witnessed it myself: Amanda Holden in Shrek Kimberley Walsh in Shrek and Elf (shudder) I thought the question was celebrity?  |
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Post by alece10 on Apr 27, 2016 8:23:39 GMT
I dont think she missed any performances but could you imagine if Angela Lansbury missed performances of Blythe Spirit.
We all went just to see "the dame" perform.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 8:25:06 GMT
Speak for yourself, I was there for Charles Edwards.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 8:54:11 GMT
Well, that clearly wasn't the poster I was talking about! And, also clearly, the poster you were talking about is not "the entire marketing drive". |
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Post by Michael on Apr 27, 2016 9:17:37 GMT
Not only think of, but having witnessed it myself: Amanda Holden in Shrek Kimberley Walsh in Shrek and Elf (shudder) I thought the question was celebrity? @george22 didn't specify the letter of the list the celebrity is on, so I went for Z. You, of course, were expecting an A-list celeb  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 9:36:51 GMT
Very few products would you pay all that money and not get the full product. I think you've hit the nail on the head in terms of the key point here, though I completely disagree with you because in my mind there's no question that you are getting the full product. You paid to see the show - whether you would have paid for it had X celebrity not been in it is irrelevant, because you're booking for a theatre production of a particular show. Yes, you may want to see that celebrity, no-one's saying there's anything wrong in preferring the celeb to the understudy, but at the end of the day the product you have purchased is simply a ticket to a particular show - that's what can be guaranteed, not who appears in it. The show goes on, the product is delivered to the audience. Who actually delivers it doesn't matter, because the show still went on. If the celebrity really was the only reason for selling tickets at all, then there would be no understudy - the show would simply be cancelled until the celebrity is well enough to perform, like any artist's concert tour. This isn't an artist's concert tour, this is an artist appearing in a production that is about more than just them, and is sold with a clear warning that no appearance can be guaranteed, so anyone who books takes the risk upon themselves that they'll not see the star. |
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