Chess

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2018 10:12:10 GMT @posterj said:

Mar 1, 2018 6:32:37 GMT Scswp said:

To some extent, yes - though Florence is still a far bigger role. If they are ‘beefing’ out the role of Svetlana, that is fine so long as it serves the structure and plot (it keeps being insisted that the ideal structure is still be striven for), but if they’re increasing Svetlana’s role simply because it’s being played by a celebrity, then that’s slightly worrying. That reasoning does not serve the plot at all and may be counter-productive. Chess is already a long musical and that is what we are paying to see - ‘Chess’ (hopefully, with the long-awaited improvements in driving the plot); we are not paying to see Alexandra Burke provide additional length to an already-long show. We shall see - I hope her additions improve the show itself.

You say "we", but some people undoubtedly will be paying to see Alexandra Burke in this, so from that perspective beefing up her role a bit makes perfect sense.

Don't assume everyone who books this is a theatre purist - Burke will have been cast at least partly to sell tickets to her fans and off the back of her raising her profile again on Strictly.

So where are they then? Still PLENTY of availability across the limited run... ENO might have thought she could shift some extra tickets, and it sounds like you do too. But they ain't shiftin'...

[Brian]

^Are we really going to blame Alexandra’s fans for the number of tickets sold? Nothing to do with Michael Ball, Timothy Howar, Murray Head or Cassidy Janson, then?

Alex was the most commercially successful lead in the Bodyguard and Sister Act was a roaring success financially also (albeit mixed opinions from those on this board)- she does shift tickets but Chess is a different beast. It will be less familiar than the other shows she’s done, it’s not exactly a night out for hen parties, and the tickets are quite pricey.

Even though I like her, the integrity of the piece should not be compromised to give Alexandra a beefier piece. She was cast in a supporting role and is presumably being remunerated accordingly. She knows what she signed up for. If they can give her a bigger role without compromising the piece, then so be it.

While there are plenty of seats left, there is also plenty of time to get them sold. None of the cast or team have done any serious promo; aside from the cast announcement.
I’m guessing there’ll be some live performances to promote it like Amber Reilly did for Dreamgirls. Except to see Cassidy and Alexandra on the One Show etc.

[wickedgrin]

Mar 1, 2018 10:32:35 GMT @caiaphas said:

So where are they then? Still PLENTY of availability across the limited run... ENO might have thought she could shift some extra tickets, and it sounds like you do too. But they ain't shiftin'...

Indeed not, and even the Michael Ball fans must still be snowed in, under a duvet with no internet access to book.

[Deleted]

^ It is odd, isn't it? You'd have thought that the casting- disppointing as it is really- would have caused a bit of a flurry ( ) with ticket sales, and while there might have been a few more shifted since the announcement, it's not looking good on the seating plans.

And I'm not discounting anyone's credibilty as a performer. But I reckon there might be some... erm... discounts going for this one.

[wickedgrin]

There was quite a bit of discounting for Carousel last year. I remember seeing good stalls and dress seats for £30 at TKTS on the day.

[Deleted]

Where do discounted tickets for the ENO musicals come through on, is it Love Theatre, Encore, etc etc?

Or is it just dynamic pricing discounts on their official site like the Delfont Mackintosh shows?

[Deleted]

I really dislike the Coliseum as the circles don't start until the back of the stalls, as opposed to overhanging them. Means that dress circle is extortionately priced when you are already miles away from the stage. Huge orchestra pit extending from the stage doesn't help.

So basically to see faces you have to be in the stalls - which for Chess are obscenely expensive.

I am also one of these people that like's aisle seats. Frustratingly though although most nights it looks half empty, all the stalls aisle seats seem to have gone. Makes you wonder if ENO holding them back. Which is in nobody's interest. Nobody's on nobody's side. Etc.

[Scswp]

Mar 1, 2018 7:54:42 GMT karloscar said:

Svetlana doesn't need two songs describing how dissatisfied she is with her life no matter who is playing the role.

Yes, my point exactly. Will it be added merely because a celebrity is playing the part? This does nothing for the integrity of the show itself IMO.

[distantcousin]

Mar 1, 2018 12:48:38 GMT Scswp said:

Mar 1, 2018 7:54:42 GMT karloscar said:

Svetlana doesn't need two songs describing how dissatisfied she is with her life no matter who is playing the role.

Yes, my point exactly. Will it be added merely because a celebrity is playing the part? This does nothing for the integrity of the show itself IMO.

Maybe it's less about her, and more about BB & T wanting to include a new (to the West End) song.

[theatreian]

Mar 1, 2018 10:20:10 GMT @ryan said:

Still, if it stops her from singing . .

I had forgotten how much of a fan of Alexandra you were Ryan, particularly of her strictly appearance!!

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2018 14:26:04 GMT theatreian said:

Mar 1, 2018 10:20:10 GMT @ryan said:

Still, if it stops her from singing . .

I had forgotten how much of a fan of Alexandra you were Ryan, particularly of her strictly appearance!!

Well that's understandable, I didn't really say much at the time. I really should stop being so shy and retiring and become more forceful.

[digipal]

Are we all just not slighty to blame for hyping up a possible cast between ourselves when in fact ENO never said "book a ticket and we promise you a A+++ cast"? I'm as guilty as anyone thinking the sky was the limit however now we know, I'm just glad that we're getting to see Chess back in the west end with a large orchestra playing. When I heard it might have been Lady GaGa I did think wow, that would have been pretty amazing however thinking about it now, if she had been cast, Mother Monsters followers would have put the Coliseum literally on lock-down for every performance. This would have been "Up For Grabs" on steroids and would have overshadowed the entire piece: and don't get me wrong here, I love Lady GaGa

[BurlyBeaR]

Mar 1, 2018 19:38:32 GMT digipal said:

Are we all just not slighty to blame for hyping up a possible cast between ourselves when in fact ENO never said "book a ticket and we promise you a A+++ cast"? I'm as guilty as anyone thinking the sky was the limit however now we know, I'm just glad that we're getting to see Chess back in the west end with a large orchestra playing. When I heard it might have been Lady GaGa I did think wow, that would have been pretty amazing however thinking about it now, if she had been cast, Mother Monsters followers would have put the Coliseum literally on lock-down for every performance. This would have been "Up For Grabs" on steroids and would have overshadowed the entire piece: and don't get me wrong here, I love Lady GaGa

But that would have explained the strategy of putting the show in sale way way before the cast announcement. So fans of the show could book without getting into a scrum with her fans, then they announce her and sell out every remaining seat. It would have worked for any big star name, not just her. 

All of the rumours have suggested that they were aiming high, but failed to secure a star name. 

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2018 23:18:08 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Mar 1, 2018 19:38:32 GMT digipal said:

Are we all just not slighty to blame for hyping up a possible cast between ourselves when in fact ENO never said "book a ticket and we promise you a A+++ cast"? I'm as guilty as anyone thinking the sky was the limit however now we know, I'm just glad that we're getting to see Chess back in the west end with a large orchestra playing. When I heard it might have been Lady GaGa I did think wow, that would have been pretty amazing however thinking about it now, if she had been cast, Mother Monsters followers would have put the Coliseum literally on lock-down for every performance. This would have been "Up For Grabs" on steroids and would have overshadowed the entire piece: and don't get me wrong here, I love Lady GaGa

But that would have explained the strategy of putting the show in sale way way before the cast announcement. So fans of the show could book without getting into a scrum with her fans, then they announce her and sell out every remaining seat. It would have worked for any big star name, not just her. 

All of the rumours have suggested that they were aiming high, but failed to secure a star name. 

Well then all that the strategy has shown is that there aren't that many fans of the show who are willing to pay high prices to see it without a star name! So they were right to try to get a big name for this even though they have failed.

They must be wondering now if they've picked the wrong show...

[Brian]

Are the ‘high prices’ being exaggerated slightly? A good stalls seat for this is the same price as when I booked a good seat for Dreamgirls (it actually cost less when the booking fee is taken into account). Maybe I just got fleeced!

Is the issue that all stalls seats are basically the price of ‘premium’ seats for other shows?
Or are the dress circle/ upper circle that much more expensive than usual? Since Amber has moved on, Dreamgirls no longer has a big ‘star’ though it doesn’t need one.
I feel like I’m paying for the ENO orchestra not a big star and it’s reasonable to assume tickets would be more expensive in that context
Also, is there any West End show in the last few years that’s had a star of Lady Gaga’s standing? I guess it is only a five week run, and it’s a 30 year revival, but still.

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2018 11:05:08 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Mar 1, 2018 23:18:08 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

All of the rumours have suggested that they were aiming high, but failed to secure a star name.

That quiet sobbing you can hear is one Mr Ball trying to revive his ego.

"...There's a grief that can't be spoken, There's a pain goes on and on..."

[chess]

Best script
Best cast
Loved it!

[Deleted]

^ Left me completely cold, sorry.

(And as for Freddie in Bangkok 😂😂😂... what were they thinking of?)

All of a sudden our cast is looking quite appealing...

[alece10]

Mar 2, 2018 11:19:45 GMT Brian said:

Are the ‘high prices’ being exaggerated slightly? A good stalls seat for this is the same price as when I booked a good seat for Dreamgirls (it actually cost less when the booking fee is taken into account). Maybe I just got fleeced!

Is the issue that all stalls seats are basically the price of ‘premium’ seats for other shows?
Or are the dress circle/ upper circle that much more expensive than usual? Since Amber has moved on, Dreamgirls no longer has a big ‘star’ though it doesn’t need one.
I feel like I’m paying for the ENO orchestra not a big star and it’s reasonable to assume tickets would be more expensive in that context
Also, is there any West End show in the last few years that’s had a star of Lady Gaga’s standing? I guess it is only a five week run, and it’s a 30 year revival, but still.

I've paid £75 for good stalls seats which I don't think is a massive amount of money when you consider how many people they have to pay.
Tickets for Michael Ball or Alexandra Burkes concerts are probably about that anyway and that would be for them and a small band.

[wickedgrin]

Yes, but £75 "only" buys you extreme side and rear stalls and dress circle. All the central seats are £125. Of course there are cheaper options further up and further back but there is a huge shift now I think where "premium" prices used to be only a few rows in the central stalls are now ALL the central stalls and circle.

[Tibidabo]

We've (not me, I wouldn't have dreamed of it) paid £65 for row H of the upper circle which I think is absolutely extortionate for what seems to be turning into a glorified concert. I have no interest in seeing this now and am trying to find ways to get out of it.

[alece10]

Mar 2, 2018 12:32:56 GMT wickedgrin said:

Yes, but £75 "only" buys you extreme side and rear stalls and dress circle. All the central seats are £125. Of course there are cheaper options further up and further back but there is a huge shift now I think where "premium" prices used to be only a few rows in the central stalls are now ALL the central stalls and circle.

I've got row E of the stalls just off centre for £75 booked from ENO website a few weeks ago.

[londonmzfitz]

Mar 2, 2018 12:49:17 GMT alece10 said:

Mar 2, 2018 12:32:56 GMT wickedgrin said:

Yes, but £75 "only" buys you extreme side and rear stalls and dress circle. All the central seats are £125. Of course there are cheaper options further up and further back but there is a huge shift now I think where "premium" prices used to be only a few rows in the central stalls are now ALL the central stalls and circle.

I've got row E of the stalls just off centre for £75 booked from ENO website a few weeks ago.

I paid £75 for a Stall Centre block Row B - I'd have preferred to be a little further back but didn't want to pay the premium prices.  Difference is I've picked a Monday rather than a weekend, when the prices are very much more.  Which, to be honest, I think is pretty rubbish - more money for Friday and Saturday performances?  Are these to be regarded as Premium Plus Weekend prices now?  Hope that doesn't catch on!!

[viserys]

It depends on whether you book weekday or weekend I think.

I had eyed a great seat in the front stalls for £75 for the Thursday when I come over in May... then decided to book something else when the Chess cast was announced... realized I also had a Saturday matinee slot open in which I could see Chess, went back to the ENO page and found it was much more expensive... £105 I think or even £125, but definitely enough to drop the idea of seeing this completely.

And I agree "premium" seating includes so many rows now, their habit of announcing prices as "Seats from £20 to £75, premium seating available" is ridiculous.

[Deleted]

Our local ‘theatre’ (think stage with raked seating) hosts numerous local am drams and various bits and pieces. Anything from pschics to comedians, tribute band evenings and singers from yesteryear (Elkie Brooks obviously lives quite close as she always seems to be here... ) Anyway, the Premium Seating malarkey is alive and well here too it seems with a new scale of pricing above even this. Strictly’s Giovanni is doing a turn here soon and there are VIP tickets (“strictly limited availability”) which entitle you to meet him and get your picture taken with him should you so wish. £50 a pop. Madness!

(Elkie is just £25 and that includes chicken in a basket and a beverage of your choice before the show.)

Apologies for the slight digression but it was related to ticket pricing. And there seems very little to say about Chess... for the time being at least. (I can’t wait for the comments on here once it’s opened!)