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Post by theatregoer22 on Jan 20, 2024 2:10:28 GMT
TodayTix have this as their 24 hour offer, so I just nabbed a couple of stalls seats for half price.
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Post by Always@thetheatre on Jan 30, 2024 9:31:20 GMT
From what I've seen online Ivano hasn't been on as Jamie for weeks. I hope he's okay
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 30, 2024 10:35:43 GMT
From what I've seen online Ivano hasn't been on as Jamie for weeks. I hope he's okay I hope so too. Ivano did do the Big Night of Musicals show, so he's around. But a shame for him if he missed the delights of digs in Wolverhampton. |
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Post by idinafanzel on Jan 30, 2024 14:20:38 GMT
Ivano was out last night in Woking & for today. Could be the whole week though. He understudy Finton does and incredible job though.
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Post by james1969 on Jan 30, 2024 20:37:12 GMT
Hope he’s back for London - coming over from Belfast especially for opening night
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Post by james1969 on Feb 4, 2024 14:35:45 GMT
Does anyone know if Ivano will be back this week for opening night in London ?
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Post by greatauntedna on Feb 9, 2024 9:37:31 GMT
I made the trip over to Oxford last Friday evening to see the new tour. A fantastic deal as well, as all single seats were reduced to £13 on the day (there were very few other empty seats) and I just managed to slot myself into the second row of the Stalls. This used to be one of my favourite shows when it was in London, although I didn't take to the tour cast quite so well. The new tour is very much on form and I got chills during the performance. Plus, the pupils all seemed age appropriate (and I must flag up that Joshian Angelo Omana is a fabulous dancer). There are a lot of alumni back in lead roles and they know exactly what they're doing. Rebecca McKinnis was born to play Margaret New. Darren Day was serviceable as Hugo too. Harriet Payne was back as Miss Hedge, and it's incredible really to think that she dates right back to being a pupil at the start of the show. She's really aged into the Miss Hedge role well. Different shoes (quite literally, based on the red "Jimmy Choos" she was wearing). There are a lot of wording changes for the latest tour. The Covid references have all gone. There are updates like Jamie wanting to marry Harry Styles, rather than Prince Harry (although somehow in 2023/24, he still isn't allowed his own mobile phone). The football references have gone and Jamie's dad's motivation has changed a bit. Hugo's speech to Jamie near the end is completely rewritten. And there's more. A lot of the Margaret/Ray jokes seem sped up, but the show still ran until 22:25. The show didn't start late and the interval didn't seem long, so I'm not sure where the extra time went. Thankfully, I didn't have to run for the last train. Finton Flynn was on as Jamie. I do want to see Ivano, but I'll get that opportunity in London, so very happy to have seen Finton. He was excellent, great voice, just the right level of campness, and the line about big feet applied more to him than most. I hope to see Finton again as well. 5 stars from me. Will see how John Partridge and Giovanna Fletcher do in London. I also see that Rebecca McKinnis and Shobna Gulati are leaving after the London dates, so will await the news about who is going to be replacing them. I didn’t notice huge changes last night, but I haven’t seen it since Layton’s London run. There were mentions of football. “Pippa Middleton’s ass” is now “Beyoncé’s ass”, not sure how long it’s been like that. I feel like the choreography has been changed a bit, is Mickey’s DJ scratch still in And You Don’t Even Know It? They go to a close up of Ivano in the Big Night of Musicals performance so you can’t make it out. The cast was excellent as was the atmosphere! And yeah Joshian Angelo Omana was great! |
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Post by colelarson on Feb 12, 2024 16:59:40 GMT
Having enjoyed this in the West End originally it was great to see it back in London...although the Peacock Dress Circle is very uncomfortable the show made up for the lack of leg room as it was fabulous!
The role of Jamie was made for Ivano Turco, his singing was stunning, stand out moments for me were "The Wall In My Head" and duetting with Rebecca McKinnis on "My Man, Your Boy" which was sublime....yes I did shed a tear! Ivano is a completely believable Jamie and makes the role his own.
Shobna Gulati is hilarious as Ray with one liners and funny tales of her men, she has always been the Ray I have seen when I have seen ETAJ so it will be interesting to see who I have in Canterbury in June!
John Partridge made a very pretty Loco! You can feel his passion for the role and moves effortlessly between scene-stealing showstoppers to emotional tender moments with Jamie. Talia Palamathanan as Pritti delivered a touching rendition of "It Means Beautiful" and is heart-warming as the best friend being there for Jamie in the School scenes. The school children actors all look believable ages and have some great dance numbers.
The weakest of the cast for me was Giovanna Fletcher as teacher Miss Hedge, she doesn't have the vocal range and stamina for her number "Work Of Art" and the rap part in "And You Don't Even Know It", but she acted the part well.
It is a uplifting and entertaining show and a well deserved standing ovation was given by all in the audience at the end. It certainly added a little bit of glitter in the grey February sky!
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 12, 2024 20:11:58 GMT
I saw the matinee with a Rush ticket yesterday (central Stalls, would have liked to have been further forward, but the view is fine). The set is a little small for the Peacock Theatre stage.
As others have noted, Ivano is back. His ankle is heavily taped up, but I didn't spot any obvious problems. He plays possibly the campest Jamie of all time, but was very good.
I spent a bit of time trying to work out where Giovanna Fletcher's accent was from. They often stunt cast Miss Hedge, but I'm not sure this role quite suited Giovanna.
John Partridge played Hugo/Loco very differently to the norm. A very passive and hesitant Hugo, but that did make his transformation into Loco stand out. Interestingly enough perhaps, most of the dialogue changes from Oxford have been reverted to an earlier version, particularly for Loco's scenes. After previously commenting about Jamie's lack of a mobile phone, he did hold one throughout the drag show scene too. It's just a pity no one would let him have him have his dad's mobile number.
Shobna Gulati is always excellent and it's a shame she's leaving. But I see they've now announced that Sejal Keshwala is returning for the rest of the tour, and she's faultless as well.
The real star continues to be Rebecca McKinnis, and I'm glad to see she's staying for the rest of the tour. I do hope to see Georgina Hagen at some point as well. All enjoy this fantastic show while it's back in London.
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Post by evilmat360 on Feb 12, 2024 20:35:47 GMT
Noticed from the Cast & Creatives page on the website everybodystalkingaboutjamie.co.uk/cast-creativesSejal Keshwala has been announced as Ray for the remainder of the tour after London and Rebecca McKinnis won't be performing for any of the Midweek matinees after London. So assuming Georgina Hagen may get the midweek matinees. |
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Post by benj on Feb 12, 2024 20:54:55 GMT
Would love to see Georgina Hagen as Miss Hedge or Jamie’s mum. She has a great voice. I’m not a fan Rebecca McKinnis’s straight tone singing style, so might try and catch a matinée!
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Post by littlefan on Feb 12, 2024 21:49:56 GMT
Noticed from the Cast & Creatives page on the website everybodystalkingaboutjamie.co.uk/cast-creativesSejal Keshwala has been announced as Ray for the remainder of the tour after London and Rebecca McKinnis won't be performing for any of the Midweek matinees after London. So assuming Georgina Hagen may get the midweek matinees. Oooh, will definitely be booking to see Sejal - she was mine and my other half's wedding singer ten years ago - she's incredible. |
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Post by Always@thetheatre on Feb 17, 2024 22:30:28 GMT
Saw this last night and was very happy to see Ivano, I thought he was perfect at Jamie. Such a beautiful voice. I'd seen him in Cinderella previously and only remembered how well he danced in that, as Jamie he really shows his voice and acting.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 17, 2024 22:32:24 GMT
He’s learnt how to act?
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Post by ladidah on Feb 19, 2024 7:59:54 GMT
Saw this yesterday, was disappointed Ivano wasn't on, as I really went to see him - but his US Fintan Flynn was wonderful.
I still think it's quite dated, a lot of the school talk seems very corny and the tone/script seems to be undecided if it's the Inbetweeners or Grange Hill.
Giovanna Fletcher as Miss Hedge was awful - her singing is off, her accent just sounds like she is growling and she can't dance or move well at all. By far the weakest on stage.
***
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 19, 2024 14:52:13 GMT
I did end up at both matinees over the weekend and Finton was on as Jamie for both shows. There were signs up on Saturday. On Sunday, they only announced this verbally at the start, so this may have been a late switch. In any case, Finton is a fantastic Jamie, and no one seeing him should be disappointed.
Saturday, I got a fifth row aisle seat from TKTS, with the show only marred a bit by some loud women at the back of the Stalls. Sunday, I got third row through Rush (not the first ticket release), which is a perfect view. Another bonus is that Joe Wolstenholme was on and it seems like years since I've seen him.
There are some oddities, like lines that change every show, and the cut back on party poppers (or, at least, Shobna failing to pop hers in the last three shows I've seen). John Partridge I thought was excellent, a slightly different Hugo portrayal to the previous week.
This is my favourite show in London right now.
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Post by ladidah on Feb 19, 2024 15:02:48 GMT
What did you think of Giovanna?
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 19, 2024 15:09:51 GMT
What did you think of Giovanna? She always looks to be having a lot of fun. |
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 19, 2024 15:41:10 GMT
What did you think of Giovanna? She always looks to be having a lot of fun. Ouch |
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Post by lotster on Feb 19, 2024 15:59:34 GMT
She always looks to be having a lot of fun. Ouch I don't really get why they cast her? I don't think it needs "celeb" casting does it? Am seeing it myself next week, so will reserve judgement until then. |
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 19, 2024 16:01:44 GMT
Definitely needs celeb casting - it's the only way it lasted in London
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Post by ladidah on Feb 20, 2024 7:52:52 GMT
I'm not sure if she counts as star casting, she was quite obviously the weakest performer on the stage, so only made the show feel awkward.
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Post by kyvai on Feb 20, 2024 18:36:47 GMT
Is Giovanna Fletcher celeb casting?!?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2024 18:50:07 GMT
Is Giovanna Fletcher celeb casting?!? I would say so, as a writer of over a dozen books, is a podcaster - that has worked with Kate Middleton, winner of I'm a Celeb - I would say she has done enough to be classed as a celeb, even if her initial rise to fame is because she married Tom. |
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Post by matty on Feb 21, 2024 23:20:07 GMT
I saw this tonight and was a bit worried after the Big Night of Musicals, but Ivano was a great Jamie - especially since last time I saw it was with Layton and that was an experience I didn't want to repeat.
The show was great and the cast did well. Wasn't entirely convinced about Giovanni, but she was alright for the most part.
My biggest issues of the night were A) The temperature in the room, and B) the getting out at the end...it was almost as bad as trying to get out of the Palladium.
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