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Post by teatowel on Mar 21, 2020 20:22:28 GMT
A recent memory at Bristol Old Vic, and not exactly a musical: Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of).
My parents were visiting at relatively short notice & so I bought some tickets last minute as a nice thing to do with them. I had seen it in a preview, and thought they might like it (they are normally a tough crowd to please). There weren't that many seats left except right at the front row of the stalls in the centre.
As I had enjoyed it so much first time round, I wrote a note for the cast saying how much I had enjoyed their performance and the show, and was going to drop it off to the theatre staff beforehand, but then I saw one of the actors going in so gave it to her instead. (I'm not sure what made me write the note as I'd never done anything like that before, but felt I ought to show some appreciation).
I had never sat in the front row of a show before and it was another dimension of brilliant. It was so hilarious, and I could see my parents totally cracking up.
During the interval, as the crew were setting the props for the second half, a stage manager came up to the front of the stage and gave me a programme signed by the cast! At the curtain call, it was an instantaneous standing ovation by everyone: as they were leaving the stage after the curtain call, the actor who played Lizzie Bennet paused to shake my hand!
That was a brilliant evening, which my parents very much enjoyed, and a very happy memory of a favourite show.
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Post by horton on Mar 21, 2020 20:26:49 GMT
I wish I could go back to that sense of awe too. Nowadays, if I'm bored I tend to spend my time pricing scenic elements and figuring out running costs- not quite so magical.
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Post by David J on Mar 21, 2020 21:25:33 GMT
I fell in love for musicals when I saw 2001 UK tour of Beauty and the Beast. I remember that moment when the set turned to reveal the beast's balcony as he sang the climatic bit of that stirring If I Can't Love Her and I was hooked. Added by that thunderous opening of the entr'acte, the same one played when the beast has turned into the prince. Perhaps its a given since it's Alan Menken's music, but I hadn't seen the film yet, only knew parts of it, so hearing it fresh was quite an experience. So much that we went to New York shortly afterwards particularly to see the Broadway production.
Was entranced by Les Miserables watching the 10th Anniversary concert many times before I finally saw the Queens production in 2005/6. Just had to see those barricades turn into place after watching that clip in the concert (though it looked more dramatic than live). Only a shame I sat at the back of the stalls with the low overhead circle, missing Enjorlas fly the flag.
Like Dom, as a teenager going to see west end musical was a treat once a year. It was a half-way birthday present since my birthday is on boxing day.
That way I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palladium. Watched the film many times as a kid so watching the car fly in the flesh (or wouldn't that be metal?) was magical.
The opening of the Lion King was certainly a moment to remember, especially for me as a child. Shame I don't think much of the rest of the musical as an adult.
Mary Poppins when it previewed in Bristol back in 2004 was a theatrical experience that has never been replicated. So much production values and special effects, culminated with little me watching Bert do the unthinkable walking up the proscenium (yes, even with the wires). By contrast it had one of the most scariest moments in my theatrical watching experience with Temper Temper.
Spring Awakening was an amazing experience with that uproarious Totally F***ed. So was the moment when me and the audience gave a standing ovation just for a song, which was I'm Here sung by Cynthia Eviro in the Menier's Color Purple. Run Freedom Run was also a glorious moment in the St James Theatre's Urinetown. So too the staircase moment in 42nd Street
Wonderful Town has possibly the most bizarre moment I've seen in a musical. Watching the first act end with some Brazilian sailors and the citizens of New York do a conga line out through the auditorium. God I wish that musical could come back.
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Post by david on Mar 21, 2020 22:13:00 GMT
My first experiences of West End theatre were back in 1999/2000. Watching CATS and Starlight Express was just a magical experience. I had asked for tickets for my 21st birthday and walking into those auditoriums and seeing those fantastic sets and hearing those ALW scores was something special.
Watching MAMMA MIA! at the Prince Edward was another special moment. I couldn’t get a ticket for the original cast, but managed to get one for the second cast. From hearing the overture to getting up and dancing at the end, I fell in love with that show and it’s been my number 1 show ever since.
Being sat in the front row of the stalls at the London Palladium on a Saturday night watching Saturday Night Fever. It was my 1st time at the Palladium. A stunning theatre and a great production made for a fantastic night.
Some great experiences over the years with plenty of memories to cherish and to look back on, Hopefully there will be more to come once the theatres are back up and running,
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Post by danb on Mar 21, 2020 22:43:56 GMT
My first experiences of West End theatre were back in 1999/2000. Watching CATS and Starlight Express was just a magical experience. I had asked for tickets for my 21st birthday and walking into those auditoriums and seeing those fantastic sets and hearing those ALW scores was something special. Watching MAMMA MIA! at the Prince Edward was another special moment. I couldn’t get a ticket for the original cast, but managed to get one for the second cast. From hearing the overture to getting up and dancing at the end, I fell in love with that show and it’s been my number 1 show ever since. Being sat in the front row of the stalls at the London Palladium on a Saturday night watching Saturday Night Fever. It was my 1st time at the Palladium. A stunning theatre and a great production made for a fantastic night. Some great experiences over the years with plenty of memories to cherish and to look back on, Hopefully there will be more to come once the theatres are back up and running, ‘Saturday Night Fever’ was really underrated at the time. It looked great, Garcia danced up a storm and there were enough fantastic voices in there to make it feel like a real musical. Still play the cd sometimes. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2020 8:20:41 GMT
My first experiences of West End theatre were back in 1999/2000. Watching CATS and Starlight Express was just a magical experience. I had asked for tickets for my 21st birthday and walking into those auditoriums and seeing those fantastic sets and hearing those ALW scores was something special. Was about 10 years earlier but Starlight/Cats also my 1st/2nd. Agree walking in and being immersed in those epic John Napier sets when I was a teenager was just incredible! At the time I think we all thought they were leading the way for complete auditorium transformations - funny how we quickly returned to the classic proscenium presentation! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2020 8:27:57 GMT
Lots of happy musical memories for me. Too many to list really, but definitely seeing LuPone, Buckley and Paige in the 1990s epic take on Sunset Boulevard made for special memories. The set, the costumes, the seeing of these three musical divas in the role (I was young and had never seen anyone ‘known’ in anything I’d previously seen!) The world was a ‘bigger place’ before the Internet and I’d heard of LuPone and Buckley only via Dress Circle/cast recordings of well-known musicals. I’d obviously heard of Paige. To see these ‘names’ and to hear these voices that I’d grown up knowing (but not necessarily knowing what these stars looked like - except Paige) was a thrilling experience for a (not yet) gay young man! None of the ladies disappointed! There are lots of other memories, but Sunset has always been my fave. Oddly enough, I saw Glenn at the Coliseum years later and she actually disappointed me in the role - maybe I was too far away from the stage. How funny - I was going through much the same thing at the time. Having seen Cats, Starlight, Aspects and Saigon, I think Sunset was the first I saw several times and the first show that I became interested in seeing different leading ladies. I also saw LuPone, Buckley and Paige. Remember looking out for ads in my parents Sunday Times and as you say finding out about these people in Dress Circle! Incredible score, that truly epic set and those three wonderful divas - I was in heaven. Also as a (clearly obviously though not then to myself) gay young man. I've said it repeatedly on other threads but was also disappointed at the Coliseum. Maybe it was comparison with the epic 90s production, memories formed in impressional teenage years or the absolute killer vocals of LuPone/Buckley/Paige but Glenn and the ENO Upper Circle just didn't do it for me. If only they'd filmed it at The Adelphi! |
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Post by viserys on Mar 22, 2020 8:37:30 GMT
For me it was Cats and Starlight Express (albeit in Germany) too. Those incredible moments in both shows when the lights went out - Cats beginning with the jaunty overture, the blinking "Cats eyes" lights and then the real "Cats" starting to sneak out all over the auditorium and Starlight Express with the overture building and building up to the moment when the "trains" rolled in through the stage fog... both of these are still incredibly happy memories in how they started the show after weeks of anticipation that has never been matched again.
In the last few years "Bat" has given me some of that excitement from those days back - once the naff opening monologue was over and the heavy rock beats of "All revved up" began and the show really kicked off.
But I agree with other voices here that so often it feels like routine these days, a sense of seeing a show I'm not even excited about just because I feel like I should have seen it. That said, it's tricky. Often I find my earlier opinion confirmed that I wouldn't like it (looking at you, Evan Hansen) but sometimes a show I had initially not expected much of, eventually bowled me over. When I first listened to Six, my gut reaction was "hell no, I'm too old for this noise" but now I think it's the best and cleverest show in ages. And having just seen Eugenius again thanks to the stream, I was reminded on how little I had expected of it and how much I loved it.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Mar 22, 2020 9:28:29 GMT
I only started going i think 6 years ago, maybe 5. My first show was the Hairspray production at Curve, the original one, before it then started touring every year. My first West End show was a weird one, Urinetown at The Apollo!
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Post by theatreian on Mar 22, 2020 10:12:50 GMT
I've always loved musicals and theatre and I first started going in my teens(many years ago!) My theatre experience has changed where I have lived as I have moved all over the country.
From starting in Liverpool where the Empire was a favourite to moving to Preston, then North East. While at Lincoln I remember seeing Charlton Heston and his wife in Love Letters. When I moved to Essex I went to London almost every week, Sunset being a highlight with Petula Clark my favourite Norma.I lived in west Yorkshire for a while so the Playhouse in Leeds was a regular haunt. Also living in Carlisle I went to the theatre on the Lake and also Newcastle. Now living in the midlands Birmingham has a good range of theatres. I still get to London regularly and try and see the main new shows.
Musical highlights are Sunset, Blood Brothers, Miss Saigon amongst many others.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2020 11:14:36 GMT
HereForTheatre robertb213 @rnc I totally get where you are coming from. Remember when I was a teenager I'd see a West End musical once, max twice per year. The anticipation, excitement, sense of occasion and reflection afterwards was incredible. Am in my 40s now and would deffo describe theatre as my main hobby. Am lucky now to be able to afford to see one or two shows a week rather than a year! And it goes without saying that I still love it. But sadly it is often routine and that sense of total unparalleled excitement is definitely not there anymore. And sometimes it can feel like a list ticking exercise. For example I kinda feel I should see all the big West End shows. Funnily enough, I have been thinking last year or so would be good to cut down really. As an example I have seen shows in the last year that I kinda knew wouldn't necessarily be my thing (Waitress, Big, Come From Away) and I was going to book for City of Angels, even though I really don't like the CD! So anyway, I do think one positive of this enforced break is that it forces you to press the pause button and take stock. I could never go without musicals, but once this period is over, I will be a bit more selective and not see things just cos they are there - and I do think that will bring the spark back :-) An add on to this that I thought of - the steady but persistent rise in bad audience behaviour (fuelled by mobile phones and binge drinking, but also via the complex changing relationship between individuals and society) has definitely played it's part in the decline of theatre as a 'special occasion.' In the 90s when there were no mobiles, drinks weren't allowed in, there was no internet and we didn't live in lust for a constant information feed and social connection, I would say the theatre experience was better. You had a whole auditorium captivated by what was on stage. Just doesn't happen now. Whenever I go now, I never know how distracted I'll be by the audience. Am seriously hoping we go full Madonna and ban phones full stop! |
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Post by nick on Mar 22, 2020 11:23:39 GMT
I went on a school trip to see Cats when it first opened. We were on the seats that revolved (am I remembering this right?) in the dark so when the lights came on I didn't know where I was. The rest was magical.
My earliest West End memory is seeing JCS in about 1974 with my parents. I do wish ALW and Sir Tim could work together again.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 22, 2020 12:32:31 GMT
My single happiest musical memory is the first time I sat in the front row of the stalls for a stage musical. It was about five years ago for a very high quality amateur production of My Fair Lady at the Bristol Hippodrome and started off my long-term love for that particular show and for amateur and college musicals generally.
I had booked that front row seat simply because it was cheaper than elsewhere - the look up to the stage is particularly high there. I'd never been so close to the action before and I recall a lovely Eliza singing like an angel and a superb Alfie Doolittle.I was totally entranced and from that day onwards I've always booked a centre front row stalls seat whenever I can.
I love venues where there are only inches between the audience feet and the performers so Menier, Southwark Playhouse, Upstairs at The Gatehouse and the Union Theatre to name a few are places where I spend my happiest theatre-going times. Missing it all soooo much just now.
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Post by xanady on Mar 22, 2020 12:34:06 GMT
^Yes there was a revolve at the New London...I took some students from a tough council-estate school in Derby to see the original Cats and they were literally awe-struck by the whole experience.Should add that I came from a similar background myself and without my own English teacher introducing me to theatre am sure that I would not have been taken by my family as they just couldn’t afford theatre or it wasn’t something the working class did!
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Post by tonyloco on Mar 22, 2020 13:58:31 GMT
My single happiest musical memory is the first time I sat in the front row of the stalls for a stage musical. It was about five years ago for a very high quality amateur production of My Fair Lady at the Bristol Hippodrome and started off my long-term love for that particular show and for amateur and college musicals generally. I had booked that front row seat simply because it was cheaper than elsewhere - the look up to the stage is particularly high there. I'd never been so close to the action before and I recall a lovely Eliza singing like an angel and a superb Alfie Doolittle.I was totally entranced and from that day onwards I've always booked a centre front row stalls seat whenever I can. I love venues where there are only inches between the audience feet and the performers so Menier, Southwark Playhouse, Upstairs at The Gatehouse and the Union Theatre to name a few are places where I spend my happiest theatre-going times. Missing it all soooo much just now.
To cite just one special example, I remember when Wayne Sleep was first moving from dancing with the Royal Ballet to going into variety, and at an annual gala at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park he sang and danced to 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' The audience of around 1,200 people went crazy and yelled for more but we had no encore prepared so we just did the whole number again to an even wilder reaction!
My avatar shows the view I had from the regular position of my piano on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, for the many variety shows I played for there over the years.
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Post by xanady on Mar 22, 2020 14:20:20 GMT
^Wonderful memories as always from the legendary Tony Loco...please keep them coming,Sir
Talking of Wayne Sleep...he did a greatest hits tour called ‘Bits N Pieces’ and we arranged a theatre trip for our school dance students.Unfortunately the letter home to parents started with....‘We are arranging a trip to see Wayne Sleep’s Bits N Pieces...’,and didn’t realise the faux pas until a parent complained😮......on the same trip we were up in the ‘Gods’ and on the way home on the coach I shouted down the coach to ask if everybody had had a good time and dozens of hands waved back to me...unfortunately in their hands were the opera glasses taken from the theatre!! Needless to say,we had to turn the coach around and go back! Oh,the shame of it....
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Post by tmesis on Mar 22, 2020 17:20:45 GMT
Mine was playing clarinet in the pit orchestra of a school's performance of the King and I. This would be in the 60s and I would be around 14. There was great kudos in this because it was not the school I attended. I was 'poached' by a rival school because I was a better player than they had. I was also paid the fabulous sum of £3 for my four performances. I totally fell in love with the musical there and then and went on to play all the R&H classics on the piano for my own enjoyment.
Later as a music student I was rehearsal accompanist for The Mikado and, a rarity, The Grand Duke. That really got me into G&S. Incidentally in the latter operetta was Dame Felicity Lott's sister who was a fine soprano herself.
I really got into the musical Cabaret in my 20s when I was MD for a long run of amateur performances.
Standouts from the professional productions I've seen -
Guys and Dolls NT - the original cast and then the revival with Imelda
Candide NT with SRB and Daniel Evans
Pal Joey in the 1980s
A Chorus Line at Theatre Royal DL in the 1970's
Sunday in the Park with George at MCF
Carousel at NT
Gypsy at CFT
Mack and Mabel at Southwark Playhouse (before it moved)
42nd Street (obviously)
Elaine Stritch at Liberty at The Old Vic - the legend didn't disappoint!
Merrily We Roll Along at MCF (my favourite ever musical.)
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Post by cartoonman on Mar 22, 2020 17:42:36 GMT
I took a it of my fellow workers to see singing in the rain at the NT. We worked for Southwark Council at Walworth and I was surprised that many had never been to the MY considering how close it was. We were in the front row and got soaked!At the interval I was on the terrace looking out over the City lights when a middle aged colleague said" it's just like fairyland" A great show.
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Post by paddy72 on Mar 24, 2020 15:25:38 GMT
Seeing Fantasis Barrino in The Color Purple. Hearing her singing ‘I’m here’ wrecked me. I was a couple of months out of St Thomas’ stroke ward and there I was in a big broadway theatre hearing and seeing a performance that was simply transcendental. Her voice still rips my soul apart. A distant second choice was ‘I got love’ from Purlie. Can’t remember who sang it. Bit of a take me to church / gospel thing going on here.
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Post by danb on Mar 24, 2020 16:55:40 GMT
They filmed ‘scenes’ from it when they did an Elaine Paige South Bank Show when she released her ‘Encore’ album. I hoped they’d done the whole thing but apparently not.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2020 20:16:41 GMT
They filmed ‘scenes’ from it when they did an Elaine Paige South Bank Show when she released her ‘Encore’ album. I hoped they’d done the whole thing but apparently not. Interesting. There's bits and bobs on YouTube but quality is so awful makes it unwatchable for me - don't want it to interfere with the memories I have! |
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 23, 2020 11:50:17 GMT
So, I’ve been reading through these responses and feel I should add mine.
Although none of my family can play a musical instrument or read sheet music, I grew up in a house where there was always playing, be it Dad paying County and Western records or the radio. ABBA was HUGE in Australia. No other country took to ABBA the way Australia did. So much so that they flew the (then) 56 hours to Australia and made a film about it. I still remember them coming to Sydney and to this day wish I had gone. But I was only 7 at the time and on the night they performed at an open-air venue it (literally) poured. So much so the Anni-Frid slipped on stage. It was front page news; it’s in the film, so my parent’s wouldn’t have taken me. Though in the film there were kids younger than I was at the time, singing along in the pouring rain. Grrr! #envy.
Fernando remained a No. 1 across the country for 14 weeks!
So I guess the transition into appreciation of musical theatre for me wasn’t a huge leap.
The first musical I saw was a matinee of the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Sondheim’s Company at one of the smaller theatres at the Sydney Opera House.
I remember many years later also seeing for the first time, a production of A Little Night Music with Geraldine Turner as Desiree and John Waters as Frederick Egerman. Toni Collette was also in the cast as Petra. What I remember the most was the cleverness of the lyrics, they had old fashioned cars on stage and thinking that I wasn’t aware that the song ‘Send in the Clowns’ was from as musical and now that I know, I will never look at that song in same way again.
I was also incredibly moved- in fact I’ve never forgotten it and I still have the framed poster on my wall- by a production of Blood Brothers, where Christina Amphlett (lead singer of the band The Divinyls) played Mrs. Johnstone and a very young Russell Crowe played Mickey.
There were also various productions of The Rocky Horror Show where Russell Crowe played Eddie/Dr. Scott.
I used to go to the theatre back home with my school friend who is still my closest friend. He is of Italian decent and child six of seven, who also grew up with music and was heavily influenced by his older siblings, one of which is a professional pianist- who coincidentally played in the orchestra for the Sydney run of Aspects of Love.
We went and saw a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, also staring Geraldine Turner as Mrs. Lovett. I had never seen anything like it. I knew nothing of the story, nor the music but the whole time was on the edge of my seat! And when the show finished and you were exiting the theatre, they were handing out for free warmed up party sized meat pies.
When we backpacked we came to London and saw Sunset Boulevard with Patti LuPone. Again, I knew nothing about this show in terms of the story or the music. I was aware of Patti LuPone and that this had only recently opened, it had got rave reviews and this was the show to see. My friend had seen film but again, I had never seen anything like it! The body floating in the pool, the sheer opulence of the set (which was to become one of it’s biggest downfalls) the way it floated so you could see a split stage.
I have since seen subsequent productions with Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige, all of them slightly different. Seeing Glenn Close was a highlight.
I used to frequent a shop in Sydney selling theatrical CDs. I remember on that day walking in and there was this glorious voice blasting through the speakers (it was Josh Groban’s first CD) and after listening to parts of it in store at the time purchased the cast recordings for The Lion King, The Last 5 Years and despite never listening to it, on the guy behind the counters recommendation, purchased Wicked.
So I was listening to this CD called Wicked about 5 years before I arrived in London and attended one of the first previews. This was special because, not only did I get to see what I had been listening to play out in front of me, let’s face it, Elphabah flying at the end of Act 1 is pretty impressive! And I got to see Indina and we had an Australian Glinda. And as it was in previews, both Stephen Swartz and Paul Dooley (Google him) were there.
I appreciate that I have prattled on for probably too long and there are some highlights that I (unbelievably) have left out but if could, share with you a few more. Musical theatre is my passion and one of (the many) reasons that I am now living here.
Seeing the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of The Last Five Years with Damien Humbley and Lara Pulver was so moving. Subsequent productions, even one directed by Jason Robert Brown who wrote the damn thing, have never lived up to that!
Seeing (again at The Menier) Sunday in the Park with George, a show which, to the best of my knowledge at the time, had never played anywhere in Australia. I know it has played since, but as I say, at the time. This was a show that I never thought I would get to see in my lifetime! It’s my favourite show and thought I only ever have to rely upon watching the DVD. Not only did I see the production at the Menier, I also saw it when it transferred to the West End and attended a cast Q & A.
The other two that stand out (I promise these are the final two) both Jason Robert Brown shows was the production of Parade at The Donmar, again with Lara Pulver. Again, I was watching the story of the CD I had been listening to being played out in front of me. The final hanging scene where Bertie Carvel twitches; to this day whenever I tell anyone about it, all these years later I still get goosebumps!
Finally, The Bridges of Madison County, again at the Menier. Again, the music of the CD that everyone was raving on about was being played out in front of me. Now, I was a little late to the party in terms of loving the music and as emotionally involved as I get, I’m not a crier at shows. Whilst I’m not as emotionally tough as I think I am, it’s just not in me to physically burst into tears at live theatre. Some can, I just don’t. But I tell you if I were, this would have been the show to turn on the waterworks. So emotional! The choice this woman had to make! O.M.G!
I’ll stop now.
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Post by justfran on Jun 23, 2020 21:26:06 GMT
So lovely reading your memories anthony40 - your enthusiasm for theatre comes across so strongly! 😊 |
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 23, 2020 22:29:52 GMT
So lovely reading your memories anthony40 - your enthusiasm for theatre comes across so strongly! 😊 Thank you justfran. As I say, it is my one true passion. |
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