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Post by anthony40 on Oct 15, 2021 19:44:04 GMT
I am heading up tomorrow to Manchester tomorrow for the first time and will cath this show on Wednesday night.
Will meet up with BurlyBear as well.
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 15, 2021 20:41:43 GMT
I am heading up tomorrow to Manchester tomorrow for the first time and will cath this show on Wednesday night. Will meet up with BurlyBear as well. Don’t be feeding me TimTams and Violet Crumbles I’m on a diet! 😀 |
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Post by danb on Oct 16, 2021 4:55:07 GMT
We shall have to put the riot police on standby 😂 Behave yourself lads!
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4,171 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 16, 2021 8:27:01 GMT
I am heading up tomorrow to Manchester tomorrow for the first time and will cath this show on Wednesday night. Will meet up with BurlyBear as well. Don’t be feeding me TimTams and Violet Crumbles I’m on a diet! 😀 Hadn't really considered it but now that you mention it, by chance, I just happened to have a spare packet of Tim Tams in the drawer. Already packed; I don't care about diets. No Violet Crumbles |
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Post by richey on Oct 16, 2021 12:03:32 GMT
I am heading up tomorrow to Manchester tomorrow for the first time and will cath this show on Wednesday night. Will meet up with BurlyBear as well. Aww I'm going on Tuesday night, shame it wasn't a day later or we could have had a mini board meetup |
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2,242 posts
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Post by richey on Oct 19, 2021 21:05:38 GMT
Currently sat in a show stop on opening night in Manchester.
A few minutes before the end, stage manager ushered everyone off stage and announcement there is a technical problem
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 19, 2021 21:57:02 GMT
Currently sat in a show stop on opening night in Manchester. A few minutes before the end, stage manager ushered everyone off stage and announcement there is a technical problem What happened? Are you still there? (It’s 11pm 😀) |
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2,242 posts
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Post by richey on Oct 19, 2021 22:05:10 GMT
Currently sat in a show stop on opening night in Manchester. A few minutes before the end, stage manager ushered everyone off stage and announcement there is a technical problem What happened? Are you still there? (It’s 11pm 😀) Show restarted after about 10 mins. It was almost at the end- where Charlie shouts at the enemy. I think the stop had something to do with the girl playing Carrie. Everyone was saying it was a different girl when it was restarted (we were too high up in the circle to tell) |
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Post by benny20 on Oct 19, 2021 22:35:46 GMT
Yeah..a few minutes before the stop I wondered where Carrie had gone ...then the show stopped..and a new Carrie appeared for the last ten minutes. Very enjoyable show. Terrific ensemble who run the show and scenery...Good tricks and flying...Good Central performances. Nice to see a show with some different ideas
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 20, 2021 21:46:00 GMT
I really enjoyed it but had a few niggles. The number of people on stage continually pushing the set around or working the effects was very distracting. The songs were pleasant but forgettable and in the ensemble pieces, especially Portobello Road the whole thing looked unnecessarily squashed on the stage of the Palace with the cast almost bumping into eachother. It’s obviously designed for much smaller stages. Also the little boy lost his energy in the second act. More positively it’s a charming mixture of traditional and modern stage magic. The puppets are good and the actress working that gull/cormorant/bird thingy was acting the actual f*** out of it. Also, how that bed flies with 5 people on it I have no idea, it was not on wires and there was no arm coming from the back. And at one point… {Spoiler - click to view}She flies on the broom through an open window. Eat THAT Wicked!
it’s very Poppin-esque in many respects but without the sophistication or pizazz. Kids (not too young) would love it I think. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5. |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 21, 2021 7:31:41 GMT
So this was an unexpected, pleasant surprise that, in truth, exceeded my expectations.
There were quick, almost seamless transition and scene changes and an extremely hard working cast- especially the ensemble.
This is a cleverly, well thought out show and the opening sequence of the bombing of London and the children being sent on a train to the countryside is extremely well done.
The ensemble play multiple characters however (at times) them moving set pieces about can be somewhat distracting.
The whole show- including the old songs and the new ones- are well sung and performed.
As referenced above by BurlyBeaR, the Portobello Road scene did look somewhat cramped with the ensemble dancing and around market stall carts.
There is a lot going on in this show, with a lot of stage trickery and magic skills being put to use.
Both BurlyBeaR and I were questioning in the intermission as to how they made that bed fly. And how the female lead could ride a broomstick?
The puppets were put to good use.
The whole fish sequence in the second half at the bottom of the blimey sea was well performed. Watch out for quick costume changes and Rob Madge who is in the ensemble but really shines as the main fish.
Personally, I loved the Secretary Bird who appears a little later on.
Lots of kids in the audience who were relatively well behaved.
A thoroughly enjoyable show, well up to West End standards
It was also nice to see and catch up with BurlyBeaR.
If the show comes close to where you are, go and see it.
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 21, 2021 12:33:33 GMT
What we all want to know, anthony40, is did you and BB have an ice cream during the intermission and, more importantly, who paid? 🙂 |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 21, 2021 12:39:23 GMT
What we all want to know, anthony40, is did you and BB have an ice cream during the intermission and, more importantly, who paid? 🙂 Lol! No we did not. Circumstances meant that we couldn’t catch up before the show so I gave him my seat location and he waved at me as he passed my row and then we caught up at intermission. There was no ice cream. Sorry to disappoint. If ever the opportunity arises to do so, BurleyBeaR is softly spoken very friendly man. A really nice guy. |
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Post by jaqs on Oct 23, 2021 10:27:08 GMT
For those that have been, do you have to adhere to the entry time on your booking? have a very early one for today.
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4,778 posts
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Post by Mark on Oct 23, 2021 10:30:15 GMT
For those that have been, do you have to adhere to the entry time on your booking? have a very early one for today. Guidance only. |
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Post by jaqs on Oct 23, 2021 10:31:25 GMT
Thanks
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Post by interval99 on Oct 23, 2021 10:41:05 GMT
For those that have been, do you have to adhere to the entry time on your booking? have a very early one for today. Did first time and just got to wait for twenty minutes in a crowded foyer as the auditorium was not opened so won't be doing any earlier than 30 minutes before from now on. Worth giving extra time for queue if covid passes being checked. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 23, 2021 14:25:43 GMT
For those that have been, do you have to adhere to the entry time on your booking? have a very early one for today. Covid vaccination document checks are being done at the doors of The Palace. And yes they’re actually looking at your phone/paperwork. |
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Post by crabtree on Oct 23, 2021 18:12:23 GMT
and temperature checks. But what a great show, so slick and that ensemble working their butts off, as well as the stage management. Some gorgeous imagery, and the illusions are wonderful - thank heavens for black velvet and precise lighting. The plot is a bit tortured. I did like the different ending, even if a little overstated. But hurrah!
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4,171 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 23, 2021 18:17:43 GMT
and temperature checks. But what a great show, so slick and that ensemble working their butts off, as well as the stage management. Some gorgeous imagery, and the illusions are wonderful - thank heavens for black velvet and precise lighting. The plot is a bit tortured. I did like the different ending, even if a little overstated. But hurrah! Worked out how they made that bed fly yet? |
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 23, 2021 18:20:45 GMT
and temperature checks. But what a great show, so slick and that ensemble working their butts off, as well as the stage management. Some gorgeous imagery, and the illusions are wonderful - thank heavens for black velvet and precise lighting. The plot is a bit tortured. I did like the different ending, even if a little overstated. But hurrah! Worked out how they made that bed fly yet? I wonder if {Spoiler - click to view}
maybe it was supported from beneath. Something coming up from the Palace’s trap door maybe? Do all of the theatres on the tour have trap doors? |
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4,171 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 23, 2021 18:33:25 GMT
Worked out how they made that bed fly yet? I wonder if {Spoiler - click to view}
maybe it was supported from beneath. Something coming up from the Palace’s trap door maybe? Do all of the theatres on the tour have trap doors? What about riding the broomstick? |
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 23, 2021 18:37:32 GMT
I wonder if {Spoiler - click to view}
maybe it was supported from beneath. Something coming up from the Palace’s trap door maybe? Do all of the theatres on the tour have trap doors? What about riding the broomstick? I’ve seen magic tricks where something apparently suspended in air passes through an enclosed aperture. It’s usually a magician’s assistant laid out on a board and passed through a ring or hoop of some sort. Im sure this is that, good old fashioned magic techniques . |
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Post by sph on Oct 23, 2021 22:37:54 GMT
I think when she flies through the window: {Spoiler - click to view}
There's a gap in the frame disguised by the curtains. |
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Post by jaqs on Oct 24, 2021 5:07:46 GMT
I enjoyed the show, despite it being a matinee full of rustley, chatty, have to go to the loo now kids.
Took a bit to get going, the opening was clever but could have done with an opening number first.
The bed and other stunts were wonderful and the Briney Ballroom the highlight for me.
Diane Pilkington was utterly charming while her costars a bit bland.
Agree about the ensemble set movement duties being a distraction and it being staged for the smallest stages on tour made it feel cramped on the giant palace stage.
It was lovely to see a big theatre so full again.
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