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Post by danb on Apr 21, 2016 16:41:18 GMT
Just watched Ria Jones singing AIWNSG, on the 'You Tubes', and whilst highly proficient vocally, it may aswell have been Jane McDonald with the insincere yankee twang and hollow sentiment. If I'm honest I'd still rather it was acted well than sung beautifully. Obviously I'd rather have both (I've only ever seen Elaine Paige do this) but if I had to choose it would always be the latter.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2016 16:58:57 GMT
Hope Glenn is back on Saturday. I like Ria Jones but I booked this for Glenn.
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 21, 2016 16:59:05 GMT
La Jones will perform this as if her life depended on it, I am sure!
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 21, 2016 17:00:10 GMT
Just watched Ria Jones singing AIWNSG, on the 'You Tubes', and whilst highly proficient vocally, it may aswell have been Jane McDonald with the insincere yankee twang and hollow sentiment. If I'm honest I'd still rather it was acted well than sung beautifully. Obviously I'd rather have both (I've only ever seen Elaine Paige do this) but if I had to choose it would always be the latter. What, the clips from 25 YEARS ago?! I imagine she has developed and grown as a performer since then. |
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Post by danb on Apr 21, 2016 17:07:00 GMT
No, it was from a recent cabaret.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 21, 2016 17:12:53 GMT
In London and popped into the box office. They are refusing refunds OR exchanges. The duty box office manager is under fire!!!
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 21, 2016 17:15:24 GMT
No, it was from a recent cabaret. In that case, it's possible that she may have tailored her performance for a cabaret setting - many performers do. I have a feeling she will probably perform differently in situ as Norma Desmond (especially tonight not knowing when the opportunity will present itself again), rather than a cabaret performance where she is not playing a character, she is being Ria Jones. Sincerest 'break a leg' to Ria - I'm sure she will storm it!! (I can say that, already having had my fill of Glenn) |
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 21, 2016 17:16:10 GMT
A guy is demanding to speak to the "rip off" producer! "I've paid £300 to see her not the show and someone I've never heard of".
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Post by d'James on Apr 21, 2016 17:17:29 GMT
In London and popped into the box office. They are refusing refunds OR exchanges. The duty box office manager is under fire!!! Oh dear. It was mainly sold on her name though. |
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Post by ali973 on Apr 21, 2016 17:17:57 GMT
^ TBH that's a bad move. I personally would love to see Ria in the role, but that's because I am a fan of the show.
Let's not make no mistake that this is a star-lead limited run whereby many people are seeing it because it's Glenn Close. I personally know many people who rarely set foot in any theatre who have seen it because it's Glenn Close's Sunset Boulevard and not Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard. It makes things a bit more difficult due to the fact that the star of the show is not the set, the effects, the direction but its star. It's essentially a concert and not a night out at the theatre. Imagine going to a Madonna concert and getting well, not Madonna.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Apr 21, 2016 17:21:42 GMT
I don't think producers have an easy solution that appeases everyone when this happens. What was it like last year when Imelda missed a few shows (I understand it was extremely rare)?
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Post by catqc on Apr 21, 2016 17:24:00 GMT
Some people are so selfish
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Post by ali973 on Apr 21, 2016 17:25:11 GMT
I think the Broadway policy is quite reasonable. If the star has top billing that shows their name before the title of the show in the official show communication, they've got the right to exchange (not sure about refund?).
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Post by argon on Apr 21, 2016 17:47:30 GMT
Let hope the front of house have a protection detail things might get pretty hot with ticket collection tonight, but really they should have had the foresight for such an outcome considering GC's age & her absence from musical theatre for eons
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Post by danb on Apr 21, 2016 17:52:47 GMT
Bit odd that they aren't offering exchanges. I love how self righteous people get about this though. Whilst I'd be livid if it happened to me ( Martine! I may forget; I'll never forgive) I do think I could understand, and hope to rebook. People get ill, deal with it.
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Post by d'James on Apr 21, 2016 17:56:59 GMT
Bit odd that they aren't offering exchanges. I love how self righteous people get about this though. Whilst I'd be livid if it happened to me ( Martine! I may forget; I'll never forgive) I do think I could understand, and hope to rebook. People get ill, deal with it. Yes, I hope I'd be reasonable like that, but then again I don't have that far to travel if I got to rebook tickets for another date. |
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Post by danb on Apr 21, 2016 18:01:14 GMT
Bit odd that they aren't offering exchanges. I love how self righteous people get about this though. Whilst I'd be livid if it happened to me ( Martine! I may forget; I'll never forgive) I do think I could understand, and hope to rebook. People get ill, deal with it. Yes, I hope I'd be reasonable like that, but then again I don't have that far to travel if I got to rebook tickets for another date. Three and a half hours on a sodding Bakers Dolphin coach we spent on our way to the NT for My Fair Lady only to be greeted by the terribly modern screens in the foyer telling us that she was indisposed/battered on Merlot in 'The Cork & Bottle'. Wept we did, wept. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 21, 2016 18:02:39 GMT
Knew this would happen at some point. What a shame.
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Post by basdfg on Apr 21, 2016 18:02:48 GMT
I suppose they don't have the spare seats to exchange everyone to before it closes.
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Post by yam on Apr 21, 2016 18:08:25 GMT
I'm probably in the minority here, but I bought my tickets to see Sunset Boulevard and I've just checked them and sure enough that's what it says on them, not staring Glenn Close, not a Glenn Close concert. If the theatre was to start exchanging them, how would that even be possible given most of the prime seats have long since been booked. I wish I could be there tonight to see another interpretation of the role to be honest.
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Post by critchyboy on Apr 21, 2016 18:17:44 GMT
Suddenly glad I mucked up my dates and managed to go on Tuesday instead of tonight!
Have a photo of a poster outside the theatre "Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard".
Having said all that though, I really enjoyed the show so it would be interesting to see another interpretation.
Wishing all the very best indeed to Ria Jones. Break a leg!
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Post by d'James on Apr 21, 2016 18:19:35 GMT
I'm probably in the minority here, but I bought my tickets to see Sunset Boulevard and I've just checked them and sure enough that's what it says on them, not staring Glenn Close, not a Glenn Close concert. If the theatre was to start exchanging them, how would that even be possible given most of the prime seats have long since been booked. I wish I could be there tonight to see another interpretation of the role to be honest. You might not be in a minority on here, but among the general public you almost certainly will be. It's been sold with her face plastered all over the Tube etc. As I said, if they'd scheduled one show off a week or something, we might've avoided this situation. You would also have had an opportunity to book a guaranteed seat for a different interpretation. If I hadn't seen it two days ago, I would've probably rushed up to see tonight's performance. |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 21, 2016 18:20:28 GMT
Knew this would happen at some point. What a shame. Me too - a relatively inexperienced musical theatre performer, non-singer, performing a highly demanding leading role (in terms of acting and singing), and a pensioner!! I am not at all surprised. I doubt she has the level of stamina required (not her fault) - this 5 week run is quite an undertaking for anyone not used to the rigours of 8 shows a week, week in/week out...(24 years ago is a long time!) |
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Post by justsaying113 on Apr 21, 2016 18:36:52 GMT
What a tough one! I completely understand the disappointment and there are many people who have only booked because of Glenn Close. And, let's be honest, with those ticket prices, the cost of getting there etc you can see how folk will be really upset. Maybe we need that Broadway-style policy or - when producers are casting a star - maybe ticket buyers have to agree to/sign-up to a no refund, no exchange policy. It shouldn't be like that, I know, but human nature can be unforgiving (even with something as relatively unimportant as theatre). I also wonder if an eight-week show schedule was wise for an older performer with little musical theatre experience of late. Maybe they should have dual cast? And, incidentally, I have seen Ria Jones in 'Evita', 'Cats', 'Chess' and 'Les Miserables' and she is terrific but I appreciate that'll be no consolation.
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Post by viserys on Apr 21, 2016 18:37:34 GMT
Well, I'd say that's a tad unfair, she did play Norma eight times a week before on Broadway, she knows the part, so she knew what she let herself in for. Of course it could be argued that she ignored that 24 years is a long time and she wouldn't be as physically fit as she was in the 90s, but still. It's not like it's some Hollywood star who's rarely been on stage before indulging in a vanity project. Bette Midler isn't younger and still going to tackle Hello Dolly in New York next year..
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