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Post by theatre241 on Jul 25, 2019 19:49:52 GMT
Whats the front row like for this? Perfect where I was in the very centre. Pretty much as good at the "high numbers" end, bit less on the low numbers where you do have the cross to look over a bit. |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 25, 2019 20:52:06 GMT
Perfect where I was in the very centre. Pretty much as good at the "high numbers" end, bit less on the low numbers where you do have the cross to look over a bit. Depends if you're a giraffe or not... Yes you will but Barb stage is quite high. Have faith - it was built under 40 years ago and has fantastic sightlines. |
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Post by amp09 on Jul 26, 2019 18:57:28 GMT
Got a ticket sitting in F1 today for Thursday mat. Very excited!
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Post by musicalslive on Jul 26, 2019 23:31:34 GMT
Are there dayseats for this show? I cant find it at theatremonkey or at the internet.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 27, 2019 16:54:15 GMT
Did I know what was happening in act 1? No. But I loved this. The voices and performances on display here are stunning. As is the set, lighting and the choreography.
My heart has never beaten so fast and loud at the theatre as it did at points in the show today.
Glad I've seen it as u must say I wasn't quite sure whether to give it a go or not.
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Post by danb on Jul 27, 2019 17:02:18 GMT
Oh I’m going to have to see this aren’t I? Can a few people come on and say it’s rubbish just for my poor bank account? ✝️
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Post by xanady on Jul 27, 2019 17:58:03 GMT
My wife took my teenage daughter to see this on Thursday night.My daughter was left ‘pale and shaking with emotion’ at the end of this...very tearful and moved with the power of this production.Sounds like a show for the ages!!
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Post by ceebee on Jul 27, 2019 23:15:52 GMT
Oh I’m going to have to see this aren’t I? Can a few people come on and say it’s rubbish just for my poor bank account? ✝️ Yup, its rubbish. I've seen it a few times just to validate this view. But I think you should check it too just to be sure. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2019 8:36:37 GMT
Did I know what was happening in act 1? No. Glad it wasn't just me! Agree this is excellent - as Andy says what's going on and who's who is a bit unclear in Act 1 (other than the main leads). Act 2 was amazing. Actually would have preferred this done straight through to lead to the climax. They way the end is done was very intense ...
breaking up the stage equipment gave the impression it was the cast crucifying the actor, if you see what I mean
I think this is only the second Lloyd Webber show I've seen - the other was Joseph in the late 70s. So I think I will aim to see them all in chronological order which means I don't have to see the rest till someone revives "By Jeeves" Sat in a stalls side seat on the low numbered side - great view, a couple of points (eg the Last Supper) would have worked better from the other side, but this wasn't a big problem. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 28, 2019 9:18:13 GMT
Did I know what was happening in act 1? No. Glad it wasn't just me! Agree this is excellent - as Andy says what's going on and who's who is a bit unclear in Act 1 (other than the main leads). Act 2 was amazing. Actually would have preferred this done straight through to lead to the climax. They way the end is done was very intense ...
breaking up the stage equipment gave the impression it was the cast crucifying the actor, if you see what I mean
I think this is only the second Lloyd Webber show I've seen - the other was Joseph in the late 70s. So I think I will aim to see them all in chronological order which means I don't have to see the rest till someone revives "By Jeeves" Sat in a stalls side seat on the low numbered side - great view, a couple of points (eg the Last Supper) would have worked better from the other side, but this wasn't a big problem. I honestly had no clue what was going on, even though I knew who all the lead cast were. I just don't think the narrative is very clear. It's like night and day between the first and second act in terms of how clear the story is. But I didn't really care because the cast were so good and it was such a spectacle. |
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Post by xanady on Jul 29, 2019 18:09:02 GMT
What is unclear exactly in Act 1 of this show?
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 29, 2019 19:17:24 GMT
What is unclear exactly in Act 1 of this show? Everything? |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 29, 2019 19:19:22 GMT
as Andy says what's going on and who's who is a bit unclear in Act 1 Anyone stuck with that problem could maybe read the book the show was based on before they go? I think it's called "The New Testament," with multiple authors including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and God. I'm quite aware of the story itself but i just don't think it translated to being very clear on stage in this show, what was happening and why. To be fair as well i don't think the sound was as clear as it should have been so i didn't always pick up the lyrics, which was a problem, and secondly the only issue i found with Ricardos Alfonso is that his diction wasn't very good and i honestly could not tell a lot of what he was singing. I mean it was great to listen to but what he was singing i had no clue for the most part. |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 29, 2019 22:11:21 GMT
What is unclear exactly in Act 1 of this show? Everything? Don't be absurd. |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 29, 2019 22:12:33 GMT
Anyone stuck with that problem could maybe read the book the show was based on before they go? I think it's called "The New Testament," with multiple authors including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and God. I'm quite aware of the story itself but i just don't think it translated to being very clear on stage in this show, what was happening and why. To be fair as well i don't think the sound was as clear as it should have been so i didn't always pick up the lyrics, which was a problem, and secondly the only issue i found with Ricardos Alfonso is that his diction wasn't very good and i honestly could not tell a lot of what he was singing. I mean it was great to listen to but what he was singing i had no clue for the most part. Think your hearing is awry, as his diction is excellent. |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 29, 2019 22:13:22 GMT
as Andy says what's going on and who's who is a bit unclear in Act 1 Anyone stuck with that problem could maybe read the book the show was based on before they go? I think it's called "The New Testament," with multiple authors including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and God. I think you'll find that's The Book of Mormon. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 30, 2019 8:37:34 GMT
I think you are clearly a large fan of the show, and as i made clear i thought the show was excellent. However, being so dismissive and rude towards any criticism and peoples personal experience is really not the way forward. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2019 8:50:43 GMT
With JCS, the possible problem with the first act is that it starts right in the middle of the action, as it were.
We're introduced to a group of people going wild for a man with no real explanation and we're a bit taken aback, wondering why - "Whats this Buzz? Tell me whats-a-happenin" addressing this.
It's easy for this to throw people off with it's song-on-song approach rather than explain things with dialogue so we have to work through the subtext of songs and staging to navigate to a plot.
With this particular production and its abstract approach to staging I can see why people may find themselves a little confused in parts. The first time I saw this, as the Temple song began, I even found myself wondering how we got there and why the sudden outbursts etc. It's easy to explain if you know what's going on and why.
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Post by andrew on Jul 30, 2019 9:33:28 GMT
Anyone stuck with that problem could maybe read the book the show was based on before they go? I think it's called "The New Testament," with multiple authors including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and God. To be fair as well i don't think the sound was as clear as it should have been so i didn't always pick up the lyrics, which was a problem, and secondly the only issue i found with Ricardos Alfonso is that his diction wasn't very good and i honestly could not tell a lot of what he was singing. I mean it was great to listen to but what he was singing i had no clue for the most part. Couldn't disagree more. Considering that he is Portuguese, in my opinion, he did an excellent job with his accent and diction. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2019 12:04:00 GMT
Church-going Christian here. I am very familiar with the story being told and I found act one hard to follow. The narrative could be clearer. Given I accept that ALW didn’t set out to explain the gospel, I have to put it down to dramatic choices he made (dropping us into the action, having it sung through.) If someone didn’t know the story (someone from a different faith perhaps, or no faith at all) and who didn’t know the musical beforehand, I think they’d really struggle to explain what’s happening, but I think they’d catch the buzz and still enjoy it (if this is their sort of thing...I think this is a fabulous production and I am going to see it again next week. We were in the upper circle £18 seats far stage right and we missed the tableau and anything that happened on the cross. We’ve picked same level, other side for the return.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2019 12:09:43 GMT
Saw this for the second time on Saturday night. Loved it even more. It really is a definitive iconic production for me. And as I said before, I think it works even better indoors. The intensity is higher. And the lighting design for Act 1 is much better (you can't do much with it outdoors when it's still light).
The only teeny element I miss from the Open Air is the purple/blue smoke firework thing that's waved about and fills the air with coloured smoke at the start of The Temple scene. I guess health and safety stops this indoors.
Interesting reading that people find Act 1 hard to follow. I first had the CD when I was 10 or 11 and was able to follow it by the libretto so have never considered that it could be hard to follow. But thinking about it now, I can see exactly why it might be. For example at the very start when Judas starts to sing - how do you know that's Judas? In fact none of the characters are introduced I don't think.
The new Les Mis with the removal of the locations suffers the same thing - you can't assume that the whole world knows the story.
Anyway, I am assuming no extension now - quite a few of the cast seem to be going straight on to other things. And the US tour (I assume using the same set) starts pretty soon after.
Do people think there is more life in this production in the UK? I do hope so. Really hoping it might tour the big venues. Would be a real shame to return to the Kenwright tour after this....
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Post by ceebee on Jul 30, 2019 21:52:40 GMT
I think you are clearly a large fan of the show, and as i made clear i thought the show was excellent. However, being so dismissive and rude towards any criticism and peoples personal experience is really not the way forward. Calm down dear. |
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Post by Steffi on Jul 31, 2019 8:56:53 GMT
I finally caved and booked myself a ticket for this. I loved the production at the Open Air Theatre. And while I adored Declan Bennett’s take on Jesus I’m curious to see someone else in the role.
As for Ricardo Afonso as Judas - the man’s voice is a dream. I’m very excited to see him on stage again.
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Post by westendgurl on Jul 31, 2019 10:19:22 GMT
I finally caught this, having never seen JCS before, and I absolutely loved it! I *think* it would have been better in Regent's Park - I feel it was made for an outside venue, but that said it was fabulous, and my word the vocals on that cast were outstanding! During the first song I found it quite hard to understand Ricardo Afonso but I guess maybe it was hard to hear over the sound of my jaw hitting the floor at his voice and things soon improved. I loved everything about it and may have to go again before it ends. Oh, also I'd got seats up in the ahem gods, but was upgraded to row P of the stalls which was very welcome!
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 31, 2019 11:01:27 GMT
I think you are clearly a large fan of the show, and as i made clear i thought the show was excellent. However, being so dismissive and rude towards any criticism and peoples personal experience is really not the way forward. Calm down dear. OK ceebee. I think that's enough being rude and patronising to other board members with other equally valid and respected opinions. |
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