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Post by Jon on May 31, 2022 13:01:50 GMT
I’m with you on this not being “the future”. ABBA and their music have a special place in the cultural consciousness, somewhere right on the naff/genius boundary which allows them to do things like this and Mamma Mia and be lauded for the quality of the songs and presentation while mainly avoiding criticism of somehow selling out, or trying to make a quick buck. Part of that is that they (or certainly the two Bs) seem to have quite a lot of creative control over the ongoing output and also (in my opinion) know how high a quality the product needs to be to mainly avoid these criticisms. I know they didn’t write Mamma Mia (the show) themselves nor did that show invent the jukebox musical but it certainly encouraged lots of other bands to give it a go and 2 films and 23 years later (plus multiple productions worldwide and touring) it’s still standing where many of its imitators tried and failed. As I’ve said before I enjoyed the whole experience of Voyage hugely but I don’t think it’s really a concert and I think other artists need to really understand that before just assuming they can do their own version. In the case of Mamma Mia! it were fortunate that Benny and Bjorn had dabbled in theatre before with Chess and Kristina so even if they didn't create Mamma Mia!, they knew how the process worked. |
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Post by thesoberpanda on May 31, 2022 13:06:42 GMT
I'm not an Abba fan as such but am really interested in seeing this for the spectacle. Going forward as a rule of thumb, if the performer is alive, I want to see them playing live. I can only think of me interested in a Queen version of this (who I think could pull it off although of course they your with Adam Lambert now which also works so whether they would be interested in this remains to be seen (maybe when Roger and Brian can't be arsed to tour anymore  ) |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 31, 2022 13:09:46 GMT
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Post by anthony40 on May 31, 2022 13:13:09 GMT
I'm not an Abba fan as such but am really interested in seeing this for the spectacle. Going forward as a rule of thumb, if the performer is alive, I want to see them playing live. I can only think of me interested in a Queen version of this (who I think could pull it off although of course they your with Adam Lambert now which also works so whether they would be interested in this remains to be seen (maybe when Roger and Brian can't be arsed to tour anymore  ) Interesting point. However don't forget to factor in the performers age and their ability to stand on stage and perform. They just may not have the physical stamina. An example, towards the end of last nights concert whilst Agnetha was singing, Frida was dancing aroud, kicking, etc. In real life, I doubt she would have the ability. In fact (I believe) she had recentlyhad a hip replacement, which is why Frida was holdig a walking stick at the opening night of this 'experience'. |
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Post by alece10 on May 31, 2022 14:32:52 GMT
I think because it came across more as a rant than a criticism... Lol Last nights was definitely a rant…todays is more measured and well balanced  I was also very tired after 2 weeks schlepping throughout Sweden and Norway so that may have also added to my crankiness… As I can’t edit my post however it is now captured in time for posterity lol And will haunt you in years to come. 😀 |
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Post by intoanewlife on May 31, 2022 16:30:25 GMT
Lol Last nights was definitely a rant…todays is more measured and well balanced  I was also very tired after 2 weeks schlepping throughout Sweden and Norway so that may have also added to my crankiness… As I can’t edit my post however it is now captured in time for posterity lol And will haunt you in years to come. 😀 Ha! I highly doubt my opinion of 'the show' will change, so not that bothered. |
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Post by fiyero on Jun 1, 2022 19:07:57 GMT
This makes me happy. Assuming it is kept to!
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Post by theatreian on Jun 1, 2022 21:54:12 GMT
This makes me happy. Assuming it is kept to! There were some people filming and taking photos with their phones but not as bad as most concerts. |
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Post by intoanewlife on Jun 2, 2022 23:08:10 GMT
Enjoyed it MUCH more tonight, so I would jack my score up to a 4/5.
For anyone who hasn't bought tickets yet, the cheaper dance floor tickets are the ones to get.
It is so much more immersive from there and for some reason the CGI screens etc looks MUCH better than from further back in the expensive seating.
The Abbatars still look absolutely flawless closer up and while I still hated the excessive 'videos' I had a much better time.
Interestingly...my mate was chatting to one of the tech crew after the show and apparently the 'videos' were added a fair way into production as they couldn't find a way to stop the Abbatar projectors from over heating. It became clear they needed to give them constant breaks to cool down and that's why there are so many videos.
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Post by danb on Jun 3, 2022 15:51:06 GMT
Well my gob is smacked. That was amazing.
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Post by fiyero on Jun 3, 2022 16:43:07 GMT
Well my gob is smacked. That was amazing. Mine also. I went mainly for the event and it blew me away. Don’t care what anyone else says, this afternoon I was at an Abba concert. Getting in took a long time. I got there half an hour before and barely had time to visit the loo and buy a bottle of water. Security was thorough! There is an announcement about photos. Still people did but I’m sure less than would have. They specifically said if you are filming you’ll be kicked out which I took as permission for a few photos. I saw at least 2 people in my section FaceTiming it! After reading about animations I thought it would be something between each song slowing things down but the ones that there were were very much part of the show. I loved all the different effects. |
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 3, 2022 17:05:54 GMT
In hindsight, possibly I misheard the announcement but I thought they said you could film for no more that 30 seconds.
I took photographs but myself filmed 29 seconds during When All Is Said And Done, to keep with in the 30 timeframe.
That way friends and family in Australia can see it- it will be years before it lands down under.
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Post by fiyero on Jun 3, 2022 17:12:48 GMT
In hindsight, possibly I misheard the announcement but I thought they said you could film for no more that 30 seconds. I took photographs but myself filmed 29 seconds during When All Is Said And Done, to keep with in the 30 timeframe. That way friends and family in Australia can see it- it will be years before it lands down under. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have changed the announcement. There was one usher waving a torch at people but she never came over our side. No chance of stopping it on the dance floor! |
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Post by intoanewlife on Jun 3, 2022 17:31:51 GMT
We had an announcement on Monday night, but there wasn't one last night.
Nowhere near as bad as a regular concert though, not by a long shot.
I am going to Billie Eilish next week and am dreading it because I know it's going to be an endless ocean of tweens on their phones.
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Post by danb on Jun 3, 2022 18:44:39 GMT
I thought ‘Chiquitita’ had the most effective setting and it truly looked like they were there in front of that sun/eclipse. I thought that the band sounded amazing. I missed some of the more complex backing vocals, but other than I thought it was visually & aurally spectacular. Well worth every penny spent by them and me. I appreciate the need to manage the equipment; This tech is in its relative infancy. The video clips fit in perfectly well. When the likes of Cher spend as long off stage as on, you have to wonder why?
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Post by alece10 on Jun 5, 2022 7:20:04 GMT
Quite simply the best thing I have even seen.
I can now die a happy man.
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Post by karloscar on Jun 5, 2022 8:12:56 GMT
After seeing Rod Stewart and Diana Ross at the palace, Abba definitely made the right choice to protect their legacy.
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Post by theatreian on Jun 5, 2022 8:55:06 GMT
Quite simply the best thing I have even seen. So glad you loved it! |
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Post by alece10 on Jun 5, 2022 9:14:05 GMT
Quite simply the best thing I have even seen. So glad you loved it! I'm going to report later when my brain is a bit more organised. |
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Post by alece10 on Jun 5, 2022 12:07:00 GMT
So I have had a bit of a "siesta" as I was exhausted from the last 24 hours as along with Abba I also did the orbital tower and Cinderella plus act as tour guide for my friend who was visiting so was worn out.
Anyway this was, without doubt, the best thing I have ever seen, and I am old enough to have seen a lot!
Loved the arena and its design. Even though it seated 3000 people it felt quite intimate.
I cant describe how visually spectacular the concert was and the technology was mind blowing. Also as far as I am concerned I have just watched ABBA on stage. The Abbatars are so realistic I was convinced I was watching the 4 of them on stage. I just had to keep saying to myself that I was actually applauding no one and just a flat screen.
Loved the band and thought it was great they had an opportunity to do a solo number.
Thought the whole thing was so well put together and the 90 minutes just flew by.
My throat is very sore this morning as I just sang along at the top of my voice and didnt care that I was possibly out of tune.
I think what made it was the audience. A huge age range from oldies like me who remember very well watching Waterloo on TV in 1974 to small kids. Loved it that many people were dressed up in ABBA costumes and even saw a few kids dressed up at well. Audience very well behaved even though it was clear more than a few bevvies had been consumed before and during the concert. My favourite section was the dance floor and loved watching everyone having an absolute ball and thinking that if I was 40 years younger I would have loved to have been in the middle of them.
Staff were fab and did a great job. We had a bunch of ushers standing behind us and they were singing and dancing along. Not sure if they will still be doing that in a years time after seeing the show 8 or 9 times a week.
I kept looking around and looking at the faces of the audience and everyone had a huge grin of their face throughout.
I was sitting in Block C which is a centre block facing the stage so had a perfect view.
I could have easily sat there at the end and just waited for the next concert to start but not sure my ears could take it, they were ringing afterwards from the volume of the music.
Will I go again? Like a shot and if any of my friends want to go I am more than happy to go again and again.
Just a couple of bits of info for those due to go that might help.
We went to the 3pm performance and got to the venue about 2pm. Queue moved very quickly through security and ticket checks to get in and once in the foyer area it was very busy so people do seem to get there quite early to soak up the atmosphere. There was a portable merch kiosk outside before entering the arena and I would suggest you use it if you know what you want as there was a long queue both before and after for merch. There was also a 2nd merch stall which actually said cloakroom and I was told that they were selling all the limited edition items from that one. Plenty of food and drink places with a champagne bar in the middle that was actually pretty busy. Ushers also wandering around the foyer selling the programmes so you dont need to queue if thats all you want. The famous water bottles are sold in bar areas. Black one which is still water and white one which is sparkling. A bargain to be honest at £4.50 as can be reused and quite a solid metal bottle.
Anyone with mobility issues wont have an issue as its level access into the arena and, if you book accessible seats, then they have several sections on that level with uninterrupted views.
At the end we hung around for a while as people left and so by the time we went across the road to Pudding Mill Lane DLR station there was no queue, so worth noting if you are not in a hurry.
Anyway if you have managed to get to the end of my ramblings I hope you love the concert as much as I did.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 5, 2022 12:53:09 GMT
Absolutely loved last night. Fabulous venue, great friendly staff who offer to take pics of you and then concert was so amazing.
We sat at the back just slightly off centre and the view was incredible.
*****
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Post by danb on Jun 5, 2022 14:42:00 GMT
Meant to say; we were in the middle of block F which is the furthest left. I was worried that the effect might be ruined from a more side on perspective but it was absolutely fine. Every effort is made to disguise the functionality of things, so there is a heavy fog in the room throughout and light always moving around the space.
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Post by floorshow on Jun 5, 2022 16:16:07 GMT
Saw it yesterday afternoon, lots to like and well worth the visit. When it works, it's ace.
The transition after their intro number is a definite moment and any time the song, Abbatars and the audience are all in sync it really clicks and is 100% an immersive watching Abba experience.
There's more non-Abbatar stuff than is ideal, the songs are strong enough to cover it but it's a high ratio, maybe 1 in 4 numbers over the course of the show. On a brighter note, as soon as you realise then you're never far from a toilet/bar/merch run.
View from row A, block J was great, the lighting extends to almost 180 degrees so there's definitely a front/back change in experience. I'd go back to try the standing at some point.
All the best moments are when the Abbatars loosen up and break the choreography - bits like Björn waiting in the shadows or Agnetha just moving around in her white dress (if that's animated then it's incredible!). Still waiting for Frida to blink though...
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Post by intoanewlife on Jun 5, 2022 18:21:25 GMT
There's more non-Abbatar stuff than is ideal, the songs are strong enough to cover it but it's a high ratio, maybe 1 in 4 numbers over the course of the show. It's pretty much every 3 songs to give the Abbatar projectors a break otherwise they will overheat and stop working. |
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Post by danb on Jun 5, 2022 18:25:27 GMT
I found it surprising that the member who I thought would be most difficult to animate (Benny) because of all the hair, was the most convincing. That, and how well they managed materials. Bjorns crushed velvet jumpsuit behaved exactly as it would IRL.
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