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Post by Being Alive on Oct 20, 2023 23:35:58 GMT
It was from rehearsal for last year's Follies in Morocco. Haydn played Phyllis and Jenna Russell was Sally - they did one or two performances of it...evidently she was a knock out.
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Post by musicbox on Oct 20, 2023 23:36:58 GMT
I seen this show last Saturday and loved it so much that I decided to return tonight, both with last minute TodayTix deals (I'll get to that further down...).
Tonight's show started with a speech about Haydn Gwynne's passing (I thought it might've been Bradley Jaden from backstage, but maybe I'm wrong), explaining that she was rehearsing with the company before falling ill, and with a touching, brief piece about her life. The speech was really respectful and well received by the audience, and I felt that the announcement that every audience member could have a glass of wine on the house during interval to toast Haydn's life was a really nice touch.
Before singing 'The ladies who lunch', Clare also announced "I would like to make this toast in memory of Hayden Gwynne", which again received a huge applause.
I don't think there's really anything more I can add about the show that other's haven't already said - The cast are all spectacular and it was a genuine starstruck moment to see Bernadette Peters. Lea Salonga is also brilliant and I'm embarrassed to say that I had no idea it was her in the Sweeney Todd scene until after the first time I seen it! Her cockney accent and timing is so convincing!
In terms of my seats...I'm starting to wonder if this is a product of getting really cheap last minute deals on Today Tix, but on both visits the people next to me have been so infuriating that it genuinely stressed me out. I really lucked out last Saturday by getting a stalls seat in the first five rows for £29, with an excellent view, but I was four seats into the row, and at the end were a rather arrogant couple. When I asked politely to get past on my way in the man on the end looked me up and down and then turned to his partner and let out an angry sigh, saying "I'm so sick of having to stand for these people", clearly wanting me to hear - what a charming person! To make it worse, the other lady next to me was clearly bored throughout and during Bernadette's Send in the clowns got her phone out and starting texting her friends and annoyingly taking selfies. Thankfully she was asked to leave during the interval, as I couldn't have put up with her for much longer to be honest!
Tonight I got an equally excellent seat in row B of the grande circle for £29, bang in the centre. I actually think my view was better than in the stalls and the two seats in front of me were unsold, so it was totally unobstructed. I thought I had hit the jackpot until about 5 minutes before show time a man came and sat next to me and said 'Another Today Tix yeah? F**k it, it's Friday night!". He was clearly drunk and throughout the show was swaying from side to side, moving his hands about and snapping his fingers, to the point where he was taking up half of my space and I had to sit at an extreme angle away from him - not great for the back! There was also a really loud man behind me who kept talking and making comments throughout the show, his favourite being 'Wow I didn't know that was Sondheim!" after every song. His grand finale that he thinks we all paid to hear came when he decided to join in the climax of Ladies who Lunch, singing at the top of his voice in the wrong key.
Overall, if anyone still hasn't seen this show you really need to before it closes! Maybe just avoid TodayTix seats and try and find dynamic pricing elsewhere though.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 21, 2023 0:38:15 GMT
I saw this Thursday evening and thought it was wonderful.
Thanks to a comp, I was in house seats and the view was perfect, but those seats are pretty narrow and there's not much legroom for us tall folk.
Highlights were Joanna Riding's 'Getting Married Today' Bonnie's 'I'm Still Here' and surprisingly, because i'm not usually a huge fan of the song, Claire Burt singing 'Ladies Who Lunch' She managed to make me totally forget Elaine Stritch and Patti, and managed to make it sound fresh and interesting. Also really enjoyed Agony - I didn't realise it was Jac Yarrow at first, he's already matured so much since Joseph
Lea Salonga was great in most of her numbers, though I didn't like her Mrs Lovette as much as most people on here.
I would loved to have heard more from Sunday.... and if you're going to list On The Steps of The Palace in the programme, let her sing more than 4 lines of it.
Harry Apps was in 1 song in the first half and was never seen again, so I don't know what happened to him.
For anyone who might know, if all the songs were from shows Cameron was involved in, why was 'Live Alone and Like I' in it, when it was written for Dick Tracy?
I certainly hope to go back before the end of the run.
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Post by sf on Oct 21, 2023 4:28:32 GMT
For anyone who might know, if all the songs were from shows Cameron was involved in, why was 'Live Alone and Like I' in it, when it was written for Dick Tracy? 'Live Alone and Like It' was used in a revue called 'Putting It Together', which Mackintosh produced. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Oct 21, 2023 13:12:58 GMT
Harry Apps was in 1 song in the first half and was never seen again, so I don't know what happened to him. do you remember what song he was in? From my understanding, he's an off stage swing so he wouldn't normally be in anything unless he was covering for someone. |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 21, 2023 16:13:31 GMT
It's a bit late off the mark I do appreciate and won't help anyone who isn't London based however from 19th-21st (that's tonight) at the theatre they're selling posters signed by the cast.
It's in aid of ActingforOthers. It was on Twitter
I'm assuming these were for sale at today's matinee,
I was out last night, on the other side of SoHo so I went down and picked one up.
It was because I was out last night and at Musical.com all day that I couldn't post this any sooner.
People on Twitter were asking if they were available online for those who couldn't get to London. Answer: I don't know. Personally, I think they should. But that's just me.
I just changed my route home last night and got to the theatre at about 9.30 pm. I confirmed with a member of staff if they had them. If they didn't, I couldn't see the point in hanging around. I was told that did however I would have to wait to 10:05 pm before entering the foyer.
So, when they started opening the doors of the theatre for patrons to leave I sought approval from a security officer. I went to the merchandise stand where the lovely girl, also confirmed that they had them. However I then got questioned my a male member of staff- 'Do you have a ticket?' 'No, I simply ant to come in, buy the poster and leave' 'Well paying patrons get priority' 'Well then I'll go back outside and wait'
I mean it had been 35 minutes, what another 5?
Clearly some sort of internal conversations took place and another man in a suit and bow tie abruptly can out and questioned if I wanted to buy a poster. When I confirmed that that's all I wanted to do, he introduced himself as the Theatre Manager and escorted me to the merchandise stand where the first guy who questioned me actually rolled the poster for me and performed the transaction. With his tail between his legs he then questioned if I had heard the sad news about Haydn Gywenne.
By this stage, none of of the audience had come out as yet!
Now, if you're thinking of going gown to buy a poster tonight, at £40, they're pretty pricey. However, it is a collectors item.
Will they do this again? I don't know. I'd like to think so.
Let's hope it's better advertised next time!
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 23, 2023 2:02:24 GMT
Harry Apps was in 1 song in the first half and was never seen again, so I don't know what happened to him. do you remember what song he was in? From my understanding, he's an off stage swing so he wouldn't normally be in anything unless he was covering for someone. I can't remember exactly which one. Mid way through act 1, all cast were in couples, walking down the stage... i'll find the programme and see if i can place it |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 23, 2023 15:55:59 GMT
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Post by asps2017 on Oct 23, 2023 16:57:15 GMT
Wonder if they’ll check eligibility on the door! |
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Post by partytentdown on Oct 23, 2023 16:59:42 GMT
Nice offer but it's a little disingenuous - if he cared that much about access for young people, these tickets would have been available from the start, not just when the show is struggling to sell...
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Post by amyja89 on Oct 23, 2023 22:36:22 GMT
Saw this tonight, was completely joyous! Lea Salonga’s Everything’s Coming Up Roses was stunning, and how can Bernadette Peters possibly be 75!?
So happy I chose this over the so far quite poorly reviewed Lyonesse. Can see why they’ve introduced the reduced ticket scheme, the Grand Circle was completely shut this evening.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 24, 2023 5:50:23 GMT
Harry Apps was in 1 song in the first half and was never seen again, so I don't know what happened to him. do you remember what song he was in? From my understanding, he's an off stage swing so he wouldn't normally be in anything unless he was covering for someone. It was 'Weekend In The Country' |
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Post by marob on Oct 24, 2023 6:37:27 GMT
The under 30s offer may be driven more by necessity than good-will, but it looks to be a really good bargain. They’re seats in the £95 and £125 bands, not a bench up in the gods.
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Post by A.Ham on Oct 24, 2023 6:50:45 GMT
The under 30s offer may be driven more by necessity than good-will, but it looks to be a really good bargain. They’re seats in the £95 and £125 bands, not a bench up in the gods. Yes, I thought the same. Now wondering if I’d get away with passing for 30 or less! |
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Post by vdcni on Oct 25, 2023 8:21:01 GMT
What a glorious evening, by the second act the audience were in a state of high delirium with almost everything being greeted with rapturous applause.
Don't have anything massively different to say from others. Peters who I thought was one of the weaker elements of the filmed performance was much stronger live, particularly Send In The Clowns, though I wasn't convinced by Losing My Mind. Would have preferred Riding who doesn't get enough to do.
Had never seen Lea Salonga and thought she was excellent throughout. My husband is a big Sweeny fan and perked up during that bit.
Dee was as usual glorious in everything she did though I was less keen on Clare Burt, fine but I've heard those songs done much better.
Broadway Baby is a real treat and Bonnie got some of the biggest cheers for her one high kick and splits and raised the roof with I'm Still Here. Though if you're gonna change lines they need to be better than these.
The men are less well served inevitably but add me to the Bradley Jaden fans in that outfit and I liked the West Side Story section more than the gala as it gave the chance for the younger performers to stand out. Loved Agony though, not a song I know well.
I hated Ball's Could I Leave You but Gavin Lee, who was excellent throughout, is much better and yes makes it feel like a male couple is being talked about rather than just having a man sing it. It's nowhere near as good as Dee's though.
And yes Buddy's Blues doesn't work and it's just too oversold. You can feel how hard Pennycooke was working to sell it.
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Post by damaskanddark on Oct 25, 2023 9:55:35 GMT
Can someone explain which lines were changed during I'm Still Here? I'm baffled as to why they did this
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 25, 2023 9:59:44 GMT
Can someone explain which lines were changed during I'm Still Here? I'm baffled as to why they did this She sings the original set of lyrics until "Amos 'n' Andy / Mah-jongg and platinum hair / And I'm here". Then she starts singing lyrics from the Shirley MacLaine version: 10 years of braces, voice & tap Touring in places off the map Giving auditions on zanick's lap. Never fear. My mother drew up the contract, So I'm here. I've done commercials & club dates & talk shows. Gee, that was fun and a half. When you've done commercials & club dates & talk shows Anything else is a laugh! And then goes back to the original version from "I've been through Reno etc" to the end. The Shirley MacLaine lines replace the original: I've stood on bread lines with the best Watched while the headlines did the rest In the depression was I depressed? Nowhere near, I met a big financier and I'm here I've gotten through Herbert and J. Edgar Hoover Gee, that was fun and a half When you've been through Herbert and J. Edgar Hoover Anything else is a laugh |
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Post by vdcni on Oct 25, 2023 10:01:35 GMT
Didn't realise there was a specific other version this was using. So the zanick thing and mum wrote the contract I didn't mind so much as it made sense for a former child star like Bonnie but club dates and talk shows is just blah.
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Post by damaskanddark on Oct 25, 2023 10:15:04 GMT
Yeah I have to say those lyrics are appalling.
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Post by karloscar on Oct 25, 2023 10:16:53 GMT
Can someone explain which lines were changed during I'm Still Here? I'm baffled as to why they did this She sings the original set of lyrics until "Amos 'n' Andy / Mah-jongg and platinum hair / And I'm here". Then she starts singing lyrics from the Shirley MacLaine version: 10 years of braces, voice & tap Touring in places off the map Giving auditions on zanick's lap. Never fear. My mother drew up the contract, So I'm here. I've done commercials & club dates & talk shows. Gee, that was fun and a half. When you've done commercials & club dates & talk shows Anything else is a laugh! And then goes back to the original version from "I've been through Reno etc" to the end. The Shirley MacLaine lines replace the original: I've stood on bread lines with the best Watched while the headlines did the rest In the depression was I depressed? Nowhere near, I met a big financier and I'm here I've gotten through Herbert and J. Edgar Hoover Gee, that was fun and a half When you've been through Herbert and J. Edgar Hoover Anything else is a laugh Bonnie said on Front Row that the lyric that Sondheim rewrote for Shirley McLaine (as Debbie Reynolds) chimed more with her own experience as a dancer and child star, so they decided to use that as a means of personalizing the song without adding stuff that Sondheim didn't write. (Whether it's successful is of course up for debate.) |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 25, 2023 11:20:07 GMT
I totally 'get' the song, the character it's written for and the lyrics, but if truth be told. as much as I love a good Sondheim song or a show, this is one of my least favorites.
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Post by Fleance on Oct 25, 2023 11:36:44 GMT
The under 30s offer may be driven more by necessity than good-will, but it looks to be a really good bargain. They’re seats in the £95 and £125 bands, not a bench up in the gods. Yes, I thought the same. Now wondering if I’d get away with passing for 30 or less! These days, perhaps you can just say you identify as 25! |
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Post by vabbian on Oct 25, 2023 16:30:00 GMT
6 stars, exceptional
Had a stalls box to myself for £25!! (under 30)
I was very anxious however for most of it, I thought they weren't going to perform Being Alive
When it did eventually come on I burst into tears
Company 2018 really had a transformative effect on my life. Hearing it again in the Gielgud was euphoric
On a different note - does anyone if Lea or Bernadette have scheduled off days? I want to book again for a Monday but I don't want to miss them !
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Oct 25, 2023 16:52:25 GMT
Went for my fourth time this afternoon. First time in Stalls. Thoughts;
-The show is better from the Dress Circle than the stalls. But I still want to do front row to see every wrinkle (or lack there of) of queen Bernadette.
- Ladies Who Lunch has sent me to another dimension everytime except today. Perhaps because it was a matinee? Clare didn’t hold the note at the end like usual she sort of cracks? Very mediocre.
- however on average across all 4 shows my standouts are:
Getting Married today
Gotta Get a Gimick
Ladies Who Lunch
The Boy from … (acting masterclass).
The Little Things You do together
Sunday.
- The crowd was quite elderly and staid today . They were also quite dry until the second half.
- Bernadette has the weakest voice of the bunch but she has the best comedic timing and is an old Hollywood STAR. I just watch her when she’s on stage. She’s also HOT.
- I didn’t realize Lea was Mrs Lovett until after my 2nd show. The best cockney accent I’ve heard an American do in this part ever. Never been convinced of her acting chops until now. Faultless.
-I now NEED. A Sweeney Todd revival. Never cared for it before.
- interesting that I agree with everybody’s observations about Bonnie. Especially considering BP & JD style of acting is very subtle and real and their delivery of comedic moments is very dry. She’s too jazz hands. HOWEVER at the matinee today she absolutely was a stand out. Maybe because the crowd was older, but she really brought the energy. She is definitely an entertainer.
I can’t wait to go again!!!
Penny touré and Allado have sensational voices but their acting was the weakest. Didn’t believe them.
- Peters singing Losing My Mind just doesn’t hit for me ever. Would’ve preferred someone else. But when she starts to sing Not a Day goes by I’m almost in tears.
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Post by lewis on Oct 25, 2023 20:11:16 GMT
Peters singing Losing My Mind just doesn’t hit for me ever. Would’ve preferred someone else. Jo Riding's Losing my Mind at the National was one of the greatest performances of a song I've ever seen. Bernadette's doesn't touch it. |
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