|
|
Post by toomasj on Dec 8, 2023 10:16:15 GMT
Thank you for the above review. I think that’s very poor from the venue. Personally I’d be giving them another chance to make amends, and if they don’t I’d be raising a credit card chargeback, if this is how you paid. You may be covered by the broad strokes of the Consumer Rights Act, should the venue dispute the chargeback and you are required to provide further information. CAB/Resolver and other online services can assist with this. Another option is to contact SOLT (explained here: www.theatremonkey.com/how-deal-your-visit-going-wrong) as the Menier is a SOLT venue and abides to their rules of membership. The main question is, did you complain at the venue itself at the earliest opportunity? |
|
4,171 posts
|
Post by anthony40 on Dec 8, 2023 10:16:50 GMT
Wow!
Sorry to read of this experience MoreLife!
|
|
184 posts
|
Post by MoreLife on Dec 8, 2023 10:39:29 GMT
Oh dear. There's really no excuse for this kind of thing nowadays. May I ask what seats they were sitting in so to know which to avoid? We were in B30 and B31. The really massively obstructed one is B30, and I think it's fair to guess any one of the seats behind B30 would have a similar issue (possibly less so at the very back as the angle may change slightly with the rake and all). We've noticed that the Menier website has been updated, and now if you go and try to book them it advised as follows: "Please note that some scenes will be slightly obstructed from view by a pillar. No main action is missed." "Slightly" being... well, a bit of an understatement  And they're on sale at 55£ instead of the full 59.50£ you pay for the one immediately next to it. |
|
184 posts
|
Post by MoreLife on Dec 8, 2023 10:42:51 GMT
Thank you for the above review. I think that’s very poor from the venue. Personally I’d be giving them another chance to make amends, and if they don’t I’d be raising a credit card chargeback, if this is how you paid. You may be covered by the broad strokes of the Consumer Rights Act, should the venue dispute the chargeback and you are required to provide further information. CAB/Resolver and other online services can assist with this. Another option is to contact SOLT (explained here: www.theatremonkey.com/how-deal-your-visit-going-wrong) as the Menier is a SOLT venue and abides to their rules of membership. The main question is, did you complain at the venue itself at the earliest opportunity? Thanks for this advice toomasj, we did not in fairness raise it at the venue - perhaps we could have done it in the few minutes prior to the show beginning, but then there's no intermission to use to speak with their staff... My friend wrote to them on Monday, I think, as of course we would not expect the Box Office team to deal with emails at the weekend. |
|
184 posts
|
Post by MoreLife on Dec 8, 2023 10:44:26 GMT
Wow! Sorry to read of this experience MoreLife! Thanks for the solidarity Anthony! Of course it's a very first world problem to have... I thought I'd share it here more than anything to warn other forum members so they can avoid those seats and actually see the show  |
|
4,171 posts
|
Post by anthony40 on Dec 8, 2023 11:01:20 GMT
Wow! Sorry to read of this experience MoreLife! Thanks for the solidarity Anthony! Of course it's a very first world problem to have... I thought I'd share it here more than anything to warn other forum members so they can avoid those seats and actually see the show It just took me aback sightly because my seat was more central and, although cramped, I had a perfect view. In fact so cramped were we that the guy to my right asked if I could move down a bit? Where am I gonna go? I have someone on my left! I'm literally sandwiched between two set of thighs! Although I have seen many productions at The Menier, I have never eaten at the restaurant. I must admit, it always felt strange to me that you had to walk past where everyone was dining in order to get to the theatre. I don't know the floorplans or even if structurally if this can be done- or even feasible- but I have often wondered why there wasn't a separate entrance to the theatre directly, avoiding all of those who were dining. |
|
39 posts
|
Post by viscountviktor on Dec 8, 2023 19:56:27 GMT
Really enjoyed the show but the sound design wasn't good enough - a lot of the vocals were drowned out by the music. How hard is it to just turn the vocals up. Frustrating.
Cast were really great.
Oh and the toilets at the theatre are a joke.
|
|
125 posts
|
Post by annette on Dec 9, 2023 4:57:53 GMT
Had a similarly unpleasant experience at the weekend. Having booked fairly early (i.e. before the usual Menier price increase policy kicked in), my friend had picked two seats at the left end of the row on what is probably considered the "back" of the auditorium. These seats were sold at full price and not marked as "restricted view" in any way, shape or form. Lo and behold, the view from them - and especially from the one at the very end of the rod - was super restricted by a pillar that's at least a good 20 cm wide. Yes, most of the action takes place at a more central location on stage, to the right of the pillar, but having such a chunky object in your visual field is massively distracting anyway, and there are a fair few bits happening to the left of the pillar and... on the opposite side of the pillar itself which plays the role of a tree, at some point. We thought it was rather unfair that the venue had put those seats on sale at full price in the first place, but perhaps even a touch shady that they did not include a warning re: the pillar. Plenty of other theatres in London - the Almeida and the Old Vic come to mind - are very thorough at marking seats that have (much thinner, btw) pillars in the way as restricted/partially restricted view, and they price them accordingly. The NT goes to the extreme of labelling "restricted view" their front row seats for "Infinite lives" at the Dorfman, where actually there's no impediment in the way whatsoever, and the stage is set at a comfortably low height. Because of this, my friend contacted the Menier Box Office to flag that those seats should have been marketed as providing a significantly restricted view and that, like many other venues in London do under the circumstances, they probably should have been priced taking that into account. The response from the Menier's management was rather disappointing. First of all, they offered my friend the (oh so generous...) opportunity to see the show again, maybe from different seats, that they would have been able to buy at the preview price instead of the now updated higher price. Secondly, they told an interesting story of how only during previews had they become aware that views might have been somehow restricted from those seats, and so they couldn't have adapted their prices in advance. Which is, quite frankly, hard to believe and not a very honest answer. Even am dram productions - which get virtually no tech time in the venue they'll perform at - pay special attention to how their staging works and impacts the view for audience, and so it wouldn't be unfair to expect a professional production to be at least conscious of the space they'll be inhabiting. Further, it is not the first time that the Menier uses this very set-up in the traverse, and so that pillar will have been obstructing views for audience members in other productions... so Mr Babani and the Menier's management must be very much aware of it by now. Speaking of which, the venue itself is not in great conditions. What once was the restaurant upstairs now looks like a rather decrepit community hall, the bathrooms have issues with water not running smoothly and taking forever to refill the toilet tanks, and overall they don't really convey a sense of hygiene and tidiness. It's all very sad, as in its own quirky kind of way the Menier used to be a venue I looked forward to visiting and spending time at, the restaurant upstairs used to feel warm and cosy and sort of invited you in as you made your way to the actual theatre. I've seen so many memorable productions there, but if this is the standard they're content with nowadays, well... I don't feel like I'll want to go back particularly soon. Oh dear. There's really no excuse for this kind of thing nowadays. May I ask what seats they were sitting in so to know which to avoid? Audience/Customer care has never been good at The Menier. The attitude is basically that you’re lucky to be there seeing whatever show is running and asking questions or having any issues with the seats/space is just a big nuisance to them. I have experienced some incredibly rude behaviour from ‘The Artistic Director’ there and as a result have stopped going there completely. To be honest they’ve had such a procession of turkeys on there for such a long time, I haven’t even been tempted to go and risk breaking my ankle negotiating the theatre entrance. The venue burned very brightly at one time, but of late spending time there hasn’t been a particularly pleasant experience for a number of reasons. I really hope you persist in getting the recompense that any honourable theatre manager should give you without any argument. |
|
|
|
Post by toomasj on Dec 9, 2023 5:16:13 GMT
Thank you for the above review. I think that’s very poor from the venue. Personally I’d be giving them another chance to make amends, and if they don’t I’d be raising a credit card chargeback, if this is how you paid. You may be covered by the broad strokes of the Consumer Rights Act, should the venue dispute the chargeback and you are required to provide further information. CAB/Resolver and other online services can assist with this. Another option is to contact SOLT (explained here: www.theatremonkey.com/how-deal-your-visit-going-wrong) as the Menier is a SOLT venue and abides to their rules of membership. The main question is, did you complain at the venue itself at the earliest opportunity? Thanks for this advice toomasj, we did not in fairness raise it at the venue - perhaps we could have done it in the few minutes prior to the show beginning, but then there's no intermission to use to speak with their staff... My friend wrote to them on Monday, I think, as of course we would not expect the Box Office team to deal with emails at the weekend. Did you pay by credit card? This is perfect for a chargeback |
|
4,171 posts
|
Post by anthony40 on Dec 9, 2023 18:38:57 GMT
Quick question about this show.
My understanding that in the original show that all parts were played by males; personally I think the addition of females to the cast enhances the show- but that's just me.
But in this production, The Emperor is female. I'm just wondering if the character of The Emperor was written as male and what we're getting is a directorial choice?
Although I didn't have a problem with the casting choice, the reason I ask is because I would presume the character to be The Empress?
|
|
|
|
Post by marob on Dec 10, 2023 0:07:58 GMT
Saw this tonight. Took a while to get going, very book heavy in the beginning, but very much enjoyed it. Can see it not being to everyone’s taste, as there are some fairly big shifts in tone. I thought the sound was fine, a little quiet in the vocals but still perfectly audible. But then I was on the opposite side of the stage to the band. I did notice a woman trying to peer around that pillar a few times. Thankfully I booked middle of the front row, next to the steps so had a great view, not least because they were next to me fairly often. anthony40 Being nitpicky but my understanding of it is that character is the Shogun, more of a warlord than an emperor. The Emperor is a separate character, a puppet ruler both figuratively and literally in this production. Kinda how we have a Prime Minister and a King at the same time. |
|
138 posts
|
Post by appoul on Dec 14, 2023 23:02:22 GMT
I hope you won't treat my asking this question as sacrilege: I'm torn between Pacific Overtures and Cold War for a matinee slot; could you help me make up my mind?
|
|
4,955 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 15, 2023 19:38:46 GMT
Ive always loved PO. i find its score beautifully hynoptic, yup the book is slow but also mightily ambitious.
I like the 2017 changes as it really does focus you on the binary views of the protagonists.
The programme essay by Weidman is well worth reading.
At the MCF from the middle of row C you miss most of the projections and if a character sits or kneels then forget it. Didnt they think to raise the stage?
A small proportion of the cast have poor diction. The mix of the band is poor / muddled, i would of like to picked out individual instruments.
The direction is not particularly focussed or inspiring. The set is glossy but nothing more.
Tree and Pretty Lady stood out as highlights. Im going back next month and im sitting on the front row hopefully I'll be able to see it all and enjoy it more.
|
|
1,470 posts
|
Post by mkb on Dec 16, 2023 11:20:58 GMT
We're having a disastrous weekend in London. Missed House of Bernarda Alba last night as someone threw themselves under a train and shut the West Coast Mainline for over three hours, and just been emailed that both performances of Pacific Overtures are cancelled today due to cast illness.
Have rebooked HoBA instead for this afternoon, but at over double the price of what we paid before for much poorer seats. Ho hum.
|
|
|
|
Post by capybara on Dec 17, 2023 16:27:21 GMT
Apologies if it’s already been asked but is there a preferable side of the traverse to sit on for this production?
Still no offers around so guessing it is selling relatively well.
|
|
8,095 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Dec 17, 2023 17:53:18 GMT
Don't think there is a preferable side but I'd go for a seat as central as you can.
|
|
|
|
Post by marob on Dec 17, 2023 18:31:24 GMT
FWIW Some people have said about the sound being bad. I sat on the front row so I was next to the central aisle (on the side that has one) and it sounded fine. Avoid the outer sides as there’s columns restricting the view.
|
|
282 posts
|
Post by kyvai on Dec 18, 2023 15:41:56 GMT
I sat in C15, pretty central on the left side as you come in (the side that has the aisle in it) and my view was great, Don’t think I missed anything really.
I went in blind and really enjoyed it, would recommend!
|
|
227 posts
|
Post by galinda on Dec 21, 2023 11:27:03 GMT
Are there any discounts available for this? When did the Menier get so expensive!!
|
|
4,171 posts
|
Post by anthony40 on Dec 21, 2023 12:19:13 GMT
Are there any discounts available for this? When did the Menier get so expensive!! (I believe) it was only previews that were discounted. |
|
8,095 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Dec 21, 2023 12:21:37 GMT
Doubt there will be offers as its sold well. Not sure about dates at the end of the run though.
|
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Dec 21, 2023 13:09:01 GMT
Found this quite a task this week.
Didn't know it super well (was a Sondheim I was waiting to tick off and glad I have) but found it to be poorly directed, with a lot of sound and diction issues, and tonally a bit all over the shop (quite a lot of people looked like they were starring in different shows to other people on the stage with them)
Glad to have seen it, but not great.
|
|
|
|
Post by jr on Dec 21, 2023 16:41:40 GMT
Doubt there will be offers as its sold well. Not sure about dates at the end of the run though. I checked recently for February. Not selling greatly. I am waiting for the discounts to arrive. I saw the production at Donmar. Not sure if anyone has seen both and can compare? Sorry if someone already has commented on this, I haven't seen it. |
|
1,245 posts
|
Post by joem on Dec 29, 2023 0:07:31 GMT
I enjoyed this today, visually very attractive production with an enthusiastic and talented ensemble. Interesting book and music too, maybe not got the Wow factor but good solid entertaining stuff.
Meanwhile the predictable travails caused by the "cosiness" of the Menier's seating arrangement were compounded by the layout, especially for those towards the ends of the rows of seating. Extremely uncomfortable to have to sit for nearly two hours with your neck twisted uncomfortably without even a break. Daft planning.
|
|
4,955 posts
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 29, 2023 10:00:34 GMT
Doubt there will be offers as its sold well. Not sure about dates at the end of the run though. I checked recently for February. Not selling greatly. I am waiting for the discounts to arrive. I saw the production at Donmar. Not sure if anyone has seen both and can compare? Sorry if someone already has commented on this, I haven't seen it. I have seen both and I think the Donmar version was far stronger due it its inventive staging and direction |
|
And they're on sale at 55£ instead of the full 59.50£ you pay for the one immediately next to it. 
