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Post by edi on Dec 18, 2019 17:45:03 GMT
Thanks everyone for the lovely write ups. I only saw the last 2 years and I noticed it was different but I couldn't see why. I must be blind LOL. The only thing i was sure of was that Scrooge' s coat wasn't pink last year. No, though I'm pretty sure Rhys Ifans wore a pinky/red coat in the first version. All I know is, the various layers of clothing must be very hot judging by Paterson Joseph's expert use of the hanky as a very good (and necessary) prop for an anxious, spooked, burning-up Scrooge! He was sweating more than S Tompkinson for sure. I was near the front both years and Paterson was literally showering sweat around whenever he moved. |
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 18, 2019 18:31:39 GMT
What a time to be a London theatregoer. Goldilocks and the three bears at the Palladium...or Scrooge and the three monkeys at the Old Vic.
You pays your money, and you takes your choice!
🐻🐻🐻 v 🐵🐵🐵
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Post by david on Dec 18, 2019 19:25:22 GMT
What a time to be a London theatregoer. Goldilocks and the three bears at the Palladium...or Scrooge and the three monkeys at the Old Vic. You pays your money, and you takes your choice! 🐻🐻🐻 v 🐵🐵🐵 Time for another Theatre Board poll? Which do you prefer 🐵 or 🐻? On a more serious note, at what point in the show are the mince pies dished out at the Old Vic and is there a limit on how many you can take? |
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Post by ceebee on Dec 18, 2019 21:26:11 GMT
What a time to be a London theatregoer. Goldilocks and the three bears at the Palladium...or Scrooge and the three monkeys at the Old Vic. You pays your money, and you takes your choice! 🐻🐻🐻 v 🐵🐵🐵 Time for another Theatre Board poll? Which do you prefer 🐵 or 🐻? On a more serious note, at what point in the show are the mince pies dished out at the Old Vic and is there a limit on how many you can take? If your name is Brenda you can have unlimited mince pies. (Seems a kind name.) |
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Post by NeilVHughes on Dec 21, 2019 17:20:25 GMT
Most excellent, probably my favourite Scrooge of the three.
Damn the dusty environs, got something in my eye once again.
Did it a bit too much on the mince pies, bagged two packs on entry not realising they were packed in pairs.
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Post by ceebee on Dec 21, 2019 22:29:09 GMT
Damn the dusty environs, got something in my eye once again. Did it a bit too much on the mince pies, bagged two packs on entry not realising they were packed in pairs. Excuses, excuses... but it is very dusty in there, it's true... That's weird cos I have a similar reaction when Tiny Tim comes on. Must be the same allergy. |
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Post by andrew on Dec 21, 2019 22:58:50 GMT
I have tickets (thanks to a member on here...) and will be revisiting in January. It's heartwarming to see the same sorts of reviews of this years production as we've seen previously, I was a bit worried at the poster I see everywhere which displays a bunch of 4 star reviews, when this has been pretty much perfect two years in a row. And I'll be pleased to get involved with the "how many mince pies can you convince an actor to give you" challenge.
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Post by paulr on Dec 27, 2019 10:39:25 GMT
Rather wish I had known about the satsumas in advance. Unfortunately the smell of oranges and the like trigger migraines.
I had to sit thorough the first act holding my nose. Got some strange looks.
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Post by Jonnyboy on Dec 27, 2019 19:50:12 GMT
Saw this last Saturday from Row T (conventional stalls). I think it proves that WHERE YOU SIT influences your enjoyment of this sort of show.
Look, it’s a wonderful production. Patterson Joseph is superb as Scrooge. The music is sublime.
But from my seat in Row T? Something was missing. I didn’t FEEL it this time.
The reasons?
Too distant from the action. The stage stalls are the seats to choose for this production.
No interaction with the feast.
No snow. I can’t tell you how dismayed I was to see the snow JUST miss our row. Yes, it’s something akin to childlike wonder, but the snow blizzard is a vital part to this show. To watch others experience it but not yourself does not cut it.
It’s a great show, but choose your seats wisely.
Incidentally, I noticed a sign in the downstairs bar displaying the mince pie ingredients. Which is great. But why not around the stalls and foyer? They may contain nuts, and so my instinct to avoid them each year was indeed right.
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Post by ceebee on Dec 29, 2019 22:56:26 GMT
Humbug
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Post by Jan on Jan 2, 2020 16:41:52 GMT
Saw this for the first time over Xmas. Loved it. Patterson Joseph really excellent and it’s brilliantly directed by Matthew Warchus - he is one of our best main stage directors, I remember his RSC work years ago being very good. In addition to everything else I liked the version, not softened at all for a piece some people (wrongly) think is mainly for children - just a full-on Victorian morality tale with elements of melodrama and acted accordingly.
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Post by kathryn on Jan 2, 2020 21:18:51 GMT
Saw this today - my third year in a row.
Just as moving and joyful as the first time!
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Post by ceebee on Jan 5, 2020 21:38:52 GMT
Saw this for the first time over Xmas. Loved it. Patterson Joseph really excellent and it’s brilliantly directed by Matthew Warchus - he is one of our best main stage directors, I remember his RSC work years ago being very good. In addition to everything else I liked the version, not softened at all for a piece some people (wrongly) think is mainly for children - just a full-on Victorian morality tale with elements of melodrama and acted accordingly. Knew you'd like it! Glad you took all the hints on this forum and booked! |
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Post by Jan on Jan 6, 2020 10:24:54 GMT
Saw this for the first time over Xmas. Loved it. Patterson Joseph really excellent and it’s brilliantly directed by Matthew Warchus - he is one of our best main stage directors, I remember his RSC work years ago being very good. In addition to everything else I liked the version, not softened at all for a piece some people (wrongly) think is mainly for children - just a full-on Victorian morality tale with elements of melodrama and acted accordingly. Knew you'd like it! Glad you took all the hints on this forum and booked! The production has many points of similarity with the RSC Nicholas Nickleby which older posters here may remember - small things like the mimed doors and rearranged boxes and Dickens’ actual text split between several narrating voices to move the story on, but mainly in the momentum of the production which never let up. But of course this production had finished after 2hrs where Nickleby had only reached the interval of Part 1 after that time. |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 7, 2020 13:42:17 GMT
Knew you'd like it! Glad you took all the hints on this forum and booked! The production has many points of similarity with the RSC Nicholas Nickleby which older posters here may remember - small things like the mimed doors and rearranged boxes and Dickens’ actual text split between several narrating voices to move the story on, but mainly in the momentum of the production which never let up. But of course this production had finished after 2hrs where Nickleby had only reached the interval of Part 1 after that time. My mum was addicted to Nick Nick - Roger Rees and co. Sadly I wasn't quite old enough for the theatre back then but have seen the recording. Seem to recall the RSC repurposed a similar look/feel for A Midsummer Night's Dream (with John Carlisle/Richard McCabe) and The Beggar's Opera (with David Burt). |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 7, 2020 21:59:14 GMT
Saw this tonight with my (adult)son and we both absolutely loved it. I rarely go to non- musicals but the £10 ticket offer was irresistible and we bagged great seats J20 and J21. Son even got to shake Scrooge's hand and return a stray orange ! Extra bit of fun when the noisy snow machine wouldn't switch off and show was stopped for a few minutes while they fixed it. Doubt if I'll get a better theatre bargain for such a superb production this year.😊
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Post by david on Jan 10, 2020 20:31:50 GMT
Watching this tomorrow night. First time seeing this production. I just hope there are plenty of mince pies and satsumas available! After the positive reports from board members who have seen it, I’m certainly looking forward to it.
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Post by ceebee on Jan 11, 2020 15:27:58 GMT
Today's relaxed matinee was beautiful. Very subtle changes to light and sound to accommodate the needs of the audience, and some beautifully sensitive performances and a responsive audience. I saw today what I also saw at Local Hero in Edinburgh last year: accessible theatre is therapeutic and emotionally enriching for everybody (those with or without needs, the actors, the musicians and front of house). There was much love in the Old Vic this afternoon.
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Post by david on Jan 11, 2020 22:12:15 GMT
Every now and then you go and watch a production that ticks all the boxes (casting, staging, lighting, sound design and wardrobe) to create a perfect night at the theatre. For me, this was one of those productions. Having heard rave reviews from board members from previous productions of this classic novel, I decided to see what was generating a big buzz. After a truly wonderful 2 hours sat stage side at the Old Vic tonight this gets a big 5⭐️ from me as well as a standing ovation at the end. Walking out of the theatre at the end, the only question I was asking myself was why I haven’t seen this production earlier and in previous years. I’m just glad I booked for this and it certainly banished those new year blues and warms the heart walking out of the Old Vic.
Sat in J17 (thanks to a ticket offer posted by @theatremonkey) in the stalls this was a great seat from which to see the show. It also had the benefit of being next to the mince pies and satsuma stash. Obviously, for quality control purposes, I did sample the goods pre-show and very nice they were too (I had to sample both in order to maintain a balanced diet of course)! The seat also gave me the opportunity to shake hands with Paterson Joseph towards the end of the show.
The staging was incredibly simple but really effective. I loved the lanterns suspended from the ceiling. The feast scene at the end was just so much fun, particularly how the turkey arrives! The snow effects were just magical and I managed to get covered twice with the snow and look like Frosty the snowman by the end.
The sound design was just out of this world. The pre show singing to the bell ringing at the end really was beautiful to listen to.
Casting wise, Paterson Joseph was really a joy to watch as Scrooge as he took this classic Dickens character on a journey of self discovery. The other cast were just as great and I really couldn’t fault any of their performances.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 14, 2020 19:09:26 GMT
I was in tears. I thought this was just lovely. Great performances, a more in depth look at what made Scrooge the man he was and his regrets. I started crying at the line "I don't want him to become me" and didn't stop. It is a lovely show and intrigued who they bring in next year. I thought Paterson Joseph was perfect.
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Post by Snciole on Jan 14, 2020 20:42:35 GMT
You don't mean it was your first visit Snciole? Would have thought you of all people would have seen it in the last 2 years? As for whether they bring the show back at all next year, who knows - but if they do, I agree he's a hard act to follow. So my partner hates A Christmas Carol and I try not to see too many of them during the festive period (one of my friends and bloggers is a superfan so if any review opportunities come up I send her) . Whilst I do like Rhys Ifans and Stephen Tomkinson I would quite like to marry Paterson Joseph so that swung it for me. |
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 17, 2020 17:52:07 GMT
Caught this on Wednesday afternoon, and really didn't expect a lot.
Had a really lovely afternoon though, seeing the classic story we all know told with all the old theatre illusions and magic. Paterson Joseph is an excellent Scrooge (although I've never seen a man sweat as much in my entire life) and I thought everyone was great.
The school kids in the audience had a great time, and it was good to see them fully engaged in theatre b
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Post by ceebee on Jan 18, 2020 21:30:59 GMT
And it's over. For another ten months at least. A lovely final performance by the best ensemble so far and (in my view) an award-winning Scrooge in Paterson Joseph. What a fine, fine actor.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2020 21:45:50 GMT
And it's over. For another ten months at least. A lovely final performance by the best ensemble so far and (in my view) an award-winning Scrooge in Paterson Joseph. What a fine, fine actor. Has a Christmas 2020 return been confirmed then? |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 18, 2020 22:35:33 GMT
And it's over. For another ten months at least. A lovely final performance by the best ensemble so far and (in my view) an award-winning Scrooge in Paterson Joseph. What a fine, fine actor. Has a Christmas 2020 return been confirmed then? Not as far as I'm aware. Apologies if my post misled you. In my heart I hope it returns. I think they usually confirm their schedule in the summer. |
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