George Takei's Allegiance - Charing Cross Theatre

[galinda]

Is the running time correct on the website? 2hrs 20mins? Due to see this on Saturday and need to work out if I will be able to go as due to the train strikes the last train home will be ridiculously early.

[Scswp]

Mar 13, 2023 17:37:37 GMT galinda said:

Is the running time correct on the website? 2hrs 20mins? Due to see this on Saturday and need to work out if I will be able to go as due to the train strikes the last train home will be ridiculously early.

Yes, that running time sounds about right (from the best of my recollections). Hope you enjoy it if you’re able to get there.

[pws]

Mar 13, 2023 17:37:37 GMT galinda said:

Is the running time correct on the website? 2hrs 20mins? Due to see this on Saturday and need to work out if I will be able to go as due to the train strikes the last train home will be ridiculously early.

Yes, almost exactly right. It's worth staying a few more minutes to listen to the band, who were terrific, if you can.

[mkb]

When I saw it in January, it finished at 21:55, including curtain call and play-out music. (That's rounded to the minute, not to the nearest five.)

[galinda]

Thanks all. Unfortunately it turned out my station were running no trains today and I couldn’t get to another station but Charing Cross theatre let me change my ticket for another date so I will get to see the show after all. Looking forward to it!

[Dr Tom]

I caught the Saturday matinee and this was in fine form. I got third row centre through Rush, but a family had taken over seats including mine, so I went for the front row (only shortly before everyone else was invited to move forward, but few did). This isn't selling as well as it should, but I think it's a case of people just not knowing the venue. I hope to get back for at least one more viewing before this closes.

[matty]

I have booked to see this twice before and both times work drinks got a but out of hand and I ended up missing it, so I was pleased to finally get to see it tonight.

Firstly, the theatre was soooo hot it was really uncomfortable and then I had to contend with the person in front constantly leaning forward...eurgh!

But that aside, I really enjoyed this tonight. Nothing groundbreaking, but the cast was on good form and it was a good night at the theatre.

[greenswan]

Saw this on Monday with a lovely Q&A afterwards. George Takei has an amazingly sonorous voice and very well rehearsed anecdotes. The other cast members were lovely as well. It's very conventional as a musical and hits all the main Hollywood tropes with somewhat forgettable music. Did wonder if the message was packaged up this way too help it sell to American audiences.

Nonetheless, I found the overall soundtrack beautiful, the actors were giving it their all and I found myself moved. So, overall would recommend.

The venue is a bit dreadful - very warm and stuffy, worn out seating and extremely smelly toilets with broken door locks.

[marob]

I saw the matinee today, having only really booked to see George Takei, and was very pleasantly surprised. I found the end quite affecting.

I also thought Aynrand Ferrer was great, and note with interest that she’s been the alternate Kim in 2 productions of Miss Saigon. Hope someone from the Crucible’s been in to see it.

Had another TV-related blast from the past besides Mr Takei. It was annoying me in the first act that I couldn’t place where I’d seen the father (Masashi Fujimoto) before. Turned out he’d starred in Banzai on e4, yet another one of those comedies from the recent past that they just would not get away with nowadays.

[Dr Tom]

I managed to get a rush ticket for the final matinee. The centre of Row F, which you might think would be an excellent view, but I hadn't realised just how badly positioned the seats are, so you're almost directly behind the person in front. There's a lot of leg room, but the ankle means that almost everyone has a head in view. I did hear someone two or three rows behind me saying she hadn't seen anything during the first half.

Thankfully, I could see enough and also know the show, although I may have felt less charitable had I been visiting for the first time and paid the full prices (which I got the impression was the case for most of the audience).

Another excellent show with everyone on fine form. One nice thing about not being on the front row is I didn't have to hide my tears as much at the end.

It was a rather odd crowd. I got a clear view of the front row in the main section and many really looked like they didn't want to be there, including two people desperately holding their Foot Asylum bags all the way through (I'm not sure if they worried about them being stolen, or thinking they might have to make a swift exit).

The show has been pretty much sold out all week and it's a pity this hasn't been the case for the entire run. I expect a transfer is out of the question, but we can hope.

I decided against joining the very long meet and greet queue at the end, but the cast can't get much of a break between shows when greeting everyone. Hope they've had an excellent final performance.

[Being Alive]

Also saw the show this afternoon and also sat on row F by chance!

I thought this was fine, and it did get me emotionally at the end, but I thought it had a lot of problems, specifically the book. It was beyond paint by numbers, with absolutely no depth or anything above the surface level.

That said, there was a lot to like in the score, and I thought they used the space really well - nice sounding orchestra too for the number of them there were.
Takei was fine (pretty remarkable for 85), I liked Telly Leung and I thought Aynrand Ferrer was terrific as Kei (mad to think that part was originally played by Lea Salonga).

Glad to have seen it, but pretty unremarkable in all honesty.