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Post by pauliepoos on May 13, 2007 12:08:12 GMT
In a week or so I'm going to escape from my little capital city and visit the capital of England and plan on being a total theatre slut whilst I'm there.
Boeing Boieng is top of my list (Michelle Gomez 4 eva), and I think I'll be seeing Equus with one of my friends, but can anyone recommend me seeing anything else, or recommend not spending my hard earned cash on kak.
I was thinking about Treats, Evita and Cabarat or catching up with the grand old Dames in The Lady From Dubuque and The Glass Menagerie (I'm tempted to see Jessica Lange in person to see just how bad her surgery is).
Thanking you all already.
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Post by jamie on May 13, 2007 12:57:50 GMT
If you're thinking musical theatre, I couldn't recommend Mary Poppins or Wicked more. Both of them are really big shows and the production is great.
Does lady from dubuque still have maggie smith in it?
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Post by Nurse Dunkley on May 13, 2007 13:05:57 GMT
Yes, Mary Poppins is fucking amazing, despite the lack of "I Love To Laugh!" and the mum not being all Suffragettesy (new word!). I want to see Wicked too. Me and a couple of mates tried to over Easter but it was sold out so we saw The Lion King instead. Also good.
I've heard good things about Treats. Apparently Billie is a topnotch cryer.
Have you seen Les Mis and Phantom? They're incredible. I needed to see Phantom again, because the first time I went I spent the whole time covering my eyes and whimpering because I was so scared the phantom was going to get me. I was ten, although I think that's still far too old.
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Post by jamie on May 13, 2007 13:15:52 GMT
Yes, Mary Poppins is fucking amazing, despite the lack of "I Love To Laugh!" and the mum not being all Suffragettesy (new word!). I want to see Wicked too. Me and a couple of mates tried to over Easter but it was sold out so we saw The Lion King instead. Also good. She gets new songs and I liked the new songs in Mary Poppins and that they characters were a bit more rounded than the film where Mrs Banks was a right hypocrite dancing round the kitchen telling her cook etc 'cast off the shackles of oppression.' I saw Wicked on the opening night with idina and it was amazing. The lion king is good but compared to some of the newer things in the westend feels a bit dated. Like when it was first done 7ish years ago very few shows in the westend were doing huge visual things etc, now it seems par for the course.
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Post by pauliepoos on May 13, 2007 13:18:57 GMT
I'd love to see Mary but I'm put off by the fact the tickets booth doesn't sell them there (I'm a tight soul, you see).
I loved Chitty when I saw it a couple of years ago.
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Post by Nurse Dunkley on May 13, 2007 13:28:18 GMT
Yes, Mary Poppins is fucking amazing, despite the lack of "I Love To Laugh!" and the mum not being all Suffragettesy (new word!). I want to see Wicked too. Me and a couple of mates tried to over Easter but it was sold out so we saw The Lion King instead. Also good. She gets new songs and I liked the new songs in Mary Poppins and that they characters were a bit more rounded than the film where Mrs Banks was a right hypocrite dancing round the kitchen telling her cook etc 'cast off the shackles of oppression.' I saw Wicked on the opening night with idina and it was amazing. The lion king is good but compared to some of the newer things in the westend feels a bit dated. Like when it was first done 7ish years ago very few shows in the westend were doing huge visual things etc, now it seems par for the course. It was nice that she was all rounded out, but I just thought it made her a bit dull. I was expecting at least one sash wearing, "Votes for Women!" moment. I agree a bit about The Lion King. I saw it in its first year as well, and when I saw it this year it did all seem a little jaded, with a lot of the performers not being up to scratch and giving the sense that they were phoning it in. This may have been because I'd seen it before, even though I'd forgotten most of it. It still has an ace opening.
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Post by jamie on May 13, 2007 13:33:07 GMT
I'd love to see Mary but I'm put off by the fact the tickets booth doesn't sell them there (I'm a tight soul, you see). I loved Chitty when I saw it a couple of years ago. Don't they do student standbys? And then if you don't have a student card can you get a friend to buy them for you? Avenue Q does student standbys for £15 each I think on the day of the show from 10am. I saw Mary when a friend of a friend worked on it so we got tickets for £15 each. Admittedly they were right at the back of the tallest circle but we got moved to the front of the circle when there were some free seats
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Post by Nurse Dunkley on May 13, 2007 13:47:54 GMT
Also, have you thought about the Globe theatre? It's the best place to see Shakespeare, plus Doctor Who was filmed there! Although you're from Cardiff, so the same could probably be said about everywhere you go.
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Post by jamie on May 13, 2007 16:49:22 GMT
Also, have you thought about the Globe theatre? It's the best place to see Shakespeare, plus Doctor Who was filmed there! Although you're from Cardiff, so the same could probably be said about everywhere you go. Do you like it? I like Shakespeare but I walked out of the globe theatre as I thought that the beauty of Shakespeare is that it can be adapted to so many situations in a contemporary way/or another setting from the original and it still is great. The globe feels a bit like a step back as you're watching people in a big theatre with no amplification, you get rained on(or I did) and it's not doing anything inventive with the text. I'm not sure if it's still in London but if sweeney todd is, go and see that. It's great and it's got a tiny cast with all the actors playing the musical instruments and being on stage all the time.
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Post by Bungle on May 13, 2007 21:03:03 GMT
Mary Poppins is the best thing I've ever seen on stage, it's amazing!
The Lion King is OK.
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Post by Sparkle on May 13, 2007 22:21:13 GMT
Treats sucks. I'd recommend Avenue Q very highly!
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Post by Nurse Dunkley on May 13, 2007 22:43:34 GMT
Also, have you thought about the Globe theatre? It's the best place to see Shakespeare, plus Doctor Who was filmed there! Although you're from Cardiff, so the same could probably be said about everywhere you go. Do you like it? I like Shakespeare but I walked out of the globe theatre as I thought that the beauty of Shakespeare is that it can be adapted to so many situations in a contemporary way/or another setting from the original and it still is great. The globe feels a bit like a step back as you're watching people in a big theatre with no amplification, you get rained on(or I did) and it's not doing anything inventive with the text. I certainly wouldn't want to watch Shakeseare like it all the time, but as a one off I thought it was pretty special. It was just like being in olden times, innit. Perhaps it helps that we were sat and undercover. Being a groundling looked like it involved you more, but only if the weather's right and the play suits it.
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Post by David Hunter on May 13, 2007 23:22:42 GMT
If you can afford it, then get the best seat available for Poppins. I have a link somewhere for £35 top price tickets.
For some shows, you can queue for the theatre opening and get front row seats, on the day, for a low price. I know you can do this for 'Wicked' (£25) and 'Guys & Dolls' (£10) as I did that for both. It's not widely advertised but each show's flyer has details.
"Avenue Q" is one of my favourites and I can't recommend it highly enough.
I have details of a £32 offer for 'On The Town' instead of £83. And a £35 offer for the new Elaine Paige musical, 'The Drowsy Chaperone' instead of £55. PM me and I'll send you the details.
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The Moog
Su Pollard
I'm just a dog chasing cars.
Posts: 271
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Post by The Moog on May 14, 2007 8:20:15 GMT
Watch this: It's very good and very scary.
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Post by polyannapolyfilla on May 14, 2007 8:43:28 GMT
ohmygod... watching The Woman in Black was one of the most terrifying experiences I have willingly paid for. I was discussing it the other day with a chum, and when we mentioned the rocking chair it was a proper goosebumps up the arm moment. When I saw it I was staying alone in my student house in the summer hols - I had to get a mate to come pick me up so I could sleep round his house. I am ashamed of my wimpiness.
I am seeing The Entertainer on Thursday. Not because of a burning desire to experience the theatre - but mainly because me and chum have had an old-man crush on Robert Lindsay, ever since seeing him in King Lear. Has anyone else seen it?
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Post by thelovelykate on May 14, 2007 9:21:37 GMT
Also, have you thought about the Globe theatre? It's the best place to see Shakespeare, plus Doctor Who was filmed there! I went to see The Tempest there the summer before last and it was BRILLIANT. I'm not sure what the atmosphere in there would be like if you went to see something more gloomy. Also if you are short/easily annoyed by people I wouldn't recommend being a groundling. A lot of people are real dicks and won't move to let smaller people/children see. That said I'm only 5ft 6 and I was fine as bizarrely I seem to be taller than most women.
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Post by Muinimula on May 14, 2007 12:19:39 GMT
The upcoming production of 'Cymbeline' at the Barbican intrigues me. I might try to get tickets for that.
My next theatre trip, though, is a surprise for my man when he comes to visit. We're going to see 'Little Shop Of Horrors' for a very reasonable price. I was mightily tempted by 'On The Town', though - not often do you get the chance to see a production as massive as that.
I also must give my support to 'Avenue Q' - absolutely brilliant, and you'll leave filled with smiles. The show I've seen most, though, is 'Chicago', and it's always phenomenally slick and sexy.
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Post by jamie on May 14, 2007 13:44:29 GMT
My next theatre trip, though, is a surprise for my man when he comes to visit. We're going to see 'Little Shop Of Horrors' for a very reasonable price. I was mightily tempted by 'On The Town', though - not often do you get the chance to see a production as massive as that. Little shop of horrors is good. I saw the current version in the chocolate factory before it moved to the weste end.
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als
Jane Asher
"you can't be a princess, you aren't even a woman!"
Posts: 130
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Post by als on May 14, 2007 21:13:21 GMT
The Woman in Black is scary as shit! my friends and i wouldn't go to the loo alone that night we were so freaked out, but it is worth seeing. also, The History Boys is ace (better than the film) and i think is still on. the new cast aren't bad either according to friends.
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Post by Rad on May 14, 2007 21:32:15 GMT
The Woman in Black isn't scary!
I don't know... can't swallow tablets, still into calpol, scared by a too obvious to be scary play...
I feel I should be tucking you all in at night with a hot water bottle and leaving the nightlight on.
I am northern and therefore hard as nails. Nothing scares me.
(except the Casualty theme tune and old public information films)
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Post by pauliepoos on May 14, 2007 21:56:23 GMT
also, The History Boys is ace (better than the film) and i think is still on. the new cast aren't bad either according to friends. I saw The History Boys a few months ago before it returned to London, and before the cocky one abandoned the show to do the new Narnia film. I thought it was a bit pants really, it seemed really rushed and the acting was all very over the top, whereas the film had been note perfect. It didn't help that I was sat in the very back row up in the gods, but still, for £7.50 I was a bit disappointed.
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Post by Nicholas on May 15, 2007 8:03:10 GMT
also, The History Boys is ace (better than the film) and i think is still on. the new cast aren't bad either according to friends. I saw The History Boys a few months ago before it returned to London, and before the cocky one abandoned the show to do the new Narnia film. I thought it was a bit pants really, it seemed really rushed and the acting was all very over the top, whereas the film had been note perfect. It didn't help that I was sat in the very back row up in the gods, but still, for £7.50 I was a bit disappointed. It wasn't much better in the Stalls, but the incidental music was fabulous.
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Post by David Hunter on May 15, 2007 8:38:18 GMT
I saw The History Boys on tour with a totally different cast and have to say it was superb. Haven't seen the film though.
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als
Jane Asher
"you can't be a princess, you aren't even a woman!"
Posts: 130
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Post by als on May 19, 2007 22:43:44 GMT
The Woman in Black isn't scary! I don't know... can't swallow tablets, still into calpol, scared by a too obvious to be scary play... I feel I should be tucking you all in at night with a hot water bottle and leaving the nightlight on. I am northern and therefore hard as nails. Nothing scares me. (except the Casualty theme tune and old public information films) Well in my defense, I was about 13 at the time and sitting in the midst of a very large school trip (though god only knows why a school would take students to it on a Saturday night). They all kept screaming at the tense bits and the boys behind us were grabbing our shoulders to freak us out. This combination rather put us on edge! The plot may have been bloody obvious but it didn't make that looming white face any friendlier.
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Post by David Hunter on May 20, 2007 11:48:11 GMT
Can I recommend a new production of 'Angels in America' which is on tour at the moment before going into London.
Granted it's over 7 hours long, but is in 2 parts so isn't as painful as it sounds. It's beautifully staged and some of the performances are breaktaking. Plus it has Dolly Rawlings herself, Ann Mitchell, in the Meryl Streep part. And also a bit of male nudity, which always helps.
I think it's in Newcastle at the moment. Watch out for it.
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