Just catching up... agreed to see 'Cats; only to see Beverley Knight again after her outstanding performance in Memphis. Wrong! What a load of old tosh. Nearly walked out at the interval but thought the second half couldn't be as bad. Wrong again.
Saw JB's last night, not for the first time, and left thinking it wasn't the best performance I'd seen. But Frankie Valli reminded me of our old player Richard Wilson, Bob Gaudio was Peter Beagrie, Tommy De Vito was Bob Bolder and Nick Massi was Steve McManaman jerseyboyslondon.com/cast.asp
Went to Bromley to see Blood Brothers tonight. Lyn Paul in the lead role, she sings very well still. Last saw this show half a lifetime ago, and this evening reminded me what a strong piece of theatre this is. I thought it was very well played, honest and affecting. A half full auditorium, mainly secondary school kids, added to the event because of how gripped they were, and for their reaction. No phones in evidence. It was very loud, every performer amplified (actors used to rely only on their vocal skills). No weak cast members, a well paced show, well lit and a decent set, one of the backdrops put me in mind of the facade of the old Miller Hospital Greenwich.
The Globe is open for booking for the summer, Taming of the Shrew, MIdsummer Nights Dream. It is a great experience with the BEST plays. £6 to stand upwards to £45 sit the restricted view tickets are good value.
Went to Bromley to see Blood Brothers tonight. Lyn Paul in the lead role, she sings very well still. Last saw this show half a lifetime ago, and this evening reminded me what a strong piece of theatre this is. I thought it was very well played, honest and affecting. A half full auditorium, mainly secondary school kids, added to the event because of how gripped they were, and for their reaction. No phones in evidence. It was very loud, every performer amplified (actors used to rely only on their vocal skills). No weak cast members, a well paced show, well lit and a decent set, one of the backdrops put me in mind of the facade of the old Miller Hospital Greenwich.
Went to Bromley to see Blood Brothers tonight. Lyn Paul in the lead role, she sings very well still. Last saw this show half a lifetime ago, and this evening reminded me what a strong piece of theatre this is. I thought it was very well played, honest and affecting. A half full auditorium, mainly secondary school kids, added to the event because of how gripped they were, and for their reaction. No phones in evidence. It was very loud, every performer amplified (actors used to rely only on their vocal skills). No weak cast members, a well paced show, well lit and a decent set, one of the backdrops put me in mind of the facade of the old Miller Hospital Greenwich.
Went to Bromley to see Blood Brothers tonight. Lyn Paul in the lead role, she sings very well still. Last saw this show half a lifetime ago, and this evening reminded me what a strong piece of theatre this is. I thought it was very well played, honest and affecting. A half full auditorium, mainly secondary school kids, added to the event because of how gripped they were, and for their reaction. No phones in evidence. It was very loud, every performer amplified (actors used to rely only on their vocal skills). No weak cast members, a well paced show, well lit and a decent set, one of the backdrops put me in mind of the facade of the old Miller Hospital Greenwich.
Went to Bromley to see Blood Brothers tonight. Lyn Paul in the lead role, she sings very well still. Last saw this show half a lifetime ago, and this evening reminded me what a strong piece of theatre this is. I thought it was very well played, honest and affecting. A half full auditorium, mainly secondary school kids, added to the event because of how gripped they were, and for their reaction. No phones in evidence. It was very loud, every performer amplified (actors used to rely only on their vocal skills). No weak cast members, a well paced show, well lit and a decent set, one of the backdrops put me in mind of the facade of the old Miller Hospital Greenwich.
The narrator was good, strong singing voice too, woven in and out of the piece. I never buy a programme at the theatre (you get them free in America, called playbills) so I don't know who played the narrator. I looked up the cast on the internet to find it was Lyn Paul in the mother role. Have you played the narrator in your time?
Harry Wade (David Morrisey) was the 'second-best' hangman in England, after the country's most famous and prolific executioner, Albert Pierrepoint. Following the abolition of hanging for murder in 1965, Harry embarks on a new career as a publican (much like many ex-footballers) and most of the play is set in his small, dour pub in Oldham, where he holds court as something of a local celebrity.
This is a really fine, edgy black comedy, which is infused with an underlying sense of menace throughout. The performances are excellent and the set design and dialogue certainly evoke the atmosphere of the 1960s. Well worth seeing if you get the chance.
I'm sure it's been discussed over the 16 pages but to save me re-reading is Lion King really worth £70 a ticket. My son is desperate to go but prices seem extortionate!
I'm sure it's been discussed over the 16 pages but to save me re-reading is Lion King really worth £70 a ticket. My son is desperate to go but prices seem extortionate!
Yes, it's excellent. Didn't realise it was that much though
I'm sure it's been discussed over the 16 pages but to save me re-reading is Lion King really worth £70 a ticket. My son is desperate to go but prices seem extortionate!
Saw The Painkiller (at The Garrick) this week. A down on his luck photographer (Rob Brydon) checks into a hotel room and considers suicide. A hit man in the room next door (Ken Branagh) tries to keep him from creating a scene before he can shoot his target out the window.
Way more slapstick than I expected, but it was great innocent fun and I loved the cast. Branagh's slapstick was hilarious, I really like the guy.
Only 90 mins long with no interval which was a perfect running time.
PWR all the thread, but I would thoroughly recommend 'The Play that Goes Wrong' at The Duchess Theatre. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. From beginning to end it was hysterical.
Going to see Billy Elliot tomorrow for the 5th time but with people who haven't been before. Commitments next Tuesday! will let you know how it is @kimbo
I can't believe after years of wishing for it to happen, that Miss Saigon is coming back to London! can't blimmin wait for that! Favourite ever.
Went to the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks last week and saw the Petts Wood Operatic Society do Guys and Dolls. pretty good, and the Miss Adelaide was especially good. A 7 on the Setheatreometer.
Saw the Simon and Garfunkel Story at the Churchill Bromley last night. If you like the music of Simon and Garfunkel well worth watching if you can catch them on their National Tour.
Completely exceeded expectations as far as I was concerned.
Comments
Last saw this show half a lifetime ago, and this evening reminded me what a strong piece of theatre this is. I thought it was very well played, honest and affecting. A half full auditorium, mainly secondary school kids, added to the event because of how gripped they were, and for their reaction. No phones in evidence.
It was very loud, every performer amplified (actors used to rely only on their vocal skills).
No weak cast members, a well paced show, well lit and a decent set, one of the backdrops put me in mind of the facade of the old Miller Hospital Greenwich.
Anyway a 7.5 on the Setheatreometer.
Who played the narrator mate?
Have you played the narrator in your time?
Kristofer Harding is apparently the narrator.
Harry Wade (David Morrisey) was the 'second-best' hangman in England, after the country's most famous and prolific executioner, Albert Pierrepoint. Following the abolition of hanging for murder in 1965, Harry embarks on a new career as a publican (much like many ex-footballers) and most of the play is set in his small, dour pub in Oldham, where he holds court as something of a local celebrity.
This is a really fine, edgy black comedy, which is infused with an underlying sense of menace throughout. The performances are excellent and the set design and dialogue certainly evoke the atmosphere of the 1960s. Well worth seeing if you get the chance.
Great fun, great story and, well, you can't fail with that back catalogue to choose from
Motown the Musical next up.
Not many of us can provide the livelihood for thousands 400 years after we die.
Way more slapstick than I expected, but it was great innocent fun and I loved the cast. Branagh's slapstick was hilarious, I really like the guy.
Only 90 mins long with no interval which was a perfect running time.
Saw Hand of God a couple of weeks ago and thought it was a load of bollox though clearly there were others in the theatre that felt otherwise
Saw Beautiful and will go back and see it again. Non stop trip down memory lane with song after song after song. Amazingly prolific songwriters.
As somebody else has mentioned, the Motown one is one I want to see also. Has anybody seen it yet ?
Enjoyable enough and always good to go to the theatre but youngster rather than Old Git market in my view.
That said it's run for 9 years and counting so must be doing something right!
Completely exceeded expectations as far as I was concerned.