West End Gossip #5

[kev1974]

Thread #4 was here

West End Gossip #4

This is very true. I’ve got tickets because (for me), it’s very special he’s coming over. Yeah unfortunately for me it's the additional costs e.g. train, hotel etc as it's not easy to get to London and back from where I live.

tattle.life

Paddington is open and getting loads of awards
Cynthia Erivo is open as Dracula
Leslie Odom Jr is doing a stint in Hamilton and tickets are like hot cakes
Kinky Boots has arrived at the Coliseum for about four months
Hercules is still Hercules-ing at Drury Lane
Greatest Showman is probably turning up there afterwards, but we still don't officially know for sure, or when
Beetlejuice opens at the Prince Edward soon but don't know who's in it
Back To The Future closes next month at the Adelphi, Spies in there in August but then Billy Elliot next Feb
Jesus Christ Superstar with every man and his dog taking turns in it, at the Palladium over the summer.
Amber's temporarily out of the Legally Blonde tour but looks like Hannah is stepping up - they both have their own threads
10 year anniversary UK tour of Waitress kicks off soon, starting the tour with Carrie Hope Fletcher - she also has her own thread

Curtain up folks

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

Greatest Showman is probably turning up there afterwards, but we still don't officially know for sure, or when

Interesting that Come Alive has been extended to Feb'27.

I can't imagine that and Showman will be on at the same time. With Hercules out in the Autumn, I do wonder what Theatre Royal will be doing for a few months, maybe just filming Michael McIntyre for a couple of weeks before the Showman Load In

 

[historyobliterates]

Interesting that Come Alive has been extended to Feb'27.

I can't imagine that and Showman will be on at the same time. With Hercules out in the Autumn, I do wonder what Theatre Royal will be doing for a few months, maybe just filming Michael McIntyre for a couple of weeks before the Showman Load In

I feel like it'll probably work though - two different types of show, one based a musical adaptation of the film while the other is more of a circus show which happens to have tunes from the film. A bit like how both Mamma Mia and Abba Voyage are successful in their own way.

 

[MickeyMouseClubhouse]

I feel like it'll probably work though - two different types of show, one based a musical adaptation of the film while the other is more of a circus show which happens to have tunes from the film. A bit like how both Mamma Mia and Abba Voyage are successful in their own way.

It might do! I think there will be a certain amount of confusion though. A bit like when people go to Disney Parks in Orlando and expect to see Harry Potter World!

 

[Libbylulu]

I’ve just spent a very stressful hour, with numerous phones, looking like a crazy person - all worth it to see Leslie Odom Jr

 

[kev1974]

Looks like every Leslie Odom Jr performance now sold out, save for a handful of £270 seats.

That's amazing box office draw, totally full houses for the six weeks or so, the shows either side of his dates are nowhere near as booked. I wonder how much money he's getting out of it, I hope it's a really decent chunk rather than it all going to Sir Cameron, he's got enough money already.

Delfont Mackintosh are quite good at putting returned seats straight back on sale in my experience, so don't give up hope if you didn't get in, go back and check their site from about a week before each performance which is when people start thinking "oh tit I can't go to that now, let me see if they'll resell them for me".

 

[Mark81]

National Theatres The Importance of Being Ernest available on youtube for free, but only for a week

So far in glad I didnt pay to see it lol although its gorgeous to look at and the cast is great

 

[filthycop]

I saw it when it was on at National Theatre and it was actually fabulous - a truly joyful night - I think it lost some of the charm in the filmed version, not actually being there.

I saw the west End run too with Stephen Fry - Olly Alexander was off the night we went but I suspect the understudy was better than he would have been anyway. I enjoyed it second time, but not as much as the first run - Hugh Skinner was a real surprise Jack very very funny and his comic timing was impeccable when we went.

 

[Mark81]

I saw it when it was on at National Theatre and it was actually fabulous - a truly joyful night - I think it lost some of the charm in the filmed version, not actually being there.

I saw the west End run too with Stephen Fry - Olly Alexander was off the night we went but I suspect the understudy was better than he would have been anyway. I enjoyed it second time, but not as much as the first run - Hugh Skinner was a real surprise Jack very very funny and his comic timing was impeccable when we went.

Hugh was what sold it to me. I wish he was a bigger name. I used to really like Ncuti, and still do to a point, but he seems a bit of a one trick pony as hes the same in everything ive seen him in so far. Sharon was the stand out, such presence on stage. The set and costumes were fabulous too. So nice to see a great lavish looking set, seems such a rarity these days.

I did wonder if being in the room made a difference as it just felt so long and not that funny. But maybe the play just isnt for me. All the modern touches didnt seem to add much either.

Having seen the national cast, I can't imagine the west end one being the same. A white posh old man in drag is just a completely different tone to the presence and breath of fresh air and delivery that Sharon brought.

 

[Moaninginprivate]

So glad I didnt like Hamilton, and have no clue who the guy is that has caused such excitement and stress .

I saw Earnest at the National too, I wouldn't have minded seeing it a second time with Stephen Fry - but Im not a fan of Olly and just couldnt find a gap in my schedule. I loved Hugh at the national though, so funny!

 

[filthycop]

Are people allowed to say that they dont like Hamilton? I don't either!

 

[emmer_moans]

Are people allowed to say that they dont like Hamilton? I don't either!

I listened to the soundtrack but it bored me, sadly.

 

[KINGAA]

Are people allowed to say that they dont like Hamilton? I don't either!

Loved the recording so much that when I saw it in person i was disappointed. I think I just hyped it up so much that it’s not in my top 5 at all now.

In other news, more Legally Blonde drama, more cast are out so the choreographer has had to step in as a cover.

 

[BingoFlamingo]

Loved the recording so much that when I saw it in person i was disappointed. I think I just hyped it up so much that it’s not in my top 5 at all now.

In other news, more Legally Blonde drama, more cast are out so the choreographer has had to step in as a cover.

Legally blonde are having quite the week. Today’s performances converted to concert presentations and external “special guests” coming in to perform. Most of them must be struck down

 

[Libbylulu]

Loved the recording so much that when I saw it in person i was disappointed. I think I just hyped it up so much that it’s not in my top 5 at all now.

In other news, more Legally Blonde drama, more cast are out so the choreographer has had to step in as a cover.

I think that it was such a strange concept of rap and the founding fathers everyone was intrigued. It was an immediate smash and tickets gold dust. Listening to the original cast album continuously, that when you finally get to see the show, obviously with now a different cast, come away feeling as though it wasn’t quite as you know it - despite excellent performances. The original Hamilton cast are now all so iconic.
I can’t help but feel for the current London Burr regarding the frenzy of LOJ upcoming block. It’s got to dent your ego if you are giving it your all at every performance.

 

[Moaninginprivate]

You do feel the odd one out when you say you don't like Hamilton! But clearly I'm not alone. I just think I'm not a fan of musicals that are mainly all singing - I also didnt like Caroline or Change, Natasha Pierre... or Evita when I saw them.

Legally Blonde is going through it this week! I did get to see it with Amber before it seemingly went to hell, but I'd have loved to have caught it today with Grace and Jodie.

 

[Super_Berry]

I saw on TT that Legally Blonde did a concert version today because so many cast are out.

 

[Esmeeee]

I feel the odd one out now saying that I do like Hamilton! Love it actually. Saw the second leg of the tour a few times & preferred it to the west end show I went to last September. That was still great (because Hamilton is great!) but the tour cast were just magical.
Also saw Earnest in the west end & Olly was a joy. Would’ve liked to have seen Sharon but Stephen was fabulous. I mean, he was pretty much playing Stephen Fry as he always does but he plays it very well

 

[KINGAA]

I saw on TT that Legally Blonde did a concert version today because so many cast are out.

The theatre is NOT allowing refunds despite the fact that this was not a full show, the covers were reading the script as they obviously didn’t know it, no props etc. I’m sorry but they should’ve offered something, if you’ve paid to see a show then they should’ve cancelled.

 

[ButtonDownTheHutches]

The theatre is NOT allowing refunds despite the fact that this was not a full show, the covers were reading the script as they obviously didn’t know it, no props etc. I’m sorry but they should’ve offered something, if you’ve paid to see a show then they should’ve cancelled.

I’ve just been reading about this on Theatreboard, and I’m gobsmacked! How can you charge people to see a specific show, then deliver something very different but refuse to refund?