West End Gossip

[Super_Berry]

I went on Thursday and Friday to see the bodyguard. Alcohol is a massive problem not only does it also stink I had someone beside me drink a full wine then was up and out at the loo twice in act one and twice in act 2

I used to do PR for a UK theatre and when Dirty Dancing was on, we would actually see drunken women falling down stairs and slumped over after the matinee after too many drinks.

 

[sleepflowers]

Boe is vastly overrated as Valjean, he's too...posh

 

[Linda Lee]

I recently went to a touring production of the opera Carmen and people constantly talked through it and no one seemed to mind. (I heard someone ask why it isn't in Spanish - well because Georges Bizet wrote it and he was French. Same as how Aida isn't in Arabic, Madame Butterfly isn't in Japanese etc!) It was about three quarters full as well and hearing people chatter in all directions was annoying to say the least



Also was Prouvaire in the 2009-10 national tour

It makes no sense to me why people would pay - often a fortune - to see a show and then just talk to each other. Why do they go! Stay at home and let people who actually want to watch have a nice experience. Selfish gits.

I worry a lot about the amount of fighting, assaults. I was at Cabaret last year and was talking to an usher and he'd been beaten up badly enough by a patron to require hospital (not at that show, I forget which one).

Mobile phones are the biggest bugbear of mine. How they've become this security blanket people can't cope being without is something I'll never comprehend.

 

[Mark81]

Sam Barks has had her baby

https://www.archive.is/oldest/https...-Barks-birth-baby-boy-husband-Alex-Stoll.html

 

[daisy365]

In all the clips I’ve seen of her as Parr in the Megasix, when singing the ‘I don’t need your love oooohhh’ she keeps doing a random leg lift up, like a dog having a pee and now I can’t unsee it

 

[leabytottle]

It may just be a coincidence. She may have a boyfriend. There were others in the cast apart from Bradley she could have been there for.

I bet many of the theatre singletons don’t go near Bradley. Is he hot? Yes. But seems a player. Plus, he’s best mates with Joel Montague… always a

 

[emmer_moans]

The awful Hamilton performance has now been taken down/made private.

Guess the Hamilton producers weren't all that impressed.

Ha ha, remember when Carrie wanted the Cinderella one taken down?

 

[Linda Lee]

Personally I still hate the term and I'm in the UK, but I think its commonly used in a 'reclaimed' way in the USA too.

I'm not LGBT but I grew up in the 90s and I can't not think of "queer" as anything but a really nasty bigoted insult. Even now it is still used in that fashion.

I don't feel comfortable in general with the whole reclaiming thing anyway. Apparently "slut" has been considered reclaimed by the British Psychology Society and they advise therapists it's good to call their clinet that word if requested. Wouldn't therapy be better used for to see why someone wants to debase themselves? I'm probably old fashioned but I can't see it as a positive term or empowering.

When it comes to this stuff, I don't really understand the world these days.
---

Went to see I Should Be So Lucky on tour last night for a bit of light hearted fun. Terrible. Terrible show. The worst audience I’ve ever been in, which I expected but it looked like it was just the man next to us singing along to every song. When the songs stopped, he spoke over the whole thing.

I could rant for hours about what has happened to theatre audiences.

Someone had their eye socket broken at a performance of Swan Lake in Manchester recently, all because they ssshed a person. I do think the fact that they reached out and touched a stranger wasn't on but the reaction from that person's husband who gave the beatdown was mental over the top.

 

[Mark81]

Shameless Bradley appreciation post

 

[Mark81]

I don’t disagree with her, but isn’t she playing a dangerous game publicly criticising fellow artists/performers?

Yeah I agree with her too, but she's coming off as bitter as she was completely fine when her and her sisters were cast in everything (in fact zizi still is). And always happy to cash in on her famous aunt.

You can also bet if she was cast in the concert with them then they would be her best friends

 

[Mark81]

There is also an impartiality issue. If anyone does show up for him, he will then feel indebted to them in future reviews. He is already pretty biased in his reviews with his favourites.

There's a lack of professionalism with him that I can't put my finger on. But the way he presents himself just feels amateur for someone who supposedly has this as their job

 

[nohopefletcher]

The theatre café not paying. Their rent is very funny to me considering they charge £7 for a drink.

 

[BobbyBoos]

Went to see I Should Be So Lucky on tour last night for a bit of light hearted fun. Terrible. Terrible show. The worst audience I’ve ever been in, which I expected but it looked like it was just the man next to us singing along to every song. When the songs stopped, he spoke over the whole thing.

 

[shakeygal]

And that person, although their ego outstrips reality, is a bigger name with a bigger fanbase than Hannah’s and is still cast for bums on seats factor. They can get away with a lot more than she can

Definitely agree. I think it’s the ranting that’s reminding me of her.

 

[Mark81]

Completely superficial Ramin Karimloo and Bradley Jaden post

 

[Iamonlyhereforthetea]

I see that Summer Strallen has had her baby, sorry her baby has “arrived earthside” as she put it

I used to like her but she has become very sanctimonious over the last while. I think it was the video of her sobbing uncontrollably when Russell Brand hugged her at some event in a field that I thought that’s enough now

 

[Glaschelle]

I couldnt get a ticket for Les Mis in Glasgow. I really hope that some people dislike Alfie Boe so much that they'll sell their tickets

And I know this regional theatre not West end but me and the old dear went to see I Should Be So Lucky tonight.

I'll say this quietly - we loved it as my mum said, it had great singers, dancers, laughs and was cheerful. And Pete Waterman was there (yes my mum got a photo with him)

It's not Les Mis or Mamma Mia but it was a fun night at the theatre.

 

[TravellingPants]

The king of cringe continues

View attachment 2643226

There speaks a man who is insecure about his height and shoe size

 

[bettyswallocks]

Given how far gone they were… would it not have made sense to run it for a long weekend and get some test audiences/hype? Seems like such a waste.

it’s not my favourite kind of show, but I do like robs videos of commandeering his entire family into productions as a child. What a blessed life to just be loved unconditionally. Lucky Lucky Rob. I hope it goes off broadway as so many could benefit from the takeaway of it.

 

[ShinyEspeon]

I’ve heard from a friend that Leeds Playhouse in West Yorkshire has let go of its entire front of house team. I know it’s not West End, but it’s proof that the theatres have been completely forgotten about. The money the government mentioned for the arts hasnt actually been allocated anywhere. And it’s not much either when it comes down to it.

In other news, I’m active on the Carrie Hope Fletcher thread and was wondering what people think about ALWs Cinderella?

I think ALW saw how popular Heathers was and wants to make something similar with Carrie, but I think it’ll really struggle to make sales next to the old shows coming back and Frozen opening down the road. I think it’ll get some of her die hard fans in but it won’t last a year.