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Post by tonyferrino on Nov 11, 2021 23:13:00 GMT
Hey all, the Better Half and I have just had a mini trip to London and squeezed in a couple of last minute trips to the theatre. I couldn't find another thread so I've chucked this one up.
Last night we saw the Back to the Future musical. Not bad, but not as good as I had hoped. The guy who plays George steals it really, and the clocktower finale is very well done. It just felt slightly lacking overall. Doc was not quite right, and the sound system was surprisingly poor considering it was a musical. We were up in the gods a bit, so maybe it was better in the stalls. 6/10.
Tonight, though, was a bit of a revelation. We booked in to see Neil Gaiman's The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, but we didn't want to spend a fortune so we bought tickets right at the front that might have had restricted views. Best decision ever. There is some amazing light and puppet work, which was only accentuated by the proximity. At one point a big pointy monster leg nearly poked me in the shin, that's how close they were getting. Highly, highly recommended. Great acting, super high production values for the size of the theatre. 9/10 easily.
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Post by Danno on Nov 11, 2021 23:22:54 GMT
Which theatres did you see these in? Can make a helluva difference
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Post by tonyferrino on Nov 11, 2021 23:29:47 GMT
BTTF was in the Adelphi, Ocean was in the Duke of York's.
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Post by Danno on Nov 11, 2021 23:35:57 GMT
Don't think I've been to the Adelphi. Love the Duke of York though
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cubby
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Post by cubby on Nov 11, 2021 23:52:46 GMT
I queued next to Natalie Portman for a show at the Duke of York. She had the most immaculate skin I've ever seen. And she's incredibly short. Like a pocket person.
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Post by 😎 on Nov 11, 2021 23:58:01 GMT
Did you try to woo her?
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cubby
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Post by cubby on Nov 12, 2021 0:05:42 GMT
Of course. I pretended to be a French assassin.
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Nov 12, 2021 3:39:05 GMT
Gotta say that I've not been to the theatre very much in life and not at all since about 2008 but in my vast experience (pretty minor actually) we've definitely enjoyed the lower key (and smaller venu) type productions much more than those big ol' musicals or whatever, Steptoe And Son sticks in the memory as does watching a production of Get Carter whilst sat in the front row of a tiny theatre the stage was the floor in front of the seats and getting sprayed with fake blood as Jack beat the crap out of some other character (they could smoke in theatres back then too) was absolutely brilliant. Watching actors practice their craft from only a few feet away seems so much better than sat 50yds away from afar as is often the case in bigger theatres, always seemed pretty pointless to me.
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Post by Dougs on Nov 12, 2021 6:32:50 GMT
I queued next to Natalie Portman for a show at the Duke of York. She had the most immaculate skin I've ever seen. And she's incredibly short. Like a pocket person. I think all actors and Slebs are tbh. With the exception of (DJ) Chris Evans. Who is waaaay taller than anyone thinks. |
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Nov 12, 2021 6:55:59 GMT
The curtains at the Duke of York were all weird when I was there.
Like, when they were up, they were up. And when they were down, they were down. But sometimes they were only halfway up, like neither up nor down.
Grand old building though.
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Nov 12, 2021 7:01:20 GMT
I'm not sorry.
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Nov 12, 2021 8:26:04 GMT
Went to see The Woman in Black recently. Just two guys on stage, phenomenal how they remember it all. Wasn't as creepy as was made out, enjoyed it though.
Then Dirty Dancing.....what a show! Was hilarious. All the whooping and wolf whistles from the ladies. Some brownie points earned, but secretly I enjoyed it as well.
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dmukgr
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Post by dmukgr on Nov 12, 2021 8:36:05 GMT
I saw The Woman in Black way back when I was in Uni and it started off with two people in the front row having a heated argument that went louder and louder as everyone were taking their seats etc. It turned out to be the actors and the start of the play, really helped with the immersion. Brilliant.
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dmukgr
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Post by dmukgr on Nov 12, 2021 8:38:41 GMT
I agree that many celebs seem small. I've queued for the theatre next to Kit Harington and he was tiny with immaculate skin too. I also agree that the front row is pretty special - seen loads like that. The other week I saw the Cherry Orchard in Windsor starring Ian McKellen etc. and they had seats on the stage. The wife didn't want to sit their however as the last play we did that for ended up with fake blood on her and she found it a bit intense with actors seemingly staring at us as they did dramatic monologues. I thought it was ace  |
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Post by tonyferrino on Nov 12, 2021 9:17:44 GMT
Yeah, we saw Waiting For Godot with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart from the front row. The Mrs hated the play (I didn't really get it but enjoyed it) but it was worth it for both of us to get that close to such legends at work.
There are definitely upsides and downsides to being that close though! We saw the RSC's The Duchess of Malfi a couple of years ago, and the front row were given blankets to protect them from the blood spray. It was a spectacular production - there's a point where a character cuts a hanging (fake) cow and the blood continues to fall throughout the rest of the show, leaving the entire stage and cast covered with blood. A lot of it ended up on the front row.
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Nov 12, 2021 9:38:59 GMT
I saw The Woman in Black way back when I was in Uni and it started off with two people in the front row having a heated argument that went louder and louder as everyone were taking their seats etc. It turned out to be the actors and the start of the play, really helped with the immersion. Brilliant. Yes! The one I saw had one actor in the front row arguing with the other actor on stage. There was an awkward "is he a heckler?" moment! |
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Bongo Heracles
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Post by Bongo Heracles on Nov 12, 2021 9:44:36 GMT
The last normal thing we did before the plague hit was see Upstart Crow at the Gielgud. It was absolutely excellent but you could just feel how on edge the crowd were (and with good reason. I think I actually had covid when we went to see it).
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dmukgr
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Post by dmukgr on Nov 12, 2021 10:23:41 GMT
The last normal thing we did before the plague hit was see Upstart Crow at the Gielgud. It was absolutely excellent but you could just feel how on edge the crowd were (and with good reason. I think I actually had covid when we went to see it). I wanted to see that but missed out because of Covid  |
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Post by Danno on Nov 12, 2021 10:35:57 GMT
The last normal thing we did before the plague hit was see Upstart Crow at the Gielgud. It was absolutely excellent but you could just feel how on edge the crowd were (and with good reason. I think I actually had covid when we went to see it). I wanted to see that but missed out because of Covid I think they're planning to run it again, it was cut short |
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Nov 12, 2021 10:38:35 GMT
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE DRILLS?!
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nazo
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Post by nazo on Nov 12, 2021 11:55:41 GMT
Dammit, I made a theatre thread and didn't get a single response We were thinking about seeing BTTF but maybe I'll give it a miss. Not convinced by movie to theatre stuff. Frozen and Aladdin were both a bit shit, though maybe that's just Disney. |
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jono62
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Post by jono62 on Nov 12, 2021 12:08:23 GMT
Going to watch Book of Mormon for my birthday in December. Seen it before and can't wait to watch it again.
Love going to the theatre as it's not done very often. Opera is great to watch.
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Post by Danno on Nov 12, 2021 13:25:23 GMT
I'm a big fan of Regent's Park open air theatre. Saw Into the Woods and Little Shop of Horrors and they were both amazing productions that I felt wouldn't have worked anywhere else. It even rained during the opening song of LSoH, Ms Danno was delighted for about a week over that fortuitous detail
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Post by TheSaint on Nov 12, 2021 13:52:37 GMT
My wife wanted to see Frozen so we went a few weeks back. She liked it and I thought it was ok. Two leads were good and the effects were impressive, haven’t really seen anything like them in a theatre before.
Hamilton is still the best thing on at the moment though IMO. Have seen it twice and would happily see it again.
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Post by bindipper3d on Nov 12, 2021 14:11:11 GMT
The wife and I are off to see The Shark Is Broken next weekend at the Ambassadors Theatre. As Jaws is one of my favourite films of all time, I couldn't be more excited.
Heard good things about it during their run at the Edinburgh Fringe, so hoping it translates well to the West End.
Lovely touch that Ian Shaw is playing his own father.
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Nov 12, 2021 14:16:16 GMT
I would love to see that, it's supposed to be pretty good.
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jono62
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Post by jono62 on Nov 12, 2021 14:39:06 GMT
I heard it was cheesy.
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Post by Dougs on Nov 12, 2021 14:45:30 GMT
Last thing I saw at the theatre was Fleabag. Aaaages ago. Excellent though, obviously.
Used to get press night tickets too sometimes when I was London based. A friend used to manage an account of an agency and they had a friends and family list when they needed to pack out the theatre. Was quite good fun. Only one that stands out mind you was Dominic West in Stoppard's Rock and Roll.
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Post by Dougs on Nov 12, 2021 14:46:03 GMT
The wife and I are off to see The Shark Is Broken next weekend at the Ambassadors Theatre. As Jaws is one of my favourite films of all time, I couldn't be more excited. Heard good things about it during their run at the Edinburgh Fringe, so hoping it translates well to the West End. Lovely touch that Ian Shaw is playing his own father. That looks excellent. Great concept |
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Nov 12, 2021 15:01:39 GMT
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