698 replies to this topic

[DonnieSmith]

Worth bearing in mind that none of us are privvy to the deal that the producers have with the theatre -- and the theatre management and the producers are different parties.  That can create a complex situation in these circumstances, that would have little to do with not knowing what to do.  Just a thought.

[djp]

wickedgrin, on 01 June 2012 - 10:01 PM, said:

I am surprised at the news of the closure of this if it true. I saw Ghost a few weeks back on a Thursday evening and the theatre was packed with a spontaneous standing ovation at the end. It thought how well the show seemed to be doing. But having said that I got a day seat at lunchtime and I dont know what everyone paid for their seat - perhaps they were heavily discounting in order to fill it?

But if it was making money it sure wouldn't be closing. But for what it's worth I thought it was OK - with great staging and excellent special effects and a strong plot.

Saw a Saturday matinee last month. Practically full, same very positive reaction, audience suitably moved. . Siobhan Dillon is excellent. You would think there was a niche there for a  musical with a strong story, strong  vocals, good special effects and strong acting content, well played.. There's a lot fewer of those about than a few years ago with plays filling some of the same theatres and much of the West End filled with quasi pantos aimed at children , dance musicals trying for the strictly come dancing audience, older US stars, and the newer juke box musicals aimed at older audiences. Ghost actually seemed to have a good range of ages including the 20-30 year olds who will be future audiences everywhere else.

Not sure if making money is that  simple an  issue .In economic terms it probably includes  how much money is made or lost,  what the goals are,  whether an alternative will lose more, to what extent you want to sit a recession out (which is much of the cause of this recession)  whether any great musical would have survived if it had been born in  this recession, and if the US production is losing money, how much London is seen in isolation.

[DanielWhit]

I can think of one production in particular which was born in the recession and is clearly going from strength to strength..

It can happen, it's a proven fact that audiences still tend to go to the theatre as a method of escapism during times of national financial hardship - we can't simply say "oh, it's the recession that's closing it" every time a production posts closing notices (disclaimer - I'm not saying that has happened here, just a general point to note).

On a related point - have closing notices been put up or is it still business as usual?

[Zippy]

Still no official announcement about it closing and it's still taking bookings up until April next year!

[harveyjnr]

but the cast are all talking bout it on twitter. so it must be closing. i just want to know when so i can get on wit booking my tix

hopefully it goes straight up here when the date comes in pls

[djp]

DanielWhit, on 02 June 2012 - 09:17 PM, said:

I can think of one production in particular which was born in the recession and is clearly going from strength to strength..

It can happen, it's a proven fact that audiences still tend to go to the theatre as a method of escapism during times of national financial hardship - we can't simply say "oh, it's the recession that's closing it" every time a production posts closing notices (disclaimer - I'm not saying that has happened here, just a general point to note).

On a related point - have closing notices been put up or is it still business as usual?

It was surprising last year how full theatres still were. This year though there seem to be areas of empty seats in shows  which were habitually full for the first three years of the recession. .In economic terms, the cuts have only just started hitting and the big picture is getting worse not better. Its a good question what Matilda (if thats what you are thinking of ?)  has got right and others didn't have going for them..The Olympics may be a negative factor too if anyone is looking at their  show's prospects.

[Jon]

I think the shows that were already hits will survive and others will close and be replaced by new shows, it happens every year. We're very unlikely to get a situation like Broadway where lots of theatres go dark for months on end.

[wickedlover]

The show was amazing tonight!
Sharon D Clarke has definately Not lost her comedy touch despite doing the show for over a year.
It was my first time seeing Mark and Siobhan and I was very impressed...Siobhan definately gave the stand-out performance of the night.
Andrew Langtree...not much to say apart from perfection.

Jenny Fitzpatrick was also the stand-out performer in the ensemble...she definately rocked 'Are You a Believer'

I love this show...enough said.

[Zippy]

Any update on it closing or did Baz just get it all terribly wrong and it's actually staying open?

[Ghostmusicalfan]

As there has been no official announcement yet we should all assume that it is to remain a fixture in the West End for the time being.  If it were true about the closing the cast would have demanded to be told last week when the story broke and as there seems to be very little talk on Twitter or Facebook from any of them as I said we should assume it's good news.  Pair this with the tweet Dave Steward posted over the weekend that its 'pure speculation' and other messages I have had privately we can continue to believe for the time being.