39 replies to this topic

[themancsethcohen]

Nah, Sam's lovely (went to school with her) and if she's not being an emotional puddle every week it just shows you how she won't let personal relationships get in the way of her career, which I guess is how you get ahead in this business.

People forget that she is only a kid really and staying on the peripheral of the other Nancys means she can stay focused on her aim and not become embroiled in the crying and such.

Also I would say that Sam, she's professional in that way, but also I don't think she's the kind of person who cries a lot anyway. Like at the beginning when the 12 were chosen but the young girls had to sing again, Jessie and Niamh broke down in tears when they came out, and Sam was quite calm and collected, she just doesn't let things get to her as much, and she doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve.

I think..

And as for the smile when Rachel was singing, there's no way that was in contempt, Rachel has already confirmed that there WASN'T a feud between her and Sam, and I think Sam was just smiling as she saw how talented Rachel is and that she had kept it together.

[ashcass]

Is it not six months so that the newly cast OLIVERs have longer to prepare. Being the 'main' role (though I guess he doesn't do tons) and having to work the three kids into schedules and stuff.

I thought that's why it's 6 months, for the boys as opposed to the Nancy.

Probably, although in my experience kids usually pick things up quicker, than the adults. Those boys have been fantastic every week and seemingly very mature and level headed about the whole thing.

[Matthew Winn]

I went to see LOTR on Monday night and i would imagine it will take months and months to dismantle that amazing set!

Sets are designed to be dismantled. Everything that is put together can be taken apart, and taking things apart is a lot easier.

Think about it this way. When the show opened they knew that it would eventually have to close, and that at the time of the get-out they would have  no further income from the production so all costs would have to be covered by whatever money they had in the bank. They'd have done everything they could to make clearing the show out of the theatre as cheap and simple as possible. It may look amazing, but that's how a set is supposed to look. I've known parts of sets that have taken a day to erect and an hour to pack away.

[Oxford Simon]

They made a lot of structural changes to the stage machinery (which required a lot of listed building consent etc) to install LOTR

From what I recall they ripped out all the old stuff to accommodate the complicated lifts and revolves on the understanding that they would have to restore everything exactly as it was.

It will be a lengthy get-out/restoration period - not 6 months but still more like taking the original Starlight Express set down than removing the set from touring production.

LOTR closes in mid July
Oliver! starts previews in early December - which means they will be in the theatre from the end of November at the latest (at a rough guess)

There is talk of a short-term booking for French and Saunders - so I guess the theatre will only be dark for 3 months maximum

[Ian]

I went to see LOTR on Monday night and i would imagine it will take months and months to dismantle that amazing set!  I wouldn't be surprised if this is the real reason for the six month delay.  Heck why else  would you have a theatre empty not raking in money?

It took months to install the LotR set but it will take a lot less to remove and restore Drury Lane's stage. I was told 4-6 weeks get out. I would hope that the apparent long dark period before Oliver will be used to do some restoration work at the theatre - the drapes were so old they were literally falling apart - but I fear that with RUT's record that several short infill productions will be announced.