wickedgrin

The show is closed for Mon and Tues nights during previews so I assume that is when they will adapt, add, trim stuff for the coming week.

In the ever diminishing world of "celebrity" and the overuse of the word "star". I can officially say that Dame Helen Mirren IS a STAR!

Yes getting tickets to the Donmar is a nightmare, but I did grab a £10 front row seat for this coming Sat for The Weir  - very excited. I was poised on my computer at 10.00am on a Monday morning. Apparently £10 seats released at 10.00am on Mondays is continuing for the new season.

I have been following the "ongoing" Les Mis thread with interest. I hope the contracts are for shorter periods than 12 months as hopefully it keeps the cast on their toes. The last time I saw Les Mis at the Queens I was struck by how automated it all was including the performances. The show was certainly slick - it was like someone pressed a button and it set off. The music just drove along hardly allowing any time for applause, it was like a click track that couldn't be halted. As for the performances it was like watching animatronics - move DSR here, raise arm there, emote now etc.

Perhaps this was the fault of the direction, but I just felt I was watching a well oiled machine in action. Nothing wrong with a slick show but there was no time for the show to breath, no light or shade, no performance, no feeling. I felt all the cast were under strict orders to "get on with it" and that there would be consequences if the running time was 30 seconds over.

Perhaps 12 months contracts of 8 shows a week is punishing and shorter contracts may keep the cast "fresher"?

There is huge speculation on this board about casting particular performers and that's great and I am sure very valid - some performers will be stronger than others in roles - although it is subjective. However, to the casual theatre goer to the show who may only see the show once or twice this is not relevant as the show is the star ( unless a star is parachuted in such as Matt Lucas). So perhaps to performers it's a bit thankless having to perform to the template set by the production and the original casts.

Cam Mack is renowned for keeping his shows "up to scratch" and even popping in unannounced personally to check from time to time. But the show I saw although undoubtedly slick and very professional came across without heart and just like a money making machine - which it is!

Thoughts?

And isn't this an ATG theatre where they charge a mandatory "restoration levy". Where does the money go? Clearly not on restoration of the Trafalgar toilets!