craftymiss

I've only ever seen her sing backing for Ramin. She's Tom (McFly's) Fletcher's sister I was told

tommo2k, on 08 May 2013 - 09:31 PM, said:

Rauch didnt do it for me at all. In fact for me the current cast is so weak I want to weep.  Tam's Javert is good as is Celinde's Fantine, Jacobsen's has really grown into Enjolras and as ever Blakely & Linstead do a sterling job, but Marius & Eponine are well below par

JD094, on 07 May 2013 - 02:08 PM, said:

I suppose it depends on what you mean by a name.  If it was a name within the musical theatre world then that would be OK, I'd love to see John Owen-Jones return to the role.  Going by the casting so far it looks like you have to be foreign to be in with a chance

Coggit, on 07 May 2013 - 08:27 AM, said:

Yes that't the one.  Oh my how I disliked it.  David Essex appeared to be the only one trying.  Having see the OLC I felt it was very inferior.  I didn't like the lighting, sound (but then I often have issues with the sound quality at The Mayflower) or the set. We all have different takes on shows though. Sorry off topic

I would just withhold my applause if I thought a show was that bad; I've only done this once at a touring production of Aspects of Love. Totally dire. My parents went the following night and left during the interval.  I reserved any booing for panto which is acceptable.  I think it's hard enough for the actors to struggle through a duff show without the audience making it worse

I only first saw him at West End Live and he's sheer pleasure & enjoyment was palpable. It made me want to see JB & Ive seen it 6 times since. I've only seen Ryan once but he was fab as was John Lee who I also saw

I was at the evening performance and I know what you mean Stewart about Mark's performance appearing a little 'forced' I was trying to put my finger on how to describe it, fab nonetheless.  The best for me was Damian Humbley, totally aced it especially in the NBC Studio scene and Jenna was superb. Thoroughly enjoyed the show and had an excellent view in row H which was actually 2 rows further forward.  Loved it

I actually thought ejector seats would be a great idea, or ones that swallow people up into the floor, like a trapdoor. First warning your seat vibrates, next BAM! down you go

Kathryn2, on 23 April 2013 - 09:59 PM, said:

I think you are missing my point. There is a time and a place to eat and having a 'picnic' of smelly sausages and warm pasties front row behind the conductor in Her Majesty's is clearly unacceptable. I was approx 7 seats down and could smell it all all the way through the first Act. Even the conductor turned around and stared when he entered the orchestra pit.  If someone is desperate to eat and can not manage  2 1/2 hrs then they should step outside in the interval and eat their crunchy Pringles, rattling Maltesers and rustling Minstrels. I also never said an ice cream had a noticeable smell, but warm pasties, sausages and cheap red wine does. You are right it isn't an endurance test, the test is for people to plan effectively to ensure they don't disturb the enjoyment of those around them. One person's poor behaviour affects dozens of others, not to mention the performers on stage. I have friends who are performers and they tell me they can smell, see and hear the disruption even from quite far back in the auditorium. Maybe those actors should stay at home if it is annoying them too.

I have been attending the theatre since I was a very young child and I have seen a huge decline in behaviour, the problem is parents do not teach their children how to behave in public anymore and this over spills into the theatre so when these children become adults they have no sense of propriety.  It is not the cinema where people seem to wander around wherever they like now (or they were when I last went a few months ago).

Everyone has their own standards and I have no right to impose mine on others, but when Ive paid £60+ for a good seat I expect the theatre to be more robust when dealing with those who are clearly spoiling it for the majority.  If people are happy with smells, noise & other disruptions then that is fine, but some of us are not and I will continue to ask people to be quiet or get the FOH to deal with it.

freckles, on 24 April 2013 - 09:03 AM, said:

Haha I'm not often referred to as being right lol. Now the thing that will make this complete for me is if Fra Fee is in it. He's in a show near me which opens tomorrow through until mid May so there's a possibility there too.
Let's hope they get their act together with their twitter profiles

Yep Ive bought a ticket in Stalls and I'm willing to give this a go. I think it will be far better than Viva (but I havnt seen it so can not comment, just a gut reaction).  I'd love to know who they'll cast. Killian Donnelly is about to leave Billy in 3 weeks so he could be a possibility, he's got an excellent voice and can carry off a bit of comedy I'm sure.  Does anyone have any info on this?

There should be no food at the theatre regardless of where you buy it. It's not beyond the realms of possibility to go for 2.5hrs without food. Eat before you go to the theatre or eat after, not during. I don't care if it's a McFlurry, theatre bought ice cream or a picnic (as per a tweet of mine from long past) it's really NOT necessary.  Heck I love my food but I can manage a few hours without it.

Do famous people only go to shows if there is a connection for them? Dont they perhaps also go because they just, fancy a night out or actually just like the play?
Only a thought

I saw Les Mis on Fri and it was OK. I knew Geronimo was on holiday but I didn't think Chris Holland was that great. I did however learn he'd had a recent bout of laryngitis so I have to respect that he probably wasn't on top form.  Celinde was wonderful, I really do like her. Chris Jacobsen was a fabulous Enjolras, reminded me a little of David Thaxton, but I'm biased as Ive seen him in concert and I think his voice is sublime.  Huge disappointment with Marius, not one bit of emotion, not towards Cosette and not towards Eponine when she died in his arms. A Little Fall of Rain usually makes me feel emotional but this was bereft of any emotion.  I'm going back in 5 weeks to see how it takes shape

I dont promote my blog as Ive only recently started writing, I just do it to get down my thoughts. But I have just written a small piece about behaviour at a show prompted by some rude & unruly audience members at Jersey Boys on Fri night. I'm just copying a couple of paragraphs so you can see what happened. This is true:


I was sat in second row of the Prince Edward theatre as I wanted a really close view of the stage, it's the first time I've been sat so close, but figured for once I'd give it a go. Had I been in my usual chosen area I would have no doubt been in the thick of seeing what was happening about a dozen rows behind me. However, I could hear it all!  I heard a rumble of noise really from the start of the show, I never thought too much of it as from my experience, people can get slightly excited when a show starts. But approx 40 minutes into the show the noise got louder and there appeared to be what Lou from Little Britain would describe as a "kerfuffle" taking place.  Being so close to the front it was not possible to see but I most definitely knew there was an issue. Whatever it was caused a small ripple across the stalls.

During the interval I wandered up to the foyer and that was when the fallout from the kerfuffle took place. I saw at least two women worse for wear being what can only be described as downright rude to the Front of House staff. Their indignation at not being able to "enjoy" themselves was unbelievable.  Clearly their enjoyment was to be at the expense of the hundreds of other people in the auditorium!  They actually shouted at the member of FOH that they were told not to dance on the seats! Well would you do this at home? No wonder theatres are requesting a restoration levy to pay for repairs.  Quite rightly the FOH member dealing with the problem told them that they needed to be calm. One of the women said she'd paid for her ticket, the reply to this was that the ticket entitled her to watch the show, not participate in it! I felt this was a reasonable and fair response.  I didn't stay to watch so I was unsure of the outcome. If they returned to the stalls I was not aware as they must have been quiet. I'm secretly hoping they were thrown out on their annoying backsides or at least felt some shame due to their behaviour!

I dont want to be a killjoy & I appreciate some audience participation in a show like this, I clap along when appropriate & even stand at encores when encouraged by cast members ie Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia etc. But I wouldnt dream of standing on seats and then being rude to FOH staff. Poor behaviour is ruining some shows