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Post by laurelin on Oct 11, 2006 12:21:03 GMT 11
Which roles would you recast? I really enjoyed everyone in the new cast and some roles were substantially better than they were when I saw the last cast in March (though I probably preferred Hayden Tee to Jon Lee, but Jon definitely isn't bad). It is a pity that the Les Mis matinee is no longer on a Thursday, but there's no problem finding other shows with Thursday matinees - Billy Eliott for example I love London - this time the only day it wasn't possible to see a matinee was Monday (and even then, now I think about it, I could have seen a Monday matinee at the Globe). Not that I saw a matinee every day, but the main reason was we were either travelling somewhere or meeting friends. I even managed to see shows on both Sundays (Last Five Years and Rock n' Roll)!
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Post by Talissa on Oct 11, 2006 12:35:04 GMT 11
How was Last Five Years? I wish I could have seen that, but this is literally the only couple of weeks I could have scheduled my trip. And of course, I leave London two days before Fiddler on the Roof starts previews, so I miss Damian in that direction, too!
From what I've heard about him, Jon certainly isn't awful, but yes, there have been better. I've heard great things about some of the understudies, though, so will be trying my luck catching some of them. I know HPJ will be on holiday for most of my stay, so I'll get to see his understudy, who is apparently excellent.
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Post by laurelin on Oct 11, 2006 14:41:59 GMT 11
Last Five Years was wonderful - staged very differently to the only other production I've seen (Q Theatre in Penrith). They interacted with each other all the way through. I would have loved to have had the chance to see it again, but there was just no possible way.
I saw Robert Archibald (normally Feuilly) as Marius twice and he was very good. I've also seen Jeff Nicholson as Javert several times now and he's great - if a tad young. I was surprised how much I enjoyed HPJ as Javert as his Valjean didn't do a great deal for me. He does this strange staring thing with his eyes which is a bit off-putting, but it wasn't so obvious playing Javert.
Enjoy John Owen-Jones - he's a truly great Valjean. Though his understudy, Jacob Chapman, was pretty good too, even if he didn't sing the high note at the end of "Who Am I?".
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Post by Talissa on Oct 11, 2006 15:41:17 GMT 11
Jeff Nicholson's who I'll get to see as Javert. (I'd forgotten his surname, for shame) And as Grantaire at the end of my stay, so I'll get the best of both worlds, there.
Ah yes. I haven't heard much about Jacob Chapman, but I have friends who've seen Rob Archibald, so I've heard he's good. David Thaxton as Enjolras, too.
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Post by laurelin on Oct 11, 2006 17:22:42 GMT 11
Jacob is a reasonable Valjean - a bit inexperienced and of course he suffers in comparison with JOJ I would like to see David Thaxton as Enj but the only chance I had was back in March and David wasn't on either. So we got the second cover who wasn't very good. I really enjoyed Simon Bailey's Enj though. He isn't the strongest Enjolras vocally, but I loved the way he played the role. I don't know if you've already booked tickets or not, but the best value is the BB row seats at the front of the stalls - only 18.50 pounds. Very close but great value. You can generally only book these at the box office though - or rather you can book them over the phone but it takes a lot of pushing. The other good value seats are the two in the middle of A row which are 30 pounds because they are behind the conductor ;D
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Post by Talissa on Oct 11, 2006 17:36:14 GMT 11
I think just about anyone suffers in comparison to JOJ Second cover Enj? That wasn't Eaton James, was it? I have a feeling he only started mid this year. *makes a note to check* And yes, I know all about BB My friends over there have been very good about giving me tips about seating. I'll be in very good hands
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Post by laurelin on Oct 11, 2006 17:52:39 GMT 11
No, it wasn't Eaton James - I'm pretty sure he was part of the cast change in the middle of the year I think it was whoever was playing Babet at the time - though I'm really not sure now. Enjoy the BB seats - they're great! So long as you aren't too tall that is ;D
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Post by Sally on Oct 11, 2006 20:28:12 GMT 11
It is a pity that the Les Mis matinee is no longer on a Thursday, but there's no problem finding other shows with Thursday matinees - Billy Eliott for example Oops, I was talking about the Broadway revival in that case, not London's I only have two full days in London (arrive Friday morning, leave Sunday morning!) and it'd take something more than amazing to get me to see anything other than Wicked while I am there
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Post by RoseFyre on Oct 12, 2006 1:41:01 GMT 11
What's a couple of years between friends Good to see you Rose! Buff I'm actually around a lot, I just don't post much - I mean, how much can I say about Australian theater? Or even London theater? Last time I was in London was two years ago, and I've never been to Australia. However, if you want New York theater, that I can talk about.
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Post by Sally on Oct 12, 2006 10:25:49 GMT 11
However, if you want New York theater, that I can talk about. Aha. Spring Awakening or High Fidelity or neither or both? I know *nothing* about Spring Awakening, yet it intrigues me. I really didn't like the film of High Fidelity, but something about the idea of it being a musical also intrigues me.
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Post by Talissa on Oct 12, 2006 10:30:03 GMT 11
Aha. Spring Awakening or High Fidelity or neither or both? I know *nothing* about Spring Awakening, yet it intrigues me. I really didn't like the film of High Fidelity, but something about the idea of it being a musical also intrigues me. Watch her pounce
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Post by RoseFyre on Oct 13, 2006 2:03:20 GMT 11
Not seeing either - my parents apparently loved the movie of High Fidelity, so they don't want to go, and I hadn't heard much about Spring Awakening.
Most recent show seen = Jersey Boys, back in September. Before that was Tarzan, which my mother really wanted to go to, and which I thought was...not as bad as it could have been, but not good either. Hello Lion King rip-off.
I know we're seeing A Chorus Line at some point, probably December, and I think we're seeing Company too. Not certain on that one, though.
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Post by Sally on Oct 13, 2006 18:14:56 GMT 11
I hadn't heard much about Spring Awakening. That makes two of us I'll be seeing Company as well, but that looks to be our only cross-over! And, right, really need to get onto tickets for that one - everything else is bought, except the ones that aren't on sale yet. And I have a dozen post-it notes around the computer reminding me when they do, most at the lovely hour of midnight local time.
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Post by RoseFyre on Oct 14, 2006 2:16:07 GMT 11
When are you coming to NYC, anyway?
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Post by Sally on Oct 14, 2006 16:07:42 GMT 11
When are you coming to NYC, anyway? End of December through the first week of January, then a week in Montreal, then back to NYC for another few days Pretty much squeezing in as many shows as possible - I just squealed like a fangirl when I noticed one with an additional Monday matinee. Sweeet.
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