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Anyone going to see a show soon?
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:43 pm    Post subject: Anyone going to see a show soon? Reply with quote

I have to wait for next year ENO production of Kismet.

Although I do have a bit of a hankering to see Wicked. Has anyone seen it recently. How is it fairing?
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dottie-may



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi, Heloise, I've just been to see Evita again plus The Seafarer at the National.
I'm off to see Wicked on the 20th. It's still doing very well but it does seem to spark a love-it or hate-it response! I'm looking forward to it as I rather like the CD and want to see what all the fuss is about Idina Menzel. Wink
Then, it's Spamalot and Follies Charity Concert in Feb, plus a few local things between Jan & April!
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,
Let me know what you think of Wicked, if you think it's worth a visit.

It's an easy one to hop on the coach to go to.
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Two stepper



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After the exerpt by the cast of 'Wicked' on the Royal Variety I'd love to see the show, it looks fabulous but it turns into the equivalent of the cost of a week abroad, coming down to London, hotel, show tickets, transport, meals etc. etc. Hopefully it will go on tour and play in Manchester sometime.
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Isn't it playing at the theatre near Victoria Station?

If it is I might try and get a matinee ticket, nip down on National Express (£18 day return) see the show and get the next coach back afterwards. I wont have to stay over or have time to eat which should keep the costs down a bit because you are right Twostepper it is very expensive.
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Two stepper wrote:
After the exerpt by the cast of 'Wicked' on the Royal Variety I'd love to see the show, it looks fabulous but it turns into the equivalent of the cost of a week abroad, coming down to London, hotel, show tickets, transport, meals etc. etc. Hopefully it will go on tour and play in Manchester sometime.
I completely agree - I'd love to see Wicked and Avenue Q so I hope they come to Manchester.
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where are you all trying to get to London from?

Wicked is indeed on at Victoria, only a short walk from the coach station. It will probably be a while before it tours, and it is questionable whether it would be able to tour in its present format.

Avenue Q will definitely tour (there are already active tours in the states).

For two people you can get top price tickets for £60 each, add to that a coach or train fare (book at the right time slots you could probably do that quite cheaply too - we managed return tickets to Edinburgh for £50 for two people), then all you need is a cheap hotel. Or failing that, ask Mr Christmas - isn't that what he's there for?

Iain
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Ian Robinson
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw Spamalot the other week and it was really good, but a bit of an effort to get there. I'm on a tight budget so can't afford a central London hotel, but I will look into it in the Spring.
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dottie-may



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Saw Wicked on Weds. and it was well worth the trip. I really recommend it if you want a good entertaining show with great songs, a lot of laughs, a few decent special effects and a 'sad happy ending'!

Be warned though that there are loads of children in the audience and although I wasn't particularly disturbed by those around me, you might not be so lucky, especially for a matinee. I sat in stalls Row S, aisle seat 9 and had a fabulous view right over the heads of everyone and because the row is curved and the seats staggered, I had no-one in front of me - perfect! A little way back but I could see everything.

My secret for trips to London? Please keep it quiet but if you book National Express online, you can get funfares from £1 each way...yes, £1. I paid just £2 return for my jaunt (from Gloucester) but sometimes if I've left it a bit late I might have to pay £5, £7 or £9 one way. It certainly makes a huge difference to the number of trips I can make. The theatre is only 10-15 mins walk from Victoria Coach Station.

Hope this is useful.
Dottie
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dottie-may wrote:

Be warned though that there are loads of children in the audience and although I wasn't particularly disturbed by those around me, you might not be so lucky, especially for a matinee.


I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 10 times the children wont worry me Smile

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm really am going to go just reading the book at the moment and can't decide whether to go before I finish it. Or wait until I have, has anyone done both do they differ much from one another
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pickle



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:40 pm    Post subject: Anyone going to see a show soon? Reply with quote

My nephew and his wife are going to see The Producers in Manchester.

his family are all avid Peter Kay fans, and I would love to see how he fares in the role of Roger DeBris, the director! I saw him on 'Parkinson' discussing it, and my sister loved the original movie with Gene Wilder in as Leo Bloom.

By the way, Wilder's 'Young Frankenstein' was also big in this house, especially for Peter Boyle as the monster. We all knew of him as the monster before my little niece knew of Boyle as Frank in 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.

Showing her the movie really opened her eyes to what a talent Boyle was.
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idcowden



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PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've done both. The book and the musical are totally different, even down to key events in the plot line. Steven Schwarz really just took the idea of the book. Personally I prefer the plot of the show. The book just reads as if the writer got bored and ran out of ideas half way through.

The musical is more like the full story of the Wizard of Oz told from the witches perspective.

Top tip - DON'T sit in the front 2 rows of the circle, and if you must sit in those rows, avoid the aisle seat like the plague. The front barrier of the circle is about 2 feet thick and the front row have to lean forward to see most of the stage - which means that row two has to lean a little forward too. Added to that, there is a double barred safety barrier at the end of each aisle which totally obstructs the view from the aisle seat.

Further back, there isn;t really a bad seat until you start getting so far back that binoculars are needed.
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Ian Robinson
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

idcowden wrote:
I've done both. The book and the musical are totally different, even down to key events in the plot line. Steven Schwarz really just took the idea of the book. Personally I prefer the plot of the show. The book just reads as if the writer got bored and ran out of ideas half way through.
Interesting. I only saw The Wizard of Oz for the first time the other week, and thought it was fantastic. So I've bought the Wicked book because it seemed to add new perspectives on the Oz idea, and I'm interested in the musical. I've only read the author's British introduction and I don't think I've ever read such a load of patronising twaddle - not sure I want to read the rest of the book now!
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="Ian Robinson"]
idcowden wrote:
not sure I want to read the rest of the book now!


Yes I'm sort of ploughing my way through it a bit to. I am half way now and I feel it is just starting to warm up.

Thanks for your thoughts idcowden.
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ODonna



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here at my local performing arts center we are getting Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I'm going to see it in a couple of weeks. Has anyone seen it? It should be pretty funny!
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Behind Geddon's Wall



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw the film, it relied heavily on the intrplay between the Michael Caine and Steve Martin Characters. If the 2 male leads are strong, it should be OK.

Geddon
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happyKaytee



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:55 pm    Post subject: Starlight Express Reply with quote

Has anyone seen Starlight Express, if so what did you think of it? Can't make my mind up whether to try for tickets for this show. Confused
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've seen it, but the new version is not a patch on the original. Why? No real roller skating. Basically it was too hard / costly / difficult to insure to create a touring race track.

The solution? To film the races at a skate track in 3d.

So all of the race sequences are projected on a cinema screen and you are urged to put on your "safety glasses". Good fun for younger kids but the storyline can be a bit mistifying in places.

you shouldn't have to "try" for tickets. Just turn up and get some cheapies & move forward (unless you pick a saturday night of course)!
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Natasha
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Will anyone be going to see Frank McGuinness's new play 'There Came A Gypsy Riding?' <Almeida> It's stars one of my fav <and under-rated actors> Imelda Staunton - who I still maintain should have played Bridget Jones, had the film been produced earlier.
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happyKaytee



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PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Going to see "The Vortex" tonight starring Will Young. This production has had mixed reviews but people who have seen it think it was terrific. Looking forward to finding out for myself! Very Happy
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AndyAndy2
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm going to see Jeff Wayne's version of War of the Worlds in December (does that qualify as soon?)

Tried to see it last year, here in Newcastle, but tickets got sold out real quick!

One of my fav albums of all time! Oooolaaaa!!
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

AndyAndy2 wrote:
I'm going to see Jeff Wayne's version of War of the Worlds in December (does that qualify as soon?)

Tried to see it last year, here in Newcastle, but tickets got sold out real quick!

One of my fav albums of all time! Oooolaaaa!!


It's this side of New year.....................so it counts Smile
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dottie-may



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PostPosted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great News!! Parade is coming at last Razz

It's opening at the Donmar in September and I'll definitely be there. Saw a production in Edinburgh the year before last which was terrific so I have high hopes for this one.
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dottie-may wrote:
Great News!! Parade is coming at last Razz



I'm not familiar with this show..........can you give me an idea of what is it about? Type of music etc.

Thanks
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dottie-may



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PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Heloise, I've copied this from Wiki which summarises it much better than I could!:

The musical concerns the 1913 trial of Jewish factory manager Leo Frank who was accused of raping and murdering a 13 year old employee, Mary Phagan. The trial, sensationalized by the media, aroused anti-Semitic tensions in Atlanta and the state of Georgia. When Frank's sentence was commuted due to possible problems with the trial and he was transferred to a prison in Milledgeville, Georgia, a lynching party broke him out of the prison. Frank was taken to Phagan's hometown of Marietta, Georgia and he was hanged.
The emotional backbone of the show is how Leo and his wife, Lucille, discover a deep love for each other out of what was essentially an arranged marriage. A listener can hear their relationship shift from cold to warm in songs like "Leo at Work/What am I Waiting For?," "You Don't Know This Man," and, in Act II, "Do it Alone," and "All the Wasted Time".
The show also doesn't shy away from making it clear that the likely killer was the African-American drifter Jim Conley, though the real villains of the piece are prosecutor Hugh Dorsey and rabid publisher Tom Watson.

Parade is a musical that opened on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on December 17, 1998 with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The premier was directed by Harold Prince and closed 28 February 1999 after 85 performances.
The closing of the show was not because of the quality of Parade, but was due largely to the charges of the fraud against Garth Drabinksy, and the ensuing bankruptcy of Livent, the company producing Parade.
The show garnered 9 Tony Award nominations and won two awards, for Best Book of a Musical (Uhry) and Best Original Musical Score (Brown).
The show was received very coolly by the public and some critics, many of whom felt the show took too many liberties when it came to the use of racial slurs in the show. However, Brown was praised unanimously for his score.
The UK première ran from 5th to 28 August at the Southside Theatre as part of the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe, playing by the end of the run to packed houses and standing ovations.


The music is fabulous with a very strong storyline and characters that develop through the show. I was one of the lucky ones who saw it in Edinburgh and gave it a standing ovation. I actually bumped into the cast when they were advertising it later that day and I was able to give some of the bystanders a first-hand account of just how good it was - which went down very well! Laughing
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for that dottie-may,it sounds very interesting indeed
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Ian Robinson
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I'm making plans to see Avenue Q and Wicked just after Easter. Hopefully they won't be too full of kids, but with my girlfriend being a teacher I don't have much choice about the time of year.
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dottie-may



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian, I know what you mean - I'm a Teaching Assistant!
I took myself off to see Wicked in December during the hols, a Weds. matinee, and was a little concerned about being surrounded by kids.
However, apart from the usual plentiful loo visits, (them, not me I hasten to add Wink !!) I didn't find it too bad.

Hope you enjoy it - I did Very Happy
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idcowden



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well Avenue Q won't be full of kids as it's an adult show. Wicked might have some but school groups tend to be situated towards the back.
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PJ in Kent



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PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2007 10:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Starlight Express Reply with quote

happyKaytee wrote:
Has anyone seen Starlight Express, if so what did you think of it? Can't make my mind up whether to try for tickets for this show. Confused


Myself and Lady PJ went to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on Tuesday to see Starlight Express open there.....

WOW!

Go and see it- it's a great night out... some great songs, bit of skating and a dose of humour. Very Happy

The 3-D screen was fun... you can't expect a touring company and smaller provincial theatres to be able to put on a full-scale West End production... just engage a bit of imagination and enjoy yourself Wink
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PostPosted: Sun May 27, 2007 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest featuring Shane Ritchie a couple of weeks ago, which I enjoyed. One thing I did lot like was the way they used Big Chief as the narrator, and also put him in a funny dance routine in the ward. That is a major departure from the book. Otherwise very good - Shane Ritchie did a really good job.

I am seeing Acorn Antiques on Tuesday (not with Julie Walters, more is the pity!) and then The New Statesman with Rik Mayall the week after. Fab!
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gazmando



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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm going to see Les Miserables on June 30th(matinee). with my brother.
I don't know anything about it to tell you the truth, and I've never been in a theatre before.
I'm really looking forward to it but I'm also a little apprehensive.
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firewirefred
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gazmando wrote:
I don't know anything about it to tell you the truth, and I've never been in a theatre before.


You're kidding, surely!
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gazmando



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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Call me ignorant if you want, but it's true.
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idcowden



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PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Call me ignorant if you want, but it's true.


Nah. Everybody needs to start somewhere. I still remember when I thought that Andrew Lloyd-Webber was one of the best musical composers ever.

Hope you enjoy the show and got good seats.

Iain
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Ian Robinson
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gazmando wrote:
I'm going to see Les Miserables on June 30th(matinee). with my brother.
I don't know anything about it to tell you the truth, and I've never been in a theatre before.
I'm really looking forward to it but I'm also a little apprehensive.

Don't worry - it'll be good fun. And for a first visit to a theatre you'll be stunned by what they can do.
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gazmando



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PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks id and Ian,
I must admit Iwarburton's comment annoyed me a little bit, so thanks for the reassuring words.
Gaz
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well when I started this thread I was awaiting a trip to the ENO for Kismet which has now happened. I enjoyed the peformances very much Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Sarah Tynan and Faith Prince all gave very polished performances. However the production it's self was a bit of a let down, which was a shame because the performances were very good.

SO now it's two trips to the proms to look forward. Prom 58 and the last night and then I'm off to the Shaftesbury for Hairspray in October, which should be a blast.

All this talk of Les Miserables has got me wanting to go to see that to Very Happy
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PJ in Kent



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PostPosted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Going to see the new production of "Joseph" in September- taking Lady PJ for her anniversary present.

Will let you know how it goes.
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Heloise



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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've read good things about Lee Mead and Dean Collinson ( Joseph and Pharaoh) although haven't seen the show yet. I must try and get along to see it myself soon.

I don't know if anyone watch Any dream will do but Ben Ellis (who went out in the semi-final) is going to be playing Link Larkin in "Hairspray" boy that's going to be one busy stagedoor lol!!!
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