General Chat

I have always loved amateur theatre and now with limited money I still find it is the one part of theatreland where you can see a good show for nothing like the prices that are expected in West End. I also believe that the majority of the amateur companies are equal to the 'professionals' and many of the pros do encourage amateurs and also direct etc., So next time you think of spending a fortune in the West End just think that for a fraction of the cost you can see an A1 musical in a theatre near to whever you are - and throw in some fish and chips later and still come out cheaper and singing in the rain - some of the shows coming before end June include : King and I Sidmouth Sweet Charity Coventry Music Man Petersfield Oklahoma ! Cirencester Anything Goes Blackpool Brigadoon Christchurch South Pacific Bracknell West Side Story Luton Hello Dolly Stevenage Camelot Cromer My Fair Lady Eastbourne Me & My Girl Bournemouth 42nd Street Cheltenham Carousel Plymouth & loads more .......

Blimey Joe, you've seen a lot. I love the theatre too. Like to see a show a few times if I can, always think you miss bits first time round, then by the 3rd time you've really got it! A show I saw a few of times 'Up West' was called A slice of saturday night, about some bouncers and the club they run, think it was set in the 60's fabulous show, a musical, very funny, laughed all the way through. Anyone else ever get to see it? Lynda

Yer Maj I was just giving some ideas of shows that can be seen shortly. I have seen these before but rarely get tired of the music. Unlike films where you can buy or hire the DVD you cannot get recordings of stage shows so it is always nice to go back to relive the first time seen, and there are one or two which are so fab that I could see daily - top one being Crazy For You.

Off on Friday to take my 5 year old Grandson to see Elmer the Elephant, on the travelling wonderbus, anyone else seen it? Lynda

Well I went to see Elmer the elephant this afternoon with my 5 year old Grandson, what a joy it was to watch the children enjoy the play. The play was held in the library, a traveling theatre came to perform, just 2 people, but it held all the childrens attention for the hour, magical. Think all children should be introduced to the theatre at an early age, watching there faces losing themselves in the production was wonderful. LYnda

Hi Your Maj *curtsey* Yes I loved Blood Brothers too...one of my all time favourites...! Hated 'Cats' and didnt like 'Chicago' much'.I also love Panto...but now the children are grown up, I never get to go!!! Maybe we could have a GR Panto outing??? Have a soft spot for 'Oliver' as it was the last theatre trip (Palladium) we took my mum to see before she died. Woman in Black was great too. Made me jump out of my skin. I also LOVE the Buddy Holly Story (second half is better than the first), Grease, and Blues Brothers....they really get you bopping in the aisles! Dee x

Hiya Dee Woman in Black made me jump out of my skin as well, great though wasn't it? Lynda

Last West End Show I saw was Tell me on a Sunday at my local theatre, staring Faye Tozer (used to be in Steps), Denise Van Outen stared in it when it was in London, its a really good show, its a one woman show, the story is about a girl who breaks up with her boyfriend and decides to go travelling, the whole story is told by songs. Definately worth watching and the set is amazing as she doesnt leave the stage all the way through - the stage just rotates to the next scene Other shows I've seen are :- Our House - brillant, I'm not a Madness fan but the way they add a story to the song is really good Phantom - saw it years and years ago just after Michael Crawford finished, really good would love to see it again Starlight Express (the old version) - brillant, would love to see it again Fame - Loved it, made me want to get up and dance Whistle in the wind (think thats what it was called) - didnt think it would be my cup of tea, but really enjoyed it Miss Siagon - wasnt my cup of tea as I prefer singing/dancing shows I know theres been more but cant think of them at the mo. Karen

Hi Lynda As promised, my opinion of the two plays that I saw at the Stephen Joseph theatre in Scarborough at the weekend. On Saturday we saw 'Going Dutch', the new comedy by John Godber. It was very funny and extremely well done, not least because of the brilliant casting of Gemma Craven in one of the lead roles. There is some bad language in it but it was neccessary. Sally and Mark are cruising to Amsterdam as a treat for Mark's 50th birthday and have invited an old girl friend of Sally's along too. Unfortunately, she turns up with a new boyfriend who she met whilst prison visiting. He is a pot smoking thug and the play revolves around whether they can bear to be with him any longer, or whether they should make their escape. There is one particular scene which steals the show and brought it to a halt with applause for Gemma. Whilst they are on a bike ride, the thug, in an attempt to 'loosen' Sally up, offers her a slice of 'Amsterdam cake' and thinking that it is ordinary cake she eats the lot. She then can't understand why her legs have gone numb and spends the next 5 minutes attempting to stand up and get back on her bike. Gemma was particularly brilliant at this. It could easily be done by amateurs in the future, due to a very minimilist set but would need very good actors as the characters need to be well portrayed. I once met and spoke to John Godber at a workshop he gave in Nottingham, about a play that he had written 'Fly me to the moon' for amateurs to perform first and which our group were about to do. He said that he always writes from experience, so he must have had some strange experiences:)) On monday night, by complete contrast, we saw the new Alan Ayckbourn comedy 'Improbable Fiction'. This play is set around 'The Pendon Writers Circle' and the first half is completely taken up by setting the scene and introducing the characters, many of which were very well drawn. Hubby and I both felt that this was too dragged out and by the interval hubby was saying 'well, you can't win them all'. However, the second act turned out to be very funny, mainly because this too was very well done. I can't tell you why as it would spoil it for anyone going to see it. Although this play was somewhat of an anti climax after the John Godber play, it was nevertheless saved by the funny but rather strange second act. Chrissie x

Went to the last night of 'Grease' last Saturday night at the Mayflower in Southampton. Thoroughly enjoyed it - made all the better that every word of every song was familiar! One surprise though - not one person got out of their seat to dance! Lucy x

Lucy - I was surprised like that when I went to see Mamma Mia - was desperate to get up and dance, but everyone else was very staidly watching! Didn't dare get up in case I got hissed at!! Maz. XX

Maz - it must be that good old stiff upper lip thingy!! so scared we're gonna make a fool of ouselves!!!

Maz - it must be that good old stiff upper lip thingy!! so scared we're gonna make a fool of ouselves!!!

Thanks for adding to this thread Lucy, I thought it was dead and gone. I bet if you had got up and danced someone else would of done as well, us Brits don't like to be the first up, but get someone else to do it and we follow :)) Glad you enjoyed it. Hope others who have been to the theatre lately add to this now. I like seeing what others think of a show before I see it. Lynda

If you look at page 4 you will see that I was reluctant to see Miss Saigon as I thought it would be too sad. However, Lucy persuaded me that I ought to go and we have booked for end of September. So watch this space Lucy:)) Chrissie

Ohhhh Chrissie Smifffffff where you bin luv, nice to see ya. You will love Miss Saigon, seen it 3 times, cried everytime, but what a musical, fab songs, will have to get me CD out now for old times sake. The last time I went, I went on a special offer with the Times, and we had a backstage tour, that was so interesting, then dinner after the show. Will watch out for it coming my way, would defiantly see it again, don't fancy taking me with you do you, instead of Mr Smifffffff :)))) Lynda x x x

Chrissie - so glad you're going to give it a try - I'm sure you'll love it - just remember to have a tissue to hand. Let us know via this brill thread if you enjoy it won't you? Lucy x

Hi Lynda Couldn't keep away :)) Would love to take you but I don't think Mr Smifffff would be too pleased - it was him who persuaded me to go LOL. In fact, it will probably be him whose doing most of the blinking:)) Lucy - will do. Of course, I shall blame you if I don't like it LOL Chrissie xx

Anybody seen Grease on stage, what did you think? Lynda

Hi Lynda I thought that I had better come on the proper thread to tell you that a friend said it was brilliant and went to see it again. I have left my thanks for your kind offer on my awful thought thread :)) Chrissie x