Month: September 2021

This is based on the hit Disney film of the same name about Princess Anna and Queen Elsa.

For a matinee of a school day it still had a suprsi fly high number of children in the audience ( although some seemed too young for school)./it also had quite a lot of people without children. Despite signs and an announcement – and free masks available from the thrleatre a lot of the audience did not bother wearing them to help keep theatrescopen!

There was quite a bit of disruption with talkin, crying, singing sling moving around general disruption (including phones) but the front of house staff did their best to shush people or tell them to turn off phones and cameras.

It had some new songs and all the songs from the film – it also included links to Frozen 2, such as the line “Samatha?”. It also had lots of magical effects.

I had a £20 day ticket from the Disney Tickets website. It was slightly to the side, and the far right of the stage was blocked, but most of it could be seen. The full price was £79.50 and had I paid that much I would expect a much better view.

If you don’t like Frozen you probably wont like this, but if you do it is like a warm hug (or should that now be hygge)?

8/10

This is an amusing adaptation of the Noel Coward supernatural comedy about a man and his “spiritous” spouse.

Jennifer Saunders was ab fab as Madame Arcati with great performances from the rest of the cast too (Rose Wardlaw as Edith the maid, Lisa Dillon as Ruth, Geoffrey Streatfeild as Charles, Simon Coates as Dr Bradman, Lucy Robinson as Mrs Bradman and Madeleine Mantock as Elvira.

Although the theatre did check covid passes on entry and signs were suggesting the audience wear masks, unfortunately, not all did so. The theatre also advised people to turn up 60-90 mins early despite there not being much space to wait until the auditorium open about 30 mins before the performance.

I had an on the day bargain rush ticket from TodayTix, and it was a good view from the second row of the dress circle.

8/10

Managed to get an on the day rush ticket to see this musical. I saw no reminders about the advice to wear face masks which was disappointing, and probably less than a tenth of the audience was doing their bit to help keep theatres open and respecting others by reducing the spread and protecting others by wearing a mask.

I saw the 2005 version, and this was quite similar. It has similar visual stunts with moving scenery, unpacking the carpet bag, the proscenium part of step in time and Mary’s final flight.

The seat location was great, and the show was enjoyable, but the lack of masks and disruptive audience talking & fidgeting (not just children) and people taking photos/videos during the performance- front of house staff were quite good at spotting them and telling them to stop.

7/10

Got a £25 rush ticket through Todaytix (at my first attempt!) And fit the first time this year I actually git a paper ticket from the box office!

The seat had a good view in the stalls. Although, there were regular reminders about recording and phones; it is was the first theatre this year where I didn’t see or hear any reminders that face masks are advised – probably only around a third did their bit by choosing to wear masks.

It obviously had songs added, and there were a few changes from the film – no Libyans (a different crisis was used instead), but there were many things for fans of the film to spot – including the slightly creepy (but funny for fans who know what’s coming) “mummy’s boy” aspect. They also added some funny jokes about travelling to 2020 – to see that it’s like)

The casts did great I pressions of their film counterparts.

The theatre has decorated parts of the auditorium and the foyer in a Back to the Future theme, which added to the atmosphere.

It made use of lots of effects, including conveyor belts, revolves trap doors, black curtains ( and one time this was a little bit late, blinding flashing lights, bubble machines and what I can only assume was magic at the end ( as I thought I had worked it out until a twist or 2).

9/10