Free Theatre/Concert Tickets Discussion Thread

[Celini]

oh I see, and there was me thinking that it was the perfect running time for me tomorrow night... nope I'll have to stick to the matinee!

[tilly]

Jesus Christ it's bloody loud, wish l had brought ear plugs!

My parents said the same

[funthing29]

An extravagant mess. It was so LOUD, mind numbing loud. So loud in fact that some of the lyrics cannot be understood.

I don't know who's dim witted idea it was to cut out all the dialogue. The result is one song after another with no plot to hold them together. This can barely be considered a musical. It just doesn't work in an arena setting, too big, major sound issues and audience feels too far removed from the story on stage.

Quite a few walk outs.

I am surprised Andrew Lloyd Webber approved this deafening sloppy mess.

Best part was, surprisingly, Chris Moyles.

The show over-ran by at least 20 minutes. I don't know what time it actually finished since I had to leave early to catch the last train from Stratford.

4/10

[cinefila1]

An extravagant mess. It was so LOUD, mind numbing loud. So loud in fact that some of the lyrics cannot be understood.

I don't know who's dim witted idea it was to cut out all the dialogue. The result is one song after another with no plot to hold them together. This can barely be considered a musical. It just doesn't work in an arena setting, too big, major sound issues and audience feels too far removed from the story on stage.

Quite a few walk outs.

I am surprised Andrew Lloyd Webber approved this deafening sloppy mess.

Best part was, surprisingly, Chris Moyles.

The show over-ran by at least 20 minutes. I don't know what time it actually finished since I had to leave early to catch the last train from Stratford.

4/10

I'm having second thoughts about going tomorrow evening then...

[Beate]

OH absolutely loved it all. Chris Moyles' King of the Jews was easily the best part, it was fab. There were a couple of ballads I liked, and the choreography was nice, but I kind of dropped off a bit in the second half. I had earplugs in so the noise didn't bother me unduly.

We were awfully high, row K on Level 4, but we had no one in front and no one next to us (so much for being sold out) so could spread out a bit. The one thing about Level 4 is, the higher you sit the more the lighting system will be in the way of the big screen, so we never really saw the whole faces on the screen, they were kind of cut off, which was annoying.

Saw cheekyweelassie in front of the O2, PXC and canadian_turtle in the Sky backstage area and MariaLionza during the break. Cliveas and hdaniel82 were also around somewhere. We came backstage a bit late (only arrived at O2 at 6.50pm, had to get tickets then a sandwich) so only got a picture done and no massage or whatever they usually offer.

It finished at around 10.30pm I think. The break was awfully long, a full half hour. I know people need the toilet but why some folks have to refuel with chips is beyond me.

But for the first time ever, despite a bag search, I managed to smuggle two water bottles in without anyone noticing or caring - usually they take the tops off so I had some spares in my handbag!

[canadian_turtle]

oh I see, and there was me thinking that it was the perfect running time for me tomorrow night... nope I'll have to stick to the matinee!

It started at 8.15, l was never gonna be home at 9.15, lol

Running time is about 2hrs incl interval.

[mupton]

An extravagant mess. It was so LOUD, mind numbing loud. So loud in fact that some of the lyrics cannot be understood.

I don't know who's dim witted idea it was to cut out all the dialogue. The result is one song after another with no plot to hold them together. This can barely be considered a musical. It just doesn't work in an arena setting, too big, major sound issues and audience feels too far removed from the story on stage.

Quite a few walk outs.

I am surprised Andrew Lloyd Webber approved this deafening sloppy mess.

Best part was, surprisingly, Chris Moyles.

The show over-ran by at least 20 minutes. I don't know what time it actually finished since I had to leave early to catch the last train from Stratford.

4/10

I would not go as far as calling it a mess. But do agree with what you say generally, it doesn't work in an arena setting. Perhaps they should have went for the Apollo Hammersmith?

Given the ticket prices £75/50 it had poor production values. Indeed a bit of a rip off really. When the Royal Ballet went to the 02 they ensured (apart from the corporate seats) that the ticket prices were lower than the Opera House itself, as they wanted to use the performances to increase access. Here with prices higher or about the West End level it was a bit of a cash cow given the staging and effects. Indeed we could done with two more screens either of the stage; though it would seem that the SFF people in level four had the better view than those on the sides.

Agree about Chris Moyles, the role suited him. Melanie C is a bit of a star turn. But that didn't surprise me. She should do more stage work.

It was around 2 hours 20 minutes including a 25 minute interval. It did start 10 minutes late; though that might have been the audience fault - very slow getting in. (Timings for tomorrow night on the 02 Arena website).

If you are going tomorrow; don't be put off. I had an enjoyable evening. But had I spent £75 or £50; maybe not. If your a Sky customer - book a place at the backstage bar; but get there early, girls (or even boys) if you want a complimentary make over.

[fetta]

How awful, I was looking forwards to tomorrow but might reconsider. Its my favorite movie musical but didn't even consider b*ying tickets as I wasn't impressed by the casting, and now with the negative reviews can't say that I want to see it even for free. Plus I just got the sniffles so my head is throbbing on its own, I don't really need to go to the O2 for that either. On the other hand would love to see Chris Moyles' King of the Jews. Maybe tomorrow morning I will be better able to decide

[Beate]

Indeed we could done with two more screens either of the stage;

I totally agree, it would have solved our problem with the overhanging technicals.

[prettyxcool]

Thank you so much to Beate and Cliveas for their spare backstage passes, as I totally forgot to print some off (bit disorganised today, being last day at work before my break, and so much to do!), and so did not have to queue up with the "public", the queues were a mile long, but sailed through to the Sky VIP area. We were late as had to wait for a friend, so only managed to get our photos done and saw c-t, funthing, and Beate. Lovely to catch up with mandmc10 too, who came and sat with us.

This was LOUD as everyone else has said, but once I found some tissues and stuffed my ears with it (as forgot my earplugs!), it was fine, not surprising really, as we were level with the speakers! We had great seats though, facing the stage dead centre, but we were high up, Level 4! OH b*ght binoculars, so watch the entire show through them, as could not handle the big screen only seeing what the camera wanted us to see, did not like that, and so I got a more intimate experience, plus the fact that through the binoculars, everything was much sharper than the images on the screen. So much, much better than I expected, as theatre does not do well in such a big venue. Chris Moyles and Mel C were both good. The sets were really good by just a change of colour. I actually thoroughly enjoyed this as did my friend, and my OH! A unanimous 8/10.