cackles

I had no problem last night - walked in, picked up cast list plus changes slip from the front desk (Bow Street entrance). Reading the above I must have been lucky! My heart always sinks though when I see them on the desk.

I am surprised that no one has commented on the candles flying around in the last act and how carefully both Nela and Natasha avoided tripping on them.

I'm not surprised that you wanted to comment on Rothbart, Capybara! My friends and I did the same when we met up in the interval!

Did you get his name? It is not clear in the photo I took of the cast list.  Something like A. Laidkin???

I know that Dmitri Akulinin danced the part on the first night but it was definitely not him!

I also went to see the matinee today and thought the production was dire - only saved by Kimin Kim. Any  excitement in Act 3 was undone by Stepanova milking the applause for so long, but this is the Russian way I know. The jester is always a good dancer but I find him extremely irritating. I can just about accept him in the 1st Act but have always thought that he gets in the way in the black act. I won't comment on Von Rothbart as I might upset the moderators! I came away thinking thank goodness I had seen so many excellent performances at the RB earlier this summer.

As regards the audience - don't get me started!!! People wandering in and out, talking non-stop during the overture and the pause and poorly behaved children. I was glad that I had purchased a concessionary standby as opposed to paying full price. 

Last year I was able to cross The Strand quite easily on my way to the ROH - the police told me to dodge between the stragglers who were still running!

When I looked earlier Akane Takada was not listed as a Principal either.

On ‎2‎/‎8‎/‎2018 at 18:15, Fiz said:

Matthew was loudly cheered by those of us who were there until the end of the curtain calls!

Matthew was loudly cheered by those of us who were there until the end of the curtain calls!

OOps - I did something wrong there!

I haven't heard anything from them either. I have a ticket for 21April - Row B.

I totally agree with Ruth - a beautiful performance.

Lovely tribute from Thiago on Instagram as well.

I was also there. It was an excellent evening and I think I will be watching it again before I go to see it at the ROH.

There is an announcement in today's Times.

There will be a private funeral and a Memorial Service in London in the spring.

Gary Avis has tweeted that Annette Page died yesterday. Sad news.

Elizabeth Harrod and James Hay were the goats at both the rehearsal and last night's performance.

The wind could be felt in the amphi! I was in row D and it got quite chilly.

I recently took a 4 year old to see ENB's My First Cinderella at the Peacock. It was her first trip to see a ballet in a theatre. She loved it and asked at the interval if she could go on stage and dance with them! When a child in the row behind began talking she turned and glared at them just as I do in the ROH! I thought that bodes well for the future!

Having an on stage narrator is an excellent idea. I thought that the length of the performance was just right. She went home happily wearing a Fairy Godmother's tiara and clutching her magic wand ready to dance it all for her Daddy.

The order was the same at the rehearsal today. As stated above the Gorecki lasts 30 minutes.

I managed to get a seat in the front row last night and I am just a lowly friend! I had to make a quick sprint up the stairs though, or the nearest I can manage to a quick sprint these days. However, I did notice that the audience seemed to be a different mix last night with quite a number of "usual faces" missing. (I don't mean that rudely!)

I enjoyed the masterclass and hearing the comments from the dancers during the discussion about the difficulties they were experiencing with the Bausch being so different from their usual style, having to dance barefooted and concerns about dancing on earth. Also Madison was talking about it being her 4th Sacre, all from different choreographers! I thought Aitor Arrieta did very well as he only began dancing the role yesterday when he replaced another dancer who had injured his wrist.

I can't always applaud as much as I would like as I have arthritis. A bad flare up of my hands means it is too painful, but I always feel guilty when there has been an excellent performance. I have got used to receiving funny looks from others around me in the amphi!

I totally agree with Bruce and SPD444. A wonderful performance. I floated down Floral Street, not too gracefully, with a big smile on my face!

Nutcracker - although I love the music

Most of McGregor's work

Last year the cast list and programme sheet was not available until the interval. Before that we just had to hope we recognised the dancers!

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Whoops! I hit send before I'd finished. I had meant to add that The King dances programme on the BBC is available on You Tube. I went in to re-watch it through the ROH link. Linda

I also bumped into a non forum friend who had been in class with me years ago and we had a bit of a reminisce about that!​

I am a forum member Lin! I just don't post very often although I am a regular reader.

Greg Eldridge told the audience that Matthew had only flown in that morning. 

I agree with you Bruce - a very special debut. I am so glad I was there to see it.

Yes, it was Kate Church. She was sitting in the arena next to me!