Posted by theaterdrew 2012-04-15 13:46:52
Does anyone have an opinion on how likely it will be to find decent seats for Les Mis at tkts? We want to attend on Monday, June 11, and all I can find on-line are full price (no discounts). I could book row S at second price now, but I would hate to do that and then find that those seats or better ones were available at a discount if I had waited.
I've looked at theatremonkey, and it seems the only complaint about row S is that a little bit of the rig is cut off, but not much happens up there anyway. Does that seem correct?Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by Mark_E 2012-04-15 14:00:09
The best thing to do is check the TKTS website tomorrow and see if it is up there. I know quite often though it's only there at full price on TKTS anyway.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by theaterdrew 2012-04-15 14:16:11
Thank you--I hadn't thought about monitoring the TKTS website to see if there's a pattern.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by Phantom of London 2012-04-15 16:59:34
Or failing that there are reasonable views for £20/£15 views from the Upper Circle.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by TBFL 2012-04-15 17:17:34
Did you know that you can buy Les Mis tickets from tkts, up to a week in advance? You dont need to wait for the actual day of performance.
Ive sat in the back row of the dress circle and the only thing you missed was the top of the waving flag, and a small amount of the time/place projections, nothing that could spoil the show.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by theaterdrew 2012-04-15 19:03:09
Given the timing of our trip, seven day advance sales won't help. TKTS on-line full price selection for next Monday (23/04) is pretty poor, and that's just for a Monday in April. I imagine June will be even poorer.
The teenager I'm taking picked the show as the one she wanted to see while we are there, so I want her to have a good experience. I don't want the most expensive seats but I'll pay £45, which is why I was looking at row S in the stalls. I usually avoid the Upper Circle because it feels too detached to me, but I guess I'll have to decide what's worse, a further back, partially blocked view or a steeper viewing angle. Thank you for your comments!
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by My Oh My 2012-04-15 21:27:03
I adamantly recommend splurging and getting the best possible seats in the stalls. No, there is nothing wrong with upper circle or what have you, but I'd prefer the first 7-10 rows of the stalls for the following reasons:
- While what gets "cut-off" from view in the upper and dress circles isn't enough to spoil the show, I know it's always irritating when one feels their views are limited in some way. This show is big on what I call "stage pictures," or iconic and powerful moments that are symbolic and expressive in unique ways. It's always nice to get the full perspective right there in front of you.
-In the stalls, you get to see the show from the most effective level and not from above where the constantly revolving stage could prove distracting. Depends though. I know plently who feel the view is better up there and the revolve movement only adding to the fade in/out effect it produces.
-Some of staging "tricks" unique to live theatre are revealed when sitting up high. For example, Fantine can be seen being helped by stagehands and fellow cast members changing into her whore get-up, while sitting in the stalls hides it as it was meant to. I like the way she suddenly appears with what appears to be 20 years and a loss of any dignity added on her only 20 seconds later. It's no big deal, really. But I do have a slight problem with being able to see the students get up and walk off stage during the oboe solo. I've personally have never seen that since I've never sat up there but some feel it spoils the moment. Again, depends.
-Javert's suicide's effectiveness. Also depends, since some will never find it effective due to silly needs to see a body actually falling or like in the new tour being hoisted Peter Pan style. I find it very clever yet simple and certainly effective. I've read reports that it looks better from afar and others stating it's better up close.
-All the above aren't really all that convincing and mostly all depend on the audience member and their needs/likes/dislikes/whatever. But if I should present a visual argument for sitting in the stalls at level with the stage it would be these final moments of this video of the first act finale at the Queen's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M_a5cWts_w#t=2m21s
And to be fair, it looks pretty awesome from high above too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IBHrXnSZZU#t=2m31s
Ahh. Tough choice!
(Not really, stalls all the way!! XD Remember, in this show, expressions and acting are just as important and can make or break a performance, so there you go. Stalls. LOL)
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by jaqs 2012-04-16 02:20:50
It's often not that big a saving on tkts for les mis, as they tend to have premium seats marked down to the price of a normal stall seat, and normal seats are usually 25% off not 50%.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by ClapYo'Hands 2012-04-16 02:40:33
My advice: Do NOT sit underneath the overhang in the Queen's Theatre. You will regret it. Generally, it's not that great a theatre for sight lines, with the steep upper circle also not being that good.
For once, I agree with My Oh My, get the front of stalls.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by MamasDoin'Fine 2012-04-16 05:16:32
it's in the wrong theatre!
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by ClapYo'Hands 2012-04-16 05:45:11
I don't even think Les Misérables should be at that theatre. If they couldn't keep it somewhere of a decent size, like The Palace, they just should have closed it.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by TBFL 2012-04-16 07:52:22
Why would you close a show that is making money?? It's not as if every seat at the Palace has a good view, far from it. I will never sit anywhere above the dress circle there, and their balcony is the only place i have ever had vertigo.... watching the show but all i could think about was falling off the balcony, attempting to grab the chandalier, missing it and plummeting down to the floor! lol
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by ClapYo'Hands 2012-04-16 07:54:41
It's just a shame it's playing at The Queen's, a theatre that I feel is completely unsuitable for the show in size and shape.
Chances of Les Mis on tkts?
Posted by theaterdrew 2012-04-16 19:43:18
Ok, I've been convinced, especially my MyOhMy's youtube clips, that we need to see this from the stalls, but much closer than row S. Now I still have to decide whether to risk the good seats selling out and wait for a possible discount, or cave in and buy now. {{sigh}}
I appreciate everyone's input!
