A Christmas Carol

I wanted to see it this year as it is supposed to be the last year

I got tickets but I must say something regarding Madison Square Garden . They have about 20 to 24 ticket windows. About 60 % were closed ( with Christmas season & Simon & Garfunkel yet). They than have the audacity to charge a $ 4.50 "Facility Fee" to each ticket over $ 15. They have no tickets under $ 15 unless they are in the restrooms. Therefore 2 people pay $ 9 for the privilege of walking thru the front door. I rarely go to the garden & now it will be never. As Chico Marx used to say "That's Chutzpah"

THe Shuberts & the Nederlanders are pikers with their "restoration charges" compared to these guys. The Shuberts etc are petty thieves but the Garden boys are Willie Suttons

Bah Humbug - I will enjoy the show though

eive

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Good Luck. Unless Spitzer sees another way to boost his popularity for his run for Governor in a few years, he will not be interested

All his crusading remings me of "Superman" ( sorry to offend 1 person out there who does not like me mentioning this name ) Spitzer's campaign song should be "Doing Good" (Sorry again)

Re restoration charges, you pay to improve their property & they probably take it off their taxes . Either they double dip & take a tax deduction or they take in this money & I wonder if they report it. Nice litle deal they have. Wonder when they will try & increase the "restoration charge" as you know they will

The best is shows like "Gypsy" that instead of the production eating the $ 1.25 extra charge they charge the full $ 100 & let the theater owners than tack on the extra fees to bring the ticket to over $ 100. It stands out like a sore thumb instead of being hidden in the $ 100 price

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Updated On: 12/4/03 at 07:50 PM

Official explanation is they lost so much of their audience after 9/11 that they never recovered from it . It is also probably very expensive to produce & is located away from Times Square. Both ticket prices are high so people are choosing Radio City Over The Paramount's Christmas Show

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Cast members have never been fond of performing in this version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The theater was designed as a concert venue and the backstage facilities aren't up to the demands of a show this size. Actors have crawl space under the stage to get from stage right to stage left. Also, the performance schedule is a killer!

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