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Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

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#1

Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:32pm

Has anyone else been put off by the "tube" noise at the Imperial in London - saw Billy Elliot there a few weeks ago, and when the miners descend in the elevators at the opening of the show I thought "wow - great sound effects - authentic bass" but then every 5 to 8 minutes there was this low - highly audible rumble - very distracting -

didn't Carnegie Hall have a similar problem rectified several years ago -


#2

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:49pm

Interesting. I saw Billy Elliot in London, sitting in the stalls, and don't remember the rumblings at all.

I remember they used to be horrendous in the Broadway Theatre. Not sure if they still are, as it seems I've mainly been mezzanine more recently.

Edit: I just realized you said London's Imperial Theatre. Isn't it still at the Victoria Palace?


Updated On: 9/9/08 at 12:49 PM

#3

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:51pm

I think you mean the Victoria Palace :)

I don't think we have an Imperial in London.
Everything in life...is only for now.

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 12:51 PM

#4

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 1:08pm

Billy Elliot will be at the Imperial Theatre in New York.



p.s. We don't refer to our underground as tubes, and the trains are absolutely silent. The only rumblings we've heard in the past few years have come from the TKTS booth construction.
#5

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 1:15pm

I have been seeing Broadway shows for 12 years. And the only outside noise that I have heard during the show was either a car horn or a siren. Both of which never really bothered me. After living in NYC for 18 years I realize that those are part of the soundtrack of the city and thus not put off by them.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#6

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 2:21pm

Although this thread's title is deliberately misleading, I agree that the noise from the tube trains under the Victoria Palace is a problem.

And the miners don't descend the pits at the opening of the show; it happens towards the end.
#7

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 2:24pm

I seem to remember hearing rumblings while seeing Assassins at Studio 54. I know I heard outside noise because I can remember being distracted. Also happened when I saw A Touch of the Poet.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#8

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 3:17pm

I saw Billy Elliot in London last year, sat in the stalls and don't remember hearing any sort of rumblings, never have in any West End show, to my knowledge.

"I trained as a classical actor at Juilliard. I jump at the opportunity to do classical text...But I never in a million years guessed I'd get to play Juliet!"- Michael Arden
#9

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 3:24pm

It was very noticeable at the Pheonix during Blood Brothers but is not as bad as when the fire station right outside the Palace gets a call...

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 03:24 PM

#10

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 3:59pm

The problem is worse at The Criterion, The Garrick and The Wyndams.
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#12

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 4:13pm

Where is studio 56? I only know of a Studio 54... re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable." -F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
#14

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 6:29pm

You get tube noises at quite a lot of London theatres. It's kinda unavoidable, particularly when half the theatres are rather underground. (Does anyone know how the Savoy is for tubes? I can't remember offhand, but that's a terrifically below-ground-level theatre. XD) You get used to 'em. Although as WickedBoy said, I've noticed that the Garrick and the Criterion are particularly bad for 'em. XD

Personally, I find the police sirens whizzing down Shaftesbury Avenue more of a distraction when at the Apollo/Lyric/Gielgud/Queen's, but maybe that's just me. ^_^
Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter
#15

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:08pm

Its never really affected my theatre going in London at all to be honest, and im there quite a lot

I do remember doing a show in London however and hearing the tube a lot then, but that was when we were in the dressing rooms
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
#16

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:09pm

Weez, The Savoy is tube free as the Circle and District lines run about 50 mtr down to wards the river and the Embankment. You would be surprised how much of the Savoy Theatre is above ground as the whole the block is on a big slope.
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#17

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:54pm

Of all the shows I saw recently, I've never heard any tube noise going off.

Probably because I'm focused on what's going on inside the theatre, rather that out.
Everything in life...is only for now.
#18

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/10/08 at 5:12am

Duke of York's pretty awful too. Sitting in the middle of the stalls, I literally had to ****my ears to hear the quietly spoken parts of a play. The tube was that noisy!
#19

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/10/08 at 9:18am

I've seen Billy Elliot 6 times now from Balcony to front of Stalls and never heard tube noises! But pretty much most of the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue you can hear either cars/street noises OR tube noises... annoying, esp when a police car goes by! URGH!
All That Jazz Check out & support my drawings @ www.facebook.com/felixdrawings
#20

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:27am

When I saw Billy Elliott last year, I don't remember any noise from the Underground. What I do remember was thinking, "Ok, now I get the hype."
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#21

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

Posted: 9/11/08 at 10:26am

re: Billy Elliot Theatre in London . . . Awful

The gorgeous Victoria Palace Theatre, London.
Billys home

A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'

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