Matinee Days

Getting ready to arrive in London tomorrow, many of my shows are now booked (all except Priscilla at great discounts, thanks to people here). But looking through the listings I've noticed a rather substantial change in London since two years ago. It used to be that matinees were kind of evenly distributed from Wednesday through Saturday, but now most shows seem to have followed the Broadway pattern and only do matinees on Wed. and Sat. There used to be a feature on OfficialLondonTheatre where you could put in a time (like a Friday matinee) and see what was playing, but that's no longer there. Any suggestions for what matinees there are on Friday and Tuesday in particular? And anything happening on Sunday night this week I should be aware of?

I do see Jersey Boys has a matinee on Tuesday, so if Tkts has that I'll do it (if not getting a ticket there for tomorrow night. I think that's one show that would keep me awake in my jet-lag stupor tomorrow -- and after War Horse tomorrow afternoon. But I'm not seeing much of anything (I didn't check out the old and already seen) for Friday afternoons or an alternative for Tuesday if I see Jersey Boys tomorrow night.

Mon: No Matinees

Tues: - Carousel (2.30pm)
- Jersey Boys (2.30pm)
- Phantom (2.30pm)

Wed: - Lion King (2pm)
- A Little Night Music (2.30pm)
- Les Mis (2.30pm)
- Oliver! (2.30pm)
- Sunset Boulevard (2.30pm)
- Joseph (3pm)
- Spring Awakening (2.30pm)
- We Will Rock You (2.30pm)
- Wicked (2.30pm)

Thurs: - Billy Elliot (2.30pm)
- Carousel (2.30pm)
- La Cage Aux Folles (2.30pm)
- Priscilla (2.30pm)
- Blood Brothers (3pm)
- Hairspray (3pm)

Fri: - Dirty Dancing (3pm)
- Chicago (5pm)
- Mamma Mia (5pm)
- Grease (5.30pm)

Sat: - Everyshow (2pm - 4pm start)

Sun: - Lion King (3pm)
- Thriller (3.30pm)

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 10:00 AM

Thanks, all of you. I'm set for Thursday mat. with War Horse. I don't see anything there for Friday unless it would be Dirty Dancing, but I don't really want to spend 60 pounds to see it, and don't think it is at TKTS. Maybe they do a senior concession at the theatre day of show??? Worth checking.

And the only thing I see I'd want for Tuesday in Jersey Boys. Looks like they should be doing that at TKTS, so perhaps I should opt for something else on Thursday night.

And I did see that LeClique has Sunday night at 6 -- perhaps I should see that after (hopefully) getting a single for Madame de Sade at 3 on Sunday. I'll also look at The Last Five Years -- which I know nothing about.

>>>>>>Edit <<<<<< OH. I knew that as Notes from New York -- sounds interesting. Should I see it (final performance, I guess, on Sunday evening -- or should I see LeClique?>>>>>>>>>>

I'm seeing Priscilla, La Cage, Sunset Blvd, Peer Gynt at the Barbican, War Horse, and Carousel. Would like to get at TKTS Enjoy and a View from the Bridge. So I'm not pretty well filled up. I guess Calendar Girls might be a decent TKTS option for Tomorrow night which should keep me awake after the flight and the long day -- sure don't want anything "heavy". Then I could do Jersey Boys on Tuesday mat.

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 10:12 AM

If you want to stay awake, I wouldn't recommend Calendar Girls!

Pretty tedious.

I thought the Mousetrap was there simply to make it easier to find The Ivy. NO?

Well Friday was a first for me in London -- no matinee on a Friday -- there used to be so many. In fact several times in the past I've done three shows on Friday -- a 2:30 matinee, then one of those 5:00 ones and an evening 8 PM show. I did go by Dirty Dancing which I don't even care about, but no discounts or concessions -- and no way I'm paying 60 to see it. No other real choices for me. And of course, as usual no show on Monday afternoon. They pretty much assured me at TKTS that they'll have matinee discount tickets on Tuesday for Jersey Boys, so that will take care of that. And planning on A View from the Bridge for Wednesday, so that will fill all my remaining slots.