Patrick

I just noticed that a new production of the classic American comedy "Solid Gold Cadillac" opens next month and runs through January. Why is this good? Because it stars the wonderful actress, Patricia Routledge - better know as Mrs. Bucket!

Merseyheart

Oh, I wish. I had the good fortune to see Patricia in a production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" a few years ago. I've seen the play several times, but she managed to bring something new to her interpretation of Lady Bracknell. She's from the Liverpool area, and gained some early experience at the Liverpool Playhouse, I believe.

Patrick

Yes, I know. She was touring that show (one of my all time favorites) when we were headed to London and I was ready to hop a train and head out anywhere to see it, but its final location closed just a few days before we arrived in the UK.

FromAtlanta

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE "The Importance of Being Earnest!!" ... Oh yes, I can see her very well as Lady Bracknell. (No doubt adding a bit of Mrs. Bucket )

Oh! Only until January- I'll miss it by 4 months.

I know very well what it is like to see a play you adore performed by an actor you adore. In 2002 I had the once in a lifetime privilege of actually seeing Tartuffe perfomed on stage ... and with Martin Clunes in the title role!!

Patrick, are you going to go see it? I am SO JEALOUS!!!

Patrick

Well, you needed be jealous. Nope, I'll miss it. No plans for the UK in the coming year at all, sadly!

spring212

Thanks for the heads up, Patrick. After seeing your post I checked the London Theatre Guide for details and noticed that it's booking until Jan 15th, but that might not be the end of the run.

carolyn

My daughter and I are going to London for a week in October, and I have just ordered tickets for Solid Gold Cadillac through a site called seetickets.com that I found through theatermonkey. Only paid £1.50 each over the regular price to have the tickets mailed to me,

I didn't want to take a chance on not being able to get them. We were not able to get tickets to see Judi Dench and Maggie Smith after we arrived a couple of years ago, and I am still disappointed.

jody

carolyn, I too have just used www.seetickets.com. And I can't say how pleased I am! I paid about 2 GBP over the TKTS booth price and I have them in hand and no waiting in line and no getting to the counter and being sold out!
I had them in hand in 7 days after ordering, I am a now a regular!

Patrick

jody, I'm confused. You got them for just two pounds over "half price" -- the TKTS price? Are you talking about Solid Gold Cadillac or another show?

I hope you both report back on the production.

Patrick

By the way, my biggest objection with seetickets is that you don't get to pick seats. If paying full price,I'd still much rather call the theatre direct and pick exact seats. On the other hand if you can get half price tickets from them in advance, then that's a good thing.

Bree

As usual, I echo Patrick's sentiments on this subject. I saw only full price tickets for The Solid Gold Cadillac when I looked at seetickets a couple of weeks ago. I ended up calling the theatre, and was happy I did, because I got a great seat (fifth row stalls, dead center), instead of the seat all the way over at the end of a row that seetickets kept offering me, no matter which of several different dates I entered. I'll also report back on the production after I see it.

While we're on the subject -- has anyone heard any scuttlebutt about the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, The Woman in White, which is opening in London next month? Previews haven't started yet, so it's too early for anyone to have seen a performance, but I wondered if anyone had heard any buzz about the production, for better or worse. I haven't much liked any of the other Lloyd Webber shows I've seen, but for some reason I'm intrigued by this one, and am debating whether to buy a ticket for it in advance of my trip to London.

kmowatt

Hi Bree,
I'll be in London in late September and am thinking about getting tickets for this show also - the book was great! Try visiting the web site for the show for more info - it has a section for reviews so once the show opens we should be able to read about the previews. Go to: www.thewomaninwhitethemusical.com

Bree

Thanks,kmowatt!

jody

Hi Patrick,

Sorry for the confusion. The tickets were not for Solid Gold Cadillac, but rather Journey's End. I checked the current day's TKTS price on the Official London Theater site and then on seetickets and it was only about 2 GBP more.

I couldn't believe how quickly they arrived. Twice we've missed tickets we wanted at TKTS because they'd sold out when we got there. I'll let you know about the seating though!

carolj

Solid Gold Cadillac opens 9/27, the day after we leave London! Darn!!! It previews from 9/22. Anyone know exactly what that means? Is it possible to get tickets for the 25th?

janis

Previews are reduced cost performances - essentially they are dress rehearsals. But they are usually exactly the same as the regular run. DEFINITELY book for previews if they fall during your stay . . . . . . Even the previews can sell out ahead of time for really big shows/stars.

Bree

carolj, you're in luck -- there are matinee and evening performances of The Solid Gold Cadillac on September 25. I just took a quick look at seetickets, and tickets for previews are listed at the same price I paid for a post-opening performance (I guess the days of the reduced-price preview are gone).

By the way, the seats seetickets offered for the 25th are the same end-of-the-row seats I was offered for my date, which (according to the invaluable www.theatremonkey.com) "should be avoided as the viewing angle is not acceptable value from a top price seat." Based on my experience, you can get much better seats by calling the theater directly, at 011-44-20-7850-8530 (just remember to figure out the time difference between wherever you are and London, and call during regular business hours on a weekday).

Patrick

Or if you're not on a special international dialing plan dial: 101-6400 or 101-6868 and then that entire number. It will save you money. A total of 4.9 cents a minute last time for me.
I agree it would be better to call the box office direct.

lacontessa

Sorry that I didn't read this thread before I bought my theater tickets--looks like I could have gotten better seats by calling directly. Oh well. Did get seats for Woman in White and Solid Gold Cadillac. Any suggestions of where to eat near Garrick Theatre and Solid Gold Cadillac? Pre-theater special in easy walking distance would be nice--we decided to see two, not just one show while in London for 2 nights late October.

carolyn

Patrick, hope you see this in case you didn't see my London trip report. You were right about calling the theater instead of using seetickets.com. Our seats were not very good. Fortunately, the manager gave us much better ones at no additional cost. (The theater was not full.)

Patricia Routledge was delightful. For her trip to Washington, she came out wearing a dress that looked to be made of waffle pique (sort of stiff). It was white with big black polka dots and had the skirt had flat, wide pleats. Her hat was black with big white polka dots on it, and she wore black patent shoes and carried a purse over her arms--so 60s--and, of course, she looked as big as the side of a barn. It was just perfect.