My sister and I are going to London in March. We are both in our 50s. We live in a small town in Georgia-so don't get to see a lot of plays. What is the best one for us to see? We like musicals. What is the best seats for the money? I wish I could say money is no object - but it is. Please give me some advice. Thanks!

See Jerry Springer-the Opera..musical or not!! Some here have raved about "Anything Goes" also.

Want to shed a few tears while at it. Blood Brothers has been playing in London forever. It is a very interesting musical about two twin brothers separated at birth -- one raised poor and one raised rich. Their lives cross. It is so London, and I think you'd love it. It's not really a downer, but you will shed a few tears.
You can ALWAYS get half price tickets for at the Leicester Square half price booth (the free standing building in the "park" at Leicester Square.

I have to say that unless you'd like to see Mamma Mia (which I personally enjoyed very very much!!),,,,you cannot, repeat: CANNOT go wrong with Patrick's advice on Blood Brothers....

It was one of the best shows I've seen in many years, and I would highly recommend it.....Since I assume that you are visiting London from the States, my vote for Blood Brothers is based on the fact that Mamma Mia has been/ will be touring all over the US for some time to come. You can't see Blood Brothers in the US AFAIK.

Best wishes for a great trip!! Dave

Oh actually, I like to cry at movies, etc so that sounds like it's right down my alley. what theatre is it playing?

It's playing at the Phoenix, but again, I'd suggest unless you like to spend money needlessly, get half price tickets at the booth. The top price tickets there are currently 22.50 pounds each as opposed to 40 pounds at the theatre.
I noticed in a couple weeks this production will hit its 12th anniversary.

I have to agree with the suggestion of Blood Brothers. Us in the UK take it a bit for granted cause it's been in London for years and is always touring, but for someone from the US - it's the perfect choice.

Martin

I will, with a doubt, go for the 1/2 price tickets! thanks....

Here's another vote for Blood Brothers. I saw it a few years ago and loved it .
The cast seemed to enjoy the play as much as the audience did. The story takes place in 1960's Liverpool, there's class distinction , pathos and humor .
This year, I saw " Anything Goes", which I had seen before in the U .S. ( but my friend in London had already purchased tickets for us and I wasn't opposed to seeing it again In this one you get 1930's romance and familiar toe tapping tunes.
I also saw "Thoroughly Modern Millie" this year. I really enjoyed this one, too. It had a fun, fluffy story and lots of 1920's flapper costumes , a fishy landlady, a sight gag, and snappy dancing.

From a strictly dramatic point of view, all the great British plays have somehow revolved around "class struggle" and class differences...so that's one reason it is probably so great (but I still think you'd like Jerry Springer even if you've denied to everyone you ever knew that you watch that show

Blood Brothers is a very moving and dramatic show; we saw it in NY a number of years ago. It's not a typical Broadway musical experience, if that's what you're looking for.

Mamma Mia is OK, but you can see how they stretched to twist the plot to fit already written ABBA songs.

Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie are the old fashioned type of silly musical, although the first is old, and the second new.

If ABBA played as much a part in your teenage years as it did in mine, and if you love ABBA, then you really should see this play...you will be standing on your feet screaming "Waterloo" at the end! I agree the plot is thin, but you can say that for most musicals, and anyway you really are going to hear the music anyway. . .

No rule that says you can't see more than one play if you have the time. As you don't get to cities with live theatre much, you might enjoy several evenings at the theatre.

Also, the longest running plan (someone correct me if I am wrong) is Mousestrap, a farce with British humour. Mostly toursts in the audience now, but still funny, I have seen it twice literally 20 years apart and still enjoyed it!

Its not a musical, but if you are a Judi Dench fan, All's Well That Ends Well will be playing then.

I saw Blood Brothers, it really sounded like the type of show I wanted to see. I'm not sorry I saw it, but found it only so-so. Perhaps because it is so depressing.

If I hadn't bought the cast CD in advance and been familiar with the music by the time I went, I think I would have cared less for it.

Shows in the West End often have what seem like very short runs. Many of the shows that will be playing in March may not open until February.

Keith

I was planning to pick up tickets for both Bombay Dreams and Blood Brothers for our family trip to London this February (2 adults, 2 teens). I usually purchase tickets by calling the box office as I am afraid that if I wait and try the half price booth in London, I will either not get the shows that I want or I will have bad seats. I hear that both these shows are now offered at the half price booth - any one know what kind of seats of available? My only comparison is NYC and I ususally have very bad luck with the half price booth (limited tickets and very poor seats!) I hate paying full price if I don't have to.

Susan, of course there are no guarantees about what will be available, but let me say this.
I'm very picky about seats -- absolutely won't sit more that one or two rows behind where the balcony overhangs the stalls (orchestra) and won't sit any further back than the first couple of rows of a first circle or mezzanine. For this reason I do not buy tickets at the booth in New York -- the three times I did, seats were not to my liking.

But I buy nearly all my tickets (except really hot shows) in London at the half price booth. First of all, they generally only sell the top bracket tickets, so you won't be way in the back or upper balcony. The worst is that sometimes they are first or second row seats -- a little close for musicals, but fine to me for plays. But I've also found them to be pretty accomodating at the London booth. If you have two shows you want to see, ask them which has the better tickets for tonight and they will tell you and offer those. Be prepared for a choice or two and you're better off.

I'm not real sure about Bombay Dreams, but you can get GOOD seats for Blood Brothers all the time. Also, generally speaking you can get better choice of tickets or better seats during the week than for weekends.

Boy, am I surprised by these suggestions.

We were in London a year and a half ago, and had prepurchased tickets for My air Lady.

On a Saturday afternoon we happened to walk past Leicester Sq and we decided to buy tickets for Blood Brothers. Our daughter had seen it the year before and recommended it.

It was great!!!!!

I'm not sure if anybody had mentioned the musinc as well. Very catchy.

I'm also a big Mama Mia fan. We saw it in South Florida and expect to see it again when it returns in the spring.

Will be in NYC next week and would like to see it there. Not sure if it's at TKTS and don't feel like waiting in line.

Blood Brothers is almost most assuredly going to be available at the TKTS. I think so is Bombay Dreams. The seats from TKTS are usually excellent.

Do not see Bombay Dreams if it is going to be the ONE musical you are seeing. I saw it in October and found it fair at best. I would certainly see Phantom of the Opera if you have never seen it. Otherwise see Mamma Mia if you have not seen it in the USA or Blood Brothers (which I saw in Chicago years ago). We also enjoyed Thoroughly Modern Millie last month but it would not be my one musical.

Hands down, it's gotta be My Fair Lady! It's the quintessensial British musical. You won't be disappointed. - Kari.

I'd probably agree with My Fair Lady, except that it has closed in London.