I am a sucker for front rows -the saga-

Some people don’t like them, front row seats. They fear a stiff neck, having no overview of the show, lighting and dance numbers. They fear a bit of restricted view, as you can’t see feet sometimes. They fear of getting wet at “Singing in the rain”, the last I can understand. I totally respect their feelings.

Me-on the other hand-, I just love them!

It’s the feeling of being totally immersed in a show.

Of seeing the performers so close you can see every expression, or see their spit when they are singing ;-), do you need me to call names, no, I think we all know one or two!

Maybe it’s just that I want to forget all the people who are sitting behind me, and just imagine I am getting a personal performance just for me. Just imagine! My dream bubble eventually bursts at the curtain call, when I hear the applause from behind me.

I have queued for front row day seats to see Wicked for more than 2 hours, and loved the whole experience. After 15 minutes I started chatting to the other people in the line, fans of musical theatre from all around the world, and it was so enjoyable and interesting, and time went by very quickly. And those front seats that evening, wow, I just loved them! And by then, I knew all the people who were sitting on the same row as me. And we made a 'pact' to start cheering when Elphaba came on stage, such sweet memories!

I once had an amazing experience sitting front row to see “Jesus Christ Superstar” with Ted Neeley, just because the energy of that show, of that one performance I saw was so unique. I could just feel the energy and the enthousiasm of the cast flowing to the audience, and from behind me, as the audience kind off reacted as one person, one “whole singular being” their energy flowed back and lifted the performers to a higher level, each time. It was like waves. The people on stage and the people in the audience, we lifted eachother up. When it finished I still felt that bubbling energy inside me for hours. I had the chance to talk to Ted Neeley about this. He called it a spiritual experience. Maybe I’m not that spiritual, but I call it one of the most magical things I ever felt in a theatre.

When Cinderella tickets were on sale, I was among the first to book front row center seats, but my dissapointment was huge when after several rebookings due to Covid, I lost my front row center, got front row side, I was so sad…It may seen unnecessary or even childish, but for me it’s important. Those tickets are for November, so I still have to be patient to wait and see Cinderella from the front row.

But now, when my next London theatre trip is finally coming closer – less than 14 days!- I have managed to book front row for not one, but two shows!

First one will be for “Anything Goes”, Sutton Foster is one of my favorite performers (I have a list of people whose career I like to follow, she is on that list!) and it is on my bucket list to see her perform. I know it probably won’t be ideal for the dance numbers, but I will be sitting on the front row and I can’t wait!

Second will be “Phantom of the Opera”, a show I already saw 3 times, but the last time is more than 20 years ago. For the reopening of the new Phantom, and to see the new cast, I will be going back to see it. When Londontheatreweek discounts tickets for the front row became available, my heart started beating faster! I had to have them, had to have them… so now I have! I can't wait to see that Chandelier falling towards me...

I will write reviews of every show I’ll see, so … to be continued!