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Post by stepalm on May 27, 2022 10:19:33 GMT
Thanks for all the information here. I also read all these positive rewievs. I still have some questions about the music, the singing and how the songs turned out. Especially the ones that we never heard live. The visitors, When all is said and done, Lay all your love on me and The winner takes it all. Was there any differences?
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Post by matt on May 27, 2022 10:42:31 GMT
Was lucky enough to get a ticket to last night's premiere. Wow! The show is amazing and completely blew me away. Definitely has to seen to be believed... any pictures just don't do it justice.
Unfortunately, I didn't arrive to the arena until past 6pm and was stuck in a queue outside the fence with hundreds of other fans. Then suddenly there were screams as Agnetha and Frida were escorted past us across the main area outside the arena. It happened so fast, all I got was a few blurred photos but buzz in the crowd was amazing. Eventually we were let in but only had 5/10 mins before the show started.
The crowd on the dancefloor started chanting "We want ABBA!" a few times... felt as though it was 1977 all over again. The four members quietly made their way to their seats but I couldn't catch a glimpse of where they were sitting unfortunately.
Then the lights dimmed and suddenly we were good to go! The set list was:
Introduction - this was an instrumental piece which I didn't recognise, similar to how Gammal Fadobpsalm opened the 1979 concerts The Visitors - the abbatars rose out from the floor. There was a gasp through the crowd at how real they looked in their red and blue capes. Then massive applause once the chorus hit. Hole In Your Soul - this is where it was obvious that the vocals were remixed from the studio recordings rather than from old live recordings. SOS - This was preceded by an intro from Benny talking about how he felt like Dr Who. He also played a few bars from the Eastenders theme tune. Knowing Me, Knowing You - Some songs were performed with the abbatars on giant screens rather than on the stage.. this being the first one. Chiquitita - There was a massive sun projected and slowly eclipsed Fernando - Preceded by an intro from Frida where she paid tribute to her grandmother Mamma Mia - This was also performed on the screens Does Your Mother Know - Preceded by an intro from Bjorn. He only sang the first verse and then the backing singers took over for the rest Eagle - This was played over an animation short film which was odd. This is the only criticism of the show... would have been much better to have the abbatars perform. Kind of killed the atmosphere a little. Lay All Your Love On Me - Back on track... the abbatars appeared dressed in the black tron outfits. Then segued into.... Summer Night City - Followed the studio recording with no synth intro or extended ending Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Followed the studio version with no repeat of the first verse like the 1979 version. Although Frida does a dance routine during the instrumental break Voulez-Vous- Again an odd decision to play this over an animated film When All Is Said And Done - The first verse is sung acapella by Frida and then the full band kicks in. This follows the original full version with a repeat of the first verse at the end! Probably highlight of the entire show Don't Shut Me Down - Introduced by Agnetha I Still Have Faith In You - Sounded great and the new songs totally fitted into the show. The audience began to wave the lights on their phones during this one. Thank You For The Music Waterloo - This was played with footage of 1974 Eurovision performance and other TV appearances from 1974/75 Dancing Queen - Would have thought this would have been the last song but the whole arena was on their feet! The Winner Takes It All - This ended with a huge choir lined up across the stage. Then the four members appeared as themselves today... you couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't!
Then the four members for real came onto the stage for a minute or so... hugged each other and waved. It went by soo quick.
Was odd to not include Take A Chance On Me or Super Trouper but maybe they are saving these for later. Overall, it was a fantastic show. The music was awesome, the visuals, the lights.. completely surpassed my expectations! And I got to see the four members on stage which perhaps will be the last opportunity so if this is the end, then what a way to leave the stage!
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Post by HOMETIME on May 27, 2022 11:19:54 GMT
Was lucky enough to get a ticket to last night's premiere. Wow! The show is amazing and completely blew me away. Definitely has to seen to be believed... any pictures just don't do it justice. [...] Does Your Mother Know - Preceded by an intro from Bjorn. He only sang the first verse and then the backing singers took over for the rest Eagle - This was played over an animation short film which was odd. This is the only criticism of the show... would have been much better to have the abbatars perform. Kind of killed the atmosphere a little. [...] Voulez-Vous- Again an odd decision to play this over an animated film When All Is Said And Done - The first verse is sung acapella by Frida and then the full band kicks in. This follows the original full version with a repeat of the first verse at the end! Probably highlight of the entire show [...] Now this is the kind of report I was waiting for! Thank you. I saw DYMK described elsewhere as having been played in a Ronettes style: does this match your recollection? Part of me wonders whether Eagle and Voulez-Vous were added to the show later. It strikes me as odd that ABBA didn't perform these during the five weeks' recording if they were destined to be on the setlist. I love what you've written about WAISAD! When the band kicks in, is it at the tempo of the album version, or is the arrangement pared back to something like the Mamma Mia version? Based on your description, it sounds like something that could make a great single in its own right, but also to promote the show.
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Post by matt on May 27, 2022 11:51:32 GMT
DYMK was played similar to the Mamma Mia! Movie version, shame they didn't include the guitar solo like on 1979 live version.
WAISAD is the tempo of the album version with thunderous drums and bass once the band come in. Would be nice to hear a proper recording of this one!
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 11:56:41 GMT
Was lucky enough to get a ticket to last night's premiere. Wow! Thank you very much, Matt. I'm so happy for you! And with more reviews like yours, the experience will take a more concrete shape for people like me that can't attend, and all the pieces will eventually come together for us poor souls. If you have any more things to add, please do so. It's quite possible that you'll be able to form other impressions about different aspects of the show and songs over the next few days, so please, keep adding your thoughts here as you think of them. Thanks!
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 11:58:42 GMT
I can't get Hometime's encapsulating comment out of my quote, Matt. Sorry about that, but I only intended to quote you, Matt. *Moderator comment: Fixed this for you, jj . Alan
** Thank you, Alan.
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Post by lamont on May 27, 2022 12:04:47 GMT
First song is Skallgang from Benny’s November’89 album
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Post by matt on May 27, 2022 12:26:52 GMT
First song is Skallgang from Benny’s November’89 album Ah yes! Just listened to this and you're right, this is the one! It's difficult to write everything down but a couple of other thoughts: The performance of KMKY on the screens was a tribute to the original video with the couples hugging each other whilst spinning around. Mamma Mia reminded me of the Disco performance from 1976 with A & F playfully nudging each other. But happy to try answer if anyone has other questions.
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 12:48:51 GMT
First song is Skallgang from Benny’s November’89 album Thank you! Any and all extra details are very much appreciated by we the not-so-lucky ones.
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 12:50:52 GMT
First song is Skallgang from Benny’s November’89 album Ah yes! Just listened to this and you're right, this is the one! It's difficult to write everything down but a couple of other thoughts: The performance of KMKY on the screens was a tribute to the original video with the couples hugging each other whilst spinning around. Mamma Mia reminded me of the Disco performance from 1976 with A & F playfully nudging each other. But happy to try answer if anyone has other questions. The problem is, Matt, that we don't always know what q's to ask, not having a clue about things, so we hope you guys will provide as many details as you can.
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 13:05:19 GMT
For The Visitors, were the synths, including those throbbing ones from the original song "The Visitors", reproduced by the live band, or if you heard any synths in it, did you recognize them as being the same as those on the 1981 recording of the song you knew?
What did you feel as the song started? Did you recognise it immediately? Did it sound moody/atmospheric? Were the rising avatars timed to the song's intro? Did you get goosebumps?
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Post by gamleman on May 27, 2022 13:08:17 GMT
Thanks for the set-list and accompanying information, Matt. I was wondering when we were going to see the set-list, which is the most interesting feature for me, so I'm grateful for that.
I'm sure it was a great spectacle but there is a lot there that strikes me as odd...
First of all, to start the show with three lesser-known tracks is a bit strange. I'm glad they had an instrumental intro, as they did in 1979, and I'm sure that particular track was very atmospheric and blended well into "The Visitors". Perhaps they were building up the anticipation before hitting a well-known track, although I imagine HIYS got the audience excited.
Putting the two Spanish-flavoured songs "Chiquitita" and "Fernando" back-to-back doesn't sound ideal (as is the case on Gold). In fact, I didn't expect both of these tracks to feature and thought just one would suffice to represent that style.
I'm trying to imagine a version of DYMK in which Bjorn sings the first verse and nothing else, but it doesn't seem to work.
The new version of WAISAD seems quite novel, so I shall be interested to hear that one, if they ever put out an album of this show.
Leaving out TACOM and ST was totally unexpected, as I thought for a live show these tracks would have been chosen over ballads, such as KMKY and TWTIA. If they take this show to the US, I should think they will need TACOM as an essential.
Ending with TWTIA is one of the oddest things, a song about a split-up with a tinge of bitterness - perhaps an emotional ending but with strange messaging for the finale.
The fact that several songs were performed to a movie rather than the ABBAtars suggests to me that the ABBAtar performances of those songs didn't work out for some reason or, at least, are not ready yet.
So, on the whole, did the arrangements stay pretty close to the studio versions? Did they sound predominantly like live performances or studio recordings?
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 13:10:36 GMT
I am enjoying reading members' reviews of the concert. I am glad there are so many positive vibes about the show. Thank you to everyone who has kept us updated and for posting the live footage of " Voyage " concert premiere last night when ABBA were present. What a magical moment ! It was such an emotional one too. Shame there wasn't enough coverage on the news channels. Anyway keep up the good work and carry on posting.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 13:23:04 GMT
Gamleman, ABBA themselves especially chose which songs would be performed for the " Voyage " concert and they did a terrific job as the setlist is impressive. Quite a few songs have never been performed before concert-wise ( the later hit songs and album tracks ) and it is only fitting these have been selected rather than the obvious ones e.g. " Take A Chance On Me " and " Super Trouper ". The latter has never really floated my boat but they are solid pop songs that much I will say but I wouldn't omit either " Knowing Me Knowing You " or " The Winner Takes It All " in preference to these uptempo tracks. That is only my view.
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Post by gamleman on May 27, 2022 13:36:24 GMT
Gamleman, ABBA themselves especially chose which songs would be performed for the " Voyage " concert and they did a terrific job as the setlist is impressive. Quite a few songs have never been performed before concert-wise ( the later hit songs and album tracks ) and it is only fitting these have been selected rather than the obvious ones e.g. " Take A Chance On Me " and " Super Trouper ". The latter has never really floated my boat but they are solid pop songs that much I will say but I wouldn't omit either " Knowing Me Knowing You " or " The Winner Takes It All " in preference to these uptempo tracks. That is only my view. Eddie, personally I would also choose some of the ballads like KMKY over more uptempo songs, and ST is a long way down my list too, but upbeat songs tend to be preferred by other people in live shows. This show is quite different from a normal live show in that it contains the layered studio vocals that were a hallmark of the ABBA sound, and so they can get away with adventurous studio songs like KMKY that don't work so well in a true live performance. However, I thought that TACOM and ST would be included to please the likely clientele. Mainly, I find the ordering of the songs a little surprising. Didn't Bjorn say that the choice of songs wasn't completely up to them - they were told they can't have this and must have that?
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Post by matt on May 27, 2022 13:49:59 GMT
The songs do sound like live performances and the faster tempo ones are more rocky than the studio versions due to the live band. However, the arrangements don't tend to deviate too much from the studio recordings. KMKY is faster tempo like the studio version.. not like the slowed down 1979 live version at all. The vocals have been remixed so it does feel fresh and they don't jar with the music. They still sound a bit "chipmunk" like in Hole In Your Soul for example.
The synths in The Visitors are reproduced by the live band. I read a few spoilers before seeing the show so I already knew this was the opening song. The applause and cheers from the crowd were quite loud during the opening that it sometimes drowned out the vocals and music. Then it segued into Hole In Your Soul which was a complete surprise.
Frida introducing Fernando with a tribute to her grandmother was really touching. She said she has made her the person she is today and regretted she never got to see ABBA's success.
When Bjorn introduced DYMK, he said the lyrics were based on a true story of when a girl started chatting him up. He said something like "I wasn't married at that point... or was I?" The audience reacted with a "oooohhhhh"...
After DYMK I think, the lights went out and all you could hear was funny banter between the four members whilst "changing costumes". Benny said he needed help getting into his outfit and the audience laughed.
Before Waterloo, Bjorn mentioned that the UK had given Nil points, to which the audience loudly booed!!
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Post by lamont on May 27, 2022 14:22:14 GMT
Ok, I’ll give my review:
The arena is quite small and intimate when you arrive, you know that It doesn’t matter where you are, you are going to experience everything that’s going on. Before the show, there is a screen covering the stage that has a snowy forest on it, there are flecks of snow falling on the screen, and if you stare at it long enough, you see shadows of figures moving in the trees. There is also birds singing before the concert, it feels really organic and pre-industry, a simpler time.
As the lights darken, Skallgang starts, and the screen lifts, as The Visitors starts, I can’t remember what happens! You are so engrossed in seeing these ABBAtars rising from beneath the stage that, it’s so unbelievable that it’s ABBA! Like in 77 and 79, they stand at their mike stand, just to let the audience take it all in. In the instrumental break, Frida and Agnetha walk in front of the stands, arms outstretched and slowly twirl around, in their Beatle-esque Sgt Pepper ponchos. The ponchos are ripped off as Hole In Your Soul pounds in, as ABBA rock out, I think it was a good idea hitting us with two non hits as your senses would be overwhelming. Benny walks on (this too is an amazing effect, the Tars don’t suddenly appear, they have the smallest detail covered.) he jokes, chats, plays Eastenders theme as S.O.S beckons: this is a nod to early 70s ABBA, I said beforehand that ABBA had to be careful not to parody themselves as you can see Bjorn Again for that, yes Frida and Agnetha do the same moves, but they are augmented with other choreography which makes it fresh. Knowing Me Knowing You takes you away from the stage as the video appears on huge mirrored screens (just a notion single cover) as ABBA recreate the Video. It’s a touch poignant seeing them hug and Frida walking away from Benny and their hands letting go last… ABBA return to stage having changed outfits for Chiquitita as the front cover of the Voyage album is recreated behind them, it’s such a simple but elegant projection and it adds gravitas to the song watching the sun being eclipsed. Frida chats, and is warm & fuzzy, talking about her upbringing and her grandmother, and saying how powerful women are to get back up when they are downtrodden. She dedicates Fernando to her Grandma as ABBA sing in front of the northern lights in a wintry starry night. Mamma Mia recreates the German TV specials with the velvet trouser suits, much of the fun goes on playfully between Frida and Agnetha on the huge screen, as ABBAtars are dwarfed underneath. Bjorn makes some cringy jokes! This isn’t too bad, and it’s clear that the boys crack the jokes, when the girls chat they are more respective. When Does Your Mother Know launches with the real band, you kinda appreciate how good the ABBAtars are as you can’t tell the difference to humans and ABBAtars! The three female background vocalists have the place on fire, and the song is powerful and fun. Eagle is an animation film: reminds me of Japanese anime, with Norse folklore, a young soul on a quest through different terrain, throwing a stone underwater and mysteriously being underwater, they arrive at a huge ancient temple with yellow and blue statued felines guarding it: it’s like the discovery of ABBA, a journey, how primitive life was before Abba. This will be great for future generations as ABBAtars are becoming a partof myth and folklore themselves, as they are ageless. Lay All Your Love On Me is future ABBA, as it’s the first song where there is no performance to relate it to, as abba appear in their Tron outfits and Agnetha & Frida (almost like Vogueing, this is the moves they use in the initial trailer with Summer Night City playing.) The choreography here is stunning and artful. The next two tracks puts ABBA in this sort of 80s video game as it’s clear that with LAYLOM, Summer Night City and Gimme Gimme Gimme, that it’s a ‘neon lights’ laser dance party. Voulez Vous returns to the soul searcher in the animation, as they enter the temple as statued busts of the 4 members appear, it’s ominous and thought provoking. At first I kinda thought “I wanna see Abba!” But these animations add to ABBA’s elusiveness and the reality of a real show, as Abba are off for a costume change, but also: you can get two much of a good thing, and you definitely finish the concert wanting more. When All is Said And Done does have a vocal only start by Frida’s striking voice as two huge circular discs are lowered from the ceiling, as the four members appear as ABBAtars on stage, but close up on these two huge screens, and the two other screens that flank the stage, Abba are in their metallic I Still Have Faith In You outfits now. Agnetha talks for first time and she introduces Don’t Shut Me down, this has a simple stage production as it’s clear it’s just to bounce along to, I still Have Faith In You follows, with the starlights behind them and mobile phone torches recreating the video. Waterloo is introduced by Agnetha (reminds me of Abba in Australia TV special, full of innocence and excitement!) Waterloo is a collage of all their tv appearances you can think of: from Eurovision to Japan TV special and The German Show Express guest spot. It’s a reminder of what ABBA was, is and what it has become, one song changed 4 people’s lives, and millions of people’s lives. It’s like Frida saying in 2004 Super Troupers doc: “It’s a sort of farewell, the baby is on its own now, I don’t have to be there any longer.” I’m paraphrasing here, but that was the spirit I was experiencing: ABBA was a simple 4 letter word, but it stormed the world, teamed up with Madonna, starred in Movies, musicals, sitcoms etc. part of modern pop culture. Thank You For The Music sees ABBA in their greek outfits, truly becoming the immortal Gods that these ABBAtars now are. Dancing Queen was a daze! I recall there was no empty seats as I gazed around in wonderment and pride, and this was something else, I read a review that the audience in dress rehearsals were stilted, but I truly think that the ABBAtars are so unbelievably real that you can’t not but stare! As Abba bow, and thank the audience, they then return to the stage for The Winner Takes It All, and it’s clear that the real ABBA have no qualms about Agnetha having more songs, or Frida more danceable, this is four friends who are proud of every song. Agnetha belts it out, as Frida and Bjorn share a microphone, as they bow again, the stage lowers as they disappear from where they came. This was written in a rush, sorry if it’s a bit long winded.
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Post by gamleman on May 27, 2022 15:59:24 GMT
Thanks for your account, lamont. What was the background for "The Visitors"? When I first learnt that this song was to be included, I thought it was vital to have a backdrop of books, paintings and furniture to reflect the atmosphere of the song. I can imagine the impact that the opening of HIYS has, like in The Movie - that sent tingles through my body in the cinema. "Fernando" was originally Frida's song on "Frida Ensam", so it's very appropriate that she should introduce it and dedicate it to her grandmother. Perhaps she has now claimed it back after Benny told Cher it was now her song I'm so glad they included LAYLOM, especially with it being such an after-thought as a single. It does actually deserve a place more than ST from that album, being a much better song and lending itself so well to a live concert. I was surprised that "One Of Us" isn't there to represent "The Visitors" album though. Apart from lyrically, I also thought TWTIA to be a strange choice to end the show as it is largely a solo effort by Agnetha. When the title "Don't Shut Me Down" first came to light, I thought this would be the one to end the show, although now I'm familiar with the lyrics I know it is more about a new beginning than an ending.
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Post by lamont on May 27, 2022 16:03:10 GMT
Few typos re-reading the above! Bad grammar and spelling! Two instead of too!
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Post by lamont on May 27, 2022 16:12:05 GMT
Thanks for your account, lamont. What was the background for "The Visitors"? When I first learnt that this song was to be included, I thought it was vital to have a backdrop of books, paintings and furniture to reflect the atmosphere of the song. I can imagine the impact that the opening of HIYS has, like in The Movie - that sent tingles through my body in the cinema. "Fernando" was originally Frida's song on "Frida Ensam", so it's very appropriate that she should introduce it and dedicate it to her grandmother. Perhaps she has now claimed it back after Benny told Cher it was now her song I'm so glad they included LAYLOM, especially with it being such an after-thought as a single. It does actually deserve a place more than ST from that album, being a much better song and lending itself so well to a live concert. I was surprised that "One Of Us" isn't there to represent "The Visitors" album though. Apart from lyrically, I also thought TWTIA to be a strange choice to end the show as it is largely a solo effort by Agnetha. When the title "Don't Shut Me Down" first came to light, I thought this would be the one to end the show, although now I'm familiar with the lyrics I know it is more about a new beginning than an ending. The background for The Visitors was an infinity of light discs, that rotated like spinning plates on a pole, they were behind abba, and the same discs were above the audience too. This was the thing: you had to have eyes on back of your head to see what was going on behind you, above you etc. it is so mesmerising, it reminded me of Seeing Madonna’s Blond Ambition show in 1990, when the stage was constructed and manoeuvred before your eyes, it’s the same here, as a fan you could watch it over and over as Abba are on stage, projected onto different screens as solo or as a group or as a duo, trio etc. I can’t understand why Ludwig doesn’t think it would transfer to dvd/film. One thing I’d incorporate: a camera on the audience, which could be interjected between the show, think it would add that ‘live spontaneous feeling’ as audience would cheer when they would see themselves on the huge screens.
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conororeilly599@gmail.com
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Post by conororeilly599@gmail.com on May 27, 2022 16:19:06 GMT
Lamont - thank you for that. Was far too engrossed in what you were telling us to notice any typos !!!
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Post by lamont on May 27, 2022 16:21:03 GMT
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Post by lamont on May 27, 2022 16:41:00 GMT
As a footnote: instrumental version of I Wonder was played right at the end as Abba took their bows.
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Post by dankeepinganeyeonabba on May 27, 2022 16:41:45 GMT
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Post by KMKY on May 27, 2022 18:55:11 GMT
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Post by KMKY on May 27, 2022 18:56:08 GMT
my mistake... here
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Post by gamleman on May 27, 2022 19:01:26 GMT
Did anyone who attended the VIP show last night spot any celebrities? The only one I've seen a photo of is Jarvis Cocker from Pulp. It would be interesting to know who attended. Ed Sheeran, perhaps? He told Benny that lots of his friends were eager to see the show.
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Post by Cynthia on May 27, 2022 19:05:16 GMT
Sharleen Spiteri, Kate Moss, Myleene Klass, Kylie Minogue, King and Queen of Sweden amongst others attended the show last night.
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 19:22:07 GMT
I just read the NYT's review and they had a pic of two drag queens from Rue Paul's show attending, Ella Vaday and Kitty Scott-Claus. Amazingly funny names, I thought!
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Post by jj on May 27, 2022 19:28:06 GMT
Thank you so much, Lamont, for your generosity in writing that review. Any more afterthoughts and opinions you might have, or extra memories that pop into your head, please add those notes here whenever/if ever they occur. Thanks again!
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