London Access Review -
Paddington

General:

• I might recommend earplugs for this show

• this is a show that particularly appeals to younger friends, meaning there will probably be more kid noise during the show than you may be used to at the theater

• the lighting favors slow moving down lights from the back wall, they’re not really straining or strobey in any way (the contrast is never very strong) so I’ve chosen to omit their specific cues below

• there are also many moments that have just a little bit of haze or just a little bit of smoke but never spill into the audience, those will also be omitted

• the side aisles are utilized briefly during the second act

Pre-Show: there is some medium volume music playing with the occasional animal noise

Act I:

• single lightning & big crash after “his fateful journey here” 

• single lightning on the sides (less bright) when everyone stands center and it’s a bit hazy

• flashing DL after “dear aunt Lucy I’ve arrived” - yellow, low contrast, 3-5 sec

• some smoke when the taxi is revealed, not much

• Don’t Touch That

  • a few quick ons when Paddington starts breaking things 

  • pyro flash with a big bang after the box is placed center, followed by some smoke that seems unscented

  • another loud bang shortly after the bubbles appear 

• some slow moving projections for ~15 seconds after Judy + the doors exist, not flashy, just a perspective shift

• 3 flashing downlights after “Peruvia” in Pretty Little Dead Things and a few soft pulses on her in the end for ~7-10 seconds that is almost strobey but not quite

• loud bus noise after “I think he’s kinda cool”

• The Rhythm of London - whistle during the dance break and a few quick on lights in the back after that

• end has moving bulb lights, not too flashy, and the final note has a single flash/pulse

• thunder after the applause, along with a slightly flickery projection briefly

• when they turn on the old reel it is very flickery, sort of like a white strobe operating at half power - the whole thing lasts about 2 minutes

• quick moment of microphone feedback when Henry is at the stand

  • some on/off and moving downlights during this song

• loud bang with pyro and a flash on the audience when Paddington touches the marmalade and then a flicker to the lights coming back on – during this maybe 10 second blackout there is a sort of drone noise but it’s not like a siren

• smoke on the floor after “he’s not our responsibility” with slight spill into the front stalls

Interval: music returns but without animal noises

Act II:

• some alternating bulbs around the proscenium for much of Marmalade but not too flashy, with the exception of the end where they’re slightly flashier

• the dog collar has a white flash and a zap noise when the button is pressed (though not too loud) - happens about 5 times the first time it appears

• rain projection after the flyers are printed for about ~15 seconds, perhaps a smidge disorienting 

• two brief moments of flashlights on the audience and a big lightning/thunder shortly after the second time 

• flickery reel light reappears when the Explorer walks out, lasting ~20 seconds

• flickery light on the stuffing machine once it’s turned on and a few moments of loud steam emission 

• It’s Never Too Late has lots of alternating bulbs, perhaps a little flickery but not strobey - also stay through the reprise 

• flicker and boom after “lights out” 

• the third roar is rather loud and has a deep visceral bass quality to it 

• slow-moving lasers for some time, also brief fire when paper touches the laser 

• lightning and thunder after all the pigeons appear, and then 2 white flashes at the audience 

• confetti at the end of bows