258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Sept 25, 2023 14:58:28 GMT
I'm there tomorrow. I wasn't going to, but Matt Doyle... Looking forward to it.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 25, 2023 21:40:35 GMT
5-star performances from Matt Doyle as Frank and Ana Villafañe as Ava Gardner, and a fabulous orchestra. Phoebe Panaretos and Dawn Buckland also very good as Nancy and Mrs Sinatra respectively.
It's a 3-star show overall though, standard bio-musical fare with few surprises and lacking a bit of theatricality. There are too many songs (although some nice lesser-known inclusions) and it feels overlong (19.35-22.15).
But worth it for Matt who is pure Broadway and sounds like a dream. And there's a surprisingly wonderful duet with Ryesha Higgs' Billie Holliday in the second act which is a standout moment.
Could be better but certainly enjoyable. 😁
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865 posts
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Post by karloscar on Sept 26, 2023 21:34:38 GMT
Tina Sinatra's been on Woman's Hour and ITV News at Ten tonight with a few clips from the show. They're creating quite a bit of interest for a show in Birmingham.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Sept 26, 2023 21:52:56 GMT
Tina Sinatra's been on Woman's Hour and ITV News at Ten tonight with a few clips from the show. They're creating quite a bit of interest for a show in Birmingham. In Birmingham for now - I can’t imagine it won’t head south speedily.
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5,277 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 26, 2023 22:14:22 GMT
Hmmm I wouldn’t be so sure. It’s a huge stage in Birmingham so this won’t just fit in any old theatre, and no decent sized ones are available anytime soon.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Sept 27, 2023 11:37:03 GMT
Hmmm. I think that sums up my reaction to this. Matt sang amazingly, but sadly we mainly got snippets of songs again and again and it wasn't really until the end of act 1 that he got a big number, which he smashed, obviously.
The main problem here is that it's all just a bit dull. Not a lot happens. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that man works his way up singing career, has lots of affairs, and is successful with some bumps in the road.
I think the problem may well be the fact it's got the blessing of his family, so it's very sanitised. There are even odd bits shoe-horned in where we get told nice things about him, e.g. that he gave loads of money away, and a really weird bit of dialogue using terms you wouldn't have heard back then about racial oppression where we are told, very quickly but very clearly, just how much an ahead-of-his-time Liberal good guy our Frank was. There are also slightly awkward attempts to show the women as emancipated and powerful when they really just revolve around Frank sleeping with them and don't serve much other function.
But in general, I didn't care about Frank, I was oddly unmoved and a bit bored really. I can't see this transferring - it's just not exciting or spectacular enough. The staging is pretty functional overall. The pluses are the band, who sound great, and Matt (although all the cast are fine, it's not their fault they aren't given much emotional depth to work with).
To rescue this I'd ditch the "snippets of songs" approach and give Matt some more big numbers to dazzle with. It needs more grit and more juicy incidences, and less Frank being self-pitious and being told how he needs to shape up for about 45 minutes. I don't think that'll happen in an authorised biopic though. I can't see some more previews solving the clear problems here.
But I've never worked in theatre and am generally wrong about all my predictions (apart from my prediction Lord of the Rings would resurface as actor-musician one day, which was a clear win) so who knows.
The person I went with agreed with my view, but many sitting around me were impressed. But we don't get many world premieres of musicals in Brum and my experience of regional theatre audiences is they are more forgiving than West End critics are. 3 stars, but not far off a 2.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 27, 2023 12:52:52 GMT
I agree with a lot of that.
Bio-musicals where the artist didn't really have much of a dramatic story are always a bit unfulfilling. "Wanted to become famous....Did". It's true of so many of them (Beautiful, On Your Feet...), and it doesn't make good theatre regardless of how strong their catalogue of music is/was. The one exception is Tina, as it tells a genuinely strong story.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2023 13:08:07 GMT
Darn. I was hoping this would be like Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, a masterful mix of storytelling and song. It is so rare that we get a compelling mix of both in these bio shows.
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Post by jarnew on Sept 27, 2023 13:18:35 GMT
Darn. I was hoping this would be like Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, a masterful mix of storytelling and song. It is so rare that we get a compelling mix of both in these bio shows. I'd like a Sinatra-esque revue a la "Thriller Live!" to be honest over a seemingly boring retelling of his life.
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5,277 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 27, 2023 14:42:45 GMT
Everything I’m hearing about it is disappointing. A real shame.
It’s unlikely to get a west end theatre if the response isn’t a lot more positive. Maybe they’ll just take it to Vegas or something.
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1,187 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 27, 2023 17:29:47 GMT
Lord, aren’t Vegas sick of Sinatra now?
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1,187 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 27, 2023 17:30:29 GMT
Or did you mean see if Jonny Vegas wanted to do the role next?
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3,474 posts
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Post by showgirl on Sept 27, 2023 18:31:52 GMT
Whatever its actual merits and the eventual reviews, it appears to have sold very well, certainly at matinees which I was checking.
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269 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Sept 27, 2023 22:14:02 GMT
Saw this tonight, it’s a great showcase for Matt Doyle who’s hardly offstage and sings and acts up a storm. I couldn’t take my eyes off those Ol’ Blue Eyes. I think the biggest problem is it focuses on Frank’s affair and neglect of his wife and child, which means you don’t overly care about him. Which, considering he’s the main character, is a bit of a red flag. Doyle even plays him rather sleezily at times. But overall, I would say, see it for Doyle as he’s a superstar in the making.
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528 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Sept 28, 2023 1:07:24 GMT
I agree with most of the comments and reviews above I enjoyed the evening it was very pleasant I found out things about Sinatra I never knew …it bobbed along nicely but never really flew to the heights it could .. it wasn’t quite what’s new pussycat which I saw 6 times and every performance got full standing ovation . First half is very long and I felt all of the story could have been covered on 15 mins … like the start of kinky boots did … every time a big song came on it was cut before it got going considering his back catalogue lots of them I’d never heard of …. The second half started off better some great comedy from the parents … nice addition of Judys come rain /shine … I finally thought wow this is going to be a big moment ❤️then it petered out before the money notes There was at least 2 points in the show where it could have been that show stop moment but they cut the songs or Petter them out for some dialogue to say how sad frank is etc Biggest disappointment was no My way I mean ok it may have come later in his career but New York was too but Is put in as a finale well part of it …. After 2 hours of Sinatra telling us how he lived his life his way ….. the audience were gagging for a big finale … tell us Frank …. ! After all this I did it my way …. Then there would have been a standing ovation 👏 🎶 As it was just over half full tonight about 15 people standing but good applause overall I did love the overall design. And set lighting band were very tight costumes fabulous and a very strong cast you could see the money on the stage It the first time I’ve seen them remove 2 or 3 front rows too and square off the stage definitely looks like they are hoping for a broadway transfer It has the bones of being a really good 4star show. But really needs a few changes and a couple of big highs … as they tell it at the moment it seems his early life was all lows and drudgery and yes it may well have been. But we need some more light or some high drama and dramatic moments Really hope they continue to tweak and get audience feedback
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2023 22:39:42 GMT
I want to try and get to see this as its not far from me. But I don't see how a show about one of the most famous singers ever who lived a full life and featuring lots of other legendary characters can come across as slow moving. I'll wait to see a few more reviews before deciding.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Sept 29, 2023 8:52:33 GMT
I think the problem is they don't tell you much about anything that makes him look bad or controversial - which would make it far more interesting. I think the problem is it's co-produced (and licensed) by Frank Sinatra Enterprises (which includes his daughter), and all the interesting stuff (which, as wikipedia showed me since watching it there was plenty of) isn't there.
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18,811 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 29, 2023 9:13:29 GMT
He was mixed up with the Mafia wasn’t he? Does that get mentioned?
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Sept 29, 2023 12:55:21 GMT
Briefly. He kind of says all nightclubs are owned by the mafia so obviously he knows them. That's how they deal with most controversial things from his life, there's a line or two explaining it away/justifying it for those who may have heard about it but no exploration/admitting there were dark or controversial sides to him, which there certainly seem to have been.
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528 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Sept 30, 2023 2:35:02 GMT
He was mixed up with the Mafia wasn’t he? Does that get mentioned? Loads about Ava Gardner … think I recall like said above one line about nightclubs being owned by the mafia and I’m sure one of the mob bosses frank says he grew up with him when they were kids so of course he knows them Also a very random scene when a soldier walks past as he comes out of club and frank gives him his coat 🧥 to keep warm I expect but just felt a bit odd
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5,277 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 30, 2023 9:35:24 GMT
I was on the line about seeing this- but nothing here has made me want to get on a train to Birmingham and see it.
Interested to see what reviews say- but it doesn’t seem to be west end bound judging by these reactions (and on Twitter)
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2,812 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 30, 2023 9:59:20 GMT
Also a very random scene when a soldier walks past as he comes out of club and frank gives him his coat 🧥 to keep warm I expect but just felt a bit odd Does he also feed the whole audience with five loaves and two fishes?
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 30, 2023 19:40:18 GMT
It's worth seeing for Matt and Ana if nothing else, they're brilliant and really elevate it. And the orchestra sound fabulous.
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528 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Oct 2, 2023 0:56:58 GMT
Am revisiting it this week so will see if any changes
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528 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Oct 3, 2023 0:47:47 GMT
Saw it again tonight …. Better audience reaction standing ovation about 3/4 full Didn’t notice anything particularly different tonight but it did appear to flow better and be a little tighter … would still benefit from about 15 minutes cut out of it ….a couple of short scenes just feel odd esp with the soldiers And wish each scene with a star in it wouldn’t start with. Gene Kelly ……. Or a woman walks on and it’s “ well if it isn’t Lana turner “ hello Ava gardener how are you “ etc it’s literally every new character that appears on stage Frank name check them obv so audience know who they are but must be a clever way ? Took my 2 friends tonight not Avid theatre goers they loved it both gave 5/5 and said straight after that was fantastic loved every second So what do I know Lol 😝
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Post by theatrenerd on Oct 3, 2023 12:26:18 GMT
I agree with most of the comments and reviews above I enjoyed the evening it was very pleasant I found out things about Sinatra I never knew …it bobbed along nicely but never really flew to the heights it could .. it wasn’t quite what’s new pussycat which I saw 6 times and every performance got full standing ovation . First half is very long and I felt all of the story could have been covered on 15 mins … like the start of kinky boots did … every time a big song came on it was cut before it got going considering his back catalogue lots of them I’d never heard of …. The second half started off better some great comedy from the parents … nice addition of Judys come rain /shine … I finally thought wow this is going to be a big moment ❤️then it petered out before the money notes There was at least 2 points in the show where it could have been that show stop moment but they cut the songs or Petter them out for some dialogue to say how sad frank is etc Biggest disappointment was no My way I mean ok it may have come later in his career but New York was too but Is put in as a finale well part of it …. After 2 hours of Sinatra telling us how he lived his life his way ….. the audience were gagging for a big finale … tell us Frank …. ! After all this I did it my way …. Then there would have been a standing ovation 👏 🎶 As it was just over half full tonight about 15 people standing but good applause overall I did love the overall design. And set lighting band were very tight costumes fabulous and a very strong cast you could see the money on the stage It the first time I’ve seen them remove 2 or 3 front rows too and square off the stage definitely looks like they are hoping for a broadway transfer It has the bones of being a really good 4star show. But really needs a few changes and a couple of big highs … as they tell it at the moment it seems his early life was all lows and drudgery and yes it may well have been. But we need some more light or some high drama and dramatic moments Really hope they continue to tweak and get audience feedback Matt Doyle has shared this article on IG which might explain why “My Way” isn’t included in the musical; www.gq.com/story/my-way-is-the-worst
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Post by Wilf on Oct 3, 2023 16:41:21 GMT
I saw this last Tuesday, cast, band and costumes all excellent. I didn’t connect with the story at all despite loving the songs that are in it. I believe it is press night tonight so I’ll be very interested to read the reviews. Not a patch on What’s new Pussycat.
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986 posts
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Post by nash16 on Oct 4, 2023 12:53:32 GMT
Any idea when the reviews embargo is for this? Realise they had their Press Night the same evening as Old Friends.
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3,474 posts
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Post by showgirl on Oct 4, 2023 14:32:59 GMT
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986 posts
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Post by nash16 on Oct 4, 2023 15:05:31 GMT
Sorry, I meant from the National papers. The only reviews I’ve seen have been local/blogger ones. They could be keeping the papers away though in case it jeopardises a London run based on the posters above?
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