7,537 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 4, 2023 16:30:29 GMT
Here you go. It's not giving away any spoilers I guess.
Act 1 Prologue Never Coming Home Feel Like This One to Seventeen Work of Heart Part of the Plan Uma Vida Why Don't Wanna Have To The World us waiting
Act 2 Entr'acte What I Need Silence of the Sea Things We Shouldn't Do Sympathy Miles and Miles Guide You One to Seventeen (reprise) The Little Big Things
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Sept 4, 2023 17:12:44 GMT
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1,722 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Sept 4, 2023 17:14:40 GMT
Made it through a week of not spending too much on theatre after two and a half weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Then the reviews for this came rolling in...
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140 posts
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Post by FJ on Sept 4, 2023 18:05:14 GMT
Due to a crap day at work I’ve ended up back at @sohoplace this evening for a pick me up. Hope it’s as good round 2.
Had forgotten I’d booked a single ticket for this Friday (8th September) and am now double booked! Row A of the stalls and free to a good home if anyone would like it.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 4, 2023 18:33:55 GMT
Interesting that all of the songs released so far are from the second act. Hopefully the Act 1 numbers are just as good 👍
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523 posts
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Post by vabbian on Sept 4, 2023 21:33:37 GMT
This left me truly exhausted and bald
5 stars
Holding back tears for 2.5 hrs is just exhausting
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868 posts
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Post by BVM on Sept 4, 2023 21:36:11 GMT
This was outstanding.
What a truly special musical. One of the most life affirming things I’ve ever seen.
Was tearing up constantly.
Full review to follow when I’ve composed myself.
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4,578 posts
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Post by Mark on Sept 4, 2023 22:06:21 GMT
Loved this!! Really wonderful show, great writing, strong performances. Honestly what more can you ask for?
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Post by kz on Sept 4, 2023 22:28:50 GMT
I had a free Saturday matinee slot for my trip to London this weekend and was pondering what to fill it with. This wasn't on my radar at all but I have just booked for this and can't wait to see it based on all your reviews!
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868 posts
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Post by BVM on Sept 5, 2023 8:00:23 GMT
Should add. Best 15 quid I’d ever spent. Thanks to the offer posted above :-) Though was SO good I almost felt guilty not paying more - very much a show I’d want to support.
Also the warmth from Linzi Hateley - I mean, in everything she does. She’s like everyone’s favourite Mum. True UK MT royalty. Absolute ensemble piece though and the very young cast were fantastic.
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Post by shownut on Sept 5, 2023 8:59:24 GMT
Going next Tuesday based on the radiant comments here.
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7,537 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 5, 2023 18:03:51 GMT
Feature on Little Big Things on the One Show just starting.
Really good interview actor Henry talking to real Henry and his brothers. Plus a very short clip from Saturday nights performance (bows). Only thing is the presenters said it had its premiere last night rather than Saturday.
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3,084 posts
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Post by Rory on Sept 5, 2023 18:22:49 GMT
Thanks for posting, that was a great little piece on The One Show. I hope this show extends beyond November.
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3,791 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 5, 2023 19:51:55 GMT
It’s bloody brilliant! Never heard of Henry Fraser- I don’t follow sports of any kind- but it’s extremely moving!
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Post by danb on Sept 5, 2023 19:57:21 GMT
It’s bloody brilliant! Never heard of Henry Fraser- I don’t follow sports of any kind- but it’s extremely moving! Don’t you start blubbing young Anthony!! 🤣😢🤣
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131 posts
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Post by blobble84 on Sept 5, 2023 21:29:27 GMT
Contrary to others, this was a real misfire for me. I found the script weak with the characters lacking depth, much of the music unmemorable (with some poor lyrics), and didn’t think it was well directed. But I realise I’m in the minority here and the audience certainly lapped it up.
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3,791 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 5, 2023 21:34:19 GMT
It’s bloody brilliant! Never heard of Henry Fraser- I don’t follow sports of any kind- but it’s extremely moving! Don’t you start blubbing young Anthony!! 🤣😢🤣 I have to admit, I was tearing up a little! Now, give me a cast recording!
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Post by theatre2023 on Sept 5, 2023 21:39:51 GMT
I’ll be the contrarian here … the Little Big Things is a nice enough evening out with one or two catchy tunes, but it certainly isn’t worthy of the heaps of praise it’s receiving or the predictions of it being “the next great big British musical” The sentimentality of the story ( and inclusive casting ) rather than the brilliance of the production is what is driving the show ( or the responses to it )
Act 2 is significantly better than act 1 …
{Spoiler - click to view} I just wished they’d get rid of the ridiculous flying sequence that more closely resembles a primary school nativity scene. Strapping the wheelchair to a fly line is just beyond schmaltzy and comes across as a poor man’s attempt at the Billy Elliot dream sequence complete with billows of smoke. As a side observation - despite the emotional nature of the subject matter - they still haven’t been able to truly hit those emotional buttons ( which one would have thought would have been a very easy get ) No one was balling their eyes out nor tissues being passed around where I was seated in the stalls … contrast this to Next to Normal which has audiences quite literally sobbing *every single evening* by the end of the show.
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 5, 2023 21:40:46 GMT
A bit of eye-mist from me too. The "Guide You" scene was just brilliant, and loads of lovely family moments that were really sweet as well. I'm back reviewing it next week so it'll be interesting to see if they make any changes between now and then.
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614 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Sept 5, 2023 21:45:06 GMT
I echo all the praise that’s been shared so far, I loved everything about this. Wonderful cast, effective staging, beautiful lighting, quite a lot of proper belly laughs and a really heartwarming story. I don’t think there were any dud songs for me too - I loved them all and can’t wait for a full cast recording. I sobbed throughout but left with a big smile on my face.
If I had to be really picky I think they could do with covering up the lift mechanism for the central part of the stage, it was a bit distracting.
I know there are some people on here that ask about loud noises - there are some towards the end of the second act which I was not expecting at all and really made me jump.
(Anthony were you wearing a green shirt? I was going to say hello but was on the opposite side)
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 5, 2023 21:55:07 GMT
Will write more later but generally I will say that I don’t think this is worth the gushing praise. Lots of heart and a committed cast and nice staging. Funny in places (mainly Agnes). Great to see broad representation on stage. Shoddy script, terrible lyrics, too many earnest overemoting and glib fun songs, naff choreography, weirdly offensive and patronising about disability in focussing on how everybody around Henry was feeling but little about his feelings and struggles in comparison (and not even showing him with his brush in his mouth). Felt like a touring production of Our House performed by NYMT. What a shame
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Post by ShoreditchTom on Sept 5, 2023 22:08:34 GMT
I'm afraid I wasn't a huge fan of this - I found a lot of the dialog and setup really cringey, and whilst there are some funny moments and the cast work hard I didn't think the songs were great and found a lot of the narrative and character development all a bit clunky and cliched. I didn't feel I'd been taken on an emotional journey. Not a fan of the choreography either and some of the colour based lighting cues started to get annoying!
So clearly on here my views are in the minority and I genuinely hope the show does well but I did notice a few people left at the interval so I think this one might be a bit marmite!
Great to finally visit Soho Place however, nice theatre!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Sept 5, 2023 22:13:44 GMT
phew glad to see a few other people not thinking this was the bee's knees. I was very underwhelmed at the interval given all the praise I had seen on here, but I did enjoy act 2 a lot more than act 1. I still left the show thinking it was fine (not amazing or awful, just fine).
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1,189 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Sept 5, 2023 22:44:12 GMT
phew glad to see a few other people not thinking this was the bee's knees. I was very underwhelmed at the interval given all the praise I had seen on here, but I did enjoy act 2 a lot more than act 1. I still left the show thinking it was fine (not amazing or awful, just fine). A fair few empty seats after the interval tonight
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Sept 5, 2023 22:50:06 GMT
Thanks to the rave review from the first night for the tip off for this. So glad I caught it tonight and will definitely be making return visits. A real heartwarming night at the theatre with lots of laughter and quite a few tears.
I completely see the musical comparisons to Dear Evan Hansen particularly in the ensemble numbers - it’s modern theatrical pop music and definitely not one for the traditionalists.
A few weak links in the cast - despite loving Linzi Hateley, I felt she overacted this, had terrible ‘mum’ jokes that didn’t land and her character was rather unlikable. Probably the biggest let down for me. Agnes the physio was absolutely hilarious, so many witty one liners although felt her singing was pretty poor.
Adore Jonny Aimes in everything he’s in - such a beautiful tone to his voice and he delivers a great performance here. Also incredibly impressed by Ed Larkin, the emotion in his performance had me in tears several times.
Looking forward to the cast recording and have had the 3 released tracks on repeat all day. Perhaps give them a listen before booking if anyone’s unsure with the marmite commentary starting to come through. 4 stars from me.
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1,115 posts
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Post by Stephen on Sept 5, 2023 22:50:41 GMT
Interesting hearing the mixed opinions. Not enough to make me buy a ticket to be honest. The few songs released on the album so far seem unmemorable, poor lyrics and very 'generic' sounding.
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Post by intoanewlife on Sept 5, 2023 23:06:22 GMT
Well it was nice to finally see the inside of Soho Place...
My friend and I merely hated the show, while my other half hated it with a passion.
Act 1 was watchable enough to make us stick around, but Act 2 was like Chinese water torture.
The cast ranged from fantastic to average and some of the directorial decisions were frankly mind-blowing.
The staging and lighting were ok, but none of the music stood out for me.
It is clearly a 'for the masses' show and I have very little doubt it'll probably find a large doting audience, but it really should not be mentioned in the same breath as the rather good DEH or absolutely phenomenal CFA as it is not even a close to either of them on any level.
1/5
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Post by partytentdown on Sept 6, 2023 6:34:40 GMT
Also agree that this is an interesting and moving real-life story but I wasn't sure about the production. It has a rather 'cheesy' edge like it's been written for a youth company and everyone is a bit too 'polished' to be a believable character. Sadly the songs aren't particularly memorable (though it's great to see Hateley back on a stage).
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7,537 posts
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Post by alece10 on Sept 6, 2023 6:47:15 GMT
I echo all the praise that’s been shared so far, I loved everything about this. Wonderful cast, effective staging, beautiful lighting, quite a lot of proper belly laughs and a really heartwarming story. I don’t think there were any dud songs for me too - I loved them all and can’t wait for a full cast recording. I sobbed throughout but left with a big smile on my face. If I had to be really picky I think they could do with covering up the lift mechanism for the central part of the stage, it was a bit distracting. I know there are some people on here that ask about loud noises - there are some towards the end of the second act which I was not expecting at all and really made me jump. (Anthony were you wearing a green shirt? I was going to say hello but was on the opposite side) Agree about the lift mechanism but as I enjoyed the show so much it didn't really bother me too much. I think if you are sitting higher up you wouldn't notice it so much but in the stalls you are level with it so more noticeable.
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Post by intoanewlife on Sept 6, 2023 8:38:04 GMT
I echo all the praise that’s been shared so far, I loved everything about this. Wonderful cast, effective staging, beautiful lighting, quite a lot of proper belly laughs and a really heartwarming story. I don’t think there were any dud songs for me too - I loved them all and can’t wait for a full cast recording. I sobbed throughout but left with a big smile on my face. If I had to be really picky I think they could do with covering up the lift mechanism for the central part of the stage, it was a bit distracting. I know there are some people on here that ask about loud noises - there are some towards the end of the second act which I was not expecting at all and really made me jump. (Anthony were you wearing a green shirt? I was going to say hello but was on the opposite side) Agree about the lift mechanism but as I enjoyed the show so much it didn't really bother me too much. I think if you are sitting higher up you wouldn't notice it so much but in the stalls you are level with it so more noticeable. No it looks just as shoddy from upstairs lol
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