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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 10:57:26 GMT
After seeing this last night I am coming away from it with a view that it is a nice show. Not exactly going to light up the world, but rather pleasant all the same.
I totally agree that the songs - not all- are a little bit dreary in places, and the second act seemed to have all the better ones. The first half dragged out a bit too long in my opinion, but I understand why they had the interval at the point, the end of Act 1 was actually really good, and gave me shivers.
Still, the lighting in this show is wonderful and Laura really is one hell of a singer.
My favourites are Innocent Soldier and Mountains, but it seems that iTunes is having issues with the album. Every preview for each song doesn't actually correspond correctly.
I went into the theatre feeling indifferent about it, and left feeling pleasantly charmed.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 21, 2016 8:42:35 GMT
Its very charming and entertaining. It really doesn't have the dramatic gravitas of the film. Hey hum. But good none the less
I'm not a fan of 30's & 40's popular music so I didnt enjoy the pastiche score but this morning I'm humming the tittle song and I really did like 'mountains'
I never seen a fan dance before, so my life is complete :-)
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2016 12:34:19 GMT
I'm officially over the recording. Only 2 songs I care to listen to and the rest are Meh. I can't deal with TBennett on it and Ian Bartholemews songs are all dull. Really glad I haven't bought it!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 14:08:13 GMT
I'd prefer if we all referred to it as this now.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 17:18:56 GMT
I'm glad the reviews all picked out Emma Williamsa as the best part of the show, as she really does deserve great praise for her role. I personally do not understand the negativity on her regarding Tracie as I thought she was fabulous in her role but there ya go, can't please everyone.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2016 19:30:29 GMT
I do hope this survives in the west end though... If only for the glorious Emma Williams. She's had to endure her fair share of short runs and deserves a hit
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 21, 2016 20:04:14 GMT
I went to the matinee of this yesterday, chosen mostly because I thought it would be the only West End show to be a guaranteed child-free zone at half term! Actually the nudity wasn't as bad as I was expecting, being someone who is not generally keen on nudity onstage (or off). I found it rather reassuring that the actresses weren't all size zero model types.
I found the piece very inconsistent in tone. I actually preferred the more serious parts & found the more comedic parts jarred at times, including the annoying comedian. What on earth was with the choreography in the Lord Chamberlain's number? He looked like he was from the Ministry of Silly Walks!
The songs unfortunately weren't very memorable, the only one that I can still hear in my mind is "If Mountains Were Easy To Climb", which I thought was by far the best number. An awful lot of modern musicals writers seem to have difficulties in writing memorable songs. I wonder why.
I did mildly enjoy a fair amount of it & I might consider seeing it once more if it runs - I would like to be able to see one of the more romantic scenes without the woman on my left having a massive coughing fit so I could hardly hear the dialogue - but it certainly won't be joining my "musicals I have seen a ridiculous numbers of times list".
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2016 20:29:51 GMT
Agreed. So many numbers were over choreographed- that Lord Chamberlain number was excruciating to watch- I felt embarrassed for them.
Emma Williams should have been given more numbers.. And I B's reduced.
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Post by showgirl on Feb 22, 2016 4:59:01 GMT
Ian Bartholomew may not have had the decent numbers he deserved but he really impressed me, so I'd say rather than reduce his share, improve those. In general I think his role provides both some much-needed balance to the preponderance of women and some emotional depth which many of the other parts, male or female, don't offer.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 22, 2016 9:31:56 GMT
Oh it's not his fault.. He was good, but all of his numbers were the same
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 10:00:50 GMT
I re-watched the film over the weekend, and I do prefer the narrative of the film in particular to the changes the musical makes to a few major plot points (no spoilers etc) However in comparison, I think the musical is a decent job and I can see why they made the changes they did for the stage version.
Still think it's a charming little piece.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 15:32:25 GMT
It is odd, as when I saw it in Bath, I thoroughly enjoyed it and had planned to see it in the west end. However now I have had the weekend of listening to the album it has really put me off going to see it again
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 16:28:04 GMT
Well I shall be there this evening, rather looking forward to it. Say hello, wave, inappropriate grope, I'm happy either way.
After 'Cleansed' last week, I'm all ready for the nudey bits but I still might have a G&T to steady my resolve.*
* Actually, even if there were no nudey bits I'd probably still have a G&T. Any excuse.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 9:52:16 GMT
Well I rather enjoyed this. Yes, it's all a bit twee but it's really funny and still managed a bit of emotional depth too and I liked the score, can still hum several of the tunes today. Not so sure about the choreography for the 'Lord Chamberlain's Song' either.
Great cast too. I even like Jamie Foreman! Wasn't sure about Tracie Bennett at first, she's not as 'refined' as I think the character is but I really warmed to her and I thought she was great and her chemistry with Ian Bartholomew was delightful (and he has such a lovely voice too). What's happened to Tracie Bennett's voice though? It sounds really ragged and liked she struggled a lot. Wasn't as enamoured with Emma Williams really - she's very pretty and has a lovely voice but she's just a bit bland, the role needs a Gemma Arterton type actress with that indefinable star quality. Loved Samuel Holmes as Bertie too - terrific voice and great comic timing. Lovely bum too.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 10:05:48 GMT
I got a very Gemma Artherton in Made in Dagenham vibe from Emma Williams when I saw it... and because I loved Gemma in that role, it made me love Emma even more!
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Post by westendcub on Feb 23, 2016 20:42:14 GMT
I shall be going along to this tomorrow eve...turning in a musical week..that will be show 3!!
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 23, 2016 20:50:58 GMT
I've finally got round to looking up the plot of the film, having read various comments about it having been changed for the stage. Yes, that's quite a big change. Good thing they did it though or they couldn't have included by far the best song!
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 23, 2016 21:18:11 GMT
I do hope this survives in the west end though... If only for the glorious Emma Williams. She's had to endure her fair share of short runs and deserves a hit Absolutely. Seems it's been a long road back to the West End for her, which is a shame as she's great in everything she does. I didn't think she'd pull off Annie on tour, but was wonderful. Her singing voice seems a bit heavier since then though, compared with Zorro etc. Im scared this won't survive long though, I thought it was ok but not much more in Bath. If it closes, fingers crossed she gets recast in something else quickly. She'd make a good Glinda.
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Post by daniel on Feb 24, 2016 3:05:59 GMT
Does anybody know how well this is selling? Had a nosey online before and it didn't look to be too busy even this week...is it the sort to pack in the crowds at weekends and in the holidays with quieter midweeks?
Interesting with the Tour due to start sometime in 2017, they're obviously aiming for a London run of a year or so before hitting the road.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 3:37:56 GMT
Well judging by the audience at the first preview, it should do ok on the midweek matinee crowds too.
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 24, 2016 7:26:25 GMT
I saw a midweek matinee last week and it was virtually full. I think it'll reach the end of it's limited run but won't extend beyond that. As for the show, I really enjoyed it, but preferred act 2 to act 1. The best songs for me were Innocent Soldier and If Mountains Were Easy To Climb. The cast were great, but I really was cringing everytime Jamie Forman came out to do his bits to the audience.
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Post by lou on Feb 24, 2016 9:35:58 GMT
There are some good offers on Amazon tickets at the moment, including Saturday performances.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 12:14:31 GMT
I shall be going along to this tomorrow eve...turning in a musical week..that will be show 3!! i strive to be you! x
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 12:15:13 GMT
Does anybody know how well this is selling? Had a nosey online before and it didn't look to be too busy even this week...is it the sort to pack in the crowds at weekends and in the holidays with quieter midweeks? Interesting with the Tour due to start sometime in 2017, they're obviously aiming for a London run of a year or so before hitting the road. I've just had an offer of £89 seats for £35
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Post by westendcub on Feb 25, 2016 12:54:11 GMT
What a lovely production this is, I had a charming evening at this show last night.
It's old fashioned and niche, I don't imagine it lasting beyond it's current limited run at the Noel Coward theatre but if to goes to the right venues will work to go out and tour.
I have only seen the film once (I recall on a plane years ago) so I don't know the movie inside out and only remembered the vague storyline so felt quite fresh to the plot again going in and hurrah there was a plot and was a good book - although my big niggle was the awful man from 'Eastenders' - it was unfunny and cringed every time he broke the fourth wall - If I had my way the character would be completely cut.
I thought the songs were suited to the piece, I don't think it is the most memorable score in the world and there isn't a break-out song but all sung well and all quite charming.
The audience in last night was an older crowd, I was in stalls row D and the 3 levels seemed full - I think the 4th level was closed. Standing ovation at the end, I could be swayed to go along to this again during it's run. I must say it was a lovely audience, not a single bad behaviour spotted - no checking of phones, full silence when the overture started!!
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Post by freckles on Feb 27, 2016 11:03:20 GMT
I really enjoyed this show and thought all of the cast were great. After reading comments on here, I was a little dubious but thought Tracie Bennett excellent, and didn't mind Jamie Foreman - I thought the format with him as a kind of narrator worked. I have always liked Emma Williams, and she didn't disappoint. Barring a couple of songs, I did find the score rather pedestrian and can imagine that the cast album is rather dull, but the plot was strong and I wholeheartedly enjoyed seeing a "proper", old-fashioned musical that I hadn't seen before. I agree however that the Lord Chamberlain choreography was totally bizarre and out of place, those scenes reminded me a little of some in Stephen Ward, although whoever mentioned the Ministry of Silly Walks got it spot on! And I thought Mr Van Damm had too many similar numbers, all starting with a dreaded single chord. But overall a lovely show.I liked it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2016 11:14:27 GMT
I agree with the above that I really don't understand the criticism of Tracie... thought she was fabulous!
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Post by danielwhit on Feb 27, 2016 14:25:30 GMT
Overall I can't find much to fault about this. Went earlier in the week and really enjoyed the afternoon. I knew virtually nothing about the history of the Windmill before I went, nor had I seen the film.
I did feel during the show a lot of songs are very "standalone" - they don't need the wider context to work. I wouldn't be surprised if some songs find their way eventually into musical concert evenings (if the show finds a crowd and a future life). However, I've struggled to recall much of the music since the show!
I agree with many other comments that the comedian character falls horrendously flat - however the fact this has been the case since its previous run suggests this is exactly what they were aiming for (however sorry you feel for the actors who have to peddle that material!). On the flip side, I couldn't see any problems with any of the other portrayals - it reads to me as if all the critique of Tracie Bennett stem from being different to the film.
I'd happily go back, suspect it is a show which grows with a second viewing.
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Post by Michael on Feb 27, 2016 23:27:23 GMT
Knew nothing about the show (completely missed it in Bath) and have never seen the movie, but found it really enjoyable.
Emma Williams is a star - she shines throughout the show and her portrayal of Maureen's journey from a shy girl to a Windmill girl was completely believable. I'm so happy to have her back on a West End stage, and I do hope she'll finally be cast as Glinda.
The Lord Chamberlain choreography was truly bizarre and completely out of place. Wonder who came up with that stupid idea to keep it. And get rid of that "comedian". He was barely OK during his first 2 or 3 appearances, but after that I was rolling my eyes and moaning whenever he entered the stage again.
The score worked well during the show but isn't very memorable - apart from "If Mountains Were Easy To Climb" which I was still humming on the way back to my hotel - and which sent shivers down my spine when Emma Williams sung it in the show.
The lightbulb moment was genius.
As they are doing Thursday Matinees, I'll be returning in April.
My seat was in row C which is now the front row. Wasn't though back when I booked as they've removed the first two or three rows since then. While I usually like sitting up front, I wish I had asked for being moved further back. The view is great, but the legroom is terribly cramped - and I'm only 5'10. My legs were still hurting 30min after the show. These seats would be OK for dayseat prices, but asking for full price is an impudence.
And just one last thing: All the Windmill girls are gorgeous, and it is completely beyond my understanding how anyone could come up with anything different.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 28, 2016 9:09:41 GMT
I don't think EmmaWilliams will be hoping to be the 28th takeover as Glinda somehow!
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