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Post by CG on the loose on May 24, 2017 13:02:44 GMT
Opening night now postponed until 31st May! This is a shame, I wonder who is indisposed? Such lovely weather this week for open air performance. I saw the show on Monday and enjoyed it. The numerous set changes were a bit clunky but it's early days and hopefully that will get slicker. The dancing is glorious and I loved all the sailors, plus Claire and Hildy. The comic characters let it down a bit, I know it all gets a bit cartoonesque, but they seeemed very unsubtle. Madame Dilly was particularly poor. A solid production and I'm sure it will be popular. I could happily watch it again. I believe the show itself is back on from tonight, with understudy, but they've postponed the press night presumably to give their mystery incapacitated lead a chance to recover and wow the critics!
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Post by freckles on May 24, 2017 13:08:19 GMT
This is a shame, I wonder who is indisposed? Such lovely weather this week for open air performance. I saw the show on Monday and enjoyed it. The numerous set changes were a bit clunky but it's early days and hopefully that will get slicker. The dancing is glorious and I loved all the sailors, plus Claire and Hildy. The comic characters let it down a bit, I know it all gets a bit cartoonesque, but they seeemed very unsubtle. Madame Dilly was particularly poor. A solid production and I'm sure it will be popular. I could happily watch it again. I believe the show itself is back on from tonight, with understudy, but they've postponed the press night presumably to give their mystery incapacitated lead a chance to recover and wow the critics! I suppose it will be apparent tonight who it is, then. Yesterday the understudy wasn't ready, I guess they've had an intense 48 hours!
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Post by anita on May 24, 2017 13:44:44 GMT
The incapacitated lead isn't Danny Mac as he's posted he's on tonight.
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Post by PalelyLaura on May 24, 2017 18:22:53 GMT
Jacob Maynard playing Chip tonight.
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Post by Steve on May 24, 2017 20:17:37 GMT
Jacob Maynard playing Chip tonight. Ooh, hello out there, PalelyLaura Poor Fred Haig has broken his foot, Timothy Sheader announced. I remember when I broke my foot, the doctor said it would take 6 weeks to get better, so I should imagine Jacob Maynard is in this for a long haul now. As it happens, Jacob Maynard is the highlight of my show so far. He's so likeable and sweet, and watching Lizzy Connolly's Hildy make mincemeat of him is just adorable!
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Post by Steve on May 24, 2017 20:23:49 GMT
It's also lovely to see Lizzy Connolly's Xanadu castmate, Samuel Edwards, as Ozzie, every bit as much the dopey loveable big lug that he was in Xanadu lol.
Just a lot of fun all round, with constant dance and humour.
It's very warm, though I'm ready in case it gets cold, as it's getting dark now, and white blossom is drifting down onto the stage like snow.
Danny Mac is a lovely thoughtful romantic presence to counterbalance the more comedic personas of his two fellow sailors.
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Post by theatremadness on May 24, 2017 20:37:17 GMT
Broken his foot?! Oh that's sad to hear, and how sorry I feel for Mr Haig!! As Steve says, I unfortunately don't see him clawing back much stage time in this show. They seem to have been plagued with injuries after Jeremy Taylor had to leave the show a few weeks ago before opening. Seems like Danny Mac is the only male lead who has survived this show!
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Post by theatrefan77 on May 24, 2017 21:10:59 GMT
So sorry to hear about Fred Haig. He was my favourite out of the three leads when I saw the show on Saturday. Thought he was excellent and had great comic timing. Hope he recovers soon
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2017 21:33:53 GMT
This show really has had the worst luck!
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Post by Steve on May 24, 2017 22:46:35 GMT
So sorry to hear about Fred Haig. He was my favourite out of the three leads when I saw the show on Saturday. Thought he was excellent and had great comic timing. Hope he recovers soon I see in the programme that he has a part in the National's forthcoming "Follies." Fingers crossed it's a good part, and I look forward to seeing him then.
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Post by PalelyLaura on May 24, 2017 22:58:57 GMT
Sorry to have missed you Steve! Must remember to wear my Theatreboard badge more often.
Really enjoyed this, lovely show. Hardly any plot but lovely music and dancing. Jacob Maynard was excellent especially considering he only had 24 hours to rehearse. Feel so sorry for Fred Haig though.
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Post by Steve on May 24, 2017 23:29:08 GMT
So I really loved this tonight. A vibrant light-hearted song and dance show that really lifted my spirits in these dark times. Some spoilers follow. . In the first half, the songs and comedy were the strength of the piece. In the second half, I loved the dance and Drew McOnie's choreography. Storywise, the whole show is just an excuse for exuberance, a great night out watching people enjoy a great night out "on the town." I was struck about how feminist the piece is, how ahead of it's time it must have been with every woman knowing exactly what they want, and pursuing their desires regardless of what anybody else thinks. And McOnie ensures that this production is additionally progressive, by featuring a beautiful gay dance liaison, as well as by (inadvertently) casting three mixed race couples. It's beautiful. Performances were great across the board. I like broad comedy, so Maggie Steed's lecherous cynical drunken Madame Dilly was a highlight, getting a good laugh out of me every time she made an appearance. So too did I love Lizzy Connolly's uber-bolshy Hildy. Connolly is one of the best stage comediennes we have, and while this show doesn't give her the same opportunities to run riot that she had, in say, "Vanities," nonetheless she's a gem. And her stage partner, the promoted understudy, Jacob Maynard, is simply wonderful, as good at reacting to her predations as he is at expressing an infectious and loving joie de vivre in every scene he's in. Only at the beginning was it evident that he was playing the role of Chip for the first time, as he struggled to synchronise his dance steps with his fellow sailors (and even that made me warm to him in the circumstances), but thereafter, you could have told me he'd been playing the role for months and I'd have believed you. He's charismatic, charming and loveable, a total find! Miriam-Teak Lee, as Claire, the partner of Samuel Edward's Ozzie, hits the high notes with verve, and coupled with her fierce red outfit, has a real spark of electricity about her in her interactions with the always affable Edwards' Ozzie. Indeed, towards the end of the piece, the foursome of Maynard, Edwards, Connolly and Lee, performing and dancing to the song "Some Other Time," was the peak moment of my night's enjoyment. Danny Mac's Gabey, the lead, has an old fashioned romantic Gene Kelly charm about him that perfectly blended with the vivacious, youthful exuberance of Siena Kelly's Ivy. And Mark Heenehan was superbly dry and funny as the cuckolded Judge. Meanwhile, Maynard's replacement, former Billy Elliot, Leon Cooke, performed wonderfully in the ensemble, despite having been cast a mere 24 hours earlier. He will be adding more bits to his performance throughout the week, Sheader told us. All in all, I had a tremendous forget-all-troubles entertaining night out, and that was wonderful. 4 and a half stars.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2017 12:43:08 GMT
Man next to me walked out after 30 minutes. Gosh. Even parsley waits until the interval.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2017 16:26:18 GMT
yes it does, but it's gated and not directly on the street, so you would have to wait on the pavement for them to come out. thank you for that. Do you know if cast members (Danny Mac etc) would come out of the stage door here to meet fans?
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Post by Peach on May 25, 2017 16:58:06 GMT
You'd be better off lingering in the on site bar than the stage door.
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Post by theatre-turtle on May 26, 2017 8:38:12 GMT
What are the cheap seats like here?
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2017 8:46:17 GMT
I rather enjoyed this tonight - it's not perfect, but it's a typical big brassy broadway show.
The cast - understudies, replacements and all - are terrific and I think the West End has found a new leading man in Danny Mac. He can sing, he can dance and is charming to watch. Miriam Teak-Lee was another highlight. Shame about the vastly underused Naoko Mori who was fabulous!
It was the Press-but-not-Press Night audience last night, so a lot of industry and strictly stars in attendance.
It did remind me what a beautiful venue the Open Air is and the lighting on the trees during Some Other Time was stunning, but please sort out the mixing in that opening number, I missed so many lyrics!
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Post by Baemax on May 26, 2017 9:12:16 GMT
What are the cheap seats like here? Visibility is great from pretty much anywhere in this theatre. You want to try not being immediately above the entrances, there are bars that are a bit obstructive, and the back row is about thirty miles from the stage, but those are the only things to consider really.
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Post by PalelyLaura on May 26, 2017 15:43:24 GMT
I was in a seat over the entrance (because it was cheaper), and it was fine. I'm 5'10", though.
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Post by CG on the loose on May 26, 2017 16:40:13 GMT
Unsurprisingly, Fred Haig has now withdrawn from the production due to his fractured foot. Understudy, Jacob Maynard, will now take on the role in his own right.
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Post by freckles on May 26, 2017 18:15:48 GMT
Unsurprisingly, Fred Haig has now withdrawn from the production due to his fractured foot. Understudy, Jacob Maynard, will now take on the role in his own right. Having seen one of the few Fred Haig performances, I suppose I'll just have to go back now to check out the new guy...
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Post by wickedgrin on May 27, 2017 9:30:47 GMT
I absolutely loved this show - in my view superb, sassy and sexy!
Of course there's little plot but a sublime score - some great ensemble and comedy numbers - "Come up to My Place" in a brilliantly staged taxi sequence and "I Can Cook Too". The musical highlights of Bernstein's score though are the slower, romantic numbers - "Lonely Town" "Lucky to Be Me" and the sublime "Some Other Time" - beautifully staged with twinkling lights and the trees lit - it was just magical - quite brought a tear to my eye!
The show is heavy on dance but the choreography by Drew McOnie is sublime - no wonder there has been injuries though as the cast leap from rostra, chairs, tables and sofas! But wonderful, inventive choreography, brilliantly executed by the entire company.
The leads were terrific - especially, I have to say, Jacob Maynard as Chip - a completely adorable performance.
All the cast were sexy - the girls in block colours and the guys in white sailor suits - really what's not to like?
Beautifully costumed, lit and staged with the various locations cleverly and smoothly revealed. I think they had adapted some of the JCS set - but no worse for that!
The girls in the show are sassy and know what they want which resonates well with a 21st century audience - women were emancipated during the war and found their voice. Some great comedy lines - my favourite being from Madame Dilly ( Maggie Steed ) "Art and sex don't mix - if they did I would have gone straight to the top!"
A solid 5 stars for me. I saw it on a wonderful warm evening and there is no place quite like the Open Air Theatre as dusk falls and the stage lights weave their magic. I hope the show gets rave reviews with their delayed press night.
Go...go....go!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 10:10:30 GMT
Well. How nice that Timothy Sheader is so environmentally aware that he recycled the set from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Very good of him.
It's an entertaining show but I thought it all needed a bit more zip. I'm sure that will come as they settle into the show more. The band is terrific though.
Nice cast. Lizzy Connolly is surely one of our finest musical comediennes around, Samuel Edwards and Jacob Maynard are fantastic (you wouldn't think Jacob was the understudy, it's a delightful performance), there's more than a touch of the Audra McDonald's about Miriam-Teak Lee and I thought Maggie Steed was very funny indeed.
Danny Mac is teeny tiny. You could fit him in your pocket. Bless him, he's not much of an actor and not much of a singer either (although competent at both) and it's a real shame he gets the final bow. I know he's the "name" but he's the weakest of the six leads by some way. Ria Jones is going to eat him for breakfast and spit out the bones in 'Sunset Boulevard'.
Oh and whoever made the decision to put the male ensemble into ballet tights, I thank you completely. They were the most delicious set of buns I've seen since the last series of 'Bake Off'.
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Post by nash16 on May 27, 2017 10:39:57 GMT
Well. How nice that Timothy Sheader is so environmentally aware that he recycled the set from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Very good of him. It's an entertaining show but I thought it all needed a bit more zip. I'm sure that will come as they settle into the show more. The band is terrific though. Nice cast. Lizzy Connolly is surely one of our finest musical comediennes around, Samuel Edwards and Jacob Maynard are fantastic (you wouldn't think Jacob was the understudy, it's a delightful performance), there's more than a touch of the Audra McDonald's about Miriam-Teak Lee and I thought Maggie Steed was very funny indeed. Danny Mac is teeny tiny. You could fit him in your pocket. Bless him, he's not much of an actor and not much of a singer either (although competent at both) and it's a real shame he gets the final bow. I know he's the "name" but he's the weakest of the six leads by some way. Ria Jones is going to eat him for breakfast and spit out the bones in 'Sunset Boulevard'. Oh and whoever made the decision to put the male ensemble into ballet tights, I thank you completely. They were the most delicious set of buns I've seen since the last series of 'Bake Off'. That really is bad to just plonk the JCS set in early and say "that's the set for this one too". It makes little sense for On The Town? But then it made little sense for JCS too.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 11:35:37 GMT
There's similarities between the sets of JCS and OtT, but it really is quite unfair to say it's the same set "recycled".
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 27, 2017 12:32:29 GMT
That is just stupid. It is clearly NOT the same set. Well. How nice that Timothy Sheader is so environmentally aware that he recycled the set from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Very good of him. It's an entertaining show but I thought it all needed a bit more zip. I'm sure that will come as they settle into the show more. The band is terrific though. Nice cast. Lizzy Connolly is surely one of our finest musical comediennes around, Samuel Edwards and Jacob Maynard are fantastic (you wouldn't think Jacob was the understudy, it's a delightful performance), there's more than a touch of the Audra McDonald's about Miriam-Teak Lee and I thought Maggie Steed was very funny indeed. Danny Mac is teeny tiny. You could fit him in your pocket. Bless him, he's not much of an actor and not much of a singer either (although competent at both) and it's a real shame he gets the final bow. I know he's the "name" but he's the weakest of the six leads by some way. Ria Jones is going to eat him for breakfast and spit out the bones in 'Sunset Boulevard'. Oh and whoever made the decision to put the male ensemble into ballet tights, I thank you completely. They were the most delicious set of buns I've seen since the last series of 'Bake Off'. That really is bad to just plonk the JCS set in early and say "that's the set for this one too". It makes little sense for On The Town? But then it made little sense for JCS too.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 14:24:29 GMT
That is just stupid. It is clearly NOT the same set. That really is bad to just plonk the JCS set in early and say "that's the set for this one too". It makes little sense for On The Town? But then it made little sense for JCS too. Exactly. Some rather impressive cantilever stuff going on in OtT.
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Post by poster J on May 27, 2017 15:13:27 GMT
Clearly the promise of good weather is helping sales - I looked on Thurs and there were quite a few tickets left for tonight but they were nearly all gone by the time I actually booked last night. Bonus of going on your own though, there was a great single seat on the aisle still left. Looking forward to this!
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Post by junet on May 27, 2017 23:29:23 GMT
Just got home from seeing this show. I have to disagree about Danny Mac I thought he was great. I knew he could dance but I didn't know that he had such a good voice, I really loved it.
Got a bit chilly towards the end but the setting is so lovely that it didn't matter. The dancing was brilliant across the board, altogether a really well put together show.
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Post by poster J on May 28, 2017 10:09:52 GMT
I also saw it last night and agree Danny Mac was great, his voice pleasantly surprised me.
This show stands and falls on the dancing though as there isn't much of a plot and the songs are for the most part not that memorable. And I thought the whole cast generally danced it really well. It's feelgood fluff, but no harm in that!
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