6,230 posts
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Post by Jon on Nov 25, 2016 21:31:47 GMT
I'm surprised ENO pulled such a Kenwright on us all. I hate to sound snobbish, but this really taints their character. ENO are strapped for cash hence why they're doing musicals in the first place and renting out the Coliseum for Bat Out of Hell.
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Post by crabtree on Nov 25, 2016 21:59:16 GMT
Russell Watson and Susan Boyle just added to the cast....no, just kidding, but....?
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5,203 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 25, 2016 22:05:23 GMT
Sarah harding will be playing Carrie.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on Nov 25, 2016 22:44:26 GMT
Spookily enough my brother is on Radio 2 conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra in Friday Night Is Music Night with Wayne Sleep and they are playing the Carousel Waltz. I just had an awful thought of Wayne Sleep being cast as Mr Snow.
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580 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Nov 26, 2016 9:23:29 GMT
As a fan of Alfie Boe, I will be booking to see this. Yes, he is not the greatest actor in the world, and the role is more suited to a baritone, but I have heard it sung by a tenor, and he will sing the hell out of it. This may be absolute heresy, but I have also been a fan of Katherine Jenkins in the past. Her VIVA LA DIVA tour with Darcey Bussell years ago, was very enjoyable. I will reserve judgement until I have seen her. I have never seen CAROUSEL on stage before, and am very much looking forward to it.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 26, 2016 9:58:59 GMT
As a fan of Alfie Boe, I will be booking to see this. Yes, he is not the greatest actor in the world, and the role is more suited to a baritone, but I have heard it sung by a tenor, and he will sing the hell out of it. This may be absolute heresy, but I have also been a fan of Katherine Jenkins in the past. Her VIVA LA DIVA tour with Darcey Bussell years ago, was very enjoyable. I will reserve judgement until I have seen her. I have never seen CAROUSEL on stage before, and am very much looking forward to it. Good for you. Posters here can get far too precious!
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18,696 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 26, 2016 9:59:58 GMT
As a fan of Alfie Boe, I will be booking to see this. Yes, he is not the greatest actor in the world, and the role is more suited to a baritone, but I have heard it sung by a tenor, and he will sing the hell out of it. This may be absolute heresy, but I have also been a fan of Katherine Jenkins in the past. Her VIVA LA DIVA tour with Darcey Bussell years ago, was very enjoyable. I will reserve judgement until I have seen her. I have never seen CAROUSEL on stage before, and am very much looking forward to it. Good for you. If you like their voices then that can be good enough. Jenkins and Boe's fans (because that's who'll be booking to see this) certainly won't be biting their nails over how well it's going to be acted, they'll be looking forward to those voices singing those songs. Anything else is a bonus. Strikes me that the ENO can't do right for doing wrong. Too elitist, too populist.. Yes I'm sure they could have got two amazing MT actors to play the leads and people on here could ooh and ahh for days but if their aim is to get a new audience to fill that huge theatre for 5 weeks a year then seems to me they're playing a blinder.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Nov 26, 2016 10:17:47 GMT
but if their aim is to get a new audience to fill that huge theatre for 5 weeks a year then seems to me they're playing a blinder. Their further stated aim is that some of these ENO musical theatre shows have a future life, generating income for ENO.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 26, 2016 10:53:35 GMT
As a fan of Alfie Boe, I will be booking to see this. Yes, he is not the greatest actor in the world, and the role is more suited to a baritone, but I have heard it sung by a tenor, and he will sing the hell out of it. This may be absolute heresy, but I have also been a fan of Katherine Jenkins in the past. Her VIVA LA DIVA tour with Darcey Bussell years ago, was very enjoyable. I will reserve judgement until I have seen her. I have never seen CAROUSEL on stage before, and am very much looking forward to it. Good for you. If you like their voices then that can be good enough. Jenkins and Boe's fans (because that's who'll be booking to see this) certainly won't be biting their nails over how well it's going to be acted, they'll be looking forward to those voices singing those songs. Anything else is a bonus. Strikes me that the ENO can't do right for doing wrong. Too elitist, too populist.. Yes I'm sure they could have got two amazing MT actors to play the leads and people on here could ooh and ahh for days but if their aim is to get a new audience to fill that huge theatre for 5 weeks a year then seems to me they're playing a blinder. Exactly! This will certainly sell out and get lots of publicity so job done. I will be booking wednesday.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Nov 26, 2016 11:36:07 GMT
I knoooooow this is casting that will please a lot of the public, I knooooooow that we all look far too much into it as theatre purists/fans/obsessives. I knoooooooow that they haven't cast to please "our kind" but I'm not discussing this show on a public board, we are a *theatre board* and I'll be damned if I won't discuss something in way too much detail, as is our want! If we go by that, why do we discuss anything on here? Why do we even have the board and why is it so popular?? As 'annoying' as it is to see lots of negativity, theatre can't always be positive!
And hey, if I was an out-and-out fan of Boe and Jenkins, I'd probably be booking too! As a lot of people I know have already done. And I'd never begrudge anyone from doing so if they are fans or like the sound of this, theatre is for everyone, right?? But I'm not gonna go if I know I'm not gonna enjoy it knowing that I'll come back here and report...guess what....that I didn't enjoy it! And we can't just hide from the fact that not only a large majority on here are a bit dubious, but I've seen a certain amount on facebook and twitter too that hasn't been the most positive of reactions...
Anyhow, I won't rain on anyone's parade if they think/know they will enjoy this, as much as the following will sound like I am, but from my experience of seeing Alfie Boe in both a musical and concert setting, and having seen enough performances from Katherine Jenkins to last a life-time, and knowing the characters of the show, I can make a personal informed decision that, putting bums on seats aside, I think that the casting of this shows huge disrespect to what the piece requires, semi-staged or not, and if, on this occasion, that makes me precious (which I'm almost certain it probably does), then so be it!!
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Post by haz23 on Nov 26, 2016 12:19:00 GMT
I love Carousel, but have no desire to see this. I watched Alfie Boe do two hours of 'acting' in Les Mis on Broadway this year and I definitely won't be rushing to see this sadly.
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18,696 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 26, 2016 13:20:10 GMT
I knoooooow this is casting that will please a lot of the public, I knooooooow that we all look far too much into it as theatre purists/fans/obsessives. I knoooooooow that they haven't cast to please "our kind" but I'm not discussing this show on a public board, we are a *theatre board* and I'll be damned if I won't discuss something in way too much detail, as is our want! If we go by that, why do we discuss anything on here? Why do we even have the board and why is it so popular?? As 'annoying' as it is to see lots of negativity, theatre can't always be positive! I don't think anyone is trying to say otherwise. Certainly no-one seems to be trying to suppress the negative comments but are just giving an opposing viewpoint.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2016 13:43:16 GMT
They gotta sell just under 100,000 tickets for this tonne a sell out. Il wait for the comps
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Nov 26, 2016 13:52:18 GMT
I knoooooow this is casting that will please a lot of the public, I knooooooow that we all look far too much into it as theatre purists/fans/obsessives. I knoooooooow that they haven't cast to please "our kind" but I'm not discussing this show on a public board, we are a *theatre board* and I'll be damned if I won't discuss something in way too much detail, as is our want! If we go by that, why do we discuss anything on here? Why do we even have the board and why is it so popular?? As 'annoying' as it is to see lots of negativity, theatre can't always be positive! I don't think anyone is trying to say otherwise. Certainly no-one seems to be trying to suppress the negative comments but are just giving an opposing viewpoint. To me, it was less to do with suppressing of negative comments (which you're right, no one has been doing really on this thread), but more the dismissiveness of them. Honestly there's no beef, but if a reaction is largely negative, even if it's on a board of theatre fans, that's gotta mean something? It's not saying that anyone who goes to see this has no taste, doesn't understand theatre and should feel in any way less for liking this certain combination, it's actually not really even being precious, it's saying that a substantial group of the theatre community (and maybe actors in particular) are worried about what direction theatrical integrity is going! Which was one of my points.....this is exactly the place where these kinda discussions should thrive, not be dismissed. Because what if the ENO actually haven't got it right yet? We should discuss that. They are successfully enticing members of the public with their populist casting then asking them to spend £150 per ticket to make it worth-while, turning it into an elitist event. At the same time, some feel they are considerably lowering their standards. Is there a middle ground at all? It's an age-old, boring discussion, sure, but it's obviously still important. I mean it's gone way above and beyond the points either of us were making, but you know me, bright ideas just pop into my head....
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Post by notmymuse on Nov 26, 2016 14:06:38 GMT
I've been surprised by how good some celebrities have been when I've got there in the past, but I'm really not sure about this.
Carousel is a hard show to sell to modern audiences. It's hard to pull off without seeming hopelessly dated and offensive. You need actors who can find and portray real nuance and depth, not just read the words. I certainly couldn't and I'm not sure how many people without loads of training or experience could.
I saw the Lesley Garrett production at the Savoy a few years back. I really didn't enjoy it, and she struggled.
I nearly didn't see Thom Southerland's production in the Broadway at Catford shortly after because of the Savoy's. Yet it was a league apart, done on a shoestring budget. The actors found so much in the script if never noticed, and created great characters. They'd all gone to stage school and had a degree of experience and were cast on ability.
So I won't be going. If ENO insist on this kind of casting, they need to pick an easier show which demands less of the cast. Or pick opera singers who are great actors.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 26, 2016 17:41:21 GMT
Or pick opera singers who are great actors. Which is what Opera North did successfully a few years ago. Anyone who thinks the comments on here are negative evidently hasn't read the ones on Twitter. Every opera singer, MT performer & critic who I've seen comment has been negative. My favourite was Neil Fisher, one of The Times critics, re-captioning Baz's article as "You'll Never Squawk Alone"!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2016 18:34:36 GMT
I think because this has been announced so much later in the year than previous years, they must have been struggling to cast this.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2016 18:45:33 GMT
I hope it's not as bad as Kismet was at the ENO a few years back. It got panned by every critic.
If only they had brought Joanna Riding back. They could have promoted it as her award winning performance! The NT production had me in tears. Katherine Jenkins is So wrong for this on every level.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2016 18:49:28 GMT
Also, ain't they too old? And by quite a lot? (I appreciate Glennith was 20yrs too old but it actually fit)
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Nov 26, 2016 18:51:55 GMT
Unfortunately it's all gone a bit 'Sarah Harding' with twitter showing its ugly said again, with Katherine being tagged in various rather nasty tweets about her. That's not cool.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 26, 2016 18:54:26 GMT
Also, ain't they too old? And by quite a lot? (I appreciate Glennith was 20yrs too old but it actually fit) That was my first thought actually, over and above their acting which I know nothing of. He's mid 40's isn't he? And she's no spring chicken either.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Nov 26, 2016 21:58:26 GMT
I hope it's not as bad as Kismet was at the ENO a few years back. It got panned by every critic. Same semi-stage director as for Sweeney Todd and Sunset Boulevard, so very unlikely to be at all like Kismet.
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Post by johartuk on Nov 26, 2016 22:06:02 GMT
Also, ain't they too old? And by quite a lot? (I appreciate Glennith was 20yrs too old but it actually fit) That was my first thought actually, over and above their acting which I know nothing of. He's mid 40's isn't he? And she's no spring chicken either. Alfie Boe is 43 and Katherine Jenkins is 36. Age wouldn't be a problem if they looked a bit younger, but they both look their ages.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2016 23:36:15 GMT
The ENO really is toxic cesspit
Their productions look like they cost £10 to stage
They paper everything
Nothing sells out there
They had cheapest and nastiest refurbishment
Coliseum should be shut down
Transformed
Needs to be turned into massive Chanel shop
Just look at the ROH
One major opera house is enough particularly when that one is a massive financial success
The ENO is a joke in comparison
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 27, 2016 0:10:29 GMT
Has the alternate for Alfie Boe Ben cast yet?
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Post by carmella1 on Nov 27, 2016 2:04:42 GMT
John Raitt. He will still be better.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2016 10:29:47 GMT
Unfortunately it's all gone a bit 'Sarah Harding' with twitter showing its ugly said again, with Katherine being tagged in various rather nasty tweets about her. That's not cool. I find it so horrible when people do that. Okay, not everyone is going to like every piece of casting in every show but they're shouldn't express their opinions like that let alone tag the person in the tweet so they see it appear in their notification!! That's just plain bullying, I'd hate to think what Katherine is thinking looking at those tweets because she has honestly got a really nice voice
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 27, 2016 10:31:40 GMT
The ENO really is toxic cesspit Their productions look like they cost £10 to stage They paper everything Nothing sells out there They had cheapest and nastiest refurbishment Coliseum should be shut down Transformed Needs to be turned into massive Chanel shop Just look at the ROH One major opera house is enough particularly when that one is a massive financial success The ENO is a joke in comparison That the ENO has lost its way in the age of surtitiles is undoubtedly true. I would not protest too loudly if it's subsidy was withdrawn. Just how do you evaluate the Royal Opera and Ballet as a massive financial success? They get even more subsidy and pay bigger money to attract staff. Since they were both refurbed, the ROH and Coliseum are the best appointed and most comfortable theatres in London. Toxic Cesspit? Somthing has yanked your chain
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Post by d'James on Nov 27, 2016 10:40:32 GMT
The foyer areas of the Coliseum are particularly nasty upstairs. No character at all.
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Post by crabtree on Nov 27, 2016 13:09:43 GMT
There is no doubting the technique of La Jenkins or her popularity, but to me she disappoints as nearly everything she sings is coloured with the same bland simpering sweetness, and angled head that allows the hair to tumble down regardless of the emotion or content. I am hoping that under a good director she will find the variation and feisty character that flirty, tragic, stoic Julie is made of.
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