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Post by crabtree on Jan 31, 2016 0:15:19 GMT
Whilst the car itself may be a bit limited and sidelined, Stephen Mear's choreography is simply sensational....me Ol' Bamboo and the bombie Samba are quite simply breathtaking. A fun production but overdosed with the dreaded proejctions....enough of these please, or at least get a proper animator to do them. They are too distracting. But do catch it on tour.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 31, 2016 0:29:48 GMT
I saw this last week and thought Chitty was supposed to fly?
Whatever was good about this was ruined by over reliance on projections.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 3:30:52 GMT
I can't decide if I would go and see this new production or not. The original Palladium production was my first ever musical which had a huge impact on me, it was big and spectacular. This one in the images and video just looks cheap and scaled-back. But I suppose it must be still entertaining to the audiences as it's had great reviews (some better that the original!) which I guess what really matters. I'm just too nostalgic!
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Post by talkstageytome on Jan 31, 2016 9:18:18 GMT
It's very different fro the Palladium production, and definitely not as grand in scale. But I really, really enjoyed it. Yes the projections didn't really work as effectively as others, and there were a few minor changes in details, but overall I thought it was great.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 14:07:36 GMT
I can't decide if I would go and see this new production or not. The original Palladium production was my first ever musical which was had a huge impact on me, it was big and spectacular. This one in the images and video just looks cheap and scaled back. But I suppose it must be still entertaining to the audiences as it's had great reviews (some better that the original!) which I guess what really matters. I'm just too nostalgic! Have you any links to the videos of the car?? Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 14:24:56 GMT
Have you any links to the videos of the car?? Thanks This is the video I was referring to, it's just a trailer with voxpops which don't really show the car, but it is in the background in some shots: If you go on Instagram and look at posts from the WYP location and/or hashtag #chitty etc. you may find some images of the car post-bows.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 22:01:10 GMT
Have you any links to the videos of the car?? Thanks This is the video I was referring to, it's just a trailer with voxpops which don't really show the car, but it is in the background in some shots: If you go on Instagram and look at posts from the WYP location and/or hashtag #chitty etc. you may find some images of the car post-bows. Thank you
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 1:20:30 GMT
Shaun Williamson to play Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst in SOME of the venues Phil Jupitus isn't performing. Very patchy star casting for this tour!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 7, 2016 22:15:42 GMT
The casting is so low rent. Clearly anyone will do!
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 7, 2016 22:41:12 GMT
The casting is so low rent. Clearly anyone will do! They should have just stuck with the WYP cast (except of course now Jon Robyns is doing Legally Blonde). Not only is all this cast switching around nonsense really confusing to follow, it's also just incredibly dull. The show sold in Leeds on the name alone and should do on tour as well. It's a great family show, I can't for the life of me think why kids would really care if they're seeing one random (probably ex soap-)star or another, and honestly, do parents either? I have to say, however much I enjoyed this production, I'm now not really sure I'll bother with it on tour.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 8, 2016 8:43:51 GMT
According to that video each scene was better than the next. So it starts off well and is bad by the end?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 8, 2016 11:50:11 GMT
The casting is so low rent. Clearly anyone will do! They should have just stuck with the WYP cast (except of course now Jon Robyns is doing Legally Blonde). Not only is all this cast switching around nonsense really confusing to follow, it's also just incredibly dull. The show sold in Leeds on the name alone and should do on tour as well. It's a great family show, I can't for the life of me think why kids would really care if they're seeing one random (probably ex soap-)star or another, and honestly, do parents either? I have to say, however much I enjoyed this production, I'm now not really sure I'll bother with it on tour. Really? From what I saw of the audience when I went they were not people who were seeing a show because of who was in it, they were just there for a good time. And as you said later in your post, the kids don't care anyway.
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Post by Michael on Feb 8, 2016 12:10:34 GMT
They should have just stuck with the WYP cast (except of course now Jon Robyns is doing Legally Blonde). Not only is all this cast switching around nonsense really confusing to follow, it's also just incredibly dull. The show sold in Leeds on the name alone and should do on tour as well. It's a great family show, I can't for the life of me think why kids would really care if they're seeing one random (probably ex soap-)star or another, and honestly, do parents either? I have to say, however much I enjoyed this production, I'm now not really sure I'll bother with it on tour. Really? From what I saw of the audience when I went they were not people who were seeing a show because of who was in it, they were just there for a good time. And as you said later in your post, the kids don't care anyway. But that's exactly what stagey is saying, isn't it? I guess by "name" she means name of the show, and not some "star".
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Post by tommy123 on Feb 8, 2016 12:48:24 GMT
So the only two people doing seemingly the whole tour are Michelle Collins as Baroness and Andy Hockley as Grandpa?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 8, 2016 12:49:56 GMT
Really? From what I saw of the audience when I went they were not people who were seeing a show because of who was in it, they were just there for a good time. And as you said later in your post, the kids don't care anyway. But that's exactly what stagey is saying, isn't it? I guess by "name" she means name of the show, and not some "star". Oh I seeeeeee! Sorry
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 9, 2016 0:51:49 GMT
But that's exactly what stagey is saying, isn't it? I guess by "name" she means name of the show, and not some "star". Oh I seeeeeee! Sorry Yes, exactly that, the name of the show! Sorry, should've been more specific!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 13:12:07 GMT
Anyone going to see this in the next few days? Open tomorrow
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Post by David J on Feb 11, 2016 21:09:41 GMT
Oh dear
The cast is certainly lovely and since this the tours second night? there were some glitches. Chitty's inflatable didn't come out
But this just feels pedestrian. The rewritten beginning takes ages to get going and some of the songs lack bounce
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2016 21:31:02 GMT
What is the flying car like.... does it fly just on stage on is it a bit more impressive (i.e bit over audience?)
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Post by Seriously on Feb 11, 2016 21:49:08 GMT
Looking at the production photos, I wonder if Jason Manford wouldn't suit playing Grandpa more?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 11, 2016 21:51:37 GMT
What is the flying car like.... does it fly just on stage on is it a bit more impressive (i.e bit over audience?) Just on stage. It turns around though! The bit where it's in the sea is quite good
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2016 23:00:50 GMT
What is the flying car like.... does it fly just on stage on is it a bit more impressive (i.e bit over audience?) Just on stage. It turns around though! The bit where it's in the sea is quite good Ok cool, thank you !!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 17:08:12 GMT
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Post by Seriously on Feb 12, 2016 18:46:17 GMT
Martin Kemp seems to have one of Boy George's old wigs! And Phil Jupiitus is just channelling Phil Jupitus as usual.
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Post by fiyero on Feb 13, 2016 14:51:32 GMT
I saw this on Tuesday and loved it. I must be the exception in that I loved the projections (I was in the balcony, not sure if that helped) except for some of the transition when it seemed like it was rubbing out and replacing the images. I was there the night Chitty couldn't float, not sure how she managed to fly with those tiny wings either!
I agree with the fact that this show doesn't need names. Jason Manford was great, I'd keep him, but I don't think the others added much. Martin Kemp has a particularly thankless job now his song has been taken away!
Just deciding whether to schedule another visit while its here
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Post by carmella1 on Feb 14, 2016 4:03:38 GMT
The casting is so low rent. Clearly anyone will do! You are so transparent. You make childish comments. You do not like him, fine, but in the last 8 years when was the last time you actually saw him perform?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 1:30:42 GMT
The rewritten beginning takes ages to get going and some of the songs lack bounce How does this production start then? I remember the original Palladium version went straight into the Grand Prix before the scene in the junkyard. Then the 2006 tour began with an introduction to Jeremy and Jemima, then Caractacus and Grandpa then Coggins narrating the Grand Prix to the children (which I remember seeing they used for the Broadway production on YouTube - which has since been taken down!).
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 19, 2016 5:29:21 GMT
I've always wondered how tempted reviewers have been to replace the C's with S's if they have ever seen a bad production of it or don't like it.
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Post by David J on Feb 19, 2016 6:56:37 GMT
The rewritten beginning takes ages to get going and some of the songs lack bounce How does this production start then? I remember the original Palladium version went straight into the Grand Prix before the scene in the junkyard. Then the 2006 tour began with an introduction to Jeremy and Jemima, then Caractacus and Grandpa then Coggins narrating the Grand Prix to the children (which I remember seeing they used for the Broadway production on YouTube - which has since been taken down!). I remember both versions too. I liked the Grand Prix song, but the 2006 tour version got to the point This version starts with two children playing with toy cars, leaves one behind, so that Caractacus Potts comes along picks up and think "I like cars". Then for the rest of the overture that's going on he stands in the middle of the stage watching people walk by Yay The overture even lacks the get go that the original version had. The one you can hear on the CD that has been used in the London and previous touring versions. There's some brief projections of press cuttings of the Grand Prix before anyone mentions that Chitty was a racing car. Couldn't they have used those a few minutes later? We then go into Mr Coggin's junkyard, which is restricted to a strip of the lower part of this wall that acts as the curtain. During which we switch between heaps of exposition and longeurs of filler. The filler being the children pretending to drive in the Grand Prix in the wreck, whilst the ensemble stand at the sides singing the "Never was a car" chorus. All in front of an endless projection loop of bunting flashing by. Not very involving and these moments last for a minute or so. It happens a second time with Caractacus now involved, swinging the wreck round in a circle on it's obvious wheeled truck whilst he sings a bit of Team Work. We then go back to the exposition. Which is exasperated when we have to jump to Bavaria in the middle of all this to establish Bomburst wants the car that he somehow knows about (gone is the detail that he was at the Grand Prix). Then he has a lengthy phone conversation with the spies, who appear a few minutes later to establish that they've found the car I should also mention that Chitty's crash is merely brought up in passing. So what impact that had has gone. It's just 'this once famous racing car is now in a junkyard' The scrap man (also the Childcatcher) has more stage time, which slows down proceedings further. Especially when we have to watch him cycle around the place. We meet Truly and then You Two is sung (still in the Junkyard). We then watch Caractacus and the children walk back home, so we can establish the watermill through projections The projections I must say are average. They do this thing where buildings are objects are drawn in at random. I can't decide whether that was an artistic decision or because of the graphics limitations. They are worse when the show has to establish the countryside flying by when Chitty is driving Anyway once we get into the windmill You Two is then reprised, which makes me wonder why it wasn't sung there in the first place. The thing is, it takes about 10-20 minutes for us to get to the windmill. In the 2006 version, the musical introduces the main characters, goes to the junkyard, Mr Coggins briefly tells children about Chitty's racing life whilst sitting in the wreck, ensemble sings "never was a car" in the background, crash happens, back to present, Bombarst is mentioned, scrap man wants car, spies are introduced, we meet Truly, she takes children back to windmill where we meet Caractacus. Badda-bing, badda-boom. Less than 10 minutes. Gets to the point You could say that this tour is a lesser version of the original, but together with the extra sets and projections it really makes a mountain out of a molehill. Not really helped that it is using the unnecessary alterations made in the 2009/10 tour, which reduced the childcatcher's role by taking out his song. Not that I'm complaining with Martin Kemp's performance
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 19, 2016 9:41:14 GMT
Is Hushabye Mountain oddly sped up still? Thought that was quite jarring in Leeds.
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