334 posts
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Post by adrianics on Oct 8, 2017 10:12:53 GMT
Saw this on Friday and thought it was really damn great. It's a very funny show with a kick-ass score (although Sarah's songs ran together a little), and that cast... I was just blown away, really. A huge amount of energy and talent on stage, I was exhausted just watching White Guy and Black Guy. Particular props to Natalie Hope, her Bitch/Slut/Whore song was incredible and real standout.
I do agree with the above that the fourth wall humour goes a bit overboard in Act 2, otherwise I laughed beginning to end.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2017 9:10:50 GMT
Afraid this wasn't for me last night. Saw it at Southwark and felt like I was the only one not getting it. Saw it again last night and the majority of the audience seemed to love it, but it all just felt a bit too try-hard.
A couple of bloopers, maybe intentional? At one point when the doors opened a stage manager ran past carrying costumes, a stool fell over and then were a few missed lighting cues.
I can't fault the enthusiasm of the cast. Mark Anderson was off but his understudy was great.
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134 posts
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Post by Kenneth_C on Oct 10, 2017 5:29:15 GMT
I saw this at Southwark and then again at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and I can't recall any Play That Goes Wrong type humor.
Have they rewritten the show?
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471 posts
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Post by Deal J on Oct 10, 2017 11:37:40 GMT
I've been confused by those comments too, I went to the preview on 30 September and don't recall anything like that. There was the bit towards the end when (spoiler-ish) the stage hands are visible when they think that the show is over, but I don't remember anything else. Perhaps some last minute additions?
I loved this more than I expected to. The cast are fantastic and the humour really appealed to me. I do enjoy the tawdry Troma film and couldn't imagine how they would make the story palatable to a stage audience, but they've cracked it in my opinion! Although I did miss Toxie's pink tutu 😜
I loved the little nods to other shows too, especially the coffee shop MT-themed menu.
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4,159 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 10, 2017 11:56:25 GMT
There's a whole segment that goes on for 10 minutes nearly that's about the blind girl dripping her stick then everyone breaking character telling her where to go to get it and directing her. The stage hands, the band, all of them. There's a bit where a spotlight shines on a spot different to where Toxie us standing so him moving to it. There were some other things I can't really recall but we're defo play goes wrong style. You could argue that the whole bit of the mayor coming out to tell the guy to hurry up and stop singing and get on with it is that sort of thing too.
I mean it was all very funny so I didn't have an issue with it.
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334 posts
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Post by adrianics on Oct 10, 2017 18:30:29 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view} I wasn't a huge fan of that moment (very weird that everyone else broke character but Sarah), or the visible hand that knocked the lamp off the table. I loved the band and stage hands all coming on stage during the 'death scene' then starting to leave only to come back when the scientist yelled "UNLESS".
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134 posts
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Post by Kenneth_C on Oct 10, 2017 20:29:40 GMT
There's a whole segment that goes on for 10 minutes nearly that's about the blind girl dripping her stick then everyone breaking character telling her where to go to get it and directing her. The stage hands, the band, all of them. There's a bit where a spotlight shines on a spot different to where Toxie us standing so him moving to it. There were some other things I can't really recall but we're defo play goes wrong style. You could argue that the whole bit of the mayor coming out to tell the guy to hurry up and stop singing and get on with it is that sort of thing too. I honestly cannot remember anything like that happening in the two previous productions I saw. At the Hollywood Fringe, since it was in a tiny black box theatre, the director added a stagehand that moved or carried panels that looked like comic book pages to indicate scene changes. But that was the director's addition to compensate for the lack of any type of set. Towards the end of the play, the stagehand (who was the director's daughter) started showing some attitude, but it was very cleverly-done and not nearly as "meta" as TPTGW.
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108 posts
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Post by bob2010 on Oct 11, 2017 15:02:24 GMT
Went to see this last night after getting hold of some heavily discounted tickets.
There were lots of empty seats. Would say only half full, however everyone seemed to enjoy it and the cast got a standing ovation at the end.
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357 posts
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Post by JJShaw on Oct 12, 2017 16:05:33 GMT
What a shame that such a tight and witty show at SP has been redirected to being so broad and crude that, for me, it really did tarnish my enjoyment. I also didn't think the new cast were quite as good (but that might also be down to the new direction). Did we need that many crotch grabbings or butt-gyrating? It just made the jokes that were sexual that were good loose their impact.
I did like the newly expended set, and the pipe doors were far more slick than the rotating silo drums at SP that were so rickety. The merchandise they had on offer looked pretty cool as well.
Despite the poor new direction, it was a real shame to see the theatre so empty, fortunately everyones reactions didn't make it feel empty at all (and clearly they didn't mind incessant butt gyrating!) but why are they keeping the circle open?
I would love to recommend the show to people as I do think its a great one but really would hesitate because of the new direction.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 14, 2017 23:50:47 GMT
There Michael was you there this afternoon, like I was? This musicals ticked several boxes for me, unfortunately there was a lot more crosses in other boxes. Saw this again after seeing this 18 months ago and must say I forgot what the plot is actually about, but as it got started it begun to come back. Where to start? Let's start by being a bit humane and say it was very mildly amusing and would describe the humour as puerile end of the pier. However is the musical any good? Well is rain forecast for tomorrow.
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2,763 posts
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Post by daniel on Oct 15, 2017 1:14:30 GMT
Saw this last weekend...LOVED it. Knew nothing about it in advance, but it was just brilliant. The main bloke was out but his understudy gave a stronge performance. The show is just absolutely bonkers. Yes it gets a bit silly at times, but I feel like that's kinda what they're going for with it.
We did have a show Stop about 10 seconds into act 2 - the sliding doors decided they weren't going to open, cue much bashing of hammers backstage.
My only criticism is producer greed. It's 100% an Off-West End show. There's no doubt about it. It's an Off-West End venue. Yet the prices are nearer to West End prices. Whilst I don't want this or any show to fail, I'm really pleased that sales are slow for this because that's a lesson to the producers that you can't charge top whack for a low budget (albeit brilliant) show that you are paying peanuts to the performers for, and get away with it. Hopefully she'll drop the prices to where they should be for an off-West End show, and it'll pack out the Arts, which is what those super hard working actors and musicians deserve.
Do go see it if you can find a seat at the right price for you, it's bloody good.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Oct 15, 2017 17:28:35 GMT
Saw the matinee of this today and I have to say, I thought it was great. Yes it's stupid but it knows it. Nice to see something a bit crazy and bonkers sometimes. The cast of 5 all did a great job. I agree on the steep pricing but if you can get a deal (I paid £29.99 through Discounttheatre.com for the middle of row D of the stalls), I'd highly recommend it!
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1,037 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Oct 15, 2017 20:55:43 GMT
I was also at the matinee and loved it! The cast (who are all bloody brilliant) works so hard and the material is hilarious with some fantastic music too. Hopefully I'll get to see it again before it closes because it's such a fun show.
I really wish it was doing a bit better at the box office, but as others have said that's what happens when you try to charge West End prices for a small show in a small theatre with a small cast. I payed £28 for central Row C through TodayTix and wouldn't have payed much more.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 16, 2017 7:38:16 GMT
£15 tickets today on TodayTix if anyone fancies it.
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Post by shady23 on Oct 16, 2017 8:39:29 GMT
The today tix ones have to be bought today but can be used for any performance this month.
Fifteen quid or a tiny five pound if you use the code UHJOI at checkout ☺
Bargain!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 9:27:20 GMT
The today tix ones have to be bought today but can be used for any performance this month. Fifteen quid or a tiny five pound if you use the code UHJOI at checkout ☺ Bargain! And if that code doesn't work, why not try FQLNX ;-)
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Post by jgblunners on Oct 16, 2017 9:32:59 GMT
The today tix ones have to be bought today but can be used for any performance this month. Fifteen quid or a tiny five pound if you use the code UHJOI at checkout ☺ Bargain! And if that code doesn't work, why not try FQLNX ;-) I hear YMZXT is a good code to use ;P
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 16, 2017 9:47:54 GMT
I would recommend this show for £15! I saw it yesterday evening (Sunday at 6.30pm). I paid £28 through Today Tix (Stalls Centre Row C) and was happy with that!
The show was delayed for 20 minutes due to "technical reasons" but the front of house staff handles the delay and packed bar area very well.
I felt the show was a cross between Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors! I liked the set and the staging and the cast of five worked their socks off and were all very good. The leading guy had a great voice! A pity some of the material was not better. A very busy house gave the cast a complete well deserved standing ovation at the end.
I enjoyed it - a fun show, but not the greatest musical in the world! Worth seeing though for the talented, hard working cast!
EDIT To say that there were quite a few children in the audience, the parents thinking presumably it was a comic book kids show - like Shrek!? I did not feel it suitable at all for kids with the language and some fairly graphic props and choreography! The kids near me were very well behaved though and seemed to love it!!
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471 posts
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Post by Deal J on Oct 16, 2017 11:15:58 GMT
EDIT To say that there were quite a few children in the audience, the parents thinking presumably it was a comic book kids show - like Shrek!? I did not feel it suitable at all for kids with the language and some fairly graphic props and choreography! The kids near me were very well behaved though and seemed to love it!! Let's hope those children don't ask their parents if they can see the original film afterwards! I watched it on the train down to London and had to cover my screen at some points to avoid offending any innocent passengers' eyes! Now who fancies taking on musical adaptation of The Greasy Strangler...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2017 15:19:41 GMT
Interval thoughts. It's so f*cking crazy and silly, I'm loooving it! Natalie Hope is giving me life, she's the star of the show for me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 14:36:01 GMT
So it looks as though a new Melvin is going to be announced shortly, I think the understudy has been on for the past couple of weeks anyway (we saw him on the 28th and he was excellent!)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 15:13:09 GMT
Ben Irish taking over as Toxie/Melvin from tonight!
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 12:39:36 GMT
What happened to the original Toxie? I don't know who I saw but he was fabulous.....
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4,159 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 8, 2017 13:15:45 GMT
Yeh what happened? He was splendid. Brilliant voice. Reminded me quite a lot of Ben Platt.
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471 posts
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Post by Deal J on Nov 8, 2017 17:27:13 GMT
It seems the original Toxie - Mark Anderson - is heading over to The Grinning Man at Trafalgar Studios.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Nov 19, 2017 20:46:31 GMT
Saw this again tonight at the Arts - really enjoyed it, though perhaps not as much as at Southwark. I actually didn't think there was that much changed (not as much as I'd expected from previous posts), though some of the jokes didn't land quite so well for me, possibly because I was already expecting them, having seen it before. Brilliant cast, all of them, clearly having an amazing time and putting everything into it. I laughed like a drain at {Spoiler - click to view} the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?)the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?) The only joke/scene that didn't land was the one with the hairdresser {Spoiler - click to view} interacting with the audience, asking a guy in the front row his name, and then asking him if he wanted a power bottom (!). Bizarre, out of place and unfunny - crude as much of the other humour is, it's generally quite universal, and this wasn't. Pretty full downstairs at least, other than the back two rows - couldn't see upstairs. And a very appreciative audience too.
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2,763 posts
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Post by daniel on Nov 20, 2017 1:13:48 GMT
Saw this again tonight at the Arts - really enjoyed it, though perhaps not as much as at Southwark. I actually didn't think there was that much changed (not as much as I'd expected from previous posts), though some of the jokes didn't land quite so well for me, possibly because I was already expecting them, having seen it before. Brilliant cast, all of them, clearly having an amazing time and putting everything into it. I laughed like a drain at {Spoiler - click to view} the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?)the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?) The only joke/scene that didn't land was the one with the hairdresser {Spoiler - click to view} interacting with the audience, asking a guy in the front row his name, and then asking him if he wanted a power bottom (!). Bizarre, out of place and unfunny - crude as much of the other humour is, it's generally quite universal, and this wasn't. Pretty full downstairs at least, other than the back two rows - couldn't see upstairs. And a very appreciative audience too. Re the audience participation during the hair salon scene, I think how well it’s received depends on the person being interacted with. Tonight, that poor sod was me. I cringed and absolutely did not want to engage. So if I spoiled that brief moment then I apologise
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2017 6:25:47 GMT
Saw this again tonight at the Arts - really enjoyed it, though perhaps not as much as at Southwark. I actually didn't think there was that much changed (not as much as I'd expected from previous posts), though some of the jokes didn't land quite so well for me, possibly because I was already expecting them, having seen it before. Brilliant cast, all of them, clearly having an amazing time and putting everything into it. I laughed like a drain at {Spoiler - click to view} the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?)the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?) The only joke/scene that didn't land was the one with the hairdresser {Spoiler - click to view} interacting with the audience, asking a guy in the front row his name, and then asking him if he wanted a power bottom (!). Bizarre, out of place and unfunny - crude as much of the other humour is, it's generally quite universal, and this wasn't. Pretty full downstairs at least, other than the back two rows - couldn't see upstairs. And a very appreciative audience too. Re the audience participation during the hair salon scene, I think how well it’s received depends on the person being interacted with. Tonight, that poor sod was me. I cringed and absolutely did not want to engage. So if I spoiled that brief moment then I apologise I wish you'd embrace audience participation more! You were pissing yourself when I got humped by the hot guy in Jest End, it was your turn! And it was your third time seeing this, twas your own fault for sitting out front.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Nov 20, 2017 8:05:48 GMT
Saw this again tonight at the Arts - really enjoyed it, though perhaps not as much as at Southwark. I actually didn't think there was that much changed (not as much as I'd expected from previous posts), though some of the jokes didn't land quite so well for me, possibly because I was already expecting them, having seen it before. Brilliant cast, all of them, clearly having an amazing time and putting everything into it. I laughed like a drain at {Spoiler - click to view} the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?)the (extended) scene where Sarah loses her stick, which was much longer than at Southwark - and perhaps longer than normal here, as everyone seemed to genuinely be cracking up on stage (or maybe that's part of the act?) The only joke/scene that didn't land was the one with the hairdresser {Spoiler - click to view} interacting with the audience, asking a guy in the front row his name, and then asking him if he wanted a power bottom (!). Bizarre, out of place and unfunny - crude as much of the other humour is, it's generally quite universal, and this wasn't. Pretty full downstairs at least, other than the back two rows - couldn't see upstairs. And a very appreciative audience too. Re the audience participation during the hair salon scene, I think how well it’s received depends on the person being interacted with. Tonight, that poor sod was me. I cringed and absolutely did not want to engage. So if I spoiled that brief moment then I apologise It was the matinee I saw, so it wasn't you! Bad timing, we just missed each other. The guy at the matinee did engage, giving his name at least, but the joke still didn't land. I just think it's very out of place.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2017 10:47:15 GMT
Well. Apart from the bruises all up my arm inflicted by danieljohnson14 who bullied me into seeing this I rather liked it. It's all very madcap and well staged, all with a very knowing wink to the audience. I said wink. Filth. I'm not sure I can remember a single song from the score but that doesn't matter, it was all rather jolly during the show. But oh, the cast. In the words of Liza Minnelli, they were TER RIFIC! I genuinely hope they all get more and more and more work after this show because they were great. The standout though is Emma Salvo as Sarah. She is a glorious comedienne and has a sensational voice to go with it, I can see her nailing the female lead in 'Kinky Boots'. She might actually be good in that show too. Fnar fnar. We also had Peter Bindloss (the understudy) as one of the two ensemble guys who play lots of characters. You'd never have guessed he was the understudy though, he almost stole the show.
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