923 posts
|
Post by Snciole on Feb 21, 2016 22:31:09 GMT
Delighted for David Bedella, who I have yet to see in In the Heights but was such fun as Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror and joined the Theatre Forum Lovers FB group so I hope he has joined us over here.
|
|
433 posts
|
Post by DuchessConstance on Feb 21, 2016 22:40:20 GMT
Benedict's speech though. OMG. Can't remember the last time an audience laughed so hard!
Are they told ahead of time? I noticed very few of the unsuccessful nominees seemed to be in attendance.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 3:29:41 GMT
Those interested, Matt did Hold Me In Your Heart, in full costume, hair and makeup.
|
|
170 posts
|
Post by caa on Feb 22, 2016 6:47:19 GMT
As always some worthy winners, and some what! But whereas I used to get cross with the WOS awards, but now see them as a joke. What is the point of them?
|
|
4,799 posts
|
Post by The Matthew on Feb 22, 2016 7:06:52 GMT
As always some worthy winners, and some what! But whereas I used to get cross with the WOS awards, but now see them as a joke. What is the point of them? The point's the same as any awards: to get publicity for the host and the winners, to give attention to someone who needs buttering up, to indulge in mutual back slapping, and, in the case of a few ceremonies, to be able to say "look, we have women and black people too". Occasionally they may result in recognition for the worthy, but that's incidental.
|
|
7,506 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Feb 22, 2016 7:32:04 GMT
Well it was all very predictable and I pretty much guessed all the winners. So pleased for David Badella. Nicol Kidman. How tall is that woman!!! But amazing to see her there. Some good musical performances too with the highlight for me being Jenna Russell performing a number from Grey Gardens. Very annoying woman in front of me who spend the whole evening getting up and down, looking at her phone, flicking her hair and at one point turned around to me and said "who is that bird presenting?" it was, in fact, Janie Dee. 2 women spent the whole of the first half recording most of it and then posting it online or tweeting. Fortunately they got told off by the usher in the 2nd half. Aftershow party was crowded to say the least and I got pushed into a corner with the cast of In The Heights, so not complaining. So many stunning people there, these actors don't have scrub up well on a night out.
|
|
642 posts
|
Post by Stasia on Feb 22, 2016 9:14:22 GMT
Theatre Forum Lovers FB group Haven't seen the link anywhere, is that a secret one?
|
|
7,506 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Feb 22, 2016 10:15:27 GMT
Benedict's speech though. OMG. Can't remember the last time an audience laughed so hard! Are they told ahead of time? I noticed very few of the unsuccessful nominees seemed to be in attendance. That speech was hysterical, it just went on and on and on. I presume it was intentional
|
|
154 posts
|
Post by cherokee on Feb 22, 2016 11:46:45 GMT
Not a bad evening.
I was disappointed that Mel Giedroyc didn't host again. She was brilliant last year - just naturally funny. Steve Furst has his moments but I think he has a bitterness and a slightly nasty streak that isn't all shtick and is occasionally a bit off-putting.
Sarah Hadland was great though - very funny and self-deprecating. The running gag about her appearance in Cats went down really well. Really didn't warm to Janie Dee though. She seemed very insincere and hard. One of those actors who wants to make it all about her. Preeya Kalidas was sweet if a bit unremarkable - although I'll admit I was flagging by then.
Performances were OK on the whole. Jenna Russell was wonderful; Pixie Lott distinctly less so. And if those are really the two best songs from Mrs Henderson Presents God help them! So boring... Just dreadful. Matt Henry was great and I enjoyed the Something's Coming quartet. Though someone should have advised Alison Jiear against wearing those trousers. They really did not do her any favours at all!!
The awards themselves were pretty predictable: usually going to the biggest name in each category with the biggest online fan base. Benedict Cumberbatch's win was particularly egregious. Getting a best actor award when he didn't know his lines and had to rely on an earpiece throughout the run. Fair enough if you're Angela Lansbury and in your nineties but not for a young man playing Hamlet. And his acceptance speech was just embarrassing. People began laughing at the sheer length and self-indulgence of it. Presumably he has no one around him to advise him to keep it brief.
The finale of "One Day More" was spine tingling as always. A fun night out but it does highlight which luvvies take themselves far too seriously!
|
|
154 posts
|
Post by cherokee on Feb 22, 2016 11:47:47 GMT
Benedict's speech though. OMG. Can't remember the last time an audience laughed so hard! Are they told ahead of time? I noticed very few of the unsuccessful nominees seemed to be in attendance. That speech was hysterical, it just went on and on and on. I presume it was intentional
I really don't think it was, unfortunately!
|
|
433 posts
|
Post by DuchessConstance on Feb 22, 2016 12:50:21 GMT
Presumably when they received the video someone noticed how long it was and made a conscious decision not to edit it. Whether this was because "It's Benedict" or because they thought it'd be funny, who knows.
It reminded me of some of those extended visual gags on Family Guy where they start mildly amusing, then get boring, then - because they just keep going and going - end up cycling back round and becoming really funny.
Oh and any forumers who chatted to a girl in a dress covered in hearts who'd lost her friends - THANK YOU!
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 22, 2016 13:14:40 GMT
I wonder why Mel didn't present. Steve said she was just 2 weeks ago. They were meant to do a song I thought. Hope she's alright, she's got the Eurovision thing on Friday.
|
|
923 posts
|
Post by Snciole on Feb 22, 2016 13:57:03 GMT
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on Feb 22, 2016 14:06:22 GMT
If the Oliver Awards are the British equivalent of the American Tony Awards.
I guess the What's On Stage Awards are equivalent to Drama Desk Awards?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 14:10:05 GMT
*Olivier
And no, the Drama Desk Awards are probably... well, I want to say the Evening Standard Awards, but I take the Drama Desks much more seriously. The WOS awards are more akin to the Broadway World awards than anything else I reckon.
|
|
587 posts
|
Post by Polly1 on Feb 22, 2016 14:42:17 GMT
Sorry, I know Cumberbatch only won due to the sheer number of his fans, but I don't think I can let the comment above that he wore an earpiece go unremarked upon - it's patent nonsense.
|
|
4,799 posts
|
Post by The Matthew on Feb 22, 2016 15:47:07 GMT
"You must log in to continue" Seems oddly familiar, somehow…
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 15:53:22 GMT
I guess the What's On Stage Awards are equivalent to Drama Desk Awards? Or the Smash Hits Awards?
|
|
170 posts
|
Post by caa on Feb 22, 2016 15:54:48 GMT
If the Oliver Awards are the British equivalent of the American Tony Awards. I guess the What's On Stage Awards are equivalent to Drama Desk Awards? The WOS stage awards remind me of the TV Choice awards. The Olivier Awards like to think that they are the Tonys, but really are more like the Evening Standard awards. The only awards I respect are the Critics Choice Awards but winning one of them is fairly meaningless to most people.
|
|
923 posts
|
Post by Snciole on Feb 22, 2016 18:20:06 GMT
"You must log in to continue" Seems oddly familiar, somehow… Only worth signing up if you are really desperate to see my profile pic, which I took in the Royal Court toilets...
|
|
154 posts
|
Post by cherokee on Feb 22, 2016 19:01:36 GMT
Sorry, I know Cumberbatch only won due to the sheer number of his fans, but I don't think I can let the comment above that he wore an earpiece go unremarked upon - it's patent nonsense. Oh it's been a very well-kept secret but plenty of industry people know about it. All the cast and crew were aware that he had a bit of help.
|
|
18,805 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 22, 2016 20:26:26 GMT
Sorry, I know Cumberbatch only won due to the sheer number of his fans, but I don't think I can let the comment above that he wore an earpiece go unremarked upon - it's patent nonsense. Oh it's been a very well-kept secret but plenty of industry people know about it. All the cast and crew were aware that he had a bit of help. I think I'd say an actual earpiece with actual talking coming out of it was more than a "bit of help". I could probably have a fair old crack at Hamlet meself with an earpiece. Can't be that hard!
|
|
587 posts
|
Post by Polly1 on Feb 22, 2016 22:00:37 GMT
Sorry, I know Cumberbatch only won due to the sheer number of his fans, but I don't think I can let the comment above that he wore an earpiece go unremarked upon - it's patent nonsense. Oh it's been a very well-kept secret but plenty of industry people know about it. All the cast and crew were aware that he had a bit of help. I'm genuinely amazed that a production with that high a profile could have kept something like that so quiet. Also genuinely amazed if it's true.
|
|
7,506 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Feb 22, 2016 22:17:28 GMT
I wonder why Mel didn't present. Steve said she was just 2 weeks ago. They were meant to do a song I thought. Hope she's alright, she's got the Eurovision thing on Friday. Was it really a late minute cancellation? She is not mentioned at all in the programme, unless it was printed at the very last moment
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 23:32:39 GMT
Oh it's been a very well-kept secret but plenty of industry people know about it. All the cast and crew were aware that he had a bit of help. I'm genuinely amazed that a production with that high a profile could have kept something like that so quiet. Also genuinely amazed if it's true. Me too. I certainly wasn't aware of anything untoward the night I went... I was no fan of the production, but Cumberbatch looked ready to faint by the end, so it looked like he'd given it his all.
|
|
433 posts
|
Post by DuchessConstance on Feb 23, 2016 0:11:26 GMT
One of my friends worked on the production and says that's bollocks.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 9:53:46 GMT
I'm not sure having an argument about the possibility of this ear piece is going to prove at all productive - it's not like it's going to be your usual exchange of opinions where both sides of the debate get to hear and understand more about each other's viewpoint and although everyone comes out believing the same as they believed when they went in it was still a good discussion, is it? It's going to descend very quickly into "well, I know someone on the production who said there definitely was an ear piece" and "well, I know someone on the production who said there definitely wasn't an ear piece", and most people will never know which is true (though they'll have their suspicions and/or preferences), and ultimately I'm pretty sure it doesn't actually matter, so. I don't know, have the argument if you want, I guess, but no one's going to be convincing anyone of anything, are they?
|
|
154 posts
|
Post by cherokee on Feb 23, 2016 10:32:57 GMT
I'm not sure having an argument about the possibility of this ear piece is going to prove at all productive - it's not like it's going to be your usual exchange of opinions where both sides of the debate get to hear and understand more about each other's viewpoint and although everyone comes out believing the same as they believed when they went in it was still a good discussion, is it? It's going to descend very quickly into "well, I know someone on the production who said there definitely was an ear piece" and "well, I know someone on the production who said there definitely wasn't an ear piece", and most people will never know which is true (though they'll have their suspicions and/or preferences), and ultimately I'm pretty sure it doesn't actually matter, so. I don't know, have the argument if you want, I guess, but no one's going to be convincing anyone of anything, are they? I was shown a photo of Cumberbatch signing autographs at stage door after the show where you could clearly see that it was still in his ear. I'll see if I can dig it out and find it.
|
|
154 posts
|
Post by cherokee on Feb 23, 2016 10:33:53 GMT
One of my friends worked on the production and says that's bollocks. Which bit, Duchess, the bit about using an earpiece, the bit about him "giving his all, ready to faint," or did you mean that his readiness to faint was down to his pants being too tight? Clarity, please? BTW, I don't think he did use an earpiece, as his "to be, or not to be, cab to the airport for Mrs Jones, 16 Wellington Street, that is the question" came out loud and clear. And on earpieces, I challenged the PR at the Walliams "Dream" about his seeming to have something in his ear, and she was really uppity about it. I'm not suggesting he needed to be prompted on every single line. Presumably he was able to learn some of it at least.
|
|
433 posts
|
Post by DuchessConstance on Feb 23, 2016 10:38:46 GMT
I actually got to spend a bit of time in the rehearsal room for Hamlet and I don't believe there was ever an earpiece, especially seeing how hard he worked, but fine.
|
|