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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2017 19:59:15 GMT
Show is a big vocal role - did the West End Carole's do all shows each week ?
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Post by greeny11 on Oct 2, 2017 19:25:03 GMT
Yes, the London Caroles did 8 shows a week.
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Post by djp on Oct 4, 2017 11:03:52 GMT
Show is a big vocal role - did the West End Carole's do all shows each week ? It looks a more condensed schedule on tour - 5 day week with 3 matinees - so that would make sense. Bronte is getting rave reviews, and is someone I follow, so will try to get her
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2017 0:01:59 GMT
Saw the show in Belfast tonight and it was fabulous. Didnt realise how many Carole King songs I actually knew.
Leigh Lothian was on as Carole, and her voice was insane.
Rest of the cast were great.
Sorry I missed the show in London, but happy I finally got to see it.
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Post by Caz on Oct 31, 2017 16:10:28 GMT
I managed to catch this four times in London, especially going down for closing night. Cassidy Janson was outstanding as Carole. I also saw Leigh Lothian at one of the shows due to holiday, great that she’s getting a chance to do more nights on the tour. I am seeing the tour in Newcastle in a couple of weeks and really looking forward to seeing it again.
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 1, 2017 22:04:04 GMT
Oh my god what an amazing show this was! I was immersed in the storyline the whole time and all the music was really catchy and I thought flowed really well. Leigh Lothian was on for Carole, brilliant leading lady with a really powerful voice, but she doesn't really get the chance to showcase it much outside of Natural Woman and Beautiful. I really think there's something very special about this show, it's definitely the best jukebox musical I've ever seen. Thank you so much to the people who convinced me to book when I queried, I had a fabulous uplifting afternoon out ❤️
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Post by daniel on Nov 10, 2017 12:12:57 GMT
Seeing this in Birmingham tonight - loved the show in London, very much excited
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2017 14:50:46 GMT
I'm gonna hopefully see the tour sometime soon. The only issue I found with it both times I saw it in London, the first half ever so slightly dragged for me. I think it was just because its write the song, sing the song so it gets a tad repetitive, but I love the show otherwise! I actually thought Cassidy was better than Katie, which surprised me!
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Post by talkstageytome on Nov 10, 2017 16:48:05 GMT
I'm seeing it tonight too! Taking my mom for her birthday.
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Post by daniel on Nov 10, 2017 17:04:13 GMT
I'm seeing it tonight too! Taking my mom for her birthday. That's lovely! I'll say hi if I see you
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Post by talkstageytome on Nov 10, 2017 18:30:23 GMT
Ahh Thanks! I'm quite excited actually as the last (and only!) time I saw this show was about a week after it opened on the West End! I remember loving it though. Will deffo report back. My mom's never seen it so it'll be interesting to see what she thinks 😏
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Post by daniel on Nov 10, 2017 22:44:04 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight - saw it twice in London (with Cassidy both times) and absolutely loved it. I feel like some of the energy has been lost since I saw it in the West End, but there was still a standing ovation from a packed Hippodrome. I think there was a few minor changes in staging from the West End run, but not sure if I'm making that up. Cast were great - again, I think the West End cast were stronger, but that's no negative reflection on these guys. Bronté Barbé is really strong as Carole, but Cassidy did just have that something extra for me. Hope you and your mom enjoyed it talkstageytome
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Post by talkstageytome on Nov 10, 2017 23:56:32 GMT
Agreed, it was slightly less impactful for me this time round, but still a really brilliant night out. Every song is just brilliant and although the first act is quite repetative, I didn't mind at all. Loved Bronté Barbé as Carole. I only ever saw Katie Brayben in London and Jessie Mueller on the cast album is burned into my brain, but Bronté Barbé was excellent too! All in all I struggle to see how anyone *couldn't* like this show. Both me and my mom loved it!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 20, 2017 22:52:21 GMT
Oh dear. I found this a bit disappointing in Manchester tonight. I had very high expectations after all the great feedback but after Act 1 the word on my lips was “lacklustre”. Those Drifters segments, and the ones with the girl groups should have blown the roof of The Palace off but they didn’t and although it was a small audience on a rainy night I’m afraid I’m putting that down to the performance of the ensemble. All the elements for it to be fabulous are there but it just wasn’t. The book is pretty mediocre and needs huge energy in the musical numbers to keep the audience engaged, and that simply wasn’t there.
Act 2 was better, from the point where she finally gets a grip and stands up for herself there’s a bit more to engage with but overall it lacks any real emotional punch.
Bronte was cute (was CK really that ditzy?), Cynthia and Barry were good but Jerry was lacking in any kind of charisma. Sorry “Jer”.
I can see this being four stars with a brilliant ensemble to rise above the lack of plot and wonder whether this is an example of a tour cast not living up to WE performances. So it’s three stars.
Magnet also three stars, as lacklustre as the show.
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Post by daniel on Dec 20, 2017 23:06:35 GMT
I can totally see where BurlyBeaR is coming from with his review - I enjoyed the show when I saw it in Birmingham a little while back, but I felt that a lot of the energy from the London production was lost. So I think sadly this does come down to the tour casting, at least partially. I wonder if it's also due to the intimacy factor - the Aldwych is much smaller than the likes of Birmingham Hippodrome and Manchester Palace, and I wonder if the bigger houses cause some of the oomph to be lost.
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Post by jvoom on Jan 16, 2018 21:11:24 GMT
I saw this in Dublin last night and, surprisingly, was very underwhelmed. I’ll preface by saying I’m a huge fan of Carole King and the 60s is probably my favourite era for music. I’ve never been one of those people who are very against jukebox musicals as I often think, if nothing else, they’re usually entertaining but this one sort of baffled me.
The book really didn’t work for me and I’m kind of amazed it was nominated for a Tony. The whole thing was so formulaic and cliché. Act one was especially bad with it basically being “hey I wrote a new song” followed by the song being performed then the same thing over and over.
I understand it’s hard to tell a story spanning such a long period of time in two and a half hours but some of the storytelling seemed really lazy (“we’ve had a second child since the last time you called”). The jokes were cheesy and predictable, some of the show went on for way too long (a lot of the first act) and some of the rest of it seemed rushed and crammed together.
Its also the first show (that I can think of) where I found the ensemble quite weak as a whole. The Shirelles weren’t in sync, one of them in particular was really phoning it in and I found a lot of the vocals weren’t particularly great.
Needless to say I was disappointed but hey, onto the next show.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 16, 2018 22:02:12 GMT
Welcome to the forum jvoom. Yes you pretty much echo my thoughts. They should be killing those ensemble numbers and they just don’t. If it’s like this now I’m glad I’m not seeing the e d of the tour.
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Post by peggysue on Mar 9, 2018 15:34:48 GMT
Saw this in Sunderland on Tues night with the talented Bronte Barbe as Carol. The understudy was on for Jerry who was also very good. Enjoyed the show overall but probably wouldn't see it again.I found there was just that extra something that was missing. Nevertheless standing ovation at the end.
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Post by Mark on Mar 9, 2018 18:31:34 GMT
I was there last night. Quite well sold for Sunderland which often struggles with some of the mid-sized shows.
Really enjoyable, great cast and it still felt really fresh.
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Post by ensembleswings on Apr 5, 2018 16:58:16 GMT
Saw this in Bristol last night, was really looking forward to it after loving the show in London last year but I was left slightly disappointed by it all. There seemed to be a real lack of energy about it. Those around me (including those I went with) absolutely loved it but something was missing for me, don't get me wrong I still enjoyed it just not to the level I expected. Sold well for a midweek show, stalls looked to be completely full and all three levels were open which was lovely to see.
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Post by Mark on Apr 5, 2018 18:33:44 GMT
Saw this in Bristol last night, was really looking forward to it after loving the show in London last year but I was left slightly disappointed by it all. There seemed to be a real lack of energy about it. Those around me (including those I went with) absolutely loved it but something was missing for me, don't get me wrong I still enjoyed it just not to the level I expected. Sold well for a midweek show, stalls looked to be completely full and all three levels were open which was lovely to see. Shame to hear you felt it lacked that "something". A friend of mine is part of the company and I know they've been having a great reception. It really is such a great show.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 6, 2018 6:00:07 GMT
Most of the people here who have seen it in the last few months have been underwhelmed and all cite a similar reason to ensembleswings. It can’t be a coincidence.
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 25, 2018 7:30:20 GMT
Saw this in Stoke-on-Trent last night. Packed out as far as I could tell.
All the regulars were on. Very clear sound and vocals, although you do get the impression that the tour has been going for some time.
The comedy was a bit subtle for Stoke-on-Trent, so you could hear a pin drop during most of the funny lines in the first half. The crowd did warm up a little in the second.
Several people trying to sing along at different times, particularly in the second half and usually out of tune and out of time with the songs. No one quite near enough to me to stare at.
The orchestra pit is huge, so there's quite a distance from the front row to the stage. Hadn't realised how distracting the conductor (also on keyboard) is, with a raised lit platform. Luckily I was a few seats along and not directly behind.
One thing I hadn't noticed before is the conductor controls several cameras, including one pointing down from the roof, which he moves to make sure his playing matches the piano on the stage, even when it's angled away from the audience. Takes quite some skill and timing.
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Post by djp on Apr 25, 2018 21:06:36 GMT
Most of the people here who have seen it in the last few months have been underwhelmed and all cite a similar reason to ensembleswings. It can’t be a coincidence. 3 people can be significant , or a completely random coincidence. Against that it sold out the Marlowe here all week, It got loud standing ovations each time I saw it, and had the punters praising Miss Barbe as they climbed the stairs leaving. Its also picked up excellent reviews, from everywhere else I Looked at. If you judged it by those criteria, its one of the best shows currently running. Parts of the ensemble were more impactful than others, but thats inevitable if you cast within a finite pool that fits a narrow requirement, and is willing and avalable to tour. Some were very very good - notably the drifters. Its also irrelevant to most people if songs were supposedly sung better, or the sound system was, in London . I can't see, the argument for the story being weak. Its the story they have , and the story is the story of the writer, as told in her songs. As musical theatre stories go, its a pretty strong story of life's major ups and downs, overcoming them, and progressing. The audience clearly bought into the story - as they vocally got behind Carole as it progressed. Some may not like the humour but thats almost inevitable if people just expect a documentary, or have little sense of humour - the important thing is that the audience in the main is laughing- ideally at the right points. Overall I think its the only musical I would think of giving 5 stars to of those I have seen in the last 6 months, its a got a top class performance from its lead - who was a great piece of casting , a strong or solid ensemble, no annoying names who can't do whats needed, some great songs from someone who could actually write good songs, a decent story thats not a copy of something else , or makes no sense, and a happy audience. after.
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Post by LaLuPone on May 7, 2018 18:17:05 GMT
I know this is really the UK thread but Melissa Benoist (Marley from Glee and Supergirl in Supergirl) will be taking over as Carole for the summer on Broadway. Quite exciting!
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Post by Being Alive on May 8, 2018 17:30:27 GMT
Haven’t seen the show for about 2 and a half years, but am catching it tonight in Oxford. It’s my favourite jukebox musical by a mile, and I can’t wait to see it again!
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Post by Being Alive on May 14, 2018 22:53:05 GMT
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Post by TallPaul on May 21, 2018 13:31:38 GMT
Travelzoo has some deals available for Leeds next week.
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Post by daniel on May 29, 2018 17:49:11 GMT
Loved this at Wimbledon on Saturday. Sure, Ms Barbe had an odd vocal problem at the very end of act 1 (a few notes came out all muddled / muffled) but she really had "ditzy" down - and if she was miming on the keyboard, it was pretty decent. Star by a mile for me was Amy Ellen Richardson. Don't remember ever seeing her before, but wow, she can act and sing. Tour looked as good as any West End production IMHO. Will blog more next week, I think. also thoroughly enjoyed it! Third time seeing the tour, after one visit during each Birmingham leg - definitely felt the most energetic it has this time round. Ms Richardson was Kathy in the UK tour of Singin in the Rain a few years back, and was equally brilliant!
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Post by Dawnstar on May 29, 2018 19:19:57 GMT
Star by a mile for me was Amy Ellen Richardson. Don't remember ever seeing her before, but wow, she can act and sing. She was in the ensemble of the Regent's Park Crazy For You so if you saw that (and I'm guessing you probably did) then you will have seen her before. She then took over the role of Patsy towards the end of the run at the Aldwych when Alexis Owen Hobbs left early (possibly went on maternity leave but it's hard to remember 6 years on) but given it's a small role I'm afraid I can't say I remember much about her performance.
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