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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 2, 2018 20:22:58 GMT
We were talking about the thread for one of the West End’s current “hot tickets” backstage and comparing the hype with that for other shows. It was surprising to hear what was classed as a must see in previous years.
We’ve all been to the the theatre with high expectations and had them dashed, but more positively been blown away by something we didn’t really have many expectations of.
For me Follies failed to live up to the hype in 2017, while Sunset Boulevard, after tales of dreadful costumes, sets and acting was fantastic.
What were yours?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 20:30:42 GMT
Follies failed for me too. It was possibly one of the biggest disappointments of the year, which is weird to say as I enjoyed it enough when I saw it, but now bar two performances it is massively forgettable for me. And I forget Imelda was even in the show she faded so much into the background compared to her fellow leading lady. That show was assumed to be the biggest show of the year and a surefire hit for me personally. Enjoyable at the time, but dissapointing in the long run and looking back.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 2, 2018 20:47:39 GMT
Totally agree Dan.
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Post by andromedadench on Jan 2, 2018 21:04:04 GMT
I'd also expected much more from Follies than what I eventually walked away with. And it's not that I didn't like it - I did - but it definitely wasn't the unforgettable theatrical experience I had expected.
The shows that received unanimous praise yet were not to my personal taste, were The Ferryman and Half a Sixpence.
The most pleasant surprise for me was 42nd Street. I thought it would be naff and boring, which just goes to show how much my general MT knowledge leaves to be desired.
Young Frankestein seems a little divisive, I thought it was a brilliant production of a very good show.
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Post by showtoones on Jan 2, 2018 21:10:03 GMT
My biggest disappointment was Young Frankenstein (sorry Daniel)....it is very well done but to me, it was panto acting and just not funny. I don't blame the actors - this is how they were directed and judging from the howls in the audience, I seemed to be in the minority...
I happened to love Pinocchio and Barnum and I know the overall sentiment for both was negative which is why it's important to see a show for yourself and not be swept us in good or bad reviews.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 21:18:34 GMT
Bat Out of Hell didn't really know what to expect but was blown away when I saw it in Manchesterford. Then went repeatedly in London and can't wait for it's return.
Woman in White really was fabulous in a more intimate setting.
The disappointments:
- Young Frankenstein; a couple of mildly amusing moments, but generally very unfunny I thought.
- Big Fish; music very mediocre and the sentimental story just wasn't for me.
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Post by poster J on Jan 2, 2018 21:21:45 GMT
My biggest disappointment was Young Frankenstein (sorry Daniel)....it is very well done but to me, it was panto acting and just not funny. I don't blame the actors - this is how they were directed and judging from the howls in the audience, I seemed to be in the minority... Same for me - I just didn't find it particularly funny at all. I also thought An American in Paris was a bit overhyped - it was lovely in parts, but in others I was bored and some of the acting was dreadful. And after the genius of The Play That Goes Wrong I found A Comedy About a Bank Robbery didn't live up to its sister production at all. Biggest surprise for me was 42nd Street - having seen a touring production a few years ago it wasn't a show I was previously particularly fond of but I adored it. And I thought Hamilton lived up to, and even possibly exceeded, the hype. |
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jan 2, 2018 21:41:14 GMT
Biggest disappointment 42nd Street, all spectacle no substance.
Totally unexpectedly surprised by Romantics Anonymous which had real emotion, a beautiful score and performances that made me care about the people they were playing.
Follies, I expected it to be excellent and it was, so no real surprise for me there. Same with Hamilton.
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Post by poster J on Jan 2, 2018 22:28:16 GMT
Biggest disappointment 42nd Street, all spectacle no substance. If you go in expecting substance from any of the old Hollywood musicals then you're setting yourself up for disappointment really... |
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jan 2, 2018 22:52:28 GMT
Biggest disappointment 42nd Street, all spectacle no substance. If you go in expecting substance from any of the old Hollywood musicals then you're setting yourself up for disappointment really... There was, very much so. The style was brisk but truthful in those films, the social undercurrent clear, especially as this was the depression. All the musical version is is surface and performed with no subtext at all. Romantics Anonymous had no real depth of narrative either but what it did have is a beautiful sense of truth and emotion. People can applaud a staircase and the fact that a group of people can dance the same steps together but, for me, that’s not enough. |
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Post by Jon on Jan 2, 2018 22:55:27 GMT
I do wonder if those who saw Follies were expecting something like 42nd Street or Gyspy 2.0 which Follies isn't and never can be.
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Post by andromedadench on Jan 2, 2018 23:10:09 GMT
I do wonder if those who saw Follies were expecting something like 42nd Street or Gyspy 2.0 which Follies isn't and never can be. Since you mention it, I don't take issue with the NT's production, I just thought I'd like the show itself much more than I did (I'd never seen it before). As it turns out, it's not one of my favourite Sondheims. Yet it did have some lovely moments and I wish i could have seen it once more to clarify what it was exactly that bothered me. |
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jan 3, 2018 8:22:31 GMT
Love how we are all so different in what surprised and disspaointed us - I am personally in the camp that was so very underwhelmed by Follies and incredibly overwhelmed by 42nd St and Young Frankenstein.
Follies for me was more about the disappointing score, book and story - I felt like compared with, say, WSS, it certainly isn’t his best work.
Young Frankenstein isnt high art - but it doesn’t claim to be. It’s fun, saucy and really well executed. Loved it because it didn’t proport itself to be anything more than it was and everyone had a lot of fun, audience and cast.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 3, 2018 8:43:18 GMT
Before Hamilton which were the most eagerly anticipated West End shows and did they live up to their hype?
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Post by The Lost on Jan 3, 2018 8:51:29 GMT
Before Hamilton which were the most eagerly anticipated West End shows and did they live up to their hype? I remember a time when Matilda was apparently the best thing since sliced bread. Tim Minchin had written something really quite clever, but naturally the irony and wit gets lost when you put it into the hands of children. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 9:58:49 GMT
In recent years, the only show to pretty much underwhelm was "Side Show" at Southwark. I thought it was one of the most boring evenings I have spent at a show and felt absolutely no emotion towards any of the characters at all. I was so adamant I would like it when it went on sale, I booked for two different performances. We never ended up going to the second one!
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Post by ali973 on Jan 3, 2018 10:43:49 GMT
DESERVING
Harry Potter
Follies
Hamilton
Everybody's Talking About Jamie (deserves more?)
OVERHYPED
Dear Evan Hansen
Ria Jones/Sunset Blvd tour
Come From Away
Marisha Wallace in Dreamgirls
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Post by profquatermass on Jan 3, 2018 10:51:51 GMT
I am genuinely baffled by the success of Jerusalem
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jan 3, 2018 10:52:34 GMT
Before Hamilton which were the most eagerly anticipated West End shows and did they live up to their hype? The only musical that I recall being similar to Hamilton was Rent just short of twenty years ago. The London run fell far short of the Broadway one and I thought the imported Broadway cast was a mistake, I thought it had much more life and energy wth the British replacements. It was well received but I thought they looked tired/complacent. I think Hamilton did the right thing in recasting it completely. |
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Post by kathryn on Jan 3, 2018 11:12:03 GMT
Before Hamilton which were the most eagerly anticipated West End shows and did they live up to their hype? I remember a time when Matilda was apparently the best thing since sliced bread. Tim Minchin had written something really quite clever, but naturally the irony and wit gets lost when you put it into the hands of children. Matilda lived up to the hype for me. But then I did see it before it swept the Oliviers. I think there’s different levels of hype for shows to live up to, and when you actually see it can have a big impact on how well it works. I’ve been disappointed by shows people on the board have raved about that were not well-known otherwise - things like Urinetown, which I just hated, and In The Heights. And then there are times when the critics rave and the board sniffs, and I go in with lowered expectations and still don’t like it. Hamilton lived up to the hype for me despite being the most hyped show ever! An American in Paris did absolutely nothing for me, despite its critical raves. I really enjoyed 42nd Street but I’ve seen it twice now and feel no need to see it again. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 3, 2018 11:18:03 GMT
Moved to General so we can hear about plays too.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 3, 2018 11:25:13 GMT
Over hyped
Follies - NT
Passion - Donmar
Night Music & Merrily - Chocolate Factory
Sweeney Todd - Chichester & Wendy’s End
Book of Mormon
Lion King (the first 10 minutes is great but after that ...)
Working - Southwark
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 11:34:54 GMT
Oh god yes to Lion King...likewise loved the first 10 minutes but was bored senseless for the rest.
This year biggest disappointment for me was The Ferryman. I think without the hype I'd have appreciated it for being a decent play, but overlong. With the hype I was made to feel like there was something wrong with ME instead (i.e I am somehow very stupid, which may well be the case).
Follies I'm split on- it DID live up to the hype of being as close to perfection production wise as one could hope. The musicals itself falls short and I'm not in raptures about it...but I already knew I felt that way about it as a musical so I don't feel 'let down' by the hype.
Personally I think Hamilton is a wonderful piece of work, but it's not a religious experience for me like it is some people...but I don't feel disappointed by it either if that makes sense?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 11:35:46 GMT
There was one thing that really lived up to all the hype for me last year. Her name is Bette Midler.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 11:41:53 GMT
For me it's plays that I have found overrated. I have seen them because they have really great reviews but I just don't like them and this has happened with The Flick,The Glass Menagerie and Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf. I just found all of these really boring and did not get why they were so rated and Virginia Woolf just felt it very dated and stale. Also recently I thought Girl from the North Country was a bit bland as well as the story was just not great and it didn't really go anywhere and I didn't really like the portable of dementia , yes the music wasn't great but I like a show with a good story and I did want to love it but just did not.
All these shows I wanted to like but just didn't .
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Post by profquatermass on Jan 3, 2018 11:44:18 GMT
Before Hamilton which were the most eagerly anticipated West End shows and did they live up to their hype? The only musical that I recall being similar to Hamilton was Rent just short of twenty years ago. The London run fell far short of the Broadway one and I thought the imported Broadway cast was a mistake, I thought it had much more life and energy wth the British replacements. It was well received but I thought they looked tired/complacent. I think Hamilton did the right thing in recasting it completely. Dirty Dancing had absolutely huge advance sales despite complete indifference from the critics. There was a lot of excitement about Book of Mormon. And people went crazy over The Producers once Nathan Lane was announced |
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Post by ptwest on Jan 3, 2018 11:48:47 GMT
This year I was very pleasantly surprised by 42nd Street, Young Frankenstein and Everybody's Talking About Jamie. The latter in particular was the closest to going into a show knowing nothing than I have done for years - the opening number had me absolutely hooked.
Biggest disappointments were Bat Out Of Hell and Pinocchio. I enjoyed BOOH much more out of the two but thought it was and utter mess, albeit an entertaining one.
Going back a few years, I think Matilda was the most overhyped for me - enjoyable yes, but not the second coming of musicals that it was hyped up to be by a long shot. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I hadn't gone in with such high expectations.
Likewise when Caroline Or Change was at the National - the reviews and word of mouth made it seem unmissable - I came away having admired both the show and the performances but I cant say I enjoyed it.
In terms of going to something with no real expectation and being blown away, the one that comes to mind is Memphis.
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 3, 2018 11:50:58 GMT
I saw Oslo less than two weeks ago and still can’t for the life of me figure out how it won over critics and audiences.
I agree about some older plays feeling stale too, particularly The Glass Menagerie.
Apologia far exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it far more than even the great reviews suggested.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jan 3, 2018 11:57:03 GMT
The only musical that I recall being similar to Hamilton was Rent just short of twenty years ago. The London run fell far short of the Broadway one and I thought the imported Broadway cast was a mistake, I thought it had much more life and energy wth the British replacements. It was well received but I thought they looked tired/complacent. I think Hamilton did the right thing in recasting it completely. Dirty Dancing had absolutely huge advance sales despite complete indifference from the critics. There was a lot of excitement about Book of Mormon. And people went crazy over The Producers once Nathan Lane was announced None had anywhere near the reach of Rent or Hamilton, students of the time that I had were indifferent to those but Rent (and now Hamilton) became a cultural phenomenon. As I say, it fizzled out within a year or so for Rent but you couldn’t escape it in media outside the usual theatre bubble and from people who would never usually know about a new musical. In comparison I think that Hamilton will have greater staying power. |
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 3, 2018 12:04:40 GMT
I was only 16 when Rent came to the West End and seriously never even heard of it. I didn’t really know much about it until the early 2000s when it started to become parodied.
I’ve never seen a professional production, only the below par film and an amateur production. It has a handful of good stand alone songs but as a musical I’m really underwhelmed by it as I generally disliked the characters. Maybe I need to see it properly on stage to appreciate it.
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