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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 23, 2017 12:26:09 GMT
Someone will correct me probably but I don’t remember projections being used at the Crucible?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 12:35:38 GMT
Someone will correct me probably but I don’t remember projections being used at the Crucible? Really?! There are loads in this version!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 23, 2017 13:00:34 GMT
I really enjoyed it. I'm not going to particularly go over every aspect of it with a fine tooth comb to finf everything that's wrong or could be done better. I enjoyed it for what it currently was, and that's good enough for me.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 23, 2017 13:47:56 GMT
Seriously I dont remember any. What are they projecting?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 13:54:24 GMT
Seriously I remember any. What are they? Work of Art has alot! They have alot of projections of the houses on the council estate when they are at the house
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 14:34:29 GMT
Seriously I dont remember any. What are they projecting? Their VOICES. Otherwise you'd never hear them in the back of the circle.
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Post by Dan213 on Nov 23, 2017 18:43:48 GMT
Someone will correct me probably but I don’t remember projections being used at the Crucible? They were only added in London. You can see them in the new promo shots from the It Means Beautiful scene
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 19:03:23 GMT
... isn't Jamie set in Sheffield? One of the top ten largest cities (by population) in the UK? The Rome of the north, with a thriving student population thanks to its two universities (one of which is the eighth largest in the UK)? I mean, stop me if I'm wrong and Jamie is actually set in a small town outside Sheffield, I haven't seen it yet, but if it is indeed set in Sheffield, then please allow my defence of Sheffield as "not a small town actually" to stand. I thought it was set just outside Sheffield. Needless to say it’s still surprising that there’s an exclusive shop for drag queens when I can’t think of a place like that in London. A) it’s loosely based on actual events, so chances are high that one does indeed exist. B) If it doesn’t exist, what does it matter? It’s a piece of theatre. C) If you were so inclined and desired to dress in drag attire, you would know a shop like that in London.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 20:28:41 GMT
Real talk though, am I the only one who thought it was so innapropriate for Jamie to kiss the straight guy against his will at the start of Act 2? I don't know what it was about it, but it hasn't sat right with me ever since I saw the show. I like to see guys kiss eachother as much as the next guy, but when it is against one of their will. I get the guy is a bit of a dick, but still. Just me?
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Post by bluetoothpick on Nov 23, 2017 21:02:08 GMT
I REALLY wanted to love this show but I think the accolades it's been getting are more of a result of people not wanting to seem homophobic or being negative about original British theatre. Either that or the producer has paid for them. This show is average at best and hasn't transformed enough from the Sheffield staging to warrant a West End transfer. The book and direction are clunky and apart from the opening number lacks energy. There are some good one-liners but a lot of the show falls flat. The entire section in the drag dress shop (also for a small town it's slightly astounding that there would be a such a shop - I wouldn't know where in London to go and get a good drag frock in men's sizes) literally drags and the actor playing the "legendary" Loco Chanel just looks uncomfortable. The big moments of the show fail to ever materialise. We never actually get to see Jamie in drag as Me Me Me and the second act gets taken over with a confusing arc to go to the prom in drag but in the end lets you down as well by confusing drag with transgender issues. I really don't want to hate on something that I really enjoyed and shouted about in concept album stage and the show is a story that should be told in 2017 I just didn't think it was good enough. John McCrea is an excellent actor but a below par singer, the staging of the ballads in act 2 just become samey and dull and if you're going to have contemporary dance in one part - make it a part of the whole show or it just feels like a lazy way of filling the stage when you don't have any interesting set. Also pick a finale and end on it - don't have three lack lustre ones that never get a WOW factor. When this closes early (and sadly I think it will) everyone will be talking about how audiences don't support British writing and the West End is doomed to be filled with a plethora of Jukebox musicals - when actually that isn't true. If something is TRUELY great people will go and see it, Jamie just isn't it. Great to see this has caused some conversation. I agree with all of this. Some aspects of the show I REALLY liked, including some of the performances (Mina Anwar is brilliant) but a lot of it felt like a wasted opportunity from a creative team that lack experience. Some of the songs, for example, completely lack musicality. We say as much in our review as The Break A Leggers over on YouTube and it's clear from our like/dislike ratio there are some vehement defenders of the show. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but I just don't feel like the 5* reviewers are rating the show completely subjectivly. At least, not the same show I saw.....
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Post by Mark on Nov 23, 2017 21:05:24 GMT
So I've just watched the documentary on BBC iplayer. Really good programme and I can see how it was a great inspiration for a stage musical.
The thing that struck me was the accents - a definite North East accent, I hadn't realised that the story wasn't originally in Sheffield but County Durham. I'm wondering if the only reason the story was moved was due to the original production at the crucible, and maybe to make it not so "Billy Elliot"
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 21:06:33 GMT
I REALLY wanted to love this show but I think the accolades it's been getting are more of a result of people not wanting to seem homophobic or being negative about original British theatre. Either that or the producer has paid for them. This show is average at best and hasn't transformed enough from the Sheffield staging to warrant a West End transfer. The book and direction are clunky and apart from the opening number lacks energy. There are some good one-liners but a lot of the show falls flat. The entire section in the drag dress shop (also for a small town it's slightly astounding that there would be a such a shop - I wouldn't know where in London to go and get a good drag frock in men's sizes) literally drags and the actor playing the "legendary" Loco Chanel just looks uncomfortable. The big moments of the show fail to ever materialise. We never actually get to see Jamie in drag as Me Me Me and the second act gets taken over with a confusing arc to go to the prom in drag but in the end lets you down as well by confusing drag with transgender issues. I really don't want to hate on something that I really enjoyed and shouted about in concept album stage and the show is a story that should be told in 2017 I just didn't think it was good enough. John McCrea is an excellent actor but a below par singer, the staging of the ballads in act 2 just become samey and dull and if you're going to have contemporary dance in one part - make it a part of the whole show or it just feels like a lazy way of filling the stage when you don't have any interesting set. Also pick a finale and end on it - don't have three lack lustre ones that never get a WOW factor. When this closes early (and sadly I think it will) everyone will be talking about how audiences don't support British writing and the West End is doomed to be filled with a plethora of Jukebox musicals - when actually that isn't true. If something is TRUELY great people will go and see it, Jamie just isn't it. Great to see this has caused some conversation. I agree with all of this. Some aspects of the show I REALLY liked, including some of the performances (Mina Anwar is brilliant) but a lot of it felt like a wasted opportunity from a creative team that lack experience. Some of the songs, for example, completely lack musicality. We say as much in our review as The Break A Leggers over on YouTube and it's clear from our like/dislike ratio there are some vehement defenders of the show. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but I just don't feel like the 5* reviewers are rating the show completely subjectivly. At least, not the same show I saw..... Oh I watch your reviews all the time! Sidenote, nothing to do with Jamie, but I love that in your 42nd Street review, as you are reviewing it, Tom Lister just casually walks right past and looks at you and the camera.
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Post by daniel on Nov 23, 2017 21:49:52 GMT
Great to see this has caused some conversation. I agree with all of this. Some aspects of the show I REALLY liked, including some of the performances (Mina Anwar is brilliant) but a lot of it felt like a wasted opportunity from a creative team that lack experience. Some of the songs, for example, completely lack musicality. We say as much in our review as The Break A Leggers over on YouTube and it's clear from our like/dislike ratio there are some vehement defenders of the show. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but I just don't feel like the 5* reviewers are rating the show completely subjectivly. At least, not the same show I saw..... Oh I watch your reviews all the time! Sidenote, nothing to do with Jamie, but I love that in your 42nd Street review, as you are reviewing it, Tom Lister just casually walks right past and looks at you and the camera. Dan you know you don't have to make every single one of your posts about 42nd Street, right?
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Post by shady23 on Nov 23, 2017 21:53:09 GMT
Just be thankful he didn't mention Christopher Howell 😉
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 21:57:42 GMT
Just be thankful he didn't mention Christopher Howell 😉 I'm sorry, who?
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2,763 posts
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Post by daniel on Nov 23, 2017 22:54:56 GMT
Just be thankful he didn't mention Christopher Howell 😉 Shady don't start him off again!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2017 23:01:06 GMT
Just be thankful he didn't mention Christopher Howell 😉 Shady don't start him off again!! *correction* don't start the ***** who tried to come for me on said thread off again.
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Post by daniel on Nov 23, 2017 23:18:56 GMT
Shady don't start him off again!! *correction* don't start the ***** who tried to come for me on said thread off again. Well, it seems the artichoke is steamed.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 24, 2017 7:53:12 GMT
I get the sense that all reviewers were too scared to tell the truth and get blamed for killing a rare new British musical. This show is in no way a ‘5 Star’ show. It’s massively unresolved and too many elements are just not good enough.
I don’t wish any of them out of a job, but this is simply not going to run.
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Post by musicalmarge on Nov 24, 2017 7:59:32 GMT
I hope you are proved wrong.
It is not perfect but we should be embracing new talent and new musicals in the U.K. We don’t produce enough and have relied heavily on America too much over the past two decades. Remember the eighties? It was the other way round!
It was a brave decision to transfer Jamie and I loved it. May it have a healthy run and may it be a new benchmark for other regional musicals to move into town.
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Post by zak97 on Nov 24, 2017 8:08:16 GMT
I hope you are proved wrong. It is not perfect but we should be embracing new talent and new musicals in the U.K. We don’t produce enough and have relied heavily on America too much over the past two decades. Remember the eighties? It was the other way round! It was a brave decision to transfer Jamie and I loved it. May it have a healthy run and may it be a new benchmark for other regional musicals to move into town. Yes, and whilst it's not a show on my list to see, I respect Sheffield for taking the gamble - especially as the tour of Anything Goes, two years ago, and last year's Showboat have both had their respective runs cut short.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 24, 2017 8:15:43 GMT
If something like We Will Rock You can run for over 10 years in the West End then I think any claims about Jamie being “just not good enough” are moot. It’s obviously not about quality, but whether something finds an audience. Showboat’s early closure is further evidence of that.
Thats not to say i think it will have a long run, I don’t think it will. I do hope it goes far enough to recover its costs and for the creative team to have enough clout to be able to write another one. That’s what success should be measured by surely?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 24, 2017 8:21:33 GMT
Real talk though, am I the only one who thought it was so innapropriate for Jamie to kiss the straight guy against his will at the start of Act 2? I don't know what it was about it, but it hasn't sat right with me ever since I saw the show. I like to see guys kiss eachother as much as the next guy, but when it is against one of their will. I get the guy is a bit of a dick, but still. Just me? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5110415/Mother-demands-son-s-school-ban-Sleeping-Beauty.html
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 8:39:08 GMT
Real talk though, am I the only one who thought it was so innapropriate for Jamie to kiss the straight guy against his will at the start of Act 2? I don't know what it was about it, but it hasn't sat right with me ever since I saw the show. I like to see guys kiss eachother as much as the next guy, but when it is against one of their will. I get the guy is a bit of a dick, but still. Just me? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5110415/Mother-demands-son-s-school-ban-Sleeping-Beauty.htmlIts nothing like that situation, and I'm not even joking with my feelings on this one. I actually think it promotes a negative stereotype on gay people when he does that in the show. Sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2017 8:55:04 GMT
If something like We Will Rock You can run for over 10 years in the West End then I think any claims about Jamie being “just not good enough” are moot. It’s obviously not about quality, but whether something finds an audience. Showboat’s early closure is further evidence of that. Thats not to say i think it will have a long run, I don’t think it will. I do hope it goes far enough to recover its costs and for the creative team to have enough clout to be able to write another one. That’s what success should be measured by surely? Exactly- these things are all relative, and as much as you can research and plan nobody can really predict what audiences will take to until it's up and running. I also think we're too quick to dismiss something as 'failed' if it doesn't become a 10 year long running smash. As Burly says, if it recovers costs and gets decent reviews (which it has) that'll allow the creators to write another one, and hopefully another and another and so fuel our musical theatre in the UK with new voices and ideas. Also this is their first production, even 'God of Musical Theatre' Lin Manuel didn't come up with Hamilton on his first shot (pardon the pun). And re: critics argument. Tiger Bay, another new British musical got critical reviews from some, proving that critics aren't blinded by 'new' 'British' and 'The theatre gave me lots of free wine'. So while some might be sycophantic about it because of it's origins, or subject matter I think it's unfair to critics to say across the board they're just saying it's great to look good.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 24, 2017 10:46:29 GMT
I hope you are proved wrong. It is not perfect but we should be embracing new talent and new musicals in the U.K. We don’t produce enough and have relied heavily on America too much over the past two decades. Remember the eighties? It was the other way round! It was a brave decision to transfer Jamie and I loved it. May it have a healthy run and may it be a new benchmark for other regional musicals to move into town. I hope I’m proved wrong too by the way . I’d rather this show in that theatre than some Bill Kenwright dross. I just wish it was actually the 5 star show like the reviews are making out. It’s just proof that yet again, the great British original musical is an endangered species.
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Post by bimse on Nov 24, 2017 11:41:50 GMT
Just listened to the real Jamie and his mum on “women’s hour” as I was driving , they played Josie Walker singing “he’s my boy” from the show. This was the first song I’ve heard and i must say I was impressed with the lyrics and the performance . Jenny Murray confessed to shedding a tear at the press night . Jamie and his wonderful mum gave a really good account of their experiences . They said their story resonates with all teenagers in general, most of whom have differences to contend with . They were amazingly generous in recognising what most people go through as they grow up . . I must admit I thought the original documentary wasn’t as incisive as it could have been , but it’s nevertheless opened a talking point of prejudice, bullying etc of all kinds. A follow up documentary would be good, and I hope the show has a good long run . I doubt I’ll see it , but who knows?
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Post by Jon on Nov 25, 2017 0:25:20 GMT
If something like We Will Rock You can run for over 10 years in the West End then I think any claims about Jamie being “just not good enough” are moot. It’s obviously not about quality, but whether something finds an audience. Showboat’s early closure is further evidence of that. Thats not to say i think it will have a long run, I don’t think it will. I do hope it goes far enough to recover its costs and for the creative team to have enough clout to be able to write another one. That’s what success should be measured by surely? Exactly- these things are all relative, and as much as you can research and plan nobody can really predict what audiences will take to until it's up and running. I also think we're too quick to dismiss something as 'failed' if it doesn't become a 10 year long running smash. As Burly says, if it recovers costs and gets decent reviews (which it has) that'll allow the creators to write another one, and hopefully another and another and so fuel our musical theatre in the UK with new voices and ideas. Also this is their first production, even 'God of Musical Theatre' Lin Manuel didn't come up with Hamilton on his first shot (pardon the pun). And re: critics argument. Tiger Bay, another new British musical got critical reviews from some, proving that critics aren't blinded by 'new' 'British' and 'The theatre gave me lots of free wine'. So while some might be sycophantic about it because of it's origins, or subject matter I think it's unfair to critics to say across the board they're just saying it's great to look good. TBH Anything that runs 5+ years is the exception and not the rule and a lot of people forget that 18 months to 2 years is actually decent, I suspect if Jamie runs a year it'll be considered a success because if you start comparing to the likes of Les Mis, Matilda etc then yes it's not going to look as good in comparison but if every West End musical was a long runner then they'd be no room for new musicals or plays.
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Post by karloscar on Nov 25, 2017 8:02:05 GMT
Its life depends on what happens after the original production closes. Will other groups want to perform this show, does it resonate in other countries? At least it's not just another poor adaptation of a movie, and has its own voice. New York Times just reviewed Jamie and Follies in the same article pretty favourably. Nice line about hoping Jamie doesn't end up like a disillusioned Follies girl.
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Post by Mark on Nov 25, 2017 8:22:44 GMT
TBH Anything that runs 5+ years is the exception and not the rule and a lot of people forget that 18 months to 2 years is actually decent, I suspect if Jamie runs a year it'll be considered a success because if you start comparing to the likes of Les Mis, Matilda etc then yes it's not going to look as good in comparison but if every West End musical was a long runner then they'd be no room for new musicals or plays. I was under the impression that this was a limited run until April. I can't really see it extending unless it starts selling out - that's a very big cast for the size of the venue.
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