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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 7:57:54 GMT
Tbh, not sure why these roles would need an alternate. The Mad Hatter's songs are both 'belty' at the end, but she has lots of off-stage time. For Alice, maybe Kerry only wanted to do 6 shows a week. She has enough of a reputation in musical theatre to have some degree of negotiating power. I don't think the role is in the canon of most demanding roles (yes, she is onstage for most of the time, but only as an onlooker/ crowd-member for a certain amount of that time). I think her family-life and the fact that she can negotiate terms may be the reason for her six shows a week contract. As far as the production itself goes, it may be economically more favourable to have an alternate. I would imagine it's cheaper to pay Kerry for only six shows a week and have an alternate perform the other two (who is obviously on less pay). I would also imagine McQueen gets paid more per show than when the alternate plays her role. Is this the case? Is an alternate only paid for the shows that they perform? Not sure whether it's financially better to have an alternate and limited schedules for the main performers. I think Kerry only does evenings mainly so she can be with her small child as long as possible. And Natalie will have nights off because it's such a huge sing and Kate Shindle wrecked her voice doing 8 shows a week even though it was such a short run.
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Post by Scswp on Feb 12, 2017 8:11:45 GMT
I'm not sure The Mad Hatter is that big a sing, though. In her first song 'The Mad Hatter' it's only the last chorus where it modulates upwards (which is hard), isn't it?
And it's the same with 'I Will Prevail', isn't it? The final chorus is hard, but the rest is reasonable, I think. I wouldn't consider it a role that needs an alternate. Even Elphaba doesn't have an alternate and I would say that's a much more demanding role.
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Post by ali973 on Feb 12, 2017 10:33:27 GMT
I hope they get to record this. If the UK tour of BIG got a recording, I think this warrants it given that if anything the show offers, it's decent tunes with good singers.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 12, 2017 13:29:28 GMT
So after speaking about the unfortunate technical issues and blunders.....the show itself.
I was really looking forward to the show....and i enjoyed it. But i don't think the production is very good. I feel it could have been a winner if it had some more money behind it and a better set of creatives. The set was embarrassing at times, the choreography just really poor and basically at times the show seemed to have no actual direction behind it. The sound was better than i thought it would be after the reports but still pretty poor. I'm pretty sure that one set of costumes were some white shirts with hearts drawn on in marker pen. I had issues with the ensemble because they all looked straight out of drama school, they just looked and felt too inexperienced and young, it didn't seem right to me. I don't think the book is the strongest, there were some nice jokes and topical references in there, there were things the audience could get behind but it didn't take itself seriously one moment but then did the next and then seemed too cheesy.
However...the main cast were great and really the main positive about the show. This was my first time seeing Kerry and i really liked her. After the reports about her voice i didn't expect to find it as strong as i did. She was great. I really enjoyed the performance of the daughter, can't remember what her name was. I though Natalie Mcqueen was the stand out as Hatter. Great performance and voice, she stole every scene she was in. Again sorry i've forgot his name ut another stand out was the Chesire Cat who was great fun.
To me the second act is a lot stronger than the first, i think it contains the better songs and is tighter and just better all round, visually as well with some different and more interesting sets. After the first i really wasn't sure about the show at all but the 2nd act made me feel a lot more positive. I enjoyed most of the songs. Mostly all of Hatters songs, Through the looking glass, the Hatter/Alice duet that i LOVED, and Finding Wonderland.
I just think to be honest that it's a shame that this isn't a better production of the show as i think actually the show itself is quite good, it's really the creative and technical side of things that let the show down and make it seem poorer than it really could be. I think the on stage talent deserves better really. That said, i did enjoy it overall.
I noticed flicking through the programme last night a lot of the creatives are not the ones initially announced for this. In particular the adaption writer isn't who was initially announced and i'm pretty sure the set designer is different too. What with the mention here the sound designer was only hired at short notice and the mystery surrounding Carolyn Maitland departing the show, it's a show you sense has gone through a lot of troubles and obstacles/changes before getting on stage, which i think you can tell.
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Post by shady23 on Feb 12, 2017 15:24:10 GMT
Rachel Wooding is Alice from tomorrow at Southend, her debut show, and is also doing Oxford, Grimsby and York. Evening shows only.
Kerry is back for the Bromley leg from March 13th.
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Post by andrewriley on Feb 12, 2017 15:59:26 GMT
So after speaking about the unfortunate technical issues and blunders.....the show itself. I was really looking forward to the show....and i enjoyed it. But i don't think the production is very good. I feel it could have been a winner if it had some more money behind it and a better set of creatives. The set was embarrassing at times, the choreography just really poor and basically at times the show seemed to have no actual direction behind it. The sound was better than i thought it would be after the reports but still pretty poor. I'm pretty sure that one set of costumes were some white shirts with hearts drawn on in marker pen. I had issues with the ensemble because they all looked straight out of drama school, they just looked and felt too inexperienced and young, it didn't seem right to me. I don't think the book is the strongest, there were some nice jokes and topical references in there, there were things the audience could get behind but it didn't take itself seriously one moment but then did the next and then seemed too cheesy. However...the main cast were great and really the main positive about the show. This was my first time seeing Kerry and i really liked her. After the reports about her voice i didn't expect to find it as strong as i did. She was great. I really enjoyed the performance of the daughter, can't remember what her name was. I though Natalie Mcqueen was the stand out as Hatter. Great performance and voice, she stole every scene she was in. Again sorry i've forgot his name ut another stand out was the Chesire Cat who was great fun. To me the second act is a lot stronger than the first, i think it contains the better songs and is tighter and just better all round, visually as well with some different and more interesting sets. After the first i really wasn't sure about the show at all but the 2nd act made me feel a lot more positive. I enjoyed most of the songs. Mostly all of Hatters songs, Through the looking glass, the Hatter/Alice duet that i LOVED, and Finding Wonderland. I just think to be honest that it's a shame that this isn't a better production of the show as i think actually the show itself is quite good, it's really the creative and technical side of things that let the show down and make it seem poorer than it really could be. I think the on stage talent deserves better really. That said, i did enjoy it overall. I noticed flicking through the programme last night a lot of the creatives are not the ones initially announced for this. In particular the adaption writer isn't who was initially announced and i'm pretty sure the set designer is different too. What with the mention here the sound designer was only hired at short notice and the mystery surrounding Carolyn Maitland departing the show, it's a show you sense has gone through a lot of troubles and obstacles/changes before getting on stage, which i think you can tell. ..Everyone's a critic!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 12, 2017 16:10:39 GMT
Yes, that's the point of this forum. To which you are very welcome. If you don't agree with a review you could perhaps tell us why? Especially as if you're the designer you're in a unique position to do that. That's how things tend to work around here.
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Post by crabtree on Feb 12, 2017 16:30:22 GMT
well this may not be the definitive stage version of the Alice story. Have you seen any excellent ones, that Carroll might recognise? I loved the Birmingham Rep/West Yorkshire one from a few years ago, and a stunning one at the Colchester Mercury in my youth, but my favourite probably goes to the Royal Ballet's current production.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 12, 2017 16:53:08 GMT
So after speaking about the unfortunate technical issues and blunders.....the show itself. I was really looking forward to the show....and i enjoyed it. But i don't think the production is very good. I feel it could have been a winner if it had some more money behind it and a better set of creatives. The set was embarrassing at times, the choreography just really poor and basically at times the show seemed to have no actual direction behind it. The sound was better than i thought it would be after the reports but still pretty poor. I'm pretty sure that one set of costumes were some white shirts with hearts drawn on in marker pen. I had issues with the ensemble because they all looked straight out of drama school, they just looked and felt too inexperienced and young, it didn't seem right to me. I don't think the book is the strongest, there were some nice jokes and topical references in there, there were things the audience could get behind but it didn't take itself seriously one moment but then did the next and then seemed too cheesy. However...the main cast were great and really the main positive about the show. This was my first time seeing Kerry and i really liked her. After the reports about her voice i didn't expect to find it as strong as i did. She was great. I really enjoyed the performance of the daughter, can't remember what her name was. I though Natalie Mcqueen was the stand out as Hatter. Great performance and voice, she stole every scene she was in. Again sorry i've forgot his name ut another stand out was the Chesire Cat who was great fun. To me the second act is a lot stronger than the first, i think it contains the better songs and is tighter and just better all round, visually as well with some different and more interesting sets. After the first i really wasn't sure about the show at all but the 2nd act made me feel a lot more positive. I enjoyed most of the songs. Mostly all of Hatters songs, Through the looking glass, the Hatter/Alice duet that i LOVED, and Finding Wonderland. I just think to be honest that it's a shame that this isn't a better production of the show as i think actually the show itself is quite good, it's really the creative and technical side of things that let the show down and make it seem poorer than it really could be. I think the on stage talent deserves better really. That said, i did enjoy it overall. I noticed flicking through the programme last night a lot of the creatives are not the ones initially announced for this. In particular the adaption writer isn't who was initially announced and i'm pretty sure the set designer is different too. What with the mention here the sound designer was only hired at short notice and the mystery surrounding Carolyn Maitland departing the show, it's a show you sense has gone through a lot of troubles and obstacles/changes before getting on stage, which i think you can tell. ..Everyone's a critic! I'm very sure that one or two of the design choices were imposed through a much less than ideal budget and not a reflection of ones abilities and creativity. I did also say "at times" because i liked your set on the whole, especially the tea party and factory settings as well as the inside of the flat and how that came together. I trust that had you been given the resources you'd probably not ideally choose to just have a curtain with a picture of a block of flats on to represent where Alice lived for example, which was one of the pieces i was talking about.
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Post by ali973 on Feb 12, 2017 20:02:43 GMT
Listening to a naughty audience capture of this. Oh, it's in an English accent.
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Post by theatremadness on Feb 12, 2017 20:14:32 GMT
Listening to a naughty audience capture of this. Oh, it's in an English accent. This production is set in Britain for whatever reason!
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Post by ali973 on Feb 12, 2017 20:31:26 GMT
I guess it's adaptable to whatever locale. I guess it makes MORE sense if they were to modernize Alice in Wonderland. I just didn't expect it.
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Post by daniel on Feb 13, 2017 16:01:48 GMT
Rachael Wooding is on as Alice tonight - I must confess I didn't even know she was in the show!
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Post by shady23 on Feb 13, 2017 16:13:39 GMT
Her and Kerry are sharing the role.
She is doing the next few venues of it, although she also isn't doing the matinées. If she was I would have been tempted to have a day trip to York in a few weeks time.
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Post by daniel on Feb 13, 2017 16:16:46 GMT
Her and Kerry are sharing the role. She is doing the next few venues of it, although she also isn't doing the matinées. If she was I would have been tempted to have a day trip to York in a few weeks time. Ahhh! Now that makes much more sense, thanks for clarifying. Yeah that is a shame, I too would be tempted to make a trip somewhere to see her if she was doing matinees.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 14, 2017 11:09:24 GMT
I've not been able to get This Is Who I Am out of my head since the show. I love it. To be honest i really enjoyed a lot of the score.
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Post by ali973 on Feb 14, 2017 18:52:32 GMT
I've not been able to get This Is Who I Am out of my head since the show. I love it. To be honest i really enjoyed a lot of the score. Agreed. It's a great power duet. Considering how much the score/lyrics changed, the fact that it's an English adaptation, I think this should be recorded.
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Post by shady23 on Feb 14, 2017 20:19:09 GMT
I think if we bombard their Twitter enough we will get this cast recording.
Get bombarding! 👍
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Post by fionamac on Feb 14, 2017 20:42:32 GMT
The Wonderland twitter account has been hinting there might be one in the pipeline. In response to someone who asked if there was a UK recording the response was "not yet" and it has been retweeting people's request for a cast recording. Here's hoping :-) Although I assume they would need both Kerry and Rachael to record half each?
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Post by ali973 on Feb 14, 2017 21:02:48 GMT
Realistically Kerry is going to get the deal. She's more bankable and if there's a star amongst them, it's her.
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Post by shady23 on Feb 14, 2017 21:31:12 GMT
Kerry's next album with the big haired one is out in April so there will be all be the publicity etc going on alongside that. Wonderland would be daft not to capitalise on it.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 20, 2017 23:04:13 GMT
What on earth does anyone see in this show?
I am just back from a lacklustre evening in Oxford - not even close to being full (even with papering)
I am genuinely struggling to find anything good about the script, lyrics or music. The cast try really hard but they cannot prevent it from being an evening of unmemorable tunes and a plot that just ceases to exist.
The Alice story is not one that has ever really worked on stage. This was clearly an attempt to make it the Wonderland equivalent of Wicked and it just fails on every level. I have found more emotional depth in pantomime scripts.
My companion for the evening suggested just sitting in the foyer listening to the CD of Les Mis covers they were playing rather than returning after the interval.
I admire the ambition for touring an unknown show from a composer who has had very little success in the UK. The production is head and shoulders above most of what BK tours. But it is just not worth the effort.
Less than an hour from leaving the theatre and not one tune has stuck with me. Not one. And for a musical, that is poor.
I know there are fans - but I just don't get it. I went with an open mind and wish I hadn't bothered.
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 20, 2017 23:38:53 GMT
In contrast, I actually really enjoyed this.
The plot doesn't quite work, as there is a moment of jepody for amount 5 minutes and the rest of the time there's no dramatic high. That said, the performances are great, special note to Natalie McQueen who is CRACKERS and her voice is off the scale.
The audience was really dead, but I know this hasn't sold well in any venues from what I've heard.
I'll be going again to see Kerry as Alice - I enjoyed Rachael, she's got a lovely range in her voice that seems to keep going.
Probably 3 stars from me but I still enjoyed my evening.
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Post by shady23 on Feb 20, 2017 23:48:51 GMT
For some reason Rachel doesn't do the twitter thing (very rare these days) so it's sort of flying under the radar a bit at the moment with getting the word out now that Kerry is on her hols.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 21, 2017 1:11:25 GMT
In contrast, I actually really enjoyed this. The plot doesn't quite work, as there is a moment of jepody for amount 5 minutes and the rest of the time there's no dramatic high. That said, the performances are great, special note to Natalie McQueen who is CRACKERS and her voice is off the scale. The audience was really dead, but I know this hasn't sold well in any venues from what I've heard. I'll be going again to see Kerry as Alice - I enjoyed Rachael, she's got a lovely range in her voice that seems to keep going. Probably 3 stars from me but I still enjoyed my evening. There are some good voices on stage - not going to deny that. But they are wasted on this music. Not a single song really advanced the plot or showed character development - which is something I look for in a good score. I think a musical number has to take you from one point of the story to the next - not just be there as a song. A personal preference admittedly but one that seems to be reflected in a good number of better musicals. This cast could really shine with better material. But with the script and score in the current state, I just can't see the point in the show.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 9:33:44 GMT
I really wish I could see Rachael in this. Vocally she sounds far better from audios I've heard. And for reference, Rachael said she's doing Saturday matinees in York and Grimsby
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 10:35:19 GMT
New audio of the Act I finale and Act II finale
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2017 10:42:25 GMT
And also audio of Rachael and Natalie...
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 21, 2017 11:11:08 GMT
Shows Natalie McQueen is a powerhouse.
I agree with what you're saying oxfordsimon , it is by no means a great musical. But i've listened to the score for about 6 years and have a really fondness for it. They don't move the plot forward (although I'd argue I Will Prevail sort of does as its Mad Hatter's statement of intent)
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 21, 2017 11:49:09 GMT
The New Theatre is notoriously bad when it comes to sound balance. But I was sat further back than usual - a matter of feet from the sound desk - and so that should have been the optimum place for hearing how they wanted the show to actually sound.
And I could barely hear the lyrics in the balance.
I Will Prevail might well be a statement of intent - but I only heard the title words and very little else. McQueen does have a great voice - but unless you can hear what she is singing, it is just meaningless.
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