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Post by xanady on Jun 19, 2019 19:10:02 GMT
Thank you,Seriously,for collecting all the reviews together.I love it when posters do that.Very helpful,especially for techno-dinosaurs like me.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 19, 2019 19:36:14 GMT
Can anyone update me on the merchandise (if any) for this show?
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jun 19, 2019 19:44:41 GMT
Why do you think the reviews were so poor? I’ve listened to the recording and it is one of the best scores I’ve ever heard in MT! Totally agree but I think a lot of people just want easy and catchy tunes to listen to and think that if a score doesn't give you that it's a negative. The book is pretty messy tbf to other criticisms but seeing so many say that the music goes nowhere etc. is a shock to me (especially one comment saying that it isn't coherent? Like I thought it's one of the most singularly coherent scores tbh, all the songs give me the same vibe that only this musical gives me (although Bridges of Madison County recently occasionally comes close)).
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Post by theatre241 on Jun 19, 2019 19:51:56 GMT
Why do you think the reviews were so poor? I’ve listened to the recording and it is one of the best scores I’ve ever heard in MT! Totally agree but I think a lot of people just want easy and catchy tunes to listen to and think that if a score doesn't give you that it's a negative. The book is pretty messy tbf to other criticisms but seeing so many say that the music goes nowhere etc. is a shock to me (especially one comment saying that it isn't coherent? Like I thought it's one of the most singularly coherent scores tbh, all the songs give me the same vibe that only this musical gives me (although Bridges of Madison County recently occasionally comes close)). I haven’t seen it yet but do you think it deserves 3 stars? A lot of critics have come from away 3 stars and that was brilliant
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jun 19, 2019 20:06:41 GMT
Totally agree but I think a lot of people just want easy and catchy tunes to listen to and think that if a score doesn't give you that it's a negative. The book is pretty messy tbf to other criticisms but seeing so many say that the music goes nowhere etc. is a shock to me (especially one comment saying that it isn't coherent? Like I thought it's one of the most singularly coherent scores tbh, all the songs give me the same vibe that only this musical gives me (although Bridges of Madison County recently occasionally comes close)). I haven’t seen it yet but do you think it deserves 3 stars? A lot of critics have come from away 3 stars and that was brilliant It's my second favourite musical haha so I'd give it 5 stars but I know it's not going to be everyone's favourite.
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Jun 19, 2019 20:37:42 GMT
I think it’s a shame the reviews aren’t better. I saw this on sunday (when Dove was out and Molly was on) and it was beautiful. Sure, the set is too simple and restricting, but the score and the performances really lifted it for me. Renee is stunning. Expected in the sung parts, but wonderfully emotional in the spoken sections. I can see it’s not to everyone’s tastes maybe, but it deserves better reviews than it’s getting.
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Post by frankubelik on Jun 20, 2019 7:04:04 GMT
Despite the excellent vocals of Victoria Clark & Kelli O'Hara I always found the cast recording quite a hard listen but found the piece worked better in performance. It's in the wrong venue of course and even from the front row, the sound was pretty bad and I struggled to hear the lyrics at times. Dove Cameron (who?) was fine, Alex Jennings brought much needed gravitas and Rob Houchen outstanding - how refreshing to hear a legit singer not sliding on and off notes - he's superb. Ms Fleming sings beautifully but is a huge let down in the acting department; she displayed a remarkable lack of stagecraft and looked uncomfortable throughout; her transitions are "clunky" and she appears not to know how to walk across a stage. The role requires a really First Class singing actress and sadly for me Fleming did not cut it.
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Post by theatre241 on Jun 20, 2019 7:10:25 GMT
I read a 3 star review saying that the sound design lets it all down. Does the orchestra sound okay? Because it said something about it removing the colour of the orchestra! Seeing this on Saturday to make up my own mind lol!
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Post by shady23 on Jun 20, 2019 7:20:05 GMT
Jake is on the bbc radio two breakfast show tomorrow morning
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Post by lonlad on Jun 20, 2019 7:57:49 GMT
Jake? Isn't that a different show?
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Post by foxa on Jun 20, 2019 8:26:02 GMT
I booked a discounted ticket from whatsonstage.com after previously buying two rear stalls tickets via the Southbank Centre for my husband and daughter. When I bought the ticket I THOUGHT it was a specific seat on the raised stalls side, but when the confirmation arrived it just said Blue side. When I picked it up, I found it was a box seat. So there I was in lonely splendour in a high up box. For the first half it was pretty much just me and the lighting guy in that section. For the second half, I chose a different, better box and sat there,again by myself. It was like I was some particularly unpopular foreign dignitary.
I found it a curious show, but Houchen and Lynch (the understudy) were good - three stars seems about right.
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Post by welcometodreamland on Jun 20, 2019 10:22:28 GMT
I'm about to get tickets for Saturday matinee. Reviews aren't putting me off because this is a type of show I haven't seen before.
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Post by paddy72 on Jun 20, 2019 22:44:17 GMT
Saw this tonight and loved it. Renee Fleming is stunning. Dove Cameron great but her Disney Musical tone is not really my thing or appropriate to the role. But Rob Houchen is breathtaking. This is the first production I’ve seen with him where I think you get to see what he can really deliver. He and Renee get the final two songs and his singing off Love to me is way superior to the original recording. This production won’t be to everyone’s taste but the positives out weight the negatives. Especially Adam Guettels music played by one of Europe’s greatest orchestras. No sound issues by the way. It completely swept me away. I came away thinking that since it was written nothing has come close to its beauty.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 21, 2019 5:53:06 GMT
8pm start time why?
The set was fine from row E but I imagine from further back it will look like a speck of dust. Did they blow the money for sets on Renee's frocks?
The score is glorious and the orchestra of Opera North and the company do it full justice.
Dave Cameron (!) I'm not rushing back to but I enjoyed everyone else. Despite some strong performances, my friends and I found it unengaging.
I can't help thinking it may work better in a chamber setting (or a theatre). I also question the Dr's ability to recognise and diagnose a brain injury
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Post by Snciole on Jun 21, 2019 9:47:59 GMT
I was so far away (TT Stalls) and my eyesight is dreadful so I don't think that helped my enjoyment. I mean Renee and Dove could have been the same woman for all I knew.
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Post by ali973 on Jun 21, 2019 10:57:22 GMT
I'm seeing the final performance! So happy to qualify for a student discount all over again. Are we have pre-show drinks? Apparently a handful of us are going.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2019 11:05:13 GMT
I tried with the OBCR years ago and it didnt really grab me, and whilst it was better in performance, It still didnt do it for me. Dove Cameron, who i only knew from her stint as an assassin in Marvel's Agents of Shield, was ok, if not a bit too twee and Renee Fleming was actually better than i expected. Rob Houchen was the stand out in the first half. I didnt stay for the second.
From row GG it looked and sounded nice, but i need something more than nice to keep me engaged.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 21, 2019 11:39:31 GMT
Correct me if I’m wrong but (I believe) that Dove Cameron played Amber von Tussle in Hairspray Live
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Post by LaLuPone on Jun 21, 2019 12:02:17 GMT
Correct me if I’m wrong but (I believe) that Dove Cameron played Amber von Tussle in Hairspray Live Yep that was her.
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Post by princeton on Jun 21, 2019 12:38:53 GMT
As someone who has had a relationship with this musical for more than 15 years including its debut in Seattle and then Broadway on several occasions - and have long been waiting for a London production - I not sure quite where to start. I'm sure the words will come in due course - however I think these two pictures possibly say more than I can at this time about the difference between the production I fell in love with and the one currently in the Royal Festival Barn.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 21, 2019 12:57:04 GMT
I was so far away (TT Stalls) and my eyesight is dreadful so I don't think that helped my enjoyment. I mean Renee and Dove could have been the same woman for all I knew. I am not sure if you missed much. The twee picture post card set harking back to a time that never existed is miniscule and lacks creativity.
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Post by anita on Jun 21, 2019 13:18:44 GMT
Seeing it on Wednesday.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 21, 2019 15:41:56 GMT
Got two £20 restricted view in Row F front stalls; over the phone. TodayTix rush was only offering me rear stalls and I didn't want to go there. Box Office Assistant said there are only one or two scenes that might be missed.
Looking forward to it- even though the set looks pathetic, won't lie.
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Post by walterplinge on Jun 21, 2019 17:59:39 GMT
Saw this on the 19th. Was rather underwhelmed. The score was far too low for Fleming, although her acting was admirable. Dove Cameron was pretty, however, she gives off a bitchy vibe. Perhaps that's a personal thing. She can sing fine but really struggled with the high notes. Rob Houchen is the star here, a convincing Italian and the voice of an angel. The book is thin, thinner than Kevin Spacey's hairline. There's marriage within minutes, corny and unfunny humour and a ridiculous plot twist. Its saving grace comes in the form of the huge orchestra that sounds impeccable, even if the score itself is uninspiring. Special mention to the wonderful front of house member who personally went round to every person she could see using a mobile phone, sternly telling them to switch it off. She's my hero and every theatre needs one of her.
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Post by japhun on Jun 21, 2019 18:40:35 GMT
I saw this on Wednesday evening. Let me first say I saw this at the Lillian Beaumont at Lincoln Centre in New York during its Broadway run and it is easily one of my favourite musicals for the sheer brilliance of the score. Victoria Clark and Kelli O'Hara were perfectly cast and it is one of my most played OBCRs.
I was so excited to watch this here in London. I was also very excited for a large orchestra to do the score the justice it deserves. So here I go...
The overture was chopped to less than a minute. I cannot see why a Tony award winning score with a huge orchestra there to show it off was chopped off. This left a really bad taste in my mouth throughout the entire show. I also didn't understand the need to add the word 'purple' in front of 'corduroys' during The Beauty Is...so random! I still really enjoyed it, but this was sheerly based on the fact that I love the music and was familiar with the story.
Rob Houchen was by far the standout. He took an incredibly difficult role (that was poorly done by Matthew Morrison in my opinion) and really took it to another level.
Dove Cameron was an ok Clara, but was too young for the part at 23 (she looks 18). She played the naivety and immaturity of Clara very well, but lacked the 'shock' value the role requires (will avoid spoilers) and although she does a good job on The Beauty Is and The Light in the Piazza, I was underwhelmed overall.
I reallllllllly wanted to love Renee Fleming, but she simply wasn't enough in the acting department. She seemed disjointed at times and felt really robotic at times. Her highlight to me was luckily during my personal favourite part of the show (The Beauty Is (Reprise)) which she delivered with raw emotion and purity that she lacked at several other parts of the show.
Overall, 3 stars is pretty much right. The set is obviously basic (20 performances- hello?!) and the Royal Festival Hall is wayyyyyyy to big for this. I was on Row B Centre stalls and it was incredible, but the rear stalls would have been awful. I wanted to love this, but it simply fell short. I still enjoyed it though as it was so great to hear this gorgeous score live again, and I will probably be back to hear it one more time before it closes.
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Post by BoOverall on Jun 21, 2019 18:44:22 GMT
I'm seeing the final performance! So happy to qualify for a student discount all over again. Are we have pre-show drinks? Apparently a handful of us are going. Can’t wait to see it next Friday. Not least to hear the score with such an orchestra. This was a show I didn’t take to from the CD but seeing it on Broadway I was blown away. And to a lesser extent at the Leicester Curve production: I loved it, my parents hated it! Such is life.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 22, 2019 1:36:37 GMT
Went in not knowing the story; just the title song. Part of me fell in love with it, other parts of me really came out disappointed! There were so many great elements to this production. First and foremost the orchestra and the stunning score. Whatever is said; there's no denying that the score is beautiful, and especially when played by that massive orchestra. Most of the cast was outstanding, Rob Houchen blew me away. I'd only previously seen him in Les Mis, and now this, he seriously deserves to be getting more work! His voice was like butter, soaring perfectly. I thought he sounded stunning with Dove Cameron with, whom I was pleasantly surprised. She did a good job on the acting side. I did not expect her to sing so well, so props to her. Alex Flemmings and Celinde Schoenmaker, of course, were great as always! I found the lighting was apt for the massive space. The costumes were lavish, especially Dove and Renee's gowns. The sound was fine. Only a couple times words were drowned out, I was expecting a lot worse. Could sound a lot different from the very back, but from row f, it was fine. The not so great elements; Renee Flemming. I tried my hardest to get on board with her, but I just couldn't warm to her. I felt that she struggle to sing the low/normal notes but soared in the operatic parts. You could easily tell where her expertise lies. Her acting was mediocre sadly. She was just sort of *there* and nothing else. A shame as she is obviously a very talented and deserving woman but felt so disjointed from her portrayal. Sadly I don't see the craze for her, yet her top billing either. I understand she is renowned in the opera world, but musical theatre isn't really the place for her. I'd be happy to be proved wrong but from tonight sadly no. The set. I get that it's 20 performances, but looking at the production it seems the money was thrown into everything apart from sets! Even amazing props and a Vespa! The setting is simple, and from looking at other productions, I think I could've done something better. It was feasible but a strong set, that was used tightly with lighting could've made me love this. The broadway and curve productions looked big, simple and sparse yet stunning. This had the capabilities too but obviously, it didn't go that way sadly! The story. It was a nice story, with a couple of emotional twists. But it all felt very, very rushed. For how superior this score sounds you would think the story would have a lot more meat to it! They were also all so quick at overcoming a language barrier! {Spoiler - click to view} Who in their right mind ships their Daughter off to a predominately non-English speaking family. Of whom you've known for a matter of days. While you simultaneously are hit on by your daughters soon to be father-in-law. All while realising you kind of don't love your husband anyways.
Some changes to the set, and maybe a different leading lady could've completely changed my view and enjoyment on this. 3* production of what could be a 5* musical, if done right. Will definately see a different production if one ever comes around again!
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 22, 2019 1:37:25 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view} Oh and bribes them with $15,000 whilst you're at it?!
All a bit too keen for me!
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 22, 2019 1:39:41 GMT
Also just found out that Adam Geuttel's Grandfather was Richard Rogers. Explains why this show has an absolutely beautiful score.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 22, 2019 5:05:57 GMT
I'm seeing Tuesday night with my sister
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