535 posts
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Post by jek on Apr 8, 2019 12:43:21 GMT
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Apr 8, 2019 14:52:03 GMT
Excellent. Hope they do the T-Shirts! It was Guildhall who did what was apparently the European premiere (and possibly the first production since the Broadway run?) of Merrily in 1983 www.sondheimguide.com/merrily.htmlBiggest future names in that production are Jacqui Dankworth and Jean-Marc Barr, I think. Dankworth was also in the 1992 Leicester production, and Michael Cantwell played Franklin Shepard in both the 83 and 92 productions! |
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 8, 2019 15:14:31 GMT
has anyone seen merrily before
is it any good?
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3,066 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2019 16:07:26 GMT
Thanks, just purchased a ticket. There’s a £3 booking fee, so total £23.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Apr 8, 2019 16:46:33 GMT
has anyone seen merrily before is it any good? Yes and yes  One of Sondheim's best - I guess depends what you thought about Company and Follies though! |
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4,596 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 8, 2019 16:49:59 GMT
After Company closing this will help keep my sondheim and Furth addiction going
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3,066 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 5, 2019 15:24:17 GMT
I enjoyed this last night. It is a long production (2 hours 45 minutes).
The theatre isn't actually in the Barbican Centre at all (despite security telling me to go through that way), but best accessed from the street through Guildhall School itself. Once you're in, it's traditional tiered layout, good views from everywhere. I sat front row, which was fine. There's a huge orchestra pit.
This is a Sondheim I've never seen before, but very much in his best known style. It took me a while to get into it. The cast were good, some better than others, but the changing ages thing got a bit confusing with telling who was who, with everyone being student age to begin. The set, costumes and overall staging are better than some West End productions and many off West End. Quite a few microphones turned on late early, but this improved as the production went on.
No cast member names, unfortunately, as they're not on the website, but the actor playing Charles came across best to me. As to whether Merrily is a hidden gem or not, I'd have to see it again (possibly in a different production) now I've worked out the plot.
This is worth catching if you have a spare show slot.
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4,596 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 5, 2019 16:03:27 GMT
Charlie and Beth were the standouts for me.
Decent set and epic size for a band easily putting Wendy's End to shame!
Problem is I just don't like this version of the script, some off the changes made over the years are for the better but it has lost a lot of its sharp bite.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 7, 2019 11:26:31 GMT
I agree with all of the positives above - I'm very much 'Marmite' with Sondheim, sometimes I love his stuff, other times I want to find a way to make all of the speakers stop working using telekinetic powers that I sadly don't have. But this was enjoyable. Musically it reminded me a lot of Company. Strong performances from most, and production values higher than some professional shows. Also don't be put off by front row tickets sold as 'restricted view', you're eye level with where the performers stand and you miss nothing. Legroom is also awesome 😀
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Post by Fleance on Jul 7, 2019 14:24:08 GMT
Just a heads up that tickets for this at the Silk Street theatre (performances 2nd - 10th July) went on sale this morning to the general public. Have bought some having enjoyed their productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Crazy for You in the last couple of years. I've seen some great shows at Guildhall, including that production of Crazy for You, with Luke Thallon in the lead. But I'm a rare theater-loving New Yorker who doesn't like Merrily. I saw that production from the Menier a few years ago -- excellent production; but there's something about the show that I really don't like. I do like some Sondheim very much: A Funny Thing; Sweeney Todd, etc. But when he gets into writing shows about my fellow New Yorkers, I find him tedious and cliched. But I'm sure the talented Guildhall students will do a great job! |
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 8, 2019 17:40:31 GMT
I enjoyed this last night. It is a long production (2 hours 45 minutes). The theatre isn't actually in the Barbican Centre at all (despite security telling me to go through that way), but best accessed from the street through Guildhall School itself. Once you're in, it's traditional tiered layout, good views from everywhere. I sat front row, which was fine. There's a huge orchestra pit. This is a Sondheim I've never seen before, but very much in his best known style. It took me a while to get into it. The cast were good, some better than others, but the changing ages thing got a bit confusing with telling who was who, with everyone being student age to begin. The set, costumes and overall staging are better than some West End productions and many off West End. Quite a few microphones turned on late early, but this improved as the production went on. No cast member names, unfortunately, as they're not on the website, but the actor playing Charles came across best to me. As to whether Merrily is a hidden gem or not, I'd have to see it again (possibly in a different production) now I've worked out the plot. This is worth catching if you have a spare show slot. Complete fluke I found this but here: www.gsmd.ac.uk/drama/final_year_actors/final_year_actors_2018_19/You have to go in via the headshots to find out the roles. Strange how there's not a cast list but I suppose you would recognise Charles. |
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jul 8, 2019 17:59:11 GMT
Franklin - Oli Higginson
Charley - Joseph Potter
Mary - Julia Randall
All excellent.
Some of the other roles were uneven in quality, and some parts I felt miscast.
But in general it was an enjoyable production, with a great 19 piece band.
.....As was the excellent 'City of Angels' at the Royal Academy of Music last week. A really imaginative production,well acted and sung and with another excellent band.
Anyone else see it?
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 8, 2019 18:35:17 GMT
Franklin - Oli Higginson Charley - Joseph Potter Mary - Julia Randall All excellent. Some of the other roles were uneven in quality, and some parts I felt miscast. But in general it was an enjoyable production, with a great 19 piece band. .....As was the excellent 'City of Angels' at the Royal Academy of Music last week. A really imaginative production,well acted and sung and with another excellent band. Anyone else see it? Can't believe I missed City Of Angels! Gutted. We definitely need a Drama School Productions thread. I'm still not over missing Newsies either! |
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 8, 2019 18:36:11 GMT
Thank you! I've been looking at posts for months but kept forgetting to log in! |
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 8, 2019 18:36:53 GMT
Franklin - Oli Higginson Charley - Joseph Potter Mary - Julia Randall All excellent. Some of the other roles were uneven in quality, and some parts I felt miscast. But in general it was an enjoyable production, with a great 19 piece band. .....As was the excellent 'City of Angels' at the Royal Academy of Music last week. A really imaginative production,well acted and sung and with another excellent band. Anyone else see it? Can't believe I missed City Of Angels! Gutted. We definitely need a Drama School Productions thread. I'm still not over missing Newsies either! I didn't but my friend did yesterday. Reported it was very good and his friend played Donna / Oolie. Lot better than Rose Bruford's which I didn't see...but it was too ambitious apparently for an actor muso show. The music is so hard having had to learn it at college (the opening!!!!) My college also did the show a few years ago for their grad show. Iabsolutely loved the Donmar production. Best show I've seen there, Sweet Charity was OK but COA was world class. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jul 8, 2019 20:09:15 GMT
City Of Angels is in my top ten of musicals I have never seen and am keen to attend. So is Newsies. Would have gladly missed one of the shows I had booked last week if necessary to have seen City Of Angels. I see that it actually closed tonight so hoping it was a sellout and there's not an empty seat I could have had !
It's certainly a challenge to find out everything that's on out there on the amateur / college circuit. I do lots of google searching but still regularly find out about shows like this after the event.
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3,066 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 8, 2019 22:08:24 GMT
LAMDA are also performing Merrily this week and next, but the website says it’s sold out. Another one I spotted too late.
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jul 9, 2019 10:28:09 GMT
City Of Angels is in my top ten of musicals I have never seen and am keen to attend. So is Newsies. Would have gladly missed one of the shows I had booked last week if necessary to have seen City Of Angels. I see that it actually closed tonight so hoping it was a sellout and there's not an empty seat I could have had ! It's certainly a challenge to find out everything that's on out there on the amateur / college circuit. I do lots of google searching but still regularly find out about shows like this after the event. The best way to find out about the stage school events is to bookmark the individual websites. I see the majority of shows at Royal Academy of Music 2 Summer shows a year Guildhall School 1 Summer show a year Arts Ed 2 shows Autumn 2 shows Spring Mountview Theatre school Several shows during the year in different theatres Trinity Laban (this year) Summer shows in Stratford and Greenwich The standard is extremely high and many students have already secured roles in the West End before they leave. (eg. Jac Yarrow, Joseph at Palladium who was the lead in Arts Ed 'Newsies.' ) |
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 9, 2019 10:32:01 GMT
City Of Angels is in my top ten of musicals I have never seen and am keen to attend. So is Newsies. Would have gladly missed one of the shows I had booked last week if necessary to have seen City Of Angels. I see that it actually closed tonight so hoping it was a sellout and there's not an empty seat I could have had ! It's certainly a challenge to find out everything that's on out there on the amateur / college circuit. I do lots of google searching but still regularly find out about shows like this after the event. The best way to find out about the stage school events is to bookmark the individual websites. I see the majority of shows at Royal Academy of Music 2 Summer shows a year Guildhall School 1 Summer show a year Arts Ed 2 shows Autumn 2 shows Spring Mountview Theatre school Several shows during the year in different theatres Trinity Laban (this year) Summer shows in Stratford and Greenwich The standard is extremely high and many students have already secured roles in the West End before they leave. (eg. Jac Yarrow, Joseph at Palladium who was the lead in Arts Ed 'Newsies.' ) I went to Trinity Laban - my grad show was The Witches of Eastwick :-) I think the best grad shows I've seen were A Chorus Line - Royal Central (better than the West End) Parade - Rose Bruford Actor Muso Kiss of the Spiderwoman - Arts Ed - Drew McConie and Genesis Lynea was INCREDIBLE - so glad to see her career doing well. Wasted Love - RCS @ Edinburgh Fringe - it was a devised show and saw it at the Actor's Church again. SO FUNNY. |
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535 posts
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Post by jek on Jul 11, 2019 8:28:25 GMT
Went to see this last night. I've been to a number of Guildhall productions (I can get to the Barbican in half an hour and so it's easy for me) but this is the first time I have been to a last night. The emotion on that stage as those young people reached the end of their time together made the show - and its themes - especially poignant.
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144 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Jul 12, 2019 9:47:58 GMT
Really interested to read that the RCSSD production of Chorus Line was of a better standard than the West End. I did not see it, so am unable to comment, but I did see the Production of Grand Hotel the previous year. I have to say that this was distinctly average, apart one or two solid performances. I would say the same for the standard of the current graduating year.
Compared to Arts Ed, GSA I would suggest that these students are just not at the same level. A quick glance at the cv's of the current year shows that several of Acting]MT] students have left the school without representation. I find it quite alarming that after 3 years of training, for whatever reason these students cannot attract agents to sign them.
I wonder how many prospective students do their research on final "destinations" in terms of agents etc before they apply?
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jul 12, 2019 11:43:02 GMT
Really interested to read that the RCSSD production of Chorus Line was of a better standard than the West End. I did not see it, so am unable to comment, but I did see the Production of Grand Hotel the previous year. I have to say that this was distinctly average, apart one or two solid performances. I would say the same for the standard of the current graduating year. Compared to Arts Ed, GSA I would suggest that these students are just not at the same level. A quick glance at the cv's of the current year shows that several of Acting]MT] students have left the school without representation. I find it quite alarming that after 3 years of training, for whatever reason these students cannot attract agents to sign them. I wonder how many prospective students do their research on final "destinations" in terms of agents etc before they apply? I've not seen any Central School productions, but looking on their website the Musical theatre course appears to be just one year and makes no attempt at 'triple threat' teaching. The current year has apparently just 18 students, 3 boys and 15 girls. It would be impossible to compare their productions with Arts Ed, GSA, Mountview etc. |
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144 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Jul 12, 2019 13:15:27 GMT
There is a 3 yr BA Hons course in Acting [MT].
It runs alongside the Straight acting BA and the Acting [[CDT] courses.
The emphasis seems to be more on acting, but it should still be possible to compare the productions with those of other schools.
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18,842 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2019 14:38:30 GMT
We were having a discussion backstage very recently about the viability of a section of the forum to cover amateur/college/non professional* productions but we had a bit of a split opinion. What do you think?
*possible contentious issue about what it’s called but don’t worry about that for now.
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4,596 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 12, 2019 15:10:06 GMT
We were having a discussion backstage very recently about the viability of a section of the forum to cover amateur/college/non professional* productions but we had a bit of a split opinion. What do you think? *possible contentious issue about what it’s called but don’t worry about that for now. Generally a great idea. I guess some members will need to be reminded that the performers aren't professionals and so an element of respect is needed. So perhaps extra work for you hard working Mods. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 12, 2019 16:53:13 GMT
I find it quite alarming that after 3 years of training, for whatever reason these students cannot attract agents to sign them. I wonder how many prospective students do their research on final "destinations" in terms of agents etc before they apply? This are so many variables, that one is impossible to answer. I'm sure all the students would prefer to go to the school with the best outcomes, but not all of them will get in and not all of them will be able to afford to study there even if they can get in (for courses which aren't eligible for student loans, you need that rare breed of parents with deep pockets, which also explains why many West End casts come from the posher parts of society). We were having a discussion backstage very recently about the viability of a section of the forum to cover amateur/college/non professional* productions but we had a bit of a split opinion. What do you think? Yes, certainly. The other part that would be useful (if the forum software supports it), is some form of Wiki with links to the school booking pages and details of upcoming shows. There are a lot of great, rarely performed, shows out there, but they're hard to track down and I've noticed a lot only ever end being advertised directly to those in the know or on social media. |
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jul 12, 2019 21:36:09 GMT
There is a 3 yr BA Hons course in Acting [MT]. It runs alongside the Straight acting BA and the Acting [[CDT] courses. The emphasis seems to be more on acting, but it should still be possible to compare the productions with those of other schools. But I thought we're comparing musicals (Chorus Line, Grand Hotel). Central School recently performed 'Into the Woods' with their 18 musical theatre pupils doing the one year course. Arts Ed etc don't let their 'triple threat' students anywhere near an audience until their third year. |
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Post by matilda1 on Jul 13, 2019 8:31:38 GMT
Neither do Central.
Into the Woods performed by students on the 1 year part time diploma course, not the 3 yr BA students
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jul 13, 2019 10:44:27 GMT
Neither do Central. Into the Woods performed by students on the 1 year part time diploma course, not the 3 yr BA students That's my point. I don't think the BA students perform musicals. Or have I missed something. |
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144 posts
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Post by matilda1 on Jul 13, 2019 11:43:34 GMT
The BA Acting[MT] students perform one straight acting piece and one musical in their final year. They also do a showcase. This is a mix of speeches/monologues and songs.
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