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Post by horton on Mar 2, 2020 17:56:05 GMT
Did David Rockwell just borrow his Dirty Rotten Scoundrels set?
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Post by Steve on Mar 2, 2020 19:21:54 GMT
This is like fan-fiction, where everyone is adorable, and soar over obstacles effortlessly, and yet, I LOVED it, as the four central characters are SO adorable! Some spoilers follow. . . The piece knows it's not a social documentary about asset-stripping and sex work. It self-identifies as a "fairy tale," which the book asserts at every opportunity, even including a fairy godfather in Bob Harms, which holds true whether his character is called Mr Thompson or Happy Man or whatever. But even so, this show crosses the line between fairy tale and fan-fiction. An actual fairy tale puts severe obstacles, like cruel stepsisters and/or omnipotent witches, between protagonist and wish-fulfillment. Not so here, where even the most minor distress to Aimie Atkinson's Vivian is resolved in the very next scene. This is like tiramisu without the alcohol, or cream without strawberries, sticky sweetness without any bite. But it's so sweetly delicious, as there are 4 irresistible characters, who I enjoyed spending time with so much that I didn't feel the need for drama of any kind. Proud but bumbling Aimie Atkinson is adorable. Chiselled yet soft-centred Danny Mac is adorable. Flashy avuncular Bob Harms is adorable. And Impish full-hearted beaming Bellhop, Alex Charles is ADORABLE SQUARED! And when any of the adorables dance with each other, or sing to each other, the adorability factor multiplies exponentially to even higher heights. If you have a sweet theatrical tooth, it's impossible not happily gorge on this show. Just manage your expectations and don't expect a drama, a documentary, or even something as gritty as a fairytale lol. For me, I did feel the missing ingredient of drama for about ten minutes of the running time, but my overwhelming feeling was that I was mind-numbingly happy just spending time with the above theatrical "characters" lol. It's like a wonderful dream in that you want it to go on precisely because you know it amounts to nothing. 4 stars.
PS: Also, the show alerts audiences that they will eventually hear the Roy Orbison song they came to hear, which is then the capper to all the wish-fulfillment, at the end of the show!
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Post by blobble84 on Mar 2, 2020 23:09:37 GMT
First few reviews are in... Guardian - 2 stars WOS - 2 stars The Stage - 2 stars Time Out - 1 star
Ouch!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2020 23:55:29 GMT
Yikes. Those are some rough reviews, but the title alone will keep it there for a while, 9 months max.
At least the ES gave it 4*
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 2, 2020 23:55:32 GMT
First few reviews are in... Guardian - 2 stars WOS - 2 stars The Stage - 2 stars Time Out - 1 star Ouch! Eek! I thought the show was pretty bland when I saw it on broadway but still enjoyable. More of a 3 star than 2! The Telegraph, Metro and The Independent all give it ⭐️ ⭐️ also! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from BWW though so that’s at least something! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ from The Times
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Post by intoanewlife on Mar 3, 2020 0:19:50 GMT
Urgh, those reviews are nauseating...
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Post by intoanewlife on Mar 3, 2020 0:22:18 GMT
Some of the comments made in the WOS review are just vile... Basically degrading Aimie because the “costumes don’t suit her”, and making unnecessary comparisons to Julia Roberts. The people paying to see this show want to see a theatrical presentation of the film and story they know, not some re-written political statement on modern feminism.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2020 0:24:18 GMT
Some of the comments made in the WOS review are just vile... Basically degrading Aimie because the “costumes don’t suit her”, and making unnecessary comparisons to Julia Roberts. When you basically replicate the film to stage, there will always be comparisons to Julia Roberts, there is no getting away from it.
And i know it's all personal opinion, but i didn't read anything vile or degrading about Aimie in that review at all. They said the costumes made an attractive woman look dowdy. How is that degrading??
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 3, 2020 0:47:10 GMT
Some of the comments made in the WOS review are just vile... Basically degrading Aimie because the “costumes don’t suit her”, and making unnecessary comparisons to Julia Roberts. When you basically replicate the film to stage, there will always be comparisons to Julia Roberts, there is no getting away from it.
And i know it's all personal opinion, but i didn't read anything vile or degrading about Aimie in that review at all. They said the costumes made an attractive woman look dowdy. How is that degrading??
I guess it depends on what the comparison is about, especially since Pretty Women is now remembered almost exclusively as a "Julia Roberts Movie". If a critic says that Aimie is not as charming or magnetic as JR I wouldn't say that's an unnecessary comparison, but if they say something like she's not as pretty of whatevs that's absolutely unnecessary.
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Mar 3, 2020 1:39:41 GMT
First few reviews are in... Guardian - 2 stars WOS - 2 stars The Stage - 2 stars Time Out - 1 star Ouch! Eek! I thought the show was pretty bland when I saw it on broadway but still enjoyable. More of a 3 star than 2! The Telegraph, Metro and The Independent all give it ⭐️ ⭐️ also! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from BWW though so that’s at least something! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ from The Times
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249 posts
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Mar 3, 2020 1:41:22 GMT
The Guardian reviewer wrote: "The soundtrack by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance" Soundtrack! LOL could they not afford a professional
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Post by londonmzfitz on Mar 3, 2020 7:35:24 GMT
I saw the Time Out review last night - posted 5 hours before the end of opening night, so he wasn't there last night.
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Post by sophie92 on Mar 3, 2020 7:40:06 GMT
TodayTix Rush starting today
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Post by horton on Mar 3, 2020 7:46:49 GMT
I saw the Time Out review last night - posted 5 hours before the end of opening night, so he wasn't there last night. It's quite customary for reviewers to see a late preview once the show is frozen. What point are you trying to make? It's still a tawdry story- not just for "modern feminists" intoanewlife- it always was a shabby story and not all of us bought into it even when the film came out. It helps us to remember how crass that period of history was though (and how mistakes are repeated).
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 3, 2020 8:01:38 GMT
It’s quite comforting that this pile of rubbish is getting these reviews. Not that it will put off its intended audience though of course.
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1,718 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Mar 3, 2020 8:16:32 GMT
"Ice-cold...skin-tingling unpleasantness," "regressive", "overpriced", "cynical" and "tasteless".
That's the quotes for the posters sorted.
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Post by alece10 on Mar 3, 2020 8:30:53 GMT
Just read the Metro review and it's especially cruel about Danny Mac. The critic doesn't seem to have liked him in anything. Not nice.
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 3, 2020 8:46:15 GMT
Just read the Metro review and it's especially cruel about Danny Mac. The critic doesn't seem to have liked him in anything. Not nice. I was literally gonna post this .... the Metro review is unnecessarily vicious! I don’t like when reviewers just pile in. “Danny Mac, meanwhile, somehow keeps landing plum West End roles despite having the stage presence of a bar of soap. As Edward Lewis, his lovely empty features don’t change at all beyond the condescending affection he adopts whenever he looks at Vivian being goofy, as though she were an adorable puppy.” “There are several icky, bordering-on-soft-porn sex scenes (although such are the subtle variations in Mac’s performance, they are easy to confuse with Edward’s business meetings).” 😬
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 3, 2020 8:52:28 GMT
Re. the comparisons to Julia Roberts, I get it. I found myself comparing too when I saw Sam Barks play the role in NYC, even if that’s not really fair. However people feel about the movie, Julia Roberts was perfectly cast in it, and she basically WAS THE MOVIE, and it’s always gonna be hard for the person playing her not to be compared, and often unfavourably.
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 3, 2020 9:09:11 GMT
4 stars from Mark Shenton.
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Post by LaLuPone on Mar 3, 2020 9:18:31 GMT
Is the 2 hours 20 minutes runtime given on ATG accurate?
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Post by winonaforever on Mar 3, 2020 10:12:54 GMT
TodayTix Rush starting today I came on to say this! I'm going to try when I have time, because I really want to see Aimie. I wouldn't dream of seeing this if she weren't in it, not because of the bad reviews, but it's definitely not my kind of thing (going by the film which I endured once on TV😕)
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Post by LaLuPone on Mar 3, 2020 10:22:24 GMT
Tried rush for the whole 20 minutes and finally got stalls L2 about 2 minutes ago, the last ticket probably as they’re now sold out!
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Post by justafan on Mar 3, 2020 10:27:50 GMT
Tried rush for the whole 20 minutes and finally got stalls L2 about 2 minutes ago, the last ticket probably as they’re now sold out! Ah I was going to ask where the rush seats were - that’s useful to know
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Post by poster J on Mar 3, 2020 10:36:40 GMT
Is the 2 hours 20 minutes runtime given on ATG accurate? I think it was about that on Broadway, yes. I'm not surprised by the reviews and I think 2 stars is fair if the Broadway production is anything to go by - the story is as problematic as it was back in 1990, the set is tacky, the score is forgettable and the characters aren't anything special. A fairly bland way to pass an evening but not much more than that. I would only have returned to see Samantha Barks as I missed her in NY, but as she isn't doing it I won't be going near this.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 3, 2020 11:03:25 GMT
"Ice-cold...skin-tingling unpleasantness," "regressive", "overpriced", "cynical" and "tasteless". That's the quotes for the posters sorted. These go straight into my tinder profile
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2020 12:23:20 GMT
This was so good I almost peed my pants (I preferred it to The Pirates of Penzance).
Seriously though, the omission of said classic line aside, this was all really rather good.
Had a day off yesterday and when the Upper Circle 40 quid press night tickets were released seemed a sign that I was destined to see this (had pencilled in Prince of Egypt originally but all I have heard so far is somewhat meh so postponed that plan).
Well, I don't know if it was the press night buzz, the feel that I hadn't been ripped off, the very low expectations set by the Broadway reviews or the freebie chocolates and programme, but this massively exceeded my expectations.
Of course the story is unlikely and the same story being released today would not cut it. But it was a film I really liked in 1990 and even though I'm not usually a fan of movies plonked on stage, this was a delightful walk down memory lane.
Music in musicals is always key for me and although this is not life changing, Bryan Adams (who I've always been a fan off) has provided a catchy and upbeat score. Performed loud with a fabulous sound design it really gained life that seems lacking on the CD. I have been humming all day!
The cast are brilliant. Aimie Atkinson is such a warm and likeable Vivian with killer vocals. Danny Mac is so gorgeous I could forgive anything but trying to be objective he was an appropriate Edward (the character is meant to be emotionally withdrawn). Rachel Wooding totally slays it as Kit. And Bob Harms was also great as the combined Happy Man/Hotel Manager - a really clever role. Special mention for Alex Charles as Giulio the bellboy - just adorable and very funny. I really loved the gay undertones of his dance sequence with the hotel manager. So cute!
The set (I mean my expectations in fairness were on the floor) - in of course the era where nobody spends any money - was fine. I mean fair enough it's not exactly lavish, but it looked minimal, rather than cheap. They are different things! Personally prefer less set pieces rather than ugly/cheap looking ones. Complemented by a warm lighting design, it framed the action well and lets your imagination do the rest. Was also very pleased to see the set pieces all fully automated rather than being pushed on by the cast.
Not massively surprised the critics didn't go for it. And no doubt this will attract the kind of audience that will keep the bad behaviour thread in full throttle (thank God we had 100% good behaviour last night) for the rest of the year. I guess in the era of sensitivities and easy offence it is easy to pick out the obvious plot issues. But TBO I don't see how this could have worked if updated for the 'woke' generation and I am glad they didn't try.
But overall I just got a sense of joy, warmth and fun from it. And the best antidote to Brexit Britain, floods, storms and Corona-hysteria since &Juliet.
Clearly not a classic musical that we'll be talking about in 20 years, but this will have a healthy run, is a good night out and gets a solid 4 stars from me.
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Post by intoanewlife on Mar 3, 2020 19:20:16 GMT
I saw the Time Out review last night - posted 5 hours before the end of opening night, so he wasn't there last night. It's quite customary for reviewers to see a late preview once the show is frozen. What point are you trying to make? It's still a tawdry story- not just for "modern feminists" intoanewlife- it always was a shabby story and not all of us bought into it even when the film came out. It helps us to remember how crass that period of history was though (and how mistakes are repeated). It's a live action Disney princess film about a hooker, not a Nick Broomfield documentary about sex trafficking in Beverly Hills. I highly doubt it influenced an entire generation of young girls into the sex trade, but maybe you have better numbers on this than I've ever seen?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2020 0:32:57 GMT
As a huge fan of Aimee's I'm delighted she is finally getting plumb leading West End roles. Danny Mac I've seen in a number of shows and he has always been good but I feel he may be a bit too young to play Edward. He is actually younger than Aimee in real life and Richard Gere with the swarve silver fox look bought a bit of gravitas to the film role. Ideally a guy about 40 might have been better suited but good luck to Danny in the role.
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Post by helso1 on Mar 4, 2020 14:11:07 GMT
Hi!
I've just noticed they have released standing tickets for this for £20, back of the Royal Circle. Has anyone stood in this theatre before, how is the view?
Many thanks :-)
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