133 posts
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Post by japhun on Feb 6, 2018 13:38:33 GMT
Saw this last night and really enjoyed it! Laura Baldwin was amazing and it was full of giggles and cheesiness that the audience loved! This is most definitely worth seeing...and the critics that gave it one and two stars take themselves wayyyyy too seriously. (These are probably the same critics that gave Bend it Like Beckham five stars!) Go see it!
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1,427 posts
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Post by showtoones on Feb 6, 2018 21:44:34 GMT
It's a 1* from the Metro this morning & 2* from the Evening Standard over the weekend. Though the reaction on social media still seems pretty positive! can you please post the Metro link...I can't seem to find it?
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4,559 posts
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Post by Mark on Feb 6, 2018 22:40:54 GMT
I just couldn’t warm to this, found the whole thing to be very average. Songs not memorable and for all the cast work hard - no standouts for me. I didn’t like the plot - it could have been a lot better but it just didn’t know where it wanted to go.
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294 posts
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Post by dani on Feb 8, 2018 15:16:24 GMT
Is Mark Hamill’s voiceover role permanent or was it one night only? I believe it’s every night. Presumably it's recorded rather than live? In which case it can't be very hard to reproduce after it's been done once.
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1,718 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Feb 10, 2018 18:09:04 GMT
Well, this is pretty much as joyful and feel-good as it gets, isn't it? Okay, so its strength doesn't lie in its book, that's for sure, but if the plot is rather bonkers, the score is insane in the best possible way!
The Future's Bright, She's Amazing, Go Eugenius, Comic Book Kind Of Love, Super Hot Lady, and Don't Shoot For The Stars Shoot Higher are all standout numbers in their own right. And if you want some quality rapping, forget Hamilton, Who's That Guy is where it's at.
If the score is one of Eugenius' main strengths, then the cast are undoubtedly another. I was excited to see Laura Baldwin after loving her performance in Big Fish but she completely blew away my (already high) expectations, slaying the vocals, having a terrific stage presence, and filling Janey with so much warmth and heart. Sensational.
Terrific performances from Dan Buckley and Scott Paige too, both perfectly cast as Feris and Theo respectively, and great to see them on stage again after Loserville, Ushers (Dan) and The Addams Family (Scott). Speaking of The Addams Family, I'd completely missed that Cameron Blakely was in this when casting was announced; an unexpected treat! Melissa James was the pick of the rest of the cast for me, looking and sounding every inch the Super Hot Lady.
The marketing for Eugenius doesn't lie - "you already need to see it again" is certainly what I'm thinking this evening! The assurance and confidence conveyed in the marketing is projected by the cast on stage, so much so that the weaknesses and excesses of the plot become pretty much irrelevant. Just strap yourself in for the ride, raise your arm in the air and shout Eugenius! Being a geek has never been so cool.
4 stars.
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4,559 posts
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Post by Mark on Feb 10, 2018 20:04:11 GMT
Reflecting back after a few days and having listening to the songs, there are a few catchy songs. "Tough Man" opening, "Go You Genius", "Hollywood", "Dont shoot for the stars" and "Comic Book Kind of Love".
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on Feb 11, 2018 8:15:42 GMT
I really enjoyed this last night. As others have said it does have a similar feel to The Toxic Avenger or Batboy but the book, although it needs some work, is funnier and wittier than either of these. It also has a better score - a catchy, mainly 80s feel to the songs but also one really excellent number that had a Cy Coleman, Rhythm of Life vibe. There are arch and knowing references to lots of cult films but also more mainstream stuff like 42nd Street and Yentil - Oh and it's very, very camp, so what's not to like? Some really super performances from a very talented cast, a witty production and a great (4 piece?) band - by the end the whole ridiculous shenanigans had the audience eating out of their proverbial palms. I think, with a bit of trimming and some work on the book, it could have a life in the West End.
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357 posts
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 14, 2018 0:16:24 GMT
Incredibly fun score! A really enjoyable evening and, as many have said, by the end you cant help but be smiling!
It felt very Off-Broadway, but in the best way possible (obvious comparisons to toxic avenger and such), i feel that we rarely see new musicals like this the way they do more frequently in the States.
My only issue was that I thought they should have moved the Hollywood number to open act two rather than close act one, and while there were some minor plot issues i had toward the end of act two the show is so fun and silly that you dont really hold it against the show. I would have said 3.5 stars but its so infectiously fun that the small negatives are wiped away and I'd give it 4*.
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215 posts
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Post by galinda on Feb 16, 2018 17:49:00 GMT
What’s the running time for this?
Did have a quick google but some sites say 2 hours and others 2 hours 25?
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1,718 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Feb 16, 2018 17:55:11 GMT
What’s the running time for this? Did have a quick google but some sites say 2 hours and others 2 hours 25? 2 hours 25 mins.
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494 posts
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Post by ellie1981 on Feb 20, 2018 10:34:12 GMT
I saw this last night and it was SO much fun. Such a dedicated cast. I actually bought the album on iTunes during the interval.
The whole show seemed like it was tailored for the friend I went with. I’m taking him to Hamilton on Friday and he even said he’s not expecting it to be half as good as this.
I only had an issue with the Hollywood song at the end of the first act, because that really did seem like it was just a bunch of 80s reference name checking without any context to anything. Some of the songs were eerily similar to other lesser know hits from the 80s; ‘Comic Book Kind of Love’ was exactly Celine Dion’s ‘Where Does My Heart Beat Now’, and ‘She’s Amazing’ really is just ‘Far From Over’ by Frank Stallone (from the Staying Alive soundtrack) - seriously play them back to back to tell me I’m not crazy.!
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4,158 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 26, 2018 9:45:57 GMT
I loved this. Great fun. Bonkers, but brilliant. I thought the second act was better than the first and it did take me 20 mins or so to really get into it but i did. The songs are really good and very catchy. I really loved the cast too. Scott Paige was a highlight to me just for his facial expressions alone and also Dan Buckley, whilst Laura Baldwin had a brilliant voice. Also well done to whoever did the lighting for this.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Mar 3, 2018 22:54:56 GMT
Saw this tonight for the show's closing performance. Ben Adams and Warwick Davies were in attendance and the house was nearly full, with a lot of fans in who knew all the words which is great to see for a new musical. The show is utter brainless fluff but it's like trying to hate a puppy, you just can't! Very silly but really catchy songs and great energy from the cast. Great to relive how bad some of the 80s truly was 😂
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on Mar 4, 2018 8:26:51 GMT
This musical is beyond belief silly but I absolutely adore it! I've been recently filling in some gaps in my 'West End Megamusical Portfolios' and was completely disappointed by Dreamgirls and Wicked but Eugenius...is so unpretentious and has so much heart. Full of great tunes and great performances but even then it's hard to describe why it so enjoyable. I think it just turns out to be so sweet, innocent and lovable and it's the latter quality that you carry away with you at the end.
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4,960 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 4, 2018 10:17:37 GMT
it's like trying to hate a puppy, you just can't! One of the best lines ever, ever!
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on Mar 4, 2018 14:48:37 GMT
it's like trying to hate a puppy, you just can't! One of the best lines ever, ever! Yes - that sums it up so much better than I could.
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193 posts
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Mar 4, 2018 21:17:51 GMT
I saw this on Thursday night without really knowing what to expect and really enjoyed it. It's a lot of fun! I'd never been to this theatre before, and it's nice to get to new theatres. The show doesn't take itself seriously at all, and I didn't always know exactly what was going on (although I could just about follow the storyline) but it didn't matter in the slightest. I thought it was a good concept.
The songs are catchy (I will have Go Eugenius in my head for a while longer yet) and I loved that we could join in at the end - I wanted to join in in the first half when they first sang "listen to the crowd and hear them say..." so I was glad that came round again! I also loved all the subtle references to other films and musicals, and I bet there were loads that I missed. The One Day More line went down very well!
I hope this isn't the last we see of this - if the video Shaun tweeted as Tough Man saying "I'll be back" is anything to go by it sounds like it! When I got to London and realised how bad the weather was last week, I almost wished I'd postponed my trip a week or two - but I'm very glad I didn't as I would have missed this treat.
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99 posts
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Post by noboiscout on Mar 5, 2018 13:19:44 GMT
Afraid that I did not enjoy this and could not stick it beyond the interval. I don't mind fluff and campery - I love it when done well. This was just inane rubbish. At least I waited until the interval to leave - 2 others (probably equally old and grumpy like me) left before that. And I found he stereotypical, camp gay character to be verging on the homophobic. Praise as always to the cast who did there best working with such poor material.
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614 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Apr 26, 2018 9:31:43 GMT
Just seen on Facebook this is coming back to The Other Palace 1st September - 7th October. It wasn’t from an official source though, so forgive me if it turns out not to be true
I missed it the first time around, so I hope it happens!
Edit: The Other Palace Facebook page just posted about it, so it’s now confirmed
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4,559 posts
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Post by Mark on Apr 26, 2018 10:03:50 GMT
Just seen on Facebook this is coming back to The Other Palace 1st September - 7th October. It wasn’t from an official source though, so forgive me if it turns out not to be true I missed it the first time around, so I hope it happens! Edit: The Other Palace Facebook page just posted about it, so it’s now confirmed I'll admit I wasn't a fan when I first saw this (my brief review is on the previous page) but my god have I warmed to the music and certain numbers are on regularly. Glad it is having a future life and may try and see it again.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 11:18:36 GMT
I love it. They say highly anticipated return when none of us knew until this morning it was returning anyway.
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Post by d'James on Apr 26, 2018 12:58:27 GMT
I really want to see this again so that’s great news.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 15:11:41 GMT
I might be totally off the mark but by the sounds of the social media post above, there are plans for this to a have a life after the Other Palace return. UK tour perhaps?
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on Apr 26, 2018 15:24:53 GMT
I absolutely adored this. Will definitely go again.
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3,472 posts
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Post by showgirl on Apr 27, 2018 5:20:21 GMT
I missed it first time round so will aim to catch it on its return. Though it's described as a short run, it's 5 weeks, so I hope I can fit it in somewhere amongst everything I (doubtless along with many here) have of course already booked for that period.
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31 posts
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Post by misspiggy1979 on Apr 28, 2018 21:34:59 GMT
I missed this the first time around. Here is hoping i can go this time.
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Post by Seriously on Apr 30, 2018 21:51:59 GMT
Sat 1 Sep - Sun 7 Oct
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Post by d'James on Jun 6, 2018 7:32:23 GMT
Anyone know what is said in Hollywood here: The Terminator’s back, Beetlejuice, ?, they’re all hard at work . . .
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2,763 posts
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Post by daniel on Jul 25, 2018 13:20:30 GMT
Casting announced:
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Post by d'James on Jul 25, 2018 13:34:13 GMT
Disappointed Liam Forde isn’t back as Eugene but I’ll anyone a chance.
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