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Post by mattnyc on Oct 25, 2023 16:31:00 GMT
I had this booked before reading the reviews here and went into the matinee today almost dreading it, but I actually enjoyed it. It’s not high art or a life changing musical but not everything has to be. I think the music works better in context to the show when you’re in the moment, rather than just listening to it cold. But I’ll get the cast album, there’s a handful of songs I think I really enjoyed.
In the end, I’m glad I went today. I might even try to catch it again before it closes.
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Post by capybara on Oct 25, 2023 21:36:01 GMT
Haven’t seen it yet, was hoping to pick up a rush ticket next month.
I must admit I’m a bit confused how a show they went down relatively well in Chester just a year ago can be prompting such negativity this time around.
Looking forward to getting a bigger sample size of respondents on here.
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Post by Steve on Oct 28, 2023 18:07:02 GMT
This was ok. Joanna Woodward is terrific, and Tim Mahendran is great comic relief. Unfortunately, most of the songs just do not reflect the weight of the story. Some spoilers follow. . . If you were time travelling about, being thrown randomly onto random streets in random times, starkers and with no money, you'd take that pretty damn seriously. If you met a time traveller as a little girl, then got to meet him later for "the first time" as an adult, that would be an intense and astonishing thing. But the music doesn't think any of this is intense or special at all. Neither does the music think that the connection of two such fascinating stories makes for a deep and passionate love story. Instead, the music wants you to feel like you're on holiday cruising in the sun in an open top sports car. The music feels like easy listening feelgood pop. Why? "Journeyman," at the top of the second half is the first song to take the story seriously. It's intense, dark, exciting and excellent, and the effects are great. David Hunter performs it brilliantly. After this kickstart, Joanna Woodward then gets to project some deep and tender feelings in "This Time," and Tim Mahendran is really funny singing "A Woman's Intuition," so the second half sticks the landing. But because the first half is more like an inconsequential wistful and whimsical music video, that landing can only do so much. Joanna Woodward is a terrific performer in everything I've seen her in (she was a memorable Tinker Bell in the Lost Boys Musical, for example) and she elevates the lead as much as anyone could! The result is effective easy listening entertainment, pleasantly passing time, rather than the dramatically gripping astonishing love story this should be. 3 stars from me.
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Post by Mark on Oct 28, 2023 18:23:25 GMT
Was also at the matinee. I’ll agree Joanna Woodward is great in this.
I’ve never seen the film or read the book, but I have the feeling this suffers the same fate as Back to the Future in that the music just isn’t memorable and these characters just don’t “sing”. I kept thinking whilst watching that I’d bet it would be much better as a film.
The music is probably the worst part in all honesty, just not memorable and very much like dialogue to music where nothing develops. The song Gomez sings in act one I thought was absolutely dire. I did, like David Hunters number at the top of act two.
The illusions were good, and I enjoyed the story.
3 stars.
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Post by Nelly on Oct 31, 2023 22:21:26 GMT
I saw this tonight and thought it was pretty average, sadly.
Some nice effects and the cast are strong vocally but the songs are so bland and never really go anywhere. Even the opening of act two which visually was fantastic, the song was just a bit meh. Whilst I get the point of the story is he is never around long, some scenes are so fleeting it actually just feels pointless.
In the days where pretty much every show seems to get a standing ovation, the audience reaction was pretty muted, barely any standers.
I expect this to be panned in the press but what do I know?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 31, 2023 22:27:39 GMT
Fully expecting this to sink without a trace. No one seems to like it, and it has zero buzz.
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 31, 2023 22:30:37 GMT
There's a poster outside Leeds Train Station. That should help.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 31, 2023 22:43:11 GMT
There's a poster outside Leeds Train Station. That should help. Phew!
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Post by doornumberthree on Oct 31, 2023 22:46:32 GMT
Just saw this and think it may be one of the worst, most clunky, definitely not ready to be ‘open’ shows that I have ever seen.
Joanna was incredible, she is so much better than the material, but she manages to give a fantastic performance despite all of that.
I found David Hunter’s performance bland, he had no chemistry with Joanna whatsoever, his face was in a perpetual state of ‘huh?’ I didn’t buy the relationship or his love for her one bit. I think casting him was one of the show’s biggest mistakes, maybe with a stronger actor who has charisma, it could elevate it to slightly above a 2* production? I’m not entirely sure. His vocals are nice, fine, but I couldn’t say anything else positive about him. I haven’t enjoyed him a role since Once and had hoped this may have changed my mind. It did not.
The first act has so many scenes that do nothing, there’s no build up for the characters, the ensemble bless them are doing their best with these strange directorial choices but it felt very pantomime esque. Not a memorable song in there, and the second act lacked the emotion and sadness because the relationship was lacking so much chemistry.
It’s worth seeing for Joanna, she is an incredible performer and I’m just so sad because she is so much better than this.
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Post by marob on Oct 31, 2023 23:12:56 GMT
There's a poster outside Leeds Train Station. That should help. Saw one the other day in Piccadilly. Not the Tube station, mind, no. That would make sense. Manchester Piccadilly.
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Post by danb on Oct 31, 2023 23:35:01 GMT
There's a poster outside Leeds Train Station. That should help. Phew! Don’t forget ‘Joss n Dave’ did the One Show so sales are probably still on a high from that…probably.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 1, 2023 16:23:07 GMT
Noticed £35 front row tickets on sale. Intrigued to find out just how high this stage is… I sat there several times for ... Jamie as the front row was priced £20 then. It is one of the highest stages in the West End so probably not for the vertically challenged, but considering the second row is priced up to £95 it's good value and - as with Jamie - those seats will sell quickly. I've booked a Saturday evening in December so thanks very much for the tip off ! Had an email from Nimax Theatres that the front row B is no longer available and we've been switched to row C with the offer to be moved further back if preferred but I'll stick with C Guess too many people complained about the very high stage
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 2, 2023 8:55:36 GMT
Oh dear- the reviews are very meh.
Anyone want the Apollo?
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Post by nash16 on Nov 2, 2023 9:40:50 GMT
Just read the reviews and got an email from Nimax saying Rows D through X in the Stalls anlongside other levels imminently unavailable. This was such a poor show. And we were sitting close so that Act 2 opened just looked like some weird, 70’s TV special effect, as you could see all those poor actors in their black onesies. Nick Curtis in the Standard just wrote some akin to “you know it’s bad when you come out whistling the set”. Yet still we’re going to continue with this baffling onslaught trend of movies into musicals? When there’s so much original work wanting to be staged? Lawdy. What do we think will replace it? I sat there several times for ... Jamie as the front row was priced £20 then. It is one of the highest stages in the West End so probably not for the vertically challenged, but considering the second row is priced up to £95 it's good value and - as with Jamie - those seats will sell quickly. I've booked a Saturday evening in December so thanks very much for the tip off ! Had an email from Nimax Theatres that the front row B is no longer available and we've been switched to row C with the offer to be moved further back if preferred but I'll stick with C Guess too many people complained about the very high stage
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 2, 2023 12:22:04 GMT
There's a poster outside Leeds Train Station. That should help. Help to finally kill it, yes!
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 2, 2023 13:22:09 GMT
Don't think closure is imminent, just received a discount offer from an agency and I'm able to book on the official website right through to end of scheduled run.
I saw it at Chester and enjoyed it enough to book again for London. It's not a great musical and the middling reviews are fair but it's not as bad in my opinion as some posts here suggest.
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Post by mattnyc on Nov 2, 2023 13:49:47 GMT
Don't think closure is imminent, just received a discount offer from an agency and I'm able to book on the official website right through to end of scheduled run. I saw it at Chester and enjoyed it enough to book again for London. It's not a great musical and the middling reviews are fair but it's not as bad in my opinion as some posts here suggest. This is pretty much how I feel about it. I’ve seen SO much worse than this that when I see something like this one that’s a competent musical that entertained me for a couple hours with some really nice effects and performances, I feel like I got my monies worth.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 2, 2023 13:49:59 GMT
Don't think closure is imminent, just received a discount offer from an agency and I'm able to book on the official website right through to end of scheduled run. I saw it at Chester and enjoyed it enough to book again for London. It's not a great musical and the middling reviews are fair but it's not as bad in my opinion as some posts here suggest. Talk about damning with faint praise 😆
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Post by mattnyc on Nov 2, 2023 13:57:15 GMT
Not everything has to be a life changing theatrical event that we’ll tell our grandchildren about. Sometimes a show that’s “pretty good” is, well, good enough.
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 2, 2023 18:14:03 GMT
I'd start taking bets on how long it takes for them to shove Joss Stone in this herself actually.
They'll want to try to grab some cash before this inevitably has to close based on ticket sales and poor reviews (I reckon this probably has until...March at the latest?)
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 2, 2023 22:34:17 GMT
I'd start taking bets on how long it takes for them to shove Joss Stone in this herself actually. They'll want to try to grab some cash before this inevitably has to close based on ticket sales and poor reviews (I reckon this probably has until...March at the latest?) This won’t last till March.
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 2, 2023 23:10:37 GMT
I mean I was being generous...
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Post by Rory on Nov 3, 2023 0:03:42 GMT
I hope it completes its run, not least because Nimax will probably have nothing to put in the Apollo if it closes early (unless Kenny Wax has something knocking about).
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Post by lotster on Nov 8, 2023 20:44:39 GMT
I saw this today for the first time, having also never read the book or seen the film. Wasn't expecting much given the poor reviews on here. Alex Lodge was on for Henry. I've obviously not seen David Hunter in the role, but I thought Alex did a nice job. Joanna Woodward has a fantastic voice and played the part with emotion and feeling, but the whole thing just didn't quite work for me. I think it's the music. The songs were pleasant enough, but totally forgettable and many sounded very similar. I enjoyed Tim Mahendran, as think he has great comic timing and a fantastic voice.
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Post by sallims on Nov 11, 2023 0:39:16 GMT
I was someone who saw this in Chester, I thought the show has been vastly improved in its move into the West End. The design especially is much better. I also enjoyed the music more unsure if the orchestration has changed much. I would give this 4 stars and would happily see again.
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Post by TheOneOnTheLeft on Nov 19, 2023 20:34:43 GMT
I was unfortunate or unsensible to book a ticket for this a while ago (based on the positive notes on its original run posted here…) and was quite disappointed. Of course, it is not the worst show you can see and there are even some things to admire, but it could be so, so much better if more daring in form and style, and in its current state it is definitely not West End worthy, I think. The songs are bland, the book and direction uninspired and the special effects predictable and clumsy in comparison to Ghost and Groundhog Day (I do agree with a previous poster’s view that these two are the shows to judge this by). If you have a free evening, live in London and get a comp: go and see this for yourself. Otherwise I would recommend to chose another show (I most certainly would have). 2 stars for me (for the hard-working cast and some lovely projections).
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Post by showtoones on Nov 20, 2023 1:01:55 GMT
Does David Hunter do all of the shows? I feel like I saw on West End under said that he was not in the show on Wednesday matinee and wasn’t in the show last Wednesday matinee. Is that a coincidence or does he not do Wednesday performances?
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Post by doornumberthree on Nov 20, 2023 9:46:52 GMT
Does David Hunter do all of the shows? I feel like I saw on West End under said that he was not in the show on Wednesday matinee and wasn’t in the show last Wednesday matinee. Is that a coincidence or does he not do Wednesday performances? If he does, I think that would be the only thing getting me to give it another chance (further down the line, I couldn’t see this again so soon) Maybe a better performer in the role would make me like it more.
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Post by lotster on Nov 20, 2023 11:32:07 GMT
Does David Hunter do all of the shows? I feel like I saw on West End under said that he was not in the show on Wednesday matinee and wasn’t in the show last Wednesday matinee. Is that a coincidence or does he not do Wednesday performances? If he does, I think that would be the only thing getting me to give it another chance (further down the line, I couldn’t see this again so soon) Maybe a better performer in the role would make me like it more. I went with a rush ticket for the Weds matinee around 3 weeks or so ago and Alex Lodge was on. I haven't seen David Hunter in the lead role in this, but have seen him in other things, and actually I felt Alex did a nice job, had a likeability about him, and made the best of the mediocre material.
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Post by monsieurmarshall on Nov 20, 2023 15:34:53 GMT
Just noticed the front row seats (row C) increase to £65 from 27 November. Oddly they are priced at £35 each on 20, 21 and 25 November and £50 from 22-24 November. Is this dynamic pricing?
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