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Post by lynette on May 3, 2019 13:53:02 GMT
I saw this in its original incarnation at the Shaw theatre I think it was a million years ago. Is it the same show? I thought it was good then. Is it the Bragg one?
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Post by horton on May 3, 2019 15:01:25 GMT
It was at the Astoria.
There is brass in the mix.
I hate the term "stripped back" when it means "we can only do it if it's on the cheap".
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Post by gazzaw13 on May 3, 2019 15:24:47 GMT
I'd never seen a production of this musical but had heard great things. Was the long journey to Hornchurch going to be worth my while? A resounding yes! This is a stripped back production featuring 10 actor/musicians who, despite the lack of any set, provide an enthralling depiction of life and love in early 20th century Cumbria. I love actor/musician musicals ever since Sunset Boulevard at the Pinter and this troupe really nails it. There was barely a dry eye at the end. The first half was reminiscent of JRB's Bridges of Madison County and the second half of Journey's End. 5* from me Please tell me that there is some brass among the orchestra? A trumpet at least??
The score definitely needs some brass. Something that was really lacking at The Union a few years back.
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Post by gazzaw13 on May 3, 2019 15:27:18 GMT
Pleased to confirm that there is some brass - a trumpet and a trombone. Also Mark Shenton has posted a 5 star review I found via Twitter
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 3, 2019 15:40:48 GMT
Sadly, hardly any tickets currently sold at Hull Truck either. Ignoring the seats that have never been on sale, one performance has sold, at most, just 12 tickets! Errr nerrrr! |
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Post by Dawnstar on May 3, 2019 17:24:13 GMT
I'd like to see this, having been very impressed by the production at the Landon a few years ago, but the logistics of getting to Hornchrch make it pretty much impossible for me.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 3, 2019 19:04:53 GMT
I'd like to see this, having been very impressed by the production at the Landon a few years ago, but the logistics of getting to Hornchrch make it pretty much impossible for me. Oh lor, 2 typos in 1 sentence. 'Landor' and 'Hornchurch'. I wish the Edit option on here lasted a bit longer! |
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Post by TallPaul on May 3, 2019 20:06:19 GMT
You are far too honest, Dawnstar. I suspect most of us, myself included, never even noticed. In my experience, the secret to editing is to use a smartphone, even if the original post was made on a PC, though obviously, as a man, I NEVER make mistakes. 😉 |
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Post by crabtree on May 4, 2019 15:55:47 GMT
Ever since I first heard this show, and seen a couple of versions, this has been one of my favourite and most emotional shows. The original London production in that odd theatre on Tottenham court Road that is now a rock venue, was brilliant, but just the wrong venue.
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Post by lynette on May 5, 2019 22:03:58 GMT
I saw this in its original incarnation at the Shaw theatre I think it was a million years ago. Is it the same show? I thought it was good then. Is it the Bragg one? What I saw was in the 1980s Prob 1984. Interesting how long it takes for a show to take hold though I see it has won awards. |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2019 23:37:00 GMT
The original London production in that odd theatre on Tottenham court Road that is now a rock venue That rock venue was demolished 10 years ago! I first saw The Hired Man in 1990 and it has stayed with me all these years. There is something about it's simplicity and Britishness that works for me. As long as it has a trumpet  |
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Post by horton on May 6, 2019 5:30:31 GMT
Julia Hills, the original star, is currently touring with the Calendar Girls musical.
Some of you may also remember the lovely 1-night original cast reunion concert version at the Palace Theatre with Philip Schofield as the narrator.
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Post by Fleance on May 6, 2019 12:06:00 GMT
I saw a production of The Hired Man at the Landor in 2011. I knew nothing about the musical then but found it to be a beautiful, deeply moving work. In the small space at the Landor, they created a different world and a different time.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on May 7, 2019 0:09:19 GMT
I'd like to see this, having been very impressed by the production at the Landon a few years ago, but the logistics of getting to Hornchrch make it pretty much impossible for me. If it helps, The Queens Theatre is about a 10 minute walk from Emerson Park Railway Station, on the Romford to Upminster branch line. For matinee performances, advance singles between (eg) Norwich and Emerson Park start at £10.60, £7 with a National Railcard. Hornchurch Underground Station on the District Line is about 12 minutes from the Theatre. |
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Post by Phantom of London on May 7, 2019 22:39:07 GMT
Mark Shenton loves everything by Howard Goodall, hence his 5 star review.
Think I seen this twice at the Landor and Union, both times it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me, So third time lucky? You would think, except not, when the curtain went up, my heart went the other way, as it is one of those actor/musician - don’t get me wrong the cast are brilliant to act, sing and play their instrument, it just loses me to see someone wander around the stage playing a instrument, the stage is for acting and the pit is for musicians and never the two shall meet. I find the source material except for the titular song, is generally tuneless and the book is generally pedestrian and engaging.
What I do like is when small theatre companies co-produce, as it can lead to higher production values and guarantees longer work for actors etc.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 23:38:20 GMT
Julia Hills, the original star, is currently touring with the Calendar Girls musical. Some of you may also remember the lovely 1-night original cast reunion concert version at the Palace Theatre with Philip Schofield as the narrator. I was at that concert and still have a flyer for it that said that Glenda Jackson was originally going to be the narrator.
The concert recording is actually my favourite of the ones that are available. The vocals sound better on it than the OLCR, which can sound a little shaky in places, especially Julia Hills (who married her co-star from The Hired Man, Paul Clarkson!)
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 10, 2019 14:16:32 GMT
I saw this last week in 'ull.
First the good:
Thankfully, bookings had picked up considerably, so the theatre was perhaps half full. Maybe they gave tickets away free with every purchase from Boyes (I won't make a fool of myself and attempt the local dialect!)
I liked the title song very much, even though it was sung far too softly.
I'm a little bit in love with Sufia Manya.
Now the bad:
Despite my great age, this was the first musical I have seen that has used actor/musicians. I suspect it will also be the last. I simply couldn't find the instrument-wielding characters believable. At least I can now identify, a little, with those who don't 'get' musicals because the characters suddenly burst into song for no reason!
I didn't much care for the 'horn section'. I'm far from an expert on folk music, but a trumpet sounded out of place within such a gentle score.
By the finale, which took far too long to arrive, I felt Melvyn Bragg had thrown the entire socialist book at it!
So not for me, but it wouldn't do for us all to be the same.
And if this small-scale tour can afford a revolve, billionaire CamMack certainly can. 🙂
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 15, 2019 8:04:25 GMT
This has got to be one of the most earnest musicals I have ever seen and thankfully I really liked it. Well assuming you can like something with tears running down your face!
Great cast especially Oliver Hembrough (he should go far). Lovley sound and I thought rhe colour pallet in the simple but effective set and costumes worked a treat.
Top scores from me and the good people of Hull.
It was also my first visit to the new Hull Truck Theatre, I hope they programme more things I can drag my mother to!!
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 15, 2019 14:46:34 GMT
How time flies, Someone in a tree. The 'new' Hull Truck celebrated its 10th birthday 🎂 this April. 🙂 (Which must make it about nine years since the Board made the mistake of falling out with John Godber.) From memory, I don't think anything is currently programmed beyond Christmas, so the new season announcement must be imminent. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 15, 2019 15:16:42 GMT
How time flies, Someone in a tree. The 'new' Hull Truck celebrated its 10th birthday 🎂 this April. 🙂 (Which must make it about nine years since the Board made the mistake of falling out with John Godber.) From memory, I don't think anything is currently programmed beyond Christmas, so the new season announcement must be imminent. Us Beverley people are very behind the times. Next you will be informing us of a shopping centre opening next to Paragon Station. |
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Post by hulmeman on Jun 21, 2019 18:21:22 GMT
Just to let you know there is a very good production of the Melvyn Bragg / Howard Goodall musical "The Hired Man" just put down at the Coliseum Theatre, Oldham until 6th July.
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Post by BoOverall on Jun 21, 2019 18:59:05 GMT
Agh I really wish I could see it. I still remember the show at the Leicester Haymarket as a boy: seeing it several times during its run. I was somewhat obsessed at the time with the great “What a fool I’ve been” and “No choir of angels” among the wonderful score.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 22, 2019 10:26:58 GMT
Threads merged.
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Post by david on Jun 29, 2019 21:04:27 GMT
Saw today’s matinee performance at the Oldham Coliseum. I’ve had had mixed experiences of musicals that use actor-musicians within shows. On one hand I thought Ragtime at London’s Charing Cross was a beautifully crafted piece of musical theatre, while on the other hand when a tour of Saturday Night Fever a few years ago used the same technique, I just felt it was so wrong and didn’t enjoy it. So when I found out that the Hired Man was using the actor-musician format, I was a little worried whether it would work or not. So overall, I really enjoyed this and like Ragtime, the format really suited the show.
The cast were fantastic and the standouts for me were Oliver Hembrough as John and Lucy Keirl as his wife Sally. Absolutely fantastic voices and combined really well in their duets, as well as their respective solo numbers.
Not having heard a cast recording prior to today, it really was a beautiful score to listen to this afternoon and i felt the on stage instruments didn’t overpower the vocals at any point.
Although simply staged with a lovely painted textile backdrop, I thought it was effective in setting the different scenes and I absolutely loved the use of the mini-revolve.
Plot wise, I thought Act 2 was definitely the stronger part and the more emotional part, leading to that heart breaking conclusion.
The performance seemed to go down very well with the majority of patrons today, with only a few non returnees post interval.
Definitely worth a watch.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jun 10, 2020 17:25:20 GMT
Just announced by the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch that this will on their You Tube channel from Monday 15 June 7.30pm until Sunday 21 June Midnight. Free but donations welcome.
Well worth viewing.
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Post by ali973 on Jun 10, 2020 20:13:00 GMT
Just saw this clip. The director of this production blocking the songs: okay, so let's just spread out on the stage. Chest up. Head high. Sing out. For the entire number. Just like that, yes stand still and sing. Okay we're done. Next scene.
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Post by Seriously on Jun 14, 2020 17:54:54 GMT
Just saw this clip. The director of this production blocking the songs: okay, so let's just spread out on the stage. Chest up. Head high. Sing out. For the entire number. Just like that, yes stand still and sing. Okay we're done. Next scene. Well, two of the numbers in this clip were. The other two weren't. And Les Mis seemed to do pretty well out of it. |
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 16, 2020 20:28:28 GMT
Julia Hills, the original star, is currently touring with the Calendar Girls musical. Some of you may also remember the lovely 1-night original cast reunion concert version at the Palace Theatre with Philip Schofield as the narrator. I was at that concert and still have a flyer for it that said that Glenda Jackson was originally going to be the narrator.
The concert recording is actually my favourite of the ones that are available. The vocals sound better on it than the OLCR, which can sound a little shaky in places, especially Julia Hills (who married her co-star from The Hired Man, Paul Clarkson!)
Oh yes, I listened recently and Julia Hills vocals were atrocious at times - I couldn't get through the whole recording.
I have the 2008 recording, which is fine but is lacking in actual recording quality. Sounds like it was done very cheaply.
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