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Post by notmymuse on May 27, 2016 9:15:34 GMT
London to Sheffield can be done for about £25 each way by train on a Saturday. It's about the same for Manchester. You just have to book ahead. And yes that does bump up the ticket price but this is what those of us who live outside the capital do without even thinking about it if we want to see something in London. Or if you very a cheap national express bus ticket, the bus stop is pretty much outside the theatre! The brownies in the theatre cafe also deserve special mention...
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on May 25, 2016 16:46:46 GMT
Just finished drying my eyes and recovering from the matinee. Didn't see the ending coming, along with most of the theatre!
I really liked this. For those who won't get to see it (and without spoiling it for those who will) the action in the first act takes place around (literally, because there's a partial revolve) Mrs Harris' kitchen, which she returns to regularly from meeting different characters on the revolve which spins around her kitchen.
She spends the first act spending time with various characters who help her in her quest to go to Paris (for reasons I won't divulge...).
The second act is set in Paris mainly, and again she meets characters there who cleverly echo those she knows in London.
She then returns to London for the finale, which is not at all as I remember from the film years ago.
Lots of things strike me about this production. First off, the cast are amazing, and any production that can afford to cast Rebecca Caine and Laura Pitt-Pulford in supporting roles (not even main supporting roles) is doing well. They all work very effectively and get to play a nice range of characters (nice to see LPP in her London character playing someone a bit different to what I've usually seen her as). My only doubt was Louis Maskell who has such a lovely voice and didn't really get to show it off and I was less convinced by.
Claire Burt is very believable, as is Anna-Jane Casey as her sidekick (who I didn't even recognise for ages). She is very warm and genuine and sweet. Quite an interesting role.
The strong thing for me here is the story. I was thinking about this compared to seeing Mrs Henderson in Bath, and this is in far better shape. The story hangs together very well and really builds to a climax with some lovely moments en route, and without being predictable. One of the moments near the end I didn't see coming and really was quite overwhelming. For me, a really really strong book overall.
The music does have echoes of Sondheim but if I described it as Sondheim mixed with Jason Robert-Brown (perhaps some of his older stuff like Parade or The Last 5 Years) you wouldn't be far off. I loved it, and would love a CD of it but doubt that's likely. I think it would reward repeated listens but, as one Sheffield resident said on the way out, "there's nothing I'd tap my toe to or sing tomorrow."
It could probably do with playing some more of the lines or laughs (the one about there being no tea could have been very funny if done with real shock and disbelief for example) but still some funny bits.
I'm not sure where this will go from here. It's a limited run for such a stellar cast, and after recent British musicals struggling in the West End and as it's not a well-known film really and lacks catchy songs, I don't see it having a home there. I could see this going to one of the larger off West End theatres though (Southwark or the new Union once opened?).
It's also a testament to the strength of theatre in Sheffield that this got to see the light of day at all. Audiences here have really come to trust the Crucible and Daniel Evans and so are more willing to give new work a try and support them than would happen in many places, which enables new musicals and work to happen here. This is My Family was another great musical that I think started here. He will be missed in Sheffield, and let's hope they can continue their reputation without him.
My biggest gripe was 5 mobile phones going off early on in Act 2, so some announcements about that could really help...
But, overall, if you can possibly get to see this you should. It will stay with me for a long time. There is a lot to think about and process from the story, which doesn't go where you think it will. It was beautifully performed and very moving indeed. 4.5/5.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on May 21, 2016 23:51:14 GMT
For those who like me snapped up the original scarce edition for about 50 quid this is a bit annoying- but for everybody else good news. The cd has been re-released for £12 on Amazon. It's really worth it if you've never heard the show. Great news, thanks do much for sharing! Loved this on tour years ago.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on May 21, 2016 23:44:45 GMT
Ice cream and lack of song lists aside can people post about the show ! Off on Wednesday so will share thoughts then! How Sheffield will miss Daniel Evans. My Fair Lady and Showboat were both some of the best productions I've ever seen. Looking forward to this.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on May 21, 2016 23:34:05 GMT
Saw the final performance of this tonight. Went because I loved the Motown music and this has the same writers.
I loved it, as did the rest of the audience. Standing ovation and several bows. It was very tight indeed and great voices. I could make out most of the words too, which is rare at this volume. Wonderful cast, great voices.
Looked a smaller budget than Grey Gardens had, but a lot more fun.
Considering it was sold out and audience reaction, I think this deserves a life elsewhere. I could see a limited run at the Arts for example, or Trafalgar 2.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on May 17, 2016 13:03:45 GMT
I am probably going to be in a minority of one but I am not that impressed with Louise Dearman recently. She did a Friday Night is Music Night concert I was at and also the last John Wilson Orchestra concert and I was quite disappointed. Anyway still glad I booked for this when it went on sale. I have mixed feelings about her. Her singing was the best thing about the Water Babies at Leicester, but I didn't love her in Wicked. It's a fairly decent name for Southwark though. Laura Pitt-Pulford, however, I am very excited about. Ever since Parade I've loved her. Very much looking forward to this now the names have been announced, feeling smug for booking tickets so early!
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Mar 16, 2016 16:41:24 GMT
B*gger I'm worried about my seat now after the recent posts. I went for a balcony one but think I might regret it. Don't worry. The balcony is distant but doesn't feel as distant as many (step forward Palace Theatre) and has a decent rake but doesn't feel too steep. Obviously you aren't going to be as close as if you were in the stalls, but it's a good view for the money.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 28, 2016 14:48:16 GMT
I would say she's too young and too much of a soprano for Fantine - at this point. But it's a future possibility, unlike Glinda. Then we have to agree to disagree. Glinda is a much more high profile role than Fantine, and I could easily see Emma as Glinda but not so much as Fantine. Actually, I think Fantine would be a step back in her career - leading vs supporting (at best) role. And hasn't Fantine been recently cast rather young? I can only guess, but Celinde Schoenmaker is/looks younger than Emma. I still think Emma would be perfect as Glinda and hope she'll be cast. She's said before (and fairly recently) that she'd like to do Glinda and has auditioned but not got it before, so that seems to not rule it out. And given how hard she's had to work to get back into the West End (was Love Story 3 or 4 years ago?) and that she's had a bit of a drought of work, I would think the chance to be based in London for a year and to get on the radar of directors etc. would be welcome. Most recently, she's done an ATG tour and Mrs Henderson (which was a punt as there was no guaranteed West End run) so I'd think Glinda would be a step up in some ways. I think it'd be an interesting choice and probably enough to tempt me back to see Wicked for the first time in ages.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 26, 2016 22:38:56 GMT
And to add to the good news, Louis Maskell is also in it, and Richard Taylor (music) wrote one of my favourite scores of all-time (Whistle Down the Wind - obviously not the ALW version) so things looking good...
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 26, 2016 21:38:55 GMT
I just booked and was heading over here to start a new thread! Beaten by 2 hours! I've been thinking about booking this for ages as I remember the film very fondly, and Daniel Evans has directed some great musicals at Sheffield (especially Show Boat recently), and at these prices it's worth a punt.
But then seeing the casting today (particularly Laura Pitt-Pulford and Rebecca Caine - who has only got a decent song every other time I've seen her in recent years so I'm crossing my fingers) has clinched it, so off to Sheffield we go again!
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 23, 2016 21:18:11 GMT
I do hope this survives in the west end though... If only for the glorious Emma Williams. She's had to endure her fair share of short runs and deserves a hit Absolutely. Seems it's been a long road back to the West End for her, which is a shame as she's great in everything she does. I didn't think she'd pull off Annie on tour, but was wonderful. Her singing voice seems a bit heavier since then though, compared with Zorro etc. Im scared this won't survive long though, I thought it was ok but not much more in Bath. If it closes, fingers crossed she gets recast in something else quickly. She'd make a good Glinda.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 23, 2016 21:11:14 GMT
I'm surprised no one has said the Barbican , following the same pattern as they did with South Pacific. If it's touring then a limited run makes sense,especially with kelly in the lead just for the barbican run (again like South Pacific). I can't see The King and I sustaining a commercial west end run without a big star name I saw it on broadway and thought it was a stunning production but I don't get the love for Kelly at all. She was ok but kind of bland. Ken as the king however was electrifying That was my assumption too, exactly as with South Pacific in every respect (and was an ATG production). To be fair, the South Pacific tour was far higher production values than most, but it would be a shame not to see Kellie.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 23, 2016 21:05:32 GMT
And if Laura Michelle Kelly does not come over then Laura Pitt Pulford for Sylvia. I'd be very happy with either Laura! I saw this is Leicester (I know it's now totally different, but still) with Rosalie Craig and she was really good in the role, and has such a lovely voice so fingers crossed she'll return to it. Maybe they'll cast Hadley too as they've worked together a fair bit and it makes a nice press release!
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