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Post by westendwendy on May 26, 2016 13:29:24 GMT
What a total mess. No one will hire Sheridan ever again!
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Post by westendwendy on May 26, 2016 13:28:38 GMT
I'm sorry everyone but this cast isn't good enough end of. We have seen Hollywood actors grace the panto stage in the past few years and none in this? Why should we bother then? David Hasslehoff to Pamela Anderson but not in this? Very odd..
The performers are great of course, but most of us have seen them all before and paid half the price!!
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Post by westendwendy on May 26, 2016 11:30:01 GMT
Saw this last night.. What a super night out and great fun.. The wall scene in act two is worth the money alone!!
I shall return!! Go go go people.
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Post by westendwendy on May 25, 2016 17:07:53 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.
I would LOVE a CD of this... Rain on Me is sublime as are other songs in the show. You are very right comparing this to Parade! Let's hope some theatre producer falls in love with it as we did (and the Guardian) and it has a limited 3 month run on the West End. More deserve to see this!!
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Post by westendwendy on May 25, 2016 17:03:09 GMT
I'm STILL waiting for Carrie (((((((((((
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Post by westendwendy on May 24, 2016 16:57:46 GMT
They need to bring Newsies over - I ADORED it on Broadway. Sensational show. Very American but hey, so is West Side Story!
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Post by westendwendy on May 24, 2016 16:04:49 GMT
I must say (and this won't make me very popular at all) as much as I enjoyed the show, I really don't get the raves for Emma Williams. She was very nice, looks pretty and sings nicely but I didn't think she stood out much from the rest of the talented cast. I mean, it could have been her character that was a bit bland but . . . *awaits the rotten fruit* She is a very vanilla actress and a bit twee I will say that, but it is suited the many roles she has played.. That voice though..
Last night it was a theatre pin drop moment and goose bumps galore in her eleven O'clock number "If Mountains were easy to Climb"... Amazing.
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Post by westendwendy on May 24, 2016 15:59:22 GMT
Dreadful casting... The Palladium needs knock out names!!!!! Not regional has-beens seen for years elsewhere (as good as they are)
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Post by westendwendy on May 24, 2016 12:53:01 GMT
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Post by westendwendy on May 24, 2016 12:44:04 GMT
This show was great. I loved it. Problem was that only half of the score is any good.
Emma Williams is a star. Amazing talent.
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Cats
May 23, 2016 15:03:26 GMT
Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 15:03:26 GMT
Shoshana Bean would actually make me consider watching the show on Broadway. I sat next to her at a dinner party once with her pushy father and Shoshana was not pleasant. I never saw her as talented after that, you can see in her eyes how pushy and icy she is.
Still an amazing talent.
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 13:18:47 GMT
Now THIS needs to come to the West End!
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 13:02:14 GMT
This show is being overdone and needs to disappear for a decade or so.. So many productions!! TOO MUCH.
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 12:45:28 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. I think you mean Memphis not Mowtown!
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 12:43:46 GMT
I do hope this catches on and Southwark, Landor, Union and other wonderful fringe houses get to transfer up to Manchester...
Xanadu, Dogfight, Clockmakers Daughter, Carrie etc all deserve to be seen again up by audiences up north!
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 12:26:59 GMT
Some of the music is just gorgeous - like this clip here. Soaring tunes and beautiful orchestrations.
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 11:53:27 GMT
They NEED big names for this... Like a real A or B celeb not the typical household name like Paul O'Grady or Biggins who have done panto for years. Nothing special. They need a one off UK celeb/royal family member or pop royalty like Kylie, Madonna, Cher, Britney etc (although difficult I bet and some would never do it)..
Bet we will end up with John Barrowman haha..
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 11:50:42 GMT
I'm holding out too!!! (Hope they aren't reading this)
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Post by westendwendy on May 23, 2016 10:51:41 GMT
I saw this on Saturday. It is a beautiful production with an excellent cast and yes everyone is right, it's a "real tissues at the end" type of show (but not for the reason you think).
The orchestra was too loud, Richard Taylor's discordant recitative music is Sondheimesque. It is often amazing and melodic but also misses the mark a few times. It all sounds the same and the first act needs less speak singing and more dialogue - the second act works much better because of it. It shouldn't be a sung through show. The text needs to breathe and doesn't always need music.
The set features a backdrop of London and a Les mis type cobbled black floor. The first act set in London and the second mostly in Paris. The revolve was used far too much - less is more. Mrs Harris's kitchen pops up under the floor.
It is a real balled heavy show and needs more humour. Sad to say none of the chorus numbers worked, really odd music and all over the place. Most cast members play two or three roles apart from Mrs Harris. That worked well enough. Strange to have some chorus/models only appear in the second act! Are they paid actors I wonder?
That said, Clare Burt is sensational and will win awards for this, it is a gorgeous story, thrilling performances and a killer ending. It has the potential of transferring to the West End I think and being a real winner. I'd love a CD of it, it is beautiful and very much on the same lines as Taylors NYMT Whistle Down The Wind.. Anna Jane Casey wasn't used a much as I thought she would be.
It is a gorgeous show overall. Creative yes - commercial no. Yes it needs work but the real, raw and heartfelt performances won me over and what an ending.
I give it 8/10. Hope it has a future!
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Post by westendwendy on May 12, 2016 15:18:12 GMT
It needs to be someone quirky and not conventionally attractive. Jodie Prenger for example. - but she isn't a big enough name. Kerry Ellis? No. Natalie Casey? Maybe but still not big enough.
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Post by westendwendy on May 12, 2016 12:46:16 GMT
Sheridan has said numerous times she actually doesn't have a contract with Sonia Freidman Ltd..
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Post by westendwendy on May 12, 2016 12:35:16 GMT
What a mess. Proves that they weren't "technical difficulties".. Doing 8 shows a week is hard work. Good luck to Natasha and Sheriden
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Post by westendwendy on May 11, 2016 14:26:55 GMT
I think the ENO should do a huge production of Titanic. Hunchback would also be sensational with that choir!
In reality I think we are getting Carousel or 42nd Street.
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Post by westendwendy on May 11, 2016 13:35:09 GMT
Has anyone seen this at the Lyric Hammersmith staring Lesley Garrett?
Set in a gay sauna no?
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Post by westendwendy on May 3, 2016 16:58:36 GMT
Padded cell the musical! LOL...
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Post by westendwendy on May 3, 2016 16:57:52 GMT
I wish they would transfer this with Ria Jones as Norma for a limited run elsewhere. This 5 week run has been incredible and has made a star of Ria. Be so sad for it to come to nothing...
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Post by westendwendy on May 3, 2016 16:56:16 GMT
I wonder what the ticket prices for this in London will be? I'm scared to think!!
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Post by westendwendy on May 3, 2016 16:55:38 GMT
I loved this show... What a shame this closes and Thriller is on for 5 years. Showbiz is crazy!
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Post by westendwendy on May 3, 2016 16:44:11 GMT
I thought that Helen Dallimore made a wonderful Glinda; she just wasn't a carbon copy of Chenoweth. It makes me laugh when people slate her because she made a few braver acting choices than the same old same old.
Helen could not sing the role!! She did not have the belt or soprano lungs. That's a fact. She made great effort yes and is a lovely person, but her characterisation wasn't as successful as Chenoweth either who literally brought the house down when I saw the original Broadway cast. Did you see Chenoweth also?
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Post by westendwendy on May 3, 2016 15:37:03 GMT
The original UK Glinda was AWFUL...
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