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Post by Oleanna on Apr 18, 2024 11:27:50 GMT
Just mentioned this to a work colleague and she asked me what it is based on? Can't find anything on the website to say who is playing Oliver? I don't know whether answering the first question is helpful or not. I suppose it depends on your feelings about Dickens! What other Dickens novels have been made into musicals? The Mystery of Edwin Drood A Tale of Two Cities A Christmas Carol The Pickwick Papers No doubt some others have been adapted too.
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 17, 2024 18:09:43 GMT
I was there last night, and it was clear that the character is having a breakdown, through a combination of midlife crises, alcoholism, and trauma related to the death of Nancy. Sorry, but I disagree. In fact I found the staging and writing so unclear that I wasn't even sure which parts were supposed to be a rehearsal and the actual show. I'm still unsure if the final scene was supposed to be a successful show performance or a final rehearsal to be honest. That’s completely fair! A friend who saw it raised similar points.
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 17, 2024 13:41:23 GMT
Finally saw this last night and loved it. Yes it’s messy, yes it’s chaotic, but it’s vibrant, full of energy, and a welcome addition to the commercial West End.
The adjustments required to make this show fire on all cylinders are, I think, not huge, and probably another workshop away.
But how refreshing to see a musical for adults, a musical for people who think, outwith of the current fashion of shows about teenagers with superficial problems.
How refreshing, too, to hear a sound world quite different from anything else on at the moment. No generic pop/rock here. The music keeps you guessing, keeps your ear and brain challenged, and is orchestrated in a wacky and wonderful way.
I think the idea that from the start that “The Second Woman” is thought of as a “bad play” muddies the waters. It’s not a bad play, it’s just proving difficult and impenetrable for some of the people involved.
Similarly, the slight re-setting to New York changed the stakes slightly, but I can see why they did it.
Production-wise it was exactly what I expected from Van Hove. Certainly one of his more engaging productions. I didn’t think the documentary crew addition was really necessary, but it didn’t bother me either.
I found the sound design problematic. The balance between the band and the cast was a frequent issue, with lyrics getting buried.
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 17, 2024 13:33:24 GMT
The one thing I just could not wrap my head around and what I kept wanting to shout out was “Why did you take the role, then?!” if she hated it so much. To try and save her dwindling career, and because the issues she has with the role unfold concurrently with her own personal issues. I would argue that Myrtle doesn’t start seriously reflecting on her age until she has to grapple with Virginia’s.
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 17, 2024 11:58:36 GMT
Well she’s having a mental breakdown, she doesn’t just not love her character. I didn’t feel that this was effectively communicated in the writing though - her despair came as across as shallow and the reasoning being that she didn’t want to look old to the audience is so deeply misogynistic. I was there last night, and it was clear that the character is having a breakdown, through a combination of midlife crises, alcoholism, and trauma related to the death of Nancy.
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 27, 2024 0:07:57 GMT
She’s hardly Julie Andrews is she? She’s quite well known; as much for negative press as she is for her work. Best not to get carried away! It seems fair to me to say that she’s one of the most recognisable actors to the general public in the UK right now; yes partly due to press attention, but mostly due to the volume (and quality) of her TV work.
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 26, 2024 20:22:08 GMT
But Sheridan going outside midshow and being filmed is a new one. What if something was kicking off outside when it came to this part of the show or some YouTube prankster decided to do something. She'll have some security to watch her and the camera crew but it is a recipe for disaster IMO. Sunset just did exactly this for months with zero reported issues. You can watch part of it here
But Tom Francis isn’t a star, Sheridan Smith is one of the most recognisable entertainers in the country.
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Post by Oleanna on Feb 6, 2024 23:41:04 GMT
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Post by Oleanna on Feb 1, 2024 23:18:27 GMT
I think they’ll need to be clear whether this is just a 15th anniversary celebration, or a REUNION concert featuring the original London cast.
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Post by Oleanna on Jan 31, 2024 0:05:20 GMT
Perhaps it should be at the Novello?
It would be 15 years and 3 days since it closed there.
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Post by Oleanna on Jan 5, 2024 19:46:09 GMT
Is this an open-ended run? No, Red Pitch transfers from Bush on from March 15th. Thanks
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Post by Oleanna on Jan 5, 2024 14:51:26 GMT
Is this an open-ended run?
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Post by Oleanna on Jan 3, 2024 4:34:53 GMT
Anyone know of any deals for this as it nears the end of the run?
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Post by Oleanna on Dec 12, 2023 23:44:22 GMT
On the subject of long-serving performers, Steve Royle has appeared at the Blackpool Grand for about 25 seasons now.
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Post by Oleanna on Dec 12, 2023 15:37:38 GMT
Interestingly, this is being produced by Sisco Entertainment - company of Simon Schofield and Scott Garnham (brilliant in the original cast).
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Post by Oleanna on Nov 10, 2023 23:05:40 GMT
It's a shame it's closing 3 weeks early but it hasn't been a bad length of a run overall. But the comparison with Guys & Dolls is interesting, as that shows no sign of running out of steam yet. I wonder why that has fared better than Crazy for You - the immersive factor with G&D perhaps? Guys & Dolls is simply a better show, and a better known/loved property, production aside.
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Post by Oleanna on Nov 2, 2023 8:14:42 GMT
Sorry if this is answered somewhere upthread. Is this connected to/the same as the recent (isn) Broadway production with Bette Midler? Or a completely new production? I know the Broadway production was a really big deal. I've never actually seen the show or the film. I bought the Bette CD though. Probably committing heresy, but other than a coupe of songs, the title number included, I didn't think there were that many bangers, and only listened to it twice. Anyway, people loved it, so I assume the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. And like everyone I love Queen Imelda so will deffo check it out when the time comes. I honestly think it's very unlikely it will immediately sell out though. Huge excitement in theatre circles is not the same as huge excitement from the masses. Plus almost nothing sells that well in advance these days. New production, unconnected to the Bette Midler Broadway revival.
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Post by Oleanna on Sept 29, 2023 7:20:56 GMT
Did Sugar! ever play a West End theatre? Because, it's from the same film and had more non-preview performances on Broadway than Some Like It Hot - Sugar had 505 performances (plus 14 previews) - Some Like It Hot should end with 483 performances (plus 43 previews). So, if you count previews, then Some Like It Hot wins 526 to 519. It ran for 3 months at the Prince Edward back in 1992. They reverted to the movie title hoping to sell better but it clearly didn't work. So this would be the second Some Like It Hot musical in the West End Starring Tommy Steele, no less!
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Post by Oleanna on Sept 28, 2023 11:08:44 GMT
Have the U30s tickets sold out? Yes, the Ticket Info page on the website now has Thank you.
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Post by Oleanna on Sept 28, 2023 9:13:54 GMT
Have the U30s tickets sold out?
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 9, 2023 10:04:46 GMT
Lest we forget that this isn’t a classic show from the pre-Golden Age, this is is a 31 year old show, and it’s fair for criticism of it to bear this in mind. Except the plot/script is adapted by Ken Ludwig from Gershwins' 1930 "Girl Crazy" with added songs from the brothers backlog It is. However, I think it’s fair to say that it’s less of an adaptation and more “inspired by”. The shows are clearly in the same style and with the same approach, but bear little resemblance to the casual viewer. Crazy For You is not Girl Crazy with a couple of tweaks. In fact, the original tagline was “The new Gershwin musical comedy”.
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 8, 2023 23:53:14 GMT
Lest we forget that this isn’t a classic show from the pre-Golden Age, this is is a 31 year old show, and it’s fair for criticism of it to bear this in mind.
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Post by Oleanna on Jun 15, 2023 15:48:39 GMT
OK, I'll do you a favour.
Tesori composes music that complement the books and amplify the book. That's why her the music for the shows she's been a part of is so varied. They often do not win you over when separated from the book and the production, something true of Sondheim and others.
Awards are very subjective as you note. But this is just false: "Tony's just decide which show they're gonna give everything to and go for it. It's a joke and not objective." The Tony Awards are voted on by 800+ individuals from varied background throughout the country. The idea that such a diverse group would adopt a monolithic mindset focused on which show they will give multiple awards to is amusing.
I mean fair enough for best musical. But shouldn't best score stand up independently? I mean like I said music is perhaps THE most subjective aspect of musical theatre and so granted it's difficult. And I guess you can get into a debate about what "best score" should stand for. IMHO it should be for the best music that you can stick the CD on and love before seeing the show. Might be 800+ individuals but they clearly have much in common. And there is a pattern in what Tony awards "reward." But what you’ve just described is…not a musical theatre score!
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Post by Oleanna on Jun 12, 2023 21:25:47 GMT
Could somebody who’s seen this post a song list please?
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Post by Oleanna on May 26, 2023 11:28:51 GMT
Any show that counts "we're talking drivel, but let's be civilised" (and just after the leading lady's been shot) as one of its more accomplished lyrics is asking for trouble. That’s far more accomplished than most of what passes for lyric writing in musicals nowadays.
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 28, 2023 17:15:54 GMT
I'd quite like to see it too but the male leads put me off. It just comes across as a vanity project for Michael Ball. A vanity project would be if he was playing Alex. I think it’s a stretch to suggest that him playing a role which is firmly in his casting bracket is a vanity project…
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 31, 2023 13:49:02 GMT
This, apart from School of Rock, was ALW’s only contemporary work; all his other shows are period or fantasy pieces. Maybe his next show should be hyper-modern. Love Island, The Musical? Or The Ballad of Harry & Meghan?! Does School of Rock count? Why wouldn’t it?
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 2, 2023 18:54:08 GMT
Can’t wait for their Miss Saigon next year…
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 2, 2023 18:53:33 GMT
I’ve just heard who’s playing Dorothy Brock in this and colour me interested to see it now. One of our biggest musical leading ladies… EP? RH?
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Post by Oleanna on Feb 22, 2023 23:02:21 GMT
I know she’s busy/not technically the “right age”, but would love to see Our Bev in this. Knight, Callard or Macca? Take your pick!
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