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Post by horton on Mar 14, 2016 11:46:14 GMT
Spider-man was in preview for months and months! Then back in preview for version 2!
This show is a whole different league. I think the creators would have liked an out-of-town tryout, but given the programming, it has to have a long preview period instead.
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Post by horton on Mar 14, 2016 11:43:13 GMT
'at these prices, I'm an ecdesiast'
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Post by horton on Feb 24, 2016 16:06:47 GMT
It did indeed- which was quite the achievement!
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Post by horton on Feb 23, 2016 23:07:52 GMT
Finding Neverland is due in London next January
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Post by horton on Feb 20, 2016 13:04:24 GMT
Needless to say, I was there, before, during and after.
Long, long ago there was a desire to do a St Trinian's musical but the rights were utterly unavailable. Moby Dick was gradually developed by Hereward Kaye and Robert Longden and what opened in Oxford was a ramshackle but fun show.
Following his mega-hits, Cameron was looking to regain his youthful exuberance, I think- the show made him think he was avant-garde- so he pushed it into the West End. He was unwittingly probably the show's worst enemy because his brand made audiences expect another Les Mis or Cats. What they got was a sort of mad 'Salad Days' or 'Valmouth' with some Chippendales thrown in and an insane pregnant schoolgirl (drag) with a penchant for Judy Garland and Bette Davis impressions.
The set was beautifully layered junk and the audience gasped and cheered ever night when a group of umbrellas came together to create the massive whale (think Lion King He Lives in You moment).
There were puppet seals, step dance, an amazing line-up of talented young performers, but ultimately the management became flustered when the show wasn't immediately embraced by audiences and critics- it was not what they were used to. There were crisis meetings and attempts to re-work the show but what was the point? It was like saying "This Rocky Horror Show needs to make more sense".
The show's best legacy is the live recording, which shows how audiences who loved it REALLY loved it.
I'd like to tell you about the closing night- but I honestly can't remember much about it!!!
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Post by horton on Feb 18, 2016 21:42:08 GMT
This makes The Hunting of the Snark look like a theatrical masterpiece!
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Post by horton on Feb 17, 2016 16:14:38 GMT
'Talking of Bennett.. Wow. What a spectacular piece of miscasting.'
Totally agree, sadly.
I was thinking who would be ideal- Julia McKenzie (sadly retired from musicals) or Noele Gordon (sadly retired from living).
To think Janie Dee was originally lined u for the role- did the casting department not read the script?
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Post by horton on Feb 16, 2016 10:40:37 GMT
So they've just brought ticket touting in-house. One of the most disgusting "innovations" yet.
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Post by horton on Feb 13, 2016 12:35:08 GMT
I'll happily spoon anyone who asks nicely.
I posted this as a farewell on the old board- here it is the defiant anthem to survival it was always meant to be...
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Post by horton on Feb 10, 2016 9:59:05 GMT
The problem the the stand-up is that he also has to carry the rather cumbersome narrator role. It will be difficult to simply cut him, or cut the jokes as it would make the narrative device even more exposed.
Better option is to write funnier material and integrate him more centrally into the actual plot.
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Post by horton on Feb 8, 2016 10:50:32 GMT
Every generation has to have its BIG NEW THING!
From A Chorus Line, to Phantom to Rent, there have been shows and probably some even before that) where the 'greatest musical ever' hype goes into overdrive.
People will get over it in a couple of years.
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Post by horton on Feb 6, 2016 22:03:33 GMT
He was insufferably 30 year ago; god knows what he'll be like now
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Post by horton on Feb 6, 2016 15:30:44 GMT
Today they released "A New Brain", a brilliant recording of a very underrated show. Is it better than the OCR? Hard to imagine. I think it includes a tiny bit more material- but how can you to that original cast (if you'll pardon the expression)?
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Post by horton on Feb 5, 2016 7:26:50 GMT
Would have loved the legendary Michael Bennett staging to have come over. Glad 'Dreamgirls' will finally arrive, but it won't have that electric innovation felt in 1981 that modern musical theatre had finally arrived.
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Post by horton on Feb 5, 2016 7:22:51 GMT
Not every new musical has to be 'Hamilton'.
This sounds a bit dull though. The whiff of flop has floated this way, too.
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Post by horton on Feb 3, 2016 16:46:17 GMT
PS It also struck me as being Key Stage 3 Drama on a ridiculous budget!
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Post by horton on Feb 3, 2016 16:45:47 GMT
His forced and obvious rhymes are key-stage-one standard (I’ve got a notion for eyes like the ocean) I preferred 'Now I'm not alone, like a toenail all ingrown'! I thought Albarn did the music but Buffini the lyrics. At least I hoe so- it would explain why they are so abysmal!
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Tarzan
Jan 29, 2016 11:54:25 GMT
Post by horton on Jan 29, 2016 11:54:25 GMT
It is my fave musical, together with Les Mis - i am sure it will still run in December , i think it starts in November in Oberhausen, so i think it will run at least a year there - hope it runs until it has the 10th anniversary Excited to see who will be in the new cast for Oberhausen , hope some of the Stuttgart cast move to Oberhausen, they are so brilliant I know it's subjective but I'm not sure how this very average show could be anyone's favourite. Ho hum.
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Post by horton on Jan 29, 2016 11:48:03 GMT
I really want to catch this revival!
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Post by horton on Jan 29, 2016 9:46:46 GMT
Thought he was great in On the Twentieth Century. Can't really see him in this one I admit but will give him the benefit of the doubt. He has shown he has comedy chops, which are essential for this role. I'll be interested to see the US/ UK balance in this cast.
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Post by horton on Jan 27, 2016 23:20:02 GMT
We'll get the glorious score with the full ENO orchestra, the acting of Glenn, an amazi g supporting cast and the fabulous costumes. Hardly "scraps" surely? Exactly! I'd happily live on scraps like that Compared to the original production: scraps. And yes, the original set was broken up.
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Post by horton on Jan 27, 2016 16:01:51 GMT
Sorry to be churlish but I can't see these concerts doing anything other than REDUCING the likelihood of a full revival any time soon. Concerts are all very well but they are not the full show. What's your point? You think the "concert" (semi staged production) *shouldn't* happen, or you *wish* it wasn't happening? Seeing as it's been 20 years since the last full scale production of Sunset in the West End, I don't see anyone falling them over themselves to produce one. In many ways this semi staged production, with a proper orchestra, and amazing casting for the lead role, is better than a new permanent West End revival for me. My point is that a fully staged revival would be better- but having mopped up a lot of the potential audience- and media interest in particular- this run of concerts is likely to deter any producers who were toying with a revival. Kenwright has revived most of ALW's other works so he would be a likely candidate, for instance. People are getting very excited about these few concerts but it is a pity we have to settle for such meagre scraps these days.
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Post by horton on Jan 27, 2016 11:06:58 GMT
Sorry to be churlish but I can't see these concerts doing anything other than REDUCING the likelihood of a full revival any time soon.
Concerts are all very well but they are not the full show.
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Post by horton on Jan 25, 2016 20:52:08 GMT
Sad but true
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Post by horton on Jan 25, 2016 11:58:33 GMT
I saw this in Bath and it was extremely undercooked. I hope- though doubt- they have fixed Act 2, which was so full of cliche it hurt.
Ian Bartholomew has the best role/ lines/ songs.
Not sure I'll hurry back- I give it about as long as Betty Blue Eyes I'm afraid- unless the nudity gives it a push (though I doubt it- it's hardly, um, exciting)
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Post by horton on Jan 23, 2016 13:51:16 GMT
Not sure if it is official, but I've seen it on venue calendars
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Post by horton on Jan 22, 2016 15:20:39 GMT
horton is still horton.
Worked in the West End from mid-80s to... (see avatar).
Still working, but comfortably out in the sticks.
Glad the old gang is sticking together- Merrily We Roll Along, eh?
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Post by horton on Jan 22, 2016 15:06:40 GMT
Hooray!
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Post by horton on Jan 19, 2016 16:48:43 GMT
Saw this at the weekend- it's like the National decided to throw a huge budget at one of the Connections project scripts- or a GCSE devised drama exam.
So much money and effort spent on something with so little to say: so the best way to overcome cyber-bullying is by attacking your headteacher? Adults talking AT twelve year-olds whilst with all the credibility of dad's dancing at the disco.
I liked the music but the lyrics were banal at best, diabolical at worst. The audience was muted throughout, but rallied a little for the "Knees up Mother Brown" bows music.
Lord help us if this is the agenda under Rufus Norris. I pray he realizes he genuinely can't direct musicals.
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Post by horton on Jan 18, 2016 17:34:30 GMT
Thank you for doing this! Here's to the new era!
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