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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 4, 2021 18:38:27 GMT
Just back from this and I very much enjoyed it indeed.
I am not familiar with the show at all save for some of the songs and I know of the finale obviously. I have to say I might have liked an interval to be honest, it can get a bit wordy and also the nature of the show is there are some bits of song and bits of choreography that are used over and over and I just feel like an interval might have made it slightly more pacey but it's not a major thing really.
The cast were great overall and for me the stand outs were Ainsley Ricketts as Paul and Carly Mercedes Dyer as Cassie. Paul has this really long monologue really about his past and it's a tragic but uplifting story in the end and he acted it out so well and kept the attention of the entire audience for the whole time, plus he comes on for a solo dance bit before the finale and he's an incredible dancer and that little section is visually very stunning and even has an illusion in there. Carly as Cassie was STUNNING during her solo song and dance piece, stunning, the only thing I'd say was that for me, acting wise she was a little too shouty and rushed seeming in the scenes with Max, but everything else amazing.
I was worried going in that it would feel dated but it didn't at all? This could have been set now If there wasn't clues in the the fashion and references, the piece felt and looked fresh and experimental and arty in places with the music even sounding fresh compared to what I've heard of the songs before. The set used the entire stage and looked huge, the lighting was stunning, and there was a lot of it, lights flying in out up down you name it, and there was some really artistic choices with the lighting that added so much to it, especially when they utilized shadows. I assume the narrative there is that Max wants a record of it all.
Now having not seen this before I don't know but I assume that what they did with the camera was unique to this production? Basically the assistant director character had a had held camera that he would film the proceedings on from on stage and it would be projected on to the back wall, so sometimes during each of the characters little segments he'd be filming them tell their stories and you'd see video projected on to the back wall and sometimes they would speak directly to the camera. Similarly sometimes he would film from within a dance sequence or ensemble scenes. It was very interesting and added to it feeling modern and experimental. It's not a normal part of the show right?
Some sound issues mind, sometimes the balance wasnt right and the mics not loud enough which is a problem when it's wordy and the lyrics in songs are important because it's telling the characters story, some dialogue and voices just weren't clear, but i'm sure they will fix that. It was the 2nd preview.
As Dr Tom said, this is a real production piece, I had thoughts this would literally be them on stage for nearly 2 hours telling their stories on a empty black stage and that's it....absolutely not. It's a spectacle even before you get to the final spectacle and I didn't expect that going in.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 4, 2021 10:49:29 GMT
Excited to see the show this afternoon. Will report back of course.' Meanwhile Attachments:close.url (67 B)
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 2, 2021 11:38:43 GMT
Dress rehearsal tickets for £1 for tonight if anyone can make it.
I cant but having been to a few before you get the full proper show for £1 so it's worth going.
Amazingly wearing a bit of fabric on my face and maybe needing to wear a jacket doesn't sound so hellish to me ill miss seeing this on Saturday..
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 26, 2021 13:43:27 GMT
Motsi will be missing this week so Cynthia is coming back for another stint. I just don't know why, fair enough for last week when it was musicals, but what can she offer this week? Surely it would be more fitting to get one of the ex pro's back or something, even an ex winner.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 26, 2021 13:11:28 GMT
But I'm A Cheerleader.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 25, 2021 11:18:18 GMT
And West End Elphabas have once in a while made it to the show on Broadway, maybe she is hoping for that too.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 23, 2021 9:20:14 GMT
What's this about Newsies? If its with a different choreographer then I guess that means it's not Disney bringing it in and it's a revival/UK version?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 20, 2021 19:55:26 GMT
It's such an unfortunate week for Craig to be out because he is the musical theatre leaning judge on the panel and so always think it's kind of his week really. Oh well.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 20, 2021 19:44:37 GMT
Underwhelming musicals week for me, nothing really stood out as amazing for me and i feel like it was lacking the spectacle of previous musical weeks. Regarding Cynthia, I just don't know what she brought to it? Underwhelming on all counts for me.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 20, 2021 10:55:16 GMT
I feel like it's a strong top three and I'd be quite happy for any of them to win, I'd be happy for them all.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 20, 2021 10:43:12 GMT
Ella has done a bit of a Bimini and risen up out of nowhere, nobody was really talking about her the first few weeks and was probably one of the most obvious choices to go home quite early but then just got stronger and stronger. Of course Bimini didn't end up winning and I don't think Ella will either. I still think it will be between Kitty and Crystal.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 19, 2021 9:44:29 GMT
It is a strange choice, even with her films and announcement about Wicked I don't think she's a household name still?
I suppose she can judge well on the storytelling and performance aspect of it what with it being such a specific week.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 18, 2021 14:48:45 GMT
Since lockdown happened I've become a Martin Lewis clone. Learning all the money saving tricks and how to manage finances and make the most out of money and bank/saving accounts ect and making sure i'm "switching" into the best deals.
How is everyone with money? How do you bank and save? Does anyone invest? What are the things you do to save or make money and do you have any hints and tips?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 18, 2021 10:40:26 GMT
I'm a little bit surprised we have more posts in here about masks and stopping glasses fogging up than we do reports back from the show? I thought a lot more board members would have seen this during it's first week?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 16, 2021 12:07:48 GMT
According to the papers they are trying to find a replacement that fits the musicals theme for this week and Micheal Ball and Elaine Paige are in the running.
I'd rather someone who can actually still judge the dancing properly though so someone like Stephen Mear or Matthew Bourne.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 13, 2021 7:42:52 GMT
Stunning auditorium and set. Great set pieces. Great vocals. All let down by two leads with no charisma or chemistry (him especially). Know it's a first preview but...disappointed. Absolutely no enforcement of masks either - The Stage article is all for show Chemistry is sometimes instant but other times it can build up during the course of the run, so that might not be an issue going forward. Of course Charisma is just there or it isn't, but to be fair it was the first preview so you don't know how much nerves played a part in their performances and had an impact on how they came across.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 12, 2021 7:57:34 GMT
Set in a Childrens home? How will that work exactly?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 11, 2021 13:07:00 GMT
Just been invited to review for Press Night 😁 Where do you publish your reviews? Do you have a blog or such like?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 7, 2021 9:27:01 GMT
I love AJ, I have a feeling she won't win but I just love her. The ones I look forward to each week are AJ and John. I have to say though I do love Sara as well, she's not as good a dancer as those twp but you can see how much effort she puts in and how much she is loving the experience and it's endearing.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 1, 2021 8:56:55 GMT
Why is Nikolai no longer credited as the director? It appears to be basically the same production, no?🤔
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 31, 2021 19:35:19 GMT
I note Danielle was on again today. It seems a little more than coincidence at this point to me that she's been been on for the last 3 or 4 Sundays running....?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 25, 2021 6:51:41 GMT
I think that's twice in a row she's done the Sunday matinee now, maybe it's becoming a regular show for her and becoming an alternate situation? I'll keep my eye out for next sunday.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 18, 2021 9:33:22 GMT
I'm keeping my eye out for when Sam is on holiday or got scheduled days off because I really want to see Danielle in the role. She did the matinee today. Yeh but that's not a regular scheduled performance is it? I understand she is just a cover rather than alternate with set performances each week?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 17, 2021 16:53:41 GMT
I'm keeping my eye out for when Sam is on holiday or got scheduled days off because I really want to see Danielle in the role.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 17, 2021 12:10:44 GMT
How long has he been out? I saw it on Wednesday and I'm sure it looked like him in the role but then it seems he's been cooped up for several days by that video? Maybe I did have the understudy.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 16, 2021 19:57:31 GMT
Some strange choreography for me this week. It's not been a classic week it has to be said, a bit under par.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 15, 2021 17:30:16 GMT
I already have the urge to see this again haha! As i said i always just had the urge to see it asap again after lockdown as one of my first shows back and thought that would scratch the itch but no, already wanting to see it again! I think it's a show that you could go back to over and over again and still enjoy because it's so fun and entertaining. I doubt I will go again anytime soon because there's too many other shows that I need to see for the first time on my next few London trips but I can see me going back again certainly before it closes, whenever that will be. I just really do love it.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 13, 2021 21:31:59 GMT
I saw this again tonight. I knew I wanted it to be one of my first shows back in London because I remember having so much fun the first time and leaving on such a high.
I loved it again. Unfortunately Cassidy was off tonight and when I heard that, im not going to lie and say I wasn't disappointed because she was the highlight for me first time but the understudy was fantastic, the only thing I thought was her comedy didnt quite hit as much because she does look younger and the character being older is what makes some of the characters comedy funny and land and Cassidy played that so well, but Kirstie was really fab and had a great voice with her big solo getting the best audience reaction of the night. All the other leads were on and I enjoyed them all again, I saw Melanie for the first time a we had the cover on first time round and she was hilarious and again her age made the role funnier than first time when we had a younger actress. Miriam sounded in much finer voice than I remembered from the first time so i conclude she was maybe under the weather a bit back then. I love Tim very much.
It's just so fun. Yes some of the songs are shoehorned in, but that's part of the joke, it's knowing. It's supposed to make people laugh or groan. Same with some of the story not making full sense, they are knowing about it and reference that themselves. For me it's so clever.
I'm tempted to say 5 stars but I'll say 4 stars.
This concludes my first London theatre break since lockdown, I've had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the two shows I've seen. Very happy to be back. There is nothing like it.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 13, 2021 16:29:31 GMT
I loved it this afternoon. It was fun and nostalgic and the spectacle of it was impressive. I think the did it hugely well. I had the understudy Marty on who was fantastic and I adored Roger Bart. It was a wonderful performance by him and I think he could be in line for the olivier. I mean you could say the (new) songs weren't needed....but some of them did add something or create some good musical theatre moments. I actually liked the moments where they nodded to it being a musical and added the knowing stagey moments. Overall I loved it and had a great time.
4 stars
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 12, 2021 11:14:18 GMT
Not really theatre related I have to admit but I know that Schitts Creek was big during lockdown and that was certainly the case for me and I just noticed that Dan Levy is having ' an evening with' show at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 1st November talking about the show and how it was made ect. Thought it might be of interest to some. link
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