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Post by Peter on Oct 11, 2023 23:56:29 GMT
From the sign up at the matinee (I took a picture as suspected I would forget as soon as I left the theatre):
Mrs Van Hopper will be played by Tarisha Rommick Horridge will be played by Neil Moors Mrs Rutherford will be played by Rosie Glossop
As for the show - I liked it better than I expected. It’s very much in a melodrama / declamatory style - the leads have to fall in love very quickly, and we know they have because they sing at increasing volume about it. That’s how every plot point is conveyed and is not helped by lyrics that repeat verbatim too often. The orchestrations could have done with a little less drum kit, but for me the larger orchestra really paid off. And it was nice to have them projected on the curtain at the end.
The physical production is . . . fine - not the prettiest looking, but there were more changes than I expected and they mostly evoked the settings well in the limitations of such a small space. From row L I only noticed one noisy change behind the curtain, they must have perfected them over the run. I would definitely give it another chance if it returned with a more expansive set (actual fire please!) and another overhaul of the lyrics….
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Post by Mark on Oct 12, 2023 11:08:08 GMT
TKTS has £16 tickets today so I have booked!
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Post by max on Oct 12, 2023 11:32:55 GMT
Saw this today , matinee, for the third time. It's just awesome, the music is goosebump giving, the songs are beautifully sung and the leads and ensemble just brilliant. You can tell the cast are fully into their roles and just get stronger all the time. The audience were great tonight too, standing ovation again. The were a couple of covers on but you would not have known, it just flowed. The orchestra are fabulous too and it was great to see the majority wait , standing, until the final note had been played and then applauding them. Can't wait to see it again now. I really hope this cast do a recording. How lovely, this really is the only show for you. Just surprised you've only seen it three times.
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Post by rowm on Oct 12, 2023 12:47:16 GMT
Saw this today , matinee, for the third time. It's just awesome, the music is goosebump giving, the songs are beautifully sung and the leads and ensemble just brilliant. You can tell the cast are fully into their roles and just get stronger all the time. The audience were great tonight too, standing ovation again. The were a couple of covers on but you would not have known, it just flowed. The orchestra are fabulous too and it was great to see the majority wait , standing, until the final note had been played and then applauding them. Can't wait to see it again now. I really hope this cast do a recording. How lovely, this really is the only show for you. Just surprised you've only seen it three times.
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Post by rowm on Oct 12, 2023 12:56:31 GMT
Travel and cost are the reasons I've only seen it three times so far, hoping to get another two visits in before the end of the run. I've seen many many musicals but only Rebecca since joining the forum. Blood Brothers- awesome Les Miserables- stunning Annie- good Come from away- stunning Phantom of the opera- ok Hairspray- brilliant Everyone's talking about jamie- beautiful Stomp- energising The lion king- fab Dr Dolittle- awesome Thriller - fab Mama Mia- feel good Wicked- stunningly awesome These are just a few that I've seen , as I said I've only seen Rebecca since joining the forum hence why it's the only one I've posted about.
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Post by Mark on Oct 12, 2023 21:23:22 GMT
Well, knew very little before going in. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once you get over the fact that the set is absolutely dreadful and the whole thing is camp as tits, it’s an extremely enjoyable evening.
Loved the music, lovely score. Some of the lyrics were pretty dire. Beautifully sung by the cast though - couldn’t fault them at all. Even got into the story.
Back to the set though. Dear god. Definitely spoiled by the pictures from Vienna. I would rate it 4 star, but no 4 star production has a set like that. But maybe I will anyway because I just really enjoyed it.
Would I see it again? Absolutely.
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 12, 2023 21:36:42 GMT
I’ll have to read the book to try and make sense of this.
Second half was pleasant. First half rather slow.
I didn’t follow why a lot of the audience were laughing at the end (coinciding with red lighting). And I completely missed understanding the lesbian subplot that some Americans were discussing as I left.
On the positives, I got a very good deal on a front row seat. I timed this to see a scheduled Melanie Bright show, who was excellent. And the two girls next to me were on their feet cheering before the curtain had barely gone down. They enjoyed it.
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Post by synchrony on Oct 15, 2023 15:33:08 GMT
I went a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. I love the novel and never heard the German soundtrack before. I wasn't expecting anything special from the set at a small fringe theatre so wasn't disappointed by it.
I loved Lauren, she was fantastic. I found Richard a bit wooded but liked him in his song about what happened to Rebecca. I had Melanie as Danvers. I was surprised how young and beautiful she was, but I really liked that it made me think she must have been in love with Rebecca herself. I liked her. I liked the song Beatrice sang about the upper classes.
I loathed "I'll scratch your back". Really cringe. Although I liked the actor the rest of the time.
I see there was a song about being American originally. What was that about? There aren't any Americans in Manderley?
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Post by Peter on Oct 15, 2023 16:50:24 GMT
I loathed "I'll scratch your back". Really cringe. Although I liked the actor the rest of the time. I see there was a song about being American originally. What was that about? There aren't any Americans in Manderley? Yes, that song was a low point - could really have been a scene rather than a song. Or at least much shorter - that repeated chorus was painful (the stanza rhyming ‘loot’ and ‘hoot’ was awful the first time, don’t repeat it a second and third time!) The song I’m American Woman was for Mrs Hopper to sing at the Manderley ball near the end of Act One - she doesn’t appear there any more so the song is gone.
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Post by Mark on Oct 15, 2023 17:07:17 GMT
That I’ll scratch your back number was the one time the show went to being just…. bad. The rest of the score was great.
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Post by raiseitup on Oct 17, 2023 10:25:00 GMT
Is TKTS the best option for discounted tickets?
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 11:16:07 GMT
You know, the more I see it, the more I enjoy it. Once you get over the staging, it's great... I still think this is a missed opportunity and they'd have been better mounting a full-scale production, but here we are.
Last went on a Thursday evening and surprisingly for a mid-week evening, the theatre was about 90% full - actually more full than when I saw it the previous Saturday evening. Weird when you consider this evening's production is currently only around 60% sold.
I wonder if they're trying to get investment for a larger scale run? I noticed that there have been some more costume changes for I and it looks like additional fire effects have been added in recent weeks during the fire. Seems odd to be making small changes like this at this point.
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 21, 2023 14:27:31 GMT
"Once you get over the staging it's great" is SUCH a weird sentence I can't 😂
How can you have to look past like, the fundamental thing about a production (it's STAGING!) in order to see it's good? This is madness !
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Post by theatrefan62 on Oct 21, 2023 14:35:46 GMT
"Once you get over the staging it's great" is SUCH a weird sentence I can't 😂 How can you have to look past like, the fundamental thing about a production (it's STAGING!) in order to see it's good? This is madness ! You say that, but many on here frequently dismiss the importance of sets and staging. So it is a bit surprising that Rebecca is skated for it when other productions have got away with cheap looking sets and costumes
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 14:41:57 GMT
"Once you get over the staging it's great" is SUCH a weird sentence I can't 😂 How can you have to look past like, the fundamental thing about a production (it's STAGING!) in order to see it's good? This is madness ! I disagree. Using your logic, the majority of amateur productions would be terrible. Within the context of the piece, at an off West-End theatre, it really isn't too shocking. The performance itself is brilliant - Kara Lane is literally out of this world. The plot, performance, and songs are great. And really, if we're comparing it to the international productions, sure, it's shocking... but it's also at an off West End theatre and it's not trying to be Vienna or Budapest or Tokyo. Not really sure why it's "madness" to appreciate that.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 21, 2023 15:56:48 GMT
How is this even still on?
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Post by Scswp on Oct 21, 2023 16:34:20 GMT
Does Kara Lane do matinees? There seemed to be some uncertainty earlier in the thread.
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Post by anthony on Oct 21, 2023 16:35:55 GMT
Does Kara Lane do matinees? There seemed to be some uncertainty earlier in the thread. Wed Matinees. Mel Bright is on Thursday evenings and Sat matinees.
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Post by BVM on Oct 26, 2023 14:00:07 GMT
Caught this for the second time last night. Half price on a Today Tix deal. Was sold out though how much was papered I have no idea.
I really like it! The music is stunning, some absolutely huge romantic sweeping melodies (not unlike an ALW score really) and I think the three leads are sensational. The large orchestra sounds fantastic. I so so hope there will be a cast recording (am sure there won't be). Much as I love my Vienna and Stuttgart CDs would be great to have it in English.
It does remain a shame that the set is so ugly. It's actually by Charing X standards quite a big set. But it just looks, well, ugly! I think less might have been more, perhaps with more use of projection.
Am sorry it has got such a poor average star rating on here as I do think, other than the set, they've done a good job. (Also people were very forgiving of the Woman in White set which really was not dissimilar!)
My belief that it's a camp classic remains!
Will it have a future UK life? Sadly I very much doubt it. I think it's main problem is not the production, rather the fact that lush romantic sung through musicals, bar a few exceptions are just not fashionable/what the GBP currently want. Which is a shame as I love them!
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Post by rowm on Oct 26, 2023 14:53:02 GMT
Caught this for the second time last night. Half price on a Today Tix deal. Was sold out though how much was papered I have no idea. I really like it! The music is stunning, some absolutely huge romantic sweeping melodies (not unlike an ALW score really) and I think the three leads are sensational. The large orchestra sounds fantastic. I so so hope there will be a cast recording (am sure there won't be). Much as I love my Vienna and Stuttgart CDs would be great to have it in English. It does remain a shame that the set is so ugly. It's actually by Charing X standards quite a big set. But it just looks, well, ugly! I think less might have been more, perhaps with more use of projection. Am sorry it has got such a poor average star rating on here as I do think, other than the set, they've done a good job. (Also people were very forgiving of the Woman in White set which really was not dissimilar!) My belief that it's a camp classic remains! Will it have a future UK life? Sadly I very much doubt it. I think it's main problem is not the production, rather the fact that lush romantic sung through musicals, bar a few exceptions are just not fashionable/what the GBP currently want. Which is a shame as I love them! Where would you say is best to sit in this theatre, I've sat in the front section three times but wondered what it's like from the back section of the stalls.
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Post by BVM on Oct 26, 2023 14:55:27 GMT
Caught this for the second time last night. Half price on a Today Tix deal. Was sold out though how much was papered I have no idea. I really like it! The music is stunning, some absolutely huge romantic sweeping melodies (not unlike an ALW score really) and I think the three leads are sensational. The large orchestra sounds fantastic. I so so hope there will be a cast recording (am sure there won't be). Much as I love my Vienna and Stuttgart CDs would be great to have it in English. It does remain a shame that the set is so ugly. It's actually by Charing X standards quite a big set. But it just looks, well, ugly! I think less might have been more, perhaps with more use of projection. Am sorry it has got such a poor average star rating on here as I do think, other than the set, they've done a good job. (Also people were very forgiving of the Woman in White set which really was not dissimilar!) My belief that it's a camp classic remains! Will it have a future UK life? Sadly I very much doubt it. I think it's main problem is not the production, rather the fact that lush romantic sung through musicals, bar a few exceptions are just not fashionable/what the GBP currently want. Which is a shame as I love them! Where would you say is best to sit in this theatre, I've sat in the front section three times but wondered what it's like from the back section of the stalls. Think it’s small enough that it doesn’t make much difference but personally I think the best view is the rear half of the front section!
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 26, 2023 15:48:49 GMT
Front third of the back section is probably good too as you won't miss the actors crossing that walkway or the ones that pop out in the balconies
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Post by rowm on Oct 26, 2023 16:14:57 GMT
Front third of the back section is probably good too as you won't miss the actors crossing that walkway or the ones that pop out in the balconies Thank you for that, have front part of back section if that makes sense so hopefully will be good from there. Going twice more before it finishes so looking forward to it.
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Post by rowm on Oct 26, 2023 16:16:51 GMT
Where would you say is best to sit in this theatre, I've sat in the front section three times but wondered what it's like from the back section of the stalls. Think it’s small enough that it doesn’t make much difference but personally I think the best view is the rear half of the front section! Thank you have seats in front half of back section , just couple rows back, so hopefully will be good from there as will be able to see the actors cross the theatre, which I missed before. Going twice more before it finishes.
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Post by rowm on Nov 15, 2023 15:13:21 GMT
Saw Rebecca again and say in different area of theatre this time. Brilliant again ! Loved sitting further back as could see all the cast coming in in different parts of the show. Had understudy Ben , really was a fabulous performance from him. Will be sad to see this run end.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Nov 16, 2023 9:54:29 GMT
Just to say I saw the production three weeks ago, read during previews what was posted here and then stopped.
This production was exactly what I would expect from the Charing Cross Theatre and is not that different from the often mentioned, much loved Woman in White-production a few years ago.
I still think using the full orchestra was a mistake moneywise, but maybe it was part of getting the rights, who knows. Shame to hide it backstage, but the sound mix was excellent.
Performances were solid.
Some people have seriously to re-evaluate their expectations.
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Post by anthony on Nov 16, 2023 21:03:44 GMT
Going for the 4th time on closing night - what I also imagine will be the final English language performance.
Although ticket sales did pick up. Hopefully we get a cast album.
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Post by rowm on Nov 17, 2023 10:33:40 GMT
Going for the 4th time on closing night - what I also imagine will be the final English language performance. Although ticket sales did pick up. Hopefully we get a cast album. Also going last day, absolutely love the show. I really really hope there's a cast recording of this cast.
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Post by rowm on Nov 17, 2023 10:37:15 GMT
Just to say I saw the production three weeks ago, read during previews what was posted here and then stopped. This production was exactly what I would expect from the Charing Cross Theatre and is not that different from the often mentioned, much loved Woman in White-production a few years ago. I still think using the full orchestra was a mistake moneywise, but maybe it was part of getting the rights, who knows. Shame to hide it backstage, but the sound mix was excellent. Performances were solid. Some people have seriously to re-evaluate their expectations. I always take each show as it is and don't compare as I believe each show deserves to be watched on its own merits. I love the music, the orchestra , the cast and just the show in general, the theatre fitted the show well I feel.. Each person has a view on what they like and don't like but that is just that person's opinions so again I like to make my own mind up . I hope to see this back at some point.
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Post by argon on Nov 17, 2023 18:28:53 GMT
This production was exactly what I would expect from the Charing Cross Theatre and is not that different from the often mentioned, much loved Woman in White-production a few years ago. I still think using the full orchestra was a mistake moneywise Completely concur
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