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Post by intoanewlife on Jul 3, 2023 17:22:39 GMT
What I knew about Tyler Perry before Strange Loop...
He is a very successful black film and tv producer in the US.
He was in Gone Girl.
He let Harry and Meghan stay in his house.
What I knew after Strange Loop...
He makes mass produced 'white bread' entertainment for black Americans.
He 'white washes' his black characters to make them more palatable for white audiences.
He doesn't have a lot of credibility with 'thinking' black audiences.
Despite being extremely powerful within the industry and having the power to make whatever he wants, he still churns out the same old junk he always has.
I don't however think that much of this was 'spelt out' as such, but it was definitely sprinkled throughout the whole show at different points and is indeed a big part of Usher's 'problem' while writing his show. Should he write something open and honest that may offend some people or should he write something watered down and more palatable for general audiences so it will be more financially successful.
Ironic considering the conversations on the last page or so.
I don't know how it could've been done any differently to make it any easier to understand for 'the masses' as it something that not even all African Americans feel about him, let alone trying to explain that to white audiences. To some he is a God simply because of his success, while others don't think he uses him platform enough to help the cause.
I suppose they could've made him a white gay from London who feels that way about ALWebber, but I think that would've defeated the purpose of the show.
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Post by j85 on Jul 3, 2023 22:41:59 GMT
I’ve just got back to my hotel after watching it tonight and I loved it! I’ve listened to the soundtrack several times and so was familiar with most of the songs, but seeing them in context just made them so much more powerful. After reading some of the comments I was concerned about being able to follow it all, but I found the six thoughts to be (mostly) really understandable with how they moved the story on with Usher.
I’ve given it 5 stars as the performances and the material were all fantastic. There were a few issues with hearing all the words but being sat pretty much centre I think I may have suffered less than others. My main gripe was the light bar at the back that was blindingly bright to be the point where I spent most the Grindr song and the other song it was used with my eyes closed, and when was brave enough to risk blindness couldn’t see the cast as the light was so much more powerful than the lights being used to light the cast.
Overall it was a great show and I cannot remember the last time I was in a theatre with an audience so collectively focussed on the action on stage.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 4, 2023 3:55:54 GMT
I'm kinda surprised people don't know who Tyler Perry is. People haven't seen his Medea films? watched Gone Girl? He's like a Male version of Oprah.
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Post by jr on Jul 4, 2023 7:33:06 GMT
I saw this a few days ago. I did not love it or hate it. Points for trying something different and some of the songs are good but not great. I found the lyrics better than the music and I laughed a few times. I don't find the main character that interesting to carry the show, and the thoughts are not that distinctive.
One of the best scenes is when the writer speaks with a lady, one of the few times he gets out of his head and I think this makes the play more interesting. I didn't find the sex scene powerful or gross, it could be taken off and I don't think it would substract much information (at that point we already heard a thousand times that he hates himself). I found some of the scenes a bit repetitive and too much navel gazing for my taste; my attention wondered a few times.
I will be interested in what he writes next and see if this was a one off or he has more to give.
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Post by ladidah on Jul 4, 2023 7:41:05 GMT
It's a weird one because I did like it a lot, but I don't think I would either see it again
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Post by usbuzzer on Jul 4, 2023 17:34:48 GMT
I want to buy the tickets for the last day of the show as I'm in London on that Saturday. Is the last show any different from the regular performances in the West End usually?
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 4, 2023 17:43:28 GMT
I can't imagine it would be for this show.
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 5, 2023 8:27:24 GMT
I was at the Barbican last night and booked a ticket for the 17th of this month
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Post by usbuzzer on Jul 5, 2023 9:27:52 GMT
Does anybody know if there's an open orchestra pit and a conductor in the middle for this show? I'm thinking about central front row and I don't want to obstruct the view if it's not needed  . |
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Post by Matt on Jul 5, 2023 10:47:33 GMT
Does anybody know if there's an open orchestra pit and a conductor in the middle for this show? I'm thinking about central front row and I don't want to obstruct the view if it's not needed . There isn’t. |
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Post by mjh on Jul 8, 2023 19:03:15 GMT
Kyle Birch now scheduled to do all matinees.
Caught him this afternoon and he was good.
Momar Diagne was also on as Thought 2 (first performance I believe) - very good except for a couple of line flubs.
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Post by Mark on Jul 8, 2023 22:22:49 GMT
My third time (and fourth Usher!).
Didn’t notice any differences from New York, except obviously a much wider stage.
Kyle Birch on as Usher and he was great, lovely voice and great performance. All the other cast were very good although perhaps not as strong as their Broadway counterparts. Sound was mostly ok, although some words were lost especially in group moments.
The audience overall reacted very enthusiastically which was great, because I didn’t think this show would do well in London. I’m glad to say I’ve been shown to be wrong and I think it will have a very successful summer here.
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Post by steven22 on Jul 8, 2023 23:09:33 GMT
Kyle Birch now scheduled to do all matinees. Caught him this afternoon and he was good. Momar Diagne was also on as Thought 2 (first performance I believe) - very good except for a couple of line flubs. When is Kyle Birch taking over full time? I’m seeing the show September 1 evening. |
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Post by annette on Jul 9, 2023 1:31:02 GMT
I think Kyle RF is leaving on Aug 11th
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Post by kyvai on Jul 14, 2023 14:08:14 GMT
Discounts for this on TodayTix, just got myself a front central stalls seat for £45, happy.
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Post by apubleed on Jul 14, 2023 14:15:59 GMT
Wow I didn’t realise that the advance has dried up so much. Eek.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 18, 2023 21:23:48 GMT
Rushed for this tonight and only paid £19.50 for central stalls thanks to the £10 TodayTix offer this week.
The cast were good.
That's the only positive thing I can really say. I've never wanted an interval more.
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Post by ladidah on Jul 19, 2023 7:15:24 GMT
Oh no, you really didn't like it?
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 19, 2023 8:20:59 GMT
Oh no, you really didn't like it? Not at all. Self-indulgent garbage. But each to their own! 😁 |
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Post by ladidah on Jul 19, 2023 8:35:46 GMT
It's a strange one because I did like a lot of it, but a few weeks later and I can't remember any songs.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 19, 2023 12:00:33 GMT
Oh no, you really didn't like it? Not at all. Self-indulgent garbage. But each to their own! 😁 Correct! |
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Post by intoanewlife on Jul 19, 2023 19:42:16 GMT
I'll take a self indulgent ghey over the usual twee 'will they/won't they end up together' (spoiler - they will) hetero borefests that infest musical theatre like the plague and then run for 100 years x
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 19, 2023 23:12:26 GMT
I'll take a self indulgent ghey over the usual twee 'will they/won't they end up together' (spoiler - they will) hetero borefests that infest musical theatre like the plague and then run for 100 years x Great, have fun! But you couldn't pay me to sit through this whining pity party again. As a gay man I'd rather spend the evening with the "predictable" straights, sorry! 🤣 |
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Post by ladidah on Jul 20, 2023 8:36:44 GMT
I think it was always going to be a hard show to consistently sell - it's not one for tourists or people looking for an easy, fun night out.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2023 9:45:45 GMT
In my experience seeing it in NYC with two different groups of friends, if it doesn't work for you, it really doesn't work for you and that makes for a very long night out. It is not a show that has stuck with me at all.
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