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Post by shownut on Jul 21, 2024 8:12:23 GMT
I agree with PineappleForYou - the point has been made and banging on about the old production versus a brand new production just feels a little bitter/stuck in the past. I have posted maybe three/four times about it and usually in response to a post referring to my original thoughts on the show. It's a chat board. That is how it works. Deal with it. I am neither bitter, nor stuck in the past. I am also not the only poster here who had less than favourable things to say about this production on more than one occasion, but likely the one whose picture is in the programme currently being sold for the show. As I wrote to PineappleForYou, if you don't like my posts, move on. It's a chatroom and the thread is about Starlight Express, for better and for worse. |
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Post by BVM on Jul 21, 2024 8:48:45 GMT
I know people get bored of me saying it, but while the rhetoric goes one way or the other, you need only to look at the poll to see what most people (in this microcosm) feel. And we have a decent ish sample size here.
4 stars out in lead.
5 second.
3 third.
1 and 2 way out back. And all the 1 star issuers came in the first weekend, most of whom didn't actually see it.
Whatever individual opinions people have, globally this version of this show is very well liked! And the sales are incredible. So you can say the producers have got it wrong as much as you like - but there's plenty of evidence they've got it bang on the nose and played a blinder really. (And I say that as a devotee of the original. But also as a pragmatist. I think they've succeeded in what their aim was on this one).
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Post by danb on Jul 21, 2024 9:10:37 GMT
Why do people need their opinion to be ratified or backed up by a poll? Or more to the point, think that because some people in a poll agree with them, it makes them right? Is it insecurity? Itās a lightweight piece of fluff theatre, that has been made fluffier and almost review proof given that there is so little content to review. Can we not just look at it like that?
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Post by BVM on Jul 21, 2024 9:18:09 GMT
It doesn't make you right I don't think. I mean you can't be "right" when something is subjective.
But I do find them a useful steer when when the feel of the written content of threads veers from it.
I find that interesting. Others may not!
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Post by d'James on Jul 21, 2024 10:54:27 GMT
I know people get bored of me saying it, but while the rhetoric goes one way or the other, you need only to look at the poll to see what most people (in this microcosm) feel. And we have a decent ish sample size here. 4 stars out in lead. 5 second. 3 third. 1 and 2 way out back. And all the 1 star issuers came in the first weekend, most of whom didn't actually see it. Whatever individual opinions people have, globally this version of this show is very well liked! And the sales are incredible. So you can say the producers have got it wrong as much as you like - but there's plenty of evidence they've got it bang on the nose and played a blinder really. (And I say that as a devotee of the original. But also as a pragmatist. I think they've succeeded in what their aim was on this one). I definitely agree that the producers have done what they set out to do. That is not to say that I am not worried this will become the blueprint for all future productions, however. I would much rather have this production than no production. |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 21, 2024 11:20:49 GMT
How big is the band for this show anyway - I presume like Phantom the band has shrunk? Still sounds great though!
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Post by lou105 on Jul 21, 2024 11:30:51 GMT
Just sitting looking at the board and it says Keys 1, Keys 3, Guitar 1, Guitar 2 , bass and drums. Plus the MD
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Post by richey on Jul 21, 2024 11:34:40 GMT
How big is the band for this show anyway - I presume like Phantom the band has shrunk? Still sounds great though! According to the programme- 3 keys,2 guitars, 1 bass guitar and drums |
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 21, 2024 12:02:39 GMT
The new production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy definitely didnāt have a big floating mansion, heck, it didnāt even have a staircase, but this new production was far improved on the original. So less is more. The set for Starlight never claimed to be spectacular, but is efficient and ultimately and gets across the story they want to tell and portrays the show they want to present.
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Post by d'James on Jul 21, 2024 12:34:49 GMT
The new production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy definitely didnāt have a big floating mansion, heck, it didnāt even have a staircase, but this new production was far improved on the original. So less is more. The set for Starlight never claimed to be spectacular, but is efficient and ultimately and gets across the story they want to tell and portrays the show they want to present. Thatās where Iāll disagree, I think the story is what suffers most in this production. They clearly spent a fortune on those giant planets, but why? Itās caused people to ask questions like āis it set in space?ā That money couldāve been spent on something else. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the āworkshopā at The Other Palace, theyāre pretty inflexible. I was hoping with this production theyād go back to square one and allow new people to create the show using every piece of music available. Instead, theyāve shoved āI Got Meā in way too much and lost so much heart along the way. |
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 21, 2024 12:41:32 GMT
Was there really any heart in this to begin with?
Like, I saw it years ago, and it was bobbins then and it's bobbins now - it's just got some flashing lights now š
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Post by d'James on Jul 21, 2024 12:53:14 GMT
Was there really any heart in this to begin with? Like, I saw it years ago, and it was bobbins then and it's bobbins now - it's just got some flashing lights now š You have your opinion and clearly we disagree. |
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Post by BVM on Jul 21, 2024 13:03:42 GMT
Was there really any heart in this to begin with? Like, I saw it years ago, and it was bobbins then and it's bobbins now - it's just got some flashing lights now š You have your opinion and clearly we disagree. Completely agree. Starlight has always had a lot of heart. |
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Post by asps2017 on Jul 21, 2024 13:19:46 GMT
Interested to know what people think of how the races were staged and how this compares to the original or Bochum production? I found them a bit slow (I know, how fast can they be!) interesting to know peopleās thoughts!
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 21, 2024 14:14:04 GMT
I don't know how fast people thought the races were gonna be considering the auditorium is 1000 seats and they only use half of it for the track... the comparisons are being made to productions in houses double the size š¤·š»āāļø
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Post by thecursedexpress on Jul 21, 2024 14:27:19 GMT
The new production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy definitely didnāt have a big floating mansion, heck, it didnāt even have a staircase, but this new production was far improved on the original. So less is more. The set for Starlight never claimed to be spectacular, but is efficient and ultimately and gets across the story they want to tell and portrays the show they want to present. Thatās where Iāll disagree, I think the story is what suffers most in this production. They clearly spent a fortune on those giant planets, but why? Itās caused people to ask questions like āis it set in space?ā That money couldāve been spent on something else. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the āworkshopā at The Other Palace, theyāre pretty inflexible. I was hoping with this production theyād go back to square one and allow new people to create the show using every piece of music available. Instead, theyāve shoved āI Got Meā in way too much and lost so much heart along the way. I like the space themed aspect, it did make me question did I miss something from listening to the original. At the end of the day the title has STAR in it? Also this is a child's dream anything can happen in it. I mean ALW has mentioned he wants to make a bigger version of this in a Bochum style arena as he doesn't know how long the Troubadour will last as a theatre venue so maybe that's why the set feels like its unfinished. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 21, 2024 15:10:23 GMT
Sunday report. This is a much better show when here arenāt people singing āTesco Expressā next to you. Even better, the young boy next to me was perfectly behaved, putting his game away right as the show started and not making a sound all afternoon.
Otherwise, a Rush ticket just a few seats along from yesterday. Glad I was able to get back while Scott and Ashlyn are on.
There was a Ā£29.50 first class seat that appeared about an hour before the show. Not sure that got sold, but earlier this was sold out.
Lewis was on form and Iām sure will give the poor women he scared nightmares!
I notice they no longer have the marshalls appear before the show. They have the timing for this very tight now, done for 3:15pm and somehow the toilet queues all get through.
Hopefully everyone has some relaxing time off before the show gains an extra matinee from next week onwards. Not sure when Iāll be back.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 21, 2024 15:25:34 GMT
The new production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy definitely didnāt have a big floating mansion, heck, it didnāt even have a staircase, but this new production was far improved on the original. So less is more. The set for Starlight never claimed to be spectacular, but is efficient and ultimately and gets across the story they want to tell and portrays the show they want to present. Thatās where Iāll disagree, I think the story is what suffers most in this production. They clearly spent a fortune on those giant planets, but why? Itās caused people to ask questions like āis it set in space?ā That money couldāve been spent on something else. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the āworkshopā at The Other Palace, theyāre pretty inflexible. I was hoping with this production theyād go back to square one and allow new people to create the show using every piece of music available. Instead, theyāve shoved āI Got Meā in way too much and lost so much heart along the way. But to represent the story, the production didnāt have to replicate the exact Victoria Apollo set, you just needed a a central performing area, with a race circuit around it. I wouldnāt say those āfortuneā planets would have been that expensive, comparable to a West End productions, I guess the idea was to give the production a wow moment, which in my mind the producers never found. But the set represented the story, the planets were just a sideshow. A good example of a piece where I should have been wowed with money thrown ant it and that is for the dreadful Moulin Rouge which just left me shivering. What did a floating mansion bring to Sunset Boulevard? |
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Post by BVM on Jul 21, 2024 15:27:22 GMT
Interested to know what people think of how the races were staged and how this compares to the original or Bochum production? I found them a bit slow (I know, how fast can they be!) interesting to know peopleās thoughts! "Staged" I would sat pretty well. (Staged in some ways better than Bochum with the screens updating the leaderboard, the live video and the commentary). Speed wise, definitely they are slow-ish. IMHO however the "speed" in other productions has been massively overstated since this opened. They do go faster in Bochum no doubt, but it's much slower since the 30th re-vamp. And pretty much every time they build up speed in the upper outer track in the races, they then come to a shuddering halt to do the trackside "fights." The first lap of the downhill final is complete and doesn't stop for fights and is great though. They can pick up speed more easily in Bochum and interestingly non race sections coming down from the top level (Rusty et al in Crazy, Rusty and Dustin pre race four) are very speedy. But the main speed is from the Trax stunt skaters (on blades), rather than the actors now. I do find them pretty cool. I feel as though the races in the AV version were faster, but it's all slightly lost in memory now..... They deffo stopped to fight less than in Bochum though and did pick up decent speed coming downhill from the Circle. Ultimately though, speed is one of the things that concerns me the least in Starlight. It's a night at the theatre, not the Formula One! (No idea if it's related but anecdotally the first cast are on way more since the 30th in Bochum so the slower races may also be safer). |
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Post by ash on Jul 21, 2024 16:07:43 GMT
I've yet to see the new version (going end of August), but I saw it in Bochum last year and I remember thinking that the races were considerably slower than in London, and there were a lot more breaks for fights and acting sequences. I mean, it's to be expected I guess, so many actors got badly injured doing the show in the past.
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Post by showtoones on Jul 21, 2024 17:30:17 GMT
Sunday report. This is a much better show when here arenāt people singing āTesco Expressā next to you. Even better, the young boy next to me was perfectly behaved, putting his game away right as the show started and not making a sound all afternoon. Otherwise, a Rush ticket just a few seats along from yesterday. Glad I was able to get back while Scott and Ashlyn are on. There was a Ā£29.50 first class seat that appeared about an hour before the show. Not sure that got sold, but earlier this was sold out. Lewis was on form and Iām sure will give the poor women he scared nightmares! I notice they no longer have the marshalls appear before the show. They have the timing for this very tight now, done for 3:15pm and somehow the toilet queues all get through. Hopefully everyone has some relaxing time off before the show gains an extra matinee from next week onwards. Not sure when Iāll be back. Do Scott and Ashlyn go on a lot or was this scheduled? How often do the two leads usually miss? And who do people rate better? Jeevan and Kayna or Scott and Ashlyn? |
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Post by d'James on Jul 21, 2024 19:19:13 GMT
Thatās where Iāll disagree, I think the story is what suffers most in this production. They clearly spent a fortune on those giant planets, but why? Itās caused people to ask questions like āis it set in space?ā That money couldāve been spent on something else. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the āworkshopā at The Other Palace, theyāre pretty inflexible. I was hoping with this production theyād go back to square one and allow new people to create the show using every piece of music available. Instead, theyāve shoved āI Got Meā in way too much and lost so much heart along the way. I like the space themed aspect, it did make me question did I miss something from listening to the original. At the end of the day the title has STAR in it? Also this is a child's dream anything can happen in it. I mean ALW has mentioned he wants to make a bigger version of this in a Bochum style arena as he doesn't know how long the Troubadour will last as a theatre venue so maybe that's why the set feels like its unfinished. I mean, so does Jesus Christ SuperSTAR. I hope youāre right, and I hope they choose the right location. Thatās where Iāll disagree, I think the story is what suffers most in this production. They clearly spent a fortune on those giant planets, but why? Itās caused people to ask questions like āis it set in space?ā That money couldāve been spent on something else. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the āworkshopā at The Other Palace, theyāre pretty inflexible. I was hoping with this production theyād go back to square one and allow new people to create the show using every piece of music available. Instead, theyāve shoved āI Got Meā in way too much and lost so much heart along the way. But to represent the story, the production didnāt have to replicate the exact Victoria Apollo set, you just needed a a central performing area, with a race circuit around it. I wouldnāt say those āfortuneā planets would have been that expensive, comparable to a West End productions, I guess the idea was to give the production a wow moment, which in my mind the producers never found. But the set represented the story, the planets were just a sideshow. A good example of a piece where I should have been wowed with money thrown ant it and that is for the dreadful Moulin Rouge which just left me shivering. The word āfortuneā is relative. To me, Iām sure they cost a fortune; relative to other productions, I have no idea. In this production, they just go up and down and donāt add anything. Anyway, I hope, one day, someone more flexible gets their hands on all of the music ever written for this show and puts the heart back in while creating the best mix of songs. |
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Post by 141920grm on Jul 21, 2024 20:29:35 GMT
Did everyone miss the simple transition from real world to Control's world- small planets mobile above Control's bed becoming the giant planets- indicating we've moved into a dream reality? I'm sure there could be more meaning behind it but even if there isn't- I found this move very sweet, evocative, and (assuming) easy to understand for the younger audience. Are they necessary? No. But we have them, and I for one like them...
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Post by d'James on Jul 21, 2024 20:33:05 GMT
Did everyone miss the simple transition from real world to Control's world- small planets mobile above Control's bed becoming the giant planets- indicating we've moved into a dream reality? I'm sure there could be more meaning behind it but even if there isn't- I found this move very sweet, evocative, and (assuming) easy to understand for the younger audience. Are they necessary? No. But we have them, and I for one like them... Nobody missed it, but as you say, completely unnecessary; where money could be spent elsewhereā¦ |
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Post by 141920grm on Jul 21, 2024 20:39:21 GMT
Did everyone miss the simple transition from real world to Control's world- small planets mobile above Control's bed becoming the giant planets- indicating we've moved into a dream reality? I'm sure there could be more meaning behind it but even if there isn't- I found this move very sweet, evocative, and (assuming) easy to understand for the younger audience. Are they necessary? No. But we have them, and I for one like them... Nobody missed it, but as you say, completely unnecessary; where money could be spent elsewhereā¦ Like where? |
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