2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 17, 2016 11:01:53 GMT
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2,760 posts
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Post by n1david on Jun 17, 2016 11:07:59 GMT
Hurrah! Thrilled this is coming back. Somewhat alarmed by the prospect of audience members in school uniform "playing a part" though.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 17, 2016 11:25:06 GMT
Audience participation - runs for the hills.............
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4,983 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 17, 2016 11:43:12 GMT
Yay. I'm so excited about this
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 13:11:38 GMT
Just booked!
Love the OLC.
One of my biggest theatrical regrets was not seeing the original version of this.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 15:54:20 GMT
Thanks for the heads-up! Booked and looking forward to it!  |
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Post by firefingers on Jun 17, 2016 17:51:07 GMT
Lee is a great MD, so it is off to a good start.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 22:48:01 GMT
Now where did i put my special 3D glasses??
I love this show and cant wait to see it again, though the poster looks like boys are at the school, has the script changed??
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679 posts
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Post by westendcub on Jun 18, 2016 0:05:01 GMT
Omg yes...so many of my need to see bit haven't ate all coming to stage...a yes for me!!!
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2,760 posts
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Post by n1david on Aug 22, 2016 18:55:41 GMT
Anton Stephans as Headmistress and Brenda Edwards as Esta. Both X-Factor alumni. I liked Anton on the show but can't see him playing a headmistress playing Ahab at all. I hope he surprises me.
Rest of cast: Rachel Anne Rayham, Laura Mansell, Aimee Hodnett, Glen Facey, Sam Barrett, Rebekah Lowings, Pérola Congo and Grant McConvey.
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299 posts
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Post by bengal73 on Aug 22, 2016 19:43:09 GMT
Will definitely be checking this out. Will not be wearing school uniform
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2016 22:43:18 GMT
Now thats a tiny cast for this show. I presume Esta is no longer a pupil at the school...
it will great to hear those big voices in that space
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Post by bernadette on Oct 15, 2016 12:17:18 GMT
Haven't posted on here in ages and ages but, as no-one is talking about this, just wanted to say that I saw the third preview last night and loved every minute of it!
It's not a great script in all honesty (it's not nearly as witty or sharp or, indeed, surreal as I'd like it to be) but - wow - what a performance from everyone involved and what inventive staging!
The cast are top-notch all round - the stunning Anton Stephans channels that link between genius and madness perfectly, and the wonderful mesmerising Rachel Anne Rayham (who blew me away in Grey Gardens and is totally different - but just as fantastic - here) captures the bizarre combination of 'control-freak schoolgirl geek performing a man whose world is falling apart around him' (yes, it's that kind of show...) with real nuance amidst the escalating chaos. But there isn't a single weak link in the cast, who sing, act and dance like there's no tomorrow.
Exhilarating and breathless - 6/10 for the show itself but 10/10 for the production. Now, when is someone going to revive Metropolis, The Hunting of the Snark or Bernadette- The People's Musical??
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Post by crabtree on Oct 15, 2016 14:50:14 GMT
Am happy to hear glowing reviews of Moby Dick - it is certainly a painful listen to on the CD. Along with Bernadette and Snark, and the rather excellent Metropolis, let's include Leonardo, Which Witch, Matador, and surely the Iron Mask has to be seen again.
The Royal Exchange did a brilliant Moby dick years ago, with a simply jaw dropping whale.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Oct 15, 2016 18:28:40 GMT
Saw this at the Piccadilly back in the day and it was appalling. Cant believe it is back!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 17:10:49 GMT
Well the reviews are in but it doesn't sound like we're in for much of a treat...  (The Telegraph is particularly grim, although the photograph they publish online gives a glimmer of hope...  ) |
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Oct 19, 2016 19:46:37 GMT
What a freaking surprise!😵
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Oct 19, 2016 21:10:35 GMT
Well I had a totally fantastic time when I saw it last Friday. Huge laughs, FANTASTIC score, all-round brilliant vocals and harmonies. If you're in the mood for it, you will really have a great time. If not, then you really won't. It's definitely not an in-between show.
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Post by mrsdanvers on Oct 21, 2016 8:59:09 GMT
Kind enough, three star review in The Times today, I'm tempted again.
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Post by recused on Oct 21, 2016 11:45:07 GMT
This has to be the most unappealing poster in a long time! It's a really tough sell as a concept which makes the publicity so very important.
I've never felt much interest for this show. Whether it was the concept itself of Cam Mack relentless pushing of it right from its inception, I don't know. However, I don't think any review could tempt me in and I'm not surprised there are tickets galore available for this.
Having seen some really interesting stuff in the past at the Union, I hope they return to form soon!
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2,760 posts
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Post by n1david on Oct 23, 2016 11:17:02 GMT
Wow this is a mess. A very appealing mess, but a mess nonetheless. The Union Theatre is doing a great job of ruining my youthful theatre-going memories, between this and Closer to Heaven.
They've taken out a bunch of stuff at the start of the show, explaining the setup, and losing one of the best songs, Parents' Day, which means that if you're not familiar with the context you might be a bit lost early on. Indeed, my husband, who didn't see it at the Piccadilly, said afterwards he had no real idea what was going on for most of the show, although he enjoyed the energy and execution. For me, it reminded me that I enjoyed the original London production, which was also messy but had a bit more coherence in its execution. And I thought Anton Stephens was remarkable in the role, but I did prefer Tony Monopoly's more St-Trinians take on the character. The setup in the original show allowed for more character development amongst the "girls", but boy do they work hard here even if completely absurd scenes when they must have been questioning in rehearsal if this show made any sense at all...
But having said all that, I can't say I didn't have a good time, as did most of the audience (only a few interval leavers) and I think it was an interesting revival, even if I have no real desire to see it again...
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Post by Anniek on Oct 27, 2016 7:19:33 GMT
I saw this yesterday and I really loved it. It was so much fun! I had a really good laugh, and I liked all the musical references and how clever they were with props and the small stage. Also; the cast. Very impressive voices, and enough room for everyone to show their talents. I saw some of them last year in ArtsEds Urinetown, good to see them back on stage. They even picked me to volunteer as a boat, so I think I can say that I finally made my professional off West-End debut yesterday . The show might not be for everyone, but it did surprise me to the fullest, as I had no idea what to expect. And to top it up, I met Hereward Kaye yesterday, who was so nice to give a little interview (as the friend I was with, is reporter for a Dutch musical website) and told us really awesome stories about how he ended up working with Ray Davies and Cameron Mackintosh. |
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Post by PalelyLaura on Oct 27, 2016 9:23:56 GMT
I saw this yesterday and I really loved it. It was so much fun! I had a really good laugh, and I liked all the musical references and how clever they were with props and the small stage. Also; the cast. Very impressive voices, and enough room for everyone to show their talents. I saw some of them last year in ArtsEds Urinetown, good to see them back on stage. They even picked me to volunteer as a boat, so I think I can say that I finally made my professional off West-End debut yesterday . The show might not be for everyone, but it did surprise me to the fullest, as I had no idea what to expect. And to top it up, I met Hereward Kaye yesterday, who was so nice to give a little interview (as the friend I was with, is reporter for a Dutch musical website) and told us really awesome stories about how he ended up working with Ray Davies and Cameron Mackintosh. I was there last night - knew I should have worn my badge! I was sitting right next to you on the right. Excellent boating BTW :-) I loved this too. Catchy songs, excellent performances, brilliant use of props. Thought it was hilarious. I haven't laughed so much since Play That Goes Wrong. |
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Oct 27, 2016 16:24:36 GMT
Have to be honest i was so looking forward to the Union reopening and have been dissappointed by the programming up to now! I had seen the original Fix so gave that a miss. I saw the original Moby Dick at the Piccadilly and thought it a disaster. Hopefully 2017 will be better.
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4,983 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 4, 2016 13:18:25 GMT
What on eart has happened? Half of it appears to be rewritten and Parents Day (my favourite song) is no more ! - I grew up watching a VHS of the Wogan Special and constantly listening to the CD
Once I got over the shock! I really liked it. Too much Tom Foolery in act 1 for my liking but that aside it's such great fun. My friends and I had a ball
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(The Telegraph is particularly grim, although the photograph they publish online gives a glimmer of hope... 
)
