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Post by sph on Jun 8, 2023 17:06:44 GMT
I'm guessing we won't be seeing any grand mansion sets in this production with such a short run, but I hope the staging will be inventive and effective enough without.
Going back briefly to modern audiences' understanding of the silent-to-talkie film transition, I had never really thought about it, but it is a good point.
In 1950, when the film was released, it would have been in the memory of many moviegoers. In the 1990s, when the musical was first staged, it would have been far more of a distant memory but not so distant that people were unaware.
In 2023 I feel like most people know about silent movies, but very few have actually seen one. Yes, The Artist was a talking point at the time of its release, but I haven't heard much about it in the years since and it didn't exactly set many more silent films into immediate commercial production.
But I think a few lines alluding to the reasons for Norma's career decline should be enough. Even if modern audiences don't necessarily twig that she didn't have the right acting style for "talkies", they will probably still easily connect with and understand the concept of an aging actress who has been cast aside by Hollywood, something which still happens today.
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Post by BVM on Jun 9, 2023 10:07:04 GMT
Re the presales, frustrating though ATG are, am sure people don't need to worry and everyone will get what they want. It's running a few months and not a "one off."
I think though excitement in theatre circles may be moderate to high (ish), the GBP may be less excited. Certainly advance sales for Aspects after first couple of weeks were nothing to shout about.
Re design I am not too worried. I love massive stagings, but in the (in this case pretty obvious) absence of them, I personally prefer abstract or stylish and small rather than a lesser recreation of the original. In fact part of my problem with Aspects I think is it looked cheap compared to the originals. Menier and Hope Mill were clearly something completely different so IMHO worked better, for me at least.
So yeah, so long as it's at least highly stylised, having Nicole Sherzinger belt out With One Look on an empty ish stage doesn't bother me. I'd rather that than a cheap looking Kenwright wobbly mansion.
(Though please let a John Napier design arise triumphantly again before I die! I can dream......)
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 9, 2023 10:38:35 GMT
Thanks BVM, great post! Definitely reassuring re. getting tickets, and I completely agree re. the set. I'd far rather something totally different than a Poundland mansion wobbling every time Nicole navigates the staircase.
For me, it's about the music and seeing a talented singer perform those iconic songs. It won't be the original London production, or Glenn Close at the Coliseum, but perhaps its better that this doesn't try to compete.
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Post by og on Jun 9, 2023 11:21:10 GMT
My prediction is grey box and lots of projection, final scene a super extreme close up of Normal filling the stage.
They're going to try make it timeless visually, but the source material will undermine it.
Holding off til previews for this.
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Post by BVM on Jun 9, 2023 11:35:53 GMT
Thanks BVM, great post! Definitely reassuring re. getting tickets, and I completely agree re. the set. I'd far rather something totally different than a Poundland mansion wobbling every time Nicole navigates the staircase. For me, it's about the music and seeing a talented singer perform those iconic songs. It won't be the original London production, or Glenn Close at the Coliseum, but perhaps its better that this doesn't try to compete. Yes I really feel this! The Adelphi version was so insanely spectacular (really the last of the mega musicals) that I'd kinda rather it didn't try to compete. |
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 9, 2023 13:35:48 GMT
Thanks BVM, great post! Definitely reassuring re. getting tickets, and I completely agree re. the set. I'd far rather something totally different than a Poundland mansion wobbling every time Nicole navigates the staircase. For me, it's about the music and seeing a talented singer perform those iconic songs. It won't be the original London production, or Glenn Close at the Coliseum, but perhaps its better that this doesn't try to compete. Yes I really feel this! The Adelphi version was so insanely spectacular (really the last of the mega musicals) that I'd kinda rather it didn't try to compete. Gutted I never got to see that. Sometimes I wish I was a bit older, I was only just discovering Grease at the Dominion back in '93! |
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Post by BVM on Jun 9, 2023 14:00:27 GMT
Yes I really feel this! The Adelphi version was so insanely spectacular (really the last of the mega musicals) that I'd kinda rather it didn't try to compete. Gutted I never got to see that. Sometimes I wish I was a bit older, I was only just discovering Grease at the Dominion back in '93! Haha - well at least Grease Dominion 1993 is the best that show's ever been on stage! |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jun 9, 2023 14:03:20 GMT
Grease at the dominion was my first west end show too. And it was brilliant, agree the best its every been. The subsequent tours just got more and more watered down.
I missed out on seeing sunset by being a bit too young and without funds.
The 90s had some great productions that likely won't be seen again.
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Post by dazzlair on Jun 9, 2023 14:28:26 GMT
Grease at the dominion was my first west end show too. And it was brilliant, agree the best its every been. The subsequent tours just got more and more watered down. I missed out on seeing sunset by being a bit too young and without funds. The 90s had some great productions that likely won't be seen again. For sure, the best show the Dominion ever staged. Debbie Gibson's Hopelessly Devoted to You was spectacular! |
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 9, 2023 14:42:35 GMT
An alternate Norma is probably not unexpected.
Be interested to see who they do get though - wonder if it'll be at least someone with a bit of profile? What's Madalena Alberto up to these days?
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jun 9, 2023 14:56:08 GMT
Assume it would be someone younger and more glamorous in the same vein as Nicole.
Expecting hand held mics for this, with black and white videos projected on a white/grey empty set
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 9, 2023 15:08:42 GMT
Expecting hand held mics for this, with black and white videos projected on a white/grey empty set Which could actually look quite good and fairly classy, and might evoke memories of the film. As we've said above, I think no set is preferable to a cheap set! |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jun 9, 2023 15:16:03 GMT
Expecting hand held mics for this, with black and white videos projected on a white/grey empty set Which could actually look quite good and fairly classy, and might evoke memories of the film. As we've said above, I think no set is preferable to a cheap set! Possibly, but to me the era and atmosphere is such a big part of the story. I'm not sure an IKEA minimalist approach will retain that. Also there really will be no where for Nicole to hide from an acting pov. If this were a concert or studio album then it's less of an issue. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 9, 2023 15:25:59 GMT
It would be odd that a character so averse to the use of microphones was actually using one whilst telling us she hates them.
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Post by theatremiss on Jun 9, 2023 15:29:34 GMT
Any news on who is playing Gillis? Having seen Danny Mac last night in Assassins I think he’d make a decent Joe, but maybe his age is an issue
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Post by BVM on Jun 9, 2023 15:37:26 GMT
Assume it would be someone younger and more glamorous in the same vein as Nicole. Expecting hand held mics for this, with black and white videos projected on a white/grey empty set Absolutely desperate for it to be Victoria Hamilton Barritt. |
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Post by A.Ham on Jun 9, 2023 15:41:05 GMT
Any news on who is playing Gillis? Having seen Danny Mac last night in Assassins I think he’d make a decent Joe, but maybe his age is an issue I'm hoping for Danny, but no idea whether he actually is doing it or not. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 9, 2023 16:04:50 GMT
It would be odd that a character so averse to the use of microphones was actually using one whilst telling us she hates them. Lol but thats Jamie Lloyd allover. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 9, 2023 16:10:46 GMT
Think I’ll give it a miss  |
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 9, 2023 16:13:10 GMT
I understand there will be no turbans in this production, and we are to expect a lot of hip-hop dancing...
and I also would LOVE to see Victoria Hamilton Barritt be the Monday night alternate.
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Post by Dawnstar on Jun 9, 2023 16:16:05 GMT
An alternate Norma is probably not unexpected. Be interested to see who they do get though - wonder if it'll be at least someone with a bit of profile? What's Madalena Alberto up to these days? She was in a musical called Killing The Cat at the Riverside Studios recently so she's still working. I feel old if she's now considered old enough to play Norma! |
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Post by alece10 on Jun 9, 2023 16:25:47 GMT
Everyone has mentioned the amazing sets for the Adelphi production.
I saw it with Betty Buckley and also Elaine Paige and my memory is not what it was.
I remember a sweeping staircase but that's about it. Was there a swimming pool too or have i made that up?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 9, 2023 16:58:22 GMT
Adephi - I saw it with Pattie and then twice with Betty. Both were fab. The production was very grand and opulent and of course the house was stunning but generally I thought it was over designed and too OTT.
The Faith Brown tour appeared to go in right directions.
At the Coliseum i thought it looked pathetic but I did like la Close ... although Betty was best ❤️
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Post by BVM on Jun 9, 2023 17:08:20 GMT
I understand there will be no turbans in this production, and we are to expect a lot of hip-hop dancing... and I also would LOVE to see Victoria Hamilton Barritt be the Monday night alternate. Watching all her social media posts last few years and dressing room lives from Cinderella I became increasingly convinced that she'd be perfect for Norma. Just absolutely has the right energy and she could no doubt sing it and act it! |
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42ndBlvd
Swing
I'll be back where I was born to be
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Post by 42ndBlvd on Jun 9, 2023 17:13:57 GMT
Everyone has mentioned the amazing sets for the Adelphi production. I saw it with Betty Buckley and also Elaine Paige and my memory is not what it was. I remember a sweeping staircase but that's about it. Was there a swimming pool too or have i made that up? You can find a house cam recording of the original west end cast up on YouTube. It’s black and white but shows a full wide shot of the stage. |
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