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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 19, 2016 9:30:33 GMT
Have you been to a theatre before? Where is the best place to sit for this show? Think I am going to book to see this, even though, as someone pointed out on another thread, it seems very similar to BETTY BLUE EYES. |
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Post by anita on Feb 19, 2016 11:22:46 GMT
Well saw this last night & enjoyed it. Had won competition so got free programmes & reserved seating in bar with a bottle of champagne. Made to feel very special. My sister-in-law & I went home quite squiffy but happy.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 12:18:45 GMT
Been listening to the cast recording this morning and the score is growing on me. If Mountains Were Easy To Climb being a favourite!
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Post by westendcub on Feb 19, 2016 13:38:55 GMT
Been listening to the cast recording this morning and the score is growing on me. If Mountains Were Easy To Climb being a favourite! I tried but got bored, think it's more a show you need to see than listen to the cast recording without the show unlike 'Finding Neverland' which I just loved and got my imagination going on how it translates onto the stage! |
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Post by mrkringas on Feb 19, 2016 14:12:03 GMT
It takes all sorts but the cast album to "Finding Neverland" did a good job of convincing me never to see this show. Such a shame the flawed piece of work we experienced in Leicester has become banal nonsense.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2016 10:57:26 GMT
After seeing this last night I am coming away from it with a view that it is a nice show. Not exactly going to light up the world, but rather pleasant all the same.
I totally agree that the songs - not all- are a little bit dreary in places, and the second act seemed to have all the better ones. The first half dragged out a bit too long in my opinion, but I understand why they had the interval at the point, the end of Act 1 was actually really good, and gave me shivers.
Still, the lighting in this show is wonderful and Laura really is one hell of a singer.
My favourites are Innocent Soldier and Mountains, but it seems that iTunes is having issues with the album. Every preview for each song doesn't actually correspond correctly.
I went into the theatre feeling indifferent about it, and left feeling pleasantly charmed.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 21, 2016 8:42:35 GMT
Its very charming and entertaining. It really doesn't have the dramatic gravitas of the film. Hey hum. But good none the less
I'm not a fan of 30's & 40's popular music so I didnt enjoy the pastiche score but this morning I'm humming the tittle song and I really did like 'mountains'
I never seen a fan dance before, so my life is complete :-)
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2016 12:34:19 GMT
I'm officially over the recording. Only 2 songs I care to listen to and the rest are Meh. I can't deal with TBennett on it and Ian Bartholemews songs are all dull. Really glad I haven't bought it!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 14:08:13 GMT
I'd prefer if we all referred to it as this now. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 17:18:56 GMT
I'm glad the reviews all picked out Emma Williamsa as the best part of the show, as she really does deserve great praise for her role. I personally do not understand the negativity on her regarding Tracie as I thought she was fabulous in her role but there ya go, can't please everyone.  |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2016 19:30:29 GMT
I do hope this survives in the west end though... If only for the glorious Emma Williams. She's had to endure her fair share of short runs and deserves a hit
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 21, 2016 20:04:14 GMT
I went to the matinee of this yesterday, chosen mostly because I thought it would be the only West End show to be a guaranteed child-free zone at half term! Actually the nudity wasn't as bad as I was expecting, being someone who is not generally keen on nudity onstage (or off). I found it rather reassuring that the actresses weren't all size zero model types.
I found the piece very inconsistent in tone. I actually preferred the more serious parts & found the more comedic parts jarred at times, including the annoying comedian. What on earth was with the choreography in the Lord Chamberlain's number? He looked like he was from the Ministry of Silly Walks!
The songs unfortunately weren't very memorable, the only one that I can still hear in my mind is "If Mountains Were Easy To Climb", which I thought was by far the best number. An awful lot of modern musicals writers seem to have difficulties in writing memorable songs. I wonder why.
I did mildly enjoy a fair amount of it & I might consider seeing it once more if it runs - I would like to be able to see one of the more romantic scenes without the woman on my left having a massive coughing fit so I could hardly hear the dialogue - but it certainly won't be joining my "musicals I have seen a ridiculous numbers of times list".
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2016 20:29:51 GMT
Agreed. So many numbers were over choreographed- that Lord Chamberlain number was excruciating to watch- I felt embarrassed for them.
Emma Williams should have been given more numbers.. And I B's reduced.
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Post by showgirl on Feb 22, 2016 4:59:01 GMT
Ian Bartholomew may not have had the decent numbers he deserved but he really impressed me, so I'd say rather than reduce his share, improve those. In general I think his role provides both some much-needed balance to the preponderance of women and some emotional depth which many of the other parts, male or female, don't offer.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 22, 2016 9:31:56 GMT
Oh it's not his fault.. He was good, but all of his numbers were the same
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 10:00:50 GMT
I re-watched the film over the weekend, and I do prefer the narrative of the film in particular to the changes the musical makes to a few major plot points (no spoilers etc) However in comparison, I think the musical is a decent job and I can see why they made the changes they did for the stage version.
Still think it's a charming little piece.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 15:32:25 GMT
It is odd, as when I saw it in Bath, I thoroughly enjoyed it and had planned to see it in the west end. However now I have had the weekend of listening to the album it has really put me off going to see it again  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2016 16:28:04 GMT
Well I shall be there this evening, rather looking forward to it. Say hello, wave, inappropriate grope, I'm happy either way.
After 'Cleansed' last week, I'm all ready for the nudey bits but I still might have a G&T to steady my resolve.*
* Actually, even if there were no nudey bits I'd probably still have a G&T. Any excuse.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 9:52:16 GMT
Well I rather enjoyed this. Yes, it's all a bit twee but it's really funny and still managed a bit of emotional depth too and I liked the score, can still hum several of the tunes today. Not so sure about the choreography for the 'Lord Chamberlain's Song' either.
Great cast too. I even like Jamie Foreman! Wasn't sure about Tracie Bennett at first, she's not as 'refined' as I think the character is but I really warmed to her and I thought she was great and her chemistry with Ian Bartholomew was delightful (and he has such a lovely voice too). What's happened to Tracie Bennett's voice though? It sounds really ragged and liked she struggled a lot. Wasn't as enamoured with Emma Williams really - she's very pretty and has a lovely voice but she's just a bit bland, the role needs a Gemma Arterton type actress with that indefinable star quality. Loved Samuel Holmes as Bertie too - terrific voice and great comic timing. Lovely bum too.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 10:05:48 GMT
I got a very Gemma Artherton in Made in Dagenham vibe from Emma Williams when I saw it... and because I loved Gemma in that role, it made me love Emma even more!
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Post by westendcub on Feb 23, 2016 20:42:14 GMT
I shall be going along to this tomorrow eve...turning in a musical week..that will be show 3!!
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Post by Dawnstar on Feb 23, 2016 20:50:58 GMT
I've finally got round to looking up the plot of the film, having read various comments about it having been changed for the stage. Yes, that's quite a big change. Good thing they did it though or they couldn't have included by far the best song!
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Post by notmymuse on Feb 23, 2016 21:18:11 GMT
I do hope this survives in the west end though... If only for the glorious Emma Williams. She's had to endure her fair share of short runs and deserves a hit Absolutely. Seems it's been a long road back to the West End for her, which is a shame as she's great in everything she does. I didn't think she'd pull off Annie on tour, but was wonderful. Her singing voice seems a bit heavier since then though, compared with Zorro etc. Im scared this won't survive long though, I thought it was ok but not much more in Bath. If it closes, fingers crossed she gets recast in something else quickly. She'd make a good Glinda. |
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Post by daniel on Feb 24, 2016 3:05:59 GMT
Does anybody know how well this is selling? Had a nosey online before and it didn't look to be too busy even this week...is it the sort to pack in the crowds at weekends and in the holidays with quieter midweeks?
Interesting with the Tour due to start sometime in 2017, they're obviously aiming for a London run of a year or so before hitting the road.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 3:37:56 GMT
Well judging by the audience at the first preview, it should do ok on the midweek matinee crowds too.
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