4,172 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Nov 12, 2016 17:18:49 GMT
Ah, no problems
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1,081 posts
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Post by andrew on Nov 13, 2016 11:41:50 GMT
I went back to see this last week for the second time. In between I've been listening to the first cast album. I have to say I've completely fallen in love with this musical, with the two leads and with the music. The production itself remains a little uninspired , and I'm sad to see that further into the run the windows still judder and the mirror is still pushed on by a stagehand, but this doesn't matter so much. There have been some criticisms about how JRB tries to reach for a level of musical adeptness that he can't get to (Salieri to Mozart etc), but for me in terms of capturing pure romance, the excitement of a new relationship and the brutal understated tragedy of it falling apart, he absolutely nails it. The deliberate structure of the whole thing means that it's not going to be a sweeping tale of character development and plot, it's very deliberately a concept musical picking at moments and exploring those as opposed to their characters. And those moments by and large make me feel something at the same level as Sondheim has when he veers into similar territory. I've become such a fan of this musical, I think it's brilliant, and I'm glad I caught it again before it disappears.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2016 22:14:19 GMT
OMGosh. Jonny B is so delicious I could eat him up and lick the plate clean. Why isn't he in everything? Any show in London's glitzy West End or my boudoir for a start! He's definitely the star of this show but Samantha Barks is terrific as well. Lovely, lovely voice and she's glorious to look at too. In fact, why isn't she in everything too? Apart from my boudoir of course.
The show I'm not so sure about. I veered between "it's a bit ropey" to "it's a bit clever innit" with a bit of "that's rather lovely" and a lot of "oh just dump her and head on up to row J"!
Oh and for all Jonny B fans, there's a nice bit of pants action. I almost died.
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 16, 2016 23:21:36 GMT
Thanks for the info about cast recordings anthony40. They forgot to mention the film recording too. |
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Post by dan on Nov 17, 2016 0:14:28 GMT
For me, this was an acting and singing masterclass in action. Both leads are superb. Samantha's acting takes my breath away, and I didn't know she had such an incredible belt in her voice! Jonathan has comic timing to die for, and has an amazing presence. Again, amazing acting choices, even making a mistake work whilst in character! I've seen a number of versions of this but this was sublime. The staging and direction were terrific, and the band were phenomenal. Lovely to see a grand piano on stage. I so wish I'd booked to see this again as it had my laughing and crying. Joy and devastation done to perfection.
Two of my absolute favourites from seeing fifty shows so far this year are JRB shows. Incredible.
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Nov 17, 2016 23:27:33 GMT
Saw it this afternoon, sadly only just under half full. Opinion on my site now, but basically the duo sing the heck out of it - and the production set lets them down. Did the screens keep colliding with each other when anyone else saw it? Oh, and my Sam B crush is now total, LOL. I know what I'll be asking Santa for this Christmas (some hope!). Saw it on Saturday afternoon, appeared to be full or thereabouts. Lots of TV-bumping...was trying not to laugh at points. Totally understand the Sam B crush too...that woman can do no wrong in my eyes. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 0:12:43 GMT
I almost don't want to post this and be the dissenting voice.
Like most big fans of musicals, I've known this score for years now and loved it. I've seen the film but had never seen a physical production of the show before. I've never bothered to go out of my way to do so before because I've always felt like it would be difficult to make interesting on stage and now I kind of feel like I was right.
I had no issue with the set, screens, costumes, sound, lighting or anything technical. None of it was outstanding but nothing to complain about either.
I've never been a Samantha Barks fan but this is probably the best performance I've seen her in. That's not to say I thought she was great. Her comedic stuff was good (A Summer in Ohio especially) but I don't think she changed facial expression during Still Hurting, Next Ten Minutes and Goodbye Until Tomorrow. I honestly felt no emotion whatsoever from any of those songs and there's so much for her to work with! Her voice is good and she's very pretty.
With Jonny it was the opposite. I was initially very charmed by him, during Shiksa Goddess and Moving Too Fast. Those songs are meant to have Jamie being manic and excitable and he pulled that off so well. Then we get to The Schmuel Song and it just goes way overboard. For me, that's the most moving part of the film and Jeremy Jordan completely nails it in every way possible. He does the dorky voices and acting but with sincerity throughout. I haven't been able to watch the last bit with his 'take your time' and showing her the watch without tearing up. At this performance people laughed when Jonny got the watch out. He somewhat pulled it back with his Nobody Needs to Know. I was also distracted by his accent and his voice isn't the strongest.
I felt like there was minimal chemistry between the two.
I don't mean to be ragging on these actors so much because I feel like it must be so hard to act this with no one to play off or react to your words and it's likely that that caused the overacting at times, in order to continue to engage the audience. And I imagine Jonny was directed to act that way, but it didn't work for me. I think I've learnt my lesson and wont be seeing this show on stage again unless it has someone I absolutely love in it. More than anything, it just made me want to watch the film again.
Having said all of this, it's one of the best scores of the century so far and the production is not awful and neither are the performances. It just didn't give me any emotion. I'm giving it 3.5* because it's a great score and I think everyone tried their best. It just wasn't to my taste. Also I'd booked for £29.50 back row and got upgraded to the centre of row E, which is probably the best seat in the house. Theatre was about 40% full. I'm surprised that Samantha Barks isn't more of a draw.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 9:35:43 GMT
Opinion on my site now, but basically the duo sing the heck out of it - and the production set lets them down. Did the screens keep colliding with each other when anyone else saw it?They didn't really collide when I saw it but there was just a touch of the 'Acorn Antiques' about them shuffling on and off, wobbling all over the place like Mrs Overall's tea tray. |
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Nov 18, 2016 21:55:07 GMT
Saw it this afternoon, sadly only just under half full. Opinion on my site now, but basically the duo sing the heck out of it - and the production set lets them down. Did the screens keep colliding with each other when anyone else saw it? Oh, and my Sam B crush is now total, LOL. I know what I'll be asking Santa for this Christmas (some hope!). I felt really flattered for a moment... :-D |
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Post by dan on Nov 18, 2016 23:39:09 GMT
It's fascinating how differently people experience the same actor or acting choices. I think Samantha was phenomenal in this role and demonstrated true devastation to pure joy amazingly. As for chemistry, I'm not quite sure how they get the opportunity to demonstrate this?! They get about one minute being together in the same moment. Their relationship is not on view, just their individual experiences as crucial points of their relationship.
Really interesting to read different takes and experiences on the show. I adored it and, along with Parade in Manchester this year, was one of my standout theatrical experiences this year.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 23:42:22 GMT
It's fascinating how differently people experience the same actor or acting choices. I think Samantha was phenomenal in this role and demonstrated true devastation to pure joy amazingly. As for chemistry, I'm not quite sure how they get the opportunity to demonstrate this?! They get about one minute being together in the same moment. Their relationship is not on view, just their individual experiences as crucial points of their relationship. Really interesting to read different takes and experiences on the show. I adored it and, along with Parade in Manchester this year, was one of my standout theatrical experiences this year. Well I meant the whole wedding scene. Two actors with chemistry should be able to make a wedding scene of all things come across romantic and moving and it left me cold. Of course, that's no fault of their own as chemistry can only be forced to a certain extent. If I was watching that scene on mute, I would have thought Cathy didn't want to get married. Samantha had a perma-concerned face through 95% of the song. I do think Samantha did well with all of her comedic/upbeat songs, I just wasn't at all convinced by the emotional stuff and that makes sense because I thought her Eponine was pretty dire too. |
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Post by theatre-turtle on Nov 19, 2016 11:11:44 GMT
I think Sam is a stronger singer than she is actress, and JB is the opposite. I don't think she pulled off the little quirky subtleties that Anna Kendrick did in the movie, nor the progression of the character. I think JB did a much more convincing job of showing Jamie's journey and character development.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Nov 20, 2016 19:42:23 GMT
Well, I absolutely ADORED this after seeing yesterday's matinee (19th November). The score is an absolute gem, and the production surrounding it was a good fit. The two performances, whilst not the best singing I have heard, were strong and winning.
A solid 4 stars.
Can I also add to the chorus of people saying how beautiful Samantha Barks looks! She really is very pretty. When she came out in the dress for "Goodbye Until Tomorrow", she absolutely took my breath away, and I couldn't help, but say "Wow" (a few people behind me obviously felt the same)!
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Nov 21, 2016 6:43:56 GMT
I was at the Saturday evening show and loved it.
Barksy can sing anything, and I do think she got the emotion in Still Hurting and See I'm Smiling. The comedy was all really good in later songs too.
I started off not liking JB during Shiksha Goddess but he quickly grew on me. Schmuel was good and there was no laughing to my ears during 'take your time' if anything there were audible 'ahhs'.
The set needs some sound reduction. The clunking of moving set pieces, and those blooming windows which were smashing into each other as they flew in and out is not really expected given the price bracket of tickets for this show.
However the score is beautiful and the immediate standing O as the lights came back on at the end was well deserved by both members of the cast.
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Post by loureviews on Nov 21, 2016 7:47:13 GMT
My husband, big Sam fan, went to Saturday matinee. When I mentioned the dress he said 'red or patterned' with a big grin and mentioned shorts as well.
Strangely he hasn't mentioned the chap at all.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Nov 21, 2016 10:05:30 GMT
My husband, big Sam fan, went to Saturday matinee. When I mentioned the dress he said 'red or patterned' with a big grin and mentioned shorts as well. Strangely he hasn't mentioned the chap at all. The chap had white boxers  |
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Post by daniel on Nov 21, 2016 14:24:42 GMT
My husband, big Sam fan... Genuinely thought you meant Sam Allardyce for a second there! |
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Post by djp on Nov 23, 2016 4:36:41 GMT
I don't think she changed facial expression It doesn't seem to be her "thing," faces. Actors, I always think, have different means of working. Some use faces, others gesture or voice above all others. Michael Crawford, for example, always makes a thing of "I'm working really hard to make this look easy for you," - that's his style. I think Ms B is a vocal type though I loved her physicality in the car journey near the end, as she moved around in her seat. I felt like there was minimal chemistry between the two. Oh, that's fascinating, snutte. I agree... but took it as being the point. They weren't actually "right" for each other, and the barriers were very clear to us, but not to them. Her "scars she did nothing to earn" were due to Jamie's enthusiasm over-ruling any issues and making her think she had found the right person. I think Sam is fine in this.She sounds great and gets the emotions. I just saw Lauren Samuels play it before in a very small space, without a constant flow of new furniture arriving, and that time the story was much more intimate and clearer. it may be me fighting medication, or it may be the staging, or it may be the male role has been toned down by the person who was said male? Off to see it again saturday , |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 24, 2016 18:13:47 GMT
Saw this, this afternoon.
This is a 1 star production of a 1 star show and infuriating as I think the composer can be quite brilliant, I love Parade and The Bridges of Madison County. The 2 stars who fronted this show, were no way lead actors and had zero chemistry.
1 Star
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 23:03:57 GMT
Just got back from seeing this (always a bonus to be home earlyish for a change) and I have mixed feelings. Sam Barks was indisposed so her understudy was on tonight.
I didn't instantly take to her and found that her rendition of Still Hurting lacked the pain and emotion that it deserves, plus her vocals seemed to struggle. It didn't take long however for her to warm into the role of Cathy and I was soon a fan. I've never seen the film, nor any other adaptation of the show but I felt her portrayal of the character was slightly lacking. Having said that, hers is not the easiest job to do, as Cathy's story is told in reverse her character starts at a huge part of development and then has to slowly work backwards, not a natural development by any means. So with that considered I was still impressed.
Jonathan Bailey was definitely on top form, his acting was spot on and his voice surprised me. I never really liked Jamie's songs from the cast recordings, but the context and delivery from Jonathan has now made the opposite true.
As others have said, there was a severe lack of chemistry between the pair when together on stage, which is interesting to read about Samantha too. And the set... oh my.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2016 23:33:36 GMT
I was also there tonight - gutted Sam Barks called out as I think she'd have sung the hell out of the score, whereas I wasn't particularly impressed by her understudy's upper range - whenever she was belting a big money note it was quite shrill and initially I found a few of the notes almost painful. That said though, I suspect a lot of that was due to nerves - was it her first time on? I also thought she quickly warmed into the role and had good acting skills and comic timing, plus for the softer vocals I liked the tone of her voice.
I thought Jonathan Bailey was great, if a little over the top at times. And I agree there was zero chemistry between the leads, though that seemed as much down to direction as anything else.
Agree with all the complaints about the set too, amateurish is putting it kindly...
So a mixed bag, but overall I think I did like it, and having been completely unfamiliar with the show going in, I'd be intrigued to see another production (though friends tell me the film is awful so I might avoid that).
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Post by alison on Nov 29, 2016 20:45:38 GMT
I saw this again last night, this time from mid-theatre rather than the back row (I was supposed to be front row, but the box office were nice enough to swap our tickets so my friend and I who booked at different times could sit together). Jonathan was indisposed, so Sam Thomas was on as Jamie for the first time. If I wasn't going back on Saturday I'd have been gutted to miss him, but I am so it's all good (assuming he's better by then).
Overall, he did a great job, particularly for his first time on. He made a few small mistakes (mainly incorrect pronouns), nothing anyone who doesn't know the show well is likely to notice. His vocals were a bit tentative at times, but I'm sure that would go if it was a longer run and he had more opportunities to play the role, and he's got a nice tone to his voice. He definitely plays younger than Sam B - but as my friend and I discussed afterwards, if you're going to have a difference in playing age between the two we thought it feels more natural for Jamie to be the younger one.
It was interesting seeing the show with one cast member I've seen previously playing against someone different. I didn't realise until last night how each actor actually influences the audience's perception of the other character (eg. how Jamie plays the phone call with Cathy affects our impression of her).
Oh, and as a note on A Miracle Would Happen, since I griped last time ... the lack of wedding ring in the first preview was definitely an oopsie, and last night Sam T didn't have the bottle in his hand for the last section. He was gesturing as if trying to signal to someone else in the bar, but that's more open to interpretation than sitting there with a bottle clearly ordering another drink, and doesn't so openly paint him as lying to his wife. I definitely preferred it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2016 11:28:26 GMT
Booked a £29.50 ticket for tomorrow at 2.30pm! Can't wait to see this!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 16:44:13 GMT
Hmmm... this was interesting. I liked it a lot.
Sam was superb! I've always loved her. And Jonathan was amazing too (and yes, really hot as well).
I met Samuel Thomas (Jamie understudy), who was in the audience.
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Post by mallardo on Dec 1, 2016 18:40:52 GMT
So glad I got to see this before it closes on Saturday. I LOVED it. Sam Barks is an absolute goddess and Jonathan Bailey was good too. No, seriously, he was great, easily the best acted, most convincing Jamie I've seen - they were both great. And I liked the production. Some have complained it was too much but, for me, it was wonderful to see the scenes actually differentiated by actual (small) sets and projections as opposed to a couple of chairs or a bed standing in for everything, which seems to be the norm for this show. But star of the show was the show itself which, to me, is a minor masterpiece with a radiantly beautiful score. The two actors - and the excellent six-piece band - did it full justice, which is the highest praise I can bestow.
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