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Post by aloysius on Aug 8, 2024 22:20:29 GMT
I saw this in previews but only just dived into this thread and genuinely surprised to find such a divisive response. I went with low expectations that went lower when I saw all the young teenagers entering the audience. But from the first five minutes I knew I was going to like it - a teen musical with enough layers of knowing irony to make this very fun indeed. Very slick and polished plot, great performances. I loved the boy band scene, even the video wall (and I normally despise schmaltz). Mary Malone a true star (saw her last year upstairs at the Royal Court and so pleased to see her career take off) but all the cast worked for me. I can't quite work out if this will be a success when it transfers but I think it's got more of a chance than Why Am I Still Single, especially if Sonia Friedman strongarms some stunt casting in (great idea on getting ab ex boyband member - maybe they could write an evil svengali character in for that person).
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Post by Rory on Aug 8, 2024 23:15:36 GMT
I saw this in previews but only just dived into this thread and genuinely surprised to find such a divisive response. I went with low expectations that went lower when I saw all the young teenagers entering the audience. But from the first five minutes I knew I was going to like it - a teen musical with enough layers of knowing irony to make this very fun indeed. Very slick and polished plot, great performances. I loved the boy band scene, even the video wall (and I normally despise schmaltz). Mary Malone a true star (saw her last year upstairs at the Royal Court and so pleased to see her career take off) but all the cast worked for me. I can't quite work out if this will be a success when it transfers but I think it's got more of a chance than Why Am I Still Single, especially if Sonia Friedman strongarms some stunt casting in (great idea on getting ab ex boyband member - maybe they could write an evil svengali character in for that person). How do you know it's transferring? |
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Post by aloysius on Aug 9, 2024 8:16:55 GMT
I saw this in previews but only just dived into this thread and genuinely surprised to find such a divisive response. I went with low expectations that went lower when I saw all the young teenagers entering the audience. But from the first five minutes I knew I was going to like it - a teen musical with enough layers of knowing irony to make this very fun indeed. Very slick and polished plot, great performances. I loved the boy band scene, even the video wall (and I normally despise schmaltz). Mary Malone a true star (saw her last year upstairs at the Royal Court and so pleased to see her career take off) but all the cast worked for me. I can't quite work out if this will be a success when it transfers but I think it's got more of a chance than Why Am I Still Single, especially if Sonia Friedman strongarms some stunt casting in (great idea on getting ab ex boyband member - maybe they could write an evil svengali character in for that person). How do you know it's transferring? I don't but I don't think it'll have the power of Sonia Friedman behind it, nor the expense of this staging if they didn't have bigger plans. |
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Post by Rory on Aug 9, 2024 8:21:10 GMT
How do you know it's transferring? I don't but I don't think it'll have the power of Sonia Friedman behind it, nor the expense of this staging if they didn't have bigger plans. Fair enough, you may well be right, although Sonia's involvement doesn't always guarantee a transfer. A Month in the Country at the National and Fun Home at the Young Vic for example, and the two recent plays she did at the Old Vic. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 9, 2024 8:38:06 GMT
Still no poll for this one? Poll added. Once again, requesting a poll in a post without tagging myself or TallPaul is likely to result in delays or in some cases no poll being created at all. We cannot, with the best will in the world, monitor every post in every thread. To tag me use @ admin (no space after @) to tag Paul it’s @ pdc1 ( no space after @) If you’re not comfortable with tagging just send a PM instead. Cheers! |
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Post by Mark on Aug 9, 2024 8:46:48 GMT
Still no poll for this one? Poll added. Once again, requesting a poll in a post without tagging myself or TallPaul is likely to result in delays or in some cases no poll being created at all. We cannot, with the best will in the world, monitor every post in every thread. To tag me use @ admin (no space after @) to tag Paul it’s @ pdc1 ( no space after @) If you’re not comfortable with tagging just send a PM instead. Cheers! I think it was missed because I tagged you two weeks ago and you tagged @tallpaul |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 9, 2024 9:04:13 GMT
Poll added. Once again, requesting a poll in a post without tagging myself or TallPaul is likely to result in delays or in some cases no poll being created at all. We cannot, with the best will in the world, monitor every post in every thread. To tag me use @ admin (no space after @) to tag Paul it’s @ pdc1 ( no space after @) If you’re not comfortable with tagging just send a PM instead. Cheers! I think it was missed because I tagged you two weeks ago and you tagged @tallpaul Apologies, you’re absolutely correct. I was incapacitated at the time, his nibs can answer for himself! 😀 |
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Post by Mark on Aug 9, 2024 9:43:02 GMT
Ye are forgiven  |
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Post by aloysius on Aug 9, 2024 11:34:55 GMT
I don't but I don't think it'll have the power of Sonia Friedman behind it, nor the expense of this staging if they didn't have bigger plans. Fair enough, you may well be right, although Sonia's involvement doesn't always guarantee a transfer. A Month in the Country at the National and Fun Home at the Young Vic for example, and the two recent plays she did at the Old Vic. God I would kill for a transfer of Fun Home. They'd be guaranteed at least one seat sold every night. |
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Post by althea on Aug 9, 2024 22:39:44 GMT
Saw this tonight and went in with low expectations after reading some scathing reviews on here, but BOY was I wrong. It’s a joy. It’s batsh*t bonkers in places but they totally nailed the tone and all of the comedy really landed. Some really great songs that most of the audience were humming as they left. Cast are soooo talented with not a weak link among them. They also work their asses off. Fab choreo and great staging.
Definitely want to catch this again before it closes at the end of the month!
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Post by flouise on Aug 10, 2024 18:06:41 GMT
I saw the matinee this afternoon, I didn't immediately get into it but I did really enjoy myself! I agree that it was absolutely bonkers, but definitely in a good way! I was incredibly impressed by the cast, a phenomenal amount of talent between them.
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 14, 2024 9:28:40 GMT
I'm there tonight.
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Post by theatreghost on Aug 14, 2024 19:37:58 GMT
Eek, this was a painful show to sit through… Besides the cast giving it there all, and some pretty cool floor/screen staging and choreography, I don’t really have much positive feedback to give. This is long, but hear me out… The score: Largely forgettable and throwaway; I highly doubt i’ll be sticking on the cast recording anytime soon. The book: Oh blimey. Act One and Act Two are essentially two separate shows. Without spoiling anything to those who haven’t seen it, let’s just say I enjoyed the chaos of Act Two way more than the first, but that’s not necessarily a compliment! Act One felt like watching an episode of ‘The Sleepover Club’, whereas Act Two takes a curveball and attempts to ‘Heathers’ it up. It just did not gel at all. And the ending - oh the ending. It was the classic case of "gosh we have 5 minutes left, how are we gonna wrap this up?!" with the old-age solution of "ah, don’t worry about it - we’ll make every problem go away in an instant!". I was bewildered. The set: As mentioned, some cool floor screens which I’ve personally not seen in a show before. I actually really liked this. However, the less can be said for the three oblong screens that descend from the rafters and are used for most of the show. From the Circle, the angle of the screens were completely off which resulted in some very wonky faces and unintentional audience laughter. In the more ‘serious’ scenes, it was hard to take the drama on stage seriously when this happened. I’d love to know if anyone from production watched the show from the Circle or above…Lord knows what the view from the Grand Circle was like! The performances: Across the board, the cast were great with the material given to them. However, the Australian accents…well the less said about those the better. However, my BIGGEST grievance has to be about representation and the messages/feelings I at least took away from it. It was fabulous to have a POC lead and trans representation in the cast. More of this diversity please! However, I felt the material demonises the few diverse actors taking on these roles. For example, trans characters are primarily portrayed as bitchy, unlikeable and cruel. Maybe I’m taking this is a little too literally, but it just made me feel a little uncomfortable seeing as that was their ENTIRE character and not a lot more. I also didn’t get the message the show was ultimately trying to convey - Fangirls aren’t crazy, but actually, they are…!? Well this is what it seemed like they were saying in Act Two. The Circle was relatively empty on a Saturday matinee (even with heavily discounted tickets), which is always a shame to see, but can I see this having a life beyond Hammersmith? I don’t think so. This basically sums up my feelings. I’m usually not overly critical with the media I consume but I didn’t get it, and found it a little distasteful at times. I didn’t think it was an overly coherent show either. I liked the character of Salty but that was about it. I feel as though self-proclaimed fangirls (me included) are the ones who didn’t like it so make of that what you will. |
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Post by sleepflower on Aug 17, 2024 17:33:34 GMT
Saw this today and I really enjoyed it! But I have been a fangirl since I was a kid so all the tropes and references were absolutely spot on for me, I laughed my head off. I don't think the songs were the strongest but apart from that it was great fun. The Harry character was so similar to actual Harry Styles it was a bit spooky!
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 18, 2024 12:46:49 GMT
So I saw this Tuesday night.
This was fun! I am from Sydney- born, raised and educated there- and am not (in anyway) a fangirl, however personally, sitting in a small theatre on the other side of the work watching them putting on a concert on Sydney, was somewhat surreal!
Having read the programme, this has evidently had major success in Australia. Personally, I'd never heard of it, until this production and this thread. Possibly, I've been here too long and lost touch a little with smaller shows in Australia.
It was great to see such diversity in this young cast, some of who were making their professional debut.
For me were the standout performances were from Jasmine Elcock as Edna, Michelle Chance as Brianna and Mary Malone as Jules, who was able to draw out just enough bitchiness from her character.
Special mention should go to Max James Hodge for his dancing and it was great to see Gracie McGonigal in something so soon after The Little Big Things.
It was interesting that (at least) two guys dragged up more than once to make it look like there were more females on stage that what there actually were.
The set throughout was minimal, personally, I thought that once the thing got going, the accents were non-existent!
The audience around me though were with the show the whole way, laughing throughout and giving a standing ovation.
I almost snorted with laughter when I saw the cameo from Maria Friedman on screen as a mother crying for her son's return.
As I say, lots of fun.
Maybe this could become the next Heathers?
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Post by khiar on Aug 22, 2024 9:11:30 GMT
As I said earlier, for me, it needs to either go for full-on shocking or a tamer lesson on underestimating fangirls. This is exactly it - I enjoyed a lot of it, but it couldn't decide what it wanted to be. 'Disgusting' is one of the strongest songs, but how can they put a song about teenage girls' low self-esteem right at the point that the protagonist should be reckoning with the fact that the idol she's kidnapped isn't the boy she made up in her head, and she's not actually rescuing him? Are we really supposed to be empathising on her side right then?? It's completely out of place. This could be a horror story, if they only felt like they could cross the line. I loved the first act's portrayal of fan culture, the way it can both comfort and hurt. The way the fans are building Harry up in their mind, using him as an escape from their own issues, treating him as a myth rather than a human being. The second act had a real opportunity to pay that off, and missed it. "Maybe we’re more than silly little girls" - All right, are we going to treat the kidnapping as a real thing that Edna did, rather than a wacky situation she's just somehow found herself in? Let's examine her loneliness and depression and the temporary disconnection with reality that caused her to do this - let's dig in, rather than laugh it off. We all go a little bit mad in high school - that's one of the reasons so many teenagers (and people who used to be teenagers) love Heathers. Take off the kid gloves and let her be a monster for a little bit. Almost makes you want to write your own fanfiction. I'd have a ball script-doctoring this show. |
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Post by ladidah on Aug 22, 2024 11:06:36 GMT
Yes! I wish they had just really gone for it.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 23, 2024 10:10:02 GMT
Seeing this tonight on a rush ticket.
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Post by drmaplewood on Aug 23, 2024 18:13:52 GMT
Went on Wednesday with a very enthusiastic audience (including Courtney Act and Matt Lucas).
This really falls off a cliff in the second half eh? The snappiness and warmth of the first really had me rooting for it but the latter stages dragged so much. A real missed opportunity.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 23, 2024 20:01:22 GMT
Interval: I wish there were more actual girls in the cast.
It feels too much like parody with so much dragging up going on.
And not a particularly affectionate parody at that. There’s barely a sympathetic character in the cast.
The references are very on-the-nose to a particular strain of too-online One Direction fandom, which are only intermittently funny.
The singing is good and Harry’s costume is spot-on, but the songs are not grabbing me.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 23, 2024 22:08:25 GMT
Well I am very much in the minority judging by the audience tonight, but I don’t like it.
The second half really does become a parody - and a mean-spirited one at that. But it tries to have its cake and eat it too - it wants the big fan-affirming ‘teenage girls are great actually’ moments too. For my money, you can’t have both.
And you especially can’t have a real kidnapping, then treat it like a joke, then talk about how fans grief at losing someone they have a parasocial relationship with will feel very real, and at the same time have them be fickle at the end of the show.
Other things that bothered me: if this is meant to be set in the present day, there should be trans boys in the cast, and the band should have been K-pop. The girls should be singing the band’s music in a lot more scenes - we shouldn’t need to be coached on what the ‘big hit’ is as an audience, it should be blimmin’ obvious by the time you get to the interval. And the other boys on the band should be a lot more present - half the point of a boyband is that all the girls in a friend group can have a different fave, so they are bonding over their squeeing rather than competing.
And there needs to be more joy in the squeeing!!
Oh, and the band’s songs need to be better.
Get a hook in there. They need to be annoyingly catchy.
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Post by kathryn on Aug 23, 2024 22:42:37 GMT
. I wonder if the ones who weren't keen aren't someone who ever experienced manufactured pop or were fans? The humour of the show is something which I loved but understand it's not for everyone. I think I disliked it because I am a certified fangirl of ‘manufactured’ pop (I do loathe that term - either all music is manufactured or none of it is) and this show just seems to have contempt for it and for people like me. The ‘sincere’ bits feel like they’re meant to be laughed at as much as the over-the-top bits. |
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Post by badlydrawnhamster on Aug 23, 2024 22:51:36 GMT
I saw this about a month ago and really enjoyed it, I do agree with those who have commented on the tonal shift in the second half, and that second half not being as good as the first, but I still thought it was packed with great songs and some very funny moments. I did get pretty cheap tickets though (I can't quite remember how much they were, but it was around £20), so might have thought differently if I'd paid West End prices to see it.
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Post by tmesis on Aug 25, 2024 12:04:13 GMT
Caught yesterday’s matinee of this. Everyone seemed to be loving it but I thought it was absolutely ghastly.
Contemplated leaving at the interval but thought it might improve - it didn’t. It got much worse.
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 25, 2024 14:26:31 GMT
I absolutely hated the second half of this - I cannot like a story which involves a kidnapping, and then makes light of it with no consequences. Most of the characters (especially the lead) come off as either annoying, or unpleasant (or in the case of the lead - both). That said, I did find Mary Malone to be very funny. Thomas Grant (who I thought was brilliant in Cursed Child) was the best part of the show for me.
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