Promises, Promises @ Southwark Playhouse (from Jan 2017)

Some reviewers have commented on the misogyny and how dated this work is; even saying the director should somehow have highlighted and challenged this. I can't speak from experience as I've yet to see the show, but I'm wondering what they could reasonably have expected, given how old it now is and the era in which it is set?

Surely putting on a production isn't necessarily endorsing the attitudes depicted in the play or musical? We don't, for instance, criticise characters in plays set in the past because they resort to duels to resolve love triangles or defend besmirched honour. It's not what we do now but it was normal at the time.

You could be right, xanderl; not seen the film but happy to take your word re the dark tone. The disapproving comments I've seen seem to imply that by producing this musical, the director is endorsing the attitudes depicted, but since when did one follow from the other? And it's a period piece - try to re-write it for modern mores and not only would you have nothing left but recent work has covered that ground successfully, e.g. The Truth by Florian Zeller.

For further sake of completeness, Evening Standard also ran an article about Gemma Arterton attending press night and being given a flower by a fan, and both The Sun and The Daily Star ran an article about a WAG tuning up without any underwear on... (I kid you not). No publicity is bad publicity and all that. 

I'd advise everyone to wear their underwear. It's not very warm in there.

Hope they don't have a fire alarm, then!

Wow. How did you get to Kings Cross so quickly?

Synchrony, we were at the same show! You can't cut Turkey Lurkey Time, it's an iconic dance number, the number that represented the show at the Tony Awards - but it needs great choreography and sensational dancers which it didn't get at Southwark, though they gave it a good shot. I agree with you about Sheldrake's song - it feels like the guy's a major character, he has to have a song, kind of thing. But I didn't think this particular actor brought much to the role in any case.

Certainly agree with you about Gabriel Vick and Daisy Maywood in the leads, both wonderful. Also loved John Guerrasio as Doc Dreyfus and, especially, Alex Young as Marge.  What a gift of a role that is and she played it to the hilt, just about stealing the show. I thought the show really held up; Neil Simon's book is clever and funny and handles the second act drama extremely well, taking the situation seriously but never letting up on the jokes. Plus, Burt Bacharach's score is a gem - what a shame he never again ventured back to Broadway.

I did think the production let the show down somewhat. It needed to be slicker and smoother, more pace, more energy. It needed a bigger cast to make those dance numbers work. It's a difficult show to bring off in a fringe theatre and I think that came through. More directorial imagination might have helped.

Still, I enjoyed it. I could happily go back and watch it again.

I was at the back, E37, near the guy who was taping the show for posterity. Don't know how I missed that jacket but I did. Would love to have met you too! Next time.

Saw this yesterday and had a most enjoyable afternoon. I've liked Gabriel Vick ever since seeing him in a little night music - he has great comic timing as well as a lovely voice. Daisy Maywood as Fran nicely underplayed and Alex Young and John Guerrasio were splendid as Marge and the doctor.

Several comments have been made about the clunky set changes: either they have got better or I'm not so bothered, as I felt all the furniture moving was quite smooth. The doors were a bit wobbly, but hey, it's a fringe venue, so you can't expect everything.

I was interested to see if the youngster in our party (who had no knowledge of "The Apartment" film) would find it dated or be misogynistic, but she didn't - quite capable of accepting that it was a show set in the far distant past of the sixties!

I only wore it when entering and exiting the auditorium! During the show it was stuffed under my chair. I have a fear that it may interfere with performances in small venues in some way otherwise (I don't know exactly what I'm imagining, but I once inadvertently ruined someone's photos of an event because my coat was on the back of a chair and the reflective panels did strange things when the camera flash went off).

Also - it's for safety reasons when cycling. Not fashion. Just getting that in there ;-)

Ok cast....way too long....and really badly directed

Saw the matinee today and really enjoyed it. Total run time was 2hr 45m. No idea where they shaved the time.

Gabriel Vick and Daisy Maywood we're fantastic in lead roles. Daisy ha such an effortless, yet very powerful and pure singing voice. Great supporting cast especially the other top leads playing the doctor and bar fly.

The audience seemed perfectly happy with the theme and at one point booed/hissed Sheldrake for his comments about commitment. Maybe they were all secretly booing Trump.

In some ways the story line works better today as we see through the male contingent. When it first came out some might have questioned why it appeared to put married men down out for a good time.

No wobbly doors just a wobbly plant that fell over and deposited its soil across the stage for most of first half despite best efforts of cast members to clear it up whilst performing.

My better half loved the show and two main leads. She would probably give it 5 stars. I'd give it 4.