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Post by ix on Jan 29, 2024 15:24:50 GMT
The only reason I lasted until the interval before leaving was that I was mid-stalls with no way out. This is REALLY bad, to the extent that I was squirming in my seat feeling sorry for the cast with the nonsense they were being asked to perform. Can't fault the music, but the whole thing felt like a self-congratulatory, white-saviour cringe TED talk put on by a sixth-form drama class at the end of term. How it got beyond a workshop stage is beyond me. Wooden acting, unbelievable dialogue, endless monologues to the audience, everyone rushing stage front at the end of seemingly every semi-song to punch the air. It was relentless cliche after cliche. This feels like a serious misfire for The Old Vic. Sad to hear about the wooden acting at the Old Vic… but some of the older actors are highly experienced. National and RSC level. But it’s all down to personal opinion. I wasn't faulting the cast for any of it (they were incredible, considering) – it's the concept, script and the direction that I think are at fault here. An actor can only ever work with what they're given. |
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Post by toomasj on Jan 29, 2024 15:30:06 GMT
Good Lord this was absolutely ghastly. I thought it was preachy and vulgar in its sensibilities. As a one off concert production, with 100% of profits going to charity it could’ve worked. There is something incredibly distasteful about the whole evening. It lectures but doesn’t inform, it patronises without having clear intentions. 10% of ticket sales go to charity - wow. A token nod to being morally superior.
I genuinely rank this below Mamma Mia, Viva Forever! and I Should Be So Lucky in artistic merit. Those shows take hit songs and weave a story - however feeble - around them and incorporate aspects and themes of the songs into the narrative. This show - a poor concert with completely unwanted moralising makes a mockery of Live Aid’s legacy.
I felt genuinely angry watching this; I only stayed to the end in order to counteract predictable complaints that I didn’t “get it” or give it a fair chance.
This is absolute bottom of the barrel stuff. I wouldn’t call it a new low - because I’ve seen Thriller Live - but this was unbearable to watch. Awful.
0*
(Oh and I didn’t even think the singing was anything special either, which I was hoping might salvage some enjoyment from the evening).
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 29, 2024 16:12:52 GMT
Poll added
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Post by n1david on Jan 29, 2024 16:15:34 GMT
It appears there may need to be a 'zero' option for this one... |
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Post by toomasj on Jan 29, 2024 16:21:06 GMT
It appears there may need to be a 'zero' option for this one... I’ve gone with what feels like a very generous 1* as a protest vote  |
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 29, 2024 16:25:53 GMT
Sad you think it's bottom of the barrel but I can completely understand why.
It's so disappointing because there's evidently a really good way of telling the story in there somewhere - they just...haven't found it.
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Post by ceebee on Jan 29, 2024 16:35:53 GMT
Good Lord this was absolutely ghastly. I thought it was preachy and vulgar in its sensibilities. As a one off concert production, with 100% of profits going to charity it could’ve worked. There is something incredibly distasteful about the whole evening. It lectures but doesn’t inform, it patronises without having clear intentions. 10% of ticket sales go to charity - wow. A token nod to being morally superior. I genuinely rank this below Mamma Mia, Viva Forever! and I Should Be So Lucky in artistic merit. Those shows take hit songs and weave a story - however feeble - around them and incorporate aspects and themes of the songs into the narrative. This show - a poor concert with completely unwanted moralising makes a mockery of Live Aid’s legacy. I felt genuinely angry watching this; I only stayed to the end in order to counteract predictable complaints that I didn’t “get it” or give it a fair chance. This is absolute bottom of the barrel stuff. I wouldn’t call it a new low - because I’ve seen Thriller Live - but this was unbearable to watch. Awful. 0* (Oh and I didn’t even think the singing was anything special either, which I was hoping might salvage some enjoyment from the evening). I don't think you got this. Just give it a fair chance. |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 29, 2024 17:07:55 GMT
I wasn’t even born (in a country 2500 miles away) when Live Aid ‘85 happened but I loved the show! So I don’t believe it comes down to age.. I was with two friends who, being older, remember the day and exact place where they were listening or watching. I only got to see the recorded version about 15 years ago but it had a tremendous effect on me and needless to say I dig this kind if music much more than contemporary stuff. It was pretty emotional.. I cried a lot, wanted to sing in full voice and jump off my seat more times than I could count. And I can’t wait to hear that version of Blowing in the wind again! I found the whole thing endlessly inspiring and getting to know how it came about was much more entertaining than reading Wikipedia. The actor playing Geldof really impressed me with how well he did the mannerism and phasing of the famous lines. Mrs. T/Mr.G battling duo was hilarious! Oh yeah, that version of Blowing In The Wind was haunting - I liked how the video box used the burnt orange colour to symbolise the heat/famine (at least that was my interpretation). As impactful in its own way as the use of the red light in the second half of Sunset Boulevard. One thing I'd love to know is whether Margaret had difficulty with the whisky decanter on the Saturday night, as on Friday she couldn't remove the stopper from the neck of the decanter and just gave up saying "It's a bit tight" and giving a beady eyed smirk to a slightly confused Bob! |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 29, 2024 21:59:38 GMT
I don't think you got this. Just give it a fair chance. I'm confused by this comment. Surely toomasj gave the show a fair chance by going to see it once? Expecting someone to sit through a show they dislike on first viewing more than once on the off-chance they suddenly like it on a subsequent viewing seems unreasonable. |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 30, 2024 7:37:40 GMT
I don't think you got this. Just give it a fair chance. I'm confused by this comment. Surely toomasj gave the show a fair chance by going to see it once? Expecting someone to sit through a show they dislike on first viewing more than once on the off-chance they suddenly like it on a subsequent viewing seems unreasonable. Looks like toomasj got the humour even if you didn't. |
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Post by luvvie23 on Jan 30, 2024 8:22:08 GMT
Saw the show last night. Felt a bit too early in previews to fully judge. But the second act really took off. I really liked the organisation of the concert. And I thought Joel Montague, Danielle Steers and Ashley Campbell opened the second act with brilliant performances at the beginning of the second act. Which set the tone for the rest of the show. There were a lot of leading actors playing secondary roles. I will have to see it again. And I look forward to seeing the improvement.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 30, 2024 8:47:35 GMT
Posts removed. Anyone having a problem with another member or their posts should use the report feature and let the moderators review. Trying to police the thread by making comments is more likely to cause arguments than help.
If you just don’t like a members style of posting but no rule break has happened please use the block feature FAQ #17 here.
Thank you.
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Post by ceebee on Jan 30, 2024 9:34:52 GMT
Saw the show last night. Felt a bit too early in previews to fully judge. But the second act really took off. I really liked the organisation of the concert. And I thought Joel Montague, Danielle Steers and Ashley Campbell opened the second act with brilliant performances at the beginning of the second act. Which set the tone for the rest of the show. There were a lot of leading actors playing secondary roles. I will have to see it again. And I look forward to seeing the improvement. I agree - I thought Joel Montague was electric at the start of the second act. Really injected some energy into the show and played the role to a tee! It's a brilliant way to open after the interval. |
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Post by ShoreditchTom on Jan 30, 2024 11:44:42 GMT
I also really enjoyed this last night, great performances from the cast and band!
I do think it relies very heavily on leaning into nostalgia for the Live Aid era - ie the recognition by the audience of various characters and/or famous scenes to do with Live Aid (which are almost universally played with humour and slight embellishment) - that brings the audience in and builds the warm heartedness I think.
It reminds me of Dear England in that respect (although I appreciate that isn't a musical!)
But that does mean you need a vague recollection of the time to get the various cultural references. My friend who accompanied me wasn't in the UK during that era so found the whole plot (such as it is) very flat / boring.
A generally older crowd last night with a bit of air drumming and air guitar on my row from the men (plus Dear England style naming of the various famous characters at full conversational volume every time they appeared) and lots of Prosecco drinking and "I know dear" and "ummm hmms" from the (long suffering?) women 😂
The age of the audience last night does match the "young at the time of Live Aid" demographic - not sure this will be a hit with the youngsters - but hey the oldies have the money so I think this could actually do very well and have a bit of a life beyond this run.
Bit of a missed opp to not collect for charity on the way out though?
Also noticed the website lists two Bobs - Craige Els who we had last night and was excellent and also Eddie Man - is that right, is one an alternate / walking cover?
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Post by viserys on Jan 30, 2024 12:13:42 GMT
What / how much is Danielle Steers singing in the show?
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Post by ceebee on Jan 30, 2024 12:50:45 GMT
I also really enjoyed this last night, great performances from the cast and band! I do think it relies very heavily on leaning into nostalgia for the Live Aid era - ie the recognition by the audience of various characters and/or famous scenes to do with Live Aid (which are almost universally played with humour and slight embellishment) - that brings the audience in and builds the warm heartedness I think. It reminds me of Dear England in that respect (although I appreciate that isn't a musical!) But that does mean you need a vague recollection of the time to get the various cultural references. My friend who accompanied me wasn't in the UK during that era so found the whole plot (such as it is) very flat / boring. A generally older crowd last night with a bit of air drumming and air guitar on my row from the men (plus Dear England style naming of the various famous characters at full conversational volume every time they appeared) and lots of Prosecco drinking and "I know dear" and "ummm hmms" from the (long suffering?) women 😂 The age of the audience last night does match the "young at the time of Live Aid" demographic - not sure this will be a hit with the youngsters - but hey the oldies have the money so I think this could actually do very well and have a bit of a life beyond this run. Bit of a missed opp to not collect for charity on the way out though? Also noticed the website lists two Bobs - Craige Els who we had last night and was excellent and also Eddie Man - is that right, is one an alternate / walking cover? Craige Els is Bob, Eddie Man is understudy Bob. It's quite a demanding part (in the context of the show) so perhaps they have planned for a regular alternate. |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 30, 2024 12:56:01 GMT
What / how much is Danielle Steers singing in the show? Danielle Steers is Marsha (one of the main characters) - I can't remember how many songs she sang on but she is one of the busier members of the cast. I'm seeing it again this evening so will try to make a mental note for you. Her performance was great on Friday (but I'm probably biased as I like her voice and range). |
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Post by luvvie23 on Jan 30, 2024 13:00:33 GMT
What / how much is Danielle Steers singing in the show? She sings quite a bit. And is so great in the show. As is the actor (who was in Company) she plays opposite. They sing dancing in the streets. |
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Post by rumbledoll on Jan 30, 2024 18:49:39 GMT
Bit of a missed opp to not collect for charity on the way out though? I was almost sure they’d do a charity collection at the end.. the show screamed it. Although if I was the one making decisions I would set up a lil merchandise shop inside to sell some souvenirs (like they did for Xmas Carol) to collect for charity, t-shirts with Live Aid logo perhaps, they clearly have corresponding rights as it’s used in the show. I’d buy one!  |
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 30, 2024 19:02:20 GMT
What / how much is Danielle Steers singing in the show? She sings quite a bit. And is so great in the show. As is the actor (who was in Company) she plays opposite. They sing dancing in the streets. Apart from the fact he can't hit any of the top notes in Dancing In The Street but I get your point 😂 |
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Post by toomasj on Jan 30, 2024 19:04:38 GMT
She sings quite a bit. And is so great in the show. As is the actor (who was in Company) she plays opposite. They sing dancing in the streets. Apart from the fact he can't hit any of the top notes in Dancing In The Street but I get your point 😂 This, I thought she was dreadful personally but maybe just a bad night. I really didn’t think the cast were that good in my opinion, but my mood was foul after the first 30 minutes |
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Post by ShoreditchTom on Jan 30, 2024 19:08:50 GMT
Bit of a missed opp to not collect for charity on the way out though? I was almost sure they’d do a charity collection at the end.. the show screamed it. Although if I was the one making decisions I would set up a lil merchandise shop inside to sell some souvenirs (like they did for Xmas Carol) to collect for charity, t-shirts with Live Aid logo perhaps, they clearly have corresponding rights as it’s used in the show. I’d buy one! They could have staff collecting in "Give us your f***ing money" t-shirts 😀 |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 30, 2024 20:40:28 GMT
Looks like toomasj got the humour even if you didn't. I'm sorry but I still don't understand. Why is telling someone they didn't give a show a fair chance humorous? |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jan 30, 2024 20:46:21 GMT
Looks like toomasj got the humour even if you didn't. I'm sorry but I still don't understand. Why is telling someone they didn't give a show a fair chance humorous? Did you read the person's post who ceebee was replying to? |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 30, 2024 20:50:23 GMT
I'm sorry but I still don't understand. Why is telling someone they didn't give a show a fair chance humorous? Did you read the person's post who ceebee was replying to? Yes. They saw & strongly disliked the show. That's why I don't understand why they were then told to give the show a fair chance & why that is supposed to be amusing. |
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