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Post by dontdreamit on Sept 5, 2018 17:10:42 GMT
I had my first ever show stop this afternoon at Bat!
After Out Of The Frying Pan, the house lights went up and a message came over that Danielle Steers had become indisposed, and Emily Benjamin was going to come on in her place. After about ten mins, they restarted and she came on straight into 2 Out Of 3. Quite a few people stood up at the end when she came on at the end during the bows which I thought was really nice.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2018 23:13:05 GMT
Saw this tonight. One of the worst things i have seen in a VERY long time.
Whoever wrote the book, if there really was one, makes Ben Elton look like a serious Dramatist.
The choreography?? Wow. Probably the worst i've ever seen on a professional stage.
The understudy for Strat was a good musical theatre performer. But Rock singer?? Definitely not.
Yes some of it was sung really well, and it had some nice effects but that's about it.
A question: Why was there a guy with a video camera filming in Raven's bedroom in a few scenes, but not in all of them? Was the usual camera not working??
And why did Falco jump in the pool?? Because he could??
The centre stalls was 3/4 full but alot of empty seats around the sides. Thankfully the couple in front of me didnt return after the interval because he had a huge head and kept moving it from side to side every 5 minutes.
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Post by showtoones on Sept 7, 2018 0:13:46 GMT
Seems that the role of Strat is being shared 4 and 4 now based on the schedule on the website. Wonder why they just don’t get equal billing between the two of them now?
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Post by danb on Sept 7, 2018 12:34:06 GMT
Saw this tonight. One of the worst things i have seen in a VERY long time. Whoever wrote the book, if there really was one, makes Ben Elton look like a serious Dramatist. The choreography?? Wow. Probably the worst i've ever seen on a professional stage. The understudy for Strat was a good musical theatre performer. But Rock singer?? Definitely not. Yes some of it was sung really well, and it had some nice effects but that's about it. A question: Why was there a guy with a video camera filming in Raven's bedroom in a few scenes, but not in all of them? Was the usual camera not working?? And why did Falco jump in the pool?? Because he could?? The centre stalls was 3/4 full but alot of empty seats around the sides. Thankfully the couple in front of me didnt return after the interval because he had a huge head and kept moving it from side to side every 5 minutes. You appear to be looking for a linear narrative and reasons why. I’m sorry, the cupboard is bare. The answer is ‘It just is’. 1. The filming stuff was (I think) driven by people not being able to see into Ravens bedroom so they decided to project it. Not really a problem at the Dominion which is why it isn’t done for every scene. 2. Falco is forced to jump in by one of the Lost, to attone for all of the terrible things that he has done (which then appear to be totally forgotten and forgiven two minutes later). Who was the Strat? Si Gordon or the new fella Barney? |
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Post by l0islane on Sept 7, 2018 13:01:12 GMT
A question: Why was there a guy with a video camera filming in Raven's bedroom in a few scenes, but not in all of them? Was the usual camera not working?? And why did Falco jump in the pool?? Because he could?? The centre stalls was 3/4 full but alot of empty seats around the sides. Thankfully the couple in front of me didnt return after the interval because he had a huge head and kept moving it from side to side every 5 minutes. You appear to be looking for a linear narrative and reasons why. I’m sorry, the cupboard is bare. The answer is ‘It just is’. 2. Falco is forced to jump in by one of the Lost, to attone for all of the terrible things that he has done (which then appear to be totally forgotten and forgiven two minutes later). There's an interview on YouTube somewhere where Rob Fowler talks about the pool, it seems like it was originally built (at great expense) for a stunt much earlier in the show (before 'Who Needs the Young?') which was cut. They had spent so much on the pool that they needed to do something with it so shortly before the show opened they came up with the idea of having Falco jump in/out of it as a kind of re-baptism!! If you notice when he comes out he doesn't have his scar anymore - he's a changed man!! (It's ridiculous but it's also one of favourite moments!). But yes don't look for any of it to actually make sense! |
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Post by martello736 on Sept 7, 2018 14:04:55 GMT
And why did Falco jump in the pool?? Because he could?? Falco jumps in the pool so that when he comes out with less clothes on and dripping wet, hundreds of middle-aged women will hyperventilate  |
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 7, 2018 14:20:15 GMT
And why did Falco jump in the pool?? Because he could?? Falco jumps in the pool so that when he comes out with less clothes on and dripping wet, hundreds of middle-aged women will hyperventilate Please change that to “middle-aged people”, I am not a woman  |
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Post by martello736 on Sept 7, 2018 14:56:16 GMT
Falco jumps in the pool so that when he comes out with less clothes on and dripping wet, hundreds of middle-aged women will hyperventilate Please change that to “middle-aged people”, I am not a woman I'm very sorry. I'm also not middle-aged and I hyperventilate, so maybe that should just be "people". I can't edit it any more but everyone knows the allure of Rob Fowler is not limited to just women or people of a certain age |
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 7, 2018 16:22:42 GMT
Please change that to “middle-aged people”, I am not a woman I'm very sorry. I'm also not middle-aged and I hyperventilate, so maybe that should just be "people". I can't edit it any more but everyone knows the allure of Rob Fowler is not limited to just women or people of a certain age Yes, it’s foolish to try to limit the range of people who find Rob Fowler attractive |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 16:30:30 GMT
I'm very sorry. I'm also not middle-aged and I hyperventilate, so maybe that should just be "people". I can't edit it any more but everyone knows the allure of Rob Fowler is not limited to just women or people of a certain age Yes, it’s foolish to try to limit the range of people who find Rob Fowler attractive I don't. |
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Post by longinthetooth on Sept 7, 2018 17:44:19 GMT
Yes, it’s foolish to try to limit the range of people who find Rob Fowler attractive I don't. Neither do I. |
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Post by Stephen on Sept 7, 2018 23:32:57 GMT
I visited the bat for the first time this evening. Stalls G4 (far right) is a good seat at £25 and although it is a side view the rake and slant of the stage mean that not too much is missed. I did move to a better seat at the interval as the gentleman behind me chatted and sang the whole way through the first half. He was clearly very excited but it got really annoying! I agree with what has been said before with regards to the silly choreography and tissue paper-thin plot. The cast really delivered despite this and the energy was very high throughout the show. As many of you know I get a little put off by loud noises but I think because the show is VERY loud from the start I felt fine. I jumped only once at the start of the second act but most people around me did too! Question: Do all of the leads sing live throughout? There were times when it was very obvious they were (Strat in the title song for example) but other times they seemed not to breathe much! The main point I noticed this at was the scene with the car in the first half. Perhaps the staging makes it difficult. I might be completely wrong. {Spoiler - click to view}
The "special effects" really impressed me even though I saw some of them coming. I'd imagine the bike exploding into pieces looks really effective from the central stalls or circle seats. It was still a nice effect from where I was seated though.
I saw the bats eyes for about five minutes before they came on from the tunnel but it was still a really neat effect and from where I was sat looked realistic!
Also, the car running into the pit was excellent and I genuinely believed that the conductor was distressed for a second. I found this a lot funnier than the rest of the audience! Overall I had a really good time! |
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Post by alison on Sept 8, 2018 8:14:35 GMT
Question: Do all of the leads sing live throughout? There were times when it was very obvious they were (Strat in the title song for example) but other times they seemed not to breathe much! The main point I noticed this at was the scene with the car in the first half. Perhaps the staging makes it difficult. I might be completely wrong. Yes, they do. I would assume that they use click track vocals to enhance the ensemble in the dance heavy numbers, like many shows do, but the leads are all live.
To be fair, the start of act two makes me jump sometimes, and I know it's coming. Same with the start of act one if I'm busy chatting and not watching Strat.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2018 9:51:58 GMT
Ditto re the start of Act 2. In fact despite being a massive fan I really don’t like the Act 2 opener. Find it a really unpleasant song and just overly aggressive. Wish they’d change it.
The only other song I don’t really care for is Who Needs The Young. But prob wouldn’t remove it unless replaced it as the more Sloane sings the better for me.
Do find after the opener it’s a slow start. Then when they finally get in to Out Of The Frying Pan it’s amazing - one hit after another!
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Post by david on Sept 8, 2018 9:58:26 GMT
I’m not a big fan of the Act 2 opener myself. Though I wish they had included Not A Dry Eye In The House in the show.
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Post by danb on Sept 8, 2018 10:00:45 GMT
Ditto re the start of Act 2. In fact despite being a massive fan I really don’t like the Act 2 opener. Find it a really unpleasant song and just overly aggressive. Wish they’d change it. The only other song I don’t really care for is Who Needs The Young. But prob wouldn’t remove it unless replaced it as the more Sloane sings the better for me. Do find after the opener it’s a slow start. Then when they finally get in to Out Of The Frying Pan it’s amazing - one hit after another! Couldn’t agree more. ‘Who needs the young’ could be half the length and still get the message across. ‘Pig’ whilst exciting & flashy, sounds like an Iron Maiden album track. I think ‘Original Sin’ would work a lot better here and is an excellent tune. |
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 8, 2018 16:40:16 GMT
I’m not a big fan of the Act 2 opener myself. Though I wish they had included Not A Dry Eye In The House in the show. Bit unlikely in a show by Jim Steinman |
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Post by david on Sept 8, 2018 16:47:11 GMT
I’m not a big fan of the Act 2 opener myself. Though I wish they had included Not A Dry Eye In The House in the show. Bit unlikely in a show by Jim Steinman I don’t know why, but I always assumed it was written by JS and not someone else. At least it clears up the mystery as to why it wasn’t in the show. |
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 8, 2018 16:52:09 GMT
Bit unlikely in a show by Jim Steinman I don’t know why, but I always assumed it was written by JS and not someone else. At least it clears up the mystery as to why it wasn’t in the show. Nah, it’s a Steinman copy by Diane Warren, along with “I’d Lie for You (And That’s The Truth)”. As a Steinman fan I shouldn’t like them, as she totally ripped off his style... but I secretly do |
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 8, 2018 16:56:46 GMT
“Who Needs The Young” is an awful song, and as mentioned above, really holds up the show at the beginning. Won’t be cut though as it is one of the very first songs Steinman ever wrote, so I think he has a soft spot for it. Of course, it also crops up in Tanz der Vampire!
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Post by Stephen on Sept 9, 2018 9:37:06 GMT
Ditto re the start of Act 2. In fact despite being a massive fan I really don’t like the Act 2 opener. Find it a really unpleasant song and just overly aggressive. Wish they’d change it. The only other song I don’t really care for is Who Needs The Young. But prob wouldn’t remove it unless replaced it as the more Sloane sings the better for me. Do find after the opener it’s a slow start. Then when they finally get in to Out Of The Frying Pan it’s amazing - one hit after another! I agree with you. It went on a bit too long too. I don't squirm easily at things but the hanging bodies made me feel a bit off after a few minutes. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 12:24:01 GMT
“Who Needs The Young” is an awful song, and as mentioned above, really holds up the show at the beginning. Won’t be cut though as it is one of the very first songs Steinman ever wrote, so I think he has a soft spot for it. Of course, it also crops up in Tanz der Vampire! Ha, if it's already in Tanz, they REALLY could remove it from Bat. (Or if songs can be in both, add Total Eclipse to Bat!) But yes can't see it happening. Shame for such a pacy show to have such a slow start. Not only is it slow but for me I don't really like the melody or the sentiment of the song. They cut the wrong songs IMO. Just Won't Quit while slow is a haunting melody I think and sets up the theme of unrequited lust up quite nicely. I also like Good Girls Go To Heaven but that had already gone by the time I saw it in Manchester. Can anyone recall it's context? |
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Post by danb on Sept 9, 2018 13:23:00 GMT
Sloane & Zahara took Raven out to a nightclub I think and they sang it getting ready/going/whilst there. It was a while ago though!
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 9, 2018 13:27:56 GMT
“Who Needs The Young” is an awful song, and as mentioned above, really holds up the show at the beginning. Won’t be cut though as it is one of the very first songs Steinman ever wrote, so I think he has a soft spot for it. Of course, it also crops up in Tanz der Vampire! Ha, if it's already in Tanz, they REALLY could remove it from Bat. (Or if songs can be in both, add Total Eclipse to Bat!) ’Objects in the Rear View Mirror...’ is in both shows, in full! I really can’t! It was long ago, and it was far away, oh god it seems so very far.... |
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Post by viserys on Sept 9, 2018 15:14:14 GMT
Ha, if it's already in Tanz, they REALLY could remove it from Bat. (Or if songs can be in both, add Total Eclipse to Bat!) ’Objects in the Rear View Mirror...’ is in both shows, in full!
Not really though... Krolock's "lament" in the second act borrows from it and re-uses 2-3 lines, but it's mostly new lyrics and lots of pompous drivel lecturing the audience on modern greed. Sadly it still stands out as the best song because most others are even worse, including Total Eclipse being sung in typical squeaky-girlie-musical-performer style that doesn't get anywhere near Bonnie Tyler's brilliance. I never liked Tanz der Vampire to begin with, but seeing it again after seeing "Bat" and witnessing how brilliantly Steinman can be done on stage, I actively hated it. The only time you really hear Steinman is after the show is done and the cast rocks out to "Tonight is what it means to be young" (only half-ruined by weird twitchy choreography with jerky movements that belong to zombies, not to vampires).
That said, I agree with the other sentiments, "Who needs the young" grinds Bat to a halt far too early on after the great opening and I still mourn the loss of "It just won't quit" that gets the central love story off to a much better start.
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