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Post by hannechalk on Sept 21, 2018 18:11:49 GMT
Oh good old Linzi. A little heavy handed with the apostrophe but she was probably slightly alarmed that her sons look more like her husband and brother-in-law. I guess they knew the risk of getting a Mrs J who is around the same real age as the actors playing her sons. |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 21, 2018 20:23:43 GMT
The only thing older than her sons is the set.
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Post by Seriously on Sept 21, 2018 21:15:46 GMT
"I wish I was our Sammy
Our Sammy's nearly 50".
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 21:33:02 GMT
Beyond me how people can call Chicago tired when this tour is still going round.
I ADORE Linzi Hateley (and her presence could almost tempt me back) but this production was beyond cheap 20 years ago and as for the casting of such old people playing teenagers....
Blood Brothers is a decent show and if ever a musical was crying out for a new production, it's this one.
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Post by drowseychap on Sept 22, 2018 0:30:23 GMT
Beyond me how people can call Chicago tired when this tour is still going round. I ADORE Linzi Hateley (and her presence could almost tempt me back) but this production was beyond cheap 20 years ago and as for the casting of such old people playing teenagers.... Blood Brothers is a decent show and if ever a musical was crying out for a new production, it's this one. Totally agree have seen it 55 times since 1993 ish .... and love it but really needs and deserves some tlc ... a new production a refresh through fresh eyes 👀 and a new set that old broadway set must be patched beyond repair now |
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 22, 2018 1:34:24 GMT
Blood brothers doesn’t need a set, in fact if it is worn out it’s part of the story! The text, lyrics and story is so strong even without. Whoever goes to B.B. and says wow the set was great? No one....
As for adults playing children - if they are 20, 30, 40 or 50 - they are still adults playing children and requires a suspension of disbelief from the audience and imaginatio awyway.
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Post by Seriously on Sept 22, 2018 12:02:53 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats.
The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 12:31:23 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats. The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator? Maybe Grenfell wasn't the best example to use.
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 22, 2018 12:32:35 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats. The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator? Why should the narrator be black or Asian if it’s been played by a white man for the last 20/30 years? That is the casting! Why not make Mary Poppins a one legged tranny from Moldova with a lisp? No.... because that is the casting - a white English rose brown haired white skinned English nanny figure from the early 20th century! |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 22, 2018 12:35:51 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats. The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator? Why should the narrator be black or Asian if it’s been played by a white man for the last 20/30 years? That is the casting! Why not make Mary Poppins a one legged tranny from Moldova with a lisp? No.... because that is the casting - a white English rose brown haired white skinned English nanny figure from the early 20th century! Are you a comedy account? Does it say in the script "A white middle-aged man walks forward"? He can be anything you want him to be. And why are you banging on about Mary Poppins? Up your meds dear. |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 22, 2018 12:36:18 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats. The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator? Maybe Grenfell wasn't the best example to use.
"Grenfell style" |
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Post by martello736 on Sept 22, 2018 19:34:12 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats. The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator? Why should the narrator be black or Asian if it’s been played by a white man for the last 20/30 years? That is the casting! Why not make Mary Poppins a one legged tranny from Moldova with a lisp? No.... because that is the casting - a white English rose brown haired white skinned English nanny figure from the early 20th century! Can you hear yourself? In what way is "let's colour blind cast a role that we've refused to let non-white people play for no logical reason for 3 decades" on the same level as "let's list as many things as possible that I think are ridiculous for the purposes of trying to create a badly thought out putdown?" As an actual real life tranny (who has been to Moldova - it rained the whole time) I can tell you that there has never been an openly trans cast member in a West End show before. Ever. So this "please someone save us 'normals' from the scourge of minorities taking all of our roles talk" is just you trying to create a narrative out of something you've imagined. Give me an umbrella and some pointy shoes and let me sing Feed the Birds and you'll be a quarter of the way to a point. Until then you're just an incoherent bigot. |
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Post by Roxie on Sept 22, 2018 20:53:59 GMT
Jeeeeez guys! Lighten up! It's a musical! I don't give a single crap what colour skin a performer has in a show, as long as they're a good actor! There's people of colour playing all sorts of different roles all over the west end and if they're good at what they doing, it doesn't matter a jot. I see no reason why Mary Poppins couldn't be black or asian. Or any other role for that matter. But lets leave casting decisions to the casting directors eh? And if you don't agree with their decisions, vote with your feet and don't go.
I'm aware it's very very easy for me as a white woman to say colour doesn't matter. because I've never known what it's like to be judged for my skin colour. However, I think judging someone's worth purely based on the amount of melanin in their skin is the stupidest thing in the world and I wish it didn't happen.
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Post by theatreian on Sept 22, 2018 21:30:34 GMT
Getting back to Blood Brothers as long as their Liverpool accent is believable ( as a scouser myself) then they can be whoever they like. As long as their performance is good then that's all I ask.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 21:46:22 GMT
Why should the narrator be black or Asian if it’s been played by a white man for the last 20/30 years? That is the casting! Why not make Mary Poppins a one legged tranny from Moldova with a lisp? No.... because that is the casting - a white English rose brown haired white skinned English nanny figure from the early 20th century! Can you hear yourself? In what way is "let's colour blind cast a role that we've refused to let non-white people play for no logical reason for 3 decades" on the same level as "let's list as many things as possible that I think are ridiculous for the purposes of trying to create a badly thought out putdown?" As an actual real life tranny (who has been to Moldova - it rained the whole time) I can tell you that there has never been an openly trans cast member in a West End show before. Ever. So this "please someone save us 'normals' from the scourge of minorities taking all of our roles talk" is just you trying to create a narrative out of something you've imagined. Give me an umbrella and some pointy shoes and let me sing Feed the Birds and you'll be a quarter of the way to a point. Until then you're just an incoherent bigot. First time I’ve ever felt compelled to give a post a standing ovation. Fantastic point well made. |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 22, 2018 22:12:04 GMT
Beyond me how people can call Chicago tired when this tour is still going round. I ADORE Linzi Hateley (and her presence could almost tempt me back) but this production was beyond cheap 20 years ago and as for the casting of such old people playing teenagers.... Blood Brothers is a decent show and if ever a musical was crying out for a new production, it's this one. Totally agree have seen it 55 times since 1993 ish .... and love it but really needs and deserves some tlc ... a new production a refresh through fresh eyes 👀 and a new set that old broadway set must be patched beyond repair now Fans have been saying this for literally years - yet nothing changes. Sheer complacency on the part of the producers? |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 22, 2018 22:13:42 GMT
Well that's a load of old cobblers. I can imagine Leicester Curve doing an amazing job restaging it, bringing it into a modern day setting, in a Grenfell style block of flats. The orchestrations and costumes could also be revisited. And surely it's time for a BAME Narrator? Totally! I have a whole new design concept for it under my hat, should I ever get the rights, but there is SO much you could do with it. Such a shame, it's stuck as it is. |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 22, 2018 22:18:16 GMT
Oh good old Linzi. A little heavy handed with the apostrophe but she was probably slightly alarmed that her sons look more like her husband and brother-in-law. I guess they knew the risk of getting a Mrs J who is around the same real age as the actors playing her sons. Exactly, knowing they were getting Linzi, why on earth didn't they cast men in the 20's, FFS! |
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Post by tommy on Sept 22, 2018 22:33:39 GMT
Beyond me how people can call Chicago tired when this tour is still going round. I ADORE Linzi Hateley (and her presence could almost tempt me back) but this production was beyond cheap 20 years ago and as for the casting of such old people playing teenagers.... Blood Brothers is a decent show and if ever a musical was crying out for a new production, it's this one. Don't quite agree - saw it last year and having seen the show a couple of times before (West End, sometimes indeed a little tired/routine), the touring production last year was of immense quality! Fresh performances from beginning to end (knowing that some of them have been in the show for so many years), Lyn Paul gave a heartbreaking performance like she was undergoing the story for the very first time. The fact that the actors where older than their playing age, didn't bother me at all, found it hardly noticeable. That said - even how amazing Linzi Hateley might currently be in the part - on those promo pictures here the age difference now indeed seems to stand out:) |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 22, 2018 22:40:52 GMT
Uncle Bill just refuses to spend money on it. In his eyes it works perfectly well (at making him money) and spending any money on it won't make him any more.
He knows full well if he does an availability check on the cast and they say they're available for the next tour, he doesn't need to offer them any extra money as they have no other work to go to.
He also only has to pay for a few days' rehearsals if everyone has done it before.
When Mark took over as Mickey he put a picture of his 3 year old daughter on the Act 2 "House" set. She's 18 now!
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Post by Jon on Sept 22, 2018 23:49:10 GMT
Blood Brothers would benefit from a fresh pair of eyes. It risks becoming a museum piece and theatre should never be seen as that.
I remember seeing it as the Phoenix years ago and it was tired back then despite the good performances from the cast.
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Post by drowseychap on Sept 23, 2018 2:00:23 GMT
I know people don’t like change I for one lol and love blood brothers but come on .... no ones saying it’s about the set as per the commment a while back ..... but so many of the shows in recent years have been tweaked and refreshed or re imagined ...I didn’t hear any of them asking for it .... but they all flocked to them Saigon les mis even phantom etc etc
I’m not saying it needs a fab brand new bells and whistles set just a new take on the show a fresh interpretation maybe ....but like comment above BK makes tons of money off this probably helps finance many of the other shows and .... B.B. deserves to be cherished and loved not just used as a cash cow
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Post by Stephen on Sept 23, 2018 3:46:21 GMT
I think Blood Brothers is a tricky one. I understand the argument about it becoming a museum piece but what changes do you suggest? I've seen the tour over ten times and every time have been crying by the end and felt moved throughout.
In my opinion Willy Russell wrote a great musical that stands up for itself and really doesn't require a fresh interpretation!
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Post by martello736 on Sept 23, 2018 6:22:48 GMT
Can you hear yourself? In what way is "let's colour blind cast a role that we've refused to let non-white people play for no logical reason for 3 decades" on the same level as "let's list as many things as possible that I think are ridiculous for the purposes of trying to create a badly thought out putdown?" As an actual real life tranny (who has been to Moldova - it rained the whole time) I can tell you that there has never been an openly trans cast member in a West End show before. Ever. So this "please someone save us 'normals' from the scourge of minorities taking all of our roles talk" is just you trying to create a narrative out of something you've imagined. Give me an umbrella and some pointy shoes and let me sing Feed the Birds and you'll be a quarter of the way to a point. Until then you're just an incoherent bigot. First time I’ve ever felt compelled to give a post a standing ovation. Fantastic point well made. Thank you lovely  |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 23, 2018 13:36:28 GMT
I think Blood Brothers is a tricky one. I understand the argument about it becoming a museum piece but what changes do you suggest? I've seen the tour over ten times and every time have been crying by the end and felt moved throughout. In my opinion Willy Russell wrote a great musical that stands up for itself and really doesn't require a fresh interpretation! The most obvious things are the orchestrations, which are terribly dated. The drum machines, tinny synthesizers and some of the guitars are to be point of being cringey now, and detract from the dramatic sections of the shows. I would love for it to be re-orchestrated into something with a far more timeless feel. Maybe with a folk edge to it. |
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