834 posts
|
Post by Steffi on Jan 22, 2018 4:57:09 GMT
Is Dean Chisnall still playing the narrator? No, he has left the show.
|
|
395 posts
|
Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jan 22, 2018 8:26:51 GMT
Does anyone know how long Lyn Paul is in the show for? I'm planning on seeing it in May and would really like to see her.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2018 12:50:14 GMT
Does anyone know how long Lyn Paul is in the show for? I'm planning on seeing it in May and would really like to see her. Shes still doing the final week of April in my hometown so unless Peterborough is her final venue, then she will be there in May.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2018 23:29:42 GMT
Just home from seeing the show in Belfast tonight.
Matthew Craig is playing the Narrator. He was alright, not the best out of the 3 Narrators Ive seen...but he got the job done.
I can see why Lyn Paul is considered the definitive Mrs J. She was great. Considering shes been playing the role on and off since 1997, her performance felt really fresh and raw. She made me and my boyfriend cry like babies during Tell Me Its Not True. I knew it would be emotional, but its the 4th time Ive seen the show, and the first time I actually cried.
Sean Jones as Mickey, seen him every time since I first saw the show in 2012...most of the first act he did seem a bit bored, but he was great in act 2.
Mark Hutchinson as Eddie...first time Ive seen him. And all I have to say I think its definitely many years past the point of leaving the role. Took me a while to realise why he sounded so familiar, then it clicked, the 1995 cast recording. I know its theatre, and I get the whole suspending my belief to watch an older adult play kids/teenagers/mid-twenties, but seriously when he was in scenes with Sean Jones, he looked like Mickeys dad.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 13:37:39 GMT
Went to the show for the first time in pretty much exactly 7 years and loved it again. Lyn Paul was fabulous. I can see why she is so attached to the role, her voice blew me away. She sang the hell out of those songs. So shes a tad older than your usual, who cares, she can still do it. Sean Jones was also brilliant as usual, he again really blew me away, especially in Act 2. I also really loved the Narrator. Naturally I cried through the whole final scene. I just love the show. Not just the story, I love the simplicity of the sets, and really like the lighting too. It was a great night out. And in an 80% full theatre on a rainy Tuesday night, it was lovely to see the whole audience on their feet before the final note even ended. I was dreading the fact there was a school trip of like 50 a few rows behind us, but they were quiet and respectful the whole way through. Great night!
|
|
2,273 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by theatreian on Apr 25, 2018 13:47:32 GMT
It's one of my favourite shows. I was in Liverpool, my home city this week. It was great to hear the accents again. Have to echo Daniels views on Lyn. She is a fab Mrs J.
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Apr 25, 2018 14:37:11 GMT
I wish they would do a recording with her.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 15:03:20 GMT
I'm sure if you asked the sound guys nicely, they'll give you the tracks haha
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 15:07:21 GMT
See I wouldn't mind this returning to London at all. It's a great show and I could honestly go back again and again! I'm already seeing it again Saturday!
|
|
2,273 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by theatreian on Apr 25, 2018 15:18:30 GMT
Its one of my most visited shows, although not seen it for a few years. Must have seen it twenty times at least, starting with the original Liverpool playhouse production with Barbara Dickson which got me hooked!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 15:42:57 GMT
What was interesting, I went with my Mum last night and she didn't know what was going to happen at all. She didn't know a single thing about the story. And at interval, she turned to me and did "oh it's all going to end in tears, something is going to happen to the mother's". Which I suppose is true in the end.
Also, I never realised Mrs Lyons part in the Finale when I first saw it. I didn't realise she was the one who showed Mickey and therefore caused him to go crazy. I thought he just found out himself. I must say, that has changed my view of her entirely now!
|
|
2,273 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by theatreian on Apr 25, 2018 15:47:07 GMT
Yes it is so well written by Willy Russell. A simple story with many strands running through it.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 17:31:49 GMT
'Blood Brothers' isn't 'Blood Brothers' without Lyn Paul. Or a Nolan.
Pleased to hear she's still giving it some wellie at almost 70. One of the most underrated female singers of the 70s in my opinion. She's the same age as Lulu. Great to see the pensioners still tearing up the stage.
Barbara who?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 17:41:31 GMT
I did notice during the Madman scene, the Narrator was alot more careful in grabbing Lyn when she tried to run off as compared to Niki when I last saw the show, was quite literally swung about by the Narrator back in 2011 when I saw it.
|
|
|
Post by Seriously on Apr 25, 2018 17:51:29 GMT
What was interesting, I went with my Mum last night and she didn't know what was going to happen at all. She didn't know a single thing about the story. And at interval, she turned to me and did "oh it's all going to end in tears, something is going to happen to the mother's". Which I suppose is true in the end. Did she not notice the Overture, where the two dead bodies are lying on stretchers?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 17:54:00 GMT
What was interesting, I went with my Mum last night and she didn't know what was going to happen at all. She didn't know a single thing about the story. And at interval, she turned to me and did "oh it's all going to end in tears, something is going to happen to the mother's". Which I suppose is true in the end. Did she not notice the Overture, where the two dead bodies are lying on stretchers? Well I asked her about that too after the show and she figured it would end up being a whole conscience thing, or a red herring to what would actually happen.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 17:54:20 GMT
Did she not notice the Overture, where the two dead bodies are lying on stretchers? Well now I know Lyn is getting on a bit but really . . .
|
|
|
Post by MrsCondomine on May 10, 2018 8:20:40 GMT
Anyone else think the current tour Sammy (Danny Taylor) is a bit of alright ('spesh when he's got his Status Quo jacket on...)?
|
|
2,764 posts
|
Post by daniel on May 20, 2018 19:05:44 GMT
Confirmation that this week will be Lyn Paul's final performances as Mrs Johnstone.
What do we reckon, Maureen Nolan back for the Autumn tour?
|
|
|
Post by d'James on May 20, 2018 19:08:25 GMT
I need a recording of Lyn singing Tell Me It’s Not True at least.
I want Faye from Steps to do it. Maybe not yet though, when she’s a bit older.
|
|
18,861 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on May 20, 2018 19:14:07 GMT
Colleen waiting in the wings.... 🙄
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 20, 2018 19:31:03 GMT
Sarah Jane Buckley has been Mrs Lyons on last few tours and Lyn's understudy so must be in with a shout at getting the role.
Colleen would be interesting but with Loose Women and her magazine columns would she have time or want to go all around the country on a tour. Plus her TV and media work is likely well paid so would Bill offer her anything like that amount?
|
|
529 posts
|
Post by drowseychap on May 21, 2018 0:05:45 GMT
I saw Lyn years ago and she was amazing ... and gy all the comments still is .... there must be loads in the wings waiting to take over .... Coleen please no 😮. Berni for me was the best Nolan followed by Linda ..... Melanie c my weakest Stephanie Lawrence still my all time no 1 .... bless her ..... hmmmmm I wonder who next Jane Macdonald maybe ?
|
|
2,273 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by theatreian on May 21, 2018 7:21:28 GMT
My guess is that Maureen Nolan may be back . She is free from end of May after her run in Menopause the Musical.
|
|
642 posts
|
Post by greeny11 on May 21, 2018 16:38:23 GMT
Lyn Paul is a good Mrs J, but she really is too old for the role now, so it'll be nice to see someone different in the part.
|
|
2,153 posts
|
Post by richey on May 22, 2018 7:52:39 GMT
Saw it last night and whilst Lyn Paul was incredible, she was showing her age by the last scene. It's been a few years since I've seen it and I felt pretty underwhelmed. Have there been changes to some of the orchestrations? There were bits I didn't remember from when I'd seen it previously, particularly in 'Take a Letter Miss Jones" and the band was far too loud on some songs, drowning out the vocals. The narrator was awful, slurring lots of words so he just sounded a bit simple most of the time. And I've never had a problem with the adults as kids thing until but it only works if the actors aren't too old. It really was implausible last night, esp with Eddie. On the plus side it looks like the set has had a freshen up. I know it's coming but every time that gun shot gets me. I jumped right out of my seat and grabbed my other half. Glad I got to see it with Lyn before she rerires from the role but I don't think I'll be rushing to see it again anytime soon
|
|
1,210 posts
|
Post by musicalmarge on May 22, 2018 8:08:28 GMT
Who is the narrator??
|
|
2,153 posts
|
Post by richey on May 22, 2018 8:17:55 GMT
|
|
2,153 posts
|
Post by richey on May 22, 2018 8:50:33 GMT
Sarah Jane Buckley has been Mrs Lyons on last few tours and Lyn's understudy so must be in with a shout at getting the role. Colleen would be interesting but with Loose Women and her magazine columns would she have time or want to go all around the country on a tour. Plus her TV and media work is likely well paid so would Bill offer her anything like that amount? hope not, she really overacted as mrs Lyons last night.
|
|
2,764 posts
|
Post by daniel on May 23, 2018 10:35:22 GMT
I also saw this on Monday and sadly have to echo many of richey's thoughts. It's one of my favourite shows and I've now seen it 13 times over the last 10 years, but something was missing on Monday. Lyn Paul is great, but she is looking too old now. She's had a fantastic run with the show over the last 20 years and I hope she enjoys her retirement. Still don't like Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Lyons. As richey said, she massively over acts. Annoying! I've seen Mark Hutchinson as Eddie before and liked him, but I wasn't convinced this time. He does look far too old anyway, but I found his portrayal a little wooden this time. Perhaps an off day, but a shame nevertheless. Didn't like Mathew Craig as the Narrator. He didn't have the commanding stage presence that Dean Chisnall (most recently) had...he was kinda just there. Good voice, but the accent wobbled at times and I thought his diction could have been better. Nice to see Danny Taylor back as Sammy. He's fantastic in the role, but again does look about 20 years too old for it now. Sean Jones gets away with the age thing, not sure why it's different for him! He's still fantastic in the role, and it's always a pleasure to see him perform. I too noticed some changes in the orchestrations, particularly during the various iterations of Shoes Upon The Table. Does anyone know if there's definitely been an update or if it was just an over enthusiastic band on Monday? Show is still great and I look forward to seeing it again next year, but I hope they recast some of the roles.
|
|