Groundhog Day the Musical - Old Vic

Great. Thanks!

I was there too and completely agree with everything you said. Loved it from start to finish. Tim Minchin was sat behind me taking notes throughout.

Definitely some sound mixing issues but I'm sure they will sort that in due course. Andy Karl was properly brilliant and I really enjoyed the start of act 2 that some people aren't sure about, it's really smart and a great moment of calm before more mayhem!

I agree.  I liked the song at the start of Act 2 (sorry, I didn't get a programme so am being rubbish with names.)  The actress had a beautiful, silvery voice and I thought it made sense in terms of the more serious aspects of the second act when Phil begins to feel pain, but also realises that people who he had dismissed as unimportant cartoony people in the small town actually have their own moments of pain and dignity.
 Did Tim Minchin look happy?

I think so! He looked happy at the end when he leapt up to film the cast getting a huge standing ovation. He scribbled a few notes on some scraps of paper. I think Danny Rubin was sat with him.

Oh and in case anyone is interested I was in Q3 in the stalls which i got for £24, as it's one of those behind a pillar seats but I didn't miss a thing!

I'm sad to say I hated this. I thought the design was hideous and meaningless, the score was bland (especially when compared with Matilda) and the storytelling completely muddled and inconsistent. The only redeeming feature was Andy Karl, who really puts the work in and gives a very winning performance. Unfortunately the same can't be said for his leading lady, whose casting is baffling. She can't sing the score and reads far too young. Did someone drop out?

It just disappoints me to think of the fantastic score that could be used to tell this story - imagine if Sondheim had carried on with it, he is a writer who could have made something of the repetition and development idea. Imagine the complexity of Merrily's score wedded to a story like this one, it could have been really wonderful. Sadly this was shallow and forgettable.

There also seems to be no real depth to anything or engagement with the themes of the film. Phil's journey as a character seems largely arbitrary, and his shifts from confused to hedonistic to suicidal to heroic come from nowhere and go just as quickly. The ending felt totally unearned as well.

Maybe you can tell I did not care for it - I had high hopes with this team and the amount of time they've had to work on it, but ultimately it disappointed on pretty much every level.

Saw this tonight. Well it wasn't perfect and is still in previews but wow what an epic new musical.

It looks amazing, has the best use of revolve I've seen in my life and the show has a great book and story, it just needs a few cuts and is too ballad heavy (the lead female isn't the best singer either). Opening of act 2 with a ballad? Not sure it worked. Some songs great, others dud.

Has the potential to be just sensational and win lots of awards - it feels very Broadway.

We all thought it was great, try and see it. 7.5/10

Saw this tonight too and despite not getting totally into it until act 2, I ended up really liking it! Felt like most things were great but couldn't put my finger of anything which I LOVED. Except maybe Andy Karl as Phil. Great voice, very magnetic and funny and made an unbearable character quite likable really...in some parts at least. Wasn't sure about Rita's voice but loved her performance in the role.

Liked the music but I thought that aside from a couple of songs, most of them melted into one long ensemble number. The act two opening number was a lovely song and I 'got' it, but it still felt odd. Same goes for the insurance man song, HOWEVER my favourite song was I think the second one in act 2. I won't spoil it but it was very rock-y and relentless and I loved it. Got the biggest applause of the evening. In fact, I wish there had been more numbers like it.

The show stopped near the end of act 1 for about 5 mins, due to a problem with the revolve I think. And the set didn't fit together properly at the end of the act either.

Set was fine but nothing to scream about. Looked a bit unimpressive to begin with though, given how cool the TV screen 'curtain' at the begining is.

Great use of the revolve but at times it did remind me a bit of the end of Peter Pan Goes Wrong!

I'd like to see this again but I'm not in any rush to. Perhaps if it transferred at a later date?

Any rumours of a cast album?

I sat there tonight and the seats were great. I agree the insurance mm song in the second act is odd. He also isn't the best singer either.

Cut cut!!! Snip snip!!!

I was thinking of booking row Y on the sides of the dress circle (second row of the two). Is that where you? I see that there are apparently pillars in the way and potentially may need to lean forward seeing as it's a side view.

I'm certain it's his real hair. Hasn't he always been a brunette?

Right there with you...