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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 23:19:18 GMT
Given the lack of theatres available and the fact it's going to Broadway. I doubt a West End transfer is on the cards By the end of next year, with the theatres that could house this production, I suspect we will have the Aldwych, Dominion Theatre, Duke of York's, The London Palladium, Phoenix, Piccadilly, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Wyndham's able to bring in new shows. Obviously some of these theatres only do limited shows etc and some will have shows already going into them, but I could definitely see it heading to the Phoenix or Aldwych.  |
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 13, 2016 23:21:57 GMT
I know I wasn't the only one who had Parsley on ignore at the old place. Haven't resorted to it yet here. Edit: How many shows do you see a year, Parsley? Do you keep track? If you don't like it And need to cope with life by blocking people Then perhaps YOU are in the wrong place? Likely you also think if you turn off the TV terrorism goes away as well And that shopping at primark is good value 😂😂😂😂 Hey Parsley - I didn't know you shopped at Primark? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 0:01:32 GMT
If you don't like it And need to cope with life by blocking people Then perhaps YOU are in the wrong place? Likely you also think if you turn off the TV terrorism goes away as well And that shopping at primark is good value 😂😂😂😂 Hey Parsley - I didn't know you shopped at Primark? Yes I use the items to wipe my kitchen floor with Excellent dish rags they make too 😂😂😂😂 |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 0:05:57 GMT
Don't knock Primark! Nothing wrong with Primark, it is like the mothership!  |
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 14, 2016 0:27:40 GMT
Hey Parsley - I didn't know you shopped at Primark? Yes I use the items to wipe my kitchen floor with Excellent dish rags they make too 😂😂😂😂 You don't own any of their polo shirts then? |
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Post by Steffi on Aug 14, 2016 7:15:02 GMT
Saw this yesterday and loved it. Andy Karl is sensational. Only thing I thought didn't quite work was the act two opening number. Lovely song, well sung but felt a bit pointless.
But seriously, Andy Karl deserves every award for his performance.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 14, 2016 8:12:37 GMT
Sorry but plucking theatres like The Palladium and The Duke Of Yorks from thin air as possible homes for it next year, shows you don't have a clue about where it could ACTUALLY go! Quite funny though. Given the lack of theatres available and the fact it's going to Broadway. I doubt a West End transfer is on the cards By the end of next year, with the theatres that could house this production, I suspect we will have the Aldwych, Dominion Theatre, Duke of York's, The London Palladium, Phoenix, Piccadilly, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Wyndham's able to bring in new shows. Obviously some of these theatres only do limited shows etc and some will have shows already going into them, but I could definitely see it heading to the Phoenix or Aldwych. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 8:34:52 GMT
Sorry but plucking theatres like The Palladium and The Duke Of Yorks from thin air as possible homes for it next year, shows you don't have a clue about where it could ACTUALLY go! Quite funny though. By the end of next year, with the theatres that could house this production, I suspect we will have the Aldwych, Dominion Theatre, Duke of York's, The London Palladium, Phoenix, Piccadilly, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Wyndham's able to bring in new shows. Obviously some of these theatres only do limited shows etc and some will have shows already going into them, but I could definitely see it heading to the Phoenix or Aldwych. I didn't call them a possible home, I just said they could be free. |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 14, 2016 10:17:08 GMT
Saw this twice in 3 days. Got day seats for yesterday's matinee and sat next to Andrew Scott and Ben Whishaw! (If this sounds familiar - yes, I was with theatreliker)
As for the show, it's brilliant. Great pacing, orchestration, choreography and the cast give it their all. This really deserves success. Transfers and awards all round please!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 14, 2016 11:01:12 GMT
My lounge will be free then too- maybe it could go there.. Sorry but plucking theatres like The Palladium and The Duke Of Yorks from thin air as possible homes for it next year, shows you don't have a clue about where it could ACTUALLY go! Quite funny though. I didn't call them a possible home, I just said they could be free. |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 14, 2016 11:37:26 GMT
Saw this twice in 3 days. Got day seats for yesterday's matinee and sat next to Andrew Scott and Ben Whishaw! (If this sounds familiar - yes, I was with theatreliker) As for the show, it's brilliant. Great pacing, orchestration, choreography and the cast give it their all. This really deserves success. Transfers and awards all round please! Oh, and a cast recording is a must too! I need to listen to those lyrics again! |
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Post by Pennywise57 on Aug 14, 2016 15:23:55 GMT
Saw this on Thursday night and absolutely loved it!! I wasn't quite sure how well this would work as a Musical when it was first announced, but I trusted Tim Minchin so was excited going in. The Score was great with some really lovely songs and some extremely clever and witty lyrics. I loved the way the music was structured as well with little motifs that would come and go throughout but always were different enough so that it didn't get Repetitive and therefore boring, which so easily could've happened here with this subject matter. The Cast were all excellent and all had an amazing energy which really brought the town to life. Georgina Hagen was stunning with her Number at the start of Act 2 which apart from being a really beautiful song was a really clever way to bring her character to the forefront and get it's message across really well. Georgina managed to sell this brilliantly with her Emotional performance which really wouldn't have worked had her performance not been so good. I'm probably not explaining that well but you'll know what I mean if you've seen the show. Carlyss Peer was amazing Rita Hanson Very funny and likeable and managed to bring what is potentially quite an uninteresting character to life helped by Tim Minchin's fantastic diary songs which help give a great insight into her character, and I really liked her voice as well! The real star of the show is Andy Karl as Phil Connors though, his performance was just incredible!! (I'm not sure if the following is a spoiler or not. It's not really plot specific apart from the premise, and more to do with how the story is told, but as this is still in previews and not many people have seen it yet, I would hate the impact of certain aspects of the musical to be spoiled for someone reading the following.) {Spoiler - click to view}
Starting off as really quite unlikeable he manages to carry this off because of his incredible comic timing and manages to somehow make you root for him despite how unlikeable he is because he's just so funny which is quite an amazing achievement in itself. As the show goes on though his character goes on an amazing journey becoming less self-centred and much more sympathetic and caring. This transformation is incredible to watch and is superbly acted out by Andy Karl who completely embodies the character. You really get a sense of what his character has to go though mentally and emotionally reliving the same day over and over again. I was surprised and pleased by quite how deep and almost dark the musical goes into showing this at some points, with some beautiful, emotionally rich music by Tim Minchin to help do this. It's this aspect that I feel the musical has one up on the film. The film is a wonderful comedy but just doesn't go to the emotional depths the musical does and Andy Karl has the acting chops to pull this off brilliantly!! I think this musical would really reward repeat viewings and I wish I could get back to see it a few more times before it closes, but as I'm out of country for the majority of September and don't get back until after it closes, I won't be able to.  I just have to hope that the Broadway transfer is a success so it can come back over here as soom as possible and I can relive Groundhog Day over and over again!!! |
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Post by theatre-turtle on Aug 15, 2016 18:34:08 GMT
Anyone else here tonight?
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Post by talkstageytome on Aug 15, 2016 18:42:28 GMT
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Post by theatre-turtle on Aug 15, 2016 19:54:16 GMT
Andy Karl is rather dishy
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Post by dippy on Aug 15, 2016 20:45:46 GMT
If they've updated the programme since the first preview (well last dress rehearsal) can anyone possibly look something up for me. On the Old Vic website they've got Matthew Malthouse listed in the cast but he's not in my programme. A bit of internet research only confused the matter even more. In the programme I have it says that Ste Clough plays Jeff but I found online that Matthew Malthouse plays Jeff. Any idea if Ste has become a swing? Twitter tells me that Ste was in rehearsals for 16 weeks whereas Matthew was in Mrs Henderson Presents till the 18th of June. Anyone able to solve the mystery?
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 15, 2016 20:57:28 GMT
If they've updated the programme since the first preview (well last dress rehearsal) can anyone possibly look something up for me. On the Old Vic website they've got Matthew Malthouse listed in the cast but he's not in my programme. A bit of internet research only confused the matter even more. In the programme I have it says that Ste Clough plays Jeff but I found online that Matthew Malthouse plays Jeff. Any idea if Ste has become a swing? Twitter tells me that Ste was in rehearsals for 16 weeks whereas Matthew was in Mrs Henderson Presents till the 18th of June. Anyone able to solve the mystery? My 1st August programme must be the same as 1st preview....lists Ste Clough as Jeff but no mention of Matthew Malthouse at all. Website, as you says, still lists Matthew. Weird! |
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Post by demonbarber on Aug 15, 2016 21:09:32 GMT
Someone in the cast filled me in on this. One of the swings broke his collarbone a few weeks ago meaning that Ste Clough is going to be taking the swing role. Matthew Malthouse has been brought in to play Jeff in the show. Apparently he's been playing the hot dog vendor the last few performances!
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Post by dippy on Aug 15, 2016 21:11:42 GMT
My 1st August programme must be the same as 1st preview....lists Ste Clough as Jeff but no mention of Matthew Malthouse at all. Website, as you says, still lists Matthew. Weird! Thanks for checking your more recent programme for me. Someone in the cast filled me in on this. One of the swings broke his collarbone a few weeks ago meaning that Ste Clough is going to be taking the swing role. Matthew Malthouse has been brought in to play Jeff in the show. Apparently he's been playing the hot dog vendor the last few performances! Thanks for solving the mystery! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2016 23:08:16 GMT
Seeing this on Weds with some colleagues. Do I need to know the story before I go? Because I'm sort of hoping to avoid the £4.99 Amazon Prime rental...
I watched the film as a child when it first came out, but all I remember is that the same thing happened repeatedly and I was bored stiff by it. Admittedly, the extreme boredom may have meant I missed the point. But anyhow...is it clear enough from the lyrics what's going on? Or is it typical packed-full-of-words Minchin and I'll struggle to keep up? (I do love that about Minchin, by the way, but mainly in a luxury-of-repeated-listening sort of way.)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2016 23:11:57 GMT
Seeing this on Weds with some colleagues. Do I need to know the story before I go? Because I'm sort of hoping to avoid the £4.99 Amazon Prime rental... I watched the film as a child when it first came out, but all I remember is that the same thing happened repeatedly and I was bored stiff by it. Admittedly, the extreme boredom may have meant I missed the point. But anyhow...is it clear enough from the lyrics what's going on? Or is it typical packed-full-of-words Minchin and I'll struggle to keep up? (I do love that about Minchin, by the way, but mainly in a luxury-of-repeated-listening sort of way.) I went in knowing literally nothing and loved it and didn't find myself lost at any point!
The thing is, the concept shouldn't work at all. The same thing everyday. But it really works in this!
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Post by nash16 on Aug 16, 2016 0:18:28 GMT
I feel bad all.
I really didn't get this.
And I mean get it on an emotional level/I-was-moved level, as well as on a "why-did-they-think-THIS-story-must-be-a-musical" level.
It's certainly staged very well. How do you repeat the same day/scene/moment and keep us interested? How do you sustain a 2.5hr musical with the single concept? I feel this is Groundhog Day's achilles. It just isn't dramatic enough. Once we know the set up (and for a lot of people watching it who have seen the film or, like our audience tonight, loved the film), there are very few, if any, surprises to be had. In fact, towards the end of the first half it begins to feel very creepy: man desperate to bed woman repeats day to work out the ultimate date to bang her. Hmm…
Andy Karl is great, very funny, physically brilliant, but do we really fall for his character? He just seemed liked a letchy perv to me and din't stop looking like that.
Carlyss Peer was fine, but I didn't get the "star in the making" raves on here. Her character has no arch or development. Oh look, she's singing the same song again.
And then she sleeps with him, and the day stops repeating.
He has "won" by finally sleeping with the woman he's been chasing for so long. For all the praise for the (very random?!) opening number of act 2 (And how people can compare it to When I Grow Up is beyond me…), how can Rubin & Minchin justify this ending in today's world?
Yes, there is some fun staging (the suicide scenes, the car chase), but there is also a lot of excess, for example, as it's worst, the "we're doing a musical so lets have a tap scene" tap number in the second half. Why? It added nothing.
The ensemble work their asses off, but the cumulative effect, quite early on, is why? Why put this story on? Why make this film into a musical? Why should we care about these characters? And how can you expect an audience to be engaged if there is almost zero drama propelling the show and thus our interest?
Karl is great. An honour to have him on our stages.
But the show feels like a pretty forced, cobbled together "best of what we like", and it gets nowhere near the heights of Matilda.
An admirable failure, but it comes across as a nice evening's entertainment for the now quite elite audience at the Old Vic. Not too challenging, not saying much. I can see why Scott Rudin did a runner. It won't transfer, not to the West End anyway.
We have musical versions of BIG and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE heading our way in the next year. Originality seems to be a gasping afterthought in today's musical world.
We need to take more risks, and make sure our shows have drama and keep our audiences on the edges of their seats, not sat back with shoes and sock off (man in front of us tonight) and cosy familiarity.
But by god that ensemble works hard.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 0:36:18 GMT
She only sleeps with him when he's learned enough to become a worthy person to be with. He's an idiot, but he learns. We don't get that second chance the way he does, but we do get different chances and we too may, or may not, learn from our past to make ourselves a better person to be with.
It's in the long tradition of shows like Company and Nine, ones that show the growth (or lack of it) of its central character.
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Post by nash16 on Aug 16, 2016 0:42:32 GMT
She only sleeps with him when he's learned enough to become a worthy person to be with. He's an idiot, but he learns. We don't get that second chance the way he does, but we do get different chances and we too may, or may not, learn from our past to make ourselves a better person to be with. It's in the long tradition of shows like Company and Nine, ones that show the growth (or lack of it) of its central character. And once we've learned to be better, we get sex. Curtain. Everyone learned their lesson?
It just seems dodge! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 0:45:20 GMT
Love.
He wants sex but he has to learn to want and receive love.
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I just have to hope that the Broadway transfer is a success so it can come back over here as soom as possible and I can relive Groundhog Day over and over again!!!
