Groundhog Day the Musical - Old Vic

Surely they’ll be able to find something sooner than that! Is anything going in the Piccadilly after Strictly Ballroom? I’m sure that would be a good size theatre for it?

It sounds now like it might never happen, which would be a shame. Fingers crossed that's not the case.

I do wonder in this current climate how well Phil’s lascivious bed-hopping with half the females in the town would be received? I don’t remember Phil being such a massive lech in the movie.

I didn’t love the show when I saw it in the UK. I found Andy Karl’s portrayal of Phil really unlikeable (in the wrong way) and thought the female lead was really weak.

To me the score, apart from the absolutely beautiful last song was completely forgettable and Ned Ryerson’s lament for his dead wife juxtaposed with Phil on the revolve,attempting to resuscitate a tramp was a shocker.

I know the British critics fawned over it (possibly decided beforehand given the past pedigree of Warchus & Minchin) but I’m not surprised it didn’t last long on Broadway. In my humble opinion , it would need a massive rethink and overhaul before it could be successfully restaged anywhere.

Uhm, I suspect the lament was fuelled by the fact that his wife died, but apologies if the word ‘about’ was misleading.
In my opinion (which I believe is the point of this board), I thought that number was painful and not in the way it may have been intended.

It wasn’t that I didn’t ‘get it’, I got the intention, I just found it interminable and didn’t think it worked.

I didn’t say ‘people’, I said ‘critics’ who I do believe can be predisposed to look favourably upon some people’s work
If they are in vogue for successful past work and vice versa.

Not everybody has the same take on shows. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but not to try and invalidate other people’s. I can accept that you got nothing out of Groundhog Day if you can accept that many people - including critics, who despite popular belief *are* people too - genuinely found it to be wonderful and utterly love it. It’s literally in my top 5 new musicals this decade. There is no need to be do disparaging about people (including critics!) who got things from it that you didn’t.

Pointless just had a musical theatre round, and Alexander Armstrong mentioned that he was asked to be in Groundhog Day. He didn't specify which role..

Ha, I did wonder about which role specifically also.

He could probably manage a character like King George in Hamilton or s similar small cameo, but as for a lead or major supporting role, I very much doubt it.

He was probably asked for Phil, or if not maybe Ned Ryerson?

Either way it must have been when it was in workshop as they are both pretty phyiscal roles for someone not used to musical theatre (as Ned is part of the ensemble too).

But if Armstrong is what would bring this show back to London already then so be it!

Every time I see this thread get bumped up I get a surge of excitement thinking the return has been announced. Please stop toying with my emotions!