35 posts
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Post by heymrziegfeld on Mar 31, 2017 9:00:30 GMT
Saw this in Stoke this week with Natasha and Darius.
I was so happy that I enjoyed it just as much as the Savoy.
There are a few changes but overall the show is in fine form. I liked most of the new cast (I did miss Marilyn Cutts) and they sounded great. It is still so joyous to hear that overture played by a live orchestra.
Darius has some new choreography which is....entertaining, but the chemistry on stage between the two leads really works.
As for Natasha - I felt she's really put more of herself into the role. She sounded phenomenal, you could tell she's had time to sit with the material and work out how it suits her voice best. I was there on Press night and she has the audience in stitches as well as me. Her acting especially in Act 2 really blew me away, had me transfixed and feeling every emotion Fanny Brice goes through.
If its near you its well worth seeing - I'll be heading to a few other venues for sure.
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Post by raiseitup on Apr 11, 2017 11:34:46 GMT
Reunited
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433 posts
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Post by alison on Apr 11, 2017 22:25:11 GMT
I'm really irritated that they've chosen to announce that now, having previously announced it as being Sheridan and Chris. I particularly wanted to see Chris, darnit, and now I won't get to because the only other venue I could reasonably have got to that he was scheduled for (MK) has already passed.
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578 posts
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Post by michalnowicki on Apr 19, 2017 18:34:11 GMT
I saw the show yesterday, opening night in Edinburgh Playhouse and what a show it was!
Before I went to the theatre I've only seen the movie with Barbra and Omar and listened to the London cast album. Never heard about Sheridan Smith (I'm not from UK originally and I don't have a telly).
I loved Sheridan's stage presence from the moment she walked on. And it got better with every minute. This was the 7th show I've seen in Playhouse this year and I think it was the best so far. I'm thinking about getting tickets for tomorrow, but I'm not sure I can justify that financially.
It was the first time I saw Playhouse this full (it's a barn with 3,000 seats and usually gets sold out for big names like Ricky Gervais and Amy Schummer) and everyone was at their feet during the bows.
If you can get a ticket - go and see it!
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217 posts
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Post by zsazsa on Apr 19, 2017 19:58:04 GMT
I saw the show yesterday, opening night in Edinburgh Playhouse and what a show it was! Before I went to the theatre I've only seen the movie with Barbra and Omar and listened to the London cast album. Never heard about Sheridan Smith (I'm not from UK originally and I don't have a telly). I loved Sheridan's stage presence from the moment she walked on. And it got better with every minute. This was the 7th show I've seen in Playhouse this year and I think it was the best so far. I'm thinking about getting tickets for tomorrow, but I'm not sure I can justify that financially. It was the first time I saw Playhouse this full (it's a barn with 3,000 seats and usually gets sold out for big names like Ricky Gervais and Amy Schummer) and everyone was at their feet during the bows. If you can get a ticket - go and see it! There were offers on itison for the early part of this week. You might get a bargain there. |
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578 posts
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Post by michalnowicki on Apr 19, 2017 20:06:21 GMT
There were offers on itison for the early part of this week. You might get a bargain there. Thanks zsazsa, it looks like there are no more offers available, but I already got a ticket for tomorrow, first time sitting in Circle (Row F). I might even spend some time at the stage door after the show, who know?  I hope you'll enjoy it on Saturday! |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Apr 19, 2017 21:05:51 GMT
I'm really irritated that they've chosen to announce that now, having previously announced it as being Sheridan and Chris. I particularly wanted to see Chris, darnit, and now I won't get to because the only other venue I could reasonably have got to that he was scheduled for (MK) has already passed. I'm the opposite, I am seeing Chris in Newcastle but if I'd known earlier Darius was in Edinburgh I would have booked to go there too. Now the train tickets are silly money. A shame. |
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848 posts
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Post by duncan on Apr 20, 2017 22:58:27 GMT
There tonight, mmmm.
Take Sheridan Smith out of the show and this would be a cheap looking turgid mess but she drags it up by the bootstraps and gives it everything. I don't think the pacing helps, the first half is far too long in comparison to what actually happens after the interval.
Was good to be able to get a better seat at the interval as well, there must have been about 10 people in the 9 rows in front of us - don't know what had happened there but for some reason there was a swathe of empty seats. It wasn't that the place was empty but there was just this block of about 300 empty seats slap bang in the middle of people.
A showstopping central performance raises this to a 6/10
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 23:09:44 GMT
There tonight, mmmm. Take Sheridan Smith out of the show and this would be a cheap looking turgid mess but she drags it up by the bootstraps and gives it everything. I don't think the pacing helps, the first half is far too long in comparison to what actually happens after the interval. Was good to be able to get a better seat at the interval as well, there must have been about 10 people in the 9 rows in front of us - don't know what had happened there but for some reason there was a swathe of empty seats. It wasn't that the place was empty but there was just this block of about 300 empty seats slap bang in the middle of people. A showstopping central performance raises this to a 6/10 Hmmm... see that happened to me at Kinky Boots and then a group of about 200 people showed up midway through the second number! So either they just weren't sold or there may of been a large group that didn't make it haha. |
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578 posts
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Post by michalnowicki on Apr 21, 2017 6:39:26 GMT
Saw it for the second time in Edinburgh last night with seats in the circle. It was nice to see the whole stage this time. I even went to the stage door after the show and both Darius and Sheridan were lovely.
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848 posts
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Post by duncan on Apr 21, 2017 7:00:05 GMT
Fuller thoughts on last night -
12 - Funny Girl - Playhouse
Mmmm, this is an odd one - a big hit back in the 60s that was turned into a very popular film but a show which seems to have fallen out of favour over the past few decades and here it is resurrected as a starring vehicle for Sheridan Smith.
And by bloomin heck she grabs this show by the scruff of the neck and owns the stage from the first scene to the curtain call.
HOWEVER
Take Sheridan Smith out of the show and this would be a cheap looking turgid mess - there are a couple of good songs in here but the rest are forgettable and a lot of the supporting cast are clichéd stock characters. Smith also has the task of spending a lot of her stage time opposite everyones favourite Pop Idol reject Darius Danesh (or Campbell as he is now) who whilst filling a tux very nicely has an accent that is wandering all over the United States - sometimes in the same sentence.
I don't think the pacing helps, the first half is far too long at 90 minutes in comparison to what actually happens in the show after the interval. There appears to be an appropriate interval gap about 10 minutes before we actually get there and it leaves the show looking lopsided. All of the interesting stuff is crammed into the shorter second act whilst the first act meanders along at an alarmingly slow pace.
Was good to be able to get a better seat at the interval as well, there must have been about 10 people in the 9 rows in front of us - don't know what had happened there but for some reason there was a swathe of empty seats. It wasn't that the place was empty, the Playhouse holds 3000 and the Stalls were pretty much full apart from this block of about 300 empty seats slap bang in the middle of people.
A showstopping central performance raises this to a 6/10, cast the likes of Michelle Collins in this instead and it wouldn't be anything near that.
And if I haven't already mentioned, Sheridan Smith was bloody brilliant and got a deserved standing ovation at the curtain call - never seen an audience rise as one like that before.
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Apr 27, 2017 20:07:21 GMT
At the show tonight in Woking, Jennifer Harding is on as Fanny and she is absolutely brilliant!
I was thinking she can't have done many performances - does anyone know how many shows Sheridan and Natasha have missed, scheduled or otherwise?
I'm really gutted to be missing Natasha, as I didn't see her or Sheridan in London, but pleased that Jennifer is doing so well. Hopefully I can catch Natasha later in the tour.
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1,046 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 27, 2017 22:32:05 GMT
Saw the matinee today - having seen it twice at the Savoy with Sheridan, I only booked for the tour because I wanted to see Natasha (sorry you didn't get to see her at the evening show daniel!). She was amazing, as I expected. Good with the comedy, and not just a carbon copy of Sheridan in that respect, plus WOW what a voice! The only criticism I had was that her accent seemed to come and go a bit. I'm so happy that I got to see her, but I must say the show does feel like it's lost something compared to when I saw it at the Savoy. Natasha doesn't quite have the 'star presence' that Sheridan does, and while the supporting cast were very good I found myself missing Joel Montague and Marilyn Cutts. Still a very good show though, just not quite as special as it felt the first two times I saw it.
I also want to give kudos to the casting directors for Funny Girl for finding absolutely gorgeous boys for the ensemble both at the Savoy and on the tour - very nice indeed!
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57 posts
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Post by Pennywise57 on Apr 28, 2017 19:55:25 GMT
I'm a bit late but I saw this last Saturday night in Edinburgh. It was wonderful seeing it again after seeing it last, way back at the Menier. It was interesting going from seeing it in probably one of the smallest theatres in the UK, to the largest, the Playhouse. I think if I had to choose I probably preferred seeing it at the Menier just because you can't beat the intimacy of that place, being a metre (quite literally) away from Sheridan Smith crying her eyes out during The Music That Makes Me Dance was something really special. It also probably didn't help that I was sat in the back of the dress circle, so was quite far away compared with being front row at the Menier. Having said that I liked how they were able to space everyone out better during the big numbers because of the larger stage. Sheridan Smith was incredible again as Fanny Brice! Yes her voice isn't the greatest but is it gets the job done nicely. Her Acting though is Incredible as always. Her comic timing is impeccable the whole audience were laughing so much at the end of "You Are Woman" that Darius literally had to wait a good 10 Seconds for it to die down enough for them to be able to finish the song. Speaking of which Darius really surprised me with his acting. He was actually quite good. I say quite good which for me is a marked improvement as I found him very, very wooden at the Menier. Whether or not that was because I was further back and couldn't see facial expressions, I don't know. His voice was just as lovely as before!! Overall a Great show, still in amazing shape and it was great to see it again after almost a year and a half. P.S I've also booked to see the show again in Glasgow especially to see Natasha as Fanny after all the raves she's been getting so it will be great to see her take on the role. I've booked for the Evening show on Wednesday the 31st of May and have just seen that there's also a two show day on the Thursday instead of an evening show on the Monday, so It's just got me thinking. Does anyone know if there's any chance Natasha might miss the show I've booked because of this? As I know Sheridan's had some scheduled shows she's missed, so was wondering if this was the same for Natasha? I'd just hate to miss her if I can help it. Don't get me wrong I'm sure Jennifer Harding will be brilliant if I see her, but I would really like to see Natasha if possible. I'm probably just over thinking things but that's me.  |
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Apr 28, 2017 20:03:31 GMT
All scheduled absences are on the Funny Girl website tour list |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 28, 2017 20:53:30 GMT
Take Sheridan Smith out of the show and this would be a cheap looking turgid mess I don't think it looks cheap at all. It looks a million times better than it did at the MCF. Dont you like purple? |
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57 posts
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Post by Pennywise57 on Apr 28, 2017 21:40:58 GMT
All scheduled absences are on the Funny Girl website tour list Thank you. looks like there's no scheduled absences for Glasgow. Fingers crossed |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on May 5, 2017 18:37:31 GMT
"Due to the indisposition of Natasha J Barnes, at this performance the role of Fanny Brice will be played by Alexandra Waite-Roberts"
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on May 5, 2017 19:01:00 GMT
"Due to the indisposition of Natasha J Barnes, at this performance the role of Danny Brice will be played by Alexandra Waite-Roberts" Danny Brice...Fanny's cousin? Richard would've been a better name... |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on May 5, 2017 19:03:57 GMT
Must be a quote error, my post looks perfect to me  |
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on May 5, 2017 19:42:09 GMT
Must be a quote error, my post looks perfect to me  how dare you accuse me of such treachery! |
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 12:27:27 GMT
Don't know if it is sheduled, but understudy Jennifer Harding is on today for Fanmy Brice according to twitter.
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46 posts
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Post by palace on May 6, 2017 13:11:40 GMT
Fuller thoughts on last night - 12 - Funny Girl - Playhouse Mmmm, this is an odd one - a big hit back in the 60s that was turned into a very popular film but a show which seems to have fallen out of favour over the past few decades and here it is resurrected as a starring vehicle for Sheridan Smith. And by bloomin heck she grabs this show by the scruff of the neck and owns the stage from the first scene to the curtain call. HOWEVER Take Sheridan Smith out of the show and this would be a cheap looking turgid mess - there are a couple of good songs in here but the rest are forgettable and a lot of the supporting cast are clichéd stock characters. Smith also has the task of spending a lot of her stage time opposite everyones favourite Pop Idol reject Darius Danesh (or Campbell as he is now) who whilst filling a tux very nicely has an accent that is wandering all over the United States - sometimes in the same sentence. I don't think the pacing helps, the first half is far too long at 90 minutes in comparison to what actually happens in the show after the interval. There appears to be an appropriate interval gap about 10 minutes before we actually get there and it leaves the show looking lopsided. All of the interesting stuff is crammed into the shorter second act whilst the first act meanders along at an alarmingly slow pace. Was good to be able to get a better seat at the interval as well, there must have been about 10 people in the 9 rows in front of us - don't know what had happened there but for some reason there was a swathe of empty seats. It wasn't that the place was empty, the Playhouse holds 3000 and the Stalls were pretty much full apart from this block of about 300 empty seats slap bang in the middle of people. A showstopping central performance raises this to a 6/10, cast the likes of Michelle Collins in this instead and it wouldn't be anything near that. And if I haven't already mentioned, Sheridan Smith was bloody brilliant and got a deserved standing ovation at the curtain call - never seen an audience rise as one like that before. When SS was ill, I saw Funny Girl with Natasha J Barnes and still felt she was a great lead. I have seen Sheridan Smith a couple of times before in Legally Blonde and I know what an excellent performer she is. NJB is also excellent. Everything you experienced with SS was the same. At the curtain call, the audience swept to their feet as one to applaud NJB. I didn't find anything wrong with the pacing. I was surprised how quickly I was engrossed in the show and the pacing seemed just right. But I do know what you mean about shows when you start thinking it should time for the interval now! |
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 20:20:33 GMT
Natasha really can't be that well, her understudy is on again today, both the matinee and evening show!
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46 posts
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 15:53:40 GMT
Natasha really can't be that well, her understudy is on again today, both the matinee and evening show! Is Natasha JB doing the show on part of the tour so that SS doesn't get too worn out? |
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how dare you accuse me of such treachery!