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Post by westendcub on Dec 21, 2016 21:33:23 GMT
So it's that time of year when you look back (yes 2016 has been an odd year) and you need to decide on what you have seen is the very best...my runner up is 'Groundhog Day' but the hands down winner is 'Titanic' at Charing Cross Theatre.
For me I had not seen this before (had wanted to for years), I hadn't ever heard it's score but I was compelled how one could turn the tragic tale of the Titanic voyage into a musical.
This was such a triumph, I loved that this was a chamber piece with all the cast taking on multiple roles, it was exciting to see such craftsmanship and the cast working so hard to put on a fantastic show (I saw twice and just magnificent).
I loved the simple yet effective set (it really worked in the small space) but for me it was the solid cast singing that beautiful soaring score that just made this my show of the year.
I cried so much at this because I was so deeply moved, I hope this show returns to London or on tour in the not too distant future!!
So what is your musical of 2016??
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Post by charliec on Dec 21, 2016 21:42:43 GMT
Groundhog Day. A smart, emotional, funny, warm and energetic show with songs that I truly adore and a ton of great performances. I went 7 times and that still wasn't enough.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 21:49:18 GMT
If we're talking about one that I hadn't seen before then I'm completely with you, it's Titanic.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 22:00:41 GMT
This thread has potenital to be very repetitive... but mine is Titanic too, no doubt in my mind. From performances that were strong across the board, to an inventive way of set and design and a score that is both emotional and strong, it was one of the best shows I have ever seen, of any year. I spent the majority of the second half in tears because of how moving it was, and by the end, when the characters who survived spoke of those they had lost, it was such a powerful moment, and a strong one like I have never felt, it will forever be etched in my brain. It just goes to show that you can love big and glossy, but shows can be incredible with just the story, songs and actors too. And thst is how you really know a show works. If I were to pick a second place, it would of been Groundhog Day, but this takes that out of the running too. I think Titanic, rightfully so, will live in many a memory for long to come!  |
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Post by theatremadness on Dec 21, 2016 22:00:44 GMT
Groundhog Day without a second thought. Without a doubt my favourite of 2016 and my favourite *new* musical I've seen in a very, very, VERY long time.
Want it back please and thank you.
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Post by cmcphail on Dec 21, 2016 22:02:44 GMT
Groundhog Day. I went in expecting to dislike it, but it quickly won me over and by the interval I was thinking about how badly I wanted to make a return trip.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 22:03:21 GMT
Another vote for Groundhog Day, I SERIOUSLY dug it.
Was Titanic significantly different at the Charing Cross Theatre compared with the Southwark Playhouse run? I find it hard to reconcile the perfectly decent but not exactly life-changing work I saw with all the superlatives I've read on this forum over the last few months.
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Post by theatremadness on Dec 21, 2016 22:14:20 GMT
Another vote for Groundhog Day, I SERIOUSLY dug it. Was Titanic significantly different at the Charing Cross Theatre compared with the Southwark Playhouse run? I find it hard to reconcile the perfectly decent but not exactly life-changing work I saw with all the superlatives I've read on this forum over the last few months. I saw Titanic only at Charing Cross but literally ALL of this. It was alright, perfectly decent is the *exact* description I'd use. Just couldn't get behind it as much as *everyone* else seemed to! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 22:44:01 GMT
Think it's gotta be Funny Girl.
Loved The Bodyguard too but I did see that in 2014 too
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 21, 2016 22:58:02 GMT
Funny Girl? Really? I'm shocked! My best is Dreamgirls. By a country mile. Worst- half a Sixpence /She Loves me Think it's gotta be Funny Girl. Loved The Bodyguard too but I did see that in 2014 too |
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Post by zsazsa on Dec 21, 2016 22:58:54 GMT
For me it has to be Dreamgirls. I was obsessed with the movie when it came out and to see it on stage was a wish come true. Can't wait to go back and see it again in the New Year.
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Post by zak97 on Dec 21, 2016 23:00:21 GMT
Half a Sixpence, certainly
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 21, 2016 23:02:06 GMT
Did you not see anything else this year?! Half a Sixpence, certainly |
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Post by d'James on Dec 21, 2016 23:05:21 GMT
For me it has to be Titanic or In The Heights. Can't decide. I've seen lots of other good stuff but going by my return visits is the best way of me telling which I enjoyed the most.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 23:26:02 GMT
It's one of the most recent I've seen, but Dreamgirls totally blew me away this year. It'll be a tough one to beat next year, too.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 21, 2016 23:57:26 GMT
Sunset Boulevard
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Post by panda on Dec 22, 2016 0:03:23 GMT
Ragtime
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 0:03:59 GMT
To those who have queries about Titanic:
I did have my issues with Titanic (mostly in regards to the ending which felt tacked on as if they were saying 'it's time to cry now' and actually took me out of my emotions.)
However, the production was just so great. Not a weak performance in the bunch, a stunning score sung beautifully by everyone involved and the way certain scenes were staged - specifically the end of act 1 - was just brilliant.
I think the book absolutely has its issues but I don't think it could have been staged or performed any better.
It is quite simply the only piece of theatre magic I experienced this year in London. The only thing I felt the need to go back to.
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Post by dazzerlump on Dec 22, 2016 0:14:36 GMT
In the Heights, mainly because it was one of those shows I'd never really fancied, so it took me by surprise how much I loved it.. I enjoyed it another to consider Hamilton (another one that never grabbed me)
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 22, 2016 0:23:47 GMT
Best was Sunset Boulevard - got to see a performance I wish I'd seen 20 years ago and have always hoped to.
Worst was Allegro, I just didn't see the point of it.
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Post by westendwendy on Dec 22, 2016 1:34:06 GMT
Ragtime
Sunset Boulevard
Dreamgirls
Wow to them all
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Post by indis on Dec 22, 2016 6:52:31 GMT
Phantom Stockholm (could watch this everyday, was so blown away from it)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 7:27:19 GMT
Funny Girl? Really? I'm shocked! My best is Dreamgirls. By a country mile. Worst- half a Sixpence /She Loves me Think it's gotta be Funny Girl. Loved The Bodyguard too but I did see that in 2014 too Mine probably would be Dreamgirls but we've booked to see it in the new year which means it'll probably be one of my favourites for next year instead. Also really liked Kinky Boots (I know that was 2015 but first time I saw it was Jan 2016 so) |
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Post by viserys on Dec 22, 2016 7:45:02 GMT
Since I missed Groundhog Day and haven't seen Dreamgirls yet, I'll lower the bar here with a crashing thud by saying that out of the shows I've seen in London this year I probably enjoyed School of Rock the most.
I just had a huge smile on my face throughout, was quite moved by "Where did the rock go" which spoke to me on a personal level and left the theatre in a great mood. Which is, especially in this dire godawful year 2016, what I really wanted most from a show.
Half a Sixpence comes a close second.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 8:05:13 GMT
My musical of the year has to be Flowers For Mrs Harris. Stunning and very very lovely cast, gorgeous score, gorgeous story and set, couldn't really fault it.
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