904 posts
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Post by lonlad on Feb 26, 2018 23:02:34 GMT
Oh god, I hope this is better than HAIR, which really was vile. Half the cast couldn't pronounce the words correctly!
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19,782 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 27, 2018 8:04:29 GMT
I hope this is only a blip on SWP otherwise exemplary record.Ummm... Bananaman The Musical?. 🍌🍌🍌 |
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Post by kelly52 on Feb 27, 2018 18:03:56 GMT
Saw this afternoons performance. I’m kind of in the middle. Lots to recommend it. Performers are all young and talented, and what some currently lack in refinement as actors (lots of mannered posturing going on without much truth in their choices at times) they make up in sheer energy and commitment. Some very clever staging and great lighting design although I gave up even trying to work out what was going on at some points,l. Even so, it all has a certain potency. On the whole an entertaining afternoon, and I look forward to seeing these young performers as they grow in the future. Great band too. Not the disaster described above by any means in my opinion.
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679 posts
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Post by westendcub on Feb 27, 2018 18:36:40 GMT
I enjoy seeing young performers just out of stage school, they bring a vibrant energy now they are embarking on their career...I’m there tonight so will report back (no nothing about this musical)!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 19:29:23 GMT
I enjoy seeing young performers just out of stage school, they bring a vibrant energy now they are embarking on their career...I’m there tonight so will report back (no nothing about this musical)! There’s no guarantee that will change once you’ve seen it either 😂 |
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Post by alisonb on Feb 27, 2018 22:43:42 GMT
My second visit this evening - I think I’m a jinx as we had another show stop!
Another good show though, and some of the issues from Saturday had been ironed out (the map rolled down this time and there were less sound problems).
Not sure if I’ll book to go again before the run ends...thinking about it at the moment!
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630 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Feb 27, 2018 22:48:18 GMT
I was also there tonight and really enjoyed it. Thought the performances were good on the whole, loved the staging and design and thought it was pretty easy to follow what was going on. Was much funnier than I was expecting too! Definitely feel like I got my £14 worth
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 23:11:51 GMT
I was also there tonight. I wish i had left at the interval, like several other people did.
It wasnt that the first half was bad, its because the 2nd act was terrible. The first half kind of flowed, the 2nd act was a stilted mess. What was going on?? What was Theo meant to be doing at the very end of the show? Did they stop the show just because the reverb on the mic wasn't working?
This might have worked in the 70's, but whatever concept you build the show around, it cant take away from how bad the actual show is.
What was going on with the welsh/scottish accents? Why did Pippin sing with an American accent? why bother to do this show at all??
The cast worked very hard with what they were given, but that's as good as it got.
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679 posts
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Post by westendcub on Feb 27, 2018 23:15:00 GMT
Well I’m pleased to report that I followed the plot & didn’t find it all that confusing!!
Thought this was well staged & it’s a solid song book (that opening number ‘Magic To Do’ was so familiar to me, I’ve definitely heard it somewhere before).
Yes there was one show stop in Act 1 (I was so immersed that when the crew member came out I for a wee second I thought I was part of the show).
Oh my Bradley’s Judge fur is rather a beautiful sight for the eyes!!
Glad to see Southwark Playhouse back with another solid musical!
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Feb 27, 2018 23:21:21 GMT
I was also there tonight. Funnily enough I found the story far easier to follow in this production than I did watching the latest revival a few years ago. It’s a real journey about Pepin the Prince with themes about the tyranny of fate and destiny. I now get the ending!
The production was good though to me some of the casting was off. It’s clear that the performers are all very young, and however talented they are - it gives the whole show a drama school college feel about it. Previous Southwark shows haven’t. I agree with the comments above about the accents. Too much and cliche!
The pre Wicked music is wonderful but the book is just rather abstract and 70’s hippie. A good night and worth seeing but it’s one of those shows that the story will never reach the same level as the wonderful melodies that are delivered. 7/10
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84 posts
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Post by jasper on Feb 28, 2018 8:07:23 GMT
Thought the production was very well done. Did not know any of the songs, but they sounded very 70s. The plot seemed to get lost in the second half so much so that the second seemed like a different story. The main characters of the first half disappear to be replaced by others. No mention of Pippin as King. Seemed like two stories stitched together to make one. Liked the Granny and her song, but none of the numbers were memorable. Liked the cast and they all sang well and danced well. Not too loud, but the mikes were too loud and the words got lost. Need to turn their sound down and let their voices do the work. When did everything become miked? Lack of training? Overall enjoyed it, reminded me of the 70s which was lovely. (The music I mean not the decade)
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Feb 28, 2018 8:45:04 GMT
Thought the production was very well done. Did not know any of the songs, but they sounded very 70s. The plot seemed to get lost in the second half so much so that the second seemed like a different story. The main characters of the first half disappear to be replaced by others. No mention of Pippin as King. Seemed like two stories stitched together to make one. Liked the Granny and her song, but none of the numbers were memorable. Liked the cast and they all sang well and danced well. Not too loud, but the mikes were too loud and the words got lost. Need to turn their sound down and let their voices do the work. When did everything become miked? Lack of training? Overall enjoyed it, reminded me of the 70s which was lovely. (The music I mean not the decade) None of the songs were memorable? Er...... Apart from Magic to do Corner of the Sky Extraordinary Love Song With You Spread a little Sunshine Morning Glow |
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Post by danb on Feb 28, 2018 9:22:32 GMT
Thought the production was very well done. Did not know any of the songs, but they sounded very 70s. The plot seemed to get lost in the second half so much so that the second seemed like a different story. The main characters of the first half disappear to be replaced by others. No mention of Pippin as King. Seemed like two stories stitched together to make one. Liked the Granny and her song, but none of the numbers were memorable. Liked the cast and they all sang well and danced well. Not too loud, but the mikes were too loud and the words got lost. Need to turn their sound down and let their voices do the work. When did everything become miked? Lack of training? Overall enjoyed it, reminded me of the 70s which was lovely. (The music I mean not the decade) None of the songs were memorable? Er...... Apart from Magic to do Corner of the Sky Extraordinary Love Song With You Spread a little Sunshine Morning Glow Jeez you’re rude. I’m 45 with quite an extensive knowledge of MT songs and I’d say the only number from Pippin to join the canon of MT songs that people kind of know is ‘Corner of the Sky’. Or were you just after a reaction? Insert Troll emoji here. |
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Feb 28, 2018 11:16:23 GMT
None of the songs were memorable? Er...... Apart from Magic to do Corner of the Sky Extraordinary Love Song With You Spread a little Sunshine Morning Glow Jeez you’re rude. I’m 45 with quite an extensive knowledge of MT songs and I’d say the only number from Pippin to join the canon of MT songs that people kind of know is ‘Corner of the Sky’. Or were you just after a reaction? Insert Troll emoji here. Wasn’t meant to be rude. Just a fact that most people would say the score is Pippins strongest point and so many of the songs feature in the composers vast catalogue - not to mention being performed over the past 40 years in concerts, award shows, exams, college showcases, festivals, cabarets and so many albums from musical theatre performers. The show is an odd one with an abstract book but in my opinion the score is the strongest thing about it with very memorable melodies and songs. The ten people I went with last night all came out saying fabulous songs - weird show. Peace x |
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8,157 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 28, 2018 11:27:03 GMT
I agree with that. It's a most bizarre show but I love the songs and have had "magic to do" stuck in my head all morning. My friend told me off for singing along too loud in the chorus of the gran number on Saturday night.
All together now
"Oh it's time to start living...."
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362 posts
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 28, 2018 11:47:26 GMT
Saw this yesterday and I, unfortunately, have to agree with the few people who said that it felt a little drama school-y and amateurish at times. A shame because I knew some of the songs and had never seen the show before so I really wanted to love it and ended up leaving just a little... disappointed.
For me, only Lewis, the King, and Catherine gave solid performances. Granny/Step-Mom was handicapped with playing roles far above her age and also poor direction, which is what I think made this show suffer the most. Coupled with some very stiff and stilted choreography (the Glory and Right Track "dance breaks" were very underwhelming), it made for a very disjointed show that wasn't consistent in its good moments.
Not quite sure why people couldn't follow the plot, the whole show is narrated..! I wish they'd broken the fourth wall a little more in act one because when it began again in act two it was jarring.
Sadly the biggest flaw was the lack of charisma from Pippin and the Leading Player. No doubt talented and both had great vocals, but Pippin was straight out of drama school with some of his acting (and not in a good way). Also why was Pippin's costume from Topman but everyone else's wasn't??
I enjoyed the vaudeville theme for the show and thought the lighting and set design worked very well (I know the Bway revival did circus and Menier did video game, not sure if Original was vaudeville or not). Considering it was a transfer from Manchester I would have assumed it to be in better shape than it was but sadly it didn't quite do it for me.
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19,782 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 28, 2018 12:44:03 GMT
I enjoyed the vaudeville theme for the show and thought the lighting and set design worked very well (I know the Bway revival did circus and Menier did video game, not sure if Original was vaudeville or not). Considering it was a transfer from Manchester I would have assumed it to be in better shape than it was but sadly it didn't quite do it for me. Hard to categorise! |
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84 posts
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Post by jasper on Feb 28, 2018 13:07:14 GMT
Saw this yesterday and I, unfortunately, have to agree with the few people who said that it felt a little drama school-y and amateurish at times. A shame because I knew some of the songs and had never seen the show before so I really wanted to love it and ended up leaving just a little... disappointed. For me, only Lewis, the King, and Catherine gave solid performances. Granny/Step-Mom was handicapped with playing roles far above her age and also poor direction, which is what I think made this show suffer the most. Coupled with some very stiff and stilted choreography (the Glory and Right Track "dance breaks" were very underwhelming), it made for a very disjointed show that wasn't consistent in its good moments. Not quite sure why people couldn't follow the plot, the whole show is narrated..! I wish they'd broken the fourth wall a little more in act one because when it began again in act two it was jarring. Sadly the biggest flaw was the lack of charisma from Pippin and the Leading Player. No doubt talented and both had great vocals, but Pippin was straight out of drama school with some of his acting (and not in a good way). Also why was Pippin's costume from Topman but everyone else's wasn't?? I enjoyed the vaudeville theme for the show and thought the lighting and set design worked very well (I know the Bway revival did circus and Menier did video game, not sure if Original was vaudeville or not). Considering it was a transfer from Manchester I would have assumed it to be in better shape than it was but sadly it didn't quite do it for me. |
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84 posts
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Post by jasper on Feb 28, 2018 13:10:42 GMT
I could follow the plot, but the plot itself was the problem. It started with Pippin becoming King then after the interval he was in a ditch with no further mention of him as a king and the rest of the book was about him finding himself. (Very 60s) The two alves did not seem to match. The plot was easy to follow, but did not make complete sense.
No I do not remember the songs. Maybe I have never listened to them before I went in so do not remember them on hearing them only once despite the reprise.
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Post by kelly52 on Feb 28, 2018 13:37:08 GMT
Granny/Step-Mom was handicapped with playing roles far above her age and also poor direction, which is what I think made this show suffer the most. Coupled with some very stiff and stilted choreography (the Glory and Right Track "dance breaks" were very underwhelming), it made for a very disjointed show that wasn't consistent in its good moments. I agree with this assessment, especially around direction issues. The girl playing granny/step-mum was clearly talented but has been allowed to develop characterisations that have no grounding in any truth whatsoever. Instead she relies on the ‘funny voice/facial contortion’ school of coarse acting. It of course doesn’t help that she is playing significantly older characters. She is clearly capable but, like most of the cast, a newby who might need a bit more of a firm hand from a director to help her move towards a more rounded / nuanced performance. I’ll bet you they were all rolling around in the rehearsal room when watching their mate perform, just a shame the director didn’t seem disciplined (or maybe experienced) enough to spot that this does not necessarily mean it works for a paying audience. Big credit to the actress though, as she committed to her choice fully and is clearly destined to be an interesting talent if given the opportunity to learn and develop. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2018 14:44:11 GMT
So to all those that followed the plot, what was Theo meant to be doing on the stage at the very end? What was the point of the little bit of business??
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8,157 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 28, 2018 14:49:31 GMT
So to all those that followed the plot, what was Theo meant to be doing on the stage at the very end? What was the point of the little bit of business?? He was putting the stars back in their holes on stage. It was H&S requirement so none of the cast fell into one during the curtain call. Well I think that was how the story ends. 😁 |
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630 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Feb 28, 2018 15:10:18 GMT
Also why was Pippin's costume from Topman but everyone else's wasn't?? This bugged me too - I hated his costume. In the trailer that's been released on Facebook today it looks like he's wearing a top made out of chain mail - maybe it was too noisy and they had to swap it for something that looked a bit similar? |
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630 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Feb 28, 2018 15:13:56 GMT
So to all those that followed the plot, what was Theo meant to be doing on the stage at the very end? What was the point of the little bit of business?? From the show's Wikipedia page: {Spoiler - click to view}
Some newer productions of Pippin, including the 2013 Broadway revival, have featured an extension to the original ending. The "Theo ending" was originally conceived in 1998 by Mitch Sebastian. After the troupe shuns Pippin for not performing the grand finale, and he avers his contentment with a simple life with Catherine, Theo remains alone onstage, and sings a verse of "Corner of the Sky," after which the Leading Player and the troupe return, backed by the "Magic to Do" melody, implying that the existential crisis at the heart of the play is part of a cycle and will now continue, but with Theo as the troupe's replacement for Pippin. |
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8,157 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 28, 2018 15:29:56 GMT
And what about the mess from those bales of hay. The floor and the actors costumes and hair were covered in it.
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