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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 19:06:10 GMT
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Spamalot
Feb 28, 2017 23:52:52 GMT
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Post by firefingers on Feb 28, 2017 23:52:52 GMT
Selladoor producing... Given the last your was BKL and was cut back to bare minimum, surely production values can only go up.
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2,775 posts
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Spamalot
Mar 1, 2017 0:08:45 GMT
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Post by daniel on Mar 1, 2017 0:08:45 GMT
The last tour was ATG-produced, and this one is set to be a cut-back version of the last one...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 1:13:16 GMT
Oooo good to see this is going out on tour again! I know a fair bit about it, and quite a bit of the score, but never seen it live personally. So I may have to make a trip to this one.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 1:25:59 GMT
The last tour was ATG-produced, and this one is set to be a cut-back version of the last one... It was both ATG and Kenwright, if I'm not mistaken. I haven't seen any Selladoor productions, but judging from the photos and videos of their stuff, it looks like they're trying to cut back on already cut back productions. As for Spamalot though, I guess the ATG version probably was more "Python" to some degree than the Palace production due to the small cast that played many different characters. I just wished the set and costumes didn't look like one of those pop-up pantos that I remember toured to my school hall! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 1:49:32 GMT
Also just realised, it is produced by Selladoor with Mercury Theatre, Colchester which has the production in April/May (cast and creatives on www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/spamalot/#cast), who are also currently producing John Cleese's new adaptaion of George Feydeu's Bang Bang, so surely he might be involved somehow? An updated voice or video recording of God perhaps? |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 1, 2017 1:54:17 GMT
The problem with Spamalot is that it toured a lot - and it was a law of diminishing returns for many of the theatres. Each visit saw a significant drop off in ticket sales.
Add into that the fact that it has been released for the amateur market and there have been a reasonable number of productions up and down the country and this is going to be a tough sell for any big theatre - unless there are some serious names on board - which sounds unlikely.
It is a great fun show - but it will take something special to encourage people to see it again.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 8:26:30 GMT
It is a great fun show - but it will take something special to encourage people to see it again. It will take them casting someone other than Bonnie Langford for me - she was awful in this when I saw it a few years ago! |
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Post by fraser on Mar 14, 2017 20:19:32 GMT
Hi,
I am looking for advice re. the Spamalot orchestration - I am limited to a maximum 10 piece orchestration due to space. Any suggestions to the best configuration?
Thanks
Fraser
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Post by Seriously on Mar 14, 2017 21:48:25 GMT
The recent Playhouse Theatre production was:
Keys 1 (MD)
Keys 2
Bass (Acoustic and Electric)
Drums
Trumpet/Flugel
Flute/Picc/Clarinet
Prior to that, it had a Guitar, but that was covered by the keyboards when it was lost.
I think the parts you can hire are:
Reed 1
Reed 2
Horn
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trombone
Percussion
Drums
Bass
Violin
Keys 1
Keys 2
Keys 3
I'd definitely lose the Violin (keys 3 covers it all) and Trombone... the combine Trumpet 1 and 2 into one score.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2017 0:13:08 GMT
Assuming the Mercury, Colchester production next month will be the Selladoor touring one, here is a sneak peak at the model box for it. http://instagram.com/p/BSI8qEXjpXA |
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449 posts
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Spamalot
Mar 30, 2017 16:24:37 GMT
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Post by SageStageMgr on Mar 30, 2017 16:24:37 GMT
Just a note on Selladoor, I wouldn't expect vastly superior production values to the previous tour. Their whole schtick is cheap and cheerful.
I saw their Avenue Q at the Dome in Brighton in 2015 and the show was stopped for around 25 minutes due to a large piece of the scenery falling forward and going splat, mid-way through Act I. The stage manager took to the stage and announced "technical difficulties". Bad management left the audience sat in semi-darkness for what felt like an eternity.
Luckily, nobody was hurt and the remainder of the show continued with a large brace propping up the offending set piece.
Given that has been my only experience so far of a Sell a Door production, forgive me for not expecting Cam Mack standards.
Besides, it's Spamalot. Who honestly cares after twelve years...
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Post by firefingers on May 6, 2017 10:57:15 GMT
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Post by christya on Sept 18, 2017 11:10:14 GMT
Has anyone seen this yet? I'm supposed to be going next month, only I stupidly booked before I realised it was Selladoor. After how much I hated Flashdance, I'm a bit concerned as I'm supposed to be taking a friend with me this time.
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4,361 posts
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Spamalot
Sept 18, 2017 13:22:27 GMT
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Post by shady23 on Sept 18, 2017 13:22:27 GMT
I saw a tweet from someone who saw it in Blackpool the other week and there were only 100 people there.
Lots of publicity around Newcastle for the upcoming visit but it's here so often I'm not sure how sales will be like. Also how can they get away with still marketing it as a new musical? Also with "best musical" when that was way back in 2005.
The quote on the poster saying "could this be the definitive production" is from something I'd never heard of which seems to suggest reviews haven't been the best, if indeed, they bothered to review it again at all!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 18, 2017 15:07:25 GMT
They can do what they like with the set, the show is a stinker. The only faintly amusing bits were the lady in the lake and that song about not being on stage enough, and that 5 second scene where they're in a gay club, dan I g with someone smoking outside. That fracked me up. Apart from that, it's rubbish!
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Post by SageStageMgr on Sept 18, 2017 17:14:25 GMT
Disagree, saw the original London cast in previews and absolutely loved every minute of it, never laughed so much at a show. Actually, that's not true, I laughed more at Exposure: The Musical.
It has gone horribly off the (g)rails though over the years.
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19,660 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 18, 2017 17:45:16 GMT
It's down there with Cats and BOM for me. Although BOM didn't even illicit two moments of fun so is deffo at rock bottom.
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Post by Seriously on Sept 18, 2017 20:27:51 GMT
Ah, Exposure - "The Musical". Happy memories.
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449 posts
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Spamalot
Sept 18, 2017 21:01:03 GMT
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Post by SageStageMgr on Sept 18, 2017 21:01:03 GMT
Ah, Exposure - "The Musical". Happy memories. Seriously happy memories. It was absolutely bloody brilliant. The Hamlet of bad musicals. |
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Post by christya on Sept 19, 2017 10:54:44 GMT
Well, damn, I was hoping someone would say "Against all odds, this is brilliant". If it's dreadful, it'll be the last time I book for anything Selladoor does. I'm not sure the look of disgust has faded from my face over Flashdance.
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2,242 posts
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Spamalot
Sept 19, 2017 11:27:44 GMT
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Post by richey on Sept 19, 2017 11:27:44 GMT
Well that front curtain looks pretty cheap so not a great start
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449 posts
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Spamalot
Sept 20, 2017 11:25:04 GMT
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Post by SageStageMgr on Sept 20, 2017 11:25:04 GMT
Well that front curtain looks pretty cheap so not a great start The logos, set designs, and basically everything - is available to amateur dramatics companies. You basically get a bunch of AV, sound clips etc as part of the show rights. So yes, it looks cheap and amateurish because most of the time it *is* |
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 4, 2017 17:17:10 GMT
A few thoughts from press night in Birmingham (I wasn't there as press).
This is a show that's as charming as ever and I'm sure that the dozens of people in the audience agreed. Although there were people sat before who thought this was a brand new musical.
"You won't succeed in Birm-ing-ham if you ever haven't any stars" is as true as ever here. But you also won't succeed if there's absolutely no advertising around the theatre, no posters, no banners outside etc.
There is a live orchestra. It's a band of three people, with various extra tracks (including some songs that are mimed to). The sound mix was a bit odd. Staging is very different to the previous tours, with a lot done in front of the curtain and some bits of the audience. The rest is deliberately cheap and the cast rather point that out themselves during the show. It does work as part of the Monty Python legacy.
The Voice of God was an impressive sounding voice. No one notable (as far as I could tell).
Quite a few fresh ad-libs, prop malfunctions etc if you like that type of thing (probably all scripted as with previous tours). Some different visual jokes. One line in Knights of the Round Table was changed to something like "Am Dram do this show a lot", which I rather liked!
I hope this completes the tour. It is good to have a new staging after the original toured so many times (in various cut-down forms) A good cast, but missing a bit of energy somewhere. Maybe attendance is better at the weekend?
Yes, I did enjoy it!
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Post by Seriously on Oct 4, 2017 21:40:52 GMT
It's a band of three people Did you happen to see in the program what instruments were being used Dr Tom? I'm presuming piano, drum and something else. |
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