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Post by anthony40 on Apr 19, 2018 17:39:32 GMT
Caught this on Monday with my sister and her friend- so two Aussies and one English and I dunno, maybe we're easily pleased but we loved it! I (fear) I have to agree with some of the comments made by tonyloco in his previous post about the white Australia policy but I cannot stress to you all how iconic this film was at its release!
As the credits rolled people actually stood and gave this film a standing ovation- seriously! And now it has become part of Australian film making history.
So, just for a moment, try and out yourselves in our shoes, sitting in a darkened threat on the other side of the world, watching it being acted out in front of our eyes.
Look, it's not the best thing playing in the West End but it is fun and has lots of heart. And so see the iconic scenes and lines being spoken and acted out.
"I wanna dance with you Fran", "You know about the rumba being the dance of love? Well it's just pretend" and "Aw gee Mr. Fife!"
The show worked but if I'm honest, it looked a little cramped and possibly on a slightly larger stage may have been more suitable.
The show works because these are stock standard characters- some a little to the extreme.
What struck me the most how much the guy playing the father looked like Barry Otto- the actor who created the role in the film. It was actually uncanny.
The attention to detail in terms of the costumes- puffy sleeve alert- and wigs did not go astray.
I wasn't put off by the presence of Will Young. He actually seemed to be enjoying himself and his struggle with the accent. In fact, everyones struggle, with the accent. There are also a couple of throw away lines that are so typically Australian that they'll be lost on most of the audience.
The moment she came on stage I recognised Eve Polycarpou- she always plays an excellent Spanish/Hispanic/Latino elder.
The night we were there the audience were loving it, laughing and standing up at the end sining along. Love is in the Air......
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4,779 posts
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Post by Mark on Apr 19, 2018 23:01:30 GMT
Really liked Zizi, and actually quite liked Will Young.
That’s pretty much where it ends. The show is just bad. Not enough drama, not enough standout moments, the whole thing is so badly put together. Act two was better but the ending was just a bit naff. Where were all these “different moves” we were told of?
I wouldn’t really call this a musical, you only get snippets of most songs, not even a full verse/chorus.
I won’t be recommending this one.
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Post by Peach on Apr 19, 2018 23:28:41 GMT
I enjoyed this tonight but there was about 75% too much Will Young for my liking.
I like the idea of having a narrator/compere but he's just not good enough to make it work for me.
Would request that the ushers also eject anyone who tries to join in with the dramatic paso doble clapping towards the end.
Zizi Strallen I thought was charming and I enjoyed seeing Jacob Maynard from last year's On The Town in the ensemble.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 20, 2018 9:35:30 GMT
Really liked Zizi, and actually quite liked Will Young. That’s pretty much where it ends. The show is just bad. Not enough drama, not enough standout moments, the whole thing is so badly put together. Act two was better but the ending was just a bit naff. Where were all these “different moves” we were told of? I wouldn’t really call this a musical, you only get snippets of most songs, not even a full verse/chorus. I won’t be recommending this one. Totally agree - Love is in the Air isn’t sung completely! Soooo annoying. Does Zizi also only sing one line? Ha... |
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Post by Rory on Apr 20, 2018 19:56:43 GMT
Saw this on the One Show tonight and thought it looked ghastly. What on earth was Will Young wearing?
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Post by d'James on Apr 20, 2018 20:34:22 GMT
Saw this on the One Show tonight and thought it looked ghastly. What on earth was Will Young wearing? I quite liked the over the top dresses but I could not sit through an evening of Will Young singing songs I love. I don’t dislike his voice in small doses but it didn’t sound right on those songs tonight. Baz Luhrmann was a great guest though. |
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Post by Rory on Apr 20, 2018 21:16:39 GMT
Yes, BL was a fun guest and I like some of WY's songs (especially Jealousy) but this did not look like a show I'd like to see sadly.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2018 21:25:24 GMT
Anyone else get the AKA market research survey about this today? Even as a bit of a former fangirl I had to resist a sarcastic response to “Is Will Young more or less likely to make you see this?”
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3,533 posts
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Post by Rory on Apr 21, 2018 9:49:12 GMT
I'm sure Will Young wouldn't be too happy with that question in the market research, which frankly sounds as bizarre as the show.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2018 10:53:54 GMT
I'm sure Will Young wouldn't be too happy with that question in the market research, which frankly sounds as bizarre as the show. In fairness it mirrored a question about Baz Luhurman's involvement ie does this 'name' make you more or less interested so hopefully Mr Young won't take it too personally! Baz was on the Radio 2 Breakfast show yesterday, though wasn't chatting about this specifically when I was listening. Meanwhile my choir are currently singing 'Come What May' from Moulin Rouge and 'All that Jazz' from Chicago, so I'm marketing us as a low-rent version of both. #WillSingForWine |
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Post by grannyjx6 on Apr 21, 2018 22:49:06 GMT
Well we are just back from 5 days and seven musicals in London. Loved them all...... except Strictly Ballroom. I do like Will Young but oh my goodness, it was ghastly. The only part where I thought, yes, this is going somewhere was when Fernando Mira danced the flamenco at the end of the first half. It was spine chilling! It didn't really help that we were in the back of the circle and actually missed quite a bit of the performance at the front of the stage. The audience seemed to enjoy it though so perhaps it's just me.
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Post by as on Apr 21, 2018 23:23:00 GMT
Went tonight, this is a fab feel good show. OK it’s not the best West End show you’ll ever see, but a solid 4 stars I reckon. Will Young is great, don’t really see why people take exception to him tbh. I (very) often see shows more than once, will see this again, but won’t be revisiting Hamilton!
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19,662 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 22, 2018 5:02:11 GMT
I'm sure Will Young wouldn't be too happy with that question in the market research, which frankly sounds as bizarre as the show. If the response is an overall “more likely” they’ll use it to persuade him to do the tour. If it’s “less” they’ll not be telling him for fear of another strop. |
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Post by ladyk on Apr 22, 2018 14:24:31 GMT
Fernando Mira was amazing! The whole story came alive through that scene. The best memory from the film and the musical for me.
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2,242 posts
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Post by richey on Apr 22, 2018 16:10:31 GMT
Just saw the clip from the One Show and it looks awful. Such a shame they've ruined it with Will. Time after Time worked beautifully as a duet in Leeds, and that touching the characters is just creepy.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2018 17:18:07 GMT
^ You prompted me to watch this on Youtube... I’ve nothing really against Will Young (I even went to see him at Wembley once*- Annas’ choice, not mine) apart from I thought he came across as a bit of a plonker on Strictly (Come Dancing) but his weedy voice was just wrong for this. Time After Time is Cyndi Lauper. It’s what makes the film! And as for him mooching about in that dodgy looking outfit...  No! Ironically, straight after the One Show clip on Youtube, you get another clip advertising the show. Its previous incarnation? It looks so much better! Am going in a couple of weeks... * His audiences= bad behaviour. I have just remembered an incident and how I dealt with it, and it proved very effective. (Reported in Bad Behavoiur thread.) |
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Post by showoff on Apr 22, 2018 17:37:28 GMT
^ You prompted me to watch this on Youtube... I’ve nothing really against Will Young (I even went to see him at Wembley once*- Annas’ choice, not mine) apart from I thought he came across as a bit of a plonker on Strictly (Come Dancing) but his weedy voice was just wrong for this. Time After Time is Cyndi Lauper. It’s what makes the film! And as for him mooching about in that dodgy looking outfit... No! Ironically, straight after the One Show clip on Youtube, you get another clip advertising the show. It’s previous incarnation? It looks so much better! Am going in a couple of weeks... * His audiences= bad behaviour. I have just remembered an incident and how I dealt with it, and it proved very effective. (Reported in Bad Behavoiur thread.) The previous show from the advert looked so much better, especially given that the dancers had real space to move and breathe. There was no room on the stage with the band and everything was so squashed up it made the dancers really hold back, which is a shame, as this film calls out for big, extravagant dance. |
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Post by Lemansky on Apr 23, 2018 15:13:31 GMT
After being at the 1/2 cancelled first preview we are going back to this tonight. I hope at least that it's tightened up a bit, considering that it's press tomorrow (I think). Otherwise I'm not too excited about it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 7:39:37 GMT
Saw this last night and as expected was completely let down. This show is not a patch on the original version in Leeds. I was so very disappointed. The performances were stunning from the dancers could not fault them. I went with an open mind about will young. I found his presence distracting and really unecessary and it just let the whole thing down. The set was so dark and bland compared to the original. This was a show I would have watched over and over again but I’m gutted to say I won’t be going again.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 8:59:20 GMT
Baz was on BBC Breakfast this morning. (I'll post a link if I can find one later). Most interesting fact I learned, he was nicknamed Baz after Basil Brush. I did not know this.
(Also Will Young's facial hair...that's ....a choice)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 16:37:22 GMT
Press Night tonight. I get the sense this could well be one of those shows where the reviews make or break it.
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Post by Mark on Apr 24, 2018 16:51:44 GMT
Press Night tonight. I get the sense this could well be one of those shows where the reviews make or break it. I'm expecting a bloodbath to be honest. This really was one of the worst West End shows I've seen in a long time. |
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Post by showoff on Apr 24, 2018 17:07:41 GMT
Press Night tonight. I get the sense this could well be one of those shows where the reviews make or break it. I'm expecting a bloodbath to be honest. This really was one of the worst West End shows I've seen in a long time. Yeah, I agree, I'm thinking it's going to be awful, and I wonder if Will Young is up to hearing poor reviews of his role. |
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Post by showoff on Apr 24, 2018 17:08:51 GMT
After being at the 1/2 cancelled first preview we are going back to this tonight. I hope at least that it's tightened up a bit, considering that it's press tomorrow (I think). Otherwise I'm not too excited about it. How did you find it? I have my replacement date next week and I'm not looking forward to it. Maybe that'll be a positive thing though. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2018 18:00:21 GMT
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No! 