2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 21, 2017 14:53:27 GMT
Couldn't find a thread for this one so please merge if I missed it!! Coming up straight after Blonde, The Hired Man will play at the Union Theatre from 19th July - 12th August  www.uniontheatre.biz/the-hired-man.html |
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4,961 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 21, 2017 14:58:26 GMT
Oh thanks. A show I've always wanted to see
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637 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jun 21, 2017 16:07:34 GMT
Sorry to be the person to ask THAT question, but does anyone know the typical running time of this show? Is it a long one? Want to fit it into my August London trip, but not sure on timings.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2017 18:07:58 GMT
Love this show! It doesnt get much more British than this.
Aye! I'm for hire!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2017 19:48:30 GMT
Sorry to be the person to ask THAT question, but does anyone know the typical running time of this show? Is it a long one? Want to fit it into my August London trip, but not sure on timings. It's not long at all. Probably under 2.5 hrs. It's more like a play with songs a la Blood Brothers. |
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637 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jun 21, 2017 20:01:41 GMT
Sorry to be the person to ask THAT question, but does anyone know the typical running time of this show? Is it a long one? Want to fit it into my August London trip, but not sure on timings. It's not long at all. Probably under 2.5 hrs. It's more like a play with songs a la Blood Brothers. Thanks for the info. Hopefully able to fit it in. A huge fan of Goodall's work (probably one of the only people that enjoyed BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM). Just need to check my train back. |
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4,984 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 21, 2017 20:39:13 GMT
Anything at the Union Theatre, you can generally knock 20% off the running time.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2017 21:20:21 GMT
It's not long at all. Probably under 2.5 hrs. It's more like a play with songs a la Blood Brothers. Thanks for the info. Hopefully able to fit it in. A huge fan of Goodall's work (probably one of the only people that enjoyed BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM). Just need to check my train back. Trust me, it's a swift show - and this rarely changes from production to production, so it'll be fine. No dance breaks or encores or extended musical sequences lol. Just be prepared for a dark, depressing, hardshippy story… Just when you think it can't get worse…it does |
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Post by crabtree on Jun 21, 2017 21:25:58 GMT
Ah, it may be dark and emotional, but it is simply a wonderful show. Grab the chance to see it. Such an emotional score.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2017 20:36:29 GMT
If anyone is going I'd love to hear your thoughts. It starts tonight.
I'm going in early August and cant wait to hear the score again.
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Post by cptjack on Jul 27, 2017 12:37:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2017 14:54:04 GMT
The Union needs to invest in a head mic system. It really is impossible to hear the cast over the band at times in the new larger space.
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Jul 27, 2017 17:20:04 GMT
Not seen this production, as I saw the musical once previously (at the Bolton Octagon) and loathed it. Anyone been? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2017 7:53:54 GMT
Well. There's not a lot of laughs here. It's like D. H. Lawrence does 'The Go Between' with poor people, with a bit of Norma Rae thrown in. Which is nice. The score is a bit samey but it's well staged in the space and the war section is very well done. I do admit to having a bit of a tear towards the end. The cast is FABULOUS though, there really isn't a weak one among 'em. Ifan Gwilym-Jones and Rebecca Gilliland as John and Emily are wonderful (although I'd have perhaps liked to have seen some attempt to age them in the second act) and Ifan in particular has a great voice. Sam Peggs is a particular highlight as Issac and there is also the utterly swoonsome Luke Kelly as Jackson. Oh my goodness, you could spread him on toast and eat the whole loaf.
And there's some lovely looking cherry bakewells making an appearance. Made me feel very peckish.
Go see it people, it was half empty yesterday. This cast deserve far better than that.
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1,346 posts
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Post by tmesis on Jul 30, 2017 10:01:14 GMT
Well. There's not a lot of laughs here. It's like D. H. Lawrence does 'The Go Between' with poor people, with a bit of Norma Rae thrown in. Which is nice. The score is a bit samey but it's well staged in the space and the war section is very well done. I do admit to having a bit of a tear towards the end. The cast is FABULOUS though, there really isn't a weak one among 'em. Ifan Gwilym-Jones and Rebecca Gilliland as John and Emily are wonderful (although I'd have perhaps liked to have seen some attempt to age them in the second act) and Ifan in particular has a great voice. Sam Peggs is a particular highlight as Issac and there is also the utterly swoonsome Luke Kelly as Jackson. Oh my goodness, you could spread him on toast and eat the whole loaf. And there's some lovely looking cherry bakewells making an appearance. Made me feel very peckish. Go see it people, it was half empty yesterday. This cast deserve far better than that. Was going to give this a miss but now you're really selling it to me. Got a window after Ink next Saturday evening so might give the sweltering Union a bash. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 30, 2017 11:19:47 GMT
Having just seen Yank in a half empty sweltering auditorium I really cannot face a repeat in a different venue.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 23:49:23 GMT
I know this show well and tonight was a disappointment for me. I missed the brass from the new orchestrations and some of the vocal arrangements were horrible. Where did all the new harmonies come from? For me it lessened the impact, especially during the opening number, which made it sound way too 'stage school' like they were trying too hard.
Did the budget not extend to footwear for the cast? It made zero sense for them to be barefoot. There was 1 shoe worn in the second half...
The direction was also confusing at times, It wasn't clear where scenes were taking place and characters were singing to each other, despite them being in different locations.
As has previously been mentioned, they really need to get mics for this theatre. Some of the cast could barely project to the back row in that small space.
Rebecca Gilliland was a definite high point of this production. Her voice, was loud, clear and full of emotion and would happily see her in anything else. Ifan Gwilym-Jones was also a stand out, especially during 'Blackrock' The rest of the men were pretty weak in the vocals department.
unfortunately I've seen more successful productions of this from amateur companies.
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Post by Seriously on Aug 6, 2017 3:16:01 GMT
Why would you cut the trumpet from The Hired Man? It's pretty much the sound of the show.
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 28, 2018 13:59:50 GMT
A co-production between Hornchurch and Hull, so they get first dibs, and 'in association with' Oldham Coliseum.
Music and lyrics by Howard Goodall.
Book (and book) by Melvyn Bragg.
Directed by Douglas Rintoul.
Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch - 27 April to 18 May 2019.
Hull Truck Theatre - 23 May to 15 June 2019.
Oldham Coliseum - 20 June to 6 July 2019.
Looking back, the recent Union Theatre production received a rather mixed response but, if nothing else, this incarnation should have a bigger budget (though size isn't everything!).
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3,307 posts
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Post by david on Nov 28, 2018 16:08:18 GMT
Booked for the Oldham run. £17 for central stalls for a Saturday matinee in June. For that price, I thought it was worth a viewing.
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Nov 29, 2018 17:44:39 GMT
That it's a coproduction between Hornchurch and Hull Truck should elevate it somewhat above Oldham Coliseum's recent-ish offerings - the Coliseum has (let's put this nicely) not exactly been on an artistic upswing over the past several years. I look forward to seeing it.
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3,307 posts
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Post by david on Nov 29, 2018 17:52:45 GMT
That it's a coproduction between Hornchurch and Hull Truck should elevate it somewhat above Oldham Coliseum's recent-ish offerings - the Coliseum has (let's put this nicely) not exactly been on an artistic upswing over the past several years. I look forward to seeing it. Definitely agree with you. I watched Whisky Galore there and was bored senseles. Maybe it was because of the dodgy Scottish accents making it difficult to hear the lines so I couldn’t really engage with it. Fingers crossed for a decent production. |
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 29, 2018 17:54:52 GMT
I saw the Leicester Curve/Colchester production from about 5 years ago. Absolutely WONDERFUL. David Hunter and Julie Atherton.
Shame a decent quality cast recording (any cast) isn't readily available. The one I bought off iTunes was of poor recording quality.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2018 22:30:52 GMT
I think there are 3 recordings out there, OLC, Concert Version (with most of the OLC) And a recent-ish tour version. I don't like the tour recording at all, so I always stick with the OLC, despite it not having the best singers, but for me it's very evocative and moving.
The OLC recorded the full show, but they only released 1 disc highlights.
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Post by gazzaw13 on May 3, 2019 11:40:30 GMT
I'd never seen a production of this musical but had heard great things. Was the long journey to Hornchurch going to be worth my while? A resounding yes! This is a stripped back production featuring 10 actor/musicians who, despite the lack of any set, provide an enthralling depiction of life and love in early 20th century Cumbria. I love actor/musician musicals ever since Sunset Boulevard at the Pinter and this troupe really nails it. There was barely a dry eye at the end. The first half was reminiscent of JRB's Bridges of Madison County and the second half of Journey's End. 5* from me
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