185 posts
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Post by boybooshka on Nov 10, 2017 12:12:03 GMT
Given that I've never yet been disappointed in anything I've watched at Hope Mill, I'll definitely be going to this. Despite having no knowledge whatsoever of Little Women. Is it a spin off of Wicked set in Munchkin-land?
Also excitedly looking forward to their new season announcement next week.
BTW as a Manchester resident im always up to saying hello to anyone up for a visit, dependent on my "flexible" hours at work of course.
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258 posts
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Post by notmymuse on Nov 12, 2017 21:00:04 GMT
I'm guessing the run time is 2h30 but can anyone who has seen it let me know? Seeing if I can get home after!
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3,578 posts
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Post by showgirl on Nov 13, 2017 5:35:19 GMT
Manchester meet up anyone?  ? Would love to meet any Manchester members but as above, I had to book for the matinee on Saturday 25 November and so far no-one else has said which performance s/he is attending. |
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Post by hulmeman on Nov 13, 2017 8:09:14 GMT
Manchester meet up anyone? ? Would love to meet any Manchester members but as above, I had to book for the matinee on Saturday 25 November and so far no-one else has said which performance s/he is attending. Then I shall consult my social calendar........... |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 13, 2017 13:45:38 GMT
Tuesday night for me.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 13, 2017 14:47:52 GMT
Ah, now I see my mistake: publicising my chosen performance so the Manchester contingent could take avoiding action!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 13, 2017 15:07:40 GMT
Ha ha not at all showgirl, I’ll be in Paris over the weekend. Running time 2:40. Just had this by email  |
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Post by hulmeman on Nov 14, 2017 12:30:18 GMT
Ah, now I see my mistake: publicising my chosen performance so the Manchester contingent could take avoiding action! And I'm afraid showgirl, I can't do that afternoon. I have a birthday bash in the evening and at my tender years, too much excitement could be dangerous. I will be in Manchester during he evening at various hostelries if you are staying over in't north. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 14, 2017 22:54:36 GMT
Ok, so I’m not the target audience for this, which is probably why I’ve never seen a film version or read the book. However it slaps you round the face with charm until you’re beaten into submission. It’s almost disneyesque in its cuteness and occasionally just goes a bit far with it but for the most part does stay the right side of twee. The performances are great, cast of 10, the girls parts are all really well acted although Jo could do with just pulling it back a bit given the size of the space. The actor playing Amy was my fave, and the spitting image of a young Sarah Brightman.
Band is piano and four strings, sounded great except for the bits where it was over amplified and the actors had to compete. Early days though, I think Press night is tomorrow.
Probably the most simple set and design that I’ve seen at the HMT since Parade and some similarities to the way that show was staged but not as effective. Some wobbly bits which is dead distracting close up.
Its nice. I liked it. I wouldn’t see it again. Can’t see a transfer, but again it’s early days. Six of us were split. Half liked it, half didn’t. I give it three stars.
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220 posts
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Post by benny20 on Nov 15, 2017 0:10:31 GMT
Ok, so I’m not the target audience for this, which is probably why I’ve never seen a film version or read the book. However it slaps you round the face with charm until you’re beaten into submission. It’s almost disneyesque in its cuteness and occasionally just goes a bit far with it but for the most part does stay the right side of twee. The performances are great, cast of 10, the girls parts are all really well acted although Jo could do with just pulling it back a bit given the size of the space. The actor playing Amy was my fave, and the spitting image of a young Sarah Brightman. Band is piano and four strings, sounded great except for the bits where it was over amplified and the actors had to compete. Early days though, I think Press night is tomorrow. Probably the most simple set and design that I’ve seen at the HMT since Parade and some similarities to the way that show was staged but not as effective. Some wobbly bits which is dead distracting close up. Its nice. I liked it. I wouldn’t see it again. Can’t see a transfer, but again it’s early days. Six of us were split. Half liked it, half didn’t. I give it three stars. |
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220 posts
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Post by benny20 on Nov 15, 2017 0:11:40 GMT
Burly
What is the seating/ staging like?
Is it like it was for Parade or Yank?
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19,787 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 15, 2017 0:20:22 GMT
Burly What is the seating/ staging like? Is it like it was for Parade or Yank? It’s a thrust, but with most seats at the end of the stage (like Yank) but a sort of half row of seats at each side. Entry by the door next to the building entrance for this one. Orchestra is backstage. showgirl on Saturday when you arrive and walk into the building, turn immediate left to go into the cafe/bar and get your numbered token at the bar. Then when they call you in to be seated head back the way you came in (I mention because I arrived tonight and found a fella not knowing what to do). |
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Post by showgirl on Nov 15, 2017 4:53:13 GMT
Thank you so much for the info, BurlyBeaR; I'm looking forward to this and only 10 days to wait now. (Would love to fit in a trip to another theatre new to me in the area, too, but maybe next time. Yet to visit the Lowry and we'll be staying on the doorstep.) |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 15, 2017 18:42:08 GMT
Ooh forgot to mention the Defying Gravity moment at the end of Act 1. Song called “Unlimi.... um “Astonishing”. All she needed was the broomstick. There was a light, and everything.
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 17, 2017 14:40:32 GMT
Fours stars from Ann Treneman in The Times.
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Post by stevej678 on Nov 18, 2017 20:28:14 GMT
Watched the show this afternoon. As soon as I got home, I was straight online to book a second visit in early December!
Hope Mill Theatre have worked their magic once again. To the strong source material from Louise May Alcott's classic novel, add a delightful score, simple but effective staging, and four outstanding performances from Amie Giselle-Ward, Katie Marie-Carter, Cathy Read and Jemima Watling as the March sisters. It's another triumph for this gem of a venue. With both of today's performances selling out, you have to wonder how us northern theatre lovers ever got by without the Hope Mill?!
This production of Little Women is really Amie Giselle-Ward's show and she's a revelation as Jo. A whirlwind of passion, restlessness, spirit and emotion, orchestrating everything and everyone around her. It's fitting that Amie gets a song called Astonishing in what has to be a career-defining performance. Truly, a star is born.
Cathy Read is adorable as Beth and has such a gorgeous tone, innocence and clarity to her voice. Some Things Are Meant To Be, a duet with Amie Giselle-Ward, is beautiful, tender and conveys a poignant serenity in their hands. Katie Marie-Carter also shines, threatening to steal every scene in which she appears as the riotous Amy, while Jemima Watling completes the quartet with a perfectly pitched performance as the lovely Meg. If individually the sisters sparkle, together they soar.
As well as the striking similarities between Astonishing and Defying Gravity, I wondered whether The Clockmaker's Daughter had taken inspiration from Small Umbrella In The Rain - I was longing to burst into Story Of My Own during that song!
Not unlike The Clockmaker's Daughter, Little Women is a warm-hearted, beautifully realised musical, bursting with charm. It captures the bonds that tie a family together, as well as the exuberance, passion and dreams of youth, underpinned by a proto-feminist message of empowerment. The four leading ladies bring a rare and utterly enchanting authenticity to the production. Something tells me there may well be a further chapter to the March sisters story beyond this Manchester run. A London transfer would be richly deserved.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Nov 18, 2017 20:40:07 GMT
Excellent review, stevejohnson678. I saw Little Women on Broadway with the great Sutton Foster as Jo and loved it - a strong book and a terrific, seriously underrated score. You seem to have found it as affecting as I did.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 21:20:59 GMT
Is this the same score that has Days of Plenty in it? Such a beautiful little song.
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Post by Jonnyboy on Nov 18, 2017 23:44:05 GMT
Just back from the evening performance!
Can understand why they now have the numbered token system but it took me by surprise as was hoping to get to the front of the queue arriving about 7. You must have to get there very early to get first pick of the seats. Maybe a ploy to boost food and drink sales?
Anyway... the show itself was amazing! I’d been listening to the soundtrack for a few days so was familiar with the songs. The cast here is very strong indeed and the staging simple but effective. The score reminds me of Sondheim in places. Such beauty when the actors' voices overlap and intertwine. Gorgeous.
Third visit to this amazing little place. Saw Parade twice. Gutted I missed Yank!
Bit mean of Ann Treneman to comment negatively on the costumes. They didn’t strike me as being particularly cheap!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 19, 2017 16:32:12 GMT
From the Hope Mill
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Post by stevej678 on Nov 22, 2017 20:30:51 GMT
Now booking until 16th December. A one week extension.
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Post by anniel on Nov 26, 2017 8:39:47 GMT
Go see it!
It's absolutely marvellous. A really lovely show with some great performances. Jo and Marmee are particularly good.
Am trying to work out if I can go again.
I'd give those boys at Hope Mill medals if I had any. They're doing amazing work in Manchester.
Book an afternoon tea as well - £15 and there was loads of food and really delicious sandwiches.
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1,827 posts
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Post by stevej678 on Dec 2, 2017 18:12:22 GMT
Loved it just as much second time around this afternoon. All four sisters are terrific but Amie Giselle-Ward as Jo gives the performance of the year for me. Completely blown away. Again!
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Post by showgirl on Dec 2, 2017 23:18:24 GMT
It won me over, too, when I saw it last weekend, though I did think that most of the performances - and especially that of Amie Giselle-Ward as Jo - were over the top and that less would have been so much more, particularly in that small space. I was amazed how familiar the story still was as it must have been a good 50 years since I read it and I don't believe I did so more than once, yet it all came back to me so readily. I could quibble with some of the characterisation but that of Marmee and the 4 sisters was spot on: headstrong Jo; demure, romantic Meg; sweet, selfless Beth and petulant, spoilt Amy.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 3, 2017 9:04:26 GMT
Just to add that it was really helpful that BurlyBeaR had given me such good directions and that he and others had also given useful travel info. I was able to mark the location on my various maps in advance and had no difficulty finding the venue (I actually walked from our hotel at Salford Quays, via central Manchester but got the tram back from New Islington) as I found zero signage until I was on the point of turning off the road on which the theatre is situated, into the actual yard via which you gain access. I don't think I missed any signs as I was obviously looking out for some, but if I did overlook any, they're clearly not prominent enough. Hope the theatre and the local authority plan to address this. |
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