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Post by showgirl on Dec 24, 2018 16:30:34 GMT
Am I alone in being unable to warm to Sharon D Clarke? I've seen her in enough productions now to wish to avoid her in future. I am aware that she seems highly-regarded but however good the show, I seem unable to overlook the fact that she's in it.
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Post by Boob on Dec 24, 2018 17:01:39 GMT
I’m almost completely with you. Except I thought she was absolutely fantastic in this. Everything else though, no thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2018 17:23:53 GMT
When I went, Upper Circle was open but only about half full, if that.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2018 17:59:01 GMT
Am I alone in being unable to warm to Sharon D Clarke? I've seen her in enough productions now to wish to avoid her in future. I am aware that she seems highly-regarded but however good the show, I seem unable to overlook the fact that she's in it. I wouldn't say that I would avoid her but I do find that I think she's pretty much the same in everything she does. I think that's partly the parts she chooses though. She does seem to pick variations on a theme. |
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Post by showgirl on Dec 26, 2018 4:28:42 GMT
That may account for my aversion, @ryan, or at least in part. In fairness to Ms Clarke, she may of course be offered roles similar to those she has previously played but whatever the reason, yes, I do have that sense not only of deja vu but also of an uncomfortable vibe.
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Post by Michael on Jan 1, 2019 23:34:24 GMT
Seen this on Saturday. Despite not enjoying this show at all, I'm glad I went as it showed me that Shrek must have been a lucky one-off and Ms Tesori and I should better part ways in the future. Thankfully, I held back from buying a ticket for Violet, which I'll now be skipping.
I am not exactly a fan of sung-through shows but am fine with them if they have at least a few good songs. This one, unfortunately, doesn't and I found the entire score to be tuneless.
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Post by lonlad on Jan 2, 2019 1:00:48 GMT
That#s hilarious since I would imagine SHREK is the one title Tesori would say was a rather dull and boring money gig whereas the rest of her output honours her roots as a true maverick who writes musical mosaics and contemporary operas rather than traditional songs with buttons and the like. (The one real attempt at such a song in C OR C is also its least interesting one.) Between FUN HOME and this, London has been granted a uniquely focused exposure to her work: lucky London, and with VIOLET to come.
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Post by olliebean on Jan 2, 2019 8:47:59 GMT
I saw Violet at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre back in 2015, and found it a very affecting piece, and musically definitely worth seeing - I wouldn't let your dislike of Caroline put you off. Caroline, I felt, although I didn't dislike it, suffered somewhat musically from the libretto having been written by a playwright and not a lyricist; much of it is more recitative than song (the programme notes reveal that it was originally intended to be an opera), and the melodic style reflects that.
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Post by beatrice on Jan 6, 2019 8:17:15 GMT
This was such an odd one to me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I felt like there was a lot left half-done. Weird sort of afternoon for me.
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Jan 7, 2019 21:39:14 GMT
This was such an odd one to me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I felt like there was a lot left half-done. Weird sort of afternoon for me. When I saw this on Broadway in 2004 I really enjoyed the musical of Tesori. She's an odd bird as her music is difficult to follow. It's as if it's half done and you have to provide the other half in your imagination. A friend said that when he saw it audience members just didn't understand it as it was "too American". His words not mine. I felt it was so much better musically, than Fun Home or Violet. Thoroughly Modern Millie, which is one of my favorite scores, is to me was a fluke in the Jeanine Tesori catalog. I'm taking 4 locals with me to see Caroline next week. I hope to have a lively conversation after the show. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 18:48:36 GMT
Don't forget, Sharon is now on an alternate schedule and will not perform on any Monday nights for the remainder of the run.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jan 8, 2019 18:51:46 GMT
Seen this on Saturday. Despite not enjoying this show at all, I'm glad I went as it showed me that Shrek must have been a lucky one-off and Ms Tesori and I should better part ways in the future. Thankfully, I held back from buying a ticket for Violet, which I'll now be skipping. I am not exactly a fan of sung-through shows but am fine with them if they have at least a few good songs. This one, unfortunately, doesn't and I found the entire score to be tuneless. Totally agree. It’s a tuneless dirge of a score. Never again would I sit through this. Even if Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama was in it. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 20:12:07 GMT
Tesori is quite possibly my favourite contemporary theatre composer, her range is outstanding and her ability to write songs as theatre is similar. In an age when shows that don’t just plonk together a few tunes are sadly few and far between (whether newly composed, a compilation of old songs or jukebox style from a non theatre composer) she is carrying the torch for craftmanship borne by the likes of Kander, Coleman and Sondheim. When hack work like Kinky Boots gets a Tony, then you are in trouble.
Shrek is the least of her scores but Millie is fun pastiche, at least. Neither are as theatrical and dramatic as Violet, Fun Home and Caroline though.
I doubt it will travel but I’d love to see Soft Power, a show written with David Henry Hwang. Her liberal sympathies are also very welcome in a form that is often reactionary either both politically, stylistically or both.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 14:22:48 GMT
Loved it at the Nash, saw it twice. Loved it again and Hampstead but I only wanted to see it once. It’s a very bold and foolish move to transfer it into Wendy’s End. Surely all the theatre geeks had already seen it at Nash, Chi or Hampstead ? I, of course wish it well Wendy's End! LOL I saw it yesterday and liked it. Act 1 was too "light" on content (plot, drama, thematic strands) but thankfully act II had more substance (which I would have expected for Tony Kushner) Needless to say Sharon D Clarke was stellar. I completely believed her character - felt her pain, rooted for her, and desperately cared for her. The score is typical Tesori (a couple of good numbers and the rest quite bland). Didn't mind the singing washing machine and the radio trio (and completely got the theatrical device) but the bloody moon was a whimsy step too far for me. The boy playing Noah that particular day was excellent - utterly believable, and I loved the character of Caroline's daughter. The piece stayed with me more as a play than a piece of musical theatre. But a lot of the 21st century Broadway fare has a similar affect on me (in terms of the music, specifically) |
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 14:24:08 GMT
I mean if you look at it with a stone cold eye, even 7 hours of Angels in America doesn't have a GREAT deal of plot. That's not Kushner's style...it's observing slices of life, over smaller or longer periods/events and unravelling those themes. That's just what he does, densely and at length  (Nobody is right or wrong above, just me adding my Kushner 2 cents because clearly i should be writing about him elsewhere...) See, I didn't find Caroline or Change particularly dense. Only Act 2. It was a very light touch in act 1 and not enough to sustain a whole act, IMO. Would have been better as a 1 act show with a few cuts. |
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 14:26:00 GMT
Oh, and the Dress Circle was full.
And there were a few nervous giggles at the line about killing the Jews (not surprising - depending on the audience, I've heard similar reactions in Cabaret)
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 14:27:59 GMT
That may account for my aversion, @ryan , or at least in part. In fairness to Ms Clarke, she may of course be offered roles similar to those she has previously played but whatever the reason, yes, I do have that sense not only of deja vu but also of an uncomfortable vibe. Well I found her a world away from Oda Mae Brown, which was the only other thing I've seen her in (Ghost) |
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 14:31:29 GMT
This was such an odd one to me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I felt like there was a lot left half-done. Weird sort of afternoon for me. When I saw this on Broadway in 2004 I really enjoyed the musical of Tesori. She's an odd bird as her music is difficult to follow. It's as if it's half done and you have to provide the other half in your imagination. A friend said that when he saw it audience members just didn't understand it as it was "too American". His words not mine. I felt it was so much better musically, than Fun Home or Violet. Thoroughly Modern Millie, which is one of my favorite scores, is to me was a fluke in the Jeanine Tesori catalog. I'm taking 4 locals with me to see Caroline next week. I hope to have a lively conversation after the show. I sorta get the "too American" references. The racial issues are very different to ours here (civil rights movement and so on) and the whole Jewish cultural thing is of course very New York, and for most British people, we only have vague reference points to Jewish culture as it is such a minority religion in the UK. |
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 14:32:25 GMT
Seen this on Saturday. Despite not enjoying this show at all, I'm glad I went as it showed me that Shrek must have been a lucky one-off and Ms Tesori and I should better part ways in the future. Thankfully, I held back from buying a ticket for Violet, which I'll now be skipping. I am not exactly a fan of sung-through shows but am fine with them if they have at least a few good songs. This one, unfortunately, doesn't and I found the entire score to be tuneless. Totally agree. It’s a tuneless dirge of a score. Never again would I sit through this. Even if Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama was in it. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Comment of the day! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2019 13:54:31 GMT
I've given the Cast Recording a second listen and I'm still not on board I'm afraid. Other than "Lots Wife" and the "Act One Finale", I'm just sat here like "I paid to see this live"? Maybe I need to see it live and give it a second chance, but I'm in no rush, and it doesn't look like it would be a struggle to nab a ticket if I decide last minute anyway.
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Post by talkstageytome on Jan 15, 2019 14:08:10 GMT
I saw this before Xmas and actually really enjoyed it. Caroline was such a fascinating central character, and Sharon D Clarke was brilliant in the role, as was Abiona Omonua as Emmie. I thought the song I Hate The Bus was performed so touchingly. The story fascinated me it that it felt both intimate and personal, yet monolithic as an indicator of American modern history.
I also loves the design, and felt like it really oozed a sense of place and time. Not sure I'd see it again, but I'd say it was one of the better things I saw last year, by a long shot!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 16, 2019 19:52:10 GMT
^Hmmm, robadog. I think it is taken that the "underground" is literal in that she works in a basement, metaphorical that she is below the radar of the white community. The no more of it means that the tides of equality are turning. As for not meeting Noah again, perhaps that too is about how she will have more opportunity, her life will be able to diverge until death is the leveller? . What do others think?
A couple of times I was convinced she'd killed her husband - I kept getting that notion. I was predicting (and hoping for) some great dirty secret type revelation. Unfortunately I didn't get that payoff.
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 16, 2019 19:53:16 GMT
I liked this a lot. Was not entirely convinced by the interval but by the end I was rather in pieces. It made me think, not just about race and religion but about all people in poorly paid jobs today....the "just coping" and how basically it is not fair and you then have no freedom. Society basically has to be more equal.....but so many people are trapped, like Caroline, wondering how to escape the hand fate has dealt them. Always good when a play makes you think...and uncomfortable when you come from a position of having money to spend on theatre.... I had very similar thoughts to this actually... 
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Post by japhun on Jan 17, 2019 18:50:37 GMT
Saw this at Hampstead and have watched it four times (so far at The Playhouse) and I seriously can't get enough of it.
It is a brilliant piece of theatre. I know it isn't for everyone (as seen above) but if you are a fan of musical theatre, it (should be) required viewing. It is easily one of the best and most underrated shows to hit the West End in a long time. It was overshadowed on Broadway by Wicked and Avenue Q, but Sharon D Clarke makes it shine ever so brightly on this side of the pond.
Go see it!
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Post by Mark on Jan 17, 2019 19:26:05 GMT
I finally saw it this afternoon and it was wonderful! I actually really liked the style of music and thought Sharon D Clarke was giving an award worthy performance. The whole thing just worked for me, and I’m surprised to see it get such mixed write ups on here.
I think the only thing is - I can see how this is suited to somewhere like Chichester/Hampstead and even the National. But it’s going to struggle in the West End for another few months. Upper circle was closed today, and I got a great stalls seat for £15.
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