642 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Oct 13, 2018 17:27:47 GMT
I loved today’s matinee. Admittedly, I have never seen the play, and only studied it in school, but who knew that Shakespeare could be so much fun!
I followed the story, as the songs did a great job of developing the plot. I am not sure what was missing, but I didn’t miss a thing. The running time zipped along, and only dragged slightly towards the end for me when all the loose ends were being tied up. The score was great - instantly accessible and catchy, but with great musical theatre writing at its heart. I’m now looking forward to the release of the cast recording from the New York performances next week.
The performance itself was vibrant and energetic. I did feel a little emotional during the opening and closing songs, having to hold back tears. I don’t know if it was because it was so joyful! It was fantastic to see these community performers alongside professionals, and the underlying message of inclusion and acceptance that had. Also, I may be thinking too much into it, but the last song seemed like a subliminal political message.
Malvolio threatened to steal the show with his two songs. Yes, it relied a lot on physical comedy, but I do love that. I found it to be genuinely funny, and laugh-out-loud at points. Viola was the other character that seemed to make the most impact.
If you are after an entertaining, uplifting and ultimately heartwarming time at the theatre, GO, GO, GO!
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1,347 posts
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Post by tmesis on Oct 13, 2018 17:40:35 GMT
Yes AddisonMizner it's now a week since I've seen this and it still resonates. As you say it's so joyous, heartwarming and there is something just so damn lovable (cast, concept, songs, production) about the whole shebang. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 3:50:32 GMT
I wonder why they didn't put this on as their Christmas show? I would have been more kindly disposed towards it if they had. Malvolio was the highlight of the evening, but I longed to see the play. For me this wasn't a great party. My companion and the rest of the audience loved it, so what do I know?
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1,061 posts
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Post by David J on Oct 21, 2018 10:44:13 GMT
I should state that I expected this musical wasn't going to be for me as someone who has seen numerous Twelfth Nights. I merely went out of curiosity
So with that, I'd say this is a light-hearted, fluffy night out. If ever its a fantastic introduction to the story.
But there is potential to create a musical adaptation that embraces the play's darker, melancholic side. This version took the easy route and in the end, it is surface level fluff.
I didn't even care about the "Open our heart to each others' needs and what a good world this could be," message that was forced in at the end with everyone waving country flags. In a story where a character is tormented out of petty revenge, it feels disingenuous.
I agree that Viola and Malvolio were the standouts.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2018 9:24:18 GMT
I loved this an awful lot. Between this and Pericles at the NT (not to mention the over-long and over-dull fuller text productions from other theatres), I'm beginning to think the only truly wonderful way to do a Shakespeare play is to hack it down to the barest possible bones then stuff it full of songs.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2018 18:00:19 GMT
Balls. Slept too long on this and now pretty much every performance is Returns Only with the exception of one day (luckily the day I had planned to go!) but ticket prices have doubled.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2018 18:34:23 GMT
And now Im literally watching seats disappear as the site continually refuses to accept any of my 3 cards for payment -- all of which have sufficient money. And an assortment of browsers used in the process.
Bag of crap.
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661 posts
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Post by Oleanna on Oct 22, 2018 19:04:00 GMT
And now Im literally watching seats disappear as the site continually refuses to accept any of my 3 cards for payment -- all of which have sufficient money. And an assortment of browsers used in the process. Bag of crap. I had exactly the same problem today. Luckily, I called the box office, and it was all sorted within 5 minutes. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2018 19:07:18 GMT
And now Im literally watching seats disappear as the site continually refuses to accept any of my 3 cards for payment -- all of which have sufficient money. And an assortment of browsers used in the process. Bag of crap. I had exactly the same problem today. Luckily, I called the box office, and it was all sorted within 5 minutes. Glad its not an isolated issue then, shame they haven't sorted it. I'll give them a call tomorrow and hope theres seats left. Thanks! |
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Post by kiwi on Oct 23, 2018 7:48:57 GMT
The full cast recording of the Public Works cast is on spotify now... I think its just been released this week?
I'm looking forward to listening to it since the shows getting such a great response.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 9:16:40 GMT
Wake up, check website and all seats gone for the one remaining performance that had availability yesterday.
Ring up and phone keeps disconnecting, big sigh, try one last time and connects. A single seat available for the one performance I can make - brought!
Hurray for telephones.
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406 posts
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Post by MrBunbury on Oct 24, 2018 9:16:11 GMT
I saw it last night. Very enjoyable and inclusive production. I love the melancholy of "Twelfth night" which was not here, but it was still very nice.
I had a cheap ticket and they put me in the first row which was interesting for many reasons: I got a piece of roasted pineapple, a lovely Slovakian community actress sat with me before the show and we chatted about low cost flights, Rupert Young sat just close to me for his scene with the unbuttoned shirt (on the notes of 'Is this not love?', which prompted some pondering and the conclusion: "Mmm, probably it is") and, there isn't an elegant way to put it, Silas Wyatt-Barke (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) did some stretching on my knee accidentally.
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Post by theidleactor on Oct 24, 2018 10:13:31 GMT
The full cast recording of the Public Works cast is on spotify now... I think its just been released this week? I'm looking forward to listening to it since the shows getting such a great response. It was released last Friday. Great cast recording, I listened to it three times in a row yesterday. Love the jazz big band elements to it. Sadly I don't think I'll have time to get down and see it. |
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529 posts
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Post by ruby on Oct 24, 2018 11:40:10 GMT
I saw it last night. Very enjoyable and inclusive production. I love the melancholy of "Twelfth night" which was not here, but it was still very nice. I had a cheap ticket and they put me in the first row which was interesting for many reasons: I got a piece of roasted pineapple, a lovely Slovakian community actress sat with me before the show and we chatted about low cost flights, Rupert Young sat just close to me for his scene with the unbuttoned shirt (on the notes of 'Is this not love?', which prompted some pondering and the conclusion: "Mmm, probably it is") and, there isn't an elegant way to put it, Silas Wyatt-Barke (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) did some stretching on my knee accidentally. I've had a crush on Rupert Young since I saw "High Society" at the Old Vic, so I'm hoping for a good view of the unbuttoned shirt scene! |
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91 posts
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Post by gazzaw13 on Oct 24, 2018 16:20:04 GMT
Just back from today's matinee. This is excellent 5* from me and Mrs Gazza. Special shout outs to Gabrielle Brooks (Viola) and Gerard Carey (Malvolio) who really lived their parts. Diverse audience between the ages of 5 and 80 and everyone laughing and smiling throughout. It will be real shame if this doesn't transfer as it deserves to be seen and enjoyed. I was skeptical about KK-A's appointment and the scheduling of his first season but this is a great start.
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1,970 posts
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Post by sf on Oct 25, 2018 15:01:04 GMT
Saw it last night. I'd heard Shaina Taub's concept recording of the songs but not the cast album, and friends in New York mostly liked it; I absolutely loved every second of it. Fabulous score, wonderful performances, terrific production. Yes, you lose a lot of the poetry and nearly all of Shakespeare's melancholy edge, but the production has such an infection sense of fun that you can't help getting swept up in it. Gabrielle Brooks and Gerard Carey are wonderful; I also loved Natalie Dew and (especially) Melissa Allen's Feste, and the community chorus, and it's lovely to see a chorus that includes a range of ages from late teens to seniors, all singing and dancing together. I ended up completely covered in confetti - really, there was still a piece of it down the back of my shirt when I got home - and I still had a great big grin on my face hours later. Seeing it was an afterthought (albeit booked a few weeks ago - I was in London for something else), but I'm very glad I went.
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 25, 2018 15:57:37 GMT
I'm completely in love with Natalie Dew, especially her beautiful eyes. She was incredible in Bodyguard...for all of 30 seconds.
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2,496 posts
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Post by zahidf on Nov 3, 2018 18:53:14 GMT
This was great I thought. Very funny and charming. Malvelio the clear favourite
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270 posts
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Post by stageyninja83 on Nov 3, 2018 20:13:41 GMT
I was sold on this about 10 minutes before the show started when a member of the community choir started feeding me with jerk chicken. Any show that feeds me gets instant 5 stars 😂
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2018 17:30:26 GMT
Sitting in the “I loved this” camp after today’s matinee.
Great set, strong direction and vocally virtuoso. Malvolio was great, that Segway a highlight!
Im torn between feeling like it was a bit short (there was a lot to condense into 90mins) and it was just right. Part of me would have liked to see a full length (2 acts w/ interval) version with more book to give the characters a bit more opportunity for depth but it works as it is. Got a free upgrade on my seat too which was an unexpected bonus!
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529 posts
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Post by ruby on Nov 11, 2018 17:06:46 GMT
I loved this. So much energy and the comedy parts were very well done. Rupert Young just gets even more handsome! Was tempted by another visit but it appears to be sold out for its last week.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2018 17:29:17 GMT
I loved this. So much energy and the comedy parts were very well done. Rupert Young just gets even more handsome! Was tempted by another visit but it appears to be sold out for its last week. Its worth keeping tabs on the website and giving the theatre a call if your close enough to travel on the day as Ive seen seats popping back up. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2018 17:36:47 GMT
I saw this as the start of the run
Lovely and happy it was
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529 posts
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Post by ruby on Nov 11, 2018 18:35:12 GMT
I loved this. So much energy and the comedy parts were very well done. Rupert Young just gets even more handsome! Was tempted by another visit but it appears to be sold out for its last week. Its worth keeping tabs on the website and giving the theatre a call if your close enough to travel on the day as Ive seen seats popping back up. Thanks, I'll give it a try on Sat. I'm going to the West End Musical Brunch, then have the evening free |
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Post by stageysteven on Nov 11, 2018 18:58:14 GMT
I saw this a few days ago and I thought it was awfully dismal. There’s one talented cast member, the main chick, whatever her name is. She can sing well. But my lord, the moment all the ensemble started to trickle out; I was cringing. Felt like a tacky pantomime version of Twelth Night. So many things wrong with the show; the terrible “community” cast that we’re about as talented as Gemma Collins, Joey Essex and Gordon Brown all put together. None of them could act, sing or “dance”. I mean they didn’t even sing live?! They MIMED to a pre recorded click track. The character of Malvolio was hugely overplayed. Twelth Night is supposed to be a comedy, well... I didn’t laugh once. The direction was really messy. Constantly entering and exiting through the auditorium. You could hear the cast changing and running round the corridors outside, and they were talking whilst getting changed?! When you’re that close to the audience, you can’t do that. Just terrible. 2/5
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