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Post by lynette on Apr 14, 2018 15:11:12 GMT
anyone else booked for this? Looks fun. I’ve seen the movie and thought it would be good on stage.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 15:19:20 GMT
Haven't booked to see it yet but am quite tempted to see it but am not the biggest fan of the Park Theatre tbh, the movie is actually based on the stage play that was at the National in 1992 directed by Sam Mendes also starring Jane Horrocks.
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Post by lynette on Apr 14, 2018 16:14:12 GMT
Haven't booked to see it yet but am quite tempted to see it but am not the biggest fan of the Park Theatre tbh, the movie is actually based on the stage play that was at the National in 1992 directed by Sam Mendes also starring Jane Horrocks. Didn’t know that. Or maybe I knew it once.... I was a bit concerned about the Park especially at the start when it seemed a bit rough and I could see a thief casing the patrons. I think it's ok now, some good stuff on this year for me. Lovely little restaurant next door, the little cottage or something, anyway v good. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 16:28:53 GMT
There was a revival at the Vaudeville a few years ago too with Diana Vickers, Lesley Sharp, Mark Warren and James Cartwright which was very good.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Apr 14, 2018 17:42:54 GMT
lynette, believe the play was specifically written with Jane Horrocks in mind and as most people will be drawn by the film don’t envy the challenge of the new LV. Booked for the 15th Sep, despite when we last met saying I don’t go to the Park when people start singing. This year there are frighteningly more Theatre visits which break this rule and horror of horrors am tempted by Bat out of Hell.
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Post by lynette on Apr 14, 2018 22:30:17 GMT
I'll be there before you then Neil, going on 1st Sept.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 23:30:39 GMT
There was a revival at the Vaudeville a few years ago too with Diana Vickers, Lesley Sharp, Mark Warren and James Cartwright which was very good. I missed that. How did Vickers compare to Horrocks? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 23:39:45 GMT
First time the show is been performed with a real-life mother and daughter playing the leading roles, according to the Internet.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 15, 2018 7:02:57 GMT
Haven't booked to see it yet but am quite tempted to see it but am not the biggest fan of the Park Theatre tbh, the movie is actually based on the stage play that was at the National in 1992 directed by Sam Mendes also starring Jane Horrocks. Didn’t know that. Or maybe I knew it once.... I was a bit concerned about the Park especially at the start when it seemed a bit rough and I could see a thief casing the patrons. I think it's ok now, some good stuff on this year for me. Lovely little restaurant next door, the little cottage or something, anyway v good. Chicken Cottage 😬 |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2018 12:39:29 GMT
The original NT cast was superb with Alison Steadman as Mari and Annette Badland as Sadie. I think Pete Postlethwaite was in it too.
I also saw another production at the Royal Exchange Manchester with Denise Welch as Mari. She was bloody good too!
It’s a great play.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2018 13:03:47 GMT
There's been lots of productions over the years I see including one with Liz McDonald from Corrie!
Playing Mari of course, not LV.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 16, 2018 12:57:01 GMT
I also saw another production at the Royal Exchange Manchester You can't just drop a bombshell like that, before walking off. You've been to the North? We need more details, please. There was a production in rep at the SJT in Scarborough (where it is set) last summer. It was in the Round auditorium; problem is, nobody told the designer, who blocked half the seats with scenery. |
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 16, 2018 15:06:58 GMT
The most recent production, I think, was in 2016 in Greenwich.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 15:30:05 GMT
The original NT cast was superb with Alison Steadman as Mari and Annette Badland as Sadie. I think Pete Postlethwaite was in it too. I also saw another production at the Royal Exchange Manchester with Denise Welch as Mari. She was bloody good too! It’s a great play. I remember the original! One of my longest lasting theatre memories. I have excitedly booked to see this in preview. Thanks for the heads up. |
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Post by meso77 on Apr 16, 2018 15:58:06 GMT
I've seen a few versions, 2011 at the Dukes in Lancaster. 2012 at the Bolton Octagon and the 2016 one at the Union theatre. I also had a ticket to see it at the Kings Arms in Salford in 2015 but I ended up missing it due to trains.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 21:08:15 GMT
This is dreadful and I did a Parsley.
I wish I wish I wish there was positive stuff to say. All of the poetry and rthymn of Jim Cartrwright’s text is lost. The actress playing Mari is too caught up in “doing an accent” to find it. There is no chemistry between LV and her mum. LV does not come alive when she sings. Phone Bill just about gets the text when he talks about the illuminations. He was probably the only actor on stage pulling his weight. Actually, Sadie was funny doing her Jackson Five dance but I felt a tiny too much like we were just being asked to laugh at the fat girl.
Oh my. Probably the worst thing I have seen in years, and it pains me to say it.
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Post by drowseychap on Aug 21, 2018 0:20:58 GMT
They had a good production at Birmingham rep a few years ago with Vicky entwhistle as Mari and Corrie Peter Barlow as ray. The actress playing Sadie was excellent too LV had great voice
The set was great full revolving house that burst into real flames 🔥 wicked lighting design too esp the end magical
Much better than the ray Quinn tour before that ... he was so wooden LV was played by the actress off BGT last year ?
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Post by NeilVHughes on Aug 21, 2018 11:34:01 GMT
Oh dear, seeing it in a few weeks, will be interesting to see the reviews tomorrow.
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Post by stevej678 on Aug 22, 2018 10:28:02 GMT
Three stars from The Guardian, WhatsOnStage, Time Out and Evening Standard.
Four stars from The Stage, The Upcoming and Musical Theatre Review.
Solid but not spectacular seems to be the consensus.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 20:12:25 GMT
Three stars from The Guardian, WhatsOnStage, Time Out and Evening Standard. Four stars from The Stage, The Upcoming and Musical Theatre Review. Solid but not spectacular seems to be the consensus. Billington used the term “capable” while giving it three stars so I have now redefined him as “an easy marker.” |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 22, 2018 21:15:42 GMT
If LV can’t do the impersonations the whole thing is pointless. The Royal Exchange Manchester production must be 15 years back and had Denise Welch playing the drunken mother, she was very good. Roy Barraclough was Mr Boo. I cannot for the life of me remember who played LV.
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Post by david on Aug 22, 2018 21:22:46 GMT
If LV can’t do the impersonations the whole thing is pointless. The Royal Exchange Manchester production must be 15 years back and had Denise Welch playing the drunken mother, she was very good. Roy Barraclough was Mr Boo. I cannot for the life of me remember who played LV. Emma Lowndes played LV according to google. The Bolton Octagon are doing a version of LV next year which I will probably book for. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 23:02:18 GMT
If LV can’t do the impersonations the whole thing is pointless. The Royal Exchange Manchester production must be 15 years back and had Denise Welch playing the drunken mother, she was very good. Roy Barraclough was Mr Boo. I cannot for the life of me remember who played LV. And Billington said she “just about” pulled them off in the second half. Or words to that effect. I think you are right, it is pointless without a strong LV. |
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Post by lynette on Sept 1, 2018 22:04:14 GMT
I wasn’t so much bothered by the voice which I thought was actually pretty good but the direction seemed off, so much so that the audience didn’t know when the interval came. So the arc of the piece had been lost somewhere along the way. I didn’t take a prog so I don’t know the actor but I’m afraid Ray wasn’t my cup of tea. Nothing of the malice beneath the smile ( Michael Caine in the movie of course got it in spades) so that when he turned nasty it wasn’t really convincing. Yes he was nasty but he hadn’t been nice. Mari just too much. Less is more, dear, another Caine maxim 😁
And the lights at the end so disappointing. I expected a glitter ball, and streams of rainbows and the works. What happened there.
But a pleasant enough evening ( dinner next door first of course)
Quite a few empty seats.
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