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Post by doornumberthree on Aug 14, 2024 13:35:20 GMT
oh man, I'm shocked. With all due respect both times I've seen the show with both my partner and best friend we each came to the consensus that she was the weakest of the three fates and needed to be replaced. This was one of my only criticisms of the production as a whole. She was consistently vocally under pitch at least both nights I saw it and brought down the other two in my opinion. Assuming she must be more successful as eurydice than as a Fate Calling Madeline the weakest fate when Allie Daniel is up there gurning and pouting and barely able to reach some of the notes is hilarious |
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Post by Dave B on Aug 14, 2024 13:37:53 GMT
some dynamic pricing going on Any chance of a pointer to this? I'm keen to see it again and have been too slow on Rush tickets for about three weeks now. Is it their own website or in-person sales? I can do fairly last minute if that would help. Thank you! |
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Post by forfivemoreminutes on Aug 14, 2024 13:42:25 GMT
some dynamic pricing going on Any chance of a pointer to this? I'm keen to see it again and have been too slow on Rush tickets for about three weeks now. Is it their own website or in-person sales? I can do fairly last minute if that would help. Thank you! nimax website on the day! |
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Post by A.Ham on Aug 14, 2024 14:31:43 GMT
some dynamic pricing going on Any chance of a pointer to this? I'm keen to see it again and have been too slow on Rush tickets for about three weeks now. Is it their own website or in-person sales? I can do fairly last minute if that would help. Thank you! Yes, via the Nimax site. I wanted to see it last Saturday, and could see from the middle of last week prices were coming down a little. By waiting until Friday evening I got front row of the dress for £69.50 (for Sat evening) instead of the usual £125. If you’re wanting to go mid-week and can hold out until teatime that day, I’ve seen prices drop further. You could also try your luck at the box office about 7pm and see what they say as well! |
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Post by anywherespace on Aug 14, 2024 14:54:54 GMT
A lot of people in this thread have mentioned that they’d only go to see this show/only see it again if there was interesting casting. Would anyone like to share who would make them go and see it/see it again? From what I’ve seen online and conversations I’ve had with friends, Orpheus particularly seems to be a tricky role to cast in a way that most people enjoy. Obviously on the internet negativity always seems more prominent and there will never be a casting of any role that everyone 100% enjoys, but for anyone who didn’t like the show, what casting would make you go back/could change your mind? (Also if anyone has any insights as to why they think Orpheus often ends up being a controversial role I’d love to hear it. Personally I think he’s quite similar to a lot of other young lead male roles, but none of them ever seem to get nearly as much flack.)
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Post by danb on Aug 14, 2024 15:09:36 GMT
I think I was just underwhelmed by the whole thing tbh, I knew the story (just) and that is kind of all you get. The bluesy setting I get, and I appreciated the band, and nothing was particularly wrong, but only Hermes & Persephone ‘popped’ for me. I don’t know who or what I wanted Orpheus to be, but it definitely wasn’t Simon Barlow off of Corrie. Does this generation have a new Houchen or Gage?…because thats who I would have cast. Someone that the theatre kids would flock to, but that could actually the deliver the score with ease. They might not exist on current radars but I bet they exist in their bedrooms if someone had gone looking.
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Post by khiar on Aug 14, 2024 15:44:27 GMT
(Also if anyone has any insights as to why they think Orpheus often ends up being a controversial role I’d love to hear it. Personally I think he’s quite similar to a lot of other young lead male roles, but none of them ever seem to get nearly as much flack.) He has to be sympathetic for the story to work, otherwise you're angry at him for his mistakes. You have to believe he's well-meaningly absorbed in his passion project and not carelessly ignoring his wife in the first act, and you have to feel the desperate doubt in his mind at the end. If the right balance is not struck, he can come off as dotty and whiny and unlikeable. And on the singing side, he's meant to be not just a talented singer, but an inhumanly good singer. If Orpheus struggles with the falsetto, how could he bring the world back into tune? (I like Dónal and I think he succeeded with these things, especially the former - I was very charmed by him. But people have strong preferences about how the character should be, and it's hard to get right. And as always, there's no pleasing everyone at once.) |
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Post by Afriley on Aug 14, 2024 15:49:58 GMT
I’d love Frances Mayli M as Eurydice.
Orpheus I struggle with. Muscato’s range is too low. Houchen is a terrible actor.
They’d be better off casting and launching recent grads IMO. Of those I’ve seen recently no one I think has the belt or falsetto they can sustain for 8 shows a week without wrecking their voice.
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Post by forfivemoreminutes on Aug 14, 2024 16:10:42 GMT
I think I was just underwhelmed by the whole thing tbh, I knew the story (just) and that is kind of all you get. The bluesy setting I get, and I appreciated the band, and nothing was particularly wrong, but only Hermes & Persephone ‘popped’ for me. I don’t know who or what I wanted Orpheus to be, but it definitely wasn’t Simon Barlow off of Corrie. Does this generation have a new Houchen or Gage?…because thats who I would have cast. Someone that the theatre kids would flock to, but that could actually the deliver the score with ease. They might not exist on current radars but I bet they exist in their bedrooms if someone had gone looking. I guess that's the beauty of theatre, everyone has different things they're looking for. For example for me personally, I find both Houchen and Gage horrible actors. Gage is also still well within the age to play Orpheus, and expressed an interest of playing the role many times before. However appears to have been unsuccessful I suppose. |
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Post by viserys on Aug 14, 2024 18:10:27 GMT
Gage would be terrible as Orpheus though being miscast hasn't stopped him before.
I think the main problem is that Orpheus and Eurydice aren't as easy to like as Persephone and Hades, whose characters are far more archetypical: The frustrated estranged wife, the rich unhappy guy who tries to win her back by impressing her but doesn't know how to handle things. When Hades offers Persephone the red carnation at the end of Epic III, it's such an incredibly touching moment.
But Orpheus needs to be just right as a shy, awkward (and as many interpret him) mildly autistic dreamer, who loves Eurydice as much as he can, but is initially fixated on writing his song. And when he's kicked into action, it's so lovely to see him "grow" in act through "Is it true" and Epic III. But it's a tough sing and hard to act right. I missed Donal Finn on both visits in London, but while Simon Oskarsson was okay the first time round, I was horrified by him the second time round, especially the way over the top "Is it true".
Eurydice is similarly tough to get just right. Personally I never vibed with Eva Noblezada, even though I know she's massively popular, but she was always a bit too whiny for me. I was so happy I got to see Solea Pfeiffer, who was the Eurydice I had always envisioned, the lonely wanderer, hiding behind a tough shell she finds hard to break out of. Grace Hodgett Young sadly had neither Eva's undeniable warmth nor Solea's quiet strength, she mostly came across as sullen.
It's odd that the creatives give the leads a lot of leeway for their own interpretation of their parts and yet, Orpheus and Eurydice especially are so hard to get right that people actually feel for them and care about them.
As for who could play him in London, I always liked the idea of Jack Wolfe, he looks so very young and innocent, sounded good in Next to Normal and has a bit of a fan following from Shadow and Bone. The Muscato/Houchen/etc generation is a bit too old now, I think. As for Eurydice I thought Maimuna Memon would have been great after seeig her in Sky's Edge - though not opposite Wolfe, LOL.
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Post by danb on Aug 14, 2024 19:59:17 GMT
For the record, and to avoid being beaten with their names like a very childish stick, I suggested Gage & Houchen as representatives of an era of UK musical theatre rather than anything else. I could just as easily have suggested Muscato or Si Gordon, but yes, all a bit past it now.
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Post by wefox on Aug 14, 2024 20:15:28 GMT
I was thinking about Jack Wolfe too
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Post by Afriley on Aug 14, 2024 20:26:39 GMT
Jack Wolfe would be amazing yes!
Muscato from what I heard withdrew on the basis of being unsure he could sing the role safely every day - again, his range is lower so those la la las would be quite a chore to sing. His playing age per se is fine.
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Post by dahlia on Aug 15, 2024 22:03:11 GMT
I’ve been enjoying the Orpheus falsetto discussion a lot. I saw Donal Finn as Orpheus this summer, and to me his was the standout performance of the show. I loved his ethereal and breathy falsetto.
I hadn’t listened to the music before I went, though, and had no real idea what I was in for in both for plot and music. I enjoyed the show overall, but I *loved* the Orpheus Epic songs. I’ve listened to the Reeve recordings since, and while they are lovely, I prefer the *naked” and underproduced version.
I guess I might see the new cast, but for me I’ll be checking the falsetto reviews for a trembling one.
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Post by littlefan on Aug 18, 2024 10:44:42 GMT
I’ve been enjoying the Orpheus falsetto discussion a lot. I saw Donal Finn as Orpheus this summer, and to me his was the standout performance of the show. I loved his ethereal and breathy falsetto. I hadn’t listened to the music before I went, though, and had no real idea what I was in for in both for plot and music. I enjoyed the show overall, but I *loved* the Orpheus Epic songs. I’ve listened to the Reeve recordings since, and while they are lovely, I prefer the *naked” and underproduced version. I guess I might see the new cast, but for me I’ll be checking the falsetto reviews for a trembling one. I saw this for the first time last night and agree completely on Donal, he was outstanding and I adored his ethereal, breathy falsetto too. His Orpheus was, for me, perfect. By far the standout performance last night, giving it everything he had to the point that I could see the sweat flying off him (I was three rows back, dead centre so Wait for Me really felt like he was reaching towards/singing to me). I also enjoyed Grace's Eurydice; I loved her in Sunset and I think even more so in this, her voice is so warm and full. Her Eurydice seemed layered to me and not at all sullen as some have said. I had the full main cast; Melanie is just exceptional as Hermes. I really loved Zachary's Hades too - especially jn Hey, Little Songbird. Gloria is a great Persephone too, and they work well together as a pair. The workers were excellent; three swings on (Ryesha, Winny and Lucinda) alongside Chris and Tiago - they were clearly having a ball and it really showed, a very tight ensemble. Bella was the stand out for me of the three fates, and I really enjoyed Allie too. Madeline I really struggled with. I'd love to see Bella as Eurydice. The band are incredible, it was great to see them getting their turn in the spotlight during the show too. I loved the set a lot too. All in all, I loved this show and would happily return, although unsure if I'd want to see Madeline in the lead. |
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Post by livingonstage on Aug 18, 2024 10:58:01 GMT
I’ve been enjoying the Orpheus falsetto discussion a lot. I saw Donal Finn as Orpheus this summer, and to me his was the standout performance of the show. I loved his ethereal and breathy falsetto. I hadn’t listened to the music before I went, though, and had no real idea what I was in for in both for plot and music. I enjoyed the show overall, but I *loved* the Orpheus Epic songs. I’ve listened to the Reeve recordings since, and while they are lovely, I prefer the *naked” and underproduced version. I guess I might see the new cast, but for me I’ll be checking the falsetto reviews for a trembling one. I saw this for the first time last night and agree completely on Donal, he was outstanding and I adored his ethereal, breathy falsetto too. His Orpheus was, for me, perfect. By far the standout performance last night, giving it everything he had to the point that I could see the sweat flying off him (I was three rows back, dead centre so Wait for Me really felt like he was reaching towards/singing to me). I also enjoyed Grace's Eurydice; I loved her in Sunset and I think even more so in this, her voice is so warm and full. Her Eurydice seemed layered to me and not at all sullen as some have said. I had the full main cast; Melanie is just exceptional as Hermes. I really loved Zachary's Hades too - especially jn Hey, Little Songbird. Gloria is a great Persephone too, and they work well together as a pair. The workers were excellent; three swings on (Ryesha, Winny and Lucinda) alongside Chris and Tiago - they were clearly having a ball and it really showed, a very tight ensemble. Bella was the stand out for me of the three fates, and I really enjoyed Allie too. Madeline I really struggled with. I'd love to see Bella as Eurydice. The band are incredible, it was great to see them getting their turn in the spotlight during the show too. I loved the set a lot too. All in all, I loved this show and would happily return, although unsure if I'd want to see Madeline in the lead. i would definitely go and see madeline as eurydice once she takes over! i adore her fate but her eurydice is my favourite by far, you’ll be pleasantly surprised! i would also love to see bella as eurydice, she’d be amazing👀🤞🏻 |
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Post by blamerobots on Aug 18, 2024 20:38:31 GMT
Jack Wolfe would also be my Orpheus pick.
Though in all honesty I've stomached enough Hadestown for the next year or so. I'd go back when there's another big cast change.
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Post by blamerobots on Aug 19, 2024 22:01:42 GMT
Extended to Feb 2025, which we already had gathered from cast chat.
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Post by Dave B on Aug 22, 2024 23:37:58 GMT
After probably a month of trying for Rush tickets and being really keen to see Dónal Finn again before he leaves at the weekend, I was thrilled when I got through to get a single ticket for this afternoon. I have a little time-off to spare so I booked off and away I went.
Except... and I guess I can't be mad as it was all listed on the website - Dónal Finn is off today and on instead is Simon Oskarsson. Bah. I can squeeze in Saturday night so I guess I'll be trying for Rush tickets again then.
Anyways rush gave me the edge of row C in the dress for £30 which was a really good seat. Pretty full this afternoon too.
One other understudy, Ryesha Higgs on as one of the Fates instead of Allie Daniel. I think the show is in great shape. I saw it on the original press night and from house seats in the stalls. I loved it then and I still love it now, I'm a bit surprised by how much I love it to be honest.
First time around I was really taken with Finn, Melanie La Barrie & Gloria Onitiri. The latter two are still brilliant and this deserves a cast recording just for La Barrie. To not have her Hermes down would be a big shame, she is just wonderful. I think Zachary James has really settled nicely into Hades. Hades feels, perhaps counter-intuitively, a little lighter, a little less .. serious isn't quite right but more comfortable in his own godhood. I really like James' voice and I love how he delivers 'I let them try' but now there is just that little more to him. After all, Hades is a god, he does not need to take all this so seriously, he will go on, they are just insects to him.
I liked Oskarsson, I thought he did a more than fine job - didn't manage to quite get 'Wait for Me' to the same level and I thought at times his acting stronger than his singing (I don't mean that in a mean way!).
So overall quite pleased with my afternoon, I will see this again with the cast change. Either with an offer or another success on Rush. Fingers crossed for Saturday Rush tho first....
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Post by badlydrawnhamster on Aug 24, 2024 22:48:44 GMT
Saw this tonight without having any idea what the musical was about, or the kind of music it featured, and for the vast majority of the running time I was enjoying it a lot. But I just didn't click with Donal's vocals, some of the time they were strong but at others they felt slightly off and it did spoil it a little for me.
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Post by dinkydonie on Aug 25, 2024 9:30:26 GMT
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 25, 2024 10:36:34 GMT
Christ....
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Post by A.Ham on Aug 25, 2024 10:48:09 GMT
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Post by blamerobots on Aug 25, 2024 10:52:05 GMT
Maybe a live cast recording?
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Post by BVM on Aug 25, 2024 11:34:28 GMT
Good on them!
Deffo feel any West End show doing a cast recording is to be celebrated as unlike Broadway they are the exception rather than the rule these days which I find rather sad!
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