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Post by orchidman on Aug 6, 2018 23:59:15 GMT
From the Sunday Times review by Thomas W Hodgkinson:
"Not having seen Hamilton, I sat through Spamilton deadpan, aware of the mirthfully shaking shoulders of those on either side of me, while I tried to work out what the hell was going on."
"the songs in Spamilton — written by Gerard Alessandrini, an old pro at spoofing musicals — are nearly all direct parodies of Hamilton songs. It’s possible they were clever, but I have no way of knowing."
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Post by foxa on Aug 7, 2018 7:22:13 GMT
Is Thomas W. Hodgkinson a Times reviewer? I just looked him up - he's judged the Bad Sex Awards, swum from Corfu to Albania (or some such feat) and started a 'one-man literary movement' called Method Writing - where the writer physically experiences what he is going to write about (example: he crouched in a cupboard in order to experience what a stalker would do and feel.) I suppose such rigorous research didn't spread to even popping a few 'Hamilton' songs on Spotify - just to get an idea.
Also not thrilled with his use of 'deadpan' - it technically can mean expressionless but is almost always used to explain a comic effect - such as deadpan delivery or Buster Keaton facing a disaster. It sounds like he expects the people around him to note his superior and subtle deadpan humour when, really, he just didn't get the joke.
The bloomin' state of print criticism.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 9, 2018 5:43:20 GMT
Saw this last night with a Rush seat. Near the back, but the view was good and there's air conditioning. Looked sold out.
Quite a few people around me hadn't seen Hamilton (based on the conversations) and I think you lose something. Lots of non-Hamilton jokes too, although I don't think this was attracting typical musical theatre fans.
It's done very well and it's funny. A lot of the content has clearly been in there for a while, but there are some good quick local jokes (I thought a mention of Tommy Steele was very funny, but based on the laughs, looked like hardly anyone got it).
Glad to see there was also an In The Heights song, as well as many from Hamilton (and other musicals).
The cast for this is talented and the Hamilton score works amazingly well with just a piano and finger clicking (which bodes well for when Hamilton gets reprised in places like the Menier in 20 years time).
All over in a speedy one hour and twenty minutes. And you may even get a Lin Manuel Miranda $10 note to take home with you (not legal tender).
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Post by kathryn on Aug 9, 2018 13:30:56 GMT
Quite a few people around me hadn't seen Hamilton (based on the conversations) and I think you lose something. Lots of non-Hamilton jokes too, although I don't think this was attracting typical musical theatre fans. As time goes on I more and more get the impression that some people are actually very loyal to a particular theatre - they go and see what that theatre puts on regardless of what it is. Doesn't matter what the subject matter is. Hence the surprising number of people seeing this who don't know Hamilton and are not big musical theatre nerds. The ladies next to me picked up one of those, looked at the picture of Lin and went 'oh look, who's that?!' I had to explain that it was a picture of the man that the majority of the show was about, and he really did write and star in Hamilton, and write songs for Moana, and is going to be in Mary Poppins... |
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Post by partytentdown on Aug 9, 2018 22:01:55 GMT
Big Hamilton fan here and although I found this amusing, the novelty did wear off after a bit and I had that creeping awkward feeling you get when you've taken a friend to something under the promise its brilliance will change their life and now you realise they're shuffling about not really knowing what the hell is going on. The joke is sort of done after 3-4 parodies and although there are some funny bits throughout, it felt a bit one-note to me.
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Post by Stephen on Aug 11, 2018 2:46:56 GMT
Went for my dose of Spam tonight.
I agree with what others have said here about the show being repetitive after a while. After the first few songs I was ready to just have the usual Forbidden Broadway setup.
The cast is strong and work VERY hard in this parody which is as fast paced as Hamilton if not more so! I was surprised that Damian Humbley and Sophie Louise Dann had such small roles given that they are established theatre actors. What they do have is nice though and Louise Dann gives her best Liza. It's not quite Christine Pedi but is fun fun fun!
I'm probably being a bit dumb here BUT how does Gerard Alessandrini get away with using so much of Lin's material in this show? A lot of it is unchanged!
All in all agood evening's entertainment for £20 but I wouldn't pay more for this one.
Show 3*...cast and production 5*
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Post by david on Aug 19, 2018 17:01:04 GMT
Watched today’s performance, and have to say for £20 in row B, it was an absolute bargain and a great view even if I was to the left of the stage. I thought the songs were spoofed really well. I was actually amazed that it’s only one guy with a piano on stage as I thought the music was fantastic and he did an excellent job of bringing the Hamilton score to life.
King George’s first song for me was the standout. It was a shame Louise didn’t have much stage time, but when she was on I thought her take on the different personalities was spot on.
If you have centre seats in row A be prepared to have some interaction with the cast!
A full house this afternoon and it was actually a nice temperature inside the theatre considering it was very warm outside. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon at the theatre.
As an added bonus on the way out, being on row B did have the advantage of being able to acquire one if the LLM $10 bills to put in my programme.
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Post by ellie1981 on Aug 20, 2018 7:58:48 GMT
I managed to get quite a few of the Lin Manuel $10 bills - the ones left on the stage were snapped up by the people in Row A but there were tonnes on the floor going untouched. I went on Friday evening and think we were in the same place - Row B just to the left of the stage. One friend wants to go to this but hasn’t seen or heard Hamilton so I’ve advised him against it as I think you really need to at least be familiar with the cast recording.
I take it a few things have changed since the Off Broadway show? Up to date references of Mary Poppins Returns and Harry and Megan. I particularly loved the gag about the Victoria Palace. The only thing I thought didn’t quite work was the replacing the sister names as Phillipa, Renee-Elise and Jasmine. I think that joke was only relevant at the time on Broadway. Even though we know the reference, it didn’t quite work.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Aug 25, 2018 18:05:00 GMT
I LOVED this after seeing today’s matinee! I have yet to see HAMILTON, but know the cast recording quite well, and all the other musical theatre references, and found it hilarious. Easily one of the funniest things I have seen all year. Delivered with pinache by a very talented cast as well (though Damien Humbley stole it for me with his brief turns).
Go while you can!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2018 19:08:08 GMT
I thought this was ok, but not nearly was good as the usual forbidden Broadway stuff. Even knowing Hamilton fairly well, alot of it fell flat. The Daveed Diggs stuff, The catch up song with the old guy, Even the Liza number was dull.
For me the best number was the Sondheim number and that really didn't have anything to do with Hamilton.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Sept 4, 2018 21:35:27 GMT
I've just realised I have 2 £19.50 tickets for Thursday 6th September at 8:00pm if anyone wants them- I am already going out and therefore can't use them!
Let me know if you want them on here on here or on twitter @lateforoverture
Many Thanks!
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