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Post by londonmzfitz on Oct 25, 2016 8:48:55 GMT
3 stars from me. Love Steve's review, spot on. Thought the first act was dragging in parts, second act zipped along. Kids were a-mazing! Great energy from them all the way through. First act opens with the heavy rock band doing their number prior to chucking Dewey out of the band. I wasn't thrilled with David Fynn's vocals at all, but enjoyed his slob-ness.
For a first preview absolutely outstanding, the kids were spot on - David Fynn mixed up a couple of the boys names, there was a set wobble at one point and David Fynn's microphone was muffled during that same bit, which needs to be addressed. The sound needs work too - the heavy rock background music drowned out people talking on stage at points. But overwhelmingly in good shape as a first preview.
Loved that the kids playing instruments got their own special curtain call - they really were great - in the Battle of the Bands the "grown up" orchestra (located up in the Circle on the right) came out to watch the kids play and were clapping and cheering, which I was very touched by.
Disappointed that Joel Montague is lost in the ensemble too - he was such a star in Funny Girl.
My Row E seat 15 was a great view, the rake means I could see every part of the stage, and also into the "grown up" orchestra, so can confirm that the kids really were playing their instruments. Only problem with that seat was the constant opening of the side doors, sudden flood of light from each side. I'd blame kids with small bladders but it seemed to be adults, and the ushers.
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 25, 2016 11:18:36 GMT
Sounds like all the problems you get associated with a first previews, most of these will be smoothed out.
Glad you both had a good night out.
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Post by theatregeek on Oct 25, 2016 12:31:13 GMT
Saturday can't come quick enough! Been waiting for this for aaages! Great reviews guys, thank you.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 13:11:56 GMT
So surprised at how the set at the New London looks for this! So used to the stage being a thrust and having the seats staggered but the pictures for this show the stage not being a thrust and it looks so different and not like the New London at all!
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Post by daniel on Oct 25, 2016 13:30:06 GMT
So surprised at how the set at the New London looks for this! So used to the stage being a thrust and having the seats staggered but the pictures for this show the stage not being a thrust and it looks so different and not like the New London at all! The New London is a flexible theatre space, it can be reconfigured, quite significantly, to suit a production. It's been discussed a fair bit on here! Most times the resident show at the New London changes, the seat configuration in the stalls changes quite dramatically. |
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Post by talkstageytome on Oct 25, 2016 13:41:37 GMT
Yeah we discussed this a few pages back if you're interested. It was staged without the thrust in New York so it was always going to be that way here too really.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 14:18:24 GMT
So surprised at how the set at the New London looks for this! So used to the stage being a thrust and having the seats staggered but the pictures for this show the stage not being a thrust and it looks so different and not like the New London at all! The New London is a flexible theatre space, it can be reconfigured, quite significantly, to suit a production. It's been discussed a fair bit on here! Most times the resident show at the New London changes, the seat configuration in the stalls changes quite dramatically. Yeah I saw the chat about it a couple of pages back but I didn't expect the theatre to be this flexible!! Was very surprised to see pictures of how it looked. Has the theatre lost any seats with this new set compared to capacity with Showboat/War Horse? |
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Post by daniel on Oct 25, 2016 20:34:52 GMT
The New London is a flexible theatre space, it can be reconfigured, quite significantly, to suit a production. It's been discussed a fair bit on here! Most times the resident show at the New London changes, the seat configuration in the stalls changes quite dramatically. Yeah I saw the chat about it a couple of pages back but I didn't expect the theatre to be this flexible!! Was very surprised to see pictures of how it looked. Has the theatre lost any seats with this new set compared to capacity with Showboat/War Horse? I think, if anything, it has probably gained seats, as there is now extra seats where the stage was for Show Boat, and War Horse to an extent. |
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Post by ptwest on Oct 25, 2016 21:24:48 GMT
Loved that tonight. A real feel good show and the children were just fantastic!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 25, 2016 22:02:42 GMT
Is there any mention at all of when the alternate has his performances?
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Post by talkstageytome on Oct 25, 2016 22:38:26 GMT
Had a great time tonight. Uncertain about David Fynn for the first few scenes but he totally won me over by the end. Act 2 had excellent energy which felt somewhat lacking in parts in act 1. The kids are fantastic, and really had their chance to shine in Stock It To The Man and Teacher's Pet particularly. Florence Andrews was rockier in the belty bit of Where Did The Rock Go, which I felt was missing from the cast recording and loved.
Had a long few days so I will write up everything a bitmore clearly when I'm awake properly tomorrow!
Oh and I got to meet Anita from here, which was lovely!
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Post by CG on the loose on Oct 25, 2016 22:44:16 GMT
Is there any mention at all of when the alternate has his performances? Programme just says "at certain performances", no specifics. |
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Post by CG on the loose on Oct 25, 2016 23:03:53 GMT
Grrr, just wrote up my thoughts and lost them to the vagueries of the train's phone signal. Will try again later...
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Post by CG on the loose on Oct 26, 2016 0:44:23 GMT
Take two... as others have commented, I wasn't too sure of David Fynn at the start, and never was wholly convinced by his voice, but had totally bought into the character by the end. I think my initial assessment may not have been helped by the slow start to Act 1. The kids seemed to be having a great time - a couple of them I thought were outstanding, all good, and I thought at their strongest (aside from the full rock-out sections with Dewey) when they were doing their own thing minus the adults. And conversely I found the weakest bits were the adult ensemble numbers (in the staff room) - not due to any lack of talent on the part of the cast, I just didn't like them (the numbers, not the cast!) much. Overall though, I thought it was in remarkably good shape for second preview... a little sharpening, a little trimming required, but that's what previews are for. I enjoyed it and am glad I have a second visit to look forward to in December.
Programmes are £5 and mid-sized (A4 ish) with all the usual content, including production and rehearsal photos. Merch includes branded drumsticks and guitar picks (no idea what else, I only know this because the young boy next to me was examining his haul!).
Oh, and I've never seen so many young boys in a theatre audience, with hardly a young girl in sight. An interesting demographic it's attracting!
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Post by anita on Oct 26, 2016 9:06:30 GMT
Great time at this last night. Does anyone know when Patty's song was pulled? Also very pleased to meet Talkstageytome.
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Post by talkstageytome on Oct 26, 2016 9:19:36 GMT
I seem to recall that it was after previews in New York.
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Post by anita on Oct 26, 2016 9:26:14 GMT
I seem to recall that it was after previews in New York. Thanks. |
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Oct 26, 2016 10:29:13 GMT
Anyone going tonight? Changed my dayseat mind halfway through my coach to London from Bodyguard to this. Looking forward to seeing it  . |
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Oct 26, 2016 18:22:18 GMT
I'm in.
Initial thoughts - Stage is at eye height for those in front row. Currently perfectly acceptable. I'm reasonably tall so hopefully no neck ache.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 26, 2016 21:51:49 GMT
There seems to be zero hype for this show.
Is the set much altered from NYC? Can't see how they would manage to fit that big stage truck in for the end of the show at the New London!
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Post by talkstageytome on Oct 26, 2016 22:36:17 GMT
It was a little bit smaller or less detailed, I think, but not much. Couldn't say for sure though. On that note, does anyone else who's seen it feel like at times some scenes seem a little bit swamped? The stage feels very wide. Not sure if this is me just trying to nitpick...  {Spoiler - click to view}
Okay this is really not a spoiler but I don't know what people are going to be funny about so better safe than sorry. But at the end of act 1 when the kids are escaping the school to go and try out for battle of the bands, there's usually a slow mo bit when a pot falls and they try and catch it without it crashing down. There was no pot here, instead Dewey falls down in slow mo, but he's already been forward rolling prior to this, so it didn't really make sense? TINY nitpick I know, but it just felt random. Also a bit relevent to set/props. |
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Oct 27, 2016 11:58:48 GMT
Loved this last night.
Went in blind, other than hearing Stick It To The Man from a promo video I saw, and found this show and music wonderful.
The ensemble really are spare parts in this, it's all about Dewey and the kids, they are the stars, and rightly so, their talent is amazing.
Think I only noticed one line mess up by David Fynn.
I assume that the set of kids last night were on their first performance (third preview, three sets of child actors, so just doing the math, may be wrong, but if they were then they didn't show it, all perfect performances).
I hope this does well in the West End. It's good to see a new ALW show back, especially after Stephen Ward.
Plus, considering the audience was full of kids, they were better behaved than a lot of audiences I've been in with just adults.
Anyone going should have a wonderful time.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Oct 27, 2016 13:10:12 GMT
Can I ask those who have seen it since Monday - the part where Dewey questions the kids as to their musical preferences, does he still call one of the boys "Donny Osmond"? and is the Donald Trump line still in there?
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Oct 27, 2016 13:16:44 GMT
Can I ask those who have seen it since Monday - the part where Dewey questions the kids as to their musical preferences, does he still call one of the boys "Donny Osmond"? and is the Donald Trump line still in there? Can't recall him saying Donny Osmond, but then there are a lot of lines, so I may have missed it. Donald Trump is definitely mentioned, so I assume it's the same line you refer to. |
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Post by alison on Oct 27, 2016 18:22:02 GMT
I'm sitting in circle E33 (great view, a little more distant than I'd normally choose but a steal for £15). Anyone else here tonight?
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