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Post by couldileaveyou on Jun 17, 2018 15:55:10 GMT
I often wonder about past productions of plays and musicals I love, productions that have never been recorded and that were staged years before I was born, or that I simply had no chance to see for geographic/economic reasons. And I think many of us feel this way about some show or the other, and maybe we'd like to get answers, trivia, opinions and facts that do not necessarily deserve threads of their own. On this board we're lucky enough to have showbiz's insiders, drama scholars and some people who saw the best of London theatre for the past 50 years, so there's no better place to start - with your help! - to shed some light.
For instance, I'm a big Sondheim fan and there is very little online about the 1998 Donmar production of Into the Woods, which is quite surprising considering that it's one of London's most prestigious venues and that it featured a cast of brilliant names or soon-to-be names like Sheridan Smith, Damian Lewis, Jenna Russell, Sophie Thompson, Caroline Sheen and Carol Burt. There's pretty much no picture and not many reviews to learn more about this production. Has anyone here seen it? And how did you like it?
Also, I was listening to the NT cast recording of Carousel, and I was surprised to discover that both Janie Dee and Patricia Routledge do not feature in this recording, having been replaced by Katrina Murphy and Meg Johnson. Does anybody know the reason why? Dee won an Olivier for her Carrie and Routledge is a musical theatre legend, why did this happen?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2018 16:55:01 GMT
I saw Into The Woods at the Donmar and remember enjoying it but little else, I’m afraid. It was intimate, as you’d expect at the Donmar, and I always associated a production of a musical there with ‘quality’ (it always looked good as well as sounding good, and the cast was usually bang-on). A bit like the Menier used to be before it started to scrimp on set etc. I only became aware of the ‘names’ that had been in it after they’d done more, although I knew Sheila Reid and Dilys Laye from other shows. I found this which might be of interest if you haven’t seen it before: variety.com/1998/film/reviews/into-the-woods-3-1200456314/With regard to the Carousel recording, I found this on broadwayworld.com: The recording was made after the production transferred from the National Theatre to the Shaftsbury - which sadly means that Patricia Routledge (brilliant as Nettie) and Janie Dee (who also won an Olivier for her Carrie Pipperidge) arent on the recording.
Katrina Murphy is Carrie and Meg Johnson is Nettie on the cd. |
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 17, 2018 18:57:44 GMT
I'm assuming you've done a Google search because lots of image come up.
Personally I never saw this production (I was in Australia at the time) but have the cast recording because this was in the days before i-Tunes and I wanted so desperately to get a copy of the song Our Little World.
There are images in the sleeve notes, but I'm sure they're the same as whats now on the internet.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 17, 2018 19:16:52 GMT
I was at the first preview of Woods and it was smashing. A very well drilled company.
Really well cast well apart from Sophie Thompson who played herself, again. That aside the rest of the cast was stunning and I thought sounded great as well.
Act 1 zipped along. My mother who had never seen it before did not see why a second act was needed and then the second act started!
The set was too big for the space, felt claustrophobic, perhaps that was the intention of the designer?
I was sat opposite Christopher Biggins who wore a bright yellow shirt that allowed him to be seen from all over the theatre (and no doubt from space), he laughed very loudly at every single line and made the performance all about him.
I generally liked it but I’m sure it would of been better without Thompson and Biggins.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2018 19:23:36 GMT
I'm assuming you've done a Google search because lots of image come up. Personally I never saw this production (I was in Australia at the time) but have the cast recording because this was in the days before i-Tunes and I wanted so desperately to get a copy of the song Our Little World. There are images in the sleeve notes, but I'm sure they're the same as whats now on the internet. I did a quick Google search and lots of images come up but not of this production! The only image I can see is of Sheridan Smith as Red Riding Hood... Can you point us in the right direction? |
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Post by dippy on Jun 17, 2018 19:36:24 GMT
There are a few stock photos on arenapal, I found some by searching for Into the Woods Donmar.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 17, 2018 19:56:39 GMT
There are a few stock photos on arenapal, I found some by searching for Into the Woods Donmar. Ohhh thank you. I’ve never heard of Arenapal - now I’m goign to spend the whole night looking at random photos! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2018 20:12:04 GMT
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 17, 2018 20:20:08 GMT
And there's always the YouTube of theatre: bluegobo.com
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2018 20:29:38 GMT
And there's always the YouTube of theatre: Bluegobo.com That is brilliant. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2018 21:47:29 GMT
The main thing i remember from the Donmar Into The Woods (can it really be 20 years ago?? yikes) Was Nick Holder as the Baker. All the way through the Baker kept his composure and was there to be supportive to everyone else, keeping it all together. But at the very end, when he held his son in his arms and began to tell his story, he finally broke down and the tears rolled down his face. It broke my heart on the 2 times i saw it and it has stuck with me since then.
Also there is very little footage out there from the original London production at the Phoenix, apart from the Wogan episiode.
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Post by tmesis on Jun 17, 2018 22:28:02 GMT
Another Sondheim musical with an exceptional cast that I was lucky enough to see was Company. This was at the Crucible in Sheffield in 2011 and frankly you would be unlikely to see such an amazing cast in the West End:
Daniel Evans
Damian Humbley
Ian Gelder
Samantha Spiro
Francesca Annis
Anna-Jane Casey
Rosalie Craig.
It was directed by Jonathan Munby and was one of the best ever Sondheim productions I've seen. I was amazed it didn't get a WE transfer.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 6:17:16 GMT
Another Sondheim musical with an exceptional cast that I was lucky enough to see was Company. This was at the Crucible in Sheffield in 2011 and frankly you would be unlikely to see such an amazing cast in the West End: Daniel Evans Damian Humbley Ian Gelder Samantha Spiro Francesca Annis Anna-Jane Casey Rosalie Craig. It was directed by Jonathan Munby and was one of the best ever Sondheim productions I've seen. I was amazed it didn't get a WE transfer. ^ Very envious of that one... I miss Daniel Evans on stage. You got me Googling and I came across this: www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2016/daniel-evans-ive-not-stopped-acting-but-there-are-no-parts-i-want-right-now/He was superb in Merrily at the Donmar too. Samantha Spiro was also in that, along with Julian Ovenden. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 18, 2018 6:18:36 GMT
Company was filmed for the National Video Archive
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Post by kathryn on Jun 18, 2018 9:00:10 GMT
I've been there. It's meant to be for theatre professionals/researchers, but they don't actually check your credentials. So as long as you come up with a credible reason they'll let you in! |
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Post by Deal J on Jun 18, 2018 11:46:29 GMT
I loved the Donmar Into the Woods, I think it may even have been my first live Sondheim experience. What a cast! I remember thinking Sheridan Smith stole was the show, and this is before she'd even done "Two Pints of Lager..." on TV. I agree there's very little online about this, and even tweeted Sheridan a few years back to ask if she had any memories of it or photos to share, but no response sadly. She's a busy lady now so it was rather a long shot! Thanks very much @caiaphas and dippy for your links, the photos especially. I'd forgotten the Witch's hat was made of the woods, that's a nice design touch. The Narrator wasn't particularly strong, but at the time I wasn't familiar with the source material so his eventual fate was a big shock to me. I love that I've been able to see Jenna Russell as both Cinderella in this production and as Baker's Wife in the Open-Air production. I could be wrong on this, but I seem to recall the "Wolf as Grandma" scene was played out as shadow puppets on a white sheet. I've definitely seen that in one of the ITW productions, I think it was this one. Can anyone else here verify this? I'd love to hear any other details people remember of the Donmar production! |
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Post by tmesis on Jun 18, 2018 11:57:39 GMT
I too miss Daniel Evans on stage calaphas. He was superb in Sunday in the Park with George and many years before that in Candide with Simon Russel Beale at NT.
I was hoping that now he's in charge at Chichester, even if we don't see him performing himself, he would commission/direct more Sondheim shows but so far it's been very disappointing in that area.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 18, 2018 12:04:32 GMT
It was shadow play projected onto a white backdrop. think an overhead projecter was used and then red ink was squirted at the key moment.
The puppeteers was the two people who doubled up as Milky White
The white back drop was flush with the sides of the end on seating, when it was lifted after each prologue it revealed the endless Christmas trees that was the set.
I digress ... A year or so later I went to see the Lion King and hated it. In the interval I was served by Christopher Pizzy (Jack) and that hurt he (and Woods) was so excellent and the Lion King I found to be dull. A quick google search reveals he has has done lots of tv and film work and is still in the business. Hurrah.
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Post by crabtree on Jun 18, 2018 12:04:55 GMT
Oh I enjoyed Into the woods enormously, and sat next to Sophie Thompson's mum during the performance. And the first Into the woods had the set was like an etching, with chairs made out of antlers. That too had a great cast, including Nicholas Parsons apparently being dropped from the flies. Very uncluttered compared to the Broadway show.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 18, 2018 14:00:44 GMT
If anyone has any tales of
Candide - Scottish Opera and Old Vic
Candide - Liverpool Everyman. Apparently the production featured hundreds of balloons
Anyone Can Whistle - Cheltenham
Sunday in the Park with George - NT
Assassins - Donmar
Into the Woods - Phoenix Theatre
I would be greatly interested. Please and ta
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 18, 2018 15:44:31 GMT
For instance, I'm a big Sondheim fan and there is very little online about the 1998 Donmar production of Into the Woods, which is quite surprising considering that it's one of London's most prestigious venues and that it featured a cast of brilliant names or soon-to-be names like Sheridan Smith, Damian Lewis, Jenna Russell, Sophie Thompson, Caroline Sheen and Carol Burt. There's pretty much no picture and not many reviews to learn more about this production. Has anyone here seen it? And how did you like it? 20 years ago... my goodness! I did see the production. Really enjoyed it. The back of the stage was one huge green forest/hedge and the characters appeared from within it and through it. Of the cast, only Sheridan Smith has made a lasting impression as Red Riding Hood - I remember thinking at the time that she was an actress to watch out for, there was something special about her even then. The production was intimate and thrilling and quite dark. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 17:25:34 GMT
If anyone has any tales of Candide - Scottish Opera and Old Vic Candide - Liverpool Everyman. Apparently the production featured hundreds of balloons Anyone Can Whistle - Cheltenham Sunday in the Park with George - NT
Assassins - Donmar
Into the Woods - Phoenix Theatre
I would be greatly interested. Please and ta Thanks for reminding me that I saw these; no thanks for bringing it to my attention that I can’t remember very much about them!  Sunday’s set was huge, I think and featured Maria Friedman in another NT production. (I think I’d also seen her in Ghetto in which she was stunning.) Philip Quast too. No projections. I was suitably impressed, despite not liking much of the music, to go again at the Menier. Assassins... I was bored by this. Henry Goodman running up and down a step ladder. White light bulbs framing the set. Vaudeville. Louise Gold too. Unimpressed enough to swerve it when it came back... to the Menier. Into The Woods with Julia McKenzie who went into this after Follies, I think. She was the Sondheim sweetheart for a while... Supported by a great cast. Looked good, although I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of it was played right at the front of the stage, a bit panto. Nicholas Parsons with a This Is Your Life type book. Hammy. Clive Carter was in it too, and I have a memory of him singing Agony on Wogan, which didn’t exactly sell the show to the masses. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 17:50:32 GMT
Another Sondheim musical with an exceptional cast that I was lucky enough to see was Company. This was at the Crucible in Sheffield in 2011 and frankly you would be unlikely to see such an amazing cast in the West End: Daniel Evans Damian Humbley Ian Gelder Samantha Spiro Francesca Annis Anna-Jane Casey Rosalie Craig. It was directed by Jonathan Munby and was one of the best ever Sondheim productions I've seen. I was amazed it didn't get a WE transfer.
I loved that production! It was the first Sondheim I'd seen, and I absolutely loved it. Daniel Evans was excellent. Well, they all were. I still clearly remember Samantha Spiro on her knees singing Not Getting Married Today, getting faster and faster and more and more frantic, and yet every word being crystal clear throughout, it was superb.
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Post by profquatermass on Jun 18, 2018 18:28:36 GMT
In the NT Sunday, young Seurat's artwork was a piece of modern dance. I remember seeing a Q and A with Sondheim at NFT at around the same time where there was a performance of a slightly different version of Art isn't Easy in which Seurat had a bunch of cardboard cutouts of himself and he left one with each person he'd just finished schmoozing with
I loved the Donmar Assassins. I don't think I've ever seen a production where Guiteau *doesn't* run up and down the gallows steps. It's meant to be vaudeville surely
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Post by sf on Jun 18, 2018 18:46:04 GMT
Another Sondheim musical with an exceptional cast that I was lucky enough to see was Company. This was at the Crucible in Sheffield in 2011 and frankly you would be unlikely to see such an amazing cast in the West End: Daniel Evans Damian Humbley Ian Gelder Samantha Spiro Francesca Annis Anna-Jane Casey Rosalie Craig. It was directed by Jonathan Munby and was one of the best ever Sondheim productions I've seen. I was amazed it didn't get a WE transfer.
I loved that production! It was the first Sondheim I'd seen, and I absolutely loved it. Daniel Evans was excellent. Well, they all were. I still clearly remember Samantha Spiro on her knees singing Not Getting Married Today, getting faster and faster and more and more frantic, and yet every word being crystal clear throughout, it was superb.
Wonderful production, and Daniel Evans's Bobby - "on" and slightly overeager in the scenes with his friends, but then on the verge of a panic attack whenever he was left alone - was a brilliant performance. It's the only time I've thought the stuck-on 'Marry Me a Little' at the end of the first act really worked.
The supporting performances were just as good; the only thing wrong with the production was the horrible new orchestrations, a tidal wave of early-70s kitsch supplied by someone who clearly didn't understand the score.
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