197 posts
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Post by dan on Aug 1, 2016 23:28:07 GMT
Don't like the sound of the second line, but the first part sounds pretty harmless to me,in the context of the show. Did you really not like Alexandra in the role? The 'negro' line never bothered me as much. Although it's quite un-PC, it is in an affectionate/positive sense. It was added for Broadway. I would happily lose it though if some people do find it offensive (not that I have any control). In a way, I wish more was made of race throughout the show, so that line had much more impact. (I.e. some of the nuns having problems with her being black at the beginning, but then by the end they all love her.) Yes, the 'gay boys' line was also introduced for Broadway. It stood out like a sore thumb at the time (when I saw it in previews over there) and still does. It's the stereotyping for a cheap laugh that really irks me. It adds nothing. By the way, do they sing 'How I Got The Calling,' or 'It's Good To Be A Nun?' I prefer the lyrics of the first, but the tune and Broadway choreography of the second. It's good to be a nun! I preferred the original but understand why they didn't want the nuns to sing well straightaway! I have the same issue with the gay line, it was the laughter it invited just playing on a stereotype. There were very few people of colour in the show which for me made the "negro" line even more pronounced. Was a particularly white audience too, which unfortunately is the case much of the time anyway.
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197 posts
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Post by dan on Aug 1, 2016 23:30:37 GMT
Is that when it was introduced? Makes sense as I didn't recall it from West End production. "Gay boys" followed my men in pink sequins acting camply is homophobic in my eyes. And to say "but you are nigro" because "we like that part of you" in contrast to her being dishonest about who she is just doesn't sit well with me. Don't like the sound of the second line, but the first part sounds pretty harmless to me,in the context of the show. Sure Craig Revel Horwood loves sequins! Did you really not like Alexandra in the role? Alexandra was ok. A few funny moments. But even with the songs lowered she couldn't belt some of the big notes. Obviously not her fault but it is frustrating. She may need more time with cast as it felt like lots of people doing their own thing on stage and not together. She's got a good voice though and was very good in "Sister Act". I find her a little raspy which doesn't help with diction
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 23:33:32 GMT
Don't like the sound of the second line, but the first part sounds pretty harmless to me,in the context of the show. Sure Craig Revel Horwood loves sequins! Did you really not like Alexandra in the role? Alexandra was ok. A few funny moments. But even with the songs lowered she couldn't belt some of the big notes. Obviously not her fault but it is frustrating. She may need more time with cast as it felt like lots of people doing their own thing on stage and not together. She's got a good voice though and was very good in "Sister Act". I find her a little raspy which doesn't help with diction Thank you. How did you feel the actor musician element worked?
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Post by d'James on Aug 1, 2016 23:37:14 GMT
The 'negro' line never bothered me as much. Although it's quite un-PC, it is in an affectionate/positive sense. It was added for Broadway. I would happily lose it though if some people do find it offensive (not that I have any control). In a way, I wish more was made of race throughout the show, so that line had much more impact. (I.e. some of the nuns having problems with her being black at the beginning, but then by the end they all love her.) Yes, the 'gay boys' line was also introduced for Broadway. It stood out like a sore thumb at the time (when I saw it in previews over there) and still does. It's the stereotyping for a cheap laugh that really irks me. It adds nothing. By the way, do they sing 'How I Got The Calling,' or 'It's Good To Be A Nun?' I prefer the lyrics of the first, but the tune and Broadway choreography of the second. It's good to be a nun! I preferred the original but understand why they didn't want the nuns to sing well straightaway! I have the same issue with the gay line, it was the laughter it invited just playing on a stereotype. There were very few people of colour in the show which for me made the "negro" line even more pronounced. Was a particularly white audience too, which unfortunately is the case much of the time anyway. As I say, with IGTBAN and HIGTC, they could've just swapped the arrangements as the latter would've worked just as well without 'proper' singing. The 'negro' line. It's a tricky one, as I said, it could've been better developed up to that point. The word itself just sounds completely awful in my ears. I guess they must've researched it so it's 'appropriate' for the time. In the London cast at certain points Deloris, Eddie, Curtis and Mother Superior were all black along with ensemble members. The same was true on Broadway and the UK Tour (minus Mother Superior (Whoopi)). Anyway, I don't really want to get too far into this discussion this late at night as my eyes are extremely tired after a 6 hour drive and I don't want to seem flippant or say the wrong thing.
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197 posts
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Post by dan on Aug 1, 2016 23:40:26 GMT
Alexandra was ok. A few funny moments. But even with the songs lowered she couldn't belt some of the big notes. Obviously not her fault but it is frustrating. She may need more time with cast as it felt like lots of people doing their own thing on stage and not together. She's got a good voice though and was very good in "Sister Act". I find her a little raspy which doesn't help with diction Thank you. How did you feel the actor musician element worked? Actually now you say that, that is something I quite liked. It didn't always work, but mostly it was good. A few clever uses of instruments and for the most part the band were great. I do hope you enjoy it! It does take something for me not to enjoy a show, I'm quite easily pleased with shows! Really though, enjoy yourself, it's just my experience.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 23:45:53 GMT
Thank you. How did you feel the actor musician element worked? Actually now you say that, that is something I quite liked. It didn't always work, but mostly it was good. A few clever uses of instruments and for the most part the band were great. I do hope you enjoy it! It does take something for me not to enjoy a show, I'm quite easily pleased with shows! Really though, enjoy yourself, it's just my experience. Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. As it was only the second preview tonight, hopefully they can tighten things up! I gather Craig was in the audience taking notes again tonight so I'm sure he'll have pointers for the cast.
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60 posts
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Post by ruggerlad on Aug 2, 2016 7:17:11 GMT
I'd neglected to get tickets for this but reading the thread has inspired me and managed to get a single ticket for Thursday evening. Really looking forward to seeing it will post some feedback on it Great message board too!
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21 posts
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Post by comporhys on Aug 2, 2016 7:25:24 GMT
Was a particularly white audience too, which unfortunately is the case much of the time anyway. Now who is the one being racist...?
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197 posts
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Post by dan on Aug 2, 2016 8:30:29 GMT
Was a particularly white audience too, which unfortunately is the case much of the time anyway. Now who is the one being racist...? I don't really understand how you consider that racist? Theatre audiences are predominately white and my point was how uncomfortable it can feel when a predominantly white audience laughs at an insensitive line referring to race.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 10:24:59 GMT
Now who is the one being racist...? I don't really understand how you consider that racist? Theatre audiences are predominately white and my point was how uncomfortable it can feel when a predominantly white audience laughs at an insensitive line referring to race. I agree. I can see why it might be a bit awkward, making jokes at the expense of the 'other' etc. It's not racist to point that out, however not sure if I agree with the original post in this context.
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Aug 2, 2016 10:39:11 GMT
Yeah, I don't think it is racist to comment on the lack of diversity in theatre audiences. In fact, it's something which has been frequently commented on/researched/combatted against (or at least an attempt was/is being made to combat it) for years.
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341 posts
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Post by adrianics on Aug 2, 2016 12:58:50 GMT
I was in a production of Sister Act last year and cannot for the life of me remember a line about "gay boys", when does it happen in the show?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 13:05:33 GMT
I was in a production of Sister Act last year and cannot for the life of me remember a line about "gay boys", when does it happen in the show? It's from the Broadway production. Deloris sings it during the Reprise of 'Fabulous Baby', during the 'lights... glitter.. glamour!' part. The men appear on stage and dance with her for the rest of the song.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 2, 2016 13:05:44 GMT
I was in a production of Sister Act last year and cannot for the life of me remember a line about "gay boys", when does it happen in the show? In the Fabulous Baby reprise/meltdown section, she speaks something along the lines of "Lights! Glamour! Gay Boys!". Changed from the original production (Lights! Glitter! Glamour!) and I'm also firmly in the camp of believing it to be totally unnecessary. I did the show at drama school and it was and remains one of my favourite musicals. Completely adored it in London and the score is one of my all-time favourites. However, I've no idea why some of the changes got through! The above being one which really stuck out, replacing How I Got The Calling is another, cutting Do The Sacred Mass which I thought was a fab song and some other random script changes, most notably a weird self-referencing line where Deloris claims that to hide from Curtis and go undercover, she's going to have to go "incognegro". Just don't understand why they tinkered with a show that was pretty great!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 13:47:47 GMT
That's Curve productions for you! They always have to change the original show. I don't understand why they can't just keep to the orginal show/set half the time, especially when it is good in the 1st place!
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197 posts
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Post by dan on Aug 2, 2016 13:55:55 GMT
I was in a production of Sister Act last year and cannot for the life of me remember a line about "gay boys", when does it happen in the show? In the Fabulous Baby reprise/meltdown section, she speaks something along the lines of "Lights! Glamour! Gay Boys!". Changed from the original production (Lights! Glitter! Glamour!) and I'm also firmly in the camp of believing it to be totally unnecessary. I did the show at drama school and it was and remains one of my favourite musicals. Completely adored it in London and the score is one of my all-time favourites. However, I've no idea why some of the changes got through! The above being one which really stuck out, replacing How I Got The Calling is another, cutting Do The Sacred Mass which I thought was a fab song and some other random script changes, most notably a weird self-referencing line where Deloris claims that to hide from Curtis and go undercover, she's going to have to go "incognegro". Just don't understand why they tinkered with a show that was pretty great! I much preferred How I Got The Calling as a song. I did understand they didn't want the nuns to be "singing well" at that stage of the show, but I think audiences are sophisticated enough to understand they're not performing, they're just singing the story. It didn't confuse me when I saw it in London. I forgot they'd cut Sacred Mass. That scene just seemed really short and again lacking cohesion in this production. "Incognegro" was another line I personally didn't like. I absolutely loved this show in London.
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516 posts
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Post by theatreliker on Aug 2, 2016 14:00:28 GMT
That's Curve productions for you! They always have to change the original show. I don't understand why they can't just keep to the orginal show/set half the time, especially when it is good in the 1st place! Because they should be putting they're own stamp on their work. I think the issue more is that they often choose to do shows which have only recently had large productions, thus tail-coating off of their success.
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Post by Nelly on Aug 2, 2016 14:10:11 GMT
That's Curve productions for you! They always have to change the original show. I don't understand why they can't just keep to the orginal show/set half the time, especially when it is good in the 1st place! Weren't most of these changes done before the Curve production though?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 14:11:11 GMT
That's Curve productions for you! They always have to change the original show. I don't understand why they can't just keep to the orginal show/set half the time, especially when it is good in the 1st place! The Curve production uses the Broadway script which is different to the London shows.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 14:22:13 GMT
That's Curve productions for you! They always have to change the original show. I don't understand why they can't just keep to the orginal show/set half the time, especially when it is good in the 1st place! Weren't most of these changes done before the Curve production though? I'm not sure. I was mainly referring to how Curve always changes the sets for shows and usually it just doesn't look as good (ie Hairspray, Legally Blonde etc)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 14:29:15 GMT
Weren't most of these changes done before the Curve production though? I'm not sure. I was mainly referring to how Curve always changes the sets for shows and usually it just doesn't look as good (ie Hairspray, Legally Blonde etc) This set looks decent, but we'll have to wait and see!
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516 posts
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Post by theatreliker on Aug 2, 2016 15:20:59 GMT
If it's their own production, then why can't they change the set and put their own stamp on the production?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 15:42:24 GMT
I have no problem with the Gay Boy line and I am gay myself. It isn't offensive in my eye, it is just a joke.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 16:14:19 GMT
If it's their own production, then why can't they change the set and put their own stamp on the production? It seems that not everyone likes the changes which were introduced with the Broadway production. I have to admit that I do really like 'Do the Sacred Mass' and am sorry that it was cut from the show. Although Alexandra's voice has a different tone to Patina and Cynthia's, hoping she can do it justice in her own way! I disagree with some others who said she didn't fill Beverley's shoes in the Bodyguard. I much prefer the tone of Alexandra's voice, Bev is amazing but can sound a little shrill at times in her upper register (my other half insists she sounds like a strangled cat and refused to see her in the Dominion, though that is a little harsh!). I also thought AB was a much better actress. Still, each to their own!
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 2, 2016 22:31:10 GMT
I have no problem with the Gay Boy line and I am gay myself. It isn't offensive in my eye, it is just a joke. Likewise. I hope being "equal" doesn't mean that we have to lose our sense of fun and the ability to laugh at ourselves.
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