1,481 posts
|
Post by steve10086 on Aug 12, 2022 22:54:18 GMT
Saw the show tonight. No issues at all with security. No bad audience behaviour. No one missing from the cast. And just a perfect show. Everyone was incredible… including Saunders, which I did not expect to say as I’m not particularly a fan. Best thing I’ve seen for a very long time.
|
|
|
Post by colelarson on Aug 14, 2022 19:53:16 GMT
Just saw the Sunday show, security was okay and I did email before asking if they would allow water and they said they had told staff to allow it, not sure if this was because of the heat!
No Keala on today, it's not really a big part as Sister Mary Patrick, she doesn't have a solo number which is surprising. Lizzie Bea was good,loved her in Heathers before and she did a good rendition of "The Life I Never Led" this afternoon.
Really is the Beverley show and worth the ticket price just to hear her sing! What were they going to do if Whoopi had done the role as she would only be able to do like Sheila Hancock did in the original Palladium run and "speak" the songs!
Noticed a few changes to the original West End run including different songs and some cuts made. Venue is not good for a musical, definitely lots of sound issues - dialogue not clear at points etc. Was lucky with the audience compared to some of the comments on this thread, no bad behaviour near me!
I was in Row F of the stalls to the side so you do miss some of stage left due to the stage setting. Glad I saw it but wouldn't go again to the Eventim Apollo in a rush for a musical!
|
|
520 posts
|
Post by anthony on Aug 17, 2022 0:42:06 GMT
Anyone have any idea why they decided to change Sweaty Eddie to Steady Eddie? I assumed it was a Broadway change, but the Broadway version also refers to Eddie as sweaty rather than steady.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2022 7:10:12 GMT
Anyone have any idea why they decided to change Sweaty Eddie to Steady Eddie? I assumed it was a Broadway change, but the Broadway version also refers to Eddie as sweaty rather than steady. I assume linked to metoo and to avoid the connection to being a sex pest or perve. Like prince Andrew, trump, that Hollywood producer whose name I've forgotten etc.
|
|
526 posts
|
Post by danielwhit on Aug 19, 2022 1:38:36 GMT
Anyone have any idea why they decided to change Sweaty Eddie to Steady Eddie? I assumed it was a Broadway change, but the Broadway version also refers to Eddie as sweaty rather than steady. This show has been tinkered with so many times over the years it's almost impossible to keep up with. Not sure if it changed in the last UK tour? Either way, realistically there's no massive reason - perhaps to make the character seem more "dull" (which fits). The change I won't forgive is throwing a wrecking ball through Sister Mary Robert's plot line by getting rid of How I Got The Calling.
|
|
|
Post by zephyrus on Aug 19, 2022 16:39:18 GMT
What a terrible venue. I was sitting in the front section of the stalls and - because there isn't much of a rake - I could only see about 2/3 of the stage whilst the other 1/3 was obstructed by the heads of the two people sitting in front of me. I've seen plenty of concerts there and never felt that this was an issue, but it's not a great place to stage a musical.
I thought Jennifer Saunders was funny (can't sing, but it's clear she knows that) and I enjoyed all the big numbers performed by Beverley Knight and the nuns, but - just like when I saw it at the Palladium - I found the rest of it a bit of a drag.
|
|
|
Post by hadeswasking on Aug 20, 2022 12:20:38 GMT
Saw this the other day. Let's just say I've had a mixed response.
The main reason I went was so I can see the glorious Beverley Knight on stage again after loving her voice in The Drifters Girl. She was a star! I know she hadn't done many comedic roles before but she really nailed those parts too (if only the script was better)
Jennifer Saunders seemed to be recieved well by the enthusiastic crowd but I wasn't personally a fan. Hopefully the person doing the tour can actually sing the role.
Really enjoyed most of the songs but I was at one side of the auditorium so understanding what was being said in these songs was a struggle at times.
Keala and Lizzie both were fascinating to watch and have incredible voices on them.
The worst bit about this experience were the audience. This has been mentioned before but this venue is absolutely dreadful. Having the toilets in the theatre itself meant people were getting up and down constantly. To my surprise there was still a queue at interval even though it felt like everyone had been during the show. Lady beside me was completely unimpressed, scrolling on her phone instead of watching the production, she didn't even clap out of respect. If you don't wanna be there DONT GO! Also during the performance I was hearing strange noises from the other side of the Auditorium. No idea what was being said but it was completely distracting.
If you put a musical in a concert venue people will treat it like a concert. The staff have obviously not been trained, the amount of times I saw people pull up their phones to take pictures was too many to count.
I will be revisiting this show at my nice touring venue. Even if I did think the script was dated, I enjoyed most of the songs and I am excited to see different actors play these roles.
|
|
1,928 posts
|
Post by LaLuPone on Aug 20, 2022 12:26:27 GMT
Saw this the other day. Let's just say I've had a mixed response. Jennifer Saunders seemed to be recieved well by the enthusiastic crowd but I wasn't personally a fan. Hopefully the person doing the tour can actually sing the role. Well it’s Lesley Joseph so I wouldn’t count on it!
|
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Aug 20, 2022 13:44:55 GMT
Yeah based on her turn as Mary Laz, I don't get the vibe Lesley will be an improvement on Saunders!
|
|
166 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by matty on Aug 27, 2022 16:53:36 GMT
This show will always hold a special place in my heart as it was the first West End musical I ever saw. I hated the last tour with Ally B, so was a bit anxious about seeing this, but I really enjoyed it.
Beverley and Jennifer were both fantastic, and I was pleasantly surprised by Jennifer's singing, they weren't as awful as I was expecting.
I really dislike a lot of the changes that have been made, especially taking out "How I got the calling".
That being said, I'm very pleased that I got to see Beverley on stage again.
|
|
4,778 posts
|
Post by Mark on Aug 28, 2022 22:29:09 GMT
Closing night in London before the tour commences. Was fantastic and such a brilliant atmosphere. Beverley Knight really is a fantastic Deloris. Tonight’s show was a late addition but was totally packed. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do a return London engagement at the end of the tour (either back in Hammersmith or West End). Will be atleast two years though with the tour now booking into 2024!
|
|
|
Post by tommy123 on Aug 28, 2022 22:42:36 GMT
Closing night in London before the tour commences. Was fantastic and such a brilliant atmosphere. Beverley Knight really is a fantastic Deloris. Tonight’s show was a late addition but was totally packed. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do a return London engagement at the end of the tour (either back in Hammersmith or West End). Will be atleast two years though with the tour now booking into 2024! I wouldn’t be too surprised to see a Summer 2023 stop as there’s no tour dates from the 1st July - 25 September!
|
|
4,778 posts
|
Post by Mark on Aug 28, 2022 23:04:11 GMT
Closing night in London before the tour commences. Was fantastic and such a brilliant atmosphere. Beverley Knight really is a fantastic Deloris. Tonight’s show was a late addition but was totally packed. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do a return London engagement at the end of the tour (either back in Hammersmith or West End). Will be atleast two years though with the tour now booking into 2024! I wouldn’t be too surprised to see a Summer 2023 stop as there’s no tour dates from the 1st July - 25 September! Well in that case, pop it back home into the Palladium next summer!
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Aug 29, 2022 7:04:09 GMT
I wouldn’t be too surprised to see a Summer 2023 stop as there’s no tour dates from the 1st July - 25 September! Well in that case, pop it back home into the Palladium next summer! I’d definitely rebook for it next summer if it’s at a better (smaller / proper theatre) venue and Beverley does it again!
|
|
|
Post by westendwhistledown on Aug 30, 2022 8:16:25 GMT
Beverley Knight final Fabulous Baby.
Just incredible!!
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Aug 30, 2022 9:16:14 GMT
Beverley Knight final Fabulous Baby. Just incredible!! And she absolutely is!
|
|
|
Post by pomegranate on Aug 30, 2022 9:21:53 GMT
Sorry if this has already been answered but does anyone know who was playing Sister Mary Patrick in the final show on Sunday? The cast board said Keala Settle but she definitely wasn’t on!
|
|
|
Post by westendwhistledown on Aug 30, 2022 18:17:47 GMT
Sorry if this has already been answered but does anyone know who was playing Sister Mary Patrick in the final show on Sunday? The cast board said Keala Settle but she definitely wasn’t on! I believe it was Caroline Bateson. I don’t know why Keala wasn’t on for the evening as she definitely did the matinee
|
|
5,795 posts
|
Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 30, 2022 21:39:13 GMT
Sorry if this has already been answered but does anyone know who was playing Sister Mary Patrick in the final show on Sunday? The cast board said Keala Settle but she definitely wasn’t on! I believe it was Caroline Bateson. I don’t know why Keala wasn’t on for the evening as she definitely did the matinee Maybe fancied seeing friends for dinner or something?
|
|
1,254 posts
|
Post by theatrelover123 on Aug 30, 2022 21:41:54 GMT
Sorry if this has already been answered but does anyone know who was playing Sister Mary Patrick in the final show on Sunday? The cast board said Keala Settle but she definitely wasn’t on! I believe it was Caroline Bateson. I don’t know why Keala wasn’t on for the evening as she definitely did the matinee She might have fancied taking in a movie or something.
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Aug 31, 2022 0:09:20 GMT
Sorry if this has already been answered but does anyone know who was playing Sister Mary Patrick in the final show on Sunday? The cast board said Keala Settle but she definitely wasn’t on! I believe it was Caroline Bateson. I don’t know why Keala wasn’t on for the evening as she definitely did the matinee Remember, the evening date wasn’t originally on the schedule.
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2022 0:41:19 GMT
My thoughts from four weeks ago:
Of course, I’m biased to this musical.
I don’t agree that Beverley sings it better. Cynthia is the best singer this show will probably ever have.
Some fun changes, like with Eddie’s number.
No one will ever convince me ‘It’s Good To Be A Nun’ is the better song.
There were some unspoken moments that got cut, sadly.
I have never understood about acoustics until I saw this show. It felt very quiet.
This is the show that I have seen most, ever in my life. I know I sound down. I will love it forever, but it wasn’t the best version of it.
7/10
|
|
|
Post by fluxcapacitor on Sept 16, 2022 7:31:50 GMT
No one will ever convince me ‘It’s Good To Be A Nun’ is the better song. Does anyone know why 'How I Got the Calling' was switched in the first place? I only ever saw the original West End Production, and have listened to the recording of the same production numerous times, so I was surprised to hear it replaced in this version when I saw it a month or so ago. I understand it was actually replaced years ago, but I really don't understand the thinking. Was there something offensive I'm missing in the original song? 'It's Good to be a Nun' just doesn't work as well, and isn't as funny. Not to mention the fact that it no longer sets up Mary Robert's whole story arc, and the information about her character hasn't been reinstated anywhere else in the show so her journey doesn't work half as well without it. It feels like such a strange decision.
|
|
4,177 posts
|
Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 27, 2022 10:09:13 GMT
Caught this yesterday in Leicester. I'm going to be controversial and say I honestly think I might have enjoyed the last UK Tour more. I guess that could simply be because that was my first time seeing it so it was fresher, but I don't know. It really only got going for me towards the end of the first act in this one for me, that said, once it did get going I did really enjoy it but i just thought the CRH tour was funnier. I disliked the cheap backdrop for what was meant to be some kind of city skyline and there were these two set pieces that came on that were supposed to look like skyscapers that just looked tacky and weird, but other than that I did like the set.
All the performances were very good, Sandra Marvin is clearly a better actress than Alexandra Burke, though i found her a bit over shouty during her dialogue. Lesley Joseph was good, after reading some comments on here I expected her to be poor and forget lines and all sorts but none of that at all, she was really quite good. The only thing was that during the duet with Deloris towards the end she literally just stopped singing and went "blimey this is getting rather low isn't it" and Sandra Marvin was in hysterics. I think the star was Lizzie Bea, she was hilariously just with her facial expressions and how she danced and then her voice was stunning and got a part standing ovation for her big solo.
So yeh, all in all i enjoyed it but I just found it really rather slow and disjointed until we really got to the big fun nun musical numbers, and I'm not sure I felt that way when I saw the last tour and as I say, I just don't feel like this was as funny?
|
|
1,481 posts
|
Post by steve10086 on Oct 27, 2022 13:49:18 GMT
The only thing was that during the duet with Deloris towards the end she literally just stopped singing and went "blimey this is getting rather low isn't it" and Sandra Marvin was in hysterics. Is this the new fake ad-lib to replace Jennifer Saunders comment about being “pitchy”?
|
|