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Post by fluxcapacitor on Feb 18, 2020 14:13:52 GMT
LOTR to this day is still one of my all time theatre highlights. It was immersive, spectacular and creative physical theatre. It was too ambitious in terms of story but I was never bored and it was at times breathtaking (literally at one point). The music was lovely and evoked the setting well. It also showed up the ridiculousness of London theatre prices. I paid the same amount for LOTR as I did for Drowsy Chaperone. LOTR you could see where you're money went in the set, costumes, cast, effects etc. Drowsy was borderline am dram set and costumes, only about 1hr 40mins long and completely forgettable in every way. Talking about Drowsy Chaperone, that was an almighty flop in London. The broadway production was wonderful, what happened in translation? Possibly a simple case of the wrong casting bringing down the show? |
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Feb 18, 2020 14:46:14 GMT
I doubt casting was the reason, the show appeals to theatre nerd like us but is difficult to market to a wider audience. They had a name in the cast with Elaine Paige, but that didn't help much it seems. Never saw it in London, pity really...
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 18, 2020 14:47:51 GMT
I did see Drowsy in London. I seem to recall enjoying it. But I can recall absolutely nothing specific about it - either in terms of songs, staging or performances.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2020 15:03:34 GMT
Drowsy came into town with no fanfare and apart from a few posters around town, very little marketing. It didnt stand a chance.
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Post by duncan on Feb 18, 2020 16:05:37 GMT
The advertising campaign for Drowsy was rotten. Seemed to be based around Elaine Paige returning to the West End, which is nice if you are Elaine Paige but which was about 15 years too late for the casual punter.
It was one of those shows where they were advertising to the people who were going to see it anyway, it didn't jump out to anyone else at all.
Which was as a shame as the fridge opening and the plane were wonderful touches. Lovely lovely score and book combined with a superb staging and some great comic performances.
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 18, 2020 16:33:51 GMT
Wasn't Elaine Paige one of the producers on Drowsy Chaperone, or was that a white lie for publicity purposes?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2020 19:37:38 GMT
LOTR to this day is still one of my all time theatre highlights. It was immersive, spectacular and creative physical theatre. It was too ambitious in terms of story but I was never bored and it was at times breathtaking (literally at one point). The music was lovely and evoked the setting well. It also showed up the ridiculousness of London theatre prices. I paid the same amount for LOTR as I did for Drowsy Chaperone. LOTR you could see where you're money went in the set, costumes, cast, effects etc. Drowsy was borderline am dram set and costumes, only about 1hr 40mins long and completely forgettable in every way. Talking about Drowsy Chaperone, that was an almighty flop in London. The broadway production was wonderful, what happened in translation? Possibly a simple case of the wrong casting bringing down the show? It’s a show that relies on the audience being in on the joke. In New York, I suspect that many more knew what was being spoofed but London audiences didn’t. The material, taken at face value, wasn’t strong enough. |
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Post by alece10 on Feb 19, 2020 6:00:50 GMT
I loved Chaperone in London. Think I saw it 5 times. However each visit was on a highly discounted ticket.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 19, 2020 7:54:21 GMT
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Post by horton on Feb 19, 2020 8:13:11 GMT
Odd, isn't it?
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Post by westendboy on Feb 19, 2020 13:11:06 GMT
It's been like that since 2015. I wonder if they still have plans for the show? Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. |
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Post by ABr on Feb 19, 2020 14:10:01 GMT
It's been like that since 2015. I wonder if they still have plans for the show? Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. I noticed that last year, I would love an arena world tour, which is what was rumoured at one point! But still gutted that I didn't see the London production, mainly for Laura Michelle Kelly as Galadriel! |
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Post by ABr on Feb 19, 2020 14:13:02 GMT
Talking about Drowsy Chaperone, that was an almighty flop in London. The broadway production was wonderful, what happened in translation? Possibly a simple case of the wrong casting bringing down the show? It’s a show that relies on the audience being in on the joke. In New York, I suspect that many more knew what was being spoofed but London audiences didn’t. The material, taken at face value, wasn’t strong enough. I would have loved to have seen Drowsy in London! I was so surprised to hear that it didn't do well at all over here, I feel that it had a similar reception to Millie, granted that lasted much longer, but still didn't catch on like the Broadway productions did! |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2020 14:45:27 GMT
Drowsy was very niche in its appeal, and lacked any stars to draw people in (sadly Elaine Paige wasnt the draw she was a decade or so earlier). It remains the most empty theatre I've been in, especially on a saturday night. If the audience hit triple figures I'd be surprised.
The cast were all solid west end talent (although John partridge I could have done without). A very thin plot that was very much an 'in joke' and to me the lead character was such a tired stereotype
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Post by duncan on Feb 19, 2020 14:55:01 GMT
I'm sure if they did a complete 100% top to bottom rewrite on the dreadfully forgettable score, book and lyrics it may just have a chance. Has their been a bigger flop over the last couple of decades in terms of money lost? The likes of X-Factor and Spice Girls musicals surely wouldn't have lost as much for the suckers investors. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2020 15:11:30 GMT
Has their been a bigger flop over the last couple of decades in terms of money lost? The likes of X-Factor and Spice Girls musicals surely wouldn't have lost as much for the suckers investors. I cant imagine any of the recent shows like Bend It... Dagenham or Mrs Henderson made any money back at all. I'm sure there are plenty more. |
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Post by horton on Feb 19, 2020 17:14:08 GMT
Mrs Henderson was dreary and amateurish, I found. Tracie Bennett was hopelessly mis-cast.
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Post by westendboy on Feb 19, 2020 19:36:28 GMT
It's been like that since 2015. I wonder if they still have plans for the show? Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. I noticed that last year, I would love an arena world tour, which is what was rumoured at one point! But still gutted that I didn't see the London production, mainly for Laura Michelle Kelly as Galadriel! Same! I wish I got the chance to see it back then! Would have loved to experience the set and the stage, but also Laura Michelle Kelly and Michael Therriault as Gollum! The soundtrack does have a few good numbers, but some are better than others. 'Lothlorien', 'Wonder', 'Star of Earendil' and 'Now and for Always' are highlights, whilst the rest are either hit or miss. 'The Cat and the Moon' is fun though. |
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