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Post by andrew on May 21, 2019 12:37:47 GMT
She hardly got the warmest reception on Strictly (despite being amazing). And none of this is her fault! That's the thing that surprises me most about this. If the show is relying on Ashley Roberts to save it, they might as well pull the shutters down now. She struggled to get the public behind her on Strictly and wouldn't have got anywhere near the final without being repeatedly saved by the judges, despite being arguably the best dancer in the competition. It's hardly like the producers have signed up Ariana Grande for a couple of months and the public will be queueing round the block. I just don't see this making much of a difference. Laura seems to be paying the price of the producers' own mistakes in their marketing and pricing of the show, not to mention their choice of theatre in the first place. I didn't know how much I needed to see Ariana Grande play Dawn until this post. |
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Post by jcs619 on May 21, 2019 12:45:45 GMT
I think the important thing to remember is it is neither Laura or Ashleys fault that this has all been handled in this manner. As someone who really enjoyed the show I would be really surprised if the show is around long enough for Laura to return. Which is unfortunate. |
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Post by showtoones on May 21, 2019 12:56:24 GMT
This is the MO of the producers, the Weisslers. Look at how they’ve kept Chicago open all these years on Broadway (and when it was on the west End).
This will keep happening. But look how the broadway community cake together for Great Comet,,.that effectively closed the show.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 12:58:02 GMT
To be fair she came second on I’m a Celeb, so the public obviously loved her back then. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if this helps or not, I really hope it does and then Laura can come back to some fuller houses! At the risk of being a little bit stereotypical, I suspect a greater proportion of the Strictly voting public are likely to be the type of person who are capable of paying and will pay big bucks for a show like this compared to the I'm a Celeb voting public. And they need people to pay good money for tickets to keep this show afloat... |
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Post by sparky5000 on May 21, 2019 13:18:18 GMT
This is the MO of the producers, the Weisslers. Look at how they’ve kept Chicago open all these years on Broadway (and when it was on the west End). This will keep happening. But look how the broadway community cake together for Great Comet,,.that effectively closed the show. I thought that some performers, like Cynthia Erivo, did such a huge disservice to Great Comet with their internet outrage when they turned the casting change drama into a race issue. Of course I know the optics weren’t great and the situation should have been handled much better by TPTB, but they were trying to save the show. All that happened instead was that it closed even earlier. |
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Post by Rukaya on May 21, 2019 13:31:14 GMT
Believe it or not, I feel like it's safe to say that this reaction from the industry would not be happening if things had been dealt with properly behind the scenes. Stunt casting happens all the time, sure, but it's how it's handled that's the important part.
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Post by Stasia on May 21, 2019 13:48:45 GMT
Really nice response from Oliver Tompsett. Lovely guy. Tompsett experienced pretty much the same when he was left out of the last Kinky Boots cast to film Killian Donelly in his part. I still see it as a disrespect: if you wanted to film the original cast, you should've done it when they were employed. And not throw away the new lead for a week just because your left foot decided so very last moment. |
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Post by Stasia on May 21, 2019 13:51:41 GMT
Believe it or not, I feel like it's safe to say that this reaction from the industry would not be happening if things had been dealt with properly behind the scenes. Stunt casting happens all the time, sure, but it's how it's handled that's the important part. Totally agree with Rukaya. there were a lot of stunt cast people who were announced in the due course and who actually gave some work to "mere actors", not threw them away (like Ronan Keating in Once who was only able to start in the autumn so David Hunter has been promoted to become a lead for 6 months). |
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Post by HereForTheatre on May 21, 2019 13:51:54 GMT
It's not uncommon for filmed performances though. It happened also with the Newsies tour on America.
It's a bit different being replaced for 3 or 4 shows by the original cast for filming against being replaced for 10 weeks randomly by a celeb.
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Post by Mark on May 21, 2019 13:54:40 GMT
Believe it or not, I feel like it's safe to say that this reaction from the industry would not be happening if things had been dealt with properly behind the scenes. Stunt casting happens all the time, sure, but it's how it's handled that's the important part. Exactly this. And I can’t see it having been handled too well considering the way everything else has been dealt with. I only hope that she didn’t find it out in the Metro Newspaper. |
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Post by sparky5000 on May 21, 2019 14:04:11 GMT
Really nice response from Oliver Tompsett. Lovely guy. Tompsett experienced pretty much the same when he was left out of the last Kinky Boots cast to film Killian Donelly in his part. I still see it as a disrespect: if you wanted to film the original cast, you should've done it when they were employed. And not throw away the new lead for a week just because your left foot decided so very last moment. Was it filmed with all the original cast? If so I don’t personally see that as being disrespectful. Sometimes the economics are that they can’t do these things sooner |
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Post by Rukaya on May 21, 2019 14:05:30 GMT
Tompsett experienced pretty much the same when he was left out of the last Kinky Boots cast to film Killian Donelly in his part. I still see it as a disrespect: if you wanted to film the original cast, you should've done it when they were employed. And not throw away the new lead for a week just because your left foot decided so very last moment. Was it filmed with all the original cast? If so I don’t personally see that as being disrespectful. Sometimes the economics are that they can’t do these things sooner No. Simon and Oliver were asked to step down for Matt and Killian to do the performances that would be filmed. |
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Post by Stasia on May 21, 2019 14:07:40 GMT
Tompsett experienced pretty much the same when he was left out of the last Kinky Boots cast to film Killian Donelly in his part. I still see it as a disrespect: if you wanted to film the original cast, you should've done it when they were employed. And not throw away the new lead for a week just because your left foot decided so very last moment. Was it filmed with all the original cast? If so I don’t personally see that as being disrespectful. Sometimes the economics are that they can’t do these things sooner Only the 2 leads from the original cast were invited, all the rest were Year 4 cast, and this is why it felt "not so nice" (still not as awful as poor Laura's situation, afaik, Kinky Boots leads had been on paid leave at least) |
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Post by Stasia on May 21, 2019 14:09:00 GMT
It's not uncommon for filmed performances though. It happened also with the Newsies tour on America. It's a bit different being replaced for 3 or 4 shows by the original cast for filming against being replaced for 10 weeks randomly by a celeb. in both cases it is "being left out when your colleagues are there doing their job", so I see these cases as fairly similar. I guess, Oliver does too. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 21, 2019 14:18:29 GMT
Totally playing devil's advocate here. And I don't disagree this sounds unfortunate for the person involved. BUT, if they DIDN'T stunt cast, based on advanced sales, the show may well have had to close altogether - which would mean EVERYONE loses their jobs. She will either have been on a short contract or will be entitled to compensation for a breach of contract. Also let us not forget that most actors never get anywhere near a leading role on a West End stage so life really hasn't been that bad to her. As ever folks, show BUSINESS. The producers need to turn a profit or it's game over. That won't be a surprise to anyone who goes into acting. Exactly. Some people seem to think the show is being run for their personal benefit. What’s being done is being done to make a success of it, not out of mischief or bloody mindedness. There are people wanting a return on their hard cash investment into the show. Ive just realised the rank hypocrisy of my post above, given that I was slagging off Jamie the other day for stunt casting Visage and Bianca as a brash money spinning exercise. oh well, mea culpa etc etc 😬 |
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Post by showoff on May 21, 2019 14:42:12 GMT
I really feel sorry for Ashley, she didn't ask for this, and the *adults* in this need to get a grip and act their age and welcome her to the cast too. How pathetic to leave her out in a welcome to the cast tweet, it just seems petty, and any logical person would understand it's not her fault, so there's no need to be mean to Ashley, she didn't ask for this.
Honestly, if it's really doing as bad as people here say it is, and it won't still be running by the time Ashley's contract has run, then they shouldn't be complaining as this may mean they'll be keeping their jobs.
Ashley seems like a really lovely person who seems to suffer bad luck. The way the public responded to her in SCD was awful when all she had the audacity to do was dance to an exceptional standard.
Waitress hasn't seemed like my thing, however I heard She Used to be Mine on something and loved the song so decided to give this a go soon, now Ashley is in it I'll watch her as I'm interested in how she'll do in a WE show.
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Post by southstreet on May 21, 2019 14:49:59 GMT
I really feel sorry for Ashley, she didn't ask for this, and the *adults* in this need to get a grip and act their age and welcome her to the cast too. How pathetic to leave her out in a welcome to the cast tweet, it just seems petty, and any logical person would understand it's not her fault, so there's no need to be mean to Ashley, she didn't ask for this. If you're referring to David Hunter's tweet with this, I don't think this was in any way, shape or form aimed at Ashley or trying to exclude her, but basically taking the piss out of the 'Lucie has been on stage with me for almost a week and we're not allowed to talk about it' situation, with the announcement just saying she is joining the cast next month. If you're referring to something else, just ignore me. :-) |
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Post by sparky5000 on May 21, 2019 14:57:12 GMT
I really feel sorry for Ashley, she didn't ask for this, and the *adults* in this need to get a grip and act their age and welcome her to the cast too. How pathetic to leave her out in a welcome to the cast tweet, it just seems petty, and any logical person would understand it's not her fault, so there's no need to be mean to Ashley, she didn't ask for this. Honestly, if it's really doing as bad as people here say it is, and it won't still be running by the time Ashley's contract has run, then they shouldn't be complaining as this may mean they'll be keeping their jobs. Ashley seems like a really lovely person who seems to suffer bad luck. The way the public responded to her in SCD was awful when all she had the audacity to do was dance to an exceptional standard. Waitress hasn't seemed like my thing, however I heard She Used to be Mine on something and loved the song so decided to give this a go soon, now Ashley is in it I'll watch her as I'm interested in how she'll do in a WE show. This completely! The whole reaction looking on twitter is unsavoury if you ask me, and especially coming from fellow west end performers when they most likely don’t know the actual circumstances of how / why the decision was made, and how Laura was treated in the process. Ashley doesn’t deserve any of the negative fallout she’s getting. Its also funny to me that a lot of the theatre people so outraged now are the ones who’ve helped to fuel the negativity and gotten the fans riled up with this news by posting tea memes all over the place before it was officially announced. Of course it sucks for Laura that she’s getting benched, but SHE IS COMING BACK!! You’d think she’d been fired and escorted out of the Adelphi by bodyguards the way people are reacting. |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 15:15:17 GMT
It's only a matter of time until someone writes a musical based on a story about how loads of people use social media to weigh in on something that doesn't concern them in any way but who nevertheless feel the need to step in to defend people who they apparently respect so little that they believe they're incapable of defending themselves.
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Post by showoff on May 21, 2019 15:16:15 GMT
I really feel sorry for Ashley, she didn't ask for this, and the *adults* in this need to get a grip and act their age and welcome her to the cast too. How pathetic to leave her out in a welcome to the cast tweet, it just seems petty, and any logical person would understand it's not her fault, so there's no need to be mean to Ashley, she didn't ask for this. If you're referring to David Hunter's tweet with this, I don't think this was in any way, shape or form aimed at Ashley or trying to exclude her, but basically taking the piss out of the 'Lucie has been on stage with me for almost a week and we're not allowed to talk about it' situation, with the announcement just saying she is joining the cast next month. If you're referring to something else, just ignore me. :-) I was meaning that, perhaps I got it wrong. It did seem a little sly, it's in the tweet that Ashley is joining too and he doesn't even mention her. Even if it is just as you say, it still seems a little off not to say welcome to Ashley at all. I don't follow them at all, have any of the cast welcomed her at all? |
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Post by southstreet on May 21, 2019 15:25:50 GMT
I was meaning that, perhaps I got it wrong. It did seem a little sly, it's in the tweet that Ashley is joining too and he doesn't even mention her. Even if it is just as you say, it still seems a little off not to say welcome to Ashley at all. I don't follow them at all, have any of the cast welcomed her at all? I personally didn't read anything sly in there, I just saw it as a joke about the fact that he has actually performed with her in the role already. As for other cast members welcoming her, no idea, I don't follow any of them apart from Lucie. |
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Post by showoff on May 21, 2019 15:34:22 GMT
I was meaning that, perhaps I got it wrong. It did seem a little sly, it's in the tweet that Ashley is joining too and he doesn't even mention her. Even if it is just as you say, it still seems a little off not to say welcome to Ashley at all. I don't follow them at all, have any of the cast welcomed her at all? I personally didn't read anything sly in there, I just saw it as a joke about the fact that he has actually performed with her in the role already. As for other cast members welcoming her, no idea, I don't follow any of them apart from Lucie. See, at first I didn't know the backstory of them being on together already (I don't follow the news of this show) and read it as him only welcoming Lucie. But still, why not say a quick welcome to Ashley too? But I could have read the wrong things into it. |
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Post by anthem on May 21, 2019 15:35:17 GMT
I think we should recognize what is happening on Twitter for what it is- naked self interest (mostly) from other trained musical theatre performers who understandably feel threatened/annoyed by stunt casting. This gives them a perfect outlet for their annoyance. As much as I understand it, the motivations are selfish in nature and there’s an element of snobbery/elitism to it. They are overqualified and underpaid and how dare Ashley Whatsit come in and steal a role!
I love Laura and I’ll miss her in the role- but if she was really being so badly treated, would she really agree to come back? As was mentioned above the purpose of this is to give the show a boost so it can continue to run and doesn’t put everyone involved out of a job.
Let’s give Ashley a chance...
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 15:35:25 GMT
I personally didn't read anything sly in there, I just saw it as a joke about the fact that he has actually performed with her in the role already. As for other cast members welcoming her, no idea, I don't follow any of them apart from Lucie. See, at first I didn't know the backstory of them being on together already (I don't follow the news of this show) and read it as him only welcoming Lucie. But still, why not say a quick welcome to Ashley too? But I could have read the wrong things into it. Not sure a quick welcome to Ashley would have fitted in with the jokey tone of the tweet! |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 15:36:30 GMT
but if she was really being so badly treated, would she really agree to come back? £££££ - bills have to be paid! |
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