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Post by max on Mar 24, 2016 0:09:31 GMT
I've often wished this would be repeated, or made available on DVD - I remember seeing it on TV and the impact of Marti Webb's extreme close-up performance, the excellent Jazz/pop band, and that it felt like something fresh and new. Just found that it's cropped up on Youtube, and watched with some trepidation. It's always really sad to find something you remember fondly really wasn't that good....
I thought it had really stood the test of time. It's not often that performer, material, band and medium gel quite so perfectly; this show was always best on TV in that first version I think. After a slightly odd snatched at version of 'Take That Look Off Your Face' it really gets into its stride. Marti Webb is just so real and unaffected - her performance is an object lesson in truly acting through song, not resorting to hackneyed musical theatre stylings and emoting to browbeat an audience. 'You Made Me Think You Were In Love', the increasingly plaintive versions of 'It's Not The End Of The World', 'Come Back With The Same Look In Your Eyes', and 'Nothing Like You've Ever Known' were stand outs for me.
A proper DVD release would still be welcome. It could be gone from Youtube soon, and the top of the picture is sometimes cut off on that upload. |
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 24, 2016 6:22:53 GMT
Yes, I too have often wished for a DVD release.
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Post by max on Mar 24, 2016 17:57:15 GMT
That would have been a good DVD package! Though I thought Sarah B approached it more as a singer, and not the 'modern girl' of the piece - though she was later perfect casting for Aspects Of Love. I wish they'd recorded Marti Webb on the Palace Stage (though the first night live OLC recording of Webb has the best version of the title song I think - so that's something).
Watching Webb on youtube reminds me just how much good singing is about phrasing. Pleased this finally made it into public view again.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 24, 2016 20:13:21 GMT
Take me to a zoo that's got chimpanzees
Tell me on a Sunday, pleeez.
Not one of the best. Always makes me chuckle though. I'm seeing the tour later this year, is it Jodie P? I can't remember.
(Lots of young men wear corduroy now)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 21:59:38 GMT
A lot of Don Black's lyrics seem very weak but somehow they work. Maybe they work best when simply being "sung"... I always thought Marti Webb was a bit laid back, but looking at her performance now I think this kind of delivery was right. Jodie was on TV recently, strangling the living daylights out of every lyric, like it was Hamlet or something. I'm not blaming her; but why do directors nowadays think we have to have everything spelt out for us? Just sing the song and allow us to do a little work too. Of course, this piece has so many wonderful tunes. Takes me right back to the eighties...!
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Post by max on Mar 25, 2016 8:48:04 GMT
True, I think that's why it worked best in the first version on TV, without the size of theatrical performance forcing it to be momentous when it should be intimate. Some cracking Lyrics too though surely? "Married man, always looking at...your watch". I even like the awkward mid line pause when sung so conversationally. Says it all in a line A lot of Don Black's lyrics seem very weak but somehow they work. Maybe they work best when simply being "sung"... I always thought Marti Webb was a bit laid back, but looking at her performance now I think this kind of delivery was right. Jodie was on TV recently, strangling the living daylights out of every lyric, like it was Hamlet or something. I'm not blaming her; but why do directors nowadays think we have to have everything spelt out for us? Just sing the song and allow us to do a little work too. Of course, this piece has so many wonderful tunes. Takes me right back to the eighties...! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 9:12:24 GMT
True, I think that's why it worked best in the first version on TV, without the size of theatrical performance forcing it to be momentous when it should be intimate. Some cracking Lyrics too though surely? "Married man, always looking at...your watch". I even like the awkward mid line pause when sung so conversationally. Says it all in a line A lot of Don Black's lyrics seem very weak but somehow they work. Maybe they work best when simply being "sung"... I always thought Marti Webb was a bit laid back, but looking at her performance now I think this kind of delivery was right. Jodie was on TV recently, strangling the living daylights out of every lyric, like it was Hamlet or something. I'm not blaming her; but why do directors nowadays think we have to have everything spelt out for us? Just sing the song and allow us to do a little work too. Of course, this piece has so many wonderful tunes. Takes me right back to the eighties...! It's funny but this thread immediately got me on Youtube listening to all the different recordings of... Nothing Like You've Ever Known. What a beautiful little song, and yes, a cracking lyric too, especially that very clever line. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 9:36:34 GMT
(Lots of young men wear corduroy now) That line is actually: "And lots of young guys wear corduroy pants..."! This always made me chuckle especially as we don't call our trousers "pants" over here, so I always visualised lots of young guys wearing corduroy... pants, and that got me all hot and bothered (just like the young guys actually wearing the corduroy pants, I'd imagine  .) And on the subject of funny lines (and yes, it is ridiculously puerile...) I always loved Jesus singing, "God, thy willie's hard" in Gethsemane, and was sooo disappointed when it was changed for that Arena version. |
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Post by steve10086 on Jul 20, 2020 8:00:16 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53332613"Before coronavirus I'd started work on what I think is a great idea. We were trying out a new version of Tell Me On A Sunday, the musical Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote 40 years ago and I did the lyrics for. It was a hit in London and on Broadway." In 1979 it was a one-woman show about the romantic problems of a young Londoner living in the USA. The new version keeps the same basic era but makes the central character male and gay.
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Post by richey on Jul 20, 2020 10:30:06 GMT
This would actually be an ideal time to revive this as there would be no worry about social distancing on stage!
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Post by hulmeman on Jul 20, 2020 10:36:09 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53332613"Before coronavirus I'd started work on what I think is a great idea. We were trying out a new version of Tell Me On A Sunday, the musical Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote 40 years ago and I did the lyrics for. It was a hit in London and on Broadway." In 1979 it was a one-woman show about the romantic problems of a young Londoner living in the USA. The new version keeps the same basic era but makes the central character male and gay. It's not often I claim " theatre visionary" status, but it's true. Example one. About 150 years ago, I was living in digs near that there London and my landlady had only one "pop" LP and that was the soundtrack to "Summer Holiday". As I listened to it for the eight hundredth time, I mused how it could be adapted for the stage using a bloody big cut out bus and projected scenery. Now, I ask you, did it come to pass? Example two. I always thought "Tell me on a Sunday" would make a great "gay" musical. The emotions and the attitudes are the same and the story might even be sharper with the change of angle. Now as steve10086 points out, Don Black (the original lyricist and national treasure) has only gone and announced he and Lord Lloyd Andrew of Webber have already "workshopped" such a production. Give me a NODA medal now. |
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Post by danb on Jul 20, 2020 11:35:38 GMT
It would struggle to be worse than the DVO abomination the last time it troubled the west end. He’d have to write at least one ‘thrilling’ new tune to lift up the morass of touching mid-tempo stuff. Rob Houchen could make this something special.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 20, 2020 11:57:19 GMT
This would actually be an ideal time to revive this as there would be no worry about social distancing on stage! And no worry about anybody wanting to see it, if it’s last outing on tour was anything to go by! |
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Post by david on Jul 20, 2020 12:51:23 GMT
This would actually be an ideal time to revive this as there would be no worry about social distancing on stage! And no worry about anybody wanting to see it, if it’s last outing on tour was anything to go by! Saw it on tour with Patsy Palmer around 2010. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 20, 2020 12:58:16 GMT
I have long wanted to do the gay version of TMOAS - doesn't take much to alter the lyrics to make it work. I grew up with the Song and Dance cassette - and longed to play the central character. The joys of growing up in the 70s/80s!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 20, 2020 13:17:31 GMT
I saw the Jodie Prenger outing. The show is so short that they had an interval and afterwards Jodie did a bit of Q&A. They must have thought that the audience wouldn’t be happy paying ATG prices for half a show. It was a bit flat, to say the least.
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 20, 2020 13:27:34 GMT
And no worry about anybody wanting to see it, if it’s last outing on tour was anything to go by! Saw it on tour with Patsy Palmer around 2010. Didn't know you were friends with Pasty! Who was in the show? 🤣 |
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Post by richey on Jul 20, 2020 13:27:51 GMT
This would actually be an ideal time to revive this as there would be no worry about social distancing on stage! And no worry about anybody wanting to see it, if it’s last outing on tour was anything to go by! Aww i really liked the last tour with Jodie |
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Post by n1david on Jul 20, 2020 13:32:08 GMT
When was it that Marti did it again? That was after the DVO version, wasn't it? It was a fun evening, particularly Marti's ironic expression after "and if he gets his skates on, we can have some kids as well"...
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Post by hulmeman on Jul 20, 2020 13:46:09 GMT
Scott Hunter (Yank!) for the lead please.
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Post by steve10086 on Jul 20, 2020 13:55:18 GMT
When was it that Marti did it again? That was after the DVO version, wasn't it? It was a fun evening, particularly Marti's ironic expression after "and if he gets his skates on, we can have some kids as well"... She took over from DvO in 2004, but also starred in a production at the Other Palace (St James) in 2014 (and subsequently elsewhere). |
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Post by BoOverall on Jul 20, 2020 14:25:32 GMT
I’ve always liked Tell Me On A Sunday but even the more recent incarnations of this have often felt pretty dated.I’ve often been intrigued by a gay version. Right, I’m off for a post-lunch sing-song:
“It’s not the end of the world
to use Grindr.
It just might, seem so tonight.
It’s not the end of the world
that he’s Daddy.
Older fun is better than none.
People get into weird crap
Like I’ve got into this,
Drive a mile or two, and damn right I'll be willing.
And I will not give him the horror of seeing my chest:
Anon works best“
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Post by hulmeman on Jul 20, 2020 14:44:01 GMT
I’ve always liked Tell Me On A Sunday but even the more recent incarnations of this have often felt pretty dated.I’ve often been intrigued by a gay version. Right, I’m off for a post-lunch sing-song: “It’s not the end of the world to use Grindr. It just might, seem so tonight. It’s not the end of the world that he’s Daddy. Older fun is better than none. People get into weird crap Like I’ve got into this, Drive a mile or two, and damn right I'll be willing. And I will not give him the horror of seeing my chest: Anon works best“ Where do I sign up to be an "angel" on this production of yours Bo???!!! |
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Post by distantcousin on Jul 20, 2020 15:12:43 GMT
I’ve always liked Tell Me On A Sunday but even the more recent incarnations of this have often felt pretty dated.I’ve often been intrigued by a gay version. Right, I’m off for a post-lunch sing-song: “It’s not the end of the world to use Grindr. It just might, seem so tonight. It’s not the end of the world that he’s Daddy. Older fun is better than none. People get into weird crap Like I’ve got into this, Drive a mile or two, and damn right I'll be willing. And I will not give him the horror of seeing my chest: Anon works best“
I loved the show, but the weirdest thing with the Claire Sweeney version, is they ignored practically all the DVO updates, and reverted back to a very dated script (references to Mantovani! Really?) and just added in some local-isms to reflect La Sweeney's Merseyside heritage.
I think if they are to do the piece again, they really need to just go the whole hog and properly revive Song & Dance - make it more substantial and give Variations some new choreo!
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Post by richey on Jul 20, 2020 15:18:55 GMT
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