258 posts
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Post by frankubelik on Feb 5, 2017 8:16:35 GMT
It's a mess.
Unfocused, too many extraneous characters (the kids) and no tension at all. Claire M has a standout moment end of Act 1 but Joanna's usual staring into the middle distance is grating. The other ladies are likeable but too similar and not well defined enough. Gary Barlow clearly does not understand Musical Theatre.
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53 posts
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Post by chess on Feb 5, 2017 10:16:15 GMT
It's a mess. Unfocused, too many extraneous characters (the kids) and no tension at all. Claire M has a standout moment end of Act 1 but Joanna's usual staring into the middle distance is grating. The other ladies are likeable but too similar and not well defined enough. Gary Barlow clearly does not understand Musical Theatre. I have seen it too, and I too concluded that it misses focus. I didn't understand why the three young characters got so much time.The songs are nice though, and it had its moments. The problem is that for a non native english speaker I had great difficulty to follow all the jokes. So I don't think they will score in the tourist market. And although I am in my early 50's I felt old during the show. That makes the democrafics if this show rather small.I really would have loved to see the show having a good run, but this one will be running max a year. |
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19,797 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 5, 2017 10:20:05 GMT
It's a mess. Unfocused, too many extraneous characters (the kids) and no tension at all. Claire M has a standout moment end of Act 1 but Joanna's usual staring into the middle distance is grating. The other ladies are likeable but too similar and not well defined enough. Gary Barlow clearly does not understand Musical Theatre. I have seen it too, and I too concluded that it misses focus. I didn't understand why the three young characters got so much time.The songs are nice though, and it had its moments. The problem is that for a non native english speaker I had great difficulty to follow all the jokes. So I don't think they will score in the tourist market. And although I am in my early 50's I felt old during the show. That makes the democrafics if this show rather small.I really would have loved to see the show having a good run, but this one will be running max a year. Because the rest of the audience were older than you? or just because it was so boring and drawn out that you felt you'd aged 10 years by the time it had finished  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2017 13:10:24 GMT
People say that Half A Sixpence has no diversity in the cast. Is that the same here too? I know it is about who is best for the role but I've just heard lots of criticism for Half A Sixpence
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Post by danb on Feb 5, 2017 13:39:15 GMT
I suppose if it's based on real life events like 'The Girls' they could at least plead factual accuracy, but using the best person for the job should always rank higher than filling a quota imho.
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Feb 5, 2017 13:41:21 GMT
Seeing this on Tuesday. Will go in with an open mind.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2017 13:57:05 GMT
I suppose if it's based on real life events like 'The Girls' they could at least plead factual accuracy, but using the best person for the job should always rank higher than filling a quota imho. I agree it is always best to find the best person for the job. Just seems weird Half A Sixpence attracts criticism for an all-white cast when other shows are the same too, same with American in Paris I think? I haven't seen the show yet but presumably all the girls are best for the job. I guess you could have some diversity in smaller roles for some shows |
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Post by danb on Feb 5, 2017 14:13:44 GMT
I suppose if it's based on real life events like 'The Girls' they could at least plead factual accuracy, but using the best person for the job should always rank higher than filling a quota imho. I agree it is always best to find the best person for the job. Just seems weird Half A Sixpence attracts criticism for an all-white cast when other shows are the same too, same with American in Paris I think? I haven't seen the show yet but presumably all the girls are best for the job. I guess you could have some diversity in smaller roles for some shows That strikes me as a lot more offensive; giving those considered diverse casting some inconsequential part for the sake of equality. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2017 14:16:09 GMT
I agree it is always best to find the best person for the job. Just seems weird Half A Sixpence attracts criticism for an all-white cast when other shows are the same too, same with American in Paris I think? I haven't seen the show yet but presumably all the girls are best for the job. I guess you could have some diversity in smaller roles for some shows That strikes me as a lot more offensive; giving those considered diverse casting some inconsequential part for the sake of equality. Sorry I didn't mean it like that. I meant giving black actors work whether it be principle or ensemble work. Black actors are as good as any actors |
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Post by danb on Feb 5, 2017 14:24:44 GMT
Oh God, please don't apologise Kathy, I wasn't having a go, just thinking out loud. It's a massive subject and not really one suitable for a non-verbal conversation. X
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98 posts
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Post by stanne on Feb 5, 2017 19:18:21 GMT
I haven't read the full thread so apologies if someone has already answered this, but does anyone know what the running time is for this? I need to book a train home for after the Saturday matinee. Thanks!
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Feb 5, 2017 19:24:46 GMT
I haven't read the full thread so apologies if someone has already answered this, but does anyone know what the running time is for this? I need to book a train home for after the Saturday matinee. Thanks! It ran about 2h35 when I saw it (4th preview) |
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98 posts
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Post by stanne on Feb 5, 2017 20:08:34 GMT
I haven't read the full thread so apologies if someone has already answered this, but does anyone know what the running time is for this? I need to book a train home for after the Saturday matinee. Thanks! It ran about 2h35 when I saw it (4th preview) Thanks very much, daniel. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2017 1:03:34 GMT
Gary Barlow is a terrible human and what's worse is he hasn't written anything of any interest for his own career in a good decade so decides that musicals theatre is the perfect place to fob off his turds. Wrong, Gary, honey. Your first musical was a flop, as will be your second and Christ only knows what's going on with ur third.
Moral of the story? Musical theatre ain't an easy option so f*** off and bore the last dying fart that is ur pop career with ur bland tax dodging scum songs
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Feb 6, 2017 1:11:45 GMT
Gary Barlow is a terrible human and what's worse is he hasn't written anything of any interest for his own career in a good decade so decides that musicals theatre is the perfect place to fob off his turds. Wrong, Gary, honey. Your first musical was a flop, as will be your second and Christ only knows what's going on with ur third. Moral of the story? Musical theatre ain't an easy option so f*** off and bore the last dying fart that is ur pop career with ur bland tax dodging scum songs So. Youre not a fan? |
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Post by d'James on Feb 6, 2017 1:14:09 GMT
I don't think he's a terrible human, but he really annoys me how he seems to hate Musical Theatre singing on the current show, when casting a musical. He talks it down so much and Mel C was doing it too on Saturday. 'Don't sing too musically.' I mean maybe people can correct me, but I find musical theatre singing much more difficult than pop.
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Post by infofreako on Feb 6, 2017 1:31:10 GMT
Im in agreement. I really dont think he is taking the right approach in that show
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19,797 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 6, 2017 8:07:05 GMT
I don't think he's a terrible human, but he really annoys me how he seems to hate Musical Theatre singing on the current show, when casting a musical. He talks it down so much and Mel C was doing it too on Saturday. 'Don't sing too musically.' I mean maybe people can correct me, but I find musical theatre singing much more difficult than pop. I think they're desperately trying to appeal to "the kids" but failing to realise that they won't, because the majority of people interested in GB or a Take That musical are women approaching a certain age. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 6, 2017 10:02:43 GMT
The attitude that somehow musical theatre is inferior to a pop career or pop singing infuriates me. Especially when they are casting for musical theatre!!! They need to look up the word irony in the dictionary!
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Feb 6, 2017 10:16:37 GMT
They need to look up the word irony in the dictionary! of or like iron? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2017 19:47:41 GMT
I don't think he's a terrible human, but he really annoys me how he seems to hate Musical Theatre singing on the current show, when casting a musical. He talks it down so much and Mel C was doing it too on Saturday. 'Don't sing too musically.' I mean maybe people can correct me, but I find musical theatre singing much more difficult than pop. Correct me if Im wrong, but they are casting a show which is basically a compilation of Take That songs, cobbled together with a bit of a storyline. Therefore the aim is to find singers capable of singing Take That (pop) songs, not Musical Theatre songs. |
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3,580 posts
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Post by showgirl on Feb 7, 2017 19:47:04 GMT
I don't think he's a terrible human, but he really annoys me how he seems to hate Musical Theatre singing on the current show, when casting a musical. He talks it down so much and Mel C was doing it too on Saturday. 'Don't sing too musically.' I mean maybe people can correct me, but I find musical theatre singing much more difficult than pop. I hadn't even realised there was a special singing style for musical theatre, so for the uninitiated (i.e. including me), could someone kindly explain what on earth it is, please, and how it can be distinguished from "normal" singing? |
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Post by showtoones on Feb 7, 2017 20:52:04 GMT
I'm excited to see THE GIRLS as I love Jo Riding but I totally hear what you are saying about GB. Betty Buckley did a whole rant on her Facebook as a response to American Idol as they say all the time to get the musical theatre out of your voice.
I mean I know what they are saying as its a pop music competition, but there are more roles in theater than in pop music.
I have no idea why he would criticize someone on a musical theatre reality show that they sang too musically. Makes no sense....
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2,051 posts
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Post by infofreako on Feb 7, 2017 22:44:49 GMT
Thoughts. It was inoffensive enough i guess but nothing special.
I think the biggest issue it has is familiarity, its been done before far better than this
I often see people on here saying they came out of a musical unable to hum any of the songs and this is very much how im feeling right now.
The performances from the cast were very strong though and they work hard to tell the story.
The audience on the whole received it well and there was a partial standing ovation. The theatre was by no means full and I came out grateful that I hadnt paid.
It would be nice for this to get a decent run for the cast but I struggle to see it having a reach beyond its target audience and it certainly doesnt seem the show to encourage repeat business.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Feb 7, 2017 23:28:13 GMT
Ah but there you are wrong.... The Gary Barlow fans ARE going multiple times! It becomes a competition over who can go the most in that kind of fan base.
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