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Post by FrontroverPaul on Apr 29, 2019 21:21:43 GMT
I want every new show to be successful as I'm sure most Board users do. Success and acclaim are almost always to be applauded. I'm pleased it seems to be doing better than earlier bookings suggested. The London Colisseum is a big venue and the initial seat pricing was very high, particularly for a musical that would score low in a question on Pointless and star names most people won't know.
I still hope to see it so hope it won't be TOO successful as I'd like a central front row stalls seat for a bit less than the current £75, though there aren't many left already.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 29, 2019 21:25:40 GMT
Indeed. Last year’s Chess was one of the highlights of the year for me despite being panned on here. I LOVED it.
See what you want to see. Ignore the naysayers.
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Post by ceebee on Apr 29, 2019 21:39:30 GMT
Indeed. Last year’s Chess was one of the highlights of the year for me despite being panned on here. I LOVED it. See what you want to see. Ignore the naysayers. Yeah, Chess was the dogs danglies! |
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Post by theatrenewbie on Apr 29, 2019 22:17:15 GMT
I'll be there today. Looking forward to it. Have seen two productions before, one on Broadway and another one in Madrid. How did you like it tonight? Would love report as I’m on fence whether to book it? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 22:48:36 GMT
Well. They should rename the show 'Man of Horoshima' because it's such a bomb.
From the Mad Max opening to the ending reminiscent of 'Cats' without the tyre, it misfires on pretty much every level. It's so leaden and slow that you end up hoping someone would fall into the orchestra pit just to liven things up. It needs pep, it needs zip, actually it needs putting down.
Everyone puts the effort into having an accent except Kelsey Grammer. Shame that none of them come anywhere close to La Mancha. Perhaps none of them knew where La Mancha was but each took a pin to a map and a less than educated guess, went with it and hoped for the best. The cast try their best to give it all a lift but I think they all gave up after about 7 minutes in. I know I did. However, Kelsey Grammer can't really sing and Danielle de Niese can't really act so between them they're perfect. Individually, not so much. DdN does have a rather nice voice though and she gives 'The Impossible Dream' a bit of wellie even when she's in danger of being drowned out by the rest of the cast. She soldiers on through and manages to get the upper hand by the end of the song though. Bravo.
On the plus side you get a lovely big fat gypsy wedding number, some Northern jolly japes with a few mirrors and a bit of campery involving a shaving basin. Which is nice. And where else in London's glitzy West End could you find a bit of gang rape set to music? Head on over to the Coliseum if that's your bag.
There was a partial standing ovation in the stalls where I at first thought that the fire alarm had gone off but no. Some people will stand up for any old bit of rubbish because they've made the effort to head out of the house. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You know who you are.
Oh and someone needs to turn Nicholas Lyndhurst's microphone up. Or on. Either would be nice.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 29, 2019 23:52:01 GMT
I'll be there today. Looking forward to it. Have seen two productions before, one on Broadway and another one in Madrid. How did you like it tonight? Would love report as I’m on fence whether to book it? Well, I enjoyed it very much, but then I'm a big fan of the score and the music sounded glorious with a full orchestra. Yes Kelsey Grammer vocals leave a lot to be desire, but his acting is decent enough. Danielle de Niese sounded wonderful in all her songs, maybe not the most accomplished actress, but she gets away with it. The rest of the cast are generally quite good with maybe a couple of exceptions. I liked the set with the staircase in the middle, and the lighting design was very effective. Didn't care much for the contemporary costumes during the prison scenes. i would have preferred the characters to be in period costumes, which fortunately they had in the narrated part, the story within the story. Maybe I'm easily pleased but overall for me this was a very enjoyable production. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 29, 2019 23:59:35 GMT
I am gutted I missed @ryan tonight - I too was in the stalls thanks to a £25 Today Tix Rush ticket. Side stalls row E - a seat that was £105 dynamically priced down to £75 on the ENO website this morning. Gallery closed and although 3 levels busy - there were plenty of empty seats despite (I suspect) massive comping and discounting. I came across a group around the corner from the theatre being given tickets - I suspect for free!
The orchestra (in the pit this time) are fabulous and when the orchestra struck up the overture and lights half dimmed in the gorgeously lit London Coliseum I was in heaven.
Then the curtain went up...….
On what I can only describe as the most ugliest set I have ever seen in Londons glittering West End. It looks like some broken concrete post apocalyptic bomb site. After a long initial dialogue scene we are informed it is a prison. I would never have guessed. The poor ensemble spend all the time on stage sat around the edges of this among what appears to be hundreds of props and bits of costumes - it's a mess. Nicholas Lyndhurst does not even get to sit but has to stand for intermidable amounts of time on a stage left rostra watching. I am sure they would rather have been in their dressing rooms catching up on Instagram and trying to get hold of their agents!
Each musical number ends with a lighting bump to signify the end and illicit applause - it does, just about.
For anyone not familiar with the show, they would have had no idea at all as to what was going on. The man next to me fell asleep!
Performance wise the principles looked like they had wandered in from another show. Danielle De Niese was attractive, feisty with a great voice (she stole the show for me) but costumed in a red dress I did expect her to burst into "As Long As He Needs Me" at any moment and a few urchins may have livened up proceedings!
Peter Polycarpou always gives good value and makes the most of his one good number "I really like him" in the first Act but was wasted in the role of Sancho really and sounded like a Spanish (ish - the accents were all over the place) Ali Hakim from Oklahoma!
Nicholas Lyndhurst gives a comedy turn as a drunken Innkeeper - but really should not be allowed to sing!
As for Kelsey Grammer - I suppose if he was playing the role with the local Amateur Operatic Society you would have said he was absolutely marvellous but as he was playing the London Coliseum he looked completely out of his depth!
Mercifully it was not too long - it came down at 10.00pm but it really is a two song show - "The Man of La Mancha" and "Impossible Dream" which are sang once in Act One and then reprised 3 times in Act Two!!
A fabulous rendition of "Impossible Dream" at the end by Danielle and the entire company could not save this show I'm afraid especially as they sang it with their backs to the audience watching Peter and Kelsey stagger up a huge staircase like Elaine Paige did in Cats! In fact the set could have been recycled from Cats come to think of it!
2 wickedgrin stars.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 6:07:54 GMT
Weird interview with Lyndhurst on BBC Breakfast this morning which doesn't do a great job of selling it - he says "Oh I can't really sing but we have some other good singers", answers one other question about the show then gets asked about Only Fools and Horses for the rest of the interview (answering with the usual refrain of a superannuated former sitcom actor "Of course it wouldn't get made these days, comedy has become far too PC")
No mention of the OFAH musical down the road!
It's filmed on the set of the show.
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Post by frankubelik on Apr 30, 2019 7:03:02 GMT
It's pretty bad. No energy or pace and even the orchestra sounded flat (from the front row!) Grammer acts by numbers, his splayed feet are a real distraction, does not have the singing chops and is decidedly uncharismatic. Ms Di Neise sings well but cannot act. Polycarpou is the only one giving anything like a rounded performance. A massive disappointment.
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Post by shady23 on Apr 30, 2019 7:19:47 GMT
Leads who can't sing.
Leads who can't act.
There are plenty of amazing performers out there who can do both.
Yes, they may not be "names to sell tickets" but this lot don't seem to be selling that many from the sound of things!
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Post by horton on Apr 30, 2019 7:26:09 GMT
Who was the shill claiming the set was going to be marvellous and it was a spectacle like we'd never seen?
Sometimes the naysayers are right and can save you time and money.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 8:28:42 GMT
To be fair the staircase is quite high which is fun. Thank Lord Lloyd Webber that they didn't have it for 'Sunset Boulevard' though. Poor old Glenn had enough trouble as it was schlepping up and down the stairs they had.
It is an ugly set though.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 30, 2019 10:58:09 GMT
Perhaps Kelsey Grammer and Peter Polycarpou at 64 and 62 respectively should have a word with their agents and get it in their contracts - no steps or stairs! Coming down I was quite relieved they didn't fall down and going up I was relieved they made it to the top! Elaine Paige at 71 now would have just refused to do it!! No dry ice rolling down though - I was quite disappointed!
Press night tonight - I wonder what the critics will make of it! I suppose it will depend on how many G&T's they are supplied with at the bar! I certainly needed one!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 12:09:31 GMT
Interview with Kelsey Grammer and Nicholas Lyndhurst from ITN. Kelsey sings the Only Fools and Horses theme.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 30, 2019 15:38:06 GMT
What's the bag search situation like? Sounds like i need a bottle of tequila to get through the performance but can I smuggle it in?
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Post by theatrefan77 on Apr 30, 2019 15:45:39 GMT
You probably can if you are discreet, but you won't need it to get through the performance. It's really no bad at all. Even if you are critical of the production, the score is really wonderful. Enjoy!
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Post by xanady on Apr 30, 2019 15:54:46 GMT
Press night tonight.
Sound of the JAWS music approaching.
Hope the scribes are kind!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 17:07:09 GMT
What's the bag search situation like? Sounds like i need a bottle of tequila to get through the performance but can I smuggle it in? Still searching bags and confiscating drinks. Cross your fingers it's a cold night so you can wear a big coat with pockets. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 30, 2019 21:52:59 GMT
So we await the reviews!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 22:17:18 GMT
Reads like he couldn’t wait to get out to piss on everyone’s chips!
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 6:45:04 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 1, 2019 6:52:32 GMT
I can't get to the meaty bit of the reviews on Arts Desk and The Stage but I can tell that both papers do not like it |
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Post by horton on May 1, 2019 7:43:11 GMT
The Arts Desk nails the difference between carrying a tune and delivering an anthem.
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Post by MrsCondomine on May 1, 2019 8:20:30 GMT
ArtsDesk quote:
Sounds trumptastic. In the British sense, too.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 8:52:29 GMT
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