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Post by partytentdown on May 27, 2019 9:13:03 GMT
Kobna Holbrook-Smith is Daddy this week
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Post by raiseitup on May 27, 2019 9:13:36 GMT
Kobna was sitting next to me when I saw this during Clive Rowe’s stint as Daddy.
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Post by foxa on May 27, 2019 9:14:26 GMT
Daddy Brubeck is being played by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (who won an Olivier for Tina the Musical.) I think he'll be very good!
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Post by foxa on May 27, 2019 9:14:53 GMT
Oops - we all posted at the same time!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 10:45:53 GMT
Ah excellent, now sort of looking forward to this a bit more!
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Post by alece10 on May 27, 2019 11:26:28 GMT
Have to say I'm a bit disappointed and was hoping for a bigger "name" but as it's almost the end of the run they dont really seem to be bothering anymore.
I've not heard him sing but he was co presenter at WOS awards and was pretty dire.
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Post by foxa on May 27, 2019 13:40:44 GMT
He was good in 'Tina' (and I've also heard very positive things about him from folks who have worked with him.)
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Post by theatrenewbie on May 27, 2019 23:10:35 GMT
Just watched sweet charity tonight ! And I have to say I really did love it and was quite moved at the end! I loved the slightly down beat but Optimistic ending
Ann Marie is by far no Sutton foster but I kinda liked the rasp to her voice and forced notes it matched her ambitious positive character.
Debbie and lizzy where great! Debbie getting the biggest laugh of the night! For joke in the second act! Can’t remember it though but i was in fits.
The choreo was great although didn’t know whether Wayne was trying to do chroma for royal ballet or stagey musical production number but it worked 80% time.
The new daddy seemed abit dry and very still and maybe nervous but this was his first show! I think. But the staging for rhythm of life was the probably the worst part of the show..unfortunately.
Rich mans frug I thought was great and Ann Marie CAN dance! Yes again she isn’t Margot Fonteyn (get the joke)
Lauren drew in ensemble was on for someone tonight can’t rmewnbr who! But one of the hookers was trans?!? Was it purposely chosen part for more inclusive casting? Or just the male ensemble knew the track...either way genius.
And speaking about genius...
Elevator scene very inspired.
And loved the Andy Warhol design worked well and didn’t seem college course! (In my humble opinion)
I’d say deffo go see this! People can be very cruel about shows and some aren’t obviously going to be as good as the evergreens or YouTube famous musical stars! But I really came out with a smile and quite moved.
4 stars from me!!
But what do I know 🙄
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Post by theatrenewbie on May 27, 2019 23:17:54 GMT
Oh and “there’s gotta be something better to do” was probably the best staged number and got the biggest round of applause and was probably Wayne’s more inspired choreography. Lovely seeing Debbie taking centre stage
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Post by popcultureboy on May 28, 2019 6:53:45 GMT
Have to say I'm a bit disappointed and was hoping for a bigger "name" but as it's almost the end of the run they dont really seem to be bothering anymore. I've not heard him sing but he was co presenter at WOS awards and was pretty dire. You say pretty dire, I say he managed to keep the show together in the face of some pretty big obstacles. Which really makes him ideal casting for Daddy. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 28, 2019 9:39:13 GMT
I'm really glad I dont read reviews or this board in advance, I went in blind and loved it. Well apart from the wretched pilar which serves no point at all apart from arogance.
SC is not a romantic show so why does it generally get a twee staging with its romantised view of the 60's?
Yes I missed the Fosse chorgraphy but what we get elsewhere makes up for it and would the Fosse steps fit with the tinfoil? I'm not fan of Mcgregor (not looking forward to his Orfeo ed Euridice) but here he his alien style worked wonderfully.
Duff sounds like she is on 50 B&H a day which fitted perfectly - I think she would make a great Dot.
I also loved the ball pool. Can all musicals now have them?
This is the 3rd Charity I've seen (Victoria Palace & Chocolate Starfish) and the best. I never knew the book was so funny and here the anti valentine message perfectly shone through. Top marks from me.
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Post by zephyrus on May 29, 2019 12:21:55 GMT
Saw it last week and thought it was, for the most part, an ugly and joyless production. Much of the audience looked like they were having a miserable time (especially in the first half) although things did improve once Arthur Darvill turned up, and we all enjoyed his scene in the elevator. It felt like a lot of it didn't really connect with the audience, most of the supporting characters failed to make much of an impression, and you know you're in trouble when one of the biggest numbers in the show - The Rhythm of Life - goes for nothing.
No, Anne-Marie Duff is not a natural singer, and a lot of her numbers weren't easy to listen to but by the end I did at least care about her character and thought she gave a very affecting performance.
But, my oh my, the Bacofoil set, the Brillo boxes... Josie R is, IMO, over-rated and her departure from the Donmar is very much a cause for celebration all round.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2019 15:20:01 GMT
Saw it last week and thought it was, for the most part, an ugly and joyless production. Much of the audience looked like they were having a miserable time (especially in the first half) although things did improve once Arthur Darvill turned up, and we all enjoyed his scene in the elevator. It felt like a lot of it didn't really connect with the audience, most of the supporting characters failed to make much of an impression, and you know you're in trouble when one of the biggest numbers in the show - The Rhythm of Life - goes for nothing. No, Anne-Marie Duff is not a natural singer, and a lot of her numbers weren't easy to listen to but by the end I did at least care about her character and thought she gave a very affecting performance. But, my oh my, the Bacofoil set, the Brillo boxes... Josie R is, IMO, over-rated and her departure from the Donmar is very much a cause for celebration all round. I was there last night and agree with all of this - aside from the elevator scene this really was a bit of a drag. I counted half a dozen empty seats before it started and there were three or four interval walkouts in my section of the Circle alone. I was tempted to leave but the intrigue of seeing how they did Rhythm of Life led me to stay. When that number started I promptly wished I hadn't - it was dreadful. Kobna Holbrook-Smith was fine, but had no chemistry whatsoever with the rest of the cast, which is unsurprising given it was only his second performance, and I found the ensemble vocals in that song (and at other points) did not mesh well. It was all too harsh, too abrasive. There is some good in this - I thought Arthur Darvill was generally good save for the last scene where it all lunged too far into melodrama. Debbie Kurup is great. Anne-Marie Duff is a terrific actress and her characterisation is wonderful, but sadly ruined by the harshness of her singing voice every time she tries to raise the volume. Her voice actually works quite well in the softer, more reflective parts, but it is sadly painfully obvious that she is not a singer any time she tries to project or belt. The set looks amateurish at best, the Warhol aspects are overplayed and the choreography just doesn't work at times. Duff holds it all together for the most part (it pretty much collapses when she's off stage) but for me she didn't entirely save it. A huge missed opportunity, particularly when compared to some of the good musical productions the Donmar has put on in the fairly recent past, such as City of Angels. I did think it was a nice touch for Duff to step out of character before the show began to explain that one of the ensemble was stepping in to cover Ursula despite not being a proper understudy (she was very good) and asking the audience to support her. That was about as lively as the audience got all night though! |
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Post by JJShaw on May 30, 2019 8:59:25 GMT
full thoughts later but a quick one, much like City of Angels (although it was minor) upon researching, the finale was different for this version. The girls and Charity sang a little reprise of Something Better Than This, which I quite liked, a shame there's no recording of this version of the ending but it was nice! (one of the few nice things about this production, what a shame I really wanted to love it)
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Post by mallardo on May 30, 2019 9:39:44 GMT
full thoughts later but a quick one, much like City of Angels (although it was minor) upon researching, the finale was different for this version. The girls and Charity sang a little reprise of Something Better Than This, which I quite liked, a shame there's no recording of this version of the ending but it was nice! (one of the few nice things about this production, what a shame I really wanted to love it)
For me the best ending - and the one used in the last Broadway production (2005) - is Charity herself reprising, in a teary but determined voice, I'm The Bravest Individual.
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Post by xanady on May 30, 2019 10:16:57 GMT
Seen this show sooo many times over the years and imo,this is the definitive version.If you look at what Coleman/Simon et al were trying to create originally it is a very authentic and vibrant version of the world-weary downtrodden life of the dancehall girls.A very sleazy atmosphere is created and Duff’s acting is spot on.The gruff singing voice works well with the character.Tipping her hat to Warhol and with some brilliant stylistic touches such as the use of signs,the lake and the revolve,I felt that the director nailed it.The Nottingham version last year was excellent,but this is even more creative and vibrant imo.
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Post by foxa on May 30, 2019 16:12:32 GMT
If you are keen to see it - or see it again- the Donmar have just posted that they have returns for tonight.
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 30, 2019 16:57:27 GMT
full thoughts later but a quick one, much like City of Angels (although it was minor) upon researching, the finale was different for this version. The girls and Charity sang a little reprise of Something Better Than This, which I quite liked, a shame there's no recording of this version of the ending but it was nice! (one of the few nice things about this production, what a shame I really wanted to love it)
For me the best ending - and the one used in the last Broadway production (2005) - is Charity herself reprising, in a teary but determined voice, I'm The Bravest Individual.
Also, have to agree that this is the best ending after I watched and researched after watching it. Such a shame there isn't a recording as the harmonies on the last song were amazing! It gives the show a proper ending, we see her go back into the trap that they can't get out of. What she left for love. Whereas in other versions she finds another bloke and carries on as if she didn't just fall madly in love. |
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Post by alece10 on Jun 2, 2019 9:13:51 GMT
Probably one of the last board members to see this so have had the chance to read all the previous comments. I knew I would like it as Charity is one of my favourite musicals of all time and I did.
Went to the Saturday matinee which was the usual Donmar/Matinee audience as in "miserable old gits" - a few empty seats after the interval. 2 people near me didn't come back but they sat through the whole of the first act arms crossed and faces like thunder.
Yes the interpretation is all over the place and a bit odd but the songs were all there and the dances were all there.
I did miss the Fosse moves but its not always a bad thing to see a different interpretation.
Good stalls seats but behind the pillar which, as others have said, serves no purpose really. But I really only missed very minor bits.
The cast worked their socks off.
As for Miss Duff, I really didn't mind her at all. Great actress and not the best voice in the world but there was something likeable about the gritty tone. Sounded as if she smokes 40 a day.
Liked the different ending which is different from any production I have seen before.
Only spoilt by a phone going off in the last few seconds, which as those of you who have seen it, will know is the worst possible place for a phone to go off. Plus it had an awful ring tone and Ms Duff just glared at the women who then just got up and walked out!!! (the woman that is not Ms Duff)
Thoroughly enjoyed it but the Menier production is still my favourite
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 2, 2019 9:47:17 GMT
I must have missed it in the discussion. What’s the different ending? (Spoiler tags please).
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Post by alece10 on Jun 2, 2019 11:14:05 GMT
I must have missed it in the discussion. What’s the different ending? (Spoiler tags please). I would if I knew how to do it. I'm sure some of the other board members are more tech savvy than me. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2019 16:39:58 GMT
I must have missed it in the discussion. What’s the different ending? (Spoiler tags please). {The ending}Charity is left on her own after being left by Oscar, she starts to slowly reprise 'There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This' and it gradually becomes more defiant, the harmonies start off very bitter sweet and become more forceful. She is joined by the other 'taxi dancers' with some gorgeous harmony singing for the latter part of this. Not sure about the very end, was it all of them or just Charity solo? As with the whole production it gives Charity more of a sense of agency. She also plays the role with a knowing sexuality rather than a naive innocence (which I've seen done and which makes it more problematic). It's the first time I've seen the book work properly, with a secure through line for her, that stopped it being its usual episodic series of reactions to various men. I think (though am not sure) that there were some line additions to help that, can anyone confirm? |
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Post by xanady on Jun 2, 2019 19:34:29 GMT
^The ending had me and my daughter in tears.Spoke to Anne-Marie briefly in the Donmar foyer and told her and she agreed that it is a very emotional story to do.The raw and touching realism of Charity’s plight is perfectly conveyed in this version and hats off to the director and cast for producing a beautifully realised version of this masterpiece of MT.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 2, 2019 20:19:58 GMT
I think it's an incredibly emotional and real ending.
It's not so ditzy and I would say 'disneyfied'
The harmonies 😍 oh my god I need some sort of recording of them.
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Post by mistertonymac on Jun 6, 2019 11:36:26 GMT
I thought this was great only spoilt by a very weird Sondheim-esque ending (I adore Sondheim btw) - a choral version of an earlier song a la Passion, Sunday, Into the Woods etc...
I really missed the scene where she calls her friends back at the Dancehall to tell them what has happened but they are so happy for her she pretends everything is fine. Is that just in the film?
AMD was amazing though, I do not get the haters at all - her raspy voice was perfect for the role.
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