19,799 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 2, 2019 21:47:14 GMT
Put Jason back in Pricilla. Not today, Satan! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2019 22:05:18 GMT
The cult of celebrity always wins out. Always. That's why she was cast. Who, Jason? |
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422 posts
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Post by carmella1 on Jul 2, 2019 23:21:10 GMT
Put Jason back in Pricilla. Not today, Satan! LOL!! |
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65 posts
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Post by dazzlair on Jul 2, 2019 23:31:00 GMT
Received email notification last Thursday that I had won the lottery for tomorrow's show. Just to let everyone know the lottery is administered by a third party so whilst you will receive email confirmation within a couple of hours, the e-tickets will only be emailed a couple of days later. I got 2 seats in Row I in the Stalls - pretty decent. Did you get to choose your seats at all? I’m hoping that I’ll win this at least once, as my credit card is feeing a bit unwell at the moment! Hi Dontdreamit, No choice I'm afraid. They will email the etickets with the allocated seats. |
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65 posts
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Post by dazzlair on Jul 2, 2019 23:57:50 GMT
What a strange beast this is.
I saw the 1991 show with Linzi Hateley and Jason Donovan and that was a proper show - the kitchen sink thrown at us had all manner of bells and whistles on. That was also the first time I saw and heard Ms Hateley who I absolutely adored. Her narrator, in my opinion, is still unsurpassed.
I have to admit I went to this with a little trepidation as I'm really not a fan of Sheridan and all this talk of her winking and kicking down the fourth wall like Bruce Willis in Moonlighting was seriously starting to depress me lol.
The set: For me, seriously underpowered for a West End show of this calibre, considering the star wattage involved. Maybe the school play look in Act One was deliberate but I expected more. Egypt was fine and you can see they spent most of the budget on it. But that only made the contrast with the rest of the show that much more stark. As an aside, we had a half hour delay after the interval due to a "technical fault" but I don't know what that was.
The audience: Great energy and really into it. The Circle even started a wave of Mexican waves ala Wimbledon during the delay.
Jac Yarrow: A star in the making. In very fine voice and a truly great, age-appropriate Joseph. What a belt on Close Every Door. In any other production, he would be the stand out star. That he was eclipsed by Ms Sheridan is testament to her stage presence. It will be interesting to track his career trajectory. And please give the boy a loincloth. We deserve it.
Jason Donovan: Oh dear. Off key notes and awful diction. In all seriousness, I could probably make out one in five words. Still, the audience loved him and you could tell he was really enjoying himself. So yay him!
Sheridan Smith: I really did not like the first 15 minutes or so. It was so disconcerting to watch her gurning, pointing at the audience and winking. But I had to admit by the time she played Potiphar's wife, I was won over by all this weirdness. I think if you treat it a bit like a panto and get into the spirit, then it's tremendous fun - and she is very very funny. Whoever thought to give her multiple roles is quite a genius. It would be interesting to see if her understudy plays it so OTT.
The Songs: All correct and present and I appreciated the updated orchestrations. Go Go Go Joseph was a particular delight. I've only seen it done as a Sixties pastiche so it was a surprise to see it done like Mamma Mia lol.
All in all, I was won over. It's not something I will remember in a year but it's a solid piece of entertainment and as such, it hit all the right notes.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 9:16:46 GMT
What a strange beast this is. I saw the 1991 show with Linzi Hateley and Jason Donovan and that was a proper show - the kitchen sink thrown at us had all manner of bells and whistles on. That was also the first time I saw and heard Ms Hateley who I absolutely adored. Her narrator, in my opinion, is still unsurpassed. I have to admit I went to this with a little trepidation as I'm really not a fan of Sheridan and all this talk of her winking and kicking down the fourth wall like Bruce Willis in Moonlighting was seriously starting to depress me lol. The set: For me, seriously underpowered for a West End show of this calibre, considering the star wattage involved. Maybe the school play look in Act One was deliberate but I expected more. Egypt was fine and you can see they spent most of the budget on it. But that only made the contrast with the rest of the show that much more stark. As an aside, we had a half hour delay after the interval due to a "technical fault" but I don't know what that was. The audience: Great energy and really into it. The Circle even started a wave of Mexican waves ala Wimbledon during the delay. Jac Yarrow: A star in the making. In very fine voice and a truly great, age-appropriate Joseph. What a belt on Close Every Door. In any other production, he would be the stand out star. That he was eclipsed by Ms Sheridan is testament to her stage presence. It will be interesting to track his career trajectory. And please give the boy a loincloth. We deserve it. Jason Donovan: Oh dear. Off key notes and awful diction. In all seriousness, I could probably make out one in five words. Still, the audience loved him and you could tell he was really enjoying himself. So yay him! Sheridan Smith: I really did not like the first 15 minutes or so. It was so disconcerting to watch her gurning, pointing at the audience and winking. But I had to admit by the time she played Potiphar's wife, I was won over by all this weirdness. I think if you treat it a bit like a panto and get into the spirit, then it's tremendous fun - and she is very very funny. Whoever thought to give her multiple roles is quite a genius. It would be interesting to see if her understudy plays it so OTT. The Songs: All correct and present and I appreciated the updated orchestrations. Go Go Go Joseph was a particular delight. I've only seen it done as a Sixties pastiche so it was a surprise to see it done like Mamma Mia lol. All in all, I was won over. It's not something I will remember in a year but it's a solid piece of entertainment and as such, it hit all the right notes. Great review - sounds like you found the experience very similar to my take on it. Was also there last night (2nd time). 10 minutes late starting, seemingly as they were struggling to get people in and sat down. Then interval delay as you say - I was in the Dress Circle and certainly the audience were very excited with the Wimbledon Mexican wave going round repeatedly. Not much to add from my first review. Jac still great (his Close Every Door really is the first time the vocals join the soaring orchestra), Jason beyond dreadful (though the audience LOVE him so what do I know) and the orchestra and orchestrations are sublime. The set - I was more disappointed second time. 1st preview I was right at front of stalls so it kind of took up my entire field of vision. From circle got a better overall view of it - and I do think it looks cheap. Not Kenwright cheap and not awful - just not the visual spectacle I had hoped for. Just a bit, dunno, sparse. Functional. Unremarkable. In fact really it has made me realise how truly iconic the 1991 Mark Thompson set was. Sheridan Smith - God I just don't know what I think! The notes are all very staccato with not much sustained. And it's 100% played for comedy. But her notes are clean and crisp and I take back what I previously said re her being a mediocre singer. Funny thing is I feel she COULD sing this better - but has maybe been directed into this comedy role. Its odd. Many Narrator lines are now joined with the kids who sound louder than she does. And as every song crescendos towards the end the kids and chorus come in more and more. As Pharaoh's Story comes to it's peak and normally the Narrator belts out "a star" over the chorus repeating "strange as it seems" (usually a total goose bumps moment) - Sheridan stops singing, asks the kids to do the robot and then leads the kids along the front of the stage doing the Peter Crouch robot dance as the adult chorus take over. And that kind of sums things up! It's panto Joseph and you can tell it's produced by panto producers. It just doesn't have the class of the previous version. That said - a commercial masterstroke? The audience love it and they are currently selling out the Palladium at inflated ticket prices. They do seem to have given Joe Public what they want. And despite all my reservations I would say hands down it's the best thing in the West End today - if someone offered me a free ticket for something tonight - I would pick Joseph! |
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213 posts
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Post by l0islane on Jul 3, 2019 11:40:04 GMT
I was there last night too (the £10 standing tickets are an absolute bargain). The delay at the beginning was for technical reasons too, I heard one of the staff tell someone they were having problems with the lift backstage.
This didn't do it for me, as has been said already it's panto-joseph, it's all just daft comedy and although I know it's always a lighthearted show it does normally have a couple of serious, emotional moments. I am not a SS fan and she didn't win me over, I'm also not really into children playing adult parts. I could barely understand a word JD was singing. It was enjoyable in a totally forgettable way I guess, but there were just too many things that irritated me about it. The audience were in raptures though (the woman next to me kept glaring at me when I wasn't clapping with sufficient enthusiasm!) so it's pleasing plenty of people, just not me!!
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460 posts
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Post by pianowithsam on Jul 3, 2019 12:18:13 GMT
Probably just me, but I find it a tad annoying that they spelt “color” the American way on the curtain 🙃
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345 posts
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Post by johartuk on Jul 3, 2019 12:19:55 GMT
I was there last night too (the £10 standing tickets are an absolute bargain). The delay at the beginning was for technical reasons too, I heard one of the staff tell someone they were having problems with the lift backstage. This didn't do it for me, as has been said already it's panto-joseph, it's all just daft comedy and although I know it's always a lighthearted show it does normally have a couple of serious, emotional moments. I am not a SS fan and she didn't win me over, I'm also not really into children playing adult parts. I could barely understand a word JD was singing. It was enjoyable in a totally forgettable way I guess, but there were just too many things that irritated me about it. The audience were in raptures though (the woman next to me kept glaring at me when I wasn't clapping with sufficient enthusiasm!) so it's pleasing plenty of people, just not me!! The bit where Jacob and Joseph reunite was a touching (and surprisingly moving) moment in the 2007 production (I'm presuming it was much the same in the 1991 production). I dread to think what they've done with it now. |
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Post by dazzlair on Jul 3, 2019 12:22:54 GMT
I was there last night too (the £10 standing tickets are an absolute bargain). The delay at the beginning was for technical reasons too, I heard one of the staff tell someone they were having problems with the lift backstage. This didn't do it for me, as has been said already it's panto-joseph, it's all just daft comedy and although I know it's always a lighthearted show it does normally have a couple of serious, emotional moments. I am not a SS fan and she didn't win me over, I'm also not really into children playing adult parts. I could barely understand a word JD was singing. It was enjoyable in a totally forgettable way I guess, but there were just too many things that irritated me about it. The audience were in raptures though (the woman next to me kept glaring at me when I wasn't clapping with sufficient enthusiasm!) so it's pleasing plenty of people, just not me!! The bit where Jacob and Joseph reunite was a touching (and surprisingly moving) moment in the 2007 production (I'm presuming it was much the same in the 1991 production). I dread to think what they've done with it now. It was barely a moment, let alone a touching one lol |
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213 posts
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Post by l0islane on Jul 3, 2019 12:24:00 GMT
The bit where Jacob and Joseph reunite was a touching (and surprisingly moving) moment in the 2007 production (I'm presuming it was much the same in the 1991 production). I dread to think what they've done with it now. It was barely a moment, let alone a touching one lol I don't even remember that happening tbh! |
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19,799 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 3, 2019 12:27:05 GMT
Probably just me, but I find it a tad annoying that they spelt “color” the American way on the curtain 🙃 It’s a registered trade mark for the film processing company in the US, so can’t be spelled any other way. I wonder if/how much ALW had to pay them to use it? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 12:54:47 GMT
As Pharaoh's Story comes to it's peak and normally the Narrator belts out "a star" over the chorus repeating "strange as it seems" (usually a total goose bumps moment) - Sheridan stops singing, asks the kids to do the robot and then leads the kids along the front of the stage doing the Peter Crouch robot dance as the adult chorus take over. And that kind of sums things up! WTF? This really happens??Whats the robot got to do with anything? Apart from covering up the fact that you can't sing.... Thats exactely why i'm not seeing this version. I wonder if the understudy has to do the same? |
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1,583 posts
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Post by anita on Jul 3, 2019 13:25:37 GMT
As Pharaoh's Story comes to it's peak and normally the Narrator belts out "a star" over the chorus repeating "strange as it seems" (usually a total goose bumps moment) - Sheridan stops singing, asks the kids to do the robot and then leads the kids along the front of the stage doing the Peter Crouch robot dance as the adult chorus take over. And that kind of sums things up! WTF? This really happens??Whats the robot got to do with anything? Apart from covering up the fact that you can't sing.... Thats exactely why i'm not seeing this version. I wonder if the understudy has to do the same? The more I hear - the more I'm dreading it! It really sounds as if they have managed to totally ruin it. |
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8,163 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jul 3, 2019 13:46:24 GMT
As Pharaoh's Story comes to it's peak and normally the Narrator belts out "a star" over the chorus repeating "strange as it seems" (usually a total goose bumps moment) - Sheridan stops singing, asks the kids to do the robot and then leads the kids along the front of the stage doing the Peter Crouch robot dance as the adult chorus take over. And that kind of sums things up! WTF? This really happens??Whats the robot got to do with anything? Apart from covering up the fact that you can't sing.... Thats exactely why i'm not seeing this version. I wonder if the understudy has to do the same? I'm sure it's in the bible about the robots. Leviticus chapter 5 I believe. "And the robots shall come forth and March across the stage". |
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Post by johartuk on Jul 3, 2019 14:59:42 GMT
The bit where Jacob and Joseph reunite was a touching (and surprisingly moving) moment in the 2007 production (I'm presuming it was much the same in the 1991 production). I dread to think what they've done with it now. It was barely a moment, let alone a touching one lol In the 2007 production (and I think it happened in the previous productions as well*), Joseph arrives in his Chariot Of Gold. He dismounts and runs over to Jacob, who is kneeling. Jacob is holding the tattered coat. Joseph helps him to stand up and he hands the coat to Joseph, who looks at it for a moment, then starts to sing the ADWD reprise to him. As Joseph sings, Jacob places his hand on top of the coat and Joseph tenderly places his hand on top of Jacob's. Then Joseph turns to face the audience as he continues to sing, before turning to face the Narrator, who joins in. As Joseph and Narrator finish the slow part of the song, they hold hands. Then everyone joins in with the last bit, which is back to being uptempo. I can't believe they would scrap that - it's such a lovely moment, and a chance for the Joseph to act (which Jac, as a trained performer, presumably can, so there's no excuse not to let him do so). *It also happens that way in the Donny Osmond DVD. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 15:54:22 GMT
As Pharaoh's Story comes to it's peak and normally the Narrator belts out "a star" over the chorus repeating "strange as it seems" (usually a total goose bumps moment) - Sheridan stops singing, asks the kids to do the robot and then leads the kids along the front of the stage doing the Peter Crouch robot dance as the adult chorus take over. And that kind of sums things up! WTF? This really happens??Whats the robot got to do with anything? Apart from covering up the fact that you can't sing.... Thats exactely why i'm not seeing this version. I wonder if the understudy has to do the same? It certainly does - though it took me the second visit to work out what was happening - the first time I saw the moves but missed what SS said - the second time there was a very clear "do the robot kids." |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 15:55:42 GMT
It was barely a moment, let alone a touching one lol In the 2007 production (and I think it happened in the previous productions as well*), Joseph arrives in his Chariot Of Gold. He dismounts and runs over to Jacob, who is kneeling. Jacob is holding the tattered coat. Joseph helps him to stand up and he hands the coat to Joseph, who looks at it for a moment, then starts to sing the ADWD reprise to him. As Joseph sings, Jacob places his hand on top of the coat and Joseph tenderly places his hand on top of Jacob's. Then Joseph turns to face the audience as he continues to sing, before turning to face the Narrator, who joins in. As Joseph and Narrator finish the slow part of the song, they hold hands. Then everyone joins in with the last bit, which is back to being uptempo. I can't believe they would scrap that - it's such a lovely moment, and a chance for the Joseph to act (which Jac, as a trained performer, presumably can, so there's no excuse not to let him do so). *It also happens that way in the Donny Osmond DVD. Yes it is a real shame. All the touching and emotional moments are gone sadly. |
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Post by theatreian on Jul 3, 2019 16:18:26 GMT
I was there on Monday night too. Enjoyed it but it was a very different take on Joseph. Sheridan was great as was Jac.
Found it strange that some of the brothers are kids and some adult. Also was not keen on some other characters as kids eg Potiphar. No matter how good they are they never have the presence or vocals as adult. Also didn't like Sheridan as Jacob as it didn't really work as it really should be a separate part. despite this it was well performed and audience response was great. Stage door was a bit manic Jac signed and posed for photos. Jason signed some programmes and was wearing his cycle helmet, then rode off on his bike waving to the audience! Sheridan didn't appear not that I thought she would. It was manic so they are going to have to sort something out for the school holidays when it will be busier.
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Post by Nelly on Jul 3, 2019 16:20:11 GMT
As Pharaoh's Story comes to it's peak and normally the Narrator belts out "a star" over the chorus repeating "strange as it seems" (usually a total goose bumps moment) - Sheridan stops singing, asks the kids to do the robot and then leads the kids along the front of the stage doing the Peter Crouch robot dance as the adult chorus take over. And that kind of sums things up! WTF? This really happens??Whats the robot got to do with anything? Apart from covering up the fact that you can't sing.... Thats exactely why i'm not seeing this version. I wonder if the understudy has to do the same? Yeah. I'm out. |
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2,422 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 3, 2019 17:08:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 17:42:15 GMT
For anyone that's interested, dynamic pricing has massively kicked in for this now.
For all of July, the nonsense price premium tickets have disappeared and most of stalls now top price non premium at 80 ish but also loads of really decent stalls seats at 65.
It's all much more affordable.
Though you'd be livid had you bought 85-100 quid seats when sale openned that are now 65. Or Premium 125+ which are now 85. I guess most punters would never know!
Good to see that they clearly did over price this initially for Monday-Thursday and have now acknowledged it though.
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1,933 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Jul 3, 2019 19:48:05 GMT
Another show-stop tonight! The whole sound desk went down apparently. Laurence Connor and Michael Harrison came on stage to explain what had happened.
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Post by xanady on Jul 3, 2019 20:28:49 GMT
^Same thing kept happening at Man Of La Mancha...it’s when the Theatre Gods realise that there is an absolute stinker on stage and they throw gremlins in the works to cause mischief.Btw,did the ‘creatives’ also apologise for the horses a**e they’ve made of this show at the same time
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8,163 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jul 3, 2019 20:53:03 GMT
^Same thing kept happening at Man Of La Mancha...it’s when the Theatre Gods realise that there is an absolute stinker on stage and they throw gremlins in the works to cause mischief.Btw,did the ‘creatives’ also apologise for the horses a**e they’ve made of this show at the same time Have you posted your review of the show yet? I cant seem to find it. |
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