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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 25, 2021 7:51:38 GMT
There’s a post on Reddit showing the seat a lottery winner was given for the Broadway production. Only a tiny part of the stage is in view and the rest is completely covered - it’s easily the worst seat in the theatre. I hope the West End lottery seats are better! 😆😂🤣  |
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Post by holbee22 on Nov 25, 2021 8:20:34 GMT
This is a prime example how bad casting (and we are talking all three leads, Christian, Santine and Ziegler) can completely alter the feel and emotion of a show. Now, the amazing staging and spectacle are still there and the audience still seemed to love it, but it is a profound disappointment for those who saw the original Broadway leads! I am unsure how Timbers signed off on (especially) these two poor young performers who are giving lackluster, mediocre understudy readings of these roles. No chemistry, no charisma, no amazing vocal talent...I am, as you Brits say, gobsmacked!
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Post by tom on Nov 25, 2021 8:44:50 GMT
This is a prime example how bad casting (and we are talking all three leads, Christian, Santine and Ziegler) can completely alter the feel and emotion of a show. Now, the amazing staging and spectacle are still there and the audience still seemed to love it, but it is a profound disappointment for those who saw the original Broadway leads! I am unsure how Timbers signed off on (especially) these two poor young performers who are giving lackluster, mediocre understudy readings of these roles. No chemistry, no charisma, no amazing vocal talent...I am, as you Brits say, gobsmacked! I didn’t think the originals had that much chemistry either. Not sure if it is just poor casting or if the show goes too much in for the visuals and cramming as many songs in as possible than it does on trying to convey the love story aspect? |
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Post by craig on Nov 25, 2021 9:01:23 GMT
I thought Aaron Tveit (who I really like) and Karen Olivo had the chemistry of a couple of decomposing lettuces from what I've seen of the Broadway show.
I've been waiting to hear reviews of the West End leads and it's not exactly filling me with confidence but I'm sure I'll give the show a go at some point.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2021 9:11:06 GMT
This is a prime example how bad casting (and we are talking all three leads, Christian, Santine and Ziegler) can completely alter the feel and emotion of a show. Now, the amazing staging and spectacle are still there and the audience still seemed to love it, but it is a profound disappointment for those who saw the original Broadway leads! I am unsure how Timbers signed off on (especially) these two poor young performers who are giving lackluster, mediocre understudy readings of these roles. No chemistry, no charisma, no amazing vocal talent...I am, as you Brits say, gobsmacked! Completely agree. Tveit and Olivo may not have had natural chemistry, but are both amazing charismatic performers with killer voices. They made it work. Karen Olivo in particular was heartbreaking in the show. I do hope the leads over here improve eventually; I saw last Saturday’s evening performance and it felt more like a Wednesday matinee performance in terms of energy levels… |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 25, 2021 9:38:07 GMT
This is a prime example how bad casting (and we are talking all three leads, Christian, Santine and Ziegler) can completely alter the feel and emotion of a show. Now, the amazing staging and spectacle are still there and the audience still seemed to love it, but it is a profound disappointment for those who saw the original Broadway leads! I am unsure how Timbers signed off on (especially) these two poor young performers who are giving lackluster, mediocre understudy readings of these roles. No chemistry, no charisma, no amazing vocal talent...I am, as you Brits say, gobsmacked! Timbers didn’t “sign off” on these 2- he CAST them himself. I don’t think their casting ruins the show- but to think how much stronger it could have been with other people. In fairness they aren’t helped by a dreadful script. They truly are the weak links- everyone else here is so good, particularly Clive Carter. |
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 25, 2021 10:39:30 GMT
This is a prime example how bad casting (and we are talking all three leads, Christian, Santine and Ziegler) can completely alter the feel and emotion of a show. Now, the amazing staging and spectacle are still there and the audience still seemed to love it, but it is a profound disappointment for those who saw the original Broadway leads! I am unsure how Timbers signed off on (especially) these two poor young performers who are giving lackluster, mediocre understudy readings of these roles. No chemistry, no charisma, no amazing vocal talent...I am, as you Brits say, gobsmacked! Solid agree on the two leads - I really liked Clive and thought by and large supporting cast were great. The show is just completely upended and its emotional heart gone when your leads have no chemistry or charisma... |
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Post by marob on Nov 25, 2021 10:53:47 GMT
The lack of chemistry raises the question again… why cast two unknown Americans in the leads?
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Post by sleepflower on Nov 25, 2021 11:06:37 GMT
When is opening night? Interested to see other reviews!
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Post by Rory on Nov 25, 2021 11:20:45 GMT
We saw it last night and absolutely loved it. Yes I take on board some of the points about the leads but I thought their voices were amazing. And Clive Carter is phenomenal!
I could have sat through it again the minute it ended.
Very little mask wearing though.
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Post by mkb on Nov 25, 2021 11:59:10 GMT
Is this finishing at 22:05 as claimed?
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 25, 2021 12:35:27 GMT
Is this finishing at 22:05 as claimed? Certainly didn't on Monday. Started about 19.35 and ended 22.20. I thought it was simply wonderful, the theatre looks amazing and the pace never slips for a moment. Audience reaction and extended applause probably added to running time. It's essentially a jukebox musical and I personally don't think chemistry or lack of it matters in the least |
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 25, 2021 12:42:26 GMT
If the leads have no chemistry then I have zero interest in seeing this until the cast changes. I don't care how good the set is, if it's the best thing about the show then in my mind they've failed.
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5,148 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 25, 2021 12:48:15 GMT
It is essentially a jukebox musical FrontroverPaul but it's got a proper plot and a real story (as opposed to what they cobbled together around the music of We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia - although the latter works a bit better). It's a story about life and death and risking it all for love, but when you don't remotely believe either of the leads would put their life on the line for the other (as is the entire point of the film - the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return etc) then it just...doesn't work. I spent the whole show going 'Victoria Hamilton Barritt and Oliver Tompsett would have made this the show of the year' |
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Post by southstreet on Nov 25, 2021 12:54:24 GMT
The leads on Broadway also didn't have chemistry and the book doesn't help. The set is great and the music and choreo are good fun. It's essentially a spectacle, more than a show with deep characters. It's more of a fun but very shallow puddle. :-)
I think if I hadn't seen all the leads (and not just Satine and Christian) be better across the board on Broadway, I'd have loved it a lot more here, but everyone around me definitely had a great time.
And Sonya's choreo is even better than the set for me personally, I could watch the big ensemble numbers all day. :-)
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Post by southstreet on Nov 25, 2021 12:55:49 GMT
I spent the whole show going 'Victoria Hamilton Barritt and Oliver Tompsett would have made this the show of the year' Now THAT would have had me very excited and my bank account very worried. LOL |
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 25, 2021 12:56:21 GMT
It is essentially a jukebox musical FrontroverPaul but it's got a proper plot and a real story (as opposed to what they cobbled together around the music of We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia - although the latter works a bit better). It's a story about life and death and risking it all for love, but when you don't remotely believe either of the leads would put their life on the line for the other (as is the entire point of the film - the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return etc) then it just...doesn't work. I spent the whole show going 'Victoria Hamilton Barritt and Oliver Tompsett would have made this the show of the year' YES. All of that. Assuming the plot is the same as the film, she dies in his arms after declaring their love (not a spoiler it was 20 years ago), if they have no chemistry then it's meaningless. |
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 25, 2021 13:07:48 GMT
I wish the book was better too...but the leads are both just too young. Satine in this version goes with the Duke because it's 'her last chance' and I just wanted to yell 'YOURE 26 WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT'
I'd buy that if she was late 30s/early 40s.
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 25, 2021 13:18:21 GMT
As a single 40-year-old that is incredibly depressing!! 🤣🤣🤣
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Post by southstreet on Nov 25, 2021 13:28:00 GMT
I wish the book was better too...but the leads are both just too young. Satine in this version goes with the Duke because it's 'her last chance' and I just wanted to yell 'YOURE 26 WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT' I'd buy that if she was late 30s/early 40s. That was my biggest issue with the actress that plays her here. I personally thought she was the strongest out of the IMO not very strong lead cast (including Ziedler, the Duke, Santiago and Lautrec in that) and my main issue with her was that she was way too young, which, to be fair to her, is the one thing she can't change. But it bugged me each time her age was mentioned or came into play. Like Lautrec saying he fell in love with her as a boy, I am sorry, when he was a boy, she can't have even been an embryo yet. LOL And the book overall is dire. I think it was the only creative part of the show not to be nominated for a Tony and for good reason. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 25, 2021 13:40:48 GMT
I wish the book was better too...but the leads are both just too young. Satine in this version goes with the Duke because it's 'her last chance' and I just wanted to yell 'YOURE 26 WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT' I'd buy that if she was late 30s/early 40s. This is set in the 19th century though, isn't it? At that time 26 would be considered to be getting too old to marry for upper-class women, & courtesans likewise started young then tried to make a wealthy marriage before they were considered "past it". Marie Duplessis, who inspired La Dame aux Camellias, became a courtesan at 16 and was dead of TB at 23. So by the standards of the time if Satine is 26 then it might well be her last chance. |
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 25, 2021 14:17:16 GMT
I wish the book was better too...but the leads are both just too young. Satine in this version goes with the Duke because it's 'her last chance' and I just wanted to yell 'YOURE 26 WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT' I'd buy that if she was late 30s/early 40s. That was my biggest issue with the actress that plays her here. I personally thought she was the strongest out of the IMO not very strong lead cast (including Ziedler, the Duke, Santiago and Lautrec in that) and my main issue with her was that she was way too young, which, to be fair to her, is the one thing she can't change. But it bugged me each time her age was mentioned or came into play. Like Lautrec saying he fell in love with her as a boy, I am sorry, when he was a boy, she can't have even been an embryo yet. LOL And the book overall is dire. I think it was the only creative part of the show not to be nominated for a Tony and for good reason. Honestly the age gap between Liisi and Jason made that whole knew plot point...eggy as hell |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 25, 2021 14:19:08 GMT
Nicole Kidman was no spring chicken when she made the film 🐥 🐓
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Post by WireHangers on Nov 26, 2021 2:42:55 GMT
There’s a post on Reddit showing the seat a lottery winner was given for the Broadway production. Only a tiny part of the stage is in view and the rest is completely covered - it’s easily the worst seat in the theatre. I hope the West End lottery seats are better! 😆😂🤣 That’s the one!!! Christ. What a sad little seat. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2021 5:58:57 GMT
The lack of chemistry raises the question again… why cast two unknown Americans in the leads? Because they were the best people for the roles apparently, thats what i kept being told when i raised that question. |
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