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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2016 17:58:54 GMT
Thanks so much for that review wickedgrin !!
Really detailed and interesting review, I am so excited to see the show.
Surprised to hear though that Nigel Havers doesn't have much stage time. What character even is 'Lord Chamberlain' anyway?
I have never heard of Count Arthur Strong therefore, if he gets more stage time than Havers, I thought they would've put Havers as Baron Hardup. However, I guess it does depend who can play what role better though. |
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Post by Jon on Dec 16, 2016 18:05:45 GMT
Thanks so much for that review wickedgrin !!
Really detailed and interesting review, I am so excited to see the show.
Surprised to hear though that Nigel Havers doesn't have much stage time. What character even is 'Lord Chamberlain' anyway?
I have never heard of Count Arthur Strong therefore, if he gets more stage time than Havers, I thought they would've put Havers as Baron Hardup. However, I guess it does depend who can play what role better though. Count Arthur Strong is a character played by Steve Delaney, you should check out the sitcom of the same name. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2016 20:24:00 GMT
Thanks so much for that review wickedgrin !!
Really detailed and interesting review, I am so excited to see the show.
Surprised to hear though that Nigel Havers doesn't have much stage time. What character even is 'Lord Chamberlain' anyway?
I have never heard of Count Arthur Strong therefore, if he gets more stage time than Havers, I thought they would've put Havers as Baron Hardup. However, I guess it does depend who can play what role better though. I think, in my experience of Cinderella as a panto, Lord Chamberlain is kind of another branch off of the Royal Damily, alongside Dandini. I think his main purpose usually is to announce the Guests at the Ball/announce the Ball is happening in the firet place. Am I right guys? Its been a while since I have seen Cinderella in Panto, even though it is my favourite Panto.  |
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Post by CG on the loose on Dec 16, 2016 21:02:26 GMT
Spot on DJ - in this version, anyhow. He didn't feature in the last production I saw!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2016 21:25:29 GMT
Amanda Holden [...] gives a masterclass in how to make a little talent go along way. Miaow. |
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Post by crabtree on Dec 16, 2016 21:33:55 GMT
I would say that that last comment was based on simple observation rather than any cattiness.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 16, 2016 21:35:49 GMT
Amanda Holden [...] gives a masterclass in how to make a little talent go along way. Miaow. I was rather pleased with that sentence! She is a good sport though! The Lord Chamberlain usually just appears in the Ballroom scene announcing the guests! Nigel Havers according to the script seems well aware of this and appears in many scenes before saying to the characters on stage "can I be in this scene?" and when told no slinks off dejected to huge "ahhs" from the audience! When he is "allowed" to be in a scene he gets the most enormous cheer from the audience! It's very well done. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 0:24:28 GMT
In pantomimes of Cinderella I have seen, the Lord Chamberlain is such a small role. He usually only appears at the start of Act II, usually performed by a member of the male ensemble. Then said ensemble member returns to his role in the ensemble once the Ball scene is over. My guess is, because they star cast Nigel, they could hardly have him in the ensemble so gave him a couple more jokes throughout in order to make his presence more worth it.
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Post by carmella1 on Dec 17, 2016 2:50:20 GMT
Prince Charming is the straight man. Would you want him to mug his way thru the show and then have Julian's Dandini on top of that. When Julian Clary is Dandini that is what is going to happen he is even overpowering Paul O. How many over the top characters do you want in one panto. You need the straight man. Poor Cinderella also has very little stage time. I would have loved another duet.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 17, 2016 10:38:09 GMT
Yes, despite the already too long show I would have loved a little more singing from Lee and Natasha. The emphasis in this production though is firmly on the comedy and the "love duets" can be awfully dull.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 11:29:17 GMT
I'd say that's the same for all pantos
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 23:25:57 GMT
As a fan of Qdos pantos i was surprisingly a bit underwhelmed by this. I've definitely seen better at the bigger qdos venues around the country. I can't quite put my finger on why but I think it might be too many characters and names fighting for equal stage time.
The guy playing baron hardup was for me completely unfunny and could easily be axed.
And what has Amanda done to her face, it literally doesn't move. I did enjoy her fabulous fairy number though and her first entrance is a big wow moment
Costumes are opulent but yes to my surprise the sets are a bit basic, again the number one venues have had better sets and the transformation and journey to ball was a bit disjointed
And yes it's still running at 3 hours.
A few walk outs I noticed, some due to time but some didn't return after interval which I wondered was due to the innuendo which even by panto standards is in abundance and near the knuckle
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 19, 2016 14:39:34 GMT
The innuendo is just that though - there is a completely clean meaning to the every line. One outrageous innuendo stopped the show for about a minute (no wonder the running time is 3 hours). Clary turned to O'Grady and said " well get on with it" and O'Grady replied "Ow can I? They're still laughing, minds in the gutter tonight!"
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Post by d'James on Dec 19, 2016 17:39:08 GMT
Glad to hear it. When I went to Craig Revel Horwood's panto a couple of yours ago, the innuendo was just horrific; not subtle in the slightest and made me feel rather queasy in fact.
(Panto just autocorrected itself to pants - make of that what you will.)
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 19, 2016 17:51:15 GMT
Glad to hear it. When I went to Craig Revel Horwood's panto a couple of yours ago, the innuendo was just horrific; not subtle in the slightest and made me feel rather queasy in fact. (Panto just autocorrected itself to pants - make of that what you will.)Nooooo! Now you're just feeding lines, playing the straight man to all those *cough* hilarious non-believers out there.....  |
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Post by d'James on Dec 19, 2016 17:52:28 GMT
Glad to hear it. When I went to Craig Revel Horwood's panto a couple of yours ago, the innuendo was just horrific; not subtle in the slightest and made me feel rather queasy in fact. (Panto just autocorrected itself to pants - make of that what you will.)Nooooo! Now you're just feeding lines, playing the straight man to all those *cough* hilarious non-believers out there..... How dare you incinerate I'm straight!  |
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 19, 2016 17:55:50 GMT
Nooooo! Now you're just feeding lines, playing the straight man to all those *cough* hilarious non-believers out there..... How dare you incinerate I'm straight! Oooh d'James, you're on fire this evening......  |
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Post by d'James on Dec 19, 2016 17:57:05 GMT
Better call the fire brigade.
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Post by daniel on Dec 19, 2016 23:03:29 GMT
Would be intrigued to hear your opinion on Palladium vs Wimbledon @theatremonkey...I'm at the Palladium tomorrow and am a big fan of Qdos (also saw Birmingham's today - well worth a watch if you can get up there), though haven't seen a FFE panto for years so trying to catch Wimbledon at some point as it's my closest!
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Post by westendwendy on Dec 21, 2016 21:05:02 GMT
At the interval.... dear god Amanda Holden is DREADFUL in this.
Thank goodness xxxx rated Julian Clary and the old over used Chitty hydraulic arm save what is a panto that never ends!!!
Fun night, great cast but cheap set, Holden is awful, Lee Mead just WET, Natasha not sweet enough (miss cast), the show is TOO LOUD and is far too long. 30 mins should be cut. (Fabulous baby, Any Dream Will Do, Baron Hardup) cut cut cut - people were leaving to get trains and it still had 20 minutes to go!
Still at least people paying lots of money get their money worth!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 22, 2016 9:28:13 GMT
I saw this the other night and it was pretty bad.
The script is terrible and the running length is a real problem. It's so unnecessary. It's clearly padded out to accommodate Paul Zerdins act (ironicallythe best thing in the show)
Amanda Holden wasn't great but she looked great and not even Judi Dench could make her dire dialogue work.
Count Arthur Strong appalling. Was his limp a 'character choice' or is it him?
Julian Clary was great value.. and his costumes are spectacular.
Lee mead as limp as a dishcloth (as usual)
Natasha Barnes totally wrong for Cinderella and I felt sorry for her that she was cast in this.
They'll have to do a better job than this next year.
Also why is EVERYTHING SO LOUD THESE DAYS?!!!
Turn it down sound desk
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Post by Tibidabo on Dec 22, 2016 9:34:28 GMT
Holden is awful and far too long. I know she's had her face stretched - has she had her body done to match? |
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Post by carmella1 on Dec 22, 2016 16:57:45 GMT
I saw this the other night and it was pretty bad. The script is terrible and the running length is a real problem. It's so unnecessary. It's clearly padded out to accommodate Paul Zerdins act (ironicallythe best thing in the show) Amanda Holden wasn't great but she looked great and not even Judi Dench could make her dire dialogue work. Count Arthur Strong appalling. Was his limp a 'character choice' or is it him? Julian Clary was great value.. and his costumes are spectacular. Lee mead as limp as a dishcloth (as usual) Natasha Barnes totally wrong for Cinderella and I felt sorry for her that she was cast in this. They'll have to do a better job than this next year. Also why is EVERYTHING SO LOUD THESE DAYS?!!! Turn it down sound desk Amanda Holden is terribe. She cannot sing or dance and just hearing her grated on me. She had no comic timing in the one comic skit she was in. I like Paul Z but does he need two acts. The Prince and Cinderella are the straight characters in this. Remember those? The straigtmen. So limp and wrong is wrong. Or should everyone just be full on. Way to much Julian. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 18:28:52 GMT
I saw this the other night and it was pretty bad. The script is terrible and the running length is a real problem. It's so unnecessary. It's clearly padded out to accommodate Paul Zerdins act (ironicallythe best thing in the show) Amanda Holden wasn't great but she looked great and not even Judi Dench could make her dire dialogue work. Count Arthur Strong appalling. Was his limp a 'character choice' or is it him? Julian Clary was great value.. and his costumes are spectacular. Lee mead as limp as a dishcloth (as usual) Natasha Barnes totally wrong for Cinderella and I felt sorry for her that she was cast in this. They'll have to do a better job than this next year. Also why is EVERYTHING SO LOUD THESE DAYS?!!! Turn it down sound desk FINALLY!! I was afraid to say it cause i was sure i would get shot down. Natasha is so miscast in this. Not the right choice at all. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 22, 2016 22:39:32 GMT
She is wrong because nothing about her says 'Cinderella' to me.
And Prince Cgarming could have had a spark about him in someone else's hands- something beyond Lee Mead.
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