2,702 posts
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Post by viserys on Mar 15, 2023 7:57:52 GMT
Why bizarre? Why amazed?
The poster shared their personal impressions which, as with all shows, are entirely subjective. I am finally seeing this next week and I am very much looking forward to it after all the praise, but I'm also happy to see a more balanced counter opinion which helps me to manage expectations somewhat.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 15, 2023 9:05:17 GMT
Interesting to hear the opinion that there’s too much set though? A producers dream right there!
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Post by mrnutz on Mar 15, 2023 11:45:48 GMT
After much refreshing of the page I managed to grab a return for the final performance.
Can't bloody wait to see this again!
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Mar 15, 2023 14:22:29 GMT
Wow you really say some bizarre things in this post. I’m amazed anyone has issues with the songs. I found them to be truly beautiful, with wonderful playing by the band. Yay! Good for you... 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' Watching MT actors trying to be edgy and gritty with their microphone stands made me cringe. Maybe you could help me understand how it's considered an original score when it's songs from Richard Hawley's back catalogue?
@burlybear I never said there was too much set, I said it wasn't needed, which was more in response to previous posts about it needing a big theatre to transfer to. Anything that was above the walkway was superflous and could be done away with to transfer to a smaller theatre, and it would have no impact on the show itself. You don't find someone else's opinion interesting? I think i'll cope.
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Post by shownut on Mar 15, 2023 15:00:41 GMT
I hear ya Bobbie. Especially with "Watching MT actors trying to be edgy and gritty with their microphone stands made me cringe." You are SO lot alone.
Someone on Talkin' Broadway mentioned that number as the 'the most thrilling staging of a musical number currently on a West End stage'. Sadly, they were not joking.
I think we both could name a dozen or two from current musicals that would leave that 'staging' in the dust.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 15, 2023 15:58:08 GMT
Wow you really say some bizarre things in this post. I’m amazed anyone has issues with the songs. I found them to be truly beautiful, with wonderful playing by the band.
@burlybear I never said there was too much set, I said it wasn't needed, which was more in response to previous posts about it needing a big theatre to transfer to. Anything that was above the walkway was superflous and could be done away with to transfer to a smaller theatre, and it would have no impact on the show itself. You don't find someone else's opinion interesting? I think i'll cope.
Ahhh I didn’t get what you meant. Mea Culpa! 🙂 |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 15, 2023 23:06:06 GMT
They say there’s too much set- when the show is LITERALLY about that building. And it’s in one of the biggest stages in London so I’m not sure plonking a sofa on stage would cut it.
And I don’t know how anyone can listen to those songs and those voices and say it would be better without.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Mar 16, 2023 1:38:51 GMT
They say there’s too much set- when the show is LITERALLY about that building. And it’s in one of the biggest stages in London so I’m not sure plonking a sofa on stage would cut it. And I don’t know how anyone can listen to those songs and those voices and say it would be better without. And what building is that then? The show i saw was about 3 different generation living in the same apartment, within a block of flats, that made up the Park Hill Estate. It literally WASN'T about THAT building.
The upper half of the set was to give you an impression of what it looked like, it didn't need to be however tall the Olivier stage is, as great as that might have been. So say this production tours the UK, are there many places that could fit THAT BUILDING onto their stage? If not, maybe they might have to redesign it to make it fit! or maybe some people don't have to be physically shown something to get an idea of where it's taking place.
I wrote "The set does look impressive when you first see it, but half of it doesn't need to be there. You could easily just have the main floorplan space and area around it and it would do just the same thing"
If you read that as plonking a sofa on the stage, then it's obvious you really don't have much to contribute.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Mar 16, 2023 18:38:33 GMT
mrbarnaby The Phantom of The Opera us LITERALLY about the Paris Opera House. You didnt need to see the entire Opera House. Titanic is LITERALLY about THAT ship. You didnt need to see all 10 decks to understand where it took place. Or were you confused and not understand it?
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Post by colelarson on Mar 16, 2023 19:43:24 GMT
Saw this again for a 3rd time yesterday as I managed to grab a last minute Matinee ticket as I was in London for another event that night.
Saw the show from The Circle this time and was interesting to see the set from above and the use of lights from another angle.
Still madly in love with the show, it's full of heart and emotion and really enjoyed it probably for the last time at The National....unless I am lucky with another last minute ticket!
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19,780 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2023 19:55:04 GMT
I think the point about the huge set is possibly that the park hill estate dominates the Sheffield skyline. Yes, the show could be performed in a one room set which gets updated with the eras but that’s not really the point. Park Hill, for those people who live(d) in Sheffield, is iconic for several reasons and that’s what the show is about, as much as the personal stories of the families.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 16, 2023 23:11:03 GMT
They say there’s too much set- when the show is LITERALLY about that building. And it’s in one of the biggest stages in London so I’m not sure plonking a sofa on stage would cut it. And I don’t know how anyone can listen to those songs and those voices and say it would be better without. And what building is that then? The show i saw was about 3 different generation living in the same apartment, within a block of flats, that made up the Park Hill Estate. It literally WASN'T about THAT building.
The upper half of the set was to give you an impression of what it looked like, it didn't need to be however tall the Olivier stage is, as great as that might have been. So say this production tours the UK, are there many places that could fit THAT BUILDING onto their stage? If not, maybe they might have to redesign it to make it fit! or maybe some people don't have to be physically shown something to get an idea of where it's taking place.
I wrote "The set does look impressive when you first see it, but half of it doesn't need to be there. You could easily just have the main floorplan space and area around it and it would do just the same thing"
If you read that as plonking a sofa on the stage, then it's obvious you really don't have much to contribute.
No you’re quite right. They should have had no visual representation of the building the show is all set within. And cut all the songs. Every show should have a tiny set so it can tour to every theatre in the UK. Phantom should never have had candles rising through the stage. The lion king should never have pride rock coming up because it couldn’t possibly it into the Palace theatre Watford. You are right!! |
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Post by sf on Mar 16, 2023 23:37:40 GMT
I hear ya Bobbie. Someone on Talkin' Broadway mentioned that number as the 'the most thrilling staging of a musical number currently on a West End stage'. Sadly, they were not joking. That was me. I said I thought it was the most thrilling musical number on any London stage. I did not mention the staging, and I did not elaborate. But just to be clear, what I found thrilling was specifically the music. It's a terrific song, performed spectacularly well by a cast of superb singers and a top-notch band. I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with everything I write online, but if you're going to argue a point then please argue the point I actually made rather than your careless misreading of it. Don't assume I meant something I did not say, and don't put words into my mouth. Thanks. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Mar 17, 2023 3:51:23 GMT
No you’re quite right. They should have had no visual representation of the building the show is all set within. And cut all the songs. Every show should have a tiny set so it can tour to every theatre in the UK. Phantom should never have had candles rising through the stage. The lion king should never have pride rock coming up because it couldn’t possibly it into the Palace theatre Watford. You are right!! clutching at straws much? |
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Post by shownut on Mar 17, 2023 6:04:33 GMT
I hear ya Bobbie. Someone on Talkin' Broadway mentioned that number as the 'the most thrilling staging of a musical number currently on a West End stage'. Sadly, they were not joking. ------------------------------------------------------------------- That was me. I said I thought it was the most thrilling musical number on any London stage. I did not mention the staging, and I did not elaborate. But just to be clear, what I found thrilling was specifically the music. It's a terrific song, performed spectacularly well by a cast of superb singers and a top-notch band.
I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with everything I write online, but if you're going to argue a point then please argue the point I actually made rather than your careless misreading of it. Don't assume I meant something I did not say, and don't put words into my mouth. Thanks.Fair enough, but boy, we could not disagree more. You were also the one, if I read the thread correctly, that lambasted someone for calling it 'worthy' then praised everything about the subject of the show without mentioning that actual elements of music, design, direction, score until the poster you went after mentioned it. Not sure why a show this dull brings out such passionate feelings but I guess that is what makes theatre interesting - we each come away with something different. |
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Post by sf on Mar 17, 2023 6:18:35 GMT
Fair enough, but boy, we could not disagree more. You were also the one, if I read the thread correctly, that lambasted someone for calling it 'worthy' then praised everything about the subject of the show without mentioning that actual elements of music, design, direction, score until the poster you went after mentioned it. Not sure why a show this dull brings out such passionate feelings but I guess that is what makes theatre interesting - we each come away with something different. Again, no, that's not precisely what I said. I'm not going to regurgitate a discussion I had in another venue here, but once again I must kindly request that you not put words into my mouth. Thanks. |
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Post by viserys on Mar 17, 2023 6:36:08 GMT
Not sure why a show this dull brings out such passionate feelings but I guess that is what makes theatre interesting - we each come away with something different. Then ask yourself why you've been feeling the passionate need to keep stomping over this show and remind everyone how little you liked it? You made your opinion known weeks ago - why not move on from a thread about a show you don't care about? And I don't mean this in a flippant way - there are shows that have gathered a lot of fans around here and elsewhere, which I personally don't like and can't understand the hype around them, most recently Newsies. But I don't spend every day in the Newsies thread to remind them what a dull show with forgettable songs and lame book it is, I'll just let the fans enjoy their show and - move on. |
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Post by shownut on Mar 17, 2023 8:03:37 GMT
Sorry, I didn’t realise this was meant to be a site where everyone just happily agrees and lives in the land of tra la la la.
But what I do realise is that freedom of expression is still a thing and, that freedom sometimes means others will say things you do not agree with. Maybe THAT is what you should be chewing on rather than attacking others just because they haven’t joined the rest of the chorus?
If you can point me to the area of this thread or site that discourages the sharing of opinions on either side I will gladly take heed. Otherwise, get used to the fact that while some opinions may be strongly favourable, others might be in the opposite direction.
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Post by shownut on Mar 17, 2023 8:05:18 GMT
Not sure why a show this dull brings out such passionate feelings but I guess that is what makes theatre interesting - we each come away with something different. Then ask yourself why you've been feeling the passionate need to keep stomping over this show and remind everyone how little you liked it? You made your opinion known weeks ago - why not move on from a thread about a show you don't care about? And I don't mean this in a flippant way - there are shows that have gathered a lot of fans around here and elsewhere, which I personally don't like and can't understand the hype around them, most recently Newsies. But I don't spend every day in the Newsies thread to remind them what a dull show with forgettable songs and lame book it is, I'll just let the fans enjoy their show and - move on. |
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Post by shownut on Mar 17, 2023 8:26:14 GMT
My apologies for a few blanks posts - iPhone technology and old folks are not a match made in heaven.
But for the sake of the very damaged feelings of others who cannot bear that another person’s opinion of this show differs from their own, I shall restrain myself from sharing my own truth or opinions about this so-called musical from now on and leave them to their shallow, boring luv fest.
On to more interesting shows to discuss…
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Post by mrnutz on Mar 17, 2023 9:19:52 GMT
It's fine (and welcomed!) to have different opinions and I'm always interested to hear the reviews of others, good or bad, but to keep returning to a discussion about a show you didn't like seems unusual if not obsessed. I loved this show and said as much in the post I wrote after I visited, but I don't keep coming back here to repeat myself.
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Post by viserys on Mar 17, 2023 9:21:36 GMT
My apologies for a few blanks posts - iPhone technology and old folks are not a match made in heaven. But for the sake of the very damaged feelings of others who cannot bear that another person’s opinion of this show differs from their own, I shall restrain myself from sharing my own truth or opinions about this so-called musical from now on and leave them to their shallow, boring luv fest. On to more interesting shows to discuss… And this year's Olivier for most dramatic storming off in a huff goes to.... |
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Post by Nelly on Mar 17, 2023 10:12:30 GMT
My apologies for a few blanks posts - iPhone technology and old folks are not a match made in heaven. But for the sake of the very damaged feelings of others who cannot bear that another person’s opinion of this show differs from their own, I shall restrain myself from sharing my own truth or opinions about this so-called musical from now on and leave them to their shallow, boring luv fest. On to more interesting shows to discuss… And this year's Olivier for most dramatic storming off in a huff goes to.... Very often, I have a giggle at how well your posts and avatar go together.  |
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Post by meister on Mar 17, 2023 13:25:28 GMT
Update: All Friday Rush tickets to Standing at the Sky's Edge next week are now sold out.
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Post by ArbitraryGibberish on Mar 18, 2023 14:33:53 GMT
I finally saw this last night after purchasing a ticket back in January based on the reports here and I’m so glad I did. This was definitely one of my favorite shows I’ve seen. I think there’s just something about how real all of the performances make the characters that allowed me to really connect with them. Alex Young was the standout for me, so it was interesting to see the discussions here that her character didn’t work for others.
I had been very interested in the “play with songs” discussion as I expected something like Girl From the North Country (which I was a fan of). Maybe these expectations over-adjusted my reaction but I thought the songs really fit each moment perfectly and I would’ve believed they were written for a show. Sure, they don’t move plot the forward but they often expand on a characters emotions (Naked in Pitsmoor was a highlight) and allowed me to live in and process those feelings a little more, or sometimes served as an interesting introduction to the characters. I guess I can understand how the “pause” nature of the songs may be frustrating for some, but it worked really well for me in the context of this story. It was also interesting to me to see the dissatisfaction with Poppy’s ending here. I was disappointed for her character-wise but I had seen the ending as sort of a 3 tragedies at once and where they each go from there moment, so it was interesting to have that play out in such a different way than the other 2 storylines.
I wish I had seen this earlier in its run so I could more easily go back to see it again! Has anyone here queued for the day seats? Any idea when people usually arrive for it? I’m sure it’ll be a lot tougher for the last few performances but I think I’ll probably be willing to wait out a few hours to get to see this again
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