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Post by distantcousin on Jun 23, 2018 19:00:41 GMT
I really enjoyed this though you could feel the audience wanting to sing and dance earlier than they were allowed. I think a lot of people were surprised by the first half, there were some real gasps at some of the violence and language and they weren't as familiar with the sixties songs. The second half has less of a struggle but enough incident to keep it going. It's interesting how dramatically her life shifted into a much whiter world in the 1980's and it shows in the audience though you could argue her audience has always been predominantly white in the UK - Riverdeep was a much bigger hit here than the US and she and Ike toured with the Rolling Stones rather than in the soul tours other black artists were involved in here. Huge energy with the end concert and musically pretty much every Tina song you would expect was there though some of them were a bit thrown away which you could tell disappointed the audience. Don't Turn Around was an odd choice as even though she sang it first, it's hardly considered her song. I suppose the biggest hit they missed was Typical Male which you thought would have fitted in somewhere with this story! Adrienne was great as was Kobna, the rest of the cast were fine in pretty thankless roles. The weakness is she's not Tina Turner but who is. I thought it was good they didn't just make it a greatest hits show, and there was some consideration of all songs from Tina's catalogue that were appropriate. e.g. Don't Turn Around (the trouble is, casual Tina fans will think it's an Aswad song) and Open Arms - a single from 2004 |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2018 20:11:04 GMT
Understudy was on today. So annoying! I thought she was very good but I don't think she had the wow factor that people are saying about Adrienne. Surely that was scheduled - I thought it was on the website that Adrienne doesn't usually do matinees? |
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 23, 2018 20:35:34 GMT
Understudy was on today. So annoying! I thought she was very good but I don't think she had the wow factor that people are saying about Adrienne. Surely that was scheduled - I thought it was on the website that Adrienne doesn't usually do matinees? She does Saturday performances. However it appears she was on holiday. (already!) |
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 23, 2018 21:35:54 GMT
It is a bit of a point in the musical, but one that I imagine, due to Tina’s own involvement, isn’t magnified too much as a point of criticism: that she abandoned her black ‘sound’ to please the bigger white audiences. To be fair, marrying a German man and relinquishing American citizenship to become Swiss doesn’t scream the typical black American experience. It’s an interesting topic and one that is obviously never explored at length in a mainstream jukebox musical. But yes I was shocked and a bit disheartened that the audience wasn’t more diverse. In fact some of them gave off an air of snobbery, very Pauline from ‘Mum’! Perhaps if it transfers, the show might do better in attracting BAME for Broadway. When I saw The Colour Purple over there, it was a white minority audience so it is possible! What sort of snobbery? (I haven't watch Mum) |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 24, 2018 19:15:08 GMT
What is Mum?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2018 20:18:57 GMT
The Lesley Manville TV series I guess. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 24, 2018 20:54:30 GMT
Oh.....
😕
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Post by callum on Jun 25, 2018 0:32:20 GMT
Yes, ‘Mum’ the sitcom. The character is v Hyacinth Bouquet and is very proud and boastful that she works in Waitrose! Feigns ignorance that she doesn’t know what a carvery is!
But what I think I meant was that the Tina audience on my night was quite snobbish Home Counties who thought of themselves as theatrically cultured when really all they’ll have seen this year is Tina and have never been to anything south of the river...
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 25, 2018 7:32:01 GMT
Yes, ‘Mum’ the sitcom. The character is v Hyacinth Bouquet and is very proud and boastful that she works in Waitrose! Feigns ignorance that she doesn’t know what a carvery is! But what I think I meant was that the Tina audience on my night was quite snobbish Home Counties who thought of themselves as theatrically cultured when really all they’ll have seen this year is Tina and have never been to anything south of the river... And you deduced all this from merely spending an evening in the Aldwych with them?
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 25, 2018 8:06:52 GMT
I think The Stage review sums it up far more eloquently than I have the skill to express. I think it could have been so much better but the jukebox format lends itself to contrivance, too broad storytelling and not enough nuance for my tastes. I probably wouldn't take the plunge on another jukebox musical after this. I only went because it was Tina and she is one of my favourite artists. www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2018/tina-turner-musical-review-aldwych-theatre-london/ |
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Post by callum on Jun 25, 2018 16:32:58 GMT
Yes, ‘Mum’ the sitcom. The character is v Hyacinth Bouquet and is very proud and boastful that she works in Waitrose! Feigns ignorance that she doesn’t know what a carvery is! But what I think I meant was that the Tina audience on my night was quite snobbish Home Counties who thought of themselves as theatrically cultured when really all they’ll have seen this year is Tina and have never been to anything south of the river... And you deduced all this from merely spending an evening in the Aldwych with them?
The tutting and sighing and hostile body language from the stiffs in the audience at people enjoying themselves by tapping their feet and humming along was for more irritating than the humming itself! Or maybe I was just in the same night as parsley  ... |
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Post by vegas on Jun 25, 2018 16:50:25 GMT
I was at the Saturday night performance a week ago -- Adrienne's last show before her holiday -- and the audience was wonderful. No humming, singing along, or other verbalizing. Everyone just seemed completely captivated by her performance. At the end, when she invited us to join in, it was like a dam had burst, and everyone just exploded. Truly exhilarating. It was the highlight of my two weeks of nonstop theatregoing.
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 25, 2018 18:20:29 GMT
Understudy was on today. So annoying! I thought she was very good but I don't think she had the wow factor that people are saying about Adrienne I saw Jenny Fitzpatrick live, then Adrienne on various promo videos. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between their performances, so I don't think you missed out. Nah, it was actually Aisha Jawando - who is first cover Tina, and usually plays Alline Bullock. I would have been happy to see Jenny (the alternate). I saw her when she was the alternate on the Soul Sister UK Tour. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2018 9:25:46 GMT
This is one of the biggest selling show right now. It is selling really really well, sold out for the rest of June and very very very limited seats over the next few months. If you want a Saturday matinee, they’re advising look from October (not a great selection then either)!
This doesn’t happen in the West End often does it? Apart from Hamilton, I can’t think of any other musical fully sold out. Think this will run for a long time, sure they’ll recoup soon too.
Also, was thinking that if they took this out on tour they’d have to really re think the set. Lots of the set relies on pieces coming up from below substage and/or using the revolve - both things that wouldn’t work on tour.
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 27, 2018 12:11:52 GMT
She is amazing by most standards, I left on Friday a bit underwhelmed though. It’s not taking anything away from her performance but wow you realise how absolutely incredible the real TT was. I saw her final tour and even at 70 or whatever she was, she would have left Adrienne standing. That wasn’t my issue with the show though, I just found it a bit hokey. The crowbarring in of certain songs was as subtle as a house brick in the face (he beats her up then sings I Don’t Want To Fight ... ouch... ) it had shades of Brian Epstein in Cilla, getting duffed up by rough trade then singing “Hey! You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away. It was ubdeniably enjoyable but only a strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Agree very much. I guess I find the jukebox genre a bit too hackneyed for my tastes. Like you say "crowbarring".
The storytelling and (some of) the dialogue was rudimentary (especially for an Olivier award winning playwright)
It had its moments of pure enjoyment but it was too simplistic a piece for me to find it truly satisfying.
Although "Soul Sister" had less artistic pretentions and a smaller budget, it was no less enjoyable. (the fact that the alternate for that show is also the alternate Tina for this show says a lot too)
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Post by ncbears on Jun 30, 2018 23:15:37 GMT
Saw this 30 June Evening. Warren is a powerhouse - but she is sporting a knee brace. It did impair her performance - but I do wonder how tender the knee is.
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Post by distantcousin on Jul 4, 2018 14:28:55 GMT
Somewhat of a shadow has been cast over the production: Her eldest son Craig, who is a featured character in the show, was reported dead yesterday having shot himself with a pistol (aged 59)   (it's been reported by all major media outlets, but I actually saw a post about it from the "Tina" production team's Facebook page) |
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Post by Tibidabo on Jul 4, 2018 18:43:25 GMT
How tragic. How awful for Tina and the family.
How difficult must it be for the actors now?
Feeling very sad.
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Post by foxa on Jul 11, 2018 8:17:45 GMT
Saw this last night, having booked months ago. Show report:
Performances: Adrienne Warren is phenomenal. Strong ensemble.
Songs: The soundtrack for much of my life, so yeah.
Book: Sometimes the book rose above jukebox standard, but not always. The second act had more surprises for me as Tina discovers her own identity as an artist.
Audience: Lots of warnings about not singing along, humming, dancing (including posters in the loo) until the end. Also heard that there had previously been problems with drunken audiences so they now monitor how much people order at the interval. Our audience was fine.
The Grand Circle: not so grand. We didn't want to pay more than £50 to see this which severely limited our choices (I rarely go above £30 for theatre tickets.) After discussion and advice we went for the centre of Row D in the Grand Circle for £49.50 - and in some ways these were a good choice. A clear view of the stage and extra legroom BUT there are no armrests dividing the seats. So, if like average-sized me, you are next to someone very large (in this case not obese, just very tall and broad, with a tendency to be a leg-spreader) you can end up with shoulder to elbow and hip to knee contact with the stranger next to you - ugh. And in this warm weather - double ugh. My friend switched with me at the interval so I was much more comfortable in the second half. Unlike the pretty bar for the Dress Circle, the Grand Circle bar is a tiny squeezed in thing which abuts the toilet queue. So overall not a glamorous or super-comfortable evening out. But the show looks to be selling incredibly well (I didn't see a free seat in the house when I was there) so if they can get away with these prices they will.
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Post by distantcousin on Jul 11, 2018 8:28:05 GMT
Saw this last night, having booked months ago. Show report: Performances: Adrienne Warren is phenomenal. Strong ensemble. Songs: The soundtrack for much of my life, so yeah. Book: Sometimes the book rose above jukebox standard, but not always. The second act had more surprises for me as Tina discovers her own identity as an artist. Audience: Lots of warnings about not singing along, humming, dancing (including posters in the loo) until the end. Also heard that there had previously been problems with drunken audiences so they now monitor how much people order at the interval. Our audience was fine. The Grand Circle: not so grand. We didn't want to pay more than £50 to see this which severely limited our choices (I rarely go above £30 for theatre tickets.) After discussion and advice we went for the centre of Row D in the Grand Circle for £49.50 - and in some ways these were a good choice. A clear view of the stage and extra legroom BUT there are no armrests dividing the seats. So, if like average-sized me, you are next to someone very large (in this case not obese, just very tall and broad, with a tendency to be a leg-spreader) you can end up with shoulder to elbow and hip to knee contact with the stranger next to you - ugh. And in this warm weather - double ugh. My friend switched with me at the interval so I was much more comfortable in the second half. Unlike the pretty bar for the Dress Circle, the Grand Circle bar is a tiny squeezed in thing which abuts the toilet queue. So overall not a glamorous or super-comfortable evening out. But the show looks to be selling incredibly well (I didn't see a free seat in the house when I was there) so if they can get away with these prices they will.
I definitely agree with your comment about "rose about jukebox standard, but not always"
I generally avoid jukebox musicals full stop, but at times the style and quality of the script was exactly what I was expecting.
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Post by foxa on Jul 11, 2018 8:34:23 GMT
:-) LOL.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2018 12:27:15 GMT
Katori Hall is a well established theatre playwright so no wonder her book is good, amazing imo. The songs fit so well
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Post by last5jamie on Jul 20, 2018 10:14:38 GMT
Has even seen it recently? How is Adrianne's knee? I cannot wait to see it in September
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2018 10:54:03 GMT
Has even seen it recently? How is Adrianne's knee? I cannot wait to see it in September I saw on Twitter that whoever was playing Tina was replaced mid-show by the 2nd understudy last night, no indication as to why or whether it was Adrienne who was replaced... I'm going on Thursday and very much hoping she is on! |
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Post by last5jamie on Jul 20, 2018 11:42:43 GMT
Cannot wait for report. I think if her condition is not getting better she should take some time off to heal properly (And I am selfish and want to see her)
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