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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 27, 2021 16:32:11 GMT
Is Hygge still the Act 2 opener? Yep |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 27, 2021 16:33:31 GMT
Yayyyy!
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Post by Playbill99 on Aug 27, 2021 16:33:34 GMT
Is Hygge still the Act 2 opener? Yes |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 27, 2021 16:55:52 GMT
Double yayyyy!
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Post by alece10 on Aug 27, 2021 18:05:22 GMT
Well the merch store is amazing, big queue so get there early to buy and the theatre is divine. Massive leg room in stalls.
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Post by alison on Aug 27, 2021 21:22:25 GMT
Well the merch store is amazing, big queue so get there early to buy and the theatre is divine. Massive leg room in stalls. That’s what I like to hear - I’m middle of row C next Friday as that’s all I could get. |
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Post by westended on Aug 27, 2021 21:33:28 GMT
Is the transformation effect during Let it Go like the Broadway version or like the US Tour/Australia scaled back version?
Intrigued to hear a concrete answer from someone who has already seen it in London!
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Post by ghw894 on Aug 27, 2021 22:24:28 GMT
Is the transformation effect during Let it Go like the Broadway version or like the US Tour/Australia scaled back version? Intrigued to hear a concrete answer from someone who has already seen it in London! I saw it on Broadway and then tonight in London and I wanted to be critical but I can't be! The transformation was staged much, much better and bigger over here. Its not scaled back at all. For anyone who saw it in New York, believe me when I say that they've only improved it since then. The new set, song changes, shortened scenes make it so, so slick. I came away from NY having felt quite underwhelmed, tonight, for sure, I feel the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very, very magical evening! |
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Post by ghw894 on Aug 27, 2021 22:25:22 GMT
Is the transformation effect during Let it Go like the Broadway version or like the US Tour/Australia scaled back version? Intrigued to hear a concrete answer from someone who has already seen it in London! I saw it on Broadway and then tonight in London and I wanted to be critical but I can't be! The transformation was staged much, much better and bigger over here. Its not scaled back at all. For anyone who saw it in New York, believe me when I say that they've only improved it since then. The new set, song changes, shortened scenes make it so, so slick. I came away from NY having felt quite underwhelmed, tonight, for sure, I feel the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very, very magical evening! And to answer many, many questions about whether we get an ice staircase, yes we do, and it's bloody huge!!! |
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Post by Jon on Aug 27, 2021 22:34:22 GMT
I remember listening to an interview with Tom Schumacher, the head of Disney Theatrical and he said they always try and fix things that don't quite work out in their first production Tarzan for example was a flop on Broadway but ran for years in Germany and the Netherlands.
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Post by alece10 on Aug 27, 2021 22:41:19 GMT
I'm going to give a fuller review tomorrow as I'm knackered. But loved it. Stunning.
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Post by bubblesmcgee on Aug 27, 2021 23:05:50 GMT
I saw it on Broadway and then tonight in London and I wanted to be critical but I can't be! The transformation was staged much, much better and bigger over here. Its not scaled back at all. For anyone who saw it in New York, believe me when I say that they've only improved it since then. The new set, song changes, shortened scenes make it so, so slick. I came away from NY having felt quite underwhelmed, tonight, for sure, I feel the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very, very magical evening! And to answer many, many questions about whether we get an ice staircase, yes we do, and it's bloody huge!!! Where do they even put it??? It must fold somehow, there’s no way they have room to manoeuvre it at full length? Can report very decent legroom and view in row A, Grand Circle. |
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Post by ghw894 on Aug 27, 2021 23:17:26 GMT
And to answer many, many questions about whether we get an ice staircase, yes we do, and it's bloody huge!!! Where do they even put it??? It must fold somehow, there’s no way they have room to manoeuvre it at full length? Can report very decent legroom and view in row A, Grand Circle. Well, what with that and the neverending Bridge, the cast must have little to no room backstage! Stunning visual though, the show is in really, really good shape! |
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Post by Figaro on Aug 27, 2021 23:27:02 GMT
Can anyone who went tell us (maybe in spoilers) what the ‘effect high above the stage’ that may be missed in certain seats?
Thanks!
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Post by bubblesmcgee on Aug 27, 2021 23:32:07 GMT
Where do they even put it??? It must fold somehow, there’s no way they have room to manoeuvre it at full length? Can report very decent legroom and view in row A, Grand Circle. Well, what with that and the neverending Bridge, the cast must have little to no room backstage! Stunning visual though, the show is in really, really good shape! That bridge! I had visions of them wheeling it out onto the street to get it in. Would love a video of the backstage areas. And I agree, one of the most incredibly designed shows I’ve seen in a while. |
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Post by Stephen on Aug 27, 2021 23:50:17 GMT
And to answer many, many questions about whether we get an ice staircase, yes we do, and it's bloody huge!!! Where do they even put it??? It must fold somehow, there’s no way they have room to manoeuvre it at full length? Can report very decent legroom and view in row A, Grand Circle. Not sure about the specific set piece but the Drury Lane stage is VERY deep (I'd assume deeper than the St. James in NYC) and there's also plenty of room to fly set pieces. Saying that though I guess it depends how much physical set there is as the space isn't endless! |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Aug 28, 2021 0:09:49 GMT
Christopher Oram went to town and back on about 20 different occasions – this was a mammoth show. Hopefully it gets a healthy, long run.
For a first (paying) preview everything felt pretty assured!
The ice bridge is gigantic. Makes the Broadway one look like it was made out of coffee stirrers.
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Post by ghw894 on Aug 28, 2021 0:42:05 GMT
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Post by ghw894 on Aug 28, 2021 0:43:54 GMT
I've just got home, can't sleep as I'm still buzzing! I thought I'd use the time effectively and share my opinions on the 1st preview; as with all 1st previews, I always try to remain open minded (not that much of that is needed this time as it's ultimately and mostly positive anyway!) I saw the show on Broadway so much of my opinion is in direct comparison to that, apart from where actors are concerned. Before you read on, I can't guarantee that there aren't any spoilers but I'm pretty sure that everything I've said is very common knowledge by now reading pages further back!
Cast
Firstly, the cast. I don't think I can remember the last time a musical debuted with a cast where every single person was so well suited to their part. As with everybody, I had my reservations about Sam Barks being able to deliver on the big money songs but boy did she deliver tonight (someone has posted on YT if anyone is interested!). She was fantastic, the perfect Elsa. But tonight, watching the show I was reminded that Elsa isn't the lead here, Anna is. Steph McKeon won over the entire audience tonight, she has it all, a voice to match and exceed the part, the charm to win over the audience and the comedy genius to make us all laugh. She was absolutely fantastic. Together, Sam and Steph have clearly been working on the project (having known pre-covid!) and have built such a bond. They are an absolute dream together.
Craig Gallivan as Olaf was great and Oliver Ormson was so charming (then very sinister!) as Hans! I found it quite difficult to warm to Obioma as Kristoff, having seen Jelani in NYC, he had this charm that just made you instantly connect with him, hopefully his UK counterpart will find that - perhaps 1st preview nerves but found his performance quite two dimensional and difficult to relate to, even when singing his solo.
Every other person on the stage is living their best life and it is clear they are seriously enjoying themselves.
Visual
Now, having seen many Disney shows, you come into the theatres with big exceptions and the majority of the time, these expectations are fulfiled. When I saw the show on Broadway, I came away and felt incredibly underwhelmed by the 2D, flat packed, small-scale set. The set for London is superior... far, far superior to that of the Broadway version.
For those of you worried about the transformation, she stands in front of the staircase and yes, the dress does go into the floor, even more seamlessly than I ever saw it happen in any bootlegs or live on Broadway!
The beginning bedroom scene with the young girls (who were also bloomin fantastic!), it was obvious that the set had been completely revamped and the show had been brought to life again! I was hugely impressed with the never-ending bridge in 'What do you know about love?', albeit, I don't like the fact it's been consolidated and made a smaller and shorter song, the bridge just kept going and going - I still can't work out how they store it backstage considering it's going from 1 wing to another and wing depth in that theatre is not huge!
As for the ice castle, wow, wow, wow. London has clearly been very lucky and received something that resembles a complete work of art. Not only do we get the largest crystal curtains but also the largest staircase spanning over 2 sides of the wings. I lost my breath when I saw it and I'm sure it'll go down a storm with every single person.
The lighting was out of this world. The projection onto the proscenium arch was just crazy. How it changed from thawed out to Frozen was incredible. I can't really put it into words, you'd need to see it to believe how good it is. On the topic of projection, a bug bear of mine from the moment I sat down was how the beginning curtain projected onto the stage as the audience walked in was really wobbling as people in the Royal Circle were taking their seats. I would hope they will sort that as it was very distracting. Also, never before have I been sensitive but the quick falling ice projection (just before Colder by the Minute) made me feel really quite sick, not sure if anyone else feels that but I've never experienced it before! All other projections were used amazingly and really shows that if they are thought about, they can be really effective.
Sound
So, this was a bug bear of mine tonight. I was fortunate enough to be sat at the very front of the stalls, very central but the show sounded VERY quiet. I remember it booming on Broadway and getting the most intense goosebumps. It just seemed to be very very quiet. I have no idea why and I'm not sure if it was just a one off but they really need to turn the entire show up a notch. Did anyone else watching tonight think the same? A few comments around me, I'd heard people in the interval saying they wish they'd turn it up a bit. However, I'm sure this will be sorted over time!
So that's my review! I really, really, really enjoyed this tonight and was suprised after my experience in New York that I enjoyed it as much as I did. If you haven't got tickets, book them. I really think that word will spread that this isn't just a fad, it's a real genuine and heartfelt 2 hours.
If you have any specific questions, pop me a message!
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Post by ghw894 on Aug 28, 2021 0:46:35 GMT
Can anyone who went tell us (maybe in spoilers) what the ‘effect high above the stage’ that may be missed in certain seats? Thanks! This would just the proscenium arch projection when it gets 'Frozen'! |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Aug 28, 2021 1:42:46 GMT
Did anyone see a cast board and know who young Anna and young Elsa were?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2021 5:22:38 GMT
Hi there so was it worth seeing?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 28, 2021 6:34:13 GMT
I saw it on Broadway and then tonight in London and I wanted to be critical but I can't be! The transformation was staged much, much better and bigger over here. Its not scaled back at all. For anyone who saw it in New York, believe me when I say that they've only improved it since then. The new set, song changes, shortened scenes make it so, so slick. I came away from NY having felt quite underwhelmed, tonight, for sure, I feel the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very, very magical evening! And to answer many, many questions about whether we get an ice staircase, yes we do, and it's bloody huge!!! During Let it go we got an awful lot of stage wizardry and it's fabulous but I didn't want it to stop with the arrival of staircase. I then wanted it to revolve but alas no #greedy. It's great though. |
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Post by fiyero on Aug 28, 2021 6:36:06 GMT
Did anyone see a cast board and know who young Anna and young Elsa were? We had: Young Anna: Ellie Shriner Young Elsa: Minaii.K |
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Post by cricketfan on Aug 28, 2021 7:06:44 GMT
Young Anna: Ellie Shenker
Young Elsa: Minaii.K
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