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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 20, 2020 22:49:07 GMT
I'm just out of it. It feels a bit long and I'm not so sure what I actually think of this as a musical but I thought it was fantastic as a theatrical experience. I juat did, even though I didn't think the show itself was amazing I thought it was a great experience. Its a weird thing. The ensemble of this are the stars of the show really and the choreography is surely going to be up for awards. I enjoyed the sets as well even though I imagine they weren't as extensive as some people would like. I thought there were some really wow or innovative moments with the set and staging and I thought it was done well in that regard. I was in the circle so can I ask what happened when Moses separated the red sea and that platform came out? All we could see was that a platform started to appear and the actors started to walk over it into the stalls but how far did it go out? Or was it just steps to the base of the stage?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 20, 2020 23:48:34 GMT
I was there tonight too.
Crowd. Pleaser.
And I include myself in that. I hugely hugely enjoyed it. I’m so pleased I’ve been because had I not booked before seeing the poor reviews on here I wouldn’t have. Yes there are a couple of issues but a lot of the critisism upthread is, in my opinion, hugely exaggerated.
Let’s put this “blob” thing to bed for a start. The stage is not a square, it’s a platform on hydraulics and is a shape rather than being a square. I don’t know what the shape was, or if it was significant because I was row E stalls and didn’t see it from above. The other “blob” is a screen suspended above the stage which is used for projection and behind that the very back wall of the stage is a huge LED screen. The purpose of the blob is to give a three dimensional effect to the projection and it works very well.
The costumes. There are no chinos. The two Male leads wear long trousers as do all of the Egyptian “aristocracy “. Yes, I would have liked to have seen them in booty shorts too but you can’t always get what you want. Fear not, there is plenty to look at in that respect.
The dancing. Yes there are times when you think that they could have done this scene without using interpretive daaaaance (my bete noir) but not that many really. I thought using the ensemble as the voice of god was pretty inspired actually. Unless you’re the person who wants to see an actual burning bush with a blokes voice coming out of it.... you’re not that person are you? I didn’t like the dancers part in the river of blood. Trad stage effects could have depicted that better.
Length. I was totally absorbed throughout. Came down at 10.15. Get over it.
It doesn’t fill the stage. Bollocks. It does. It might not fill it with mechanical sets but seeing as people are wetting their knicks over Be More Chill and DEH with their reliance on projections it doesn’t matter does it? The Stage is filled.
Cast. Stellar. Luke Brady is absolutely gorgeous and the connection with Liam Tamne was very evident.
I loved Nefertari, very haughty. Adam Pearce was the villain, great voice great villain (he’s constantly in work these days isn’t he?). And omg Alexia Khadim’s vocal on When You Believe... incredible.
If you’re going stalls go half way back ideally ( I was row E on the side block aisle and I think it would be better a bit further back)
Full standing ovation. You do not get that for crap. Audience absolutely loved it. I was on the aisle and next to the ice cream queue at the interval. Nothing but positive comments. Put your cynicism aside.
To answer Andy’s question, no they come off stage and go up the central aisle. Nothing else happens to them
it’s 🧸🧸🧸🧸 from me.
ETA I haven’t seen the film. and my what a fabulously comfy theatre. Leg room for days, wide seat. Loved it.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 21, 2020 0:52:15 GMT
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Post by amp09 on Feb 21, 2020 1:05:51 GMT
I was there tonight too. Crowd. Pleaser. And I include myself in that. I hugely hugely enjoyed it. I’m so pleased I’ve been because had I not booked before seeing the poor reviews on here I wouldn’t have. Yes there are a couple of issues but a lot of the critisism upthread is, in my opinion, hugely exaggerated. Let’s put this “blob” thing to bed for a start. The stage is not a square, it’s a platform on hydraulics and is a shape rather than being a square. I don’t know what the shape was, or if it was significant because I was row E stalls and didn’t see it from above. The other “blob” is a screen suspended above the stage which is used for projection and behind that the very back wall of the stage is a huge LED screen. The purpose of the blob is to give a three dimensional effect to the projection and it works very well. The costumes. There are no chinos. The two Male leads wear long trousers as do all of the Egyptian “aristocracy “. Yes, I would have liked to have seen them in booty shorts too but you can’t always get what you want. Fear not, there is plenty to look at in that respect. The dancing. Yes there are times when you think that they could have done this scene without using interpretive daaaaance (my bete noir) but not that many really. I thought using the ensemble as the voice of god was pretty inspired actually. Unless you’re the person who wants to see an actual burning bush with a blokes voice coming out of it.... you’re not that person are you? I didn’t like the dancers part in the river of blood. Trad stage effects could have depicted that better. Length. I was totally absorbed throughout. Came down at 10.15. Get over it. It doesn’t fill the stage. Bollocks. It does. It might not fill it with mechanical sets but seeing as people are wetting their knicks over Be More Chill and DEH with their reliance on projections it doesn’t matter does it? The Stage is filled. Cast. Stellar. Luke Brady is absolutely gorgeous and the connection with Liam Tamne was very evident. I loved Nefertari, very haughty. Adam Pearce was the villain, great voice great villain (he’s constantly in work these days isn’t he?). And omg Alexia Khadim’s vocal on When You Believe... incredible. If you’re going stalls go half way back ideally ( I was row E on the side block aisle and I think it would be better a bit further back) Full standing ovation. You do not get that for crap. Audience absolutely loved it. I was on the aisle and next to the ice cream queue at the interval. Nothing but positive comments. Put your cynicism aside. To answer Andy’s question, no they come off stage and go up the central aisle. Nothing else happens to them it’s 🧸🧸🧸🧸 from me. ETA I haven’t seen the film. and my what a fabulously comfy theatre. Leg room for days, wide seat. Loved it. Love your positivity so much, I’ve just booked for press night next Tuesday. My first ‘press night’. What should I expect outside of the show? |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 21, 2020 8:28:22 GMT
I agree with the 🐻
I thought it was a great theatrical experience and had an epic feel. I think there are some issues of course, but on the whole it's something I'm very glad to have seen and mainly lived up to my own quite high expectations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Post by xanady on Feb 21, 2020 9:03:00 GMT
Was there last night with the fam on the front row of the Circle...this is monumental story-telling on a huge scale.Fabulous production values,world-class singing,sumptuous costumes and more technical stage magic than you could shake a stick at.
At the heart of this Bible epic is a very emotive human story and I found the whole thing to be profoundly inspiring.
A solid gold winner and the WE is blessed to have this beautiful show playing in one of its theatres...we already want to see it again and that says everything!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 21, 2020 9:24:15 GMT
Was there last night with the fam on the front row of the Circle...this is monumental story-telling on a huge scale.Fabulous production values,world-class singing,sumptuous costumes and more technical stage magic than you could shake a stick at. At the heart of this Bible epic is a very emotive human story and I found the whole thing to be profoundly inspiring. A solid gold winner and the WE is blessed to have this beautiful show playing in one of its theatres...we already want to see it again and that says everything! Oh it looks like we did the exact same two show day! |
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Post by partytentdown on Feb 21, 2020 10:12:25 GMT
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Post by xanady on Feb 21, 2020 10:17:40 GMT
^Yes,Sir...looks like it...hope you had a wonderful day,Andy H...I have to say that getting from Victoria to our Travelodge near Holborn/Covent Garden on the tube felt like a battle...nearly pushed over at one point...how do London commuters manage it?
Having said that we had a terrific time at both shows.Book Of Mormon tonight!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2020 10:18:38 GMT
Ooooooooo I love a good marmite show!
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367 posts
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Post by Jonnyboy on Feb 21, 2020 10:34:42 GMT
Ooooooooo I love a good marmite show! Or you hate a good marmite show! |
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Post by theatrenewbie on Feb 21, 2020 18:37:57 GMT
Tried to get a last minute ticket for tonight! And they are completely sold out and only have a dusting tomorrow both shows of premium or exspensive seats, minus probably dayseats ofcourse.
Very impressed for theatre size and annoyed I couldn’t grab one.
Looks like word of mouth and and the film have lived up.
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Post by alece10 on Feb 21, 2020 18:50:50 GMT
Going on Monday night with an open mind. The first reports on here were pretty bad but starting to see more positive ones now. Have a feeling I will quite like it but I'm easy to please.
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Post by intoanewlife on Feb 21, 2020 20:28:59 GMT
Let’s put this “blob” thing to bed for a start. They were renamed globules...keep up!The stage is not a square, No it's rectangular.it’s a platform on hydraulics and is a shape rather than being a square. There is a hydraulic platform placed in the centre of the rectangular stage.
I don’t know what the shape was, I told you this already...it is shaped like a globule.or if it was significant because I was row E stalls and didn’t see it from above. It has different images projected onto it depending on the the scene. They could've just as easily been projected onto the normal stage.
I had no problem with it visually. I had a problem with the fact it was the shows 'gimmick' and did nothing apart from try and be impressive and fail miserably later on. All it did for the rest of the show was stop props being brought onto the stage in a different manner other than people having to tear down and rebuild Egypt every time the scene changed.
It was akin to removing the cover off the chandelier at the start of Phantom and then leaving it sitting in the middle of the stage and make people stumble around it for 2 hours.
The other “ blob” is a screen suspended above the stage which is used for projection and behind that the very back wall of the stage is a huge LED screen. The purpose of the blob is to give a three dimensional effect to the projection and it works very well. It is a globule...
It may have worked well from Row E in the stalls, but it didn't work from Row E in the circle. It was a low resolution projection blocking a high resolution LED screen. For 3/4 of the show it showed some random image, the rest of the time it showed the same image as the LED screen only at half the resolution and it stuck out like dogs balls.
It never once created a 3D effect from where I was sitting, it just looked like a low resolution globule blocking a high resolution LED screen. I imagine it is not as bad from the stalls as you are under it looking up, but upstairs you are above it looking down and it blocks a lot more of the LED screen.
I would say its purpose was to make the stage look like it had more going on than it did, as once it was gone the set looked pretty bare with just the LED screen. If that was the intention, it fulfilled its job requirements perfectly. Beyond that it was utterly pointless and did nothing the LED screen didn't already do.I thought using the ensemble as the voice of god was pretty inspired actually. Unless you’re the person who wants to see an actual burning bush with a blokes voice coming out of it.... you’re not that person are you? I didn't have a problem with it other than the fact that if you didn't know that it was meant to be a burning bush speaking the voice of God, you had no idea what the hell was going on. The idea had also been done before in Godspell  Full standing ovation. You do not get that for crap. This is highly debatable...I'm glad you enjoyed it, I'm sure it is a totally different experience from downstairs in the stalls, though I guess upstairs you get a better view of the 'wow' projections so it's probably a fair trade off x |
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Post by xanady on Feb 21, 2020 20:38:52 GMT
^I presumed that the central raised stage-platform was a map of Ancient Egypt but I may be wrong?
The full standing ovation last night was uproarious and was very well deserved...I may have been first up in the Circle and I don’t get up for everything,by any means.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2020 20:51:31 GMT
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 21, 2020 21:11:49 GMT
Plenty of awful shows get standing ovations for goodness sake!
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Post by intoanewlife on Feb 21, 2020 22:12:04 GMT
^I presumed that the central raised stage-platform was a map of Ancient Egypt but I may be wrong? The full standing ovation last night was uproarious and was very well deserved...I may have been first up in the Circle and I don’t get up for everything,by any means. I thought it was just meant to represent a patch of sand in the desert or a river or a temple...whatever colour it was in the scene it was in? |
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 22, 2020 15:09:26 GMT
Well...
I did go in with relatively low expectations due to reports back here and from friends, but when the chorus starting rolling round on the floor in blue light pretending to be water I knew we were in trouble... It just wasn't very good overall.
I mean, I liked the wall of sounds coming from the big cast (that really did make all of the difference, to have that large a cast belting out songs) but the script was AWFUL. Moses and Ramses started talking and I was sat there going 'please can you sing another bland song?'
Gary Wilmot has one scene and doesn't come back, but had a great song in Act 1.
To me, it felt like there might be a good idea or way to tell this story in there, but they haven't found the way to tell it yet. Also, is it just me or was When You Believe actually not that impressive? Like, Alexia and Christine sound superb, but even when the chorus come in, it just didn't feel very... showstopping? It felt like the stage needed to revolve or something or rise up...
But hey, it got a standing ovation and the audience went mad for it so good luck to them!
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Post by westendcub on Feb 25, 2020 7:37:18 GMT
I went last night & I’ve given this a solid 3*
It’s certainly hammy in places but overall I found this entertaining with some rather spectacular set pieces, choreography & vocals.
One element I am puzzled by is the Gary Wilmont character, serves no purpose being a principle role & whilst I liked the song & his vocal in Act 1, I couldn’t help but think that this character could have been played by an ensemble cast member.
Where this does suffer is too long an act 1, some of the new songs are forgettable & repetitive in their intention to character build (especially for the King & ‘Ramses’) & the show is it as strongest in the big ensemble numbers with the songs moving the story forward & being inventive in their staging (excellent use of that big stage!).
Act 2 which is tighter is stronger than its first act & contains its most memorable moments, the tragic number following the deaths of the first born is effective & ‘When you believe’ is that moment it deserves to be!
The parting of the Red Sea was staged brilliant & that set-piece at that end of the scene impressive.
I should be back to see this again in a few weeks & I look forward to watching again.
It’s not perfect but it’s entertaining, full of vision pleasure & a commited Cast (props also to the wonderful orchestra & crew making the stage effects come to life on stage)!
Despite my note there are some bland numbers, along the ones from the film there are some good additions filtered throughout & I do hope a cast recording is made for this!
It’s Press night today so be interesting to see how this lands with the crictics as the audiences lapped this show up last night!!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 25, 2020 8:09:55 GMT
Extended until end of October...
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Post by duncan on Feb 25, 2020 8:09:55 GMT
Extension announced until the end of October.
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Post by bob2010 on Feb 25, 2020 8:47:23 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Feb 25, 2020 9:30:06 GMT
I was also there last night and westendcub has pretty much expressed my views and feelings as well.
Visually its a feast to the eyes and great set pieces, especially the parting of the sea and excellent use of projections.
With regard to the "blobs" mentioned earlier. They are not "blobs" at all, they are in fact those coffee tables you see at garden centres made from a section of a tree trunk and polished.
Massive cast who really work their bits off with some superb singing and dancing. Agree that Gary Wilmot's appearance was a bit of a missed opportunity. One song and that was it.
So plenty to look at enjoy but there is a bit of a downside.
The book is pretty awful with some truly bad lines. Not sure if they were trying the comedy element or to entertain children. Either way it didn't work.
Also the music (beautifully played by a large orchestra) was very samey with only about 3 or 4 songs that were half decent and only 1 that I can now remember.
I thought the show was overlong and I just wanted it to move along quicker or end earlier.
What happened to the 10 commandments? Or is that for part 2?
From where I was sitting in the stalls there was pretty much a full standing ovation at the end which I had to join in with otherwise I would not have been able to see the bows at the end.
I heard one of the FOH staff say that it was a full house as well.
Glad I saw it but don't think I would go back.
Really looking forward to hearing what the critics say tonight.
Forgot to say. Was sat in stalls row S. Really surprised by the legroom. Really good.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 25, 2020 11:28:55 GMT
So when they do the red sea bit and the platform protrudes out, where does it go? Just just out over the pit and they jump off into the aisle or what?
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