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Post by max on Jun 18, 2021 18:28:43 GMT
It’s pretty narcissistic to compare a verbatim musical with a small cast that only played 5 performances to a full blown West End musical by a world famous composer and an Oscar winning writer. It's a shame really, as Adam Lenson is factually correct. It would have been Fringe if Nica Burns hadn't picked it up for some further days in the West End. His tweet seems unlikely to impress her and others, and it's not really the act of a professional, so a sour coda to his achievement. But sometimes we can be in Fringe/Off West End so long we forget we don't always have to talk the 'anti' 'underdog' stance, even if we feel it - because it's so long ingrained by circumstance, and there are people we blame for that. |
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Post by ceebee on Jun 18, 2021 18:38:20 GMT
Adam Lenson seems to have permabeef with ALW. Plus, judging by his likes, most of the time he is shouting at the clouds.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jun 18, 2021 20:42:42 GMT
It’s pretty narcissistic to compare a verbatim musical with a small cast that only played 5 performances to a full blown West End musical by a world famous composer and an Oscar winning writer. Sleepless? Ride? Lady Chatterley's Lover? You can’t compare them either? I suppose if they are not “full blown” West End musicals they aren’t so important? Hm. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 18, 2021 21:34:02 GMT
Adam Lenson does some brilliant things, but is also in danger of having a coterie around him and often overplays his hand. He’s obviously happy to never progress beyond staging fringe shows. It’s a small industry and speaking out like that will come back to bite him. Very foolish, even if he is factually correct. I guess the point is that Cinderella has the opportunity to bring money into the west end and so to hamper its opening is not very progressive. |
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Post by Mark on Jun 18, 2021 21:41:20 GMT
Oh come off it. His tweets are just…. nasty.
It really is the first big new musical to open which has the prospect of an open ended run.
Also - Sleepless was terrible.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 18, 2021 21:45:46 GMT
Oh come off it. His tweets are just…. nasty. It really is the first big new musical to open which has the prospect of an open ended run. Also - Sleepless was terrible. I love the list someone posted of all the amazing sounding musicals that actually have opened… Facebook the musical. Hashtag LOL the musical. Is there WiFi The Musical. Something about riding a bike. Purlease. He needs to stop being so bitter and move on. If Lloyd Webber’s wasnt making a noise- who would be? Only he and Sonia Friedman have stuck their heads up and made waves with the situation for theatres and their workers. |
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Post by stuartmcd on Jun 18, 2021 21:46:43 GMT
He clearly has a problem with ALW. Even a few days ago he was calling for a boycott of Cinderella just at the mere suggestion that they may be doing a trial of a full audience.
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Post by max on Jun 18, 2021 21:57:45 GMT
He clearly has a problem with ALW. Even a few days ago he was calling for a boycott of Cinderella just at the mere suggestion that they may be doing a trial of a full audience. Yes, the beef then was that it would be getting preferential treatment. He doesn't think ALW does enough to support new musical theatre writing - fair comment of course. Just don't torpedo your own sense of professionalism in the process, and spoil one of your breakthrough moments with another producer. A producer will just think: hmmm, you like me now, but what about when you turn? Will I get this too? |
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Post by marob on Jun 18, 2021 22:12:51 GMT
It’s pretty narcissistic to compare a verbatim musical with a small cast that only played 5 performances to a full blown West End musical by a world famous composer and an Oscar winning writer. Sleepless? Ride? Lady Chatterley's Lover? You can’t compare them either? I suppose if they are not “full blown” West End musicals they aren’t so important? Hm. I’m not making any kind of judgement on the quality of the material. I just think you have to take into account the huge success ALW has had. He calls it a “world premiere,” which is used to promote all kinds of new writing, most of which only has a very limited run and isn’t seen again for years, if at all. The term has become somewhat meaningless. But in this case unless it’s another disaster he’s almost certain to try to take it to Broadway and beyond. It will literally premiere here before going on to the rest of the world. If it’s a success there’ll be productions of it here, there, and everywhere for the best part of the next decade. Those other shows can’t say that. That’s the difference. |
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Post by singingbird on Jun 18, 2021 23:02:21 GMT
I think the whole issue could have been avoided if ALW had just inserted the word 'major' before 'new musical' in his statement. The bigger issue to my mind is that no-one else is even trying to mount musicals that have a life, or can be seen, by more than a few hundred people. And that's because musical theatre is, sadly, basically not financially viable. ALW is the only composer who has been consistently composing new musicals throughout my life and having the clout to get them staged. I wish there were others. I wish there were others coming up behind him (especially as I don't think he's done anything great for a good long time now). I know there are lots of people writing imaginative, innovative musicals that no one gets to see or hear. And I genuinely believe ALW only had the success he's had because he first hit the big time with the JCS LP in America, which established him and Tim Rice as a 'brand' in the same way a rock group gets established. It reached a wide audience beyond theatres immediately. Everything else has followed from that stroke of good fortune.
I am still hoping Cinderella might be good but I don't think I'm the target audience, sadly!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jun 18, 2021 23:22:17 GMT
Sleepless? Ride? Lady Chatterley's Lover? You can’t compare them either? I suppose if they are not “full blown” West End musicals they aren’t so important? Hm. I’m not making any kind of judgement on the quality of the material. I just think you have to take into account the huge success ALW has had. He calls it a “world premiere,” which is used to promote all kinds of new writing, most of which only has a very limited run and isn’t seen again for years, if at all. The term has become somewhat meaningless. But in this case unless it’s another disaster he’s almost certain to try to take it to Broadway and beyond. It will literally premiere here before going on to the rest of the world. If it’s a success there’ll be productions of it here, there, and everywhere for the best part of the next decade. Those other shows can’t say that. That’s the difference. It could be the next Beautiful Game or Stephen Ward and finish after a year or so and never be heard of ever again! |
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Post by showtoones on Jun 19, 2021 0:43:34 GMT
I’m not making any kind of judgement on the quality of the material. I just think you have to take into account the huge success ALW has had. He calls it a “world premiere,” which is used to promote all kinds of new writing, most of which only has a very limited run and isn’t seen again for years, if at all. The term has become somewhat meaningless. But in this case unless it’s another disaster he’s almost certain to try to take it to Broadway and beyond. It will literally premiere here before going on to the rest of the world. If it’s a success there’ll be productions of it here, there, and everywhere for the best part of the next decade. Those other shows can’t say that. That’s the difference. It could be the next Beautiful Game or Stephen Ward and finish after a year or so and never be heard of every again! I happened to love The Beautiful Game and I also saw it in Toronto when it was retooled as The Boys In The Photograph. And it has been produced all over the world. I actually have the German Cast Recording. It has also been heard from again as "My Kind of Love" turned into "Love Never Dies" in LND. LOL Stephen Ward on the other hand... |
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Post by maskoftragedy on Jun 19, 2021 4:15:04 GMT
Out of curiosity, is anyone on here going next week? Was supposed to be going on the 25th but got the email yesterday so I probably won't be as I'm a single seat.
Disappointing but I expected it. What can you do! Whatever happens I'll still go at some point and I'm excited about the show overall. I am hoping for a lot of cheese and nonsense.
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Post by maskoftragedy on Jun 19, 2021 4:47:58 GMT
It's a nice slow march, and I like the fanfares and flourishes and the church bells. I can understand why it didn't make the highlight album though. I'll have to have a listen when I'm less tired, I was struggling to pick up some of the words, especially in the middle where the melody changed. The diction is very poor sadly. Inevitable with a large choir.
I couldn't understand a word throughout. Very, very disappointing.
Hopefully it will be better live.
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Post by properjob on Jun 19, 2021 7:11:40 GMT
I just hope I find out soon whether or not I've made the cut. I would guess not as I'm a single seat and they cost the most to accommodate but I want to know soon so I have a chance to try and book something else to fill the slot but I imagine it is a nightmare for the box office to work through.
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Post by jaqs on Jun 19, 2021 7:29:24 GMT
Same, I’ve a lunch reservation so am going to head in anyway, would be nice to book something else if I don’t make the cut.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 19, 2021 7:51:00 GMT
ALW has consistently been fighting Theatres corner throughout this, I don't even care if it was for his own shows or business that he was doing it for deep down because it still represented theatre generally, he was the one taking part in the vaccine trials, he was the one completely transforming his theatres to showcase all the safety measures that could be in place for the government, he was the one putting on the first trial events, he was the one giving evidence to the select committee and he was the one, as one of the biggest MT names in the country, on TV all the time keeping theatre in the media. It's also fair to say that ALW'S impact on theatre and the theatre industry over his lifetime have contributed, even in a small way, to any director/producer/creative being able to be where they are today and quite frankly AL should show more respect. It's also laughable that AL, as someone who seems so interested in new MT, would have been calling for a boycott of a major NEW MUSICAL.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2021 8:34:27 GMT
ALW was giving it all the big 'I Am' and caved to his pal BoJo The Clown. Seeing the scenes in Leicester Sq yesterday, with thousajds of football fans crammed together, singimg, shouting and fighting, with no police bothering to get involved, but theatre owners cant have full theqtres, with everyone facing the same direction, in silence and masked?? It was disgusting to watch.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Jun 19, 2021 10:24:00 GMT
Surpriosed by his quite normal response after all this palaver, still think he is bonkers though.  And Cinderella is the first big thing after the pandemic with a lot of press around itand well-known names attached, that plans to run longer than a few weeks. So I would say correct in this respect.  |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 19, 2021 10:58:58 GMT
ALW was giving it all the big 'I Am' and caved to his pal BoJo The Clown. Seeing the scenes in Leicester Sq yesterday, with thousajds of football fans crammed together, singimg, shouting and fighting, with no police bothering to get involved, but theatre owners cant have full theqtres, with everyone facing the same direction, in silence and masked?? It was disgusting to watch. Agree totally. It is just so frustrating, crazy, depressing , anger making to watch the hooligans carry on like that. |
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Post by stagebyte on Jun 20, 2021 9:57:27 GMT
So was at Curve Theatre last night for The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber concert. They added in a playful poppy version of Bad Cinderella sung by the four excellent female singers.
Maybe because it was towards the end of the concert and I’d listened to over two hours of ALW glorious music (and was reminded of how wonderful it is) but despite me being a fierce critic of the song (and the shonky lyrics) previously, I found myself really enjoying it.
I’ve now processed 😂
I was wondering whether the released CHF version (singing in character?) comes across as too po-faced and serious and really all it needed was an injection of fun to elevate it?
Anyone else there have any thoughts?
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Post by danb on Jun 20, 2021 10:06:25 GMT
I think we just need a better idea of the overall tone to process how all of these songs make sense together.
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Post by stagebyte on Jun 20, 2021 10:14:34 GMT
I was also wondering about the released version of Marry for love which sounded glorious. Obviously the Gay Men’s Choir won’t be pitching up at every performance.
The music released so far seems romantic and (old fashioned classic ALW in the very best way meant) I’m fascinated to see how this fits in with a modern take.
Not long to go now to find out!
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jun 20, 2021 10:51:40 GMT
The full soundtrack version still isn't up on Apple Music which is a bit annoying — its greyed out. And I don't have Spotify.
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Post by Mark on Jun 20, 2021 11:34:42 GMT
My tickets have disappeared from "My Next Event" on my LW Theatre login, I'd actualy just booked the seat next to my dad for the 30th earlier this week before they were taken off-sale again. Don't mind changing dates but I do wonder how it will work as pricing seems higher for the dates from Mid July onwards.
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