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Post by FairyGodmother on Jun 30, 2021 23:31:01 GMT
Does the King feature in this production (the counterpart to Rebecca Trehearn's Queen?), or, if not seen on stage, is he depicted in some way, such as a portrait? You can see where I'm going with this.....sighs.... That if he's dead, then the Queen must be the blood royal (or Charming would have become King on his father's death), so her having a past doesn't really make sense? |
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Post by amuseical on Jun 30, 2021 23:35:48 GMT
You can see where I'm going with this.....sighs.... That if he's dead, then the Queen must be the blood royal (or Charming would have become King on his father's death), so her having a past doesn't really make sense? No mention of the King, and only a portrait of Prince Charming (unrecognisable, wearing full body armour on a horse). To be fair, that wouldn’t be the only (or most egregious!) plot hole in the piece. At least the rotating stage is fun? |
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Post by musicalmarge on Jun 30, 2021 23:37:54 GMT
Does the King feature in this production (the counterpart to Rebecca Trehearn's Queen?), or, if not seen on stage, is he depicted in some way, such as a portrait? You can see where I'm going with this.....sighs.... There is no photo of the King so yes he could be/is presumably black. But this would mean that the three main love affair relationships in the entire show are mixed race. I could question that but I really didn’t want to go down the race/demographic/colour blind casting route with my review as it’s meant to be a fantasy land. I personally would have cast Asians in the show too, or made the Queen played by a black actress instead of the godmother. I’d actually love to see Cinderella played by a non white actress/singer! Either way, the casting is the least of this shows issues. It needs to be completely re-written, re-staged, re-directed, needs new songs, order changed and story made clearer. Yes the rotating seating section is fun. Shame they only do it once! |
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Post by amuseical on Jul 1, 2021 0:11:17 GMT
It felt at times as if the show was a combination of parts from several pieces of different tones. With the Stepmother and Stepsisters scenes, there was a slapstick-y, panto feel. With the palace scenes it was a Magic Mike fantasia. The Act 1 closer at the Godmother’s salon, it verged into horror territory with masked mannequins and various menacing medical procedures (injections/scalpels etc). These elements can all exist in the same show, but as it is now, Cinderella doesn’t seem to know what it wants to say beyond a generic message of ‘Be yourself!’ The characters of the Godmother and Prince Charming are on stage for around ten minutes max each, and feel shoehorned in to the story while their plot lines simultaneously make little sense. Why does the Godmother refuse to take anything but Cinderella’s necklace as payment for her makeover, only to return it to Sebastian later? Why does everyone think that Prince Charming is dead, and need him to explain the fact that he ran away from his mother forcing him into a loveless marriage (despite them all likely having been at that wedding)? Could this be a solid, even great show? Absolutely! But to get there would require a good amount of dramaturgy to straighten out the plot (pun not intended!), an expansion on the score that goes beyond the three or four songs that the majority of this show relies upon, and a massive lyrics rewrite. Sample lyrics include the Queen talking about Charming ‘He was not non-descript/He was so damn ripped’. My favourite so bad that it’s almost good lyric was Cinderella describing how she wanted to look in order to woo Sebastian. ‘I want to be hot/Toenail to lash/I’m talking blazingly hot/I mean like volcanic ash’. This is a talented cast, but they’re truly not being used to their full potential. I definitely left feeling very confused. Then again, to quote Cinderella in the show “Everyone’s a critic.” |
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Post by amuseical on Jul 1, 2021 0:19:35 GMT
You can see where I'm going with this.....sighs.... There is no photo of the King so yes he could be/is presumably black. But this would mean that the three main love affair relationships in the entire show are mixed race. I could question that but I really didn’t want to go down the race/demographic/colour blind casting route with my review as it’s meant to be a fantasy land. I personally would have cast Asians in the show too, or made the Queen played by a black actress instead of the godmother. I’d actually love to see Cinderella played by a non white actress/singer! Either way, the casting is the least of this shows issues. It needs to be completely re-written, re-staged, re-directed, needs new songs, order changed and story made clearer. Yes the rotating seating section is fun. Shame they only do it once! The Cinderella alternate, Georgina Onuorah, is a black woman, and though the schedule hasn’t yet been confirmed, will likely be playing the role in at least one performance a week. She’s an incredibly talented singer, and played the role of Alice Fitzwarren as her professional debut in the National Theatre’s Dick Whittington which streamed online in December. Agreed with you on the significant changes which need to be made. Here’s hoping that the show is in better shape come opening night. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jul 1, 2021 1:17:11 GMT
Would be great to hear more detail from some of the 5 Star givers in the poll, just as some have asked of the 1 Star givers. Not compulsory on this board of course, but would be interesting as it's such a polarising show it seems. I gave Cinderella 5 stars simply because I loved every minute of both acts and will be back as soon as I can get a cheap ticket deal. I'm a simple soul at heart and I go to musical theatre purely to be entertained which I was from start to finish. I'm not particularly interested in the storyline or script or even who's in the cast and with the exceptions of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon I generally prefer light-hearted pieces and jukebox musicals. I just want good songs, a few laughs where appropriate, and hopefully a degree of wow factor. I got all of that from Cinderella. I thought Carrie was wonderful but so were the whole cast. Beyond that I couldn't analyse or criticise a show even if I was paid to do so and I admire posters who can and do, with perhaps one exception. Maybe that places me in a small minority at least on a forum like this, but it does mean I almost never leave a theatre disappointed. In 2019 I saw 290 shows, around 150 different - I know that's crazy/greedy but it's true and I started 2020 aiming for 300. Maybe in 2022 I'll make it. 90% were musical theatre, and I gave each a personal rating in my diary. There were only four all year that I didn't enjoy and wouldn't revisit. I'm happy to spend a lot of money and chip away at the kids' inheritance because I'm not getting any younger and the hours I spend in the front rows of theatres watching musicals, both professional and amateur, are the most joyous of my current life. Incidentally I got chatting to a lovely lady called Angela before the show yesterday, to whom I recommended theatre board. She had no idea it wasn't a traditional telling of Cinderella, made me wonder how many other attendees are similarly unaware and how they react. |
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Post by properjob on Jul 1, 2021 7:06:41 GMT
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Post by max on Jul 1, 2021 8:12:04 GMT
Thanks for your post Paul26. You're a better dramaturg than many on here. Often the art of deft storytelling is the stealthy planting of killer information within seemingly breezy dialogue. Your post pulls that off with style.
Incidentally - you said you got chatting to Angela before the show, and recommended Theatreboard, and she didn't realise ALW's Cinderella wasn't a traditional telling of the story. Did you find out at the interval or after the show what she thought of it?
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Post by scarpia on Jul 1, 2021 8:28:23 GMT
Do you have a screenshot? It’s behind a paywall. Did they go ahead with it? Oh God, I forgot about that. Yes, they went ahead with it and Karimloo kept saying in interviews that this was the crux of his portrayal. IMHO it didn't work and it's one of the reasons his Phantom left me cold. Then Karimloo took that interpretation with him when he went on to do LND and then this article is part of the LND publicity machine. However, it got quite a large amount of backlash from members of the public, particularly those with relatives who suffer from Asperger's, so Jack O'Brien asked Karimloo to refrain from mentioning it again. |
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Post by amuseical on Jul 1, 2021 8:36:47 GMT
Would be great to hear more detail from some of the 5 Star givers in the poll, just as some have asked of the 1 Star givers. Not compulsory on this board of course, but would be interesting as it's such a polarising show it seems. I gave Cinderella 5 stars simply because I loved every minute of both acts and will be back as soon as I can get a cheap ticket deal. I'm a simple soul at heart and I go to musical theatre purely to be entertained which I was from start to finish. I'm not particularly interested in the storyline or script or even who's in the cast and with the exceptions of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon I generally prefer light-hearted pieces and jukebox musicals. I just want good songs, a few laughs where appropriate, and hopefully a degree of wow factor. I got all of that from Cinderella. I thought Carrie was wonderful but so were the whole cast. Beyond that I couldn't analyse or criticise a show even if I was paid to do so and I admire posters who can and do, with perhaps one exception. Maybe that places me in a small minority at least on a forum like this, but it does mean I almost never leave a theatre disappointed. In 2019 I saw 290 shows, around 150 different - I know that's crazy/greedy but it's true and I started 2020 aiming for 300. Maybe in 2022 I'll make it. 90% were musical theatre, and I gave each a personal rating in my diary. There were only four all year that I didn't enjoy and wouldn't revisit. I'm happy to spend a lot of money and chip away at the kids' inheritance because I'm not getting any younger and the hours I spend in the front rows of theatres watching musicals, both professional and amateur, are the most joyous of my current life. Incidentally I got chatting to a lovely lady called Angela before the show yesterday, to whom I recommended theatre board. She had no idea it wasn't a traditional telling of Cinderella, made me wonder how many other attendees are similarly unaware and how they react. Thank you for your perspective! I suppose we all go to the theatre with our own interests and motivations, and it’s lovely to hear your take on the experience. At the end of the day, most people are likely looking for the same thing - to be entertained - and I for one am glad that theatre exists for that purpose. I apologise if my thoughts came across as harsh, but I really just want the show as a final product to be the best that it can be. Sometimes it can be easier to identify areas of improvement rather than just sitting back and enjoying the show. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jul 1, 2021 9:22:04 GMT
I wasn't sure what reaction my post would generate and I'm humbled by the likes and nice comments received. To answer a couple of points.
First, to amuseical, you are most certainly not the poster whose contributions I personally find too negative and overcritical. Indeed you have helped me decide to delay my next visit to Cinderella until I can see Georgina Onuorah in the role. I've just listened to a few of her performances on You Tube and she is indeed a superb vocalist and so different to Carrie Hope Fletcher.
Second, to max, I did chat briefly to Angela in the interval and she said she would have been quite shocked by the opening scenes had she not spoken to me and she was also really enjoying the show. She left promptly at the end as her husband was waiting to pick her up. Maybe she'll read this !
I'm now off to see a comedy play , Neville's Island, at the Queens Theatre Hornchurch and then Wonderful Town tonight at Opera Holland Park. First two show day since last March
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Post by ceebee on Jul 1, 2021 9:29:29 GMT
FrontrowverPaul I relate to the joy of theatre and chipping away at the kids inheritance that you describe. Sometimes it's just about the joy if it, even if what we see is in need of a little polish. Like you, I don't seek perfection, just entertainment.
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Post by newyorkcityboy on Jul 1, 2021 9:59:37 GMT
FrontrowverPaul I relate to the joy of theatre and chipping away at the kids inheritance that you describe. Sometimes it's just about the joy if it, even if what we see is in need of a little polish. Like you, I don't seek perfection, just entertainment. Oh, the joy of an un-polished performance! At college my theatre studies tutor said the course would make me too analytical and I would never enjoy going to the theatre again. The opposite has mostly been true. I once saw an am-dram production of Sweeney where not one of the chorus knew the lyrics to ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd’. (I tried mouthing along from the front row to help them out, only to realise my partner was doing the same, but with incorrect - and highly inappropriate words….) Another highlight was Blitz, where an old lady character was supposed to say ‘He had an honourable discharge’ (ie from the army). What she actually said was, ‘He had a horrible discharge’, which stopped the show for about 5 minutes…. |
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Post by amp09 on Jul 1, 2021 10:42:27 GMT
What is the running time for this please? Keen to book train tickets home.
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Post by Mark on Jul 1, 2021 10:44:05 GMT
What is the running time for this please? Keen to book train tickets home. Around 2:40/2:45 |
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Post by amuseical on Jul 1, 2021 11:00:59 GMT
What is the running time for this please? Keen to book train tickets home. Around 2:40/2:45 We were out at around 10.22pm last night, including a lovely time listening to the closing instrumental. |
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Post by WireHangers on Jul 1, 2021 11:25:14 GMT
Would be great to hear more detail from some of the 5 Star givers in the poll, just as some have asked of the 1 Star givers. Not compulsory on this board of course, but would be interesting as it's such a polarising show it seems. I gave Cinderella 5 stars simply because I loved every minute of both acts and will be back as soon as I can get a cheap ticket deal. I'm a simple soul at heart and I go to musical theatre purely to be entertained which I was from start to finish. I'm not particularly interested in the storyline or script or even who's in the cast and with the exceptions of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon I generally prefer light-hearted pieces and jukebox musicals. I just want good songs, a few laughs where appropriate, and hopefully a degree of wow factor. I got all of that from Cinderella. I thought Carrie was wonderful but so were the whole cast. Beyond that I couldn't analyse or criticise a show even if I was paid to do so and I admire posters who can and do, with perhaps one exception. Maybe that places me in a small minority at least on a forum like this, but it does mean I almost never leave a theatre disappointed. In 2019 I saw 290 shows, around 150 different - I know that's crazy/greedy but it's true and I started 2020 aiming for 300. Maybe in 2022 I'll make it. 90% were musical theatre, and I gave each a personal rating in my diary. There were only four all year that I didn't enjoy and wouldn't revisit. I'm happy to spend a lot of money and chip away at the kids' inheritance because I'm not getting any younger and the hours I spend in the front rows of theatres watching musicals, both professional and amateur, are the most joyous of my current life. Incidentally I got chatting to a lovely lady called Angela before the show yesterday, to whom I recommended theatre board. She had no idea it wasn't a traditional telling of Cinderella, made me wonder how many other attendees are similarly unaware and how they react. This review reminds me of something I haven’t thought of before. It’s something I’ll tell myself next time I don’t enjoy a show: while I obviously hope to enjoy every show I see I’d still prefer a bad experience at the theatre than no experience at all. |
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Post by stuartmcd on Jul 1, 2021 12:39:09 GMT
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jul 1, 2021 12:52:28 GMT
I thought she was about to be sacrificed in that first one until I zoomed in!
It looks like the Stepmother could hide a small child under that skirt, like this!
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Post by amuseical on Jul 1, 2021 13:08:14 GMT
For anyone who got a programme, do you mind sharing who the covers are for various roles? Thanks!
Edit:
Understudies are
Cinderella: Lauren Byrne, Georgia Tapp
Sebastian: Michael Hamway, Jonathan David Dudley
The Queen: Michelle Bishop, Jessica Kirton, Kelsie-Rae Marshall
The Stepmother: Michelle Bishop, Alexandra Waite-Roberts
Marie: Sophie Camble, Lauren Stroud
Adele: Katie Ivory Jordan, Sophie Camble
The Godmother: Nicole Deon, Alexandra Waite Roberts
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Post by danb on Jul 1, 2021 13:14:01 GMT
Based on the reviews so far (I’m not going for a few weeks yet) I wonder how much this was written for an American market in an attempt to subvert and overlap ideas of panto, fairytale and identity. Maybe they were hoping a Broadway audience would think they were seeing the theatrical equivalent of a Banksy, and whilst they might not understand it might appreciate and embrace it? It was initially slated to open on Broadway wasn’t it?
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Post by jane94 on Jul 1, 2021 14:20:32 GMT
Has anyone heard about their tickets for next week? I’m booked for the 8th through TodayTix and haven’t heard anything, I’m thinking they might well be cancelled, or at least moved, but it’d be nice to know soon!
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Post by ceebee on Jul 1, 2021 14:23:02 GMT
Based on the reviews so far (I’m not going for a few weeks yet) I wonder how much this was written for an American market in an attempt to subvert and overlap ideas of panto, fairytale and identity. Maybe they were hoping a Broadway audience would think they were seeing the theatrical equivalent of a Banksy, and whilst they might not understand it might appreciate and embrace it? It was initially slated to open on Broadway wasn’t it? I think Cinderella's natural home may end up being in the States - if they can iron out the creases in London. |
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Post by alece10 on Jul 1, 2021 14:57:55 GMT
Has anyone heard about their tickets for next week? I’m booked for the 8th through TodayTix and haven’t heard anything, I’m thinking they might well be cancelled, or at least moved, but it’d be nice to know soon! I'm going on the 9th and booked direct via LW Theatres. I am still going but have been moved back a row and the other side of the aisle which I am happy with as I am a bubble of 1 so was expecting to have been cancelled |
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Post by properjob on Jul 1, 2021 18:25:17 GMT
Based on the reviews so far (I’m not going for a few weeks yet) I wonder how much this was written for an American market in an attempt to subvert and overlap ideas of panto, fairytale and identity. Maybe they were hoping a Broadway audience would think they were seeing the theatrical equivalent of a Banksy, and whilst they might not understand it might appreciate and embrace it? It was initially slated to open on Broadway wasn’t it? I think Cinderella's natural home may end up being in the States - if they can iron out the creases in London. I came to almost the exact opposite conclusion. I didn't know anything about Emerald apart from an unusual first name and winning an Oscar so I had just assumed (incorrectly) they were American so I was surprised with the opening number being such a pastiche of a panto opening number. That made me think it wouldn't translate well overseas. |
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