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Post by alnoor on Nov 30, 2019 23:56:21 GMT
Saw it tonight as well.
Agree with all that has been said.
Really enjoyed it.
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Post by sf on Dec 1, 2019 0:14:44 GMT
Of all the productions of Gypsy I've ever seen, this was certainly the most... recent. And the show has one of the greatest overtures in the American musical theatre canon. You DO NOT cut chunks out of it. At least, you don't if you have any taste. People have buses to catch sf ! seriously though, I don’t know it well enough to notice that. How much was cut? They skip the part with the melody of You'll Never Get Away From Me, and the transition from that into the melody of Small World. And the (re) arrangement isn't particularly well done. |
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Post by sf on Dec 1, 2019 0:19:32 GMT
It could lose twenty minutes without cutting a word. The pacing is incredibly slack. Lol I’m thinking we don’t agree on this one! Apparently not! Usually,a production using this version of the text (that is, retaining the short reprise of Small World and the bits of the hotel room scene that were cut from the Staunton revival) would come in under three hours. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 1, 2019 0:56:02 GMT
People have buses to catch sf ! seriously though, I don’t know it well enough to notice that. How much was cut? They skip the part with the melody of You'll Never Get Away From Me, and the transition from that into the melody of Small World. And the (re) arrangement isn't particularly well done. Ok, I 100% respect your detailed knowledge of the score. But what I noticed during that overture was that the audience was quiet, and as I looked across at them (I was sat at stage level under the orchestra) they were looking up at the orchestra and smiling and taking it all in. Savoy? Not so much. I suppose there’s an argument to be had about how authentic a production has to be to be “valid” but from what you’ve said were elements cut from the Imelda version too. Did you only hate the REX version because of the technicalities? |
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Post by sf on Dec 1, 2019 8:18:14 GMT
They skip the part with the melody of You'll Never Get Away From Me, and the transition from that into the melody of Small World. And the (re) arrangement isn't particularly well done. Ok, I 100% respect your detailed knowledge of the score. But what I noticed during that overture was that the audience was quiet, and as I looked across at them (I was sat at stage level under the orchestra) they were looking up at the orchestra and smiling and taking it all in. Savoy? Not so much. I suppose there’s an argument to be had about how authentic a production has to be to be “valid” but from what you’ve said were elements cut from the Imelda version too. Did you only hate the REX version because of the technicalities? "Hate" is a stronger word than I would have chosen. I think there are a few very nice things in this production. The scenes between Louise and June in the first act are lovely, the strip sequence is terrific, and the set is excellent. And the elements of the production that are less successful are somewhat mitigated by the writing, which is flat-out brilliant. This is just as much an American classic as, say, The Iceman Cometh or Death Of A Salesman or Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. And this production, at this point, doesn't do it justice, and neither does the leading lady. Ria Jones sings it very well. Compared to other people I've seen in the role, her acting choices are completely one-dimensional (yes, even compared to Bernadette Peters, who has the acting range of a two-speed blender). Rose's Turn, last night, wasn't a nervous breakdown, it was Ria Jones doing the showstopper. It was a bit like watching Philip Schofield trying to play King Lear. I think she's great in the right role, I loved her Norma Desmond, but in this, I'm afraid, I didn't think she was very good at all. And the orchestrations are mediocre, the pacing is atrocious - this show should not be three-and-a-quarter hours long - and most of the accents are appalling, and the gimmicky casting of Electra doesn't work. It was a first preview, and there are things that can be fixed, but the biggest problem here, unfortunately, is that Rose requires a brilliant actor who can also sing, and Jones is an excellent singer who can also act a bit. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 1, 2019 9:14:47 GMT
Something they do need to fix in previews is that in the Act 1 opening scene and in the dressing room confrontation between Rose and Louise in Act 2, a rail of costumes is rolled on as part of the set. If you’re sat in the wrong place (me) it completely obscures the action until the actors move around.
I went yesterday at an hours notice, I looked at the map to see how it had sold and there was a single seat just asking to be bought. My prebooked visit with pals is later in the month so it will be interesting to see what changes.
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Post by zak97 on Dec 1, 2019 11:08:36 GMT
Is Rebecca Thornhill u/s Rose?
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Post by david on Dec 1, 2019 11:14:21 GMT
Is Rebecca Thornhill u/s Rose? Had a look in the programme. No info is given unfortunately about u/s as far as I can see. |
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Post by learfan on Dec 1, 2019 11:20:23 GMT
Website now saying 3 hrs 5 minutes, it was saying 2.55 the other day. Seems long for a musical.
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Post by undeuxtrois on Dec 1, 2019 18:01:52 GMT
Is the programme 4 quid? Bit worried about the running time of this cos I'll have to get the last train home, and we all know how reliable northern rail are...
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 1, 2019 18:31:11 GMT
I don’t buy them so can’t tell you, sorry.
Would they exchange you for a matinee perhaps?
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Post by undeuxtrois on Dec 1, 2019 18:59:03 GMT
I don’t buy them so can’t tell you, sorry. Would they exchange you for a matinee perhaps? Not sure cos I've got the 7 quid under 25s ticket and it was only available for evening performance so I would be able to pay any extra |
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Post by david on Dec 1, 2019 19:04:05 GMT
Is the programme 4 quid? Bit worried about the running time of this cos I'll have to get the last train home, and we all know how reliable northern rail are... I can confirm that the programme is £4. |
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Post by marob on Dec 1, 2019 21:12:58 GMT
Well I was looking forward to this, but I can't believe it's 3 hours 15. The train I usually get is hourly and leaves Piccadilly at 53 minutes past, so I really hope this gets cut down quite a lot by I see it in January. According to a google search the Imelda Staunton production was 2hrs 50. Is this just really leisurely paced or are there significant differences?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 1, 2019 21:54:12 GMT
Well I was looking forward to this, but I can't believe it's 3 hours 15. The train I usually get is hourly and leaves Piccadilly at 53 minutes past, so I really hope this gets cut down quite a lot by I see it in January. According to a google search the Imelda Staunton production was 2hrs 50. Is this just really leisurely paced or are there significant differences? I gather that Ria Jones cruise ship singer vibrato adds a further 25minutes onto the running time.. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 1, 2019 21:59:40 GMT
I’ll be providing bed and breakfast facilities during the run. 10 minutes walk from the REX. No pets, no smokers, no &Juliet haters... 😐
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Post by sf on Dec 1, 2019 22:47:38 GMT
Well I was looking forward to this, but I can't believe it's 3 hours 15. The train I usually get is hourly and leaves Piccadilly at 53 minutes past, so I really hope this gets cut down quite a lot by I see it in January. According to a google search the Imelda Staunton production was 2hrs 50. Is this just really leisurely paced or are there significant differences? The Staunton production made a few small cuts, but they account for five or six minutes of running time at the most. Gypsy is never a *short* show, but it usually comes in under three hours; the issue here is pacing, and I would hope that's something they'll work on. |
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 2, 2019 12:51:24 GMT
I’ll be providing bed and breakfast facilities during the run. 10 minutes walk from the REX. No pets, no smokers, no &Juliet haters... 😐 A 'proper' breakfast, or something pretentious and healthy, and does a house-trained monkey count as a pet? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 2, 2019 13:03:54 GMT
I’ll be providing bed and breakfast facilities during the run. 10 minutes walk from the REX. No pets, no smokers, no &Juliet haters... 😐 A 'proper' breakfast, or something pretentious and healthy, and does a house-trained monkey count as a pet? Smashed “advocaado” on artisanal wholemeal bloomer, quinoa flakes with your choice of non dairy milks, home made artisanal quince marmalade. Artisanal vegan sausages. Decaf Nicaraguan coffee-style beverage or fennel tea. **We are a palm oil free business** While you’re dealing with that I’ll be round the corner at Greggs 🥧 |
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Post by xanady on Dec 2, 2019 14:59:20 GMT
Comedy gold on this thread...brilliant!😂Will you be making a booking,Tall Paul?
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 2, 2019 15:58:12 GMT
Comedy gold on this thread...brilliant!😂Will you be making a booking,Tall Paul? I'm waiting for clarification on the sheet situation. Nothing less than a 400 thread count for me these days. 🛏 |
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Post by Dawnstar on Dec 2, 2019 20:02:55 GMT
I'm waiting for clarification on the sheet situation. Nothing less than a 400 thread count for me these days. 🛏 Do you count them every time you get to a B&B? And I NEED a banana in the morning. I'm guessing lunchtime & dinner as well. Probably elevenses, tea & midnight snack too! |
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Post by theatre241 on Dec 6, 2019 16:52:10 GMT
Went to press night and I really enjoyed it! 4 stars. It lacked a bit of punch at times, the orchestra in some numbers were far too quiet and I do think Gypsy needs a large orchestra but this band was okay, think there was 7. Ria Jones shined more in the acting department and at times I felt like she couldn’t sing it lol, very nasal and her vibrato is very tight and doesn’t sound to pleasant if I’m beeing honest. The staging is really nice with a revolve and the floor is silvery and mirrored and looked very classy. The light reflected really nicely off it as well so there was some really beautiful moments. The spinning proscenium is so clever and Works for In the round. I would love to see this with a huge orchestra, Rose’s turn was very good as well! Go see it if you can
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Post by marob on Dec 6, 2019 17:27:48 GMT
Glad to see their website's now showing the runtime as 3 hours. Should have just enough time to get to Piccadilly for my train.
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Post by undeuxtrois on Dec 7, 2019 1:49:29 GMT
Enjoyed this show and hope to see it again. Melissa James as Gypsy is perfect. Sang beautifully and adored her in the strip at the end. The intimacy of the theatre is great for this show. The guy playing Tulsa was excellent in dancing, and Herbie was notably strong too. Ria Jones' voice genuinely sounded painful at times, but her acting more than made up for it, especially in Rose's Turn. Some parts were a little dull I guess but that's probably just because the show is quite long. Orchestra could've been a bit louder at times though. Definitely worth seeing if you can.
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