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Post by ceebee on Aug 23, 2019 13:21:59 GMT
Does anybody else think "Martin Guerre" should get the Open Air Theatre treatment? (Thinking more of the scaled back actor/muso Watermill production rather than the Prince Edward or WYP versions.)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 13:38:09 GMT
Anything but an actor/muso production.
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Post by Jon on Aug 23, 2019 14:21:59 GMT
Martin Guerre is probably a bit too risky for the Open Air.
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Post by 49thand8th on Aug 23, 2019 14:37:00 GMT
But think of the possibilities with cannons!
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Post by ali973 on Aug 23, 2019 15:42:40 GMT
Yes. But not actor/musician. I'd love to see a revival.
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Post by danb on Aug 23, 2019 17:37:25 GMT
I could enjoy a greatest hits of B&S type concert where those wonderful songs wouldn’t have to compete with the pointless book...
“Look! It’s Martin Guerre!....”
“No it isn’t, he’s over there’
‘Oh yeah’
The end.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 18:04:52 GMT
I really enjoyed Martin Guerre. I know it was ages ago, but I remember some beautiful duets and some big fun dance routine things.
I'd definitely consider seeing a revival, and I don't really like or see musicals any more.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 23, 2019 18:09:15 GMT
I loved it. Best B&S show in my view. I know plenty of people who were utterly bored and frustrated by it though.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 23, 2019 18:10:43 GMT
I preferred the original version (which I saw opening week) to any of the revisions that followed in the West End and beyond.
Losing the old women trio was always a mistake!
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Post by sandman on Aug 23, 2019 21:05:02 GMT
I preferred the original version (which I saw opening week) to any of the revisions that followed in the West End and beyond. Losing the old women trio was always a mistake! Ha. Losing the Sleeping On Our Own trio was my first requirement. Just felt like a forced attempt at injecting humour into the piece. No pleasing everyone obviously. 🙁 I saw it a lot in the West End from the first preview through to the closing night. Every version brought something I liked whilst also seeming to lose something else I liked. Not sure they ever struck the right balance. I’d love to see a revival. Some of Schonberg’s strongest music for me. I think there’s a stunning musical in there somewhere just waiting to be unearthed. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 21:33:10 GMT
The show needs to decide if it IS Martin Guerre, or it its an imposter, and it also needs to decide if we the audience should know this at the beginning or save the reveal till the end. It will require a big book change to be a hit.
But some of the score is gorgeous and the orchestrations shouldn't be wasted on actor/muso.
No three comedy old ladies please.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 22:22:07 GMT
The major problem with the original cast was they employed James Cordon in his first professional theatrical role. Had they not it would still be running. Thank god America swallowed him up
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 23, 2019 22:26:56 GMT
I liked the sense of a village community in the original. The trio added to that texture.
I also very much prefer Bethlehem to whatever the lyrics became.
In many ways, it has similarities with Chess. Good music, books that don't work and no easy solution.
But we should still keep trying
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 22:51:11 GMT
The major problem with the original cast was they employed James Cordon in his first professional theatrical role. Had they not it would still be running. It wasn't and it wouldn't. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 23, 2019 22:54:46 GMT
Love to comment, but just can’t as I have never seen it.
But no to actor/musician, as for me the stage is for actors and the pit is for musicians.
No to the Open Air as well, as this one I cannot being made special by the outdoors.
However this has been hinted at the is going to be the next ENO musical, which would be great.
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Post by Mark on Aug 23, 2019 22:59:31 GMT
Could be a good Menier summer musical!
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Post by Jon on Aug 23, 2019 23:17:16 GMT
Martin Guerre is like Chess, a show that keeps being tinkered with but there's never been a definite version.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 23:52:59 GMT
It could work outdoors, because alot of the show takes place outside, but its not known enough for Regents Park, and there's no way it would ever be considered for ENO, for the same reason.
The opening, and Working On The Land are beautiful and the original choreography suited the production so well. All that stomping! And i have a soft spot for Louison.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 9:34:42 GMT
The major problem with the original cast was they employed James Cordon in his first professional theatrical role. Had they not it would still be running. It wasn't and it wouldn't. I don’t count Love Life! |
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Post by anita on Aug 24, 2019 9:48:26 GMT
I saw him in it & he was fine.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 24, 2019 9:54:12 GMT
It could work outdoors, because alot of the show takes place outside, but its not known enough for Regents Park, and there's no way it would ever be considered for ENO, for the same reason. The opening, and Working On The Land are beautiful and the original choreography suited the production so well. All that stomping! And i have a soft spot for Louison. Agree it could work well outdoors being set in Artigat. I'll never forget the powerful imagery of the trees that moved on stage at the Prince Edward, even if the tech was highly advanced for its time and prone to stalling. The burning of Louison got me every time, and Sebastian Torkia was a superb Benoit. |
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Post by ceebee on Aug 24, 2019 9:55:12 GMT
I saw him in it & he was fine. Me too - plus why do we enjoy bashing folk who have made a successful career? I'm not Corden's number one fan but fair play to him - he's done very well. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 10:35:06 GMT
I saw him in it & he was fine. Me too - plus why do we enjoy bashing folk who have made a successful career? I'm not Corden's number one fan but fair play to him - he's done very well. I think people enjoy bashing him less because he has done well and more to do with the reputation of quite an unpleasant fellow he has become with success. However, I guess we don’t know what it’s like to be him and it might be quite unpleasant |
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Post by ceebee on Aug 24, 2019 10:52:10 GMT
Me too - plus why do we enjoy bashing folk who have made a successful career? I'm not Corden's number one fan but fair play to him - he's done very well. I think people enjoy bashing him less because he has done well and more to do with the reputation of quite an unpleasant fellow he has become with success. However, I guess we don’t know what it’s like to be him and it might be quite unpleasant Fair enough. I don't know him but he always strikes me as good fun. Who knows what any of these folk are like out of the public eye? Sometimes, we expect too much of them. They are human like the rest of us and fallible. It was often fun seeing JC in the ensemble at Martin Guerre, because even at his pre-famous stage of career, he clearly enjoyed himself on stage. |
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Sept 1, 2019 7:33:08 GMT
I think people enjoy bashing him less because he has done well and more to do with the reputation of quite an unpleasant fellow he has become with success. However, I guess we don’t know what it’s like to be him and it might be quite unpleasant Sounds as if you speak from experience betty? I’ve got friends and former colleagues at the NT and in TV in LA who would attest to this. And I personally found him obnoxious during Into The Woods too. But the worst story I heard was from BA cabin crew. Of all the JC stories I’ve heard they are 100% negative. Much like Cilla, he knows how to put on a good public persona when needs be. |
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