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Post by crabtree on Jul 4, 2021 8:16:55 GMT
Oh burly bear, I was at the same performance, and felt that this was the finest sondheim I have seen in forty of years of seeing Sondheim. To be four feet from Josephine Barstow was a thrill indeed. I loved the stooges as you call them. The whole thing is a memory piece, perhaps taking place at the moment of Mme Armfeld's passing. I found it witty, sensual, inventive, sophisticated, glorious, and I came out giddy with the joy of theatre. The structure of all the songs continues to take my breath away, especially the opening trilogy of songs, and Weekend in the country. Loved the cast and the visual updating - no fills of parasols, hurrah. Every second, and every syllable worked for me. I'd say rush to Leeds in the next two weeks. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 4, 2021 11:56:23 GMT
I couldn’t see why would ANYone fancy Fredrik? Edited to add: completely white cast, which these days looked a bit odd. I've fancied Quirijn de Lang since I saw him as the Count in ON's Le Nozze di Figaro in 2015.
I would imagine this is because the majority of the cast are from ON's chorus & opera choruses, at least in the UK, tend to be predominently white. Also, given the population of Sweden c. 1900 would have been almost entirely white having an all-white cast is surely historically correct.
Sadly I've decided I can't take the risk of travelling to Leeds in less than 2 weeks to see this, as Leeds has one of the highest covid rates in the country & Cambridge's covid rate has more than doubled in the last week.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 4, 2021 12:11:36 GMT
I meant more the character than the actor Dawnstar. I thought Frederik was a bit wet! The setting wasn’t 1900’s, it was that sort of indeterminate period thats so often used these days. A black character wouldn’t have looked at all out of place. Shame you don’t feel able to go. If you’re going to worry about it to the point where you can’t enjoy it then there’s no point. And gosh it was a long day yesterday even for me in Manchester. I left home at 11.45am and didn’t get back until 7pm and I certainly wasn’t dawdling around in Leeds. |
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Post by crabtree on Jul 4, 2021 13:10:17 GMT
Burly bear, yes I would have placed the setting as loosely 50's from the frocks and suits, and I rather enjoyed that they got rid of the parasols and frills - this, to me, made them more real people. Loved the ghost light at the beginning.
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Post by crabtree on Jul 4, 2021 20:08:13 GMT
seeing the show yesterday, i was prompted to dig out the movie......oh my. The show is so theatrical, and they didn't really find a cinematic equivalent. And yes Liz Taylow is awkward, but I've always loved her 'disaster, darling' aside as the guests arrive.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2021 0:25:22 GMT
Few things brings me more joy than a well-executed A Weekend in the Country.
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Post by crabtree on Jul 6, 2021 8:09:23 GMT
And I'm with you on that, Steven. It was thrilling.
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Post by crabtree on Jul 6, 2021 8:45:56 GMT
and can anyone remember exactly where tthe two rogue songs, 'Silly People', and 'My husband the pig' fitted in. The NT's 1995 used the pig, didn't they, but this version at the Leeds Playhouse is so seamless, I can't imagine these songs having a place.
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Post by Oleanna on Jul 6, 2021 10:01:09 GMT
and can anyone remember exactly where tthe two rogue songs, 'Silly People', and 'My husband the pig' fitted in. The NT's 1995 used the pig, didn't they, but this version at the Leeds Playhouse is so seamless, I can't imagine these songs having a place. In Praise of Women segued into My Husband The Pig in the National Theatre production. It gave the two opposing views of Carl-Magnus and Charlotte. I’m less clear on Silly People, but I believe Frid sang it at the top of Act II (please correct me if I’m wrong!) |
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Post by karloscar on Jul 6, 2021 13:07:01 GMT
Frid sang Silly People late in Act 2 as he seduced Petra right before The Miller's Son. Nobody cared about him so the song had to go, I can't remember if he still gets laid.
My Husband the Pig followed Bang! originally, but both got cut in favour of In Praise of Women.
Anne and Henrik also had Two Fairy Tales late in Act 1, but it slowed down the plot and had to go.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jul 6, 2021 13:16:15 GMT
He definitely does get laid, in the secret production that Rob Ashford directed in Marocco a couple of years ago Petra sang "Miller's Son" right next to a yummy naked Frid. Trevor Nunn restored the song for the Menier revival, but he eventually agreed with Sondheim and cut the song before the West End transfer. For those who care here there is Sondheim himself singing "Silly People": through-my-memoirs.tumblr.com/search/silly%20people |
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Post by aweillperson on Jul 8, 2021 16:38:26 GMT
I am a little mixed and tend to agree with burlybear on this one. I'm very familiar with all the rest Sondheim's works and was saving this one as a special treat. I'd only heard a few songs and a slight gist of the plot but generally have avoided it. There will never be a new Sondheim show and I wanted to know what it was like to go in (as) blind (as I could).
Thursday, July 8th matinee.
In brief:
Act I
I was familiar with Now/Later/Soon and had high hopes, but was somewhat disappointed as Henrik really didn't win me over and I found the orchestra overpowering on Fredrik. That said, I was relieved by the clarity of these opera performers! No disrespect, but I'm sure we've all seen how wrong it can go when opera performers meet MT. After Liaisons I was totally sold. The 'stooges' were a little distracting, but I was able to tune them out as it went on. Act I flew by, I was quite surprised to find out it was 90 minutes. Weekend in the Country tickled me pink and I couldn't wait for Act II.
Act II
Oh my goodness, what a treat. I was delighted, I was crushed, and at the end it was a beautiful compromise of both. I felt just serene coming out of the theatre. The set was beautiful with the lighting. Having grown up in Alaska where the sun sets only for a moment in the summer, I completely felt the magic of that indefinite twilight that is described at the top of Act II. Madame Armfeldt (sorry, don't know the actor's name) dropped a few lines and needed them fed to her, but she was splendid nonetheles - my favourite really.
That's all I'll say, I don't want to run my mouth before having fully absorbed the show.
Seats were okay, I'm also tall and it was hard towards the end of Act I.
Can't wait for Buxton on Saturday!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2021 16:47:15 GMT
I am a little mixed and tend to agree with burlybear on this one. I'm very familiar with all the rest Sondheim's works and was saving this one as a special treat. I'd only heard a few songs and a slight gist of the plot but generally have avoided it. There will never be a new Sondheim show and I wanted to know what it was like to go in (as) blind (as I could). Thursday, July 8th matinee. In breif: Act I I was familiar with Now/Later/Soon and had high hopes, but was somewhat disappointed as Henrik really didn't win me over and I found the orchestra overpowering on Fredrik. That said, I was relieved by the clarity of these opera performers! No disrespect to opera performers, but I'm sure we've all seen how wrong it can go when opera performers meet MT. After Liaisons I was totally sold. The 'stooges' were a little distracting, but I was able to tune them out as it went on. Act I flew by, I was quite surprised to find out it was 90 minutes. Weekend in the Country tickled me pink and I couldn't wait for Act II. Act II Oh my goodness, what a treat. I was delighted, I was crushed, and at the end it was a beautiful compromise of both. I felt just serene coming out of the theatre. The set was beautiful with the lighting. Having grown up in Alaska where the sun sets only for a moment in the summer, I completely felt the magic of that indefinite twilight that is described at the top of Act II. Madame Armfeldt (sorry, don't know the actor's name) dropped a few lines and needed them fed to her, but she was splendid nonetheles - my favourite really. That's all I'll say, I don't want to run my mouth before having fully absorbed the show. Seats were okay, I'm also tall and it was hard towards the end of Act I. Can't wait for Buxton on Saturday! Welcome to the board! Nice to see we are alike in our opinions on this. Madame A is Josephine Barstow - she was a big shot opera singer. I actually thought her acting was better than her singing which at 80 something is understandably well past it’s prime. I saw her in Follies at the NT and thought exactly the same, yet others raved about her. |
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Post by aweillperson on Jul 8, 2021 16:59:37 GMT
I am a little mixed and tend to agree with burlybear on this one. I'm very familiar with all the rest Sondheim's works and was saving this one as a special treat. I'd only heard a few songs and a slight gist of the plot but generally have avoided it. There will never be a new Sondheim show and I wanted to know what it was like to go in (as) blind (as I could). Thursday, July 8th matinee. In breif: Act I I was familiar with Now/Later/Soon and had high hopes, but was somewhat disappointed as Henrik really didn't win me over and I found the orchestra overpowering on Fredrik. That said, I was relieved by the clarity of these opera performers! No disrespect to opera performers, but I'm sure we've all seen how wrong it can go when opera performers meet MT. After Liaisons I was totally sold. The 'stooges' were a little distracting, but I was able to tune them out as it went on. Act I flew by, I was quite surprised to find out it was 90 minutes. Weekend in the Country tickled me pink and I couldn't wait for Act II. Act II Oh my goodness, what a treat. I was delighted, I was crushed, and at the end it was a beautiful compromise of both. I felt just serene coming out of the theatre. The set was beautiful with the lighting. Having grown up in Alaska where the sun sets only for a moment in the summer, I completely felt the magic of that indefinite twilight that is described at the top of Act II. Madame Armfeldt (sorry, don't know the actor's name) dropped a few lines and needed them fed to her, but she was splendid nonetheles - my favourite really. That's all I'll say, I don't want to run my mouth before having fully absorbed the show. Seats were okay, I'm also tall and it was hard towards the end of Act I. Can't wait for Buxton on Saturday! Welcome to the board! Nice to see we are alike in our opinions on this. Madame A is Josephine Barstow - she was a big shot opera singer. I actually thought her acting was better than her singing which at 80 something is understandably well past it’s prime. I saw her in Follies at the NT and thought exactly the same, yet others raved about her. Thank you very much for the warm welcome! And funny enough, I remember thinking she reminded me of the woman from NT Follies... Thank you for enlightening me! |
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Post by singingbird on Jul 8, 2021 17:52:57 GMT
I am a little mixed and tend to agree with burlybear on this one. I'm very familiar with all the rest Sondheim's works and was saving this one as a special treat. I'd only heard a few songs and a slight gist of the plot but generally have avoided it. There will never be a new Sondheim show and I wanted to know what it was like to go in (as) blind (as I could). Thursday, July 8th matinee. In breif: Act I I was familiar with Now/Later/Soon and had high hopes, but was somewhat disappointed as Henrik really didn't win me over and I found the orchestra overpowering on Fredrik. That said, I was relieved by the clarity of these opera performers! No disrespect to opera performers, but I'm sure we've all seen how wrong it can go when opera performers meet MT. After Liaisons I was totally sold. The 'stooges' were a little distracting, but I was able to tune them out as it went on. Act I flew by, I was quite surprised to find out it was 90 minutes. Weekend in the Country tickled me pink and I couldn't wait for Act II. Act II Oh my goodness, what a treat. I was delighted, I was crushed, and at the end it was a beautiful compromise of both. I felt just serene coming out of the theatre. The set was beautiful with the lighting. Having grown up in Alaska where the sun sets only for a moment in the summer, I completely felt the magic of that indefinite twilight that is described at the top of Act II. Madame Armfeldt (sorry, don't know the actor's name) dropped a few lines and needed them fed to her, but she was splendid nonetheles - my favourite really. That's all I'll say, I don't want to run my mouth before having fully absorbed the show. Seats were okay, I'm also tall and it was hard towards the end of Act I. Can't wait for Buxton on Saturday! I'm so happy to read this. More and more I think A Little Night Music is perhaps the most perfect, bewitching musical that I know - and I love reading how it makes others feel when they experience it... |
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 8, 2021 19:47:25 GMT
I am a little mixed and tend to agree with burlybear on this one. I'm very familiar with all the rest Sondheim's works and was saving this one as a special treat. I'd only heard a few songs and a slight gist of the plot but generally have avoided it. There will never be a new Sondheim show and I wanted to know what it was like to go in (as) blind (as I could). Thursday, July 8th matinee. In breif: Act I I was familiar with Now/Later/Soon and had high hopes, but was somewhat disappointed as Henrik really didn't win me over and I found the orchestra overpowering on Fredrik. That said, I was relieved by the clarity of these opera performers! No disrespect to opera performers, but I'm sure we've all seen how wrong it can go when opera performers meet MT. After Liaisons I was totally sold. The 'stooges' were a little distracting, but I was able to tune them out as it went on. Act I flew by, I was quite surprised to find out it was 90 minutes. Weekend in the Country tickled me pink and I couldn't wait for Act II. Act II Oh my goodness, what a treat. I was delighted, I was crushed, and at the end it was a beautiful compromise of both. I felt just serene coming out of the theatre. The set was beautiful with the lighting. Having grown up in Alaska where the sun sets only for a moment in the summer, I completely felt the magic of that indefinite twilight that is described at the top of Act II. Madame Armfeldt (sorry, don't know the actor's name) dropped a few lines and needed them fed to her, but she was splendid nonetheles - my favourite really. That's all I'll say, I don't want to run my mouth before having fully absorbed the show. Seats were okay, I'm also tall and it was hard towards the end of Act I. Can't wait for Buxton on Saturday! Welcome to the board! Nice to see we are alike in our opinions on this. Madame A is Josephine Barstow - she was a big shot opera singer. I actually thought her acting was better than her singing which at 80 something is understandably well past it’s prime. I saw her in Follies at the NT and thought exactly the same, yet others raved about her. I agree her singing in Follies wasn't the best but I think that's what makes her performance so heartbreaking since her song is all about the contrast between her younger and older self. I wish I could see her in this but the trek to Leeds is a bit too much during covid times for me unfortunately. |
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Post by bimse on Jul 9, 2021 6:28:15 GMT
I am a little mixed and tend to agree with burlybear on this one. I'm very familiar with all the rest Sondheim's works and was saving this one as a special treat. I'd only heard a few songs and a slight gist of the plot but generally have avoided it. There will never be a new Sondheim show and I wanted to know what it was like to go in (as) blind (as I could). Thursday, July 8th matinee. In brief: Act I I was familiar with Now/Later/Soon and had high hopes, but was somewhat disappointed as Henrik really didn't win me over and I found the orchestra overpowering on Fredrik. That said, I was relieved by the clarity of these opera performers! No disrespect, but I'm sure we've all seen how wrong it can go when opera performers meet MT. After Liaisons I was totally sold. The 'stooges' were a little distracting, but I was able to tune them out as it went on. Act I flew by, I was quite surprised to find out it was 90 minutes. Weekend in the Country tickled me pink and I couldn't wait for Act II. Act II Oh my goodness, what a treat. I was delighted, I was crushed, and at the end it was a beautiful compromise of both. I felt just serene coming out of the theatre. The set was beautiful with the lighting. Having grown up in Alaska where the sun sets only for a moment in the summer, I completely felt the magic of that indefinite twilight that is described at the top of Act II. Madame Armfeldt (sorry, don't know the actor's name) dropped a few lines and needed them fed to her, but she was splendid nonetheles - my favourite really. That's all I'll say, I don't want to run my mouth before having fully absorbed the show. Seats were okay, I'm also tall and it was hard towards the end of Act I. Can't wait for Buxton on Saturday! I was at this matinee performance as well, and I really appreciate the report by aweillperson . I’ve never seen A Little Night Music before , I thought this was a brilliant production with terrific performances. I have read somewhere that Sondheim wrote this for actors rather than singers , and there was more dialogue than I expected, but as performed by opera singers the music was just beautiful . So nice to be back in a theatre after so long . This production deserves to be seen by more people . The front of house staff were amazing, so welcoming and reassuring , thank you to everyone for such a delightful treat . |
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Post by benny20 on Jul 9, 2021 15:46:01 GMT
Just had an email from Leeds Playhouse. All audience members attending next week will have to have a covid negative test result or be double jabbed. Part of the Govt test event. .Luckily we are both double jabbed
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Post by saral on Jul 9, 2021 15:50:55 GMT
Just had an email from Leeds Playhouse to say performances from 14-17 July are now taking place under the governments events research programme pilot scheme, so to attend you either need to be doubly jabbed, produce evidence of a negative lateral flow test or a positive PCR within 180 days of the performance (taking into account isolation time)
Performances are still socially distanced and masks required
I thought the point of the pilot scheme was to test things that weren't originally required not just to bring in new rules 5 days before a performance 🤷
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 10, 2021 12:20:50 GMT
I have a ticket for 15th but haven't had an email from Leeds Playhouse. It doesn't actually matter, given I've decided the covid levels are too high for me to go, but they don't know that so I wonder why they've emailed some audience members & not others.
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Post by saral on Jul 10, 2021 12:52:47 GMT
I have a ticket for 15th but haven't had an email from Leeds Playhouse. It doesn't actually matter, given I've decided the covid levels are too high for me to go, but they don't know that so I wonder why they've emailed some audience members & not others. That is strange, it's not as if they have just picked a % of the audience for the test Sorry you aren't now going to attend, but understandable |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 10, 2021 17:19:51 GMT
That is strange, it's not as if they have just picked a % of the audience for the test Sorry you aren't now going to attend, but understandable Yes, Checked my spam folder etc. just in case but can't find anything.
It's not so much the sitting in the theatre that I feel is too risky as the 3 hours each way train journey. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 10, 2021 18:26:59 GMT
That is strange, it's not as if they have just picked a % of the audience for the test Sorry you aren't now going to attend, but understandable Yes, Checked my spam folder etc. just in case but can't find anything.
It's not so much the sitting in the theatre that I feel is too risky as the 3 hours each way train journey. Is there a first class option on the train? It’s not always massively more and you can guarantee it will be sparsely occupied. I have to say though, even in economy from Manc to Leeds last week the outbound was busy but everyone had masks on and were very clearly looking to sit away from strangers. I was exhausted when I got home though, it was a 7 hour day for the Saturday matinee even being an only hour away. Being 3 hours away… I would balk at that (because I don’t have the travel stamina of FrontrowverPaul 😬) |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jul 10, 2021 19:43:50 GMT
The difference in cost between first class and standard can vary enormously between rail operators. On Trans Pennine and East Midlands Railways it is often only a few pounds more, though all you are likely to get apart from a bit more comfort and space is tea/coffee/water and a small packet of crisps/biscuits. On long-distance operators it can be three times the standard fare for not much more at present.
My best ever first class trip was Euston to Glasgow return for the two of us. Total cost on a special offer was £160. We got a two course dinner and snacks plus four alcoholic drinks each on the outward journey and two breakfasts and a hot lunch on the return, plus as many sandwiches and cakes as they kept offering. Both journeys ran over an hour late - which meant extra food/drink but eligibilty for delay repay.. I claimed back every penny of the £160 paid. It was back in the day when Travelodge had £9 room sales too so that was an £18 mini-break.
I'm using Flixbus for my occasional travels beyond London at the moment, though will be going by train to Wakefield in a couple of months for Oklahoma!. A Little Night Music is a show I can appreciate and have seen a couple of times but don't like it enough to travel to Buxton or Leeds.
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 10, 2021 22:50:03 GMT
Is there a first class option on the train? It’s not always massively more and you can guarantee it will be sparsely occupied. I have to say though, even in economy from Manc to Leeds last week the outbound was busy but everyone had masks on and were very clearly looking to sit away from strangers. I was exhausted when I got home though, it was a 7 hour day for the Saturday matinee even being an only hour away. Being 3 hours away… I would balk at that (because I don’t have the travel stamina of FrontrowverPaul 😬)
Probably, but I still feel the risk would be too great. In case anyone thinks I'm being insanely paranoid, my mother is currently on medication that is immunosuppresant & came out of hospital for the 4th time in 2 and a half months less than 2 weeks ago, so it's her I'm worried about giving covid to more than me getting it (not that I want it myself either).
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