The Witches of Eastwick In Concert - Sondheim Theatre

Just read an interview with Maria and it looks like it definitely isn’t the original or prince of wales version. It is a concert but it will be costumed, the odd set piece and it does imply they will fly

Why are some of you criticising the actors and saying their not right for their role when the show hasn’t even happened? They’ve been cast for a reason, they’ve had one day of rehearsals and they’re all very talented at what they do. I’m sure everyone will be great.

Because
We’ve
Seen
The
Show
Before.

But if you've seen the show before, and know the roles and whats required of them, you can judge whether established performers are right for the parts...

Laura P-P is very similar to Joanna Riding in a lot of ways, so will be a great Jane.
The other three? Very questionable.

They’ve still not done the show so they could give a performance you’re not expecting. Plus this is an entirely new production, and they wouldn’t have been cast if they weren’t right for the parts.

I'd argue one has been cast for box office, and two others 'because they were free and could hop in last minute'


The proof will be on Monday, at, what sounds like it might be a pretty under-rehearsed concert

People said the same about Michael Crawford going into Phantom and he gave a career defining performance.

I’m always surprised at theatre fans being so closed off.

Theatre is excitement and danger.

Everyone wants no risks anymore, just safe. Boring.

Well that's the thing, isn't it? In many ways you can, and people do, both positively and negatively.

I mean, there is no guarantee someone who was good in a prior role will be great in the next one. But it's a lot more likely than say, me seeing John Partridge who I've previously really not enjoyed him in Miss Saigon, Chicago and La Cage Aux Folles, then suddenly *this* performance is the one which blows me away. Especially considering he's a replacement made after tickets have been sold, and especially seeing as the person he's replacing was desirable to see.

I think it's fair to have assumptions based on knowledge/taste, having seen performers prior. I wouldn't book to go and see Marti Pellow in anything, for instance, because he is always unfailingly terrible.

I also was really looking forward to seeing Giles Terera in this, as he has been great in musicals like Avenue Q and Hamilton, and in a bunch of straight plays as well, but hey, Maria Friedman "saw" "The Witches of Eastwick" a lot more times than I did (having originated the part of Sukie lol), so if she thinks she can make something out of John Partridge, I'm totally open to it, and looking forward to it.

Glass half full and all that lol.

Whether you or I like it or not CHF is bona fide musical theatre performer, she’s not a Gemma Collins. 

Lots of people are going to see Legally Blonde to see Courtney because of her Six following and reports are from some she has been miscast. John Partridge has a following because of his advocacy and outside theatre work does that take away from his decades in the West End? 

is there an element of gate keeping, snobbery of people who have made it outside theatre. 

At what percentage of an audience does the performer become miscast? 10% 50% or are they miscast because the audience there to see them are only there because they like their instas or when they were on Masterchef? 

He had months of training and rehearsal with one of the best teams ever to work on a musical. That is how that performance was created.

A concert version will have a few days at best. It will be fine. But it is naive to think that it will be anything more than that

Performances take time to mature. Time that a concert version with a cast that hasn't played those roles before just simply doesn't have.

Yes but people still didn’t believe he was capable of the role.

Some people are never happy.


In your experience.

In my professional experience magic happens where you least expect it. That’s not naive.