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Post by shady23 on Oct 9, 2021 23:11:05 GMT
First performance tonight and, like at Bedknobs, we had Michael Harrison doing a little speech on the stage beforehand thanking everyone involved, praising Newcastle audiences and thanking people for supporting their local theatre.
Onto the show and it is REALLY good!
Beverley Knight plays Faye Treadwell and the show is essentially her telling her daughter the story of what happened with the band. Like Jersey Boys there is some action, then a song and repeat.
The four men play, well basically every body else in the story. A multitude of characters! The cast consists of only those six. They rarely leave the stage throughout and really put the work in.
The voices.... wow... the voices... there were several points where I had tears. Not because it was sad but because it was beautiful. Beverley's performance to close Act 1 was just astonishing. We all know she can sing but I honestly had no idea she was this good.
The stage is high and uses a light up floor, moving platforms and moving walls coming in. Simple but very effective.
Only downside for me, and we all probably acknowledge it seems to be getting worse everywhere is audience etiquette. Like Jersey Boys etc you get people who think these shows are a concert. There were signs everywhere saying please don't sing until the finale but nobody took any notice. I had Beryl from Byker belting in one ear and Gail from Gateshead in a other. I would just like to hear the performers thanks! In reality I had it pretty easy compared to down the row who had a gaggle of very drunken older ladies wearing birthday sashes who we were continually hearing being told to shush and them replying they wouldn't. Ah the joys of the Friday and Saturday night theatre performances in City Centres...
On the positive side though, the audience reaction was loud and a full standing ovation.
To conclude, I loved this show and hope it goes on to be very successful indeed.
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Post by shady23 on Oct 9, 2021 23:28:06 GMT
shady23 would appreciate any info on whether back of stalls overhang likely to affect view of any elevated scenes. They sing at the back of the stage stood on a platform briefly but you won't miss much overall I don't think. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 9, 2021 23:42:21 GMT
She did do matinees in the Bodyguard at the Dominion as I went to a Saturday afternoon one and she was on. She didn't do wednesday matinees i think - i definitely went & saw (a fantastic) alternate I remember a detailed list of her planned absences being available on the Bodyguard website. Considering the prominence of the notice of her January absence on the official website it be a bit odd if she has a regularly scheduled alternate not mentioned covering more performances in total., |
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Post by shady23 on Oct 10, 2021 11:51:31 GMT
Tina Treadwell's daughter flew in from America to watch the show last night
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Post by Mark on Oct 10, 2021 12:46:54 GMT
shady23 would appreciate any info on whether back of stalls overhang likely to affect view of any elevated scenes. They sing at the back of the stage stood on a platform briefly but you won't miss much overall I don't think. Thanks! Went for the front row instead (and £10 cheaper) so guess I’ll miss the floor stuff but otherwise should be ok. |
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Post by anthem on Oct 10, 2021 20:32:37 GMT
Hopefully they’ll do a cast recording for this.
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Post by shady23 on Oct 11, 2021 15:01:55 GMT
Received an email inviting people who were at opening night to rebook for tomorrow or Wednesday for £20 which was a nice surprise as there are very few tickets left for either performance. Managed to find a lovely seat that should have been nearly £60. I'm a sucker for an offer.
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Post by tlyon4784 on Oct 13, 2021 18:06:56 GMT
Received an email inviting people who were at opening night to rebook for tomorrow or Wednesday for £20 which was a nice surprise as there are very few tickets left for either performance. Managed to find a lovely seat that should have been nearly £60. I'm a sucker for an offer. I was there last night! I loved it, I hope they offer this £20 to other I would love to go back! |
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Post by shady23 on Oct 13, 2021 20:24:12 GMT
I was back there last night on the £20 offer. An amazing seat in row D. I couldn't see any of the light up floor but the view of everything else was incredible.
The stage is very high. It basically a built up stage upon the usual stage due to the light up floor. I am in row A on Saturday and I think I will be leaving with a sore neck...
The audience behaviour front of stalls was in vast contract to the boozed up upper circle crowd I saw on Saturday. Quiet and respectful.
Very full audience and there are now programmes available.
Witnessing this spectacular show from close proximity really was an utter joy.
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Post by partytentdown on Oct 13, 2021 20:49:21 GMT
Are there any offers about for the London run?
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Post by amp09 on Oct 14, 2021 0:05:34 GMT
Are there any offers about for the London run? Not seen any at this stage. Has sold well for its opening weeks. Wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up on Rush or with some sort of lottery though as every new opening is doing it these days |
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Post by Mark on Oct 14, 2021 15:55:27 GMT
Well, put me in the “Loved it” club - what a show - great great fun and probably some of the best vocal performances I’ve heard recently. Particular mention to Tosh Wanogho-Maud who had me totally captivated during one of the act one numbers. Beverley of course has some fantastic moments, not least the act one finale when she really gets to show off her vocals. Loved having the small cast with all the guys playing multiple roles.
I’m sure there will be some tightening of dialogue in the coming weeks, and they could make a bit more of a thing of the finale, but otherwise this is in tip top form and I think will do rather well with the critics!
Front row was a bargain for £20, although I can imagine it being even higher at the Garrick. I didn’t feel I lost anything sitting there and it was great to see the performances up close.
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Post by tom on Oct 14, 2021 17:15:13 GMT
Gutted I am no longer in the UK as this sounds right up my street. Amazing cast with amazing voices too.
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Post by shady23 on Oct 16, 2021 21:57:43 GMT
At the matinee today in the front row £20 seats, thank you so much to the person who posted in this thread about them.
The stage is very high but the view was still wonderful with very little missed. An absolute bargain for the price. I do think, however, that in seats so close to the performers that maybe masks should be mandatory in those areas to protect them? We were maybe a metre away from the performers at some points.
Little more I can say about this show that I haven't said already. It is sensational and the voices are out of this world. Cannot recommend it enough.
One more week in Newcastle before it moves to London.
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Post by paplazaroo on Oct 20, 2021 6:46:28 GMT
I enjoyed this but maybe not as much as everyone else, it’s a fairly standard jukebox, too many songs just performed as if at a concert or recording studio to get much emotion or character investment, act 2 is better than act 1 as it has some nice comedy moments. Cast are excellent though and if you just want to hear the drifters music expertly sung then you’ll love it - it’s a bit like jersey boys but with The Drifters.
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Post by shady23 on Oct 26, 2021 18:01:57 GMT
Beverley Knight on the One Show now, she was also on the Radio 2 breakfast show this morning.
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 2, 2021 20:54:48 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this on Thurs night - the first night of preview performances in London. I’ve booked mainly on the strength of the cast and the comments on here from those who saw the Newcastle run so will post my thoughts on Friday!
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Post by shady23 on Nov 2, 2021 21:10:02 GMT
It was very interesting to see in previews and watch the creative process. By the time they left Newcastle one song had been swapped and another scenes dialogue totally re-written.
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 5, 2021 10:47:46 GMT
Well I thought it was great! Beverley Knight just has that ‘x factor’ stage presence and everytime she sang she raised the roof.
Tosh, Adam, Matt and Tarinn all work really hard playing the multiple characters but this was done effortlessly and didn’t feel confusing - Tarinn’s brief pre-pandemic stint in Come From Away will have helped him no end I’m sure, but all four carried it off. The changes are done in a very similar way to CFA with a change of jacket or hat (and sometimes an accent too) to differentiate. Each of the four had their chance to shine and take lead but I have to say Tosh seemed to really stand out with his rendition of Stand By Me which got a great response from the audience. In fact several numbers received extended applause. The accents and comedy in the British hotels number in the second half were fantastic!
It felt like a cross between Jersey Boys and Memphis for me - Beverley’s presence clearly gives it an edge over a standard jukebox musical, but whilst they may not be household names, the strength of the four male leads all elevated the show for me. With just Amari Brown completing the cast (playing Beverley’s daughter) the cast of six were so good I didn’t feel it missed having a supporting cast at all.
If I had one tiny criticism it would be that I’d have liked to hear Beverley sing slightly more - perhaps just one more number, but the ones she does are wonderful - strong, clear and apparently effortless. She’s absolutely one of the most talented British singers around today. I’d definitely recommend seeing it - let’s hope this one gets a decent run at the Garrick and helps the West End recovery into next year.
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Post by callum on Nov 5, 2021 11:11:02 GMT
Great review Nick -
Any opinions on seating options? Looking at restricted view house left seats in a few weeks. Will these be okay do you think?
The horseshoe shape and pillars in the Garrick can be a pain sometimes…
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Post by A.Ham on Nov 5, 2021 12:21:37 GMT
Great review Nick - Any opinions on seating options? Looking at restricted view house left seats in a few weeks. Will these be okay do you think? The horseshoe shape and pillars in the Garrick can be a pain sometimes… Thank you! I was sat front row of dress - a bit off centre but was a great view (premium once it’s opened officially at the end of the month). I’d avoid anything with pillars in view, or rear stalls due to the overhang, but it’s so small in there anywhere else ought to be good - even those on the side. I never book without checking Theatre Monkey and usually aviewfrommyseat.co.uk too and it’s a strategy that usually works! |
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 9, 2021 6:04:21 GMT
Online day seats available for this now on the Nimax website every day at 10am. I had a check at around midday today and there were still plenty of food stalls seats left for the £25 day seat price, but I guess they’ll start to go quicker as more people hear about them.
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Post by mattnyc on Nov 9, 2021 20:44:14 GMT
I’m so so so excited to FINALLY be able to see the divine Beverly Knight in person in a couple weeks. Does anyone know if they’re selling show posters t the theatre?
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Post by shady23 on Nov 9, 2021 22:04:51 GMT
They were in Newcastle
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Post by amp09 on Nov 10, 2021 0:18:43 GMT
Online day seats available for this now on the Nimax website every day at 10am. I had a check at around midday today and there were still plenty of food stalls seats left for the £25 day seat price, but I guess they’ll start to go quicker as more people hear about them. Thank you. Will give this a go next week. Glad to see yet another show doing it themselves, Move over TodayTix… |
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