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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 14:53:05 GMT
Talking to WhatsOnStage, the writer Christopher Hampton said he had been working on the musical again, with a view to 'bringing it back in a year or so'.
"We were very pleased with it," he said, "but one of the things that didn't occur to anyone at the time was that [the show] wasn't done any favours by being put in a big theatre.
"We are thinking of bringing it back to a much smaller more intimate venue which will chime better with the subject matter."
www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/stephen-ward-the-musical-to-return_41079.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=22jun2016
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Good god.
I would go back with an open mind if it does return. I went to the second preview the first time round and it was possibly, if not the worst show I have ever seen. Just so boring. They need to definitely do some work to make it work! |
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Post by ali973 on Jun 22, 2016 15:48:52 GMT
I saw the first preview. So boring and uneventful. I was in the first row in the dress circle at the corner and I promise I found the conductor flicking the huge pages of the score a lot more satisfying and entertaining than the show.
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Post by d'James on Jun 22, 2016 15:50:59 GMT
Which Theatre do we think could work?
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 22, 2016 15:54:10 GMT
I enjoyed it and would like to see it again (saw it 6 times at the Aldwych). Only the endless police interview section (which was anything but "juicy") grated on me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 16:02:06 GMT
Which Theatre do we think could work? Somewhere definitely smaller than the Aldwych |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 16:12:59 GMT
It only had two good songs ("I'm Hopeless When It Comes To You" and "1963"), it was way too long and it just felt like a huge waste of talent as the performances were good. It also felt like a story that had no reason to be turned into a musical. Like, where is the audience for this? Older people and some ALW fans I suppose, but even then only a percentage of them would go to the theatre so it was never going to last long.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 22, 2016 16:24:40 GMT
I never saw it, but it all sounded a bit serious and worthy. Was it done with humour?
The film Scandal covered the Profumo affair back in the late 80's and found a balance between the seriousness of the subject matter and a bit of good old British "sauce".
I'm waiting for someone to write a musical version of Personal Services.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 16:26:31 GMT
I never saw it, but it all sounded a bit serious and worthy. Was it done with humour? The film Scandal covered the Profumo affair back in the late 80's and found a balance between the seriousness of the subject matter and a bit of good old British "sauce". I'm waiting for someone to write a musical version of Personal Services. I personally found there to be little to no humour in the show, maybe I just didn't get it?
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Post by n1david on Jun 22, 2016 16:30:43 GMT
The police interrogation scenes are what stick in my mind as well, they seemed endless and so, so dull. Think this possibly could have worked in a smaller space had it focused more on Stephen Ward the character, but the needs of the big auditorium and the expectations of the new ALW musical pumped it up beyond all possibility.
Would be intrigued to hear of a reworking in a space like Southwark or the Union, but I'd need some positive reports before shelling out for tickets again.
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Post by mallardo on Jun 22, 2016 16:53:13 GMT
ALW blamed it on the pain killers he was taking, now Hampton blames it on the theatre. Do these guys ever accept responsibility?
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Post by shady23 on Jun 22, 2016 16:54:09 GMT
Which Theatre do we think could work? The Theatre Cafe?! |
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Post by Michael on Jun 22, 2016 16:54:53 GMT
I saw the first preview. So boring and uneventful. This show was one of the worst things I ever saw. Why on earth would anyone want to revive it ever again? They were brave, put this show on, it failed, fine, then move on and make something different. I was in the first row in the dress circle at the corner and I promise I found the conductor flicking the huge pages of the score a lot more satisfying and entertaining than the show. At least the Dress Circle was still open when you saw it. I had a ticket for one of the slip seats in the Grand Circle - and was upgraded to the Stalls as both upper levels were completely closed. And I saw the show between Christmas and New Year's when London is bursting with tourists. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 22, 2016 16:56:23 GMT
God it was terrible
So many low lights for me
The police interegration
Russian pastiche music for the Russians
Reggae music for the black characters
The botched act 1 finale with a gun
Jo Riding appearing halfway through the second act, having had a 5 second scene in act 1 and then suddenly bursting into a glorious melody
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 16:58:30 GMT
Ooh how thrilling!
I did love that 'Nothing Has Been Proved' number. Dusty sounded lovely there.
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 22, 2016 17:03:12 GMT
I saw it once and can hardly remember a thing about it, which doesn't exactly inspire me to revisit it!
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Post by westendwendy on Jun 22, 2016 17:03:42 GMT
Dear god no.. This show was AWFUL! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 22, 2016 17:07:12 GMT
Ooh how thrilling! I did love that 'Nothing Has Been Proved' number. Dusty sounded lovely there. I remember hearing Neil Tennant recalling the recording session. Dusty, ever the pro, asked him and Chris Lowe "so what are you looking for? How do you want me to sound?" And Neil T, trying to contain himself at being in the same room as her could only burble "we want you to sound like Dusty". |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 17:08:15 GMT
I haven't seen or heard all of it, but it sounds like this show really shouldn't be aiming for an open-ended run in the West End (unless it was in somewhere TINY like the Trafalgar Studios).
I would've thought this would do alright for a season at somewhere like the Menier Chocolate Factory or the Watermill, Newbury or the Minerva in Chichester. Maybe even the Dorfman at the National, but who knows if musical revivals are something Rufus Norris is considering to bring back (except from The Threepenny Opera, but that's a new adaptation).
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Post by notmymuse on Jun 22, 2016 18:22:27 GMT
I haven't seen or heard all of it, but it sounds like this show really shouldn't be aiming for an open-ended run in the West End (unless it was in somewhere TINY like the Trafalgar Studios). I would've thought this would do alright for a season at somewhere like the Menier Chocolate Factory or the Watermill, Newbury or the Minerva in Chichester. Maybe even the Dorfman at the National, but who knows if musical revivals are something Rufus Norris is considering to bring back (except from The Threepenny Opera, but that's a new adaptation). I have seldom (if ever) said that any musical should never see the light of day again, but I'll have to make an exception for this one. I can't see how any director could make this work, and it would need an entire new concept (including new book, subject matter, music and lyrics) rather than a few tweaks. I usually like ALW's stuff (I am probably alone in loving the Woman in White and Whistle Down the Wind...) but this was pretty bad. I remember watching it in disbelief mostly. And the cast even made some comments to the press about struggling to understand how this subject was chosen for a musical. Wherever it goes (if anywhere - and I'd imagine it'll be somewhere uber-small like the (new) Union as ALW allowed The Beautiful Game to be revived there) it'll be one I'll give a miss. |
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 22, 2016 18:35:36 GMT
I can't see who the audience for this would be. I doubt any tourists will want to see this, nor anyone young ish.
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Post by mortenaagaard on Jun 22, 2016 19:14:45 GMT
I didn't like the show, but I love the cast recording.
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Post by theatremadhatter on Jun 22, 2016 19:23:31 GMT
Surely it would be the 'Other palace' / St.James with ALW's involvement there?!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 19:25:24 GMT
If ALW wanted to revive one of his shows, then I would've preferred if it was something like: Evita, Sunset Boulevard or The Wizard of Oz!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 19:42:25 GMT
Evita has only just been in the west end at the dominion and is on tour.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 19:48:17 GMT
Well guys if most of us aren't gonna go, this show has little to no hope of an audience!
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