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Post by HereForTheatre on May 5, 2016 10:47:26 GMT
They have just announced a new production of Grease as their Christmas Musical. It's not a fave but I will go regardless as i support most their work as it's my local theatre.
I do wish they would be a bit more interesting though. With so many things they could do they choose to mount about the billionth production of Grease....
I'm sure it will bring the punters in though which is probably one of their biggest decision making factors. You can probably see why they think safety is their best option reviving massively well known classics. I think the problem is they can't seem to be as daring as places like Sheffield and when they have with brand new shows or less well known shows it's not really worked out. Even Legally Blonde seems to have been a bit too 'modern' and 'new' as it didn't seem to do as well as previous Curve shows.
The problem as well is they aren't going to get quite the level of acclaim and national success they are after putting on productions like these. They need to start putting on things in a different kind of bracket to Grease and Legally Blonde (as enjoyable as they are and more my cup of tea) if they want to start getting acclaimed and transferable shows like Show Boat, Guys & Dolls, Mrs Henderson ect ect.
For what it's worth i think the best one they have done recently was Oliver! at Christmas which i thought was most excellent indeed and was the most accomplished and classy production they have done, I could have easily have seen it on a West End stage to be honest.
But anyway, going of on a tangent...yes so Grease.
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Post by Michael on May 5, 2016 10:59:30 GMT
I almost don't dare admit it, but I've never seen a production of Grease, so I'm trying to squeeze a visit in during my annual New Year's trip to London. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be too many Matinees.
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Post by theatreliker on May 5, 2016 11:49:54 GMT
Tad unoriginal programming. New season includes Importance of Being Earnest and The Twits.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 13:41:51 GMT
Any guess for casting yet?
If it was a West End revival I would've loved to see Julianne Hough as Sandy and Siobhan Dillon as Rizzo. However as it isn't West End I'm not too sure who they will get? Do they do celebrity casting at Leicester for Christmas shows?
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Post by theatreliker on May 8, 2016 14:29:37 GMT
They have done yes. Legally Blonde has not sold well so I think they'd want to make sure Grease does well. Yes it is more of a well known musical but audiences might opt against it if they've seen it recently on tour or in London.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 16:09:06 GMT
They have done yes. Legally Blonde has not sold well so I think they'd want to make sure Grease does well. Yes it is more of a well known musical but audiences might opt against it if they've seen it recently on tour or in London. Legally Blonde hasn't done well?? Would've thought that it would've done well, I think a UK tour would do well, maybe it's how they've revamped it. Grease should do well if they do it right and don't change it to make it tacky, some good celebrity casting will help. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on May 8, 2016 16:37:52 GMT
"make it" tacky? Grease IS tacky.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 19:04:59 GMT
That artwork is tacky.
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Post by max on May 8, 2016 19:36:31 GMT
Is Leicester Curve subsidised?
If so I have to ask "WHY" ?!!!!
Yes, I know they have a good artist development scheme in the studio, but really if they can't raise enough cross-subsidy for that via all these obvious commercial choices they shouldn't be dabbling in commercial Theatre either!
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Post by theatreliker on May 8, 2016 21:44:33 GMT
Yes, I think they are subsidised.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 13, 2016 12:13:39 GMT
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Post by bjorne on Sept 13, 2016 12:16:14 GMT
The only thing I can say now is: YES for Dex Lee.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 13, 2016 12:32:37 GMT
Will this production replace the Dominion theatre production which has toured the UK for what appears to be decades ?
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Post by d'James on Sept 13, 2016 13:08:11 GMT
Dex Lee is gorgeous. Genius casting!
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Post by zak97 on Sept 13, 2016 13:15:41 GMT
Will this production replace the Dominion theatre production which has toured the UK for what appears to be decades ? It is a new production, but that Dominion production is back on tour next year. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 13, 2016 13:18:59 GMT
Is it he first time a UK (or any professional production) has had a black Danny? Or is it quite common?
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Post by ctas on Sept 13, 2016 14:25:35 GMT
Dex Lee is fantastic casting but not even that will make me go see Grease! Haven't been wowed by the last few Curve musicals either to be honest.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 1, 2016 15:44:18 GMT
Some rather interesting digital impressions of the set in this BTS picture Clicky |
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Post by djdan14 on Dec 3, 2016 18:04:56 GMT
Saw the matinee this afternoon, and I HATED it. I've never posted that I've disliked something before and I very rarely hate anything but this is the exception.
Now I have to admit I'm only really familiar with the movie and the only stage version I've seen was on a cruise ship this summer but I enjoyed that much more. Some things that bugged me
1) Are the t-birds only the t-birds in the movie? Because in this they are the burger place boys which just isn't the same.
2) Is we go together always the interval song? Because it closes both halves in this.
3) Frenchie has pink hair all the way through from start to finish. I thought this was just after she had been to beauty school and had a mishap.
This production shows how large the stage is at the curve because the set is pretty sparse and it seems to all be in the school gym apart from the odd bit of furniture to indicate a scene change. And the talking between songs just seemed to drag and drag, felt like 10-15 mins of just random dialogue not going anywhere between songs especially in the first half. It just didn't flow and I felt it could have been cut down. Also it might just be because I'm more familiar with the movie but I'm sure the scene order has been changed.
The cast all tried but I just couldn't warm to them. I nearly left at the interval which I've never done before but I stuck it out and the 2nd half was mildly better. I hate to be negative but this was just a miss for me. Which is a shame because the curve is one of my favourite theatres to visit but this just didn't work. Onwards and upwards!
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Post by talkstageytome on Dec 3, 2016 18:11:59 GMT
Oh what a shame you didn't enjoy it! It got some good reviews and as it's close to where I live I thought about taking my family when I go home this Christmas. Those changes sound very odd though...
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Post by theatremadness on Dec 3, 2016 18:49:00 GMT
Saw the matinee this afternoon, and I HATED it. I've never posted that I've disliked something before and I very rarely hate anything but this is the exception. Now I have to admit I'm only really familiar with the movie and the only stage version I've seen was on a cruise ship this summer but I enjoyed that much more. Some things that bugged me 1) Are the t-birds only the t-birds in the movie? Because in this they are the burger place boys which just isn't the same. 2) Is we go together always the interval song? Because it closes both halves in this. 3) Frenchie has pink hair all the way through from start to finish. I thought this was just after she had been to beauty school and had a mishap. This production shows how large the stage is at the curve because the set is pretty sparse and it seems to all be in the school gym apart from the odd bit of furniture to indicate a scene change. And the talking between songs just seemed to drag and drag, felt like 10-15 mins of just random dialogue not going anywhere between songs especially in the first half. It just didn't flow and I felt it could have been cut down. Also it might just be because I'm more familiar with the movie but I'm sure the scene order has been changed. The cast all tried but I just couldn't warm to them. I nearly left at the interval which I've never done before but I stuck it out and the 2nd half was mildly better. I hate to be negative but this was just a miss for me. Which is a shame because the curve is one of my favourite theatres to visit but this just didn't work. Onwards and upwards! Yes, unfortunately the biggest problem with the film is that it is quite different from the original stage show. The original show in 1971/2 was a much grittier show than what is now usually presented, post-film. The T-Birds were originally called the Burger Palace Boys and the songs 'Grease Is The Word', 'Hopelessly Devoted To You', 'Sandy' and 'You're The One That I Want' didn't exist. But We Go Together did and currently continues to end Act 1 in all stage versions. However, because the 1978 film version was so popular, subsequent revivals of the show now reflect it, i.e Burger Palace Boys become the T-Birds, songs & themes were changed to resemble the film, many songs were replaced and those 4 songs I mentioned above are now included as they were only written for the film. What's different now about this specific Curve production, is that they have been allowed to present a production that does not resemble the current 'Arlene Phillips' show that's wheeled out (last seen in the West End 2007-09), but to create something brand new. The team were allowed access to previously cut material and dialogue and have obviously decided to create a production with changes that resemble more the original production than it does the film, in an attempt to make a more real and truthful production. The 2007 London revival (that was cast using the ITV talent search show) is now the normal current incarnation of the show that you'll see in the UK, it's going on tour from March 2017, so it may be of interest to check it out! |
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Post by d'James on Dec 3, 2016 18:55:42 GMT
When I saw it once, We Go Together wasn't where it is in the film. I remember that. Frenchie's hair changed after the interval, but then again so did the actress.
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Post by djdan14 on Dec 3, 2016 19:29:18 GMT
 Here is a song list for anyone who's interested. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 8:54:03 GMT
Since when did Miss Lynch have a song?
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Post by Angram on Dec 7, 2016 20:34:24 GMT
I confess, I have never seen the movie Grease, or any other stage version, so I went to today's matinee with a completely open mind. It's ok, plenty of energy in the dance routines, really liked Dex Lee. Agree with djdan that the dialogue between songs drags and slows the whole thing down. It won't go down as one of my favourite Christmas productions but it was well received by the Leicester audience. Is it just me who has a slight problem with the plot (if you can call it that), i.e. nice girl has to channel her inner slut to get the boy?
One strange thing - no sign at all of Miss Lynch (Shobna Gulati) this afternoon. Didn't hear or see any announcement about illness, etc. Not having seen the show before I don't know how/where she fits in but anyway they got around the complete absence of one of the characters without any difficulty.
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