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Post by theatremadness on May 5, 2016 22:19:31 GMT
From Baz on twitter:
Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1947 musical Allegro receives its European premiere (and first proper UK staging) at the Southwark Playhouse from August 5th. Directed by Thom Southerland.
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Post by JJShaw on May 5, 2016 23:11:02 GMT
wow how exciting! was wondering when they would announce their summer musical, looking forward to it, i wonder if the wonderful tom southerland and the southwark can fix some of its flaws
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 6, 2016 6:32:21 GMT
So exciting
I love the score and it's such a bold concept
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Post by westendcub on May 6, 2016 10:20:26 GMT
Never heard of this one before!!
Very intrigued, likely to book for a preview
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Post by emsworthian on May 8, 2016 18:20:06 GMT
Interesting. I saw an amateur production by Portsmouth University last year and I was told this was the first production in the UK. I'd described it as flawed but with some lovely moments.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 8, 2016 19:46:23 GMT
Booked. Shame it's in the traverse layout, though. Why do you say that TM? |
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Post by candela on Jun 23, 2016 13:22:35 GMT
Taken from Westend frame:
Full casting and creative team have been announced or the European première of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Allegro.
The show opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 11th August (previews from 5th August) for a six week season until 10th September 2016. Director Thom Southerland is working on a new adaptation of the book.
Allegro will star Katie Bernstein (Emily West), Emily Bull (Jennie Brinker), David Delve (Ned Brinker), Julia J Nagle (Marjorie Taylor), Dylan Turner (Charlie Townsend), Susan Travers (Grandma Taylor), Gary Tushaw (Joseph Taylor Jr) and Steve Watts (Dr Taylor).
The cast is completed by Cassandra McCowan, Matthew McDonald, Louise Olley, Benjamin Purkiss, Jacqueline Tate, Samuel Thomas, Leah West and Matthew Woodyatt.
Orchestrations are by Mark Cumberland with musical direction by Dean Austin, choreography by Lee Proud, set by Anthony Lamble, costume by Jonathan Lipman, lighting by Derek Anderson and sound by Andrew Johnson. Casting is by producer Danielle Tarento.
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Post by Michael on Jun 23, 2016 13:26:18 GMT
Two words: Katie Bernstein.
10th September is the only day I could do, so I should better get my ticket.
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 23, 2016 13:38:36 GMT
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Post by Michael on Jun 23, 2016 14:59:31 GMT
Done in the interval at Aladdin 
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Post by bartbeeny on Jun 27, 2016 19:17:42 GMT
The London School of Musical Theatre performed it at the Bridewell a year or so ago and there's some great music - most famous perhaps The Gentlemen is a Dope, but it comes rather out of the blue, sung by a character who sings it and disappears. The plot is a little weird, but it's still charming.
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19,657 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2016 6:48:36 GMT
Booked for a matinee thanks to the Virgin seat sale. Tenner each way from Manc!
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19,657 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2016 11:36:53 GMT
thanks to the Virgin seat sale. How do they tell? Do they test you? Does it mean staying pure over Christmas? How much if you slip and they find out? WE NEED TO KNOW!!! Taxi! |
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Post by lou105 on Aug 6, 2016 12:42:12 GMT
Anyone going today? Interested to hear opinions.
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Post by westendcub on Aug 6, 2016 14:58:49 GMT
Anyone going today? Interested to hear opinions. Going on Monday so will post afterwards! |
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 6, 2016 15:09:58 GMT
Going to next Saturday's matinee with BurlyBeaR
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Post by showgirl on Aug 6, 2016 15:27:53 GMT
Yup, going today!
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Post by showgirl on Aug 6, 2016 17:51:43 GMT
OK, it did start a bit late, but today's matinee didn't finish until 6 pm. A long show & a slow burn but it grew on me. Impressed by cast member I now know to be the aforementioned Katie B.
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Post by lou105 on Aug 6, 2016 19:24:18 GMT
I guess it might tighten up, but it does puzzle me that Southwark stick to their late start times regardless of the length of the show.
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Post by foxa on Aug 6, 2016 19:54:26 GMT
I'm going on Tuesday. I know this is a musical that has been reworked by other directors, but apparently it's hard to get it to entirely work, despite its pedigree. For some people, the song to watch (listen out)for is The Gentleman is a Dope.
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 6, 2016 20:02:16 GMT
Was at today's matinee too.
Sorry to say I didn't enjoy it, and this is a real rarity for me as I usually find something in the production I can hold on to and praise.
The problem is the show itself. I almost left at the interval as I was almost bored to tears. But I made myself stay till the end, which I'm kind of glad I did. Katie Bernstein the star with her solo being the only highlight of the show. It's just dull for me. The cast do their best with what they're given - which isn't much.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 20:54:11 GMT
John Doyle whipped it into shape for an American production, pruning and shaping it into a continuous ninety minutes. I hoped they might be using that version but it appears like the whole thing if it's two and a half hours.
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 6, 2016 23:19:59 GMT
Sure that isn't Legally Blonde ^
Was there, this afternoon and it was very pedestrian and plodded at times, however if you want some great songs Rodgers and Hammerstein deliverer.
Agree with the late start and length of show, didn't get out until 6pm, lucky I only had the Young Vic to go to, via the National for their delicious Watermelon salad.
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Post by showgirl on Aug 7, 2016 5:27:54 GMT
Hard to believe this show could be reduced to 90 mins without some ruthless pruning - and imho, it doesn't need anything that drastic, but in its current form, it not only contains too much material but is also too long. I'm sure it will tighten up (after all, I saw only the second preview) and so late a start should be rare (they were re-jigging things to cover for the sudden illness of a cast member, so well done to all, as I was none the wiser about what had been altered), but I'd prefer a slightly shorter, tauter version. Plus it'd be a relief to audiences sweltering in the current heat and goodness knows how the cast manage in their bulkier, tighter costumes!
As I said, it was slow to work for me and whilst I wasn't tempted to leave at the interval, it wasn't until the second half that the show really won me over, and for a long time it did seem very similar to many other long musicals I'd seen at the same venue in the last few years. I know they are not really that alike but it's the perception which counts for me, i.e. a huge, hard-working cast but a work I probably won't remember.
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Post by daroca on Aug 7, 2016 19:08:43 GMT
Showgirl. Totally agree with your comments. It's well worth a visit, but currently both acts are about 10 mins too long. I preferred the second act too. I'm planning to go again later in the run.
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