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Post by eggemann on Sept 9, 2021 22:19:40 GMT
So I watched the matinee today. I personally found it highly enjoyable.
The cast were on top form, I couldn’t say there was a single weak link among them. I have read a lot mixed things about the quality of the set, but I found it be extremely well put together, you could see the Disney money on stage. The revolve on stage was good and not overused, plenty of special effects that. I enjoyed.
I found the use of the LCD and projections to be very good. The background LCD was used almost entirely as just a set backdrop, even transitioning in the way a physical one would by raising and lowering into the ceiling. I feel this was done to give it the impression of a physical set backdrop and takeaway the focus of it being digital. However i can see why that would look like a PowerPoint transition to some, but that’s not how it read to me on stage. While the screen is used wonderfully to compliment on stage set pieces, there is one instance where it becomes the focal point of the staging and this fails, The library scene.
Which for me didn’t work at all. We are all just looking at a large flat in image of a library with zero physical set and it falls so flat. So underwhelming.
The main thing I took away from this was the music. I have seen only two shows since Covid, the first was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, which while I enjoyed, was so musically empty relying almost entirely on preprogrammed keys. I compare that sound to this and I must say it was so much more enjoyable to listen to live. And I’d say that good for a touring production.
Oh and Be Our Guest knew exactly what it needed to do and what pure spectacle and fun. They got that very very right.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 9, 2021 22:37:36 GMT
So I watched the matinee today. I personally found it highly enjoyable. The cast were on top form, I couldn’t say there was a single weak link among them. I have read a lot mixed things about the quality of the set, but I found it be extremely well put together, you could see the Disney money on stage. The revolve on stage was good and not overused, plenty of special effects that. I enjoyed. I found the use of the LCD and projections to be very good. The background LCD was used almost entirely as just a set backdrop, even transitioning in the way a physical one would by raising and lowering into the ceiling. I feel this was done to give it the impression of a physical set backdrop and takeaway the focus of it being digital. However i can see why that would look like a PowerPoint transition to some, but that’s not how it read to me on stage. While the screen is used wonderfully to compliment on stage set pieces, there is one instance where it becomes the focal point of the staging and this fails, The library scene. Which for me didn’t work at all. We are all just looking at a large flat in image of a library with zero physical set and it falls so flat. So underwhelming. The main thing I took away from this was the music. I have seen only two shows since Covid, the first was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, which while I enjoyed, was so musically empty relying almost entirely on preprogrammed keys. I compare that sound to this and I must say it was so much more enjoyable to listen to live. And I’d say that good for a touring production. Oh and Be Our Guest knew exactly what it needed to do and what pure spectacle and fun. They got that very very right. What is this LCD you talk of? Is it similar to LED ? |
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Post by eggemann on Sept 9, 2021 22:58:25 GMT
What is this LCD you talk of? Is it similar to LED ? It is possible I meant light-emitting diodes rather than liquid crystal display indeed. In summary: big screens |
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Post by ABr on Sept 16, 2021 17:40:58 GMT
I've seen this tweet today, which has a photo of Courtney in the yellow ball gown... Have production shots been released that I've missed??
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Post by enh2 on Sept 16, 2021 17:47:44 GMT
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Post by Theatre Fan on Sept 16, 2021 18:02:24 GMT
All three that have been released so far x
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 16, 2021 19:08:34 GMT
Erm why is there a wardrobe centre stage at the end of the show? Is everyone transformed to human again except Lady Wardrobe?
The show looks horrible I’m afraid to say.
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Post by Theatre Fan on Sept 16, 2021 19:16:51 GMT
Erm why is there a wardrobe centre stage at the end of the show? Is everyone transformed to human again except Lady Wardrobe? The show looks horrible I’m afraid to say. It's part of the scenery that they use for the Beast's transformation x |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 16, 2021 19:18:04 GMT
Erm why is there a wardrobe centre stage at the end of the show? Is everyone transformed to human again except Lady Wardrobe? The show looks horrible I’m afraid to say. It's part of the scenery that they use for the Beast's transformation x Sounds dreadful. What a shame. |
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Post by jacob on Sept 16, 2021 19:34:42 GMT
It's part of the scenery that they use for the Beast's transformation x Sounds dreadful. What a shame. Unfortunately it was weak .. a glamorous cruise show |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2021 21:24:21 GMT
The beasts make up, or lack of, looks a bit ridiculous.
If those are the best promotional pics they can release at the start then I'm losing hope rapidly. I don't know what disney treat beauty and the beast so badly. The original paved the way for disney in theatre, and was a monster hit and a gorgeous production. Since then it's just been one cheap production after another.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 16, 2021 21:28:53 GMT
They should have used a British team for this if they were going to premiere it here. It could have been a beautiful and witty production. An utter waste.
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Post by ruby on Sept 16, 2021 22:22:57 GMT
I went last night and was impressed, thought it was a fun show and the effects were great. Be Our Guest was particularly good.
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Post by sph on Sept 16, 2021 22:44:12 GMT
I quite like these new photos! How's the transformation? Have they completely changed it from the old effect?
And yes, at first I thought that was a big wardrobe in the finale, which is odd, but then I thought, maybe it's supposed to be the castle doors?
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Post by anthem on Sept 16, 2021 22:54:26 GMT
They should have used a British team for this if they were going to premiere it here. It could have been a beautiful and witty production. An utter waste. Presuming the budget remained the same, why would a British team have created a beautiful and witty production? |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 16, 2021 23:00:48 GMT
They should have used a British team for this if they were going to premiere it here. It could have been a beautiful and witty production. An utter waste. Presuming the budget remained the same, why would a British team have created a beautiful and witty production? Because they are better? Better taste levels… wittier… Given an A list creative team here, this production would have been so much more exciting. |
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 16, 2021 23:02:07 GMT
It wasn’t the best overall production but I had a great time tonight and Courtney Stapleton really was pretty incredible as Belle I thought!
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Post by danb on Sept 16, 2021 23:03:53 GMT
Yes, she was radiant.
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Post by Jon on Sept 16, 2021 23:04:33 GMT
I don't really get why they used the original creative team for a reimagined production. Surely a new team would be able to look at the show with fresh eyes rather than what worked before.
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Post by jacob on Sept 19, 2021 9:40:25 GMT
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Post by stevej678 on Sept 23, 2021 22:09:38 GMT
Wow, I thought this was outstanding tonight at the Liverpool Empire.
Opening night of the run there, theatre packed to its 2,350 capacity, and a full standing ovation from everyone on both levels at the start of the bows.
I thought it felt fresh, contemporary and altogether quite spectacular! A reminder of everything we've missed over the past eighteen months. The big ensemble numbers were an absolute joy.
It's hard to imagine the performances of Gavin Lee and Nigel Richards as Lumiere and Cogsworth being bettered, while Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo delivered in spades in the title roles.
One of those nights in the theatre to treasure and an easy five stars from me. Now let's hope they announce Manchester dates soon for a second viewing next year!
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Post by alison on Sept 23, 2021 22:31:50 GMT
Wow, I thought this was outstanding tonight at the Liverpool Empire. Opening night of the run there, theatre packed to its 2,350 capacity, and a full standing ovation from everyone on both levels at the start of the bows. I thought it felt fresh, contemporary and altogether quite spectacular! A reminder of everything we've missed over the past eighteen months. The big ensemble numbers were an absolute joy. It's hard to imagine the performances of Gavin Lee and Nigel Richards as Lumiere and Cogsworth being bettered, while Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo delivered in spades in the title roles. One of those nights in the theatre to treasure and an easy five stars from me. Now let's hope they announce Manchester dates soon for a second viewing next year! You had Alyn Hawke making his debut as the Beast, not Emmanuel. If you happened to be close enough to get a good look at his Beast makeup (or lack of it?) I’d be very interested to know details. When I saw the show early in the Bristol run, they were relying on Emmanuel’s skin tone to do the heavy lifting with just a prosthetic nose and the wig/horns. I’m intrigued to know if it’s any different with his white understudy. |
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Post by inthenose on Sept 24, 2021 15:15:59 GMT
Wow, I thought this was outstanding tonight at the Liverpool Empire. Opening night of the run there, theatre packed to its 2,350 capacity, and a full standing ovation from everyone on both levels at the start of the bows. I thought it felt fresh, contemporary and altogether quite spectacular! A reminder of everything we've missed over the past eighteen months. The big ensemble numbers were an absolute joy. It's hard to imagine the performances of Gavin Lee and Nigel Richards as Lumiere and Cogsworth being bettered, while Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo delivered in spades in the title roles. One of those nights in the theatre to treasure and an easy five stars from me. Now let's hope they announce Manchester dates soon for a second viewing next year! You had Alyn Hawke making his debut as the Beast, not Emmanuel. If you happened to be close enough to get a good look at his Beast makeup (or lack of it?) I’d be very interested to know details. When I saw the show early in the Bristol run, they were relying on Emmanuel’s skin tone to do the heavy lifting with just a prosthetic nose and the wig/horns. I’m intrigued to know if it’s any different with his white understudy. Alyn Hawke has stood out to me to me in three different ensembles as an incredible dancer. I saw him when he looked very young in the Evita tour with Abi Jaye (my favourite Evita) and Mark Heenahan (who understudied Quast in the Grandage production). Subsequently saw him in An American in Paris and in 42nd Street (one of the best ensemble casts in West End history). How was he as Beast? So happy he's pushing on and getting bigger parts. Had him down as a more of a dancer though! Got to be one of the most underrated British talents around. And no, I'm not his agent! |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 24, 2021 21:44:53 GMT
I’m very intrigued that you mistook the white understudy for Emmanuel …
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