|
Post by aingidh on Oct 21, 2021 20:32:07 GMT
I’m in tomorrow at the Playhouse. It’s a MASSIVE theatre and stage so I’m a little anxious about how well it’ll be filled in terms of set/visuals. Have heard great things about Courtney regardless and my ticket was a £20 single seat in the stalls so it’ll be a good night out anyway.
|
|
|
Post by eggemann on Oct 21, 2021 21:36:13 GMT
I don’t get the cheap comments. I saw Priscilla touring last month and that was cheap, I would not put this production anywhere close. Maybe you don’t like the design choices but to me the whole thing says Disney money.
|
|
|
Post by luminaire on Oct 21, 2021 22:53:47 GMT
I don’t get the cheap comments. I saw Priscilla touring last month and that was cheap, I would not put this production anywhere close. Maybe you don’t like the design choices but to me the whole thing says Disney money. I mean what's there looks good and quality... it's more the lack of what is there. And I don't buy this touring stuff, they were able to tour the original with modifications, a lot of shows can still tour big lavish sets. Is it a better attempt at a revival version? Sure. Does this live up to the original which is probably one of Disney's best theatrical adaptions... not at all.
|
|
|
Post by sph on Oct 22, 2021 0:19:11 GMT
I don’t get the cheap comments. I saw Priscilla touring last month and that was cheap, I would not put this production anywhere close. Maybe you don’t like the design choices but to me the whole thing says Disney money. I mean what's there looks good and quality... it's more the lack of what is there. And I don't buy this touring stuff, they were able to tour the original with modifications, a lot of shows can still tour big lavish sets. Is it a better attempt at a revival version? Sure. Does this live up to the original which is probably one of Disney's best theatrical adaptions... not at all. Yes the level of detail and overall "theatricality" of the original was just stunning. The village set for the new production looks like it lives up to that, but the rest doesn't. May I ask those who have seen it to post (in spoilers) what some of the big special effects scenes are like, such as the prologue and the Beast's transformation back to a Prince?
|
|
|
Post by h86 on Oct 22, 2021 5:33:25 GMT
I don’t get the cheap comments. I saw Priscilla touring last month and that was cheap, I would not put this production anywhere close. Maybe you don’t like the design choices but to me the whole thing says Disney money. I mean what's there looks good and quality... it's more the lack of what is there. And I don't buy this touring stuff, they were able to tour the original with modifications, a lot of shows can still tour big lavish sets. Is it a better attempt at a revival version? Sure. Does this live up to the original which is probably one of Disney's best theatrical adaptions... not at all. I think it’s a good idea not to pass judgement like that unless you have actually seen the production live….. Meanwhile Alyn Hawke was still on for Beast at opening night last night at Edinburgh. Grace Swaby was on for Belle. Has anyone seen her in that role? Wonder whether it’s worth seeing again to see her?
|
|
5,276 posts
|
Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 22, 2021 7:30:58 GMT
The costumes alone look cheap. Let alone the set.
|
|
6,333 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by danb on Oct 22, 2021 8:18:22 GMT
The main problem visually is exactly as people have said. Cheap looking costumes, massive gaps in the staging, the make up design of the Beast, the costume of the beast, the performance of the beast…
It has many positives. The rest of the cast are great , Courtney really leads the company, the big illusions are well done (there isn’t a lot for the beast to shed though so that was easily done) and the screens fill some of the gaps. There is not enough depth to the stage. There is the foreground & there are the screens.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2021 9:33:13 GMT
There's just a lack of depth and detail in the staging/set/costumes. It also doesn't have that fairytale feel and look which for this shownis probably more crucial than any other Disney show
|
|
776 posts
|
Post by latefortheoverture on Oct 22, 2021 18:22:11 GMT
|
|
776 posts
|
Post by latefortheoverture on Oct 22, 2021 18:24:07 GMT
Apologies she has now clarified the tweet
|
|
|
Post by aingidh on Oct 22, 2021 21:44:24 GMT
Really enjoyed the show tonight! I do have to agree about the sets being minimal but the projections looked very good quality and the cast and orchestra were great. The big group numbers in particular were outstanding, and the applause after Be Our Guest went on for ages. Quite a few covers on - Grace Swaby as Belle, Alyn as Beast (although given the recent situation he might be a bit more than a cover now), and Rhys West as Gaston. All of them were brilliant. I’ll definitely be wanting to watch it again as I think it’s the best show I’ve seen at the Playhouse in a while.
|
|
18,806 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 22, 2021 22:13:31 GMT
The main problem visually is exactly as people have said. Cheap looking costumes, massive gaps in the staging, the make up design of the Beast, the costume of the beast, the performance of the beast…It has many positives. The rest of the cast are great , Courtney really leads the company, the big illusions are well done (there isn’t a lot for the beast to shed though so that was easily done) and the screens fill some of the gaps. There is not enough depth to the stage. There is the foreground & there are the screens. the original or the stand in?
|
|
6,333 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by danb on Oct 23, 2021 4:14:27 GMT
Original. He didn’t appear to be enjoying himself at all.
|
|
14 posts
|
Post by westendlover92 on Oct 25, 2021 10:19:29 GMT
Beauty and the beast dominion Change of theatre
Priscilla Or grease tour filler
Don’t quote me
Frees up my fair lady for palladium
Word on the vine…
|
|
6,333 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by danb on Oct 25, 2021 19:29:53 GMT
What theatre are Grease & Priscilla filling?
That puny B&TB set has no hope of filling the Dominion without looking even worse.
|
|
544 posts
|
Post by amp09 on Oct 25, 2021 22:17:41 GMT
Beauty and the beast dominion Change of theatre Priscilla Or grease tour filler Don’t quote me Frees up my fair lady for palladium Word on the vine… So no My Fair Lady at Coliseum?
|
|
55 posts
|
Post by drfootlights on Oct 25, 2021 23:06:29 GMT
Touring versions of Priscilla and Grease are definitely going into the Dominion through the spring.
|
|
4,448 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Being Alive on Oct 25, 2021 23:40:59 GMT
...My Fair Lady is at the Coli - or at least it was when I checked on Friday!
|
|
6,333 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by danb on Oct 26, 2021 9:28:06 GMT
Touring versions of Priscilla and Grease are definitely going into the Dominion through the spring. I can easily see the Grease tour filling the stage. Very well staged dance numbers and a big enough cast if everyone is on…maybe hire a couple of extra swings to cover the holes. The depth with Andres DJ booth will help fill that cavernous warehouse a bit. Haven’t seen Priscilla so can’t comment.
|
|
4,448 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Being Alive on Oct 26, 2021 10:52:41 GMT
The Priscilla tour is...dreadful and build to go into tiny houses so it'll get swallowed in the Dominion
|
|
|
Post by hairspray57 on Oct 26, 2021 18:00:30 GMT
...My Fair Lady is at the Coli - or at least it was when I checked on Friday! I wonder who they will cast.
|
|
1,102 posts
|
Post by zak97 on Oct 26, 2021 18:03:52 GMT
I thought it was posted that Hairspray was headed for the Dominion
|
|
|
Post by hairspray57 on Oct 26, 2021 18:09:17 GMT
I thought it was posted that Hairspray was headed for the Dominion The Hairspray tour there would look quite poor compared to the production this summer.
|
|
6,333 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by danb on Oct 26, 2021 18:32:15 GMT
It is a great idea to get touring musicals to extend their runs by doing a few months in the West End, if there are appropriate houses free. Sticking something that has been reduced to tour (4 flats, 6 ensemble and ‘2 confetti sticks at the end’) into something the size of the Dominion is a hiding to nothing. They would have to haul the Coliseum set out of storage if they were going to squeeze the last breath out of Hairspray there.
|
|
1,905 posts
|
Post by LaLuPone on Oct 26, 2021 20:55:28 GMT
Hairspray at the Dominion was always going to be a transfer of the recent Coliseum production anyway no? That’s what the rumours had been. It was never going to be what’s touring right now, they have dates booked up through at least the first half of next year anyway.
|
|
6,333 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by danb on Oct 26, 2021 20:59:56 GMT
Is it with Balls attached or a different Edna? Isn’t he touring with that panel beater from Clevelys over Xmas?
|
|
|
Post by 821mrjamie on Oct 27, 2021 23:24:07 GMT
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS Finaly saw it tonight at the playhouse, the screen looks great I think and with the scrim down I front of it I it was just a painted backdrop at first. Costumes and sets looked great and I get the thing people are talking about with an empty stage, but the ensemble is big enough that the crowd scenes like hastens and the angry mob look very full. The only costume of set thing I didn't like was chip, the poor young actor sat for basicly the whole show with his head poking out of a table, surely they could have had him sat on top or used a creative costume so he didn't look decapitated. A girl next to me wept though the title song and I thought that "a change in me" was the best sung song in the show and just a really great moment. We did have 2 show stops though, one fell on the scene change going from the castle into "me" in act 1. And the other happend in act 2 as belle held up the mirror to the crowd just before the mob song. I think ut was due to automation as there was bug set peices that had to roll of at the end of both of thouse scenes. Have show stops for technical issues been consistent problem for this show? Be our guest really was the big wow though, because most of the show is set in the dark castle when the bright sets and costumes came out it was even more dazzling. Do have to say I expected a bit more from the final transformation, but all the other effects felt so well done, the rose, the mirror, lumieres firery candle hands, even the projections and especially the projected arches were great.
|
|
|
Post by h86 on Oct 28, 2021 8:48:49 GMT
I’m aware of there being a few show stops as is expected for a brand new production but nothing consistent I would say. I know the transformation failed at least once, Gaston and Beast fight scene went on for too long and resulted in a stop as the scenery didn’t enter and the Belle dress reveal didn’t reveal as it should have once as well.
|
|
|
Post by 821mrjamie on Oct 28, 2021 13:24:26 GMT
I’m aware of there being a few show stops as is expected for a brand new production but nothing consistent I would say. I know the transformation failed at least once, Gaston and Beast fight scene went on for too long and resulted in a stop as the scenery didn’t enter and the Belle dress reveal didn’t reveal as it should have once as well. When we saw the transformation it just looked like some flashing lights and a caoe reveal, im wondering if there's a b mode for it, is he ment to levitate or something?
|
|
|
Post by h86 on Oct 28, 2021 14:57:40 GMT
I’m aware of there being a few show stops as is expected for a brand new production but nothing consistent I would say. I know the transformation failed at least once, Gaston and Beast fight scene went on for too long and resulted in a stop as the scenery didn’t enter and the Belle dress reveal didn’t reveal as it should have once as well. When we saw the transformation it just looked like some flashing lights and a caoe reveal, im wondering if there's a b mode for it, is he ment to levitate or something? Yeah he is meant to levitate and spin around. Someone did say on a vlog when they watched the show in Liverpool that the beast slipped out of the thing holding him and fell a short distance landing on his feet. So whether they have changed it since for safety I don’t know…..but when I saw it multiple times in Bristol it always worked and looked really impressive.
|
|