4,603 posts
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Post by Mark on Sept 5, 2021 10:00:32 GMT
Went to the matinee yesterday, got the Disney dayseats in the morning (looked to only be four available, two on each of the centre aisle front row!) and then set off straight for Bristol. Well worth the journey, having read on here about the reliance on projections I was concerned but in all honesty, the production was great. From the front row I didn't feel the projections were intrusive and there were more than enough physical set pieces too.
What really stands out about this production is the cast - there is no weak link, and Courtney especially shines and leads the company with such ease. Gavin Lee is also particularly brilliant in this.
Two huge production numbers in act one with Gaston and Be Our Guest, both look great.
Very enjoyable and I can definitely seeing this coming into town. I don't think it needs additional changes or set pieces if I'm honest.
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Post by iamamazing on Sept 5, 2021 13:17:02 GMT
I was thinking this would be perfect for a summer run next year at the colluseum next year I have tickets for Cardiff this Xmas and really looking forward to it.
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4,527 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 5, 2021 14:42:51 GMT
I was thinking this would be perfect for a summer run next year at the colluseum next year I have tickets for Cardiff this Xmas and really looking forward to it. ...there is no way this would sit in the Coliseum - what a waste of a venue that would be. Besides they've got My Fair Lady for the summer. Also, hasnt it already basically been confirmed this is taking the summer slot at the Palladium?
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1,037 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Sept 5, 2021 15:41:37 GMT
I'm intrigued by this... from pictures of the show it doesn't look like the kind of production that should be aiming for the big houses (including the Palladium), but enough people are saying that the projections work well for me to want to see it! I just wish they'd announce more tour dates down south...
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 5, 2021 20:29:23 GMT
Went to the matinee yesterday, got the Disney dayseats in the morning (looked to only be four available, two on each of the centre aisle front row!) and then set off straight for Bristol. Well worth the journey, having read on here about the reliance on projections I was concerned but in all honesty, the production was great. From the front row I didn't feel the projections were intrusive and there were more than enough physical set pieces too. What really stands out about this production is the cast - there is no weak link, and Courtney especially shines and leads the company with such ease. Gavin Lee is also particularly brilliant in this. Two huge production numbers in act one with Gaston and Be Our Guest, both look great. Very enjoyable and I can definitely seeing this coming into town. I don't think it needs additional changes or set pieces if I'm honest. Absolutely agree it doesn’t need additional set pieces, the set is of a West End standard, it just would be a shame when it does come to the West End if the production used blocking because of the size of the set, I would like to see this avoided. I was thinking this would be perfect for a summer run next year at the colluseum next year I have tickets for Cardiff this Xmas and really looking forward to it. ...there is no way this would sit in the Coliseum - what a waste of a venue that would be. Besides they've got My Fair Lady for the summer. Also, hasnt it already basically been confirmed this is taking the summer slot at the Palladium? It hasn’t been confirmed for the London Palladium, but just heavily rumoured. Very likely that to Dominion will be free and the Prince Edward likely, not at all impossible for the Adelphi to be free,
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Post by danb on Sept 5, 2021 22:27:03 GMT
Went to the matinee yesterday, got the Disney dayseats in the morning (looked to only be four available, two on each of the centre aisle front row!) and then set off straight for Bristol. Well worth the journey, having read on here about the reliance on projections I was concerned but in all honesty, the production was great. From the front row I didn't feel the projections were intrusive and there were more than enough physical set pieces too. What really stands out about this production is the cast - there is no weak link, and Courtney especially shines and leads the company with such ease. Gavin Lee is also particularly brilliant in this. Two huge production numbers in act one with Gaston and Be Our Guest, both look great. Very enjoyable and I can definitely seeing this coming into town. I don't think it needs additional changes or set pieces if I'm honest. Absolutely agree it doesn’t need additional set pieces, the set is of a West End standard, it just would be a shame when it does come to the West End if the production used blocking because of the size of the set, I would like to see this avoided. ...there is no way this would sit in the Coliseum - what a waste of a venue that would be. Besides they've got My Fair Lady for the summer. Also, hasnt it already basically been confirmed this is taking the summer slot at the Palladium? It hasn’t been confirmed for the London Palladium, but just heavily rumoured. Very likely that to Dominion will be free and the Prince Edward likely, not at all impossible for the Adelphi to be free, It maybe doesn’t need additional set pieces; it just needs a smaller stage so they aren’t floating in a sea of emptiness. It would work in a smaller house like the Adelphi or even the Prince Edward but it would be lost in the Coliseum or the Dominion. I can’t agree that it’s W/E ready either. The Beasts costume is awful, and his performance isn’t all that. Stapleton steals the show with an understated ‘competence’ I guess. I felt safe in her hands and that she could easily lead this show in the W/E.
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Post by iseestars on Sept 8, 2021 11:30:43 GMT
was at the show last night and how long must this go on and the scene between belle and the wardrobe have been cut. it seems that cast are still in rehearsals everyday and things are constantly changing so in the air on wether or not it gets added back? they also had quite a few tech issues last night but they all did amazingly and coped with it really well. short show stop but the audience were very supportive and the dress reveal got a massive applause straight after show stop
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5,319 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 8, 2021 18:22:13 GMT
Absolutely agree it doesn’t need additional set pieces, the set is of a West End standard, it just would be a shame when it does come to the West End if the production used blocking because of the size of the set, I would like to see this avoided. It hasn’t been confirmed for the London Palladium, but just heavily rumoured. Very likely that to Dominion will be free and the Prince Edward likely, not at all impossible for the Adelphi to be free, It maybe doesn’t need additional set pieces; it just needs a smaller stage so they aren’t floating in a sea of emptiness. It would work in a smaller house like the Adelphi or even the Prince Edward but it would be lost in the Coliseum or the Dominion. I can’t agree that it’s W/E ready either. The Beasts costume is awful, and his performance isn’t all that. Stapleton steals the show with an understated ‘competence’ I guess. I felt safe in her hands and that she could easily lead this show in the W/E. How can you steal the show with competence ?
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5,319 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 8, 2021 18:23:21 GMT
Went to the matinee yesterday, got the Disney dayseats in the morning (looked to only be four available, two on each of the centre aisle front row!) and then set off straight for Bristol. Well worth the journey, having read on here about the reliance on projections I was concerned but in all honesty, the production was great. From the front row I didn't feel the projections were intrusive and there were more than enough physical set pieces too. What really stands out about this production is the cast - there is no weak link, and Courtney especially shines and leads the company with such ease. Gavin Lee is also particularly brilliant in this. Two huge production numbers in act one with Gaston and Be Our Guest, both look great. Very enjoyable and I can definitely seeing this coming into town. I don't think it needs additional changes or set pieces if I'm honest. Absolutely agree it doesn’t need additional set pieces, the set is of a West End standard, it just would be a shame when it does come to the West End if the production used blocking because of the size of the set, I would like to see this avoided. ...there is no way this would sit in the Coliseum - what a waste of a venue that would be. Besides they've got My Fair Lady for the summer. Also, hasnt it already basically been confirmed this is taking the summer slot at the Palladium? It hasn’t been confirmed for the London Palladium, but just heavily rumoured. Very likely that to Dominion will be free and the Prince Edward likely, not at all impossible for the Adelphi to be free, It is going to the Palladium.
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Post by danb on Sept 8, 2021 18:48:12 GMT
It maybe doesn’t need additional set pieces; it just needs a smaller stage so they aren’t floating in a sea of emptiness. It would work in a smaller house like the Adelphi or even the Prince Edward but it would be lost in the Coliseum or the Dominion. I can’t agree that it’s W/E ready either. The Beasts costume is awful, and his performance isn’t all that. Stapleton steals the show with an understated ‘competence’ I guess. I felt safe in her hands and that she could easily lead this show in the W/E. How can you steal the show with competence ? You’ve not seen it yet then? 😂 I just thought that she and Gavin Lee pretty much carried it. It was still the first week when I went so they were finding their feet.
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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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5,319 posts
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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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316 posts
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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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375 posts
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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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5,319 posts
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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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375 posts
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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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5,319 posts
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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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5,319 posts
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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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518 posts
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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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5,319 posts
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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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1,911 posts
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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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6,372 posts
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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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