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Post by chernjam on Jul 30, 2023 0:32:46 GMT
Having listened to various productions of Aspects, with tweaks, changes and such over the years - its interesting to me that the Jenny story line is considered as controversial now when it has been somewhat toned down as compared to the original in which she was younger and it seemed more mutual between Alex and her (even stranger was that it didn't seem to bother critics too much - the general consensus was that the story was a bad soap opera rather than "ick")
All that being said, it is obviously problematic. I don't understand if going through the trouble of reviving this and billing it as "re-imagining" they didn't really fix that. It really wouldn't require much in terms of changes to the score - some lyric and directorial changes where they make it simply Jenny becoming infatuated with Alex, and Alex not feeling it but perhaps not discouraging it to get back at George for taking Rose. To me that would make the story a bit more believable, dramatic. I get that people would still feel the characters are not likable - which to me has always been the point. That none of them actually get what love is.
Anyway, its sadly a missed opportunity. This "reimagining" was simply really doing some bizarre edits to one of ALWs most cohesive and beautiful scores to give the lead a chance to belt a song that he still think is "his." It ruins the flow where it is placed now as well as the musical motif meaning of it being applied to George rather than Alex doesn't work for the rest of the score. Its sad that one of my favorite scores will probably never see the light of day in a professional setting - let alone get another life on any full recording (which is really a shame since the new orchestrations really do sound beautiful)
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 30, 2023 12:04:29 GMT
That's what happens in this production. Jenny does all the chasing, she's the aggressor and Alex doesnt pay any attention. until the final 5 minutes, when he sings, 'I love her, but i must not love her' She comes out in her nightie leads him to the sofa and he goes in to kiss her, but then George dies and nothing happens between them.
And people's take away from it is 'ICK'
Wait until they turn 'Flowers In The Attic' into a stage version....
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Post by jarnew on Jul 30, 2023 15:06:30 GMT
People make bad moral decisions in life. It happens. I don't want to only see shows where all people are perfect human beings, theatre would be really boring like that. No idea why it is such a big thing with this show.
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Post by anthony on Jul 30, 2023 16:08:49 GMT
That's what happens in this production. Jenny does all the chasing, she's the aggressor and Alex doesnt pay any attention. until the final 5 minutes, when he sings, 'I love her, but i must not love her' She comes out in her nightie leads him to the sofa and he goes in to kiss her, but then George dies and nothing happens between them. And people's take away from it is 'ICK' Wait until they turn 'Flowers In The Attic' into a stage version.... I don't see the problem with the "ick" BUT this isn't too accurate. Alex and Jenny kiss after Love Changes Everything (reprise) (when Jenny sings it to Alex and he calls her foolish - George then walks in during the kiss and it shifts to 'Journey of a Lifetime'). During 'Journey of a Lifetime' Alex and Jenny are both all over each other then too - hugging, linking arms, laughing, whispering into each other's ears, etc. Going for what will probably be my last time tomorrow. Does anyone know Soophia's alt day as Giulietta? Recently saw a video of her performing Hand Me the Wine and the Dice and I wasn't too impressed. Hoping I can catch Danielle one last time - she's wonderful! |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 30, 2023 17:21:22 GMT
That's what happens in this production. Jenny does all the chasing, she's the aggressor and Alex doesnt pay any attention. until the final 5 minutes, when he sings, 'I love her, but i must not love her' She comes out in her nightie leads him to the sofa and he goes in to kiss her, but then George dies and nothing happens between them. And people's take away from it is 'ICK' Wait until they turn 'Flowers In The Attic' into a stage version.... I don't see the problem with the "ick" BUT this isn't too accurate. Alex and Jenny kiss after Love Changes Everything (reprise) (when Jenny sings it to Alex and he calls her foolish - George then walks in during the kiss and it shifts to 'Journey of a Lifetime'). During 'Journey of a Lifetime' Alex and Jenny are both all over each other then too - hugging, linking arms, laughing, whispering into each other's ears, etc. Going for what will probably be my last time tomorrow. Does anyone know Soophia's alt day as Giulietta? Recently saw a video of her performing Hand Me the Wine and the Dice and I wasn't too impressed. Hoping I can catch Danielle one last time - she's wonderful! Also, not accurate. Jenny kisses Alex, Alex freezes in surprise and then George walks in, thinking they were both kissing when it was clearly 1 sided. Hence George thinking something was going on when it wasnt. And they were just having fun at the circus, i dont see any more than that happening. The whole idea is that George was wrong about it, and it's at the end when its about to, that he sees them and has a heartattack. |
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Post by anthony on Jul 30, 2023 17:26:34 GMT
I don't see the problem with the "ick" BUT this isn't too accurate. Alex and Jenny kiss after Love Changes Everything (reprise) (when Jenny sings it to Alex and he calls her foolish - George then walks in during the kiss and it shifts to 'Journey of a Lifetime'). During 'Journey of a Lifetime' Alex and Jenny are both all over each other then too - hugging, linking arms, laughing, whispering into each other's ears, etc. Going for what will probably be my last time tomorrow. Does anyone know Soophia's alt day as Giulietta? Recently saw a video of her performing Hand Me the Wine and the Dice and I wasn't too impressed. Hoping I can catch Danielle one last time - she's wonderful! Also, not accurate. Jenny kisses Alex, Alex freezes in surprise and then George walks in, thinking they were both kissing when it was clearly 1 sided. Hence George thinking something was going on when it wasnt. And they were just having fun at the circus, i dont see any more than that happening. The whole idea is that George was wrong about it, and it's at the end when its about to, that he sees them and has a heartattack. I've seen it a few times and also have just seen a bootleg - certainly isn't a case of the kiss being 1 sided, or Alex freezing in surprise. |
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Post by BVM on Jul 30, 2023 20:02:00 GMT
People make bad moral decisions in life. It happens. I don't want to only see shows where all people are perfect human beings, theatre would be really boring like that. No idea why it is such a big thing with this show. I really couldn't agree more with this. Theatre is meant to challenge and make you think. |
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1,432 posts
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Post by BVM on Jul 30, 2023 20:04:33 GMT
Having listened to various productions of Aspects, with tweaks, changes and such over the years - its interesting to me that the Jenny story line is considered as controversial now when it has been somewhat toned down as compared to the original in which she was younger and it seemed more mutual between Alex and her (even stranger was that it didn't seem to bother critics too much - the general consensus was that the story was a bad soap opera rather than "ick") All that being said, it is obviously problematic. I don't understand if going through the trouble of reviving this and billing it as "re-imagining" they didn't really fix that. It really wouldn't require much in terms of changes to the score - some lyric and directorial changes where they make it simply Jenny becoming infatuated with Alex, and Alex not feeling it but perhaps not discouraging it to get back at George for taking Rose. To me that would make the story a bit more believable, dramatic. I get that people would still feel the characters are not likable - which to me has always been the point. That none of them actually get what love is. Anyway, its sadly a missed opportunity. This "reimagining" was simply really doing some bizarre edits to one of ALWs most cohesive and beautiful scores to give the lead a chance to belt a song that he still think is "his." It ruins the flow where it is placed now as well as the musical motif meaning of it being applied to George rather than Alex doesn't work for the rest of the score. Its sad that one of my favorite scores will probably never see the light of day in a professional setting - let alone get another life on any full recording (which is really a shame since the new orchestrations really do sound beautiful) As ever Chernjam, I agree with all of this. And having seen such a creative reworking of Miss Saigon yesterday, it's really made me realise all the more how badly they've missed making something more exciting of this. That said, we are where we are. There's some great singers and the glorious score is still there so I'll deffo go again before it closes - as you say, Heaven knows if will ever see the light of day again! |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 30, 2023 23:38:33 GMT
I've seen it a few times and also have just seen a bootleg - certainly isn't a case of the kiss being 1 sided, or Alex freezing in surprise. Well it was last Monday. He didn't embrace her when she kissed him, he didn't wrap his arms around her, they were frozen because he didn't know what to do with them (but then that might just be JB's acting lol) Screenshot the boot. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 31, 2023 5:53:24 GMT
I've seen it a few times and also have just seen a bootleg - certainly isn't a case of the kiss being 1 sided, or Alex freezing in surprise. Well it was last Monday. He didn't embrace her when she kissed him, he didn't wrap his arms around her, they were frozen because he didn't know what to do with them (but then that might just be JB's acting lol) Screenshot the boot. No bootlegs or screenshots of them on here please |
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Post by nicolaa on Jul 31, 2023 10:55:27 GMT
How bizarre, what Bobby is saying is not how it was playing just a month ago when I saw it - odd that they would change it after the closing notices, if they actually have.
At the end of June it was clearly being played as a mutual attraction where they both wanted to jump each others bones and its only Michael Ball doing his dying swan that stops them - indeed the curtain down moment highlighted that Alex had 3 different aspects of love available to him going forward.
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Post by richey on Jul 31, 2023 12:40:34 GMT
How bizarre, what Bobby is saying is not how it was playing just a month ago when I saw it - odd that they would change it after the closing notices, if they actually have. At the end of June it was clearly being played as a mutual attraction where they both wanted to jump each others bones and its only Michael Ball doing his dying swan that stops them - indeed the curtain down moment highlighted that Alex had 3 different aspects of love available to him going forward. I saw it at the beginning of June and it definitely played as more one-sided with Jenny making all the moves and Alex resisting. That said, it was difficult to see what was happening in the circus scene because of the stupid staging of it. From my seat all I could see were the actors at the front of the stage, you could hardly make out the other ones behind the cutout section. |
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Post by anthony on Jul 31, 2023 22:48:27 GMT
Saw for what was probably the last time tonight.
You know, I actually quite like Jamie. I don't quite understand the hate it gets - worth noting I never saw him in Moulin Rouge, but the awkwardness sort of adds to the character? I'd never know it wasn't actually acting, for example.
Willetts! You know, his voice reminds me of Michael Crawford a fair bit. Can't say I necessarily prefer him over Ball, but it did make me appreciate that Ball looks way too young to be playing the role.
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Post by A.Ham on Aug 1, 2023 6:22:59 GMT
You know, I actually quite like Jamie. I don't quite understand the hate it gets - worth noting I never saw him in Moulin Rouge, but the awkwardness sort of adds to the character? I'd never know it wasn't actually acting, for example. No, that’s him. He was the same in MR - although you could argue that Christian is also a young man slightly out of his depth and therefore behaving nervously/awkwardly… |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Aug 1, 2023 6:27:30 GMT
How bizarre, what Bobby is saying is not how it was playing just a month ago when I saw it - odd that they would change it after the closing notices, if they actually have. At the end of June it was clearly being played as a mutual attraction where they both wanted to jump each others bones and its only Michael Ball doing his dying swan that stops them - indeed the curtain down moment highlighted that Alex had 3 different aspects of love available to him going forward. It was played as a mutual attraction all night?
or it was played as a mutual attraction at the end before George dies?
Which is what I said happens - " Alex doesnt pay any attention. until the final 5 minutes, when he sings, 'I love her, but i must not love her' She comes out in her nightie leads him to the sofa and he goes in to kiss her, but then George dies and nothing happens between them"
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Post by greenswan on Aug 1, 2023 7:25:27 GMT
Booked a last minute ticket on Saturday as I hadn't seen this before - stalls maybe a quarter empty. Overall not my cup of tea. Feels like a very 80s depiction of 'adventurous' European shenanigans. There is nothing interesting coming through from the artistic exploits of some of the characters. Staging very static and boxed in - background seemed to emulate some of the paintings while the videos seemed to be from different eras.
Overall, it felt very flat - musical chairs in the relationships without any dramatic impact whatsoever. Wouldn't rush to see this ever again.
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Post by 141920grm on Aug 1, 2023 10:16:00 GMT
Jamie's acting isn't my cup of tea but I won't get into that as it is subjective- however his vocals are undeniably, woefully lacking in power, last night he was outsung by literally everyone else in the cast... his final Act 1 note started weak, almost cracked and so he trailed off early, it was a bit cringe really
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Post by marob on Aug 4, 2023 23:46:51 GMT
Saw this tonight thanks to the recent todaytix offer. I don’t think it’s the car crash it’s been made out to be, but I did find my mind wandering a bit in the last half hour.
Having also read a lot on here about Jamie Bogyo since his time in Moulin Rouge, I thought his voice was fine, though lacking in power a bit. (His fly was down for the vineyard scene though, which was especially unfortunate as it’s the only real scene with dancing so was especially noticeable.) I’d seen Laura Pitt-Pulford once before, at Hampstead’s Downstairs Theatre, so was good to see her commanding a much larger stage. Was also nice to see Ball do Love Changes Everything live, in the show it’s from, as for most of my life pretty much any time he’d appear on telly he’d end up singing it.
Mostly older audience, had the feel of a midweek matinee back home. Got a partial standing ovation, but only once Ball came out. Didn’t stand myself. Glad I’ve seen it, but rating wise I’d probably give 3.5 stars. I find it fascinating that of all the shows out there this produced a hit single.
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Post by jay78uk on Aug 9, 2023 21:53:11 GMT
Went for a third and last time tonight. Watched the first act from end of row J in the stalls and the second act from a box. The orchestra and vocals sounded so much better from circle. Found the difference remarkable. All four leads on. Still not a fan of MB’s avuncular act and semi spoken delivery. JB’s voice worn out for much of the show. Chemistry with LPP non existent as before. Superb turns by both young actresses playing Jenny. DN brilliant as usual. Perhaps I was not paying attention but I am sure they skipped the first dress scene (quick… a brandy…) Some dialogue tidied up too with Alex saying nowt when George dies. Both stalls and two circles pretty much full tonight and half the audience providing a standing ovation. I am glad I saw the show again as I adore the score and doubt it will have another West End outing. There is also much to commend this production- I still enjoyed the fair and circus scenes in particular and hand me the wine and dice and anything but lonely hit much harder heard from box. However, it remains a flawed production due to book. They could have done more to paper over the cracks and go for an even tone. Going from shooting to a comedy song (she’d be better off with you) is just too jarring. And I would prefer the main LCE rendition to be delivered with welly, not a reflective weary tone. JB’s reprise at end of first act was such an anticlimax, I am guessing due to worn out vocal chords. But still very enjoyable.
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Post by chernjam on Aug 9, 2023 22:50:25 GMT
Went for a third and last time tonight. Watched the first act from end of row J in the stalls and the second act from a box. The orchestra and vocals sounded so much better from circle. Found the difference remarkable. All four leads on. Still not a fan of MB’s avuncular act and semi spoken delivery. JB’s voice worn out for much of the show. Chemistry with LPP non existent as before. Superb turns by both young actresses playing Jenny. DN brilliant as usual. Perhaps I was not paying attention but I am sure they skipped the first dress scene (quick… a brandy…) Some dialogue tidied up too with Alex saying nowt when George dies. Both stalls and two circles pretty much full tonight and half the audience providing a standing ovation. I am glad I saw the show again as I adore the score and doubt it will have another West End outing. There is also much to commend this production- I still enjoyed the fair and circus scenes in particular and hand me the wine and dice and anything but lonely hit much harder heard from box. However, it remains a flawed production due to book. They could have done more to paper over the cracks and go for an even tone. Going from shooting to a comedy song (she’d be better off with you) is just too jarring. And I would prefer the main LCE rendition to be delivered with welly, not a reflective weary tone. JB’s reprise at end of first act was such an anticlimax, I am guessing due to worn out vocal chords. But still very enjoyable. LPP and DN really sound amazing. And LPP definitely seemed to "get" the role of Rose and the story. She knows Rose is a drama-queen - and puts an act on of being very strong and independent, which is really her best performance as "she's scared to be alone." The orchestrations are really beautiful. As for "She'd be far better off with you" the reason it worked in the Original production was Ann Crumb played it that she got into a bit of a tussel with Michael Ball which inadvertantly the gun shoots her and then they bandaged her off-stage. So the back and forth between Alex and George while still inappropriate wasn't as jarring -if anything it underlined how clueless/selfish the two of them were. This really does sadden me too. At some point here in the US this past spring (probably when Phantom closed) they previewed the revivals of Aspects and I think Wizard of Oz (because I don't think Sunset had been announced at that point) saying that possibly it would come here too. I doubted it just because it really is niche-ALW at this point but hoped that it would still do decent enough in the West End that it would still have life in it. After this, I wouldn't be shocked to hear Anything But Lonely recycled in his next production |
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Post by 141920grm on Aug 9, 2023 22:51:06 GMT
That's interesting, I saw this on Monday 2 days ago and 'quick... a brandy' was still in, hmm. Perhaps need a return visit to verify, lol
Also found myself wondering if there's an u/s for George? Didn't see one listed in the programme, and it doesn't seem like Dave would be in every day ready to step in- also surely they must have a backup for Monday shows...
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Post by jay78uk on Aug 9, 2023 23:30:21 GMT
That's interesting, I saw this on Monday 2 days ago and 'quick... a brandy' was still in, hmm. Perhaps need a return visit to verify, lol Also found myself wondering if there's an u/s for George? Didn't see one listed in the programme, and it doesn't seem like Dave would be in every day ready to step in- also surely they must have a backup for Monday shows... Also the red dress was draped over the bed with Alex and Rose briefing discussing his previous wife wearing it… I can’t recall that previously? I also can’t believe I’d miss the high drama ‘alex quick some brandy… you go quickly’ ‘it was my wife’s… delia… but you look just as lovely…’ i can’t remember any of that but I have to admit to being a bit tired! |
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Post by 141920grm on Aug 9, 2023 23:50:07 GMT
Also the red dress was draped over the bed with Alex and Rose briefing discussing his previous wife wearing it… I can’t recall that previously? I also can’t believe I’d miss the high drama ‘alex quick some brandy… you go quickly’ ‘it was my wife’s… delia… but you look just as lovely…’ i can’t remember any of that but I have to admit to being a bit tired! That red dress discussion on the bed scene has always been there I believe and still is- Rose then goes 'let's not cause a scene', then hears a noise 'it's her ghost' and hits the dress a few times, then Alex returns saying 'it must have been a rat' I can't imagine them skipping/recovering from accidentally skipping the George fainting scene entirely but anything's possible I suppose! |
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Post by jay78uk on Aug 10, 2023 7:17:38 GMT
Also the red dress was draped over the bed with Alex and Rose briefing discussing his previous wife wearing it… I can’t recall that previously? I also can’t believe I’d miss the high drama ‘alex quick some brandy… you go quickly’ ‘it was my wife’s… delia… but you look just as lovely…’ i can’t remember any of that but I have to admit to being a bit tired! That red dress discussion on the bed scene has always been there I believe and still is- Rose then goes 'let's not cause a scene', then hears a noise 'it's her ghost' and hits the dress a few times, then Alex returns saying 'it must have been a rat' I can't imagine them skipping/recovering from accidentally skipping the George fainting scene entirely but anything's possible I suppose! I think it might just be me having a senior moment then! |
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Post by Rory on Aug 10, 2023 8:18:18 GMT
I'm still amazed that Spitting Image is getting to the end of its scheduled run but this isn't.
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