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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 30, 2022 17:24:09 GMT
Saw the David Essex tour and hated every single second. It was dark, too much sex and naked boobs and it just felt labouriously flat. Gosh, I saw the tour but have no recollection of it featuring sex & nudity. The only thing I can really remember about it was being very impressed by Poppy Tierney's "Bring Me The Wine And The Dice". I quite liked the Southwark production, particularly Kelly Price & Madalena Alberto, but thought Felix Mosse xane over as too young for Alex as the story progressed. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 30, 2022 17:42:42 GMT
I saw the original production towards the end of the run. Michael Praed was Alex but I can't honestly recall who was Rose at that performance
I love the chamber opera feel to the score. It isn't big or showy. It feels right.
The image that sticks in my mind from 30 years ago is of the back wall splitting to reveal the silhouette of the mountains. Simple but oh so effective
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 30, 2022 17:46:14 GMT
I've never seen it, so it may turn out to be another first for me. Having read all the above, though, it may well depend on who is cast.
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Post by anthony on Apr 30, 2022 17:49:53 GMT
Saw the David Essex tour and hated every single second. It was dark, too much sex and naked boobs and it just felt labouriously flat. Gosh, I saw the tour but have no recollection of it featuring sex & nudity. The only thing I can really remember about it was being very impressed by Poppy Tierney's "Bring Me The Wine And The Dice". I quite liked the Southwark production, particularly Kelly Price & Madalena Alberto, but thought Felix Mosse xane over as too young for Alex as the story progressed. Oh I do. Picture the scene... 12-14 year old me. Obsessed with Phantom of the Opera, so really excited to see Aspects of Love, which would be my 3rd ALW musical after Phantom and Starlight. I am sitting row B of the Upper Circle at Newcastle Theatre Royal with my elderly grandmother. Suddenly, the actress playing Giulietta is behind a wardrobe screen (is that what they're called?) completely topless and we can see everything. I remember several other instances I wanted to rip my eyes out and pretend I was anywhere else. I wasn't sure if we were meant to see this or not - after all, we were high up and the stalls certainly wouldn't have had the "view" we had... Saying that, however, I remember really enjoying it... although at the time, I was so obsessed with Phantom and ALW, that I'd have probably loved it regardless. I remember loving Matt Rawle. |
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Post by alwfan on Apr 30, 2022 18:45:06 GMT
Opening early next year … one of his earlier musicals.. starring someone who has a history with the same show… Opening on Shaftesbury Avenue.. I think I'e cracked it. It is not Ball, and Rosalie Craig is the person who has a history with the show as she was in the Menier Chocolate Factory production, and lead Sondheim's company. Michael Ball could well be in it too but as it is 'someone' with a history with the show and hence only one person, Rosalie Craig it is. |
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Post by theatremiss on Apr 30, 2022 19:32:52 GMT
Gosh, I saw the tour but have no recollection of it featuring sex & nudity. The only thing I can really remember about it was being very impressed by Poppy Tierney's "Bring Me The Wine And The Dice". I quite liked the Southwark production, particularly Kelly Price & Madalena Alberto, but thought Felix Mosse xane over as too young for Alex as the story progressed. Oh I do. Picture the scene... 12-14 year old me. Obsessed with Phantom of the Opera, so really excited to see Aspects of Love, which would be my 3rd ALW musical after Phantom and Starlight. I am sitting row B of the Upper Circle at Newcastle Theatre Royal with my elderly grandmother. Suddenly, the actress playing Giulietta is behind a wardrobe screen (is that what they're called?) completely topless and we can see everything. I remember several other instances I wanted to rip my eyes out and pretend I was anywhere else. I wasn't sure if we were meant to see this or not - after all, we were high up and the stalls certainly wouldn't have had the "view" we had... Saying that, however, I remember really enjoying it... although at the time, I was so obsessed with Phantom and ALW, that I'd have probably loved it regardless. I remember loving Matt Rawle. That’s exactly how it happened. The actress walked from the side of the stage totally naked from the waist upwards, wearing a long skirt. I remember saying to my husband that I don’t recall this in the original West End production! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2022 21:29:31 GMT
I remember enjoying the David Essex tour overall, but do remember the music being quite repetitive and reused from other shows. It's also one of those shows that could use less singing, I remember quite a few moments of cringing when people started singing, sometimes just speaking is ok. If this is with Michael Ball then it seems a bit of a vanity project as he is completely unsuitable for George. I love this, because pretty much everyone I've ever met in "the biz" or just a theatre lover, or on here even has absolutely loathed that tour. You're the first person I've encountered who liked it, which is great! I am just happy it clicked for you. I liked Jerome Pradon as George at the Southwark Playhouse. But then, I always like Jerome. I think the strong cast helped, poppy Tierney is such an underrated talent. She was also a great Mary poppins. We didn't have Matt rawle, he had left when we saw it, it was Tim Rogers (another underrated actor) |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 30, 2022 22:41:16 GMT
We didn't have Matt rawle, he had left when we saw it, it was Tim Rogers (another underrated actor) Thanks. I knew I hadn't seen Matt Rawle either but couldn't remember who was his replacement. I have a feeling I didn't see David Essex either but will have to dig out my programme & check that when I get home. |
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Post by justfran on May 1, 2022 10:36:04 GMT
I love this, because pretty much everyone I've ever met in "the biz" or just a theatre lover, or on here even has absolutely loathed that tour. You're the first person I've encountered who liked it, which is great! I am just happy it clicked for you. I liked Jerome Pradon as George at the Southwark Playhouse. But then, I always like Jerome. I think the strong cast helped, poppy Tierney is such an underrated talent. She was also a great Mary poppins. We didn't have Matt rawle, he had left when we saw it, it was Tim Rogers (another underrated actor) Tim Rogers was brilliant in a tour of Whistle Down the Wind. |
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Post by notmymuse on May 1, 2022 12:14:00 GMT
Kind of off topic, but I also love Tim Rogers (and Matt Rawle for the record). I saw the Southwark Aspects with Rosalie and was quite underwhelmed. A funny choice for a ALW revival, I really can't see it doing that well but I've been wrong before (often).
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Post by stagebyte on May 1, 2022 12:50:34 GMT
Would love to see this with the original sweeping orchestrations. Wonder if any of the book would be tinkered with for a more modern take. The Alex/Jenny arc was a little uncomfortable back then. Wonder what folk will make of it now?
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2022 13:55:21 GMT
I think the strong cast helped, poppy Tierney is such an underrated talent. She was also a great Mary poppins. We didn't have Matt rawle, he had left when we saw it, it was Tim Rogers (another underrated actor) Tim Rogers was brilliant in a tour of Whistle Down the Wind. Yes he was. I think I may have also seen him in JCS but not 100% sure. He deserved a bigger career along the likes of Ramin, Hadley, Matt etc. |
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Post by justsaying113 on May 1, 2022 16:16:10 GMT
Does the West End really need this dreary old chestnut back? One of the most tedious nights I've ever spent in a theatre.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 1, 2022 16:19:31 GMT
Laurence Connor AoL =  Jamie Lloyd AoL =  |
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 1, 2022 19:09:13 GMT
Opening early next year … one of his earlier musicals.. starring someone who has a history with the same show… Opening on Shaftesbury Avenue.. I think I'e cracked it. It is not Ball, and Rosalie Craig is the person who has a history with the show as she was in the Menier Chocolate Factory production, and lead Sondheim's company. Michael Ball could well be in it too but as it is 'someone' with a history with the show and hence only one person, Rosalie Craig it is. You may find out that you are wrong… |
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Post by alwfan on May 1, 2022 19:17:11 GMT
I think I'e cracked it. It is not Ball, and Rosalie Craig is the person who has a history with the show as she was in the Menier Chocolate Factory production, and lead Sondheim's company. Michael Ball could well be in it too but as it is 'someone' with a history with the show and hence only one person, Rosalie Craig it is. You may find out that you are wrong… Fascinating. Can't wait to find out for sure. |
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Post by ceebee on May 1, 2022 20:02:06 GMT
Tim Rogers was brilliant in a tour of Whistle Down the Wind. Yes he was. I think I may have also seen him in JCS but not 100% sure. He deserved a bigger career along the likes of Ramin, Hadley, Matt etc. Likely - he played Jesus several times. |
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Post by scarpia on May 2, 2022 11:59:20 GMT
I'd love an Aspects revival though I'm not sure the timing is right for it. I get the sense it isn't as loved by his usual audience (though I really enjoy it and find the score ravishing), and it's already had two rather recent off-West End revivals in London in the last decade.
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Post by distantcousin on May 2, 2022 12:59:17 GMT
We didn't have Matt rawle, he had left when we saw it, it was Tim Rogers (another underrated actor) Thanks. I knew I hadn't seen Matt Rawle either but couldn't remember who was his replacement. I have a feeling I didn't see David Essex either but will have to dig out my programme & check that when I get home.
It was Tim Rogers when I saw it too.
Also, that tour was directed by Nikolai Foster. Perhaps he was a bit too young and inexperienced to pull it off then?...
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Post by newyorkcityboy on May 2, 2022 14:33:55 GMT
The original production of Aspects was my first West End Show and although I lived in Devon I travelled to London to see it twice. (Once with David Malek and once with Michael Praed. Helen Hobson & Susannah Fellowes were the Roses I saw - though was devastated to miss Sarah Brightman.) I also saw the 90s tour & the 2000s tour - the ‘Essex’ - but neither production came close - the production design & seamless scenic changes of the original just worked perfectly and without these elements it felt strangely flat. (Missed the Menier but can’t remember why.)
It’s still one of my favourite scores, a rarity in that I much prefer all the ‘single’ versions of the songs to those on the OCR. Plus the others that Sarah Brightman did on her ‘Unexpected’ CD - There Is More To Love & Chanson D’enfance.
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Post by inthenose on May 2, 2022 14:45:41 GMT
Thanks. I knew I hadn't seen Matt Rawle either but couldn't remember who was his replacement. I have a feeling I didn't see David Essex either but will have to dig out my programme & check that when I get home.
It was Tim Rogers when I saw it too.
Also, that tour was directed by Nikolai Foster. Perhaps he was a bit too young and inexperienced to pull it off then?...
I once interviewed Nikolai (a really lovely man) in a past life as a blogger. He was hesitant to talk about much from that show, and I had to move on as I could tell it wasn't his favourite subject. Said he was proud of it though, the usual. At the time he had just taken "All the Fun of the Fair" out on tour starring David Essex, who chose him as director based on their friendship and Nikolai's work from Aspects of Love. |
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Post by Dawnstar on May 2, 2022 14:49:24 GMT
Thanks. I knew I hadn't seen Matt Rawle either but couldn't remember who was his replacement. I have a feeling I didn't see David Essex either but will have to dig out my programme & check that when I get home.
It was Tim Rogers when I saw it too.
Also, that tour was directed by Nikolai Foster. Perhaps he was a bit too young and inexperienced to pull it off then?...
THis has remind me to check who the not-David-Essex George I saw was: James Graeme. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 2, 2022 15:01:17 GMT
Good old Theatre Fan… getting his ‘scoops’ from this board 🤣
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 2, 2022 16:45:07 GMT
Good old Theatre Fan… getting his ‘scoops’ from this board 🤣 He hasn’t logged in to this forum since November when the last round of slagging off by our members took place. Not a very good “look” for us when valued members are effectively chased off. Of course the fact that he hasn’t logged on doesn’t mean he isn’t checking in, and that’s fine. He broke many stories on this forum, and yes we all know that they didn’t ALL come true but you more than anyone Mr B know that there’s a risk involved in the predictions business. You’ve dropped some right old clangers! Either way, he’s still a member and I would be very happy to see him back and posting again so let’s resist the temptation to snark please. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 2, 2022 18:22:32 GMT
Good old Theatre Fan… getting his ‘scoops’ from this board 🤣 He hasn’t logged in to this forum since November when the last round of slagging off by our members took place. Not a very good “look” for us when valued members are effectively chased off. Of course the fact that he hasn’t logged on doesn’t mean he isn’t checking in, and that’s fine. He broke many stories on this forum, and yes we all know that they didn’t ALL come true but you more than anyone Mr B know that there’s a risk involved in the predictions business. You’ve dropped some right old clangers! Either way, he’s still a member and I would be very happy to see him back and posting again so let’s resist the temptation to snark please. We do love him ❤️ |
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