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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 2, 2018 19:54:03 GMT
Posts moved
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655 posts
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Post by ptwest on May 2, 2018 20:04:34 GMT
2 questions here. The current revival despite big stars both name and musical, I was sitting in a half filled theatre, which I would consider to be a small house, The Girls and Beckham had a bigger audience. So why do you think this isn’t selling? Also it was raining all morning and this always help to get tourists into tourist shows? I could see this closing soon, if things don’t pick up. Even with its set that comes from the tour. Conversely the last Tony and Olivier winning revival was the longest running American musical in West End history, but why? It also played reasonably big theatres as in the Adelphi and Cambridge and downsized for the Garrick. But hats off it played years to millions of people, but I am at a loss why? It isn’t exactly Wicked with its eye popping staging.
Someone with more knowledge will probably answer this better but my take is this:
The new revival hasn't exactly been met with universal acclaim, its not that long since it was last in London and it has been toured to death over the years- why travel to London from around the country that you have had the opportunity to see loads of times at your local theatre with the same set, staging etc. Despite the merits of the female leads, they aren't "names" that will get non regular theatre goers in. CGJ - yes he's an Oscar winner, but is he that big a star? I consider myself a fan of the show in the sense that I have seen it several times and always enjoyed it, but I have seen it enough over the years. There is nothing about this revival that is tempting me to pay those prices and I suspect a lot of people will feel the same.
The second point, I remember when Chicago opened it was the "must see" show, and the level of performances warranted that accolade. The stunt casting did maintain interest, even if the quality was variable. I saw it three times in its first couple of years and each time it was stunningly performed and was loads of fun. I think a show gets to a point where the long run self perpetuates, it becomes something to see because it was there for so long. I guess also the running costs are low compared to the other more lavish shows so the break even / profit point is easier to reach.
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7,190 posts
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Post by Jon on May 2, 2018 20:15:15 GMT
I imagine even if half full houses, it’s likely breaking even but I suspect it’s only there until ATG finds a permanent show
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Post by jamb0r on May 3, 2018 11:38:06 GMT
No day seats. No rush tickets. No lottery. No sale from me.
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Post by Mark on May 11, 2018 21:36:12 GMT
Saw the matinee today, I was sitting in the last row of the half-empty dress circle and gave myself a great auto-promotion during the interval. I do love Chicago, it has an incredible score and I'm a big fan of this black box concept, with the (amazing) orchestra on stage and the sexy costumes. Surely this cast is a bisexual's dream, I myself would like to make hot jazz with all the chorus boys. However, we're just a month into the run and it already feels stale and the coreographies are far from being on point. Cuba is a disgrace, it's not that he can't sing, but he sounds like Billie Holiday singing Whitney Houston. And the acting? It's so subpar and basic? Surely we were all expecting something more in that department? But he surely had his fans. Ruthie's voice is not what it used to be but still delivers a great cameo performance as Mama Morton, while Josefina Gabrielle is a very fine Velma. The true star is, for me, the excellent Sarah Soetaert, whose emotional journey in the song "Roxie" as she takes confidence with the stage is truly astonishing. I really loved her, she is truly a fantastic Roxie. I saw the show tonight and agree with everything you said. Sarah is really the star here. Cuba is awful! I also noticed the choreography not being as slick as I’d expect it to be for a show like this. It all just seems a bit safe and subdued, something which Chicago shouldn’t be. For those interested, got a rear dress circle seat for £25 about an hour and a half before the show. |
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Post by No. on May 13, 2018 16:04:03 GMT
Any ideas/hopes as to who’s replacing Cuba?
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396 posts
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Post by djp on May 14, 2018 2:23:39 GMT
2 questions here. The current revival despite big stars both name and musical, I was sitting in a half filled theatre, which I would consider to be a small house, The Girls and Beckham had a bigger audience. So why do you think this isn’t selling? Also it was raining all morning and this always help to get tourists into tourist shows? I could see this closing soon, if things don’t pick up. Even with its set that comes from the tour. Conversely the last Tony and Olivier winning revival was the longest running American musical in West End history, but why? It also played reasonably big theatres as in the Adelphi and Cambridge and downsized for the Garrick. But hats off it played years to millions of people, but I am at a loss why? It isn’t exactly Wicked with its eye popping staging.
Someone with more knowledge will probably answer this better but my take is this:
The new revival hasn't exactly been met with universal acclaim, its not that long since it was last in London and it has been toured to death over the years- why travel to London from around the country that you have had the opportunity to see loads of times at your local theatre with the same set, staging etc. Despite the merits of the female leads, they aren't "names" that will get non regular theatre goers in. CGJ - yes he's an Oscar winner, but is he that big a star? I consider myself a fan of the show in the sense that I have seen it several times and always enjoyed it, but I have seen it enough over the years. There is nothing about this revival that is tempting me to pay those prices and I suspect a lot of people will feel the same.
The second point, I remember when Chicago opened it was the "must see" show, and the level of performances warranted that accolade. The stunt casting did maintain interest, even if the quality was variable. I saw it three times in its first couple of years and each time it was stunningly performed and was loads of fun. I think a show gets to a point where the long run self perpetuates, it becomes something to see because it was there for so long. I guess also the running costs are low compared to the other more lavish shows so the break even / profit point is easier to reach.
In their more lucid moments, the producers seemed to realise that you can play with Roxie and Velma's characters and produce interestingly different shows, and a good actress can vary up the characterisation between shows. Ruthie, Bonnie, Frankie, Aoife, Suzanne , and Ali on tour , all played different Roxies, with their own styles and additions , in the last 10 years . if you want to make an impression you need someone new and interesting as Roxie and or Velma,. You can go for a big name, but they have to be able to act, sing and dance it.What doesn't make sense is to dust off and put back on people who had long runs before- that locals will have seen or avoided, and tourists won't be attracted by. Billy has so little to do, that it would be a pretty foolish punter who bought tickets just to see a big name there. Better to pick a cheaper new actress who is really good, and spend some of the money saved on some publicity. A bit of economic sense would also suggest that you can't charge the ripoff prices, unless you already have queues for tickets, or have the latest must see super hyped show from America. |
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2018 7:18:01 GMT
I have not seen the show. But why not do a new revival totally new of the show. With maybe CZJ reprising
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Post by clair on May 15, 2018 9:11:48 GMT
Does anyone know if Ruthie Henshall has any holiday dates booked in at all? Couldn't find anything on the website or ATG.
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421 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on May 15, 2018 10:42:26 GMT
Does anyone know what Cuba's final performance date is?
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Post by macksennett on May 15, 2018 14:38:40 GMT
Does anyone know if Ruthie Henshall has any holiday dates booked in at all? Couldn't find anything on the website or ATG. Ruthie is appearing in a cruise 19-26 May, a long-standing booking. Wish they’d put holiday dates on the website - I’d love to see Ruthie in this again as she was so good! |
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Post by clair on May 15, 2018 16:58:46 GMT
^ Thanks for that - is she really on the cruise all week though as she's at the RAH on Monday 21st May?!
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Post by partytentdown on May 23, 2018 9:30:53 GMT
Any ideas/hopes as to who’s replacing Cuba? Martin Kemp |
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1,582 posts
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Post by anita on May 23, 2018 9:40:59 GMT
Any ideas/hopes as to who’s replacing Cuba? Martin Kemp Yes 2/7 untill 1/9. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 23, 2018 9:43:03 GMT
WHAT. MARTIN KEMP.
I was waiting for Cuba to leave to *maybe* catch the show- but gosh, I don't have any desire what so ever to see this.
Let's hope his replacement is better!
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on May 23, 2018 12:34:02 GMT
The words scraping the bottom of the barrel come to mind!
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3,579 posts
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Post by Rory on May 23, 2018 12:42:00 GMT
I saw Martin Kemp as the Childcatcher in the Chitty tour and was unbelievably underwhelmed by his performance. Didn't play it up to the kids at all. I can only imagine how good O'Brien and O'Grady would have been.
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7,190 posts
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2018 12:51:09 GMT
The words scraping the bottom of the barrel come to mind! It’s Chicago, they scraped the barrel to the point where the bottom doesn’t exist! |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2018 14:29:51 GMT
The words scraping the bottom of the barrel come to mind! It’s Chicago, they scraped the barrel to the point where the bottom doesn’t exist! Casting the barrel would be a step up compared with some casts they've had. It's only mostly wooden. |
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Post by No. on May 23, 2018 15:05:34 GMT
So how long do we reckon it is before this closes? I have a feeling that the Phoenix may take a broadway transfer and shut this down in the next year minimum
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1,570 posts
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Post by showtoones on May 23, 2018 15:10:53 GMT
The sad thing is Chicago is a fabulous show but putting lowbrows in the show lowers the bar and at those prices, it;s just insane. I don't think Barry and Fran give their audience enough credit. Next thing you know, Susan Boyle will be in the show as Mama.
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Post by longinthetooth on May 23, 2018 16:36:26 GMT
It’s Chicago, they scraped the barrel to the point where the bottom doesn’t exist! Casting the barrel would be a step up compared with some casts they've had. It's only mostly wooden. It could be worse - it could be Marti Pellow! |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2018 16:58:54 GMT
The sad thing is Chicago is a fabulous show but putting lowbrows in the show lowers the bar That's how I feel. I used to love it and when you get a cast of professional performers it's a fantastic experience, but it only takes one person who's clearly out of their depth and the whole thing falls apart. All the way back when most of the world's English-language discussion of musicals took place on rec.arts.theatre.musicals the production already had a worldwide reputation for not giving a damn about quality so long as there was someone sufficiently famous in the cast, and its reputation has only fallen since then. I'd have thought that the number of people who are put off by the relentless stunt casting would be greater than the number drawn in by it, especially given the distinctly bottom-shelf nature of the celebrities and the fact that only those of their fans close to London would be interested anyway. But the producers will have crunched the numbers and must have decided that the extra publicity outweighs the damage to both the show's reputation and their own. |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2018 19:39:31 GMT
Martin has done a few stage roles and is an experienced actor. He was more harmonies in Spandau so I don't know what his singing voice is like.
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8,162 posts
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Post by alece10 on May 31, 2018 20:51:33 GMT
Well any thought of seeing Chicago at the moment went out of the window after seeing Cuba on Britain's Got Talent. God he was awful and completely out of tune from the start.
I'll wait for him to go.
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