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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 21, 2022 7:28:14 GMT
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148 posts
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Post by FJ on Jun 21, 2022 8:14:42 GMT
Going to see this tonight - Saw it 3x when it was at the Edinburgh Fringe a few years ago and absolutely loved it, so very excited to see it again tonight.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jun 21, 2022 8:54:04 GMT
I just booked this, looks like my sort of show. Hopefully a proper musical with smutty humour and innuendo as in the "adult pantos"
Having never previously attended an Underbelly performance I tried to register but got a message that I already have an account so had to use the forgotten password facility. It seems that some venues share a booking system and I'm in a minority booking shows all over the country. When I see "powered by Spectrix" I occasionally find I have an account at a theatre I've never attended or a different password to what I think so what I've just done has probably changed a password or registered me elsewhere.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 21, 2022 9:03:05 GMT
Oooh, Poor Unfortunate Souls, I must admit I am intrigued by this.
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 21, 2022 9:19:19 GMT
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Post by firefingers on Jun 21, 2022 18:17:02 GMT
I caught this at the '19 fringe. A good laugh, though I enjoyed their (admittedly more challenging commercially) previous show Buzz even more. I'd be intrigued to know if it had been expanded from previous, I don't recall it having a live band last time which would certainly lift it.
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Post by FJ on Jun 22, 2022 9:14:44 GMT
As I imagined, I absolutely loved seeing this again last night. It ran just over 2 hours with a 20 minute interval, so it's padded out from the version I saw at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, but I imagine this will be brought back to a 70(ish) minute version when it's back the Fringe in August.
The biggest changes are the bigger set and the live band, which definitely make it a much bigger production.
With it being the first preview there were of course a few issues with mics, and maybe the band and music overpowering some of the first few songs in the show, but considering this was the first time they'd performed on stage in front of an audience in almost 2.5 years, this was actually very minimal.
There are 3 or 4 new songs I think from seeing it before, all great, and some brilliant new puppets, with all the puppetry done very well throughout.
The big ballad in the show 'To Be King' makes a much bigger impact in this new version, George Whitty's voice is incredible and this song is huge. Allie Munro is also a standout as the multiple characters she plays throughout. The whole cast though were really brilliant.
Definitely not a show for kids, they were even warning the audience before they went in that it wasn't a kids show, it's definitely got a lot more 'adult' content and jokes than ever, and I was really laughing a lot throughout.
I do sometimes think that there can be a limited life for a parody musical, but the song writing in this is so good and the cast are so superb that I really hope it gets the reception and audience it deserves in London, Edinburgh and on tour.
The only other Fat Rascal show I've seen in the past is Vulvarine, and I much much prefer Unfortunate.
Will definitely be revisiting in London and then most likely again at the Fringe this year.
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Post by david on Jun 27, 2022 11:22:09 GMT
I hadn’t planned on seeing this when I first saw it advertised at the Lowry. From the performances at WEL, it’s now getting booked.
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 28, 2022 14:19:24 GMT
I LOVE The Little Mermaid! When it was released at the cinemas my friend and I went and saw it several times on the big screen; we even took his two nephews and niece.
(Because this is the way my stagey brain works) I will often find myself humming Part of your World whilst shopping in Sainsbury’s.
Under The Sea and Kiss The Girl are just brilliant!
And Ursula is such a deliciously evil squid (Disney villain)- she’s a squid, not an octopus. Count the tenticles.
Her size, so voluptuous the laugh- I love it when she says “Look at me! Wasting away to practically nothing!” as she’s arching over, heaving out of her dress.
The interesting this about Ursula in the film is her death scene where she swirls the trident into the ocean and rises gigantically with the crown on her head only to be skewered by Prince Eric’s ship.
Whilst its Disney and good always overcomes evil- usually with a song- it’s a death that Disney have vowed to never repeat on screen, so it’ll be interesting to see his its re-created in the upcoming re-make.
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Post by Steve on Jul 2, 2022 23:31:48 GMT
Saw the matinee today, and although I felt it started slowly, it soon had me belly laughing. Like FJ above, my only experience of Fat Rascal was "Vulvarine" at the King's Head, and this was even funnier, and a better musical experience as well, as they've added a singer with one of those powerful, textured, modulated voices that is really rousing to listen to: namely, Elliotte Williams-N'Dure in the lead role as Ursula. She generates laughs, as well, through making copious eye contact, batting her eyelids and channelling Ursula's ferocious attitude lol! Two of the three funniest actors from "Vulvarine" are back for this one (the other is merely the director of this show lol): with Allie Dart, a great comic actor, giving us all the nervy mugging hilarity we could possibly wish for as Sebastian, as well as an explosively confident and arrogant Ursula alter-ego, Vanessa; and Jamie Mawson's camp, fast-talking, Eric, equipped with his trusty ever-present flute is a hoot as well. New to me was Miracle Chance as Ariel, and her pouting, childish, gurning Ariel was consistently laugh-out-loud funny. The "beautiful" voice of Ariel here is so unrefined toddler-having-a-tantrum that this voice alone earns the parody status that allows a work like this to exist! Comedy gold voice work by Chance, in my opinion! The two songs that are the funniest are close to the two biggest songs from "The Little Mermaid" itself, and are pretty much x-rated lol, which probably explains why they're not on Spotify for sampling. Although the story feels a bit padded, Elliotte Williams-N'Dure's voice is so good, and the broad rude comedy so well performed, that this is not one I'd have missed for the world! 4 stars from me.  Incidentally, the best front-facing seats are reserved for Sirloin Seats, which costs a few quid more. There are more of them reserved for Sirloin than appears on the Seat map, basically, all of them, bar a few far side front facing ones. As it was Saturday, and I wasn't able to arrive super-early, I got them and found them worth it. That might not be the case on a less busy day. |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 3, 2022 0:10:22 GMT
Is there any audience interaction?
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Post by Steve on Jul 3, 2022 0:14:50 GMT
Is there any audience interaction? Not that I can recall, thank goodness! |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 3, 2022 0:30:27 GMT
Is there any audience interaction? Not that I can recall, thank goodness! Brilliant, off to see this then! |
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Post by Mark on Jul 4, 2022 15:06:07 GMT
I thought this was good and lots of fun yesterday. What I will agree with is it starts quite slow, I really wasn’t sure at first, but it did pick up. If anything, I think a condensed 90 minute/hour 40 version may be better and they can trim round the edges.
Was very well sold, and there’s not much going in the way of discounts from what I could find (I paid full price and had a good view)
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Post by david on Sept 10, 2022 22:00:53 GMT
Having been really impressed with the WEL performances, I decided to take a punt on this show and after watching today's matinee at the Lowry it was definitely worth the watch. A really fantastic cast here that kept us laughing for the entire show.
We had Allie Dart and Danni Payne as Ursula and Sebastian respectively. Allie Dart played Ursula with a nice blend of both ferocity and sass whilst having both great comic timing and vocals. George Whitty as Triton singing "To Be King" in Act 2 was just sensational. It sounded great at WEL but in the more intimate setting of the Lowry Quays theatre, it went up another level.
With a host of X rated songs and jokes from Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx that are delivered in quick succession by the cast were lapped up by the audience. A really funny score performed superbly by the cast and the on-stage band.
Abby Clarke's set filled the stage nicely and the use of puppets worked well within the show providing some nice comical moments.
Rating - 4 stars
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Post by zahidf on Aug 10, 2023 9:44:59 GMT
Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 8 December 2023 until 17 February 2024
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Post by FJ on Aug 10, 2023 10:12:13 GMT
So happy to see this return, and a perfect venue for it. Tickets booked for first preview, can’t wait. Really hoping Robyn Grant is going to be playing Ursula as well as directing again.
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8,153 posts
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Post by alece10 on Aug 10, 2023 15:08:21 GMT
Must say when I read the e mail today from Southwark Playhouse it sounded fun so I think I'll give it a go.
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Post by link on Aug 31, 2023 16:49:23 GMT
I am hearing rumours of a Broadway actress playing Ursula this time around. Has anyone else heard the same? I want to see it and some good casting may convince me to buy!
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Post by theatrelover123 on Aug 31, 2023 18:27:51 GMT
I am hearing rumours of a Broadway actress playing Ursula this time around. Has anyone else heard the same? I want to see it and some good casting may convince me to buy! Yes, I heard those rumours too. I heard it's a combination of Bernadette Peters doing it when she's not on for Old Friends, Idina Menzel for Tuesday night and Thursday matinees and Julie Andrews for weekends. I think the rumour must be true if lots of people are hearing the same. |
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Post by link on Oct 20, 2023 10:03:48 GMT
I am hearing rumours of a Broadway actress playing Ursula this time around. Has anyone else heard the same? I want to see it and some good casting may convince me to buy! Yes, I heard those rumours too. I heard it's a combination of Bernadette Peters doing it when she's not on for Old Friends, Idina Menzel for Tuesday night and Thursday matinees and Julie Andrews for weekends. I think the rumour must be true if lots of people are hearing the same. Cast now confirmed and includes Shawna Hamic as Ursula, and River Medway as Ariel. Not quite the dizzying heights that you were hoping for theatrelover but still pretty good for a small show IMHO www.whatsonstage.com/news/unfortunate-the-untold-story-of-ursula-the-sea-witch-reveals-cast-for-new-london-run-and-uk-tour_1538129/ |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 20, 2023 10:31:36 GMT
I may have to give this a go. I am very much aware of this and have been curious about this show for quite some time.
And I love The Little Mermaid
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Post by james1969 on Jan 12, 2024 11:48:24 GMT
Is the theatre easy to find from Elephant and Castle tube station ?
Can someone give me idiot proof instructions please ?
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Post by Dave B on Jan 12, 2024 11:54:27 GMT
Is the theatre easy to find from Elephant and Castle tube station ? Can someone give me idiot proof instructions please ? There are two E&C Tube stations which makes it a little tricker.
The details on the Playhouse's website are pretty good
Scroll down a bit and look at the map.
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Post by showgirl on Jan 13, 2024 4:09:55 GMT
Hadn't realised there was a thread and had been puzzled not to see one, but I didn't want to start it myself (just as well) as I've no knowledge of this whatsoever and am not due to see it for another month. So I booked solely on the strength of the latest reviews and because it sounded fun and - I hope- a good pick-up during the dull, damp dark months. Also hoping it's true that you can enjoy it without knowing any of the source material as I recently saw "Stranger Sings" at the other Southwark Playhouse space, having thought it sounded another cheerful show which reviewers also said required no familiarity with the tv show. (I don't therefore know what I might have missed but it was true that it was entertaining in its own right, if forgettable.) Glad this one is in Elephant as I much prefer that of the 2 locations.
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