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Post by David J on Aug 12, 2024 19:54:48 GMT
Not against seeing Les Mis again but apart from the last concerts I haven't bothered with the London production since it became the touring version
Not that I am a hater of the current version. Some bits are an improvement and it serves as a touring production. But the original designs was the cherry on top of a great musical and now the london production could be any other major production in the west end.
Trevor nunns production was an example of less is more. Except when sets were needed like the barricades. The turntable was a fixture as it kept the show flowing and it down to the cast to fill in the scenes and tell the story. Now its all very literal
And I miss the days where veteran actors played the leads. Of course it was a growing issue during the Queens Theatre years but to me we havent had someone like Jeremy secomb (perhaps nic greenshields at a stretch), who was every inch a javert.
And listening to audio that keeps popping up the direction needs refreshing. Seems like every javert nowadays is told to wail and give a wrenching suicide (including David thaxton in his brief time back I was sad to listen to)
Oh and slow down the music as well. Same for phantom
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Post by blamerobots on Aug 12, 2024 20:46:18 GMT
Blood Brothers desperately needs a new creative team. As much as I love the 80s melodrama, some stuff is so "woomf, underwhelming" these days through gradual "direction generation loss" The struggle between the two mothers inside of Mrs Johnstone's new house is played so flatly compared to how it was about 30 years ago, considering how significant it is. There are so many interesting things that could be done. Not just a stripped back version with no set. Yes, that'd be the worst. My dream Blood Brothers would use a pub set, much like that version of Evita at Bucks County Playhouse I still quite enjoy. A return to how Brecht it was originally. |
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Post by d'James on Aug 12, 2024 21:26:42 GMT
There are so many interesting things that could be done. Not just a stripped back version with no set. Yes, that'd be the worst. My dream Blood Brothers would use a pub set, much like that version of Evita at Bucks County Playhouse I still quite enjoy. A return to how Brecht it was originally. I think it could easily work in a modern day setting too. I actually made a plan for a TV Series of it once, but life got in the way. |
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Post by unseaworthy on Aug 13, 2024 12:54:01 GMT
I am ready to see Book of Mormon go... It feels very dated. Also perhaps its time to replace Mamma Mia.
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 13, 2024 13:11:11 GMT
Book of Mormon definitely past its sell-by date, and I'd be ready to say goodbye to Back To The Future too.
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Post by rosscoe on Aug 13, 2024 15:23:15 GMT
Australia is just in rotation of dull shows. Annie, Wicked ( that first act up till they get to the wizard is a hard slog, act two fares a little better ) Dear Evan Hanson, I can’t begin to say how much I hate that show. That current cheap nasty version of Rocky Horror needs to be laid to rest.
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Post by alece10 on Aug 13, 2024 15:44:10 GMT
I'm a bit confused.
Is this thread about musicals you have seen enough times and don't want to see again or musicals you don't think should still be running in theatres as there seems to be a mix of both.
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2,676 posts
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Post by viserys on Aug 13, 2024 18:16:47 GMT
I'm a bit confused. Is this thread about musicals you have seen enough times and don't want to see again or musicals you don't think should still be running in theatres as there seems to be a mix of both. Isn't it a bit of both? For example Phantom feels like a dated tired tourist trap and I have zero interest in seeing it again. BUT if it closed, made way for something fresh at His Majesty's Theatre and was THEN revived in a completely new version, I'd be here for it. The wildly different Jamie Lloyd Sunset Boulevard or the current Jellicle Ball Cats "revival" in New York (I dare hardly call it a revival, since it's such a departure from the original) show just refreshingly different shows can be after a longer break. I can't stand most of Jamie Lloyd's rubbish, but I'd LOVE to see his Phantom, all black and white thriller about an insane psychopath stalking the opera house... |
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Post by keyspi on Aug 13, 2024 22:45:07 GMT
Considering we are spoiled for choice in London I would rarely see anything twice and most often the shows I would really be thrilled to see again are only on for a short run and never again....
Having said that, I'd like for Six, Wicked and The Book of Mormon to finally go and open up space for something new and... hopefully better quality
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Post by craigbowker on Aug 14, 2024 8:44:42 GMT
Honestly feeling that way about Operation Mincemeat, the new cast are by no means untalented, but whoever directed them missed out on the magic the OG cast brought with it. Resident director should be cluing them in that a good amount of jokes are falling flat now.
I could honestly do with Lion King closing for a bit, but I'd prefer it come back with a new interpretation and don't trust current Disney theatricals to make bold choices.
I actually like that Les Mis is playing here as it hasn't been on Broadway in quite a while. Same with POTO but I wish it didn't have the cost cutting. It's comfortable knowing they are there though.
Book of Mormon probably could go, but we really need a new comedy musical with a long open run that could fill its spot. I can't think of anything since BOM that has been that big worldwide.
I am VERY over SIX. It's FINE but I think its success with audiences doesn't make a ton of sense since it is basically just a concert. It is very cheap to run, so I get why it is financially successful.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 14, 2024 9:13:26 GMT
I'm a bit confused. Is this thread about musicals you have seen enough times and don't want to see again or musicals you don't think should still be running in theatres as there seems to be a mix of both. My original thought was about things we might have seen more than once and now feel that we're done with, but if people want to extend that into things they’re just sick of seeing still running, that’s fine by me! |
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Post by ladidah on Aug 14, 2024 10:53:29 GMT
I agree with Back to the Future, Tina Turner Musical, Lion King, Book of Mormon and Mamma Mia
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Post by blamerobots on Aug 14, 2024 10:56:49 GMT
I'd really love for a non-replica Phantom to come along and do an extended UK one. I really loved the tour set.
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1,379 posts
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Post by BVM on Aug 16, 2024 8:22:11 GMT
Really interesting topic.
In terms of musicals I have seen so many times that I've become sick of them - this doesn't really happen to me I don't think! If anything I tend to get more into things as time goes on.
My main issue is of bad productions of musicals I like I'd say. For example decent shows that get cheaper and cheaper with every iteration and tour I find a bit sad. Hairspray springs to mind. Blood Brothers also. Rocky Horror we spoke about on it's thread.
Bat Out Of Hell is another one that has only cheapened since the epic original. Manchester Opera House and Coliseum were just insane. Dominion was good though was never quite the same atmosphere owing to a) being half empty the whole time and b) increasingly awful Binge Britain behaviour. It had a resurgence for me in Oberhausen in Germany which was the last production to have the full original sets and lights and was in a huge one level arena type theatre that just suited it perfectly IMHO. The sound was also the best I've ever heard. Then the tour was much cheaper and again plagued by bad audiences and it looks like the next tour will be cheaper still. But I've not gone off the show at all and would still see it repeatedly.
The Pimlott 90's Joseph has made everything look cheap in comparison. Am very luke warm re the Connor version though cos I love the score and the band perform it so well I still go. It's elevated considerably if three out of three leads can sing the score as written.
Last year's Aspects got many things wrong IMHO but I still went repeatedly as I loved the score.
Cats also gets cheaper with every tour but was blown out of the park by an absolutely epic production in Vienna which showed me I love the show as much as I always did.
The only show I can think of that I did go off is &Juliet. Saw the original run in Manchester expecting it to be not my thing and actually really loved it. Went again in Manc. Then went three times early on in London - then sort of lost interest. Not sure why! I think cos while I like the music I don't love it! But that's literally the only show I can think off that I had a bit of a thing for and then went off.
Moving on to London and the long runners "clear out" debate, as I was remarking to a good friend of mine it's tricky as everyone loves different things so everyone would have a different list of what they'd get rid of! I think most fans on here would be in agreement that a clear out would be useful to make room for new stuff (although is this true as a concept - it only works if there IS new stuff that can sustain itself out there), but everyone would have different opinions.
Personally I would absolutely keep Les Mis and Phantom. When there is nothing else that excites me I can always return to these two. Though I confess I am slightly tired of Phantom and would keep Les Mis over it any day if I had to choose.
I'd happily lose Lion King, Wicked, Six, Tina, Mormon, Hamilton, Matilda, Mamma Mia and of the newer long runners BTTF and possibly Moulin Rouge (I like MR but again the audience behaviour can be pretty unbearable). But that's just me! Other people will love these shows and want them to stay.
I have to confess though that personally am not convinced we are missing out on stuff due to long runners clogging up theatres. The mainstay of West End shows is always gonna be huge crowd pleasers that tourists flock to so even if these shows weren't there, they are not gonna be replaced by the sort of things people who want them to go are hoping for (is my hunch... obvs I have no idea). And we still get loads of new stuff in smaller theatres, fringe places, National, Barbican etc etc. And we get plenty of shows that run for 2-3 years then make way for something else.
Also I personally don't have a list of shows that I am desperate to come in (in fact I can't think of one!) I know Broadway has a lot of new shows but none of the OBCs particularly excite me. (Also vast majority of the successful ones make it over here anyway eventually so it's not as if we are missing out...)
I really am in waiting for the next life changing composer!
So yeah, in conclusion I can't see much changing any time soon!
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