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Post by d'James on Sept 6, 2018 22:36:50 GMT
I saw this on Tuesday night and really enjoyed it. I thought Jemima Rooper was fantastic. There was one weak link in the cast but I won’t say who and it’s not who other people are talking about above me.
If you can get a good deal, I would recommend seeing it.
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Post by Stephen on Sept 9, 2018 9:33:24 GMT
Well, having seen this last night, I can say that I disagree with most of the negative comments about it. If you're going for a cultured evening of theatre then you'll need to take your picnics and champers elsewhere. Fun though? VERY!
I read a review yesterday afternoon claiming this lacked "bite" which perhaps it did. As the sun went down though and the green light reflected against the trees I started to feel like this was the perfect place to see this crazy musical.
I was impressed by the cast. Jemima Rooper may not be the best singer but she's a great actress and plays the part quite true to the original in a show which is quite different. I was happily surprised by Matt Willis who, not being an actor, brought an unintentional darkness to the part. The choice to have Vicky Vox play Audrey II seemed strange to me when I first heard the news. I'm glad that it worked so well!
Spectacular finale! The audience loved it.
This was also my first visit to the Open Air Theatre and I was really impressed by the facilities. Plenty of seats outside the main theatre with a lovely bar and friendly staff.
I did find it strange as I left smiling to hear groups of people moaning about many aspects of the production such as Orin making his entrance with ensemble members. "That doesn't happen in real life" one of them said. No, but it can in theatre. I think some people missed the point in this production.
If you can suspend your disbelief for a few hours you're bound to love this!
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 9, 2018 10:27:05 GMT
Finally got to see this on Friday night and loved it. Also my first visit to the Open Air Theatre and it’s such a wonderful atmosphere. We had a nice picnic in the park before going in and it’s such a lovely place, it’s funny to think that there are green spaces like this in central London. We were sat in Row M which I had thought might be a bit far from the stage at top price but I thought it was a great seat, nice overall view of the production whilst also feeling very close and being able to make out facial expressions and nuances. I agree the production isn’t perfect and neither are the actors; Forbes Mason I just did not like as Mushnik, Jemima Rooper’s voice could have been better, Marc Antolin got on my nerves a bit with his “Seymour voice” and Matt Willis was a hot mess, but I thought the three girls were brilliant and nothing like in that awful West End Live clip. I did like Marc Antolin’s performance but I think I preferred Sam Lupton from the tour and Jemima Rooper played a very lovable Audrey and her voice was better than I thought it would be considering some of the comments on here, I wouldn’t say she struggled to sing the songs, she just didn’t have a very “big” voice. I really liked what they did with the set and the lighting, even the skyscrapers in shopping trolleys! I still don’t really know what was going on in that finale/encore but it was pure joy! And of course Vicky Vox stole the show in her bits and was fantastically camp and sassy, though I do think this isn’t the best way to do Audrey II for younger children or people seeing the show for the first time.
Also, can they PLEASE build some more toilets in the theatre, queues were taking the p*ss, worse than at Wicked before they built the new loos.
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 10, 2018 23:14:43 GMT
Largely loved this tonight - it was a great birthday treat!
Billy Cullum was debuting as Seymour, and he was solid. Vocally good, and got the character well. Couple of line stumbles but that’s acceptable. Jemima Rooper is just an odd choice for Audrey. I still don’t understand it. She’s a great actress, and she plays Audrey well, but she has very little singing voice, meaning there’s no power behind any of her numbers (it felt like the 3 girls were dragging her through Suddenly Seymour!). Matt Willis is a hot mess, but I knew he would be. And the 3 girls are fabulous - driving the show onwards.
But, bloody hell, Vicky Vox as Audrey II is AMAZING. so clever how the plant develops until we see her in all her glory. She’s sassy, and she belts like a dream. I can’t imagine this being done any other way now - this is the future!
Oh, and I loved the finale - so much fun. 4 stars
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 11, 2018 8:10:47 GMT
I didn't think Matt Willis was bad at all. Thought he was quite good. If there were weak links for me they were Jemima just for her singing, and sorry but Vicky also. Didn't get her at all. Don't get the fuss. Would have rather had a regular plant.
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Post by theatremadhatter on Sept 11, 2018 11:36:19 GMT
Grabbed a last minute ticket up at the back just off centre (which was not a bad view really) and on the whole enjoyed it. It’s good fun, has a great score but I felt the Audrey Jemima was a little off, not a great singer which didn’t bother me too much as she is a good actress, I couldn’t put my finger on it but she didn’t feel right for it. Loved Marc as Seymour and the three girls were really really great holding the show together. My main question was why when they have that huge stage did they use that little triangle at the front for all the staging. Is it that they were trying to contain it for a transfer? Felt odd not utilising the space. Also with such a large space they could have really gone for a giant plant. When characters got eaten it looked a little school play version. But love the score and had a fun night so only minor thoughts  |
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 11, 2018 15:41:37 GMT
What's a "hot mess" as opposed to a standard "mess"?
I'm obviously not down with youth speak.
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Post by stuart on Sept 11, 2018 18:21:23 GMT
I absolutely loved this. Vicky Vox blew me away as Audrey II. Her plant was both menacing but hugely entertaining. She walked that line between camp and crass like only an experienced drag queen could. Once she’d made her grand entrance, you could tell that everyone was just waiting for her next appearance. I can see her getting an Olivier nomination next year (but wonder if it will be as Actor or Actress?).
I also really enjoyed Matt Willis, thought his couple of numbers were really funny and lifted the show especially during the 2nd act.
It was lightly raining throughout the first half which only added to the spooky atmosphere as it got darker and Audrey II came to life. It really was one of the best nights out I’ve ever had at a theatre.
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Post by andrew on Sept 11, 2018 18:46:05 GMT
I was there last night with (apparently) loads of people. Managed to bump into alicechallice, and was also surprised to see Matt Willis in this because seemingly I just totally blanked on that when this was announced. I thought he was tremendous, much more impressive than I remember him being in Wicked. And I'm going to be the little Jemima Rooper cheerleader in the corner, I think she just sneaked it in, albeit it's clear she's not the worlds strongest singer. One voice in my head says "we shouldn't accept big musicals like this having actors who aren't grade A singers" and then there's the louder one that says "I love Jemima Rooper". I liked the whole thing really. My only criticism is the ending of the story which has never worked for me. Obviously this production skirts over that and gets to it's big closing number and turns it up to 11 (beachballs and all), so everyone walks out feeling great. I agree as well that some aspects of the design weren't as impressive as other bits. Definitely a great show to take pretty much anyone to though, a decent crowd-pleaser that does the source material proud. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2018 21:32:56 GMT
Finally got to see this on Friday night and loved it. Also my first visit to the Open Air Theatre and it’s such a wonderful atmosphere. We had a nice picnic in the park before going in and it’s such a lovely place, it’s funny to think that there are green spaces like this in central London. We were sat in Row M which I had thought might be a bit far from the stage at top price but I thought it was a great seat, nice overall view of the production whilst also feeling very close and being able to make out facial expressions and nuances. I agree the production isn’t perfect and neither are the actors; Forbes Mason I just did not like as Mushnik, Jemima Rooper’s voice could have been better, Marc Antolin got on my nerves a bit with his “Seymour voice” and Matt Willis was a hot mess, but I thought the three girls were brilliant and nothing like in that awful West End Live clip. I did like Marc Antolin’s performance but I think I preferred Sam Lupton from the tour and Jemima Rooper played a very lovable Audrey and her voice was better than I thought it would be considering some of the comments on here, I wouldn’t say she struggled to sing the songs, she just didn’t have a very “big” voice. I really liked what they did with the set and the lighting, even the skyscrapers in shopping trolleys! I still don’t really know what was going on in that finale/encore but it was pure joy! And of course Vicky Vox stole the show in her bits and was fantastically camp and sassy, though I do think this isn’t the best way to do Audrey II for younger children or people seeing the show for the first time. Also, can they PLEASE build some more toilets in the theatre, queues were taking the p*ss, worse than at Wicked before they built the new loos. Children see Dames in Panto every year, and probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Having Vicky Vox brought out the subversive because he audience had to confront the sexuality of the plant. Which let’s face it, feed me all night long as a lyric is probably one of most highly sexualised lyrics going. |
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 11, 2018 21:44:13 GMT
Finally got to see this on Friday night and loved it. Also my first visit to the Open Air Theatre and it’s such a wonderful atmosphere. We had a nice picnic in the park before going in and it’s such a lovely place, it’s funny to think that there are green spaces like this in central London. We were sat in Row M which I had thought might be a bit far from the stage at top price but I thought it was a great seat, nice overall view of the production whilst also feeling very close and being able to make out facial expressions and nuances. I agree the production isn’t perfect and neither are the actors; Forbes Mason I just did not like as Mushnik, Jemima Rooper’s voice could have been better, Marc Antolin got on my nerves a bit with his “Seymour voice” and Matt Willis was a hot mess, but I thought the three girls were brilliant and nothing like in that awful West End Live clip. I did like Marc Antolin’s performance but I think I preferred Sam Lupton from the tour and Jemima Rooper played a very lovable Audrey and her voice was better than I thought it would be considering some of the comments on here, I wouldn’t say she struggled to sing the songs, she just didn’t have a very “big” voice. I really liked what they did with the set and the lighting, even the skyscrapers in shopping trolleys! I still don’t really know what was going on in that finale/encore but it was pure joy! And of course Vicky Vox stole the show in her bits and was fantastically camp and sassy, though I do think this isn’t the best way to do Audrey II for younger children or people seeing the show for the first time. Also, can they PLEASE build some more toilets in the theatre, queues were taking the p*ss, worse than at Wicked before they built the new loos. Children see Dames in Panto every year, and probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Having Vicky Vox brought out the subversive because he audience had to confront the sexuality of the plant. Which let’s face it, feed me all night long as a lyric is probably one of most highly sexualised lyrics going. Yeah that’s not what I meant at all. I’m not saying it was inappropriate for children having Vicky as Audrey II, just that they’d have found it more exciting and fun having a big elaborate mechanical alien-plant, I know I would have 5 or so years ago! |
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Post by Mark on Sept 11, 2018 21:57:11 GMT
Children see Dames in Panto every year, and probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Having Vicky Vox brought out the subversive because he audience had to confront the sexuality of the plant. Which let’s face it, feed me all night long as a lyric is probably one of most highly sexualised lyrics going. Yeah that’s not what I meant at all. I’m not saying it was inappropriate for children having Vicky as Audrey II, just that they’d have found it more exciting and fun having a big elaborate mechanical alien-plant, I know I would have 5 or so years ago! Wasn’t is suggested as one of the reasons for the lack of a mechanical plant the danger of the weather? |
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Post by drowseychap on Sept 12, 2018 1:38:34 GMT
I like the idea of drag queen playing Audrey 2 but from what I’ve read .... esp being outdoors they could have made the plant huge easily with long roots etc on pulleys and a puppet Venus fly trap plant which I still have a soft spot for it just works ...
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Post by Stephen on Sept 12, 2018 12:11:57 GMT
I like the idea of drag queen playing Audrey 2 but from what I’ve read .... esp being outdoors they could have made the plant huge easily with long roots etc on pulleys and a puppet Venus fly trap plant which I still have a soft spot for it just works ... I think that the amazing finale symbolises the plant taking over just enough to make up for the lack of a massive puppet. I would like that too in another production but to me this one was different in a good way! |
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 20, 2018 18:48:39 GMT
Best of luck to the whole cast and crew and the audience going to this tonight. Weather outside is rubbish!
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 20, 2018 19:43:36 GMT
The show has never needed a drag queen as the plant, and all previous productions have been great without one.
But in this production there is one, and it does add a lot to it! Yeah, a cool puppet is funny, but actual facial expressions are even better. There is so much more to watch for and so much more humour. I’m not saying all productions should now follow this one, but I’m very glad I saw this version.
I also liked the way the agent/editors wife/etc at the end all walked out of the plant, and were dressed in its colour scheme. Implies it’s not just Seymour’s success that brought them, but something more sinister is going on too.
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Post by frontrowcentre on Sept 21, 2018 9:04:29 GMT
Best of luck to the whole cast and crew and the audience going to this tonight. Weather outside is rubbish! I was there last night. It started raining during the interval and then it just stopped when the second act started. However half way through the second part it starting raining again and they had to halt the show for a few minutes to wipe the stage. Luckily after that we didn't get any more rain. Very happy I decided to book in the last minute to see it before it closes. Saw the Menier chocolate production twice and loved it so much that I wasn't sure if I was gonna like it. I Had an amazing night. I always thought the the weakest part of LSOH is the end and they really managed to somehow fix that here. I'm not a big fan of standing and clapping during songs at the end of the shows but somehow it works perfectly this time. Jemima Rooper didn't go on for Audrey. No idea who the understudy was but she did an amazing job!! |
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Post by teenangel on Sept 22, 2018 17:42:48 GMT
Attended the matinee of this today and unfortunately was rained off half an hour into the performance. Serves me right for waiting until the very end of the run to catch a ticket. What I did witness however was theatrical perfection! This was a very interesting take on my favourite musical, but I loved it - particularly the Ronettes and Jemima Rooper’s Audrey! Gutted not to see Vicky Vox’s Audrey II - was really looking forward to that!
Will be interested to see if tonight’s performance is rained off too. Gutted for the cast as it looks to be a really special show. Any ideas of if this might get some further life in some capacity? Would love to see it in it’s full glory!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 22, 2018 19:04:32 GMT
It’s been such a huge hit for them that I am sure it will either transfer or return to the park next year.. I don’t like the chances that tonight’s will go smoothly with this weather  ( |
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