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Post by david on Oct 19, 2020 21:21:53 GMT
Having been at tonight’s performance, overall a really enjoyable evening spent at the SWP. Firstly great work done by the SWP team to get this production on. I really can’t fault the measures that have been put in place and certainly the single booth was certainly a tight fit even for me (I’m just glad the show wasn’t any longer than the 90 minutes). The experience was certainly useful as a similar set up is being employed at Manchester’s Hope Mill theatre next month for their RENT production so I’m hoping for a bit more room in my booth when I’m there in a few weeks.
As for the production, 2 great vocal performances from Molly and Oli who kept me entertained. A great lighting design from Jamie Platt and a really simple but effective set design from Lee Newby. As someone who does like a good revolving stage, this certainly worked for me. For the score, certainly it is one that I’d listen to again.
I can’t really make any comparisons to any earlier productions as this is my first time watching this particular show, but certainly it zipped along nicely for the 90 minutes.
Being produced by ARIA who have worked extensively with Hope Mill, I do wonder whether this would get a transfer there next year if the current situation improved. With such a simple set a small cast and orchestra I do think it would work well in that intimate space.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 25, 2020 11:03:47 GMT
I agree with david a great production and Southwark deserve awards for just getting on with it and making us feel so safe and welcome at the same time. This was my last show before lockdown and so it was great to go back and revisit. Loved it. At the end it got a huge and well deserved standing ovation. |
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Post by alison on Oct 25, 2020 13:18:14 GMT
I'm going on Tuesday afternoon. I booked it when the show went on sale as it's half term week, now it turns out that they're letting their standbys (Lydia White and Josh Barnett) have it as a scheduled show so they get to perform at least once. As someone who enjoys seeing different takes on the same role that's perfect timing for me, I'll get to see Lydia and Josh live in the theatre and then Molly and Oli on the stream a few weeks later.
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Post by fiyero on Oct 25, 2020 16:27:36 GMT
I'm going on Tuesday afternoon. I booked it when the show went on sale as it's half term week, now it turns out that they're letting their standbys (Lydia White and Josh Barnett) have it as a scheduled show so they get to perform at least once. As someone who enjoys seeing different takes on the same role that's perfect timing for me, I'll get to see Lydia and Josh live in the theatre and then Molly and Oli on the stream a few weeks later. Great to see enthusiasm for seeing covers. I love that in the 3 times I saw the les mis concert (including cinema) I had 3 different pairings of Valjean and Javert. Fingers crossed for a no Ball no Boe next time. Great for the standbys too, they have a chance for people to go to see them!! |
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Post by Theatre Fan on Oct 25, 2020 18:54:30 GMT
I'm going on Tuesday afternoon. I booked it when the show went on sale as it's half term week, now it turns out that they're letting their standbys (Lydia White and Josh Barnett) have it as a scheduled show so they get to perform at least once. As someone who enjoys seeing different takes on the same role that's perfect timing for me, I'll get to see Lydia and Josh live in the theatre and then Molly and Oli on the stream a few weeks later. I got to see Josh lead the ArtsEd production of Nice Work If You Can Get It and he was fabulous!!! Jealous of whoever gets to see the standbys. I'm sure they'll be brilliant x x |
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 26, 2020 22:59:51 GMT
Quite enjoyed this tonight having missed it first time around. The two leads were both good, although I'm a bit indifferent on the music. Perhaps it will grow on me?
I do thing they did a great job with making the venue Covid-19 secure. A separate entrance, the seats cleanly spaced out, drinks orders if you wanted them (probably too many judging by the number of toilet breaks people needed), screens up between seats.
The screens were a little annoying in that you watch the show through the screen a lot, but you also get reflections, but I understand that we need them like that at the moment. As a single theatregoer, I'm very glad I had an aisle seat as this is rather compact if you have a screen at either side of you. Most people kept their masks on, which was appreciated.
I don't think I loved the show enough to go back and see the same two leads again, but like others, I like Josh Barnett from his ArtsEd days, so if he does end up with another date advertised (an evening preferably due to work) I'd certainly try and catch him.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 12, 2021 8:31:55 GMT
West End transfer announced
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375 posts
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jun 25, 2021 10:20:51 GMT
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Sept 20, 2021 20:54:36 GMT
Fairly quiet opening in the West End. Anyone caught it? Not selling well at all with offers aplenty.
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 22, 2021 12:00:34 GMT
I have not seen this production- the whole actor musician thing doesn't appeal to me- however a much as I love Th Last 5 Years (and indeed most of Jason Robert Brown's work) I think that the problem with this show is that outside of the theatre community, it's just not that well known.
Because of the intimacy of the show, it's not a stage spectacular like Wicked, Les Mis, Phantom orThe Lion King, thus not necessarily a crowd puller.
And lyrically and structurally its brilliant. Depending on your mood and how you're feeling, one day the break down of the relationship can be blamed on Jamie. At other times, or days, it's all Cathy's fault.
Hopefully sales for this production will pick up.
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 22, 2021 12:40:40 GMT
I honestly don't think I've ever watched this show and felt it was Cathy's fault (I mean, there are moments where she's irritating but on the whole it's Jamie's problem for me)
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Post by inthenose on Sept 22, 2021 14:07:52 GMT
I honestly don't think I've ever watched this show and felt it was Cathy's fault (I mean, there are moments where she's irritating but on the whole it's Jamie's problem for me) I agree with this, I've never thought it was her fault per se. But I do find her incredibly annoying. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2021 14:56:40 GMT
I honestly don't think I've ever watched this show and felt it was Cathy's fault (I mean, there are moments where she's irritating but on the whole it's Jamie's problem for me) Yep, exactly this. Cathy is annoying but Jamie is so unsympathetic that it always feels like pretty much all his fault. |
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 22, 2021 15:03:07 GMT
I think they're both to blame - she's clingy and whiny and he's a horndog! 🤣 it is a great musical though, I'm hoping to catch it on Rush soon.
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Post by properjob on Oct 3, 2021 6:52:09 GMT
I saw this from close to the front thanks to one of the various offers collated by Theatre monkey. Because I was so close and it is no longer in the round it was actually somehow more intimate than in the Southwark due to not having loads of time staring at the back of actors heads.
For the person put off by it being actor-musicianary. I know what you mean, but this isn't like that! It flows much more naturally and the piano is almost a 3rd character but doesn't dominate or interupt like someone picking up a cello or stopping singing to play the trumpet can.
The cast are also clearly having the time of thier lives having started it is a small studio show and finding themselves in the West End.
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Oct 9, 2021 0:02:02 GMT
First time catching time tonight and it was just wonderful. Glad I did a bit of reading up about it before I went in so I knew about the timelines being opposite so I was able to really get into it from the start. Brilliant performances from both actors and nice to see it pretty full as I know it’s not been selling well. It certainly should be as it’s such a beautifully written piece.
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Post by lonlad on Oct 17, 2021 21:27:49 GMT
WOW! Was there this afternoon to witness a triumphant finish to a beautiful production that has grown so organically and richly across its two Southwark runs to the Garrick; today was the last performance to a show whose final word, aptly enough, is "goodbye". Both performers were on fire this afternoon (watched in the audience by their understudies) and the result was the most moving account imaginable of this often-tricky piece. all concerned should be very proud of this achievement which hopefully won't be overlooked in favour of the bigger names when the Olivier nods roll around next year.
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