|
Post by stagebyte on Aug 6, 2022 3:22:21 GMT
Florence's reprise of Anthem was the only time I was surprised Samantha Barks DIDN'T modulate or riff at the end of it. I miss those days.
|
|
2,022 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Aug 9, 2022 17:31:52 GMT
I really enjoyed this evening...well,most of it. Thought the first few songs were a bit ropey, particularly where the Arbiter was involved. Ako wasn't great,I struggled to make out a lot of the lyrics. In fact I thought even Marti Pellow's performance at RAH was better. However I enjoyed it from the first Chess game onwards (though that was spoiled by the totally unnecessary choreography going on around them) As has been already said it was worth the ticket just to hear Hadley's Anthem but Samantha's reprise was equally as good. Frances was ok, but she grinned through most of her songs. I thought the placement of Someone Else's Story was strange, it seem randomly dropped it, we hadn't really been introduced to Anatoly's wife then suddenly she's there singing. I don't think I've seen a version where it appears that early. All in all glad I came down to see this, it was really worth it to hear it with the choir and orchestra.
Someone Else's Story was placed where it was on the Craig Revel Horwood UK Tour - basically the introductory moment for the character.
|
|
2,422 posts
|
Post by robertb213 on Aug 9, 2022 23:23:42 GMT
|
|
|
Post by stagebyte on Aug 10, 2022 23:43:26 GMT
Saw this tonight also. NYMT did a superb job. Sadly marred by weak tech particularly Act 1 by poor sound mix. Think some of the ensemble numbers are hard enough to follow in the main if it’s your first time watching and you’re not familiar with the lyrics and plot. If it’s inaudible in places you’re screwed. Fair few people commenting they couldn’t hear clearly. Seemed to be sorted in Act 2. The follow spots also seemed to be having a bit of mare in Act 2. Hopefully this will all be sorted by tomorrow. It was a fresh, exciting take. The Orchestra were phenomenal. Hard to believe average age was 17 to play such a challenging score. It really is a thrilling score to hear and the principal singers (when sound had been balanced correctly in Act 2) were amazing. Choral parts gave me chills with Anatoly the highlight for me but strong performances all round. Exciting to see the future of theatre.
|
|
2,422 posts
|
Post by robertb213 on Aug 11, 2022 6:25:08 GMT
Agree with all that, I thought NYMT smashed it. All the vocals were fantastic, some parts even stronger than at Drury Lane last week. Also fascinating to have a gender-swapped Freddie and the Arbiter for a different spin on it. For anyone who saw the NYMT at Manchester cathedral last year, Freddie is played by Lois Mia Chapman who played Esmeralda in that production. Definitely a shame on the various sound and lighting issues last night, it was the first performance so hopefully they'll iron that all out.
|
|