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Post by robertb213 on Aug 5, 2022 11:36:46 GMT
Rhydian Roberts, Richard Fleeshman and the legendary Biggins at South Pacific last night.
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 4, 2022 21:49:51 GMT
Whoever they go with, Christian needs to have wide-eyed naivety, rather than 'I'm hot and I know it' or dull as a plank of wood which seem to be the roads they prefer to go down when casting.
Also Satine needs to have some vulnerability to her, she should be more than just a powerhouse. I bet Zoe is brilliant when she's on but I can't bring myself to sit through it again!
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 3, 2022 21:07:39 GMT
I agree, it's one of the few film-to-musical adaptations where the musical is better. They should make a film of the musical. Although Reese Witherspoon was and will always be perfection in that role 😁
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 3, 2022 10:39:22 GMT
Yeah this is a long slog. There's some good stuff in there but it needs some major editing, it starts to feel like it's never going to end. It's perfectly pleasant, quite sweet, just all a bit too nice to be interesting. Not S&D's strongest score either, a few pretty melodies but nothing really standout.
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 3, 2022 6:12:01 GMT
It needs a new book and score as well, if they're in the mood to fix things! 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 2, 2022 9:42:59 GMT
Finished about 9.55pm last night and that's with starting about 5 minutes late.
I thought Samantha was a significant improvement on Idina who just shouted everything. Joel, Hadley and Samantha were all great, but Frances jarred with me, she was the only one who felt like she was just singing in a concert rather than playing a character.
The choreography was a bit weird, I agree.
Definitely an enjoyable night, and for me Samantha was the standout, I thought she showed real power rather than just being the pretty voice that she used to be known for.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 31, 2022 19:00:41 GMT
robertb213 - Thanks for the positive review. I was meant to have been at yesterday's matinee but due to the train strikes, I was unable to attend so I've moved my ticket to this coming Saturday's matinee. I'm glad the train trip from Liverpool will hopefully be worth it. I was definitely in minds whether to make the journey down to Birmingham or wait for it to come to Liverpool next Feb before reading your post. You're welcome! I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Post your verdict once you've seen it 😁 |
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 31, 2022 17:09:37 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 31, 2022 15:01:32 GMT
Didn't fancy this at all though I have followed the tour reviews so far and can see they're uniformly excellent. My dilemma now is that it's the only production available when a visit to Oxford coincides with the tour arriving there so though the ticket prices are horrendous, I might have to bite the bullet, pay up and see it rather than go without theatre all week. At least the combination of an adult and child cast makes it sound more palatable. I would say go for it, I'm normally very wary of kids in shows but these were fantastic, and it's all done in such a stylish and enjoyable way. I really did think it was great. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 31, 2022 13:06:29 GMT
I'm reviewing the last Preview today, verdict to follow later 😁
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 31, 2022 13:05:15 GMT
Just wanted to "give a little love" to this production, I reviewed it in Birmingham on Friday night and thought it was absolutely brilliant. Having a professional adult ensemble against the child principals works really well, the show looks and sounds great, choreography is cleverly done and the kids are just brilliant. I've only ever seen it done by local youth groups before and this was leagues above those. Highly recommended. 2 hours including interval 😁
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 27, 2022 9:47:58 GMT
Northampton doesn't have an accent, does it? I volunteer there and I've never noticed one.
Joel will be a million times better than Matt, he was excellent on the last tour.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 27, 2022 8:03:03 GMT
Exactly. Legally Blonde was a bad production of a brilliant musical. 101 Dalmatians is a great production of an OK musical.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 25, 2022 18:57:01 GMT
I reviewed this last night, two really likeable leads, energetic choreography and the songs still sound great. Recommended of you can get to Kilworth House Theatre!
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 24, 2022 22:50:04 GMT
The kids aren't in it that much, certainly not worth missing the whole production for.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 24, 2022 19:56:14 GMT
I'm reviewing in Birmingham on Friday, I'll report back!
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 24, 2022 13:15:16 GMT
I went with 3 stars. Kate Fleetwood is fabulous and the show looks great with a few standout songs but for me it never stepped into "wow" territory. The modernisation and "influencer" stuff jarred with me (although it got a few laughs from others) and I thought it could've all been done better. Pleasant enough and there's some brilliant bits in it, but something felt lacking as a complete product.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 23, 2022 22:27:17 GMT
At Regent's Park 101 Dalmatians last night - Tom & Giovanna Fletcher, Tamsin Outhwaite, Claire Sweeney, Ranvir Singh, Harriet Thorpe, Linda Robson, Michelle Heaton, and pretty much all of the recent Legally Blonde cast. that sounds like a papering exercise... It was Press Night. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 23, 2022 21:32:45 GMT
At Regent's Park 101 Dalmatians last night - Tom & Giovanna Fletcher, Tamsin Outhwaite, Claire Sweeney, Ranvir Singh, Harriet Thorpe, Linda Robson, Michelle Heaton, and pretty much all of the recent Legally Blonde cast.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 22, 2022 8:19:41 GMT
Luke Bayer is also distracting attractive. He is, but I expect you saw Luke Baker.  (also very good looking) Haha, thank you! Edited. 🤣 Bayer seems a sweet lad but Baker all the way for me! |
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 22, 2022 8:11:19 GMT
Agreed on Glove, it's definitely my least favourite song and I generally skip it but I understand its place and purpose for the Larry relationship. It could be better though.
I saw the show for the second time last weekend. My first viewing was January 2020, thought it was great but didn't move me emotionally. I've since fallen in love with the show more and seeing it for a second time really hit me. I teared up several times in the first act, and from the start of Evan's confession through to the end of So Big/So Small I was just a crying wreck which I wasn't prepared for. I'm not saying it's a perfect show but nothing gets me 'in the feels' (as the kids say) like this one.
Marcus was on as Evan and he was brilliant, he played it slightly more awkwardly than Sam and didn't quite have the same ease with the high notes, but he was still fantastic, as were the rest of the cast.
I wish they'd incorporate the film ending into the show, with Evan actively trying to learn more about Connor and being able to give the Murphys something real about their son.
I will try and see it a third time before it closes in October. I just need to remember to take tissues now apparently!
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 22, 2022 8:03:30 GMT
I went with 5 stars, couldn't fault it. It's more raw than the original production and for me, more powerful because of it. Jaden playing Billy was excellent (had no idea he was Lisa from Steps' son). Sally Ann Triplett was as brilliant as you'd expect. Luke Baker is also distracting attractive.
Loved it. A lot.
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 20, 2022 15:00:47 GMT
Jeremy Jordan is 37. Aaron Tveit mentioned above is 38. Cynthia is 35. This university is going to look like it's filled with students who got held back A LOT 🤣
At this rate next to them, poor Ariana at 29 is going to look like a child prodigy who got bumped up a few years at school, like those geniuses who attend Harvard at 12 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 19, 2022 20:25:55 GMT
I still find it weird that someone with a supposedly 'scandalacious' reputation does nothing remotely interesting for the entire show 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 19, 2022 20:20:59 GMT
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