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Post by Brian on Jun 17, 2018 18:01:46 GMT
The story is so threadbare and there are only a smattering of memorable songs. I agree there's no real plot, but surely all the songs are classics? That's the benefit of being able to pick and choose songs for a jukebox musical like this. Maybe I need to listen again. I liked ‘We’re in the Money’ and ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ but I didn’t love the rest. It’s all very pleasant but for me, nothing amazing. I might give the show another try before it closes though!
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68 posts
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Chess
Jun 17, 2018 2:44:01 GMT
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Post by Brian on Jun 17, 2018 2:44:01 GMT
My hunch is that she’ll be cast as Deena for a few months before Dreamgirls closes, and she’ll join the tour too. I could be completely wrong.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Jun 17, 2018 2:39:12 GMT
Maybe she's preparing to take over from Adrienne in Tina? No idea how long Adrienne is contracted for though Assuming you have seen Tina then how do you equate Adrienne (great singer, dancer and average actress) with the Berk (one style belter, immobile trunk, unlikely to reach am-dram standard)? i’d pay to see it though for the one night before it closed. Ugh. Can you make your point without being so gratuitously unpleasant and nasty? I saw Alexandra in Chess and thought she more than held her own with seasoned performers. In my opinion, your comment is unfair and based on what I saw, just plain wrong. I may be stating the obvious but for an ‘immobile trunk’ she did pretty well to reach the Strictly final.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Jun 15, 2018 14:31:19 GMT
It seems she's been offered another West End role, I wonder what it could be?
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Post by Brian on May 15, 2018 23:27:34 GMT
I saw this tonight. Overall, I found it quite underwhelming and I wouldn’t sit through it again. The first half was quite dull; it improved for the second half. At the interval, I overheard a woman nearby saying that the thing she’d enjoyed in the first half was the dancing. I thought that was pretty telling considering how little of it there was.
The cast do a stellar job with what they’re given but the score isn’t particularly memorable and the characterization is weak. I appreciate that this can’t be an easy feat given the context of the show and the attempt to show us the three classes on the ship.
I was oddly unmoved by it considering the tragedy involved. There is one part at the very end which made me ponder a little but I don’t think the show succeeds in conveying the various emotions of the event.
The use of actors playing multiple roles was a little confusing at times as there sometimes wasn’t much physical difference other than a different hairstyle. I appreciate that it would likely be impossible to bring a larger cast on tour. I wondered if it was a deliberate metaphor at times- i.e. regardless of class, we’re all connected, or something...
In terms of performances, Oliver Marshall was my favorite as Harold Bride. Greg Castiglioni was good too as Thomas Andrews. I did enjoy the group numbers and the staging was very clever.
It’s certainly an accomplished piece but after all the praise lavished on it here and elsewhere, it just didn’t meet my expectations at all. There was a full standing ovation at the end so I’m sure the cast will be happy with that.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on May 5, 2018 21:45:54 GMT
Just an observation, and I may be wide of the mark, but it’s wild to read the variety of reactions to Alexandra’s performance on this board- from one saying they’d pay to see her as Florence to another saying she’s awful and ruined the songs.
She seems to be quite a marmite character and I do wonder whether some people’s personal dislike of her impacts on an objective/ fair assessment of her performance. My sense is that it’s almost like the rest of us have to be apologetic for enjoying her input to the show.
Aside from one or two critics saying she was miscast, so many of the critics’ reviews have singled her out for praise and have mentioned that they would have liked her to have had a meatier role. More than one mentioned that she brought ‘light and shade’ to the character.
I accept that when people have shelled out for tickets, then of course they’re entitled to voice their opinions, but she does seem to come in for a disproportionate level of criticism.
She’s clearly not everyone’s cup of tea, but the casual criticism is unseemly at times.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 12:59:33 GMT
Sorry Parsley, are you suggesting that we aren’t entitled to enjoy the show simply because you and some critics didn’t enjoy it? As I recall it, you walked out after 45 minutes. It’s all completely subjective but maybe less of the sounding personally affronted by a piece of musical theatre, please?
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68 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 12:55:42 GMT
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 12:55:42 GMT
The reviews on the negative side I would say.... 5* Daily Express 4* Mark Shenton (who likes everything) for London Theatre 4* WOS (who we don't mention). 3* Mail 3* Broadway World 2* The Stage 2* The Times 2* Time Out 2* Evening Standard 2* The Indy Arts No reviews (as yet) from the Guardian or Telegraph. Reviews Hub gave it a cheery 4.5* and The Arts desk gave it 3 *
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68 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 11:35:09 GMT
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 11:35:09 GMT
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68 posts
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Chess
May 2, 2018 7:39:47 GMT
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Post by Brian on May 2, 2018 7:39:47 GMT
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 22:50:35 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 22:50:35 GMT
What is the running time for this? The only production of Chess I've ever seen was an amateur one and that seemed to go on forever - pretty sure it ended up being nearly 3 hours, if not longer! 2 hours, 45 minutes apparently... www.eno.org/whats-on/chess/
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 22:28:21 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 22:28:21 GMT
^We all make mistakes!
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 20:52:38 GMT
Ryan, this is for you!
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 20:29:09 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 20:29:09 GMT
To be fair, where are you getting that impression? There is literally only one of the reviewers here who was even close to saying that. Well, I did skim-read a bit before commenting so I'll probably go back and read the thread properly. Some have loved it, others have been so so, one absolutely hated it. I’ve been keeping an eye on Twitter and it’s getting overwhelming positivity there. I’ve seen plenty of scathing reviews on Twitter for other shows, though of course it’s not scientific! I’ll definitely be interested to see what the critics think.
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 19:52:23 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 19:52:23 GMT
I've not actually heard of Chess, just that La Burke is in it. Is it really THAT bad a production? To be fair, where are you getting that impression? There is literally only one of the reviewers here who was even close to saying that.
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 19:25:36 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 19:25:36 GMT
Did I read somewhere that Tuesday is press night?
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 9:34:47 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 28, 2018 9:34:47 GMT
^I think he or she was referring to Parsley’s post.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Apr 27, 2018 10:02:42 GMT
What’s the merch like? Are there....... magnets? 😬 Just a £5 programme (no production pics) and a bit of attitude from the vendor. That’s a bit of a shame- I’m a sucker for good merchandise!
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 26, 2018 23:41:03 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 23:41:03 GMT
^Thats quite a good rating considering the things you didn’t like! Can I ask where you were seated (in terms of the sound)?
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 26, 2018 23:07:57 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 23:07:57 GMT
It’s the biggest Chess I think I’ll see this century and I still enjoyed watching the old girl have one last fling. They’ve also made it a more coherent story with a proper ending. The casting of Anatoly Jr is tricky as the collar and cuffs don’t match viz the parents - maybe she doesn’t know him that well. Ha! Thanks for the info.
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 26, 2018 22:50:46 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 22:50:46 GMT
^A shame you didn’t enjoy most of the casting. Did they include ‘He is a man, he is a child.’ ? Crowbarred into the start of the second and shot blasted by the ever reliable Alexandra Burst Thank you- I’m interested to hear it. I know you’re a big fan of the show but I heard a sneaky clip of this evening’s ‘I Know Him So Well’ on Instagram and it sounded a beauty to me. Not sure if I’ll get to hear it in person! Cellen got a big cheer!
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 26, 2018 22:33:57 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 22:33:57 GMT
^A shame you didn’t enjoy most of the casting. Did they include ‘He is a man, he is a child.’ ?
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 22:05:51 GMT
Poor Coliseum This is what they have to resort to An opera venue Forced to scrape the barrel And star in musicals It’s quite pathetic really Sorry that Benny and Björn didn’t rewrite the score for you, Parsley. Seeing as you left after 45 mins, and the general incoherence of what you’ve written, I’m inclined to take your review with a pinch of salt.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 20:16:17 GMT
Swathes of empty seats Pity those who paid for this And those who paid full price even more Am I missing something? You feel sorry for people who paid full price for the show (on its opening night) because there are free seats? The theatre is still 75% + full. People paid for a great nights theatre which is what they are getting. A little less catastrophising and a little more reality, please.
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 26, 2018 8:09:27 GMT
Post by Brian on Apr 26, 2018 8:09:27 GMT
I’m technologically illiterate so I just deleted it instead. Apologies! Lots of happy reaction on Twitter but it’ll be more interesting to see what paying theatre goers think. Where is the photo? I don't mind spoilers! It's on @iainjames_ timeline from yesterday evening.
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 25, 2018 23:27:05 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 25, 2018 23:27:05 GMT
The dress rehearsal was this evening Would you mind putting that photo as a spoiler please? I’m technologically illiterate so I just deleted it instead. Apologies! Lots of happy reaction on Twitter but it’ll be more interesting to see what paying theatre goers think.
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68 posts
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Chess
Apr 20, 2018 17:19:58 GMT
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Post by Brian on Apr 20, 2018 17:19:58 GMT
Sorry - but the way the role of the Arbiter is written is as someone who is obsessed with the rules and determined to see them carried out to the letter. There is nothing in the writing to suggest someone who is over-energetic or even frenetic. Yes, roles have to be interpreted - but you have to work with the material not completely against it. There is scope enough to be original without disregarding what has actually been written. Well, perhaps Benny and Tim will rein him in before opening night.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Apr 20, 2018 17:08:36 GMT
Having seen the sitzprobe video on Facebook, I was struck by the over-energetic new Arbiter who is really over-singing everything. Given he is supposed to be the calm one, it seemed an odd choice to make. It's all very shouty and frenetic. And Burke sounds awful doing I Know Him so Well. Well at least the orchestra sounds ok 😉 I guess my hearing must be awful then because Alexandra sounds great to me. I like the Arbiter’s voice; roles are there to be interpreted and reimagined. It would be quite boring if it was a carbon copy of what has gone before.
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68 posts
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Post by Brian on Mar 23, 2018 0:41:48 GMT
I have a sort of irrational dislike for La Burke. Please can she stay away from theatre? Especially if she thinks there’s no acting in this! I mean, I know Boe and Jenkins decided not to Act last year but still 🙄🙄 Perhaps you should direct your request to casting agents rather than to her? She’s hardly going to turn down paid work in a high profile production. The fact that you’re also repeating the same criticism of a throwaway comment she made is also quite tiresome and mean spirited.
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Post by Brian on Mar 20, 2018 23:19:47 GMT
^I understand your point and of course to do it justice she will need to convey emotion via the songs. The only quibble I have is the suggestion that she was arrogant in saying it; it was indicative of foolishness maybe but not arrogance. She wasn’t saying she is refusing to act the part, simply that she doesn’t have dialogue.
I am sure she will take the direction she’s given, and give her all in the performance. I agree that in an ideal world these kind of things wouldn’t need to be explained, as a musical theatre trained performer would be unlikely to make a gaffe like that.
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