1,210 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 22:48:53 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 28, 2018 22:48:53 GMT
Tumbleweed.................
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1,210 posts
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Chess
Apr 28, 2018 22:05:07 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 28, 2018 22:05:07 GMT
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. It sounds a bit like Wicked when it first opened anyway. And now nearly 12 years later it’s kind of a West End staple. (even though the theatre is in Victoria). I highly doubt Chess will last as long as this but it seems like things may get either better or worse for it. I enjoy Burke as a performer so I’ll probably try and scoop up some audios over time of the show to see what I think. Edit: All this time I thought Chess was a brand new musical with an open run and now I’ve done some research on it and feel so ignorant. This is a 5-week limited season revival and not a big new production. I think it will probably tour after this as they wouldn’t just cast and choreograph a production for 5 weeks and leave it like that? What odd comments! Chess has been around since the 80s. You can’t compare to Wicked. What’s being in Victoria got to do with anything? Hamilton? Starlight? Unlike Broadway the West End is spread out. Plus these new Collesium 5 weeks runs are just one offs. They aren’t staged so they can tour. On another note I’m glad they have fixed the lip sync issue!
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1,210 posts
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Chess
Apr 27, 2018 9:14:17 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 27, 2018 9:14:17 GMT
Video of Cellen singing Pity the Child is on Twitter. @ chess_musical He did so well!
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1,210 posts
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Chess
Apr 27, 2018 7:40:59 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 27, 2018 7:40:59 GMT
Is it likely that they’ll sort the sound system? At the ENO, the sound should be one of the strengths I would have thought. I would definitely complain if I had paid the prices being charged and then discover that the sound was largely ‘inaudible’ - as it has been described. What is it with Chess and sound systems? The CRH tour didn’t have great sound design (I know that was actor-musician style) and the sound at the Albert Hall concerts was dire. And now this! Seriously, if it was so bad, why are people not complaining at these prices? Because it probably isn‘t bad. People esp on boards like this are usually rather negative esp when a show is opening. Lot’s of people are complaining about the book. Why? Really, I have seen hundreds of west end shows, and lots of these shows have mediocre books. Concerning Chess: everybody is talking to each other saying it is a dire book. Even I said that for a couple of years. But the truth is, it is an intelligent and complex story and there isn’t that much wrong with book. Just sit, relax and enjoy your evening. Actually it is bad. I went with a group of 17 people scattered in different places. We all came out and said A) great singing B) lip sync was off on screens C) bad sound and couldn’t hear lyrics at all. So different people sat in different places all said the same thing. Plus I’m not negative at all. I adore theatre, go once or twice a week and nothing makes me happier when I see a show that is amazing. I thrive and live for it - but as a trained professional/journalist it’s about being truthful and balanced when giving a review. Nothing negative at all - when it’s great it’s great (42nd Street staircase) and when it’s bad it’s bad (Viva Forever). Sound issues and casting aside it’s still worth seeing and the music is superb.
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1,210 posts
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Chess
Apr 26, 2018 23:35:09 GMT
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Brian likes this
Post by musicalmarge on Apr 26, 2018 23:35:09 GMT
Well well well. My first ever Chess! (sat mid stalls)
Micheal Ball was fabulous (though too old), the two leading girls were good (but not excellent), Russian accents sometimes used sometimes not - and the biggest problem was that the huge screens had lip sync issues. Made our eyes go funny and it ruined it really.
Cassidy needs to remember she’s not in Beautiful (accent and acting style? Ahem) Alexandra (playing a White Russian woman Hm....) sang well but can’t act and the whole show as someone mentioned is inaudible sadly. I liked the new song for Svetlana opening of Act 2. Would like to hear that again.
Amazing songs (that’s why it scores well and is popular), dodgy casting (we all knew this anyway), great staging, impressive lighting and LED displays, TERRIBLE sound, Cellen as the understudy last minute did brilliantly, but Chess just has an odd story and book that isn’t all there. Lovely to see Tim Rice! 7/10
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1,210 posts
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Chess
Apr 25, 2018 7:42:52 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 25, 2018 7:42:52 GMT
When is opening?
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 25, 2018 7:41:41 GMT
What homophobic comments?
2* The Stage 2* The Guardian 2* LondonTheatre
It got the odd 4 stars yes but I would think these are bad reviews wouldn’t you? I wish the show well, but I really didn’t like it...
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 25, 2018 0:43:49 GMT
Jersey Boys ran there three years so it's not exactly the house of flops! Would be a good home for Mean Girls Jersey Boys was a known brand when it transferred from the Prince Edward. Although Mean Girls reviews and grosses are strong and Sonia Friedman is involved and produces in association with ATG, it is too soon for Mean Girls to come over, I would have thought Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Anastasia or Waitress more likely, could even be a possible that Groundhog Day could come back, not sure why GD didn’t go in there in the first place? Saying that I am sure that Priscilla got reviews like this and the press didn’t harm that. Priscilla didn’t get reviews like this. Plus everyone I know who saw Priscilla loved it. Most who saw Strictly Ballroom over the past week didn’t.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 25, 2018 0:33:49 GMT
Mame?? FINALLY??
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 25, 2018 0:05:15 GMT
So what next for the Piccadilly Theatre? Not wanting to wish Strictly Ballroom closure but I always thought the Piccadilly would be a good venue for Addams Family but that's heading out on tour again so that wont be happening. God only knows what will play here next but sad to see a new musical receive such poor reviews. I loved Adams family!!! Much more than the mess that is Strictly Ballroom. Seems the stage review felt the same as me. What a missed opportunity YET again. What is it with the West End? Is it because shows are cheap to put on they don’t have as much serious development as broadway? Shocking the amount of rubbish I’ve seen in the past 5 years!
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Cher
Apr 21, 2018 6:10:04 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 21, 2018 6:10:04 GMT
When for goodness sake are the TICKETS ON SALE?
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 21, 2018 6:08:17 GMT
sorry if this has already been mentioned but is there any word on this chugging over to the West Ena at all?! Will never happen. Bette is on over 200k a WEEK!
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 21, 2018 6:05:20 GMT
At least they added a projection of the stairs and castle in Let it Go but I’m still furious at Disney for not having a huge hydraulic castle rise up from the floor. My life would have been complete.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 20, 2018 9:56:49 GMT
HOW STRANGE!!!!! Hahaha
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 20, 2018 9:35:30 GMT
Really liked Zizi, and actually quite liked Will Young. That’s pretty much where it ends. The show is just bad. Not enough drama, not enough standout moments, the whole thing is so badly put together. Act two was better but the ending was just a bit naff. Where were all these “different moves” we were told of? I wouldn’t really call this a musical, you only get snippets of most songs, not even a full verse/chorus. I won’t be recommending this one. Totally agree - Love is in the Air isn’t sung completely! Soooo annoying. Does Zizi also only sing one line? Ha...
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 17, 2018 7:32:50 GMT
Yeah I’m with Parsley in that musicalmarge - if it’s as bad as you’re saying, why give it 5/10? That’s still 2.5-3 stars... Be interested to know some of your thoughts in more detail. I can’t stand Will Young, so I won’t be going to this unfortunately - a shame as a friend worked on it in Leeds and said it’s great and I love me a Strallen! Maybe because there are still talented performers on stage, that some of the songs used are popular hits, because the costumes were good and the choreography effective? There’s even the odd line that made me laugh. That’s the reason why I gave it 5 out of 10. The musical is pretty hopeless and didn’t work for me (act 2 is a total mess and rushed) - but there are also some very talented people on the stage. It’s not good but I’ve seen worse - that’s why I scored it that. Just as a critic might give a show 2 stars. Rather simple.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 16, 2018 23:06:19 GMT
Saw this tonight, what a load of RUBBISH!!! The staging was a total MESS! Not good and the worst set I’ve ever seen on the West End! 5/10
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 13, 2018 10:28:56 GMT
The tickets are NOT CHEAP!
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 13, 2018 9:21:05 GMT
Not working for me either!!!
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 12, 2018 10:20:10 GMT
Anyone seen this yet? I’m going Saturday night!
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1,210 posts
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Apr 11, 2018 21:36:21 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 11, 2018 21:36:21 GMT
Glad theres still many people finding love for this production! Saw this tonight also. Wow max was outstanding!!! Danny Mac sang the role so well, just a shame he’s short and his acting isn’t really there. Super set and lighting. The main issue I had with the show (apart from the tinny orchestra) was surprisingly Ria Jones as Norma. As someone mentions above she is more of a singer but just screeched the notes and lacks any star quality at all. She was very dissapointing in what was generally a very good show.
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 11, 2018 8:11:27 GMT
Fabulous sign - I can’t help thinking that it’s the wrong name for the show though. What do others think?
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Company
Apr 10, 2018 12:45:58 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 10, 2018 12:45:58 GMT
I’m sorry but Being Alive is a guys song in the same way I Dreamed a Dream is a female song, Apart from Bernadette it’s very difficult to move gender. For me looking from the Facebook feed it didn’t work and she struggled.
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 6, 2018 13:12:09 GMT
This show has the best set and worst choreography I’ve ever seen in a show!
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Post by musicalmarge on Apr 3, 2018 2:19:53 GMT
I’m sure there will be a further life for this!
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