1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Feb 3, 2019 11:13:27 GMT
I had no knowledge of this musical at all before seeing it. Although, I did know about the premise of the show.
It is a terrific, classy piece of musical theatre. It was surprisingly funny and played without sentiment which meant that the tragic moments hit harder. The entire company is a masterclass in ensemble performance - each having moments to shine but seldom leaving the stage and playing a myriad of characters easily, without confusion with just a change of a hat or jacket and accent.
It is simply but effectively staged on a revolve with a variety of chairs and a couple of tables but the show is in constant movement from the opening through to the end. The time flew - no sooner had the planes "landed" they seemed to be leaving. I was totally riveted throughout! Of course, everyone who is old enough can remember exactly where they were on that dreadful day 9/11 and this show packs the emotional punch of bringing back the "not knowing" of what was happening or why.
Rarely have I seen such a packed house laughing loudly one moment and then being completely silent the next - no coughing, no phones, no sweet wrappers -just intense silence in the moment. There are few moment for applause during the piece as it is driven on at a terrific pace but as the lights blacked out at the end, I have rarely witnessed an entire audience spontaneously spring to their feet in rapturous applause.
This will undoubtedly get good reviews and good word of mouth - I hope enough to be a smash hit - it deserves to be.
Edited to add that the view from the side stalls F2 was great - unrestricted as all the action takes place front and centre. I would not like to have been much further forward as the stage is very high and the front row very close and you would get severe neck ache looking up the entire time.
5 wicked stars!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Feb 3, 2019 10:54:28 GMT
Two anecdotes from a revival of Hay Fever at the NT in 1964 starring Dame Edith Evans (at nearly 80) playing Judith Bliss and Maggie Smith playing Myra. Directed by Noel Coward himself.
During VERY fraught rehearsals Dame Edith was having trouble with the lines and constantly misread the line "On a clear day you can see Marlow" to "On a VERY clear day you can see Marlow". Infuriated with her destroying the rhythm of the dialogue Noel Coward eventually snapped and rose from the stalls and shouted "Edith, the line is on a clear day you can see Marlow, on a VERY clear day you can see Marlow and Beaumont and Fletcher".
The play was proving too much for Dame Edith who retired to her hotel unwell but soon recovered when she heard that Maggie Smith had done a rehearsal as Judith Bliss and was very funny in the role. She returned to the theatre and said to Maggie Smith " I understand you are covering the part of Judith Bliss, I am here to tell you I shall never be off!" to which Maggie Smith responded " Well I sincerely hope not as the cossies wont fit"!
Dame Edith never did miss a performance and the UK never got to see Maggie Smith as Judith Bliss although she did apparently play the role in Canada.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 31, 2019 13:39:22 GMT
Well, Chichester did Oklahoma in 2009 - 10 years ago, although it does not seem as long as that. It just shows that the number of guaranteed box office shows are very few and far between! Although I would have thought that Chichester audiences would have supported something that hadn't been done - especially with a name or two!
Although interestingly the last London production was the NT production back in 1998 with Hugh Jackman and Maureen Lipman! SO perhaps they are looking to a West End transfer as it has not been seen in the capitol for 20 years!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 31, 2019 4:45:12 GMT
These promos of shows on TV rarely work. This certainly didn't. The song seemed totally under rehearsed! Surely it cannot be staged like that? However, I suspect the fans of the show will fill the theatre regardless.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 29, 2019 9:49:49 GMT
Can I ask the most stupid silly question ever? Has anyone got date information for the broadway run? ttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Is-DREAMGIRLS-Heading-to-Broadway-in-2019-20190123 According to this article from 23rd Jan on Broadway world auditions are being held soon with a view to opening 2019/20 Nothing confirmed though.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 29, 2019 1:28:58 GMT
Today Tix have a 24 hour £15 seat sale - Upper Circle seats by the look of it but good Stalls and Dress Circle seats for £25 - good value!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 28, 2019 20:57:44 GMT
There may be trouble ahead! Sorry different show!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 28, 2019 10:50:10 GMT
When they say pies, they are probably selling off Mrs Lovett's meat pies left over from Sweeney Todd!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 26, 2019 18:43:13 GMT
Yes you would think that they would check the rights before naming the show!!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 24, 2019 23:38:22 GMT
Not at the Brighton Theatre Royal until the end of March but loads of availability at the moment. Top price £41 and then the inevitable premium prices of £47. No concessions for seniors and of course there are never offers at the Brighton Theatre Royal!
It looks tacky and not in a good way. I do hope it succeeds though - we don't need another failed tour!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 22, 2019 13:25:49 GMT
Every young male musical theatre performer appears to have "auditioned" for this via YouTube with covers of You Will Be Found. It must be the most coveted role for a long time!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 21, 2019 13:12:20 GMT
I think it will appeal to the Juke Box musical crowd. Mamma Mia, Motown, Thriller etc.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 21, 2019 12:58:41 GMT
Of course that little spat sums up everything that is wrong with the show.
The panel - especially Torvill and Dean, and the other skaters who are taking the competition seriously and putting in many hours of work, must be FURIOUS with the vote resulting in Gemma not being in the dance off.
On the other hand the ITV producers who cast her on the show will have known exactly what they were going to get - drama, tantrums, poor skating, no lifts, possible falls and it is GREAT for the ratings! She is the Anne Widdecombe or Ed Balls of DOI. So you simply cannot take the show seriously or waste your time voting. Who is voting for this woman?
However, I think Richard Blackwood (although not the best skater on the show) was robbed too on Sunday night as Saira Khan was worse being lifted all the way through the routine. Her skates barely touched the ice. Interesting that the panel were split on the decision. But again another fault with the format is that Torvill and Dean (after working so long together ) think the same so as head judges only they get to decide really.
I think this only gets viewers simply because of the slot on TV - most people are in at 6.00pm on a Sunday evening and there is nothing else on at that time.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 21, 2019 9:44:02 GMT
I have friends (would you believe?) who seldom go to the theatre but have booked to see this! I think it will appeal to an older (monied) geographic who are not regular theatre goers who would never go to see Company for example.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 19, 2019 21:23:22 GMT
Or, perhaps she's rehearsing Meghan Markle - The Musical?
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 18, 2019 16:46:51 GMT
I still can't stop thinking about Wednesday night! Mmmm…...so what did you get up to apart from seeing Come From Away??
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 18, 2019 11:55:49 GMT
Maybe theres contingency in there incase Cameron starts messing with his theatre in between Aladdin closing and Poppins opening. More like messing with the production!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 18, 2019 11:51:20 GMT
TOTALY off topic (although I could argue the entire thread is off topic as this production doesn't appear to be happening after 21 pages of excited speculation) but I cannot forget the thrill of seeing HUGE stars appear on the London stage when it was fashionable to bring film stars over for a limited engagement (usually in a play) in London's glittering WE.
It really didn't matter what they were in and some were more successful in their roles than others but I just remember sitting there and thinking OMG that's Jack Lemmon, Elizabeth Taylor, Dustin Hoffman, Lauren Bacall etc.
Bette Midler would have caused such a stir (back on topic!) but now we are reduced to someone off Game of Thrones - it just does not quite have the same appeal.
Couldn't a savvy producer persuade Meryl Streep to do a play for 3 months?
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 18, 2019 1:09:22 GMT
Plus, I thought I would mention that there is such a fuss at the moment about casting black actors in roles - Glinda, Cosette etc. but Pearl Bailey played Dolly in an all black production of Hello Dolly on Broadway in 1968 (!!!!!) and won a Tony Award for her performance.
There are clips of her mesmerising performance on YouTube - check out Before the Parade Passes By!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 18, 2019 1:00:53 GMT
Anita Dobson has already played Dolly in a tour in 2008 which I saw in Eastbourne of all places. It was, how shall I say, not her finest hour (or two)! Darren Day played Cornelius - need I say more?
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 17, 2019 22:29:46 GMT
I can’t say the name as it will annoy Seriously, but it begins with an A And she’s a woman. Oh Alexandra Burke can't be in EVERYTHING!!??
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 17, 2019 18:09:07 GMT
This is definitely going to need brilliant reviews and more importantly good word of mouth to be a hit. Although the Phoenix isn't a large theatre for a musical with just 1000 seats. So not a large theatre to fill.
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 17, 2019 0:05:15 GMT
I will post my thoughts on here naturally!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 17, 2019 0:01:42 GMT
Well on the basis of that review @eldermillan I have booked for a performance early in the run at the Phoenix. I will be going into this totally blind as I have not listened to the cast recording. Front side stalls seat for £45 - not too bad I thought given the ludicrous prices in the WE at the moment. The seat next to me is £65 and seats further towards the centre on the same row are £95!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Jan 16, 2019 21:15:16 GMT
Maybe they just had a train to catch?
|
|