170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 26, 2016 22:27:53 GMT
oh wow, she's effectively a less attractive Mary Poppins but why not, I hope Wait and Bleed makes it in, it's a fav of mine
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 23, 2016 23:59:33 GMT
Computer says no! Beyond the fence is beyond the pale. Just a few predictions of what the critics might say, didn't need an algorithm to work that out either.
Saw it tonight and it's not good. From what I can figure out it is based on a scenario thrown up by a computer and then uses music written by a computer. The sad thing is the score and setting are the best things about it, where it falls down is the plot, characters, dialogue and lyrics - the human generated part. Which is a shame because I really loved the Gay Wedding musical that the creators made previously for TV.
What we have is a bunch of women, all thinly drawn tropes, protesting in Greenham common. All the stereotypes are there, comedy fat northerner, angry black lesbian, julie walters-esque spunky old lady, sex crazed welsh woman straight out of Gavin and Stacey and our protagonist, militant feminist (because she was damaged by a man and actually learns all she needs is a good man) and her daughter who doesn't speak (no prizes for guessing what she overcomes near the end).
spoilers ----
They mill about singing songs about their passion for ending nukes for most of the show without much in the way of action, they have an argument,the protagonist hates the leading man until during a song she concedes that she is in love with him of course, their angry leader has a bizarre death and the kid comes out and sings a really eloquent song with too many words in it, which is the point, but it's still hackneyed.
You don't need a computer to see that there is a formula for writing a musical like this, showstopper worked it out ages ago and they make it up on the spot with a less obvious A B rhyme scheme. The cast all do their best but it's tricky to overcome the dodgy lines where everyone says exactly what they're feeling and subtext is nowhere to be seen.
An interesting experiment but not a great show
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 21, 2016 20:19:34 GMT
I loved it, I can't add more to what Steve so eloquently expressed. Just one of this those shows so well thought out and cerebral that even thinking of the process makes you exhausted.
Great to see Complicite back on form!
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 14, 2016 8:32:06 GMT
I enjoyed it, some great performances and it was certainly uber slick.
At times it felt a little too much like a play written by a computer with a 'traditional play' algorithm. Mainly when it used more well trod devices like the seemingly random monologue about childhood and tree climbing that would return symbolically in the climax and the obligatory 'I love you so I'm going to tell you a list of your goofball quirks' that could have been taken from a Richard Curtis movie.
I did like the ending though.
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 8, 2016 22:36:06 GMT
Didn't like this very much. Paper thin 2d obnoxious characters arguing for an hour and a half. Can't see what the fuss was about. It felt like someone watched a load of Doug Stanhope and Everybody loves Raynond then knocked out an extended short play full of padding and a tacked on emotional ending. A few walk outs through the show too.
I know it got good reviews though, just can't see why.
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 4, 2016 15:50:33 GMT
I'm hoping lots of people will have that mentality, would love to get a chance to see it. The email reminders to enter the ballot have been relentless so I'm wondering if less people have applied this time, could be wishful thinking!
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 4, 2016 8:53:46 GMT
yeah I've heard rumours that it's being tipped for a west end transfer
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170 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Feb 4, 2016 7:51:35 GMT
Saw this and definitely enjoyed it. One of those that rode into town on quite a chariot so maybe didn't fully live up to my sky high expectations. I reckon it could do with a bit more light and comedic stuff to outweigh all the horror of war but it was certainly harrowing and had plenty of spine chilling moments. Really tight ensemble work also
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