186 posts
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Post by argon on Jul 20, 2016 13:48:39 GMT
felt much like a concert version with floor and hand mics being used, McOnie"s choreography solidified this making the experience as if watching a boy band ( take your pick Westkife, Take That ) with backing dancers.So I guess actors were not really needed.Improved in the second half by acting the narrative but seemed a bit too late. It a shame the cast are talented just the director decided obviously to go this way.
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Post by argon on Jul 17, 2016 11:53:15 GMT
Not seen the show for some years, in fact the last time Craig Mather was Marius and during the interim he has left & come back. Simon Bowman had his critics with his JVJ (me included) but Peter Lockyer is not even at Bowman's level which is not particularly high. Who is the Understudy for him? Joining PL is Chris Cowley a weak Enjolras and a completely unconvincing leader. The positives R Ann Go & E Noblezada both are a joy to listen to displaying radiant smooth voices - the highlight of the show for me. I also liked the the person that played the Bishop of Digne who came across vocally strong. The ensemble seemed strong.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Jul 14, 2016 14:59:29 GMT
Some hilarious laughs but the numerous scenes/changes interrupts the continuity of the production on last night's outing may just be ready by the time the last performance is due.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Jul 11, 2016 9:29:53 GMT
[/quote]Including this?
Well mark Antony suits him more than Macbeth, he spent most of the time wuth a facial expression like a growling dog. Maybe he was just following direction from Iqbal Khan.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Jul 10, 2016 22:33:44 GMT
Ray Fearon and Shakespeare are simply not compatible, well not at this current time at least.The porter scene dragged the production up slightly but not enough to stop me leaving at the interval. Then faced with France V Portugal it was a case of the lesser of the two evils for the most boring event of the night.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Jul 8, 2016 19:44:59 GMT
I thank the genie for keeping me awake, a dull production that is grossly overpriced
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Jun 9, 2016 19:58:03 GMT
The conversation on her phone @ the reception early in Act 1 was worth the price alone.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Jun 9, 2016 19:50:26 GMT
Sub Sub standard singing for me even R Craig suffered slightly in the Act1 and Rory's Mack the Knife was so anaemic. Probably, needed well supported voices across the board to tackle this beast
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 25, 2016 23:37:32 GMT
Did the Donmar do the Tempest? A lot of Shakespeare around at the moment and coming up. Taming the Shrew - Globe A Midsummer's Night Dream - Globe Macbeth - Globe The Merchant of Venice - Globe King Lear - Barbican Cymeline - Barbican Romeo and Julliet - Garrick Love Labour Lost - Haymarket Much Ado About Nothing - Haymarket King Lear - Old Vic Richard III - Almedia Hamlet - Almedia Two Gentlemen of Verona - Sam Wannamaker Theatre Tempest - Donmar/Kings Cross Julius Caesar - Donmar/Kings Cross Henry IV - Donmar/Kings Cross Henry V - Regents Park Open Air Twelfth Night - National Have I missed any? No one can complain of lack of Shakespeare! A midsummer nights dream Southwark play house also very soob
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 24, 2016 13:41:04 GMT
So is this the same production as the GA young Vic or a new production
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 19, 2016 16:51:25 GMT
Difficult to give a balanced opinion since Kathy Rose O’Brien was indisposed so Kate was replaced, by reading the script, by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman who would have played Bianca (her sister) and an understudy filled in for Bianca
This production has a Celtic flavour the entire cast with Irish accents and from the sound of them I think the majority where actually Irish and by the costumes maybe early 20th century. Visually looks impressive e.g design, lighting , costumes etc .
However the partnership between Lucentio & Tranio (gender swap) just did not work for me. In fact, I thought the production lacked focus at times & relied too heavily on cheap laughs.
Probably one of the weakest Tamings I have seen & those stairs are an accident waiting to happen ( I hope not).
Not looking good so far maybe Macbeth can provide redemption.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 16, 2016 8:17:24 GMT
Hamilton is set in an era earlier than showboat but is told by a contemporary musical genre rap-ish. When I saw Stephen Ward I felt the music was dated. I guess audiences taste's are changing
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 15, 2016 12:54:16 GMT
Putting the Sheridan Smith element aside I saw this the other night with Natasha at the helm. In conclusion, I thought the stage musical Funny Girl is what I have always thought about the film it is just an ok musical in relation to the music & lyrics. Yes it has two iconic songs but if they are removed from the equation the reminder is mediocrity. Which directed me to think about how this musical fared on the stage with Streisand in 1964. In the Tony award in 1964 it was nominated 8 times (nil wins) but was completely over shadowed by Hello Dolly that won 10 awards. Even the goddess Streisand's was out done by Carol Channing in Holly Dolly and that was a surprise.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 13, 2016 8:04:31 GMT
I thought the score just liked gusto to display/arouse intense feeling between the dancers at pivotal points. The end of the animation scene is my prime example.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 12, 2016 23:26:34 GMT
Mark Strong's performance was just exceptional, a wonderful production.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 12, 2016 13:15:27 GMT
Shiver me timbers at last, but I've lost 4 hours of my life
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 12, 2016 11:02:50 GMT
Truly soul destroying experience and no end in sight as yet, at least with a queue system you can manage your time more productively rather than hitting a buy now button for 2 hours
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 12, 2016 10:33:14 GMT
Anyone tried the telephone route? or will that break me even more
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 12, 2016 9:26:29 GMT
The site has been in total meltdown for me since 10am no luck as yet
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 10, 2016 15:24:01 GMT
Yes please vocally it would be a walk in the park for her
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 10, 2016 14:30:20 GMT
Well at least there is plenty of help out there if one needs it nowadays, I hope she sees out the rest of the run I would like to see it in the near future
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186 posts
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Post by argon on May 5, 2016 16:45:57 GMT
Just saw the matinee today yes you can say it is very left field and abundant with diversity but I do feel that Emma Rice was slightly steered down this route for her inaugural globe tenure to distance this from D Dromgoole excellent rendition a few years ago which was more to the traditional standing. This production may prove to be a marmite production, putting ageism aside I feel and certainly from this afternoons audience a younger crowd will take to this more which to some part is the brief of making the Bard more accessible. All on stage are mic'd up so the dialogue can be scrutinised even more than usual. After seeing the cast announcement for this a had reservations about Meow Meow but after seeing the production I think in most parts it worked out well and also for the Helena switch so I would give this an above neutral review.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Apr 28, 2016 4:29:20 GMT
P.S. Graham Norton and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber (together) were in tonight! I wonder what his Lordship thought about GC's vocal exploits since he is a man about the voice. Let's hope she is fully up and running on all cylinders asap
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Post by argon on Apr 25, 2016 16:37:44 GMT
That's showbiz
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Apr 25, 2016 14:19:27 GMT
The miracle of wishful thinking and regenerative medicine
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Apr 25, 2016 14:16:57 GMT
Sadly, it must mean GC symptoms are more serious than anticipated let's hope she makes a full recovery to grace the boards again before the end of the run.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Apr 24, 2016 11:38:19 GMT
I warmed to this more than i did to Bat Boy and just about shades it compared to Urinetown. The members of the cast that play multiple characters are kept busy but perform an admirable job. Certainly more comical than i anticipated it was a good night out.
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Post by argon on Apr 22, 2016 15:44:33 GMT
No Glenn tonight, Ria will play Norma again... What is the source?
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Apr 22, 2016 9:59:58 GMT
Ria's voice was has expected, secure, well supported and floated over the score with easy a commendable performance. The difference between her acting/characterization to that of GC's was not vast, it certainly was not the gulf one might expect it to have been. However after seeing GC this Monday were she was clearly having vocal issues I thought Ria's performance displayed more of an evenness to a narrative that is expressed by the actions of music,singing and acting.
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186 posts
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Post by argon on Apr 21, 2016 17:47:30 GMT
Let hope the front of house have a protection detail things might get pretty hot with ticket collection tonight, but really they should have had the foresight for such an outcome considering GC's age & her absence from musical theatre for eons
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