13 posts
|
Post by hoopoe on Jul 31, 2023 22:09:27 GMT
I saw the show before I had an account on here so didn't share any thoughts at the time, but I've been finding it interesting to keep up with the discussion before and since.
Based on some comments in here that I saw after booking I became worried I had the wrong idea about the show and that it might be quite vulgar and unpleasant. Read a bunch of critics' reviews though and wasn't getting that impression so decided I'd just have to see for myself and go back to looking forward to it.
I'm glad I wasn't put off as I did enjoy it, and it felt like something worth seeing just for being a bit different. There's a line in a song where Usher says, 'I'm into entertainment that's undercover art,' and when I first heard it during the show it kind of made me chuckle because I thought it was a pretty accurate way to describe what I was watching.
I know a few people have described it as self-indulgent, but personally I just felt like I was getting a window into someone else's mind, which is something I enjoy. I can't get any housework done without listening to podcasts, and my favourite kind are just hearing about people's life experiences that differ to mine. I'm British, white, straight, atheist and female, so I was never likely to deeply relate to the material, but that doesn't matter; I got value out of hearing someone else's perspective.
After seeing it I don't think a day went by for a couple of weeks where I didn't have one of Intermission Song, Exile in Gayville, Today, or Inner White Girl stuck in my head, all of which I quite like. No songs after these in the show really stuck with me, but that's not to say I think they're bad.
There's a lot more I could touch on but I won't ramble any further. I don't have passionate feelings about the show like some do, but definitely good feelings towards it overall.
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on Aug 1, 2023 7:15:39 GMT
I agree a lot with you hoopoe The choir segment, although the lyrics are brutal, is so beautiful.
|
|
|
Post by toomasj on Aug 1, 2023 7:54:42 GMT
I have a ticket for the 12th of August matinee which I was seriously considering trying to shift. I had ignored everything with this musical, as I always try to do when seeing a show I don’t know for the first time. But the discourse on here was really putting me off the idea of the show.
I don’t mean the negative reviews, or the positive ones, I mean the discourse generally about a show I am almost certain not to connect with on any other level than “I’m here to watch and hopefully enjoy a musical”.
It’s slightly intimidating to not enjoy something then be told “ah, that’s because you didn’t get it. Or “it’s not for you anyway”. Maybe I just won’t like it and would have legitimate reasons why. I am one of those people where the more zealous people are about a cause, the more I am turned off the idea.
However, I just watched “Inner White Girl” on YouTube which was quite enjoyable so I’ve decided to give it a shot.
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on Aug 1, 2023 8:03:35 GMT
No, you really should go!
|
|
2,379 posts
|
Post by robertb213 on Aug 1, 2023 13:28:33 GMT
If you've already paid out then you should definitely go, it's only a couple of hours out of your life. We all like different things, you might end up loving it. Some people have clearly related to it a lot and it's resonated with them, maybe it'll do the same for you 👍
|
|
|
Post by jarnew on Aug 1, 2023 14:06:32 GMT
Like hoopoe said, I feel like there's also just a bunch of really great songs in this. I ,too, often find myself humming/singing different melodies from the show. I feel like there's such a focus on the book and the messaging (which I adore also) when reviewing this, that the simple fact that it has a great score gets often overlooked, but it is for sure also a big reason of what keeps it all sticking with me as much as it does.
|
|
3,823 posts
|
Post by anthony40 on Aug 1, 2023 14:13:20 GMT
I don't know whether it's because I've seen the and thus more aware of it but I seem to be seeing more advertising for this, both online and on billboards of varying sizes.
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Aug 1, 2023 17:27:53 GMT
I don't know whether it's because I've seen the and thus more aware of it but I seem to be seeing more advertising for this, both online and on billboards of varying sizes. They have definitely kicked up promo since they released the new trailer. I haven’t looked far ahead at booking, but when I went last week I’d booked the night before and there was really good availability, but then was near enough sold out when the show started. I think the cast recording is pretty much unskippable, maybe there’s 1 or 2 I’d skip as they aren’t really singalongs, but what hooked me when I saw this was just how many of the songs I really really liked. Intermission song, Today, We Wanna Know, Inner White Girl, Exile in Gayville, Second Wave, Boundaries, Periodically, Memory Song, and A Strange Loop are all brilliantly written and catchy songs. I wanted to catch this one more time next week before Kyle leaves on Friday but I don’t know if I will, but I’ll definitely be going again before the end of the run. Also, Liz Phair, who Usher is a massive fan of, and undoubtably the writer is too, has a song called Exile in Guyville. I’m sure there’s other Easter eggs in the show but that’s one I noticed.
|
|
2,545 posts
|
Post by n1david on Aug 1, 2023 17:37:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Aug 1, 2023 17:47:03 GMT
It’s slightly intimidating to not enjoy something then be told “ah, that’s because you didn’t get it. Or “it’s not for you anyway”. Maybe I just won’t like it and would have legitimate reasons why. I am one of those people where the more zealous people are about a cause, the more I am turned off the idea. No one has 'intimidated' anyone and there has been no kickback whatsoever against people who genuinely didn't like it for whatever reason, there has only been kickback around what some feel are inaccurate descriptions of the show itself and unfair accusations hurled at its writer. It's like any other show, you'll either love it, hate it or be somewhere in between, but only you can make that decision once you've seen it.
|
|
|
Post by interval99 on Aug 3, 2023 11:08:02 GMT
Today Tix have 24 hours promo with seats from £15 on row A up to Aug 26th. (Meant to have a higher stage than normal feedback seems to recommend a few rows back).
While the show has continuous offers this promo seems to have best prices and widest range of reductions on all bar a few central seats.
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Aug 3, 2023 11:59:06 GMT
Today Tix have 24 hours promo with seats from £15 on row A up to Aug 26th. (Meant to have a higher stage than normal feedback seems to recommend a few rows back). While the show has continuous offers this promo seems to have best prices and widest range of reductions on all bar a few central seats. Front row is absolutely fine, not too high at all, plenty of leg room to where you can fully stretch them out. Don’t overlook the front row for £15. I’ve booked for next Thursday matinee but unfortunately front row has gone. Got 2nd row for £35.
|
|
|
Post by jacob on Aug 4, 2023 12:40:30 GMT
Tried my luck with the NT Rush, was 600 in the queue and still managed to get 2 tickets together, 4th row, for £10 each !! I’m really looking forward to seeing this soon ..
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Aug 4, 2023 12:52:18 GMT
Tried my luck with the NT Rush, was 600 in the queue and still managed to get 2 tickets together, 4th row, for £10 each !! I’m really looking forward to seeing this soon .. Luckily I added ticket protection on today tix cos I just got a £10 rush ticket for the same performance 1 row behind, so got my money back from today tix. I hope Kyle does matinees, especially the one before his final show.
|
|
|
Post by jarnew on Aug 4, 2023 12:54:49 GMT
Tried my luck with the NT Rush, was 600 in the queue and still managed to get 2 tickets together, 4th row, for £10 each !! I’m really looking forward to seeing this soon .. Luckily I added ticket protection on today tix cos I just got a £10 rush ticket for the same performance 1 row behind, so got my money back from today tix. I hope Kyle does matinees, especially the one before his final show. The other Kyle did all matinees atleast until the second of august, not sure how much it will change.
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Aug 4, 2023 17:10:35 GMT
Luckily I added ticket protection on today tix cos I just got a £10 rush ticket for the same performance 1 row behind, so got my money back from today tix. I hope Kyle does matinees, especially the one before his final show. The other Kyle did all matinees atleast until the second of august, not sure how much it will change. Yeah main Kyle is still not doing matinees, so I don’t get to see him one more time before he goes but I do get to see an understudy!
|
|
|
Post by jarnew on Aug 4, 2023 18:58:58 GMT
The other Kyle did all matinees atleast until the second of august, not sure how much it will change. Yeah main Kyle is still not doing matinees, so I don’t get to see him one more time before he goes but I do get to see an understudy! He's a much more vulnerable, empathic and sweet Usher I feel like. Especially his acting was really good, got a huge applause with his monologue near the end of the piece (the one directed at his mother) when I saw him. I'd love to see him again sometime too and see how he's grown into the role as i saw him really early on in the run.
|
|
133 posts
|
Post by mjh on Aug 4, 2023 22:27:42 GMT
So once Kyle Ramar Freeman leaves, Kyle Birch will take over as lead Usher and they're bringing over another former Usher from the US as the new alternate.
I have a feeling it might be Christopher Michael Richardson but could be wrong.
|
|
|
Post by edi on Aug 8, 2023 5:39:52 GMT
This wasn't to my liking. I am convinced that I "got it", I just found it too repetitive and the samey, therefore I started losing interest half way through.
I didn't mind "that" song actually, I thought it added the message powerfully.
Also, I couldn't make out half of the words and the specific words were very important in this musical.
£10 ticket and good seats - so no complaints. But I really cannot see this musical doing a long run for the "average" theatre goers, whoever those are.
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Aug 10, 2023 21:23:16 GMT
Saw Kyle Birch today for the first time, I thought he was brilliant. Delivers a load of the lines different to Kyle Freeman, and is still so easy to be empathetic for.
The thoughts were full cast for the matinee today and honestly they were giving muck up matinee vibes, in a good way. I think they were all pushing he line further and further to see what they could add or change, definitely trying to make each other laugh too.
|
|
|
Post by toomasj on Aug 10, 2023 21:47:57 GMT
Hi @burlybear wondering why my offer of a free ticket for this has been removed from both here and the noticeboard? Happy to DM proof of the ticket to you if needed.
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Aug 10, 2023 21:59:34 GMT
Second visit tonight and I loved it even more than I did the first time.
My other half LOVED IT as well and can't wait to go again.
10/5
Will be interesting to see the 'other' Kyle next visit.
|
|
|
Post by jacob on Aug 10, 2023 22:30:25 GMT
The cast were great, although that plot was sooo bizzare ! I get that it’s Usher trying to write a musical whilst also showing what’s inside his head. I felt that the lines between reality, his imagination and the (breaking of the 4th wall) ‘musical’ were so blurred though. But perhaps it’s supposed to be this way? I came out thinking that it was ‘a lot’, but I do applaud Jackson for writing a ‘big black and queer’ musical that is purposely in-your-face. It made me uncomfortable, it made me laugh and it made me sad. It provoked reactions, isn’t that what theatre is supposed to do? ..Although that ‘one’ scene was really hard to watch. I think that’s the point though. I appreciated the Liz Phair references also despite her lack of involvement. Some of the music was quite similar to her work which made it enjoyable, yet I can’t seem to remember too many of the other songs. I felt like I was trying to be too analytical with this, but at the same time, ASL was doing a lot. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy it though. Some of the jokes were funny, others I was thinking.. ‘can I laugh at that?’. Interesting that Jackson says “You have the total freedom to respond however you authentically respond” too. I guess this statement now excuses a lot of the audience from clapping with the gospel singers.
|
|
|
Post by toomasj on Aug 11, 2023 0:56:27 GMT
Hi @burlybear wondering why my offer of a free ticket for this has been removed from both here and the noticeboard? Happy to DM proof of the ticket to you if needed. Well anyway, there’s a completely free of charge ticket worth £48 going spare for Saturday’s matinee. Can email the e-ticket to a good home. Pay it forward.
|
|
18,900 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 11, 2023 6:04:02 GMT
Hi @burlybear wondering why my offer of a free ticket for this has been removed from both here and the noticeboard? Happy to DM proof of the ticket to you if needed. Apologies! I got a pm saying another ticket had sold and removed the wrong notice by mistake 😐. Yours is back now.
|
|
3,823 posts
|
Post by anthony40 on Aug 11, 2023 7:33:11 GMT
Hi @burlybear wondering why my offer of a free ticket for this has been removed from both here and the noticeboard? Happy to DM proof of the ticket to you if needed. Apologies! I got a pm saying another ticket had sold and removed the wrong notice by mistake 😐. Yours is back now. Alas, we're all human BurlyBeaR. Mistakes happen.
|
|
|
Post by toomasj on Aug 11, 2023 15:11:21 GMT
Hi @burlybear wondering why my offer of a free ticket for this has been removed from both here and the noticeboard? Happy to DM proof of the ticket to you if needed. Apologies! I got a pm saying another ticket had sold and removed the wrong notice by mistake 😐. Yours is back now. Thank you - just to say this ticket has now been taken so the post is no longer needed. And no worries!
|
|
596 posts
|
Post by AddisonMizner on Aug 12, 2023 19:27:11 GMT
I saw today’s matinee (12th August). Like others on this board, I went because it won the Tony for Best Musical, as well as the Pulitzer, and I like to see interesting musicals that develop the form.
It was certainly that. There is lots to enjoy, and I was never bored. The score is good, with moments of brilliance. The last two numbers were highlights for me in particular. The show itself is quite funny, but also has many profound things to say. It has certainly got me thinking, even a few hours after seeing it. Similar to other shows I have seen recently, it is essentially about a man coming to terms with his trauma, and trying to make sense of this by writing a musical - the trauma of his childhood growing up as gay in a highly religious, conservative family, the trauma of his identity as both a black and gay man not really fitting into any of those norms, and the trauma of coming to terms with himself and who he is. The lighting design is also beautiful throughout. As a piece of art, I really can appreciate it.
However, it just ultimately left me cold. I didn’t feel any emotional connection to it whatsoever. This could be because I am a straight, white, single, 33 year-old male though!
In some ways, I actually thought it did too much explaining to the audience - do we really need to be told at the start that the six other people on stage are the thoughts in Usher’s head, or that a lot of what we are seeing on stage is down to Usher’s own self-loathing when that is already obvious? The themes just seemed a little too explicit. I could be over-analysing this thought.
The vulgarity was also a little too much for me - I’m really not into that sort of thing normally at all, and it was just too in your face for me (which I appreciate is entirely the point)!
Overall, I am glad that I have seen it, and there are many positives, but it is far from a perfect piece of theatre for me.
|
|
133 posts
|
Post by mjh on Aug 14, 2023 15:04:14 GMT
So once Kyle Ramar Freeman leaves, Kyle Birch will take over as lead Usher and they're bringing over another former Usher from the US as the new alternate. I have a feeling it might be Christopher Michael Richardson but could be wrong. Website now updated - Kyle Birch as lead Usher, Christopher Michael Richardson as new U/S Usher.
|
|
|
Post by steven22 on Aug 14, 2023 15:09:05 GMT
Excited! I’m going Sept 1!
|
|