5,265 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 24, 2016 8:03:05 GMT
Don't I know it! It's why I hardly see anything anymore. But we have a huge choice of good/rubbish on our doorstep. Aanyway!
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1,718 posts
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Oct 29, 2016 10:28:11 GMT
I really enjoyed this at Salford Lowry last night.
The set and costumes are absolutely first rate. In particular, I thought the anthropomorphism of the creatures is very cleverly realised - swallows dressed as air stewardesses anyone?
While the score possibly lacks a real standout 11 o'clock number, it's still consistently strong. The best of the songs tend to go to the more incidental characters. The Hedgehog's Nightmare, The Wassailing Mice, and One Swallow Does Not A Summer Make are all excellent, while the entrance of The Wild Wooders is another highlight and perhaps the moment where the show is at its most spectacular.
All of the leads give strong performances. I much preferred Rufus Hound in this to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, while Thomas Howes has Ratty to a T. Perfect casting. Abigail Brodie as a Swallow, Horse and Mouse stands out amongst the ensemble, particularly as a Horse pulling Toad's caravan and later a barge, with subtle expressions and knowing looks to the audience aplenty. It was clearly the Hedgehogs who stole the audience's hearts though, earning the loudest cheers at the curtain call.
Overall then, this is looking in great shape. It strikes me as stronger than both Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and particularly Aladdin and certainly has the production values worthy of a West End transfer if a suitable theatre can be found. The stalls and circle were both full last night, with just a few empty rows towards the rear of the balcony. While there were a fair amount of children in the audience, there were just as many unaccompanied adults so perhaps the claim in the programme that the story appeals across generations does ring true.
It's a couple of hours of fun escapism but it's not quite flawless. The first half sags a little when we first meet Badger so a little trimming here would help. However, with a cast of 50, a 14-strong orchestra and little evidence of expense being spared, what's refreshing is that this isn't an exercise in style over substance. The charm and quintessential Britishness of the story shines through, with the spirit and heart of the novel captured exquisitely on stage. Hugely impressive.
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461 posts
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Post by djdan14 on Oct 29, 2016 11:18:09 GMT
I really enjoyed this at Salford Lowry last night. Thanks stevejohnson678. I had completely forgotten I booked a ticket for this ages ago for tomorrow afternoon until you prompted me about it being at the Lowry. The perils of box office collection!
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18,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 30, 2016 17:50:05 GMT
Saw the matinee today. What a gorgeous, fun production. I loved the design, which is like observing the goings on through a droplet of water with the way everything curves inwards. Huge sets, trains, barges, fast cars and numerous interior and exterior scenes. Also liked the choreography which had a contemporary twist, in fact the whole thing was very modern, all tweeness avoided. Those swallows as retro air stewardesses....fab, and we had the brummy hedgehog family trying to cross a road with traffic whizzing by, and Portia the otter eating worms like jelly sweets from a paper bag. The score is nice but the songs a bit forgettable, except maybe for A Friend Is Still A Friend which gets reprised several times. All the leads are great but the role of Toad is perfect for Rufus Hound, he attacks it with huge bravado. David Birrel (last seen in Manc as a terrifying Sweeney Todd) was excellent as grumpy Badger too. The "friendship" between Mole and Ratty is portrayed charmingly. All in all a lovely afternoon. Hope it does well.
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461 posts
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Post by djdan14 on Oct 30, 2016 19:12:34 GMT
I was there this afternoon too and second all this. Set, design and cast all excellent. This has not just been made for a few weeks stint and should and will be seen in the West End shortly I feel.
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4,588 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 31, 2016 16:24:45 GMT
I wonder if an open ended west end run is suited to it. Perhaps as a Sadlers Wells Christmas filler to replace The Snowman or Matthew Bourne
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6,276 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 31, 2016 17:10:40 GMT
I wonder if an open ended west end run is suited to it. Perhaps as a Sadlers Wells Christmas filler to replace The Snowman or Matthew Bourne It's probably too big and expensive to be go somewhere like the Peacock or Sadler Wells
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461 posts
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Post by djdan14 on Oct 31, 2016 20:14:27 GMT
Just reading back through the programme, and there is an advert for the cast recording which is mentioned as coming soon.
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18,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 31, 2016 20:56:03 GMT
"I am Squirrel hear me roar" lol. Just remembered that.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 31, 2016 21:03:04 GMT
Is it too expensive?
I kind of know what you mean though, but the main cost the sets, costumes and conceptulation has been paid for now. So if it didn't get offered a house that would all be a right off. Obviously the backers want to get a decent theatre with an open run.
If they don't, then they would have to take second best like Sadlers Wells or London Colesium for a limited run.
Cannot get it out of my head that this will go in the Piccadilly.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 22:18:16 GMT
It's a got a house for next year.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 22:29:22 GMT
It's a got a house for next year. Adelphi ?
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11 posts
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Post by annon on Oct 31, 2016 22:34:48 GMT
Something else is going there !!!!
It's got a much bigger theatre
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 9:14:56 GMT
Something else is going there !!!! It's got a much bigger theatre Kinky Boots is closing?!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 13:03:21 GMT
Something else is going there !!!! It's got a much bigger theatre Kinky Boots is closing?! Not for a while.
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571 posts
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Post by westendwendy on Nov 1, 2016 15:37:44 GMT
Going to the Palladium from next Spring I hear - how exciting.
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4,395 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 4, 2016 16:57:37 GMT
Yep, Palladium Summer 2017
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 4, 2016 18:34:50 GMT
Mentioned in today's Evening Standard.
Which seems to beat odds with Rufus Hound starring in What The Butler Saw at the Theatre Royal, Bath until 01st April prior to the West End. So he won't be available until August, assuming this production gets a West End Theatre straight away or he pulls out of this one, to star in the Willows.
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Post by firefingers on Nov 4, 2016 19:13:19 GMT
Mentioned in today's Evening Standard. Which seems to beat odds with Rufus Hound starring in What The Butler Saw at the Theatre Royal, Bath until 01st April prior to the West End. So he won't be available until August, assuming this production gets a West End Theatre straight away or he pulls out of this one, to star in the Willows. I suspect the cast have only been contracted for the tour and perhaps given first refusal on the transfer, so the choice will be down to Hound as for what to do.
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18,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 4, 2016 20:09:25 GMT
Seems a very inefficient and costly way to go about things. Assemble the cast, rehearse it, then tour it for a couple of weeks before putting it in mothballs for 6 months. Then repeat the whole process for the west end?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 20:14:22 GMT
Heard a rumour about this a few months ago..
Is this a limited or open ended run? Not sure how it would do if it were to be open ended? Theatre is huge, I'd predict like a year there? Hope it does do well
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Post by Seriously on Nov 4, 2016 22:35:33 GMT
Do we know how this is selling on tour? They have to be pretty certain it's going to sell in London if they're going for the Palladium. Maybe they have a big name lined up for it, because I really can't see it doing well in town without someone.
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18,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 4, 2016 22:39:08 GMT
Stalls were three quarters full at last Sunday's matinee.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 23:16:10 GMT
I think it's been in the pipeline for the Palladium for quite a while now?! I can't see the Palladium getting a long running musical in,es something like Frozen comes along.
Maybe it should stick to Variety?
I hope this show does well but I probably won't see it, it would probably do better somewhere like the Picadilly
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6,276 posts
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2016 23:49:57 GMT
I think it's been in the pipeline for the Palladium for quite a while now?! I can't see the Palladium getting a long running musical in,es something like Frozen comes along. Maybe it should stick to Variety? I hope this show does well but I probably won't see it, it would probably do better somewhere like the Picadilly I imagine the Piccadilly is too small for this show if they're doing venues like the Lowry, Mayflower etc The Palladium never has had a long runner in its history, Chitty was the longest at just over 3 years but most tend to do 18 months to 2 years tops.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 5, 2016 0:18:55 GMT
What have the London Palladium and Wind in the Willows got to lose?
The bricks and mortar (set and costumes) have been paid for.
The London Palladium has a handful of shows booked there, so it is sitting empty.
However even though Stiles and Drewe are accomplished composers and Julian Fellowes is a first rate book writer, this won't help shift tickets.
Rufus Hound will sell out the first 2 rows of the stalls, once on TKT's, so will need a big name/s to pull them in.
However I am glad our big theatres (London Palladium, Dominion, Drury Lane, Apollo Victoria, Lyceum) are now all filled, even glad a show is going into the Colesium to help the ENO out.
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1,865 posts
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Post by Marwood on Nov 5, 2016 0:25:01 GMT
I met Rufus Hound a few years back and thought he was a prize tool, would take a hell of a lot of money for me to even think about going to see this.
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4,799 posts
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Post by The Matthew on Nov 5, 2016 6:49:43 GMT
The Palladium never has had a long runner in its history I don't know whether it's still true but I believe the Palladium had a policy of not permitting open-ended runs. I can't find any authoritative reference for that, however, so it could be something someone made up somewhere.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2016 12:20:37 GMT
Heard Wind In The Willows will be a limited run over the summer. Good reason to book, I'd say, to be sure of seats. I think that is smart of them to do it for just a limited run over the summer when kids are off school, tourists are in etc. Would make more sense that just opening it as a open-ended run.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2016 17:19:08 GMT
The show is a lot of fun and beautifully designed - there's a lot of set - but they need to recast the lead.
Mole, Badger and Ratty are all wonderful and Chief Weasel steals the scene when he's onstage.
Catchy score - needs a few cuts - but I'm a sucker for Stiles and Drewe!
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