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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 6, 2021 6:07:00 GMT
Ooh it’s divisive !
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Aug 6, 2021 6:48:41 GMT
I'm very excited for this now. Of course I'd be excited if it was universally loved, but it being so divisive tells me that it's at least swinging for the fences with interesting ideas, even if they don't work for everyone!
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 6, 2021 9:25:54 GMT
It needs an ending. I think it is a 4 star show, brought down to 2 stars by the last 30 minutes.
To me, the original Carousel ending was perfect, but based on what they’re going for, a more conclusive ending showing Louise’s life echoing Billy’s could work.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Aug 6, 2021 9:47:19 GMT
My son and partner saw Carousel last night. Son got the cheap preview tickets released for the previews for young people. I wasn't there.
Text from partner at interval that she thought it was brilliant and couldn't understand why there had been a lot of criticism here. Did mention a few people leaving
Text at end that they found the second act boring and "weird" and didn't enjoy it . Both hated the ending. Said a few more left during act two.
Seems like Regents Park may have tried too hard to create something different and innovative from a classic musical. I'm not there till September for a matinee but less excited than I was.
Definitely divisive.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 6, 2021 10:03:38 GMT
I don't think it's awful as some folk have said. However, the second half is derailed by the choreography which is totally at odds with the authenticity and grit of the first half. A brave director will slice the choreography in half and work on the ending. I love the brass troupe but their entry and exits slow things - less problematic at the beginning but they create a false ending in the second half which is confusing and upsets the tempo. I'd have liked to see a bigger revolve with side entry points for cast and the band (brass section at least) on the rear part of the revolve. This might have lent itself better to smoother continuity.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 6, 2021 10:11:15 GMT
It’s press night tomorrow isn’t it? Doesn’t sound like they’re changing much if they haven’t done it already.
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 6, 2021 11:05:33 GMT
It needs an ending. I think it is a 4 star show, brought down to 2 stars by the last 30 minutes. To me, the original Carousel ending was perfect, but based on what they’re going for, a more conclusive ending showing Louise’s life echoing Billy’s could work. I think this ultimately it. Act 1 is a 4 star show, it's the final 30 minutes that truly let it down and for me dragged it down to 2. The ballet doesn't work and the ending doesn't either... I'm all for reinventing shows, but physically changing an ending of a show isn't the way to do it. Julie becomes an afterthought, and I don't think that's fair.
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Post by theoracle on Aug 7, 2021 7:15:09 GMT
Well last night was certainly interesting… we got a heck of a performance from Joanna Riding who really steals the show. The orchestrations do largely work to heighten the sense you’re in 1980s Scarborough but it would be hard to call this an improvement over the original orchestrations and one does need to then ask why change them?
I personally found the choreography pretty thrilling and feel the ballet is a quintessential part of Carousel and other R&H musicals. The three fellas defo have a good show and Natasha was a great Louise.
On the ending, I felt uncomfortable. It doesn’t seem to try to address the issues that were presented in the first half and a lack of conclusion left me feeling a little cold. What does happen to Billy? And what’s going to happen to Julie?
Carousel has always been a dark musical which contains difficult issues but I don’t feel like they were properly addressed here and I think it’s a pity considering the lengths to which the team have gone to revamp the show. It’ll be interesting to see what the critics have to say but I’ll give this a 7/10
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 7, 2021 8:49:47 GMT
The ending of Carousel has always been flawed. It just ends. Very unsatisfying indeed.
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Post by theoracle on Aug 7, 2021 21:54:18 GMT
I meant that I wanted it to be more profound. The Lincoln Center NY Phil version maintained the original text but was done in a way which felt truly cathartic but this version which was supposed to address a 2021 audience just felt a little inconclusive.
Maybe I need to watch it again but overall I wanted just that bit more oomph
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4,603 posts
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Post by Mark on Aug 7, 2021 22:35:11 GMT
Really liked act one. Act two didn't work as well for me, but I think thats a mix of show and production. One thing that does work though is the magic of being at the open air theatre - nothing like seeing a show there.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 18:28:53 GMT
Press night tonight folks.
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Post by dippy on Aug 9, 2021 18:44:15 GMT
Brrrrr, don't envy a single person watching tonight, wonder if the weather can affect the reviews.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 18:46:26 GMT
Brrrrr, don't envy a single person watching tonight, wonder if the weather can affect the reviews. They've got the mops out, it's a pleasant drizzle and ominous grey skies. Now if it can dampen down some of the choreography in 2nd half, I'd be grateful.
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 9, 2021 19:12:27 GMT
I am super interested in how this is going to review
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Aug 9, 2021 19:53:03 GMT
I am super interested in how this is going to review Ditto...
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 20:13:43 GMT
First half warmly received despite the rain.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 20:22:27 GMT
Changes since last week: brass band enter stage through audience instead of rear of stage. Firepit in place for second half. Not sure when these were introduced.
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 9, 2021 21:14:41 GMT
Given the weather, I wonder if the reviews are going to be a damp squib?
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 22:50:07 GMT
Well, I'm no critic but I think the show has improved since last week alot. The second half was smoother, the poles coming on and off were less disruptive - I don't recall them being placed in holes in the ramped section after the carousel dance sequence but I might be wrong. Still not a fan of the choreography, though I will admit that as the heavens opened in the second half, the imagery was quite profound in the mix of rain and mist on a sodden stage. I must give a nod to the cast for delivering in such variable weather. Last week I felt this was a 3* show - tonight's effort took it to 4*, and still I think this show is a couple of tweaks away from being a great show. The star for me is the music, and I hope Tom Deering is recognised for what he has done.
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Post by lonlad on Aug 9, 2021 23:39:54 GMT
Was there tonight and thought it was the worst professional CAROUSEL I've seen, staged by people who seem to actively hate the source material. The whole thing has been turned into a dull, tedious tract and it's been so thoroughly truncated and/or rewritten that the relationships barely add up. Very few in the cast can sing it, and those who can then can't act it. Oh well. Plaudits to Tom Deering, tho'- he's the real deal.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 10, 2021 6:54:27 GMT
I am beginning to suspect that Bonnie Langford, Arlene Phillips and Harriet Thorpe all living and sleeping in a car until another press night happens and then out they jump. They have been at every one for the last week 😂
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Post by ceebee on Aug 10, 2021 9:42:33 GMT
I am beginning to suspect that Bonnie Langford, Arlene Phillips and Harriet Thorpe all living and sleeping in a car until another press night happens and then out they jump. They have been at every one for the last week 😂 One assumes they'd go to the opening of a paper bag...
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 10, 2021 10:44:20 GMT
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WoS ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Stage ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ES
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Post by ceebee on Aug 10, 2021 11:23:39 GMT
Shenton gave it 5 stars too, and The Times gave it 4 stars.
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Post by dlevi on Aug 10, 2021 15:45:38 GMT
He seems to be giving everything 5 stars these days (Hairspray, Pippin, Anything Goes, Joseph, Cinderella ) - I think he just wants to see himself quoted in advertisements.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Aug 10, 2021 16:11:54 GMT
Thought this was ok. Act I much better than II. I liked the choreography although sometimes it looked like it belonged in a different show. My main issue is that the two leads have no chemistry whatsoever, so I didn't care enough about their story. They are both good performers, but didn't think it was a good match. The performances were good in general. 3 stars
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Post by max on Aug 10, 2021 16:17:19 GMT
The Guardian review says: "There is a gritty heroism among the cast, too, several of whom are understudies stepping in for self-isolating actors". Does anyone know why, in this case, a self-isolating actor doesn't mean the whole show being called off for a stretch, as with so many West End shows. Is it because it's outdoors?; or can be proven the actor hadn't been in contact with other cast members? What a tangled mix of rules.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Aug 10, 2021 16:39:58 GMT
The Guardian review says: "There is a gritty heroism among the cast, too, several of whom are understudies stepping in for self-isolating actors". Does anyone know why, in this case, a self-isolating actor doesn't mean the whole show being called off for a stretch, as with so many West End shows. Is it because it's outdoors?; or can be proven the actor hadn't been in contact with other cast members? What a tangled mix of rules. I believe it's because they're only isolating, not showing symptoms? A positive covid test is what shuts down a show at the moment, because it makes everyone else in the production a close contact who then has to self-isolate themselves.
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 10, 2021 17:29:24 GMT
Cast members were isolating as part of test and trace without having tested positive, which is how they were able to proceed
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