7,547 posts
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Post by alece10 on May 7, 2024 15:24:05 GMT
It was a confusing plot, mediocre music, great cast, wrong kind of theatre. Maybe if it had gone to somewhere like the Amelda and marketed better so that people knew it wasn't going to be your normal Sheridan fayre it might have stood a better chance. But probably not as, at the end of the day, it was just a bit rubbish.
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Post by parsley1 on May 7, 2024 15:55:57 GMT
It’s quite bizarre
You would think getting a sh*t your face MIGHT
Lead to some introspection
But no
TBH it should be a lesson not to get involved with Van Hove
Unless you are willing to take a massive massive risk
He is not a populist director and always divides critical opinion
And certainly doesn’t direct “to be liked”
The hard truth remains
It’s hurts to be disliked or for your work to be slurred or not loved
And a grown man in his 50s should get over it
Perhaps he can write a new album about the experience as a form of catharsis
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Post by A.Ham on May 7, 2024 16:27:21 GMT
I've had a quick response to my complaint and they have invited me back. Dilemma. You know you want to! But hurry, you've got less than 2 weeks to fit it in.
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1,280 posts
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Post by mkb on May 7, 2024 16:30:57 GMT
If anyone seriously believes that the self-selecting demographic who have bought tickets for this van Hove show are a "conservative audience" that supports Brexit, then they know little about our island.
Of course, it's perfectly possible Rufus Wainwright made those references as a light-hearted joke, and the journalist simply twisted it for a story, as journalists are wont to do.
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18,861 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 7, 2024 17:28:44 GMT
My best pal who has ZERO interest in musicals other than taking the piss out of it half-heard something on the news about Doofus’ comments today. When I spoke to him on the phone he referenced it and started singing (in a cod MT style) 🎶 It’s time for a second referendum🎶 🎶Give us a meaningful vote🎶 🎶Will weeee everrrr get itttt doooooone🎶
Turns out he the the show was about Brexit 😆
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1,651 posts
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Post by fiyero on May 7, 2024 18:03:02 GMT
I've had a quick response to my complaint and they have invited me back. Dilemma. You know you want to! But hurry, you've got less than 2 weeks to fit it in. I've requested Saturday 11th matinee. Booked Priscilla party in the evening so the reverse of last Saturday!
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5,302 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 7, 2024 18:39:50 GMT
I’m so tired of everyone in this show blaming everyone else.
Own it. They created a big pile of steaming s**t. OWN IT. Move on.
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1,226 posts
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Post by Steve on May 7, 2024 20:17:02 GMT
His music was the worst part of the show… For me, the book is the worst part of the show. Its utterly static, bonkers, and then tries to explain itself desperately by being embarrassingly on the nose. That's down to Van Hove sticking too closely to Cassavetes' art film, which was also a flop in its day, and could never have been made into a commercial musical, with exciting action, by anybody. I agree Rufus Wainwright's music doesn't advance the plot, but that would have been impossible anyway because the plot doesn't advance. For me, as music, it's wonderful! I love it. Of course, this was never a commercial prospect, post-Brexit, during Brexit, pre-Brexit, since the dawn of time lol. Of course, he is understandably upset because his baby has been judged as ugly, and nobody can deal with that without getting upset. Sondheim was always upset by the smallest critical comment, for example. Anyway, the cast do amazing justice to Wainwright's songs, and I've loved this eccentric show as something "completely different," to quote Monty Python. And Sheridan Smith has been amazing, brilliant in the show, gone above and beyond to promote it, and indeed, without her efforts, the numbers would have been far far worse.
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Post by sph on May 7, 2024 21:02:48 GMT
He criticises the idea, in that article, of "shutting it down if it's not what you want"... but that's EXACTLY how commercial theatre works...
If audiences don't like a show, they don't buy tickets and it closes. It's sad but true. So people should hate it and buy tickets anyway? Because it'll expand our tiny insular minds?
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5,302 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 7, 2024 21:10:11 GMT
His music was the worst part of the show… For me, the book is the worst part of the show. Its utterly static, bonkers, and then tries to explain itself desperately by being embarrassingly on the nose. That's down to Van Hove sticking too closely to Cassavetes' art film, which was also a flop in its day, and could never have been made into a commercial musical, with exciting action, by anybody. I agree Rufus Wainwright's music doesn't advance the plot, but that would have been impossible anyway because the plot doesn't advance. For me, as music, it's wonderful! I love it. Of course, this was never a commercial prospect, post-Brexit, during Brexit, pre-Brexit, since the dawn of time lol. Of course, he is understandably upset because his baby has been judged as ugly, and nobody can deal with that without getting upset. Sondheim was always upset by the smallest critical comment, for example. Anyway, the cast do amazing justice to Wainwright's songs, and I've loved this eccentric show as something "completely different," to quote Monty Python. And Sheridan Smith has been amazing, brilliant in the show, gone above and beyond to promote it, and indeed, without her efforts, the numbers would have been far far worse. Steve. Naughty step. NOW.
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Post by danb on May 7, 2024 21:27:13 GMT
He criticises the idea, in that article, of "shutting it down if it's not what you want"... but that's EXACTLY how commercial theatre works... If audiences don't like a show, they don't buy tickets and it closes. It's sad but true. So people should hate it and buy tickets anyway? Because it'll expand our tiny insular minds? There’d be none of this if it wasn’t w@nky & avant garde. Any whiff of being ‘other’ immediately puts peoples backs up. Folks like nice safe ‘know they’ll enjoy it’ fare.
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Post by sph on May 7, 2024 22:23:46 GMT
The thing is, there's a difference between being avant garde or experimental and just being not very good.
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Post by fluxcapacitor on May 8, 2024 7:15:12 GMT
The thing is, there's a difference between being avant garde or experimental and just being not very good. Exactly! Blaming it on the experimental aspect is just lazy. It means the creative team doesn’t need to be critical of their own work. Experimental, when done well, can still sell and excel. Look at the reimagining of Sunset Boulevard. That was purely experimental. The staging was stark, brave and bonkers at times. But it sold out, was widely celebrated, and is transferring to Broadway. That’s because, ultimately, it doesn’t matter how experimental the production was, the material itself was strong.
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1,226 posts
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Post by Steve on May 8, 2024 13:27:52 GMT
Merch desk. Couple in front devastated at £2 magnets having sold out, as they collect them for their fridge. T-shirts reduced to £15. Who could resist! T-shirt acquired! Interval edit: Nicola Hughes is back and she's killing it. SO goode!
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1,651 posts
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Post by fiyero on May 8, 2024 14:33:53 GMT
Merch desk. Couple in front devastated at £2 magnets having sold out, as they collect them for their fridge. T-shirts reduced to £15. Who could resist! T-shirt acquired! Interval edit: Nicola Hughes is back and she's killing it. SO goode! I did think the magnets were too cheap!
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104 posts
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Post by blamerobots on May 8, 2024 15:37:50 GMT
Hopefully on an off day this week where I'm in London, rush tix will be available. I'd like to truly judge this all for myself.
Slightly broader in scope, but all this mess these past few days... does this spell the end for van Hove's musical work in the WE? (and possibly the USA, considering how his West Side Story went)
I know he was slated to do a stage version of the Shining but I'm pretty sure that's dead in the water, and if it wasn't, it probably is now.
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305 posts
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Post by Sam on May 8, 2024 16:06:37 GMT
Hopefully on an off day this week where I'm in London, rush tix will be available. I'd like to truly judge this all for myself. Slightly broader in scope, but all this mess these past few days... does this spell the end for van Hove's musical work in the WE? (and possibly the USA, considering how his West Side Story went) I know he was slated to do a stage version of the Shining but I'm pretty sure that's dead in the water, and if it wasn't, it probably is now. My ticket is still available on the Noticeboard for tomorrow if that works for you. Unfortunately come down with a cold so I won't be attending.
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104 posts
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Post by blamerobots on May 8, 2024 16:34:05 GMT
Hopefully on an off day this week where I'm in London, rush tix will be available. I'd like to truly judge this all for myself. Slightly broader in scope, but all this mess these past few days... does this spell the end for van Hove's musical work in the WE? (and possibly the USA, considering how his West Side Story went) I know he was slated to do a stage version of the Shining but I'm pretty sure that's dead in the water, and if it wasn't, it probably is now. My ticket is still available on the Noticeboard for tomorrow if that works for you. Unfortunately come down with a cold so I won't be attending. I'd love to use it, but tomorrow is the one day this week I can't do ! Thanks for the offer though.
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5,302 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 8, 2024 21:08:22 GMT
Merch desk. Couple in front devastated at £2 magnets having sold out, as they collect them for their fridge. T-shirts reduced to £15. Who could resist! T-shirt acquired! Interval edit: Nicola Hughes is back and she's killing it. SO goode! Why would anyone want a reminder of this?
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Post by sph on May 8, 2024 22:59:06 GMT
A magnet is £2!? That must be the cheapest piece of merchandise in the West End!
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993 posts
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Post by nash16 on May 9, 2024 6:54:57 GMT
A magnet is £2!? That must be the cheapest piece of merchandise in the West End! That’s the Magnet Half Price Sale!
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Post by dan on May 9, 2024 12:50:49 GMT
2 tickets for this Saturday night (grand circle row A) for £10 each, see noticeboard.
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