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Post by steve10086 on Dec 25, 2023 18:09:12 GMT
I wonder what a Jamie Lloyd POTO would look like 😲 Isn’t the point of Jamie Lloyd that we already know exactly what his production of POTO would look like?
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 24, 2023 22:18:52 GMT
It's funny because you'd assume he'd hate it. It's neither the style of the show as he originally created it nor anything like the style of any show he's done. If I was 75 and someone was creating a quasi-modern tik-tok inspired video screened version of my beloved work I'm not sure if I'd me much behind it. But maybe he likes his stuff feeling fresh and modern again. It’s a major win for him. He’s desperate to feel fresh and modern (and was convinced Crap Cinderella was just that), but cannot accept that he’s far too old to create anything like that anymore. Now he’s got a totally fresh show without any work involved!
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 22, 2023 10:11:09 GMT
Has anyone noticed what time this has been finishing for an evening performance recently? I'm going again next Wednesday and just found out my nice comfy 23:05 train has been cancelled! (I know it’s live theatre and could differ anyway but trying to get an idea of being ready to dash for the 22:30 or saunter to the 23:30!) In my experience it's been finishing around 22:07-17 if you stay for the playout, second act is just shy of an hour if you slip out during bows Not criticising anyone who leaves during bows - I know I’m lucky I don’t need to rush for a train. But if there is any show to stay through the playout (and I always stay for everything) it’s this one. The closing credits on the screen are a great idea.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 21, 2023 21:39:41 GMT
Blimey, Pasek & Paul really do write the blandest songs. Any of them could be moved from one project to another. Never heard so much music with no soul.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 21, 2023 10:15:55 GMT
It’s such a rabbit warren of a theatre that getting anywhere in it takes forever, I think the only way that it would be able to start on the dot of 7.30pm would be to tell the audience they have to be in the theatre by 7.20pm or they’re not getting in, close the bars at that time as well and literally frog march people to their seats. Which would be a sh*t general atmosphere to start a show with. I certainly wouldn’t design a theatre that way today (as if I could design a theatre!), but the history and charm of the building outweigh the awkwardness of it for me. Especially the gorgeous auditorium itself.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 20, 2023 12:52:32 GMT
Let people enjoy it without the incessant need to repeat your dislike for the production, over and over. It always comes down to this on this board. The people who love a show try to shout down those who don’t. There is no discussion because people “must be left to enjoy it” (whatever that means!).
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 19, 2023 23:00:07 GMT
Re all the complaints about Nicole’s stuff to camera. Not sure m(any) of you ever see Instagram Influencers go live, but the amount of eye-f***ing of themselves that goes on is insane. I wonder if Norma’s moments to camera are also a bit of a comment on that (plus the silent movie star stuff.) Exactly, Norma Desmond, an undeniable “star”, has been given all the mannerisms of a talentless nobody. Go figure.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 19, 2023 18:35:02 GMT
Yessss exactly that. But then again following from what BurlyBear said, I listen to the Sunset Boulevard OLCR with Patti Lupone who I adore and her delivery of many lines is… unnatural to say the least. So maybe it’s how it was written 💁🏼♀️ I'm sure it was to an extent, but it's written to be that way within the world of the show. Norma is eccentric, camp, and losing her mind, but that's all contained within the show. With Nicole's performance, it very much felt like she was playing directly to the audience for laughs, akin to a panto as I said before. It was so much the case that multiple people around me were laughing at entirely serious points, such as the ending of the show, because Nicole's performance seemed to encourage them to find everything comical and as if it was being played for laughs. It totally feels like playing up to the audience in the theatre and is not at all in character, and for me it disrespects and cheapens the character of Norma. She may be delusional now but she really was a major star - I can’t believe Nicole’s version ever was. I also feel that the long note in AIWNSG is also playing up to the audience. When Elaine Paige added it really lifted the song and added a great dramatic moment. I feel in this production that Lloyd is actually taking the piss out of how that long note has become a “show off” moment for the actress playing Norma, which I agree to some extent that is has. But I really do feel Lloyd doesn’t like this show. If he could get away with it he’d replace all the songs with his ridiculous slowed down dialogue.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 19, 2023 11:45:47 GMT
But she isn’t. I found her quite good - good vocals, decent line delivery. I hated the costumes, and her acting “choices” however tightly directed. I find the hype and hyperbole around Scherzinger amusing. She hams constantly; twerks, pouts and gives a unique performance. This is all fine if you think it suits the character/piece. Some don’t, such as myself. Being “iconic” and “yaaaas kween” isn’t acting in and of itself. There’s talk here that she’s some legendary stage star off the back of this performance. I appreciate it is very in-the-now and hype and excitement always run highest when a show/flavour of the month is at its hottest - but some of the praise here is a touch OTT. If she puts in solid 8 show weeks in a variety of different roles in the coming 5-10 years, showing range and versatility from relatively “serious” acting (zero gurning) to musical comedy, earns her stripes on tour or in rep and so on - then perhaps she’ll start to earn that kind of status. I understand everyone’s excitement because of what she represents - a star for the TikTok era (*snaps fingers*, gurlfriiiend) and very popular with gay audiences, but honestly she’s got two major theatre credits to her name - and one of those was in Cats 🤣 All of this!!!! 👍👍
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 19, 2023 7:13:37 GMT
For the first time in my life I have sold some theatre tickets. Was booked for Sunset this coming Thursday, but having been so impressed by Rachel Tucker 2 weeks ago I just could not face Scherzinger again. I can’t buy her as Norma Desmond at all, and all the twerking and finger snapping is cheap and classless. Relieved I won’t have to hear her impression of a foghorn again during AIWNSG. I saw this last week for the second time,first viewing early Nov. I preferred Scherz's earlier interpretation. This time she has gone into overdrive with all the antics, almost playing for laughs. That's what confidence does for you. What's with the extreme slowing down with the speech at times? OMG, in that case I am doubly glad not to see that. The antics totally ruin the character. And that slowed down rubbish that replaces The Lady’s Paying is just awful.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 19, 2023 7:11:45 GMT
For the first time in my life I have sold some theatre tickets. Was booked for Sunset this coming Thursday, but having been so impressed by Rachel Tucker 2 weeks ago I just could not face Scherzinger again. I can’t buy her as Norma Desmond at all, and all the twerking and finger snapping is cheap and classless. Relieved I won’t have to hear her impression of a foghorn again during AIWNSG. Steve - unless I missed it, did you give a full review after seeing it with Rachel? Did it make the production work any better for you than your original visit? This production is a fabulous “concert” version of Sunset Boulevard, with stunning choreography as a bonus. It’s not a proper staging of the show, and I honestly believe that Lloyd doesn’t actually like the source material that much. But yes, seeing it with a proper actor in the lead role did make it so much better. With Tucker in it I’d give it 5 stars as a concert.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 19, 2023 7:07:50 GMT
For the first time in my life I have sold some theatre tickets. Was booked for Sunset this coming Thursday, but having been so impressed by Rachel Tucker 2 weeks ago I just could not face Scherzinger again. I can’t buy her as Norma Desmond at all, and all the twerking and finger snapping is cheap and classless. Relieved I won’t have to hear her impression of a foghorn again during AIWNSG.
I'm guessing the 2nd performance was booked before you saw the first?
At least the tickets will go to people who want to be there and will appreciate being able to see it again.
Originally booked 2 performances with Scherzinger when tickets first went on sale. Went to the first of those, then decided to see Tucker so booked a performance with her. Enjoyed that so much that a return visit for Scherzinger lost its appeal. And I am glad someone will use the tickets and hopefully enjoy it more than I would.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 18, 2023 23:43:03 GMT
For the first time in my life I have sold some theatre tickets. Was booked for Sunset this coming Thursday, but having been so impressed by Rachel Tucker 2 weeks ago I just could not face Scherzinger again. I can’t buy her as Norma Desmond at all, and all the twerking and finger snapping is cheap and classless. Relieved I won’t have to hear her impression of a foghorn again during AIWNSG.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 14, 2023 20:19:58 GMT
Fair enough, and therefore producers need to let go of the concept of not reviewing a show before “opening night” 👍 Not necessarily. Previews still exist to bed in a show, they just cost the same. Nah, give me an unfinished show without giving me a discount and you’ll get my opinion. (And if that opinion ends up in the New York Times… that’s just tough, ALW!)
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 14, 2023 20:08:31 GMT
I think we need to let go of the concept of the reduced price preview. It ain’t coming back. Fair enough, and therefore producers need to let go of the concept of not reviewing a show before “opening night” 👍
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 13, 2023 13:07:57 GMT
I saw the show for free from the back of the dress circle at the Adelphi (awful seats in my least favourite venue) and I remember very little. Gemma Arterton was predictably lovely, but I don’t remember any of the songs except the title number. And even then, I only remember there being some very forced rhymes (which I’ve surely built up in my mind to be worse than they actually are. I can’t remember the real ones so I like to make up my own. “Made in Dagenham, listening to Slade in Dagenham, I wish this show had stayed in Dagenham”). At the time I thought it was basically a Cockney “Billy Elliott”. Sadly, I can’t stand Billy Elliott. Ticket prices seem reasonable for this though. How could you have have forgotten “Come get your cat spayed in Dagenham” ?! 🤣
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 10, 2023 14:57:04 GMT
It would make sense that they'll wait a bit to release the cast recording to coincide with the Broadway transfer. Also, eligibility for Tony nominations is April 25th, so if they want those nominations, it will transfer either March or early April. They could also score a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. Tbh, this is SO good that they should milk it all the way. Give us Broadway, a Cast Recording album, a TV Live Action (or official recording) and an official movie. Nicole deserves an EGOT for this performance. Always interesting how different people see things differently. In my opinion Nicole deserves the elbow, not an EGOT.
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Post by steve10086 on Dec 3, 2023 19:25:03 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon, Sunset is my fav show, but as not being a Nicole fan i was hesitant to book...but so glad i did, Nicola blew me away...as did the rest of the cast. The beginning of the second act is very clever, did we lose a couple of words going along the Strand? Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it and if I lived nearer would be going again. The direction wasn't as 'different' as i was expecting it to be, four people in front of me didn't come back after the interval...their loss I, too, saw it yesterday afternoon and noticed the slight sound problems during the Act II opener on the Strand. As a young man, I saw the original production of Sunset with LuPone, Buckley and Paige, and I loved the excess of it all! Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this production. I thought the cast were all top-notch and Nicole both sang and acted very well. It was much more ‘realistic’ acting than in the original for the most part (maybe because it’s more in-keeping with the semi-filmed style). The horror-style ending, whilst ‘enjoyable’, was somewhat shocking, but somehow lacked poignancy. Nicole acted it well and seemed ‘possessed’ at this point, but in my opinion, it was less ‘affecting’ to me than the very original finale with LuPone. In the original, before it was reworked for Buckley etc…, Norma descended the staircase for her final speech and the WOL reprise looking truly awful - aged, partially-bald and desperately needy. This sight was the most heartbreaking. I don’t think any production of Sunset has quite captured the heartbreak of the ending since the LuPone days - or maybe it was simply because it was the first time I’d seen it. Nevertheless, as a lover of the original, I still enjoyed this fresh and more ‘modern’ take very much! Would love to see it again; alas, I won’t be able to get to London again before January. I cried for Norma the first time I saw the show with LuPone.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 27, 2023 11:20:49 GMT
As much as I want children to enjoy theatre, there's nothing I want less in this world than to be sitting near one! For them to enjoy it, I'm afraid to tell you that they do have to sit somewhere. I agree with sph !
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 17, 2023 18:05:38 GMT
All the star ratings shown are 5 stars. Thank you, you’re totally right! With the way they’ve faded them in and out, the fifth one is shaded so much I missed it entirely 🤦🏼♂️ Yeah, they aren’t very well defined.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 17, 2023 17:44:40 GMT
Well it’s a great trailer but not sure it really adds anything we didn’t already know - guess they’ll just be using this to ensure full houses through to the end of the run. Lovely to hear a snippet of that wonderful orchestra though. Interesting that they include some amazing review quotes but then the star ratings that flash up mostly look to be fours. Bit like CRH on Strictly saying something’s ‘ah-may-zing’ then only giving an 8 or 9! All the star ratings shown are 5 stars.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 14, 2023 17:08:13 GMT
Should add, am sure when LWH musicals were "formed" they said they were initially planning three ALW revivals. We have Sunset. We have Starlight. What is the third? When the Love Never Dies concert was generally well received there was some rumours might be that. I don't think that was based on anything other than wishful thinking from those that enjoyed the concert however. That said, I do think it's the most obvious. My personal vote would be for The Beautiful Game or a decent lavish version of Whistle Down The Wind. Please be WDTW!
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 14, 2023 16:42:43 GMT
Should it not be LWH to contact? It’s not a RUG production. I used the contact form on the link posted a few posts above my reply. I assumed it was RUG but if it was LW Theatres then that’s who I emailed. Know what you mean, but not RUG or LW Theatres - it’s produced by Lloyd Webber Harrison (LWH).
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 13, 2023 18:36:46 GMT
Email sent to RUG - can’t do any harm! 🤞🏻 Should it not be LWH to contact? It’s not a RUG production.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 13, 2023 7:48:28 GMT
I was just thinking about the BBC programmes to find Nancy, Joseph and Maria and about how many of the contestants have gone on to greater things. I think I'm right in saying that the females have come out better than the males. Lee Meade has probably had the best career, Daniel Boys has done well but never had a leading west end role, same for Keith Jack. Also didn't one of the males go on to a decent career in the "adult entertainment" industry? Craig Chalmers is definitely very talented!
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 12, 2023 10:31:02 GMT
It was the best time, glad I was there. Same! Without wishing to sound like a w***er I literally feel privileged to have been there now. I look at the current landscape and that era feels like a very special and unique time. I know what you mean. Musicals and the West End were at their peak in popular culture*. It was an exciting time. (*following on from the mega-musicals of the 80s of course, which were still around)
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 12, 2023 10:25:58 GMT
Yeah Patti, Glenn, Betty, Petula, Diahann and Faith all had official recordings of the big numbers at the very least, if not the full show. They weren’t shy about recording a quick little EP. I wish I could say it was! Ahhh it was a great era! Imagine if all the subsequent casts of the great musicals with iconic songs still got to do EP’s nowadays. (Still fuming there wasn’t a recording of Wicked with Kerry). The 90’s were a time of plenty for recordings generally. Joseph releasing singles, mega remixes and VHSs. Starlight re-recorded and also releasing singles. All the Sunsets. Cats, Joseph, JCS being filmed. Whistle getting singles and a concept recording as well as OLC. Great times! It was the best time, glad I was there.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 10, 2023 7:18:15 GMT
Think more: biggest sitcom possibly ever. OMG, they were gonna resurrect one of the Golden Girls?! 😱
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 9, 2023 16:05:21 GMT
“ Audiences will be immersed in a world of speed, song and spectacle as an incredible cast of 40 whizz around and above, performing some of musical theatre’s most beloved hits, including AC/DC, Make Up My Heart, Light at the End of the Tunnel and the iconic Starlight Express.”
And above?!
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 9, 2023 3:22:23 GMT
What do we think are the chances of a bridge? None.
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