|
Post by danb on Jul 24, 2023 13:23:01 GMT
Is it too much to ask that Rob Houchen will finally play Tony in full musical. Keeping everything crossed It isn’t often that someones voice brings me to ‘tears’, and not a discreet trickle but full on sobbing (swells of emotional music…yes…songs with emotional attachments…yes, but voices not so much) but Houchen singing ‘Maria’ was one of the most beautifully perfect things I have ever heard. To hear him sing Tony fully would be completing life.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 24, 2023 11:40:27 GMT
Good point. A lot of these male leads these days seem to be barely graduated from drama school - I hate to break it to you, guys, but as you grow older, other people suddenly look very young PS: I would agree that Tom would look extremely young compared to classic Normas like Patti, Elaine or Glenn, but not if they need to keep a significant age difference to Nicole's younger-looking Norma. Besides, we still don't know what Lloyd may be cooking up. I think Tom is the least concerning of the names mentioned. He only looked young in ‘& Juliet’ because of the styling. To me he looks late 20’s/early 30’s which is fine as a playing age for Joe, and his voice is great too.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 24, 2023 8:53:24 GMT
My understanding is that how this production will be ‘reimagined’ is yet to be confirmed, but interestingly LondonTheatreDirect’s paid social media ad (seen on Facebook) reads as follows: Nicole Scherzinger stars in this new concert version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a faded Hollywood icon. ‘Concert version’?! Oh I do hope this is a typo/cock-up. I mean, I’d happily go and watch it, but surely the pricing would be concert level, not acknowledging sight lines so much etc.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 24, 2023 8:15:07 GMT
The original run W/E Joes all seemed age appropriate. Do people ‘break’ earlier these days so we have a glut of mid-20’s male leads instead?
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 24, 2023 7:43:48 GMT
I know that in the past we’ve discussed the Adelphi being a producers perfect theatre due to size & location. That 1500 capacity across only 3 levels delivers financial heft at the weekend and allows for closing a level on down days. I think ALW’s plan for Drury Lane is to be able to drop its capacity without damaging what makes it Drury Lane, to attract more ‘transient/6 month to a year’ pieces from the get go. Its miraculous that ‘Frozen’ is still in, given the amount of discounting and balcony closing, but I suspect its’ plan was to recoup in the first year and anything else was a bonus.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 18:56:19 GMT
Brilliant final question on Pointless Celebrities last night - they selected the topic "21st century Broadway musicals". The three options were to name any song on the soundtrack of 1) Waitress 2) Come From Away or 3) Frozen I was pleased to get many pointless answers (For anyone not aware of how the show works, the aim is to find an answer that none of the 100 people surveyed said.) More information provided in spoiler tags below so as no to spoil it for anyone who might want to watch it. {Spoiler - click to view} The contestants chose songs from Frozen. All the songs from CFA were pointless answers apart from Me and the Sky, Welcome to the Rock and 38 Planes. I was quite surprised someone said 38 Planes over some of the others. Yes!!!! I was screaming ‘Bad Idea -Reprise’ at my sky glass, which prompted it to suggest any number of things and made me need to rewind it a bit to hear the answers. Love ‘Pointless’.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 17:26:41 GMT
Yes, I totally realise that.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 16:51:30 GMT
Given Newsies couldn't sell the Troubadour, the chances of it going into the Prince Edward are very slim. Home of numerous financial smashes ‘The Troubador’? I’m just blue sky thinking (you can punch me later) If the production exists, and the set exists and the cast haven’t all booked other jobs I really don’t see why they wouldn’t give it a go for a month and see if they can salvage it before it tours? They’re going to have to reblock it for traditional spaces anyway. Dark theatre = no bar sales. Open theatre with ready made product that just needs restaging work? Why the hell not? If it picks up it can lead straight into the tour. Otherwise we’ll just end up with another ghastly musical revue for a few months til MJ.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 16:42:36 GMT
Is/was there only WSS and A Chorus Line that are choreographically ‘protected’? Do any other shows have any sort of covenant on performing the original choreo? Fiddler as well. In general, Robbins was notoriously tight with legalities regarding his work. Think we may have been sailing close to the wind with our 5th year production. We spent all our time marvelling at the flying rig & glowing make up for Fruma Sarahs ghost.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 15:50:19 GMT
Is/was there only WSS and A Chorus Line that are choreographically ‘protected’? Do any other shows have any sort of covenant on performing the original choreo?
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 15:47:48 GMT
Think he’s looking at the Noel Coward (ex-Albery) where it first opened when he was a…cough…lad.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 15:46:12 GMT
Fits the vibe for Joe I figured they were going for, but not exciting for me. Makes me wonder what Houchen is doing as he's surely the ideal candidate. Do we know the answer to this? Is he physically large enough to play against Nicole unless she does it in court shoes. She’s only 5’5” IRL so anything is possible? Surely Robs insane voice would be somewhat wasted singing Joe?
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 15:41:03 GMT
Can’t they just put ‘Newsies’ in there and see how it flies in town? Plenty of space, plenty of boxes to play with and the crazy loge things. The outlay can’t be that much to transfer something, however specific it might be to its home.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 23, 2023 13:48:26 GMT
He’ll be great. He was excellent in Rent and is a fair few years older now. He is, however, in danger of becoming the new Jordan Luke Gage if she doesn’t find something with a bit of edge.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 22, 2023 16:57:06 GMT
I wish he’d missed the day I saw Moulin Rouge…
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 21, 2023 21:29:52 GMT
Oh I love this. If it just goes one notch better than the last tour I’ll be in heaven.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 21, 2023 20:53:26 GMT
I’m sure it’s mentioned further back in this thread but there is a fantastic documentary ‘You Are Here-A Come From Away story’ on you tube, detailing the events and people of CFA. This show is so special and details such an important part of modern history that it is hard not to feel the same emotions you feel watching the show. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 19, 2023 13:44:34 GMT
Just had an e-mither stating that the lottery is turning into ‘£29 seats’ on sale of Fridays for the week ahead.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 19, 2023 13:21:24 GMT
Theres only really central stalls or front row with much leg room in the Palladium. The side blocks of stalls are really tight due to their curve, and I don’t remember ever being comfortable in either circle.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 19, 2023 6:52:00 GMT
Self Esteem is an actual person?? I am officially old and clueless on current pop culture. Yes, its like a stage name, possibly a band name.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 18, 2023 11:00:26 GMT
I’m fairly sure I saw Rebecca Taylor (Self Esteem) in an AmDram production of The Witches of Eastwick waaay back… Can’t find my programme, or anything on the web to back this up though! I absolutely loved Slow Club and what she’s been doing as Self Esteem, so would definitely be tempted back by this casting… What shes been doing first in Slow Club then as SE has bordered on performance art, which this ‘Cabaret’ very much reminds me of.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 18, 2023 9:39:35 GMT
Strong cast! I could watch Jess Daley sing the phone book…Mel Jacques, Gio Spano…this is getting more interesting by the minute.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 17, 2023 20:22:49 GMT
Who? 36 year old Self Esteem? 🖤 think it might actually get me there.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 17, 2023 18:34:48 GMT
Jake Shears anddddd... struggling to figure out who Sally is. My mind went to Joss Stone but I can't see it being her. Not Joss. She’s the same age as Joss though. Kate Nash IS 36, the same age as Joss Stone. Mystery solved? But Florence Welsh, Mollie King & Ellie Goulding all are too. (Whereas Ms Roberts is 37).
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 17, 2023 18:20:50 GMT
It’d be great if she had the acting chops for this? That’d be outstanding.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 16, 2023 20:38:39 GMT
Whats the run time of this pls?
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 13, 2023 12:10:12 GMT
Presumably they are hoping to cash in on one last Christmas? I loved it, but it isn’t really a regular repeat visit type shenanigan. No hidden depths or new meanings to explore just pure, slightly dark unbridled joy. Disney’s pockets are deeper than most so they can i) afford to pay a cast to work a four show weekend, knowing thats where the money is, to make up for 2) being able to run at a loss the rest of the time. The amount of merch, ice cream and Prosecco sold should see them safely to January, and an even smaller auditorium and ‘Hello Dolly’. 🤞
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 12, 2023 17:31:25 GMT
I’ve left several shows in the interval, sometimes for very specific reasons (boorish sweaty drunk next to me at WWRY, appalling understudy at Bat) and sometimes because getting home an hour earlier is more appealing than sitting through the 2nd half of a cast on autopilot giving 25%. I’ve paid good money to see you! (Les Mis a few times, Wicked etc).
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 11, 2023 18:23:31 GMT
I hope we get it at Cardiff International Sports Hall (as I like to call it). I think its about 4,500 seated. My favourite ‘arena’, but Hammersmith Apollo is my absolute favourite music venue anywhere. Great transport links, great standing, great seated, beautiful building and it will forever be where I saw Kate Bush & Ben Platt.
|
|
|
Post by danb on Jul 11, 2023 17:21:57 GMT
Love Lemar!!!
|
|