1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 13:48:02 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 🤣 I sort of see where you’re coming from. Especially in the first act I wasn’t sold on her acting- not acting through song necessarily but the acting. I also found the twerking bits a bit forced and some of the close up shots pouting to the camera a bit cringe. To me, she is no Oscar winning actress but I did leave the show thinking wow, the Olivier has to be hers, what a beast. What she does up there is not easy. Rachel Tucker also does the pouting and looks to camera - that's how Lloyd has directed them, I suspect.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 13:47:08 GMT
A couple of people above have deliberately misquoted me as saying the show is “for the gays” - which you’ll notice I never said. I implied that her performance is popular with gay audiences, which anecdotally I believe it is. The mock offence isn’t needed here - just discussion. The stylised approach and Scherzinger’s high camp performance lend the show a certain feel, which I’m 100% sure is what was the director and performer intended. Sunset Boulevard - the film and the musical has never NOT had an element of camp in it. It is absolutely intrinsic to the character of Norma.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 13:43:33 GMT
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 🤣 As someone who doesn't go near TikTok and happens to be gay, I find your comment a bit weird. The whole "yasss queen" finger snapping act has been a part of popular culture for more than a decade. Equating that as merely popular with gay audiences....hmm...nope. Not all of us find it entertaining or representative of anything other than a lady/person being sassy. Period. Re your slam at Cats, how very original. But I doubt Elaine Paige or Betty Buckley hold their heads in shame when that credit is mentioned in their bios and for good reason. I doubt NS does either. I knew little about NS before seeing her in SUNSET but having seen all of the London Norma's (sans Rita Moreno), I thought she nailed it with a highly original and daring performance. Maybe it wasn't for you but I take issue with anyone that says it only generated excitement because her portrayal resonated with TikTokkers and 'gay audiences'. I think that is nonsense. I agree. A lot of what is considered quintisentially gay culture or queer culture has, for bad or worse, bled very heavily into the mainstream. Mainly due to Ru Paul's Drag Race. When you've got suburban women using this kind of vernacular (be it ironically or non-ironically) - which I have definitely witnessed - you know it's gone mainstream.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 13:40:12 GMT
I agree that Lloyd probably doesn’t like much of the material, but neither do I. I think he has done a great job at hiding the flaws of the show and highlight its strengths. However, I absolutely disagree that Rachel Tucker gives a performance that is anywhere near the level of Nicole. Nicole is a virtuosic singer and her ability to act while singing is among the greatest I’ve ever seen on stage (never expected this from a pop star). Rachel’s voice just doesn’t have the expressiveness and nuance that Nicole’s does. This is why I think it’s funny that people might compare them suggesting Rachel is the ‘actor’. No I think Nicole is the actor. She also has star power and the whole tone of her performance and production has this weird dynamic where it feels it’s commenting on her own career. Very very special. Rachel gives a great understudy performance is how it feels to me (ouch, I know). Nicole is breaking ground. He has been quoted as saying he specifically wanted to do Sunset. So are you speculating he wanted to direct the story, but doesn't care for the music?
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 8:47:44 GMT
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. Well, that's an "opinion" I guess. :/
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 8:42:59 GMT
Just on my way back from seeing Rachel Tucker in tonight's show. Such a different, broken performance for her Norma. I agree with what has previously been said about both NS and RT bring different but bring equally great things to the roll. Had to suffer a rowdy group in the audience behind me who clearly weren't enjoying or following the show. Having raided the bar, they were going to let it known their boredom. I suppose this is the problem with a "traditional" show being delivered in a non traditional way for members of the public who haven't got that memo. Does anyone know if changes of lyrics in the show were for this production or have they been implemented since the last cast recording. "Every Movies a Circus", "Boy meets Girl" and others seems to have slightly different, slightly darker lyrics then what I remember and I swear the script Betty and Joe writes used to be "Blind Windows" rather then "Dark Windows". Obviously there is some added dialogue to fill in the gaps where the two missing songs were. Any ideas? I was there last night as well - my second visit so I could see Rachel Tucker who, frankly, blew me away. It is one of those rare occasions where two actressses sharing a role on seperate nights both deliver knock-out, albeit, very different performances. Nicole struck me as fragile/damaged while Rachel was unhinged/erratic....both vocally sensational. Sorry you had a rough audience experience - I was expecting the worst given the number of people heading to their seats armed with full bottles of wine and behaving like they already had a few on the way in. We had a popcorn muncher next to us who kindly put her snack down upon request from my husband but it really is making the theatre feel like going to the circus. Shows seems secondary to the eating/drinking experience and it is a real turn-off. AAARGH! How the hell has eating noisy, crunchy food in wrappers become completely normalised in theatre now?!? I feel like turning around to people and saying "is impossible for you to stop stuffing your face for a couple of hours?!"
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 19, 2023 8:40:55 GMT
Just on my way back from seeing Rachel Tucker in tonight's show. Such a different, broken performance for her Norma. I agree with what has previously been said about both NS and RT bring different but bring equally great things to the roll. Had to suffer a rowdy group in the audience behind me who clearly weren't enjoying or following the show. Having raided the bar, they were going to let it known their boredom. I suppose this is the problem with a "traditional" show being delivered in a non traditional way for members of the public who haven't got that memo. Does anyone know if changes of lyrics in the show were for this production or have they been implemented since the last cast recording. "Every Movies a Circus", "Boy meets Girl" and others seems to have slightly different, slightly darker lyrics then what I remember and I swear the script Betty and Joe writes used to be "Blind Windows" rather then "Dark Windows". Obviously there is some added dialogue to fill in the gaps where the two missing songs were. Any ideas? The changes are specific to this production and were revised by Black and Hampton
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 18, 2023 9:22:31 GMT
Sprouts with honey is the answer. If you have the honnnaay monnaaay. OMG, that line made me giggle both times!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 18, 2023 9:21:35 GMT
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 18, 2023 8:45:51 GMT
In my interpretation at least Eva is using social media. I thought her bits to camera during the art of the possible and a new Argentina were videos she posted to social media the screen being a rectangle really gave it the look of a phone screen to me at least. Good shout, I noted the vertical aspect ratio (and that it was always off to the side irked me, I get that the stair takes up stage left a lot of the time but it moves- so can the projection?) but didn't even think of connecting it to a phone screen or social media... Thinking back I think it was the strong aesthetic of that vintage silver camera dolly they were using that I assumed rooted it to the story's era. The other handheld camera rig was much more modern/neutral/subtle (matte black metal), maybe using a more modern dolly would help with the (assuming) intentional anachronism? and perhaps having social media app icons imprinted on the video footage to make it more obvious? I had no idea what this production was trying to achieve. Other than present a story "inspired by" Eva Peron. It was not the story of Eva in any meaningful way.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 18, 2023 8:44:10 GMT
The direction does lean into the - I wanna say camp but it’s the wrong word, yet I can’t think of a better one - however. can't say I've comprehensively studied Magaldi/actors who have played Magaldi but this one was... quite something 😂 (I quite enjoyed watching him) It’s not really an Evita with clear storytelling, at least not in the style of the original. So if you’re quite attached to strength in plot it might not be your thing. It was more about the visuals and audio really. agreed it did have a feel of a showcase/highlights reel, I could only judge it scene by scene, some of which *really* impressed me with their melding of lighting/set/choreo. That said I only saw it during the previews period, hoping to catch it again towards the end of the run and that they'll have tightened things up by then! Thought Martha was really wonderful Dan Partridge, who has for the past few years been mostly playing Danny in Nikolai Foster's production of Grease. But yes, VERY easy on the eye....
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 17, 2023 22:52:12 GMT
I think it hinges on whether you can cope with an Evita set in the present day. If you can, I’d say go for it. (Would also say, whatever you think of the visual and directorial choices, I think it sounds sensational. Orchestrations updated by Stephen Brooker, he gets way more out of a 9 piece than the Kenwright tour did. Fresh and punchy. And the vocals IMHO are fantastic. As is the sound). I loved the Regents Park production so an updated version isn't a problem for me. So did I. This version is a poor facsimile of it.
It lacked the passion, the electricity or the danger of that Regents Park version.
It was amateurish, bland and unfocused to me.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 16, 2023 14:01:24 GMT
Oh god, I absolutely hated it! I mean I can see why people would think this. Choices were certainly made. I could have been distracted by the arms of the ensemble! I do think the storytelling was weak. And I didn’t really buy Tyrone’s Che, just didn’t have much presence. Which is odd as he was sensational in JCS!
I'm just gathering my thoughts on it still. But it came across as quite bland and amateur - and I've come to the conclusion that I've gone off Curve's "house style". I didn't enjoy Nikolai Foster's A Chorus Line either.
I preferred their shows more under the Paul Kerryson tenure. (back when I lived in Leicester, so I visited a lot). Fond memories of their productions of Chicago and Gypsy, to name but two.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 16, 2023 1:04:39 GMT
Wasn't a huge fan of this but... I prefer the stripped back look of their productions rather than when they put a cheap looking set on it which dwarfs the stage (like The Wizard of Oz). It is a huge stage and so why fill it with set just for the sake of it? Admittedly there's probably a better midpoint. West Side Story and Billy Elliot achieved this better imo. The set and costumes alone, as much as I hated them (and I really hated them) weren’t even the biggest faults in my opinion. It was just so soulless. The chap next to me described it as “hollow”. The Kenwright tour was miles ahead of this. Dreadful. You took the words out of my mouth.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 16, 2023 0:58:17 GMT
Just back from queer Magic Mike! I mean, Evita. Loved it. Stylish, sleek, minimalist, atmospheric, sexual, creative, refreshing. Lit to within an inch of its life and exposing all the workings of this gorgeous building. Stunning. Cast sublime. Full report to follow at some point. Oh god, I absolutely hated it!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 14, 2023 8:32:23 GMT
Agree that the guy playing Artie was very average in all aspects.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 13, 2023 12:40:25 GMT
Tom’s trip round the block is becoming increasingly perilous. Lots of fangirls trying to film it and some idiot men trying to “photobomb” it! And general crowds as we get closer to Christmas. Probably is just as well it’s finishing soon from the perspective of that scene as can only see the crowd control getting harder and harder. I was surprised this wasn't a problem when I went to see the show in early November. There were some passersbuy that ignored the security staff but no fans at all. How are they dealing with it? You can't tell people to leave public spaces... I wonder if Security warn anyone a couple of minutes Our Tom emerges onto The Strand? Also, on Saturday night The Coal Hole had quite a few revellers dressed up as Father Christmas (some were outside smoking) - I'm sure more of that kinda thing is going to feature in Joe's journey around Strand Boulevard!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 13, 2023 12:38:54 GMT
7th time last night. Tom’s trip round the block is becoming increasingly perilous. Lots of fangirls trying to film it and some idiot men trying to “photobomb” it! And general crowds as we get closer to Christmas. Probably is just as well it’s finishing soon from the perspective of that scene as can only see the crowd control getting harder and harder. As for the show, loved it as usual. Nothing new to say! Reflected - has David Thaxton ever been on an OLC? I’ve seen him in so many things and to me he’s a theatre community “name.” But I don’t own any recordings he features in. Lucky you! I wish I could go that often! I think this is the worst time of year for the crowds! January goes quiet and he woulda been OK. I don't think Mr Thaxton has been on any recordings, no. He's been replacement cast in all the big shows that would be likely to get a recording.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 12, 2023 21:37:49 GMT
Sunset Boulevard Old Friends Shirley Valentine Aspects Of Love Oklahoma or A Little Life!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 12, 2023 13:29:35 GMT
I overheard a woman complaining in the interval that Rachel Tucker was on and she hadn't been informed when booking and looked like her party and her left, what a mistake to leave! The show is worth seeing and I am glad I got a chance. Would be great if they do a cast recording they do include Rachel's versions too! Yeah I know quite a number of gays who booked on a Monday expecting to see Nicole, and then left at the interval Imagine having no taste embarrassing MESS!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 11, 2023 21:15:21 GMT
SO, second visit on Saturday night. Row T of the stalls, and the overhang was very irritating - these were essentially restricted view seats at £77. Anyway
The show still gave me many goosebump moments and there were some great bits I'd forgotten from 6 weeks ago.
I really studied Nicole's performance this time, and she really does bring a unique and raw quality to the performance. She doesn't lean into any kind of traditional theatrics and keeps her anguish quite controlled - I felt desperately sorry for Norma at times - like all the best Norma's have.
Tom Francis is doing simply phenomenal work on that stage - and I told him so at Stage Door! Very unusual for me to "stage door" but I thought a glimpse of him and/or La Scherzinger could be fun. But she apparently exited via the hotel.
I must admit I was a little more picky this time and I feel the stylised direction has been at the cost of clear storytelling - particularly in the final scene, much is lost e.g. it is not clear that Max is pretending to direct her in Salome because there is no crowd of reporters, police etc. And lack of "as day breaks over the murder house...."
Style over content!
The Savoy is the most awful cramped theatre isn't it?! (in the lobbies and routes outside of the auditorium - terrible design!)
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 7, 2023 17:19:49 GMT
So by their insistence on getting rid of gendered acting categories, only 5 people have a chance of getting an award instead of 10? Seems like great progress to me...
(Tom Francis not getting a nomination is ridiculous)
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 6, 2023 17:06:20 GMT
OK. Thoughts composed. I think. Episode 5 of series 4 of Absolutely Fabulous is called "Small Opening" and Saffy has written a play about her own life. It's put on in a small theatre with a set depicting the famous kitchen and actors playing the characters in her life. Eddy and Patsy end up coming (of course). Saffy has written it as a straight play. Lights go down. And after the first few lines, the audience (including Eddie and Patsy) move from a stunned "what am I watching" to increasing laugher and merriment. Lill Roughly is playing Edina. A few mins in, based in the audience response, she loudly whispers to the other actors "I KNEW it was a comedy! GO FOR IT KIDS!" Well, it was a bit like that. There were two factors in this concert. The concert itself. And the audience. I knew it was gonna be lively. But it was absolute pantomime (or Rocky Horror style) audience participation. Ooh-ing, ahh-ing, laughing (at literally anything), loud booing and hissing for the "baddies" Charles and Camilla. Never ending mid song whooping and cheering and clapping. It was the atmosphere of the Drag Race tours or the X Factor arena auditions. But like Saffy's play - the energy rose through the first 20 mins until it became fever pitch. As expected (and as alluded to above) lots of theatre types, lots of the gay fan boy mafia in which I include myself, lots of people who knew the show and it's history. But also huge swatches of the general public, and certainly where I was, lots of huns who were there for Denise Welch. And they basically cottoned on to the fact that what they were seeing was the comedy of the century and became more and more excited. God knows how it was directed but clearly the cast quickly fed off the energy in the room and it became one of those show and audience as one experiences. So you may think nothing terrible about what I've said so far (and in fairness it wasn't the bad behaviour of the type you see on the bad behaviour thread - no phones, no talking about things not related to the show, no fighting a la ATG). This audience were having FUN! Indeed - nothing wrong with that. In fact it's what we go out for. Except. I don't thing this show IS an all out comedy. Certainly that's not what the writers intended. Yes it's funny, yes it's camp, yes it's kitsch, yes parts of it are utterly bonkers, yes parts of it are "what on earth is this." I am also not gonna argue for a second that it's some kind of musical masterpiece. But I do think it has a heart, I do think it tries to look at character, I do think there is a lot of decent material there. I do think somewhere in there is a genuinely decent musical. Also as your standard gay, clearly I am team Diana all the way. But Charles and Camilla I don't think are bad people, and to pantomime villain them just sells the thing short. But more important than all of this - there are some truly great melodies in this. I love the CD! So yeah, I wanna hear Dame Ellis belt them out (or indeed Queen Fearn) without them having to compete with the screaming and hissing from my neighbour. Disclaimer - I used to usually be several wines in at musicals and now see everything sober. Had I been well lubricated my experience could have been quite different I suppose. And I don't wanna sound miserable. I like a loud and appreciative audience. I love the energy in the room you get at last nights, cast changes etc etc. But, for me, this was too disruptive. (And further disclaimer - it does feed in to my current obsession that people can't just sit down and watch something so there is some hyper vigilance on my part!) As for the production itself. Cast I thought were uniformly excellent. Kerry Ellis just has such a stunning voice she could sing the phonebook. Alice Fearn similarly is an absolute pro. Andy Coxon I had never seen before but thought was sensational as Charles. Lovely voice. Played it well. Easy on the eye. Very pleasantly surprised by Denise Welch. Clearly not the world's best vocalist but sang well enough for this I thought and I was pretty sold on her characterisation. She's a person I like in general so really pleased she came through. Disagree with the pseudo-scientific stuff she comes out with but she's used her platform sensationally for awareness of mental health and recovery in addiction and is such an open likeable person I think. The band were great. I think sound design was clearly sloppy going by what others have said, but I think I sat in a decent spot for it. It was near the front and was loud and clear for me. Costumes were cheap. Set non existent. SO many mixed mic cues. Lighting design not only bad but also full of missed cues. Very poor value for money in this regard (it was more expensive and plagued with considerably more problems than Evita which recently came under fire for being a rip off) No flubbed lines or similar and I thought cast did brilliantly in what was possibly a short rehearsal time. Reflecting on the above, I guess the direction of travel was inevitable. Something can't really be a mix of good/bad/subtle/in your face - everything polarises to a collective feeling and this became pantomime. I'd like to think there could be some kind of future life for it. After this, I have no idea how they would pitch it though! But it's a good score, and ultimately a great real life story! A bizarre evening. 5 stars for the vocals and cast 4 for the orchestration and MD 1 for the production vales. God knows for the audience. Errrr, 3 overall? It was certainly an evening I won't forget!
Thanks so much for the review. That's the kind of audience I would like to machine gun to be honest. Stagey, Drag Race-esque. ugh
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 5, 2023 17:13:42 GMT
What's the likelihood we will finally get a completely reimagined production of Blood Brothers now Kenwright is no longer with us?
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 5, 2023 13:31:29 GMT
There’s hardly any tickets left now for the run , even Monday nights. I wouldn’t be hanging around waiting for a discount. Gawd!!! I was hoping to get a bargain to see La Tucker! I better cough up then!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 5, 2023 13:30:20 GMT
I think I would have enjoyed it, but also been pissed off at the cuts to the libretto and the poor tech standard.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 4, 2023 18:09:29 GMT
the only times I was incredibly close was for "Barking In Essex" - starring Sheila Hancock, Lee Evans and Keeley Hawes - crass, vulgar, shouty, bit like a ITV 90's comedy, but with 4 letter words.
Should have left at the interval of The Book of Mormon. As it was I went to the loo in act 2 and only came back to keep my friend company. Absolutely dire show.
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 4, 2023 12:33:46 GMT
No discussion of this for over a week?! An unpopular choice around Theatreboard world?!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 4, 2023 12:32:25 GMT
On Friday, Lea Salonga waved at me when she did her bows and I nearly fainted from joy. Similar thing happened to me when I went!
|
|
1,894 posts
|
Post by distantcousin on Dec 4, 2023 12:32:01 GMT
Very interesting how you see so many young performers every day posted on that evil West End understudies Twitter account and yet we've never seen Bernadette/Lea/Bonnie Langford out with an understudy on... very interesting... I liked Michael Ball's views on this subject...
|
|