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Post by musicalmarge on Aug 6, 2021 23:06:19 GMT
It's interesting how many stagey or theatrical song are now coming from animated films these days, isn't it? Haven’t they for decades? Lion King? Beauty?
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Post by musicalmarge on Aug 3, 2021 6:36:33 GMT
I saw this last night.
First of all it should be in the musicals section. There are huge company singing chorus type numbers in it (not that that’s a good thing)
I left in the interval. The actors, production, performances were all very good. But the material was dreadful and mostly crude and not funny.
There were funny moments and as expected… it features all the typical Prince Andrew, Megan, Fergie jokes you would expect - but the storyline, script and musical numbers were amateur and ….. cringeworthy.
2 stars from me. Skip this and save your money.
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Post by musicalmarge on Aug 3, 2021 6:32:34 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 26, 2021 11:06:32 GMT
I can’t wait to see or hear about blurring the boundary between stage and auditorium!
Yes to a POLL!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 26, 2021 11:03:42 GMT
Automation doesn't make a good scenic design and also lack of automation doesn't make a bad scenic design. I suspect automation would be very hard anyway in that theatre/set because of the revolve. Does it actually use click tracks or are the armchair experts here confusing click tracks with using keyboard synthesisers? If shows do have a lot of automation that is more likely to lead to click tracks to keep the music in sync with the scenery. Careful what you wish for. Armchair experts. Ha. I’ve professionally worked with click tracks. They have nothing to do with being in sync with scenery - a click track is a series of audio cues used to synchronize sound recordings. If a live show involves pre recorded tracks (the entire percussion, brass and some strings here in Cinderella) the live band will play alongside the recorded click track. I’ve also known in some ALW musicals when the lead role is struggling (fact) or in the case of the title song in Phantom of the Opera (due to Phantom and Christine moving all over the stage before the famous boat scene) that click track recordings are used WITH pre recorded vocals too. The actors then mime their singing on stage!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 26, 2021 6:24:49 GMT
Opens in 3 weeks. Anyone have an update of what we can expect? Diane has said “it’s very ambitious” This is exciting and means at least it won’t look like the 27th touring cast of Flashdance. I can imagine puppetry, shadow scenes, non literal imagery, lots of suspense of disbelief from the audience and it won’t rely on hydraulics or a sensational set as its touring …… BUT if done correctly and creatively it could be a massive hit. I’m thinking Prince of Egypt meets Grinning Man creativity here thrown in with the cherry picker arm from Chitty reused for the bed at end of Act 1. I’m travelling up to Newcastle to see it. So excited!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 25, 2021 9:27:15 GMT
VHB deserves to win for her brilliant performance, but there's nothing else in this that's remotely worthy (in my view anyway). It can't win design stuff for me when everything is pushed on and off by the VISIBLE stage crew and cast. God help Broadway... Hence my comment. The Broadway community does not and will not accept such low standards of pushing and pulling on basic sets/flats, naff music (click tracked percussion and synth) and weird/muddled storyline. I’m shocked many of you have such low standards here! This show will win about 3 or 4 new Oliviers. Depends what the competition is. Be More Chill and Prince of Egypt are MUCH better shows.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 24, 2021 13:58:09 GMT
So much negativity this morning. Did some of you sleep badly? Maybe we are negative about a show that is disappointing; is mostly on click track with recorded percussion, has a muddled story, is miscast and a TERRIBLE score from one of our favourite composers of our lives. That’s why we are negative. I also doubt this show of this low standard will get to Broadway.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 23, 2021 14:03:29 GMT
The trailer is BETTER than the show! Sorry lol
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 21, 2021 16:39:37 GMT
Well i went with a group of friends two weeks ago. Two of them said it was good the other two (including me) HATED IT.
Andrew/Laurence Connor if you are reading this this is what you need to do.
Open the show with Bad Cinderella.
Cut So Long and write a new duet.
Cut Unfair and write a better song.
Cut the gym song and write a better song
Write a fun new chorus song
Rewrite the whole end of act one and new song for godmother and remove all plastic surgery links and the awful screen/swap idea that was done in 1903. In fact rewrite the whole godmother storyline/character.
Focus The Ball start of Act 2 - you don’t know where to look.
Cut Moment of Silence - worst song in the show. Write something better!
Give the whole show a purpose. Don’t make Carrie and Sebastián a love item. There is no chemistry and they don’t match in any way.
Don’t make any LGBT references camp - it’s offensive now. Why can’t they be masculine hunks? For ONCE!
Write another duet in second half.
Put revolve to the end of the show - USE IT!
This will make the show 1 stars to 3 from me. There are some good tunes there! The rest was dreadful.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 19, 2021 18:36:41 GMT
I wonder what show will be next for the Gillian Lynne?
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 19, 2021 10:03:48 GMT
Twitter alert. CHF being quite rude to a lady expressing her disappointment at the cancellation of the show. Carrie then went on to block her. I don’t think the lady was being confrontational. Why does Carrie do this??It’s so unnecessary. I don’t think she was rude. The lady was basically like ‘cheers Carrie, husbands crying’ and she politely pointed out it wasn’t her decision. I don’t understand why people are haranguing cast members when shows get cancelled. I would think the cast want it to go on more than anybody! There also is unfortunately a risk in these times that things like that happen at very short notice and it is quite simply one of those things that’s no ones fault, and harassing someone who is just as dissapointed as you, if not more so, achieves nothing. I read one text with Carrie saying “TWEETING THE ACTORS IS FRUITLESS” why use Twitter publically then. I thought it was unkind AND rude!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 19, 2021 10:02:18 GMT
Whilst people occasionally say that theatre professionals read this board, and that they look at twitter to gauge opinion etc I would be very surprised if a group of artists who have been working on this for over 3 years will be changing their production based on this feedback. If it transpired that the story was not clear, or that songs & jokes weren’t landing as they’d hoped maybe then they would change things. They would be more likely to change the advertising to help folks understand what they are going to see rather than change the product. Of course I might be hoping for the opposite come 5.30 on weds, or may even be the first to see whatever changes have been made. Not true. Those in the industry read this. Agents, journalists and creatives - its FREE market research worth tens of thousands.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 19, 2021 10:00:20 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 18, 2021 9:13:37 GMT
Actually this production of Whistle has better reviews than the original. It was a more streamlined heartfelt story and despite a cheaper set and musical changes (made by Andrew, Bill and MD David Steadman) it had more raw emotions and was a better show for this. Less hydraulics and more story. Some great ALW tunes too - musically smart and less plonky honky tonk Stephen Ward/Cinderella.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 17, 2021 9:59:06 GMT
the set design and costume are better then i thought they would be Did you see any of the West End musicals in the 80’s/90’s? The set design for this show is awful and cheap. Same for the click track percussion and small band! The costumes are ok. I dislike the mixture of Carrie’s modern black goth look with Dr Martin’s and Rebecca’s 17th century French baroque queen. They don’t mix at all. The style of the show, look of the show, logo of the show and advertising of the show is a mess unfortunately. Apart from three neat ALW ballads the rest of the score is his worst work ever. It’s still a one star from me.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 14, 2021 10:23:07 GMT
Perhaps the producers didn’t er…. Have a choice?
Vaudeville or close? Hm.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 14, 2021 7:08:32 GMT
The fact that we are highlighting “synths” in a major Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in 2021 when tickets can cost around 100 pounds, covid or not.. is a damn disgrace.
This would never happen on Broadway. They have a stronger equity, and though tickets are more expensive, obviously better standards. This will now be the norm I tell you. Ten piece bands or even less.
Ugh
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 12, 2021 23:45:24 GMT
The gays that went to Puerto Vallarta for their circuit party holiday and ended up in the ocean after their party cruise boat capsized, got everything they deserved. This is theatre related, because had they been to see The Prince of Egypt, they would have known God would punish them! I hope the national press don't visit this website. Well…. agents, journalists, producers, famous celebrities, creative teams, actors, PR, ushers you name it all do. EVERYONE who loves theatre visits this public theatre forum. Same with Broadway world over the pond.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 10, 2021 13:21:21 GMT
I’m one of the suspicious “new members” that gave it 5 stars. As has been well covered in this thread, the show is far from perfect, the story needs work in parts, the lack of orchestra is very disappointing, and so on. But I enjoyed it throughout, there were some great performances, every big song and every joke landed with the audience when I was there, and as soon as it finished I was ready to go back and see it again. I’d understand people with the exact same opinions as me knocking off stars for its flaws but for me it’s a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I will be going back so I’ll be interested to see if it stands up to a rewatch or if the flaws stick out more and I end up revising my rating. I’ve been listening to the cast recording since it came out and there are some bits in it I’m glad weren’t in the show. Although having said that, the “knob” line seems weird on the recording but at the theatre it got a big laugh. I think that particular line works well to ground the characters as regular friends in a fairytale world. So maybe some other things that stick out on the recording would’ve made more sense on stage, and if you haven’t seen it maybe things you don’t like the sound of will make more sense when you do see it. If you say the show is far from perfect, needs work and it lacks an orchestra then it can’t be a perfect five stars rating then can it? Five stars means it can’t get any better and you say it can! So really your five is a four? I need a drink.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 10, 2021 6:30:37 GMT
A Felicity Kendal looks lost and doesn’t even know which way to sway
B it’s over edited by someone in TV that doesn’t let it breathe. You almost can’t see the choreography.
C I love Sutton Foster. I’ve seen her in lots of shows. But this oddly doesn’t work for me. Is it the lack of setting in show? Too uptight? Hmm.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 9, 2021 10:11:28 GMT
The cast recording shows that this musical has 5 decent songs and the rest is just awful.
So Long, I Am No Longer Me, Unbreakable and Moment of Triump are all TERRIBLE….. with What Were You Thinking the worst of the lot.
ALW / what were you thinking!!!! The ballads are pretty decent. Why is there no duet? Not one.
Imagine if the Six composers or Pasek and Paul has been commissioned this.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 7, 2021 0:26:52 GMT
Reporting back from the matinee today. Pippin is always a good show to watch. This is very much the same production as last year, but it's been restaged a bit and certainly benefits from the extra two cast members, the larger stage area and actors being allowed to share the same props. It is a very fast Pippin, all done and dusted in two hours including the interval (which really isn't needed). A few cuts and line changes from the Broadway version, but nothing too substantial. There's a band of two people (plus some recorded sections). It is still a preview, but the sound balancing needs some more work. The vocals just aren't loud enough in many places. But otherwise, it is performed by a strong and good looking cast. Ryan Anderson as Pippin is a solid dancer. It was great to see Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson, my first Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, again too. But all the cast are fluid and hold up in their roles. The audience today was spaced out even more than is needed for social distancing, so do go along and support this production if you can. It is one of those shows that gives me chills at all the right moments. Can a band be two people!?! !!!!!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 7, 2021 0:25:24 GMT
Some offers popped up on TodayTix for this for Mon-Thu performances up until 15th July. What are the offers?? Good news! I loved this at the Other Palace! Can’t wait to see it again…. Was waiting for cheaper seats. Didn’t want to sit in the gods
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 7, 2021 0:23:44 GMT
Saw this tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though it came in at 2hr50. Still think it could be shrunk but great to see the little improvements made since last year. Clive Rowe was excellent as Jethro as was Adam Pearce as Hotep. Both consistently excellent when I see them. As Clive Rowe finishes in October I do hope it means he might reprise the role of Fezziwig at the Old Vic at Christmas. Yes it’s sadly too long, but I loved it so much I listened to the soundtrack all day and booked again for next week!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 7, 2021 0:09:00 GMT
Oh not this again from musicalmarge? Actually Miss thing. I said nothing. Check the messages. Actually It was the random post before that came from NOWHERE commenting on a rational post I made 12 pages ago saying that the three couples in this show are all mixed race coupling which seems to be the only way to cast now. It’s a fact! Frozen is next. I’m very much aware that debating race in casting is a very delicate subject. I said above I apologise if anyone has ever been upset by my honesty at pointing out unbalanced casting or demographics. Moving on. Can we talk about the terrible score again? Or cheap seats already on sale?
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 6, 2021 16:22:58 GMT
I have to say, With the excellent feedback and in-depth analysis and critical views given by the board of experienced theatre lovers here i have to think that our opinions in reality could be worth millions. I think our suggestions (though some don’t don’t like negative feedback or brutal honesty) could be extremely useful to any production and could help the success of a show making it or not. I hope creative teams read these comments and take them on board! Ooh, yes. Maybe that's the real reason an understudy was on, on Sunday. Audience testing, to see if fewer audience members were carried out on stretchers by reducing the number of mixed-race happy endings. Must have been reading the board.... I feel my honest comments trigger you? I apologise very much…
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 6, 2021 11:51:01 GMT
I have to say,
With the excellent feedback and in-depth analysis and critical views given by the board of experienced theatre lovers here i have to think that our opinions in reality could be worth millions.
I think our suggestions (though some don’t don’t like negative feedback or brutal honesty) could be extremely useful to any production and could help the success of a show making it or not.
I hope creative teams read these comments and take them on board!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 6, 2021 9:13:11 GMT
There are ALW songs like Only You, Lonely You, Far Too Late, Bad Cinderella and I know I have a Heart that all jump out at you immediately. Great melodies, and like most ALW ballads, pop type songs, musical chorus anthems, recitative or uptempo numbers - the wonderful melodies jump out at you the VERY FIRST time you hear them. So you only like the songs you knew before you went in? That kind of makes my point. You loved Bad Cinderella, on it's first listen, for its great melody? Really?? School of Rock and The Beautiful Game are worth still listening to? Well, our differences are what sets us apart. No. You’ve misread what I meant. Most shows I go in cold snd watch for the first time. The Prom on Broadway i went in cold and came away loving it and wanting to download the soundtrack asap - every song was a memorable hit. It’s the same for most Andrew Lloyd Webber. Even School of Rock was a super show with lots of memorable melodic song. Cinderella has 4 songs in it. 5 if you include Marry for love - which is hardly sang in the show. All have been released already. Not one decent duet. The others are all sadly…. in my opinion of low quality. The fact no duet has been released proves this. Even Woman in White has I Believe my Heart!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 6, 2021 0:49:17 GMT
Another full standing ovation for the show no one is supposed to like! Unfortunately a standing ovation means very little these days. Of course they're going to stand on the first performance back, the same way Cinderella got a standing ovation for their first preview. 1 stands up and others stand because they can't see. Or there's a forced, get up and dance, that the PR spins into standing ovations.
Did you give Prince of Egypt a standing o, but remained seated for BoM??
I thought parts of it were great, but people rolling along the floor wafting blue sheets to represent the river, or writhing together in a red light, to represent the burning bush was nothing more than bad am dram, and yet the fringing, of which there is plenty, was really cleverly used with the projections. It didn't all gel together for me.
I'm going back in a few weeks, so will be interesting to see it again, but i bet the bad bits i mentioned are still in it!
I actually thought the suspension of disbelief needed from the contemporary dance chorus was actually rather creative, daring and excellent from the chorus rather than am dram. The standard of choreography and the dancers in this production are ridiculous. You can’t get any better (or hotter!) I thought the sea, sand and blood river images were actually rather beautiful. No difference than the chorus in Lion King. It’s all creative and about imagination!
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