Rock Follies - Chichester Minerva Theatre

[showgirl]

Interesting about this seeming to grow on people as I still have the dilemma of what to do about my Wednesday evening ticket now that I know I won't be home until after 1 am - assuming both my trains back run! A friend actually suggested that I try the first half and see what I thought, but I saw that as the worst of both worlds as I'd still have to hang around for over 2 hours after the matinee; the first half of this would presumably last at least an hour, probably more and there's still only one train per hour (instead of the normal two) back to Gatwick due to the overtime ban, so it would still be a rather late return - and if I did want to see the second half, I'd run the risk of being marooned in Chichester or part-way home if the trains were cancelled. I looked into staying overnight when I originally booked but even then, the hotels were too expensive (and I was only looking at Premier Inn & Travelodge) and now I have 2 morning appointments next day.

[max]

Is the song 'Loose Change' in the stage musical version?

Sinead O'Connor's open letter to Miley Cyrus has been re-publicised since the sad news of O'Connor's death. It really reminds me of the lyrics of 'Loose Change' from Rock Follies. O'Connor effectively telling Cyrus she may think she's in control and cleverly selling sex, but in fact the men behind her are selling her: "Your body is for you, and your boyfriend". Just as Cyrus chose not to take the advice, the character in the Rock Follies song defies it, and flips a v-sign to the adviser while she's at it.

"Hold on tight To your knickers Her mother always said / Her mother was a married lady With a virgin's head
The shrewdest gels Still stay intact Tho' today it's strange / They know their body's goldust They don't treat it like loose change
They bank their fire They don't spend it They don't lose it They don't lend it
They know their body's goldust They don't treat it like loose change

Mummy was strong (And how) But Mummy was wrong (A cow) And she doesn't want to wind up Like her mother
So she reaches Out for lovers Fills her nights With lovers And buys everybody love with her loose change"

[Being Alive]

I still can't entirely understand quite why this went just as wrong as it did, but cor blimey this is a trial to get through.

Running at nearly three hours, with a second act longer than the second act of My Fair Lady, and a show that has 573 songs in it (and I'm barely exaggerating) it's a real test of endurance.

I think my main issue is that the book and score at no point ever took off.
The score has 576 songs in it, because they're all about 75 seconds long, and all start like an 11 oclock number and yet never proceed to become one.
The book is also a disaster, but this is likely due to the fact that there's a song everytime anyone draws breath, so there's no room for any character to become more than 2D.

There's probably an ok play in there somewhere, but it has absolutely no business as a musical as far as I was concerned - and it's trying to do far too much in the small space provided in the Minerva. It would never sell in the main house but it felt like a main house show in terms of scale.
Did feel for some of the 'ensemble' members who's literal role was 'person holding microphone wire so that Zizi Strallen/Carly Bawden/delete as appropriate/ doesn't trip over...

[BurlyBeaR]

Poll added.

Are they still going by Little Ladies?

[emsworthian]

I have awarded it a generous 3 stars. I would have given it two and a half stars but you can't do half stars. I decided to be generous because:
The actors playing The Little Ladies were fantastic;
I like Sam Barnett;
I enjoyed seeing a dress like one I bought from Biba's years ago on stage.

[max]

Jul 30, 2023 18:23:57 GMT Being Alive said:

Did feel for some of the 'ensemble' members who's literal role was 'person holding microphone wire so that Zizi Strallen/Carly Bawden/delete as appropriate/ doesn't trip over...

Obviously I don't want a performer to trip over, but whatever Health & Safety standards are today it shouldn't be allowed to impact heavily on the rough aesthetic this show should be going for if it's to accurately reflect women trying to get a foothold in the music industry in the late 70s.

I remember a production of The Wild Party where in the middle of portraying raucous drug fuelled revelry the cast carefully (and too obviously) flipped the wheel locks on a bed.  Maybe you've got to do it somehow, but you can't show the audience 'wild' and 'safe' at the same time.

I don't think I'll get to see 'Rock Follies', but I've always thought it's a great set of songs.  A real shame if they've missed the mark with this.

[Jan]

Feb 17, 2023 0:59:46 GMT oxfordsimon said:

I am somewhat perplexed by this as a choice of project.

It is only a show that will be known to people in their late 50s and older.

Guess how old the director Dominic Cooke is. One of those where the director relives their youth.

[showgirl]

Although PN was on Monday, I've only found a couple of reviews so far, which seems odd; one was a 3-star and the other 4 - though the latter was from Libby Purves, whom I generally find more generous than I would have been if I've seen the production in question. Anyway, the Box Office have treated the cost of my ticket for tonight as a donation as the journey home wouldn't have been viable and I couldn't switch to a matinee on another date. Almost sold out in advance in any case, so reviews won't matter for this run though perhaps for the show's future.

[meister]

Two stars in the Times, which is about right

[FrontroverPaul]

Aug 2, 2023 3:39:54 GMT showgirl said:

Although PN was on Monday, I've only found a couple of reviews so far, which seems odd; one was a 3-star and the other 4 - though the latter was from Libby Purves, whom I generally find more generous than I would have been if I've seen the production in question. Anyway, the Box Office have treated the cost of my ticket for tonight as a donation as the journey home wouldn't have been viable and I couldn't switch to a matinee on another date. Almost sold out in advance in any case, so reviews won't matter for this run though perhaps for the show's future.

Re travel back towards London from Chichester, I made two bookings, all in the cheapest seats, to see both Rock Follies and Sound Of Music on the same day, when they first went on general sale. A Saturday day out by car with my driving partner and a weekday trip by train just for non-driving me. Return rail travel between London Victoria and Chichester on advance tickets works out under £8 return with my senior railcard.

At the time I'm certain there was at least one direct train from Chichester to Victoria via Gatwick and East Croydon departing after 10 pm. With a 7.15 start for Rock Follies I foresaw no problem getting home to North Kent by train, albeit well after midnight which I'm used to doing. However when I came to book the travel in June the final direct train  was and still is at 9.40 from Chichester. I would never have booked the Rock Follies evening performance on that basis. I think it's a service reduction because of the industrial action and overtime ban, which has led to a complete suspension of the Gatwick Express service also operated by Southern.

I'm still going next Tuesday as it's Sound Of Music I really want to see twice, and will leave Rock Follies around 9.15. Disappointing but at least I can then see the whole show on our Saturday trip

[emsworthian]

Aug 2, 2023 5:56:22 GMT meister said:

Two stars in the Times, which is about right

Two in the Telegraph.  Four in The Guardian.

[teamyali]

I don’t see photos of Dominic Cooke in the opening night, then he posted this on his Instagram that he was in hospital for 5 days because of a fracture. He also highlighted waiting for hours before being treated. Wishing him a speedy recovery!

http://instagram.com/p/CvajESCIvcm

[Being Alive]

Aug 2, 2023 5:56:22 GMT meister said:

Two stars in the Times, which is about right

I thought the cast were really talented, but the material really poor and so they just did the best with what they were given, which for me would even out at 2 stars

[capybara]

I’d be interested to know if the running time has changed now that previews have ended.

[Being Alive]

Aug 2, 2023 12:28:49 GMT capybara said:

I’d be interested to know if the running time has changed now that previews have ended.

I saw the penultimate preview on Saturday afternoon and it was still running at 2hrs 50

[rumbledoll]

Could anyone who've seen it please let me know if Sam Barnett is singing a lot in this? He is the only draw for me, but now reading the reviews I’m not sure if it’s even worth it..

[meister]

Aug 2, 2023 16:15:18 GMT rumbledoll said:

Could anyone who've seen it please let me know if Sam Barnett is singing a lot in this? He is the only draw for me, but now reading the reviews I’m not sure if it’s even worth it..

Lots of fake piano playing but hardly any singing IIRC

[showgirl]

"Re travel back towards London from Chichester, I made two bookings, all in the cheapest seats, to see both Rock Follies and Sound Of Music on the same day, when they first went on general sale. A Saturday day out by car with my driving partner and a weekday trip by train just for non-driving me. Return rail travel between London Victoria and Chichester on advance tickets works out under £8 return with my senior railcard.

At the time I'm certain there was at least one direct train from Chichester to Victoria via Gatwick and East Croydon departing after 10 pm. With a 7.15 start for Rock Follies I foresaw no problem getting home to North Kent by train, albeit well after midnight which I'm used to doing. However when I came to book the travel in June the final direct train was and still is at 9.40 from Chichester. I would never have booked the Rock Follies evening performance on that basis. I think it's a service reduction because of the industrial action and overtime ban, which has led to a complete suspension of the Gatwick Express service also operated by Southern."

FrontroverPaul the train times definitely changed, and for the worse, quite recently, even after the reduced (overtime ban) timetable had been published. When I checked last week, there was a 22.40 train back towards London and that would have been bad enough and led me to contact CFT as with the connection I'd've been home ludicrously late, but when I checked again earlier this week, the 22.40 had vanished and instead the journey planner said I'd have to get the 22.49 (very slow as stops at all stations) to Brighton, then another train towards London.

Today - I still went for the matinee of The Sound Of Music - my 4-coach train was stuffed with people dressed up to the nines for Goodwood and all talking all the way or braying into mobiles and it was standing room only.

I

[emsworthian]

Aug 2, 2023 16:15:18 GMT rumbledoll said:

Could anyone who've seen it please let me know if Sam Barnett is singing a lot in this? He is the only draw for me, but now reading the reviews I’m not sure if it’s even worth it..

According to my programme, Harry (Sam Barnett's character) sings Sugar Mountain with Anna, Dee, Q and ensemble.  With ensemble, he sings Follies of '77.  The Hype is sung by David, Kitty, Harry and ensemble.  Looney Tunes is sung by Anna, Q, Dee and Harry.  Harry, the manager, is a fairly central character.

Hope this helps.

[corblimey]

Ventured to Chichester yesterday and saw both shows and really loved the show.
Cast were awesome I thought ,especially Zizi Strallen
The matinee had a song reprise at the very end whereas the evening didn’t!!

[bram]

A strange piece. wonderful voices from the Little Ladies and their female manager But really too many songs and the ensemble work hard but basically wheel boxes around and change wigs ! wish the book had been better But more than worth alook.

[nick]

Just been to see this. Looking at the programme posted in the Julie Covington Facebook group there’s been at least one change - Loony Tunes was dropped. Also no Good Behaviour at the end as, I guess, an encore.

I enjoyed it. It a whistle stop tour of the tv series with a few additions to make it a little more current.

The songs are mixed right up from the tv series with some original Little Ladies songs being sung by other members of the cast.

Glen Miller is Missing is in totally the wrong place (the reason why it appears in the tv series has been totally removed so it’s strangely slotted in presumably because it’s a good song).

They’ve changed the plot considerably from the point Roxy appears. But it’s not a bad change. I think in some ways the writer has tried too hard to stick to the original and it was refreshing to see her trying to be different.

The three leads are such good singers but it feels like Carly (Anna) has the best voice which rather undermines an important plot point.

The actress playing the small role of Gloria stole her part of the show for me. But there were no weak links in the cast IMO.

Well worth a visit.

[nick]

Aug 2, 2023 16:15:18 GMT rumbledoll said:

Could anyone who've seen it please let me know if Sam Barnett is singing a lot in this? He is the only draw for me, but now reading the reviews I’m not sure if it’s even worth it..

He only sings one song as a solo (I’ve forgotten which one - Sugar Mountain I think). He does a very good job of it.

[capybara]

Caught the Saturday matinee of this as part of a two-show trip to Chichester.

To be honest, I don’t have loads to say on it. I’m not familiar with the original television series but this struck me as a safe and unadventurous stage adaptation.

The songs were fine but always seemed to lack any bite. Perhaps it was a victim of simply including way too many and quite frankly this show ought to have been at least 20 minutes shorter in run time.

I was there for Zizi Strallen really and, again, she was pretty good but Q never really gets her moment in the spotlight. I actually thought the piece would have worked better with Strallen and Carly Bawden (Anna) swapping roles.

Angela Marie Hurst stole the show as Dee, as you would expect, but I found the periphery characters really bad to the point of being irritating. The one-dimensional Kitty (Harriet Watson on Saturday) seemed entirely undeserving of her solo, while Sebastien Torkia was just ridiculous in his various roles (almost as bad as his portrayal of Berlusconi).

It won’t have another life and perhaps that’s for the best. That being said, I was able to enjoy it for what it was without ever wanting to see it again. A show to be enjoyed in the moment without any real scrutiny, maybe.

Three stars, just.

[Steve]

I agree with most of the comments here.

The book is the primary problem, as it plods along and nothing surprises. It was plainly written in a more innocent age when the mere fact that record executives are exploitative and sexist is supposed to be a shocking revelation.

Some spoilers follow. . .

Nothing happens here that isn't ten times worse in "Ain't too Proud," and that has the frisson of being a "true story." I suppose this is a true story too, even though they didn't admit it, which is why the band it was based on successfully sued the TV show.

Anyway, the main reason to see it is the incredible cast: I mean: Zizi Strallen, Carly Bawden, Samuel Barnett, Tamsin Caroll, Fred Haig, Sebastien Torkia - I've seen them all in better things, but I've never seen them all together.
Angela Marie Hurst and Phillipa Stefani, who I don't recall seeing before, were pretty great too.

For the first half, the three principals start a girl band and face some sexism. Pretty standard. They sing tons of songs, and "On the Road" is a great song that gets the elongated works, even to the extent of having a false ending and sparking up again! But the song is wasted: it sounds complex, a celebration but also a knowing weary nod to how difficult life on the road actually is, so why is it trotted out before anything on the road actually happens. Rather than strengthening the book at a critical point, it substitutes for the book when there isn't any book yet.

Carly Bawden is the standout role, as, about half way through, she gets gifted a character: the middle class person who gets no respect cos coming from Dorking and having a bit of money makes you creatively unmarketable. In two seconds flat, Bawden is hilarious and tragic all at once, and you just wish the book writer would have focused on character like this much much more.

Zizi Strallen makes something out of nothing. Although her character is supposed to be a porn actress, the play refuses to develop anything so uncouth, so Strallen takes the background and makes it feel outrageous and daring, even though the writing doesn't back her up.

The idea in the book that Dee (Angela Marie Hurst) is head and shoulders a better singer than Strallen and Bawden is just plain contradicted by the performances, which are all equally great.

After Bawden's character, Tamsin Caroll's music manager makes the second strongest impact, displaying all the cynical savvy you'd expect from a music manager. Carroll is ferocious, but once again, the writing isn't, and lets her down.

All in all, I can only see this touring if there are enough people who remember and want to relive the original show. I doubt there are, but as I'm not one of them, what do I know?

What I do know is that I felt a two and a half star show was propelled to 3 and a half stars, for me, by a peerless cast (for which I assume we must thank Dominic Cooke).

Heck, I even got a frisson seeing Fred Haig and Zizi Strallen share a stage again, but that's only cos I remember how great they were as young versions of the principals in the brilliant "Follies" at the National (the one without the "Rock" in the title, a rock which weighs this show down like an anchor, so that it never really sets sail).