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Post by talkingheads on Jan 27, 2024 16:40:56 GMT
I've only seen the first half so far and am genuinely insulted that this is considered good enough to go in front of the paying public. Absolutely dire. Shows like this do musical theatre a huge disservice. Agreed! I guess you’re at the Mayflower? I saw it there on Tues and whilst the cast were all trying hard, and there’s some great songs in there, I thought it was pretty dire. Bad story, badly acted, and even poorly sung in several places. As a big Kylie fan I’m a bit disappointed she signed off on being involved with this! Yep. Given there are some of the greatest pop songs of the eighties, is it too much to expect a half decent script with a bit of wit instead of cobbled together tosh? I will say that I really enjoyed the Toyboy sequence in the second half but overall, for the money, absolute rubbish. I will go home and play a Stock Aitken Waterman playlist and have a much better time. |
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Post by dontdreamit on Feb 3, 2024 21:55:42 GMT
We were in this afternoon and I had a great time. It’s a fun show that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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Post by fiyero on Feb 4, 2024 15:05:00 GMT
We were in this afternoon and I had a great time. It’s a fun show that doesn't take itself too seriously. I went to the evening performance and had a great time. You need to go in knowing this isn’t high art but will be fun. The cast were all great, the song choices fitted well and the story was overall good but I’d say there was too much of it. It was like every named character needed a full story. There wasn’t time for all that. The gambling story line especially seemed pointless (it set up going on a boat trip which I guess needed to happen but could have been set up more easily like ‘I’ve never been in a yacht’ ‘come on ours’ without needing the set up and then gambling discovery later. The audience was as bad as I expected. A group sitting as it started yelling at each other about who was sitting where or something and didn’t get much quieter. Pre-drinks involved in sure! I expected the singing along on a Saturday night especially but the talking is just not needed! I’m going to see the show again in Woking. At a mid-week matinee. I’d imagine my life experience will differ! |
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Post by showgirl on Feb 5, 2024 4:06:56 GMT
Also thought of seeing a midweek matinee in Woking but though there are loads of seats left, prices are ludicrously high (& I'm still an ATG member atm though may cancel before the equally risible price rise); also, as it's over a month away, there's a risk of further train strikes/overtime bans & experience shows that ATG won't help if those mean you're unable to attend. Nearer the time, maybe...
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Post by mjh on Mar 11, 2024 20:16:49 GMT
Anyone seen any offers floating around for the Southend run this week? Tempted to give it a shot but the prices are putting me off.
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Post by chriss on Mar 13, 2024 8:56:38 GMT
I really enjoyed this. Its a show that doesn't take itself too seriously. The audience all seemed to enjoy it and there was a party atmosphere during the finale.
I wouldn't say no to seeing it again.
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Post by Figaro on Mar 13, 2024 9:33:36 GMT
Anyone seen any offers floating around for the Southend run this week? Tempted to give it a shot but the prices are putting me off. No but I’d be interested too… the theatre is empty! |
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Post by newda on Mar 19, 2024 15:16:59 GMT
Saw this in Woking last night. It's ok I guess, it's not awful. The cast and singing was good, but I think the biggest problem is the source of song material. They're all just too soft and fluffy. There's no real hard hitting emotional song to get your teeth into. The plot is a bit unnecessarily harsh at the start, with the groom dumping his wife at the altar over what appears to be an off the cuff comment from his dad. I'm sure there's a better way to get the characters to Turkey than something that feels so, I don't know the best word for it, but it's just sad. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 29, 2024 18:44:21 GMT
Finally saw this yesterday at the matinee. Loved it. I felt like a special guest at the over 70s performance. It was so nice to be part of an audience who took the No Selfies announcement seriously, and didn’t sing along (even at the end). They were even good enough to throw the beach balls straight back into the orchestra pit so we didn’t have to deal with them, I did think it was a bit mean to have a confetti cannon fired at the people having a relaxing nap.
Arguably a stronger book than Mamma Mia. The songs are all hits. A large cast for a touring show and a full set. This must surely be destined for a West End run.
We had four covers on for lead roles, all announced verbally at the start (and there were posters up by the end). Everything we’d expect. All good in their roles too. My only complaint is Melissa Jacques is very underused.
Go see this!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2024 20:23:47 GMT
Arguably a stronger book than Mamma Mia. The songs are all hits. A large cast for a touring show and a full set. This must surely be destined for a West End run. I don't know, the reason for the bride being jilted felt a bit weak, and the side plot does feel a but unnecessary. Although I did really enjoy it, especially as the show doesn't take itself seriously, except the beach balls, being front row when I went, I had a few hit me on the back of the head - would happily get rid of them - and the drunk hen parties! |
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Post by drowseychap on Apr 1, 2024 1:23:22 GMT
Seems to have sold very well in Birmingham this week coming up tickets £45 up too …. Funny in other theatres there’s been huge discounts none here at all
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2024 1:43:34 GMT
SAW music would go down pretty well with the middle aged Midland crowd who like a feel good musical. I'm in that age group and area btw. I'd imagine it would have a largely female audience and the pink pound could well be spent there too.
I'm still undecided whether to see it or not as I wasn't a SAW fan back in the day but there are a few performers in the cast who I like and might go and see anything decent they are in.
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Post by Wilf on Apr 1, 2024 15:39:49 GMT
This evenings performance at The Alex is cancelled due to a technical failure of theatre load in equipment.
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Post by Wilf on Apr 1, 2024 17:19:15 GMT
Apparently the performance at The Churchill Theatre was called off 10 minutes before it was due to start on Saturday evening, I wonder what’s going on!
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Post by lolasangel on Apr 1, 2024 19:44:25 GMT
Apparently the performance at The Churchill Theatre was called off 10 minutes before it was due to start on Saturday evening, I wonder what’s going on! Saturday in Bromley cancelled due to cast illness. Only 1 day off too before a Mon-Sat run in Birmingham. Most touring shows give 2 days to move to a new theatre |
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Post by firefingers on Apr 1, 2024 20:39:59 GMT
Apparently the performance at The Churchill Theatre was called off 10 minutes before it was due to start on Saturday evening, I wonder what’s going on! Birmingham Alex has a scenic lift stage left to get the show into the building so if that has broken it wouldn't have been possible to get the show up, especially as I imagine this show is a tight one to get in and ready on a good day. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2024 21:32:52 GMT
The rest of the week in B'ham was selling pretty well so either refunds or people can go another night.
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Post by stageyghost on Apr 2, 2024 1:44:32 GMT
This tour seems to have been a technical disaster from day one. When the show came to our venue the carpenters putting the set in didn't seem to have a clue what they were doing. The set isn't even that complicated it's largely 3 portals, and a few flying pieces. Many other weekly tours achieve this no problem. If the load outs from the previous venue are taking longer than they should then I wouldn't be surprised if things aren't turning up to the next venue on time and that's also having a knock on effect.
Either way when the audiences get chance to see this they largely seem to enjoy it, and it's making the regional theatres a load of money at the bar if nothing else.
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Post by mkb on Apr 2, 2024 1:46:44 GMT
I'm booked to see this tonight (Tuesday). No cancellation email yet, so fingers crossed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2024 16:56:14 GMT
Tonight's show looks like it is on but there is low availability for all B'ham shows so a fair few have hopefully rebooked.
With shows loading out and then going to another venue to load in how much thought is given to distances between venues. Shows won't likely go to towns too close together but you don't want to be going the length of the country say Newcastle to Southampton etc. The extra travelling time any hold ups can push a load in back.
I wonder if the show producers or the venue has to share the financial hit of a cancelled show?
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Post by firefingers on Apr 2, 2024 23:05:14 GMT
Tonight's show looks like it is on but there is low availability for all B'ham shows so a fair few have hopefully rebooked. With shows loading out and then going to another venue to load in how much thought is given to distances between venues. Shows won't likely go to towns too close together but you don't want to be going the length of the country say Newcastle to Southampton etc. The extra travelling time any hold ups can push a load in back. I wonder if the show producers or the venue has to share the financial hit of a cancelled show? You'd be surprised. Aberdeen > Dartford is probably the worst I've done, nine hours of travel that Sunday. You gotta take the show where the venues are available. And it all depends who is at fault. Here it sounds likely the venue kit failed so the venue will foot the bill on their insurance. |
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Post by mkb on Apr 3, 2024 22:02:41 GMT
Let's go red-flag spotting:
- Clichéd boy-loses-girl/boy-wins-back-girl story;
- Entirely predictable plot and dialogue;
- Caricatures rather than characters;
- Stereotypical gays;
- Stereotypical foreigners;
- Stereotypical Brits abroad;
- Pop songs shoe-horned in at every turn;
- On the high/low-brow-ometer, going seriously off the bottom of the scale;
- Cheesy intro voiceover from Pete Waterman.
This has one-star written all over it.
So, can someone explain please why I had a smile on my face throughout Tuesday night's show at the Birmingham Alex and came out feeling life wasn't quite so bleak after all?
I think it's because there's a very fine line between cheesiness done well and badly, and we're very much on the fine side here: the pungency is high and the taste is magnificent. Everything is manufactured perfectly.
The cast are all on fine form; the scenes move at pace, with set changes smooth and slick, and the brilliantly re-worked Stock-Aitken-Waterman tunes come so thick and fast that there isn't a moment to let up.
This may be dumb-downed theatre, but it's a hell of a lot of fun, and that's largely thanks to Debbie Issit's confident direction. I particularly enjoyed Lucie-Mae Sumner as the jilted bride and Jemma Churchill as her giving-it-large grandma.
My advice is neck a few Proseccos, switch off your brain, let down your hair (if, unlike me, you have any), and just savour this extra-mature Cheddar.
Four stars.
Act 1: 19:33-20:35
Show stop: 20:58-21:14 - front cloth jammed having been raised just one foot
Act 2: 21:14:22:15
Note: even without a show-stop, this production runs 15 minutes longer than the advertised 2:15.
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Post by mkb on Apr 3, 2024 23:39:42 GMT
...The plot is a bit unnecessarily harsh at the start, with the groom dumping his wife at the altar over what appears to be an off the cuff comment from his dad. I'm sure there's a better way to get the characters to Turkey than something that feels so, I don't know the best word for it, but it's just sad. ... the reason for the bride being jilted felt a bit weak... The reason for the jilting is: the groom is led to believe from his grandfather that he and his bride have shared parentage, or maybe it was grandparentage. Either way, they're siblings or cousins, so a bit of a problem.
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Post by danb on Apr 12, 2024 19:48:54 GMT
We’re in the interval and I’m scared that my wife has gone to throw herself off the Upper Circle rather than the loo excuse she gave. Really pleased that all of these fabulous talented people are in work, but this really is trash isn’t it?
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Post by theatreian on Apr 12, 2024 21:22:28 GMT
I enjoyed it when I saw it in Birmingham. you have to take it for what it is. The main criticism I had was that they tried to fit too many songs in so you ended up with medleys and a line or 2 of some songs when I would rather have heard more of fewer songs.
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