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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 20, 2023 18:08:24 GMT
I assume Pacific Overtures will be the Winter musical. Nope- another new musical following this… |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Apr 20, 2023 22:10:14 GMT
I assume Pacific Overtures will be the Winter musical. Nope- another new musical following this… doesn't mean PO isn't their winter musical Mr B! |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 20, 2023 22:54:11 GMT
Nope- another new musical following this… doesn't mean PO isn't their winter musical Mr B! Ok the cats out of the bag. New musical about Twiggy, written by Ben Elton. Scary prospect. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 21, 2023 5:47:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2023 5:48:59 GMT
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 21, 2023 7:50:52 GMT
Even better, it's a jukebox musical with popular songs from the era. I wonder if they'll find any different songs to all the other jukebox musicals from the same era?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 21, 2023 8:03:02 GMT
“I’m very flattered that someone as talented as Ben wanted to do this…It’s his project – it just happens to be about me.”
Twiggy distancing herself from it already.
I don’t particularly like her anyway. I think she’s made a very little talent stretch a very long way. And she’s big headed about it. So there 🙂
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Apr 21, 2023 8:08:01 GMT
doesn't mean PO isn't their winter musical Mr B! Ok the cats out of the bag. New musical about Twiggy, written by Ben Elton. Scary prospect. and then pacific overtures for the winter |
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Post by danb on Apr 21, 2023 8:11:04 GMT
I still remember her fantastic run as a presenter on ‘This Morning 😳
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Post by max on Apr 21, 2023 14:23:48 GMT
There was a Twiggy musical already - told through the eyes and voice of Justin De Villeneueve who was the Svengali she outgrew. Titled 'A Fake's Progress', it inevitably was mostly about his relationship with Twiggy as finding her and losing her was his main claim to fame. It was broadcast on Radio 4, and had a terrific fast moving script by the actor Shaun Prendergast. Original songs too - which were strong, though not enough of them for a full musical. Roger Daltrey played Justin, and Sophie Lawrence was Twiggy. A really good song for the hardboiled New York fashion editors "Book her! Book her! Book that cute good looker", and a bitter song for Justin hanging out in Hollywood while Twiggy was busy working and leaving him behind: "there weren't that many thrills, caught in the chills of the Beverly Hills. Hooray for Hollywood"
It got workshopped in public for stage, with De Villeneueve casting a Black actress as Twiggy (way to totally send this thread haywire lol).
I'm sad that version didn't go further - it had great potential. I tried to push it at a theatre I was working at back then, but they didn't bite.
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Post by annette on Apr 23, 2023 5:13:02 GMT
I just don’t get this at all.
In my humble opinion there’s nothing particularly notable about Twiggy’s life to provide the subject for a musical and even if there was, it’s difficult to see how Ben Elton of all people, would be the writer of choice of this subject matter. I actually had to check to see if this might have been a late April Fool’s joke.
I fancy that there may be lots of scope for unintentional comedy here. I wonder whether anybody has checked Mandy Patinkin’s availability to play the role of David Bailey ?
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Post by Steve on Jul 3, 2023 9:23:32 GMT
Just got an email from the Menier Chocolate Factory Mailing List, saying I can book now instead of waiting for midnight lol.
Of interest, if you're interested, is that Elena Skye will be playing the part of Twiggy, and tickets for the first week of previews are ALL £30 (including the premium seats) instead of £45 thereafter.
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Post by ladidah on Jul 3, 2023 9:27:43 GMT
This is a strange choice for a show, Twiggy is an iconic model/image - not a personality.
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Post by A.Ham on Jul 3, 2023 10:15:19 GMT
I suppose we should at least be grateful Ben Elton won't actually be appearing (or attempting to sing) in this!
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Post by BVM on Jul 3, 2023 11:01:19 GMT
Does Twiggy have songs? Or is it a jukebox musical with songs from that period?
I mainly know Twiggy from her cameos in Absolutely Fabulous and her featuring in M&S campaigns when I worked there!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2023 20:58:00 GMT
Twiggy I always thought of as an iconic 60's model who did acting and singing and achieved success in many fields. A musical about her time in the 60's would be an interesting original idea but it doesn't seem an immediate jukebox musical subject.
Is Dame Twiggy involved in the production as I'd assume she'd have to agree to her name being used?
Her story would make a good TV mini series or even a film IMO.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jul 3, 2023 21:42:26 GMT
Twiggy I always thought of as an iconic 60's model who did acting and singing and achieved success in many fields. A musical about her time in the 60's would be an interesting original idea but it doesn't seem an immediate jukebox musical subject. Is Dame Twiggy involved in the production as I'd assume she'd have to agree to her name being used? Her story would make a good TV mini series or even a film IMO. At West Side Story on Saturday I was chatting to a lady, who is a neighbour and close friend of Twiggy, about musicals. From what she said I'm sure Twiggy is closely involved with the Menier production. Doubt if it will be featured but Twiggy recorded one of my favourite songs of the 1970s, Here I Go Again. It's on You Tube. Originally by Country Joe & The Fish |
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Post by meisner on Jul 11, 2023 8:26:50 GMT
Once again i see there is negativity towards new work. In this current climate i champion anyone trying to put on fresh new shows.
Yes, Ben Elton doesn't have a great track record for new musical writing (WWRY) but who knows, maybe the man from Black Adder has finally got it right. Like or loathe Twiggy she is a British Icon and i for one will go and see what the shows like. Watch this Space.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jul 11, 2023 9:02:46 GMT
Once again i see there is negativity towards new work. In this current climate i champion anyone trying to put on fresh new shows.
Yes, Ben Elton doesn't have a great track record for new musical writing (WWRY) but who knows, maybe the man from Black Adder has finally got it right. Like or loathe Twiggy she is a British Icon and i for one will go and see what the shows like. Watch this Space. I agree with your first point but not about Ben Elton. Whatever you may feel about his literary abilities I don't think the main man behind We Will Rock You - one of the most commercially successful musicals of recent times - can be considered not to have a great track record. Without those commercial successes there would be surely less investment in theatre - it is show "business" and even fewer fresh new shows Critics may hate it but the public love it and it makes loadsa money which in the business world makes Ben and that show a "got it right" winner in my view. |
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Post by capybara on Jul 11, 2023 10:43:57 GMT
Is this jukebox or original material?
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Post by meisner on Jul 11, 2023 11:27:29 GMT
Once again i see there is negativity towards new work. In this current climate i champion anyone trying to put on fresh new shows.
Yes, Ben Elton doesn't have a great track record for new musical writing (WWRY) but who knows, maybe the man from Black Adder has finally got it right. Like or loathe Twiggy she is a British Icon and i for one will go and see what the shows like. Watch this Space. I agree with your first point but not about Ben Elton. Whatever you may feel about his literary abilities I don't think the main man behind We Will Rock You - one of the most commercially successful musicals of recent times - can be considered not to have a great track record. Without those commercial successes there would be surely less investment in theatre - it is show "business" and even fewer fresh new shows Critics may hate it but the public love it and it makes loadsa money which in the business world makes Ben and that show a "got it right" winner in my view. Your not wrong. It was a massive hit and i love a bit of queen but the storyline of Rock You is loose at best. Ben Elton is an iconic writer. Black Adder imo is one of the top 5 sitcoms of all time. I remember everyone being a bit bemused at the writing when WWRY first came out. Not taking away his success at all, which is my point. Maybe the writing on this one will be improved and on point. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2023 13:53:39 GMT
Jukebox musical apparently.
Ben was a very funny comedy writer aqt his peak, I haven't seen much of his recent stuff so don't know if the spark is still there. The Young Ones, Black Adder, The Thin Blue Line were very funny shows but he had some howlers like Filthy, Rich and Catflap.
Ben came into Black Adder after the success of The Young Ones to make that show funnier. We'll never know who exactly wrote what from each show. For a guy who has written many novels and was a successful author when he wrote WWRY I did find that script a bit purile and I love that sort of humour. But how else could you have done it, some hugely grandiose type show, we didn't really want the band's story either.
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Post by shownut on Jul 11, 2023 13:59:02 GMT
Aside from WWRY, let's not forget Ben also wrote the relatively weak books for THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT and LOVE NEVER DIES.
His isn't a track record that would have me scrambling to get a ticket for TWIGGY.
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Post by sukhavati on Jul 12, 2023 1:27:33 GMT
When I was primary school age, Twiggy was like the cool older sister that everyone wanted to imitate - I do have memories of her through the 80s. She was, in a way, akin to a puzzle piece that made up the scene of 1960s Swinging London. I think it's a little sad to dismiss a human being for being an "image," as if she did nothing, while David Bailey did all the work. People who've never modeled have no idea of what's involved, and how much stamina it takes to get through all-day shoots in crazy locations. Plus, she was modeling at a time when there wasn't a huge glam squad unless it was an editorial Vogue shoot. She was doing her own hair and make-up for commercial shoots most of the time. She was also protected in a way that other young models weren't, because she would have family members along to chaperone, sparing her the sexual harassment that is often inherent in the industry. Theatre-wise, she did a good job in "My One and Only," and considering how much work Tommy Tune's clever, high energy choreography can be, it's not hollow praise. This is just another example of how the male gaze shapes perceptions, including whether or not someone is worthy, a hard worker, or inspirational and deserving of commemoration. I think I'd be more worried about Ben Elton shaping the work, rather than if the subject matter is off. Personally, I haven't been crazy about any of his writing since Blackadder, and he wasn't the sole writer.
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Post by capybara on Jul 15, 2023 17:59:51 GMT
Jukebox musical apparently. That’s a shame. Will probably give it a miss then. |
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