3,475 posts
|
Post by ceebee on Sept 30, 2023 21:15:25 GMT
Title sequence is back in this evening. Great performance.
|
|
8,144 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Sept 30, 2023 21:16:21 GMT
Title sequence is back in this evening. Great performance. See what power we have on here! |
|
3,313 posts
|
Post by david on Sept 30, 2023 21:27:31 GMT
On my way back to my hotel so will post full thoughts later but WOW. That was sensational tonight!
|
|
|
|
Post by danb on Sept 30, 2023 21:41:14 GMT
Title sequence is back in this evening. Great performance. See what power we have on here! I heard that someone dropped coleslaw on the projector so they had to wait for it to dry out before they could run it again… |
|
653 posts
|
Post by ptwest on Sept 30, 2023 21:57:05 GMT
Also there tonight. Cast sensational. Staging has some incredible moments. But not entirely sure the two go together. I loved how it sounded, and Nicole is worth the price of admission. Can’t quite make up my mind about the whole though.
|
|
|
|
Post by matty on Sept 30, 2023 21:57:47 GMT
Wow, absolutely loved this tonight. And my other half, who had turned his nose up at it in the past also loved it.
The orchestra sounded immense, that score filled the auditorium and I can't remember the last time I heard a score sounding so good.
The credits screen during the car chase was an excellent addition.
Casting wise, Tom Francis really is a star! As for Nicole, her voice was sublime and she definitely nailed the craziness.
Loved the ending, the Blackout was used perfectly.
5 stars from me. Off to book to see it again
|
|
5,169 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Being Alive on Sept 30, 2023 22:43:33 GMT
Title sequence is back in this evening. Great performance. Hoorah |
|
|
|
Post by matty on Sept 30, 2023 22:54:58 GMT
Forgot to add in my last post, Act 2 opener was definitely live - a couple of funny moments where people didn't realise that they were in the shot and awkwardly tried to get out of the way.
|
|
3,313 posts
|
Post by david on Sept 30, 2023 23:04:07 GMT
As the sun sets my theatre holiday, this was one hell of a last night tonight. Jamie LLoyd and his team have done something amazing with this iconic show. 2.5hrs of theatrical magic. Ripping up the rule book, the whole technical design concept was in my view genius with making the show feel like a Hollywood movie with all the camera work and big screen (shoutout to all the camera operators and vision mixers, especially for that Act 2 opener - loved it!). Coupling the camera work lighting design brought a completely different feel to the show to make it more haunting which for me worked a treat. Also, making full use of the Savoy theatre (inside and out) to create that Hollywood film set idea again worked for me. The title sequences and credits another great addition.
For the cast, Nicole’s performance as Norma totally suited the style JL was going for (I certainly bought into the performance, particularly the breakdown scenes at the end.)and stunning vocals. As for Tom, having followed his career since appearing in Hope Mill’s Rent, I think tonight, there may be the makings of a new leading man in the WE. David Thaxton as Max again, stunning vocals.
Sat in the Grand Circle (row D) tonight, no issues with this section and hearing that 17 piece orchestra play that fantastic ALW score - sublime.
Quite simply, if this had had a longer run or had been on tour near me in Manchester or Liverpool, I’d be booking for a revisit or two I think it’s that good.
Rating - 5 ⭐️
|
|
620 posts
|
Post by chernjam on Oct 1, 2023 3:03:27 GMT
As the sun sets my theatre holiday, this was one hell of a last night tonight. Jamie LLoyd and his team have done something amazing with this iconic show. 2.5hrs of theatrical magic. Ripping up the rule book, the whole technical design concept was in my view genius with making the show feel like a Hollywood movie with all the camera work and big screen (shoutout to all the camera operators and vision mixers, especially for that Act 2 opener - loved it!). Coupling the camera work lighting design brought a completely different feel to the show to make it more haunting which for me worked a treat. Also, making full use of the Savoy theatre (inside and out) to create that Hollywood film set idea again worked for me. The title sequences and credits another great addition. For the cast, Nicole’s performance as Norma totally suited the style JL was going for (I certainly bought into the performance, particularly the breakdown scenes at the end.)and stunning vocals. As for Tom, having followed his career since appearing in Hope Mill’s Rent, I think tonight, there may be the makings of a new leading man in the WE. David Thaxton as Max again, stunning vocals. Sat in the Grand Circle (row D) tonight, no issues with this section and hearing that 17 piece orchestra play that fantastic ALW score - sublime. Quite simply, if this had had a longer run or had been on tour near me in Manchester or Liverpool, I’d be booking for a revisit or two I think it’s that good. Rating - 5 ⭐️ I'm really hoping for a Broadway transfer, as I don't think I can make it over there to see this... |
|
1,432 posts
|
Post by BVM on Oct 1, 2023 7:01:28 GMT
So nice to hear all the raves continue to come in :-)
5 stars currently at double the number of all other rankings combined. That’s bonkers!
(If only someone had managed a similarly confident re-staging of Aspects of Love! Do have to concede however, much as I love the score of the latter, the strength of narrative and versatility that’s demonstrated in Sunset does make me believe it’s objectively the better musical).
|
|
1,258 posts
|
Post by theatrelover123 on Oct 1, 2023 7:27:17 GMT
Still not selling very well though
|
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Oct 1, 2023 7:58:07 GMT
Still not selling very well though I’d like to say that perhaps rave reviews from the press after opening night will help, but they didn’t seem to do a lot for Crazy For You despite being packed with superlatives. If shows like these two can’t put bums on seats… |
|
1,432 posts
|
Post by BVM on Oct 1, 2023 8:09:50 GMT
It’s selling pretty well.
Certainly by show time, it’s more or less sold out.
Oh course unlike Broadway it’s only ever a guessing game in terms of what they’ve actually taken.
But in a post covid world where there are more closer to performance sales, I think a sensible guess as to where sales are would be “good.” And certainly above average.
It’s never gonna be Phantom/Les Mis/MR/Lion King etc.
“Not selling well” is disingenuous. The seating plans of Aspects of Love and Crazy For You circa opening illustrated what “not selling well” looks like. You shoulda seen the plans for Bad Cinderella for a great look at “not selling well.”
All discussions about ticket prices and/or sales dive into hyperbole rather than a decent assessment of the (far more common) middle nuanced ground.
|
|
5,877 posts
|
Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 1, 2023 10:52:00 GMT
Hilarious interview with Scherzy in the Sunday times today.
She basically says she is the most amazing performer that’s ever lived, with a God given gift to change lives, what she can do on stage , no one else could possibly do. What a queen.
|
|
3,475 posts
|
Post by ceebee on Oct 1, 2023 10:56:40 GMT
Still not selling very well though I’d like to say that perhaps rave reviews from the press after opening night will help, but they didn’t seem to do a lot for Crazy For You despite being packed with superlatives. If shows like these two can’t put bums on seats… The key here is ticket price. Tickets are selling very well considering the inflated prices. When they adjust prices down dynamically closer to performance, prices are the typical west end premium price and then they sell out quickly. More people are splurging in at the £100-£145 level and when when prices drop to £80 the house fills. Considering Lloyd's commitment to access for less affluent people, the price strategy seems to have worked well so far. |
|
1,432 posts
|
Post by BVM on Oct 1, 2023 11:04:44 GMT
Hilarious interview with Scherzy in the Sunday times today. She basically says she is the most amazing performer that’s ever lived, with a God given gift to change lives, what she can do on stage , no one else could possibly do. What a queen. Oh my God. Our self believing Queen. #IconBehaviour |
|
1,258 posts
|
Post by theatrelover123 on Oct 1, 2023 13:13:48 GMT
I’d like to say that perhaps rave reviews from the press after opening night will help, but they didn’t seem to do a lot for Crazy For You despite being packed with superlatives. If shows like these two can’t put bums on seats… The key here is ticket price. Tickets are selling very well considering the inflated prices. When they adjust prices down dynamically closer to performance, prices are the typical west end premium price and then they sell out quickly. More people are splurging in at the £100-£145 level and when when prices drop to £80 the house fills. Considering Lloyd's commitment to access for less affluent people, the price strategy seems to have worked well so far. That’s right. Still not selling well then (irrespective of the factors) And completely missing the opportunity to bring in new audiences who might not be able to afford the theatre and see it as elitist! |
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Oct 1, 2023 13:18:08 GMT
Hilarious interview with Scherzy in the Sunday times today. She basically says she is the most amazing performer that’s ever lived, with a God given gift to change lives, what she can do on stage , no one else could possibly do. What a queen. It’s a great article - really interesting to get her perspective on playing Norma. Whilst yes there’s some rather egotistical quotes, I was impressed by her commitment to take this role (and focus on her ‘art’) rather than more lucrative jobs like The Masked Singer USA which I’m sure pays millions. She says she wants to change peoples’ perceptions of her, and feels Sunset may do that, vs. continually doing the TV judge/panel gigs. |
|
1,482 posts
|
Post by mkb on Oct 1, 2023 14:05:04 GMT
... 5 stars currently at double the number of all other rankings combined. That’s bonkers... It's not a competition to see who's right! Critical comments are not diminished simply for being in a minority. (I know you haven't actually said that, but that's how your tracking of the ratings in a few posts is coming across.) Bear in mind too that ratings are only from a self-selecting group who took a chance on the new experience offered by Jamie Lloyd. Many will have decided it wasn't for them. You also argue that Sunset Boulevard is objectively a better musical than Aspects of Love. With respect, that actually is bonkers. I happen to agree that Sunset is the better material, but that is my subjective view. Opinions on best musical can never be "objective". You can't tell people who prefer Aspects that they are wrong. |
|
1,432 posts
|
Post by BVM on Oct 1, 2023 14:28:34 GMT
... 5 stars currently at double the number of all other rankings combined. That’s bonkers... It's not a competition to see who's right! Critical comments are not diminished simply for being in a minority. (I know you haven't actually said that, but that's how your tracking of the ratings in a few posts is coming across.) Bear in mind too that ratings are only from a self-selecting group who took a chance on the new experience offered by Jamie Lloyd. Many will have decided it wasn't for them. You also argue that Sunset Boulevard is objectively a better musical than Aspects of Love. With respect, that actually is bonkers. I happen to agree that Sunset is the better material, but that is my subjective view. Opinions on best musical can never be "objective". You can't tell people who prefer Aspects that they are wrong. - I don't think it's a competition - I don't think people who are in a minority are or should feel diminished. Their opinion is equally as valid. (I'd go further to say I was a big Cinderella fan and felt diminished numerous times on here for expressing that - so that isn't a feeling I would want to give anyone else). I have said repeatedly that I get why some people wouldn't like this production. - I DO find the polls fascinating though and mention them a lot as the one person one vote element gives you a great overall stat of how the board feels. They are also useful for bringing evidence to the debate. So when people say it's Marmite or it's polarising, to have that evidence and say - actually, it isn't especially. (Based on this forum). - That feeds from my frustration that negative voices are often disproportionally louder and can skew threads away from "average" opinion. The Phantom one became an absolute nightmare over Covid thanks to less than 5 people. I don't think respecting others opinions and allowing free derailing of threads is the same thing. - Yes of course musicals are subjective but I think you can apply science/objectivity to an extent. For example I prefer Bad Cinderella to Hamilton (subjective) but I can see why objectively one might say Hamilton is a better musical - based on a cohesive majority evaluation of the coming together of music, lyrics, characterisation, plot, story telling etc etc. Perhaps I am not expressing myself well but hopefully that gives you the gist of where I am coming from. Over the years I have generally subjectively preferred Aspects of Love but I think objectively Sunset Boulevard is a better musical. |
|
1,482 posts
|
Post by mkb on Oct 1, 2023 14:52:12 GMT
Just tried to send you a short direct message as I was going off-topic from SB, but doesn't seem to be working at the moment... |
|
1,432 posts
|
Post by BVM on Oct 1, 2023 14:55:26 GMT
Just tried to send you a short direct message as I was going off-topic from SB, but doesn't seem to be working at the moment... Think was a setting - should work now! |
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 1, 2023 15:04:52 GMT
On the topic of the polls, could it be that those people who felt certain that this style of production was not for them have decided not to book and this won't show up in the voting. So the results could be skewed as a result
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2023 15:11:44 GMT
The polls here give a glimpse at what a small percentage of people on this board (and an even smaller percentage of people seeing a production overall) think of it. The amount of meaning individuals choose to imbue to this limited sample obviously varies.
|
|
