The Little Big Things - @sohoplace / NT At Home

[alece10]

Maybe more Bovril than Marmite.

78 4/5 stars
9 1/2 stars.

[priorwalter]

I was very skeptical of this and almost entirely skipped. I’m so glad I did not. While most of it is perfectly fine, the entire “Guide You” sequence left me an absolute mess. One of the most beautiful moments I’ve experienced in the theatre. Overall, yes it’s mostly just fine, but go if you’d like a good cry. The final 15 minutes will do you in.

[musicbox]

I went to this tonight with a half price Black Friday ticket - I mainly went because I'm a fan of Linzi Hateley, but didn't expect much from the show itself after some reviews I had read.

I'm pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the show as a whole. Yes, it's a bit cliche and cheesy at times, but it's also uplifting and I'm glad actors with disabilities are being given the opportunity to shine on such a large scale.

Linzi was obviously amazing as she always is, her solo on 'One to seventeen' was the highlight for me.

[seasider]

Looks like the theatre restaurant has permanently closed so things not going well for them.

[zahidf]

I thought this was ace!

[Someone in a tree]

Nov 29, 2023 8:08:48 GMT seasider said:

Looks like the theatre restaurant has permanently closed so things not going well for them.

I wonder if they can get more dosh by renting the space out to a chain?

[alece10]

I've had the pre theatre menu there twice and it was very good

[theatrefan77]

I agree. It was also very good value. A real pity if it's closing for good

[Jon]

I would guess they'll rent it out to an operator to run the restaurant similar to what the NT has done with Kerb.

[musicbox]

My review of this show to my friend was so effective that they asked me to come with them tonight, London Theatre Direct are still offering vastly reduced tickets this week for Black Friday, for anyone who's interested (We got ours for half price).

There was an interval cast change tonight - It was announced just before the lights came down for act 2 that Jordan Benjamin was "indisposed", and that the role of Dom would now be played by Tom Oliver, with the role of Marco being taken over by George Salmon.

Well done to Tom for stepping up and not missing a beat, but I can't help but feel he is a very random choice of cover. The character of Dom is supposed to be 16 (I believe?), but Tom looks to be at least in his 30s, so it felt slightly comical and quite a few people around me got the giggles that the 'husband' was now the teenage son.

What makes me feel that this is misjudged is that George Salmon who took over as Marco looks pretty young and could quite easily pass as a teenager, so maybe those two could be swapped? I know there's much more to it than that of course, but it felt wrong. I hope Jordan is ok, he did great in the first act and didn't seem ill at all.

I really enjoyed the show again, mainly because of Linzi and the thrill of being so close to her singing when in the stalls, but I still cringed at the same parts.

[FJ]

Dec 2, 2023 0:09:04 GMT musicbox said:

What makes me feel that this is misjudged is that George Salmon who took over as Marco looks pretty young and could quite easily pass as a teenager, so maybe those two could be swapped? I know there's much more to it than that of course, but it felt wrong.

I was there last night and wondered exactly the same. Especially since George is listed in the programme as covering Dom, and would have meant just replacing one character, rather than a slightly more confusing change with one actor switching characters completely, but as you say, there must have been a reason for it. But both did a great job of covering the roles mid-show.

I've seen the show far too many times now and the bigger takeaway I had from last night is something in the music/band was different. I noticed it at the beginning of 3 or 4 songs, and I don't know enough about music/orchestrations/bands enough to put my finger on what it was, but to me it sounded like they had replaced a guitar in the band with a piano? I don't know if that's even possible or feasible if for some reason someone in the band was sick, but one example is in 'Sh*t Happens', the first few lines, accompanied by a guitar usually just sounded completely different to me, but the actors didn't seem to flinch, and everything carried on as usual, and once the songs picked up I wouldn't notice it anymore.

But something was definitely different, and I did have a look at the castboard afterwards to see if musicians were listed to try and work something out from it but sadly no luck.

[orchidman]

This is bad; twee with shallow storytelling, subpar dialogue and lyrics, and music that is entirely forgettable.

Whilst obviously you hope anyone in Henry Fraser's situation is able to still find meaning and purpose in their life, if you want me to believe that someone this profoundly disabled would come to stop wishing their injury hadn't happened then you are going to have to actually deal with the realities of it and not pretend that they are still as attractive to the opposite sex as before, or that in the long term their artless paintings are likely to represent anything more than a pleasant hobby.

Could also have done without the reminder of this country's cringeing and cringe-worthy feelings towards its mediocre healthcare system.

It is all a good encapsulation of how we have imported American schmaltz and superficiality and their 'let's pretend' spirit without beginning to match their 'can do' spirit and its associated economic might. So we are supposed to pretend this third-rate piece is somehow of the same calibre of the American competition.

It does mean you can go along and sit in the round in Soho to watch people smiling and clapping along, and to all appearances finding this false and crass spectacle to be somehow life-affirming, and in that flurry of activity you can feel a little of the soul and dignity of this once magisterial nation dying.

[usbuzzer]

I love how despite all the criticism, the show managed to get the highest audience score among shows like Hamilton and Les Mis. And it's based on almost 350 ratings, so it's pretty believable that people just love the show. Any news on how it's selling currently?

[punxsutawney]

Dec 12, 2023 9:53:06 GMT usbuzzer said:

I love how despite all the criticism, the show managed to get the highest audience score among shows like Hamilton and Les Mis. And it's based on almost 350 ratings, so it's pretty believable that people just love the show. Any news on how it's selling currently?

Sales never really picked up, even with the extension. You can basically get your pick of the seats for any performance, and seems they close the top tier and shuffle people down in the day or so before the show if it's not sold decently.

[anthony40]

Cast recording released on 5th January 2024.

[anthony40]

Here's the track listing

[petrichor]

Cannot wait for the full cast recording. I saw this for the second time on Thursday evening as my final show of the year, and what a show to end on. So joyful, so heartbreaking, so wonderful in every measure. Apparently Tom Holland and Zendaya saw it on Thursday - not sure if matinee or evening - I wonder what they thought?

[BVM]

Tweeting them (or whatever you call it now) to ask if there would be a physical CD release but no reply! Fingers crossed there will be. Still love my physical music!

[theatreian]

Dec 24, 2023 14:46:23 GMT BVM said:

Tweeting them (or whatever you call it now) to ask if there would be a physical CD release but no reply! Fingers crossed there will be. Still love my physical music!

Think there is a physical cd. Sure I read that it would be available from the theatre. Not sure if there is an online shop for Soho Place

[anthony40]

Cast recording release date is tomorrow.

[greatauntedna]

Listening now, I hate it. Insincere and insipid. Some awful lyrics.

[greeny11]

Saw it last week and really enjoyed it. Listening back to the cast recording made me realise that I actually enjoyed most of the score, more so than other recent new musicals - Miles and Miles is probably my favourite song, but there are quite a few of the songs from this that I will listen to again.

I really enjoyed all the performances, particularly Jonny Amies, Alasdair Harvey, Amy Trigg and Linzi Hateley. I also really liked how it was staged, and don't think this would suit a restaging in a traditional proscenium setting, which means this will probably struggle to be staged again once this run is over. It was pretty much sold out the night I went, so hopefully it's found something of an audience towards the end of the run.

[BVM]

I've been looking at the seating plans for this as been trying to get a date to work for a second trip for ages. It certainly looks like it's selling better for the coming 1-2 week periods than it was in November type time. Wonder if it's found an audience at last?

The amount of offers I've had for it though I wonder if it's made any money. And I do have a hunch that we probs won't see it again after this run. Shame as despite it's flaws it's a sweet and IMHO uplifting musical.

Hope there's a physical CD release we can buy online!

[Oleanna]

Is this an open-ended run?

[Dave B]

Jan 5, 2024 14:51:26 GMT Oleanna said:

Is this an open-ended run?

No, Red Pitch transfers from Bush on from March 15th.