Why Am I So Single? - Garrick

[Paulw]

Aug 28, 2024 9:45:09 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Aug 28, 2024 8:35:33 GMT Paulw said:

As it was the first preview I have purposely not named or commented on any persons performance and just outlined the show itself. Only 2 stars for me (at the moment) One for the cast and one for Jo Foster (They did absolutely smash it), it needs work and if this had been at somewhere like Southwark or The Other Palace I think it would have got a better rating but for a big ish west end house this needs a lot more work.

But isn’t that what the workshops at the Sadlers Wells were for? 

It sounds absolutely dreadful. 

Up until last night I was t aware of any workshops but yes that would be the thought but it just comes across as nowhere near ready for a main house, has no one learned the lessons from Six itself and Mincemeat?

[ceebee]

As suspected, it sounds like one big long cliche interrupted by an interval.

[Jon]

I wouldn't be surprised if the producers thought the Six fanbase would support it regardless of how it turned out, wouldn't be the first time a creative team have a hit then the follow up isn't so hot.

[Someone in a tree]

I wont make jokes about that difficult second album. Hopefully this can be a hit as give me new writing anyday over some jukebox cashcow

[greenandbrownandblue]

Interesting passage in a The Stage interview with producer Kenny Wax:

"That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

The workshop was so well received, and we didn’t think anyone in the regions would pay particular attention to it,” Wax explains, but concedes: “Maybe it could have and should have had a slimmed-down version at Edinburgh this year, and come in later – that might have been a good idea.”

Full interview here: www.thestage.co.uk/features/kenny-wax-im-not-interested-in-the-most-profit--i-want-to-be-there-in-10-years-time

[Jon]

Kenny Wax has done well having two long runners in the West End but I think Why I Am So Single? might end up being more Opening Night than Six.

[Paulw]

Aug 28, 2024 12:27:22 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

Interesting passage in a The Stage interview with producer Kenny Wax:

"That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

The workshop was so well received, and we didn’t think anyone in the regions would pay particular attention to it,” Wax explains, but concedes: “Maybe it could have and should have had a slimmed-down version at Edinburgh this year, and come in later – that might have been a good idea.”

Full interview here: www.thestage.co.uk/features/kenny-wax-im-not-interested-in-the-most-profit--i-want-to-be-there-in-10-years-time

That sounds to me like an admission it’s bit of a dud in its current form!

[stevej678]

Aug 28, 2024 12:46:46 GMT Paulw said:

Aug 28, 2024 12:27:22 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

Interesting passage in a The Stage interview with producer Kenny Wax:

"That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

The workshop was so well received, and we didn’t think anyone in the regions would pay particular attention to it,” Wax explains, but concedes: “Maybe it could have and should have had a slimmed-down version at Edinburgh this year, and come in later – that might have been a good idea.”

Full interview here: www.thestage.co.uk/features/kenny-wax-im-not-interested-in-the-most-profit--i-want-to-be-there-in-10-years-time

That sounds to me like an admission it’s bit of a dud in its current form!

That's quite an extraordinary comment for him to make really. As you say, it's more or less admitting it could do with more work. Edinburgh would have been a great place to do that, tweak it as they went, and then maybe target a West End run in 2025.

[fiyerorocher]

I had a strong feeling this wouldn't have changed much from the workshop, and indeed it really hasn't been - to its detriment. It feels lazy. The whole thing is hung off a weak framework of having to write a musical but we only touch back on that every now and then. They begin by insulting the audience and continue to insult the rest of the west end multiple times throughout (they really don't like Mamma Mia, apparently? Which, fine, but on what authority are you the one to pass judgement about the quality of other shows?). To me, it sounded like a lot of jokes didn't land at all, but I was wearing Loops because I expected the audience response to songs would be incredibly loud, so it's possible I just didn't hear it.

Jo Foster is the best thing about this. Their performance of Disco Ball, especially when it got stopped half way through and everyone had to start again fifteen minutes later, was excellent. It's the standout moment of the show but I can't help but feel like that is largely down to Jo, rather than the writing.

The pacing is totally off at the moment. First half dragged painfully. Second half was admittedly not helped by the lengthy show stop, but that is not to blame for the slow ending. We could - and SHOULD - ended things about four times before we actually did. The point was made that this show was actually about friendship, and then we proceeded to labour the point over the course of at least three songs. By the third, it just felt like an insult to people's intelligence. I think the message had thoroughly been received.

God bless the ensemble for having to play curtains, a bin, a fridge, etc. Considering the dogs in Legally Blonde, I have to wonder why Lucy doesn't want a cast to have any dignity left at the end of the run?

As it stands, this is a disappointment. After the workshop I thought perhaps it could be salvaged with some involved edits. Now I'm not so sure that it can be. Although I'd like an OCR, solely for Disco Ball.

[greenandbrownandblue]

Aug 28, 2024 14:42:35 GMT stevej678 said:

Aug 28, 2024 12:46:46 GMT Paulw said:

That sounds to me like an admission it’s bit of a dud in its current form!

That's quite an extraordinary comment for him to make really. As you say, it's more or less admitting it could do with more work. Edinburgh would have been a great place to do that, tweak it as they went, and then maybe target a West End run in 2025.

It is - and it sounds a bit regretful too.

What I don't understand is why he didn't think 'the regions' would pay attention to it? Surely somewhere like Home in Manchester would've been perfect for a limited run? Or, as he says, a larger Fringe venue like Underbelly?

[stevej678]

Aug 28, 2024 14:55:03 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

Aug 28, 2024 14:42:35 GMT stevej678 said:

That's quite an extraordinary comment for him to make really. As you say, it's more or less admitting it could do with more work. Edinburgh would have been a great place to do that, tweak it as they went, and then maybe target a West End run in 2025.

It is - and it sounds a bit regretful too.

What I don't understand is why he didn't think 'the regions' would pay attention to it? Surely somewhere like Home in Manchester would've been perfect for a limited run? Or, as he says, a larger Fringe venue like Underbelly?

Absolutely. Or somewhere like the Quays Theatre at The Lowry. They've had Six on in the Lyric Theatre for much of August. Sold-out audiences every night who could have been told about the new musical from the same writers they could see at The Lowry. I can't imagine they'd have had much trouble filling the Quays Theatre for it.

[greatauntedna]

They're going to cut 15 minutes out of it and it'll be amazing and run for two and a half years!

[dan]

I’m going tomorrow and it sounds like I might need to leave after Act 1 with those timings as I have a train at 11pm at Kings Cross! 🤦‍♂️
I’m actually now considering seeing something else instead of seeing one act of something!

[danb]

Does anyone know if you can swap WAISS credit notes for any other NIMAX theatre productions?

[stevej678]

Aug 28, 2024 19:14:11 GMT danb said:

Does anyone know if you can swap WAISS credit notes for any other NIMAX theatre productions?

You have to re-book through Why Am I So Single, not Nimax, so you wouldn't be able to use it on another Nimax show.

[danb]

Aug 28, 2024 19:15:55 GMT stevej678 said:

Aug 28, 2024 19:14:11 GMT danb said:

Does anyone know if you can swap WAISS credit notes for any other NIMAX theatre productions?

You have to re-book through Why Am I So Single, not Nimax, so you wouldn't be able to use it on another Nimax show.

Oh well, worth a try.

[c4ndyc4ne]

a shame. the workshop performances had some great tunes, really thought someone would've told them to dismantle the book

[oxfordsimon]

As I said earlier, writers should not ordinarily direct their own work. Particularly when they are very inexperienced in both roles.

It does seem from early reports (and having watched the YouTube insight into rehearsals) that this is particularly true on this occasion

A more experienced, objective director would have helped shape the material.

[max]

Aug 28, 2024 12:27:22 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

Interesting passage in a The Stage interview with producer Kenny Wax:

"That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

The workshop was so well received, and we didn’t think anyone in the regions would pay particular attention to it,” Wax explains, but concedes: “Maybe it could have and should have had a slimmed-down version at Edinburgh this year, and come in later – that might have been a good idea.”

Full interview here: www.thestage.co.uk/features/kenny-wax-im-not-interested-in-the-most-profit--i-want-to-be-there-in-10-years-time

This is shocking - if I was writer / cast / production I'd feel completely undermined by my own producer.  Worse than that, really - I'd feel they were actively setting up baleful glances at the work. Very strange behaviour.

[dr]

Aug 28, 2024 12:27:22 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

Interesting passage in a The Stage interview with producer Kenny Wax:

"That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

The workshop was so well received, and we didn’t think anyone in the regions would pay particular attention to it,” Wax explains, but concedes: “Maybe it could have and should have had a slimmed-down version at Edinburgh this year, and come in later – that might have been a good idea.”

Full interview here: www.thestage.co.uk/features/kenny-wax-im-not-interested-in-the-most-profit--i-want-to-be-there-in-10-years-time

That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.

Interview notes that it's an "open-ended" run for Why Am I So Single?... Would be curious to know if that's truthful, or just marketing, as, although this will sell alright for a while, I can't imagine it here this time next year - and I doubt Nica Burns would want the Garrick to have this for a whole year (or more) either, when there's a queue of shows waiting. (where else will masterworks such as The Crown Jewels go? I fear the industry would be in peril...)

[danb]

“That said, his relationship with Nimax’s Burns means he has been offered an open-ended run at the Garrick Theatre for his next show, the musical Why Am I So Single?, from Six writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. That show did not have an out-of-town tryout, like Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, which to many, would sound like a risk.”

Prime bit of theatrical real estate, The Garrick. Sometimes shows can run up to 4 months there (normally augmented by Horrible Histories or The Tiger Who Came To Tea playing in the morning). I’m not sure being gifted The Garrick is any sort of gift at all.

[Mark]

Age old question…..
…
…
Is the stage high?

[ceebee]

I can't answer that question but it posed the question "Why, Am I So Ickle?"

[usbuzzer]

Aug 28, 2024 21:51:14 GMT Mark said:

Age old question…..
…
…
Is the stage high?

According to SeatPlan it should be fine (as compared to other stages).

[fiyerorocher]

Aug 28, 2024 17:59:14 GMT greatauntedna said:

They're going to cut 15 minutes out of it and it'll be amazing and run for two and a half years!

it needs a lot more work than that!