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Post by nick on May 12, 2019 7:51:00 GMT
I remember they had a few problems in London as well with the sparse coverage and sometimes had to cut songs if the wrong people were absent. ). I saw it at theVaults when both the black women were ill. They cut some (White guys/black guys I think) and rejigged some other parts. Bring black or white matters quite a bit in this show. I think some shows were cancelled just after I went. Even more fell ill. Obviously contagious. |
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Post by xanady on May 15, 2019 21:23:33 GMT
Holding my breath a bit on this tour.This,Amelie and Little Miss Sunshine are going to limp along a bit imo.Hope the different casts don’t get downhearted playing to sparse audiences.
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Post by horton on May 16, 2019 8:01:29 GMT
It's not a good time in the regions.
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Post by david on May 20, 2019 22:11:39 GMT
Saw this tonight at the Liverpool Empire. I can sum this production up from a group of ladies who were discussing their thoughts on Act 1 in the ladie’s loos during the interval (for clarification, I was NOT present in said location during these discussions, just overhearing their thoughts once they had returned to their seats) - “strange but very good”.
The hippy commune staging was well done, and I didn’t think it looked out if place on the wide Empire stage. Though I did feel you lost some of that intimacy you would of got in a smaller auditorium. I liked the fact that the band was integrated into the set rather than in the traditional orchestral put.
Loved the score and the vocal talent on show. Personally I thought the ladies had the better vocals, though for the blokes the standout for me was Paul Wilkins as Claude. Jake Quickenden as Berger really did surprise me, both vocally and in his acting. I would love to see him in something like Rock of Ages as Stacey Jaxx. Marcus Collins had a tough show tonight. His first song in Act 1 had to be stopped early on due to his microphones cutting out early on causing a show stop by the DSM to sort it out. Though fair play to the guy, he took it in his stride and made light of the problem when the show restarted.
One criticism I would have of this performance is that at times the sound mixing did seem to be off causing the band to drown out the vocals from the cast. Thankfully it wasn’t for every song, but still frustrating when you can’t hear the lyrics.
A fun filled show with plenty of energy despite various issues. A good night out overall.
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Post by Oleanna on May 21, 2019 0:32:15 GMT
Could anybody who has seen both give an indication as to how this revival compares to the last West End one (2010)?
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Post by xanady on May 21, 2019 6:42:01 GMT
^As a very ancient old dinosaur,I have seen many versions of this show over thirty-odd years...this is imo,the best version I have ever seen including the mentioned 2010 version.Pure MT gold!
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Post by marob on May 21, 2019 16:03:04 GMT
Can anyone tell me how the cast interact with people on the front row? I've just looked at the performance I booked for and I'm slightly horrified to see I'm the only one at the very front.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 21, 2019 16:46:03 GMT
Can anyone tell me how the cast interact with people on the front row? I've just looked at the performance I booked for and I'm slightly horrified to see I'm the only one at the very front. What’s your dancing like? 🙂 |
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Post by marob on May 21, 2019 18:52:44 GMT
Can anyone tell me how the cast interact with people on the front row? I've just looked at the performance I booked for and I'm slightly horrified to see I'm the only one at the very front. What’s your dancing like? 🙂 Oh no! 😱 I don't mind something brief, but I'd be mortified at having to actually get up and do something. I thought I'd be ok with a row full of other people to choose from. Think I need to try to get a different seat. |
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Post by xanady on May 21, 2019 18:59:57 GMT
^Spoilers regarding audience involvement.......(sorry don’t know how to do the fancy blue spoilery thing)
At my viewing,Jake serenaded the front row trouser-less at the start of the show(be still my beating heart!).Cast came into audience to give out flyers to the Be-In and then one cast member sits on the knees of a front-row member and then the same person is asked to take a photo of the cast on a prop camera.I was involved and it was good fun.In the finale, cast invited audience in stalls to join them on stage to dance.I loved it, but my dad-dancing was a source of great amusement to the cast members who danced with me.I was told that Strictly will not be holding a place for me this year lol.Btw,the nudity is at the rear of the stage,back-lit and works in terms of an expression of freedom.
This show is as relevant message-wise as CFA and the singing was the strongest I have heard in a MT show for a long time.Glorious. |
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Post by xanady on May 22, 2019 12:21:15 GMT
^Thank you,Sir
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Post by steg on May 27, 2019 18:59:30 GMT
Well I saw this for the second time on Friday evening in Liverpool, and this time I knew what was going on. There really is very little coherent story to it, but it is a fantastically fun performance. It's a shame that it's selling so poorly, the Empire stalls were at best half full. I suspect it really would suit smaller theatres better.
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Post by a12la on Jun 9, 2019 10:06:44 GMT
I saw it in Dartford with an understudy on for Berger and it was absolutely fantastic. My one complaint was the addition of the song "Hippie Life" during the curtain call. Let The Sunshine In is an dark and emotional song (despite the popular radio version) and following it with a mindless and fun song kinda kills it's emotional impact. Plus, this might just be because I'm an American, but I thought Daisy Wood Davis (Shelia)'s accent was awful. 90% of the time it sounded like she wasn't even trying to not sound British. Compared to the rest of the cast, it really stood out.
I also thought it was pretty funny how for a show called Hair, there was very little during the nude scene.
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Post by xanady on Jun 9, 2019 13:15:53 GMT
Big fan of this production but ticket sales on the tour are atrocious sadly.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 9, 2019 17:06:42 GMT
My one complaint was the addition of the song "Hippie Life" during the curtain call. I've always thought it seemed out of place too. I presume it was added to end the show on a happier note. Anyone know the origin. Wikipedia isn't very helpful here. From that I can work out, it was originally written for the film, but cut. And added to the licensed version of the production sometime in the 1990s (Broadway World says for a European tour in 1995). Always interested to see how much of the original survives. I'm sure this version was advertised as being very true to the original and without many of the cuts that are often made, but it is obviously isn't the original version. |
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Post by alexandraastrid79 on Jun 9, 2019 19:36:13 GMT
Hair: I have tickets for my friends and i at oxford. I was suprised the seat sales seam low allready. I hope its ok..Not sure what too expect. Though we are looking forward to this at the end of the month!
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Post by xanady on Jun 9, 2019 21:24:07 GMT
^Yes,DrTom,I think you are correct with ‘Hippie Life’ being added at the end to send the crowd home happy.The audience are also invited to dance on stage at the end for a final feel-good vibe.
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Post by a12la on Jun 13, 2019 15:05:11 GMT
^Yes,DrTom,I think you are correct with ‘Hippie Life’ being added at the end to send the crowd home happy.The audience are also invited to dance on stage at the end for a final feel-good vibe. The problem is that the Let The Sunshine In Reprise already kinda does that (and brings the audience on stage). Hippie Life was just unnecessary. |
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Post by xanady on Jun 13, 2019 19:18:33 GMT
Seeing this again in July...Jake in a leather thong...a licence to print money🤪
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 28, 2019 7:46:41 GMT
Only spotted that the Oxford run dropped the first two performances. Supposed to run from Monday but opened Wednesday instead.
Has this happened at other venues?
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 28, 2019 7:51:00 GMT
Another strong show in Oxford last night. The biggest change was Hud was played by Louise Francis (normally played by Marcus Collins, second cover DJ Spin, both away). No notices on display regarding the cover. It was a little odd, as it's obviously intended as a male role, but a lot of Hair is so surreal it doesn't really matter. She did a good job.
There were various cuts to accommodate the missing cast, particularly during the extended trip scene in the second half. Most notably, they dropped "White Boys".
The theatre is a pleasant one. Front row has extra legroom and a good view, although there's a large unused orchestra pit (which ended up housing most of the flyers the cast attempted to throw from the stage to the front row). They must have really had the bass turned up on the speakers as you could feel the vibrations. One good thing about the large pit is the smoke from the smoke machine stayed a safe distance away from the front row.
Lots of improvisation during the Margaret Mead scene. Hubert really got into it.
The place wasn't terribly busy until right before the show, at which point the Stalls suddenly got to about half full. There was a chatty Spanish speaking group sat right behind in the second row, but they were oblivious to anyone looking at them. Possibly an extended family as they had younger teens with them (obviously the nudity didn't bother them, although it did seem to surprise some of the older people sat near me).
They were doing a special deal with programmes at £3.
Really unusually, they struggled to get people to clap and dance at the end. Some people did go on the stage and I get up when beckoned during the finale, but very few others joined me.
A fun, moving night as always. I shall catch the tour again in Milton Keynes in July.
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Post by amp09 on Jun 28, 2019 23:03:36 GMT
Was rather disappointed with this tonight in Oxford. Incredibly weak storyline, but enjoyed the performances and Jake ruffling my hair 😜✌🏼. Some great talent in this cast.
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Post by andrew on Jun 28, 2019 23:18:25 GMT
I spotted Marcus Collins in some stories from Glastonbury, is that why he's missing shows? 🙄
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 29, 2019 6:44:55 GMT
Cast announced. I do hope Marcus Collins shows up in Sunderland after I blasted him on Twitter for taking credit for his understudy in Hairspray when it came around a few years ago. I don’t have much confidence in his casting as Hud I spotted Marcus Collins in some stories from Glastonbury, is that why he's missing shows? 🙄 Marcus seems to have a bit of form on attendance. And going way back to the old board wasn’t there a bit of controversy around him being cast and announced for something and him never appearing in it? |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 29, 2019 14:00:54 GMT
Final two performances cancelled today in Oxford
'unforeseen circumstances'
Not been a good week.
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