Babies: a new(born) musical - Lyric / The Other Palace

[ladidah]

I've never been to the other palace, is it tiny?

[danb]

Its a big ‘small theatre’. Do an image search on google; there are a few good photos.

[ladidah]

Ah okay, looks like my local theatre

[Dr Tom]

Just booked with the £20 offer. I didn’t see the previous version but love Morgan Philips. Max Mulrenan is fantastic too so glad he’s getting this opportunity.

[kyvai]

Mar 22, 2024 12:05:40 GMT alece10 said:

Thats 2 musicals they have announced that I would like to see but unfortunately won't be able to as they have the worst leg room and I wouldn't be able to manage 10 minutes ley alone a full show.

Are you getting theatres mixed up? The other palace is a modern theatre the leg room is more generous than most in London.

[alece10]

Mar 28, 2024 3:39:55 GMT kyvai said:

Mar 22, 2024 12:05:40 GMT alece10 said:

Thats 2 musicals they have announced that I would like to see but unfortunately won't be able to as they have the worst leg room and I wouldn't be able to manage 10 minutes ley alone a full show.

Are you getting theatres mixed up? The other palace is a modern theatre the leg room is more generous than most in London.

Definitely not getting the theatre mixed up as I worked in a show there a few years ago for over a month so know it very well. During tech runs I sat in various seats and the legroom is terrible and I am not a tall person. Due to the design of the theatre and seats you can't put you feet under the seat in front which makes it even worse.

[kyvai]

Oh, ok. I’m not tall either but I find it absolutely fine, even see people not needing to stand up to let others pass. Many many other worse venues for legroom in London!

[PineappleForYou]

Mar 28, 2024 7:47:09 GMT alece10 said:

Mar 28, 2024 3:39:55 GMT kyvai said:

Are you getting theatres mixed up? The other palace is a modern theatre the leg room is more generous than most in London.

Definitely not getting the theatre mixed up as I worked in a show there a few years ago for over a month so know it very well. During tech runs I sat in various seats and the legroom is terrible and I am not a tall person. Due to the design of the theatre and seats you can't put you feet under the seat in front which makes it even worse.

I totally agree with you. The legroom is below West End average and the seats are like sitting with your back on a wooden plank. Because the audience is split into three different facing directions lower down, if you accidentally book a seat in the crease you end up sharing the same legroom with the person next to you!

This is another modern theatre that feels like it wasn't designed by someone who goes to the theatre aka @sohoplace.

[ladidah]

Saw the new posters, I'll probably go when Bradley is off, as I loved Morgan Phillips

[greatauntedna]

I saw the first preview this evening. The cast is good (though Morgan Phillips as lead Toby should have been a no-brainer!), the songs are good, the set is good (though it could use a bit more for the cliff and Lulu’s house).

The stakes in the book aren’t really on the same page as the songs. They could probably cut Alex and Grace to give the other characters room to breathe.

[westendwhistledown]

Zoë Athena and Lauren Conroy playing Leah and Jasmine were FANTASTIC. Rising stars without a doubt! Loved the show tonight, so much fun and heartwarming

[BVM]

Know zero about this. The concept sounds bonkers! Assume it's aimed at people much younger than me.

But saw they've released 4 songs so just had a listen. They're quite good! Kind of soft pop rock in the style of Busted or McFly I'd say. Hints of the Six/Fantastically Great Women style too.
Anyway, nice to hear some tracks with a bit of oomph and some prominent drums and electric guitar in a world where so much new musical writing is so vanilla and underpowered.

Still don't think I'd see it lol. Maybe on a really good deal!

[max]

Jun 1, 2024 18:18:11 GMT BVM said:

Know zero about this. The concept sounds bonkers! Assume it's aimed at people much younger than me.

But saw they've released 4 songs so just had a listen. They're quite good! Kind of soft pop rock in the style of Busted or McFly I'd say. Hints of the Six/Fantastically Great Women style too.
Anyway, nice to hear some tracks with a bit of oomph and some prominent drums and electric guitar in a world where so much new musical writing is so vanilla and underpowered.

Still don't think I'd see it lol. Maybe on a really good deal!

I've been thinking that 'Loserville' by James Bourne of Busted was ahead of its time.  A lot of new musical theatre sounds like that now; and so many shows feature a nerd or geek (Be More Chill, Operation Mincemeat, Two Strangers, Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder) or Schoolers (almost everything else!).  Tbf 'Loserville' had a large house West End run, so it did its time - but current taste, trends and social media power could have made it bigger if it had happened now.

Sorry - a bit off topic.  I'll see 'Babies', great for the writer to have two musicals people want. There are some decent £20 tickets even without a deal.

[merrilywereadalong]

Well I may be in the minority (as it got a very enthusiastic response from our crowd) but ufff, I did NOT get on with this and my husband and I took about all of two seconds after lights came up for the interval before deciding to bail.

I had heard the songs they'd released prior to booking and really enjoyed them. Funny, catchy and a few that really hit but as my muggle-husband put it on the train home "it took me of all about 15 minutes to realize there's simply no story here" As someone earlier above stated there are virtually no stakes at all and the drama that they do attempt to concot really doesn't have anything to do with the central conciet of the show ie: the pregnancy deterrants. There are too many characters and the attempt to focus on each's individual turmoil and desires which leaves basically everything feeling short shrift. There's a strong opening number but then it's immediately followed by three songs I think could've easily been cut or should be replaced. Even a song like "Hot Dad" which i LOVED on Spotify, in the context of the show only moderately crackles. Maybe it's because of the lack of focus or clarity on who's story this is but as it went on I kept wondering why Heartstopper ( from which it clearly takes a lot of inspiration) worked for me and this didn't at all. Just all felt a bit santized tbh which I wouldn't mind necessarily because as mentioned there really are some nice moments in the score but god did it make me appreciate something like Two Strangers and how you are just pulled into those characters and what's at stake for them within the first 10 minutes of the piece because here...there was nothing.

Also to be totally honest I didn't even find the cast to be that great either. Apologies as I didn't buy a program so I don't know who was on/off (I believe one of the girls was a cover but I could be wrong) but they sounded vocally tired or at least struggling in a way that I was taken aback by considering this was only the third preview. Also my god that scaffolding platform thing on stage left, at least last night, kept SHAKING to a degree that was genuinely anxiety inducing and i was low key terrified for the actors'safety.

Hate to be a hard dissenting voice. as mentioned the crowd seemed to really be enjoying themselves but this was 2 stars for me

[ladidah]

When I saw it last year, it felt quite Sixth Form Drama production.

[Dr Tom]

I saw the matinee yesterday from the front row of the Stalls. The stage is at foot level. There are a few things that take place in the audience that you can't see, but otherwise the view is perfect. Thankfully, I wasn't chosen for the audience interaction part, but the girl who was turned out to be very excited that hero had seen her.

As to the show? It's very much of it's type as far as teen angst musicals where nothing really happens go. It's also very polite and inclusive. I quite like the songs. The audience was polite. There was a very enthusiastic man in the centre of the row dancing in his seat and tapping along, but it turned out he was with the show.

I've seen a few of the 2024 graduates in theatres this week, unfortunately most helping to take people to their seats, but some on stage as well. Here, Viola Maisey (Mountview) is the standout. It only seems weeks since she was equally impressive in Sunday in the Park with George. Max Mulrenan equally stood out in Rent (Arts Ed) and is very good here, but I don't feel these are the songs for a vocal showcase for him. The fairest thing to say is that everyone was more than good enough for the material.

Will this be another Heathers? My feeling is no, but it's more than good for short runs. And it's often hard to predict which of these teen musicals will gain a following. I will go back, most likely for a Morgan show.

[thedrowsychaperone]

I saw this at the New Wolsey (I think in 2021?) where it was performed by actual teenagers in the NYMT, and that REALLY worked - I wonder if it loses something but having older (only slightly, in fairness) actors?

[anita]

I've not seen it but it sounds like Anne Fines book "Flour Babies". She wrote the original book "Mrs Doubtfire" that the film & musical are based on.

[lizabella]

We saw this Saturday evening and really enjoyed it. Fresh, New, Original and British! I’m in my 30’s but the show was being enjoyed by teens, their parents and older. The Other Palace was buzzing, it makes me think this musical will go onto bigger things. Fantastic score by Jack Godfrey, who has also created 42 Balloons recently receiving great reviews.

Stand outs for me were Zoe Athena who acted out of her skin in this emotional role, the actor who played Jasmine with her faultless vocals and the understudy who played the role of Becky, one to watch, about to graduate. Lastly, Bradley Riches charisma on stage, was great to see and a definite draw for the younger audience. The song Hot Dad being the favourite for us!

Go get a ticket to this new musical, the roar of applause during the standing ovation spoke volumes, it is only on until mid July.

[westendwhistledown]

I think if you like Heathers, Six, Spring Awakening...you'll like this. It's easy to just sit back and enjoy without having to think too much and the cast are very loveable

[fiyerorocher]

I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to Spring Awakening fans - I don't think that show really falls into the same category as the other two - but Heathers and Six fans are exactly who they're looking to target. Babies, while better than I expected, isn't as good as either, though.

[aloysius]

Saw this tonight. Songs were fine if a bit samey. Book was overwrought and overwritten. Actors were all good and the audience reaction was enthusiastic. People next to me were hyperventilating over someone apparently from Heartstopper. It all made me feel very, very old indeed.

[theatre2023]

Target demographic seems to be 12 year olds.

Left at interval.

A musical about toy babies should be enough to warn anyone 🤣

[hoopoe]

Hmm, this is proving pretty divisive on here, isn't it? I saw the matinee today and had been looking forward to seeing it since the West End Live performance last year, and it didn't disappoint for me. It's fun and good-hearted with catchy songs, and that's really all I wanted.

My concern was that being teen-centric the characters might be a bit annoying or charicatured, but I thought it did a good job of capturing what teens are like, thinking both of my own school experience and teens I know now, and also that all the actors made for convincing teens.

Having particularly loved the song Hot Dad prior to seeing it I was delighted that the performance more than did the song justice, with great energy from the dads. I assume it'll be a fan favourite too judging by the audience response.

[c4ndyc4ne]

Jun 2, 2024 6:10:01 GMT merrilywereadalong said:

Well I may be in the minority (as it got a very enthusiastic response from our crowd) but ufff, I did NOT get on with this and my husband and I took about all of two seconds after lights came up for the interval before deciding to bail.

I had heard the songs they'd released prior to booking and really enjoyed them. Funny, catchy and a few that really hit but as my muggle-husband put it on the train home "it took me of all about 15 minutes to realize there's simply no story here" As someone earlier above stated there are virtually no stakes at all and the drama that they do attempt to concot really doesn't have anything to do with the central conciet of the show ie: the pregnancy deterrants. There are too many characters and the attempt to focus on each's individual turmoil and desires which leaves basically everything feeling short shrift. There's a strong opening number but then it's immediately followed by three songs I think could've easily been cut or should be replaced. Even a song like "Hot Dad" which i LOVED on Spotify, in the context of the show only moderately crackles. Maybe it's because of the lack of focus or clarity on who's story this is but as it went on I kept wondering why Heartstopper ( from which it clearly takes a lot of inspiration) worked for me and this didn't at all. Just all felt a bit santized tbh which I wouldn't mind necessarily because as mentioned there really are some nice moments in the score but god did it make me appreciate something like Two Strangers and how you are just pulled into those characters and what's at stake for them within the first 10 minutes of the piece because here...there was nothing.

Also to be totally honest I didn't even find the cast to be that great either. Apologies as I didn't buy a program so I don't know who was on/off (I believe one of the girls was a cover but I could be wrong) but they sounded vocally tired or at least struggling in a way that I was taken aback by considering this was only the third preview. Also my god that scaffolding platform thing on stage left, at least last night, kept SHAKING to a degree that was genuinely anxiety inducing and i was low key terrified for the actors'safety.

Hate to be a hard dissenting voice. as mentioned the crowd seemed to really be enjoying themselves but this was 2 stars for me

reviving my claim that anyone who only stays for half a show can't give a valid opinion on it.