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Post by westendcub on Jan 17, 2017 16:57:47 GMT
I too saw the women go stage right on Saturday night, perhaps it's part of the performance!
A real shame this is not of the normal quality but not everything will always work and we are judging previews where things get ironed out, going to be interesting when reviews come out.
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Post by japhun on Jan 17, 2017 17:00:16 GMT
I too saw the women go stage right on Saturday night, perhaps it's part of the performance! A real shame this is not of the normal quality but not everything will always work and we are judging previews where things get ironed out, going to be interesting when reviews come out. There are always things to iron out in previews...but this one has A LOT of problems. 2 star reviews if papers are being honest (unlike with BILB that was horrendous and somehow got raves...) |
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Post by lonlad on Jan 17, 2017 17:26:47 GMT
Saw it last night. Very poor. The grey, drab design is ugly beyond belief and the cast sinks with the proverbial ship. Gabriel Vick is a charmer in the right role, but this is not that role. Members of the creative team yammering away during the performance didn't help but it's too late now - the die is cast.
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Post by theatreian on Jan 17, 2017 22:15:11 GMT
Its amazing how opinions can differ so widely about what I thought was a great show. Anyway if you are thinking of going , don't be put off by the negative comments. I have seen hundreds of shows and this compares with most. Its a great piece of theatre. Good score and it makes you laugh too with great performances by all the cast.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Jan 17, 2017 22:36:35 GMT
I though it was just ok. It's far too long and some parts really drag, it's about 30 minutes too long. The two leads do a decent enough job, the supporting cast are ok in general, some better than others.
I don't get why the lead wears a bowler hat to compare himself to Bogart in Casablanca. Bogart never wore a bowler hat in Casablanca, did he? Did I miss something?!
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Post by showgirl on Jan 18, 2017 5:54:14 GMT
Now I have a dilemma, as I am due to see it this week and had already run out of patience with disappointing musicals at this venue (most of which of late I have either sat through doggedly or left at the interval), to the extent that I simply didn't go to the last, wasting my ticket cost, and swore not to book any more.
So this was the last one I'd booked for and I was already concerned by the long running time which has been mentioned; now there are some adverse reports above.
I know theatreian counsels us not to be deterred by the negative comments but there are so many other productions I want to see, all of which have a much shorter run, so I'm wondering whether I would do better to ditch this and make other plans while I still can.
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Post by alece10 on Jan 18, 2017 6:13:07 GMT
Now I have a dilemma, as I am due to see it this week and had already run out of patience with disappointing musicals at this venue (most of which of late I have either sat through doggedly or left at the interval), to the extent that I simply didn't go to the last, wasting my ticket cost, and swore not to book any more. So this was the last one I'd booked for and I was already concerned by the long running time which has been mentioned; now there are some adverse reports above. I know theatreian counsels us not to be deterred by the negative comments but there are so many other productions I want to see, all of which have a much shorter run, so I'm wondering whether I would do better to ditch this and make other p lans while I still can. Unless you go you won't know. There are plenty of people who enjoyed it (myself included) and remember you are supporting fringe theatre which has no subsidy. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 18, 2017 6:39:45 GMT
So this was the last one I'd booked for and I was already concerned by the long running time which has been mentioned; now there are some adverse reports above. Unless you go you won't know. There are plenty of people who enjoyed it (myself included) and remember you are supporting fringe theatre which has no subsidy. If it's booked already why would you pour money down the drain? It's not as bad as some reports, it's just one evening. I'd go. |
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Post by showgirl on Jan 18, 2017 8:36:15 GMT
Unless you go you won't know. There are plenty of people who enjoyed it (myself included) and remember you are supporting fringe theatre which has no subsidy. Well that's exactly the dilemma, isn't it, alec10? So many times I've given this venue the benefit of the doubt again, only to be disappointed and it's a big potential slot to sacrifice. Besides, they have had my support in the financial sense anyway, as I used a ticket from my umpteenth Pay-As-You-Go subscription, as I did for the last musical there, which I couldn't even face when it came to it. Still, time for a few more reports yet - plus it might get shorter and snappier by Saturday! |
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Post by freckles on Jan 18, 2017 8:40:45 GMT
Saw this yesterday and enjoyed it; I think some of the criticism is excessive- it's a pleasant enough show, without being breathtakingly good.
Most of the problems with it come from the material, which is terribly dated in tone, and for me was just a little too inappropriate, and dark at times, to allow for the charming, whimsical show I was expecting. The score was a bit disappointing, not Bacharach & David's finest work, with the odd exception. I found A Young Pretty Girl Like You particularly uncomfortable.
The two main leads are great, and the rest of the cast good. Loved Alex Young in the bar scene.
It's VERY long (3 hours) and the transitions become a bit tedious. But Act 2 is good, so stick with it.
On balance OK, I certainly would check it out if you haven't already.
I didn't get that Casablanca reference either!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 10:14:37 GMT
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Post by mallardo on Jan 18, 2017 10:18:05 GMT
Saw this yesterday and enjoyed it; I think some of the criticism is excessive- it's a pleasant enough show, without being breathtakingly good. Most of the problems with it come from the material, which is terribly dated in tone, and for me was just a little too inappropriate, and dark at times, to allow for the charming, whimsical show I was expecting. The score was a bit disappointing, not Bacharach & David's finest work, with the odd exception. I found A Young Pretty Girl Like You particularly uncomfortable. The two main leads are great, and the rest of the cast good. Loved Alex Young in the bar scene. It's VERY long (3 hours) and the transitions become a bit tedious. But Act 2 is good, so stick with it. On balance OK, I certainly would check it out if you haven't already. I didn't get that Casablanca reference either! I suppose it is dated, as is The Apartment, the movie it's based on, in the logistical sense - it's much easier to find a place to have sex after work these days. And the men-on-the-prowl tone comes with all that. But the hero's predicament, his willingness to be used while trying to balance infatuation with ambition, is, IMO, very strong and well worked out in the course of the story. Yes, it's an apparently pleasant musical with a dark cynical heart which is one of the reasons I have always liked it. I'm seeing this production later in the week and looking forward to it. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 10:26:44 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 18, 2017 10:29:05 GMT
Eugh! I saw it years ago in Sheffield and didn't like as a piece so I'm staying well clear - plus paying the credit card post Crimbo ! |
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Post by stevej678 on Jan 18, 2017 10:51:00 GMT
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 18, 2017 10:53:38 GMT
i saw it yesterday matinee, so the final preview and i did enjoy it but goodness me a 3 hour musical is a lot! While it dint drag it did make me restless when we were reaching the ends of each act which is a shame.
I saw in the programme Say A Little Prayer and House Is Not A Home (Reprise) were listed but not performed, have they now been cut since the programmes were made I'm assuming?
I enjoyed the show very much, Chuck's constant talks to the audience were sometimes grating but it was a very enjoyable show with a great score (not sure what the ES were listening too but i loved it!) Always impressive to see how much set they're storing in the SP, and i liked the projections and nods to movies i.e the ends of each act with it circling to black.
For me, another great musical at SP but they need to be much zippy-er, especially the first 15/20 mins which could have been slicked up much more! lets get the running time down to a reasonable hour please!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 11:10:40 GMT
i saw it yesterday matinee, so the final preview and i did enjoy it but goodness me a 3 hour musical is a lot! While it dint drag it did make me restless when we were reaching the ends of each act which is a shame. I saw in the programme Say A Little Prayer and House Is Not A Home (Reprise) were listed but not performed, have they now been cut since the programmes were made I'm assuming? I enjoyed the show very much, Chuck's constant talks to the audience were sometimes grating but it was a very enjoyable show with a great score (not sure what the ES were listening too but i loved it!) Always impressive to see how much set they're storing in the SP, and i liked the projections and nods to movies i.e the ends of each act with it circling to black. For me, another great musical at SP but they need to be much zippy-er, especially the first 15/20 mins which could have been slicked up much more! lets get the running time down to a reasonable hour please!! Blimey, that means Daisy Maywood had hardly any songs. A House is Not a Home ended Act 1 too. Strange move to cut them, when other lesser songs could have been given the chop. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 11:17:16 GMT
I believe that Say a Little Prayer and House is not a Home are not in the original score, but were added for the Broadway revival a few years back. So if you cut anything, I guess it makes sense to cut those.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 11:20:47 GMT
I believe that Say a Little Prayer and House is not a Home are not in the original score, but were added for the Broadway revival a few years back. So if you cut anything, I guess it makes sense to cut those. I appreciate that, but they are the best songs in it. Glad I saw a preview now. |
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Post by westendcub on Jan 18, 2017 11:22:02 GMT
I saw in the programme Say A Little Prayer and House Is Not A Home (Reprise) were listed but not performed, have they now been cut since the programmes were made I'm assuming? I can't recall if 'House is not a home (Reprise)' was in the show when I saw it, it closed Act 1 and just can't recall if the reprise happened in Act 2 but I think cutting 'Say a Little Prayer' is a shame, that was performed in the preview I saw and was one of it better moments. |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 18, 2017 11:41:37 GMT
I'm confused!! Easily done with me though.
Sat night came in at 2hrs 50 as it went up 10 mins late with those 2 songs. So if as people are saying it's now 3 hours long minus 2 songs arent they going in the wrong direction. And what's been added?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 18, 2017 11:43:04 GMT
I saw in the programme Say A Little Prayer and House Is Not A Home (Reprise) were listed but not performed, have they now been cut since the programmes were made I'm assuming? I can't recall if 'House is not a home (Reprise)' was in the show when I saw it, it closed Act 1 and just can't recall if the reprise happened in Act 2 but I think cutting 'Say a Little Prayer' is a shame, that was performed in the preview I saw and was one of it better moments. It was a better moment but I do remember thinking it wasn't really in context. Seemed. Like they crowbarred it in. Now they've crowbarred it out again. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 11:45:49 GMT
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Post by freckles on Jan 18, 2017 12:18:16 GMT
So long as there's lovely Bacharach and David music in it, I'm not worried. Looking forward to probably my only chance to see this show on stage. The songs are below par for that duo, IMHO. . House is not a Home was in Act One when I watched the final preview yesterday matinee, no reprise though. No sign of Say a Little Prayer at all. Never Fall in Love Again was wonderful. The only other one I knew was Turkey Lurkey Time, I think the less said about that, the better... Was three hours for us, although may have gone up 5-10 mins late. |
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Post by freckles on Jan 18, 2017 12:23:26 GMT
I suppose it is dated, as is The Apartment, the movie it's based on, in the logistical sense - it's much easier to find a place to have sex after work these days. And the men-on-the-prowl tone comes with all that. But the hero's predicament, his willingness to be used while trying to balance infatuation with ambition, is, IMO, very strong and well worked out in the course of the story. Yes, it's an apparently pleasant musical with a dark cynical heart which is one of the reasons I have always liked it. I'm seeing this production later in the week and looking forward to it. I don't mind dated, in the context of a musical. And I'm not horrified and outraged at the idea of affairs at work or finding a place in which to conduct said affairs etc, but felt the whole subject matter could have been handled with a bit more wit and charm than it was. Hope you enjoy it, let us know what you think. |
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