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Post by aprilamy on Mar 16, 2017 20:14:14 GMT
I have to confess, I thought this was absolutely dreadful! And I went in really ready to like it. It just seems like the epitome of style over substance. The set is enormous but I have to agree with earlier comments, I wanted to watch what was happening on stage not on a screen, particularly as the video links are slightly out of sync. It probably doesn't help that I saw City of Glass at Home the day before (which had the opposite problem of too much plot) where video projections were used in a really innovative and interesting way. This was just video projections to try to look clever.
Then you had the nonsensical 'plot'. Nothing was explained, characters had no discernible personality traits, they changed their minds every two seconds (Raven particularly guilty of this with her 'I can't do this' running off every other scene). It was also so predictable we sat in the interval and worked out exactly what was going to happen in act 2. It made the plot of WWRY seem like a masterpiece.
The dialogue was unbelievably bad. One genuine exchange:
Strat - Grow up
Tink - Make me
Strat - Just grow up
Tink - Just try to make me
I mean, really? Is that the best he could do? Surely that sort of thing should be picked up by the workshop stage.
It is a shame because all of the cast are undeniably talented and there are some great voices. But it is overlong and even manage to make the songs, which are inherently dramatic and theatrical, a bit boring. My mind started wandering in Act 2 to whether this was as bad as Viva Forever...!
The effect with the car in Act One was by far my favourite thing about it, but an expensive set isn't everything and doesn't make up for a terrible book.
I let needs a major overhaul to me and I do genuinely hope it can improve. A lot of the audience lapped it up though, so knowing me it will be a huge hit!
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2,276 posts
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Post by richey on Mar 17, 2017 7:55:14 GMT
Aprilamy I'd have to agree with you about plot and charaterisation. I found it really annoying the way characters do one thing in one scene then change their mind in the next. One thing that got on my nerves was the fact that Falco is supposedly keeping his family secure in his high tower yet people just manage to pop in and out through open windows or whatever.
They could easily cut the first twenty minutes of act 2 it serves no purpose at all. It's merely "look we've caught and imprisoned the good guys/ excuse for song/oh ok I'll free them"
As i posted previously I gave up thinking about the plot in the end and just enjoyed the sound and spectacle.
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2,276 posts
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Post by richey on Mar 17, 2017 9:47:39 GMT
Just announced it's extended the Manchester run until 29th April
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173 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Mar 17, 2017 10:06:07 GMT
Just announced it's extended the Manchester run until 29th April Yeah, they were always contracted to stay till the end of the month so they could say they extended due to popular demand despite both shows I went to being pretty empty. These fake extensions get on my nerves. |
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Post by trapdoor on Mar 17, 2017 10:34:14 GMT
Using the spoiler thingy, can anyone tell me what the car effect is?
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2,276 posts
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Post by richey on Mar 17, 2017 10:47:48 GMT
Using the spoiler thingy, can anyone tell me what the car effect is?
{Spoiler - click to view}
At the end of Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Raven pushes a full size cadillac off the edge of the stage into the orchestra pit. Its easy to see how its done but pretty effective! |
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Post by aprilamy on Mar 17, 2017 18:24:46 GMT
Aprilamy I'd have to agree with you about plot and charaterisation. I found it really annoying the way characters do one thing in one scene then change their mind in the next. One thing that got on my nerves was the fact that Falco is supposedly keeping his family secure in his high tower yet people just manage to pop in and out through open windows or whatever. They could easily cut the first twenty minutes of act 2 it serves no purpose at all. It's merely "look we've caught and imprisoned the good guys/ excuse for song/oh ok I'll free them . Haha yes! So security conscious he apparently has his own police but people just pop in and out. Oh and agree about act 2 opening. Then I thought the three guys singing 'Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are' did a lovely job and sounded really strong but could hardly concentrate for wondering why those three had been so loosely left outside of the cage. And why when free they made no attempt to free the rest inside the cage?! Ah well it may end up one of those I still remember in ten years and laugh about! |
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Post by danb on Mar 19, 2017 9:48:49 GMT
Any offers for this in Manchester out there? The day I want to go is barely a fifth sold, so you'd think they'd be trying to flog what they've got rather than extending just to fit another weekend in? Anyone?
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1,830 posts
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Post by stevej678 on Mar 20, 2017 10:07:29 GMT
It's all coming back to me now. I saw this on Friday evening and must admit I approached it with a degree of caution. I can't pretend to be a huge fan of Meatloaf though I expected the songs would work well on stage, given their inherent theatrically, though the dystopian plot and the whole thing potentially being an exercise in style over substance had me feeling somewhat apprehensive. I needn't have worried. As soon as the opening number All Revved Up With No Place To Go kicked in, the Bat Out of Hell juggernaut completely blew me away. Certainly, in terms of spectacle this show delivers big time. There’s a sense that a million and one things have been thrown at the production but against the odds a lot of it sticks. So much is often happening at the same time on stage, that one viewing arguably isn't enough to take everything in. Whether the quirky filming of scenes in Raven's bedroom on the upper part of the set really adds anything other than compensating for the poor sightlines is a moot point but from the front row of the Circle where I was sat it added an interesting if slightly redundant extra layer to proceedings. Ensuring the songs are done full justice, the casting of this show is a triumph. The vocals across the board are quite simply phenomenal. In the lead roles of Strat and Raven, Andrew Polec brings a magnetic, intoxicating intensity, while Christina Bennington is, as a previous post put it, "sexy as hell" with an "effortless incredible rock belt"! What I particularly liked about Christina's vocals is the control to her voice, with plenty of light and shade rather than X Factor style attempts to deliver every note at full throttle. But boy can she turn it up when she needs to! The chemistry between the two leads is electric. The rest of the cast are also very strong, Sharon Sexton almost stealing the show in the epic Paradise By The Dashboard Light while Georgia Carling stands out in the high-energy ensemble. What a joy to see such a talented young cast at the top of their game. The songs are certainly done full justice and while I might not rush to download the original Bat Out Of Hell albums there’s no doubt I would be at the front of the queue if a cast recording were to happen! The plot borrows elements of Peter Pan, while the theme of a beautiful maiden trapped in a tower also reminded me of Rapunzel. It's fair to say that the narrative isn't the show's strength but it's serviceable if you don't scrutinise what's happening too much. It was always going to exist primarily as a vehicle to move between songs and it serves this purpose in a quirky way, any flaws arguably proving almost irrelevant. I felt reasonably engaged by the main characters, most of whom are fairly likable, while the occasional stunt also helps to maintain the audience's attention. Speaking of stunts, the car being pushed into the orchestra pit is a particularly memorable moment and I loved what happened next, with two musicians and the conductor climbing up onto the stage to remonstrate with the cast in mock outrage! If you're not a particular fan of Meatloaf I would say don't let that put you off seeing this show. If you are the owner of a Bat Out Of Hell album or three, then you simply have to see this cast performing his songs. Yes, the whole thing is as subtle as a bull in a china shop but it's also thoroughly entertaining, building to a knockout, powerhouse finale with I Would Do Anything For Love morphing from a duet into a rousing full ensemble number before the riotous curtain call. The inevitable standing ovation was hugely deserved. As the cast vacated the stage, one audience member commented "Wow, that was incredible" and another screamed "Thank you, Manchesterrrr!". Talk about taking the words right out of my mouth. Maybe rock and roll dreams really do come true. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 20, 2017 10:12:50 GMT
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Post by danb on Mar 20, 2017 10:26:03 GMT
Feel like a cheapskate for asking now...roll on Weds night! Sounds like a permanent contender for the Dominion once it's finished it's ENO run.
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Post by benny20 on Mar 20, 2017 10:30:02 GMT
Looking forward to Thursday night even more Now!
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Post by danb on Mar 22, 2017 23:41:31 GMT
Bad: too long, too many ballads in act two, glib WWRY lite storyline.
Good: the bulk of the songs, every single voice, amazing proscenium engulfing set which when put into the theatre it was designed for will work even better and a very clever puddle. ANDREW POLEC, ANDREW POLEC, ANDREW POLEC! I am a straight 44 year old male, but...swoon! His voice is an effortless thing of power and beauty and he sells the appalling storyline as if it's Pinter, without an ounce of knowing wink or sarcasm. I didn't love the female lead but that was more to do with the arrangement of her songs and not being able to soar. She is good. IT is very, very good given that it's still in its first month and it is a load of old tosh. Did I mention how good Andrew Polec was? I'd say he was underused simply because they let others sing! Oh, and 'Bat Out of Hell' is now the best act one closer since 'Defying Gravity'.
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Post by benny20 on Mar 22, 2017 23:51:35 GMT
Still looking forward to It!,
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Post by danb on Mar 22, 2017 23:56:55 GMT
Still looking forward to It!, Oh you should do Benny. I can see it doing rather well. |
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Post by benny20 on Mar 24, 2017 18:58:13 GMT
Well, don't go if you're not keen on Stein man but,wow what an experience.
Never seen staging like it, all around and above the stage. Lighting,sound and band top drawer. All the main roles were brilliantly sung plus many other ensemble roles as well. For me Danielle Steers and Dominic Hartley were the standouts.
Story a bit naff, Peter Pan kind of, visually great, nice use of cameras, massive set, some choreography a bit cheesy but what can you do with Meatloaf songs.
Anyway, really enjoyed it. Give it a try. Pricey tickets though for decent seats
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Post by danb on Mar 25, 2017 6:24:55 GMT
Well, don't go if you're not keen on Stein man but,wow what an experience. Never seen staging like it, all around and above the stage. Lighting,sound and band top drawer. All the main roles were brilliantly sung plus many other ensemble roles as well. For me Danielle Steers and Dominic Hartley were the standouts. Story a bit naff, Peter Pan kind of, visually great, nice use of cameras, massive set, some choreography a bit cheesy but what can you do with Meatloaf songs. Anyway, really enjoyed it. Give it a try. Pricey tickets though for decent seats I'd forgotten about the dancing! Very cheesy Brian Rogers connection style movement designed to fill the stage and give everyone else something to do. My brother hated it to the point of embarrassment; I thought it worked. At least they fill the stage with it....the stage that is happy to waste a good tenth of it's playing area to set up it's massive stunt. Brave and highly unfashionable, just like the album itself. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 31, 2017 22:28:36 GMT
I thought I was going to hate that but O M G  Its fab. Its huge. Its daft. And it's masses of fun. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 31, 2017 22:30:45 GMT
Oh, and Danielle Steers as Zahara. Couldn't take my eyes off her. Fantastic!
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 31, 2017 22:53:55 GMT
Glad you enjoyed this, but unsurprised as Jim Steinman is a really underrated lyricist.
If you get a chance listen to 'Unsettled Score' from Whistle Down The Wind, in my 10% of top songs for musical theatre of all time.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 1, 2017 7:12:18 GMT
I'm amazed no-one has mentuoned that stunt/illusion near the end of Act 2 when {Spoiler - click to view}
Falco jumps feet first into a pool of real water, is completely submerged over his head THEN COMESBACK UP A FEW SECONDS LATER SOAKING BUT IN A DIFFERENT COSTUME
i mean like. WTF? |
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Post by danb on Apr 1, 2017 7:54:43 GMT
Bad: too long, too many ballads in act two, glib WWRY lite storyline. Good: the bulk of the songs, every single voice, amazing proscenium engulfing set which when put into the theatre it was designed for will work even better and a very clever puddle. ANDREW POLEC, ANDREW POLEC, ANDREW POLEC! I am a straight 44 year old male, but...swoon! His voice is an effortless thing of power and beauty and he sells the appalling storyline as if it's Pinter, without an ounce of knowing wink or sarcasm. I didn't love the female lead but that was more to do with the arrangement of her songs and not being able to soar. She is good. IT is very, very good given that it's still in its first month and it is a load of old tosh. Did I mention how good Andrew Polec was? I'd say he was underused simply because they let others sing! Oh, and 'Bat Out of Hell' is now the best act one closer since 'Defying Gravity'. I kind of did here...I'm so pleased that someone else is talking about this show because I loved it flaws & all. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 1, 2017 8:34:00 GMT
Ahhhh yes you did. Have you ever seen that trick done before? I cant think how that's even possible.
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Post by danb on Apr 1, 2017 9:52:51 GMT
I suspect that things are changed in the interval and that things you used to practice as a child get used! 😳
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 1, 2017 10:07:02 GMT
I suspect that things are changed in the interval and that things you used to practice as a child get used! 😳 I don't see how singing Abba songs in the mirror wearing a blue silk cloche hat would help. |
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