Show Boat

[David J]

I agree that the way the musical addresses racism and marital issues is a bit leightweight

The whole racism part is really addressed in the first act up untilJulie and Steve is forced to leave. And the resolution at the end doesn't quite ring true

Everyone likes to say hammersteins famous musicals alongside Rodgers raises important issues. I find that the Nazis in The Sound of Music are just there, and I've seen racism addressed better than South Pacific. Only Carousel and it addresses love really works for me

Then again I suppose musicals like Show Boat couldn't be so hard hitting as musicals can be today

I just took Show Boat for what it was and enjoyed it

[mallardo]

Showboat appeared in 1927, raising the racism issue in a way it had never been raised before on a musical stage. Perhaps it appears lightweight to you, David - and by modern standards it is! - but try to imagine it in a world in which racism was deep-seeded and overt and accepted as normal. See Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, for examples.

Hammerstein and Kern were very bold indeed. And Hammerstein was bold again in South Pacific, 22 years later. Let's respect him for being a man of principal rather than someone not "hard hitting" enough.

[Flim Flam]

www.whatsonstage.com/video/exclusive-rebecca-trehearn-performs-andquotbilland_435.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=19apr2016

Lovely clip of Rebecca Trehearn singing 'Bill'.
What a beautiful performance.

[trapdoor]

Apr 17, 2016 15:03:29 GMT @george22 said:

I've been looking at pictures of the ste and was just wondering where the orchestra is located? Are they below stage?

They're stage right, or at least that's where the sound appeared to come from. 

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 12:10:16 GMT trapdoor said:

Apr 17, 2016 15:03:29 GMT @george22 said:

I've been looking at pictures of the ste and was just wondering where the orchestra is located? Are they below stage?

They're stage right, or at least that's where the sound appeared to come from. 

Oh thanks! Are they visible??

[trapdoor]

Apr 19, 2016 12:11:37 GMT @george22 said:

Apr 19, 2016 12:10:16 GMT trapdoor said:

They're stage right, or at least that's where the sound appeared to come from. 

Oh thanks! Are they visible??

They weren't during in act one. I ***may*** not have gone back for act two...

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 12:26:28 GMT trapdoor said:

Apr 19, 2016 12:11:37 GMT @george22 said:

Oh thanks! Are they visible??

They weren't during in act one. I ***may*** not have gone back for act two...

Did you not enjoy it??

[ali973]

I haven't followed this production but I saw Rebecca singing My Bill earlier today. Sold. I booked right away.
So so gorgeously sung. Cast recording please or at least this as a single.

[ptwest]

A beautiful recording - she was the standout for me at Sheffield.

[theatre-turtle]

This is only around 60% full tonight

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 18:30:01 GMT theatre-turtle said:

This is only around 60% full tonight

I can see it really suffering and closing early

When the hell will people learn that a little regional success does not equal a massive WE hit

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 18:36:45 GMT @parsley said:

Apr 19, 2016 18:30:01 GMT theatre-turtle said:

This is only around 60% full tonight

I can see it really suffering and closing early

When the hell will people learn that a little regional success does not equal a massive WE hit

Nor do awards and an alleged amazing performance

As demonstrated by PPT which is performing miserable at the BO

I have said about 19 million times

Producers are beyond arrogant transferring most of what ends up in the WE

Wrong place for many works totally out of place and context

[basdfg]

I'll be gutted if doesn't last till June. It would have to be doing really badly not last till then through.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 19:20:12 GMT basdfg said:

I'll be gutted if doesn't last till June. It would have to be doing really badly not last till then through.

I'm very sure it will last until June, it's only 2 months away and hasn't even officially opened yet!! I dont know if it'll last until January though.

I keep saying its ticket prices for west end!!

[littlesally]

Let's not talk it down before the reviews. I'm sure they will give it a boost. As will word of mouth.

[wickedgrin]

Yes, definately ticket prices. I think I paid around £25 in Sheffield. Of course I would not expect this low level of pricing in the WE as costs are higher but say £50 and you would get a better chance of filling it. But with prices at £70 for top price (not the best seats in the house) and then £100 plus for the best seats people will only pay this for what they know and can be sure of enjoying and will simply not take the risk of paying out that sort of money on something they may not like. So they will return to Les Mis or Wicked again and again because at least they know what they are getting for their money.

I would love to see Showboat again but not at those prices I'm afraid. I might be cheeky and rock up at the box office one evening and see if I can charm my way to a deal? It wouldn't be the first time!

[Deleted]

There's no deals and no real discount for previews which doesn't help get people in. I wouldn't say Show Boat is a classic in the same way other shows are in the public eye

[Dr Tom]

Loved this in Sheffield. Saw it again at the weekend and loved this just as much in London. Such a beautiful score and well-performed too.

There are so many different versions of Show Boat (I think there's something like five hours of material for production teams to choose from). This version is pretty close to perfect in length and keeps the story moving at a fast pace (for Show Boat).

A few changes I spotted from Sheffield. There's no easy entrance point below the stalls to brings people/props in, so the staging is rather different. The aspects displaying racism seemed rather toned down as well, with much less threatening of the workers.

I'm not much of a romantic, but it's very hard to get to the end of the show without being swept up with the emotions. I hope that this runs and runs.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 19:41:12 GMT wickedgrin said:

Yes, definately ticket prices. I think I paid around £25 in Sheffield. Of course I would not expect this low level of pricing in the WE as costs are higher but say £50 and you would get a better chance of filling it. But with prices at £70 for top price (not the best seats in the house) and then £100 plus for the best seats people will only pay this for what they know and can be sure of enjoying and will simply not take the risk of paying out that sort of money on something they may not like. So they will return to Les Mis or Wicked again and again because at least they know what they are getting for their money.

I would love to see Showboat again but not at those prices I'm afraid. I might be cheeky and rock up at the box office one evening and see if I can charm my way to a deal? It wouldn't be the first time!

Totally agree!! I would see it but not at those prices, I think it would be better to have a full house with say £50,£40 tickets rather than only half a house. Plus more marketing is needed I think!! 

To be fair, they might get more punters after the reviews come out. 

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 18:43:13 GMT @parsley said:

Apr 19, 2016 18:36:45 GMT @parsley said:

I can see it really suffering and closing early

When the hell will people learn that a little regional success does not equal a massive WE hit

Nor do awards and an alleged amazing performance

As demonstrated by PPT which is performing miserable at the BO

I have said about 19 million times

Producers are beyond arrogant transferring most of what ends up in the WE

Wrong place for many works totally out of place and context

Yes, bring back Bend It Like Beckham. A triumph. 

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 20:40:48 GMT @mrmusicals said:

Apr 19, 2016 18:43:13 GMT @parsley said:

Nor do awards and an alleged amazing performance

As demonstrated by PPT which is performing miserable at the BO

I have said about 19 million times

Producers are beyond arrogant transferring most of what ends up in the WE

Wrong place for many works totally out of place and context

Yes, bring back Bend It Like Beckham. A triumph. 

It managed 10 months

At the current rate better than many other new shows

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2016 21:22:07 GMT @parsley said:

Apr 19, 2016 20:40:48 GMT @mrmusicals said:

Yes, bring back Bend It Like Beckham. A triumph. 

It managed 10 months

At the current rate better than many other new shows

Don't forget, I enjoyed Beckham. It did well to run that long! 

[lonlad]

Is anyone else curious why Julie is being played by a white performer (who is excellent) when the norm now with this part is to have it played by a woman of colour, like the brilliant Lonette McKee, who did it twice on Broadway (i.e. in two separate productions) - this is like the Ava Gardner/Lena Horne film imbroglio revisited .....

[cathyfromlex]

Apr 19, 2016 23:15:13 GMT lonlad said:

Is anyone else curious why Julie is being played by a white performer (who is excellent) when the norm now with this part is to have it played by a woman of colour, like the brilliant Lonette McKee, who did it twice on Broadway (i.e. in two separate productions) - this is like the Ava Gardner/Lena Horne film imbroglio revisited .....

I think this is a bit tricky because the point is that Julie is "passing" as white.  Interesting fact: this production is based on the new version done at the Goodspeed Opera House a few years ago. At Goodspeed, Julie was played by Lesli Margherita.

[mallardo]

Lesli Margherita is a good compromise if you can't get Lonette McKee who was certainly an amazing Julie. But she was perfect, she was the part - that doesn't happen very often. And Rebecca Trehearn's voice probably overcomes any qualms I might have.