1,305 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Jun 10, 2016 19:34:47 GMT
Saw this Wednesday matinee and thought it was terrific. Rebecca was off, but I was wowed by Gina Beck and loved loved loved Chris Peluso. Got the great half price matinee deal. And a lovely audience too.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Jun 11, 2016 8:38:09 GMT
Saw this last night and enjoyed it although it felt a bit small scale in terms of cast numbers. "Old Man River" was sung by Joe and five other guys with a couple of ladies dropping in to add their voices. It was underpowered and, hence, not the showstopper it should be. On the up side, we had the understudy Joe, Tosh Wanogho-Maud, who possesses a rich bass-baritone voice and who nailed the song's low notes, something, I gather, that the regular Joe has a problem with.
Gina Beck was the star of the show and quite perfect in every way and I also liked Chris Peluso's Ravenal. His voice and hers were a great blend and I thought he handled his underwritten role extremely well. Btw, I loved the way the ending was staged, that problematic reunion scene. Director Daniel Evans got it exactly right.
Rebecca Trehearn was out and her understudy was not able to infuse "Bill" with the required magic, which was disappointing, but the rest of the main cast were certainly impressive. I loved Sandra Marvin's Queenie and Malcolm Sinclair's Captain Andy - talk about making the most of your part!
Act Two is always going to be a problem but Evans's solutions seemed appropriate. The time compression after the Trocadero scene was inventively done although one wished he had had more resources at his disposal. In the last Broadway incarnation of this show, the Hal Prince production, the passing years were indicated via a massive dance number, the music and the dance steps changing with the times from the sedate cakewalk to the hot jazz of the twenties. But every staging of Showboat is going to be different in this section of the show.
This is a fine production of a great, if somewhat troublesome, musical. Well done to all concerned.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 10:42:15 GMT
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show just now. It sounded incredible!
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41 posts
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Post by cathyfromlex on Jun 11, 2016 12:12:36 GMT
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show just now. It sounded incredible! Didn't it! Still holding out hope for a cast recording. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 19:35:04 GMT
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show just now. It sounded incredible! Didn't it! Still holding out hope for a cast recording. Is there any update on that?! |
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5,795 posts
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Show Boat
Jun 12, 2016 6:57:59 GMT
via mobile
Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 12, 2016 6:57:59 GMT
Someone should have written in to ask them!
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41 posts
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Post by cathyfromlex on Jun 12, 2016 10:38:41 GMT
Someone should have written in to ask them! D'OH! <slaps forehead> |
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19,652 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 12, 2016 10:42:55 GMT
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5,795 posts
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Show Boat
Jun 12, 2016 14:19:09 GMT
via mobile
Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 12, 2016 14:19:09 GMT
It's not a good recording.. Obviously recorded live. A studio receding would be good
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41 posts
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Post by cathyfromlex on Jun 12, 2016 17:16:06 GMT
It's not a good recording.. Obviously recorded live. A studio receding would be good Well, it is good (meaning I'll take it!), but no, it is not studio recording quality. I suppose it must have been done to use as background audio on the promo videos. Which might mean Ol' Man River exists somewhere, too. |
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Post by alwaysbeengreen on Jun 12, 2016 20:37:00 GMT
Someone should have written in to ask them! I did... sadly though it obviously wasn't answered! Saw this last night and enjoyed it although it felt a bit small scale in terms of cast numbers. "Old Man River" was sung by Joe and five other guys with a couple of ladies dropping in to add their voices. It was underpowered and, hence, not the showstopper it should be. On the up side, we had the understudy Joe, Tosh Wanogho-Maud, who possesses a rich bass-baritone voice and who nailed the song's low notes, something, I gather, that the regular Joe has a problem with. Gina Beck was the star of the show and quite perfect in every way and I also liked Chris Peluso's Ravenal. His voice and hers were a great blend and I thought he handled his underwritten role extremely well. Btw, I loved the way the ending was staged, that problematic reunion scene. Director Daniel Evans got it exactly right. Rebecca Trehearn was out and her understudy was not able to infuse "Bill" with the required magic, which was disappointing, but the rest of the main cast were certainly impressive. I loved Sandra Marvin's Queenie and Malcolm Sinclair's Captain Andy - talk about making the most of your part! Act Two is always going to be a problem but Evans's solutions seemed appropriate. The time compression after the Trocadero scene was inventively done although one wished he had had more resources at his disposal. In the last Broadway incarnation of this show, the Hal Prince production, the passing years were indicated via a massive dance number, the music and the dance steps changing with the times from the sedate cakewalk to the hot jazz of the twenties. But every staging of Showboat is going to be different in this section of the show. This is a fine production of a great, if somewhat troublesome, musical. Well done to all concerned. I kind of have to agree with you about Old Man River - with Tosh on as Joe the ensemble was one short as another member is still out injured. Previously the impact at the end of Old Man River with a full ensemble has been very powerful with Tosh adding some strong vocals which I really missed when he was on as Joe (As Joe his Old Man River was amazing to watch and listen to... a very emotional performance from him!) |
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724 posts
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Post by basdfg on Jun 17, 2016 13:28:27 GMT
Can't wait for this tommrow, does anyone know where the cast board is at the new London?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 16:25:49 GMT
Seeing this for the first time ever tonight! I don't know how to feel about it in all honesty. I rarely see shows I have no knowlage what-so-ever of so I am excited but apprehensive too haha. Literally my knowlage of this show is Gina Beck, Ol' Man River and that it has race issues... oh, and that it is set on a boat. Haha
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 16:29:45 GMT
Seeing this for the first time ever tonight! I don't know how to feel about it in all honesty. I rarely see shows I have no knowlage what-so-ever of so I am excited but apprehensive too haha. Literally my knowlage of this show is Gina Beck, Ol' Man River and that it has race issues... oh, and that it is set on a boat. Haha I love seeing shows I know nothing about. Hope you enjoy! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 16:43:10 GMT
Seeing this for the first time ever tonight! I don't know how to feel about it in all honesty. I rarely see shows I have no knowlage what-so-ever of so I am excited but apprehensive too haha. Literally my knowlage of this show is Gina Beck, Ol' Man River and that it has race issues... oh, and that it is set on a boat. Haha I love seeing shows I know nothing about. Hope you enjoy! Thank you, I must admit, the main draw for me is Gina Beck at the moment, she is my most seen Glinda so I want to see her do something new. Hopefully the show lives up to the hype people on here have been giving it! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 16:47:09 GMT
I did have one question, as I haven't really been keeping up with this thread as I actually did want a surprise going into it. What kind of genre is it? Comedy? Drama? Simply one of those "boop-boop-de-doop" musicals?  |
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7,050 posts
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Show Boat
Jun 17, 2016 17:07:01 GMT
via mobile
Post by Jon on Jun 17, 2016 17:07:01 GMT
It's a drama, it's defiantly not a glitzy campy musical
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 17:08:45 GMT
It's a drama, it's defiantly not a glitzy campy musical Oh good, I'm glad then, I was in the mood for something a bit darker today haha, spur of the moment worked in my favor then!  |
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 17, 2016 17:15:09 GMT
Groundbreaking musical written in 1927, about travelling players on board a Paddle Steamer - the Showboat of the title and deals with the racism of the time. It still has the power to shock, and is incredibly moving in parts. A splendid revival. Enjoy. Take some tissues!
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Show Boat
Jun 17, 2016 18:13:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 18:13:35 GMT
Not the best start, an old woman just fell down the stairs in the stalls and bashed her shoulder against the stage. Poor thing.  |
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Show Boat
Jun 17, 2016 18:16:58 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 18:16:58 GMT
Understudy on for Joe... Tosh Wanogho-Maud is on tonight.
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724 posts
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Post by basdfg on Jun 17, 2016 19:07:22 GMT
Hope you enjoying the show.
There been an understudy on as Joe for a while. Illness I believe.
How busy is it?
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19,652 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 17, 2016 19:45:02 GMT
I love it when people post from the actual theatre |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 19:52:46 GMT
Well, interval thoughts, its a beautiful show! The set, costumes, overall design really is gorgeous! When those wooden panels raised at the beginning, the set actually took my breath away. The performances are great all around, its a pretty phenomenal cast. Gina and Chris are such a great pairing together!it is a great balance of comedy and drama, it is defiantly alot deeper but also more comedic when I expected. I am so, so glad I chose spur of the moment to see this and went in with no knowledge! Audience is about 80% full in the stalls I'd say, the ends of the balcony I can see are empty bar a couple of people. It was funny, once the lights went down, you just saw all the people at the far ends of the stalls near the wall of the stage move more central, almost like a wave! |
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724 posts
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Post by basdfg on Jun 17, 2016 20:09:33 GMT
Well, interval thoughts, its a beautiful show! The set, costumes, overall design really is gorgeous! When those wooden panels raised at the beginning, the set actually took my breath away. The performances are great all around, its a pretty phenomenal cast. Gina and Chris are such a great pairing together!it is a great balance of comedy and drama, it is defiantly alot deeper but also more comedic when I expected. I am so, so glad I chose spur of the moment to see this and went in with no knowledge! Audience is about 80% full in the stalls I'd say, the ends of the balcony I can see are empty bar a couple of people. It was funny, once the lights went down, you just saw all the people at the far ends of the stalls near the wall of the stage move more central, almost like a wave! Thanks. Is the understudy announced pre show or did you look on the board?
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