1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Aug 27, 2017 6:59:13 GMT
Judging by photos on instagram of the speeches, I'm going to guess the set is more minimal and simple. For this show I can't really imagine a big flash set working.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Aug 27, 2017 7:53:26 GMT
There is a huge difference between a minimal set (absolutely fine) and a cheap set (unacceptable).
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Post by danb on Aug 27, 2017 8:13:34 GMT
There is a huge difference between a minimal set (absolutely fine) and a cheap set (unacceptable). I draw the line at 'we had this wallpaper left over, lets base the set design around it', but there is nothing wrong with basic. It has to serve the story, not be the story. |
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156 posts
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Post by PhantomNcl on Aug 29, 2017 12:16:49 GMT
Judging by photos on instagram of the speeches, I'm going to guess the set is more minimal and simple. For this show I can't really imagine a big flash set working. The set is quite minimal - there's a series of black portals which have lighting contained in them, and the rest is mainly made up of back cloths. It's not too unlike the Broadway set from what I've seen from videos of that production, but simpler in places. The cart and horses for the 'Roll in ze hay' number look identical. There's a trucked doorway for the entrance to the Frankenstein castle (with the big knockers...), which then revolves to turn into the bookcase which is the entrance to the hidden laboratory. The laboratory itself has several bits of working machinery which light up, explode, move etc., and there's a flown rig for the Monster. Some of the cloths look a bit 'panto', for example the outdoor one after the Monster has kidnapped Elizabeth - there isn't the trucked cave entrance from the Broadway production, but a cave-shaped hole cut in the cloth. However... I think this style of set works extremely well for the production. As Zak said, I too couldn't see a blg flash set working as well. It focuses everything down on the performances themselves, and all fits in well with the tongue in cheek production. The costumes and wigs are great, and look very much like the Broadway ones. |
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156 posts
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Post by PhantomNcl on Aug 29, 2017 12:24:22 GMT
As for the musical numbers:
Act 1
The Brain - Frederick and Students
Please Don't Touch Me - Elizabeth, Passengers and Crew
Together Again - Frederick and Igor
Roll In The Hay - Inga, Frederick and Igor
He Vas My Boyfriend - Frau Blücher
It Could Work - Frederick, Frau Blücher, Igor and Inga
Hang Him Till He's Dead - Kemp and Villagers
He Vas My Boyfriend (Reprise) - Frau Blücher
Welcome to Transylvania - Kemp and Village Quartet
Transylvania Mania - Igor, Frederick, Inga and Villagers
Act 2
He's Loose - Kemp and Villagers
Listen To Your Heart - Inga
Surprise - Inga, Frau Blücher, Igor and Entourage
Someone - Hermit
Puttin' On The Ritz - Frederick, Monster, Inga, Igor and Company
Deep Love - Elizabeth
Frederick Soliloquy - Frederick
Deep Love (Reprise) - Monster
Finale Ultimo - Company
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520 posts
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Post by anthony on Aug 29, 2017 12:36:30 GMT
As for the musical numbers: Act 1 The Brain - Frederick and Students Please Don't Touch Me - Elizabeth, Passengers and Crew Together Again - Frederick and Igor Roll In The Hay - Inga, Frederick and Igor He Vas My Boyfriend - Frau Blücher It Could Work - Frederick, Frau Blücher, Igor and Inga Hang Him Till He's Dead - Kemp and Villagers He Vas My Boyfriend (Reprise) - Frau Blücher Welcome to Transylvania - Kemp and Village Quartet Transylvania Mania - Igor, Frederick, Inga and Villagers Act 2 He's Loose - Kemp and Villagers Listen To Your Heart - Inga Surprise - Inga, Frau Blücher, Igor and Entourage Someone - Hermit Puttin' On The Ritz - Frederick, Monster, Inga, Igor and Company Deep Love - Elizabeth Frederick Soliloquy - Frederick Deep Love (Reprise) - Monster Finale Ultimo - Company So they cut Life, Life? Disappointing -- one of the better songs! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2017 12:36:38 GMT
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how strangely foxy Studley Fraser looks in the publicity images for the show? Even Andrew Garfield would look at that hair and think "nah, too big".  |
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4,984 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 29, 2017 15:55:02 GMT
Remember seeing this on B'way and an absolute highlight was Puttin on the Ritz.
Strange Ross Noble has starred in both Mel Brooks musicals, anyone would think he is a top notch actor.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2017 9:14:07 GMT
@ryan I propose he and young Garfield get together and have a 'hair-off' (other clothing optional)
Oh Hadley, how do I love you (even with that porn star 'tache)
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 30, 2017 15:44:10 GMT
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how strangely foxy Studley Fraser looks in the publicity images for the show? Even Andrew Garfield would look at that hair and think "nah, too big". I'm getting a Ewan McGregor vibe from that pic. |
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4,177 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 30, 2017 17:30:53 GMT
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how strangely foxy Studley Fraser looks in the publicity images for the show? Even Andrew Garfield would look at that hair and think "nah, too big". I'm getting a Ewan McGregor vibe from that pic. Same here |
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5,812 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 30, 2017 20:22:45 GMT
Really glad to hear good reports on this... and Riedels NY Post article says we brits are loving it..!
May just have to get tickets for the west end now
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364 posts
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Post by dazzerlump on Aug 30, 2017 23:13:00 GMT
I'm seeing it tomorrow and really looking forward to it, I've only listened to the CD a couple of times many years ago so the songs will be relatively fresh to me
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421 posts
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Post by carmella1 on Aug 31, 2017 2:41:17 GMT
The original Broadway production starred Roger Bart and he was totally lost in the role. He was manic all the time. No charisma at all. That is half the battle and Hadley has it. The the Broadway production was pretty bad anyway.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Aug 31, 2017 17:00:43 GMT
If anyone is in the area for the Newcastle run, you can get Standby tickets two hours before from the box office. Half price.
Just got a seat near the front for £25 and cam be very smug that all those around paid double that.
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156 posts
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Post by PhantomNcl on Aug 31, 2017 17:18:57 GMT
If anyone is in the area for the Newcastle run, you can get Standby tickets two hours before from the box office. Half price. Just got a seat near the front for £25 and cam be very smug that all those around paid double that. That's a bargain - well done! Even the 'partial view' seats in the back row of the Stalls don't have too partial a view for this production, as there's nothing really high up that you'd miss from the Grand Circle overhang. |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Aug 31, 2017 23:03:27 GMT
Saw this tonight. I know nothing about previous productions to compare it to etc etc. but I absolutely loved it!
I laughed and laughed. Genuinely funny.
Loved the songs.
Loved the set design. It doesn't look cheap at all, despite some earlier comments. Would fit in fine in the West End.
Loved the staging.
Loved the casting and acting.
Cannot believe this was the same Ross Noble as in The Producers. He was fantastic in this. Even Lesley Joseph was great. I do not say these things lightly. These are things I did not expect to say!
Supporting cast great. All were great. Did I mention I loved it? Best mention it again just in case...
It's in wonderful shape for a show less than a week in.
I was speaking to a lady afterwards who absolutely hated it. Found it very old fashioned and dated. Maybe a bit of a marmite musical?! Who knows.
I'm going back next week if not sooner! This is from someone who didn't have high hopes and just went along because Dianne Pilkington was in it... so praise indeed!
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 1, 2017 6:32:15 GMT
When I saw The Producers I sat there with a manic ear-to-ear grin all the way through it, apart from when I was actually laughing out loud. I mean proper belly laughs.
This never happens.
I just found it hilariously silly. I'm hoping this is the same.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 1, 2017 7:25:55 GMT
It is. The whole audience were, as we say in Newcastle, "creased".
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 9:13:37 GMT
I'm rather excited for this and will see it in town, but hoping for a TodayTix Rush or something.
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156 posts
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Post by PhantomNcl on Sept 1, 2017 21:30:41 GMT
Saw the show again tonight and it's even better than on opening night. A couple of minor set and prop changes, and some scenes cut that were slowing things down (the shadow projection as they climbed down to the laboratory and the bit in Welcome to Transylvania with the soaps and cheeses). The set looks superb now and totally fits the style of the show, and the performances are spot on.
Highlight of the night: a couple spotted Mel Brooks lurking in the foyer waiting to take his seat for act 2. Woman says "Eeh look it's Mel Brooks!!" Mel says "Aah f*ck off back inside and watch the rest will ya??" 🤣
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Sept 7, 2017 21:44:38 GMT
I ended up seeing this again today, the Thursday matinee. Row C restricted view (because of high height of stage) for £21 but row C turned out to be the second row.
I cannot fault this show and there's not one weak link in the cast.
Even though it was my second viewing I had an actual pain in my side from laughing so much. It is hysterical.
I absolutely adore the music, the songs, the scenery and everything at all from start to end.
Ross Noble absolutely grafts from start to finish and he nails it. I didn't think he could do it but am eating major humble pie! He has really put the work in here and being the local boy he probably got the biggest applause of all. I was also chatting to a lovely couple who remembered him being their paper boy.
5 stars.
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4,786 posts
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Post by Mark on Sept 7, 2017 21:58:04 GMT
I was there this evening and thought it was great. It's just over 9 years since I saw the show in New York, and it works just as well in this smaller scale version as it did in its overblown Broadway production, if not better.
No complaints about the set, it works very well and fits perfectly with the show. The performances all around are grea, with special mention to Lesley Joseph who pleasantly surprised.
Very funny, great songs, and highly enjoyable. Hopefully this will do well in London and to be honest I think it fills a gap as a true "comedy" musical.
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156 posts
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Post by PhantomNcl on Sept 8, 2017 10:03:44 GMT
I popped in for another viewing last night (back again for a final one on Saturday night). Aside from one brief show stop while they sorted a bit of stuck set out (and Ross & Hadley popped out from behind the curtain to give us a bit of ad-libbing about "Look at all these people here in the castle garden...") the show is in tremendous shape. I love the sound on this show too - little touches of sound effects like brains squidging, candles plopping and audience noises during 'Puttin' On The Ritz' all add to make the show the fun ride that it is. The sound desk is like something from Star Wars  One of my favourite scenes is where Frankenstein attempts to reanimate the monster - the sound, lighting and stage effects are fantastic! |
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Post by ptwest on Sept 9, 2017 16:15:01 GMT
Really looking forward to this tonight!
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