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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 17:08:51 GMT
As many of you may know, Sting's "The Last Ship" didn't do very well on Broadway. I never got the chance to see the show, but I love the Cast Recording to death. I keep playing it over and over, and based on the music alone I can't understand why it had to close after only 4 months (including 1 month of previews). It was also nominated for two Tony awards, including best score. I can't help but thinking it would have done a lot better in London. So do you guys think a West End production could happen any time soon? Maybe with Rachel Tucker and possibly Sting himself?
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Post by talkstageytome on Sept 19, 2016 17:32:22 GMT
I love the cast album too! I actually played one of the songs on the ipad in the theatre cafe today, funnily enough. I do agree it probably would be done a bit better in England, but I never saw it and do recall people saying that the story itself was flawed. Gorgeous songs though. I'd love to see a production over here!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 17:44:00 GMT
I love the cast album too! I actually played one of the songs on the ipad in the theatre cafe today, funnily enough. I do agree it probably would be done a bit better in England, but I never saw it and do recall people saying that the story itself was flawed. Gorgeous songs though. I'd love to see a production over here! I read somewhere that they were planning on doing rewrites anyway to tackle the flawed story problem. But apparently the biggest problem was simply getting people into the theatre. From what I've heard and read, most people who actually saw the show loved it so much and said it was one of the most beautiful things they'd ever seen. But of course it's no Wicked or The Lion King with big sparkly ensemble songs that draw huge crowds. But if you have a cast with Rachel Tucker and possibly Sting (or alternatively Jimmy Nail) in London, I think they should be able to have a good run at the very least. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 17:47:18 GMT
I think they were stupid to go over to Broadway first... I think it would have way more success over here! It wouldn't be a long runner I wouldn't think but longer than three months would be better than that!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 17:48:55 GMT
The key thing is they don't run productions on music alone, whether or not it's selling enough tickets is a big part of it.  |
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Post by talkstageytome on Sept 19, 2016 17:50:47 GMT
I always thought it was odd that they never did it in England. Surely the story would resonate much more with audiences here?! It was rumoured to be coming over and going into a regional theatre a while back I think but clearly no more on this has been rumoured since, as far as I'm aware. Songs are gorgeous!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 17:55:40 GMT
I think they were stupid to go over to Broadway first... I think it would have way more success over here! It wouldn't be a long runner I wouldn't think but longer than three months would be better than that! I completely agree. It would probably never be huge because it seems to be a rather intimate show. But I definitely think it could have very respectable run in the West End |
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Post by viserys on Sept 19, 2016 17:59:09 GMT
Add me to the fanclub. I also love the cast recording and would love to see this in the West End.
I agree that it's a story that would probably resonate better with a British audience - "serious" stuff hasn't done well on Broadway for a long time. Same with "Allegiance" which was flawed but didn't deserve to do as badly as it did.
Not that I blame New York audiences - considering the cost of Broadway tickets I'd also prefer big fluffy bright entertainment there.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 17:59:21 GMT
The key thing is they don't run productions on music alone, whether or not it's selling enough tickets is a big part of it. Yeah, of course. I never saw the show, so I can't say anything about the story. But although yes there was some critisism about the book, most people who saw it seemed to love the show. So I don't think the problems were that huge. I just think it being a very intimate show made selling it on Broadway very difficult. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 18:03:50 GMT
Add me to the fanclub. I also love the cast recording and would love to see this in the West End. I agree that it's a story that would probably resonate better with a British audience - "serious" stuff hasn't done well on Broadway for a long time. Same with "Allegiance" which was flawed but didn't deserve to do as badly as it did. Not that I blame New York audiences - considering the cost of Broadway tickets I'd also prefer big fluffy bright entertainment there. Yeah, like I said in reply to someone else, it's not exactly big and sparkly like Wicked or The Lion King. And that's just what Broadway is known for. And apart from it being a British story, another reason why it could to better in Britain is because I think Britain is just more into intimate dramatic stuff. |
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Post by martin1965 on Sept 19, 2016 18:29:17 GMT
One of the reasons it premiered on briadway is that Sting is regarded as some sort of musical genius in the states whereas here he is that bloke from the Police. Cant see it being done over her im afraid.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 18:39:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 19:12:37 GMT
Can we really say Broadway doesn't do well with serious stuff when shows like Fun Home and Next to Normal both recouped their money and had nice healthy runs? I doubt that would happen if those shows came to the West End.
I agree The Last Ship would do better here, but more because it's closer to home than anything else.
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Post by talkstageytome on Sept 19, 2016 19:20:51 GMT
Yes that's what I thought. The songs are so evocative of England. Whenever I listen to the album I'm struck by how much the lyrics remind me of my own town and people I know. And the subject material would resonate more with audiences who lived through the same sort of things that that characters are experiencing. can't see iy coming to London though given how poorly it did on Broadway. But could do well regionally?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 19:36:24 GMT
Yes that's what I thought. The songs are so evocative of England. Whenever I listen to the album I'm struck by how much the lyrics remind me of my own town and people I know. And the subject material would resonate more with audiences who lived through the same sort of things that that characters are experiencing. can't see iy coming to London though given how poorly it did on Broadway. But could do well regionally? Sting wants to bring it to London though |
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Post by talkstageytome on Sept 19, 2016 19:37:58 GMT
Does Sting want to pay for it? 😂
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 19:53:37 GMT
Does Sting want to pay for it? 😂 Probably not  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 19:59:56 GMT
Are you saying that Sting is... *sting*y?  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 20:50:31 GMT
Rachel Tucker's probably free from the end of January so who knows, maybe it'll attempt to get a theatre in the spring?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 21:27:09 GMT
Rachel Tucker's probably free from the end of January so who knows, maybe it'll attempt to get a theatre in the spring? That would be great. The only question is which theatre will be free. The Girls will be at the Phoenix, Half A Sixpence will be at the Noël Coward. Although knowing the West End these days chances are at least one of them, if not both won't last very long. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 15:52:41 GMT
Run it at the Charing Cross, if they still have the Titanic set. lol, I think that theatre is a bit too small. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 17:29:38 GMT
^Didn't stop them with Titanic... What I mean is I think it's too small for this particular show. Yes, it had trouble selling on Broadway, but I don't think they'll put it in a theatre that has less than 300 seats. |
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Post by Michael on Sept 20, 2016 17:44:41 GMT
God, I hope this godawful show remains buried. Saw it on Broadway a few days after opening night and had no problems getting a second row Orchestra ticket at TKTS at a 50% discount. Only went because of Rachel Tucker and she was the only good thing in this show. Well, I also quite liked the set.
I wrote a review back in the old board, but unfortunately, I didn't save it locally so it's gone now. But I do remember this: The score is terrible and bland, the main character Gideon Fletcher (played by Michael Esper) is an arrogant unlikeable a**, but the biggest problem was the show's book. Basically, it was one big (plot) hole.
I'll definitely not shed a single tear over this show's closure.
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Post by talkstageytome on Sept 20, 2016 20:22:47 GMT
Oh gosh, okay then perhaps not. It's a shame that a show with such a gorgeous score has such a rubbish story. There's no synopsis on the Wikipedia or anything.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 21:12:23 GMT
Oh gosh, okay then perhaps not. It's a shame that a show with such a gorgeous score has such a rubbish story. There's no synopsis on the Wikipedia or anything. This is just one person's opinion. I've read lots of opinions from people who absolutely loved it. |
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