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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 19, 2016 21:59:25 GMT
I'm there on thursday. Praying we don't melt into the seats! Are they selling proper programmes for this yet?  |
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 19, 2016 22:01:52 GMT
Are they selling propper programmes for this yet? Yes, they are |
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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 19, 2016 22:03:12 GMT
Great. Thanks!  |
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Post by foxa on Jul 20, 2016 22:20:53 GMT
I thought this was terrific.
Andy Karl is a revelation. I'm in awe of his energy and talent and his ability to develop that character through all those stages of discovery- with a lesser leading man it just wouldn't work.
I wasn't sold on the first fifteen minutes or so but then it took off. Some incredible sleight-of-hand direction - real 'how did they do that?' moments.
If I'm going to be picky I wasn't 100% on the leading lady and her voice didn't entirely work with Andy Karl's and I think there were a few sound mixing issues, but this is still a preview so....
Great ensemble, big variety of shapes and sizes. A tap number! A drum-playing groundhog!
A musical for grown ups.
Big standing ovation at the end.
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330 posts
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Post by charliec on Jul 20, 2016 22:29:45 GMT
I thought this was terrific. Andy Karl is a revelation. I'm in awe of his energy and talent and his ability to develop that character through all those stages of discovery- with a lesser leading man it just wouldn't work. I wasn't sold on the first fifteen minutes or so but then it took off. Some incredible sleight-of-hand direction - real 'how did they do that?' moments. If I'm going to be picky I wasn't 100% on the leading lady and her voice didn't entirely work with Andy Karl's and I think there were a few sound mixing issues, but this is still a preview so.... Great ensemble, big variety of shapes and sizes. A tap number! A drum-playing groundhog! A musical for grown ups. Big standing ovation at the end. I was there too and completely agree with everything you said. Loved it from start to finish. Tim Minchin was sat behind me taking notes throughout. Definitely some sound mixing issues but I'm sure they will sort that in due course. Andy Karl was properly brilliant and I really enjoyed the start of act 2 that some people aren't sure about, it's really smart and a great moment of calm before more mayhem! |
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677 posts
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Post by westendcub on Jul 21, 2016 10:26:10 GMT
I'm there on thursday. Praying we don't melt into the seats! Are they selling proper programmes for this yet? My friend got the programme, are these always in this format at the Old Vic? They don't have cast photos next to their bio's which I didn't like personally. |
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1,502 posts
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Post by foxa on Jul 21, 2016 11:00:57 GMT
I thought this was terrific. Andy Karl is a revelation. I'm in awe of his energy and talent and his ability to develop that character through all those stages of discovery- with a lesser leading man it just wouldn't work. I wasn't sold on the first fifteen minutes or so but then it took off. Some incredible sleight-of-hand direction - real 'how did they do that?' moments. If I'm going to be picky I wasn't 100% on the leading lady and her voice didn't entirely work with Andy Karl's and I think there were a few sound mixing issues, but this is still a preview so.... Great ensemble, big variety of shapes and sizes. A tap number! A drum-playing groundhog! A musical for grown ups. Big standing ovation at the end. I was there too and completely agree with everything you said. Loved it from start to finish. Tim Minchin was sat behind me taking notes throughout. Definitely some sound mixing issues but I'm sure they will sort that in due course. Andy Karl was properly brilliant and I really enjoyed the start of act 2 that some people aren't sure about, it's really smart and a great moment of calm before more mayhem! I agree. I liked the song at the start of Act 2 (sorry, I didn't get a programme so am being rubbish with names.) The actress had a beautiful, silvery voice and I thought it made sense in terms of the more serious aspects of the second act when Phil begins to feel pain, but also realises that people who he had dismissed as unimportant cartoony people in the small town actually have their own moments of pain and dignity. Did Tim Minchin look happy? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2016 11:15:09 GMT
I thought this was terrific. Andy Karl is a revelation. I'm in awe of his energy and talent and his ability to develop that character through all those stages of discovery- with a lesser leading man it just wouldn't work. I wasn't sold on the first fifteen minutes or so but then it took off. Some incredible sleight-of-hand direction - real 'how did they do that?' moments. If I'm going to be picky I wasn't 100% on the leading lady and her voice didn't entirely work with Andy Karl's and I think there were a few sound mixing issues, but this is still a preview so.... Great ensemble, big variety of shapes and sizes. A tap number! A drum-playing groundhog! A musical for grown ups. Big standing ovation at the end. I. Am. There. Move it or lose it ushers! |
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330 posts
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Post by charliec on Jul 21, 2016 11:15:16 GMT
I was there too and completely agree with everything you said. Loved it from start to finish. Tim Minchin was sat behind me taking notes throughout. Definitely some sound mixing issues but I'm sure they will sort that in due course. Andy Karl was properly brilliant and I really enjoyed the start of act 2 that some people aren't sure about, it's really smart and a great moment of calm before more mayhem! I agree. I liked the song at the start of Act 2 (sorry, I didn't get a programme so am being rubbish with names.) The actress had a beautiful, silvery voice and I thought it made sense in terms of the more serious aspects of the second act when Phil begins to feel pain, but also realises that people who he had dismissed as unimportant cartoony people in the small town actually have their own moments of pain and dignity. Did Tim Minchin look happy? I think so! He looked happy at the end when he leapt up to film the cast getting a huge standing ovation. He scribbled a few notes on some scraps of paper. I think Danny Rubin was sat with him. Oh and in case anyone is interested I was in Q3 in the stalls which i got for £24, as it's one of those behind a pillar seats but I didn't miss a thing! |
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330 posts
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Post by charliec on Jul 21, 2016 11:18:58 GMT
BTW, foxa and Charliec are both rapidly rising up my hit-list for making me so jealous about seeing this one. Won't go until after it opens, but now really re-considering in light of their comments . 
Full disclosure, I am a huge, long-time Minchin fan and love a modern musical so this was my ideal kind of show. I suspect it won't be everyone's cup of tea, two people sat in front of me left at the interval... but they were being really annoying throughout the first act so I was quite pleased, they weren't happy with their seats and obviously weren't seeing the show they were expecting. |
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Post by thehillsarealive on Jul 21, 2016 11:39:17 GMT
I'm sad to say I hated this. I thought the design was hideous and meaningless, the score was bland (especially when compared with Matilda) and the storytelling completely muddled and inconsistent. The only redeeming feature was Andy Karl, who really puts the work in and gives a very winning performance. Unfortunately the same can't be said for his leading lady, whose casting is baffling. She can't sing the score and reads far too young. Did someone drop out?
It just disappoints me to think of the fantastic score that could be used to tell this story - imagine if Sondheim had carried on with it, he is a writer who could have made something of the repetition and development idea. Imagine the complexity of Merrily's score wedded to a story like this one, it could have been really wonderful. Sadly this was shallow and forgettable.
There also seems to be no real depth to anything or engagement with the themes of the film. Phil's journey as a character seems largely arbitrary, and his shifts from confused to hedonistic to suicidal to heroic come from nowhere and go just as quickly. The ending felt totally unearned as well.
Maybe you can tell I did not care for it - I had high hopes with this team and the amount of time they've had to work on it, but ultimately it disappointed on pretty much every level.
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4,153 posts
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Post by kathryn on Jul 21, 2016 14:52:23 GMT
BTW, foxa and Charliec are both rapidly rising up my hit-list for making me so jealous about seeing this one. Won't go until after it opens, but now really re-considering in light of their comments .
Full disclosure, I am a huge, long-time Minchin fan and love a modern musical so this was my ideal kind of show.. I think Minchin fans will definitely get the most out of it - we're more primed to catch certain jokes and ideas. |
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 21, 2016 22:17:45 GMT
Saw this tonight. Well it wasn't perfect and is still in previews but wow what an epic new musical.
It looks amazing, has the best use of revolve I've seen in my life and the show has a great book and story, it just needs a few cuts and is too ballad heavy (the lead female isn't the best singer either). Opening of act 2 with a ballad? Not sure it worked. Some songs great, others dud.
Has the potential to be just sensational and win lots of awards - it feels very Broadway.
We all thought it was great, try and see it. 7.5/10
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Post by 49thand8th on Jul 21, 2016 22:29:53 GMT
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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 21, 2016 22:31:32 GMT
Saw this tonight too and despite not getting totally into it until act 2, I ended up really liking it! Felt like most things were great but couldn't put my finger of anything which I LOVED. Except maybe Andy Karl as Phil. Great voice, very magnetic and funny and made an unbearable character quite likable really...in some parts at least. Wasn't sure about Rita's voice but loved her performance in the role. Liked the music but I thought that aside from a couple of songs, most of them melted into one long ensemble number. The act two opening number was a lovely song and I 'got' it, but it still felt odd. Same goes for the insurance man song, HOWEVER my favourite song was I think the second one in act 2. I won't spoil it but it was very rock-y and relentless and I loved it. Got the biggest applause of the evening. In fact, I wish there had been more numbers like it. The show stopped near the end of act 1 for about 5 mins, due to a problem with the revolve I think. And the set didn't fit together properly at the end of the act either. Set was fine but nothing to scream about. Looked a bit unimpressive to begin with though, given how cool the TV screen 'curtain' at the begining is. Great use of the revolve but at times it did remind me a bit of the end of Peter Pan Goes Wrong! I'd like to see this again but I'm not in any rush to. Perhaps if it transferred at a later date? Any rumours of a cast album? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2016 23:25:32 GMT
Here's another photo of Andy Karl
I SERIOUSLY need to see this! It looks and sounds excellent from word of mouth - plus I am a HUGE Tim Minchin fan which is a bonus!
Was thinking of booking the £21 side dress circle seats, but am worried they'll be too restricted. Has anyone sat there before?
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 21, 2016 23:35:59 GMT
Here's another photo of Andy Karl I SERIOUSLY need to see this! It looks and sounds excellent from word of mouth - plus I am a HUGE Tim Minchin fan which is a bonus! Was thinking of booking the £21 side dress circle seats, but am worried they'll be too restricted. Has anyone sat there before? I sat there tonight and the seats were great. I agree the insurance mm song in the second act is odd. He also isn't the best singer either. Cut cut!!! Snip snip!!! |
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Post by kathryn on Jul 22, 2016 0:09:17 GMT
Aww, I liked that song!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2016 1:44:31 GMT
I sat there tonight and the seats were great. I was thinking of booking row Y on the sides of the dress circle (second row of the two). Is that where you? I see that there are apparently pillars in the way and potentially may need to lean forward seeing as it's a side view. |
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Post by ali973 on Jul 22, 2016 7:22:14 GMT
Is that a wig? How is he brunette all the sudden?
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Post by talkstageytome on Jul 22, 2016 9:17:36 GMT
I'm certain it's his real hair. Hasn't he always been a brunette?
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677 posts
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Post by westendcub on Jul 22, 2016 11:56:55 GMT
I have such a stagey crush on Andy Karl!!
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Post by Ade on Jul 22, 2016 16:31:14 GMT
I have such a stagey crush on Andy Karl!! Right there with you... |
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Post by lou105 on Jul 22, 2016 18:04:48 GMT
Those row Y slips are tricky, too far along and you lose a lot of the stage. Yes, I considered these but ended up paying more because I was worried about this show being apparently very reliant on set, making a restriction unduly annoying. Not easy , though, with large areas of the stalls at £90 |
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Post by thebearofwestend on Jul 22, 2016 23:05:55 GMT
Tony this better get it after the Silliness with Kinky.
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