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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2018 21:36:52 GMT
For me a win - really enjoyed this today. CD of cast on my wish list.
Thanks for the recommendation Mr Wallacio.
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Post by Stephen on Jan 15, 2018 22:27:49 GMT
Saw this on Friday evening through the great deal on Today Tix of amazing seats for £2.50. I saw amazing as the view was great however at least one limb always gets contorted at Trafalgar Studios. Really glad that we went having failed to grab seats for The Birthday Party (hopefully this week) After seeing this I described it to my friend as 'If the London Dungeon did a musical but a bit less tacky and funnier' and she agreed. The good: Some lovely songs. I liked Stars in The Sky a lot.
Use of the space. There isn't a great amount of space in Trafalgar Studios but I felt they adapted to it well with lots of simple set pieces doubling up and even space for a little pit (the best place to keep badly behaved musicians) {Spoiler - click to view}
Actors come amongst the audience, enter from in front of the stage and the pit. It's all good fun.
Julian Bleach stole many scenes for me as Barkilphedro (the clown) He is lucky enough to have a lot of the comedy and he has a surprisingly large part.
Nice to see Julie Atherton back on the West End stage. I haven't seen her since Avenue Q!
I enjoyed the dark/vaudeville feel of the piece. It isn't scary but you are transported to a darker time.
The not so good: As I've read in other reviews I felt that it did drag a bit in the second half but not unbearably so.
I didn't really connect with Grinpayne as much as I think I was supposed to. This made the ending feel a bit flat for me!
I recommend this to anyone looking for a slightly wacky but beautiful and funny night out. The staff are lovely at Trafalgar Studios also.
Four stars.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 15:04:34 GMT
Anyone know how well this is selling? I remember reading here a few months back thst the cast are apparently on a years contract (did I imagine this?), is it selling well enough to justify extension thst far ahead?  |
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Post by demelza on Jan 16, 2018 17:57:04 GMT
Anyone know how well this is selling? I remember reading here a few months back thst the cast are apparently on a years contract (did I imagine this?), is it selling well enough to justify extension thst far ahead? It's been pretty packed both times I've been to see it! Only a few empty seats from what I could see |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2018 22:55:48 GMT
What a wonderful piece of theatre. Loved this! Had me grinning from top to bows.
Theatre pretty full and a lot of people in that awkward wanting to stand but not wanting be the only person standing ovation type thing going on at the end.
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Post by ensembleswings on Jan 19, 2018 17:51:27 GMT
Saw this last night I'm glad I managed to convince my friend to take a chance on this show as we both ended up really enjoying it. We did end up being clambered over, but it was worth it for the overall view we had of the show. Also loved the way they'd decorated the whole space to fit with the shoes setting
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Post by amadeus on Jan 19, 2018 18:28:57 GMT
I caught this last night too. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would... It's great to see something with a concept so unique produced at this standard. The cast were wonderful and deserved the 3/4 standing ovation they got. The score isn't particularly strong if you're looking for individual stand-alone songs, but I think cohesively it works really well to achieve atmosphere and further the story...
I'll definitely be catching this again before it closes in April.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2018 9:12:17 GMT
Three days later and I still have tunes from this running around in my head.
Almost cinematic in it's presentation at time, this was so engaging.
The puppetry was incredible. Almost lifelike in the movement, especially Mojo - although I'd have preferred it if they'd changed his name slightly, Moja even, Mojo just made me think of Austin Powers every time his name was mentioned.
Loved so many of the characters. Especially Julie Atherton's Queen Angelica, whose performance was almost comparable to that of Miranda Richardson's Queenie in Blackadder, comic brilliance.
Sat in row J I was glad Grimpayne & Dea made their way through into the audience for the finale as I got to see Grimpayne's prosthetic smile up close, which was incredibly detailed.
Having snatched a ticket up with my ATG Theatre card for £12 I left feeling like I'd stolen a seat. Absolutely crazy value for such an amazing show!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2018 9:21:04 GMT
The wolf's name was Homo in the book. Mojo is a clumsy choice but I can see why they made it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2018 10:09:26 GMT
The wolf's name was Homo in the book. Mojo is a clumsy choice but I can see why they made it. Oh cool, thanks for the info! Mojo is a little clumsy, but 10x better than homo. ha. |
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Post by dazzerlump on Jan 20, 2018 18:30:03 GMT
Three days later and I still have tunes from this running around in my head. Almost cinematic in it's presentation at time, this was so engaging. The puppetry was incredible. Almost lifelike in the movement, especially Mojo - although I'd have preferred it if they'd changed his name slightly, Moja even, Mojo just made me think of Austin Powers every time his name was mentioned. Loved so many of the characters. Especially Julie Atherton's Queen Angelica, whose performance was almost comparable to that of Miranda Richardson's Queenie in Blackadder, comic brilliance. Sat in row J I was glad Grimpayne & Dea made their way through into the audience for the finale as I got to see Grimpayne's prosthetic smile up close, which was incredibly detailed. Having snatched a ticket up with my ATG Theatre card for £12 I left feeling like I'd stolen a seat. Absolutely crazy value for such an amazing show! How did you manage a ticket for £12? Ive got an ATG card but it doesn't seem to offer any discount for this? is it a last minute thing? |
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Post by amadeus on Jan 20, 2018 20:51:55 GMT
Three days later and I still have tunes from this running around in my head. Almost cinematic in it's presentation at time, this was so engaging. The puppetry was incredible. Almost lifelike in the movement, especially Mojo - although I'd have preferred it if they'd changed his name slightly, Moja even, Mojo just made me think of Austin Powers every time his name was mentioned. Loved so many of the characters. Especially Julie Atherton's Queen Angelica, whose performance was almost comparable to that of Miranda Richardson's Queenie in Blackadder, comic brilliance. Sat in row J I was glad Grimpayne & Dea made their way through into the audience for the finale as I got to see Grimpayne's prosthetic smile up close, which was incredibly detailed. Having snatched a ticket up with my ATG Theatre card for £12 I left feeling like I'd stolen a seat. Absolutely crazy value for such an amazing show! How did you manage a ticket for £12? Ive got an ATG card but it doesn't seem to offer any discount for this? is it a last minute thing? The National emailed a discount code to entry pass members. I think it runs out today though. |
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Post by dlevi on Jan 21, 2018 8:55:41 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon ( Todays tix £29 ?) row H ( 2/3 full) and while there was a lot to admire in terms of design and to a certain extent performances, I found the whole thing to be rather dull . Especially the music which seemed to be doodling around the idea of melodies rather than committing to them. It was like a whole evening of the Parlour Songs from Sweeney Todd. The climb over moment was terrific though. The rest of it? I'd just say it was a disappointment .
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2018 9:54:17 GMT
... Having snatched a ticket up with my ATG Theatre card for £12 I left feeling like I'd stolen a seat. Absolutely crazy value for such an amazing show! How did you manage a ticket for £12? Ive got an ATG card but it doesn't seem to offer any discount for this? is it a last minute thing? Someone on here mentioned it. Hadn't realised Trafalgar Studios was ATG. Just logged in with ATG Card and offer was there. Think I remember it saying it was limited to 200 though, so it could be they all went - not surprised at that price. Just checked now and it doesnt seem to be there. |
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Post by demelza on Jan 21, 2018 12:38:35 GMT
I was at the show twice this weekend (in my defence I went with different people) and as David Dirry-Moire says in the show, it was even better than the last time! It's been a long time since I've loved a show this much. Such brilliant performances from everyone (particularly Louis Maskell and Sanne Den Besten)
A few little mishaps.. on friday the crimson leith bottle wasn't set on the bed for act two which ended up with some hilarious improvisation on Julian Bleach's end whilst a bottle was acquired. And then last a man in the front row (that single seat on house left) ended up getting stuck under the tail of the velvet gown.
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Post by martin1965 on Jan 22, 2018 20:12:43 GMT
The wolf's name was Homo in the book. Mojo is a clumsy choice but I can see why they made it. And in the excellent silent movie too! |
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Post by theatreliker on Jan 24, 2018 18:55:05 GMT
This is an excellent production! Sort of a matchbox theatre production with a clever set. Loved all the worlds-within-worlds framing devices. Superb puppetry especially the puppets operating the puppets. Was told we might be able to move seats before the show but it was pretty much sold out.
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Post by showgirl on Jan 27, 2018 22:58:24 GMT
I saw this today from AA7 (via Todaytix), which I booked thanks to reassurance here about the view. You certainly get a ringside seat, even down to being able to see the song titles on the MD's score sheet, but it's a very odd position and quite exposed, as AA7 is all alone with no other seats in the row on that side, though on the other side there seemed to be several. Also, members of the cast go back and forth in front of you multiple times, and you don't always notice them appearing, so I was frequently distracted by trying to ensure they didn't trip over my bag or my legs.
That aside, whilst I can't identify quite what it is, something about this show certainly exerts a tenacious grip. It's not the score, which is pleasant but, imo, unmemorable and not distinctive; it's not the characterisation when compared to something like Young Frankenstein, and whilst I agree with comments that you really didn't know what was going to happen next, the mystery wasn't very mysterious and the explanation was heavily signalled throughout.
Not that any of this matters - this show genuinely isn't like anything else I've ever seen and despite the grotesque subject, manages somehow to draw you in - and I normally loathe puppetry, so it really did succeed against the odds for me.
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Post by martin1965 on Feb 3, 2018 18:00:24 GMT
Saw the matinee today, wow! Superb show, so glad it got a life after Bristol where scheduling meant i missex it there. Louis Maskell is surely a big star for the future, ive seen him in The Fix and West Side Story and now this and he has been excellent in them all. Julian Bleach was very good too. We had the understudy for Dea, she was very affecting and sung like an angel. Recommended.
On the way to the venue i popped into the Duke of Yorks to see if there was a leaflet for the David Hare, i was met by someone who had Duty Manager on their badge, he barked at me are you seeing the performance? I looked at him said no and squeezed past. Needless to say no leaflet. The WE seems very unwelcoming recently. Can the owners not afford basic training?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2018 17:36:51 GMT
Do we know: Have there been any rumblings about a cast recording for this?
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Post by ruby on Feb 4, 2018 21:06:36 GMT
I have asked my contact at Bristol Old Vic if there are any CDs left.
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Post by dan on Feb 8, 2018 23:37:27 GMT
I went in not knowing what to expect this week... and I left having completely fell in love with a new musical. I know it hasn’t been for everybody, but this got so intensely under my skin in an incredible way. It’s not often a new show shoots straight to my top favourites list, but this certainly has. A few things I loved; the story, the premise, the staging, the cast, the songs, the puppetry... I’ve been enjoying figuring some of these songs out at my piano today. I can’t wait to go back.
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Feb 9, 2018 0:11:26 GMT
There's 5 songs on the Brisol Old Vic soundcloud, was the CD just those or more?
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Feb 9, 2018 18:10:40 GMT
There's 5 songs on the Brisol Old Vic soundcloud, was the CD just those or more? The BOV recording was a live show recording, but missed out the first few songs. It's sort of like they forgot to press record at the start. I listened again to it recently and it niggles me that is isn't complete. |
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Post by luna on Feb 18, 2018 20:19:03 GMT
I saw this yesterday afternoon and loved it.
Not many songs stuck out to me, but overall it was lovely music.
Great performances by all. Wonderful puppetry, great staging.
I had read a lot of good things about it so had high expectations, and for a while I was a bit underwhelmed. However, by the end it all came together for me and I was really glad to have seen it. Will likely go again.
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