155 posts
|
Post by synchrony on Feb 4, 2017 23:00:37 GMT
Of course I clapped. I didn't stand.
|
|
882 posts
|
Post by longinthetooth on Feb 4, 2017 23:20:00 GMT
I agree with most people here. It looked lovely, the costumes were gorgeous, the lead performers good (I knew Chris could sing, and was so glad to hear Zoe's lovely voice) - but I can't remember a single note of what was sung. I wanted to love it, but sadly was left indifferent. I'd adored Titanic and was looking forward to this, given its pedigree.
I was slightly concerned about the chairs - in fact, being in the front row, I was hoping and praying that no one lost their grip (for anyone who hasn't seen it, the cast 'dance' with the chairs in one scene and fling them around overhead). I had visions of one of them (a chair, that is) soaring over the stalls! If that is my clearest memory of the show, then that must prove something is not quite right!
|
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 4, 2017 23:22:40 GMT
|
|
1,013 posts
|
Post by talkstageytome on Feb 6, 2017 20:28:44 GMT
Thinking that maybe I felt so unhappy with my seat because I was right at the end of the row and looking straight at the glowing emergency exit sign for the whole show.
|
|
153 posts
|
Post by liverpool54321 on Feb 7, 2017 17:03:53 GMT
Aside from being cheaper, I would suggest people try out the balcony seating - best around the mid way point back. Yes you cannot see the very near side of stage but you feel like you are almost on top of the actors and I find the sound better there compared to the stalls. OK you cannot sit next to someone as in single file, but you can relax more as you can lean against the side railings and no fears of being squashed. And if on the right side it is the quickest exit to the bar.
|
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 8, 2017 22:57:10 GMT
I really enjoyed this show tonight. Loved the music and the plot. Will post fuller thoughts tomorrow. My only problem was with the ending.
|
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 9, 2017 18:45:06 GMT
Just a few more thoughts as I don't have time to order them properly.
I really liked the set (and the chairs!!!).
Have ordered the CD (and downloaded it for free - thanks Amazon). Some of it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast for some reason.
Very good cast - everyone got 'better' as the show went on.
Loved the little bits of dance.
The first half was slightly (only very slightly) too long. The second half wasn't long enough - but it was a sensible place for the interval.
Theatre was half empty which is a shame. Wish they could afford a bit more publicity.
Picked up a flyer for a musical later in the year about Braille later in the year which will be interesting.
Hopefully those are all the things I want to say as I don't want to clog up the thread.
|
|
155 posts
|
Post by synchrony on Feb 9, 2017 23:13:10 GMT
What was your problem with the ending?
|
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 10, 2017 0:27:51 GMT
What was your problem with the ending? Well, as talkstageytome said, I also found it abrupt. I did really enjoy the story up to that point though. To get specific: I think maybe I would've preferred something along the lines of the family witnessing Grazia's decision.
Then the father would try to convince the devil that he'd made a deal and couldn't take her, at which point the devil would say that he knew he'd told the whole family who he was before midnight so him taking Grazia was the punishment he promised/threatened.
The ending as it was just felt too happy to me, when it should've felt much more bittersweet. |
|
33 posts
|
Post by tom08 on Feb 10, 2017 8:48:50 GMT
What was your problem with the ending? Well, as talkstageytome said, I also found it abrupt. I did really enjoy the story up to that point though. d'James, I am quoting you but removed your spoiler in order not to spoil anything... The ending does come a bit fast but I see the ending in another way Death does not take Grazia, it is Grazia who chooses Death, so, in fact, committing suicide. This is then in line with the story of the two lovers who committed suicide together to be able to be together. |
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 10, 2017 9:40:23 GMT
I agree but it still feels too quick and clean of an ending to me. There are several other ways it could've ended.
After the mother and father both pleaded with him earlier on not to take her, I was disappointed not to have some sort of reaction from them - even if it was just them watching on acceptingly, knowing it was her decision and what she wanted. |
|
1,349 posts
|
Post by CG on the loose on Feb 10, 2017 12:01:36 GMT
I really enjoyed this last night... voices strong and blending beautifully, loved the power of the full company singing. Didn't make a Beauty & the Beast connection as I watched d'James but though I left the theatre humming the final song, I arrived at Marylebone humming Beauty & the Beast... then I read your earlier comments and burst out laughing!
I was rather more impressed with Chris Peluso's voice than I have been previously (not that there was anything particularly wrong with it in Showboat or Saigon, he just didn't wow me), and he mostly drew me in to the character so much that I stopped noticing his John Wayne walk... mostly but not entirely! I thought the Contessa and her Mario/Dario were charming, their duet 'December Time' reminding me somewhat of that of the old couple in Titanic.
The chairs were an interesting choice... found their frequent relocation slightly distracting initially but soon got used to it. The staging, generally, simple but effective.
Theatre about 40-50% full, audience enthusiastic but felt slightly below critical mass, if you know what I mean!
|
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 10, 2017 23:17:19 GMT
Forgot to say, on the Tube on the way home I heard someone say 'Chris Peluso must be used to having no one in the audience after Showboat.' Made me chuckle, if a bit harsh. They also said it was empty as when they saw Ragtime. (Ragtime was busier than DTAH when I saw it.)
They also said they preferred it to Titanic.
I don't agree, the 3 in order, for me, would be:
1. Titanic
2. DTAH
3. Ragtime
(Very close 2 & 3 though.)
|
|
1,819 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by stevej678 on Feb 11, 2017 8:58:09 GMT
I really enjoyed this last night. Maybe Maure Yeston's score doesn't quite reach the glorious heights of Titanic but it comes darn close.
Chris Peluso and Zoe Duano are strong leads, the former quietly menacing beneath his calm exterior while Zoe made a role that could easily be quite bland anything but.
In addition to the two central performances, Mark Inscoe captured the turmoil of Duke Vittorio Lamberti's character extremely well and gave a commanding performance. It was also great to see Titanic alumna Scarlett Courtney back at the Charing Cross Theatre. She was equally engaging to watch in Death Takes a Holiday as she was playing Kate Mullins and gave Daisy Fenton a twinkle in her eye.
It's been interesting to read the different reactions to this musical. While some reviews have complemented several individual elements of the production but felt that as a whole something was missing, I felt that the lighting, set, costumes and music all combined exquisitely, underpinned by an excellent cast, to produce a beautiful spectacle that more than matched the sum of its parts.
There's something quite dream like about Maury Yeston's score, despite its more epic moments, which suits the theme of the story perfectly, while the set created a suitably foreboding atmosphere of the impending events. The moments where the ensemble gathered to observe a brief part of an exchange between Grazia and the Prince worked particularly well at heightening the tension. Even the imaginative use of the chairs added to the piece, although if I was on the front row for the opening number (when they're being flung around above heads) I might have been a tad nervous!
I was a little fearful this might effectively be a two hander with a largely redundant ensemble but I liked how we got an insight into some of the other characters too. The back story of Baron Dario Albione and Countess Evangelina was rather poignantly charming and the unrequited feelings of Daisy for Corrado made for an interesting additional strand.
I can understand some of the comments about the ending but I think the reaction of other characters, such as the Duke, being left unseen and unspoken actually makes the turn of events all the more powerful.
Overall then, this was a great evening at the Charing Cross Theatre. Around 75% full, so enough to give the place a decent atmosphere. It's good to see the days of Dusty and Wag seem to be behind it. Certainly, whenever the next Maury Yeston musical rolls into town, I'll be at the front of the queue.
|
|
|
|
Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Feb 11, 2017 14:57:53 GMT
There are children in front of me at Death Takes a Holiday! Doesn't exactly seem like the show for children...
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 15:00:25 GMT
There are children in front of me at Death Takes a Holiday! Doesn't exactly seem like the show for children... You and children at this theatre! First Titanic, now this!  |
|
|
|
Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Feb 11, 2017 16:15:18 GMT
There are children in front of me at Death Takes a Holiday! Doesn't exactly seem like the show for children... You and children at this theatre! First Titanic, now this! Haha, they must be in exactly the same seats as that girl too. Though these two have been good as gold, so far. |
|
|
|
Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Feb 11, 2017 18:42:42 GMT
So I thought this was pretty good, well worth seeing. I really liked the big sweeping score and the full choral nature of many of the ensemble numbers. Also thought the majority of the solo and duet songs were good too, though there is a preponderance of songs that don't really have anything new to say in their lyrics.
A few faults - it tries to do the same thing as Titanic and give every character a subplot. It works in Titanic which is truly an ensemble piece, but less so here. Firstly, we don't care enough about the side-characters to engage with their stories, and it also detracts from our leads, not giving enough time to develop either Death's motivation or Grazia's attraction to him. And indeed, this was my other main problem with it. I never really engaged emotionally, because I didn't "believe" or understand the emotions the characters went through, as they are just too thinly drawn.
But overall, I did enjoy it. Good songs, an engaging story, and great performances. It also looks fantastic.
Pretty full this afternoon I'd say - and the kids in front of me stayed enraptured by the show throughout!
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Feb 11, 2017 18:45:14 GMT
the kids in front of me stayed enraptured by the show throughout! No doubt your bottle of chloroform helped! |
|
637 posts
|
Post by AddisonMizner on Feb 18, 2017 20:32:01 GMT
Well, I saw the matinee of this today (18th February). I understand why this might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I absolutely adored it!
Maury Yeston is soon going to be one of my favourite composers after TITANIC (one of my highlights of last year) and now this. The score was GLORIOUS! There were so many moments of spine tingling beauty, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up multiple times throughout the show. It helps that I absolutely love these romantic, gothic and lyrical kind of shows. Just right up my street. It also helps that it was mostly so well sung by the cast - probably the best sung show in London at the moment. A proper singer's musical.
However, as others have said above, it wasn't just the score that made this a real highlight for me, but the whole sum of parts that made up the show. It looked gorgeous too. The sets, costumes and most of all, the lighting. There was a moment with the lighting towards the end of the show that was literally so simple, but it took my breath away, and coupled with THAT music, was sublime. When the lights came back up at the end of the show, I felt very emotional, and wanted to burst into tears. A feeling that I couldn't shake for at least half an hour afterwards.
This is the first show of the year for me, having had something of a "dry" January, but it is now well and truly off to a stonking start, and is already a highlight that will take some beating. One of the few shows that, if I didn't have a train to catch, I could have quite easily bought another ticket and seen it again this evening. A show I am still thinking about now, and will doubtless think about for days to come.
Sorry for the gush, but go and see while you can!
|
|
430 posts
|
Post by alison on Feb 18, 2017 23:42:06 GMT
I went again last night to catch James Gant as Death. Having made such a wonderful Fidele, I was intrigued to see how he'd do in such a different role. I found him very earnest and charming, and he has such lovely eyes (Chris might also, but I didn't see him from the fourth row so I don't know *g*). I did find it hard to hear him when he was singing with Zoe, but I don't know whether that was him or a sound issue, I didn't have any issues during his solos (and did still have issues hearing various people during the opening).
Talking of that opening, we were right in front of Sam Thomas spinning chairs. Eek! I see why people have commented on the risk of them flying through the air. I must have missed that - or tuned it out - the first time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 15:47:15 GMT
Nabbed one of the last dayseats for tonight, having heard positive things, I'm really looking forward to it!  |
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 25, 2017 15:49:48 GMT
Enjoy! I really liked it. I was hoping to be able to go again to see the new Death but don't think I will now as I've got too much going on next week!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 0:30:00 GMT
Really enjoyed the show tonight! Emotional, funny, dramatic, a really pleasant evening in the theatre. The cast really are fantastic, and the set, costumes and lighting were really beautiful. I was already somewhat familiar in the concept (Meet Joe Black is one of my favourite films) but I thought the show worked really well with the original source material, which I have also read. And a really beautiful score too. |
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Feb 26, 2017 0:31:39 GMT
|
|
