539 posts
|
Post by WireHangers on Aug 13, 2017 10:34:37 GMT
Please take it from me when I say that trained professional actors don't care about stunt casting. The only people who seem to care are actors who trained at a University and have never had a professional job, acting like celebrities have taken a role off them, and the general public. We know how this business works. We know the world doesn't owe us anything. Most of us are just grateful to be involved in a touring show. If any professional actor is against star casting then they can easily step aside and let the 100's of us that couldn't give a fig more of a chance of getting cast. Well the reaction from many well-known actors (in musical theatre) suggests the exact opposite! Acting isn't brain surgery or some other sort of life-saving vocation, but for those who do it (and do it well), it's their livelihood, so they have every right to stand up and confront decisions that they believe makes a mockery of their career. I totally get the argument that it helps get a show put on and, as a result, actually allows more people to be cast therefore providing more jobs, but surely there's got to be a line? It doesn't affect you now, great, but the way we're going, it very may well affect you at some point down the line in your career. Don't you care? Aren't you passionate enough about what you do to believe that whilst you work in a cut-throat business, your industry should also be treated with respect? I dunno, and of course I don't know you from Adam so I'm not making these assumptions about you at all, just making general statements, but I just feel that rolling over and taking it seems a very wrong and submissive way to treat questionable decisions an industry you hope to make a life and career from. I completely agree with you for most points and I get what you're saying but in the same way I don't judge the state of Hollywood over the release of the Sharknado film series because this show and Freddie Flintoff is a tiny, minuscule part of a huge machine with more going on that you could ever even begin to know. Touring as the ensemble in any show whether is be a huge production or a small production is an absolute joy when you're my age and like I mentioned earlier, most people I know are absolutely chuffed to be involved in any capacity. The latest example of what I'm saying is a very good friend of mine from drama school has been cast as a featured role in Gary Barlow's THE BAND. She certainly isn't going to pipe up and say how much she hates the fact the leads were cast via a reality show because she knows that biting that hand that feeds her would be honourable yet detrimental to a career in a famously flippant industry. As well as having a friend cast in THE BAND the two of us also have friends who have just premiered a new musical at The Other Palace. So, no I'm not rolling over and taking it. We always have so many different things going on that being involved in ONE production that has a celebrity lead doesn't affect our passion, talent or drive and it certainly doesn't define the entire industry. Not to make this about me personally but when I'm not employed, like many other actors who CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO and are PASSIONATE ENOUGH, I take part in multiple readings, workshops and varying development stages of new work, plays, musicals, etc. I can't be sure but I'm sure I've taken part in about 50+ readings/workshops since I started drama school and I've never seen a single celebrity near of any those productions. THAT'S where actors put their passion and their craft. THAT'S where our love of theatre lies. THAT'S what our training prepared us for - not some second rate show that we all know is a pile of pish but sign up for anyway because bills gotta get paid. I recently moved back to Scotland after a few years performing in France, Germany and Australia (and a lot of karaoke in South East Asia). I've just finished a well received show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Two weeks ago I auditioned did my second call back for a new drama on ITV and I'm in the process of setting up a Glasgow based theatre group exclusively LGBTQI+ performer so I reiterate to you, yes I am very passionate and I care about what I do more than you'd ever know. This industry pays my bills (as does Ted Baker but that's another conversation to be had). If the producers of FAT FRIENDS want to hire a minor celebrity to star in a show that's based on a series that's been off the air for over a decade, written by a woman who has some alright credits to her name and composed by someone who just happens to be related to the world's most famous theatre composer then LET THEM. It's their money and their head on the board if it flops. Whatever happens the actors still have the pay check, the credit on their CV and they'll move onto the next job. Please don't think me, or anyone else, is being submissive and disrespectful just because we're not rioting at the thought of Freddie Flintoff being in a musical, we have just more important sh*t to be worrying about. Sorry for the rant. This would have been easier to say if we were in the pub with a pint. |
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 13, 2017 11:00:40 GMT
Ok, but how do you feel about Sam Bailey?  |
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Aug 13, 2017 11:52:18 GMT
Don't apologise for the rant at all WireHangers - really enjoyed reading it and your views! And reading it, I think we're very much the same in that I completely agree with most of your points, too. You are obviously very passionate and active within the industry (as am I) - which is why I feel it should treat those like us (the colloquial us) better than it sometimes does! And I don't just mean casting 'celebs', a whole multitude of things. It doesn't ever diminish my love for what I do - but that is very much a conversation for another day in another place! I think maybe the Freddie Flintoff thing was more of a 'tip of the iceberg' rather than an isolated case, but I can't speak for anyone! But you're 100% right that this is absolutely pub talk!! |
|
5,142 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Aug 19, 2017 12:59:40 GMT
Jodie Prenger has just revealed on Radio 2 that the final piece of the jigsaw is a HE from Coronation Street. It will be nice for Bill Roache to play a different character after all these years!
|
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 19, 2017 13:21:11 GMT
I don't think that would work u less they're putting Ken Barlow into the plot, because there's no evidence to suggest Bill Roache can play anything else.
I bet it's the dreadful Anthony Cotton
|
|
5,142 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Aug 19, 2017 13:27:57 GMT
After 70 years, does anyone know where Bill Roache ends and Ken Barlow begins?
Are you not a fan? You must see them all out and about of an evening, reveling in their (minor) celebrity status.
|
|
1,087 posts
|
Post by alicechallice on Aug 19, 2017 13:35:46 GMT
I bet it's the funny ginger one from the chip shop playing the James Corden part.
|
|
256 posts
|
Post by grannyjx6 on Aug 19, 2017 18:40:43 GMT
I bet it's the funny ginger one from the chip shop playing the James Corden part.
Do you mean Chesney? He's not overweight, or funny and I don't think he can sing. Bound to be him then. 
|
|
1,087 posts
|
Post by alicechallice on Aug 20, 2017 0:56:26 GMT
I bet it's the funny ginger one from the chip shop playing the James Corden part.
Do you mean Chesney? He's not overweight, or funny and I don't think he can sing. Bound to be him then.
No, not Chesney. Maybe he isn't ginger, he's definitely got the right figure though. Sort of bumbling, comedic character. I think I said chip shop because he was there when Kylie got stabbed. |
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Aug 20, 2017 9:51:58 GMT
Do you mean Chesney? He's not overweight, or funny and I don't think he can sing. Bound to be him then.
No, not Chesney. Maybe he isn't ginger, he's definitely got the right figure though. Sort of bumbling, comedic character. I think I said chip shop because he was there when Kylie got stabbed. Oh I know who you mean - Craig! Who used to have the pet rat and is now a young policeman who helped Bethany with that grooming case. Yes definitely the right figure but his acting is pretty apalling and who knows if he can sing. As above, yeah it'll probably be him! On a side-note, I'm not 100% if the James Corden character is in the show. But we'll see! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 10:24:56 GMT
Chloe Hart and Rachael Wooding both in the show according to the website now
|
|
183 posts
|
Post by sirdaniel on Sept 8, 2017 12:10:36 GMT
More casting announced for this - Natasha Hamilton off of Atomic Kitten and Curly Watts himself, Kevin Kennedy, have joined. Joel Montague (currently School of Rock) is sharing Flintoff's role.
Kelly - Jodie Prenger
Kevin - Freddie Flintoff (In Leeds, Southampton, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford and Blackpool)
Kevin - Joel Montague (In Bromley, Newcastle, Hull, Southend, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Norwich, Dartford, Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Aberdeen.)
Betty - Sam Bailey (In England & Wales)
Betty - Elaine C Smith (In Scotland)
Joanne - Rachel Wooding
Fergus - Kevin Kennedy (Not 27 November – 2 December in Leeds)
Lauren - Natalie Anderson
Paul - Jonathan Halliwell
Julia - Natasha Hamilton (In Leeds, Southampton, Sheffield, Manchester, Bromley, Newcastle, Hull, Southend, Milton Keynes, Nottingham & Norwich)
Alan - Neil Hurst
Val - Chloe Hart
Pippa- TBA
|
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 8, 2017 12:33:02 GMT
Curly Watts was in The Committments tour recently. Another one who has no discernible talent moving into MT (I'm looking at you Phil Jupitus, Chris Moyles et al)
|
|
581 posts
|
Post by princeton on Sept 8, 2017 15:24:26 GMT
And two separate stints in Chitty - one as Potts, the other as the Childcatcher,
|
|
16 posts
|
Post by adambloodworth on Oct 25, 2017 12:03:42 GMT
|
|
4,361 posts
|
Post by shady23 on Oct 25, 2017 12:30:32 GMT
|
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 25, 2017 12:33:17 GMT
*sigh* merged.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2017 13:23:51 GMT
Kevin is also doing pantomime in my hometown from December 9th to December 30th.
|
|
134 posts
|
Post by spendleb on Nov 8, 2017 10:22:08 GMT
Friends went to see this last night, mostly positive reviews, very funny but unsurprisingly Mr Flintoft is wooden and really can't sing at all  |
|
1,578 posts
|
Post by anita on Nov 8, 2017 10:33:19 GMT
Friends went to see this last night, mostly positive reviews, very funny but unsurprisingly Mr Flintoft is wooden and really can't sing at all He can't read an autocue either - I was at the recording of "All Star Musicals". |
|
2,245 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by richey on Nov 14, 2017 22:51:34 GMT
|
|
91 posts
|
Post by anniel on Dec 3, 2017 0:03:50 GMT
I've been trying to think of all the reasons why I love musical theatre.
Is it that we are moved by expressing our inner lives through music? That we learn more about the human condition through that marriage of words and sound? That we can explore deeper emotions and hopes, disappointment, suffering, sadness, joy in the way the human voice can articulate these through Song?
Well this was absolutely terrible and an insult to the intelligence of any audience member.
I feel so annoyed that I parted with good money for this. And Kay Mellor was sitting 2 rows in front: I wanted to poke her with my umbrella.
Patronising Northern stereotypes, cliched characters, sexism, awful, awful music, poor jokes. No emotional veracity at all. Jodie Prenger talking in a high pitched voice and then singing in a low one with dreadful vowels;....it was dire.
I think that is the worst thing I have seen in years.
Yet the theatre was packed and people stood up at the end. I am appalled.
I know it gives work to a talented cast and obviously other people liked it but it was so awful.
Sorry about the rant
|
|
2,775 posts
|
Post by daniel on Dec 3, 2017 11:24:55 GMT
How was Freddie Flintoff?
|
|
19,676 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 3, 2017 11:31:10 GMT
I suspected as much.
|
|
677 posts
|
Post by westendcub on Jan 17, 2018 23:09:02 GMT
On the way back to the East End from press night.
It’s a nice evening, certainly not a contender for West-End or a new musical classic (that belongs to ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’)- far off it but for the target audience it’s aimed for it should have a healthy tour & will work on the amateur circuit down the line.
There some nice melodies within some of its songs & there is a fantastic ‘Dreamgirls’ moment with massive flakes in a song about passion and chocolate.
The story is wafer thin & light and Act 1 needs a chop for pacing - Act 2 is stronger but it’s a show that ties up all its plots and never gets too deep.
So I must disclose you have to really suspend disbelief in the casting of roles and ages. Jodie’s character being 29/30 & Sam Bailey being 47 being her mam that had her young (in reality Sam is just 2 years older than Jodie being 40) & I got confused at first when she said ‘Mam’ but that said they have great voices & are the perfect stars to attract the target audience!
I can’t comment on Freddie as he’s not yet in the tour but will presume he plays ‘The Vicar’ Well the cast member right now in the role has beautiful big arms!!
Pleasant evening but not one to write home about (well I’m technically writing about it but you know what I mean!!)
|
|
