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Post by showgirl on Nov 9, 2017 19:58:47 GMT
I enjoyed the matinee at Wimbledon today, though it's a shame for the show and the venue that it was nowhere near sold out. Best show I've seen there in a good couple of years and after leaving so many disappointing ones at the interval, I began to think perhaps I should simply steer clear of that particular theatre.
Yes, at 2 hours 50 minutes it is long and probably could and should be cut - down to about 2 hours 30, say - but at no stage did it drag for me, though the pace picked up noticeably once the songs kicked in and the story really took off. I found myself wondering if the real Cilla had had a better voice than I thought, as Kara Lily Hayworth is really impressive and her rendition of "Anyone Who Had A Heart", which closes Act One, was absolutely spellbinding.
All in all, time and money well spent in my opinion.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 9, 2017 20:10:23 GMT
I found myself wondering if the real Cilla had had a better voice than I thought, as Kara Lily Hayworth is really impressive and her rendition of "Anyone Who Had A Heart", which closes Act One, was absolutely spellbinding. That’s an interesting comment SG. What do you base your opinion of the real Cilla’s voice on? I ask because I think she became a parody of herself later in her career and the voice in her early recording years was overshadowed by her tv persona which was a bit of a joke. |
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Post by showgirl on Nov 9, 2017 20:19:19 GMT
I don't think I ever heard that much of the real Cilla singing, BurlyBeaR but whatever I did hear - and probably songs from later in her career - left me believing that her voice wasn't up to much - but that's just my opinion and besides, her voice could have changed over time; plus performing style can make a huge difference to the overall impression. Certainly I thought of her more as an "entertainer" than singler and what I did hear didn't leave me wanting more, whereas seeing the show today, I couldn't get enough of Kara Lily Hayworth as Cilla. Now, assuming that the aim was verisimilitude and that the producers therefore wouldn't have chosen someone with a better voice than the person she was playing, does that mean I've misjudged Cilla? Or that I'm over-rating Kara Lily Hayworth's singing?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 23:29:29 GMT
When I saw the showw, it did not occur to me that the lead actress had a better voice than Cilla. On looking at Youtube videos you are correct she does. As you say, performers voices can change over time, if they are not careful. No wonder we where impressed.
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Post by musicalmarge on Nov 10, 2017 16:52:51 GMT
When I saw the showw, it did not occur to me that the lead actress had a better voice than Cilla. On looking at Youtube videos you are correct she does. As you say, performers voices can change over time, if they are not careful. No wonder we where impressed. I think we all need to realise that this was the 60’s and voices were different then. Cilla had a natural nasal tone with odd vowel sounds and a rather shrill belt that could almost be unpleasant to listen to. The girl in the current musical is a much better singer and because of that it is much more pleasant to the ears. The perfect casting. |
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Post by argon on Nov 11, 2017 22:22:52 GMT
Lora Lora Laughs & the music was decent and bubbled along nicely, cracking performance by Kara Lily Hayworth. The production seemed more polished for a touring one (spending a little bit more can make all the difference).
After seeing Flashdance last month at the NWT watching Cilla felt like I was watching this in a West End Theatre. Kudos to the production team.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 21, 2017 23:23:42 GMT
Audience behaviour off the scale tonight in Manchester. Absolutely dreadful and not just me, I heard other people talking about their own experiences on the way out.
As for the show, total guilty pleasure. Cilla’s early work is before my time but I was introduced to it by an ex whose mum was a superfan and played us the greatest hits constantly. Cilla had an amazing voice as a youngster (and no, Kara Lily Hayward’s voice is not better) and it was great to hear those huge ballads as well as one of my faves Love Of The Loved.
I really liked it but a couple of things jarred. Brian Epstein singing Youve Got To Hide Your Love Away with a black eye was clumsy, if not crass. That was one of two points where the songs moved away from performances and became narrative and neither of them worked. It was just odd for them to start doing it when everything else was performance. The other jarring note were the notes of the synthesised strings. Yuk.
Kara is very good, as is the whole cast. Some of the wigs are questionable. Overall a good night.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 15, 2018 11:59:47 GMT
Back ain Manchester, this time at The Lowry for a week 28th August.
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Post by musicalmarge on Feb 15, 2018 14:12:53 GMT
It’s too long but I thought this was great!
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Post by alicesprings on Mar 3, 2018 11:01:41 GMT
Saw Cilla in Newcastle last night and it was brilliant. Kara Lily Hayworth has a lovely voice, powerful when needed. The actor playing Bobby was brilliant too. The supporting cast were great too. I was worried it might drag a bit at 2 hours 50. But it didn’t! Great set too. (Only thing for me is a man sitting near me asked his partner what happened in America; before it happens on stage as I didn’t know so a little bit spoiled for me but didn’t ruin the night!). Anyone Who Had a Heart and Through the Years stood out for me. Standing ovation at the end thoroughly deserved. Sold out performance despite the snow and travel disruptions.
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Post by Steve on Mar 25, 2018 23:31:12 GMT
Kara Lily Hayworth singing "Anyone Who Had a Heart" was also my highlight. Just exquisite, and worth the trip just to hear that. Still, this is an odd one, given that Cilla isn't the show's main character, probably not even the second most important character, which is poor Brian Epstein, constantly engaged by his closeted battle with fists that kiss. (Spoilers follow. . .) Of course, the main character is Bobby, who has all the narrative challenges, with Cilla a somewhat whiny obstacle for him to overcome in his quest to become a kind, generous and all round wonderful guy. I mean, Cilla doesn't even know there are obstacles in the way of her getting more money for her first performances, as noble Bobby digs deep into his own pockets to ease her every desire. And boy does he desire her, though God knows why, cos the thanks he gets from her is to demote him to number 2 manager (below Epstein) and then unthinkingly tell him to get out of her line of sight, while she records a song. Of course, Bobby is dealing with the death of his father, yet he acquiesces to every demand of his desired Diva, cheers on Cilla, despite her problems being nothing but petty, sacrifices his own ambitions, and ultimately wins the heart of his Princess. Compared to the inspiring portrayal of the heroic Tina Turner at the Aldwych, Cilla is a total brat who lucks her way through her entire life, while Bobby and Brian suffer and work their way through real challenges. I cannot believe the real Cilla would have been OK with this story lol! Also, compared to Tina the Musical, so little thought has gone into dramatising the songs, which are mostly just concert appearances. The laziness, but also the genius, of this approach is compounded by throwing in songs by the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Mamas and the Papas, all just so songs we know and love can be trotted out in undramatised, yet thoroughly entertaining concert performances lol. Kara Lily Hayworth enchanted the heck out of me, singing "Anyone who had a Heart" with power and grace, but the only one who has a heart in this story is lovely Bobby, and Carl Au is FANTASTIC as Bobby, self-effacing and funny in the lighter scenes, vulnerable and heartfelt in the weightier ones, and every bit Hayworth's equal in his lovely duet with Cilla, "You've lost that Loving Feeling." Anyway, despite this being the jukeboxiest jukebox show ever, thanks to Au's great performance, and thanks to all those unearned but superb concert numbers, "Bobby the Musical" proves to be a thoroughly entertaining show!  3 and a half stars. |
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Post by yamcandy on Mar 26, 2018 2:51:36 GMT
Does the musical mention that Bobby wrote most of Cilla's b-sides? He pocketed as much money from Cilla's hit versions of "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Alfie" as the Bacharach/David partnership did (more if one considers that he didn't have to split the proceeds, like Burt and Hal did). He got his monetary investment in Cilla Black back in spades.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 26, 2018 10:21:10 GMT
Compared to the inspiring portrayal of the heroic Tina Turner at the Aldwych, Cilla is a total brat who lucks her way through her entire life, while Bobby and Brian suffer and work their way through real challenges. I cannot believe the real Cilla would have been OK with this story lol! I’m pretty sure she authorised the Sheridan Smith tv drama that this musical is based upon. And her son authorised the musical. ETA her son Robert Willis is executive producer. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2018 0:34:00 GMT
Cilla's oldest son Robert was Executive Producer of the TV drama as well as the Musical so the family must be happy with how it portrays her.
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Post by musicalmarge on May 21, 2018 23:21:35 GMT
At the Albert Hall tonight they said this is going to the West End!
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Post by Mark on May 22, 2018 9:02:06 GMT
At the Albert Hall tonight they said this is going to the West End! Could go to the Garrick after Young Frankenstein.. |
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Post by theatremadness on Jul 3, 2018 11:38:12 GMT
Going back out on tour, August - December 2018.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Jul 3, 2018 11:50:12 GMT
I might have to see it again - I thought it was beautifully produced and well-acted and sung. The bit where a knowing John Lennon sings "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" in front of Brian Epstein was so moving (at least when I saw it). The real life antagonism between them - the fact that Lennon was a total Pr**k to Epstein (he said Epstein's autobio should be called ""Queer Jew" as a "joke"... yeah, he wasn't a pleasant man in his youth), has been replaced by including this setpiece instead. So the musical sort of rewrites history in some places, but not egregiously. Edited because Wikipedia corrected me |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2018 20:14:49 GMT
So this tour is still going on after what feels like years even though it has only toured for just over a year. It is still touring until December, with the website saying further venues to be announced. Whatever happened to the rumours of it going into town? I could see it playing well in a theatre like the Piccadilly for a limited run or something. |
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Post by zahidf on Jan 16, 2020 20:04:42 GMT
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Post by theatre241 on Jan 16, 2020 20:07:21 GMT
Wow this will be insane! I wonder what theatre it will be
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Post by xanady on Jan 16, 2020 20:26:57 GMT
Turning into a verrry busy and expensive MT year for me in 2020 now that this has been announced as I am really interested in SS in this.Was a vocal critic of her in Joseph as I didn’t think it worked well,but this is a different kettle of fish.On her first album she covers some of Cilla’s stuff and it’s very good.Wonder if this will be in a WE house or maybe a staged concert type-version of the show somewhere?
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 16, 2020 20:47:49 GMT
I just hope she isn't taking on too much, as she will have a new baby by then, which could be very stressful for her (or maybe not, who knows!).
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 16, 2020 20:49:51 GMT
Surprise Surprise!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2020 20:51:54 GMT
I just hope she isn't taking on too much, as she will have a new baby by then, which could be very stressful for her (or maybe not, who knows!). I agree it seems an odd decision for her to take so much on so soon. I guess the only upside is it's a role she already knows well |
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