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Post by HereForTheatre on May 17, 2017 9:10:33 GMT
The Curve production is going to open at Menier Chocolate Factory this summer after further development since the original production. Opens July 14th INFO
I loved it so am very happy about this. |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2017 9:59:06 GMT
The Curve production is going to open at Menier Chocolate Factory this summer after further development since the original production. Opens July 14th INFO
I loved it so am very happy about this. Makes me wish we still had Ian Dury around to provide some lyrics. |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2017 9:59:15 GMT
Lovely. I wonder if Lulu is available to stop singing 'Shout' for a moment to recreate her BAFTA winning role?*
What a shame dear old Beryl Reid has passed on.
* Part of Lulu's career summary above may be a tad incorrect. Doesn't mean it shouldn't have happened though.
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Post by Phantom of London on May 17, 2017 10:30:42 GMT
I also saw this in Leicester and originally enjoyed Sue Townsend books, just like every other teenager did my age.
However it is very much a product of its time and when I saw this 3 years ago, it just seemed dated.
I will try and see the Menier production, but if i did miss it, I won't lose much sleep.
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 17, 2017 11:12:23 GMT
Lovley mods could the threads be merged? A lot of good stuff is on the previous Mole-rumour thread
Please and thanks
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Post by stevej678 on May 17, 2017 11:55:32 GMT
Tickets on sale as follows:
Souffle & Chocoholic Members - Monday 22nd May
Brownie Members - Wednesday 24th May
Cupcake Members - Friday 26th May
Public - Tuesday 30th May
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2017 12:04:21 GMT
Tickets on sale as follows:
Souffle & Chocoholic Members - Monday 22nd May
Brownie Members - Wednesday 24th May
Cupcake Members - Friday 26th May
Greggs Customers - Tuesday 30th May
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 17, 2017 12:33:39 GMT
Greggs ? The cheek of it. I'm Patterisie Valerie all the way ...
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2017 14:31:32 GMT
Lovley mods could the threads be merged? A lot of good stuff is on the previous Mole-rumour thread Please and thanks You mean this thread? That's mostly speculation followed by an argument about what "original" means. |
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Post by Steffi on Jun 20, 2017 10:19:07 GMT
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 20, 2017 10:22:31 GMT
Not seen it generate much buzz which is a shame but hopefully it picks up. I saw it in Leicester and thought it was a lovely show and am interested to see any changes and improvements that have been made over the last couple of years since that original production. Certainly it required work and so will be interesting to see those results. I'm a little disappointed not to see Amy Booth-Steel in the cast as i thought she stole the show last time.
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Post by viserys on Jul 19, 2017 5:30:20 GMT
This is previewing now. Has anyone seen it? Any thoughts?
I can still squish one more show into my trip early September and this would be the front runner as I loved the Adrian Mole books back then. But I'm just not sure if the musical is worth it. So I'd love to hear some opinions.
Fwiw, my other ideas are "Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour" which closes that weekend - I'm very late to the party but I've read the book on which the play is based only now and think it would be worth it for the performances alone. Or 42nd Street. I saw the Chatelet version in Paris last winter and I've seen this particular staging in Germany eons ago, so I haven't rushed out to see this again, but of course I'm still curious. So, opinions please.
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Post by Steffi on Jul 19, 2017 6:36:50 GMT
Seeing it on 5th August and will report back. But I guess someone else might well be there earlier.
I too loved the books when I read them back in the days.
General info: Dean Chisnall's last show is August 26th.
On a side note, 42nd Street is well worth watching. And you could easily day seat that one. I saw it on a Saturday eve the other week. Got to the theatre at 9:40am and was 6th in line. Ended up with two seats in the centre block of row A in the stalls for £15 each. Bargain.
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Post by alece10 on Jul 19, 2017 7:18:25 GMT
I'm hopefully seeing it tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2017 7:45:06 GMT
I'm hopefully seeing it tonight. oooh can you let us know your thoughts please  |
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Post by Steve on Jul 19, 2017 22:59:44 GMT
Saw this tonight, and loved it. Propulsive in it's staging, if not in it's narrative, faithful to the source material, this is a delightful, loveable, eccentric, joy from start to finish!
Some spoilers follow. . .
All the threads from the novel are there, as I recall, in this tale of an eventful year in the life of a teenage boy: the acne, the unfaithful mum, the rotter she falls for, the moping dad, the bully at school, the competition with his friend Nigel for the attention of new girl, Pandora. In fact, the only story thread that is short-changed is the acne, which was definitely far more significant and traumatic in the novel, and indeed, in most teenage lives.
And because there are so many story threads, the narrative is necessarily somewhat meandering.
But in every other way imaginable, I thought this was a gorgeous entertainment, full of love for people and period, graced with memorable songs, marvellous performances, and wonderfully eccentric, comedic moments.
Twice, all these elements came together to achieve the kind of magical and delirious set-pieces that make a musical unmissable and unforgettable: in the songs, "If You'd Lived" and "The Nativity," the former a wacky teenage version of "It's a wonderful Life," the latter the most bizarre and funny Nativity play you ever saw! It's worth attending just to see these set-pieces.
But all through there are delights. John Hopkins, no stranger to being very very silly, most memorably in "Ben Hur," is hilarious again, as the principal antagonist, a moustachioed, thrusting baritone, named Lucas, with more deep throbbing sex in his voice than Barry White. In the song "Begging You for More," he gets all Escamillo the bullfighter, in his passion for Adrian's mum, Pauline, and it's a laugh riot. Pauline is played beautifully by Kelly Price, sympathetic yet horrifically self-absorbed.
As Pauline's cuckolded husband, George, Dean Chisnall is as likeable and moving as his love rival is unlikeable and funny, the musical a triumphant blend of sentiment and comedy. Chisnall has the loveliest voice in the ensemble, duetting beautifully with Kelly Price on the songs, "I Miss Our Life" and "My Lost Love."
As for the kids, three share each role, but the central duo we got tonight, of Harry Potter lookalike Connor Davies, as Adrian Mole, and Hermione lookalike, Georgia Pemberton, as Pandora, were absolutely perfect: Davies channeling Adrian Mole's clueless resilience, while Pemberton channeled Pandora's poise and grace.
Overall, while meandering story threads do slow down the narrative, every single element of this show put a perma-smile on my face, which I can't seem to shift. Don't miss.
4 stars 😊
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2017 23:18:00 GMT
Do they use the late great Ian Dury's theme song from the 1980's adaptation on TV "Profoundly In Love With Pandora" that would fit perfectly in the stage show.
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Post by Stasia on Jul 20, 2017 8:26:20 GMT
General info: Dean Chisnall's last show is August 26th. Seeing it on August 27th. Not my lucky day  |
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Post by Stasia on Jul 20, 2017 8:29:34 GMT
This is previewing now. Has anyone seen it? Any thoughts? I can still squish one more show into my trip early September and this would be the front runner as I loved the Adrian Mole books back then. But I'm just not sure if the musical is worth it. So I'd love to hear some opinions. Fwiw, my other ideas are "Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour" which closes that weekend - I'm very late to the party but I've read the book on which the play is based only now and think it would be worth it for the performances alone. Or 42nd Street. I saw the Chatelet version in Paris last winter and I've seen this particular staging in Germany eons ago, so I haven't rushed out to see this again, but of course I'm still curious. So, opinions please. Choosing between Out Ladies and 42nd Street I would definitely go for Our Ladies, especially as you've already seen the 42nd before. And will only be able to get Adrian Mole in my "I would put this above~below" list on August 27. I think Our Ladies have dayseats/discounts as well. |
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Post by viserys on Jul 20, 2017 9:54:47 GMT
This is previewing now. Has anyone seen it? Any thoughts? I can still squish one more show into my trip early September and this would be the front runner as I loved the Adrian Mole books back then. But I'm just not sure if the musical is worth it. So I'd love to hear some opinions. Fwiw, my other ideas are "Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour" which closes that weekend - I'm very late to the party but I've read the book on which the play is based only now and think it would be worth it for the performances alone. Or 42nd Street. I saw the Chatelet version in Paris last winter and I've seen this particular staging in Germany eons ago, so I haven't rushed out to see this again, but of course I'm still curious. So, opinions please. Choosing between Out Ladies and 42nd Street I would definitely go for Our Ladies, especially as you've already seen the 42nd before. And will only be able to get Adrian Mole in my "I would put this above~below" list on August 27. I think Our Ladies have dayseats/discounts as well. Okay, makes sense! Tbh, I found 42nd Street a bit dire in Paris, I mean, yea, the tap dancing is great but the story is soooo lame. Based on Steve's excellent review I'm now very close to booking Adrian Mole though. Waiting to hear 1-2 more reviews... Still plenty seats available for the performance early September, might even treat myself to a Meal Deal, especially as it's only £8 more than a standard seat and I'd spend £8 even on a fast food lunch. Edit to ask: How long's the running time? I see the matinee doesn't start till 3.30pm and I need to be over at the National Theatre for Follies at 7.30pm that day... |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 20, 2017 10:01:30 GMT
I can't say on this production itself, but if it's the case they have kept most of it, which it seems they have in terms of songs and characters and big moments and set pieces, then i'd recommend it because i saw the original Curve production and really enjoyed it then, even without the couple of years worth of more work and refining it's now had.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2017 10:07:14 GMT
General info: Dean Chisnall's last show is August 26th. I remember hearing that Dean is going back into Blood Brothers which starts again on the 29th August. |
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Post by Steffi on Jul 20, 2017 10:52:05 GMT
General info: Dean Chisnall's last show is August 26th. Seeing it on August 27th. Not my lucky day Actually, now that you're mentioning it he might still be in it that day. I forgot they have a Sunday show. I'll check and will let you know. |
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Post by Steffi on Jul 20, 2017 10:52:47 GMT
General info: Dean Chisnall's last show is August 26th. I remember hearing that Dean is going back into Blood Brothers which starts again on the 29th August. Yes, that's the reason he is leaving early. |
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Post by alece10 on Jul 20, 2017 11:28:26 GMT
Choosing between Out Ladies and 42nd Street I would definitely go for Our Ladies, especially as you've already seen the 42nd before. And will only be able to get Adrian Mole in my "I would put this above~below" list on August 27. I think Our Ladies have dayseats/discounts as well. Okay, makes sense! Tbh, I found 42nd Street a bit dire in Paris, I mean, yea, the tap dancing is great but the story is soooo lame. Based on Steve's excellent review I'm now very close to booking Adrian Mole though. Waiting to hear 1-2 more reviews... Still plenty seats available for the performance early September, might even treat myself to a Meal Deal, especially as it's only £8 more than a standard seat and I'd spend £8 even on a fast food lunch. Edit to ask: How long's the running time? I see the matinee doesn't start till 3.30pm and I need to be over at the National Theatre for Follies at 7.30pm that day... I was told last night it's running at 2 hrs 20mins which and still in previews. So you should be out just before 6pm based on those times. Plenty of time to get over to the NT. |
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