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Post by danb on Sept 27, 2018 17:43:18 GMT
Hopefully people are starting to appreciate what a great show it is, outside of all of the CHF stuff. It is a great listen in the car (with selected skipping, and I think it could have a good life on tour with talented MT types and stunt cast ex-soap stars as the boy tits). It could easily be the next ‘Legally Blond’ with the right PR spin.
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Post by adrianics on Sept 28, 2018 10:31:12 GMT
We saw this last night.
Do you know what, I went in knowing next to nothing about Carrie Hope Fletcher beyond her infamy and the reputation of her fans, and while I was apprehensive about potential bad behaviour going in I have to say that this was one of the best-behaved audiences I’ve ever been a part of on the West End. No chatting, no phones, and while one moron yelled “go Chris” when the jocks first stripped I’ll take one idiot yelling a stupid thing and impeccable behaviour otherwise over the constant thrum of mumbling and sweet wrappers that I normally get.
Interestingly, Fletcher got no reaction to her introduction but the roof nearly came off when the Heathers themselves were introduced. The crowd generally was extremely boisterous and met the end of every song with thunderous applause.
Having never seen Fletcher in anything, I thought she was terrific. She’s a true star and no matter what is said about her persona offstage, I don’t normally give two hoots about what performers get up to out-of-hours and I have no doubt the stage is where she belongs.
This is the third show I’ve seen Jamie Muscato in and he somehow finds ways to impress me more and more every time, he’s got to be the most underrated and unappreciated leading man in the West End. His chemistry with Fletcher is up there with the most natural and convincing I’ve ever seen and he kept the entire audience in the palm of his hand throughout.
The rest of the cast, particularly the three Heathers, were also in very good nick and it’s clear they’re all having the time of their lives. I don’t think the material is the best and doesn’t give the ensemble much of a chance to shine but what they were given, they did very well.
Going back to the material… Eh, I thought it was okay. Certain bits are really great (love the relationship between JD and Veronica and the possibly inadvertent barb towards 13 Reasons Why), otherwise some scenes went on for way too long and I found myself feeling really bored, particularly during the guidance counsellor’s scene which felt like it went on forever. With a couple of exceptions (Brain Freeze and Dead Girl Walking), the songs all kind of blended together in one for me and I can’t recall any of them now. The crowd loved the Dead Gay Son song but to me it felt like a rehash of There Right There from Legally Blonde.
Overall I had a really great night, but I think this is one of those shows where the cast elevates the material beyond its worth. I’d certainly recommend it!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 10:38:43 GMT
The Heathers entrance is designed for entrance applause. I even did it as soon as I saw them because it just felt right. 😂
Thankfully the girls, for the most part, earned it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 10:42:15 GMT
Red Heather doesn't just deserve entrance applause, she deserves a parade through the stalls to get to the stage, she's marvellous.
Green Heather on the other hand should just follow quietly behind until they adjust the score so that she can sing it. She's pretty funny at the acting bit though, I will give her that.
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Post by adrianics on Sept 28, 2018 10:59:52 GMT
Red Heather was definitely the standout for me too, I'd put that down to half-material, half-performance. The change in dynamics and character for Yellow and Green Heather in the second act were both pretty good, I thought.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 12:06:23 GMT
Red Heather is everything. She just is.
Watch her be nominated for a Supporting Actress Olivier come 2019.
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Post by mallardo on Sept 28, 2018 12:42:21 GMT
To me this is one of the few shows where the book and lyrics are far better than the music. I'm a fan of Laurence O'Keefe's work but too many of the songs in Heathers feel like all-purpose Legally Blonde clones. Music is supposed to help delineate character but that doesn't really happen here since so much of it is so generic.
That said, the show works, without a doubt. Great cast, great direction and a solid script. Fletcher is the driving force, for sure and Muscato is good as well though, for me, he overdoes the creepiness. In the end I felt nothing much for him and - harkening back to the film - I definitely did for Christian Slater who, in memory at least, brought more to the role. Perhaps not a fair comparison.
The featured player who elevated things for me was Rebecca Lock. I loved her big second act scene. But kudos to all, I had a great time.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 28, 2018 22:37:16 GMT
Looks like it’s now a “thing” to throw colour matching scrunchies at your favourite Heather at the curtain call. 🙄.
Very young, loud but impeccably behaved audience tonight. A bit of “in joke” unnecessary laughter but not enough to be an issue.
God that set is ugly and basic for West End prices. No trouble to tour that. You could load it in a transit van. Cheap.
I thought all of the performances were good but the music is very forgettable. It was shouty in many places too, and they were pretty much all guilty of that apart from Martha Dunnstock.
Sorry I cannot let it pass that red heather is way too old to be playing 17. She was very good but seriously???
And Carrie. Dear dear Carrie. She certainly pulls focus doesn’t she. Undeniably talented and waaaaay better than the half assed performance I saw in Addams Family. It’s all head voice though, or back of throat voice to be more precise. She barely breathes and it sounds strained at times. She’s going to kill her throat if she carries on like that.
⭐️⭐️.5 glad I didn’t make a special trip for it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 18:34:21 GMT
Just seen on Jodie's Instagram story that Sergio leaves the show tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 19:19:37 GMT
Any idea who replaces him? He plays a lot of roles in the show
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Post by stageyninja83 on Sept 29, 2018 20:24:53 GMT
Just seen on Jodie's Instagram story that Sergio leaves the show tonight. I think he's going to be Carl on the Ghost tour |
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Post by sophie92 on Sept 29, 2018 20:29:48 GMT
Any idea who replaces him? He plays a lot of roles in the show Brandon Lee Sears, who was a swing in Motown until last week. I believe Nathan Amzi will start doing his full track (adding Ram’s Dad to the roles he’s already playing) next week too. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 20:45:18 GMT
Just seen on Jodie's Instagram story that Sergio leaves the show tonight. I think he's going to be Carl on the Ghost tour Not sure about Role but he has confirmed that he will be in the tour of Ghost. Initially the international tour and then the UK Tour. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 20:45:43 GMT
Any idea who replaces him? He plays a lot of roles in the show Brandon Lee Sears, who was a swing in Motown until last week. I believe Nathan Amzi will start doing his full track (adding Ram’s Dad to the roles he’s already playing) next week too. Oh cool. Thanks  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 30, 2018 8:23:42 GMT
Anyone know why Heathers starts at 7.45 instead of the usual?
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Post by LaLuPone on Sept 30, 2018 8:32:59 GMT
Anyone know why Heathers starts at 7.45 instead of the usual? It’s a “Kenwright thing” apparently. The same was said when Evita had that short run at the Phoenix with a 7:45 start (although that makes more sense, being a shorter show). No idea why he actually does it, maybe just to be awkward. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2018 8:57:38 GMT
Mamma Mia is 7.45 too, but that’s Mackintosh. I remember on the last tour of Grease and on the forthcoming tour of Rocky Horror, they did 5pm matinees and 8.30 evening shows.
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Post by Mark on Sept 30, 2018 9:03:38 GMT
I always presumed it was for either one of two reasons:
* Less latecomers as most will be conditioned to 7:30
* Option to buy last minute tickets to a slightly later start.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2018 12:41:23 GMT
Im susprised it doesnt start at 7 so the children can watch the show and get home in time for bed for school the next day.
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Post by viserys on Oct 1, 2018 5:19:21 GMT
Well, the level of fan adoration for this one is really something else, isn't it. I was at the Saturday matinee, when the young fans were out in full force and I've never felt so old in a London theatre before. The Heathers got entrance applause, but so did Carrie on her second entrance (in the blue Heathers outfit), there was quite some whooping during "Dead Girl Walking" and when the boys took their kits off.
I was dealing with a cold and headache, so didn't enjoy the show and the atmosphere as much as I had hope, but that's entirely my (body's) fault and not the show's. I didn't know Carrie Hope Fletcher from her social media activities at all, but I thought she was fabulous and it was great to see a normal-sized girl in a leading part (especially in this show which draws so many young female fans). Most everyone else was great, too, though while I'm fine with twenty-something performers playing teenagers in general, I thought Jodie Steele - great as she was - was just a smidge -too- old to get away with it. Glad I got to see it after all thanks to the transfer and I can't fault a show that brings a new young audience into the theatre!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2018 5:42:38 GMT
I was there too! My first visit since the run at the other palace and I definitely thought it had improved from an already impressive production. Loved the addition of I Say No which Carrie really came into her own with, and it was lovely hearing You’re Welcome and Never Shut Up Again once more.
My only niggle was the merchandise booth, as it was directly in front of the stalls entrance to the theatre. The big queues made entering and leaving the building a very drawn out experience. Loved the atmosphere in the auditorium though. My only regret is not bringing a green scrunchie to throw as the next time I visit I shan’t be close enough.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2018 8:26:13 GMT
I am not one to normally discuss an actors personal life but Jodie’s age keeps coming up over and over again. I’ll admit that I don’t know too much about her but I assumed she was 27/28ish. What age is she actually to say it keeps being brought up. I thought Sophie Issacs (who is 30) is the eldest of the heathers.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2018 13:58:42 GMT
There's ages and there's playing ages. Doesn't matter if you're nearly 40 if you can somehow convince as a teen on stage (one of the ladies in my amdram group is in her 50s but VERY slightly built and with INCREDIBLE skin so she really can convince as a 20-something, it's fairly sickening  ), but if you're a mere 28 who looks every single day of it when you're on stage then you're just going to stick out. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2018 14:03:38 GMT
There's ages and there's playing ages. Doesn't matter if you're nearly 40 if you can somehow convince as a teen on stage (one of the ladies in my amdram group is in her 50s but VERY slightly built and with INCREDIBLE skin so she really can convince as a 20-something, it's fairly sickening ), but if you're a mere 28 who looks every single day of it when you're on stage then you're just going to stick out. Completely agree... an example: Clare Halse is in her mid 30's but is playing Peggy in 42nd Street who is 18-20. No one bats an eyelid. I actually think green Heather is the one who looks way too old but all three are believable through their performances. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2018 14:13:53 GMT
There's ages and there's playing ages. Doesn't matter if you're nearly 40 if you can somehow convince as a teen on stage (one of the ladies in my amdram group is in her 50s but VERY slightly built and with INCREDIBLE skin so she really can convince as a 20-something, it's fairly sickening ), but if you're a mere 28 who looks every single day of it when you're on stage then you're just going to stick out. Very well made point put a lot more eloquently that what I attempted to write. |
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), but if you're a mere 28 who looks every single day of it when you're on stage then you're just going to stick out.