721 posts
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Post by hulmeman on Jun 21, 2019 18:21:22 GMT
Just to let you know there is a very good production of the Melvyn Bragg / Howard Goodall musical "The Hired Man" just put down at the Coliseum Theatre, Oldham until 6th July.
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214 posts
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Post by BoOverall on Jun 21, 2019 18:59:05 GMT
Agh I really wish I could see it. I still remember the show at the Leicester Haymarket as a boy: seeing it several times during its run. I was somewhat obsessed at the time with the great “What a fool I’ve been” and “No choir of angels” among the wonderful score.
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19,673 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 22, 2019 10:26:58 GMT
Threads merged.
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3,306 posts
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Post by david on Jun 29, 2019 21:04:27 GMT
Saw today’s matinee performance at the Oldham Coliseum. I’ve had had mixed experiences of musicals that use actor-musicians within shows. On one hand I thought Ragtime at London’s Charing Cross was a beautifully crafted piece of musical theatre, while on the other hand when a tour of Saturday Night Fever a few years ago used the same technique, I just felt it was so wrong and didn’t enjoy it. So when I found out that the Hired Man was using the actor-musician format, I was a little worried whether it would work or not. So overall, I really enjoyed this and like Ragtime, the format really suited the show.
The cast were fantastic and the standouts for me were Oliver Hembrough as John and Lucy Keirl as his wife Sally. Absolutely fantastic voices and combined really well in their duets, as well as their respective solo numbers.
Not having heard a cast recording prior to today, it really was a beautiful score to listen to this afternoon and i felt the on stage instruments didn’t overpower the vocals at any point.
Although simply staged with a lovely painted textile backdrop, I thought it was effective in setting the different scenes and I absolutely loved the use of the mini-revolve.
Plot wise, I thought Act 2 was definitely the stronger part and the more emotional part, leading to that heart breaking conclusion.
The performance seemed to go down very well with the majority of patrons today, with only a few non returnees post interval.
Definitely worth a watch.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jun 10, 2020 17:25:20 GMT
Just announced by the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch that this will on their You Tube channel from Monday 15 June 7.30pm until Sunday 21 June Midnight. Free but donations welcome.
Well worth viewing.
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Jun 10, 2020 20:13:00 GMT
Just saw this clip. The director of this production blocking the songs: okay, so let's just spread out on the stage. Chest up. Head high. Sing out. For the entire number. Just like that, yes stand still and sing. Okay we're done. Next scene.
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Post by Seriously on Jun 14, 2020 17:54:54 GMT
Just saw this clip. The director of this production blocking the songs: okay, so let's just spread out on the stage. Chest up. Head high. Sing out. For the entire number. Just like that, yes stand still and sing. Okay we're done. Next scene. Well, two of the numbers in this clip were. The other two weren't. And Les Mis seemed to do pretty well out of it. |
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1,997 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 16, 2020 20:28:28 GMT
Julia Hills, the original star, is currently touring with the Calendar Girls musical. Some of you may also remember the lovely 1-night original cast reunion concert version at the Palace Theatre with Philip Schofield as the narrator. I was at that concert and still have a flyer for it that said that Glenda Jackson was originally going to be the narrator.
The concert recording is actually my favourite of the ones that are available. The vocals sound better on it than the OLCR, which can sound a little shaky in places, especially Julia Hills (who married her co-star from The Hired Man, Paul Clarkson!)
Oh yes, I listened recently and Julia Hills vocals were atrocious at times - I couldn't get through the whole recording.
I have the 2008 recording, which is fine but is lacking in actual recording quality. Sounds like it was done very cheaply.
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