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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 21, 2023 9:31:29 GMT
Seeing this tonight and nervous/intrigued
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Post by ctas on Nov 21, 2023 9:45:12 GMT
Saw last night’s performance and had a great time - I really enjoyed the visual flourishes and distinct colour palettes in different sets. Katherine Kingsley was wonderful and I really enjoyed her villain solo, and was definitely singing the soup song in my head all the way home. It got the right balance of light and dark for me and was very funny and charming.
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Post by zahidf on Nov 22, 2023 10:27:23 GMT
reviews are in and seems to be mainly 4-5 stars
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Post by lonlad on Nov 22, 2023 10:56:43 GMT
I'm stunned by the lavishness of the praise, the Telegraph's (accurate, in my view) 3 star review notwithstanding. It's very much a work in progress and while there are some wonderful aspects to it - not least the phenomenal Bertie Caplan who is a child actor for the ages (until he becomes an adult, that is) - it's not yet ready for prime time. If it moves on to the US or elsewhere as is, I suspect they're in for a bit of a surprise. Matilda it ain't.
Katherine Kingsley, though, is perfection as always.
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 11:05:35 GMT
Impressive reviews:
5 stars Times
5 stars Time Out
5 stars Independent
4 stars WOS
4 stars Standard
4 stars The Stage
3 stars Telegraph
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5,139 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 22, 2023 11:07:04 GMT
That is a seriously impressive set of reviews...
I don't know how practical a transfer is though - as ever they've built a show that's MASSIVE and could transfer to probably 3 theatres in the West End
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Post by zahidf on Nov 22, 2023 11:08:39 GMT
Maybe it goes to Broadway first before the west end?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 22, 2023 11:11:19 GMT
I liked it on the 11th Nov looking at the reivews im guessing the creatives have made a lot of changes. However following this thread indicates they have not ...
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 11:19:39 GMT
That is a seriously impressive set of reviews... I don't know how practical a transfer is though - as ever they've built a show that's MASSIVE and could transfer to probably 3 theatres in the West End Indeed all the online bloggers and vloggers are loving this as well it seems With this and Bernarda Alba running over Xmas The NT will have an impressive box office haul |
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Post by mkb on Nov 22, 2023 11:26:54 GMT
Was there any tightening of running time at press night, or is still coming out after 2hr50?
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 11:54:12 GMT
Impressive reviews: 5 stars Times 5 stars Time Out 5 stars Independent 4 stars WOS 4 stars Standard 4 stars The Stage 3 stars Telegraph 5 stars Broadway world 4 stars iNews (Fiona Mountford) |
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Post by JustJ on Nov 22, 2023 12:07:55 GMT
This is not a 5* production. As much as I enjoyed it, it just is not. 4* at most.
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Post by edi on Nov 22, 2023 12:44:38 GMT
Can I please ask how the added first row bench seats affect the view for the row behind (what is usually first row)?
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Post by ceebee on Nov 22, 2023 13:10:35 GMT
I'm stunned by the lavishness of the praise, the Telegraph's (accurate, in my view) 3 star review notwithstanding. It's very much a work in progress and while there are some wonderful aspects to it - not least the phenomenal Bertie Caplan who is a child actor for the ages (until he becomes an adult, that is) - it's not yet ready for prime time. If it moves on to the US or elsewhere as is, I suspect they're in for a bit of a surprise. Matilda it ain't. Katherine Kingsley, though, is perfection as always. It must have improved hugely since I saw it (albeit I endured a very long show stop in my preview). I'm going back on Tuesday for a second look, but originally I think I said this had the potential to be a good 4 star show if they could iron out the issues. It is certainly not 5 star by any stretch of the imagination. |
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Post by ceebee on Nov 22, 2023 13:12:15 GMT
Seeing this tonight and nervous/intrigued What did you think of it mrbarnaby? |
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Post by lonlad on Nov 22, 2023 13:18:29 GMT
Totally not a 5 star production, barely a 4. Oh well.
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 13:22:41 GMT
On a not unrelated note
It does amaze me how many producers and directors and theatres
Insist on creating new musicals
Lacking a decent score and lyrics
Often the acting and singing and dancing are fine
But the essence of a show
The raw ingredients are the songs
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 13:24:12 GMT
Impressive reviews: 5 stars Times 5 stars Time Out 5 stars Independent 4 stars WOS 4 stars Standard 4 stars The Stage 3 stars Telegraph 5 stars Broadway world 4 stars iNews (Fiona Mountford) 5 stars London Theatre 3 stars Guardian |
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 14:06:24 GMT
5 stars Broadway world 4 stars iNews (Fiona Mountford) 5 stars London Theatre 3 stars Guardian 4 stars Reviews Hub 4 stars Local London 4 stars Culture Whisper |
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Nov 22, 2023 14:17:57 GMT
5 stars London Theatre 3 stars Guardian 4 stars Reviews Hub 4 stars Local London 4 stars Culture Whisper There’s much to enjoy here. The casting was excellent. With a few cuts in the first act The Witches may have a future. I enjoyed the songs much more in Act two were there are two diva song, rats run a mock and children rebel! Yes, as the queen says, children are …. Pick up the cues and really use that turntable until Trevor says enough. |
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Post by vickyg on Nov 22, 2023 14:36:20 GMT
I suspected this might be somewhat ripped to shreds but it seems I'm wrong about critics' opinions again... There is lots to enjoy about this production but also a lot of pretty glaring flaws. I'm happy for them because they've obviously been working hard and I imagine previews have been challenging to try and fix the issues, but giving this show 5* is really stretching it for me even though I did have a good time.
I'm going back tonight so I'm interested in what changes will have been made from previews.
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Post by kathryn on Nov 22, 2023 15:06:28 GMT
This is not a 5* production. As much as I enjoyed it, it just is not. 4* at most. I agree. It’s pretty good, but it just lacks that extra bit it needs for 5 stars. There’s no ‘When I grow up’ moment in it - nothing that truly takes your breath away or puts a lump in your throat. I know that the lack of emotional reaction at the deaths of parents and children is very Dahlian, but it’s not in keeping with the basic premise of musical theatre, and makes the whole enterprise emotionally flat. |
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Post by alece10 on Nov 22, 2023 15:42:39 GMT
Pleased it's had a good set of reviews but I don't think it's 5 stars. I gave it 4 as it was fun but unless they have made big changes since last Friday I am very surprised.
The Times usually hates anything I like so this was the biggest surprise.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 22, 2023 18:37:55 GMT
Caught this on press night last night and must say it left me underwhelmed.
All of those workshops and this is the best they can come up with?
The score is terrible. Most of the time it just feels like a load of shouting and banging.
Ironically the only catchy song is Get up and they decide to stick the kids in stupid costumes they can’t move in- that shouldn’t have even lasted one preview before being re-imagined. This wannabe anthem has nowhere to go due to the staging. Or lack of.
Sally Ann Triplett does her usual schtick. Her numbers are all terrible - NOT her fault.. the writing. They should have cut them.
The set is nice. And more elaborate than I expected having read comments here, but the ‘magic’ tricks are just so clunky and poor.
Star of the show is Katherine Kingsley who looks a million dollars (as usual) and is very funny.
All of the children are absolutely wonderful , Zoe Birkett absolutely wasted.
A very odd evening out and a show I don’t think should transfer without major rewrites. It’s also physically a bit production so if it did they’d have to scale it down as it would die in a big theatre (even if they managed to get one)
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 22, 2023 19:36:54 GMT
The NYT is also a fan
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