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Post by waybeyondblue on May 29, 2016 18:32:27 GMT
Saw this last night, row C near centre. Late start at 7:40+ so ended around 10:10. At least 20 min interval.
Audience - surrounded by seat kicking kids, chatting dates and snoggers. Film will be up shortly once I've exhausted the blackmail options in case any of them weren't with their normal partner. Bit of a delayed SO at the end but there were plenty of oos and ahs at various points.
Film vs Show - none of the additional songs hit a spot but that wasn't helped by the sound. The bits (and characters) left out weren't missed much but the additional jokes and timing could be sharper. The idea of a short sidekick as Iago and a chorus to replace Aboo works. One real complaint - the ending goes from getting control of the lamp to the resolution in less than 10 minutes - this has a whole lot of stuff happening in the film which I would have traded for the repeat visits to the marketplace in Act1.
Cast - Aladdin is a star no doubt. Jasmine is struggling to get the punch she had in the film and Jade wasn't delivering as any sort of threat. Jaffa was indeed a pantomime villain which I would recast with someone like Graham Crowden to deliver the wild-eyed menace and sharp put-downs. Iago was a poor Lou Costello who needs a Roy Kinnear type to grab the part properly. Aladdin's chorus - will be fine once they've relaxed and fixed their timing. I assume at least one of them is the understudy given his looks and singing skills. Sultan - badly written part which could have kept more from the film whereas now it's a few tepid walk-ons. Genie - will be fine once he gets into a rhythm and joins up the edges where he was waiting for a reaction. Other cast - there must have been a major queue to be able to select 100% gorgeous people. I have a theory that the skilled hair removal team from Mrs H has found work moonlighting here.
Staging - game of two halves. Outstanding in the Cave of Wonders and the carpet ride (you can see how it's done at the end when they've over-lit the end of scene) Problem is the rest of it which relies on a handful of pieces or back-drops or front curtains. I can see why you might want a contrast but it grates as a bit cheap vs very bling. Only one technical failure when a stagehand had to manually push a piece off stage (or may just have been late)
Overall I think it will harvest the kids and tourist markets well into next year.
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Post by waybeyondblue on May 29, 2016 18:35:28 GMT
It's fly-by-wine. Same as they do at the Savoy. Savoy? Who flies at the Savoy? Sounds good! She's stopped doing it now as it clashed with her health club appointments. I think she sang it during Don't Rain On My Pinot Noir. |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2016 18:44:53 GMT
I assumed on of the friends was aladdin understudy...but they aren't according to the programme
Also there were a few more little issues than the cave not going off (e.g. one of the girls reveals during friend like me got stuck) but nothing major. For a second preview it was all pretty slick
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Post by Phantom of London on May 29, 2016 19:34:33 GMT
You don't think the Genie is good?! Well he was the understudy, so wasn't as good as James Monroe Igleheart. When Kinky Boots announced it was coming over, I was one saying that the incredible Billie Porter needs to come over, obviously that didn't happen and step up Matt Henry, I am sure we agree the rest is now history. I said the same about James needing to come over, instead we get his understudy, I am not saying Trevor Dion Thomas is bad, in fact he is very good, but I have been spolit by James in Toronto and New York, the bar has been set for me. Maybe James didn't want to come to London, maybe Disney wanted him to stay in New York. I think casting the understudy is a poor production choice and aends the wrong message out, they should of done what Kinky Boots and cast a native. Towards the end of the show, I really begun to like the Aladdin, Jasmine was good, but it's a bit unfair to critique on the second preview, when the show gets tighter, and the creative process is complete the performances should get better, however there didn't seem much chemistry between them last night. What also was dissapointing and pointed out on here was the black masking around the side, which gave the stage a claustrophobic feel, however I did speak to one of the creative who said the stage width is the same as New York and the masking is used to hide speakers and for lighting for A Whole New World, there is no speakers in the audiotorium and you don't get the usual one above the audience in the middle of the proscenium arch. What wasn't dissapointing was the show, despite my earlier concerns, as I say the show is in the creative process and Friends Like Me is a true moment that blew me away all over again. Friends Like Me is also incredible, I also love Arabian Night. I do share with a previous poster that too much action took place upstage with the same curtain, that got a bit tedious. When this opens I can see the broadsheets a bit meow about it, but the tabloids will lap it up. A special night in the theatre. 5 Stars and cannot wait to see it when it fully opens. |
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Post by waybeyondblue on May 30, 2016 11:23:28 GMT
Giving this some more thought. I think Japhar needs his own scenery - a curtain just doesn't give you the context. Also it misses the big orchestra sound. We had AWNW on yesterday and you get some heavy duty percussion which the stage show lacks.
Didn't really notice the black edging but in C it's peripheral. If we had a local Genie then we could also drop the cod accents given that Aladdin is from Middlesbrough and Jades from Plarrrrrrstow.
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Post by andrew on May 30, 2016 22:01:49 GMT
I know the lottery isn't on at the moment, but just checking that this production isn't selling day seats or anything along those lines?
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on May 31, 2016 9:51:54 GMT
I know the lottery isn't on at the moment, but just checking that this production isn't selling day seats or anything along those lines? No, just the lottery (or rather, the lottery *is* the day seats). |
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Post by littlesally on May 31, 2016 10:30:08 GMT
Does the flying carpet work with hydraulics of flying wires? By magic, surely? |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 14:30:09 GMT
is there any merchandise available yet. souvenir brochure , mugs etc
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Post by Phantom of London on May 31, 2016 16:16:06 GMT
is there any merchandise available yet. souvenir brochure , mugs etc Oh Disney is the producer here, dot worry about merchandise, there is literally a 'cave' full. |
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Post by charliec on May 31, 2016 18:04:22 GMT
is there any merchandise available yet. souvenir brochure , mugs etc [br I'm at Aladdin right now, they have loads! T shirts, a zip hoodie, mugs, keyrings, magnet, tote bag, cuddly bear wearing Genie costume, pin badge, mugs. There's probably more I've missed! |
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Post by Phantom of London on May 31, 2016 18:53:15 GMT
Come on, there must be a genie lamp in there somewhere, cost about £20 and endsup at the bottom of the wardrobe.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 18:53:48 GMT
What has Cameron done to the theatre since Miss Saigon has closed?
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Post by bellboard27 on May 31, 2016 20:54:05 GMT
What has Cameron done to the theatre since Miss Saigon has closed? Polishing his lamp hoping for something magical to pop out? |
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 31, 2016 21:51:59 GMT
They'll hardly have a souvenir brochure after only 4 previews! Any posters? Didn't remember to look last week! is there any merchandise available yet. souvenir brochure , mugs etc |
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Post by westendwendy on Jun 1, 2016 12:17:44 GMT
Does the flying carpet work with hydraulics of flying wires? By magic, surely? Oh come on people this is theatre and all about effects! A solid piece of metal can only have two ways of "floating" in the air. A spoiler has been added for those who do not want to know how it is done. {Spoiler - click to view}
Apart from an electronic metal arm like the car in Chitty there is no other way to physically do it apart from wires. There are wires suspending the carpet, but there are motors so that the wires spin around super fast and appear invisible, rather than remain still in the connections. They are very difficult to see in low light, especially when crossing the moon etc. The audience 10 meters away cannot see them. This is how David Copperfield does his levitation tricks.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 13:35:51 GMT
Spoilertags might have been nice for those of us not wanting to know. |
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Post by daniel on Jun 1, 2016 14:02:37 GMT
Great, surprise spoiled!! Grr...
Mods, please can you delete the post/hide it in spoiler tags?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 14:15:37 GMT
I mean... we all know the carpet flies. Is it really a surprise that the carpet flies? Has that really been spoiled? Really?
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 1, 2016 14:19:15 GMT
There's a carpet? Spoiler!
Actually, I'm still amazed at skill of whoever flew that helicopter around the Prince Edward Theatre night after night without hitting anything or anyone!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 14:20:24 GMT
I think that whether it's been spoiled or not is subjective to each individual. If you feel it's a spoiler, then to you, it is. Some of us would rather the mechanics remain a mystery. I don't feel that is a matter for debate.
It's almost akin to telling an audience how a magician performed their trick.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 1, 2016 14:20:38 GMT
Spoiler tags added
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 16:15:07 GMT
It's almost akin to telling an audience how a magician performed their trick. I like to know how a trick is done. Magic tricks are moderately interesting when I don't know what to expect, but I find it far more impressive when I know how it's done and still can't see it happen. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 16:43:19 GMT
It's almost akin to telling an audience how a magician performed their trick. I like to know how a trick is done. Magic tricks are moderately interesting when I don't know what to expect, but I find it far more impressive when I know how it's done and still can't see it happen. Which proves my point perfectly - it's subjective. Not everyone wants to know, so spoilers work for those who do want to know and those who don't. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 1, 2016 20:58:16 GMT
That's hardly a spoiler is it!
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