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Post by learfan on Sept 16, 2018 21:35:08 GMT
Going at the weekend as part of double header with Copenhagen.
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Post by sf on Sept 16, 2018 22:37:35 GMT
I'll be back to see it again if it is ... loved it in Sheffield, and loved it all over again yesterday (no sound issues from the front row).
I'll be back to see it too - loved in in Sheffield ('Rain on Me' broke me and I was emotional rubble by the end of the second act), can't get to Chichester to see the run there, and I'd certainly buy a ticket for the London production.
And if someone would like to finance a cast album, I will buy it the second it's released.
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Post by emsworthian on Sept 17, 2018 6:22:21 GMT
I'll be back to see it again if it is ... loved it in Sheffield, and loved it all over again yesterday (no sound issues from the front row). I had been wondering if anyone on this board had seen both the Sheffield and Chichester productions. According to the programme, Rachel Wagstaff, who did the book for the musical, says that they have re-ordered some of the events in the first act and trimmed it by about 10 minutes. Did you notice the changes and, if so, did you feel it was an improvement? |
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Post by graham on Sept 17, 2018 6:40:59 GMT
I was there Saturday afternoon, to the side, and quite a way back (ironically just in front of the sound desk), and noticed the sound was very poor for the first 20 minutes, with whole chunks of dialogue hard to hear. I thought the show was well staged, although the revolve got a bit tiresome as it felt there was unnecessary movement at times.
The show belongs to Clare and Claire as Ada and Violet - for such a good singer, Joanna Riding was under-used.
Act 1, despite its cuts, felt subdued and long. The audience response at the interval was polite. The show really came to life in the second half, and the standing ovation (probably around half the house) was far more enthusiastic.
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Post by CG on the loose on Sept 17, 2018 13:55:59 GMT
I'll be back to see it again if it is ... loved it in Sheffield, and loved it all over again yesterday (no sound issues from the front row). I had been wondering if anyone on this board had seen both the Sheffield and Chichester productions. According to the programme, Rachel Wagstaff, who did the book for the musical, says that they have re-ordered some of the events in the first act and trimmed it by about 10 minutes. Did you notice the changes and, if so, did you feel it was an improvement? A friend asked me the same and I can't honestly say I noticed the difference as I watched on Saturday - but then I'm notoriously bad at remembering details of shows. I will say that I heard a number of people saying they preferred the second act to the first, and I certainly sensed the difference in the people around me - fidgeting and watch-checking pre-interval, increasingly rapt attention post - so I suspect a 10 minute trim was a sound decision. I think the first act is totally necessary for the second to deliver its full joy but do wonder whether knowing the rewards to come make it easier to appreciate! |
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Post by david on Sept 22, 2018 16:53:44 GMT
Just finished watching this at today’s matinee. What a fantastic and heart warming musical. Claire Burt as Mrs H was absolutely brilliant in the role. The other cast were fantastic as well, with Claire Machin providing the comedy as her best friend Violet.
The musical score, while having for me no stand out number was great and despite earlier posts of sound issues, particularly in Act 1, for me, I didn’t have any issues today sat in Row E, being able to hear both the cast and band equally well.
For me, the standout moment was the fashion show at the start of Act 2. The costumer designers have done a great job with those dresses, and being sat close to the stage, you could fully appreciate those designs.
By the end, I will admit I shed a few tears of both sadness and joy. It was one of those shows that really did tug at the heart strings. A great afternoons entertainment at the theatre.
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Post by jampot on Sept 22, 2018 17:05:33 GMT
Just finished watching this at today’s matinee. What a fantastic and heart warming musical. Claire Burt as Mrs H was absolutely brilliant in the role. The other cast were fantastic as well, with Claire Machin providing the comedy as her best friend Violet. The musical score, while having for me no stand out number as great and despite earlier posts of sound issues, particularly in Act 1, for me, I didn’t have any issues today sat in Row E, being able to hear both the cast and band equally well. For me, the standout moment was the fashion show at the start of Act 2. The costumer designers have done a great job with those dresses, and being sat close to the stage, you could fully appreciate those designs. By the end, I will admit I shed a few tears of both sadness and joy. It was one of those shows that really did tug at the heart strings. A great afternoons entertainment at the theatre. Was there too..may of spotted you in the foyet on the forum pior to the show....thought this was excellent..could this get a transfer...? |
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Post by learfan on Sept 22, 2018 17:07:21 GMT
I was there too! I thought it very very good. Top notch cast, topped off by the fabulous Clare Burt. Really hope it gets a transfer, it deserves to. I def had something in my eye at curtain! Samantha Spiro was sat in front of me and i saw Jenna Russell and Raymond Coulthard again following the Minerva last night. Five stars
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Post by david on Sept 22, 2018 17:10:24 GMT
Just finished watching this at today’s matinee. What a fantastic and heart warming musical. Claire Burt as Mrs H was absolutely brilliant in the role. The other cast were fantastic as well, with Claire Machin providing the comedy as her best friend Violet. The musical score, while having for me no stand out number as great and despite earlier posts of sound issues, particularly in Act 1, for me, I didn’t have any issues today sat in Row E, being able to hear both the cast and band equally well. For me, the standout moment was the fashion show at the start of Act 2. The costumer designers have done a great job with those dresses, and being sat close to the stage, you could fully appreciate those designs. By the end, I will admit I shed a few tears of both sadness and joy. It was one of those shows that really did tug at the heart strings. A great afternoons entertainment at the theatre. Was there too..may of spotted you in the foyet on the forum pior to the show....thought this was excellent..could this get a transfer...? I hope so! This show is too good not to get a WE transfer at some point. I suppose it’s upto the theatre gods now. I’m watching Copenhagen tonight so staying in the theatre foyer until then to keep dry! |
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Post by david on Sept 22, 2018 17:12:08 GMT
I was there too! I thought it very very good. Top notch cast, topped off by the fabulous Clare Burt. Really hope it gets a transfer, it deserves to. I def had something in my eye at curtain! Samantha Spiro was sat in front of me and i saw Jenna Russell and Raymond Coulthard again following the Minerva last night. Five stars Managed to spot John Gordon Sinclair in the foyer preshow. |
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Post by learfan on Sept 22, 2018 17:28:38 GMT
It struck me that if he revived Camelot, he has his Lancelot and Guinevere already in Louis Maskell and Laura Pitt-Fulford!
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Post by david on Sept 22, 2018 17:32:10 GMT
It struck me that if he revived Camelot, he has his Lancelot and Guinevere already in Louis Maskell and Laura Pitt-Fulford! Maybe something for the MCF as a future production or would it need a bigger stage? |
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Post by Steve on Sept 22, 2018 17:45:11 GMT
I was there too. A great old-fashioned Capraesque homage to love and the little person, with touching songs and spot-on performances. I agree with everything David said. Some spoilers follow. . . Instantly my third favourite new British musical after Sylvia and Jamie, this was a lovely feelgood afternoon, with tears at the end. The Dad who brought his three daughters sitting behind me had obviously heard this was a "feel good" show, and assumed it was suitable for children, but it's more muted and nuanced than most 6 year olds can cope with, and the agitated little mite behind me had but two refrains, repeated incessantly (for the first half, it was "Malteasers," and for the second half it was, "Where's the dress?"). For the dresses really were pretty stunning, in particular the one Mrs. Harris takes a fancy to. In the first half, it's a little on the dour side, so immensely lifted by the comic work of those wonderful actresses, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Claire Machin. Pitt-Pulford's scatty neurotic tantrums were superbly timed for maximum comic effect, while Machin's loveable sidekick character really made me laugh with the exasperated musical refrain I never knew I needed till I heard it here first: "It's all coming out now, it's all coming out now!" The second half took the set-up and gave it the full Capra pay off in every respect, with the little-person-who-inadvertently-makes-everyone-happy making me feel so happy I cried. Clare Burt really was born for this role, she's so natural and unaffected and generous with her affect. The funniest moments of the whole show, as confirmed by the 3 little squeakers behind me, undoubtedly belonged to the smoothie, Louis Maskell, who turned into an instant bumbler every time he got within two feet of Laura Pitt-Pulford, and got belly laughs when his stumbling about morphed into Pythonesque silly walks. Second year in a row Maskell has distinguished himself in a Chichester musical. Anyway, to have a cast that also includes effective turns from Gary Wilmot and Joanna Riding in smaller roles is to be really spoiled. So, thanks Chichester. You made me feel better about not having a ticket to Sylvia tonight! 4 stars.  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 17:46:30 GMT
The Dior dresses are on loan and not by the costume designer
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Post by david on Sept 22, 2018 17:55:12 GMT
I was there too. A great old-fashioned Capraesque homage to love and the little person, with touching songs and spot-on performances. I agree with everything David said. Some spoilers follow. . . Instantly my third favourite new British musical after Sylvia and Jamie, this was a lovely feelgood afternoon, with tears at the end. The Dad who brought his three daughters sitting behind me had obviously heard this was a "feel good" show, and assumed it was suitable for children, but it's more muted and nuanced than most 6 year olds can cope with, and the agitated little mite behind me had but two refrains, repeated incessantly (for the first half, it was "Malteasers," and for the second half it was, "Where's the dress?"). For the dresses really were pretty stunning, in particular the one Mrs. Harris takes a fancy to. In the first half, it's a little on the dour side, so immensely lifted by the comic work of those wonderful actresses, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Claire Machin. Pitt-Pulford's scatty neurotic tantrums were superbly timed for maximum comic effect, while Machin's loveable sidekick character really made me laugh with the exasperated musical refrain I never knew I needed till I heard it here first: "It's all coming out now, it's all coming out now!" The second half took the set-up and gave it the full Capra pay off in every respect, with the little-person-who-inadvertently-makes-everyone-happy making me feel so happy I cried. Clare Burt really was born for this role, she's so natural and unaffected and generous with her affect. The funniest moments of the whole show, as confirmed by the 3 little squeakers behind me, undoubtedly belonged to the smoothie, Louis Maskell, who turned into an instant bumbler every time he got within two feet of Laura Pitt-Pulford, and got belly laughs when his stumbling about morphed into Pythonesque silly walks. Second year in a row Maskell has distinguished himself in a Chichester musical. Anyway, to have a cast that also includes effective turns from Gary Wilmot and Joanna Riding in smaller roles is to be really spoiled. So, thanks Chichester. You made me feel better about not having a ticket to Sylvia tonight! 4 stars. Steve, definitely agree with you with Gary Willmot. I’ve never seen him in a production, but I thought he was great. It must be a large area backstage to house all those flowers! |
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Post by learfan on Sept 22, 2018 18:43:32 GMT
Wilmot sure uses all his experience in his roles. Much as i loved this, it is plainly not a family show, god knows what that dad was thinking! Lots of us there this afternoon, i had my Sondheim puzzle t shirt on if anyone spotted me. Guessed the dresses must have been on loan, Dior had to have given the show its blessing. Only down side for me was that Joanna Riding was wasted. But a minor quibble.
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 22, 2018 19:03:30 GMT
I was also in this afternoon - seems like we were all there!
I loved it too - a true star turn from Clare Burt as Mrs Harris. She’s the every woman, and it’s played so honestly, it’s beautiful to watch. She’s allowed to be the centre of this story, even with the other great actors she’s got along side her - which made their performances all the more effective.
Louis Maskell’s voice is like butter and I could listen to it till the end of time - perfectly matched against Laura Pitt-Pulford, who was equally scatty and charming!
Joanna Riding and Gary Wilmot give lovely supporting performances, but rightly don’t take anything away from Mrs H. And Clare Machin is comedy gold.
Wasn’t too keen on the set design, but those DRESSES were absolutely stunning.
It’s the kind of show I’d have love to have seen scaled down slightly and put in the Minerva - the impact would have been possibly slightly more?
But I really did love it, and am glad Daniel Evans went back to it, to see what else he could find in it.
Also, saw Sam Spiro, and had a natter to Jenna Russel on the stairs on the way down as we were both crying!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 23, 2018 12:51:39 GMT
The Dior dresses are on loan and not by the costume designer This is not correct. The ‘dior’ dresses were made for the show, they aren’t originals. The loan of one original (which wouldn’t be allowed anyway) would have been the ENTIRE costume budget!! |
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Post by galinda on Sept 23, 2018 16:59:26 GMT
I was there too yesterday matinee. Seems a lot of us from the board were!
I loved it too. Great cast and lots of really touching moments which bought a tear to my eye. Does anyone have a song list for the show?
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Post by david on Sept 23, 2018 17:23:31 GMT
I was there too yesterday matinee. Seems a lot of us from the board were! I loved it too. Great cast and lots of really touching moments which bought a tear to my eye. Does anyone have a song list for the show? I’ve just a quick look online. I can’t seem to find a song list for the show. I would of thought they would of had one in the programme, I don’t understand why they didn’t. It really annoys me when they don’t have one! |
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Post by sf on Sept 23, 2018 18:02:01 GMT
I was there too yesterday matinee. Seems a lot of us from the board were! I loved it too. Great cast and lots of really touching moments which bought a tear to my eye. Does anyone have a song list for the show? I’ve just a quick look online. I can’t seem to find a song list for the show. I would of thought they would of had one in the programme, I don’t understand why they didn’t. It really annoys me when they don’t have one! There wasn't one in Sheffield either. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2018 18:45:35 GMT
The Dior dresses are on loan and not by the costume designer This is not correct. The ‘dior’ dresses were made for the show, they aren’t originals. The loan of one original (which wouldn’t be allowed anyway) would have been the ENTIRE costume budget!! Hey just going on what I was told. The dresses are apparently different to the Sheffield production (don't know myself as didn't see it but watching the trailers a couple at least look different) and are loaned from a museum. Daniel Evans has also mentioned in publicity interviews audiences will get to see lovely Dior dresses in act 2. That could be clever use of words oh his part but he doesn't mention copies. I don't know if the Sheffield production employed models solely for the fashion show but Chichester does. There is also a lady who fixes the dresses before they go down the stairs, don't know if she is cast, crew or linked to the dresses however. I couldn't tell. |
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Post by Oleanna on Sept 23, 2018 22:39:47 GMT
I’ve just a quick look online. I can’t seem to find a song list for the show. I would of thought they would of had one in the programme, I don’t understand why they didn’t. It really annoys me when they don’t have one! There wasn't one in Sheffield either. It’s because, aside from a couple of exceptions, the score isn’t built around traditional songform, and therefore doesn’t really have many “songs” per se. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 24, 2018 14:05:34 GMT
This is not correct. The ‘dior’ dresses were made for the show, they aren’t originals. The loan of one original (which wouldn’t be allowed anyway) would have been the ENTIRE costume budget!! Hey just going on what I was told. The dresses are apparently different to the Sheffield production (don't know myself as didn't see it but watching the trailers a couple at least look different) and are loaned from a museum. Daniel Evans has also mentioned in publicity interviews audiences will get to see lovely Dior dresses in act 2. That could be clever use of words oh his part but he doesn't mention copies. I don't know if the Sheffield production employed models solely for the fashion show but Chichester does. There is also a lady who fixes the dresses before they go down the stairs, don't know if she is cast, crew or linked to the dresses however. I couldn't tell. Yeah you will see copies of them in Act 2. These are the same costumes they used in Sheffield. |
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Post by tmesis on Sept 29, 2018 17:19:18 GMT
Overheard in the interval at the matinee today:
'I don't know why they don't talk all of it.'
Clearly the music didn't grab her but she probably didn't realise how hard the score was working to make the words more effective.
Musically it has, as some have pointed out, superficial Sondheim influences - a bit more than that at one point where it, I'm sure unwittingly, plagiarises Putting it Together and Finishing the Hat. If it is like Sondheim, overall it's more like the musical language used in Passion than his earlier stuff. It actually felt quite operatic, most of it is through-composed and there is little dialogue. What it did have was very natural word setting, almost like Benjamin Britten in that sense, and something that is very hard to pull off.
Anyway...enough of this musicological guff...I adored it!
From the Dior dresses to the end I was an emotional wreck (this is around an hour.)
Terrific cast - luxury casting I would say, with Wilmot, excellent as he is, a mere multiple bit-player and Joanna Riding under-used, but the heart and soul, quite literally, is Clare Burt - a sensational performance.
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