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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 17:59:41 GMT
I wish I had been able to see this. I love shows that use musical themes and recetivative to tell the story, rather than use individual solo numbers. When you listen to cast recordings of these shows, they are so much more rewarding, when listening to the whole thing.
Any news of a transfer or cast recording?
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Post by showgirl on Sept 29, 2018 20:51:49 GMT
I was at today's matinee and loved this by the end of the second half but I'm glad that previous posters had emphasised the difference between the two acts as had I not heard that things would pick up after the interval, I'd have been inclined to give up then because this was initially so slow, drab and monotone.
The transformation was like a slowly unfolding, mood-changing miracle; the seemingly-endless procession of dresses was amazing and lots of people stood at the end. That said, I thought the music was horrible: monotonous, unvarying and it just went on and on without turning into anything particular. I'd rather have none or proper musical numbers, but I did enjoy the doubling.
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Post by Boob on Sept 29, 2018 21:12:28 GMT
Yeah I was there this afternoon too and enjoyed it overall, although can’t say it’s a story that’s crying out for musicalisation - although I’m very much in the appreciative camp for the score, which pulsates and shimmers with humanity, dignity and heart. Less keen on the production, although couldn’t stop the tears from falling during the last five minutes.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 1, 2018 10:45:41 GMT
I managed to catch the last show and I have no idea what all the fuss is about.
The music is truly terrible. An unrelenting assault of tunelessness.
The only redeeming features were a handful of the performances. Clare Burt obviously, Louis Maskell who stole the show.
Joanna Riding doing her favoured ‘musical theatre walking’ and pulling outrageously over the top expressions. But as always highly watchable.
Claire Machin.. playing Claire Machin.
If they transferred this to London, it would flop massively.
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Post by paddy72 on Oct 1, 2018 18:36:32 GMT
I really enjoy this show on Saturday. I can’t believe that it was Clare Burt that I saw in Miss Littlewood as she was wonderful in this. I loved the music which had two stand out songs and was true to form for the composer. He definitely has a signature tone in his work. Melancholic and sad which was good to hear and made it a different sort of show to the usual. I doubt it will make it in to London however and it was not a full house. Shame but let’s hope for a cast recording. It still got a rousing ovation when I saw it. My only beef was with the Dior ‘costumes’ which to make the tale believable should have been heart stoppingly beautiful and the models. Alas the gowns were just costumes. Dior models were notoriously slender and beautiful with waspish waists, long necks and perfect skin. I’m afraid they were not Dior models by any stretch which for me cracked the illusion just a little bit. Forgivable though as it was otherwise a classy show with a universally fine cast. More of the same from the writers please.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 6, 2020 14:12:16 GMT
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Post by raiseitup on Apr 6, 2020 14:32:11 GMT
Oh, how exciting!!
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Post by frosty on Apr 7, 2020 8:02:01 GMT
The blurb says it was originally an archive recording, never intended for broadcast, so it will be interesting to see how that differs from an NT Live-type recording with multiple cameras etc. I wonder if there was even an audience there at the time? But I loved this, so not sure what to watch first on Thursday, this or Jane Eyre. How lovely to be spoilt for choice!
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Post by sf on Apr 10, 2020 22:53:43 GMT
...and they've done a very nice job of filming it. The show is lovely, and just as good as I remembered from Sheffield; if I had to quibble, I prefer a couple of the supporting performances from the Sheffield run (specifically Rebecca Caine and Anna-Jane Casey) to their counterparts here, but it's wonderful to be able to see it at all. I wasn't able to get to Chichester to see it there, so this is a real treat.
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 11, 2020 12:38:52 GMT
This was really wonderful! A nice surprise and a huge treat in this lockdown, thanks CFT. A few minor gripes - Clare Burt was beautiful and heartbreaking but really seemed to struggle with the score. Claire Machin had this really weird, affected talking voice as Violet, it was quite off-putting. As was Laura Pitt-Pulford's French accent.
Other than that, the score was so rich, dense and complex - I was not expecting that! Louis Maskell as Andre was a real highlight and the finale was seriously gorgeous. Set was so, so simple but really effective. Very happy to have seen it!
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Post by david on Apr 11, 2020 21:38:10 GMT
Spent a nice evening tonight having a trip down memory lane watching this. A really lovely production and just as wonderful watching it on tv as it was beingin the theatre watching it live. A really good recording from the CFT. A big thanks to the CFT for making this available to watch again.
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Post by crabtree on Apr 12, 2020 23:02:21 GMT
a beautifully staged show and so moving, and gorgeous to look at. Im sad that the screening didn't show the curtain call, as I was hoping perhaps the frocks would come back and maybe Ada finally got her moment, but that would have been wrong. So glad to have seen this.
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Post by crabtree on Apr 13, 2020 8:41:56 GMT
the flower scene, which must have taken some rehearsal, reminds me of a scene in this short animated film...have a look at 6.20
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Post by BoOverall on Apr 13, 2020 18:55:27 GMT
Just watched this and loved it. I found the music glorious - some exquisite scoring and gorgeous moments (notably Rain for Me) and the whole thing a joy.
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Post by tommy on Apr 13, 2020 19:34:44 GMT
Lovely production
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Post by bob2010 on Apr 14, 2020 7:12:53 GMT
Maybe it was just me, but I found the music too loud and overbearing at times, which made it difficult to hear the dialogue.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 14, 2020 11:36:58 GMT
Maybe it was just me, but I found the music too loud and overbearing at times, which made it difficult to hear the dialogue. Pardon? |
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Post by ncbears on Apr 14, 2020 14:40:13 GMT
We watched this last night in the States. What a treat. Yes, the first act is a big of a slog. Maybe more than a bit. But, the Act Two payoffs - the costumes, the actors transitioning to other characters that are connected to their Act One roles, more variety of music and some explicit humor. It was delightful, and maybe there was a tear or two at the end. Ms. Burt's final smile as the lights go out was marvelous. Such an uplifting show. Uplifting then, and even more so today. I understand those that would have been tempted to leave at the interval - but that is not something I generally follow through on. And I'm glad I didn't turn off the video - but continued through to Act Two. So, thank you to the posters here about the show - which I relied upon to continue the viewing. Also, thank you to the posters here for not spoiling the events of the show. I didn't know the novel or prior productions. So, it was all new to me. It is a little fun at home - where, yes, we could talk a bit during the show, without disturbing anyone - which is something we would never do at the theatre. My daughter did say midway through Act Two: {Spoiler - click to view}
Nothing better happen to that dress! But, something's going to happen to it, and that won't make me happy. But, she enjoyed how it was dealt with. And was also really glad to watch it with me, and I with her. (I enjoyed having her critque and translate the French also - who says a university education doesn't have a payoff) We will probably watch it again with my bride, once she gets through teaching this term at University. We did see The GoBetween during its short run in London and sort of enjoyed it. I recall getting mid-stalls tickets for not a lot of money (15 pounds?) but the woman next to us was there as part of a papering group and broke the rules by telling us! Still, we went to see Michael Crawford and he was much of the reason we did enjoy that show. But, Flowers for Mrs. Harris is a better show - maybe it's the themes and characters who, while a bit cardboard, seemed more lifelike, and certainly more relatable. Once, the show gets going, the musicalization becomes almost secondary. It would be nice to have a few more "songs" - there certainly are places for it. But, that is not the show Mr. Taylor chose to write and Mr. Evans chose to stage. I'm guessing Mrs. Harris was written after The Go Between? It's not clear to me. Also, interesting that this was the "archive" edition, because there was camera work and editing. The sound was an issue. We kept turning the volume down for much of the music and having to increase the volume when there was dialog/singing. The music did, at times, overwhelm the singing so it was hard to discern what was being said. |
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Post by sf on Apr 14, 2020 18:08:27 GMT
I'm guessing Mrs. Harris was written after The Go Between? It's not clear to me. Yes it was. The Go-Between premiered in Leeds in 2011. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 14, 2020 21:57:51 GMT
This was such a dreary show with a terrible score. I cannot imagine sitting through it again- life is bad enough at the moment!
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Post by iainc on Apr 19, 2020 22:19:10 GMT
I agree. we tried to watch it tonight but gave up after about 30 minutes. the score just seemed like musical vomit. no tunes, no hooks, just wallpaper. it felt disjointed and unengaging.
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Post by dazzerlump on Apr 21, 2020 7:23:12 GMT
Just a quick question, I saw this at Sheffield but cant for the life of me remember who played the part Joanna Riding plays in the Chichester production, Does anyone recall?
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Post by dippy on Apr 21, 2020 7:28:25 GMT
Just a quick question, I saw this at Sheffield but cant for the life of me remember who played the part Joanna Riding plays in the Chichester production, Does anyone recall? Rebecca Caine |
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Post by dazzerlump on Apr 21, 2020 7:45:05 GMT
Just a quick question, I saw this at Sheffield but cant for the life of me remember who played the part Joanna Riding plays in the Chichester production, Does anyone recall? Rebecca Caine Ah thats it, I knew it was someone well known in theatre! Thanks |
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Post by notmymuse on Apr 22, 2020 12:30:16 GMT
Ah thats it, I knew it was someone well known in theatre! Thanks When she did the evening at the Charing Cross theatre a while back and was asked about it, she said Daniel Evans cast her assuming she could speak French because she's Canadian... When she can't at all. If anyone's looking for a new lockdown listen, her Leading Ladies album is good fun. |
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