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Post by mrbarnaby on Jan 13, 2019 14:37:21 GMT
There is no band? That’s me out..... Well there's a band of three. Two keys and percussion. Works surprisingly well in this space.... Totally disagree. It’s one of ALWs lushest scores and it just sounds sad played like this. |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 13, 2019 15:29:05 GMT
Ryan - I last saw Kelly Price in A Little Night Music at the Menier.
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Post by alece10 on Jan 13, 2019 15:32:32 GMT
Maybe Madalena Alberto was having a bad night for first preview as I didn't think she was much kop at all and everyone else now seems to be complementing her. Both my friend and I could not understand a word she was singing.
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Post by lonlad on Jan 13, 2019 15:36:05 GMT
Saw it yesterday afternoon and what a peculiar curate's egg this production is. The plus-es (which include both Price and Alberto) are terrific, and Price sings the score the best of any Rose I have seen, including its originator, Ann Crumb, while Alberto is utterly fantastic -- a star performance in a supporting role. (We'll pass politely over the Jenny.) Moving swiftly on, the men are without exception dreadful -- Pradon sings the whole thing as if he has a chicken wing caught in his throat and is totally creepy and weird (no one will ever match Kevin Colson in this part) and Felix baby looks like he's about 12, which actually isn't helpful to the time-leaping narrative, and he can't sing it AT ALL. The louder his voice gets, the more off-key it also gets, so that I was wincing at some of his supposed money notes. That said, it's hard not to watch this role without thinking of the immortal Forbidden Broadway spoof of this musical and especially its leading male, but how this guy ever became such a babe magnet is a mystery that the production can't begin to answer. As it happens, Monsieur Mosse looks like the younger brother of Michael Arden, who played the same role in the (far-inferior) Menier revival, except that Arden has an infinitely better voice.
I confess by the way to loving the score, however greatly reduced.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2019 15:46:33 GMT
Well there's a band of three. Two keys and percussion. Works surprisingly well in this space.... Totally disagree. It’s one of ALWs lushest scores and it just sounds sad played like this. I totally agree that it would sound much better played by a 7-8 piece+ orchestra, but I don't personally think it sounded sad! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2019 15:58:26 GMT
So I caught this yesterday afternoon.
One of my favourite ALW musical and have been lucky to see all the main versions - Nunn's original, the Gale Edwards tour, the Nikolai Foster tour, the Menier and now this.
I confess to LOVING the score in it's entirety and it is easily ALW top 5 for me - I just find the music sumptuous and it has me almost in a trance.
I can understand the problems a lot of people mention with the characters etc but I am able to forgive a lot because of my love of the music. And I don't find them that unlikeable - just somewhat driven by lust. It's a long time ago, but in my 20s I was a bit like that myself lol....
Anyway, this production has transferred well from Hope Mill. I slightly preferred the set at the Hope Mill where the blue shutters came in on either side instead of being in a straight wall at the back. But it works will in this small space. The music of course would have sounded better with a bigger band, but I still enjoyed it greatly played by the two pianos and percussion.
Cast wise as others have said, this show belongs to Kelly Price and Madalena Alberto. The former one of the best Rose's I have ever seen. Anything But Lonely was incredible. It's true Jerome Pradon does sing it in a slightly unusual way. Felix Mosse I find very easy on the eye so can forgive the fact that his acting didn't always match the others. I didn't see a problem with his voice through and thought it had a very pleasant quality - and I do believe he did hit the right notes.
I wish I could remember the Menier version better (I only saw it once and I'd had a couple of wines) as that would be the only other version you couple compare this to. From what I do recall, I prefer this version.
Will go again as, like Sunset, I think it will be an incredibly long time before we see it in the UK again. And sadly I can't see a full scale revival happening any time soon....
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 13, 2019 16:09:33 GMT
Ryan - I last saw Kelly Price in A Little Night Music at the Menier.
The Countess (?) role
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Post by alece10 on Jan 13, 2019 16:56:37 GMT
Ryan - I last saw Kelly Price in A Little Night Music at the Menier.
The Countess (?) role
Yes 2008. She was rather good too. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2019 16:39:07 GMT
Could anyone who's seen it give some seating advice? As I am unexpectedly free (see the How Was Your Day thread) I'm thinking of seeing this next Tuesday matinee which, given it's only a week away, doesn't have the best availability. Any opinions on whether it would be better to be in the back row of the centre block or further forward in one of the side blocks?
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Post by alece10 on Jan 15, 2019 16:48:28 GMT
Could anyone who's seen it give some seating advice? As I am unexpectedly free (see the How Was Your Day thread) I'm thinking of seeing this next Tuesday matinee which, given it's only a week away, doesn't have the best availability. Any opinions on whether it would be better to be in the back row of the centre block or further forward in one of the side blocks? The theatre is small so the back row of the centre block is not very far back. I don't think there is much difference really as they play to the front and sides. Only thing I would say is don't go for a seat next to the set as you may miss a bit. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2019 16:57:09 GMT
The theatre is small so the back row of the centre block is not very far back. I don't think there is much difference really as they play to the front and sides. Only thing I would say is don't go for a seat next to the set as you may miss a bit. I've been there before so know the size but I've only seen it in a transverse layout whereas this looks to be thrust from the seating plan. By "next to the set" do you mean the base of the thrust, so avoid the seat 1s & their variously-numbered opposites? |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 15, 2019 17:00:22 GMT
The theatre is small so the back row of the centre block is not very far back. I don't think there is much difference really as they play to the front and sides. Only thing I would say is don't go for a seat next to the set as you may miss a bit. I've been there before so know the size but I've only seen it in a transverse layout whereas this looks to be thrust from the seating plan. By "next to the set" do you mean the base of the thrust, so avoid the seat 1s & their variously-numbered opposites? Exactly. I was struggling to explain myself there and couldn't think of the right word. Blame it on a hard day at work and just eating 6 chocolate biscuits! |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2019 17:03:37 GMT
Exactly. I was struggling to explain myself there and couldn't think of the right word. Blame it on a hard day at work and just eating 6 chocolate biscuits! Thanks. No, I wasn't thinking of that far round, more the C6/C33 area. it sounds like Row E of the centre block may be a safer bet however. 22nd Matinee looks like most of the house is still available, including café tables. Not seen it yet, but I'd probably go as far forward as they have, to be honest, based on other visits in that configuration. And on the side nearest the entrance door for a quick exit at the end. Am I looking at the same day as you? Where I'm looking there are only 2 table seats available (not that I'd want a table seat). southwarkplayhouse.savoysystems.co.uk/SouthwarkPlayhouse.dll/TSelectItem And where is the entrance door? It's not maked on the plan. Is it the lower right aisle? |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 15, 2019 17:10:17 GMT
Exactly. I was struggling to explain myself there and couldn't think of the right word. Blame it on a hard day at work and just eating 6 chocolate biscuits! Thanks. No, I wasn't thinking of that far round, more the C6/C33 area. it sounds like Row E of the centre block may be a safer bet however. 22nd Matinee looks like most of the house is still available, including café tables. Not seen it yet, but I'd probably go as far forward as they have, to be honest, based on other visits in that configuration. And on the side nearest the entrance door for a quick exit at the end. Am I looking at the same day as you? Where I'm looking there are only 2 table seats available (not that I'd want a table seat). southwarkplayhouse.savoysystems.co.uk/SouthwarkPlayhouse.dll/TSelectItem And where is the entrance door? It's not maked on the plan. Is it the lower right aisle? I was in row C centre block and it was good. Entrance is to the bottom left of the plan as you look at the stage |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2019 17:17:31 GMT
My memory must be 90 degrees out! Admittedly I have only been there twice before, in 2013 & 2014, so it's been a while.
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Post by alece10 on Jan 15, 2019 19:02:11 GMT
[tr][td class="content"][article] 2 table seats, and most of the side blocks, yes, that's what I can see. Also ends of row E centre block are open. From that lot I'd go side block aisles like C6 etc, usually. I thought the entrance was by A28 / B32 that corner, where it usually is, if that is what alece10 means? [/div][/quote][/quote] No its the other way around for this so between E18 and E19. Same set up as the had for Xanadu and Carrie if that helps. Other way around than they had for The Rink. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2019 19:16:43 GMT
Thanks @theatremonkey & alece10. I've gone for C6. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 15, 2019 19:54:14 GMT
Thanks @theatremonkey & alece10 . I've gone for C6. If the seat is rubbish and you want me to hit 🐒 🍌 round the ear’oles do tell! |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 15, 2019 20:04:22 GMT
If the seat is rubbish and you want me to hit 🐒 🍌 round the ear’oles do tell! Do those emojis signify that you'd be hitting him with a banana? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 16, 2019 8:31:46 GMT
No, because he’d enjoy it!
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Post by distantcousin on Jan 16, 2019 8:44:03 GMT
Jerome Pradon as George, the older man... I saw him as Marius, the young blood, in Les Mis in Paris many moons ago. Am I the only one who feels a little bit depressed when you see the once so young now cast as the old man...? A reminder that I am now so much older and the years are slipping away just a bit too quickly... 😢
If it's any consolation, he was still he few years too young for the role - even in the earlier time space of the show!
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 16, 2019 20:11:42 GMT
No, because he’d enjoy it! Consumed as it flies through the air, in fact.
A pity. I was thinking that a video of a bear hitting a monkey with a banana would probably be a YouTube success!
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 16, 2019 20:48:44 GMT
Consumed as it flies through the air, in fact.
A pity. I was thinking that a video of a bear hitting a monkey with a banana would probably be a YouTube success!
In the past maybe, but I heard on the wireless just this morning that YouTube now forbids videos of bears hitting monkeys with bananas. It was on Radio 2, so it must be true. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 16, 2019 20:55:16 GMT
A pity. I was thinking that a video of a bear hitting a monkey with a banana would probably be a YouTube success!
In the past maybe, but I heard on the wireless just this morning that YouTube now forbids videos of bears hitting monkeys with bananas. It was on Radio 2, so it must be true. I wouldn't have thought there would be so many videos of that subject as to make it necessary to ban them. I guess the bear/monkey feud must be universal & not just between BurlyBeaR & @theatremonkey! |
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Post by Mark on Jan 17, 2019 11:42:59 GMT
Wonderful little production. Great cast and I really enjoyed the show, even if the plot line is a bit odd.
Distinctly Lloyd Webber, some lovely melodies.
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