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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2016 14:01:06 GMT
If you thought the show belongs to the costuming team, then you really must have hated the rest of it. For me, the costumes were the weakest part of the production,
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Post by Ade on Nov 11, 2016 22:36:43 GMT
Saw this this evening. An enjoyable evening even if the book isn't the greatest in the world. It really was made by the two leads despite the whole cast putting their all into it. Laura Pitt-Pulford was the stand-out for me - she just seemed to embody Violet throughout. Was impressed with the design - always intriguing when you walk into SP to see what they've done with the space.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2016 11:12:41 GMT
Saw the show on Friday night, I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag.
The book is all over the place, and nobody, except for maybe Violet, gets a proper story. Characters seem to abandon their personality traits entirely, only to pick them up again an hour later (Jake), and I'm pretty sure Buddy and Terry swapped character development for act 2, they seemed to have become each other over the course of the interval and then picked up having dropped their own prejudices and gained each others. There was also too much story that was of no consequence, like who was that boyfriend Daisy had at the beginning of act 2 that was so insignificant he disappeared and pretty much never came back after the first number? And don't even get me started on that awful Texan thing, even the cast looked humiliated to be performing it.
The set design is good for the space, and although I'd never been to the Southwark Playhouse before, I'd say it's the ideal venue for the show. I was sat on the left (stage right) which meant I spent 85% of the show looking at Louise Dearman (no complaints from me), but it was a shame that I had to wait for the girls to spin round before I could work out what was going on with Laura.
Costumes were generally good, but like has been mentioned previously, there weren't really enough of them. The freaks were still dressed as freaks for a while after they'd stopped playing them, and it made their new characters a little more difficult to believe. There weren't really any stand outs in the ensemble, although the bearded lady had the most interesting range of facial expressions. It's interesting to see that Pin Cushion Man was out for quite a while because he tripped over a block on the steps next to me and seemed to quite badly injure himself, so they may be doing the show without him again for a few days.
The saving grace of this show was definitely the lead cast. Haydn Oakley was great, I seem to keep unintentionally following him around all of his shows, he plays that "naive good guy with a touch of snide" character quite well. Chris Howell was fantastic, I can see why he very effortlessly keeps jumping from show to show, he was menacing and quite terrifying as Sir, I really enjoyed his performance and glad he got a chance to come back at the end to grovel and generally look a bit pathetic. The stars of course, were Louise and Laura, who both completely made up for the sheer averageness of every other aspect of the show through their sensational performances. Naturally Louise was my favourite because I could only see the side of Laura's face for most of it, but they were both incredible from start to finish. I agree with what was said before, the performance definitely lagged every time they went offstage, and they had such breathtaking vocals. Friday was one of those shows where the audience was amazing, and L+L definitely thrived off that, certainly towards the end of act 2, I was hanging on their every word. Who Will Love Me As I Am? was one of the most epic act one finales I've seen, it just shows that if you have two exceptional leading ladies, you don't need a cherry picker lift or a giant flag and a cast of 25 to make it work, but this was eclipsed by their beautiful I Will Never Leave You which had audible sobs from just about everywhere in the theatre. If you aren't a fan of the first act, make sure you stay for the second as Side Show is one of few shows that gets better in the second half.
I would say this is very much a 3 star show, 3 star production values, directing, costumes, book, but the 5 star performances from the leading ladies would make me give this 4 stars.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2016 13:37:26 GMT
When I went, I booked based on the production photos so that I could see Louise for the majority by sitting on the side she would be on as the twins (for those wondering, this is the side the audinece enter the theatre) though in fairness, they do a great job with the movement kf the twins that you see alot of both of them.  |
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 16, 2016 22:15:33 GMT
Martello thank you for an excellent review, although for all its faults, iI probably enjoyed it more than you seemed to have. I enjoy a decent production all the more in a small house. Is funny how the male actors have divided opinion here. I though they did well with half drawn characters and Jay Marsh sang like an angel. Why though did all the cast need to be miked in this small space? It just shows how the industry has gone. Perhaps Marsh impressed because he didn’t sound amplified. But this hasn't done anything to convince me that modern Musicals have memorable music. For me the best no in Musical terms was 1 + 1 = 3, a superb pastiche of a thirties no. Too many others nodded at the period before becoming distinctly modern. Nothing really stuck in my mind and some of the lyrics were clunky, I felt like the fish that had been 'plucked' from the Ocean. Its a great story and a most unusual subject for a musical play. It could have gone deeper into their problems but the situation did keep your interest high. Check out the link below to see how sad the end was for the real twins. Also Todd Browning was thrown under the Bus, a creep in this show in reality he lost his career respecting 'Freaks'. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_and_Violet_HiltonSo although there was plenty to criticise I really enjoyed it. Every time the two ladies sang it made up for every thing else. There's still time to catch a unique show which we would have missed if it wasnt for this thread and TB. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 13:18:08 GMT
So I just bumped into Louise at Bedford Train Station andgot to tell her how incredible is in Side Show and that she needs to do Finding Neverland. Was so lovely to meet and have a proper conversation with her rather than when i fist met her and nearly fainted whilst fangirling! |
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 18, 2016 16:05:39 GMT
So I just bumped into Louise at Bedford Train Station andgot to tell her how incredible is in Side Show and that she needs to do Finding Neverland. Was so lovely to meet and have a proper conversation with her rather than when i fist met her and nearly fainted whilst fangirling! Never heard THAT called that! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 16:27:07 GMT
So I just bumped into Louise at Bedford Train Station andgot to tell her how incredible is in Side Show and that she needs to do Finding Neverland. Was so lovely to meet and have a proper conversation with her rather than when i fist met her and nearly fainted whilst fangirling! Never heard THAT called that! Whoops, typo... was and still am overwhelmed. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 16:29:41 GMT
So I just bumped into Louise at Bedford Train Station andgot to tell her how incredible is in Side Show and that she needs to do Finding Neverland. Was so lovely to meet and have a proper conversation with her rather than when i fist met her and nearly fainted whilst fangirling! Ooh DJ14 you terrible flirt! I'm surprised Louise herself didn't faint to be honest. And in a train station as well. The FILTH of it!! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 16:37:30 GMT
So I just bumped into Louise at Bedford Train Station andgot to tell her how incredible is in Side Show and that she needs to do Finding Neverland. Was so lovely to meet and have a proper conversation with her rather than when i fist met her and nearly fainted whilst fangirling! Ooh DJ14 you terrible flirt! I'm surprised Louise herself didn't faint to be honest. And in a train station as well. The FILTH of it!! Oh trust me love, if I could I would, she is a sexy lady! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 17:18:56 GMT
So I just bumped into Louise at Bedford Train Station [...] when i fist met her and nearly fainted whilst fangirling! Ooh DJ14 you terrible flirt! I'm surprised Louise herself didn't faint to be honest. And in a train station as well. The FILTH of it!! That's Bedford for you. I used to work opposite Bedford Midland. Oh, I've seen some things... (Trains, mostly) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 17:23:37 GMT
That's Bedford for you. I used to work opposite Bedford Midland. Oh, I've seen some things... (Trains, mostly)Until I read these posts, I didn't even realise a Bedford existed. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 19, 2016 18:57:21 GMT
I'm still not recovered from when I took an Uber in LA, tried to shake the driver's hand and he pulled away, insisting on being "fist bumped" instead.
Will have to remember that if I ever meet Louise.
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Post by mallardo on Nov 20, 2016 8:31:35 GMT
Finally caught up with this and enjoyed it. Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt-Pulford were beyond praise, fully realized performances, beautifully sung. The rest of the cast was also fine. But I'm of two minds about the revised version of the show. The new back story is interesting and I liked the Houdini number but the trial I could have done without. And I didn't think the new songs were as good as what they replaced - although maybe it's just that I know the original version so much better. The production was efficient rather than revelatory but, on the other hand, I'm not sure what a great production of this show would look like. The flaws of the piece seem to be built in.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2016 9:37:50 GMT
Yes, I thought it was you, mallardo, but I didn't introduce myself, as I thought I was persona non grata since my post a while back about the beaviour of some hen parties that spoil performances for others got me labelled a "misogynist".
Anyhow, I'm afraid this wasn't for me at all. Poor treatment of a story, unconvincing on every level, and while the two leads are obviously talented, I didn't feel there was anywhere for them to go with this piece. (Quite literally too, being stuck together with safety pins.)
A huge disappointment after all the expectation; I'd booked this right at the beginning of March.
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Post by mallardo on Nov 20, 2016 9:47:18 GMT
Yes, I thought it was you, mallardo, but I didn't introduce myself, as I thought I was persona non grata since my post a while back about the beaviour of some hen parties that spoil performances for others got me labelled a "misogynist". Anyhow, I'm afraid this wasn't for me at all. Poor treatment of a story, unconvincing on every level, and while the two leads are obviously talented, I didn't feel there was anywhere for them to go with this piece. (Quite literally too, being stuck together with safety pins.) A huge disappointment after all the expectation; I'd booked this right at the beginning of March.
Where was this, in the lobby before the show? And, please, that little disagreement is long forgotten.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 20, 2016 10:34:36 GMT
I wonder if anyone who has been to see this at The Southwark Playhouse over the last several weeks has noticed a bit of TheatreBoard Representation? You may notice we have been doing a little bit of advertising there  |
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Post by daniel on Nov 20, 2016 23:49:10 GMT
I wonder if anyone who has been to see this at The Southwark Playhouse over the last several weeks has noticed a bit of TheatreBoard Representation? You may notice we have been doing a little bit of advertising there I've been twice and hadn't noticed anything! What do we have? |
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Post by mallardo on Nov 21, 2016 16:08:01 GMT
TM, I'd always go for the original with Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley - it's a classic. But, on the other hand, the show you saw is the revival and it's quite different. If you want to hear what you saw you'd have to go with that one - and it's a very good CD, no question. It's a tough call.
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Post by viserys on Nov 21, 2016 16:12:54 GMT
Did you enjoy the version you saw now? If so, I'd go with the revival cast recording that captures all the changes made since the original version. Otherwise it may be interesting to compare. The OBC of course has a much starrier cast too. Personally I'd probablyl rather go with that one, but you may not like realizing that a song you enjoyed live is missing. The wikipedia page lists the musical numbers for each version: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_Show#Original_Broadway_Production |
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Post by ali973 on Nov 21, 2016 16:46:04 GMT
I think the OBC is a must in any cast recording collection. HOWEVER..I think one must have both.
It's almost like deciding between the Chita Rivera vs Vanessa Williams Spiderwoman. Speaking of which, can Southwark Playhouse please make this happen?
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Post by ali973 on Nov 21, 2016 23:24:28 GMT
Finally got the chance to see this tonight, after having been obsessed with the score for *gulp* over twenty years dammit!
I really did enjoy it, and again Southwark Playhouse puts a terrific, focused, tight production with very little budget.
The show, especially the first act, is actually pretty quick and the story transitions and moves very well. Act two seems is slightly less exciting and becomes slower, and the plot seems to hurry itself and rush to a conclusion by the end. The marriage "solution" at the end is so unbelievable and jumbled to conclude the show. Overall, yes, the show is very earnest, but there's something quite attractive about the story, and of course there is the gorgeous score which is beautifully sung by everyone.
LOWEST points for me where the decisions to eliminate the crescendos of Who Will Love Me As I Am and the Finale. Both these numbers need to end with a BANG, big notes and beautiful harmonies. The theatre nerd in me was upset about them.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2016 23:31:43 GMT
Robert Joy who plays Sir on the revivial recording really isnt very good at all. He tends to speak his words rather than sing them. You wonder how he got cast in a big musical.
His partner is Henry Krieger, the shows composer.
They were both at the Southwark production.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2016 18:16:35 GMT
Audio of the girls singing live in the show have found their way online... and my god they are phenomenal!
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Post by benny20 on Nov 24, 2016 18:49:12 GMT
Anyone know where I can get the revival Cd? I have the original cast album
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