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Post by sub37 on Dec 4, 2016 9:47:13 GMT
This has to be one of the most disappointing things I've ever seen. Went last night. Quite far back so could barely see anything. Noise from outside very distracting. Theatre actually boiling hot. Could put up with all of that but nobody seems to have mentioned the sterile lifeless sound design. I am a huge Bowie fan and can't quite believe that in two hours my heart wasn't lifted even once. The band sound totally neutered in order to get the voices across. The 20 seconds of sound and vision was literally the only moment I enjoyed. Was really looking forward to this too  Was hoping Dexter would leap off stage and put me out of my misery by the end! |
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Post by mapleglaze on Dec 5, 2016 18:34:02 GMT
Hi, everyone. I've been reading the forum a lot, but finally created an account to ask this question. Are the aisle seats in front stalls any good? I'd like to buy 2 tickets for me and my friend, but not sure if I should book row B or move a bit further (like rows E-F) in order to see the stage better? Thanks!
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Post by theatrehound on Dec 5, 2016 21:05:07 GMT
I've seen the show 3 times, and I would say the further forward the better. You won't miss anything from an aisle seat. I've been in row A and row C (both aisle seats) and was able to see everything happening on stage. Row A was an incredible experience! For this show, anything further back than about row S, then seriously don't bother, you won't see a thing.
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Post by talkstageytome on Dec 5, 2016 21:10:32 GMT
Yep, the closer the better without a doubt!
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Post by mapleglaze on Dec 6, 2016 6:57:50 GMT
Thank you so much! Grabbed two tickets, can't wait to see it. Listening to cast album non-stop.
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Post by stuart on Dec 8, 2016 22:52:48 GMT
I'm not sure what I just watched.
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Post by joem on Dec 11, 2016 20:07:50 GMT
A strange hybrid of jukebox and original musical. Not sure if anyone who doesn't know The Man Who Fell To Earth would grok this.
The original songs are obviously fine but some of the old songs lyrics sound very strained when they are pushed into the concept of the musical. Not what they were written for.
The production is at its best when the songs are done in a Bowie-style version and at worse when they are adapted to fit into a "musical mode". Not sure of the need for the Valentine character.
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Post by djp on Dec 13, 2016 2:03:59 GMT
A strange hybrid of jukebox and original musical. Not sure if anyone who doesn't know The Man Who Fell To Earth would grok this. The original songs are obviously fine but some of the old songs lyrics sound very strained when they are pushed into the concept of the musical. Not what they were written for. The production is at its best when the songs are done in a Bowie-style version and at worse when they are adapted to fit into a "musical mode". Not sure of the need for the Valentine character. Saw it first time and thought Valentine was an external force - aka the devil as per Life on Mars. The second time he looked like a very bad case of an alter ego gone bad? Either way he's key to the story, IF thats the story. IF there is a story. Still worth a ticket, Temperature was OK this time. Amy Lennox has a story , and plays it ,and sings really well - and gets to show off her abs. She's also someone who can cover a wide age range - here she looks the characters age throughout , but when she's with the girl, looks as if she could play her too. The young lady covering for Sophia was also very good. If lost , marooned in space, watch them. {Spoiler - click to view}
I still have no idea whats going on at the end . Milk anyone? Cleansed by murder and by milk? Or what happens after that? And the teenage girls seem to swap roles - from good angels to not so so good, at some point, for no reason.
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794 posts
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Post by rumbledoll on Dec 13, 2016 7:44:30 GMT
djp, 'milk' is her white blood, I believe. He killed her (unvolunterily but...) and set her free. And the last song, Heroes, as I felt it, was sung as sort of a tribute/ encore and has nothing to do with the storyline. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2016 7:52:18 GMT
I haven't yet seen this, so forgive me if I sound presumptive, but this sounds like the strangest musical, possibly ever.
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Post by daniel on Dec 13, 2016 8:20:50 GMT
I haven't yet seen this, so forgive me if I sound presumptive, but this sounds like the strangest musical, possibly ever. You're not far off with that! |
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Post by rumbledoll on Dec 13, 2016 12:54:48 GMT
Very much relate to this review - the weirdness is recognised, but, as it was for me, the author doesn't find it impossible to follow and sees it rather like a room for endless interpretation.. Probably will uncover some ideas for those who were struggling. Those yet to go might want to revisited the text later on - spoilers all around. sissoisaw.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/review-6/ |
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Post by stefy69 on Dec 14, 2016 7:49:10 GMT
Saw it. Loved it. Enough said !
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2016 11:04:43 GMT
Saw it too but didn't love it. I enjoyed parts of it but didn't understand a lot of what was going on even after watching the film "The Man Who Fell to Earth" a short while ago. I was grateful about the comments on here about the view from the back though. Fortunately I was able to change my seats to row C before seeing it. One look at the vast auditorium and I knew I'd done the right thing.
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Post by talkstageytome on Dec 14, 2016 12:12:51 GMT
I cannot stop thinking about this show, even though I saw it about a month ago now. It's just the oddest thing, but I strangely loved it. I see it's definitely closing on the 22nd Jan though...
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Post by stefy69 on Dec 14, 2016 13:59:07 GMT
Seems a strange decision to close on the 22nd January when being so close to the anniversary of DB's passing ( 10th January ) and the planned documentary on the BBC of his last 5 years would have generated more ticket sales.
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Post by talkstageytome on Dec 14, 2016 16:10:21 GMT
I still think they'd do well to film this. There's certainly a huge fanbase crying out to see it! And I reckon it'd look good as a filmed production.
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Post by Marwood on Dec 30, 2016 10:39:15 GMT
Saw this last night, and will say I liked it rather than loved it. As other people in here have said, there's not much of a story to carry things along, and some of the songs seemed wedged in without having any real relevance to the storyline, but my interest was held until the end of the show (and I liked the way things were wrapped up without a conventional 'happy' ending)
Hall was good (he started some of the songs with a Bowie-esque erm, twang but thankfully didn't try to do an out and out impersonation), but I thought the two female leads were superb and were the real stars of this show. I also really enjoyed Michael Espers performance, he really tore into his songs with gusto and looked like he was having a ball (although he did seem to be channelling Ramsay Bolton just that little bit too much into his performance).
The sound quality was good, and there was some great use of back projection and lighting, and I also liked the band in the studio behind the main set (and also the best use of balloons I've seen for a while) - but I was sat front row, don't know what people sitting right at the back would have seen, if anything. Have to say £15 for front row was the bargain of the year, heard a lot of people that had been sitting in the rows behind me moaning about the play on the train home, but I don't know if that was because they'd paid a lot more money, or just because it wasn't a Mamma Mia kind of show.
I thought the actual theatre was OK, a bit characterless, and could hear a few police sirens going off in the distance but my main gripe with it was the temperature (or lack of it), it was like sitting in an ice box, I was wearing a heavy overcoat and had to sit there with it buttoned up, God help anyone who went in not wearing a coat.
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Post by viserys on Dec 30, 2016 13:18:13 GMT
I thought the actual theatre was OK, a bit characterless, and could hear a few police sirens going off in the distance but my main gripe with it was the temperature (or lack of it), it was like sitting in an ice box, I was wearing a heavy overcoat and had to sit there with it buttoned up, God help anyone who went in not wearing a coat. Bless you for the warning. I permanently freeze in winter and I hate freezing in cold venues (my cinema is notoriously cold in winter too). Will make sure I'll be dressing up for the North Pole when I go! |
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Post by stuart on Dec 31, 2016 0:22:57 GMT
I thought the actual theatre was OK, a bit characterless, and could hear a few police sirens going off in the distance but my main gripe with it was the temperature (or lack of it), it was like sitting in an ice box, I was wearing a heavy overcoat and had to sit there with it buttoned up, God help anyone who went in not wearing a coat. Bless you for the warning. I permanently freeze in winter and I hate freezing in cold venues (my cinema is notoriously cold in winter too). Will make sure I'll be dressing up for the North Pole when I go! I hate to say, I was quite the opposite. Far too warm, to the point I wanted to remove my jumper within the first 5mins (but the rows were quite restrictive and I didn't want to spoil what little view anyone had for a few seconds) so just lifted it up and folded it over so it covered from my ribs up. I was at the very back though, as opposed to the front. |
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Post by jess173 on Dec 31, 2016 13:04:58 GMT
It was pretty cold in the front row last night. But not freezing cold. I did not have to put on my coat but I placed it over my lap and legs and that was ok.
I loved the show. Ok, the story was weird but Michael c. Hall was amazing (have to admit I'm a huge fan) and the young girl was awesome as well. And of course the music was great. I really enjoyed it.
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Jan 2, 2017 12:26:31 GMT
Saw this last night after seeing it in New York a year and a few days ago. So much better second time round. I fully understood the characters and the storyline and managed to find the many meanings of the show. The fact that David Bowie is dead also adds a lot to the show and its story. I was even close to tears at the end! Michael C. Hall is a legend. He hardly leaves the stage throughout all of 1 hour and 50 minutes, I cannot imagine anyone else in this role. I hadn't actually remembered him being as good as that. I would definitely recommend a second viewing (or perhaps buying the script), because it is a very intense show and there is a lot to take in at the time.  |
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Post by herculesmulligan on Jan 5, 2017 11:10:16 GMT
I have two good seats for Thurs 12 Jan that I can't use now. They're the £75 face value ones. If anyone's interested in them for cost price drop me a message.
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Post by floorshow on Jan 9, 2017 7:07:44 GMT
Saw this on Saturday, front row in the centre. Venue is a bit odd but temperature and external noise were fine.
I can see it's not for everyone but I loved it, enjoyable loopy and a lot more going on than just a jukebox musical.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 8:45:16 GMT
Due to train strikes I've twice had to change my tickets for this, starting on the front row im now on row Z. Has anyone sat this far back? Is there any point going?
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Was hoping Dexter would leap off stage and put me out of my misery by the end!
