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Post by stevej678 on Sept 28, 2019 9:51:39 GMT
The cast performing on This Morning yesterday! |
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 17, 2019 9:45:29 GMT
Visited the only performing arts school in the world where all the students are straight and being called gay is a slur yesterday. Well, it was 1981.
Actually, two guys danced together in the background of the prom for about 5 seconds, but that may just have been due to a shortage of people.
Enjoyed this in Wimbledon and enjoyed it again during the West End run. It is an excellent production of a slightly dated musical, more so than other musicals perhaps because it is set in the recent past, but the cultural landscape have changed and presentations have got edgier.
Managed to get a TodayTix rush after about twenty minutes (missed out initially despite trying to buy dead on 10am). A seat way off to the sides but close to the front and a good view. Very bubbly giggly guy next to me who was set off at the slightest cheesy line (sounded like he was a choreographer). Theatre seated full. This has been selling well without a huge amount of discounting.
Two covers on:
Morgan Jackson as Joe Vegas - preferred him to the lead
Serina Mathew as Carmen Diaz - sounded great
Standout to me, Alexander Zane with his trumpet playing. He’d make a great Elder Cunningham.
Jamal Kane Crawford has done a great job of making his portrayal of Tyrone really dislike me. Lots of boos for him and then a load of cheers from female members of the audience after the retaliation of Miss Sherman (played by the excellent Mica Paris).
The Peacock Theatre is interesting, being underground in a modern building. I walked back to Holborn tube afterwards and watched several cast members and musicians slip quickly out of different doors right in front of me before most of the crowd had even made it back to the exits.
Worth catching in London or when the tour resumes.
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Post by stevej678 on Oct 22, 2019 14:49:49 GMT
Returning to London from 21st December to 26th January at the Troubadoor Wembley Park Theatre.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 23, 2019 18:23:09 GMT
Saw this again in Wolverhampton last night. Had an excellent view from the fourth row central stalls and the theatre seemed pretty full with the discount deals that had been available.
One downside is a load of the empty seats just before show time were taken by women of a certain age who had had quite a few drinks between them. I rather got the impression they had been moved there and told they could fill any empty seats, so they were shouting across several rows. Then, they got very giggly during certain songs when anything cheesy happened (or sometimes when anything tragic happened). Still, I managed to filter them out a bit.
Where I got confused is the cast list on the website was definitely not the cast that performed. There is a cast change coming up, but I presume this must come after Peterborough next week. Even more confusing, just checked again today and they've now corrected the cast list! So there I was expecting Eddie Myles and others, but it was still the previous cast.
This did mean I got to see Stephanie Rojas' excellent Carmen once last time before the change.
Anyway, there has been one noticeable change, with Josie Benson having taken over as Miss Sherman. She was excellent in In The Heights and she was equally good here, really nailing These Are My Children. Can't help thinking she'd make a perfect Margaret in Jamie.
Everyone was excellent here again. I'll have to catch this at Wembley to see the new cast.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 30, 2019 18:51:18 GMT
Went to the Sunday matinee to see the new cat who are based in a building site at Wembley.
Lots of adverts around and big digital billboards, They state that this is the final stop of the tour.
This is a weird theatre. Basically an arena style barn. The show was excellent but lost in such a huge venue. The sets are designed for a smaller stage. You really don’t want to sit more than for our five rows back for this, it’s an intimate show and the seats are really spaced out. The actors would be like specs from the back.
From the front row, the view was as good as you’d expect. You’re still a lot further back than you’d be at most theatres but the stage is low, there’s a clear view and you’ve loads of legroom.
My seat neighbour was one of the groupies who have been following the show around (and has lots more visits planned). He was telling me his secret for ticket deals, which is to book the cheapest seats then ask for a paid upgrade on the day, apparently the box office will do this for a good price. It was about half full for the matinee but I’m told that was the fullest it had been all week.
There are no arm rests on the seats so you will get cosy with the neighbours.
This is still a great show and the sound was perfectly clear where I was sat. The new cast members have settled in well but these are big shoes to fill, Keith Jack is the only name left on the advertising, compared to there earlier in the tour.
My neighbour was very pleased his favourite was still in the show (don’t think he told me who it was, but based on the reactions I’d guess it was the only person who went topless).
Of the new cast, the highlight is easily Josie Benson, although to name her is cheating on my part as she joined the tour early).
Kira Malou danced well as Iris. Georgia Tapp has a lot of potential as Carmen, although it’s tough as the actor she replaced was so strong. Joshua Steel as Joe was another highlight, great personality without being annoying with it. And I’d be remiss not to mention you now get to enjoy seeing Eddie Myles with his trademark smile looking fit in his fitness gear and menacing a drug dealer (quite a change from his 42nd Street days).
One cover was on, Daisy Edwards as Lambchops. This is a musically talented group. She did well, played the role with a bit of a harder edge than Louisa Beadel. And the musically talented and funny Alexander Zane is still there.
They have updated the photos on the stage background too.
I will be back before this closes. Great songs and a great cast. And the venue is easy enough to get to, even if they still seem to be building it!
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 20, 2020 11:04:09 GMT
I'm probably the only Theatreboard member who sees this, but I went along to the Saturday evening performance, again in the front row (which had some empty seats despite the theatre as a whole being fairly full).
Another excellent performance. The only slight disappointment was a sign up saying one of the covers was on (who I'd have liked to have seen), but when I went in, the usual lead was on (not that the lead is bad, just that I like to see covers).
Tom Mussell was away, so Jay Le Marrec was on as a swing, covering a part in the musicians, doing a good job but looking slightly odd as he didn't play any instruments. It did mean we got more trumpet playing than usual from Alexander Zane, which is always good (plus Louisa Beadel on the clarinet).
This week is the final week of the tour, so your last chance to see this great show. Plenty of rush tickets available through TodayTix if you're looking for a good deal. I will be there later in the week.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 20, 2020 13:50:13 GMT
I'm probably the only Theatreboard member who sees this, but I went along to the Saturday evening performance, again in the front row (which had some empty seats despite the theatre as a whole being fairly full). Another excellent performance. The only slight disappointment was a sign up saying one of the covers was on (who I'd have liked to have seen), but when I went in, the usual lead was on (not that the lead is bad, just that I like to see covers). Tom Mussell was away, so Jay Le Marrec was on as a swing, covering a part in the musicians, doing a good job but looking slightly odd as he didn't play any instruments. It did mean we got more trumpet playing than usual from Alexander Zane, which is always good (plus Louisa Beadel on the clarinet). This week is the final week of the tour, so your last chance to see this great show. Plenty of rush tickets available through TodayTix if you're looking for a good deal. I will be there later in the week. You're not alone, I saw Fame early in the tour at Tunbridge Wells and again at Wembley on the Friday after Christmas. It's a great show, talented young cast who put their all into every minute and move. Glad it's done okay at the Troubadour and hoping all the performers get snapped up for another show quickly. I was also in the front row and there was again only a few other people there and not many in the second row either but nothing negative about sitting there. It's a boon for me that the front row isn't sought after at musical theatre like it is at rock concerts. Nothing beats being able to see every eye movement and bead of sweat and forget there are hundreds more people sitting behind me. |
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Post by stevej678 on Jan 20, 2020 13:50:33 GMT
I was there yesterday afternoon for the first time since the handful of changes to the cast and enjoyed it just as much as on previous occasions. Georgia Tapp had a very tough act to follow in Stephanie Rojas but I thought she was every bit the equal of her predecessor as Carmen. Great stage presence, terrific vocals and just the right edge to her performance. Molly McGuire continues to shine as Serena with great comic timing and a gorgeous voice to boot. The energy and commitment of the whole company can only be admired really at the end of nearly eighteen months on the road. The dance captain is certainly doing a great job. If the aim of Nick Winston and the rest of the creative team was to create a definitive production of Fame to mark the show's 30th anniversary then they've very much succeeded. I'll be sad to see the tour come to a close next weekend.
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Post by xanady on Jan 20, 2020 18:34:12 GMT
Saw it two nights running at the Brum Alex and my daughter has just been cast in an am-dram of it.It is THE definitive version of this show imo and I hope it has a further life ASAP after this tour ends.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 20, 2020 18:39:57 GMT
I saw the show at the start of the month. Went in pretty blind (I know the big number of course) and had an enjoyable afternoon. I was moved from my side seat in row A (as it didn’t exist anymore) to a central one but it still felt distant as there is no pit. I loved the performances but not sure it worked in the space. It feels more like a concert venue, I note Jimmy Carr the week after, it seems a good fit for things like that.
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jan 26, 2020 17:01:50 GMT
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 26, 2020 17:33:18 GMT
Good news, but I was there Friday evening and this afternoon and didn’t spot any cameras at either. So I’m not sure which three performances were filmed. (this afternoon wouldn’t have been a good choice being the muck up matinee anyway) Also there for closing night tonight. Will post comments after. |
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jan 26, 2020 17:35:55 GMT
Good news, but I was there Friday evening and this afternoon and didn’t spot any cameras at either. So I’m not sure which three performances were filmed. (this afternoon wouldn’t have been a good choice being the muck up matinee anyway) Also there for closing night tonight. Will post comments after. Pretty sure they mean the run at the Peacock Theatre  x |
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Post by stevej678 on Jan 26, 2020 17:48:15 GMT
It will be the last three performances at the Peacock (Friday and both Saturday shows).
Really hope this gets a DVD release!
Looking forward to seeing what the cast go onto next. There's some serious talent in the Fame class of 2018-20.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 26, 2020 23:04:19 GMT
So, as I hinted earlier, I've seen three shows to close off the run. All excellent, with all the leads on. All with a good size crowd in, but with the audience seemingly mostly trying to avoid the front three rows. I was central front row for all three.
Friday night, a good standard show.
This afternoon, a fun, but restrained, muckup matinee. No idea if anyone but me even noticed, but the problem with the Troubadour Wembley Park is it's a barn and most people are sat too far back to make out other details.
Some highlights:
When Joe announced he's desperate to pee, Goody says he is desperate to crap
Joe announces his hero as Donald Trump
Instead of Goody giving Carmen his trumpet as an award, he gives her a banana
Lambchops misses the second of her three triangle hits during the Mozart recital
In the girl's locker room scene, Joe has his hair tied up with a towel
In the same scene, Ryan Kayode (ensemble) joins in as an extra girl, in his gown
And some other general messing around, but those were the bits that I can remember and are easy to relate
The evening was an emotional experience, not that I'm sure most of the audience had a clue it was the final performance (or even the final performance in Wembley). Josie Benson sang These Are My Children as if her life depended on it. Keith Jack sang beautifully as always, but missed catching a ball (and Louisa Beadel threw the comic so hard it landed off the stage - and someone had to run around and retrieve it).
All of the swings and teachers came on for Bring on Tomorrow, which was a nice touch, with lots of the cast crying. And an instant standing ovation (thankfully most of the audience joined me). No speeches, but many of the cast were still on the stage clapping after the show as the band played out (and still crying).
The end of a great run. I actually saw the replacement cast more than the original cast (perhaps due to the convenience of Wembley and the excellent ticket prices), but there wasn't a weak link in the bunch. A special mention to Jamal Kane Crawford - it took me a while to warm to his character, but he's a really talented dancer. Love the voices of Keith Jack and Josie Benson. Georgia Tapp really got across the emotional vulnerability of Carmen. Joshua Steel was a lot of fun as Joe. All the actor musicians are incredibly talented, Simon Anthony has a real emotional edge to his voice, Louisa Beadel is brash. And Alexander Zane is my pick for the breakout star to come from this production. And there's such a great ensemble, including everyone who has been with the tour for 20 months.
Being a Selladoor production, this may well end up back on the road. But, if not, it has certainly gone out on a high.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 27, 2020 19:11:16 GMT
Lambchops missed the triangle on Sunday Afternoon too. Can only echo Dr Tom. So pleased I made the effort to see it a second time, the cast are more polished, characters are deeper - and everybody is more toned, LOL. Hope they do release a DVD. Glad you enjoyed it. Did you mean Sunday, that was the muck up show? |
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 3, 2020 17:14:57 GMT
Streaming from 7 April on Broadway HD.
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Post by tonylony on Apr 4, 2020 9:22:42 GMT
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Post by stevej678 on Apr 7, 2020 11:12:55 GMT
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Post by stevej678 on May 8, 2020 15:55:37 GMT
Now streaming on BroadwayHD! 😍
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Post by tonylony on May 9, 2020 14:11:06 GMT
I have to say, acting was pretty bad in this one. Was not impressed  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 26, 2020 20:56:53 GMT
Full show available to stream free (donation encouraged) this weekend only.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2020 0:34:04 GMT
Just sitting down to watch this now (yes, at 1.30am, don't judge). So far I'm liking the opening VT showing the audience coming into the Peacock to begin the experience, it adds to the feeling of going to the theatre.
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Post by carmella1 on Sept 27, 2020 2:30:05 GMT
I tried to watch it. I found it terrible and lasted 47 minutes according to YT.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2020 12:33:55 GMT
Actually really enjoyed that. Mica Paris and Stephanie Roja were the clear stars, but it was a fun show.
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