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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 18:24:10 GMT
Oh dear.When they announced Matt Lucas was playing the lead my thoughts went back to the horrendously miscast Marcus Brigstock (Barnum MCF) who I still wake up screaming about.Surely Matt would have made a better Gerald.And while we are on the subject why are they still using that "LA LA LAND" type publicity for the show if they were going for a more comedic leading man.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 11:22:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 11:55:44 GMT
How it should be done
I also saw Gary Wilmot in the role and he was excellent too.
It needed a Gavin Lee or Charlie Stamp (if a bit older) type of actor. The show didn't need a name, especially in Chichester and with Caroline already on-board
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 9, 2018 12:35:50 GMT
Off to (sunny?) Chichester in a couple of weeks to see this but I too have very fond memories of seeing Robert Lindsay and Gary Wilmot at the Adelphi! The performances and the production were sublime! The production photos look good though - clearly very traditionally staged similar to the Adelphi production.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 12:41:28 GMT
Chichester was gorgeous on Saturday. Perfect weather
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Post by raiseitup on Jul 9, 2018 18:08:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 18:26:29 GMT
wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't complete the run. and the role.realky isn't vocally demanding, it's more an acting and physical comedy role than singing.
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Post by learfan on Jul 9, 2018 18:33:29 GMT
Nope not a good sign with press night coming. Incidentally is Alex Young having eye problems? Just wondered why she is wearing glasses. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 18:57:08 GMT
Statement from Matt Lucas...
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Post by alicechallice on Jul 9, 2018 19:35:32 GMT
Can confirm Ryan Pidgen is doing a fabulous job!
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Post by showgirl on Jul 10, 2018 3:58:51 GMT
First review I've seen also raved about Ryan Pidgen. I wonder if Matt Lucas (whom I really didn't/don't want to see but would endure for the production itself) will return? Of course I wish Matt Lucas well for his recovery but if he isn't used to MT, will his voice cope?
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 10, 2018 7:47:51 GMT
Matt Lucas did a run in Les Mis as Thenardier, although a much smaller role I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2018 9:16:51 GMT
5 stars from WhatsOnStage, 4 from The Stage, 3 from The Evening Standard
Also rave reviews from Chichester and Portsmouth News
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Post by shady23 on Jul 10, 2018 20:01:39 GMT
Sounds eventful!
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 10, 2018 21:34:13 GMT
Very Luke warm 3* review from the London Evening Standard.
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Post by showgirl on Jul 11, 2018 4:11:05 GMT
5-star review (well, 5 mice, her equivalent) from Libby Purves, aka Theatrecat, though lately she seems to have raved about everything seen.
On the CFT site I could see no info about Ryan Pidgen replacing Matt Lucas for a second performance. I really hope there's an update before I go next week, so at least I know which one to expect.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2018 16:46:25 GMT
Very Luke warm 3* review from the London Evening Standard. Shock!Horror!Fiona Mountford does not like a musical! |
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Post by princeton on Jul 12, 2018 9:19:14 GMT
Fiona Mountford's reviews often don't seem complete. It feels as though she gets to the end of a sentence, does a word count and decides that's enough. Everything is left hanging.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 12, 2018 23:59:45 GMT
So Thursday - is Matt Lucas back? Does anyone know?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2018 8:23:04 GMT
Fiona Mountford's reviews often don't seem complete. It feels as though she gets to the end of a sentence, does a word count and decides that's enough. Everything is left hanging. But not in suspense.If its classical or elitist (being performed in a ship's container to 3 people) she'll love it if its popularist she won't.A good critic should give the reader an overview of the whole production good points as well as bad but with her you just get what she liked or didn't about it usually missing out half the production if not the direction or design.I don't think I've ever read one of her reviews that make me want to go to see the production she's written about. |
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Post by princeton on Jul 14, 2018 17:57:40 GMT
Probably for a separate thread really - but there's such a deficit of good theatre criticism these days. Very rarely do I see a review which propels me to book for a production. The mixture of pedestrian writing, misguided opinion and factual inaccuracies mean that very few are pleasurable to read. The right balance of creativity and information is usually sadly lacking.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2018 8:25:02 GMT
Having previously raved about the Chichester musicals, it pains me to report that this one is a bit of a dud.
I have nothing to compare it with; I didn’t see the 80s London production which has been mentioned with some fondness by several posters, but I came away thinking that this wasn’t a terribly good piece and, apart from a few well-known numbers, the score’s not up to much either.
In fact the best thing about it are the production photographs which almost belie the show that’s presented here.
The casting is questionable: I was prepared to go with Matt Lucas but found him charmless and ill-suited to the role. He also hasn’t got his singing voice back yet. Caroline Quentin and Clive Rowe- usually reliable- just don’t work here. Square pegs and all that. And as for the family solicitor... the less said about this the better really. Nobody looked at ease in their roles, as if they’d had a bumpy ride in rehearsals and they hadn’t yet landed safely.
The singing was surprisingly poor, and the music generally needed more oomph. I think there’s been some tinkering with tempos on some of the familiar tunes, but it all seemed a bit unnecessary really. If only they’d worked on the basics and turned the volume up. Certain dialogue scenes seemed to drag and I found myself checking my watch on more than one occasion. The gags, both verbal and physical, seemed dated and fell flat. We laughed politely to start with but even a full house last night couldn’t support them in tired routines and what amounted to a telly comic’s schtick.
I could have done with a little more dancing... What we got was good, and awfully camp, but it needed more somehow. It’s an oddly paced production that never quite gets off the ground and never really gathers momentum. I’m not one for leaving at intervals but after Act One there was little to tempt me back...
Thank God I’m mean and wouldn’t dream of shelling out all that money on tickets only to leave before the end! Act Two opened with two of the cutest young chorus boys wearing the shortest shorts I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness on stage, grinding and gyrating to the campest version The Sun Has Got His Hat On! They clearly didn’t know just how much we could see from the front row. I mean- we could actually see the sun. With his hat on!!! I found a Completely Unexpected Standing Ovation in order, which- incidentally- is infinitely more satisfying that the Obligatory one we’ve now all grown used to.
An evening at the theatre in Chichester is still a joy with its excited buzz which starts in the car-park and feeds right into the foyer, spills out onto the fields and then filters into the auditorium. It now loses a caiaphas star, however, for ridiculously high bar-prices (two small glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, at £7.60 a pop, cost more than my three course dinner at Cote!)
I’m aware that many will enjoy this one, and I hope that they do, but it simply wasn’t for me. If last year’s Fiddler (same production team apparently) didn’t transfer, I’d be very surprised if this one did. Or if it did I could definitely see it being recast...
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 17, 2018 9:31:31 GMT
The thing is though, I can sort of see this transferring on two levels straight off - Matt Lucas and Caroline Quentin, and that its not been in the West end for 25 years (they love a number like that on marketing). It just feels almost a guarentee.
Saying that, I said the same about Fiddler - but because it was a much better show.
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Post by wickedgrin on Jul 17, 2018 13:49:49 GMT
Yes, I would have thought this production was intended for a transfer into town. It was a huge hit at the Adelphi and ran for about 8 years! Long overdue for a revival I would have thought and is the same "feel good" escapist show like 42nd St. With the closure of Kinky Boots and the aforementioned 42nd St I would have thought there was a gap in the market.
I am off to see this show next week, although not a fan of Matt Lucas and have very fond memories of seeing Robert Lindsay and Gary Wilmot in the role. It was huge fun! But I have lowered my expectations a tad since reading some of the mixed thoughts on here.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2018 14:30:42 GMT
Yes the production is clearly designed and cast to transfer and it can be a great show but this production does seem to zap the fun from it
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