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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2016 20:13:14 GMT
How does it compare to Chichester - I loved it there but not sure I'd rush to see it again.
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 28, 2016 20:17:47 GMT
I also loved it at Chichester but enough time has passed to have 'forgotten' it since I've seen so much since then, so it's wonderful to remember how colourful, energetic and truly wonderful it is. A little condensed from Chichester, but not stale, in my opinion. Maybe due to new cast and first night adrenaline of Rebel & Simon and their energy that the rest of the cast feed off.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2016 20:27:31 GMT
The real question, is it Rebel Wilson playing Adelaide or is it Rebel Wilson playing Rebel Wilson?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2016 21:20:40 GMT
If I hadn't of seen this at the Savoy already, I would go again definitely! Rebel Wilson is amazing!
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 28, 2016 21:59:36 GMT
The real question, is it Rebel Wilson playing Adelaide or is it Rebel Wilson playing Rebel Wilson? In my mind, this is without any shadow of a doubt Rebel Wilson playing Miss Adelaide, with a few Rebel-isms thrown in, though they are few and far between. I hugely enjoyed them as they weren't *too* out of context or distracting, others will probably feel differently! |
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 28, 2016 22:15:00 GMT
Oooh, sounds promising! Thanks for reporting back. I'm always a bit wary of 'stunt casting' but sometimes it can work out. It'll be interesting to see what others have to say about it too.
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 28, 2016 22:18:16 GMT
I'll write some more detailed thoughts some time soon, but it's a huge thumbs up from me, which doesn't mean much! 😊
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2016 4:33:47 GMT
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Post by littleflyer on Jun 29, 2016 7:25:38 GMT
The real question, is it Rebel Wilson playing Adelaide or is it Rebel Wilson playing Rebel Wilson? She played Rebel Wilson. |
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Post by southstreet on Jun 29, 2016 9:27:40 GMT
I was really intrigued when she was announced, as I really liked her in all the film roles I've seen her play. I always thought she was really talented and just typecast because of her looks. Well, yesterday made me question that, maybe that is all of the range she actually has.
I expected her to be a bit more OTT and putting in some more innuendo, etc, but I really didn't like her portrayal of Adelaide at all. Adelaide is obviously not supposed to be a prude, she works as a dancer in a night club and is clearly a bit of a naughty minx, but she is still supposed to be classy. Ms Wilson's Adelaide is just a crass and trashy bimbo in my eyes. Everything in act 1 was sexualised,a lot of gesturing and poses that were very much 21st century and don't even get me started on her new 'accessory' in Bushel and a Peck. She also did the same thing I didn't like with Sophie Thompson's take on the role, Adelaide is just supposed to have a cold, she doesn't need 25 different comedy voices and accents.
The show was probably about 5 minutes longer with all the adlibbing (whether newly scripted or off the cuff or a mix of both) that she and Simon put in last night.
I quite liked Simon, I generally prefer my Nathan's a bit older and probably a bit more polished (he was a bit more of a lovable thug) and I liked some of his takes on the part, but even he dragged some of his scenes out a bit too much for my liking. He almost went through a whole rendition of "Joseph's coat" when trying to guess the colour of his tie. :-)
But he kept the general heart of the character, whilst making sure that he doesn't get completely steamrolled by the Rebel Wilson train. ;p
It was their first night, so I am not going to go on about accents and Rebel struggling a bit with the more emotional parts as well as her timing when it comes to the songs, I am sure those things are going to settle once they have a few more shows under their belt. I personally also hope that they both (but especially Rebel) will tone it down a little bit over time.
But hey, I was clearly in the minority, they got a three level standing ovation at the end, so the vast majority of the audience lapped it all up. I am sure Rebel will help put bums on seats and improve the general atmosphere in the theatre, as the show doesn't have to win the audience over, a lot of the punters will already be up for it because they get to see a celebrity on stage. And most of the audience will have a brilliant time and love what she is doing with (or, IMO, to) Adelaide. :-)
But then I am just a fussy cow and know full well that I just don't necessarily like what the majority of the punters in the West End do. ;p
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 29, 2016 11:11:48 GMT
I got a ticket for tonight. Anyone else going?
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 29, 2016 18:33:06 GMT
Upper circle here is great. I think this is the ideal mid sized theatre, every seat has a clear view and there's adequate legroom
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2016 18:47:10 GMT
Do we think that Rebel might do more West End or even Broadway musicals after G&D, or is it just a one off?
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 29, 2016 18:54:50 GMT
Upper circle here is great. I think this is the ideal mid sized theatre, every seat has a clear view and there's adequate legroom Yes I 100% agree! Having paid just £15 to sit there for both G&D and BiLB, the upper circle at The Phoenix is like a dress circle in other theatres. Can even see the whites of the actors eyes, even the back row offers a great view. One of my absolute favourites for cheap tickets and a fantastic view! |
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 29, 2016 18:56:50 GMT
Do we think that Rebel might do more West End or even Broadway musicals after G&D, or is it just a one off? I think Broadway wouldn't necessarily be out of the question. Would most likely depend on roles - she has a certain look. |
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Post by broadwaylover99 on Jun 29, 2016 19:03:49 GMT
Not a live musical, but I've heard talk of there being a Little Mermaid remake with Rebel as Ursula and Chloe Grace Moretz as Ariel. Don't know how solid that rumour is though
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 29, 2016 20:04:07 GMT
Absolutely loving this show. I prefer all of this cast to the Savoy cast. Oliver Thomsett has an amazingly smooth and silky voice. Rebel is a bit clownish which I find distracting, but she's certainly memorable
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Post by theatre-turtle on Jun 29, 2016 21:28:31 GMT
Full and pretty much instant standing ovation for this cast. The Savoy cast didn't get the same
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Post by Mark on Jun 29, 2016 22:03:21 GMT
Full and pretty much instant standing ovation for this cast. The Savoy cast didn't get the same And that, is star power. |
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Post by ctas on Jun 29, 2016 22:10:51 GMT
Saw the show for the first time since Chichester today, I enjoyed the slightly younger casting for Nathan and Adelaide as Polycarpou stuck out a little awkwardly in Chichester despite being a world-class performer. Got the day seats - my friend turned up at 9:30 and said there were only three people ahead of her waiting - unfortunately this also came with a view of the frustrated MD tapping his watch (?) whenever someone milked something- usually Simon and Oliver as Nathan and Sky. Loved the main cast for the most part, not totally sure what Rebel Wilson was doing at times but her interaction with Simon especially was splendid. I forgot how great the choreography for this version is! Enjoyable, bargain price and the music is always great. Overall a thumbs up from me!
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Post by theatreliker on Jun 29, 2016 22:11:30 GMT
Not a live musical, but I've heard talk of there being a Little Mermaid remake with Rebel as Ursula and Chloe Grace Moretz as Ariel. Don't know how solid that rumour is though I think Richard Curtis is doing the screenplay. |
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Post by d'James on Jun 29, 2016 23:19:33 GMT
Not a live musical, but I've heard talk of there being a Little Mermaid remake with Rebel as Ursula and Chloe Grace Moretz as Ariel. Don't know how solid that rumour is though The Chloe Grace Moretz one isn't the musical though. I think there are two being made. |
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Post by Steve on Jun 30, 2016 12:38:10 GMT
I was there last night, and this show has morphed under the new cast into the most hilarious escapism in London! Spoilers follow. . . I had seen the show at the Savoy, but booked one of those half-price flash sales, to see Samantha Spiro, after reading good things here. I had hoped to see a more subtle take on Adelaide than the effortful Sophie Thompson, so I was peeved when the cast changed under me. However, post Brexit, I felt so miserable, that the prospect of being "steamrolled by the Rebel Wilson train" seemed like just the tonic. This show is through-the-roof hilarious now! Clearly, if you haven't a taste for broad comedy, this isn't for you. But if you do, only Mischief Theatre can rival this show for laughs. And here, the singing is better. It isn't just Rebel Wilson. Swapping David Haig for Simon Lipkin is like swapping cheese for chalk. Haig really was "good old reliable Nathan [Detroit,]" wheres Simon Lipkin's Nathan is about as reliable as a promise from Michael Gove. You wouldn't trust this klutz to walk up stairs without falling over, let alone run a crap game. And that doesn't bother me, because this is escapism, not realism. Simon Lipkin's shtick amuses the heck out of me: he stutters and sweats, frets and jigs, more nervous than a teenager on his first date. If Haig was butter, Lipkin is scrambled eggs. One of the problems of the show at the Savoy (perhaps the only one) was the mismatch between Haig's realistic performance and Sophie Thompson's comic exaggerations. By contrast, Simon Lipkin and Rebel Wilson balance each other. Not merely in the sense that they both have an effortless easy talent for comedy. They also balance each other because the shtick each does is the opposite of what the other does. Where Lipkin is nervy and fearful, Wilson is brazen and fearless. Where Lipkin fears to tread, Wilson will tread on everyone and everything and not notice. It makes so much sense that someone-who-thinks-too-much (Lipkin's Nathan) and someone-who-thinks-too-little (Wilson's Adelaide) fall head over heels for each other. They are like Jack Spratt and his wife, and between the two of them, they lick the comedy platter completely clean, with their complementary styles of comedy. Rebel Wilson is quintessential blundering blustering Fanny Brice. In "Take Back your Mink," her charisma makes her stand out from every girl around her, spiked by the obvious visual difference of her body type. She is a natural comedienne, able to expand her frame and mouth and gestures, but also has the musical theatre knack of withdrawing into sudden sentimentality and making it work. If there was one thing Wilson could make work better, it is that she doesn't appear sneezy enough in "Adelaide's Lament," though perhaps she saves that for "Adelaide's second lament," which worked a treat. As long as you are prepared to throw realism to the wind, and are ready for big silliness, the Lipkin-Wilson duo are the most joyful and funny pairing on the London stage. And this show keeps on giving, because the Oliver Tompsett - Siubhan Harrison pairing is almost as delightful, and by the end, it IS as delightful. Not at the beginning though, as Tompsett is a very different beast to Jamie Parker. Parker is so loveable and charismatic a presence that I was rooting for his Sky Masterson from his first gleaming toothy grin. Tompsett is smarmy by comparison. It is as if Parker was one part Frank Sinatra, one part preening puppy, whereas Tompsett is one part Clark Gable, one part slithering snake. It is the snake-like quality of Tompsett that had me rooting for Lipkin's Detroit to take sleazy Tompsett's money. At the Savoy, I wanted the opposite, for chirpy Parker's Masterson to take Haig's money. But Tompsett's oily presence actually proves a boon to the production, as it gives his character further to narratively travel towards falling in love with Siubhan Harrison's adorable Sarah Brown. And when Tompsett makes his turn, and gets heartfelt about Harrison, he really milked it, and I was very touched! Overall, this is a stonkingly funny and entertaining show, and the move away from romantic realism to all around comic escapism makes this the best and most entertaining tonic for our times that I can think of. 5 stars  |
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 30, 2016 16:17:02 GMT
What an enjoyable review! Thanks so much.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2016 17:17:08 GMT
Reassuring to see that Rebel will perform at every performance for her run, 8 shows a week, no holiday dates. She confirmed to a fan on Twitter.
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