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Post by Being Alive on Dec 7, 2019 7:57:56 GMT
Can't remember the last time I hated a piece of theatre in the way I hated this.
The score is diabolical (with that disco number being the only one I could remember 5 minutes after it), the book is honestly one of the worst I've ever heard, the characters are so 2D and have no development or arc at all, and the cast were also pretty poor (the kid we had as the boy was not good).
It's frustrating that this is almost guaranteed a transfer because of the names attached to it. It was just incredibly lazy, taking the mould of Matilda and trying to replicate it (villainous head teacher, outcast child, song that's like Quiet, song that's like revolting children)
That said, I liked the set and thought some of that was quite clever. But I hated pretty much everything else.
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Post by Rory on Dec 7, 2019 11:25:06 GMT
I saw the piece about it on the BBC news recently and there was just something 'samey' looking about it. It did remind me strongly of Matilda. But then theatre rarely comes across well on tv.
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Post by learfan on Dec 7, 2019 16:35:06 GMT
I saw the piece about it on the BBC news recently and there was just something 'samey' looking about it. It did remind me strongly of Matilda. But then theatre rarely comes across well on tv. Im going in the new year, the shadow of Matilda is all over this i suppose. However this one isnt aimed at the hordes of eight year old girls you see queuing in at the Cambridge Theatre. |
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Post by theatreian on Dec 7, 2019 18:39:16 GMT
Saw this this afternoon. Enjoyed it, was very well staged. Vocals not always brilliant but still enjoyed the piece.
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Post by squidward on Dec 9, 2019 1:24:44 GMT
Can't remember the last time I hated a piece of theatre in the way I hated this. The score is diabolical (with that disco number being the only one I could remember 5 minutes after it), the book is honestly one of the worst I've ever heard, the characters are so 2D and have no development or arc at all, and the cast were also pretty poor (the kid we had as the boy was not good). It's frustrating that this is almost guaranteed a transfer because of the names attached to it. It was just incredibly lazy, taking the mould of Matilda and trying to replicate it (villainous head teacher, outcast child, song that's like Quiet, song that's like revolting children) That said, I liked the set and thought some of that was quite clever. But I hated pretty much everything else. I could not agree with you more on this souchyboy. It seems we are two lone voices in the wilderness though. The critics in particular were raving about it which unless they were hedging their bets in case it's a smash hit, I really don't understand. David Walliams endless third rate plagiarism of Roald Dahl is a vexation and now it appears we have another RSC production that is hoping to replicate Matilda with this ersatz, charmless show. It all feels quite cynical to me, but only time will tell if a wider audience share that opinion. |
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 9, 2019 12:41:37 GMT
Can't remember the last time I hated a piece of theatre in the way I hated this. The score is diabolical (with that disco number being the only one I could remember 5 minutes after it), the book is honestly one of the worst I've ever heard, the characters are so 2D and have no development or arc at all, and the cast were also pretty poor (the kid we had as the boy was not good). It's frustrating that this is almost guaranteed a transfer because of the names attached to it. It was just incredibly lazy, taking the mould of Matilda and trying to replicate it (villainous head teacher, outcast child, song that's like Quiet, song that's like revolting children) That said, I liked the set and thought some of that was quite clever. But I hated pretty much everything else. I could not agree with you more on this souchyboy. It seems we are two lone voices in the wilderness though. The critics in particular were raving about it which unless they were hedging their bets in case it's a smash hit, I really don't understand. David Walliams endless third rate plagiarism of Roald Dahl is a vexation and now it appears we have another RSC production that is hoping to replicate Matilda with this ersatz, charmless show. It all feels quite cynical to me, but only time will tell if a wider audience share that opinion. Hoorah - another lone voice in the wilderness! Not many shows make me cross because they are so bad/lazy but this was one of them |
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Post by xanady on Dec 27, 2019 22:29:58 GMT
After a wonderful touristy day in Stratford-Upon-Avon with the fam,have just come out of the evening show.
Started at 7.15pm and came out at 9.45pm with a fifteen minute interval.
This is a truly exhilarating show with a big heart.Real feel-good family entertainment.
Set design has a detailed storybook quality to it and was endlessly inventive.A cast who looked like they were loving every second of it.The way the football matches were played out was beautifully choreographed and almost balletic.
Acting plaudits go to all the youngsters and Forbes Masson as the prejudiced and manic headmaster complete with megaphone and Rufus Hound as Dennis’s father.
Didn’t know the score beforehand but loved the variety of styles encompassed in it.Some very hummable tunes.
Chambers and Williams CAN write MT if anyone doubted them.
Will definitely have a life after the Stratford dates.
Merch notes-Programme is £5 and masses
of mugs,t-shirts etc on sale.Got the £3 fridge magnet.
For drivers-Bridgeway car park is just a 5 min walk from the theatre and was very cheap.
Great interactive exhibition on Third Floor of theatre with lots of hands-on fun including a DIY Disco and Subbuteo.Also table football in the Stalls bar.
Great fun show with a terrific message.
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Post by lichtie on Dec 28, 2019 9:52:54 GMT
Decided to go to this as I was in Stratford anyway to see the stuff at the Swan. Not generally a big fan of musicals, but this was definitely entertaining enough. Obvious transfer potential. Interesting, given all the discussion in the RSC at the Barbican threads about how plays tend to transfer to very poor staging there, that they redesigned the whole RST here to look more like a West End theatre with almost none of the thrust stage left...
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Post by Theatre Fan on Dec 28, 2019 18:26:27 GMT
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Post by Mark on Dec 29, 2019 0:17:27 GMT
Shame they only decided to highlight one lyric.
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Post by lynette on Dec 31, 2019 22:28:47 GMT
I could pick holes in this til the cows come home but it is NYE.. It comes over a solid 3 star. It could squeeze a fourth star for some of the second half. I’d be holding my breath.
i don’t know why the RSC put all their eggs into this basket. I really don’t. My first reaction to the proposal would have been we’re over this, it is no longer an issue and you can’t cross the same river twice - Billy Elliot/Matilda/most other kid musicals you’ve ever seen.
But let us hope it brings in the punters - I understand they are getting a lot of new ones to the theatre - and has a comfortable run in the West End.
Nod to Asha Banks as Lisa James, best voice on the stage and to Jackson Laing, Dennis, a credit to his training but I noted in particular Ethan Dattani as Darvesh, a real natural, will I hope be with us a long time.
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Post by simon on Jan 15, 2020 13:45:30 GMT
i don’t know why the RSC put all their eggs into this basket. I really don’t. My first reaction to the proposal would have been we’re over this, it is no longer an issue and you can’t cross the same river twice - Billy Elliot/Matilda/most other kid musicals you’ve ever seen. Interesting point this but we always need new musicals even if they cover previous ground and aren't of the time'. I really enjoyed it. Really catchy tunes, great acting, ok story I guess. Good 4.5/5 from me! |
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Post by xanady on Jan 19, 2020 15:50:46 GMT
For any Rufus Hound fans,just had an invite to a recording of ‘My Teenage Diary’ in Stratford-Upon-Avon(TOP) for tomorrow,but can’t make it.It is also on BBC audience members ticket site.Also doing one in London in Feb I believe.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 30, 2020 13:01:32 GMT
I'm in the front row for the matinee and while the theatre is fairly full, mainly school parties admittedly, there's nobody else in the other 11 front row seats. Very odd, not as if it's a look up or poor legroom and the rows behind are full
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Post by simon on Feb 3, 2020 20:00:50 GMT
I'm in the front row for the matinee and while the theatre is fairly full, mainly school parties admittedly, there's nobody else in the other 11 front row seats. Very odd, not as if it's a look up or poor legroom and the rows behind are full Midweek matinees and high ‘premium’ seat prices. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 4, 2020 0:31:01 GMT
I'm in the front row for the matinee and while the theatre is fairly full, mainly school parties admittedly, there's nobody else in the other 11 front row seats. Very odd, not as if it's a look up or poor legroom and the rows behind are full Midweek matinees and high ‘premium’ seat prices. Maybe, but rows BB, CC and DD are the same price and were all full, plus for this coming Thursday at the same time there's only one front row seat currently unsold. The lady sitting behind me asked if I was the Director which I thought amusing. Oh and I also loved the show and hope it gets a further life after Stratford. Preferably London asap ! |
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 4, 2020 1:31:41 GMT
Shame they only decided to highlight one lyric. Fairly sure that's because there's only one lyric in the whole song? Sorry this show irritates me with its laziness so much.... |
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Post by simon on Feb 4, 2020 19:57:55 GMT
Oh and I also loved the show and hope it gets a further life after Stratford. Preferably London asap ! Almost certain from what I hear! |
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Post by zahidf on Feb 5, 2020 4:40:21 GMT
Doran confirms that negotiations are underway for a london transfer.
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Post by learfan on Feb 8, 2020 16:59:17 GMT
Saw the matinee today. Very enthusiastic full house from what i could tell. This is certain to transfer. Staff at the shop were telling punters who were asking about a cast recording that "they were waiting for the transfer". The farting dog almost stole the show! The football scenes though cleverly done bore no resemblance to any game ive ever played in! The climactic penalty went hilariously wrong and nearly bought the house down. 4 stars.
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 28, 2020 19:46:56 GMT
So I caught the matinee of this yesterday. Bit late to the party, I do realise but I have some annual leave to use so had a day off and caught the train up yesterday.
A really great show, not perfect, but lots of fun.
Firstly, I LOVED the dog and the whole disco sequence. Especially at the start of the song where the panels slid back and you could see the cast posing. I also loved the whole summer sequence at the start of Act 2. Kudos to the costume designer.
The football matches we extremely well staged. In fact great use of the whole stage. A really hard working ensemble
I must admit that in terms of the actual show I really hadn't done too much research so was completely unaware, yet pleasantly surprised that Rufus Hound was in this and the emotional arc his character takes.
I thought the who cast we great! What a brave little boy the male lead was; to sing, dane and act, remember all of this likes and cues, etc
The only character I really didn't take to was the headmaster. I just found him to be totally over the top and very panto, even after his transformation. (Quite frankly) if i was close enough to the stage, i would have panted a hiss.
A relatively full house. Quite a few school groups in who (I must admit) were really quite behaved throughout the performance.
Despite the extremely length train journey- I was truly exhausted by the time I came home- I was so pleased to have caught this. The lady that I spoke to at the merchandise stand indicated that despite all the positive reviews and word-of-mouth it looks like a transfer to London isn't going to happen; well, it it does, it won't be for a good while which is a shame because the amount of thought, detail and effort that has gone gone into this production can be clearly seen.
As a Robbie Williams fan it was also good to see his partnership with Guy Chambers still flourishing and the maturing of the work they are producing. Also their partnership with David Williams.
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Post by xanady on Feb 28, 2020 22:23:14 GMT
^I hear on the grapevine that it has had a lot of support particularly from students doing GCSE Drama who have to do a live theatre review as part of their final written paper in the Summer...not sure if next Christmas’s offering will be similarly supported but am looking forward to it as part of a nice day out.
Great review btw😀
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Post by pianowithsam on Feb 28, 2020 22:44:17 GMT
So I caught the matinee of this yesterday. Bit late to the party, I do realise but I have some annual leave to use so had a day off and caught the train up yesterday. A really great show, not perfect, but lots of fun. Firstly, I LOVED the dog and the whole disco sequence. Especially at the start of the song where the panels slid back and you could see the cast posing. I also loved the whole summer sequence at the start of Act 2. Kudos to the costume designer. The football matches we extremely well staged. In fact great use of the whole stage. A really hard working ensemble I must admit that in terms of the actual show I really hadn't done too much research so was completely unaware, yet pleasantly surprised that Rufus Hound was in this and the emotional arc his character takes. I thought the who cast we great! What a brave little boy the male lead was; to sing, dane and act, remember all of this likes and cues, etc The only character I really didn't take to was the headmaster. I just found him to be totally over the top and very panto, even after his transformation. (Quite frankly) if i was close enough to the stage, i would have panted a hiss. A relatively full house. Quite a few school groups in who (I must admit) were really quite behaved throughout the performance. Despite the extremely length train journey- I was truly exhausted by the time I came home- I was so pleased to have caught this. The lady that I spoke to at the merchandise stand indicated that despite all the positive reviews and word-of-mouth it looks like a transfer to London isn't going to happen; well, it it does, it won't be for a good while which is a shame because the amount of thought, detail and effort that has gone gone into this production can be clearly seen. As a Robbie Williams fan it was also good to see his partnership with Guy Chambers still flourishing and the maturing of the work they are producing. Also their partnership with David Williams. I haven't seen the show, but the comments in regards to the headteacher were exactly as I felt about Mr. Shakespeare in the Nativity! musical adaptation. In the Boy in the Dress movie he's not pantomime-like at all and a very serious man. Feels unecessary to make the change, unless it makes the character explicility more easy to hate? I don't know. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Feb 29, 2020 18:56:45 GMT
From the looks of the cast instagram, they have been in the studio all week. Looks to be recording something big due to them being in there days on end.
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Post by showgirl on Mar 5, 2020 5:09:45 GMT
Saw this at the 5 pm performance yesterday as it made a neat double bill with the early matinee of The Whip in the Swan (perfect contrast, too.) I had no idea what to expect from the work or audience as I hadn't read the book or been interested in seeing the show until the positive reviews were published. When there was talk of a London transfer I considered waiting, but then I wanted to see The Whip, which is unlikely to transfer & now it sounds as though this may not either, so I'm all the more glad I saw it. The frequent 5 pm performances puzzled me - convenient as one was for me - until I emerged from the peaceful Swan & found the foyers heaving with groups of children: schools, brownies, etc - then I got it, whilst fearing the worst. And yes, it was pandemonium beforehand & during the interval & the ushers were out in force yet struggling. I was surrounded by one school group with manic seat-kickers behind me & despite admonitions from parents & teachers, some of the kicking continued during the performance. But the children were obviously SO excited, loving every aspect of their visit, even before the show started, & from my conversation with the parent next to me, most were probably having their first experience of theatre. Much as I still love going, I'm lucky enough to be able to take it for granted so to be sitting amongst what I hope was the audience of the future was an unusual bonus for me. Great show, too!
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