Wonderland

[shady23]

They are deliberately not answering the question at the moment!

[jgblunners]

Just back from seeing this in Oxford, and I enjoyed it (and would recommend it to others) but it definitely has its flaws.

First off, the good aspects: I really liked the music, and thought that the score was pretty strong throughout with a couple of stand-out numbers. I also really liked the set and costume design (although the set itself was a bit clunky at times) - I thought they fitted perfectly with the Wonderland setting. The most impressive aspect of the show for me though was the cast - firstly, for keeping the energy up despite playing to an auditorium that was almost empty (I reckon there can't have been more than about 60 people throughout the Stalls and Dress Circle, and the Balcony was closed) and secondly for doing such a good job with the characters, from the leads right down to the ensemble parts.

Unsurprisingly, the people who really impressed me were Natalie McQueen, Wendi Peters and Rachael Wooding. Natalie in particular was perfection - vocally brilliant, and absolutely nailed the characterisation. The same can be said of Wendi Peters, again wonderful characterisation and a really good voice. Both of them brought out their characters' quirks fantastically, making them believable and avoiding going over the top. Rachael Wooding was also very impressive vocally, and acted well, but I felt she was slightly going through the paces tonight. That may be a product of the empty house and the pretty dreadful book, though.

Speaking of which, the book is dire. In places I found it completely unbelievable that characters would be saying their lines, and it was so cheesy (particularly towards the end) that I just couldn't take the characters seriously sometimes because of the nonsense coming out of their mouths. I'm probably being overly critical, but I think that if the script was less cheesy and tried to take itself a bit more seriously then the show would be massively improved. My only other real complaint was the sound - I was sat in the front row of the circle, and while the volume was pretty much perfect, the balance was pretty dodgy. The band and ensemble were fine, but as soon as a soloist started to sing on top of them they got lost pretty easily. There were also a few missed mic cues at the start of the show, if i'm being really picky about sound.

So there you go. I hope this wasn't too long or too harsh, but those are my thoughts. In conclusion: a brilliant production of a pretty mediocre show that would be miles better with an overhauled book.

[oxfordsimon]

60 people in a house that has a capacity of 1800 is not good at all.

No wonder that papering is being attempted

[jgblunners]

The rear stalls was probably fuller than it sounded, but either way it felt like a ghost town in that auditorium.

[oxfordsimon]

I really do feel for the cast. It must be so hard to go on and face that.

[shady23]

Feb 21, 2017 22:29:55 GMT oxfordsimon said:

60 people in a house that has a capacity of 1800 is not good at all.

No wonder that papering is being attempted

How do people get all these free tickets?

Wish someone would give me some!

[BurlyBeaR]

These continued sound issues are inexcusable, surely?

[oxfordsimon]

You would think so - but it is a venue that is very difficult to make work. A decent sound designer should be aware of this and make adjustments to suit - but clearly not. Very rarely does a touring show get it right in Oxford.

I know from my time directing there that you have to take a decision early on as to whether you are going to open the upper circle - as you need a lot more equipment to get good sound right up at the top.

[shady23]

The sound in Sunderland wasn't great either.

[tcodd1]

Booked to see this on Friday in Oxford and am going to try and watch with as much of an open mind as I can following your comments!

Sitting in the front row of the (currently still very full) circle. Tickets were 2for1 on ATG with my ATG theatre card so paid around £14 each...lucky me!

The only other time I've seen an almost audience-less show at the New Theatre was a performance of The Sound of Music UK Tour in September last year. Such a shame for the cast to be performing to empty seats 😐 However, the Cats UK Tour packed out the same theatre weeks later...odd!

[oxfordsimon]

Oxford is a strange town for theatre. We are so close to London that it is very easy to go and see whatever you want. The New Theatre doesn't get many big tours first time round - they go to Milton Keynes or Aylesbury first - meaning that many people have already seen things by the time they get here. You also have to cope with a very mobile population - students and tourists are only passing through - so don't always get captured by marketing campaigns.

I think War Horse will do very well this Christmas - even though it is an unconventional choice for that time of year. Rocky Horror Show really struggled last December.

[alison]

I went again last night to see Rachael as Alice (very good, although I slightly preferred Kerry I think). I thought the sound was better than it was in Birmingham, although still not brilliant - I seriously don't understand why they're having so many issues.

There's now a fountain made of books in the Love Begins scene that wasn't there in Brum ... has it been there at any other venues (so just didn't fit for whatever reason) or is it new? Either way, I'm glad to see it added. Also, the boss who fires Alice at the start is now played by the Queen rather than the Hatter. So they're still tweaking things - if only they'd do something about the "everyone squeeze in front of the block of flats curtain" opening number.

The audience wasn't as empty as I expected from comments on here, but certainly a long way from full, and very quiet. It's the only time I've heard the gutless half-man rant get no reaction.

[shady23]

Yeah I remember that fountain from Sunderland.

[alison]

How odd. I guess the stage at the New Alex must be less deep or something.

[tcodd1]

So I went along to the New Theatre in Oxford tonight with some of my theatre-loving friends and was pleasantly surprised! As I predicted, the theatre was nowhere near full - all of the people in the circle would have probably filled the front two rows but it was fuller in the stalls.

I agree with many other posts abut the show - most of the music is lovely and there are some real standout numbers, particularly in Act2. I enjoyed the second half more than the first but mainly because Natalie, Rachael and Wendi were performing most of the songs. These three ladies led the show and were fantastic! Not to say that the other cast members weren't - Dave's White Rabbit number in the second half was a surprise - but I feel that these ladies were the strongest. Some beautiful harmonies and amazing energy throughout.

The story is naff, to be honest. I found it quite difficult to follow (it may have just been me...) but there were so many cheesy moments and it just didn't seem to flow. I just felt muddled and thought some of it, although set in Wonderland, was too unrealistic.

Everything else, though, was good. The show is definitely worth seeing, particularly to enjoy the cast's performances and the music, but not something that I would rush back to.

[candela]

I think the problem with Oxford for this production it going to Milton Keynes, Wimbledon, Woking and Richmond which are all very near London. I'm heading to Richmond for it

[Being Alive]

Now I went again to this tonight (yes second time in a week) and left somewhat disheartened.

I enjoyed it a lot first time round but I didn't enjoy it as much this time. There are still moments I enjoy (One Knight and ANY second Natalie McQueen is on stage) but I properly saw how awful the non-existent plot is. I sort of laughed it off first time but couldn't this time. It doesn't have any moment of jepody or emotional height.

Rachael was very much going through the motions tonight (as opposed to Monday when I thought she was on fine form). Looked bored, didn't want to be there.

I'll go again, as I want to see Kerry Ellis, but that'll be it for me.

[shady23]

I was tempted to go to York to see Rachel as she said she was doing the matinee. I contacted Wonderland HQ since and they said Michelle is doing it.

Who to believe?!

If they can't communicate clearly between them whose doing the show when then they're in trouble as fans will not take a chance and book, I know I won't.

[ToshiBoy]

Feb 26, 2017 0:22:55 GMT shady23 said:

I was tempted to go to York to see Rachel as she said she was doing the matinee. I contacted Wonderland HQ since and they said Michelle is doing it.

Who to believe?!

If they can't communicate clearly between them whose doing the show when then they're in trouble as fans will not take a chance and book, I know I won't.

Why don't you just go and see a show for what it is, if you want to see a specific person, see a concert, the musical is not about an performer.

[daniel]

Feb 26, 2017 2:15:05 GMT ToshiBoy said:

Feb 26, 2017 0:22:55 GMT shady23 said:

I was tempted to go to York to see Rachel as she said she was doing the matinee. I contacted Wonderland HQ since and they said Michelle is doing it.

Who to believe?!

If they can't communicate clearly between them whose doing the show when then they're in trouble as fans will not take a chance and book, I know I won't.

Why don't you just go and see a show for what it is, if you want to see a specific person, see a concert, the musical is not about an performer.

if someone has more of a desire to see a particular person more than the show itself, why not let them decide how to spend their money and see the show subject to that person being on?

[Scswp]

Feb 26, 2017 0:07:36 GMT Being Alive said:

Now I went again to this tonight (yes second time in a week) and left somewhat disheartened.

I enjoyed it a lot first time round but I didn't enjoy it as much this time. There are still moments I enjoy (One Knight and ANY second Natalie McQueen is on stage) but I properly saw how awful the non-existent plot is. I sort of laughed it off first time but couldn't this time. It doesn't have any moment of jepody or emotional height.

Rachael was very much going through the motions tonight (as opposed to Monday when I thought she was on fine form). Looked bored, didn't want to be there.

I'll go again, as I want to see Kerry Ellis, but that'll be it for me.

To be fair, when I saw Kerry, she appeared to be going through the motions. I quite enjoyed the show, but agree that there is no moment of drama. The character of Alice spends most of the time onstage just as an onlooker to the action - there seemed to be little direction to her character for these long sections. She just looked on, frequently tucking her hair behind her ears - in fact, she did it so many times, I wondered if that was the actual
direction!! Considering Alice is the main character, she seemed poorly defined and strangely uninvolved in the background of several scenes.

[shady23]

Feb 26, 2017 2:15:05 GMT ToshiBoy said:

Feb 26, 2017 0:22:55 GMT shady23 said:

I was tempted to go to York to see Rachel as she said she was doing the matinee. I contacted Wonderland HQ since and they said Michelle is doing it.

Who to believe?!

If they can't communicate clearly between them whose doing the show when then they're in trouble as fans will not take a chance and book, I know I won't.

Why don't you just go and see a show for what it is, if you want to see a specific person, see a concert, the musical is not about an performer.

Normally I'd agree with you but I have already seen the show three times and would like to see it again with a different lead so I can compare performances.

This show is not your standard one cast fits all as three different people play Alice at different times and different venues.

[BurlyBeaR]

Feb 26, 2017 7:43:27 GMT Scswp said:

The character of Alice spends most of the time onstage just as an onlooker to the action - there seemed to be little direction to her character for these long sections. She just looked on, frequently tucking her hair behind her ears - in fact, she did it so many times, I wondered if that was the actual
direction!!  

Oh dear I wish you hadn't mentioned that. I'm going to see nothing else but her tucking hair now

[alison]

Feb 26, 2017 7:43:27 GMT Scswp said:

The character of Alice spends most of the time onstage just as an onlooker to the action - there seemed to be little direction to her character for these long sections. She just looked on, frequently tucking her hair behind her ears - in fact, she did it so many times, I wondered if that was the actual direction!! Considering Alice is the main character, she seemed poorly defined and strangely uninvolved in the background of several scenes.

I'm sorry if that's what you saw (and I do agree about the hair tucking, although during One Knight at least I did feel like it was in character), and you're obviously not the only person to feel that from the comments here, but it's not what I saw so I figured I'd put my version out there.  (Not saying your opinion isn't valid, just sharing mine, before anyone jumps on me).

I saw very little of Alice just looking on (with Kerry, at least - Rachael was a little more of an onlooker).  She dances with and reacts to the ensemble throughout the first few scenes in Wonderland, alternates between fangirling and trying to keep her daughter away from the "boyband" during One Knight, has a discussion with Ellie across the table about the cake during the Tea Party, and one with Jack standing beside her, worries about Ellie with Jack reassuring her then tries to talk sense into her during The Mad Hatter, and chickens out of going through the looking glass several times before she finally does it.  And that's just the first act.

I agree with the people saying there's not a massive amount of emotional height in the plot itself - there isn't.  For me, when I saw the show in Brum, that came from watching Alice's changing relationships with Ellie and Jack, and herself, and most of that is in the details and not so much in the script.  If that's not there, the show as a whole really suffers.

[Deleted]

Just in case anyone is interested. Kerry will be playing Alice for all evening performances in Dublin June 19th - 24th