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Post by shady23 on Jan 20, 2017 22:35:05 GMT
First preview was tonight in Edinburgh.
Anyone there?
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Post by musicman on Jan 21, 2017 9:09:24 GMT
I went last night with really low expectations, memories of Wonder.land still giving me nightmares! Must say I was pleasantly surprised. The cast they have assembled is first class and the staging is simple but very effective. Kerry is on top form, Wendi Peters camps it up with a audience pleasing turn as the queen of hearts and Natile McQueen as the Mad Hatter puts in a great performance. The downside is the book is a little muddled and the music at times lacks originality but all in all it deserves to do well. Kerry at the end did seem to be visibly moved by the positive audience reaction so maybe they had concerns it was not going to play well ove here.
Definitely worth a punt if it is going to a theatre near you?
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 21, 2017 10:11:20 GMT
I am so excited about this. Glad to hear a positive review straight away. Hope to get a few trips in to see this!
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Post by fionamac on Jan 21, 2017 11:08:21 GMT
I was there last night. Went not knowing what to expect and came out absolutely buzzing! I found it quite slow and wooden at the start, maybe just first night nerves, but improved through first act. second act they came out on fire. Natalie McQueen was electric as mad hatter. wendi Peters very entertaining the brief spells she was on stage and I thought Kerry Ellis did excellently - I agree with Musicman, she did seem genuinely overcome with the standing ovation at the end - no mean feat from an Edinburgh Playhouse audience. at times band overpowered the singers and some songs are very fast which made the ensemble sound a little muffled but this may improve as they get into the tour. I was sitting across the aisle from Frank Wildhorn who seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself. Tempted to make a return visit next weekend to see how it has improved - it doesn't seem to be selling well (although it is a huge venue to fill). Also trying to find OBC recording but can only find it on USA sites, not UK ones. Anyone help?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2017 11:10:36 GMT
I was there last night. Went not knowing what to expect and came out absolutely buzzing! I found it quite slow and wooden at the start, maybe just first night nerves, but improved through first act. second act they came out on fire. Natalie McQueen was electric as mad hatter. wendi Peters very entertaining the brief spells she was on stage and I thought Kerry Ellis did excellently - I agree with Musicman, she did seem genuinely overcome with the standing ovation at the end - no mean feat from an Edinburgh Playhouse audience. at times band overpowered the singers and some songs are very fast which made the ensemble sound a little muffled but this may improve as they get into the tour. I was sitting across the aisle from Frank Wildhorn who seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself. Tempted to make a return visit next weekend to see how it has improved - it doesn't seem to be selling well (although it is a huge venue to fill). Also trying to find OBC recording but can only find it on USA sites, not UK ones. Anyone help? I managed to get it on Amazon UK. Have you got a song list from the UK production? |
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Post by ianm on Jan 21, 2017 11:17:29 GMT
Was also there last night. Pleased to say that the show got a great reception with a spontaneous partial standing ovation. For a first preview, this was looking very tight apart from a small technical set mishap with the White Rabbit's first appearance. Small band of 8 but sounded fuller.
There are (I think) a couple of new songs which are not on the Broadway cast recording - firstly in Act 1 a largely forgettable duet (Love Begins) for Alice and Jack and secondly, This Is Who I Am, a great song for Alice and the Mad Hatter. The book has been amended for a British audience and while it still has rather a lot of dialogue, it is just possible to extract the show's message.
Musically, this is one of Wildhorn's more "poppy" shows with some generic numbers but there are still flashes of genius such as The Mad Hatter's two main numbers. Kerry Ellis is a good looking and vocally excellent Alice showing her rocky style as well as handling some of the trickier dialogue scenes with some good acting ability. The Mad Hatter is played by a fierce and quirky Natalie McQueen who almost stole the show and brought the house down with her belting of I Will Prevail at the start of the second act as well as a fine Mad Hatter number. My attention was constantly drawn to her as you never quite knew what she was going to say or do next.
Good support also from Stephen Webb as Jack - the intentionally cheesy Fiyero of the piece, and Dave Willetts as the White Rabbit. While Wendy Peters was good as the Queen, some of her diction could have been a bit clearer but she handled her big notes well. Also loved the Caterpillar but felt that the Cheshire Cat was slightly rushed and needs a bit of work on the characterisation.
The ensemble sounded fine (although their words could have been clearer in places) and they performed the largely contemporary choreography well. Thought that their costumes could have been a bit more sumptuous and distinctive but perhaps they blew the budget on the main characters' costumes. Loved the Caterpillar costume though. This is a good looking show for a touring production with well designed sets and some spectacular lighting particularly for the Mad Hatter's second big number. I don't think this show would look out of place in the West End.
Overall, I thought this was a four star production with the highlights for me being the solo numbers for Kerry and Natalie. Also randomly bumped into Frank Wildhorn himself who had been watching the show in the stalls. Spotted him as he was the only guy wearing a baseball hat! He thanked people around me for coming and asked them "to spread the word". Frank, your wish is my command.
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Post by ianm on Jan 21, 2017 11:35:00 GMT
I was there last night. Went not knowing what to expect and came out absolutely buzzing! I found it quite slow and wooden at the start, maybe just first night nerves, but improved through first act. second act they came out on fire. Natalie McQueen was electric as mad hatter. wendi Peters very entertaining the brief spells she was on stage and I thought Kerry Ellis did excellently - I agree with Musicman, she did seem genuinely overcome with the standing ovation at the end - no mean feat from an Edinburgh Playhouse audience. at times band overpowered the singers and some songs are very fast which made the ensemble sound a little muffled but this may improve as they get into the tour. I was sitting across the aisle from Frank Wildhorn who seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself. Tempted to make a return visit next weekend to see how it has improved - it doesn't seem to be selling well (although it is a huge venue to fill). Also trying to find OBC recording but can only find it on USA sites, not UK ones. Anyone help? Aspiring Thespian - here you go. Act 1 1. Worst Day (Alice, Company) 2. Down The Rabbit Hole (Alice, Jack, White Rabbit) 3. Wonderland (Company) 4. Advice from a Caterpillar (Caterpillar, Caterpillar's Legs 5. Cat Shoe Shuffle (Cheshire Cat, Cat Gang) 6. One Knight (Jack, Knight) 7. Home (Ellie) 8. Tea Party (Company) 9. Hail the Queen (Queen of Hearts, Company) 10. The Mad Hatter (Mad Hatter, Company) 11. Love Begins (Alice, Jack) 12. Through the Looking Glass (Company) Act 2 13. I Will Prevail (Mad Hatter, Company) 14. I Am My Own Invention (White Rabbit, Alice) 15. Home [reprise] (Ellie) 16. Once More I Can See (Alice) 17. This Is Who I Am (Alice, Mad Hatter) 18. Off With Their Heads (Queen of Hearts, Company) 19. Heroes (Company) 20. Together (Company) 21. Finding Wonderland (Alice, Company) |
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Post by firefingers on Jan 21, 2017 11:59:42 GMT
Really glad that first preview went well. The producer alone made me sceptical and I know some people were hired at the very last minute (for example sound designer not hired until just two weeks before first preview, though I suspect the previous one may have jumped ship or something) so great that it has actually happened and seems like it might be a hit.
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Post by shady23 on Jan 21, 2017 17:52:07 GMT
So glad to hear these great reviews.
Looking forward to it coming to Sunderland.
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Post by confessor on Jan 21, 2017 20:44:40 GMT
5. Cat Shoe Shuffle (Cheshire Cat, Cat Gang) Is this a replacement for Go With The Flow, or the same song with a different name? |
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Post by ali973 on Jan 22, 2017 18:16:14 GMT
I bought a ticket for the first performance in Wimbledon. Anyone going?
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Post by alison on Jan 22, 2017 18:35:43 GMT
5. Cat Shoe Shuffle (Cheshire Cat, Cat Gang) Is this a replacement for Go With The Flow, or the same song with a different name? According to a friend who was there, it's a different song. Also, Heroes might be in the programme but it wasn't in the show on Friday night, which is a shame since I really like it from the cast recording (it was cut before Broadway) and got excited when I saw it in the song list on here. I've booked for the first night in Birmingham. Having been so looking forward to this tour, I'm now starting to worry that I'll be disappointed ... despite agreeing that the show still needed work, I've watched the *ahem* clips on Youtube so many times that I'm not sure how I'll take to a different version. |
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Post by infofreako on Jan 22, 2017 18:37:54 GMT
Looking forward to catching this in brighton
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 22, 2017 18:38:51 GMT
I'm quite looking forward to this too, despite my dislike of the original story. So is this a "take" on that or is it the actual story? Can someone put some context around it?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 18:44:42 GMT
I'm quite looking forward to this too, despite my dislike of the original story. So is this a "take" on that or is it the actual story? Can someone put some context around it? Wonderland follows a woman living in current-day New York City whose marriage is falling apart and whose career dreams are slowly being pulled out from under her. When this contemporary Alice finds her way into Wonderland via a broken service elevator in her condo, she meets some familiar-ish characters: a Cheshire Cat with a Latin flair, a malicious Mad Hatter and a delightfully dotty Queen of Hearts. After coming face to face with these friends and foes, Alice finds new strength in herself and discovers that she’ll do anything to find her way back to her daughter.  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 22, 2017 19:02:06 GMT
Thank you Daniel |
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Post by infofreako on Jan 22, 2017 19:04:01 GMT
Must say that makes it appeal even more to me. Sounds an interesting reworking
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Post by ali973 on Jan 22, 2017 19:44:17 GMT
The plot and book are quite pathetic, but the score, as we expect from Wildhorn, is power ballad heaven. I'm approaching it as though I'm going to a concert with sets and costumes.
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Post by theatremadness on Jan 22, 2017 19:47:39 GMT
Thank you Daniel *Broadway.com  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2017 19:50:28 GMT
Thank you Daniel *Broadway.com Yeah, no credit needed haha, I got it from Broadway.com, I could never articulate something like that!  |
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Post by theatremadness on Jan 22, 2017 20:01:04 GMT
*Broadway.com Yeah, no credit needed haha, I got it from Broadway.com, I could never articulate something like that! :₩ Hey don't put yourself down, you got this!! Worst comes to worst, tell everyone it's alt-truth. Seems to work. |
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Post by confessor on Jan 23, 2017 19:19:36 GMT
According to a friend who was there, it's a different song. Thanks Alison. That's a shame, it's one of my favourites on the cast recording. I'll probably still go when it comes to Brighton though. |
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Post by lifewithkirsty on Jan 23, 2017 23:37:26 GMT
Saw this in Edinburgh the other day.. my sister was hating it and wanted to leave at the interval but we persevered.. I will say the second act is much better than the first the songs are good story line is kind of meh. I saw people raving about the sets which I don't really get.. the costumes were also nothing spectacular. Natalie McQueen is great in this though.
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Post by mrtumnus on Jan 24, 2017 20:11:27 GMT
Was at the opening night and I thought it was fantastic. Great rock score. All main parts well cast with very good performances. The chorus looked as if it was straight out of drama school and over-acted accordingly with enthusiasm but they will learn from the leads and you need to get experience somewhere. Will probably go again when it reaches Glasgow. Easily the best thing I've seen this year |
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Jan 27, 2017 4:51:38 GMT
The have released some images from the show. What do we all think? I quite like Natalie McQueen's Mad Hatter costume. Kerry's looks ... interesting if a little plain. I have just booked Wednesday's shows in Sunderland in addition to the Tuesday night so will hopefully get to see Michelle Pentecost's 2nd Alice show! If I can catch her as Hatter too that would be a bonus!
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