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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 22:34:16 GMT
Just back from seeing the show tonight. So good!! I would except a London transfer, everything about it was beautiful.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 29, 2019 23:25:48 GMT
Just back from seeing the show tonight. So good!! I would except a London transfer, everything about it was beautiful. Would love to see this closer to London- even as a little filler. Looks unlikely I'll be able to make it in Brum! |
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 30, 2019 14:40:19 GMT
Currently in the interval of T'Shan's Zedel gig - she hasn't done anything from the show (yet...?) but her voice is sounding great so it sounds like the show is in safe hands.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 3, 2019 9:37:42 GMT
It's press night tonight. Some production shots have been released for anyone interested
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 3, 2019 21:32:10 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks the set looks so tiny on the curve stage- looking at audience pics and production shots. Looks so cheap; as oppose to other big shows at the curve!
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jul 5, 2019 11:11:31 GMT
A little tip for anyone from London and SE England looking for cheap rail travel to Birmingham for matinees of Color Purple or any shows there. Doesn't work for evening shows unfortunately.
I always use Chiltern Trains from Marylebone and avoid Virgin Trains and Euston. I can get from Kent to Birmingham and back that way on advance tickets for around £16 with my railcard (£25 no railcard) from my local station
As a specific example, on Wednesday 17 July two advance singles at appropriate times for the 2 pm matinee . London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street 11.10 arrive 12.56 currently costs £4.25 with railcard or £6.40 no railcard. Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone at 17.55 is £4.60 (£7.00) or £4.25 (£6.40) at 18.15.
The Hippodrome Theatre is only about 5 minutes walk away from Moor Street station.
To get the lowest fares you may need to specify travelling via Solihull as that ensures the Chiltern route is offered.
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Post by xanady on Jul 5, 2019 20:56:44 GMT
^Great informative help,paul26
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Post by learfan on Jul 5, 2019 21:10:25 GMT
A little tip for anyone from London and SE England looking for cheap rail travel to Birmingham for matinees of Color Purple or any shows there. Doesn't work for evening shows unfortunately. I always use Chiltern Trains from Marylebone and avoid Virgin Trains and Euston. I can get from Kent to Birmingham and back that way on advance tickets for around £16 with my railcard (£25 no railcard) from my local station As a specific example, on Wednesday 17 July two advance singles at appropriate times for the 2 pm matinee . London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street 11.10 arrive 12.56 currently costs £4.25 with railcard or £6.40 no railcard. Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone at 17.55 is £4.60 (£7.00) or £4.25 (£6.40) at 18.15. The Hippodrome Theatre is only about 5 minutes walk away from Moor Street station. To get the lowest fares you may need to specify travelling via Solihull as that ensures the Chiltern route is offered. I always use Chiltern between Birmingham and London. It still surprises me how few people even know the line exists. I prefer the more flexible super off peak return which still works out at good value as £31 or £36 for the day return inc a 6 zone travelcard. You need to put via Wycombe. |
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jul 6, 2019 17:08:45 GMT
I saw this at the matinee today - my first experience of seeing this particular show. My one regret is not having seen the Menier production.
I wasn’t really sold by the interval if I am honest. The pacing seemed slow, emotional marks weren’t hit to their full effect, and seemed passed over, and tonally it seemed a little all over the place. There would be a scene about children being taken away, and then immediately after it, there would be something comedic to laugh at.
However, after the interval, this was completely transformed for me. The second act was so much better than the first. The last 15 minutes in particular were just absolute dynamite! “I’m Here” was like an electric bolt right through me. It made me sit straight in my chair, and tears were filling in my eyes. It packed such an emotional punch. T’Shan Williams did an absolutely fantastic job with it too, and it was my favourite moment of the whole afternoon.
It helps that the musical has such a good story to work with. I studied the book for A Level English, and remember loving it then. The characters are also so complex. The themes are as relevant today as ever.
The cast gave it their all, and I actually liked the set design.
Not without flaws, but it packs a real emotional punch. I would certainly go and see the show again if another production was to happen.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 6, 2019 17:45:49 GMT
I have no idea what the reviews have been like both in the professional sense and here on TheatreBoard because i've been avoiding them. But for me, this was fantastic. I wasn't left disappointed by this and it was one i was really looking forward to, so thank goodness for that. The design is really interesting and innovate and visually stunning, it only used i;d say half, if that, the depth of the stage, so it keeps it intimate which i think plays well into this show. The cast were stunning, especially the voices. The show is just beautiful to listen to. Everyone is going to compare T'shan to Cynthia and if you are going to ask me if vocally she was up there with her, i'd say no, but she still was, for me, fantastic. They all were. I especially liked the girl playing Nettie, she, for my money had just about the strongest vocals out of a group of amazing voices and i;d be really interested to see her play Celie actually. I have to say i couldn't have seen Seyi in the role, i said at the time of her casting she reads far too young and after seeing the show i really think T'shan was a better choice. I don't usually cry at shows but i have to say at the end there when Celie is reunited with certain people i was like a flood!
I was disappointed to see some empty seats today and all i;d say is that if you are reading this and trying to decide if to go, please please do. I think the show, the cast, crew, of which this is the young directors first big musical btw and the theatres really deserve our support and coin from attending!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 6, 2019 18:27:04 GMT
Book wise is this MCF and Broadway revial version? Please and ta
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 6, 2019 22:48:25 GMT
I was also there this afternoon.
The set for the Tony Award winning Menier production was actually smaller, but fitted that venue perfectly, this one seemed like a size 5 for a size 9 foot. The set didn’t seemed to work and the projections seemed to be on the pallid side.
However this is a redemptive musical, it has a brilliant book by Alice Walker and Marsha Norma. This is no feel good musical, the Lion King this ain’t! The first half is dreadful and I mean that very respectfully, it has everything I despise in human nature: incest, rape, control, brutality, servitude, domestic violence and even arranged marriage to-boot. But that first half, set up the second half as the redemptive part kicks in, where Celia grows in stature and becomes her own woman .The title ‘The Colour Purple,’ can be used as a perfect metaphor here.
I’m Here could be one of the finest eleven o’clock numbers written for musical theatre.T’shan Williams certainly used every part of her voice and more to deliever this delightfully.
As I said this is no feel good musical, it is a electrical jolt of a feel anything and everything musical. This musical is a perfect reminder why I have became a servant of the genre.
The Leicester Curver audience responded at the end with a standing ovation, what else could they do?
That is why I give it 5 Stars.
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Post by sam22 on Jul 7, 2019 7:53:48 GMT
I was also in yesterday. I'm still on the fence. There were some brilliant moments and some great vocals but other parts were a bit flat. I thought the first half was a little bit disjointed but the second half was much better. The audience seemed to like it and gave it a standing ovation. It's a show I've always been desperate to see but didn't really know much of the music so perhaps my expectations were too high. Bravo to the Curve though for putting it on, there were quite a lot of empty seats where I was in the Circle but great they've taken a risk rather than relying on a more well known show.
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Post by southstreet on Jul 8, 2019 9:53:25 GMT
Book wise is this MCF and Broadway revial version? Please and ta There were definitely lines in there that I remember from the OBC, that weren't in the MCF/Broadway Revival, but I know the latter a lot better than the Original Broadway one. So it's either a mix of both or the original one, if that helps? Like the bit the church ladies sing before the Easter meal was cut for the MFC/Broadway Revival, but is in this production. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 17, 2019 16:59:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2019 18:31:52 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 17, 2019 19:18:26 GMT
I usually try and keep an eye out for it, there's one every week but it's buried among the All Inclusive trips to Crete! I need to see if I can edit my preferences, I'd rather have 20 theatre deals!! |
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Post by xanady on Jul 19, 2019 22:04:11 GMT
Saw this tonight in Brum.
A very slow-paced maudlin piece.
Audience were shouting out to prompt actors and laughing at inappropriate moments.No real emotional connection with the acting for me.
For long periods,I was bored with the whole thing.
One of the worst sets that I have ever seen....A twenty foot high wooden fence with projections and a few retractable scenes in two docks.Very drab and lacking in creativity.Glad we got a very cheap deal on this.
1 star for the singing.
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Post by stuartmcd on Jul 20, 2019 7:39:49 GMT
Saw the show last night and the Hippodrome and thought it was wonderful. I haven’t read the book or seen the film so didn’t know all that much of the plot except for a few elements. But I had seen the performance on the Tony Awards from a few years ago and have wanted to see the show ever since.
I do think the set was quite simple but I found it quite effective. The two sides open up to reveal a new setting and whilst it’s basic, it does work. For a show that is only having a limited run in two theatres I think it’s wise that they didn’t blow the budget on set.
The audience were....responsive. People were audibly reacting to certain things and even shouted things out at some points. The worst of it was at the end when Albert asks Celie to marry him and some guy shouts out “Say yes” to which other people respond with “Say no” and a lot of murmuring around the audience. Its not theatre behaviour that I love but at the same time I felt like the audience were very invested in the show which is why they were so reactive to a lot of lines.
That aside I thought the performances were great across the cast. I didn’t particularly rate T’Shan Williams in Heathers but I think it’s great that she has a moment to shine and really show what she’s capable of.
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Post by xanady on Jul 20, 2019 8:30:14 GMT
^Loved T’shan in Heathers.
Top price seats for this were £104 so having a rather basic cheapo set is no excuse for people who have paid those kind of prices.Glad we got a brilliant deal on this,but not everyone will have.
As a previous poster noted,the problem with the book of this show is that it flits from scenes of abuse and extreme sadness to bawdy humour and broad comedy in the blink of an eye and therefore nothing lands emotionally.Got very frustrated and bored with this fast-food type emotional button-pushing very quickly.
Alarming that the programme actually encourages patrons to ‘go ahead and make some joyful noise’,DURING the show if the ‘purple feeling takes you’,whatever the hell that means! Felt like a bizarre cross between a night at the Panto and a church revivalist meeting last night lol.A very weird and unseemly vibe in the audience especially with the incredibly powerful themes on stage.Everyone to his own,but not for me and sadly I will regard this as a clunker alongside the turkeys known as Rock Of Ages and Jersey Boys.
On a more positive note,there was a beautiful hour of music in the stalls bar between 6 and 7 last night as part of the Brum Jazz/Blues festival.The band were called Blue Silk,I think and did some Ella,Al Green,Beatles and the iconic ‘Summertime’....sublime!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 20, 2019 9:16:13 GMT
Sorry £104 top price? Well that must be a Hippodrome thing then because top price was a lot cheaper than half that price at Curve.
I also experienced no panto vibes or issues with the audience when I went there so seems something really has changed between venues.
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Post by xanady on Jul 20, 2019 10:12:33 GMT
Yep...£104.50 for front stalls/circle on the main site...and yep again...we had whooping,hollering,audience advising Celie to marry/not marry, audience sympathising on a character pronouncing how bad their life was which stopped the show for clapping and shouting,cheering on Sofia etc etc.My 14 year old daughter said how much she hated people shouting out! Suppose you could say that people felt ‘connected’ to the material, but my jaundiced view was that we had a tanked-up Friday night mob who thought they had stumbled into ‘Mama Mia’ by mistake lol.Mind you,one gent three rows behind me didn’t notice...he was snoring like a warthog asleep on his partners shoulder.Have taken hundreds of students to matinees full of schools parties dozens of times in the past and heard less crass behaviour to be honest...sorry to be a dinosaur but if the show programme openly encourages it,well...?
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Post by princeton on Jul 20, 2019 11:54:21 GMT
In fairness £104.50 is for the so-called 'VIP experience' - which includes a three course dinner, champagne reception, interval drinks, programme etc - the same seats can also be purchased as 'show only' for £48.00 - which is pretty much the standard top price for a middle-scale touring musical at the Hippodrome.
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Post by xanady on Jul 20, 2019 13:00:57 GMT
^I didn’t say anything about what the ticket includes??If you wanted top price premium tickets it’s £104.50,regardless of what that includes...I didn’t make ANY distinction.The VIP tickets at the Hippo are carefully controlled and not necessarily available also at the lower prices you quote....I should know,I have used these VIP tkts many times.It is often supply and demand.The point I was making was that whether £50 or £100 or even the Travel Zoo cheapo deal that we had,you should expect the set to consist of more than a large wooden fence.A primary school kid could have come up with something better lol
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 20, 2019 13:55:34 GMT
The set did consist of more than just a large wooden fence.
This was a small production for 3 weeks. The production aspects were fine for that. I thought the set was great.
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