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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 11, 2018 16:11:56 GMT
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Post by jgblunners on Sept 11, 2018 16:20:32 GMT
How closely does the stage version follow the film? While that casting looks brilliant and is tempting me to book, Mac seems a little young to be playing Bob...
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 11, 2018 16:27:08 GMT
How closely does the stage version follow the film? While that casting looks brilliant and is tempting me to book, Mac seems a little young to be playing Bob... When it was announced last year they seemed to make a point of saying about refreshing it and bringing it a bit more up to date as a new production. I think part of that is making it a bit younger. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 11, 2018 19:11:35 GMT
This looks like a great cast but I'm not sure I'll be able to go. The first Saturday matinee is all but sold out, I can't book later in December because we may be going away and of the two Saturday matinees in January one is audio described & one is a relaxed performance. The Sunday trains to Leicester from where I am look appalling so that knocks out the Sunday matinees. Frustrating.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 11, 2018 20:30:03 GMT
This looks like a great cast but I'm not sure I'll be able to go. The first Saturday matinee is all but sold out, I can't book later in December because we may be going away and of the two Saturday matinees in January one is audio described & one is a relaxed performance. The Sunday trains to Leicester from where I am look appalling so that knocks out the Sunday matinees. Frustrating. Why would an audio described performance have to stop you from going? Also just keep an eye on that first saturday if that is your preferred one. Often tickets will pop up right until the day. |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 12, 2018 1:27:40 GMT
It's only an "audio described performance" if you wear the earphones! For everyone else it's a regular show.
They don't have someone at the side of the stage shouting "And now she's singing".
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Post by notmymuse on Sept 12, 2018 6:55:54 GMT
I'd imagine it'll be the same version as the West Yorkshire Playhouse did in 2014 - which also featured Emma Williams as Betty. It reviewed well at the time so hopefully Curve will do as good a job.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 12, 2018 7:04:06 GMT
It's not the same production. Other than Nikolai directing it has a totally different creative team and set of producers (and a bigger budget). I mean given that it's the same director i'm guessing it's going to be similar in that sense but it's not just going to be a like for like.
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 12, 2018 7:29:59 GMT
Why would an audio described performance have to stop you from going? a) I feel tickets should be left available for those that need the audio description. b) I've accidentally been to a few audio described performances over the years & you can often hear sounds from audience members' headsets, which I find very distracting. (I am very bad at blocking out background noise.) |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 12, 2018 7:42:29 GMT
Why would an audio described performance have to stop you from going? a) I feel tickets should be left available for those that need the audio description. b) I've accidentally been to a few audio described performances over the years & you can often hear sounds from audience members' headsets, which I find very distracting. (I am very bad at blocking out background noise.) Oh right, fair enough then. But as i say, keep an eye out on the dates you could go. I'd say it's very rare that a performance completely sells out and never has any more tickets available. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 6, 2018 18:55:52 GMT
Popped along to the dress rehearsal for this. Not seen any other production of this so nothing to compare it to but i found it to be a classy production. I have to say the show itself is not particularly my style of choice, i far prefer more contemporary shows, but on a creative level the set was impressive, there was some brilliant choreography from Stephen Mear and some nice lighting and effects to round it off. The cast were all very good and i have to say the little girl playing Susan was a star. It seemed in excellent shape bearing in mind it was only a dress rehearsal.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 8, 2018 17:31:44 GMT
This is a totally charning and very traditionally styled show.
Popped along to the matinee today, getting a last minute ticket in side mid-Stalls. Great view due to the rake and the way the seats are staggered. Believe it was also the final preview, although you largely would have no idea it was a preview.
This seemed to be mother daughter day based on the audience around me (largely with the daughters looking after their older mothers). Definitely a more senior audience than most shows, but one of the better behaved ones (although there was lady near me, I guess in her 80s, who was a wheelchair user and kept checking her phone).
Anyway the show. Great leads, especially Danny Mac, who gets most of the memorable songs. Lots of applause after Sisters. A lovely version of Count Your Blessings. And a full tap number for I Love A Piano (although being spoiled by 42nd Street, I did notice that the feet taps didn’t closely match the tap soundtrack).
The cast is more diverse than you’d expect from America in the 1940s and 1950s, but that’s how theatre is produced now.
The young girl playing Susan was good, but had a few stumbles. In fairness, it may well have been her first time on (as the role is shared).
The plot is quite slight, but the production is excellent and this is one you attend mainly for the spectacle and music.
The only production I have to compare this against is the London one a few years ago. This is way better.
If you are thinking of attending, the theatre is a few minutes easy walk from Leicester station. Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes, with a 25 minute interval.
And there’s a singalong at the end, as well as snow (the front few rows of the Stalls get covered)!
If you enjoy traditional shows, like the style of music (and don’t think too much about how politically correct all the lyrics are), you’ll love this. A top production in an excellent regional theatre. Just a shame this can only be produced at certain times of the year, so can’t tour.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 8, 2018 18:42:31 GMT
This is a totally charning and very traditionally styled show. Popped along to the matinee today, getting a last minute ticket in side mid-Stalls. Great view due to the rake and the way the seats are staggered. Believe it was also the final preview, although you largely would have no idea it was a preview. This seemed to be mother daughter day based on the audience around me (largely with the daughters looking after their older mothers). Definitely a more senior audience than most shows, but one of the better behaved ones (although there was lady near me, I guess in her 80s, who was a wheelchair user and kept checking her phone). Anyway the show. Great leads, especially Danny Mac, who gets most of the memorable songs. Lots of applause after Sisters. A lovely version of Count Your Blessings. And a full tap number for I Love A Piano (although being spoiled by 42nd Street, I did notice that the feet taps didn’t closely match the tap soundtrack). The cast is more diverse than you’d expect from America in the 1940s and 1950s, but that’s how theatre is produced now. The young girl playing Susan was good, but had a few stumbles. In fairness, it may well have been her first time on (as the role is shared). The plot is quite slight, but the production is excellent and this is one you attend mainly for the spectacle and music. The only production I have to compare this against is the London one a few years ago. This is way better. If you are thinking of attending, the theatre is a few minutes easy walk from Leicester station. Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes, with a 25 minute interval. And there’s a singalong at the end, as well as snow (the front few rows of the Stalls get covered)! If you enjoy traditional shows, like the style of music (and don’t think too much about how politically correct all the lyrics are), you’ll love this. A top production in an excellent regional theatre. Just a shame this can only be produced at certain times of the year, so can’t tour. It's only the 3rd performance so far, so guessing it would have been one of the young girls debut, yeh. The young girl i saw on Thursday was a little star though! Glad you liked the show, as you say, very tradition and a classy quality production. I thought they might go a bit easier on the snow at the end because the first few rows were totally covered during the dress run and it was quite funny, but seems not! |
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Post by bedsmuso on Dec 10, 2018 9:04:38 GMT
I can 100% guarantee you there is no ‘tap track’ they are tapping along too FYI.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 10, 2018 9:18:09 GMT
I can 100% guarantee you there is no ‘tap track’ they are tapping along too FYI. Ok, the percussion sounds of the tapping.
If the ankles were mic'd up, they were incredibly well hidden and I'd be surprised as the sound and individual feet weren't all that well synchronised.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 16:46:18 GMT
I can 100% guarantee you there is no ‘tap track’ they are tapping along too FYI. Ok, the percussion sounds of the tapping.
If the ankles were mic'd up, they were incredibly well hidden and I'd be surprised as the sound and individual feet weren't all that well synchronised.
From the third row yesterday I could see mics taped to the back of Emma Williams’ calves to her ankles. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 10, 2018 16:54:16 GMT
Ok, the percussion sounds of the tapping.
If the ankles were mic'd up, they were incredibly well hidden and I'd be surprised as the sound and individual feet weren't all that well synchronised.
From the third row yesterday I could see mics taped to the back of Emma Williams’ calves to her ankles. Did you enjoy the show? |
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Post by bedsmuso on Dec 10, 2018 17:16:14 GMT
Ok, the percussion sounds of the tapping.
If the ankles were mic'd up, they were incredibly well hidden and I'd be surprised as the sound and individual feet weren't all that well synchronised.
From the third row yesterday I could see mics taped to the back of Emma Williams’ calves to her ankles. I think you mean Monique Young who plays Judy. Emma is playing Betty and isn’t in that number. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 17:20:33 GMT
From the third row yesterday I could see mics taped to the back of Emma Williams’ calves to her ankles. Did you enjoy the show? Yes I thought it was a wonderful production of a somewhat lacklustre story. Like you, I loved the set, and the cast were all on fine form. Unfortunately the whole piece was otherwise a little underwhelming, and not very festive at all sadly. Saying that I still enjoyed myself, it’s another one to tick off the list, and the Curve is always a fantastic venue to visit. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 17:22:25 GMT
From the third row yesterday I could see mics taped to the back of Emma Williams’ calves to her ankles. I think you mean Monique Young who plays Judy. Emma is playing Betty and isn’t in that number. Whoops, silly me. I blame my foggy memory (and inability to recognise which character is which - I thought the four leads’ roles were very two-dimensional and difficult to distinguish personality-wise). |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 10, 2018 19:02:01 GMT
Yes I thought it was a wonderful production of a somewhat lacklustre story. Like you, I loved the set, and the cast were all on fine form. Unfortunately the whole piece was otherwise a little underwhelming, and not very festive at all sadly. Saying that I still enjoyed myself, it’s another one to tick off the list, and the Curve is always a fantastic venue to visit. I agree actually, for a show called White Christmas, it doesn't feel a very festive show. Maybe it's a better overall show for it though. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 17, 2018 18:01:04 GMT
Lovely set of reviews this is getting.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 20, 2018 7:29:09 GMT
I remember seeing this at the Dominion and it was incredibly boring.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 20, 2018 11:22:27 GMT
I remember seeing this at the Dominion and it was incredibly boring. Yes, I too saw this show at the Dominion and it was so boring I simply cannot remember a thing about it other than coming out and thinking - that was a terrible musical! |
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Post by jgblunners on Dec 20, 2018 12:39:06 GMT
Well I’m on the train up to Leicester and am very excited to be seeing this. Can’t wait to hear Emma Williams singing ‘Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me’
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