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Post by Oleanna on Sept 13, 2018 12:42:16 GMT
So, Hollywood got Jane Fonda, Broadway got Stephanie J. Block, and we get...Love Island’s Amber Davies... I don’t watch Love Island. Up until this morning I had no idea who Amber Davis was but reading her bio she is a trained actress? How do we know she won’t be good? Fair enough Brian and Louise are a bit meh casting but I think the board is very quick to judge someone we haven’t actually seen in action yet. Yes, she is a trained actress, Urdang I believe. And I’m sure she’ll do a great job. My mockery is more of the obvious difference in casting tendencies between Broadway and the West End |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 13, 2018 12:47:52 GMT
So, Hollywood got Jane Fonda, Broadway got Stephanie J. Block, and we get...Love Island’s Amber Davies... I don’t watch Love Island. Up until this morning I had no idea who Amber Davis was but reading her bio she is a trained actress? How do we know she won’t be good? Fair enough Brian and Louise are a bit meh casting but I think the board is very quick to judge someone we haven’t actually seen in action yet. We don’t. But given that she appears to have no experience other than theatre school and dancing in a cabaret bar it’s a bit of a stretch to think she’d be suitable for a leading role in the West End surely?. It’s more likely that she’s deemed competent, and that she’s got the part because a certain demographic will know her name. Look at the casting: Bona fide musical theatre actress... tick for the MT crowd. Known 90’s pop star and SCD name ... tick for the over 30 tv crowd. Current reality tv personality... tick for the kids. Looks like a cynical attempt to cover as many bases as possible to me but I’ll be happy to be proved wrong. |
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Post by l0islane on Sept 13, 2018 13:00:50 GMT
I'm really torn about this, I flew to NY twice to see this when it was on Broadway because I'm a huge Dolly fan but even I have to admit it isn't a great show. The Broadway run was helped by the calibre of people they got to be in it (Allison Janney was a joy), but this cast isn't really inspiring me. Marketing it based on Dolly's name is basically her approach to selling most things. If you go to Dollywood (which you should!) she is in videos welcoming you to the park and to every ride/shop etc, Dolly excels at making you feel like she's there when she's not!! (I noticed for the tour they added a video at the beginning from Dolly welcoming the audience to the show!). That being said she attended most of the previews in NY and I'd be very surprised if she doesn't attend some here too. I'll be getting tickets for the first night purely based on that!  |
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Post by firefingers on Sept 13, 2018 13:03:07 GMT
When it was rumoured Amber Davies would be in it, I thought she'd play Doralee, a reasonably easy track that a name could get away with. But she is playing Judy, a much bigger sing (Get Out and Stay Out is a bloody epic solo 11 o'clock number). With that I mind I believe they wouldn't have cast her for that role if they didn't believe she could sing it (it's not like she is a massive name is it). Obviously proof of the pudding is in the tasting, but I do have a little bit of faith for now.
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Post by indis on Sept 13, 2018 16:34:11 GMT
didn't know Amber Davies could sing? only saw she was in this "Dating show"
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Post by latefortheoverture on Sept 13, 2018 16:36:38 GMT
Whilst I understand everyone's moaning as it's a fully stunt casted filler for the Savoy; I think many will be surprised.
Me and my friends, all under 23, have already started raving in our group chat over this. Also, bear in mind most of my friend have been to the theatre max 4 times in their lifes with the exception of one and me! We love us some Dolly Parton and was actually planning a road trip around America next year with a stop at Dollywood!
If my mind doesn't fail me Amber Davies was supposed to play Penny in the Hairspray tour but left to go on Love Island- I do think she'll be good in this role.
Only time will tell....
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Post by firefingers on Sept 13, 2018 16:37:44 GMT
didn't know Amber Davies could sing? only saw she was in this "Dating show" Did the MT course at Urdang, graduated two years ago. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Sept 13, 2018 16:46:55 GMT
found this video- Amber starts singing helpless at 1:12
Pleasantly surprised
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Post by mallardo on Sept 13, 2018 16:49:28 GMT
I don't question the abilities of the cast. It's the show I'm complaining about. The West End should never be a place where a "filler" production is given a major theatre for a six month run. Can we imagine such a thing happening on Broadway?
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Post by Jon on Sept 13, 2018 16:55:47 GMT
I don't question the abilities of the cast. It's the show I'm complaining about. The West End should never be a place where a "filler" production is given a major theatre for a six month run. Can we imagine such a thing happening on Broadway? If it's between a filler and a dark theatre, most theatre owners would pick the filler and many Broadway theatres do have filler, the Marquis Theatre has The Illusionists doing a short run for Christmas for example. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Sept 13, 2018 17:00:11 GMT
I don't question the abilities of the cast. It's the show I'm complaining about. The West End should never be a place where a "filler" production is given a major theatre for a six month run. Can we imagine such a thing happening on Broadway? I do agree; a six-month filler is significantly long, especially for such a prime theatre! It would not surprise me if there are producers queueing up/in discussion with ATG at the moment but ATG doesn't want to risk have a theatre empty. It's a hard one, I understand why, but at the same time, I could write a list of shows I think that could do well in the Savoy just now, I think! |
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Post by mallardo on Sept 13, 2018 17:04:23 GMT
I don't question the abilities of the cast. It's the show I'm complaining about. The West End should never be a place where a "filler" production is given a major theatre for a six month run. Can we imagine such a thing happening on Broadway? If it's between a filler and a dark theatre, most theatre owners would pick the filler and many Broadway theatres do have filler, the Marquis Theatre has The Illusionists doing a short run for Christmas for example.
Point taken. But The Illusionists is running for a month, at Christmas, as you say. It's a seasonal thing.
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Post by Rory on Sept 13, 2018 17:11:31 GMT
We're always hearing about the lack of available theatres and multiple shows circling trying to 'land', so it always surprises me when a filler show is announced for such a long period.
It also irritates me that we ship everything decent over to New York, almost instantly, but get hardly anything back in return, certainly in terms of plays. I can think of so many plays that have been in Broadway that I would love to see in the Savoy but instead we get 9 to 5 with Louise Redknapp and Brian Connolly for 7 months. It's a shame Network with Bryan Cranston didn't transfer to the Savoy instead of the Belasco on Broadway.I know which show I'd rather see.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 17:27:39 GMT
Ooh this Drama is bigger than Dolly's....hair.
Look I really enjoyed it on Broadway. Would I pay Savoy prices for anyone other than my girl Stephanie J Block belting the house down...probably not.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 18:38:16 GMT
We're always hearing about the lack of available theatres and multiple shows circling trying to 'land', so it always surprises me when a filler show is announced for such a long period. To bring a show to the stage is massively complex. Creative team, cast, finance, theatre and indeed zeitgeist all have to combine for it to happen. There is no such thing as "filler" - just productions that have managed to pull off this incredible balancing act. Yeah I feel it's quite insulting to all involved to write off a show as just 'filler' nobody snapped their fingers and made this happen overnight. Also just because a show isn't someone's cup of tea, doesn't make it bad? (I mean according to some people it does). Failing all that, it's keeping Dolly in wigs and heels. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 18:41:48 GMT
Ooh this Drama is bigger than Dolly's....hair. Look I really enjoyed it on Broadway. Would I pay Savoy prices for anyone other than my girl Stephanie J Block belting the house down...probably not. Wasn't Judy played VERY differently in the UK & Ireland tour compared to American productions. Natalie Casey played the role and it was made into a much more comedic role and while she was a great singer, she wasn't a belter. "Get Out And Stay Out" wasn't belted and I remember leaving the theatre a bit gutted. Maybe Judy is going to be portrayed in the same way in the west end production because the Stephanie J Block version of Judy and Natalie Casey version of Judy were two very different things, both great! but very different. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 18:45:09 GMT
I wonder if Stephanie J Block ever thought that there would be a day when she would be in a comparison with Natalie Casey?
Actually, I wonder if Stephanie J Block even knows that such a thing as a Natalie Casey even exists?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 18:46:06 GMT
Ooh this Drama is bigger than Dolly's....hair. Look I really enjoyed it on Broadway. Would I pay Savoy prices for anyone other than my girl Stephanie J Block belting the house down...probably not. Wasn't Judy played VERY differently in the UK & Ireland tour compared to American productions. Natalie Casey played the role and it was made into a much more comedic role and while she was a great singer, she wasn't a belter. "Get Out And Stay Out" wasn't belted and I remember leaving the theatre a bit gutted. Maybe Judy is going to be portrayed in the same way in the west end production because the Stephanie J Block version of Judy and Natalie Casey version of Judy were two very different things, both great! but very different. I have no idea- I haven't seen the UK productions at all. But as you say, all a valid interpretation! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 19:11:04 GMT
I do wonder if there will be any shot at this years Oliviers for this kind of show, maybe nkt the show itself, but the Broadway production garnered award nominations at the major awards for pretty much the entire main cast at one ceremony or another other than Andy Karl.
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Post by rebelliousg on Sept 13, 2018 20:07:17 GMT
Well I've not seen the show but I love the score. Wanted to see the tour but never got round to it so I'm glad to be getting a second chance. I think Natalie McQueen will be great and I'm willing to give Louise and Amber a chance. Hope Amber can pull off 'Get out and stay out'! From the clips I did see of the tour I did think it paled in comparison to what I'd seen of the broadway production. Hope they can sort that out. I also wasn't keen on the way Natalie Casey seemed to be portraying Judy in any promos I saw. Was very odd!
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Post by sf on Sept 13, 2018 20:17:09 GMT
The show itself, in the first tour stop in Manchester a few years ago, was entertaining fluff: a good time, but empty calories. With the right performers in the leads, it's a decent night out.
THIS cast, on the other hand... take the role of Violet Newstead. Lily Tomlin. Allison Janney. Louise Redknapp. Can anybody spot the odd (wo)man out?
Or the role of Judy: Jane Fonda, Stephanie J. Block, somebody who won 'Love Island'.
No thanks. Pity, because - as I said - with the right performers it's a fun show.
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Post by firefingers on Sept 13, 2018 20:38:28 GMT
Ooh this Drama is bigger than Dolly's....hair. Look I really enjoyed it on Broadway. Would I pay Savoy prices for anyone other than my girl Stephanie J Block belting the house down...probably not. Wasn't Judy played VERY differently in the UK & Ireland tour compared to American productions. Natalie Casey played the role and it was made into a much more comedic role and while she was a great singer, she wasn't a belter. "Get Out And Stay Out" wasn't belted and I remember leaving the theatre a bit gutted. Maybe Judy is going to be portrayed in the same way in the west end production because the Stephanie J Block version of Judy and Natalie Casey version of Judy were two very different things, both great! but very different. Director (and the choreographer) did the last US tour so I would think it would be being done closer to that than the UK tour. But who knows. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2018 21:11:17 GMT
Sidenote, is it not crazy that if it does play to the end of its limited run (which I imagine it will, considering it is only seven months, I imagine Summer will carry it through), that this run will have ran longer than the Broadway production ran, as well as only a few months less than both the US and UK Tours. Thats crazy considering it is only their first booking period.
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 13, 2018 21:23:21 GMT
Can someone enlighten this dumb foreigner who Louise Redknapp is? Should I know her? I know I don't know anything about the British Love Island contestants. Quite accidentally we saw 9 to 5 when it first opened in Los Angeles before Broadway and I quite enjoyed it. Granted, it was a top-notch cast with Alison Janney, Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty. Not sure about this now, but wouldn't mind seeing it again. 90’s girlband member brief solo career as “Louise” married a high profile football player a few tv presenting stints obscurity career revived on SCD 2 years ago. musical theatre actress (apparently) She has a consistent run of big hits between 1995 and 2001. I wouldn't exactly call that "brief" - maybe others would... |
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Post by andrew on Sept 13, 2018 21:57:16 GMT
Well if we keep up this rate of discussion, the 9 to 5 thread will outstrip Hamilton. Some comedy gold in there. I'm glad this is coming into the Savoy just for the quality forum posts. Thanks be to Dolly.
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