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Post by alece10 on Mar 5, 2016 11:42:17 GMT
I am really looking forward to this. Probably more than anything in a long time. I have a feeling in my water its going to be good. Such a great cast. Of course, if it does well and transfers it wont have Dean John Wilson in it as he will be flying around on a rug for a bit.
Im going on Friday.
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 5, 2016 13:33:51 GMT
My Birthday is in Tuesday and I was thinking of booking a ticket and going that night.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Mar 7, 2016 14:13:01 GMT
First preview of this tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 14:19:53 GMT
Seeing this on Friday. Very excited - great cast!
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Post by raiseitup on Mar 7, 2016 15:19:39 GMT
Seeing tonight, looking forward to it. I have such a soft spot for Catherine Tate so glad she's back on a London stage.
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Post by raiseitup on Mar 7, 2016 23:03:52 GMT
Just got back from seeing this - fun show with some very catchy songs. Great cast, Florence Andrews can belt like the best of them, Simon Lipkin and Daniel Boys are a dream on stage. I think I preferred Catherine Tate in Assassins, but she has her moments in this, I feel like she could do more with the character, so over the run could be even funnier. DJW looked a little lost for much of act 1 and was looking to Lipkin a lot.
The main criticism at this point is act 2 needs tightening up, some of the scenes dragged and repeated themselves, but that's exactly what previews are for. For a first preview though it was in a pretty good shape.
There's some great little musical references everytime Daniel Boys comes on, which the audience were lapping up - Les Mis and Wicked being the most obvious. Cavin Cornwall was indisposed one day before the first preview, so Gabriel Vick - the writer - had to step in.
Also, anyone who's booked the very cheap seats (aka me) you'll be pleased to know that the there is very little obstruction, occasionally a few actors block your view and its a slightly to the side view, but they're an absolute steal.
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Post by Steffi on Mar 8, 2016 8:11:27 GMT
What was the running time? Watching the matinee on Saturday and trying to figure out what time it will most likely be finished.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2016 8:38:18 GMT
Thanks for the review, Raiseitup. It's a relief to hear about the cheap seats!! I also would like to echo the question about legroom.
I've never seen Daniel Boys before so I'm particularly looking forward to that!!
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Post by raiseitup on Mar 8, 2016 9:06:34 GMT
Any idea what the legroom is like at the front? Off to see this tonight, really looking forward to it! Very tight, there's a small metal bar running around the edge of the stage which the lights and such are attached to, there's not much room between that and the front row. You can rest your feet on the top of it but the FoH staff were having a fit anytime anyone cut across or even stepped on the stage. Left the theatre at about 10:10 last night, I imagine by opening night this will probably be closer to 10. |
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Post by The Hoff on Mar 9, 2016 0:08:46 GMT
I watched the show tonight and absolutely loved it. Two songs in act two had tears streaming down my face I was laughing so much!
I went in knowing absolutely nothing but the name of the show, and although it took me about 15 mins to get into it I think it has great potential. I did feel it was a little over formualaic (if that's the right expression) in the show structure, story arc and mix of song genres, but most shows are similar format these days as they seem to be what audiences like. The music is great though with western and Latin influence, and if you listen to the lyrics it is great satire of America and what actually happened in this era.
Catherine Tate had moments of playing 'Catherine Tate' which got the laughs, but I agree with raiseitup she could do more with it as she grows into the character.
I love Simon Lipkin in everything he does and he was once again excellent in this. He did corpse twice during the show which only added it to it the atmosphere.
Once where DJWs zip was flying low and they had a bit of banter trying to fix it at the front of the stage while breaking character momentarily.
And in his superb comic duet with with CT during "sugar daddy" (I think this could become a new gay anthem).
Daniel Boys was very funny as Mr Potts and the theatre luvvies adored all the theatre references.
Florence Andrews shone as Candy and was a very strong leading woman with a great tone during her western influenced songs.
I sat in C10 front row. Perfect view looking face on and a cracking price at £19.50. Leg room is pretty much non existant as a metal bar runs along front of stage (same level as the row). I'm 5'10" and I had to switch between having legs bent back and feet to the side and then placing them on the metal bar. The performers come up very close when dancing so I only put feet on the bar during less frantic scenes! Other audience members had feet up the whole show. If you can help it don't go for a seat less than seat 8 in row C on stage left side (not sure of equivalent number on stage right side) as you are on the side at quite an extreme angle, especially in first two seats and most the action happens at the front of the stage facing straight so you will have quite a restricted view of faces. But I guess a great view of the backs of the cast if that's your thing!
A solid three stars and think it could hit four stars by opening night.
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Post by loopyjohn on Mar 9, 2016 9:36:25 GMT
Really enjoyed this last night. Nice to see a fresh, fun, new show. I wasn't sure what to expect but this feels like an old school musical comedy - in a good way - which never takes itself too seriously. The real life events that the show draws inspiration from are stranger than fiction. No puppet for Simon Lipkin this time.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2016 11:35:46 GMT
No puppet for Simon Lipkin this time What the fiddlestick??? Does he know what to do with his hands? |
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 9, 2016 17:29:09 GMT
Booked. Going tomorrow night. Very excited!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2016 19:10:31 GMT
Going Saturday, front row so taking knee-pads. Cast is amazing.
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 9, 2016 21:43:59 GMT
If anyone is there tomorrow night, say hello
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Post by foxa on Mar 9, 2016 22:14:30 GMT
We're going on Saturday.
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Post by showgirl on Mar 10, 2016 4:50:08 GMT
If anyone is there tomorrow night, say hello Hello! |
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Post by paplazaroo on Mar 10, 2016 9:27:48 GMT
Really enjoyed this last night, it's a bit of a rarity as its a new show that really recalls goofy Broadway shows like batboy and honeymoon in Vegas.
It's a good bit of escapism with nice performances from Lipkin and co. Worth supporting to encourage people to make more new work!
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Post by showgirl on Mar 10, 2016 22:41:36 GMT
Well, that was great fun! A little too long, but I had no trouble staying awake; only with seizing up due to the notoriously limited legroom at the St James. Really good, not only to see a new musical but such a worthwhile one, ticking all the boxes in terms of plot, score, production, etc.
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Post by gra on Mar 10, 2016 23:47:30 GMT
Also saw this tonight.
Generally enjoyed it. Some great performances.
But definitely felt it could have 20 minutes trimmed from Act 2, where I found myself losing interest at times.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2016 0:18:11 GMT
This didn't quite work for me. It's great fun, but the script quality is wildly uneven across the evening.
Poor Simon Lipkin has to wait AGES for his comedy gold moment, but he seizes it when it comes.
Some lovely voices (not just in the showy roles) and some great choreography. And kudos to the guy who was on after only 3 days' rehearsal!
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Post by showgirl on Mar 11, 2016 4:41:41 GMT
It would definitely benefit from tightening up a little, ideally actually cutting rather than just speeding up. I didn't know who I was watching as the only person I had heard of (and seen a couple of times, imho spoiling the productions in question by both dominating them and being mis-cast) was Catherine Tate. To my relief she didn't have the same adverse effect in this and acquitted herself well when singing, though her accent soundly oddly more Australian at times.
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Post by partytentdown on Mar 11, 2016 11:18:22 GMT
Also saw this last night. The front row seat I had for £10 was an amazing bargain despite the view being blocked a few times, as you're essentially on the same level as the stage.
The second half does need a trim, there was a good 5-10 minute stretch where I had no idea what was going on with the plot. Something about soap. But it was nice to see a good old fashioned comedy. Catherine Tate is Catherine Tate, not completely sure how she ended up in this, but she does an alright job. Simon Lipkin is funny (sans puppet) and Gabriel Vick does a good job standing in at the last minute! The leading lady (sorry not sure of her name) is also very good.
I don't think this would survive very long in the west end but can see it becoming a staple of am-dram companies in the near future, and there's definitely a future gay anthem in there in the form of the 'beard' song.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2016 3:34:42 GMT
Wow. Saw this tonight and I'm struggling to find anything positive to say about it. It screams of a show that has had no workshops at all.
Lazy script writing and godawful score, saved only by Bill Deamer's choreography. Catherine Tate and Simon Lipkin I enjoyed but everything else just felt so forced.
I'm so disappointed, as I went in wanting to love it with such high hopes.
Maybe I just didn't 'get' it?
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Post by alece10 on Mar 12, 2016 6:51:06 GMT
Wow. Saw this tonight and I'm struggling to find anything positive to say about it. It screams of a show that has had no workshops at all. Lazy script writing and godawful score, saved only by Bill Deamer's choreography. Catherine Tate and Simon Lipkin I enjoyed but everything else just felt so forced. I'm so disappointed, as I went in wanting to love it with such high hopes. Maybe I just didn't 'get' it? According to the programme 2 workshops |
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