1,481 posts
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Post by steve10086 on Jun 28, 2019 18:15:59 GMT
Wonder what ALW made of it all last night? Bets on it being “the best production of the show I have ever seen... and I had nothing to do with it (lol)” ? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2019 18:36:09 GMT
Wonder what ALW made of it all last night? Bets on it being “the best production of the show I have ever seen... and I had nothing to do with it (lol)” ? Hahaha - well if he ever DIDN'T say that, you'd know he hated it lol. |
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Post by happytobehere on Jun 28, 2019 19:04:56 GMT
Anyone have any experience of the standing tickets at the Palladium? Wasn't going to bother originally but for that price I'd like to see it. I’ve been in the standing tickets before & they’re great value for money. You do miss a lot of the top of the stage (I don’t know if that’s particularly important for this production), but you see all the actors quite well. It’s a shortish show too so you won’t be on your feet too long! |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jun 28, 2019 21:32:17 GMT
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Post by sagiirl on Jun 28, 2019 21:55:50 GMT
Me too and I'm going tonight. I have an awful cold and I don't like Smith at the best of times! Will go with an open mind, as much as I can Please dont take this the wrong way but if dont like Sheridan why on earth book to see the show? It's been clear from day 1 that this was going to be the Sheridan Smith show. I booked before they announced it was Sheridan Smith otherwise I probably wouldn't have |
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3,430 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jun 28, 2019 23:27:44 GMT
Well, well, well. I was very pleasantly surprised. I've never seen Sheridan Smith perform before, and - yes - some of the gurning and winking grated at first, until it dawned on me. Sheridan Smith made me feel like I was the only person in the audience. Her presence makes a big stage feel a lot smaller. Okay, a couple of tunes have been keyed, but what she lacks in vocal agility is made up for by her sheer energy and charisma. Jason Donovan was very funny as a rather languid and doleful Pharaoh, milking his one song as a one-trick pony for all its worth. And his unique approach to 'stone the crows" will make you smile. Biggest cheer of the night went to Jac Yarrow for a truly excellent "Close Every Door". Vocslly strong and perfect, he got a well-earned extended ovation.
Some folk on this thread might not like to hear this, but it's a sure-fire hit. Pacy, punchy, energetic, colourful. And the orchestra... what a joy. Fantastic orchestrations - totally modernised yet with some deft and clever musical styles layered in. So wonderful to see and hear proper brass in the pit - tuba, trombone etc.
This show will be well received and deservedly so. It kicks the Lee Mead effort out of the park (and I really liked that production). Smith playing narrator, Jacob and Potiphar's wife shouldn't work but it does. She is versatile and brilliant. The kids work brilliantly with the adults and overcome the one odd thing about Joseph for me: watching grown men behaving like kids used to jar a little for me. Bringing kids into the mix works really well. I'm trying to work out if Lawrence Connor is a genius or the king of tabloid truck theatre: possibly it's both. This show is bombastic, skin deep, not serious, and the audience absolutely LOVED it. And so will you, if you are fortunate enough to get to see it.
I hope there's a recording in the offing, because the musicians in the pit are something else.
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610 posts
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Post by chernjam on Jun 29, 2019 2:33:12 GMT
Wonder what ALW made of it all last night? Haha I wondered that - he is always pacing behind the sound desk at the back of the stalls on first nights; usually looks anxious. He must know Sheridan doesn't sing it as originally written - as to whether he's happy with this - who knows! And here I thought he only allowed Glen Close to change the score to a different key  |
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610 posts
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Post by chernjam on Jun 29, 2019 2:38:51 GMT
Since someone asked, I wonder if there will be, yet another, Cast recording of Joseph. Of all ALW's efforts, Joseph and JCS seem to have the most. In recent years, he's seemed reluctant to do such (Cats is most notable, even the much loved JCS Open-Air production) I'm guessing it will be No No No Joseph since it's limited run and seems to be kind of a niche market (sorry, as a Yank, I've never heard of your national treasure Sheridan before and Jason Donovan it sounds like was a nostalgia casting to capitalize on the 91 revival crowds) If anything, fingers crossed for a new Evita recording though. Elena Rogers had to attempts to preserve that beauty of a score and really fell flat both times |
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3,430 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jun 29, 2019 6:59:11 GMT
Since someone asked, I wonder if there will be, yet another, Cast recording of Joseph. Of all ALW's efforts, Joseph and JCS seem to have the most. In recent years, he's seemed reluctant to do such (Cats is most notable, even the much loved JCS Open-Air production) I'm guessing it will be No No No Joseph since it's limited run and seems to be kind of a niche market (sorry, as a Yank, I've never heard of your national treasure Sheridan before and Jason Donovan it sounds like was a nostalgia casting to capitalize on the 91 revival crowds) If anything, fingers crossed for a new Evita recording though. Elena Rogers had to attempts to preserve that beauty of a score and really fell flat both times I disagree. I expect a recording to be made of this show because the new orchestrations are immense. Also, just because a "Yank" hasn't heard of national treasure Sheridan, doesn't render her or the production invalid. It just means the "Yank" needs to read up more. ;-) |
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8,109 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 29, 2019 7:06:15 GMT
Please dont take this the wrong way but if dont like Sheridan why on earth book to see the show? It's been clear from day 1 that this was going to be the Sheridan Smith show. I booked before they announced it was Sheridan Smith otherwise I probably wouldn't have Ah. Fair enough. |
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Post by ali973 on Jun 29, 2019 8:57:29 GMT
Please dont take this the wrong way but if dont like Sheridan why on earth book to see the show? It's been clear from day 1 that this was going to be the Sheridan Smith show. I booked before they announced it was Sheridan Smith otherwise I probably wouldn't have I was thinking of getting tickets when I saw cheap front row seats. If anyone knows me at all knows that my cause is to bar Sheridan Smith from committing further crimes against musical theatre. By going to see Joseph, I can reaffirm my disposition towards The Smith and spread awareness of the injustice producers create as a result of casting her in a musical. |
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 29, 2019 9:24:26 GMT
There's nothing wrong with her in the right roles. The problem is it seems producers just think they can stick her in anything now.
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Jun 29, 2019 9:32:44 GMT
There's nothing wrong with her in the right roles. The problem is it seems producers just think they can stick her in anything now. I wasn't convinced seeing her as an American teenager trying to get in Harvard. I wasn't convinced seeing her as a Jewish vaudevillian trying to balance her career with her love life. There are no right roles for her in musicals. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 9:44:48 GMT
I personally think she would fare better in the Sondheim canon - Mrs. Lovett and Desiree particularly come to mind, since the singing really wouldn't be too much of an issue (though I know some have struggled with Lovett's music in the past), and also her range as an actress could shine given the comedy and pathos of both roles. Also, the Lovett scenes would be a perfect fit with her dry humour style... To me she suits these 'musical plays' far better than bold musical comedies like Legally Blonde and Joseph.
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1,579 posts
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Post by anita on Jun 29, 2019 9:57:30 GMT
I have only seen her in "Little Shop of Horrors" in theatre & "Cilla" on tv. Loved both. However just not sure about this. Hope they aren't going to ruin a great show.
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8,109 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 29, 2019 10:11:25 GMT
I personally think she would fare better in the Sondheim canon - Mrs. Lovett and Desiree particularly come to mind, since the singing really wouldn't be too much of an issue (though I know some have struggled with Lovett's music in the past), and also her range as an actress could shine given the comedy and pathos of both roles. Also, the Lovett scenes would be a perfect fit with her dry humour style... To me she suits these 'musical plays' far better than bold musical comedies like Legally Blonde and Joseph. She actually has done Sondheim. She played little red riding hood in the Donmar production of Into The Woods a few years ago. One of her first professional roles. I remember coming away thinking how good she was and it wasnt until a few years later when she became well known that I realised that i had seen her. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 10:22:43 GMT
I'm aware she did that Into the Woods, I meant the more mature roles now in the next ten years.
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Post by danb on Jun 29, 2019 10:39:17 GMT
I think she could suit ‘Tell Me On A Sunday’ if the Lord ever wants to drag that out again...and maybe Mdm Thenardier....Nancy...Character only; decreasingly rangey.
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Post by danb on Jun 29, 2019 10:43:24 GMT
The problem is it seems producers just think they can stick her in anything now Or maybe she is just a performer who wants to work constantly and accepts jobs knowing that if she doesn't, they may dry up and her career ends? I suspect it is more ‘success’ driven than money, and perhaps not consciously. She seems a complicated character, who thrives when it’s going well and sinks when it isn’t. |
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 29, 2019 10:58:07 GMT
The problem is it seems producers just think they can stick her in anything now Or maybe she is just a performer who wants to work constantly and accepts jobs knowing that if she doesn't, they may dry up and her career ends? Of course. And there's no reason why she wouldn't accept roles she's offered, I'm just saying that there are roles that suit her and roles that maybe producers just think about her name for regardless of whether she's suited or not. |
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Post by horton on Jun 29, 2019 13:44:17 GMT
She needs an agent who is better for her than just getting her any job.
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8,109 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 29, 2019 14:09:57 GMT
Without turning this into a thread about the talents of Sheridan Smith I have to say I believe she isnt a person who just takes any role. She is in big demand at the moment and gets offered a massive amount of stuff she turns down. If you look at her TV work she really seems to pick the roles that suit her best and pulls out a great performance.
Look at the Moorside recently and even cleaning up which was hugely popular. She also has a new drama about the grindr serial killer due later.
She seems to be a person who needs to be constantly working but not necessarily takes the first thing that comes along.
When you think of musicals Funny Girl was 2012 and Legally Blonde a few years before that. So it's not as if she is constantly on the stage.
I'm sure she chose Joseph because it's a fun show plus 11 weeks so doesn't tie her up for a long run. She will be in her element doing this as she can be as daft as she wants. And why not!
Anyway she had a massive family to support which cant be cheap. I mean 12 dogs!!!!!
Anyway that's my two pennith as my gran used to say so I'll shut up now 😀
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Post by sagiirl on Jun 29, 2019 14:13:08 GMT
I saw this last night as I bought my ticket before Sheridan Smith was announced. Overall I enjoyed it but don't think I'll be rushing back except to hear Jac Yarrow sing Close Every Door again and to see how an understudy would play Sheridan's role.
Jac Yarrow was excellent. Not a sign of nerves infact looked totally at ease and coinfident. He really has wonderful vocals.
The ensemble worked hard and I thought they looked and acted great.
Jason Donovan could have spoken his words and he would've got a rapturous response. He really didn't sing very well but nobody cared.
I personally didn't enjoy the children taking on the adult roles some of their diction was not clear and as I've worked with children for 25 years at times I felt I was watching another school concert. When they all sung together it was lovely
At times Sheridan Smith sounded quite good but I found a lot of her antics very irritating and way over the top I also found some of her movements quite clunky and not natural. I was speaking to a FOH member at the interval and she asked me if I was enjoying it I did mention feeling slightly irritated by some of the OTT antics and she was saying a lot of people felt the same.
I certainly hope they have a good run Sheridan Smith may not be to my taste but many love her so it's all a matter of personal taste. We were out the theatre by 9.35 which included approx 10 minutes of the mix at the end.
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Post by ceebee on Jun 29, 2019 14:14:26 GMT
I've never seen Sheridan perform before and was apprehensive, but I saw her last night and she was excellent. Brilliant, in fact. This production is on steroids - it's brilliant of you can suspend disbelief and leave your grumpy pants at the door. There is just one flaw: her costume is awful. The rest is oure joy and she deserves every pound she gets, cos she is earning it. Go, go, go!
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jun 29, 2019 16:40:49 GMT
Think I kind of want to catch this now....
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