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Post by Seriously on Jan 21, 2016 15:22:32 GMT
Liam Neeson (in hologram form), Jimmy Nail, David Essex, Daniel Bedingfield, Heidi Range, Madalena Alberto and Michael Praed.
Blimey!
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Post by loureviews on Jan 22, 2016 20:53:05 GMT
Booked. Love the album, have the two DVDs, going with an open mind ...
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Post by jaqs on Jan 22, 2016 21:44:34 GMT
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Post by musicalmarge on Jan 22, 2016 23:47:51 GMT
This is a very strange cast!!!
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Post by Marwood on Jan 26, 2016 15:52:27 GMT
Got a half price stalls ticket for the first night of previews, haven't heard the album in God knows how many years (from what I can remember, it's not exactly Mamma Mia!), but David Essex and Jimmy Nail were the clincher (not too sure about Daniel Bedingfield and Heidi Range), I will be going in with an open mind.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 26, 2016 16:30:13 GMT
I tried listening to it recently. it's so dated. I used to love it as a kid
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2016 17:02:22 GMT
I haven't listened to it for years. I suspect that if I do I'll find myself thinking - as I do with many albums - "Ah, yes, now I remember why I don't remember this track".
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2016 17:16:41 GMT
This casting really is laughable, and hasn't it just been on tour?
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Post by loureviews on Jan 26, 2016 17:41:13 GMT
I haven't listened to it for years. I suspect that if I do I'll find myself thinking - as I do with many albums - "Ah, yes, now I remember why I don't remember this track". I haven't listened to the album in years bit I remember the whole thing vividly and yes I am looking forward to this cast. |
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Post by Raven on Jan 26, 2016 20:43:47 GMT
I saw this when it was touring back in November 2014 when the cast consisted of Jason Donovan (Parson Nathaniel), Carrie Hope Fletcher (Beth), Brian McFadden (Journalist) and Shayne Ward (Artilleryman) and was pleasantly surprised. I went with an open mind, having only heard some of the songs from the album, and very much enjoyed it. However, the show relies heavily on video (think Billy Elliot at the beginning of ""The Stars Look Down" but all the way through) to tell the story throughout so I can understand why some people feel there isn't enough action on stage to keep them entertained. It definitely struck me more of a staged concert of War of the Worlds as opposed to a musical in many ways. You can't beat hearing the music with a live orchestra though!
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Post by Sue on Jan 27, 2016 21:47:43 GMT
Madalena Alberto is worth watching though. She was marvellous as Evita but this is completely different!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:07:13 GMT
First preview cancelled.
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Post by Raven on Feb 7, 2016 18:12:38 GMT
Hmm...I wonder if they are having technical difficulties. This production relies so heavily on the tech for the show to run that if it fails the show ultimately does not happen.
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Post by Marwood on Feb 7, 2016 21:05:18 GMT
I would have thought it's the same tech they've used in the past, more likely someone can't remember their lines/lyrics or is just plain useless. Ah well, I'm going to a free screening of Nuts In May at the BFI instead now, probably be a better night out.
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 8, 2016 0:10:25 GMT
Cannot understand why the first preview has been cancelled when essentially it is the touring production that has toured for years! It cannot be "technical difficulties" surely! I suppose they will have to refund or move the hundred or so that had booked for Monday evening - LOL.
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Post by Seriously on Feb 8, 2016 15:38:12 GMT
You "cannot understand"? Blimey. Perhaps the new cast aren't ready?
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 8, 2016 17:32:07 GMT
Well perhaps the "new" cast will be ready in their own good time sometime in the next few days, if they can be bothered?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 8, 2016 17:50:31 GMT
I hear Jimmy Naills Crocodile Shoes got stuck in the loading bay
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 1:03:25 GMT
It is a completely new production. It is not the arena tour on stage. New set, bigger orchestra, new Martian. Its huge!
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 9, 2016 10:18:09 GMT
As this is a limited run for only 12 weeks (booking until the end of April) and Bodyguard going into the theatre in July and as it is a Bill Kenwright production I find it hard to believe it is a "completely new production".
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Post by chinatoy on Feb 9, 2016 10:44:14 GMT
I see they've added an ensemble including Jodie Steele and Chris Jenkins. Rather different to the arena tour I saw in 2010 by the looks of it.
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Post by raiseitup on Feb 9, 2016 23:07:44 GMT
Wow, this was one of my least favourite things I've ever seen. I've never seen it before, so don't know what was the specific production and what was the show in general. But, the first act in particular seemed to consist of a very impressive, but far too loud orchestra, a Liam Neeson projected onto various screens speaking in his usual incoherent mumbling (made worse by the very loud orchestra), a bunch of see through pieces of fabric flying up and down for seemingly no reason, the cast and ensemble walking across the stage and then deciding they'd gone the wrong way and walking back, lots of overreacting to fire, some weird sequence of the ensemble climbing over a chair in slow motion, the mics were all over the place, certainly at the back of the stalls the dialogue was inaudible...
The cast... Why hire Q-list celebrities, when they can't even sing or act?! David Essex got quite a big response, but the rest of them were 'ooo wasn't that that girl who used to be in that girl band, Girls A... No. Misteeq? No oh, the Sugababes.' Daniel Beddingfield's acting consisted of shouting every third word, he also does this very bizarre flasetto A LOT which needs to be seen to be believed. David Essex cannot sing even remotely, but got the second biggest cheer of the night, after Jeff Wayne. Michael Praed and Madelena just looked lost the entire time as well.
The orchestra was very impressive and I cannot fault them and hopefully most of my qualms are down to it being the first preview but blimey. It just wasn't my thing, the story was ridiculous, the music repetitive but still forgettable, the lights were bloody annoying and blinding as well. And if you think you get a break during the interval think again because they blare out more sci-fi noises throughout the auditorium. There were a fair few escapers during the interval and the gentleman next to me couldn't even wait until then.
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Post by Seriously on Feb 10, 2016 0:01:12 GMT
Well perhaps the "new" cast will be ready in their own good time sometime in the next few days, if they can be bothered? Yeah, it's definitely down to the new cast not being bothered. That's how theatre works. |
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Post by tsxmitw on Feb 10, 2016 0:07:18 GMT
Best part is the orchestra - otherwise, one of my worst theatre experiences ever.
Couple next to me left within 15 minutes, at the interval half my row emptied out. Looking around the theatre it seems that many others chose to escape too - which must have been disheartening for the cast to see, since most of the auditorium is lit up by blinding light effects for most of the show.
Firstly, there were major sound issues insofar as you could hardly hear Liam Neeson's narration and I would say some of the singers were practically inaudible. The orchestra sounds gorgeous but was far, far too loud and overpowering.
Next as the poster above me mentioned, some frankly bizarre choreography and massively over-cast production overall. First act basically consists of cast members running on and off stage with the odd over-reaction to a flame effect.
The set was incredibly cheap. Tripod looks as though it was made of straws and papier mâché while Neeson is projected onto random bits of tatty fabric that sporadically descend every now and again. Blurry projections with naff CGI too.
Daniel Bedingfield an utter joke - he can't act, so why is he in theatre? His repeated attempts at falsetto really do have to be heard to be believed.
Massive blooper when huge Tripod descended from rafters and awkwardly stood at the side of the stage for half of act 2.
Also, as mentioned, watch out for the garish strobe lights which genuinely hurt your eyes...
It was frankly awful. I'd forgive it for being first preview except problems seem far more fundamental.
Spend your money on something else.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 1:27:29 GMT
As a fan of The War of the Worlds, having enjoyed the 2014 arena tour, I can't say I'm surprised to hear that it isn't really translating well to a traditional theatrical experience. As the album and the music is incredibly iconic (for the fans at least!) I think it really works best as a semi-staged concert. Obviously I haven't seen this new version but I can't imagine it being enhanced more if they've added a full ensemble etc.
Whether it's in a theatre or arena I think it should really just be marketed as "In Concert", although this version isn't really being marketed as "The Musical".
On another note, I do find it a bit pointless still having Liam Neeson as a hologram. Yes he sounds good on the new album, and yes before him it was Richard Burton's hologram (which I think worked've better than Neeson's as his performance was more iconic and would have possibly been more special because he's no longer with us) but now I think it would be a wasted opportunity to make the evening more theatrical as they could have a live well-known actor narrate the piece. But then I suppose at the end of the day the hologram is cheaper...
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