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Post by firefingers on Apr 7, 2016 12:21:34 GMT
Haven't seen a thread on it, so:
Apparently the Styles and Drewe composed Wind in the Willows is going on tour at the end of the year, and planning to transfer to the West End early 2017.
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Post by groupbooker on Apr 15, 2016 22:24:54 GMT
Wind in the Willows will start at the Theatre Royal Plymouth 8/10, transfer to the Lowry 26/10 and after go to the Mayflower (don't have the opening date yet) and then transfer into the West End.
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Post by David J on Apr 15, 2016 22:38:54 GMT
I can't wait.
Combine one of my favourite childhood books with the writers of the additional songs for Mary Poppins and I am in heaven!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 22:40:07 GMT
Wind in the Willows will start at the Theatre Royal Plymouth 8/10, transfer to the Lowry 26/10 and after go to the Mayflower (don't have the opening date yet) and then transfer into the West End. The Mayflower date is 10/11 to 20/11. |
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Post by Jon on Apr 16, 2016 0:31:12 GMT
I wonder if they have a West End theatre yet because it's a competitive market with so many shows looking to come in
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 4:12:37 GMT
Rufus hound- toad
Fra fee - mole
Neil mcdermott - cheif weasal
Thomas howes - ratty
According to baz. May get tickets for this
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Post by stanne on Jun 17, 2016 5:49:22 GMT
Am I right in thinking that James Gant is also in it?
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Post by stanne on Jun 17, 2016 5:51:52 GMT
Saw something on his Twitter feed this morning.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2016 17:54:50 GMT
I'm seeing this on my birthday. Quite looking forward to it.
I wonder if it will make it to the west end.
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Post by djdan14 on Jun 17, 2016 19:10:12 GMT
Got a £10 ticket through the lowrys brand new 16-26 scheme for this. Interested to see how this shapes up!!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 16, 2016 16:37:03 GMT
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 16, 2016 19:18:30 GMT
I only want to know if Fra Fee looks cute in it
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 17, 2016 18:22:39 GMT
I just booked so ill let you know  |
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Post by mrtumnus on Sept 18, 2016 15:53:10 GMT
Three dates in Englandshire hardly constitutes a UK tour.
Hope it migrates further north.
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Post by roosterbyron on Sept 22, 2016 9:50:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 11:29:51 GMT
Oh love them!!
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Post by Seriously on Sept 22, 2016 21:17:02 GMT
I found "Spring" was like being shouted at, it's so full on. And "The Amazing Mr Toad" is good, but lacks any real soul. It all sounds a bit over-produced for my liking.
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Post by kenneth on Sept 22, 2016 21:36:31 GMT
Is there an appetite for this? I feel this could be a big flop-a-rooney.
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Post by westendwendy on Sept 22, 2016 21:42:08 GMT
I think people will be put off by -
It's been on stage before in various guises
It's got a real old fashioned twee image about it
Animals on stage
It leans towards a children's story
Those two songs! (Over produces is exactly right!)
The subject matter conjures up holly hockey sticks 1920's
There were rumours of this going into the palladium for six months but I doubt it will happen.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 22:44:49 GMT
I only want to know if Fra Fee looks cute in it Cast in costume pictures have been released, so now you can decide for yourself.   |
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 23, 2016 11:47:29 GMT
Having just seen the penultimate evening performance of the show in Plymouth, I must say we all (a group of various ages) thoroughly enjoyed it. The sets made by the Royal were a little bit similar to the Nationals wonderful production way back, very much river bank holes and all very organic. Toads various means of transports were well supplied from Gypsy Caravan,red sports car, barge to a huge train. Toads final mode of transport has to be seen to be believed! It has been a sell out but it has been classed here as previewing I think. Act one could be trimmed a bit but act 2 flows and goes very quickly. The music has some great songs which I am sure once a cast recording happens people would enjoy. "Spring" is done very well with the full company, "The open road", "Amazing Mr Toad", "A friend is still a friend" and "Taking over the Hall" are all good numbers. A strong orchestra of 14 bring out the music very well. Costumes are as the photo's showed - human but have animal traces, ears, tails etc. The main characters - Mole (Fra Fee), Rat (Thomas Howes), Badger(David Birrell), Mrs Otter (Sophia Nomvete) and a Spiv Chief Weasel (Neil McDermott) were all very good in their roles. A special mention of the hedgehogs - who put over their problems in the song "The Hedgehogs Nightmare" really well and got them a big ovation in the end. All the company had a lot to do and did it well. A special mention to the local children who performed very well. Last but NO way least I must say Rufus Hound really stole the role of Toad in all he sang and did during the show. Especially causing great laughter when a washerwoman on the barge, but he was hilarious throughout! I do hope it will go on to be a big hit and do a transfer into London, it deserves it. After it's London Premiere run, I could see it could turning into a Christmas show and regular tour around the country. It is really a wonderful family show - but will the miseries in London do it down buy not realising it is to be enjoyed not picked to bits? I sometimes wonder if "professional reviewers?" ever had a child hood!
One grumble why can't parents avoid bringing babies and very young children into a show they cant understand??
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 23, 2016 16:11:26 GMT
I think the 'London Miseries' have 1. A greater choice of shows on offer to see and compare against and 2. Have to pay a lot more money to see these shows, so are perhaps not as easily pleased as those who only have touring shows to see.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2016 16:52:36 GMT
I think the 'London Miseries' have 1. A greater choice of shows on offer to see and compare against and 2. Have to pay a lot more money to see these shows, so are perhaps not as easily pleased as those who only have touring shows to see. How pretentious and patronising Mr B. Have you seen the show to know that groupbooker was easily pleased? I really do resent that London centric attitude that those of us in the regions will accept any old rubbish. I do appreciate groupbooker's comment about 'London Miseries' kicked it off, but a lot of us in the regions do have high standards. I am certainly not 'easily pleased'. My take on the show was the score was very good with some good numbers. I found the story a little boring and found my mind drifting on to other things at times throughout the show. The set is to a high standard with a decent size barge and a train being two worthy of special mention. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2016 16:55:55 GMT
..... I sometimes wonder if "professional reviewers?" ever had a child hood! One grumble why can't parents avoid bringing babies and very young children into a show they cant understand?? Mark Shenton clearly had a childhood. |
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Post by groupbooker on Oct 23, 2016 21:27:56 GMT
Thank you Mr B and Trekkie for your comments and I enjoy every ones takes on everything theatreboard. The London Miseries I was meaning were the professional paper reviewers. Yes they see a lot of shows in London but a lot barely come out of town to see a see in the sticks, plus get loads of freebies. To me a lot of the time they seem to be totally oblivious to a show that you can sit down and just enjoy without picking it to shreds - there may be problems with it but "we enjoyed it". As I worked with the Royal's Marketing team for many years covering SE Cornwall, we got to know local reviewers and what sort of review they would write of the show but they were always fair.
As I said about the show the first half needed sorting but we all enjoyed the experience and we were a wide ranging aged group. As Trekkie said "I found the story boring" and I think that may be the book having to put everything there on the stage?
I also take lots of people from the West Country to London, most are well clued up on ALL sorts of theatrical shows in London and around the country - not just the usual touring circuit shows. I also take to Bristol, Cardiff and the Midlands as well as London - so no way are they country bumpkins and before Mr B says the usual "senior coach trips" - my "lot" are all ages that love theatre and want to see more.
Lets see what reviews happens at the Lowry, Mayflower and London??
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