114 posts
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Post by showbizkid on Jun 30, 2017 7:15:23 GMT
Dreadful reviews - but Willows was one of the most boring shows I had ever seen! I agree with so much of what they have to say!
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Post by crabtree on Jun 30, 2017 9:12:35 GMT
This is such a shame as the book does have drama and light and shade and a central story - it is not, however, Toad's story but Mole's. He is the one who is introduced into this group of strange buddies, and gets caught up in their world. The book is a masterpiece with some depth, but it sounds as if the production has not found those depths.
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8,103 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 30, 2017 9:49:41 GMT
I'm seeing this next weekend with family who are visiting London. I am very easily pleased and amused so no doubt I will love it.
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1,936 posts
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 30, 2017 9:55:40 GMT
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1,736 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jun 30, 2017 10:17:09 GMT
I quite liked it in Southampton (as has been stated, nothing amazing or groundbreaking) so gone for a todaytix offer for the end of next month, £20 for rearish stalls. If you want to go its definitely worth a look as there seems to be big reductions every day (now you can book up to 30 days ahead!)
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Jun 30, 2017 13:16:49 GMT
It was quite interesting to contrast audience behaviour at this and "Bat Out Of Hell." I was in the dress circle for both, and they are roughly the same size, and were at similar 90% capacity. At the interval, people were moving down at "Bat" to the unoccupied side seats, to be closer to the stage - even though the view isn't as good at the sides. At "Willows"* not only were there around 30 walk-outs, to "Bat"'s 2 that I noticed, but also 6 empty seats row A, centre aisle, centre block were left un-touched. Nobody even moved into the empty ends of any row at all. Clearly just not connecting in a way to make anyone feel warm enough towards it to want to shift. *Just noticed, nice contrasting cricketing reference, there. For what it's worth, I did move at Wind in the Willows! But only from my ridiculously uncomfortable seat on the sides of the Upper Circle to one with a better view nearer the centre and, more to the point, on an aisle, so I could stretch my legs out! So uncomfortable in the Upper Circle at the Palladium! (and lest it sound like I hadn't done my theatremonkey-homework beforehand, I sadly didn't have a choice about my seat last night.) |
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Post by d'James on Jun 30, 2017 13:29:15 GMT
It was quite interesting to contrast audience behaviour at this and "Bat Out Of Hell." I was in the dress circle for both, and they are roughly the same size, and were at similar 90% capacity. At the interval, people were moving down at "Bat" to the unoccupied side seats, to be closer to the stage - even though the view isn't as good at the sides. At "Willows"* not only were there around 30 walk-outs, to "Bat"'s 2 that I noticed, but also 6 empty seats row A, centre aisle, centre block were left un-touched. Nobody even moved into the empty ends of any row at all. Clearly just not connecting in a way to make anyone feel warm enough towards it to want to shift. *Just noticed, nice contrasting cricketing reference, there. For what it's worth, I did move at Wind in the Willows! But only from my ridiculously uncomfortable seat on the sides of the Upper Circle to one with a better view nearer the centre and, more to the point, on an aisle, so I could stretch my legs out! So uncomfortable in the Upper Circle at the Palladium! (and lest it sound like I hadn't done my theatremonkey-homework beforehand, I sadly didn't have a choice about my seat last night.) A hundred points for using the word 'lest.' |
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jun 30, 2017 14:01:23 GMT
Well I was at the Press night last night and thoroughly enjoyed this. It seemed to me the audience around me were 100% positive, and the performers and orchestra seemed to be having a ball!
Musically very similar in style to Honk- very tuneful with clever lyrics, designed to appeal to both kids and their parents.
Performances were all excellent and the sets suitably lavish.
I'm sure families will love this piece of unpretentious musical theatre at a time when the country is in such political turmoil.
Totally baffled by some of the negative comments.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 14:53:44 GMT
What fun
This is EXACTLY
Why we don't want new British musicals
They are rubbish
And close early
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 14:55:35 GMT
Well I was at the Press night last night and thoroughly enjoyed this. It seemed to me the audience around me were 100% positive, and the performers and orchestra seemed to be having a ball! Musically very similar in style to Honk- very tuneful with clever lyrics, designed to appeal to both kids and their parents. Performances were all excellent and the sets suitably lavish. I'm sure families will love this piece of unpretentious musical theatre at a time when the country is in such political turmoil. Totally baffled by some of the negative comments. If is it for families And unpretentious Why isn't it priced accordingly £10 and £20 The fact is It's below mediocre And doesn't belong in one of the biggest venues in the WE And it was sheer arrogance for it to be placed there |
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jun 30, 2017 15:27:57 GMT
If is it for families And unpretentious Why isn't it priced accordingly £10 and £20 It is possible to see it for £20 or so, using kidsweek and various other offers. The tryout was, by all accounts, promising. If something got "lost on the road," well, that's showbiz. Given the economic climate, a lot of great British shows are simply not getting audiences down to cash that's available. Nothing more. |
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jun 30, 2017 15:37:49 GMT
Possible to get good seats for £40 or less
High production values including sets and around 20 piece orchestra.
A-list performers
Interested to hear that 'unpretentious' and 'faamily audience' shows are a negative.
West end play tickets with half a dozen actors are comparable
Menier tickets are around £40, so do not understand where the £10- £20 figures come from.
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1 posts
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Post by lally on Jun 30, 2017 15:59:51 GMT
It is possible to see it for £20 or so, using kidsweek and various other offers. The tryout was, by all accounts, promising. If something got "lost on the road," well, that's showbiz. Given the economic climate, a lot of great British shows are simply not getting audiences down to cash that's available. Nothing more. Sorry my first post on here so I might not being doing it correctly. Just a thought, if the tickets were £20, how would the producers pay the staff on the show ? |
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2 posts
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Post by sally on Jun 30, 2017 16:10:57 GMT
Sorry my first post on here so I might not being doing it correctly. Just a thought, if the tickets were £20, how would the producers pay the staff on the show ? I completely agree with lally! There must be so many people to get this production open. |
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Jun 30, 2017 17:52:00 GMT
Welcome lally and sally. You are posting correctly, btw. Simply, £20 is a starting point and there are a lot more seats at far higher prices. The point being made is that it is possible to see the show for the price, not that £20 is going to get you a particularly amazing seat, most likely. £19 got me a centre row G stalls seat... |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 18:07:24 GMT
Maybe its a soundtrack you need to hear in person but listened to it twice today while at work and "Messing About In A Boat" was the only song I really liked.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 30, 2017 18:13:33 GMT
Maybe its a soundtrack you need to hear in person It's not. In my opinion! |
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Jun 30, 2017 18:46:13 GMT
Oh by all means, you'll never have such a peaceful couple of hours sleep... no chance of being woken up rowdy audiences, laughing or engaging either.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 20:17:01 GMT
Welcome lally and sally. You are posting correctly, btw. Simply, £20 is a starting point and there are a lot more seats at far higher prices. The point being made is that it is possible to see the show for the price, not that £20 is going to get you a particularly amazing seat, most likely. I love this. Lally and Sally were destined to post one after another. |
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 1, 2017 13:39:07 GMT
Sorry my first post on here so I might not being doing it correctly. Just a thought, if the tickets were £20, how would the producers pay the staff on the show ? I completely agree with lally! There must be so many people to get this production open. After lally and sally, I'm tempted to change my name. 24 other letters to choose from.
2,286 seats at £20 is still £45,720 per performance.
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Jul 1, 2017 15:29:38 GMT
I'd be surprised if £45k covered rent, wages and running costs for the Palladium to be honest!
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5,812 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 1, 2017 18:30:21 GMT
£45k wouldn't even cover the weekly rent of the Palladium, let alone everything else.'
Wonder when they'll announce its closing ? Or maybe they'll let it limp along.
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Post by Boob on Jul 1, 2017 21:57:45 GMT
Pretty sure the Palladium have given them a cheap rent to keep it open during the difficult summer, especially now that Tonight at the London Palladium is off air. £365,720 a week ain't sooooo bad, but doubt this show is going to take that much, especially not when they're giving away tickets for kids.
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151 posts
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Post by gra on Jul 1, 2017 22:32:01 GMT
£45k wouldn't even cover the weekly rent of the Palladium, let alone everything else.' Wonder when they'll announce its closing ? Or maybe they'll let it limp along. It's only on a limited run to cover the Summer season, so they've already announced the closing date! Families, tourists and deals will probably keep it buoyant for the few weeks it is running. ....and despite what some of the newspaper critics and negative forum comments say, it is a decent show and will get good 'word of mouth'. |
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 1, 2017 22:52:10 GMT
^^ I agree.
It's a perfectly ok show. Ok it's not going to change anyone's life but we could all name a dozen musicals on in the WE right now that aren't going to do that.
I'd rather see this again than the vile Book Of Mormon which must be one of THE most inane and pointless things to get an audience in the west end.
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