Standing At The Sky’s Edge - Crucible/NT/Gillian Lynne

[BurlyBeaR]

Scuppered by train strikes for a second time, however because the run is sold out The Crucible have bought my ticket back. So there’s a single seat available for the Saturday matinee 21st Jan if anyone’s interested.

[BurlyBeaR]

Jan 18, 2023 15:39:05 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Scuppered by train strikes for a second time, however because the run is sold out The Crucible have bought my ticket back. So there’s a single seat available for the Saturday matinee 21st Jan if anyone’s interested.

And five minutes later it had sold. 

[TallPaul]

Do you know, Sheffield Theatres employs some very perceptive staff. As I handed over my winter coat, the cloakroom attendant commented, correctly, on how stylish it is. "That's too nice to stuff under your seat."

Standing at the Sky's Edge is the type of play with songs that needs to be seen at least three times, ideally from left, right and centre. Quite by chance, I've now had seats on the left, on the right, and in the centre. Last time, in 2019, I thought this was mostly Poppy's story. This time, after several more viewings, I've come to the conclusion that it's mostly Joy's.

There's an excellent 5-star review in The Yorkshire Post, which could have been written by me, rather than Yvette Huddleston. "It has a unique dynamic, making it not so much a musical as a very valid drama with music added." We've had a lot of fun, but as the source of news you can trust since 1754, I think that ends the debate once and for all!

Yorkshire Post review

Alex Young was off being a mummy for a few days earlier this week, so I had the opportunity to see her excellent understudy, Rachael Louise Miller, who was my direction seeker from six weeks ago. I'll probably be given my own twinkly star, or summat, for services to lost actors. I appreciate this is theatrical heresy, but I think I may actually have preferred her more vulnerable portrayal of Poppy.

No crying at the end on this final visit...I started much earlier in Act II and never really stopped.

Just think, BurlyBeaR, you would be there right now if you'd made an effort.  I hope, at the very least, you've ordered the LP.  You obviously can't, living in a luxury loft apartment, but I shall be turning the volume on my music centre up to 11 when it arrives!

[BurlyBeaR]

Don’t tell me you bought my return….!

[TallPaul]

Jan 21, 2023 16:41:34 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Don’t tell me you bought my return….!

I would have done...had I been given first refusal. 😡

[BurlyBeaR]

Jan 21, 2023 18:37:47 GMT TallPaul said:

Jan 21, 2023 16:41:34 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Don’t tell me you bought my return….!

I would have done...had I been given first refusal. 😡

If they hadn’t bought it back off me I was going to offer it to you for nowt so you can blame the world famous Crucible for that! 

[ptwest]

Well that was something really special last night. Perfectly performed by an outstanding cast. My only gripe is that this was my first visit, and I wish I had booked earlier in the run so I could have gone more than once. A solid 5 stars from me with no reservations.

[timothyd]

I am in London next month and this show really fascinates me. Really want to see it. But since I am not from the UK, after reading the reviews, I am a bit worried that I might not understand parts of the story or references.

Is the show easy to follow for people that aren't from the UK?

[ptwest]

I’m sure you would be able to follow the story, you just might not get some of the dialogue references that are very specific to Sheffield. But none of these are essential to knowing what is happening.

[anthony40]

Seems to be selling really well. Just managed to bag myself a ticket for 16th Feb

[BurlyBeaR]

Jan 22, 2023 16:43:34 GMT anthony40 said:

Seems to be selling really well. Just managed to bag myself a ticket for 16th Feb

Good luck with the Sheffield accents Anthony! 😉

[grannyjx6]

I’m from Sheffield and saw it first time round, but it was a few years ago. We went last week and I did struggle with remembering some of the characters (which family they were with), but don’t think I’ve seen anything so incredible in a long long time. I really hope it is successful in London as apart from a couple of very local references, it could be any large city back in the day. The acting, music and singing were just incredible. I laughed and cried in equal measure and would have gone again, but as others have said, it completely sold out for the full run.

[anthony40]

Official trailer just released



No problems with the accents so far.

[TallPaul]

Right, you 'orrible lot. Stop talking at the back. That includes you, Anthony. Today, we're going to learn how to talk like a proper Sheffielder.

I want you to imagine, if you can, that you've spent all afternoon in t'Big Gun on t'Wicker, supping Stones' with Alf, your best pal. As the pair of you stagger back into the city centre, you stop on Lady's Bridge and look down at t'Don below.

"There's a weir there."

"Where?"

"There!"

To be a true Sheffielder, where and there must be pronounced the same as weir.

"Repeat after me. Weir, there, where. Weir, there, where..."




In future lessons, we'll learn why there's a bottle of Henderson's Relish in every kitchen cupboard in Sheffield, and why Standing at the Sky's Edge is a play on words. (Or should that be a play with songs on words? 😉

[BurlyBeaR]

Geeyore!

[djdan14]

Here for the first night and loving it so far at the interval. Been very enthusiastically received by the audience. As a northerner who went to uni in Sheffield I’m appreciating all the references.

[jamb0r]

Was also there tonight and had a great £10 Friday Rush seat.

This was just WONDERFUL. I loved every second of it and didn’t want it to end! I feel like I could watch an entire series following the lives of these characters, they were so beautifully crafted.

Everything else about it (casting, lighting, performances) was just perfect for me and it filled the Olivier stage very well.

Can’t wait for a return visit already! 5 stars.

(I’ve just googled and found that Sainsburys stock Henderson’s Relish. Will definitely be looking out for it on my shop!)

[shownut]

I was there tonight as well and do not agree at all with the opinions shared thus far.

This was dull, pretentious and after 3 hours I still couldn’t tell why I was supposed to give a damn. At least you don’t have to issue spoiler alerts for this show as nothing really happens.

There was the occasional book scene that worked but musically it was barely serviceable and instantly forgettable.

After the catastrophe known as MANDELA, the derivative mis-fire SYLVIA and now this crashing bore…maybe UK composers not named Elton John or Andrew Lloyd Webber should learn more about the craft before bringing us yet another dud.

[Being Alive]

Hard disagree with the above.

Absolutely loved this tonight - wonderful to have a brilliant, original musical on the Olivier, filling the space, with such a wonderful cast.

Alex Young, Rachael Wooding and Faith Omole were all hugely moving, and I thought the whole piece worked really well, with some brilliant numbers in there.

[ThereWillBeSun]

I was there tonight too. I absolutely adored it. The school group who were in - brilliant. Their enthusiasm just made it for me. I feel like I want to go back!

[nomoretalkofdarkness]

I thought this was just Fantastic, With wonderful arrangements from Tom Deering. I wasn't Familiar with Richard Hawleys songs but I will now definitely check out his back catalogue and cannot wait For the Cast Recording.

Alex Young and Maimuna Memon were the highlights of the Cast for me but all of them were sensational and worked well together.

A very Easy 5 Stars.

[ThereWillBeSun]

I need a cast recording. Hadn’t heard of Richard either. Everything was so tight. Only thing was the mics could have been turned up ever so slightly - felt like Alex’s when she’s on the balcony in Act 1 didn’t seem like it was landing OK volume wise - and the group number beginning of Act 2. Other than those. Really, really impressed. I went in not researching which is unlike me - but that was such a good night. I agree with all the positive views on here 100%.


[edit - there’s a live cast recording from Sheffield - ordering that!!!!]

[Nelly]

I too was there last night and thought it was so very good. I went in knowing very little about it including not being aware of Richard Hawley's career/back catalogue but the songs were perfect for this.
The 2hrs 50mins flew by, nothing felt like it dragged for me. I thought it was really cleverly done, very slick. They really made use of the clever yet simple set and the lighting complimented that excellently.

The cast seemed surprised and overwhelmed by the instant standing ovation last night which was really lovely to see.

One slight gripe but this is most likely down to being in a new venue with a full audience (and it was a first preview), either the band need to be turned down a tad in the mix, or the vocals need to be turned up. The band do sound great in this though, nice to be able to see them do their thing throughout too. The audience were electric last night too.

Definitely planning a repeat visit (possibly at a different angle) to take it all in again.

Was pleased they had programmes ready to buy as my last couple of visits to the National, the programmes haven't been ready early in the run (for example Phaedra's were still on a pre-order). I was also delighted to find some honey available to buy at the bookshop from the bee hives on the roof of the building. 

[ThereWillBeSun]

I agree with the mixing too ^ like you’ve mentioned; first preview so can be forgiven - it was mostly that ensemble number at beginning of act 2 that I struggled to hear.

The movement / choreography I loved too. Very actor led. Great to see people of all shapes and sizes and ages. Felt like a melting pot of culture and although I didn’t get a lot of the Sheffield references; didn’t matter. It was funny hearing audience laughter / reactions and heartwarming.

I’m glad I got a programme too! Still processing last night. SO GOOD; I am a fan!

[londontg]

This sounds like an exciting production. I may have to check it out