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Post by jamb0r on Feb 14, 2023 12:03:44 GMT
Surprised at 4 stars from the Standard and Stage. Thought it was easily bagging 5 stars! Aside from posters on this board (and a couple of critics), I haven't heard much praise for this show. You were at the same performance as me. Surely you saw and heard the audience reaction at the end? It was deafening from where I was sat! Do you not count that as 'praise'? Also I know nothing about Sheffield and thought the 'references' were easy enough to 'get' - they're not complicated and are few and far between. The characters, themes and stories are pretty universal. (5 stars just published by BroadwayWorld) |
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Post by shownut on Feb 14, 2023 12:04:12 GMT
A couple? When I was at school, admittedly a very long time ago, 'couple' meant two, rather than across the board. I'd be interested to know what your industry pals thought about TOMMY FAYE. Yes, so far I have only seen reviews from Evening Standard and The Stage so yes, that makes a couple. Not sure what TOMMY FAYE is but in terms of TAMMY FAYE (:-)) my non-UK pals were mixed to very favourable in their consensus. Nobody hated it but I think we all agreed it had some Act Two issues and could have used some re-focusing. Most of my UK pals adored it start to finish. For my money, TAMMY FAYE held a lot of promise and I look forward to seeing what changes they put in to hopefully make it a great show rather than a merely good one. |
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Post by edi on Feb 14, 2023 12:04:49 GMT
I'm non Sheffield and non Brit and I loved it. It's not perfect though so 4 stars seems reasonable.
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Post by shownut on Feb 14, 2023 12:11:49 GMT
Aside from posters on this board (and a couple of critics), I haven't heard much praise for this show. You were at the same performance as me. Surely you saw and heard the audience reaction at the end? It was deafening from where I was sat! Do you not count that as 'praise'? The area I was sat (balcony house left) was not quite that enthusiastic - yes a few folks standing but many sitting and applauding politely. As I may have mentioned before, the group sat next to us left en masse at the interval so not sure if it was the show or some other factor that kept them from remaining. I should add that first-previews of a pre-produced show coming in (or having transferred) are generally loaded with fans who have already decided they will be enormously enthusiastic so I take any reactions at a first preview with a grain of salt. So, no, I don't count audience reaction as praise. It is no secret that everything gets a cheering ovation at the end (as did MANDELA the night I was there) so no, as most audiences now stand and go wild for any show they see, I do not factor that in as praise no matter how fervent the reaction may be. However, I do count word-of-mouth. |
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Post by joem on Feb 14, 2023 12:54:21 GMT
Surprised at 4 stars from the Standard and Stage. Thought it was easily bagging 5 stars! Aside from posters on this board (and a couple of critics), I haven't heard much praise for this show. I texted several industry pals who were there last night expecting they would share in the hosannas here but so far, not the case. They were unanimous in stating the audience was extremely receptive in its reaction but likewise in their consensus that the show was really not their cup of tea. I should add that most are non-British so I have to wonder if it is a UK thing....perhaps it doesn't appeal to those who know little about Sheffield and who may have struggled with the references/accents? Curious if any non-UK posters here found it to be all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips. There was a local band in Liverpool... can't remember their names now...The Quarrymen? The Silver Beatles? They had these broad scouse accents which make Sheffield's accent sound like the King's English by comparison. Didn't seem to do their career much harm.... Joking apart, I am not born in UK nor live here permanently but I have absorbed enough of its culture to realise from way back when that there was more to this country than red post boxes and black cabs. We celebrate diversity. Let's not forget that as well as wonderful traditions and cultures all over the world, many of which have been brought here too by immigrants, there is also a multiplicity of customs, accents, looks, festivals, writings, you name it etc etc here and they also deserve to be celebrated. There's more to UK than London and the big city culture, let's not pigeonhole it as quirky or backward or inferior. Let a thousand flowers bloom. |
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Post by barelyathletic on Feb 14, 2023 12:57:46 GMT
I've heard nothing but great things from friends that have seen it. Seeing it myself next week not knowing the music at all, so will be interested to see if it works for me. Looking forward to it though.
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Post by alessia on Feb 14, 2023 13:30:24 GMT
Surprised at 4 stars from the Standard and Stage. Thought it was easily bagging 5 stars! Aside from posters on this board (and a couple of critics), I haven't heard much praise for this show. I texted several industry pals who were there last night expecting they would share in the hosannas here but so far, not the case. They were unanimous in stating the audience was extremely receptive in its reaction but likewise in their consensus that the show was really not their cup of tea. I should add that most are non-British so I have to wonder if it is a UK thing....perhaps it doesn't appeal to those who know little about Sheffield and who may have struggled with the references/accents? Curious if any non-UK posters here found it to be all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips. I'm non British and really enjoyed it but like I said, I don't usually go to musicals, people compare it to Tammy Faye which I also saw and thought it was ok. I certainly enjoyed this one much more- I don't think it's to do with where you are from- after all the ideas are universal- it's maybe more that this isn't a straight down musical, but rather a play with songs as others have said- so for some who expect a 'normal' musical it is disappointing? |
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Post by shownut on Feb 14, 2023 13:34:27 GMT
Joking apart, I am not born in UK nor live here permanently but I have absorbed enough of its culture to realise from way back when that there was more to this country than red post boxes and black cabs. We celebrate diversity. Let's not forget that as well as wonderful traditions and cultures all over the world, many of which have been brought here too by immigrants, there is also a multiplicity of customs, accents, looks, festivals, writings, you name it etc etc here and they also deserve to be celebrated. There's more to UK than London and the big city culture, let's not pigeonhole it as quirky or backward or inferior. Let a thousand flowers bloom. I too celebrate multiculturalism and my decision to live in the UK most of adult life (going back over 30 years) is it's live-and-let-live approach and overall mindset that equality and diversity are of great importance in a free and open society. Maybe that doesn't ring true everywhere in the UK but overall.... My issues were not with the themes of multiculturalism or diversity. My beef was with the clunky and often confusing story structure, a dull score that seemed shoe-horned in (act two was "death by ballads") and staging that was an over-eager attempt at something 'artistic' but looked silly and pretentious (and I never want to see another microphone stand in a musical as long as I live). But I am glad others are seeing something I did not and a win for The National is a win for the industry at large I suppose. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 14, 2023 19:13:26 GMT
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Post by theatrefan62 on Feb 16, 2023 9:11:41 GMT
Surprised at 4 stars from the Standard and Stage. Thought it was easily bagging 5 stars! Aside from posters on this board (and a couple of critics), I haven't heard much praise for this show. I texted several industry pals who were there last night expecting they would share in the hosannas here but so far, not the case. They were unanimous in stating the audience was extremely receptive in its reaction but likewise in their consensus that the show was really not their cup of tea. I should add that most are non-British so I have to wonder if it is a UK thing....perhaps it doesn't appeal to those who know little about Sheffield and who may have struggled with the references/accents? Curious if any non-UK posters here found it to be all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips. I've surprisingly found this board a bit out of step recently on opinions vs what I've heard day to day. Hex was slated on here but away from here I'd heard, not raves, but 3 to 4 star type comments from people. |
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Post by shownut on Feb 16, 2023 10:00:13 GMT
It seems the consensus in the case of SATSE in that most people posting here and the greater number of critics found something to admire about it with a minority (myself included) baffled at what people find praiseworthy about it at all. But as I have mentioned before, a hit is a hit whether I like it or not and a hit in any shape or form is always good for the industry. |
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 16, 2023 10:22:10 GMT
I am going tonight
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Post by partytentdown on Feb 16, 2023 10:45:05 GMT
I really enjoyed it!!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 16, 2023 12:48:35 GMT
Yorkshire's finest hour!
I really liked it and it made me proud to be from the Shire.
Perhaps it's 10 + minutes too long
The cast are all excellent but especially the central trio of woman
I can't stop thinking about it.
This morning I started on the cast recording and its fab. So great to have it to hand so soon.
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Post by jgblunners on Feb 16, 2023 13:15:47 GMT
Saw this last night and enjoyed it a lot. I wouldn't quite rave about it the way some have, I'd go 4 stars rather than 5, but it's solid and the cast are excellent. I'll certainly be trying harder to see Chris Bush's work. There was one thing that I really didn't like about the ending though... in spoilers for those who want to avoid: {Spoiler - click to view}I couldn't believe that Poppy took Nikki back! It really grated on me, I thought the show would've been far more impactful if the moral had been about Poppy finding a new home and community for herself rather than, as she puts it, a Richard Curtis ending.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 16, 2023 13:28:04 GMT
jgblunners in my job as a social worker I see opting for the Richard Curtis all the time. Its really frustrating and it's often defined as 'the requisite capacity to make unwise decisions'. The ending also saddened me however it does form neat and tragic symmetry with the previous tenants
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 16, 2023 21:01:45 GMT
Intermission
Initial thoughts, very cleverly staged. HUGE cast!
I don’t know any of these songs.
No problems with the accents
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Post by jr on Feb 17, 2023 11:33:13 GMT
I saw this last week. I liked the set and the simultaneity of actors from different decades being on stage at the same time (something it should be done more at the theatre, one of its advantages over film or TV). I don't think it was bad but I did not get into it, left at interval. For me it was more of a play with some songs thrown into it than a musical. Story wasn't much and characters bit of a cliché. It might have improved on the second half but did not have the patience to stay until the end.
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Post by shownut on Feb 17, 2023 11:37:39 GMT
I saw this last week. I liked the set and the simultaneity of actors from different decades being on stage at the same time (something it should be done more at the theatre, one of its advantages over film or TV). I don't think it was bad but I did not get into it, left at interval. For me it was more of a play with some songs thrown into it than a musical. Story wasn't much and characters bit of a cliché. It might have improved on the second half but did not have the patience to stay until the end. I kind of wish I had done the same. If you did not like the first half, I don't think there was much in the ballad-heavy second act that was going to change your mind. |
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Post by annette on Feb 17, 2023 12:58:06 GMT
I had the same reaction to the show as an earlier post, so at least I’m not a lone voice who wasn’t thrilled by the show.
The book felt very ‘on the nose’ and rather schmaltzy for me. I wanted to know more about the characters than just the very bare bones of the issues they represented.
It was overlong and too predictably wrapped up at the end. I was also unclear what point we were supposed to take from the one happy ending (trying here not to spoil the ending but unfortunately no idea how to produce the ‘spoiler’ bar).
The complete lack of emotion from the estate agent character being back in a place that presumably held some very strong emotions was utterly baffling.
I felt an absence of incidental characters who lived in the building too, to warm up the slightly barren atmosphere that I felt during the scenes with the three families. It often felt like there were only a handful of people living there. Having such a big cast could have enabled this without compromising the focus.
There were some lovely songs in the score but some that dragged (‘Open up your Door’ for starters)and didn’t seem to push the plot forward at all. It did feel like Richard Hawley’s entire songbook had been randomly raided,rather than all the songs having been written specifically to work hand-in-glove with the book.
I’m a great admirer of choreographer Lynne Page’s previous work, but not so kmuch in this. The ensemble marching forward ,stopping and repeating their action in backward motion for instance, did nothing other than distract from the accompanying song and looked a bit daft.
Without doubt there were some stand out performances, particularly Faith Omole, Rachael Wooding, Robert Lonsdale and Baker Mukasa. Whilst I’ve loved Alex Young in other shows, I just didn’t buy her plot line in the show ( she still did her best with what she had) and didn’t think there was an ounce of chemistry between her character and her ex-girlfriend played by Maimuna Mason.
I understand why the playing area had to be kept neutral, but thought it could have been enhanced by the sort of projection used on small areas in The Curious Incident. I was also surprised not to have at any time in the show, a view of ‘the sky’s edge’.
I found the occasional direct to audience narration quite jarring and for the narrator/estate agent’s backstory to have been what it was, was just too neat and not particularly believable.
In conclusion I guess I’m one of the few people on here so far who didn’t feel invested or moved by the piece at all. I really wanted to love it and am a big fan of Richard Hawley’s music but for the most part, it left me cold.
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Post by shownut on Feb 17, 2023 13:14:28 GMT
In conclusion I guess I’m one of the few people on here so far who didn’t feel invested or moved by the piece at all. I really wanted to love it and am a big fan of Richard Harley’s music but for the most part, it left me cold. Well for the minority of us here who really did not see merit in SATSE it is a relief to hear others like you come forward and share their opinion. I should add, everyone here, so far, unlike certain other theatre-boards, has been respectful to differing opinions and not attacked the opinions of others for sharing either way. That is to be commended and admired. |
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Post by Mark on Feb 18, 2023 14:42:28 GMT
I managed to get a Friday rush ticket for the Wednesday matinee next week. Went for row B stalls at £20 rather than rear circle for £10. Very much looking forward to it.
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Post by foxa on Feb 19, 2023 13:12:53 GMT
I really enjoyed this. Some of the characters are under-characterised/serving as representatives for a time/class (agree with a lot of annette 's comments about this and the unlikely happy ending couple.It also had some familiar resonances of Blood Brothers.) BUT I loved its ambition and the staging - one of my favourite uses of the Olivier stage. To know that they are all meant to be in a brutalist high rise, while seated in that brutalist auditorium felt very right. So often shows feel a bit swamped in that space - but with that big cast and adventurous staging it really utilised every inch. Talented cast. Quite a few wow moments. I would see it again. |
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Post by ShoreditchTom on Feb 19, 2023 13:28:03 GMT
I really enjoyed this - sure it's has flaws like most musicals have, but it managed feel fresh and the cast are top notch. I really like the songs and choreography too.
Although - having just said it feels fresh (which it does!) - I too like foxa couldn't help feel little Blood Brother esque twinges especially as the narrator strode across the stage talking to the audience - I was just waiting for her to say "And who'd dare tell the lambs in spring What fate the later seasons bring" 😂
But all musicals owe something to other musicals so maybe not so surprising, it's a homage!
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Post by stevemar on Feb 19, 2023 22:39:03 GMT
I enjoyed this a lot.
For me, the drawback of telling three stories was that they were quite thinly drawn, and when a dramatic event happened the consequences of these weren’t explored as the story then skipped forwards several years. Of course that was the concept, so just a personal preference, which meant that I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I thought I might be. I was most invested in the story of Jimmy and Joy but it was inevitably diluted with the time jumps.
I wasn’t familiar with Richard Hawley’s music, though had tried to listen to the soundtrack pre-show (it never really makes much sense out of context though). The songs did get a bit repetitive for me, but the drama of There’s a Storm a Comin’ closing the first act and the title track opening the second with the full cast were brilliantly staged.
The concept was performed beautifully. I wasn’t that keen on the movement, but some of the singing was wonderful - particularly Faith Omale as Joy and Samuel Jordan’s acting. Whilst there were echoes of other shows and some of the political commentary was shoe-horned in, it was great to see a really original home grown show filling the Olivier stage properly. Full standing ovation. I wanted to love it as much as the raves here, but a very solid 4 stars from me.
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