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

[iseestars]

saw this last night and thought it was simply beautiful… one of the best thing i’ve seen in a long time if not the best new british musical i’ve seen ever! really hope it gets a longer life after this and gets the recognition it deserves !

thought i do have to agree with the statement about the ending

SPOILER: Click to show

with nicki… really didn’t think she was presented good enough throughout for that to seem okay.

[Mark]

Thought it was wonderful. I’m in the “definitely a musical” camp for the record. So powerful and I loved how all the stories weaved together. Brilliant performances and an all round fantastic piece of theatre. My view from the second row was great. I need to plan another visit.

[n1david]

Enjoyed this a lot again second time around after seeing it in Sheffield in 2019. Much of what I wrote then (upthread if anyone's interested) still applies. As an existing fan of Richard Hawley's music I feel it fits perfectly here and I think the interweaving of the stories and choreography is well done.

Having said that... I didn't love it quite as much at the NT as I did at the Crucible. The NT set looks stunning but it felt a lot less intimate than at the Crucible where I felt I was in the flat with the characters. Also I think the pacing felt slower here - the show started a bit late last night due to some ticketing issues and it was gone 10.30 by the time we got out, which is a long show. I also felt some the ballads were taken at a rather more leisurely pace than they could. Having said that, overwhelming standing ovation last night and I didn't spot any interval leavers.

Credit to whoever at the NT or involved with the production had Henderson's Relish on sale at the march stand in the bars!

[BurlyBeaR]

Feb 23, 2023 10:03:47 GMT n1david said:

Credit to whoever at the NT or involved with the production had Henderson's Relish on sale at the march stand in the bars!

I don’t remember the context of how Hendo’s is mentioned in the show so if anyone is wondering what the hell it is it’s a bit like Worcestershire Sauce. But before TallPaul kills me it’s NOT like Worcestershire Sauce because it’s unique to Sheffield and until very recently could only be purchased in Sheffield. It contains no gluten or anchovies so is 100% vegan unlike its rival. Lovely in stews, on pies, sprinkled on chips, in your Spag Bol or dare I say it in a Bloody Mary. Go easy! A little goes a long way. Fortunately it is shelf stable and never goes off. My nan had the same bottle on her pantry shelf for about 30 years. 

You can get it on Amazon now, which is an abomination. 

[barelyathletic]

This was fantastic. A perfect fit for the vast Olivier stage while still feeling intimate and engaging in its storytelling. Beautifully staged, sung and acted. Laugh out loud funny and very moving. A modern classic. I hope the NT brings it back. It certainly deserves further life.

[londonpostie]

Got to half-time and I thought this is marvellous; it built so well and a huge crescendo led us into the interval.

<< SPOILERS!!>>

Best I could see, at that point - points - we were, roughly, on the cusp of the miners strike (83-84), Tony Blair ('97) and the financial crisis (2007). Plus Pulp at Glasto. So we were all wondering what comes next. And, to an extent, I still am.

There is so much to praise, though it's hard to not ponder 'what might have been's'. The very worst thing that could have happened is to have resorted to unearned sentimentality, esp. when the piece had gained so much strength from hard won sincere sentiment. It almost happened.

I understand they wanted some arcs to end in particular ways (a) dying in the broken dream of a new Jerusalem (b) literally born and dying on the estate (c) a new 21st century status for the reborn city, etc. For sure, hard, hard arcs to reconcile.

At the same time, I didn't see the depravation an unnamed female PM caused by choice in the 80s, I didn't see urban riots referenced, there was nothing on the coalition policy of Austerity - did see happy young professionals straight out of the expanded Uni demographic, plus the lure of the New World and an on-off gay romp between London and Sheffield. Perhaps the ref to Richard Curtis was self-deprecation.

What facilitated the city to turn around / a Yuppy-influenced Renaissance. And at what cost. Where does a lone parent Liberian family move to?

So near and yet so near. 5 Sean Bean's for the first half, 4 nibbling ferrets for the second.

p.s. whoever chose (as the radio) a Roberts Revival DAB in Leaf green, I salute you.

[londontg]

Apologies if this has already been discussed but it’s news to me. Baz is reporting that a 4-part drama is being developed based on this production! deadline.com/2023/02/till-movie-oscar-snub-barbara-broccoli-comments-breaking-baz-1235268005/

[TallPaul]

Is Baz hinting at a transfer, or is he just speculating?

"...this show will have a long life on another stage following its limited run at the National."

[Rory]

Feb 24, 2023 15:56:01 GMT TallPaul said:

Is Baz hinting at a transfer, or is he just speculating?

"...this show will have a long life on another stage following its limited run at the National."

Definitely looks like a transfer pointer.
Nice to see Baz back with a column! I've missed him!

[londonpostie]

It's surely getting outstanding word-of-mouth. Deserves a West End run, imo.

Widespread dabbing of eyes in my row, and that was just the men.

Any thoughts on why the stage/estate structure was left as finished wood rather than have a concrete-like veneer?

[Jon]

I wonder where SATE could go in the West End as there's no theatre big enough at the moment to stage it in its current form.

[Mark]

Feb 24, 2023 19:05:34 GMT Jon said:

I wonder where SATE could go in the West End as there's no theatre big enough at the moment to stage it in its current form.

Was wondering this when watching. As it is, it needs a wide stage and all of those have booking or long runners. If they took away the stage left part of the set and re-orientated the backdrop it could potentially fit somewhere smaller.

I’m sure lots of productions have transferred from the Olivier into smaller spaces successfully, and the same can be said of the opposite (remember London Road transferring from the tiny Dorfman to the Olivier).

[Being Alive]

The only space for it in it's currently for is the Gillian Lynne, but with some redesign it could work in virtually any house

[Jon]

Feb 24, 2023 19:14:47 GMT Mark said:

Feb 24, 2023 19:05:34 GMT Jon said:

I wonder where SATSE could go in the West End as there's no theatre big enough at the moment to stage it in its current form.

Was wondering this when watching. As it is, it needs a wide stage and all of those have booking or long runners. If they took away the stage left part of the set and re-orientated the backdrop it could potentially fit somewhere smaller.

I’m sure lots of productions have transferred from the Olivier into smaller spaces successfully, and the same can be said of the opposite (remember London Road transferring from the tiny Dorfman to the Olivier).

With The Crucible transferring to the Gielgud, I think there is a chance for SATSE to transfer to a traditional WE house, Everybody's Talking About Jamie transferred from Sheffield to the WE with changes as well. 

[londonpostie]

Newsies ends in April ... p.s don't know a thing about the Troubadour, except it's extremely handy for the North Circular.

[Jon]

Feb 24, 2023 19:30:37 GMT londonpostie said:

Newsies ends in April ... p.s don't know a thing about the Troubadour, except it's extremely handy for the North Circular.

Yeah, that's probably not going to happen.

[londonpostie]

Just putting it out there ..

[Mark]

Feb 24, 2023 19:39:47 GMT londonpostie said:

Just putting it out there ..

Newsies already extended to the end of July, and they’d be mad not to run it through atleast the end of the summer holidays.

[ShoreditchTom]

Barbican?

Regents Park OAT?

[c4ndyc4ne]

Feb 24, 2023 20:22:52 GMT Mark said:

Feb 24, 2023 19:39:47 GMT londonpostie said:

Just putting it out there ..

Newsies already extended to the end of July, and they’d be mad not to run it through atleast the end of the summer holidays.

The National has played shows at troubadour venues before so it isn’t unforeseeable: but I expect they’ll adapt the set for a conventional west end space. Probably waiting for the Olivier noms.

[shownut]

I can’t see it transferring to a commercial house. Very expensive to move a show this size. I would imagine they will go the FOLLIES/LONDON ROAD route and keep it in-house with a remount in their next season.

[Rory]

Feb 24, 2023 21:54:28 GMT shownut said:

I can’t see it transferring to a commercial house. Very expensive to move a show this size. I would imagine they will go the FOLLIES/LONDON ROAD route and keep it in-house with a remount in their next season.

Another stage, says Baz. I think it will be a commercial West End house.

[shownut]

Feb 24, 2023 22:01:41 GMT Rory said:

Another stage, says Baz. I think it will be a commercial West End house.

I thought by stage he was referring to ‘next stage’ meaning the 4 part teleseries.

[Rory]

Feb 24, 2023 22:15:34 GMT shownut said:

I thought by stage he was referring to ‘next stage’ meaning the 4 part teleseries.

I don't think so.

[Someone in a tree]

Is the production much bigger now compared to its Sheffield run ? Pie and Jamie happily transferred into normal size West end houses