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Post by TallPaul on Feb 25, 2023 14:33:57 GMT
As a 10-stone weakling, that's not very likely. You can get it on Amazon now, which is an abomination. But can you order it from the online supermarket Poppy uses? At the world-famous Crucible Theatre they were selling commemorative bottles, with all profits going to charity. There's a cheeky so-and-so selling one on Ebay for £10.99, plus £3.70 postage. Any thoughts on why the stage/estate structure was left as finished wood rather than have a concrete-like veneer? That shows the skill of the set builders, doesn't it. Like the National Theatre itself, shuttered concrete will be a mirror image of whatever formwork is used, which, in the case of Park Hill, was rough sawn wooden planks. |
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Post by londonpostie on Feb 25, 2023 15:49:44 GMT
Any thoughts on why the stage/estate structure was left as finished wood rather than have a concrete-like veneer? That shows the skill of the set builders, doesn't it. Like the National Theatre itself, shuttered concrete will be a mirror image of whatever formwork is used, which, in the case of Park Hill, was rough sawn wooden planks. Surely the load-bearing pillars, lintels, etc, were the standard social housing 1960s concrete form?
Maybe my impression is off.
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Post by shownut on Feb 25, 2023 16:07:26 GMT
Well at least the concrete was interesting.
Too bad about the show. 😝
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 25, 2023 17:16:54 GMT
If, londonpostie, you're asking if Park Hill was system built, then the answer is no. The concrete was cast in-situ, by the Public Works Department. You'll just have to trust me. I even know the code for the car park! I have some close-up photos of the set somewhere, which I'll post if I can find the file they're in. (P.S. Those two links are the same.) |
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Post by londonpostie on Feb 25, 2023 17:51:01 GMT
(P.S. Those two links are the same.) Thanks. This is what I meant to link to, and even here it looks concrete grey so I have no idea why it looked, to me, like polished walnut-ish veneer from my seat. An example at 0:50
Interesting to know Park Hill has a distinct construction history. I'll enjoy clicking around the internet tomorrow  |
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Post by theatrelover123 on Feb 25, 2023 18:02:36 GMT
Well at least the concrete was interesting. Too bad about the show. 😝 I don’t think I have ever seen a poster on here state how much they dislike a show, then repeat it, and repeat it, and repeat it. We get it. You didn’t like it! Others did. End of |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 25, 2023 18:52:59 GMT
Well at least the concrete was interesting. Too bad about the show. 😝 I don’t think I have ever seen a poster on here state how much they dislike a show, then repeat it, and repeat it, and repeat it. We get it. You didn’t like it! Others did. End of Members are allowed to counter positive comments with negative comments. It’s not a love fest. People are allowed to not like something even if the tide of opinion doesn’t agree. Let’s live and let live eh. |
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Post by shownut on Feb 25, 2023 19:39:58 GMT
And even though this show was not for me I have often posted that I am glad if it is a hit. A win for the industry is great news no matter what I think of it.
I disagree with 90% of what has been posted on this thread but I am glad others are seeing something that brings them joy.
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Post by mrnutz on Feb 26, 2023 9:54:30 GMT
Saw this yesterday (Saturday night - and sat across the aisle from a very special celebrity guest*).
It's the best thing I've seen at the National in YEARS.
I loved everything about it - the set, the characters, the writing, the music, the performances, the stories, the casting.
For me, it was close to theatrical perfection.
*It was Tom Hanks - and he was wiping away tears with the rest of us.
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Post by colelarson on Feb 26, 2023 19:29:03 GMT
Saw the Matinee yesterday and was blown away,I had heard all the hype and wasn't sure....but now I understand why!
Was beautiful how the songs fit and the singing was glorious, great they have done a soundtrack.
I loved it so much I am thinking about booking again!
Agree with other people who have said about the "spoiler" at the end but still would give 5 stars.
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Post by mkb on Feb 27, 2023 0:30:29 GMT
Everything I wanted to say about this play-with-musical-interludes has already been covered by various other contributors, including the references to Henderson's Relish and the Roberts Radio, so I'll avoid the temptation to repeat.
I'll just say that I adore tales across generations in a single setting, This Happy Breed being a favourite. I also love the trick Ayckbourn regularly pulls of having characters from different eras inhabit a space simultaneously. So, when, early in Act 1, I realised that this play ticked both those boxes, I settled myself in for a five-star experience, only to feel a tad let-down by the end.
As with Dear Evan Hansen, this is a play slowed down by regular pauses for a long song. The rumoured screen transfer will work better I think if the music becomes a genuine background soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, I quite liked the music; it was just that they felt like unnecessary interruptions holding up the drama. While some of the cast had gorgeous voices, there were a couple I didn't enjoy. It would be cruel to name them, so I won't.
The biggest problem for me was the Poppy/Nikki relationship. There was no chemistry, and why is Nikki written to be so unlikeable? The resolution to their story was unconvincing and unsatisfying.
The sound mix was loud and clear, at least from my second-row seat, so those problems reported in the early performances seem to have been addressed.
Four stars.
Act 1: 19:34-20:54
Act 2: 21:17-22:29
This was Friday night's show, and we had Justine played by Consuela Rolle.
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Post by cartoonman on Feb 28, 2023 13:28:59 GMT
Totally agree with mkb comments. Saw show last night. There was a standing ovation at the end (something fairly common these days) but I would rate it ****. The actors were very good, the songs good but very loud, the set excellent. This is the kind of show the NT was made for, big set, big cast, good choreography, the young actors were first rate.
Bought a bottle of Hendersons sauce in the NT bookshop- not to my taste.
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 1, 2023 12:42:54 GMT
Bought a bottle of Hendersons sauce in the NT bookshop- not to my taste. I've convened an emergency meeting of 'the committee' for later this afternoon. You'll be informed of the outcome in due course. 😁 |
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Post by filendile on Mar 3, 2023 10:29:06 GMT
Caught this last night and really enjoyed it. Some of the humour went over my head but the set, music, band, actors, choreography, and clever writing all did it for me. Though I did feel it was a bit too long and one or two songs could be cut and other bits sped up.
Stand out for me vocally was the actress playing Nicky. At first I thought she was mimicking Amy Winehouse’s singing style but then that belt came! I need to look her up. Rachael Wooding’s ‘After the Rain’ was a favourite also.
Spotted Fra Fee in the audience too.
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Post by apubleed on Mar 3, 2023 10:33:04 GMT
I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve listened to the opening number from the cast recording and WOW. This sounds like one of the most beautiful openings I’ve heard in years. I’m always skeptical of juke box musicals but it’s hard to ignore the artistry.
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Post by actorsinger on Mar 3, 2023 10:47:54 GMT
Lots of opinions on here I agree with. Saw the show last week and very much “admired” it. The direction, the performances, the script/set etc. Excellent. But I would have been far more satisfied with the ending of Poppy had told her ex where to go and continued to make a succes of her life without her. Just didn’t need a soppy ending.
Also, songs? Impressively sung and arranged but too LONG and most of the time stopped the storytelling dead.
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Post by jamb0r on Mar 3, 2023 12:42:47 GMT
Caught this again last night for my second visit, this time from the £20 seats right at the front (if anyone is looking for those, even though they were all showing as sold out for every remaining date when I checked last week they put some on sale during the Friday rush last week). It was amazing to get a different perspective - seeing from the circle gives you an overview of the amazing choreography but definitely felt more emotionally connected to the characters sitting right at the front.
This show has now firmly secured itself in my top 10 favourite musicals!
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Post by sophie92 on Mar 3, 2023 13:51:58 GMT
Lots of opinions on here I agree with. Saw the show last week and very much “admired” it. The direction, the performances, the script/set etc. Excellent. But I would have been far more satisfied with the ending of Poppy had told her ex where to go and continued to make a succes of her life without her. Just didn’t need a soppy ending. Also, songs? Impressively sung and arranged but too LONG and most of the time stopped the storytelling dead. I saw the show on Wednesday night and this does a really good job of summing up how I felt about it as well. |
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Post by alece10 on Mar 3, 2023 16:12:16 GMT
Just been listening to the cast recording whilst doing the ironing and I'm afraid the ironing beat the music for interest.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 3, 2023 16:17:03 GMT
Just been listening to the cast recording whilst doing the ironing and I'm afraid the ironing beat the music for interest. I know its a forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions etc.etc.etc.etc but I just don't get posts like this? What's the point? |
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Post by alece10 on Mar 3, 2023 16:25:51 GMT
Just been listening to the cast recording whilst doing the ironing and I'm afraid the ironing beat the music for interest. I know its a forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions etc.etc.etc.etc but I just don't get posts like this? What's the point? The point I was trying to make, in a humorous way, was that I didn't like the music. Sorry you didn't get it. |
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Post by Nelly on Mar 3, 2023 16:31:11 GMT
I know its a forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions etc.etc.etc.etc but I just don't get posts like this? What's the point? The point I was trying to make, in a humorous way, was that I didn't like the music. Sorry you didn't get it. I got it, it wasn't exactly nuanced, but judging from your only other post in this thread, you were never going to like it.  I just didn't get the point of specifically choosing to come onto this thread to make an unconstructive negative post. *shrug* |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2023 17:55:49 GMT
It isn't that different to me than any of us who come and say something positive, but don't do a lot of elaborating, or any of the "I'm really looking forward to this" posts. It's a quick reaction or opinion.
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Post by Nelly on Mar 3, 2023 18:15:41 GMT
It isn't that different to me than any of us who come and say something positive, but don't do a lot of elaborating, or any of the "I'm really looking forward to this" posts. It's a quick reaction or opinion. I do get that, it just came across to me unnecessarily negative and because it was so unconstructive, pointless. Just the idea of someone listening to something and going oooh I should go make a comment about how my ironing was more exciting than what I was listening to, irked me. I'll get over it. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 3, 2023 18:27:26 GMT
I think listening to the OCR and finding it disappointing is exactly the sort of thing that would prompt me to post! alece10 had you got tickets for the show? I think if you haven’t I wouldn’t let it put you off seeing without splashing out in an expensive seat. For me it was one of those where the music was pleasant abd worked great within the context of the story but not anything I would seek outside of the performance. |
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