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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 9, 2020 22:32:13 GMT
Just out and I think it's genius. On paper it's crazy isn't it but it works because it knows its crazy. The song choices and placement are meant to be on the nose and tongue in cheek, that's the point. It's really clever. All the performances are great, I especially loved Cassidy and I really liked Tim Mahendren as Francois. I did like Miriam and thought she was a good lead but she was just a bit scream for me and I didnt always find the sound pleasant but still as great performance. Visually stunning as well and the sound was my fave kind, which is LOUD.
4.5 stars. I cant give it 5 stars juat because there were a few moments where it dragged a tiny bit and I was willing it to move on to something else but still brilliant.
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Post by vickyg on Jan 9, 2020 23:16:40 GMT
I was also there tonight seeing this for the first time. I liked how different it was and loved Oliver T and Cassidy and the audience responded really well. At times I though Miriam was absolutely amazing but a number of times (unless I was having hearing problems, which is entirely possible because it was *so* loud) she was flat as a pancake. I loved how hilarious songs fitted completely into the narrative but felt some things which were meant to be sincere were awkward and overdone. Overall I gave it 3* and I’m not sure what to make of it. I did enjoy it and loved parts but don’t feel I could recommend it to any of my friends!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 10, 2020 7:05:58 GMT
I bet it will be in your head for the next couple of days, you’ll end up booking again and this time taking your friends who’ll declare you a hero for introducing them to it!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 10, 2020 7:11:44 GMT
4.5 stars. I cant give it 5 stars juat because there were a few no Enya where it dragged a tiny bit and I was willing it to move on to something else but still brilliant. I realise this is a case of auto correct going mad but it is making me chuckle that you aren’t giving it 5 stars because there’s “no Enya”! I’m sure with time the creative team could shoehorn in Orinoco Flow or Caribbean Blue!!! (Seriously - glad you loved it!!) |
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 10, 2020 7:26:05 GMT
I was also there tonight seeing this for the first time. I liked how different it was and loved Oliver T and Cassidy and the audience responded really well. At times I though Miriam was absolutely amazing but a number of times (unless I was having hearing problems, which is entirely possible because it was *so* loud) she was flat as a pancake. I loved how hilarious songs fitted completely into the narrative but felt some things which were meant to be sincere were awkward and overdone. Overall I gave it 3* and I’m not sure what to make of it. I did enjoy it and loved parts but don’t feel I could recommend it to any of my friends! . No I had the same experience with her. I thought she was good but she had problems especially with the big belts. Maybe it was an off night or she wasn't 100%? |
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Post by jess173 on Jan 10, 2020 8:34:20 GMT
I feel the same about Miriam.
When I first saw it, Grace was on. While she wasn’t the strongest singer I found her to be very sweet and I liked her a lot.
Miriam is much stronger vocally but I felt shouted at a lot and I don’t like that. Sure, she’s a powerhouse but that was a little too much for me.
I was surprised about Cassidy Janson. She was my least favourite Elphaba and I had never seen her in anything since so that was stuck in my head. I couldn’t believe how good she was in this and I really loved her. ^^
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Post by vickyg on Jan 10, 2020 9:41:50 GMT
I was also there tonight seeing this for the first time. I liked how different it was and loved Oliver T and Cassidy and the audience responded really well. At times I though Miriam was absolutely amazing but a number of times (unless I was having hearing problems, which is entirely possible because it was *so* loud) she was flat as a pancake. I loved how hilarious songs fitted completely into the narrative but felt some things which were meant to be sincere were awkward and overdone. Overall I gave it 3* and I’m not sure what to make of it. I did enjoy it and loved parts but don’t feel I could recommend it to any of my friends! . No I had the same experience with her. I thought she was good but she had problems especially with the big belts. Maybe it was an off night or she wasn't 100%? I thought that maybe there was a sound issue on stage and they couldn't hear themselves well enough as a couple of others were pitchy at times and it was often when a large number of the company were singing together. On reflection I think this is the kind of show I would like to see again as it is so bizarre that it kind of distracted my focus from what was actually happening. The audience were so well behaved last night, despite the unexpected break in the first act (I was in the grand circle, C25 which was an *excellent* seat for £22.50, no foot room thought which hurt my knees by the end and I'm only 5'7"). I usually have a gripe or two anywhere I go, but not at all last night! |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 10, 2020 10:35:57 GMT
I didnt expect it to be how it was. I dunno what I expected. I think it was the wag it approached the songs and how they fitted the scebes. I guess I expected them to try and take it seriously but they knew it was ridiculous and they made a joke of the songs that were chosen for the scenes, that's why it worked. But the thing is as well, is the songs really did actually really fit what was happening. It was so clever.
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Post by sjbr1988 on Jan 10, 2020 12:58:11 GMT
Was also there last night and I was a little concerned as there were a lot of school children walking in as we got to the theatre but as others have said, the audience was extremely well-behaved and lapped up all the elements of the show.
The show stop was a shame as it came so close to the interval but was handled quickly and efficiently and didn’t really ruin the flow of the show.
As for the show as a whole, it definitely has the wow factor and is nice to see a show with incredibly high production value. It’s not high art but it never acts like it, it’s refreshing and at time’s very clever how the songs are worked into the show. I was disappointed by Miriam, others have pointed out she was clearly struggling vocally in places, the big finish in Roar was one clear area where she hit every note apart from the right one but again, I didn’t really care as it felt more of an ensemble piece. Absolutely loved Cassidy and I actually quite liked Oliver’s cheeky chappy Shakespeare!
One slight criticism, is the poignancy if ‘I’m not a girl, not yet a woman’ was clearly lost and I don’t think the story arc is properly fleshed out before it’s sung. This was evidence from the sniggers the song drew as it was being performed whereas I actually found it emotional (never did I think I’d hear myself say that about Britney).
I’ll be back as I really enjoyed, a clear 4* production.
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Post by ali973 on Jan 10, 2020 14:24:02 GMT
So I finally saw this, after being obsessed with it for weeks especially after the fantastic cast recording came out.
Cool (enough) story, although the book scenes could use a bit more polish, especially the parts between Anne and Shakespear.
We had a few understudies on for May, Nurse and Juliette's mum. Nurse was excellent, though I'd think seeing an older woman have a grand ol time on stage and fall in love and boogie all over again would be even more delightful. May was a bit stiff but got the job done.
Mariam is cute AF and nails the solos, but something goes haywire and off-pitch when she starts singing with or harmonizing with castmates.
Might see it again before I leave, might not.
Stalls really empty when I saw it on Wednesday night due to the post-holiday lull, but I'd imagine it picks up on weekends and when the season picks up again.
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 10, 2020 17:36:16 GMT
So i just watched the trailer and noticed a section where Juliet and Romeo are on bench that is dangling in the air with a moon behind it....this did not happen last night. For that bit i'm pretty sure that they were just sat on the floor for that duet last night? I'm guessing that the earlier issue with the wires that causes the show stop when Romeo was descending meant they couldn't do that bit either.
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Post by ptwest on Jan 10, 2020 17:56:55 GMT
Yes, this happened in the final section of “one more try” when they flew up into the air and had smokey bubbles blown from the top of the set. It was a nice moment but couldn’t have lasted for much more than 45 seconds so you didn’t miss too much.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 10, 2020 18:30:12 GMT
Yes, this happened in the final section of “one more try” when they flew up into the air and had smokey bubbles blown from the top of the set. It was a nice moment but couldn’t have lasted for much more than 45 seconds so you didn’t miss too much. The bubble thing still happened but from what i remember they were just standing in the middle of the stage. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 10, 2020 22:04:16 GMT
They should fly up on the bench with the moon above and the smoke filled bubbles cascading down. And everyone goes “Aaaaaaaahhhhh”.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2020 22:08:01 GMT
The smoke bubbles were fantastic and gave a great effect when they burst on the set around them singing.
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Post by littlefluffychick on Jan 11, 2020 13:47:21 GMT
Going back to earlier posts on Miriam, I totally agree. I’ve seen this show a lot over the last few weeks and I can honestly say Miriam has been very off key in certain parts each performance I’ve seen. These are usually the end of Domino, the very end of Act 1, the whole of Since you’ve been gone, parts of One More Try and sometimes the end of Roar. It’s such a shame as she’s really good in other parts of the show. Max Martin was in one of the boxes watching the show on one of my visits and I kept thinking - surely he can hear that his leading lady isn’t singing in tune? But they don’t seem to have done anything about it. I love Miriam but do feel that if you are leading a show, the one basic requirement is to not be flat and to be able to sing everything in tune. I saw Grace once as Juliet and posted about it on here a while back. I said at the time she sings in tune (yay!) and is a very sweet, less sassy, my personal preferred Juliet, but it’s hard to catch her shows as she doesn’t seem to get many.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 11, 2020 14:13:09 GMT
What a shame. She was constantly fab across the 3 perfs I saw in Manchester. Sounds like they should maybe be putting the understudy on for matinees. 8 shows a week is a lot.
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Post by Mark on Jan 11, 2020 14:23:51 GMT
It’s a very tough sing and I won’t be surprised if they change to having an alternate schedule.
I did notice a few flat notes when I went on the 2nd, but it didn’t hinder my overall enjoyment of the performance.
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Post by Raven on Jan 11, 2020 14:27:51 GMT
It's a wonder that, given they even state that Grace plays Juliet at certain performances, they don't just schedule her to have two or three set shows a week? That way, it gives Miriam a break in between, which it sounds like she needs with the big sing.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Jan 13, 2020 9:18:03 GMT
Never thought I'd say this, but saw the show before Christmas and really enjoyed it, great cast.  9/10 |
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Post by sparky5000 on Jan 13, 2020 11:13:57 GMT
I mean idk, this isn’t Tina, where I think it’s absolutely justified that the actress does a 6 show schedule given the ridiculous amount of songs the actress has to sing in that show (and given the amount dancing too). Miriam singing flat in some songs isn’t because she’s overworked, I don’t think that can be used as the excuse!
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Post by andrew on Jan 13, 2020 15:20:53 GMT
I mean idk, this isn’t Tina, where I think it’s absolutely justified that the actress does a 6 show schedule given the ridiculous amount of songs the actress has to sing in that show (and given the amount dancing too). Miriam singing flat in some songs isn’t because she’s overworked, I don’t think that can be used as the excuse! Have you even seen the show? Of course it can be used as a reason, Miriam sings 90% of the score and most of the songs have loads of high belting. Both times I've seen her she only was flat in the high note of Roar (which she shouldn't even attempt to do imo) so if now she's flat in other songs as well, then it's definitely vocal fatigue. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2020 15:32:38 GMT
Have you even seen the show? Of course it can be used as a reason, Miriam sings 90% of the score and most of the songs have loads of high belting. Both times I've seen her she only was flat in the high note of Roar (which she shouldn't even attempt to do imo) so if now she's flat in other songs as well, then it's definitely vocal fatigue. She definitely doesn't sing 90% of the score, and it's not as if they're full numbers, alot of them are shortened versions of the originals. But there is alot of belting and a lot of illness going around. |
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Post by vickyg on Jan 13, 2020 16:06:48 GMT
My impression, without reviewing each song, was that it was very much an ensemble piece with the songs divided amongst the key characters. Yes Miriam probably sings more but it definitely doesn't compare to the likes of Tina or Wicked. That said I'm sure vocal fatigue strikes different people at different levels of vocal stress and it did seem to me that she was struggling the most when singing with others. I do think the absolute least you can expect from a (costly) West End production is for the cast to sing in tune so whatever the issue is hopefully they can sort it!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 13, 2020 16:21:00 GMT
My impression, without reviewing each song, was that it was very much an ensemble piece with the songs divided amongst the key characters. Yes Miriam probably sings more but it definitely doesn't compare to the likes of Tina or Wicked. That said I'm sure vocal fatigue strikes different people at different levels of vocal stress and it did seem to me that she was struggling the most when singing with others. I do think the absolute least you can expect from a (costly) West End production is for the cast to sing in tune so whatever the issue is hopefully they can sort it! Wicked? There are only two challenging songs in it. Defying Gravity and No Good Deed. |
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9/10