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Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 15, 2019 15:21:17 GMT
This was one of my first long day trips to see a musical when I became hooked on the genre. Kent to Plymouth and back in a day for a Saturday matinee at the Theatre Royal in October 2016.
I can't honestly recall it in any detail but I noted in my diary " 6/10. Okay, ordinary songs, not West End standard".
Hopefully wrong and looking forward to being there on Press Night on Tuesday.
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 15, 2019 22:14:34 GMT
This is just a fun easy musical. Very traditional in style. I must admit, I was thinking I’d made a mistake booking this. I probably paid too much for front row, even with a discount. But it turned out good. There just aren’t enough musicals like this around. Singing, dancing, not too taxing. But everything needed to draw in the families. Apart from, there were few children there. But it was around two thirds full in the Stalls. A great cast. The kids on stage did well for what may have been their first show. Good applause for Matthew Kelly, who has real presence. Wendi Peters only really cameos, but sings well. Kimberley Walsh sings fine. And Jay McGuinness has a real childlike quality about him, dances well, mostly sings well and even has a scene in his superhero Y-Fronts. As a bonus Eddie Myles is on stage too, looking crisp with longer hair and even has a few lines. Finished about 10:15pm. It won’t win any awards and the plot is thin, but it’s a fresh fully staged musical and a pleasant night out. Something that’s really lacking on the West End right now. A big musical is lacking in the West End? I suppose Lion King, Waitress, 9to5, Mary Poppins and Joseph don’t count? Hahaha |
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Post by Dr Tom on Sept 16, 2019 5:38:17 GMT
Quite right, I should have probably said a big and fresh traditionally styled musical.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Sept 16, 2019 15:36:17 GMT
Already using an outside body to help fill seats, not a good omen for commercial success.
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Post by winonaforever on Sept 16, 2019 19:32:35 GMT
Already using an outside body to help fill seats, not a good omen for commercial success. Yes, that's what I thought! |
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Post by danb on Sept 16, 2019 20:39:14 GMT
We’ve been here before...twice.
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Post by amp09 on Sept 16, 2019 21:13:09 GMT
What’s the running time of this?
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Post by jampot on Sept 16, 2019 21:26:44 GMT
What’s the running time of this? 2hrs 45 min inc interval |
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Post by shady23 on Sept 17, 2019 21:55:44 GMT
Press night tonight.
It will be interesting to read the reviews tomorrow.
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Sept 17, 2019 22:24:35 GMT
Friend of mine went tonight and said just 4 words about it. “It. Was. Not.Good. Oh dear!
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 17, 2019 23:06:37 GMT
“BIG” the musical opening (press) night on the glittering West End. 🎭 Amazing seats on the second row of the stalls and it was fun for everyone to see oodles of celebrities and popular names within the West End community. Frenchy from the Grease movie was there (her husband co-wrote it). As for the show? Well.... 😬..... I always loved the Tom Hanks film and the Broadway Cast recording from 1996 but this new London production is sadly clunky throughout, rather miscast (I’m not sure Matthew Kelly knew his lines!), it was badly directed and over acted (Wendy thingy from Coronation Street was awful and out of time), cheesy, a tad amateur and well..... disappointing. The story and book is a strange piece about a missing child - it comes across like Madeline McCann the Musical with a subtextual peodeophile undertone! There IS a great musical in there somewhere, but it wasn’t on stage at the Dominion tonight. Kimberly Walsh looked sensational and sang OK (as did the lead HOT guy) but their acting was “painting by numbers” - a bit like the entire awkward cast. Piano dancing sequence aside, it’s a sweet and pantoesque 6/10 from me! #sticktothefilm #theatrepig
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2019 23:15:08 GMT
it comes across like Madeline McCann the Musical I know you're trying to be funny, but that's not. |
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 17, 2019 23:55:42 GMT
it comes across like Madeline McCann the Musical I know you're trying to be funny, but that's not. I’m not trying to be funny. In essence Big the musical is a serious story about a missing child! What happened to the father after the first scene? It’s far more serious than the shallow cheesy piece makes it out to be. What happened to the policeman? Why didn’t they question Josh’s friend more? Their child had been kidnapped in their eyes. As for the whole love affair weird story it is basically a weird story about a 13 and 30 year old woman! |
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Post by lonlad on Sept 18, 2019 0:18:23 GMT
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Post by edi on Sept 18, 2019 6:10:53 GMT
I was there last night and it was easily my weakest theatre outing this year. It was OK, sort of entertaining but nothing special and I kept checking my watch.
There seemed to be lots of potential with it but everything just seemed mediocre. The set was often the best bit but it was mostly overwhelmed with a too busy stage. Often it was just a blur of set, people on stage and unmemorable songs. Singing wasn't bad but wasn't great either.
I suppose it will work for families but otherwise I have no reason to specifically recommend this show. I don't regret going as it wasn't awful but i don't recommend it
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 18, 2019 6:46:41 GMT
I was there last night and it was easily my weakest theatre outing this year. It was OK, sort of entertaining but nothing special and I kept checking my watch. There seemed to be lots of potential with it but everything just seemed mediocre. The set was often the best bit but it was mostly overwhelmed with a too busy stage. Often it was just a blur of set, people on stage and unmemorable songs. Singing wasn't bad but wasn't great either. I suppose it will work for families but otherwise I have no reason to specifically recommend this show. I don't regret going as it wasn't awful but i don't recommend it Agreed |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 18, 2019 7:01:17 GMT
it comes across like Madeline McCann the Musical I know you're trying to be funny, but that's not. I laughed out loud |
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Post by stevej678 on Sept 18, 2019 7:18:25 GMT
"Kimberley Walsh is the saving grace" says the Evening Standard in their two-star review. Another two stars from The Stage.
Three stars from The Times and Broadway World and four stars from WhatsOnStage and London Theatre.
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Post by woobl on Sept 18, 2019 10:38:28 GMT
"Kimberley Walsh is the saving grace" says the Evening Standard in their two-star review. Another two stars from The Stage. Three stars from The Times and Broadway World and four stars from WhatsOnStage and London Theatre. This show doesn’t deserve four stars. If that’s the case then something is seriously amiss with the critics idea of a good show. Then again, the whole point of WOS is to drive ticket sales, so it’s within their interest to make the show seem like it’s worth spending the money on a ticket. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 18, 2019 11:23:42 GMT
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Post by lonlad on Sept 18, 2019 15:32:37 GMT
Shame the Grauniad pan can't spell Jobe Hart's name correctly, given how good he is as Josh's best mate, Billy.
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Post by Sam on Sept 20, 2019 10:36:54 GMT
I've got one spare ticket for tomorrow's matinee that I've posted on the noticeboard if anyone is interested. Don't want it to go to waste.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Sept 21, 2019 11:54:21 GMT
Seeing this today :-)
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 21, 2019 22:42:02 GMT
Saw the matinee of this today - I love the film but unfortunately I found the show very average. All of the main performers were 'ok' at best, everyone in the ensemble can sing better than the two leads, there aren't any memorable songs in it, and you'd never know Jay or Kimberley did as well as they did in Strictly. The set is probably the best part of it. Never a good sign. It's also far too long (the dinner party scene in Act 2 feels like it's never going to end). It's not dreadful but it's not great either. A fair few empty seats as well. I got Row H of the Stalls for £45 through FromTheBoxOffice, booked this morning. Definitely don't pay more than that.
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Post by Snciole on Sept 24, 2019 17:25:11 GMT
I know you're trying to be funny, but that's not. I laughed out loud I thought the same watching it. Why is nobody bothered about this missing boy? Why didn't they check his documents when starting the job (I cannot even go to an interview without bringing my passport) In all seriousness this is pretty poor. Kimberley Walsh is the saving grace because she can sing, act and is very charming but Jay is really struggling to connect with audience, Wendy Peters shouldn't be playing the mother of a newborn baby and thank the lord for Matthew Kelly; one of the UK's finest actors. |
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