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Post by theatrelover123 on Mar 21, 2018 21:23:59 GMT
And how can an atmosphere and a performance be unreal? It is very real. English language should be used appropriately  |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 21, 2018 21:27:07 GMT
Is it similar to a revolve ? |
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Post by musicalmarge on Mar 21, 2018 21:27:24 GMT
Revile? Revolve? Questions!!
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Post by theatremadness on Mar 21, 2018 21:27:51 GMT
Are we actually getting to a point where enthusiastic posters can't even post a *positive review* without being criticised?! Maybe a trip to the 'how we talk on the forum' thread is needed...
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 21, 2018 21:28:33 GMT
I suspect latefortheoverture meant REVOLVE. Please make allowances for EIE (extreme interval excitement). |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 21, 2018 21:32:41 GMT
Act 1 finished about 5mins ago! In short it's magical!!!!! Really, really loving how they've done it- great use of the revile stage is amazing! SO MANY PEOPLE RECORDINGG!!! SO BLOODY ANOYING! Atmosphere is unreal!! Adrienne Warren is phenomenal, unreal. Philippa is in the house but yet to spot Tina herself.... Full report when I'm home!!! Is this Phillipa related to Phylida Lloyd the director? Is everything amazing and unreal? Are the loos unreal? I’m sensing a case of First Preview-itis |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 21, 2018 21:35:11 GMT
Are we actually getting to a point where enthusiastic posters can't even post a *positive review* without being criticised?! Maybe a trip to the 'how we talk on the forum' thread is needed... I’m worried they will actually explode with the excitement of it all. I hope the emergency services are on standby. Please update to let us know you get home ok. |
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Post by sf on Mar 21, 2018 21:37:06 GMT
Where bad actors go to be reviled? (See also: theatres hosting touring musicals starring Gareth Gates or Marti Pellow.) |
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Post by theatremadness on Mar 21, 2018 21:42:51 GMT
Are we actually getting to a point where enthusiastic posters can't even post a *positive review* without being criticised?! Maybe a trip to the 'how we talk on the forum' thread is needed... I’m worried they will actually explode with the excitement of it all. I hope the emergency services are on standby. Please update to let us know you get home ok.  |
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Post by upthespitfires on Mar 21, 2018 22:05:39 GMT
Okay so what about Rachel Tucker as Tina? Those who went to see her on tour will know she was a Tina impersonator as a teenager so her playing the part now would be brilliant and she'd sing the hell out of the songs. Only thing is, is it of high enough callibre for Rachel? I know it's in the West End but it's jukebox and I'm just wondering what the production values would be (basically I'm being a bit of a MT snob).h I love so much about this thread. Lewis being colour blind mainly but the elephant in the room is the fact Rachel Tucker was a white Tina impersonator. It reminds me of those old Stars in their Eyes where people would black up like it was no big deal. I have bought a cheapo ticket for the preview run. I am mainly in it for late era Tina songs and seeing if anyone can sustain that walk for a whole run. Sorry, as you can see I’m many months behind but this got me thinking about race in musical theatre. I’m sure it’s been hugely discussed whilst I’ve been in a land of no forums but (at risk of being shot/put down/other..) I’ll just put the question out there... Many of our Motown musicals featured black actresses - completely in line with the great artists they were acting as. The Thernadier’s in Les Mis are referred to as pale in the novel but the boys playing Gavroche and, particularly, the women depicting Eponine, have often been a different race to their ‘parents’. Is this something that would detract from the story or cause confusion to anyone not immediately aware of the relationship? If the Billy’s in Billy Elliott are black or are Asian, should the brother, (dead) mum and dad be of the same race? I’m just interested in viewpoints really and am keen to know how much ‘correctness’ in racial casting there should be in shows. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2018 22:10:58 GMT
I think fictional characters can be played by anyone, real people should be played by people of the same race.
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Post by danb on Mar 21, 2018 22:12:44 GMT
I suspect latefortheoverture meant REVOLVE. Please make allowances for EIE (extreme interval excitement). I wasn’t being a tw#t; I thought I’d missed something. I haven’t kept abreast of developments in stage ‘types’ and thought the range had been added to. I bet it’s good though. Do we think Proud Mary is the finale, or ‘Steamy Windows’? |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 21, 2018 22:18:34 GMT
I’m worried they will actually explode with the excitement of it all. I hope the emergency services are on standby. Please update to let us know you get home ok. Exactly.. what the F is going on?! |
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Post by daniel on Mar 21, 2018 22:27:02 GMT
It's got a revolve?! I'm sold.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 21, 2018 22:37:24 GMT
A RIM REVOLVE no less.
I really do hope it good- god knows we need some excitement in the west end .. and a homegrown show.
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Post by sf on Mar 21, 2018 22:58:01 GMT
I think fictional characters can be played by anyone, real people should be played by people of the same race. Audra McDonald played Evita (when she was 16, admittedly, before she became Audra! McDonald!). I can't see any problem casting an Eva Peron who isn't Latina; in terms of race, she's no more or less appropriate for the role than Elaine Paige or Patti LuPone. Where I think you do absolutely have to cast within the specified race/ethnicity/whatever is when the material itself deals with race. Coalhouse Walker and Sarah in Ragtime are fictional characters, but they can't be played by just anyone. You can't cast white actors in something like August Wilson's 'Fences'. On the other hand, anyone can play Dolly Levi. In terms of real people, you can't cast a white actor as Martin Luther King (unbelievably, someone actually tried it a couple of years ago), but I don't particularly care about the race of an actor playing George in 'Sunday in the Park...'. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Mar 22, 2018 0:19:27 GMT
I can only apologise for the mess I've made!!! 😂😂
Phylida was autocorrected to Philippa!
And yes, the stage contains a rim revolve!
I really do believe this show will have a real good run- and wouldn't be suprised if it goes to broadway.
The Real star of the show is Adrienne, her acting so believeable- and her voice is near enough Tina's; although not exactly, which I like as I think it would be more like an impersonation! If my observations are correct she has one song off of the stage- the opening number. She even does a few costume changes on stage. I can definately see why there's an alternate for 2 shows a week. A real star- that's unquestionable!
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith made a great Ike. I really hated him during act 1 and he was only in 2 scenes in act 2!
There's 2 little girls and 1 little boy in the show. The boy is only in one scene, but he has quite a poignant part in that. And the two girls pop up throught- the one who plays young Tina (not sure who we had on) had an amazing voice!
Lorna Gayle as the grandma stood-out to me as did Aisha Jawondo playing Tina's sister. Madeline Appiah was great playing Tina's Mum- her acting was really nice.
Francesca Jackson is also worth a mention playing Rhonda, her manager!
Another thing to point out is the book. I felt the book was really strong and that with a couple little tweaks it would be ace! Some important parts were glossed over far too quickly and others being a little long!
I really liked the set- simple but very effective. The rim revolve was used many times and done really well- a few more rehearsals and the cast will know what's what, as one ensemble got swept away as the rest of the 'ikettes' stood centre stage trying to contain their giggles. The has what I'd say are 'sliders' that rose up from the stage to provide a little backdrop for that scene. You'll be able to see it once we get production shots! The stage has sliding partitions, near enough the same as 'the bodyguard' just trimmed with wood- more sturdy looking! The done the job. There's also a screen on the back which was used nicely, it certainly didn't look tacky in my eyes- which at the start I was worried it would! There's a great scene that near enough ends act 1, I won't spoil it but I love what they used the screen for! Not much projection- but I imagine it's only put in to spice up the plain scenes they're used in; you'll see what I mean!
The set changes seemed to be really long- I'm sure this will tighten up in the coming weeks! Act 2 was certainly a lot less smoky. It ended with simply the best; bows; netbush; then proud Mary!
I enjoyed the costumes and I had to giggle- when she sings proud Mary in act 1 in the little sparkly number- the costume had tons of little small lengths of plastic- and they were flying off like no tomorrow! I'm sure they'll probably change this out before press night!
Before the bows Tina sings simply the best- not an encore or anything just the end of the story and the whole theatre was up within a blink of an eye.we were all up dancing and cheering till the end of the show- it was clear Adrienne and the rest of the cast hadn't seen anything like this- it was clear to see from their faces! Many of the cast rather emotional
Was also suprised how many songs that weren't Tina's that are in this show! The cast recording will be stunning if they make one!
Overall it was a phenomenal show with a stellar cast! With a few more performances under their belts this will be a great show; I cannot wait to see the future for it! Hoping it does really well!
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Post by latefortheoverture on Mar 22, 2018 0:23:50 GMT
Sorry- I'm tired a few mistakes in that- the 'slider' things I mentioned pop up in most scenes, I wrote it like they were only in one!
Another thing to mention is that in the scenes where Tina is famous etc. They kept wheeling in clothes racks! I mean for some they were useful as she got changed behind him but in one scene they had 3 onstage with really no need to be there- thought this could've been changed!
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Post by latefortheoverture on Mar 22, 2018 0:32:00 GMT
Forgot to address the massive LED screen up at the grand circle- a little pointless but it was probably nice when sat up there! I didn't feel the benefit of it being front of the stalls! The sign brung a concert kind of element I imagine during the last few scenes and numbers!
Also a couple sound issues especially in act 2 during private dancer- could hardly hear Adrienne where the band was so loud and other times could hardly hear the band! Sure it will be sorted in time for opening.
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Post by ali973 on Mar 22, 2018 5:51:53 GMT
I'd like to know how they've integrated the songs into the book scenes. Where they all "concerts"/performance within a performance or did they come up due to the character's need to sing?
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Post by latefortheoverture on Mar 22, 2018 6:49:25 GMT
There's only a couple of song sung 'concert' style; many are sung without the concerty bits
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 22, 2018 6:59:31 GMT
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Post by zak97 on Mar 22, 2018 8:18:11 GMT
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Post by Snciole on Mar 22, 2018 14:37:09 GMT
I think fictional characters can be played by anyone, real people should be played by people of the same race. This sums it up for me unless the character has been specifically portrayed as a certain race then we have to take racial and sometimes gender liberties with casting. For example I saw a Long Day's Journey into Night and in theory it could be played by any race but could an audience suspend their belief if the very Irish-American James Tyrone was a black man? Though there is no reason why Mary can't be played by a black woman does it match up with the history of the play? Queen Anne had some very multicultural casting and judging by some comments from mostly white older audiences it was source of humour rather than an issue. Equally, why can't Romeo and Juliet be black? Can Shylock be Chinese? The issue is for generations there have been very few exceptional works written for people of colour and when they have happened they have often been forgotten (hopefully initiatives like the black plays archive www.blackplaysarchive.org.uk will address that). To bring this back on topic I want to see Tina played by a black woman because we need to see more women of colour smashing roles that aren't Amber or Beverley. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2018 14:47:07 GMT
I hate to ask the one of us who have seen it, but if you get the chance, could we get a song list please? Sidenote, Adrienne looks stunning! |
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