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Post by infofreako on Mar 21, 2017 15:26:11 GMT
I'd definitely like to see it last at least a year. Really looking forward to seeing it as soon as I can.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 16:10:25 GMT
Even with incredible reviews, I just can't see this lasting past September. Well if that is the case- and I really hope it's not- I think those of us who will have caught it during its very brief run will feel even more smug that we saw something rather special! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 16:25:03 GMT
Even with incredible reviews, I just can't see this lasting past September. Well if that is the case- and I really hope it's not- I think those of us who will have caught it during its very brief run will feel even more smug that we saw something rather special! Apologies! Realise I may have been misconstrued. I wish it every success, but it's a really difficult time for musicals right now and a show of that size in a venue of that size is going to have to do amazing business to keep afloat. I can't wait to see it! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 16:39:14 GMT
Well if that is the case- and I really hope it's not- I think those of us who will have caught it during its very brief run will feel even more smug that we saw something rather special! Apologies! Realise I may have been misconstrued. I wish it every success, but it's a really difficult time for musicals right now and a show of that size in a venue of that size is going to have to do amazing business to keep afloat. I can't wait to see it! Apologies accepted! It is sensational! A real Show! (Please note capital S!) Have a great time... |
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Post by PalelyLaura on Mar 21, 2017 18:06:37 GMT
For what it's worth, I haven't seen this yet and I don't know what the leads are like but Ashley Day is brilliant, I saw him when I saw The Book of Mormon and if I hadn't known he was the understudy I never would have guessed, he was great. I then saw him in Oklahoma, he was just as good. I will probably try and book this to see the leads but if I end up getting Ashley Day instead I won't be disappointed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 23:49:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 23:54:24 GMT
I was at press night tonight and it certainly is right at the top of the sophisticated end of the spectrum as far as West End shows go - very classy, gorgeous set and wonderful ballet sequences. The two leads hold the entire show together and they are breathtakingly good both solo and as a pair. Zoe Rainey was good too.
But despite that, I'm still a bit on the fence about the show as a whole - I liked it, in fact I think I could say I liked it a lot, but I didn't love it. Conceptually it's fabulous, but I think there are little bits that let the show down - the non-ballet dance sequences are not as tight as they should be (particularly the main cast in this regard aside from Robert and Leanne), some of the diction and phrase timing is poor and a lot of the accents are dreadful (lots of chatter around me about that during the interval). Add to that a woefully off-balance sound mix for the orchestra (note to the sound director, Gershwin is not just about the brass section, we do need to actually hear the strings as well (including people sitting in the circle!), especially in whatever that opening melody was that tonight sounded as if half the orchestra had forgotten to start playing and started out of time) and a really thin sound in parts due to the lack of a proper string section, and for me it had too many minor niggles for me to really love it.
Maybe once the show has bedded in a bit more it will be better - and maybe it was just press night nerves for some people, but overall I thought that in the ensemble the ballet dancers were strong and the theatre performers not so much. I might give it another chance if I can get a cheap ticket a few months down the line, but otherwise if it weren't for the stunning performances from Robert and Leanne I'm afraid I wouldn't be rushing back.
Maybe all the reviews on here for previews over-hyped it a bit for me and led me to believe it was more perfect than it is, but I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed this evening. It will no doubt get raves, but for me it's not quite there yet.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 23:56:29 GMT
The Stage: *****
The Guardian: *****
London News Online: ***** Whatsonstage.com: *****
Telegraph: ****
BWW: **** |
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Post by madsonmelo on Mar 22, 2017 0:11:26 GMT
Well, raves.
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Post by wickedgrin on Mar 22, 2017 0:53:40 GMT
Not seen this yet but probably deservedly so but rave reviews don't necessarily translate into bums on seats. Bend It Like Beckham had great reviews and look what happened with that.
Also, everything seems to get 4 and 5 star reviews these days, the press being part of the marketing department! Everything can't be that good and it isn't.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 0:58:14 GMT
Not seen this yet but probably deservedly so but rave reviews don't necessarily translate into bums on seats. Bend It Like Beckham had great reviews and look what happened with that. Also, everything seems to get 4 and 5 star reviews these days, the press being part of the marketing department! Everything can't be that good and it isn't. Very well said |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 0:58:33 GMT
Not seen this yet but probably deservedly so but rave reviews don't necessarily translate into bums on seats. Bend It Like Beckham had great reviews and look what happened with that. Also, everything seems to get 4 and 5 star reviews these days, the press being part of the marketing department! Everything can't be that good and it isn't. Agreed, whereas Kinky Boots for example (as it opened the same season as Bend It Like Beckham) didn't get 5* reviews and raves to the same extent... yet it is still here. Though I don't doubt this show deserves it, I have heard amazing things! |
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Post by infofreako on Mar 22, 2017 1:11:08 GMT
Its a tricky one. I don't pay a great deal of attention to press reviews because so many productions get 4 or 5 stars and to my mind, the public aren't daft and must know that not every production is worth that.
I pay much more attention to the views expressed on this forum because I think you get to know peoples likes and dislikes over time and find the views expressed here to be much more honest.
I will go to see this as soon as possible because it appeals to me as a production and based on views expressed here. If it got 2 star reviews in the press that wouldn't change my wanting to see it.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 22, 2017 1:47:39 GMT
Not seen this yet but probably deservedly so but rave reviews don't necessarily translate into bums on seats. Bend It Like Beckham had great reviews and look what happened with that. Also, everything seems to get 4 and 5 star reviews these days, the press being part of the marketing department! Everything can't be that good and it isn't. How do your treble like a post? Hallejah to the last paragraph, reading reviews over the years I have seen them boost very tepid shows, but to give their star system any kudos they have to give the add production a good kicking, this is where the fringe comes in handy, where I have seen excellent productions jettisoned overboard, the reviews are just an extension of the marketing apartment and the press g where they can smell marketing money, those full length adverts cost a lot of money. Even Baz who brightens up everyones' Thursday evenings, is just really not hot gossip, but controlled marketing leaks, before the official press release. So take them with a pinch of whatever does it for you. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 22, 2017 2:03:51 GMT
Daily Mail also goes with 5 Stars.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 7:40:02 GMT
My brief views from last night:
+ Leanne and Robert are exquisite dancers, Leanne's poise in particular, is on point.
+ The set is divine, very understated yet very effective.
+ The dream sequence is gorgeous, and easily the highlight of the show for me. The lighting and choreography is stunning.
- The 13 minute ballet piece, really wasn't for me. But then ballet isn't my cup of tea, admittedly.
- The plot I felt was very thin. But I think that's to be expected as this is really a showcase for the cast to excel at what they do best - dance.
Overall I'm happy to say I've seen it, yet I wouldn't go again.
3.5 stars.
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Post by lonlad on Mar 22, 2017 9:11:24 GMT
As posterj said earlier (and I agree 100%), it's largely wonderful but owes an enormous amount to the two leads, and to Zoe Rainey, an alumna of the recent Kenneth Branagh season who is the pick of a surprisingly dodgy supporting cast. David Seadon-Young has one of those fake Noo Yawk accents you could drive a truck through, and Jane Asher more or less gives up on her Gallic sounds midway through and just sounds like, well, Jane Asher. Nor does Haydn Oakley begin to have the vocal command and heft of Max von Essen, who originated the part on Broadway. That said, the designs are so ceaselessly gorgeous that I would be happy to go back and just feast on the visuals - Bob Crowley outdoing even himself.
A solid 4 stars but not (in my view) 5.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 9:26:31 GMT
Add to that a woefully off-balance sound mix for the orchestra (note to the sound director, Gershwin is not just about the brass section, we do need to actually hear the strings as well (including people sitting in the circle!), especially in whatever that opening melody was that tonight sounded as if half the orchestra had forgotten to start playing and started out of time) and a really thin sound in parts due to the lack of a proper string section, I guess there's no way that a theatre orchestra can match the John Wilson Orchestra, or a symphony orchestra, for strings. A musical just cannot afford to employ so many musicians. And if you over-amplify the ones you do have, they'd sound wrong. |
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Post by lolli on Mar 22, 2017 12:00:28 GMT
I hear it's been selling steadily, and these reviews can only help.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 13:59:40 GMT
I guess there's no way that a theatre orchestra can match the John Wilson Orchestra, or a symphony orchestra, for strings. A musical just cannot afford to employ so many musicians. And if you over-amplify the ones you do have, they'd sound wrong. Of course, I wasn't expecting the John Wilson Orchestra, but I was expecting much better than the horribly underpowered and unbalanced sound I got last night. The sound needs to be balanced between the different parts of the orchestra all across the theatre, and at times last night the strings were playing the melody but were barely audible - whether it's because the brass were on the same side of the theatre as me I don't know, but it's the sound team's job to ensure it is balanced regardless of the number of musicians and natural power of the instruments and I don't think they're close to getting it right on this. I'd be intrigued to hear the start of the show again, as last night it honestly sounded as if either the orchestra went horribly wrong or the sound desk were asleep and didn't turn mics on in time for the musicians. The first 30 seconds of music were so awful that I presume it must have been some of sort of mistake rather than simply a terrible opening orchestration. The music isn't the show's biggest problem though, that is sadly the supporting cast (Zoe Rainey excepted). |
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Post by mallardo on Mar 22, 2017 17:49:32 GMT
Sounded great to me too but I was up close to the pit.
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Post by mallardo on Mar 22, 2017 18:35:36 GMT
^ Now there's a surprise, given the outfits in act 2...
Such a cynic, TM. I like to be up front to see faces. I don't know why you don't believe that.
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Post by westendwendy on Mar 22, 2017 18:59:44 GMT
I agree with the orchestra issue, I was front circle and it sounded tinny and quiet. I put it down to less speakers towards the circle to save money?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2017 0:26:01 GMT
I got an email from the Dominion afterwards asking for my thoughts on the show and venue, so I've given them some feedback on the sound!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2017 9:22:31 GMT
I like to be up front to see faces Oh, "faces." Behave you two...or there'll be restraining orders issued (again) |
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