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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 23:15:56 GMT
Sarah does not have the singing or acting ability for this role.
Just, no.
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Post by djp on Aug 1, 2016 23:33:03 GMT
I can't imagine Sarah Harding will help sell tickets for this, it's not like they've cast Cheryl who, rightly or wrongly, would have been box office gold. Sarah could have the opposite effect. It doesn't make sense. The thought of her performing With You is simply laughable. It seems to be the same thing as why pantos cast people in their 70s who children, parents and even grandparents don't know - but some producer thinks will pull them in. Ghost needs a really good singer who can act an emotion laden script. I have seen Siobhan Dillon play it beautifully so why would I want to watch someone from GA? They seem to think the audience is so dumb that it won't turn up for a really good cast without someone from Emmerdale, or Corrie. . And they are caught by the problem that the more successful 21st century names who would draw a younger audience in, wouldn't have the time or inciination to do i,t at what they would need to be paid. |
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Post by mrcompanymanager on Aug 1, 2016 23:33:30 GMT
Awful.
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Post by Nelly on Aug 2, 2016 8:40:11 GMT
I'd have thought that on the touring circuit, the 'Ghost' brand was enough to flog tickets without them feeling the need to cast it the way they have. In fact, they could have just stunt/star cast the Oda Mae character and that'd be enough if they wanted to go down this route. Let's hope we're all pleasantly surprised by their ability, but I'm not expecting much.
What a shame.
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Post by talkstageytome on Aug 2, 2016 9:53:10 GMT
Yeah, I've seen almost 100% negative reactions to this on facebook and twitter. It's just weird. Who exactly were they trying to attract with a cast like this? One stunt cast lead would've been enough. Two completely mismatched performers just feels jarring. Very strange. In fairness I've never heard Andrew Moss sing, so perhaps he's great (and I actually did like him in hollyoaks  ). But I'd much rather see musical theatre stars in musicals, strangely enough. |
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Post by Nelly on Aug 2, 2016 10:03:47 GMT
But I'd much rather see musical theatre stars in musicals, strangely enough. Especially in such a vocal heavy show where just being able to carry a tune isn't going to be enough. |
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Post by stevej678 on Aug 2, 2016 10:13:16 GMT
Perhaps they're planning to turn this into a jukebox musical using Girls Aloud's back catalogue.
So, the subway scene will now feature Sound of the Underground.
When Sam is murdered, he'll serenade his attacker with Call The Shots.
Meanwhile, Molly will express her shock that Oda Mae is communicating with a deceased Sam through a quick rendition of Something Kinda Ooh.
All it needs is the costume department to source a bedsheet with a couple of eye holes and Kenwright's adaptation will be complete.
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Post by westendwendy on Aug 2, 2016 10:20:57 GMT
I've cancelled my tickets for Wimbledon. She's awful and this will KILL the tour. Sorry...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 10:57:21 GMT
Jolly good.
EDIT: Whoops, just seen D'James plonked this on the last page, also. I've been dying to share this wider... it always cracks me up!
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Post by johartuk on Aug 2, 2016 11:43:26 GMT
I've cancelled my tickets for Wimbledon. She's awful and this will KILL the tour. Sorry...
I love this bit - one of the worst examples of 'angry acting' I've ever seen! |
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Post by dan on Aug 2, 2016 12:51:13 GMT
I don't want to judge before seeing her, but this has got me worried about the show now. I've booked to see it twice and just can't imagine how she can sing any of Molly's songs, particularly With You or Nothing Stops Another Day. She will be very exposed in With You. 🙈
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Post by shady23 on Aug 2, 2016 15:22:56 GMT
Perhaps they're planning to turn this into a jukebox musical using Girls Aloud's back catalogue. So, the subway scene will now feature Sound of the Underground. When Sam is murdered, he'll serenade his attacker with Call The Shots. Meanwhile, Molly will express her shock that Oda Mae is communicating with a deceased Sam through a quick rendition of Something Kinda Ooh. All it needs is the costume department to source a bedsheet with a couple of eye holes and Kenwright's adaptation will be complete. Can't wait to hear where I Can't Speak French will appear!  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 15:47:47 GMT
Well that's something kinda ooh, isn't it?
To be fair, when I saw 'Ghost', Mark Evans playing with his pottery wheel got me so distracted that I didn't even realise there was a female part in the show.
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Post by jaqs on Aug 2, 2016 20:09:04 GMT
For once I hope there are liberal use of click tracks, maybe they can just mime to the cast recording.
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Post by ali973 on Aug 2, 2016 20:36:44 GMT
Does anyone want my tickets to Wimbeldon? I have two front row seats to the final show. I'll sell them at face value (or less I guess?). Not because I don't want to see it but I won't be in town till Sunday. PM me.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 2, 2016 22:20:01 GMT
Does anyone want my tickets to Wimbeldon? I have two front row seats to the final show. I'll sell them at face value (or less I guess?). Not because I don't want to see it but I won't be in town till Sunday. PM me. Ali you may want to put this in the Noticeboard section. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 2, 2016 22:24:54 GMT
I wasn't going to see this after seeing the visually stunning original pre-West end production. But I'm kind of fascinated now.
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Post by tom on Aug 2, 2016 22:32:58 GMT
I was so looking forward to this after seeing it on Broadway and loving the music - Caissie Levy's voice is amazing. Shame about the cast for the tour as I will probably give it a miss now.
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Post by djp on Aug 2, 2016 23:56:15 GMT
I'd have thought that on the touring circuit, the 'Ghost' brand was enough to flog tickets without them feeling the need to cast it the way they have. In fact, they could have just stunt/star cast the Oda Mae character and that'd be enough if they wanted to go down this route. Let's hope we're all pleasantly surprised by their ability, but I'm not expecting much. What a shame. I think its more illogical than that. The Sound of Music went out with a top line MT cast sounding world class last year , but it was selling to a half empty theatre, with the folks from the local old folks home in the midweek matinee in Richmond. Yet Kenwright is sending the same musical back around on tour again - this time with someone from Corrie and somoen from the Voice in the leading roles. We also now have a long list of 4 and 5 star shows failing to sell well enough in London. Stuffing casts with any old name may just be an illogical reaction to the inability to know how to sell tickets otherwise. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 3, 2016 0:09:25 GMT
I wonder what she's like st the American accent.
Cheryl Cole-Fernandez-Versini-Spag-Bol-Cowell won't be happy!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 3, 2016 5:24:49 GMT
Kenwright production values... And Sarah Harding 'acting' and 'singing'... This is the announcement of the year! Hilarious!
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Post by theatrespy on Aug 3, 2016 7:34:04 GMT
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Post by shady23 on Aug 3, 2016 8:13:24 GMT
I wasn't going to see this after seeing the visually stunning original pre-West end production. But I'm kind of fascinated now. Same! |
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Post by theatrefan77 on Aug 3, 2016 13:03:46 GMT
I was discussing all this with a friend who works for a casting company. He believes that there are two main reasons why producers go for this kind of stunt casting.
The first reason is that he thinks that some audiences outside London will feel more inclined to book tickets to see familiar faces than unknown actors. This of course does not apply to every show. The Lion King would be successful on tour without any 'names'. But Ghost only enjoyed moderate success in the West End and was a flop on Broadway, so the producers probably believe that casting famous people could increase ticket sales.
The second reason, and the most important from a producer's point of view, would be that stunt casting saves a lot money in publicity. The casting of Sarah Harding is being covered by the media. She will probably do interviews on tv and radio promoting the show and the producer won't have to pay a penny for it. This production wouldn't get that kind of media coverage even if Caissie Levy herself was doing the tour.
I think it kind of makes sense, whether we like it or not.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:54:48 GMT
I think theatrefan77's post is spot-on correct. Personally, I had zero interest in Ghost the Musical but now I know that Rhys Ashworth is in it, it's gnawing away at my curiosity. And local radio and The One Show etc. have a neverending stream of promotional chitchats where the performers are widely known and the overworked and underresearched presenters don't need to prepare by finding out even the bare minimum of info about the show but can wing the "interview" with their familiarity with the artists, which is usually the hook for the media audience too.
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). But I'd much rather see musical theatre stars in musicals, strangely enough. 
