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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 19:30:40 GMT
I am sitting right now in AA13 and it's indeed a dream of a bargain, I can't imagine a better view than this Thats my seat tomorrow night!
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Post by wickedgrin on Mar 21, 2017 19:37:22 GMT
Anyone who saw the show last night, I see the programmes are very much the Cinderella/School of Rock book style rather than the usual Drury Lane programmes. Do they contain production photos? Brochure/programme £5 Contains rehearsal pics at the moment but no doubt will be updated with production pics later.
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Post by infofreako on Mar 21, 2017 19:41:17 GMT
£5 not too bad. Good to know how much to take too
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Post by nash16 on Mar 21, 2017 20:26:55 GMT
As Wickedgrin says, the show has not been reconceived - it's a revival of the 2001 Broadway revival, staged by the same people, director Mark Bramble and choreographer Randy Skinner. And why would they change what works so amazingly well? Certainly from the very first moments of the overture when the conductor's podium elevated and conductor Jae Alexander turned to the house, arms outstretched, the wildly enthusiastic audience was revelling in the recognition factor. And when the final chords of Lullaby of Broadway segued into the sudden rhythms of 42nd Street and the curtain edged up to reveal those countless dancing feet, a roar went up that could only be interpreted as welcome back to tap dance heaven! It's the show we were hoping to see. For a musical this big - a 36 member ensemble (24 ladies, 12 men) accompanied by a 19 piece orchestra - and this complex it was an astonishing first preview, flawless. Everything worked, the excitement never let up from those opening tapping feet right through to the huge post-bows production number (shades of recent discussions here) which brought down the house. The cast is terrific. Clare Halse is an archetypal Peggy Sawyer, pretty and petite, full of energy, a fabulous dancer, well matched by Stuart Neal's Billy Lawlor. Christopher Howell and Jasna Ivir are funny and effective as the comedy duo, Maggie and Bert, and, if there were any doubts about Sheena Easton's Dorothy Brock, put them to rest - she's excellent, loudly tempermental but retaining sympathy and, with her appealing smoky voice, really selling her songs. A new song has been added for her in the first act, the only change in the show I could detect. It's the torchy "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", a solo number, and she sings it gorgeously. But the standout for me is Tom Lister's Julian Marsh, by far the best I've seen in the role. He not only commands the stage and delivers his iconic lines - which, at this point, border on parody - with passion and conviction but he can sing! Thanks mainly to him the "Lullaby of Broadway" number in the second act totally stops the show, as it should. For once we have a Julian Marsh who deserves his final bow. I just kept thinking how amazing it has been to have taken in, within a few days of each other, two such fabulous and exemplary dance shows - each the best of its kind - as An American in Paris and now 42nd Street. From the sublime to the sublime. Lucky London. Tom Lister's Julian was the ONLY thing that didn't work for us. That's so funny. His singing was wonderful, but his acting was not very good, especially his delivery of certain lines. He was genuinely the only weak link in it for us though. The rest, heaven!
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 21, 2017 20:52:01 GMT
Someone would have said sooner or later that the cast could be more diverse, so it's better be me: it really could have done better in this aspect.
Please refrain from saying it's set in the 30s, historical accuracy, blah blah blah
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 20:56:54 GMT
Someone would have said sooner or later that the cast could be more diverse, so it's better be me: it really could have done better in this aspect. Please refrain from saying it's set in the 30s, historical accuracy, blah blah blah How is the show itself? And how is the view from the seat I am sitting in tomorrow?
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Post by bellboard27 on Mar 21, 2017 20:59:48 GMT
I am sitting right now in AA13 and it's indeed a dream of a bargain, I can't imagine a better view than this Thats my seat tomorrow night! And me next week - look after it!
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2,848 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 21, 2017 21:04:13 GMT
Someone would have said sooner or later that the cast could be more diverse, so it's better be me: it really could have done better in this aspect. Please refrain from saying it's set in the 30s, historical accuracy, blah blah blah How is the show itself? And how is the view from the seat I am sitting in tomorrow? Seat is extraordinary, you're in for a treat! I'll post my opinions when the show is over
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:34:46 GMT
Someone would have said sooner or later that the cast could be more diverse, so it's better be me: it really could have done better in this aspect. Please refrain from saying it's set in the 30s, historical accuracy, blah blah blah White people traditionally better at tap dancing
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:39:07 GMT
Someone would have said sooner or later that the cast could be more diverse, so it's better be me: it really could have done better in this aspect. Please refrain from saying it's set in the 30s, historical accuracy, blah blah blah White people traditionally better at tap dancing Did I read that correctly...
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Post by Laineee on Mar 21, 2017 21:48:49 GMT
The fact that you are all raving about this gives me a serious dilemma - been instructed to accompany my mum and aunts (all 70 somethings) on a theatre trip to London, and the choice is this or An American In Paris. No idea which to go for now.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:49:26 GMT
White people traditionally better at tap dancing Did I read that correctly... It's not in the traditional repertoire of Classic Indian Dancing Nor of the African or Caribbean culture The dancing is quite different I don't think it would be the first audition choice for BAME actors But if it runs They should actively seek them out for the future casts Imagine tap shows such as anything goes Etc They are always almost always an entire white cast The NT staging had one black actor as the maid
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:49:57 GMT
The fact that you are all raving about this gives me a serious dilemma - been instructed to accompany my mum and aunts (all 70 somethings) on a theatre trip to London, and the choice is this or An American In Paris. No idea which to go for now. NO Must see 42 nd Sexy ladies From the 80s
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:52:27 GMT
Did I read that correctly... It's not in the traditional repertoire of Classic Indian Dancing Nor of the African or Caribbean culture The dancing is quite different I don't think it would be the first audition choice for BAME actors But that wouldn't stop them from casting black/mixed race/asian/chinese dancers. If they have open auditions and someone shows potential, no matter what there background or "tradition" they should still be cast in the show. Being one of the famous dance musicals, I am sure plenty of dancers of different ethnicities auditioned,
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:54:25 GMT
It's not in the traditional repertoire of Classic Indian Dancing Nor of the African or Caribbean culture The dancing is quite different I don't think it would be the first audition choice for BAME actors But that wouldn't stop them from casting black/mixed race/asian/chinese dancers. If they have open auditions and someone shows potential, no matter what there background or "tradition" they should still be cast in the show. Perhaps But if many did audition perhaps a smaller percentage can tap? It's not meant in any sort of racist way Really But if you say tap dancing It seems like a 30s white domain As a natural instinct Addendum I think I have seen Clive rowe tap Can that be right?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 21:56:33 GMT
If I could be in any show
Ever
It would be this one
I would dance about all over the stage
Clapping and waving
Is tap dancing hard?
Do the shoes make the difference?
I think the show will spark a frenzy of people wanting to learn
There are several female BAME actors in the ensemble
No men
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:27:47 GMT
SERIOUSLY??
White people are not natural at tap. It's a dance. ANYONE can learn a dance, Any dance, from any culture.
Edited as requested
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:37:57 GMT
SERIOUSLY?? White people are not natural at tap. It's a dance. ANYONE can learn a dance, Any dance, from any culture. I don't know why I'm feeding the troll.... It was not a trolling comment Far from it Has been misinterpreted So I would appreciate you retracting that nasty term Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:38:05 GMT
But that wouldn't stop them from casting black/mixed race/asian/chinese dancers. If they have open auditions and someone shows potential, no matter what there background or "tradition" they should still be cast in the show. Perhaps But if many did audition perhaps a smaller percentage can tap? It's not meant in any sort of racist way Really But if you say tap dancing It seems like a 30s white domain As a natural instinct Addendum I think I have seen Clive rowe tap Can that be right? I know that wasn't your intent, I would certainly hope it wasn't haha. But it could come across that way to some.
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Post by infofreako on Mar 21, 2017 22:39:10 GMT
I'm stunned that anyone thinks parsley is trolling.
Although I do keep checking this thread looking for reports from tonight and having to wade through a discussion that goes round in circles everytime it comes up.
Don't get me wrong, its a valid and important discussion but it drags the threads about the shows themselves off at tangents.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:40:57 GMT
I'm stunned that anyone thinks parsley is trolling. Dear sister
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Post by bellboard27 on Mar 21, 2017 22:44:42 GMT
If I could be in any show Ever It would be this one I would dance about all over the stage Clapping and waving Is tap dancing hard? Do the shoes make the difference? I think the show will spark a frenzy of people wanting to learn There are several female BAME actors in the ensemble No men Please can we crowdfund this!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:54:14 GMT
Isn't tap a standard part of all musical theatre training?
It originated as a fusion of percussive African tribal dances and Irish, English and Scottish hornpipes, jigs and clog dancing, and was later influenced by jazz dance.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:56:04 GMT
Isn't tap a standard part of all musical theatre training? It originated as a fusion of percussive African tribal dances and Irish, English and Scottish hornpipes, jigs and clog dancing, and was later influenced by jazz dance. Clog dancing
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 22:59:39 GMT
A form of step dancing, developed in industrial communities where clogs were common footwear.
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