700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on May 9, 2017 19:56:09 GMT
I'm extremely torn about seeing this. I'm a sucker for jazz hands and spectacles but is the story really that bad ??
Also, are A0 and 24 still very cheap like they were for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ?
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8,109 posts
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Post by alece10 on May 9, 2017 20:05:21 GMT
I'm extremely torn about seeing this. I'm a sucker for jazz hands and spectacles but is the story really that bad ?? Also, are A0 and 24 still very cheap like they were for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ? No and yes |
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653 posts
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Post by ptwest on May 9, 2017 20:17:27 GMT
I'm extremely torn about seeing this. I'm a sucker for jazz hands and spectacles but is the story really that bad ?? |
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on May 9, 2017 20:33:49 GMT
Well I went last night and was very underwhelmed. I love a tap dance, so I went into this thinking I would love it. Flimsy stories are fine with me, and I absolutely adored Top Hat for its spectacle despite not the strongest book, and I know you shouldn't go in thinking 'because I like x show I should like this one', but not even the tap dancing could make me like this.
The story was non-existant. I had never seen the show, but even before it started I just knew how it would end. The cast were average at best. Sheena Easton, nice voice, dull actress. Tom Lister, nice voice again, but just didn't charm me. Norman Bowman, charming and incredibly wasted. Christopher Howell annoyed me, even more did the western guy who seems made about Dorothy. I can't remember the female composer in the shows name, but she didn't wow me either. The only star in this is Clare Halse, a good but not great voice, but a brilliant tapper. I could keep my eyes off of her, and she is genuinely a likeable girl, and with time and more big roles she will be spectacular.
The sets were nice, having watched the trailer I was surprised from my row B stalls seat that some of them looked a little flimsy. Maybe my expectations were too high. The train station set and the steps at the end scenes were spectacular to look at - it's a shame they could only be used once in the story though.
Dancing very good, the choreography is really one of the few truly brilliant things about this show. It is stunning, even if it did look a bit lost on the stage - a theatre the size of the Prince Edward would have been better in my opinion even though it would probably lack the logistics for the set etc. Also great was hearing a proper orchestra. The forgettable score sounded brilliant, which I guess is something.
Overall, a good but not great show. I'm glad I only paid £15 for row B stalls, had I paid more I would have been disappointed, especially as my mind did start to wonder at numerous points. 2.5 stars.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 22:45:38 GMT
The cast were average at best. You do know that the cast also includes the ensemble, not just the leads, right? So it's a little bit confusing for you to say in the same post that the cast were "average at best" but the dancing was very good - bit of a contradiction there, not to mention a bit of an insult to the ensemble. Each to their opinion of course, but I'm not at all sure whether you're actually complimenting the ensemble for their hard work or complaining about them! |
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Post by zak97 on May 9, 2017 22:54:43 GMT
The cast were average at best. You do know that the cast also includes the ensemble, not just the leads, right? So it's a little bit confusing for you to say in the same post that the cast were "average at best" but the dancing was very good - bit of a contradiction there, not to mention a bit of an insult to the ensemble. Each to their opinion of course, but I'm not at all sure whether you're actually complimenting the ensemble for their hard work or complaining about them! Fair point, I didn't think about it in that way - my stupidity. Leads were average in my opinion. Choreographed nicely, and well executed by the ensemble. They are highly skilled and deserve praise. It's just a shame that the choreography from only three scenes is really memorable. |
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Post by westendwendy on May 9, 2017 23:09:04 GMT
I don't give a damn if someone had a bad side stalls seat and says the shown is average. I know about 50 people who have seen it and ALL said it was sensational and one of the best things they had ever seen. Of course it's not chekhov but the staging dancing and tap numbers incredible. It's always depends what mood you are in as a person when it comes to reviews, also who you went with, where you sat etc... It's the best show in town and we all know it!!!
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 23:11:23 GMT
It's in my Top 3 of the year thus far that I have seen easily... maybe not Number 1 but in my Top 3 no doubt.
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904 posts
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Post by lonlad on May 9, 2017 23:31:15 GMT
Checkhov??? :-(
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 23:40:43 GMT
You can translate it a number of ways from the Cyrillic characters but that's a new one on me! Tchekhov used to be common before Chekhov. The same with Stanislavski/Stanislavsky/Stanislawski/Stanislawsky/Stanislauski etc. Maybe we should just use Че́хов. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 0:10:16 GMT
I find it strange that people that supposedly don't care if other people dislike the show turn up to rampantly defend it every time someone says they disliked it...
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Post by d'James on May 10, 2017 0:14:32 GMT
I find it strange that people that supposedly don't care if other people dislike the show turn up to rampantly defend it every time someone says they disliked it... Exactly what I was thinking. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 0:51:38 GMT
I find it strange that people that supposedly don't care if other people dislike the show turn up to rampantly defend it every time someone says they disliked it... If you're talking about me then I merely pointed out an inconsistency within a post that made its intention confused. I certainly don't dismiss others' opinions or bother to defend the show every time someone criticises it (in fact I think I've said before - if not on here then possibly elsewhere - that I agree the book is weak). Nothing irritates me more than posts where clearly the poster thinks those who disagree with them are not entitled to their opinion! |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 1:00:36 GMT
I find it strange that people that supposedly don't care if other people dislike the show turn up to rampantly defend it every time someone says they disliked it... If you're talking about me then I merely pointed out an inconsistency within a post that made its intention confused. I certainly don't dismiss others' opinions or bother to defend the show every time someone criticises it (in fact I think I've said before - if not on here then possibly elsewhere - that I agree the book is weak). Nothing irritates me more than posts where clearly the poster thinks those who disagree with them are not entitled to their opinion! I wasn't talking about you. |
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5,817 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 10, 2017 6:44:08 GMT
I simply cannot accept anyone giving this show 2.5 stars.. or saying it is Average.
On no planet is this show average.
Every single person I know who's seen this- many of them jaded old people from the 'business' like me, all totally raved about this. That never happens.
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1,256 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 10, 2017 7:31:27 GMT
OPINIONS ARE OPINIONS, people. If somebody doesn't quite like a show as much as you that doesn't invalidate their opinion. Sometimes on this 42nd Street thread it feels somewhat like people are being bullied for their negative opinions or experiences. We know your feelings on the show if you loved it. They have been said several times. To keep repeating them like a bull in a china shop is offensive. Theatre divides people. Theatre brings people together. That's why we love it
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 7:51:32 GMT
The irony of people who slag off the majority of shows being unable to accept peoples opinions on a show.
Granted ive not seen this production but I have seen 42nd Street before and even by old musicals standards (which i usually love btw) the plot is non existent and i remember being bored in other parts so i completely understand some peoples criticisms
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Post by Mr Snow on May 10, 2017 7:53:21 GMT
Yes Opinions maybe just opinions but the show was put together around a brilliant set of songs. Someone about mentioned the ‘forgettable’ score. Unfortunately the weight of INFORMED opinion weights heavily against that.
The following have been revived by singers and bands over and over because they stand up to repeated examination, with delightful melodies and a nice way with words.. Dubin and Warren may not have been at the apexof the pyramid of 20th century songwriters but at their best they produced high quality memorable songs. The following will be remembered long after this year’s crop of hits stop being whistled!
You’re Getting to be a Habit with me
I only have eyes for you
We’re in the Money
About a Quarter to Nine
42nd Street
Lullaby of Broadway.
It’s a very strong score. IMO of course.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 8:39:37 GMT
The songs are great but the book is not, and so many people complain about the books of other shows with great songs there just seems to br some double standards going on here
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653 posts
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Post by ptwest on May 10, 2017 8:52:35 GMT
I don't know if I would agree with double standards -in my opinion it depends on how well the show achieves what it sets out to do. If 42nd street was being presented as a serious drama tackling meaty issues then it would fail miserably. However, in my opinion, the creative team have taken the thin material and created the most wonderful, joyous spectacle. That therefore is the point of it, alongside a great score. Therefore, again in my own opinion, it succeeds admirably.
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on May 10, 2017 8:52:57 GMT
To be frank I'm being made to feel like I need to apologies for offending the mass by disagreeing with popular opinion...wait, that is pathetic. I am allowed to have my own opinion. I don't give a damn if someone had a bad side stalls seat and says the shown is average. I know about 50 people who have seen it and ALL said it was sensational and one of the best things they had ever seen. Of course it's not checkhov but the staging dancing and tap numbers incredible. It's always depends what mood you are in as a person when it comes to reviews, also who you went with, where you sat etc... It's the best show in town and we all know it!!! Quite honestly, saying you don't care about the opinions of people who can only afford a cheap seat is ridiculous, and whilst I'm not going to make any suggestions about your personal wealth, is a very disappointing trait. I'm a student in London and I love to go to the theatre. That said, I have little money to spare each week, £10, £15, or maybe £20 if I'm lucky. I had read such good things on here that I was saving up to buy a decent seat for this, it seemed worth it. Naturally, if a dynamically priced seat jumps up I'm going to grab it. So before you belittle me, I would note that I said my seat was priced dynamically to £15 anyway, my seat was on the edge of a side block and I could see the entire stage - I knew what was going on. And the producers obviously don't think it's a that bad seat, otherwise it wouldn't normally be top price, would it? On a more general note: Theatre is subjective, am I not allowed to dislike aspects of a show? Personally, I thought the show looked a bit lost on the massive stage from time to times. I said that train station and the finale sets were great, at other times it looked a bit flimsy. Sheena was good but not great. All of these are MY opinion. I have not come here to ask for agreement, but to express my views. So what if I prefer Half a Sixpence and The Girls to 42nd Street. That is my personal preference, as to which show and which producers I want to give my money to. We all have different music preferences and different comedy preferences, mine obviously just aren't as aligned to the style of 42nd Street as they for others on here. When people take snipes at Dan seemingly every time he says Alice is the best Elphaba, and people say it is just HIS opinion (and I don't know who on this thread comments on that thread so I'm not making hypocrisy judgements here) and this is my opinion, just like yours is that you like it. So what if someone disagrees with the masses, as long as they can justify to themselves, in my opinion, as to why something was not their cup of tea there should be no problem. |
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Post by zahidf on May 10, 2017 9:11:53 GMT
I do sometimes find that being critical of musicals is a lot harder on here than plays. they are more enthusiastic fans, which is fine of course. At the same time, there is nothing wrong in not liking a show, and it does seem a shame when reasonable critiques are attacked.
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Post by infofreako on May 10, 2017 9:41:25 GMT
This place on the whole is turning bitter and twisted. Have fun bitching and sniping at each other, its clearly something you all get a buzz from. It takes all the joy I get from theatre away. I'm out!
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Post by Tibidabo on May 10, 2017 9:50:55 GMT
Please don't infofreako. You're one of my favourite posters. (The 'block' button is your friend  ) |
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Post by infofreako on May 10, 2017 10:19:03 GMT
Thank you Tibidabozak97, what i'd give to have up to £20 a week to spare. Though i dont think the comment was meant as a dig at people who cant afford better seats either so that must have taken some reading between the lines. I will try to take a bit of a break from here and it is entirely down to 2 or 3 posters, for now I'm off to block them and hide in my happy place |
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