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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 10:33:44 GMT
My contribution
Is that musicals are generally tacky and gaudy and hardly the most sophisticated art form
But they can be massively entertaining
Even though I prefer plays, a musical which gets it right can't be beaten
For me this means scale and spectacle and that does translate (most but not all the time) into a high production budget
This is evident with musicals like 42nd Street and AAIP
They have not skimped and the costs are evident on stage
Shows like The Girls and Half a Sixpence have clear signs of cost cutting and for me just come across as generally a bit sh*t
Too many people think it is easy to put on a musical
It is so hard
As demonstrated by the endless parade of sh*te we have seen in the WE over the last 5 years, a stream of shows which cannot make it past 12 months and designed to please only the producers or composers ego
Half a Sixpence has not even been half full most of the time, has been papering and discounting from the outset
The fact that even then they cannot fill a theatre of less than 1200 seats is telling
And this was after unnecessarily sycophantic reviews
Would I eat Pizza Express in an emergency?
Yes
Would I be happy deep inside?
No
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 10:42:42 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. If you want to hear a "proper orchestra" Going to a WE show is probably the wrong venue to be attending I am also surprised someone found Top Hat to have "spectacle" In comparison to 42nd Street Then again many people would not be able to tell Primark from Marni |
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Post by zak97 on May 10, 2017 10:44:30 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 Personally, I took the side stalls seat as a reference to the fact that side seats are normally cheap and offer a restricted view. I was aggravated by the fact that it was because it was a possibly less good seat the value of my judgement seemed lessened. I didn't mean to make it come across as a dig at people who can't afford better seats. |
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 10:56:02 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 To be perfectly honest, I read the post in the exact same way, that it was a cheaper and low quality seat, so the opinion of the poster was therefore less valid. I actually logged on because of it and to say it came over as low class. Everyone should be entitled to an opinion on the show they saw. I'm a little shocked at the response to those who do not gush about the show, it seems the posters pick on that person for expressing how they felt. I have to say, I have tickets for a few weeks time, the producers of this show as represented on this thread have made me reconsider going. It's ugly. |
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Post by infofreako on May 10, 2017 11:05:30 GMT
showoff if you'll reconsider going and decide a show is "ugly" based on a few peoples opinions that seems an odd decision to make. Why not still go and form your own opinion good or bad.
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Post by zak97 on May 10, 2017 11:07:22 GMT
Thank you Tibidabo zak97 , 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 To be perfectly honest, I read the post in the exact same way, that it was a cheaper and low quality seat, so the opinion of the poster was therefore less valid. I actually logged on because of it and to say it came over as low class. Everyone should be entitled to an opinion on the show they saw. I'm a little shocked at the response to those who do not gush about the show, it seems the posters pick on that person for expressing how they felt. I have to say, I have tickets for a few weeks time, the producers of this show as represented on this thread have made me reconsider going. It's ugly. Go, really do! You may love it, all I have been trying to proclaim here is that everyone loves different things. I personally like going to shows not knowing if I will or will not like them, it's part of the excitement before hand. |
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 11:14:33 GMT
To be perfectly honest, I read the post in the exact same way, that it was a cheaper and low quality seat, so the opinion of the poster was therefore less valid. I actually logged on because of it and to say it came over as low class. Everyone should be entitled to an opinion on the show they saw. I'm a little shocked at the response to those who do not gush about the show, it seems the posters pick on that person for expressing how they felt. I have to say, I have tickets for a few weeks time, the producers of this show as represented on this thread have made me reconsider going. It's ugly. Go, really do! You may love it, all I have been trying to proclaim here is that everyone loves different things. I personally like going to shows not knowing if I will or will not like them, it's part of the excitement before hand. Oh, I actually think I will love it. It's my type of show, but I don't mind seeing something I'm not going to fall in love with,like TM says, it let's you see what you do love and opens your eyes to other things. No, it's actually the attitude of the producers on here that has firmly put me off seeing the show. |
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Post by infofreako on May 10, 2017 11:16:12 GMT
^And you actually NEED to see some stuff you hate, in order to understand why you love the things that you do. Even now, I pick at least 2 productions a year that are totally "out of my comfort zone" as it keeps me fresh, I find. Fully agree. I enjoy seeing things that may challenge or that I dont think I will enjoy. Even 42nd Street oddly enough I went to in the front row bargains thinking itd be OK but came out having loved every second |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 11:31:14 GMT
He meant Parsley the investor, I expect.
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 11:46:28 GMT
No, it's actually the attitude of the producers on here that has firmly put me off seeing the show. Producers on here? Do you mean other board posters? I was thinking you meant the producers of the show - the people putting it on! Apologies, yes the posters on here, who are financially invested in the musical. Yes, these people are actually turning me off of going with their forceful and often rude remarks towards anyone who has gone and does not believe it to be the best thing on at the moment. |
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Post by Mr Snow on May 10, 2017 11:52:56 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. If you want to hear a "proper orchestra" Going to a WE show is probably the wrong venue to be attending I am also surprised someone found Top Hat to have "spectacle" In comparison to 42nd Street Then again many people would not be able to tell Primark from Marni These are just your 'opinions' and nothing more. They are expressed so strongly that in this case you've actually succeeded in putting people off a show you’ve invested in (see posts below). Do you feel quite so smart now? I must say that compared to other Forums I frequent the criticism is pretty mild. Each to their own and I can see that could be a downward spiral. I DO value the overall air of civility on here. I think I’ll now leave this thread alone. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 11:54:49 GMT
Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 11:56:48 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. If you want to hear a "proper orchestra" Going to a WE show is probably the wrong venue to be attending I am also surprised someone found Top Hat to have "spectacle" In comparison to 42nd Street Then again many people would not be able to tell Primark from Marni And then again, there are some, oftentimes the foolish, who believe that just because something is very expensive, it means it is always of high quality. There is often a very big difference between what something costs and what something is worth. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 12:02:09 GMT
I actually think its really quite selfish and rude to talk down someones opinion on a show if you have involvement in it. As it is not only unprofessional, but also no one is going to love every show and some are bound to be a little bit let down now because there has been so much hype written about this show that everyone has extremely high expectations now. But being involved in a production, you should come to expect that, its part of the buisness. The reviews are already out, a few opinions aren't gonna change the fact its as highly reviewed as it is.
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 12:03:27 GMT
Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Great minds think alike. I must have been writing my post as yours went up. |
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Post by theatrelover123 on May 10, 2017 12:11:31 GMT
I am glad other people think the way I do  |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 12:17:21 GMT
My contribution Is that musicals are generally tacky and gaudy and hardly the most sophisticated art form That is absolutely untrue and can only be as a result of you having seen none of the many sophisticated, untacky, ungaudy musicals that exist.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 12:25:05 GMT
Go, really do! You may love it, all I have been trying to proclaim here is that everyone loves different things. I personally like going to shows not knowing if I will or will not like them, it's part of the excitement before hand. Oh, I actually think I will love it. It's my type of show, but I don't mind seeing something I'm not going to fall in love with,like TM says, it let's you see what you do love and opens your eyes to other things. No, it's actually the attitude of the producers on here that has firmly put me off seeing the show. I doubt ANY producer of ANY show Will be posting on a message board People involved in shows at some minor or indirect level perhaps Or friends and family of cast Furriers perhaps No one any higher than that The producers for this show are all (as far as I know) very wealthy white men |
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 12:31:31 GMT
Oh, I actually think I will love it. It's my type of show, but I don't mind seeing something I'm not going to fall in love with,like TM says, it let's you see what you do love and opens your eyes to other things. No, it's actually the attitude of the producers on here that has firmly put me off seeing the show. I doubt ANY producer of ANY show Will be posting on a message board People involved in shows at some minor or indirect level perhaps Or friends and family of cast Furriers perhaps No one any higher than that I've actually known very well known people post on forums, not just in musical theatre. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 12:36:20 GMT
I doubt ANY producer of ANY show Will be posting on a message board People involved in shows at some minor or indirect level perhaps Or friends and family of cast Furriers perhaps No one any higher than that I've actually known very well known people post on forums, not just in musical theatre. Goodness me Haven't they anything better to do?? (This is a joke) See the show if you can The production values are amazing And I would hope you would have a lovely time and enjoy yourself Which is after all the main point of theatre! Even if you didn't like every single aspect of it |
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Post by showoff on May 10, 2017 12:47:13 GMT
I've actually known very well known people post on forums, not just in musical theatre. Goodness me Haven't they anything better to do?? (This is a joke) See the show if you can The production values are amazing And I would hope you would have a lovely time and enjoy yourself Which is after all the main point of theatre! Even if you didn't like every single aspect of it There are some very famous and prominent people with their own forums too, who sign up and become members themselves under a different guise. I am not talking about the theatre world alone here. I know of certain leading stars of shows who have signed up to forums to pretend to be a fan of theirs. People are all the same deep down,all wanting to be lived, admired or agreed with. No matter if they are a star turn, investors or fans. I was looking forward to seeing the show. I just believe that you could maybe go easier on people who have a differing opinion to your own. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2017 13:00:58 GMT
Goodness me Haven't they anything better to do?? (This is a joke) See the show if you can The production values are amazing And I would hope you would have a lovely time and enjoy yourself Which is after all the main point of theatre! Even if you didn't like every single aspect of it There are some very famous and prominent people with their own forums too, who sign up and become members themselves under a different guise. I am not talking about the theatre world alone here. I know of certain leading stars of shows who have signed up to forums to pretend to be a fan of theirs. People are all the same deep down,all wanting to be lived, admired or agreed with. No matter if they are a star turn, investors or fans. I was looking forward to seeing the show. I just believe that you could maybe go easier on people who have a differing opinion to your own. Hope you enjoy it very much 🤗🤗 |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 10, 2017 13:43:44 GMT
I doubt ANY producer of ANY show Will be posting on a message board People involved in shows at some minor or indirect level perhaps Or friends and family of cast Wrong!  |
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Post by Tibidabo on May 10, 2017 13:47:50 GMT
I doubt ANY producer of ANY show Will be posting on a message board People involved in shows at some minor or indirect level perhaps Or friends and family of cast Wrong! I KNEW it BB. You're really Trevor Nunn. |
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Post by Phantom of London on May 10, 2017 21:02:07 GMT
Saying you cannot have a fair judgement if you are sitting in a cheap seat is bogus.
People who sit is a cheap seat and even then they've might had to splash out, generally really appreciate the theatrical piece more, like marriages where people had to scrimp and save are the ones that tend to go the distance, because they had to work at it, so appreciate what they got - people who have everything on a plate, what they have has no value so therefore meaninless, people who sit in expensive seats can also have a smug entitlement.
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