42nd Street at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

[theatremadness]

Also saw the matinee. The combination of front row, showstopper after showstopper, never ending magnificent set pieces and the biggest & best cast and orchestra in the West End has left me really quite overwhelmed. Was very much struggling to hold back the tears from the walk to the theatre to the station. Excuse the language, but f*ck me I just f*cking love musical theatre. Not just as a performer but as a human being. Felt like I was slap bang back in the middle of the golden age. Bravo to all involved, hope it runs & runs!

[liverpool54321]

Also at the matinee. Agree with everyone else. I couldn't imagine sitting anywhere but the front for this show. Given the size of the stage set and numbers in the cast you can still feel like you are half way back at any other production.

I'm glad they give Clare Halse her own post grand finale number with the rest of the ensemble as they are the real stars of the show. Off to paint the house pink, yellow, sky blue, purple .......

[Dawnstar]

I thought this was a 5 star production of a 3 star show. The production is fabulous, one of the best spectacles I've seen on a West End stage. The sheer number of people onstage is very impressive & the costume budget must be through the roof, set after set of costumes appearing onstage just for a couple of minutes (I want those rainbow frocks from Beautiful Dames!) However the book is mostly an excuse to hang the big production numbers on & there are so many of them there's not much time for character development. It didn't make me really care about any of the characters & it was so obvious they'd succeed that I couldn't get involved enough to be really rooting for them. Allowing for the book's weaknesses, I can't imagine a better production of it than this.

I was impressed by Sheena Easton. I thought her acting was decent & her singing not just pop star, in one number especially she sounded quite classical. I gather Tom Lister is known for some soap but again I thought he was good & didn't feel like stunt casting. I enjoyed Chris Howell & Jasna Ivair as the producers-cum-writer-cum-character-roles (though that much multitasking for a big Broadway show seemed a bit implausible). I thought Clare Halse was very good & a great dancer but perhaps slightly lacking in the ultimate "star quality". Likewise Stuart Neal was a bit generic-chorus-boy, in fact when he came on for the big 42nd Street number in sailor uniform it took me a while to realise who he was. The very large ensemble were excellent in the big numbers.

As everyone else has said, those £15 front row seats are the bargain of the year. The only downside is it'll be a masive come-down seeing it again from what will inevitably be a vastly inferior seat!

[anthony40]

Wow! Full review to follow later but I telling you, after press night, this is gonna be one of the hottest tickets in town!

[infofreako]

Glad you both enjoyed it

[Dawnstar]

Mar 25, 2017 23:40:25 GMT anthony40 said:

Wow! Full review to follow later but I telling you, after press night, this is gonna be one of the hottest tickets in town!

That's what worries me for when I need to make a return visit!

[Deleted]

Mar 26, 2017 0:06:03 GMT Dawnstar said:

Mar 25, 2017 23:40:25 GMT anthony40 said:

Wow! Full review to follow later but I telling you, after press night, this is gonna be one of the hottest tickets in town!

That's what worries me for when I need to make a return visit!

I think I'll be booking mine tomorrow!

[Deleted]

This is hands down the best production currently in the West End by miles - its production values blow Dreamgirls and An American in Paris (both of which I thought were wonderful) out of the water, and this show also has the best ensemble by miles - I couldn't believe how tight it was for the first week of previews!

Yes, the book is almost non-existent, but who cares when the singing, acting and most of all dancing is this good! Every single person on that stage was fantastic, even Sheena Easton, who I didn't expect much from but suits the role of Dorothy Brock perfectly.

I can see why Sheena gets the final bow, but Claire Halse is the star here - a stunning leading lady who fully deserves that wonderful curtain call number.

This is what a musical at its very best looks, feels and sounds like - it's feelgood stuff like nothing else, as classic as they come without ever seeming dated in the slightest. My £15 front row seat certainly was the bargain of the century, all the detail was clear without losing any of the spectacle of the mass numbers. I suspect it'd be just as good from the back row of the balcony though, I simply adored it.

Having seen both this and An American in Paris in one week I've been spoilt for good musical theatre, but this was the highlight. I can't see this getting anything other than raves. If you haven't already got a ticket you need to book. Quickly.

[Jon]

It's impressive how seamless the songs are In the show considering that only four of them are from the 1933 film.

[Tibidabo]

Mar 26, 2017 1:43:13 GMT @posterj said:

 I couldn't believe how tight it was for the first week of previews!

 the singing, acting and most of all dancing is this good! Every single person on that stage was fantastic, 

This is what a musical at its very best looks, feels and sounds like - it's feelgood stuff like nothing else, as classic as they come without ever seeming dated in the slightest.

I heard Sheena Easton interviewed on the radio yesterday.  She said that some of the ensemble are in their first professional show and are going about wide-eyed, unable to believe they are actually in it!  She also said that she keeps getting in their way as she still can't resist standing in the wings watching the big numbers.

[shady23]

Thank you so much to whoever posted about these front row tickets.

Watching this spectacular show from the front row was one of the most incredible and overwhelming experiences I have ever had in a theatre!

What an absolute treat of a show this is. Sublime cast, eye popping staging and choreography and great sets. It's truly a visual spectacular. Outstanding!

[infofreako]

I left the theatre thinking that it was exactly what a big musical should be. The lack of story didn't worry me too much because the spectacle was pure escapism.

[Deleted]

I was there last night as well and I agree with everything everyone has said, this is a great spectator show that really impresses. We all knew the dancing would be good but sitting there it was incredible and just put a smile on my face. The songs are nice good old classics and were performed amazingly by the cast who all put in 100%. I though all the cast where great but I do agree that Clare Halse Ian the best . Overall I really loved this show and sitting front row was great as you could see every tap and everyone's expression and felt a real part of everything.
For me it felt a bit like I was in 1933 watching a great spectacular.
This is just a great feel good classic show that makes you wanna dance

[Ade]

For anyone interested, I've popped my full thoughts up on the blog. Largely agree with everyone else as I said above. You come away feeling like you've spent a few hours back at a time when musicals were as big and bold as we imagine them to be in our heads:

westendwanderer.com/2017/03/26/review-42nd-street-theatre-royal-drury-lane-london/

[anita]

Loved it. Stood dancing watching the orchestra till they finished playing. You can't beat the front row. Definitely agree with anthony40 about this being the hottest ticket.

[Deleted]

Sounds like the whole of the front row comprised us lot last night, we were in A7-9 making a Mum sandwich. Barely any plot, but such a spectacular treat, what's not to like? One minor quibble, I wish Stuart Neal could have participated in the finale with Claire Halse, as they are the true stars here.

[crabtree]

thanks for sharing the photos - the design does look very different from the original....all the pink back stage area was a bit ghastly. Have they reinvented the train and the wall of dressing rooms?
Can't wait to see this - with this and American in Paris and Half a Sixpence, whilst not on the same scale but bit the same joy of dance, we are being spoilt.

[fossil]

The above comments convinced me to book. Just picked up one of the last two centre row A £15 tickets left. The one next to it, A8 for the 5th April 7.30, is still left if anyone wants to grab it.

[dippy]

Thanks fossil (sorry anyone else who wanted it) I started going through all the dates up to the 24th of April yesterday but because of how you keep being put back to March I must have accidentally skipped that date. Looks like you're stuck sitting next to me unless I end up having to work (I probably won't know about work till much nearer the time) in which case I'm sure I'll find someone who can go instead of me.

[Deleted]

The set is practically the same as the original, only the backdrops are a new. The wall or dressing rooms and train car are the same. I was looking at the brochure for the original UK tour and there was a huge bird cage type frame with the girls all holding ropes of flowers. Not sure what number it was used for.

[anthony40]

So, as referred to above, I caught this last night and (quite frankly) am steel reeling in awe from the whole experience.

This is a big, brass, tits and teeth old fashioned type musical.

I actually caught a production of this in Sydney, about 20 years ago , some of which I still remember and other parts came flooding back to me. I still have the theatre programme and cast recording. Guess I'll have to dig that bad boy out.

Those cheap seats were the bargain of the year. Row A on the aisle.

I was so close I could see all microphones and the lines of when the wigs joined.

Sets are minimal however the backdrops are outstanding, as are all scrims.

And the girls. The just keep coming. At a guess, there must be 50 people up on that stage.

The variety of costumes and wigs is outstanding, whether it's top hats of a variety of dresses and hats that form a rainbow or as flowers.

There is one dance performed on two pianos joined up an I was close enough to see the sewed on sequins and beads falling off as the female lead was dancing.

And lets forget the dancing. This is sharp, slick with all ensemble blissfully tapping, with bales sequences and toe points.

They say that when in an ensemble, each is a character and this was the case with this show.

All leads are excellent and strong vocally.

Sheena Easton; there's no denying she's a woman of a certain age, slightly (only just) heavy set but she's still got it. She looks and sounds fantastic and has a great smile.

As I as at the end of the aisle I stood up to let other pass and listen to the orchestra and invariably must have been lost in my little headspace and dancing slightly and two women commented that "You must have really enjoyed it".

Yep, that's the effect it had on me.

The house was full, with all levels open.

Also had the opportunity to meet at the show the lovely poster j and Dawnstar. Even got me a free badge that they were handing out.

This is a slick, lavish, huge show that is going to be come THE show to see come press night.

Dreamgirls was truly excellent! I have not seen American in Paris as yet so am not in a position to comment on that however.....go and see this show!

[Deleted]

Yes, lovely to meet you Anthony and Dawnstar - and sorry for rushing off at the end, had to get across to Piccadilly Circus sharpish!

[anthony40]

Mar 26, 2017 18:17:08 GMT @posterj said:

Yes, lovely to meet you Anthony and Dawnstar - and sorry for rushing off at the end, had to get across to Piccadilly Circus sharpish!

Not a problem.

Hope you got home safely.

[BurlyBeaR]

You liked it then anthony40

Pleased to see you met up with some forum buddies too!

[Dawnstar]

Mar 26, 2017 17:44:26 GMT anthony40 said:

There is one dance performed on two pianos joined up an I was close enough to see the sewed on sequins and beads falling off as the female lead was dancing.

Oh yes, I noticed that too. The wardrobe department must be being kept busy already. There are so many costumes & a lot of them are heavily sequined and/or beaded so that's lot of embellishements to be repaired.