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Post by FairyGodmother on Mar 27, 2022 12:38:53 GMT
You know I like to think I’m very open and I’m totally on board with Disney decision to cast regardless of race if the role can support it, but… At the Thursday matinee young Anna was back, young Elsa was white. Then grown up Anna was white and grown up Elsa was black. Add in two Asian actors as the parents and a little part of my OCD brain did start demanding a bit narrative of discipline lol. That’s got to confuse some kids and does brake the whole Disney Magic BS they try and present at these things. I presume it's so they can have any combination of adult/child Elsa/Anna. That particular way with the swapping races does seem like it could be a bit confusing though! |
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Post by h86 on Mar 27, 2022 12:52:41 GMT
You know I like to think I’m very open and I’m totally on board with Disney decision to cast regardless of race if the role can support it, but… At the Thursday matinee young Anna was back, young Elsa was white. Then grown up Anna was white and grown up Elsa was black. Add in two Asian actors as the parents and a little part of my OCD brain did start demanding a bit narrative of discipline lol. That’s got to confuse some kids and does brake the whole Disney Magic BS they try and present at these things. In the current Beauty and the Beast tour, Mrs Potts is always played by a white actress and Chip is always played by a black young actor, I don’t find it confusing. Isn’t the whole point of musical theatre to suspend your disbelief…. |
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Post by mhumphries on Mar 27, 2022 13:34:56 GMT
You know I like to think I’m very open and I’m totally on board with Disney decision to cast regardless of race if the role can support it, but… At the Thursday matinee young Anna was back, young Elsa was white. Then grown up Anna was white and grown up Elsa was black. Add in two Asian actors as the parents and a little part of my OCD brain did start demanding a bit narrative of discipline lol. That’s got to confuse some kids and does brake the whole Disney Magic BS they try and present at these things. In the current Beauty and the Beast tour, Mrs Potts is always played by a white actress and Chip is always played by a black young actor, I don’t find it confusing. Isn’t the whole point of musical theatre to suspend your disbelief…. There’s a gag there about how Mrs Potts like her tea lol… Oh yes absolutely, but it did take me out of it at the time, so used to the Disney theme park rule of stay true to the characters that I never believed them when they said the would be very open with the casting, thought it was just PR talk. Wonder how that would go down in an actual theme park though. |
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Post by inthenose on Mar 27, 2022 18:35:25 GMT
Whaaaaaat? Back up! There’s a ‘Finding Nemo’ show at DLP? I loved ‘The Legend of the Lion King’ way back when. Get me back there!!! We went off it a bit when we went a few summers ago when it was 41 degrees. It was a little warm. It's brilliant, some really great songs - easily the best of the Disneyworld shows. Music by the Lopez husband/wife team who did Avenue Q et al. |
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Post by inthenose on Mar 27, 2022 19:30:24 GMT
You know I like to think I’m very open and I’m totally on board with Disney decision to cast regardless of race if the role can support it, but… At the Thursday matinee young Anna was back, young Elsa was white. Then grown up Anna was white and grown up Elsa was black. Add in two Asian actors as the parents and a little part of my OCD brain did start demanding a bit narrative of discipline lol. That’s got to confuse some kids and does brake the whole Disney Magic BS they try and present at these things. In the current Beauty and the Beast tour, Mrs Potts is always played by a white actress and Chip is always played by a black young actor, I don’t find it confusing. Isn’t the whole point of musical theatre to suspend your disbelief…. I agree, in a song about singing teacups or flying cars, it really isn't an issue. In other loftier shows, however, it can feel indulgent. |
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 1, 2022 9:30:32 GMT
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Post by danb on Apr 6, 2022 20:23:13 GMT
This is a great song, to go with all the other great songs in ‘Frozen’. I hope all these crackers join the Disney songbook eventually. I particularly like ‘What Do You Know About Love’ too. Great fun.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2022 19:35:45 GMT
Has anyone seen a merchandise price list online anywhere? Surprisingly there doesn't seem to be an online shop for the show and I wanted an idea of what was on offer (and prices) in advance
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 29, 2022 22:27:44 GMT
Late to the party - again. Caught up with this at yesterday's matinee. Despite it being a school day, it was like being at a convention of mini Elsa's - never seen so many blue party dresses! I have to say, though, all the kids in our vicinity were impeccably behaved.
We had a browse around the theatre beforehand - an usher informed us that £65 million had been spent on the refurb. It does look great, but how they justify spending that sort of money I don't know! Very interesting seeing Elsa's and Ana's dresses on display.
I enjoyed the show, but wouldn't go mad about it - apart from the transformation, which was to our simple eyes completely stunning. Worth every penny of our cheap Spring sale tickets just for that!
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Post by theatreian on May 27, 2022 7:57:10 GMT
Really enjoyed this last night .Both leads were on and both amazing.No weak links in this cast.Was in a box so saw a few of the effects and how they were done.
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Post by thesoberpanda on May 27, 2022 9:03:49 GMT
Really enjoyed this last night .Both leads were on and both amazing.No weak links in this cast.Was in a box so saw a few of the effects and how they were done. Can anyone explain to me how that bridge works ?? I still can't figure it (maybe use spoiler tags or private message me) |
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Post by jm25 on May 28, 2022 1:10:20 GMT
Saw this tonight. Enjoyed the show for what it was but it didn't half feel like being at a six year old's birthday party! Completely appreciate it's a family show but I don't think I've ever sat in such a disruptive audience before. I had a lady behind me translating pretty much all of it (loudly) into French for her son as we went along...!
Still, visually this is absolutely stunning and Samantha Barks is such a wonderful talent. Wasn't convinced by the majority of the new songs as they felt like pure padding, but 'I Can't Lose You' was a definite exception. Added such a wonderful depth to the dynamic between Anna and Elsa and to my surprise it topped 'Let It Go' as my highlight of the show.
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Post by sph on May 28, 2022 2:04:52 GMT
Saw this tonight. Enjoyed the show for what it was but it didn't half feel like being at a six year old's birthday party! Completely appreciate it's a family show but I don't think I've ever sat in such a disruptive audience before. I had a lady behind me translating pretty much all of it (loudly) into French for her son as we went along...! This is why I keep putting off seeing it. I find those sorts of audiences unbearable. A lot of the people with kids act like they're seeing a show in a theme park or Peppa Pig Live or something like that. |
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Post by jm25 on May 28, 2022 3:12:04 GMT
Saw this tonight. Enjoyed the show for what it was but it didn't half feel like being at a six year old's birthday party! Completely appreciate it's a family show but I don't think I've ever sat in such a disruptive audience before. I had a lady behind me translating pretty much all of it (loudly) into French for her son as we went along...! This is why I keep putting off seeing it. I find those sorts of audiences unbearable. A lot of the people with kids act like they're seeing a show in a theme park or Peppa Pig Live or something like that. I mean that was only the tip of the iceberg! Rustling crisp packets, loud kids, kicking chairs, etc. There was also a tendency to burst out into applause and cheers mid-song. Fair enough doing it during the dress change but {Spoiler}{Spoiler - click to view}
when Anna turns to ice? Saw someone mention the idea of adults-only shows a few pages ago and actually that was a thought that crossed my mind on the journey home. Feel like a bit of a heel saying that because obviously the show is meant for kids, and quite right too. But at the same time... surely one performance a fortnight or so wouldn't hurt? Or am I just being old and grumpy?  |
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Post by Mark on May 28, 2022 3:22:39 GMT
I don’t think adult only shows would help. I had a group of 100 South American tourists around me at Mary Poppins and the ushers couldn’t get them to keep their phones off and they kept recording.
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Post by thesoberpanda on May 28, 2022 5:17:39 GMT
I faced the same issues with the show back in December (along with a lady tripping up behihd us just as the curtain and was going up emptying the contents of her drink all over us (honestly it was like being in the splash zone for the Shamu show !!) I think I went into it with the wrong attitude and came out with many gripes because of it. It was always going to attract kids and all of the issues that come with that (hell if we're getting reports of bad audiences at Moulin Rouge and Pretty Woman I guess it was to be expected). I don't think I was ready for the pantoeyness of it all and I think the show encourages it to a degree and knows who it's catering for. Had it been in Disney world I would've most likely been grinning ear to ear but with ticket prices as high as they are, we often want the premium conditions to watch a show for us. Instead, I had to keep reminding myself that for many this will be their first experience of such a beautiful big london theatre seeing a highly produced show and that the excitement is probably too much for them. Even offering an adult only show I think would attract maybe the wrong crowds anyway so I'm in two minds about that. I do think Disney are missing a trick though, they could do a where's Wally style picture with all the kids dressed up as Anna with Sam Barks hidden in there somewhere  Also that stone scene really is something! |
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Post by LaLuPone on May 28, 2022 5:26:39 GMT
I do think Disney are missing a trick though, they could do a where's Wally style picture with all the kids dressed up as Anna with Sam Barks hidden in there somewhere ! I think in that case Samantha would be pretty easy to find seeing as she’d be dressed as Elsa!  |
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Post by thesoberpanda on May 28, 2022 14:14:31 GMT
I do think Disney are missing a trick though, they could do a where's Wally style picture with all the kids dressed up as Anna with Sam Barks hidden in there somewhere ! I think in that case Samantha would be pretty easy to find seeing as she’d be dressed as Elsa! Doh ... Really shouldn't post before I have my first coffee of the day !!! |
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Post by daisy24601 on Jun 7, 2022 10:28:26 GMT
Do you think Samantha and Stephanie will stay on for another year, or will we get a new cast?
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 7, 2022 14:53:40 GMT
Do you think Samantha and Stephanie will stay on for another year, or will we get a new cast? Fairly sure Sam is leaving, not sure on Steph |
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Post by danb on Jun 7, 2022 15:58:05 GMT
They are both great but Steph is the beating heart of the show and will be big shoes to fill if she left.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2022 16:51:13 GMT
Saw this yesterday and it was understudy central with all three leads off. I was initially disappointed not to see Sam but wow, Danielle was incredible and I actually much preferred her Let it Go to everytime I've seen Sam perform it on tv etc. Danielle has such stage presence and effortless power in her voice. No doubt she has lead roles ahead of her. A sentiment shared by our whole party.
Overall I really liked it, its nice to see a show that delivers on quality, especially in the physical production. Loved the staging, a case of physical sets and projections working in unison well. Let it Go is a real wow moment both vocally and in the effects. Loved the bridge, Love is an open door and fixerupper are well staged and choreographed. New songs are mainly forgettable but inoffensive.
It did drag a bit at the start, and some elements could use more development (e.g. Kristoffs character and his relationship with Anna). But overall just a great show and couple of hours of entertainment
Also, the theatre is stunning. The bench mark for all theatres
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Post by danb on Jun 20, 2022 5:58:42 GMT
They’re all at Sams wedding in Italy.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2022 6:44:32 GMT
They’re all at Sams wedding in Italy. Yeah I knew in advance thanks to social media. Like I say it turned out for the best with Danielle at least. Hard to compare on the others as nothing to compare to |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2022 10:33:04 GMT
As Danielle has been cast in the Mandela musical at the young Vic I guess she won't be continuing as understudy or be promoted to full time (if Sam leaves) at cast change
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