3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Jul 20, 2018 21:17:55 GMT
ellie1981 I thought medium Alison sounded like Winona Ryder too!!!! My friend did not agree, so I am happy to read that someone else thought the same thing. I saw it tonight as well, and thought it was excellent and high quality musical theatre. Well done.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2018 15:55:06 GMT
Unfortunately the evening was slightly let down by the fact that my two friends came out with the complete opposite opinion, labelling the father as “creepy”. I don’t really understand their conclusions on any of it but we’ve agreed to disagree. I'm a gayer myself and I can see why people might think the father was a bit "creepy". I think it might have been the way that guy from 'American Pie' played it though. He's certainly selfish and negligent as a parent at the very least. |
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Post by raider80 on Jul 21, 2018 16:47:32 GMT
I caught the a few nights ago after seeing it on Broadway two times and I still love the show. All the Alison's were good and we had Brooke on the night I was it.
The issues I had with the show was Zubin Varla's accent, it wasn't natural, it was garbled and he was focusing on making sure each word he was saying every word american as possible.
The second issue is more of a personal issue. I liked it just a little bit more in the round then the proscenium staging but, like a said it is more a personal issue.
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197 posts
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Post by dan on Jul 22, 2018 6:18:28 GMT
I saw this last night (seat N47 by the way, which had a terrific view and more than enough leg room, vertically speaking...) and thought the show was fantastic. I loved the cast and hadn’t heard any music from it beforehand, but it all felt very contextual, so not sure how much of an enjoyable experience the cast recording would be separate to the production (might give it a go). All the Alisons were phenomenal and the kids were incredible. I love the nuances of the story and storyTELLING and attaching memories to certain objects or words that then become songs about emotional memories, just a great story telling device. It does pack a nice punch, and I wish, for me, it had just something a little more at the point of story climax for her dad. I have to say though, I’d had a VERY emotional experience in the afternoon at the Old Vic down the street with A Monster Calls, so was still processing and dealing with some of the devastation of that (phenomenal show by the way), and took some adjustment to then engage fully with Fun Home... the little boy who led the kids’ commercial song was astonishing too. I do love the design and staging and linking it to how memory does or doesn’t work very well.
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Post by lorne81 on Jul 22, 2018 11:51:36 GMT
I think we had Harriet Turnbull as Young Alison when I saw the show (couldn’t see any signs at the venue, but I am guessing it was Harriet based on the two boys). I was blown away by the performance anyway - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better child actor in the West End. “Ring of Keys” in particular is one of my favourite songs from the show, and it was performed brilliantly. I wonder if the Young Alison actors might be in line for a joint Olivier nomination?
Overall I really enjoyed it, but not quite as much as I did in New York. I agree that I slightly missed the fantastic voices of the adult cast (Jenna Russell is a wonderful performer, but I have always found her voice a bit thin, so “Days and Days” wasn’t the showstopper it was when performed by Judy Kuhn). I thought Kaisa Hammarlund was brilliant however, and perfectly cast. I’m afraid I also found Eleanor Kane’s performance a tad irritating as Middle Alison - but she has clearly been directed to perform it in that way, and has a lot of talent. I just wished it were slightly toned down and less forced as a “comic” performance.
One of the problems with such an amazing actor and material for Young Alison is that it makes casting the brothers very difficult. I don’t like criticising young actors, but I am not sure they got the casting quite right for the boys I saw. The brothers both seemed too close in age to Young Alison (and each other) and I didn’t believe in them as a family. I also struggled to make out their lines / lyrics. The brothers’ roles are very underwritten though, so it may just be that they didn’t have enough of a chance to shine in the roles.
It wasn’t quite a standing ovation from me, but a very solid 4 star production of a 5 star show!
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Jul 22, 2018 12:08:34 GMT
I saw it yesterday afternoon and really enjoyed it, though I'm not generally a fan of musicals - I went because I was curious to see how the comic translated to the stage. I thought it was beautifully done, often very moving, and performance -wise no weak links. There were some aspects I'd have liked to see a bit more developed, though. I thought the initial revelation about her father's fate didn't quite pack the punch it did in the comic. Perhaps it's stronger if it's a complete surprise (?). The mother also seemed rather distant: I know it's about a family repressing their feelings but the scene where she's questioning her husband about the handyman seemed a bit underplayed, and in the scenes between her and her daughter I found myself watching the daughter's reactions rather than the mother. I haven't seen Eleanor Kane (daughter of Hue and Cry's Pat) before and thought she was particularly engaging as 'Middle Alison' (also, casting directors - it'd be great to see her and Joseph Quinn cast as siblings in something someday - she reminded me of his socially awkward Luke in Mosquitoes)
Right - going to dig out the comic to reread and compare.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2018 17:40:42 GMT
Saw this last night and echo was others have said, I really enjoyed it, I liked Zubin Varla a lot a as the dad and feel he played the character a really well considering it is such a complex characters. Rest if the cast all very good and liked Jenna Russell a lot as well as Brooke Haynes a show small Alison who was terrific.Have read the book before and knew a bit about the show , it’s a very strong musical with good songs and scenes.I really loved the staging and lighting in the show and found the reveal of the house very impressive. First time at the Young Vic , was sat in down P high seats of the circle, they are the top level and a good veiw if you are central as no one should in the way but if you are shorter you may have to lean a bit for a few a moments.
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637 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jul 26, 2018 19:10:21 GMT
Have the Young Vic been sending tickets for this out by post? I booked last August before they finalised seating etc, but haven’t had any tickets through the post. Really looking forward to finally seeing this.
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371 posts
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Post by sam22 on Jul 26, 2018 21:04:57 GMT
Have the Young Vic been sending tickets for this out by post? I booked last August before they finalised seating etc, but haven’t had any tickets through the post. Really looking forward to finally seeing this. Did you book with the theatre directly or the presale with Todaytix. If Todaytix then was to collect at box office rather than being posted |
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Post by michalnowicki on Jul 27, 2018 13:23:15 GMT
Saw this on Wednesday matinée and it was the first ever show I saw at the Young Vic. I was familiar with the songs, as I tend to listen to Broadway cast recordings when they are available. I enjoyed seeing this production. It took me a while to get used to the manner in which Allison's dad was speaking. All 3 Allisons were great. I'm not a big fan of kids performing on stage, but when the young Allison sag "Ring of keys" I thought she was fantastic.
What really affected me when watching this, was the fact, that this is someone's story. Their childhood, their adulthood. It must've been extremely hard for Allison Bechdel to revisit these dark moments of her past. I felt sorry for her and for her mum, especially when it transpired that her mum knew what her husband was doing.
It made me feel greatful that I grew up in a loving home, and even though things were a bit rocky after I came out to my parents, they still love me and are still a part of my life.
It's an important piece of theatre and I'm glad that we get to see more and more queer plays and musicals. It's good knowing that this kind of art and stories are appreciated.
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5,139 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 28, 2018 23:37:58 GMT
Loved it. Just loved it.
I normally have a problem with Jeanine Tesori but found this to easily be her best work.
Casting universally excellent - Zubin Varla and Eleanor Kane as Bruce and Medium Alison - surely show-ins for Olivier Nominations already? Both absolutely outstanding.
Jenna Russell broke my heart as Helen, and Kaisa drove the ship really well as Alison.
Loved the set design and the reveal (and I like to be able to see the orchestra, I don’t know why, so I really enjoyed that.
5 stars from me - fabulous end to my great week of theatre (Broadway and back!)
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700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Jul 29, 2018 23:00:05 GMT
Finally seeing this on Wednesday afternoon. I didn't think I would get the time but managed to bag myself a seat in Row J a few weeks back and squeezing a quick trip in one day (travelling from Scotland, yes I'm crazy).
A very talented cast all round who seem to be living up to the standards of the Broadway cast after reading your opinions and many reviews, including Brooke Haynes (Small Alison), younger sister of Madeleine Haynes, who has played Annie in the West End recently and also been in Matilda and School of Rock. Hopefully I get to see her but I'm not fussed either way.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Jul 30, 2018 7:59:48 GMT
Saw it, don't get the hype.
The kids were brilliant but the dad was an asshole and, for a musical about someone who literally coined the Bechdel test, it's hilarious that the whole musical revolved around a man.
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4,177 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 30, 2018 8:10:01 GMT
I wish i didn't know about the set reveal. I was waiting for it all the show and then as soon as the 'new york' set flew down and acted as the whole set for 20 minutes i knew what was going on behind there and what was going to be revealed so that did mean that i wasn't quite as wowed as i would have been had it been a total surprise. That said, even still, it was very impressive.
I thought everyone put in a great performance but it took me a little while to get used to Zubin Varla's performance and his accent he had going on. It's a very classy piece, a bit different to what i'd normally see haha! It was for this reason i didn't quite know what to make of the two 'cheesy' moments/songs of the show. I thought the first one, the kids advert song did kind of fit in even thought it was very different in style to everything else and did add a noce bit of light relief , it was more the second one with the weird disco dream sequence i didn't really know how to feel about.
The stage for this seemed quite wide and deep, i wonder where it could fit it got a transfer? The thing is it can't be a big capacity house but does seem to need a decent size stage, especially for the set reveal.
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371 posts
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Post by popcultureboy on Jul 30, 2018 8:24:55 GMT
Saw it, don't get the hype. The kids were brilliant but the dad was an asshole and, for a musical about someone who literally coined the Bechdel test, it's hilarious that the whole musical revolved around a man. Didn't get the hype because you entirely missed the point. Fun Home passes the Bechdel Test but to reduce it to being "a musical about someone who literally coined" it, well, it's reductive to the point of insulting. The musical revolves around Alison's father because he was the centre of her universe. |
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Post by MrsCondomine on Jul 30, 2018 8:34:59 GMT
Saw it, don't get the hype. The kids were brilliant but the dad was an asshole and, for a musical about someone who literally coined the Bechdel test, it's hilarious that the whole musical revolved around a man. Didn't get the hype because you entirely missed the point. Fun Home passes the Bechdel Test but to reduce it to being "a musical about someone who literally coined" it, well, it's reductive to the point of insulting. The musical revolves around Alison's father because he was the centre of her universe. Pretty sure the test involves two women having a conversation that doesn't involve mentioning a man. No scene in this musical passes it. It's beside the point, really. The musical is very average with some lovely performances, but I don't see why it has so many 5 star reviews. You don't need to get so upset about someone's opinion. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 8:50:25 GMT
Okay, but it's literally Alison Bechdel's biographical story of her relationship with her father. I can see being amused by it being the Bechdel test inventor talking about a man, but the book is literally about her father. And the Bechdel test is simplistic and never intended to be an actual test, just a way to point out how low the bar is for rounded female characters and yet properties continually fail to pass it. Although Alison does talk about her father, a man, she's still a vividly three dimensional character very definitely living her own life and going through her own arc. If Fun Home doesn't pass the Bechdel test for you, it absolutely passes the Mako Mori test. There's more than one way to write well-rounded female characters.
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Post by nialld on Jul 30, 2018 9:28:20 GMT
Didn't get the hype because you entirely missed the point. Fun Home passes the Bechdel Test but to reduce it to being "a musical about someone who literally coined" it, well, it's reductive to the point of insulting. The musical revolves around Alison's father because he was the centre of her universe. Pretty sure the test involves two women having a conversation that doesn't involve mentioning a man. No scene in this musical passes it.
It's beside the point, really. The musical is very average with some lovely performances, but I don't see why it has so many 5 star reviews. You don't need to get so upset about someone's opinion. Um, that's not true at all. Are you forgetting the whole part of the story about Alison discovering her sexuality, and scenes with her first girlfriend? I think you've missed the point of both the Bechdel Test and the show. The Bechdel Test isn't about removing men from narratives, it's about making sure that the female characters have proper agency and a narrative that isn't entirely woven around a man. Yes, the majority of Fun Home is about her relationship with her father, but why shouldn't it be? The fact that she had a closeted homosexual father who killed himself is obviously important to her sexual identity, which is something that Bechdel has made an explicit topic of across her entire career. In any case, the novel that the musical is based on is written entirely from Bechdel's subjective viewpoint, and the 'Bruce' we see is moreso Alison's conception of him rather than the actual Bruce. Everything that we see in both the novel and the musical is entirely from Alison's point of view, and therefore it passes the Bechdel test with flying colours. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 9:30:41 GMT
its about a girl that finds her sexuality while her dad cannot.
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371 posts
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Post by popcultureboy on Jul 31, 2018 7:00:07 GMT
Pretty sure the test involves two women having a conversation that doesn't involve mentioning a man. No scene in this musical passes it. It's beside the point, really. The musical is very average with some lovely performances, but I don't see why it has so many 5 star reviews. You don't need to get so upset about someone's opinion. I'm not upset. I'm amused that you continue to miss the point, as I and several others have tried to point out to you now. If you didn't like it, fine. Everyone has different tastes and opinions. But it sounds like you didn't enjoy Fun Home because you had completely the wrong idea regarding what the show was actually about. |
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 1, 2018 15:53:01 GMT
On the train after seeing this today. I loved it! Ever so slightly not as good as when I saw it on Broadway but still amazing nonetheless.
I saw Harriett as Young Alison and she was a little firecracker, maybe over acted Ring of Keys slightly but I couldn't fault anything else. She will go far.
Kaisa (Alison) is the double of Beth Malone (original Broadway Alison). From my seat, you could have told me it was Beth and I would have believed you.
I didn't expect the reveal of a certain part of the set during the latter half of the show, most people around me seemed just as surprised as me.
I pray to god this gets at least another short run elsewhere, I'd love to see it again.
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700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 3, 2018 20:24:00 GMT
I was wondering this whilst looking through my program again... How did this show manage to get away with just 2 children playing each character ? I thought the minimum was at least 3. Is it because its the school summer holidays ?
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Post by latefortheoverture on Aug 4, 2018 1:19:22 GMT
I fear that this show won't transfer after all... I need to sort some tickets out!
YV website is sold out- does anyone know if they have dayseats or what there returns policy/process is like?
Even better does anyone have any tickets for sale?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 4, 2018 7:51:22 GMT
I fear that this show won't transfer after all... I need to sort some tickets out! YV website is sold out- does anyone know if they have dayseats or what there returns policy/process is like? Even better does anyone have any tickets for sale? Tickets will sporadically appear so keep an eye out. Also TodayTix does a daily lottery. |
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Post by daniel on Aug 4, 2018 12:18:05 GMT
Seeing the matinee today, very excited!u
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