|
|
Post by sfsusan on Jul 24, 2024 21:27:12 GMT
Rest were principal (this was the matinee) Thank you. (I should have said it was for the matinee, but thank you for reading my mind!) |
|
|
|
Post by anxiousoctopus on Jul 25, 2024 7:08:49 GMT
I have yet to catch the new cast but I’m really interested in what the general consensus is about the new Montague. I’ve seen a lot of praise for the rest of the cast, especially Sean as Charles Cholmondley and Jonty as an understudy, but not much for Emily as Monty - is she good?
|
|
|
|
Post by lt on Jul 25, 2024 7:45:35 GMT
I have yet to catch the new cast but I’m really interested in what the general consensus is about the new Montague. I’ve seen a lot of praise for the rest of the cast, especially Sean as Charles Cholmondley and Jonty as an understudy, but not much for Emily as Monty - is she good? I thought she was brilliant. |
|
|
|
Post by craigbowker on Jul 25, 2024 8:37:11 GMT
I have yet to catch the new cast but I’m really interested in what the general consensus is about the new Montague. I’ve seen a lot of praise for the rest of the cast, especially Sean as Charles Cholmondley and Jonty as an understudy, but not much for Emily as Monty - is she good? She's good. But personally I think removing the 'Monty voice' actually takes away lot of the humour. I would actually place my criticism on the director (or resident director or whoever it was) for not pushing on this more. But without the voice a lot of lines that used to get laughs are delivered just normally now. "Look at my fingers" moment is completely flat now, for example. She can sing, she seems comfortable in the role, she is in no way BAD, it just is missing that punch it used to have. I actually wonder how much direction the new cast was actually given. Sean is amazing, I might say I actually prefer him. I haven't seen Jonty yet but want to. Christian is better than he was as a cover, really coming into the role, but really really hard to top Jak's performance. It's still great, but this is a very, very, very hard show to cast. |
|
|
|
Post by anxiousoctopus on Jul 25, 2024 11:13:00 GMT
I have yet to catch the new cast but I’m really interested in what the general consensus is about the new Montague. I’ve seen a lot of praise for the rest of the cast, especially Sean as Charles Cholmondley and Jonty as an understudy, but not much for Emily as Monty - is she good? She's good. But personally I think removing the 'Monty voice' actually takes away lot of the humour. I would actually place my criticism on the director (or resident director or whoever it was) for not pushing on this more. But without the voice a lot of lines that used to get laughs are delivered just normally now. "Look at my fingers" moment is completely flat now, for example. She can sing, she seems comfortable in the role, she is in no way BAD, it just is missing that punch it used to have. I actually wonder how much direction the new cast was actually given. Sean is amazing, I might say I actually prefer him. I haven't seen Jonty yet but want to. Christian is better than he was as a cover, really coming into the role, but really really hard to top Jak's performance. It's still great, but this is a very, very, very hard show to cast. Sean was on for Charlie as the understudy when I first saw the show and I completely agree, he’s amazing. Also really interesting to hear about Emily, it’s similar to what I’ve heard elsewhere. I really need to go back and see the new cast, but the ticket lottery seems harder to win than the actual lottery! |
|
|
|
Post by theatrebelle on Jul 25, 2024 20:27:22 GMT
I have yet to catch the new cast but I’m really interested in what the general consensus is about the new Montague. I’ve seen a lot of praise for the rest of the cast, especially Sean as Charles Cholmondley and Jonty as an understudy, but not much for Emily as Monty - is she good? Personally, everyone I know who saw Emily as their first Montagu has reported absolutely loving her and singing her praises. Those I know who have seen previous portrayals of the character (Natasha’s) have had more mixed opinions. Some of these people still absolutely adore Emily, but an equal number of these people have expressed disappointment with the casting. |
|
520 posts
|
Post by anthony on Jul 25, 2024 21:17:41 GMT
I have yet to catch the new cast but I’m really interested in what the general consensus is about the new Montague. I’ve seen a lot of praise for the rest of the cast, especially Sean as Charles Cholmondley and Jonty as an understudy, but not much for Emily as Monty - is she good? She's good. But personally I think removing the 'Monty voice' actually takes away lot of the humour. I would actually place my criticism on the director (or resident director or whoever it was) for not pushing on this more. But without the voice a lot of lines that used to get laughs are delivered just normally now. "Look at my fingers" moment is completely flat now, for example. She can sing, she seems comfortable in the role, she is in no way BAD, it just is missing that punch it used to have. I actually wonder how much direction the new cast was actually given. Sean is amazing, I might say I actually prefer him. I haven't seen Jonty yet but want to. Christian is better than he was as a cover, really coming into the role, but really really hard to top Jak's performance. It's still great, but this is a very, very, very hard show to cast. Considering that Holly has also stopped playing Montagu with a "Monty voice", I imagine it's a director choice? I do agree with a lot of the humour being lost as a result. It's not necessarily bad, but I think the problem is that we've all seen Natasha do it soooooooo well. |
|
25 posts
|
Post by hoopoe on Jul 26, 2024 5:30:17 GMT
Are we sure Holly was ever really going hard on the Monty voice/playing it very manly/emulating Natasha? I first saw the show in June last year with Holly playing Monty, and when I came home and listened to the cast recording for the first time I immediately reacted to Natasha's portrayal as clearly being much more about putting on a voice and going for a sort of "manliness" than Holly's was. When I then saw Holly again live last month I didn't notice a change in how she played it from June last year. Based on this and videos I've seen of Natasha performing live at different events, I've always had the impression they play it quite differently.
I never put much stock in feeling like I preferred Holly's approach since I didn't get to see Natasha live, but I definitely think Sean's portrayal of Cholmondeley is stronger for being less of a charicature. I feel like the material is so strong it doesn't need exaggerated performances.
|
|
|
|
Post by theatrebelle on Jul 26, 2024 8:06:00 GMT
I feel that Holly still manages to maintain most of the comedy that Natasha had, even without the voice. I definitely think the voice helps create those comedic moments, but I don’t think it’s the main limitation with Emily.
|
|
916 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by fiyerorocher on Jul 26, 2024 8:57:05 GMT
Holly's Monty has changed a lot but she's never done the same voice as Tash. Not sure many people could without risking ruining their voice!
|
|
|
|
Post by amyja89 on Jul 26, 2024 9:20:38 GMT
The only time I've seen the show in back in April was with Holly, and I remember her voice being what I would describe as sort of butched up, but without going full male impersonation? Obviously have nothing to compare it to, but it worked for me!
|
|
|
|
Post by joonas on Jul 31, 2024 9:51:33 GMT
Does anyone else think that this would desperately need a bigger band? I’m sure the four musicians do a great job but the way it’s mixed, it sounds more like a cheap karaoke backing track than what you’d expect from a West End musical. I saw the matinee yesterday and somehow this bothered me even more than when I saw it for the first time last year.
I absolutely love the music but it would sound so much better with some of the additional instruments they have on the cast recording. I know the theatre is small but so is the cast, surely they could afford a few brass and woodwind musicians.
I also have to say that I was a little disappointed in the new cast. They’re all great actors but they focus so much on making it funny that the vocal performances are not as good as I had hoped. I’m not going to change my 5 star rating but right now I’d give the show fours stars.
|
|
|
|
Post by blamerobots on Jul 31, 2024 11:16:08 GMT
When I went I didn't realize that parts of the band were pre-recorded. But maybe if I went back and watched it now (once was fine and once was enough) I'd be able to pick it out.
|
|
|
|
Post by joonas on Jul 31, 2024 11:22:40 GMT
When I went I didn't realize that parts of the band were pre-recorded. But maybe if I went back and watched it now (once was fine and once was enough) I'd be able to pick it out. I don’t know if it has pre-recorded parts but many of the instrumental parts you hear on the cast recording are simply not there. And if they are, they are very thin-sounding synths instead of “real” instruments. The music simply loses quite a lot of its impact performed by such a tiny band. |
|
|
|
Post by blamerobots on Jul 31, 2024 14:38:05 GMT
I never listened to the cast album before seeing it so my opinion may be diminished. I thought that the cast album stems were played on click track with the live piano and such? Common practice for some shows nowadays, Phantom's title song guitar solo being lifted straight from the Albert Hall cast recording.
If someone's going soon, maybe someone could ask staff?
I'd have to go again to know the real answer, but it's common practice to up the size of an orchestra on a cast recording, and rearrange liberally, and usually synth parts imitating instruments are replaced with the real deal. So if it's not like that in performance, I guess it can be underwhelming.
I always bring up Little Shop of Horrors, which had a five person band in the theatre but the orchestra on the cast recording is more like 14 people, and there are many production effects like double-tracked vocals and guitar, and many parts rearranged and brought up and down in the mix. So it never really represents the score as actually performed.
|
|
|
|
Post by craigbowker on Aug 1, 2024 10:29:02 GMT
Parts of the orchestra are definitely recorded (I have no proof of this) simply because the Fortune isn't big enough to hide that many musicians. The sound sort of suggests it too. I've always wondered if the end of the finale has additional vocals as well. It's SO crisp and feels too full-bodied to be five people.
|
|
478 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by raiseitup on Aug 5, 2024 13:11:28 GMT
I've won the lottery but can't go in the next fortnight. DM me if you'd like the link  |
|
|
|
Post by stagemasters on Aug 5, 2024 15:00:53 GMT
I've won the lottery but can't go in the next fortnight. DM me if you'd like the link I would if possible! |
|
|
|
Post by capybara on Aug 6, 2024 8:54:12 GMT
First time seeing three of the new cast (Emily Barber, Chloe Hart and George Jennings) last night. Always so interesting to see different performers take on these massive character roles and bring their own personalities to them.
The show is, of course, still as wonderful as it ever has been and certainly isn’t reliant on SpitLip to be in it for it to be magic. I do think it is obvious that the new cast are still feeling their way in and lack the confidence that those who have been with the show long-term, obviously.
When the first wave of covers took on the roles, certain lines that had been funny were downplayed but it was balanced out by putting their own comedic stamp on others. At the moment, the balance is off in my opinion. But I suspect that will only be quite so visible to someone who has seen the show 15 times, like myself.
And that high number of viewings means I’m in a privileged position to be able to nitpick. Equally, this was my first visit to Mincemeat since the fever dream that was the OG cast’s final performance, so there was always going to be an element of after the Lord mayor’s show. This was, however, the first time I’ve ever seen this show not get a full standing ovation at the bows.
I’m not going to go into the nitty gritty of each new cast member’s portrayals, as it really is semantics at this stage. I do agree that Emily needs to find more of a middle ground for Monty, similar to Holly. It doesn’t have to be an imitation of Tash to find the comedy of the Rolex The returning Claire-Marie Hall needs a shoutout though for finding genuine chemistry with any number of combinations of the company. Brilliant, brilliant show, as ever.
|
|
79 posts
|
Post by theatrekiwi on Aug 6, 2024 11:10:05 GMT
Just recieved an email with a lottery win:
"We come bearing good news and bad news - the bad news is that some of yesterday’s winners were unable to claim their tickets. The good news is - we are now offering you the tickets."
If anyone wants the link happy to send it through. Only performances over the next two weeks and can only see seats in Upper Circle in the offer.
Has anyone seen a second release of lottery tickets before due to winners not claiming? Maybe early signs this is slowing down? The Upper Circle looks less than 50% full most of this week.
|
|
1,244 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by ladidah on Aug 6, 2024 11:44:02 GMT
From seat view sites I've seen, the upper circle is a nightmare for this show.
|
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Aug 6, 2024 13:30:19 GMT
From seat view sites I've seen, the upper circle is a nightmare for this show. It's actually not dreadful - I've done standing in the Upper and it's probably 3 stars, but there is absolutely no legroom in the seats so i can't imagine how uncomfy they are. |
|
|
|
Post by sfsusan on Aug 6, 2024 16:33:27 GMT
i can't imagine how uncomfy they are. Really, really uncomfy. No leg (knee or foot) room and the pitch of that section is such that you feel like you'll tumble all the way into the stalls if you lose your balance. The view of the stage was fine, if distant and the sound was fine. |
|
|
|
Post by Javert on Aug 7, 2024 7:17:21 GMT
Watched this for the first time last weekend, and I think it slightly edges out Next to Normal as my favourite musical! Some older replies to this thread suggest that the older cast was better -- I thought everyone was brilliant in their roles, ESPECIALLY Christian Andrews' Hester. I generally try not to see a musical more than once, but I might have to make an exception...
|
|
|
|
Post by usbuzzer on Aug 13, 2024 13:16:38 GMT
Does the lottery offer any other seats than the upper circle? I only watch shows from the stalls and I'm wondering if buying regular tickets is my only option or if I should try my luck. I'm interested in any performance between Wednesday and Saturday, but Wed would probably be the best option in terms of seat selection.
|
|
