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Post by jamjars on Jul 9, 2021 18:42:54 GMT
Does anyone have a programme and can confirm that it is in fact a 5-piece band on this show? Surely then, the majority of the show (listening to the cast recording) is track, and following on from that, are any other players credited in the programme, or is it just synths on track? If it is a 5-piece, is it String Quartet and MD? If so, surely this is a shockingly low number of band members in a pit for a new musical in the West End?
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jul 9, 2021 18:51:45 GMT
I notice they're now calling it the "original concept album" rather than original cast recording.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2021 19:03:53 GMT
Does anyone have a programme and can confirm that it is in fact a 5-piece band on this show? Surely then, the majority of the show (listening to the cast recording) is track, and following on from that, are any other players credited in the programme, or is it just synths on track? If it is a 5-piece, is it String Quartet and MD? If so, surely this is a shockingly low number of band members in a pit for a new musical in the West End? Here's a photo from the programm showing the musicians in the show postimg.cc/gnzRZb9C |
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Post by jamjars on Jul 9, 2021 19:08:05 GMT
Does anyone have a programme and can confirm that it is in fact a 5-piece band on this show? Surely then, the majority of the show (listening to the cast recording) is track, and following on from that, are any other players credited in the programme, or is it just synths on track? If it is a 5-piece, is it String Quartet and MD? If so, surely this is a shockingly low number of band members in a pit for a new musical in the West End? Here's a photo from the programm showing the musicians in the show postimg.cc/gnzRZb9CThank you! So 9 in total - surprised there is no Drummer, so presuming that a large amount is tracked. Thanks for the info. Stay safe! |
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Post by singingbird on Jul 9, 2021 19:09:57 GMT
Does anyone have a programme and can confirm that it is in fact a 5-piece band on this show? Surely then, the majority of the show (listening to the cast recording) is track, and following on from that, are any other players credited in the programme, or is it just synths on track? If it is a 5-piece, is it String Quartet and MD? If so, surely this is a shockingly low number of band members in a pit for a new musical in the West End? To be fair, it's slightly more than 5. It's 9 musicians. MD, guitar doubling bass, 3 violins, viola, cello, woodwind & horn. The only other player credited is David Andrew Wilson, for 'original keyboards played and programmed by...' No live percussion (strange for quite a 'drum heavy' show). No separate guitar and bass. No trumpets (strange for a 'fanfare heavy' show). Not only is it mainly track, the track is all programmed computer tracks, not real musicians. It's my biggest bugbear with this show - far more than the plot or the humour. The tracks sound very artificial and lifeless. You rarely get the buzz of a live orchestra playing. Furthermore, the reliance on pre-played keys means that there's no colour palette to the orchestrations - it can (and does) go anywhere, which means it never feels like a coherent score. And, even if you don't care too much about how artificial and disjointed it sounds, surely it's doing musicians out of work. In contrast, the current Joseph revival has a 15-piece band (or at least it did in 2019). Cinderella would be immeasurably more enjoyable for me if it had an equivalent orchestra. |
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Post by chernjam on Jul 9, 2021 19:20:42 GMT
I've been an ALW fan since I first saw Aspects of Love (without knowing anything other than a 30 second commercial that had Love Changes Everything) back in 1991. And Aspects and Sunset remain my top in terms of scores - ALW and otherwise.
Know a lot of names on this board, so their criticisms of the score did somewhat worry me that perhaps ALW has another "miss" here (ala Steven Ward, which apart from three songs I wouldn't bother to listen to, same for School of Rock)
But I'm happy to disagree with my fellow ALW fans who have dismissed this. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album. Yes I heard echos that were mentioned from other ALW scores (and "So Long" reminded me of Girl meets boy -from SB) and does it rate on the levels of my favorites - no... but there's a lot of really beautiful melodies, that I'm thrilled to hear reprises of... And in some ways this is one of the few that has a clear, and well developed finale (musically) that won't be revised multiple times like so many of his other shows.
Was pretty impressed with the Todrick Hall single version of Only you, Lonely You as well. I had enjoyed the original release, but this version was even more beautiful.
This ALW fan would give it 4 out of 5 stars (not getting into the voting controversy/wont take the poll since I haven't seen it, but look forward to doing so)
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Post by Stephen on Jul 9, 2021 19:36:50 GMT
I notice they're now calling it the "original concept album" rather than original cast recording. This would make more sense. The brass sounds like my music A level composition played on Sibelius...not good! |
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Post by ceebee on Jul 9, 2021 20:21:38 GMT
I feel really bad for anyone taking their little kids to this expecting a Disney show. There should be more age guidance on the website to make it clear it’s not a kid’s show, especially with what tickets cost. Though Mischief Movie Night In has age guidance on it of 11+ and people still show up on the zoom videos with little kids, so I guess that’s not much help. I also remember reading on here about a family that took their kids to see The Inheritance… What did your girls make of it ceebee ? Thanks for asking marob - they really enjoyed it. They're 12 and 10, plus have seen loads of theatre so are used to the suspension of disbelief. The little one saw Old Vic Christmas Carol and Open Air JCS at 5 years old and enjoyed both. Weirdly, I had no probs about blood, lashes, gore and spooks, but wondered how they'd react to Cinderella... I think we need to remember that few 10 or 12 year olds call each other a "knob" - in a way, the show is already quite dated due to some of the language used! |
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Post by stuart on Jul 9, 2021 21:28:21 GMT
Looks like the ALW signed triple vinyl are now back on the store if anybody was after one!
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Post by richey on Jul 9, 2021 21:45:37 GMT
Well I wasn't interested in this when it was first announced but all the varied feedback on here has changed my mind so I've managed to book a ticket for next Saturday night after I've seen Joseph matinee. Rather excited to be back in the West End for a two show day!
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Post by theatre241 on Jul 9, 2021 22:11:49 GMT
There are quite a few changes between the recording and the show, good changes. The show would be a lot worse if it was exactly how it was recorded, i’m glad they made the changes
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Post by ceebee on Jul 9, 2021 22:15:53 GMT
Looks like the ALW signed triple vinyl are now back on the store if anybody was after one! Unlike the CD, the vinyl is beautifully presented. Well worth it. |
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Post by inthenose on Jul 10, 2021 0:31:49 GMT
as you know just a few pages back somebody joined on multiple new accounts just to rate the show 5*'s [Citation needed]
Only four new members have voted in the poll. (There are quite a few showing up as "new members", but most of them joined a long time ago but haven't posted much.) Those four span three different ISPs and two continents, which seems like a lot of effort to rig a meaningless poll.
I gave the show 5 stars without watching it. Do you want to kick me out of the group for this?! OK! I followed the entire creation process of the show from the beginning. All of Andrew's struggle to take this forward and I'm not from the "Oh I hate ALW" group. I followed absolutely everything that exists on the net about this Cinderella. All songs already released. In the midst of this hunt I came across this forum that only reinforced my passion for the show. For those who really love Musical Theatre, I could not remain indifferent to the efforts of a 73-year-old man, in the midst of a serious health crisis, to deliver something new to the public. I perfectly understand the "Oh I hate ALW" group's arguments. Even so, I think it's gratuitously evil to massacre the efforts of several artists in a show that isn't even a week old. I don't know how they didn't put a defect in the door frame of the theatre or in the fabric that covers the seats. That's my thinking. Less meanness, more appreciation! We didn't come from easy times. I noticed shortly after this post, that the five stars shot up from 0 to 5 votes within a day. This user first posted on June 28th, in order to vote 5* in this poll without admittedly seeing the show or knowing anything whatsoever about it. They called themselves "thelord7" and jumped on to defend the billionaire Lord from us nasty internet naysayers. Now, if you cross reference the dates of new joins to the 5* poll reviews, you will find your shills. @burlybear |
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Post by fredstoyva on Jul 10, 2021 1:47:50 GMT
So I’ve lurked here for a while, and it’s just so exciting having a new ALW recording so I thought I’d chip in with my two cents. I adore ALW, though so far I do prefer his early output (Evita is my favourite) and so I’m always a little nervous when a new show of his comes out. But I have to say — I like what I hear! I had the cast recording on during my evening shift so I can’t say too much about the lyrics and story, but I can say that — for me — the music is such fun to listen to. Some have said that it’s a mish-mash of styles and I guess that’s a matter of perspective or preference because I loved that. I see it as a way to create contrast and quickly paint a musical picture, so to say, which works especially when the show is a bit cynical. It’s like when ALW characterises the upper class in Evita by using an a cappella vocal ensemble singing in 5 part harmony. I love the main songs that were released but I also love ‘Buns ’N Roses’, absolutely love ‘I Know You’ (the interplay between Helen George and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt!), ‘Beauty Has A Price’ (I think I fell in love with Gloria Onitiri today), the waltz, the march, the Sea Witch song, etc… Yes, there are instruments that were questionable, no doubt, but even that factors into the fun of it — it’s irreverent, tongue-in-cheek, beautiful when it needs to be. I can’t wait to see it in the theatre when I dare go outside again!
Also, on the topic of employing a wide palette of styles for various effects — in ‘The Wedding Party’ there’s this very catchy party music (don’t know what it’s called) which is very modern and then the ‘I Know You’ music returns which is beautiful but very old fashioned compared to the party music, and then someone says ‘bla bla bla’ and the party music continues and I /know/ that it’s supposed to be triumphant but I also felt it was such a poignant, nostalgic moment...
Anyway, that was my two cents. Rambling over!
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Post by thelord7 on Jul 10, 2021 1:58:21 GMT
[Citation needed]
Only four new members have voted in the poll. (There are quite a few showing up as "new members", but most of them joined a long time ago but haven't posted much.) Those four span three different ISPs and two continents, which seems like a lot of effort to rig a meaningless poll.
I gave the show 5 stars without watching it. Do you want to kick me out of the group for this?! OK! I followed the entire creation process of the show from the beginning. All of Andrew's struggle to take this forward and I'm not from the "Oh I hate ALW" group. I followed absolutely everything that exists on the net about this Cinderella. All songs already released. In the midst of this hunt I came across this forum that only reinforced my passion for the show. For those who really love Musical Theatre, I could not remain indifferent to the efforts of a 73-year-old man, in the midst of a serious health crisis, to deliver something new to the public. I perfectly understand the "Oh I hate ALW" group's arguments. Even so, I think it's gratuitously evil to massacre the efforts of several artists in a show that isn't even a week old. I don't know how they didn't put a defect in the door frame of the theatre or in the fabric that covers the seats. That's my thinking. Less meanness, more appreciation! We didn't come from easy times. I noticed shortly after this post, that the five stars shot up from 0 to 5 votes within a day. This user first posted on June 28th, in order to vote 5* in this poll without admittedly seeing the show or knowing anything whatsoever about it. They called themselves "thelord7" and jumped on to defend the billionaire Lord from us nasty internet naysayers. Now, if you cross reference the dates of new joins to the 5* poll reviews, you will find your shills. @burlybear . You could be a brilliant screenwriter! What a preposterous idea. I had a loud laugh here... I'm just an ALW fan and love it when he's working on something new. I didn't watch the program as I said, but I gave it 5 stars anyway. And I don't take them back. And I really liked the original soundtrak. Please, it's not necessary to go ahead with your conspiracy theory. Although this is really funny! x TheLord! 🤘🏾 |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2021 4:26:39 GMT
[Citation needed] Only four new members have voted in the poll. (There are quite a few showing up as "new members", but most of them joined a long time ago but haven't posted much.) Those four span three different ISPs and two continents, which seems like a lot of effort to rig a meaningless poll.
I gave the show 5 stars without watching it. Do you want to kick me out of the group for this?! OK! I followed the entire creation process of the show from the beginning. All of Andrew's struggle to take this forward and I'm not from the "Oh I hate ALW" group. I followed absolutely everything that exists on the net about this Cinderella. All songs already released. In the midst of this hunt I came across this forum that only reinforced my passion for the show. For those who really love Musical Theatre, I could not remain indifferent to the efforts of a 73-year-old man, in the midst of a serious health crisis, to deliver something new to the public. I perfectly understand the "Oh I hate ALW" group's arguments. Even so, I think it's gratuitously evil to massacre the efforts of several artists in a show that isn't even a week old. I don't know how they didn't put a defect in the door frame of the theatre or in the fabric that covers the seats. That's my thinking. Less meanness, more appreciation! We didn't come from easy times. I noticed shortly after this post, that the five stars shot up from 0 to 5 votes within a day. This user first posted on June 28th, in order to vote 5* in this poll without admittedly seeing the show or knowing anything whatsoever about it. They called themselves "thelord7" and jumped on to defend the billionaire Lord from us nasty internet naysayers. Now, if you cross reference the dates of new joins to the 5* poll reviews, you will find your shills. That's one person. In the one week either side of that date only three other people joined and voted in the poll, and they were from different ISPs. While it's certainly possible that someone could have persuaded friends from around the world to register here over a span of weeks to avoid suspicion and give a show a 5* rating that does seem rather over the top for a poll which, I repeat, has no significance to anything.
You don't know anything about the people who voted. We do. And in all honesty, if someone did feel the need to create multiple shill accounts to vote in a poll like this then the best punishment I can think of is that they get to be the sort of person who thinks they need to create multiple shill accounts to vote in a poll like this.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 10, 2021 5:54:00 GMT
I’m sorry but does anyone actually care that much about the star rating on here?
Someone is going to book to see a show purely because it got a good rating on here? Don’t think so.
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Post by greeny11 on Jul 10, 2021 6:44:26 GMT
Exactly, I've booked to see a show because I want to see it and form my own opinion, and I liked some of what I've heard on the album, not because of star ratings on here.
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Post by newyorkcityboy on Jul 10, 2021 7:59:36 GMT
On so called negativity:
It’s human nature to criticise something you hold dear, whether that be a sports team, a sci-fi franchise or musical theatre. (Or even a long suffering partner!) You do so because you care; you want them to be the best they can be. The ability to criticise objectively is what gives our praise meaning.
Going back to sleep now. It’s too early in the morning to be this deep…
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Post by alece10 on Jul 10, 2021 10:14:55 GMT
Was there on Friday night and it was the first time I had returned to the theatre since 1981 when I saw Cats with the original cast. Theatre is ugly from outside but the auditorium really is lovely with comfortable seats and, what seems to be, good sightlines throughout.
Set was not as simple as I expected and combined with excellent lighting looked lovely. Especially loved the lighting in the ball sequence.
I went to be entertained and I certainly was. There are flaws in the book but I let that go over my head and just enjoyed the show for what it was. Quite liked the music and there are 4 or 5 songs that remain in my head.
Excellent cast and a special mention to the ensemble who worked so hard. Shirtless men in leather shorts, it was like being in a fetish club at one point (Of course not speaking from experience!).
As for CHF, I have only seen her perform once when she was in the concert version of Les Mis but I was rather impressed with her.
The male lead was off due to an accident earlier in the week so I saw Michael Hamway perform and he was very good indeed.
As many others have mentioned the stand out performance is from Victoria Hamilton-Barritt who was very funny indeed and also a great performance from Rebecca Trehearn.
The whole musical is quite smutty which the audience, myself included, seemed to enjoy.
I do think that some people thought they were at Cinderella the panto as there was a little bit of shouting out and lots of ahhs, and groans.
The highlight of the show is the ball in act 2 when the seats move and this was quite magical. I was further back in the stalls but it meant that during this bit I was very close to the stage.
Loved the costumes as well.
The only thing I didn't really like was the bows at the end. The show finishes, curtain comes down and audience applaud. There is then quite a long wait until the curtain comes again, by which time the applause has died down a bit. Then the ensemble and main cast come forward to take their bows but with no music. The music only starts up when the 2 leads take their bows and then stops again. I just felt it would work better if there was music throughout the bows.
I found the show very entertaining, visually great and a lovely evening out. Would definately go again.
A solid 4 stars from me.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jul 10, 2021 11:07:18 GMT
Was there on Friday night and it was the first time I had returned to the theatre since 1981 when I saw Cats with the original cast. Theatre is ugly from outside but the auditorium really is lovely with comfortable seats and, what seems to be, good sightlines throughout. Set was not as simple as I expected and combined with excellent lighting looked lovely. Especially loved the lighting in the ball sequence. I went to be entertained and I certainly was. There are flaws in the book but I let that go over my head and just enjoyed the show for what it was. Quite liked the music and there are 4 or 5 songs that remain in my head. Excellent cast and a special mention to the ensemble who worked so hard. Shirtless men in leather shorts, it was like being in a fetish club at one point (Of course not speaking from experience!). As for CHF, I have only seen her perform once when she was in the concert version of Les Mis but I was rather impressed with her. The male lead was off due to an accident earlier in the week so I saw Michael Hamway perform and he was very good indeed. As many others have mentioned the stand out performance is from Victoria Hamilton-Barritt who was very funny indeed and also a great performance from Rebecca Trehearn. The whole musical is quite smutty which the audience, myself included, seemed to enjoy. I do think that some people thought they were at Cinderella the panto as there was a little bit of shouting out and lots of ahhs, and groans. The highlight of the show is the ball in act 2 when the seats move and this was quite magical. I was further back in the stalls but it meant that during this bit I was very close to the stage. Loved the costumes as well. The only thing I didn't really like was the bows at the end. The show finishes, curtain comes down and audience applaud. There is then quite a long wait until the curtain comes again, by which time the applause has died down a bit. Then the ensemble and main cast come forward to take their bows but with no music. The music only starts up when the 2 leads take their bows and then stops again. I just felt it would work better if there was music throughout the bows. I found the show very entertaining, visually great and a lovely evening out. Would definately go again. A solid 4 stars from me. It's weird about the bows! For at least one night they were exactly as you described they should be - the ensemble came out dancing to the Cinderella Waltz, and then bowed to music in slightly smaller groups. Music continuing throughout the bows, changing to an orchestration of So Long for Ivano's bow, and Bad Cinderella for Carrie's. It was very well done and I really liked it. It's sad to have it cut back down. It's possible they haven't rehearsed all their swings into the original, more complicated bows yet? Since they're using a lot of them now Ivano's off, so perhaps we'll get them back at some point. Or they could have just been cut for time - but I was more than happy to watch them!! |
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jul 10, 2021 11:51:11 GMT
CHF is doing a Q&A on Instagram at the moment.
She says she's having her second jab today, but in another question that she's doing all the shows until her alternate is properly rehearsed. Obviously she needs to have her jab — I just hope she feels ok after it, or you might end up with neither normal Prince nor Cinderella!
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Post by danb on Jul 10, 2021 13:00:06 GMT
Listened to it on the way in to work today and I’d say the music was actually a strength. Some of the lyrics are absolute howlers though, and the story just seems like a particularly woke month of Hollyoaks or similar. Still looking forward to seeing it. Pls don’t rehearse any covers in before the 21st!
Edit: loving the Adam Lambert crazy sea monster song! Can he come and do 3 months in it and them put it back in?
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Post by Andy on Jul 10, 2021 13:10:11 GMT
I’m one of the suspicious “new members” that gave it 5 stars. As has been well covered in this thread, the show is far from perfect, the story needs work in parts, the lack of orchestra is very disappointing, and so on. But I enjoyed it throughout, there were some great performances, every big song and every joke landed with the audience when I was there, and as soon as it finished I was ready to go back and see it again. I’d understand people with the exact same opinions as me knocking off stars for its flaws but for me it’s a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I will be going back so I’ll be interested to see if it stands up to a rewatch or if the flaws stick out more and I end up revising my rating.
I’ve been listening to the cast recording since it came out and there are some bits in it I’m glad weren’t in the show. Although having said that, the “knob” line seems weird on the recording but at the theatre it got a big laugh. I think that particular line works well to ground the characters as regular friends in a fairytale world. So maybe some other things that stick out on the recording would’ve made more sense on stage, and if you haven’t seen it maybe things you don’t like the sound of will make more sense when you do see it.
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Post by musicalmarge on Jul 10, 2021 13:21:21 GMT
I’m one of the suspicious “new members” that gave it 5 stars. As has been well covered in this thread, the show is far from perfect, the story needs work in parts, the lack of orchestra is very disappointing, and so on. But I enjoyed it throughout, there were some great performances, every big song and every joke landed with the audience when I was there, and as soon as it finished I was ready to go back and see it again. I’d understand people with the exact same opinions as me knocking off stars for its flaws but for me it’s a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. I will be going back so I’ll be interested to see if it stands up to a rewatch or if the flaws stick out more and I end up revising my rating. I’ve been listening to the cast recording since it came out and there are some bits in it I’m glad weren’t in the show. Although having said that, the “knob” line seems weird on the recording but at the theatre it got a big laugh. I think that particular line works well to ground the characters as regular friends in a fairytale world. So maybe some other things that stick out on the recording would’ve made more sense on stage, and if you haven’t seen it maybe things you don’t like the sound of will make more sense when you do see it. If you say the show is far from perfect, needs work and it lacks an orchestra then it can’t be a perfect five stars rating then can it? Five stars means it can’t get any better and you say it can! So really your five is a four? I need a drink. |
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