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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 16, 2018 12:57:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2018 18:47:37 GMT
Saw this in Birmingham the other night and absolutely loved it! I preferred it more than the The Play That Goes Wrong (and the TV specials), I wonder if they're ever going to take this to Broadway as well, considering the success of TPTGW there? I do have a question... {Spoiler - click to view}
...as the performance I attended was a preview and noticed a few little tech hiccups.
During the bedroom scene before the interval, the curtains fell down as Mitch was closing them, which got a laugh, followed by a comment by Mitch and Caprice. Was this a "Goes Wrong" thing and actually part of the show?... I couldn't quite tell! |
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 1, 2018 21:32:05 GMT
Saw this in Birmingham the other night and absolutely loved it! I preferred it more than the The Play That Goes Wrong (and the TV specials), I wonder if they're ever going to take this to Broadway as well, considering the success of TPTGW there? I do have a question... {Spoiler - click to view}
...as the performance I attended was a preview and noticed a few little tech hiccups.
During the bedroom scene before the interval, the curtains fell down as Mitch was closing them, which got a laugh, followed by a comment by Mitch and Caprice. Was this a "Goes Wrong" thing and actually part of the show?... I couldn't quite tell! No, that must have been a genuine mishap as I've never seen that happen in over 50 viewings of the show. How did they manage given that both Sam & Mitch have to hide behind the curtains during the scene? I'm in agreement with you in preferring TCAABR to TPTGW. I went up to Birmingham today to see the first Saturday matinee of the tour. After being so used to seeing the show at the Criterion it was very strange to see it in such a different theatre as the modern & much larger Birmingham Rep. Having a wider stage meant that everything was more spread-out, which did work well at some points where characters are meant to not notice things even when, at the Criterion, they're right next to them, so more space made them more plausible. Other than the extra space most of the staging was the same except for the vents scene. {Spoiler - click to view} There is no vent structure built around the proscenium. Cooper, Mitch, Caprice & Sam exit from the "vent" on the stage at the end of the wall scene & then re-enter & use that same "vent" on the floor to do a shortened version of what would take place in the proscenium vents. The central section giving way so Mitch nearly falls is cut. Cooper's death is done by him "falling" through the "floor" i.e. upstage. Mitch, Caprice & Sam then exit & the rope scene is done with them descending from the flies without the audience seeing how they got up there. I realise that it would have been very difficult to do the vents on a tour & this is probably the best that could be managed but I can't say that it's as good as at the Criterion. A few other minor differences I spotted: Caprice's apartment has acquired a chair, coat stand & picture over the chest. Tony doesn't pop up at the end of the road trip. Freeboys' portrait is a different design & in landscape format. The 3 ensemble members have slightly more to do. 1 of the men replaces Mitch in the telephone scene. The woman & 1 of the men dance while Sam & Caprice are dancing on their date, as do Ruth & Everyone Else. The woman & 1 of the men join in the fish/seagull section of the car chase. Now for the cast. The only person I was expecting to recognise was Sean Carey so I got one of the biggest surprises of my theatregoing life when the female ensemble member popped out of the laundry cast & it was Ellie Morris! I had grave difficulties in concentrating on the leads in any of the ensemble scenes because I was too busy gaping at her. I didn't manage to speak to her afterwards but I did speak to a few other cast members & was told that because the actress playing Ruth is off sick & the u/s has been on since the start of the tour that Ellie has joined for a bit to make sure there's cover. Today is her first day so I timed that well! A very quick run down of the leads: Liam Jeavons as Mitch - The most intimidating actor I've seen in the role, helped by him being one of the tallest guys on stage (this cast seems quite short overall, especially compared to the current London cast). Plays it most similarly to Matt Hunt. Julia Frith as Caprice - Very assured considering this is her professional debut. Sean Carey as Sam - when I saw him on for Max in TPTGW last December I told him afterwards that he'd be great as Sam & I'm glad to say that I was right! Great smile. Not quite as fluent on some of the physical parts around the bed but I'm sure that'll come with practice. Damian Lynch as Freeboys - Different physical casting to the London Freeboys as he's slim & average height so can't physically dominate in the same way. Also didn't seem to yell as much. Jon Trenchard as Warren - He is very much the usual casting type. All done well but nothing really new. David Coomber as Cooper - Probably the most different portrayl. Plays it quite camp. I did wonder at a few points if he means it to be that Cooper's gay & fancies Mitch but I'm not sure about that. Does Cooper impersonating Freeboys with a plummy RP accent like an aging thespian, which is very funny. Ashley Tucker as Ruth (u/s) - It can't be easy to have to go on as an u/s from the first show of a run but I wouldn't have known she wasn't the lead from her performance. Very good indeed. Good chemistry with her Shuck & made the bit where Ruth says goodbye to Sam at the end the most moving I've seen it. Killian Macardle as Shuck - I thought he gave a good performance but somehow the character seemed slightly less prominent than with other actors. George Hannigan as Everyone Else - Very good. I was pleased to see the forward roll back in the 3-way fight. I haven't really finished but my phone battery's about to die (on a train in Cornwall) so better post this before I lose it. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2018 12:26:03 GMT
Saw this in Birmingham the other night and absolutely loved it! I preferred it more than the The Play That Goes Wrong (and the TV specials), I wonder if they're ever going to take this to Broadway as well, considering the success of TPTGW there? I do have a question... {Spoiler - click to view}
...as the performance I attended was a preview and noticed a few little tech hiccups.
During the bedroom scene before the interval, the curtains fell down as Mitch was closing them, which got a laugh, followed by a comment by Mitch and Caprice. Was this a "Goes Wrong" thing and actually part of the show?... I couldn't quite tell! No, that must have been a genuine mishap as I've never seen that happen in over 50 viewings of the show. How did they manage given that both Sam & Mitch have to hide behind the curtains during the scene? I think they might have just held them up while hiding, I can't quite remember now (so clearly they managed to pull it off in the end!). But I'm interested to see how they do the vents scene at the Criterion now after reading your description, I thought the touring alternative was done very well! |
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 2, 2018 20:19:29 GMT
But I'm interested to see how they do the vents scene at the Criterion now after reading your description, I thought the touring alternative was done very well! Yes, I thought the limitations were dealt with well & I'm sure audiences who haven't seen it at the Criterion wouldn't realise that it's been changed. However if you do get the chance to see it in London I'd recommend it. One thing I forgot to say in my post last night. Warren's suicide scene has reverted back to the original ending with him exclaiming "I can't even die!". The seagulls holding him up are manipulated by 2 of the ensemble. I'll be interested to see if the London production changes back to the original too or if it sticks to Cooper with seagulls Simon & Deborah i.e. Warren dies & meets them in the afterlife. It's certainly interesting to have a character currently die in 1 production & survive in another! |
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Post by TheatreTwittic on Sept 9, 2018 23:37:53 GMT
I saw the tour at the Bham Rep on Saturday. Extremely funny! There was a tech hitch with the fly system so that led to a second small interval for around 5-10 mins but all dealt with extremely well. The cast still put in a stellar and hilarious performance.
It was interesting to read in the programme that quite a few changes were made following the conclusion of the original cast's run. This tour is the first time those tweaks have been shown to the public. It explains a few people commenting on slight differences to the London production.
The vents scene was pretty well done but I wouldn't mind seeing it at it's home in London to see how the original was done.
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 10, 2018 7:32:31 GMT
It was interesting to read in the programme that quite a few changes were made following the conclusion of the original cast's run. This tour is the first time those tweaks have been shown to the public. It explains a few people commenting on slight differences to the London production. Yes, there were major changes made to the London production when the original cast left in February 17, however a large proprtion of these changes were then dropped in June 17 & the show reverted back to something closer to what it was when the original cast left. If you look back on this thread I detailed most of the re-writes when they were happening. Apart from the vent scene, and a few other very small changes, what is being seen on the tour is what has been seen in London since June 17. |
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Post by crabtree on Sept 16, 2018 14:47:39 GMT
still laughing away after yesterday's matinee.....ah the timing of that bed scene. And great singing too. The change of perspective for the room was breathtaking. Yep, a gloriously staged physical farce, and bonkers
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Post by stevej678 on Sept 17, 2018 13:48:25 GMT
Caught the tour at The Lowry last week. I'd forgotten just how utterly brilliant this is, I had tears rolling down my cheeks at some points. It's in a completely different league to The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong (and I say that as a big fan of both shows).
The touring cast are every bit as good as the original London cast. It's hard to believe this is Julia Frith's professional debut as Caprice, while Ashley Tucker is probably the best Ruth I've seen. Damian Lynch, Sean Carey, David Coomber and Liam Jeavons are all perfect for their roles, inhabit the characters so well and with such terrific comic timing, it's hard to believe this is only the second venue of the tour. It's the first time I've watched a Mischief show without the original cast and not missed them one bit!
Also, is it just me or does David Coomber looks uncannily like Dave Hearn?!
The audience absolutely loved it. I've not heard a buzz around a theatre quite like that at an interval since Natalie Barnes' Don't Rain On My Parade almost took the roof off the Savoy.
Booked again for the Storyhouse in Chester in January and will probably do Liverpool too in June.
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Post by stevej678 on Sept 17, 2018 14:54:38 GMT
Can't edit the previous post now but meant Natasha Barnes!
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 17, 2018 19:39:53 GMT
Ashley Tucker is probably the best Ruth I've seen. I think it's a shame that she's "only" the understudy & I'd love it if she were still on when I see the tour again in Norwich next month. It's the first time I've watched a Mischief show without the original cast and not missed them one bit! I still miss the original cast a bit. Also, is it just me or does David Coomber looks uncannily like Dave Hearn?! I can't say I thought that at all but I'll doubtless now be looking at him with that in mind next time. |
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Post by ellie1981 on Nov 7, 2018 8:53:09 GMT
A friend has an American friend visiting and we wanted to take him to shows that aren’t really playing elsewhere. So far he’s done Jamie, Hamilton (just because it’s easier here) and we went to this last night. It was my third time but first without the original Mischief Theatre troop. Really quite impressed with the current cast as I was expecting it to have lost some of its zing, but still a belly laugh throughout.
I’m still trying to convince another group of friends and colleagues to come as I think it would be right up their street. No luck so far.
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Post by stuart on Nov 7, 2018 11:00:47 GMT
Dave Hearn posted on Twitter yesterday that he was en route to Glasgow for the show. Is he back in it now?
I’m meant to be seeing it on Saturday so this would be amazing news if so!
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 7, 2018 16:42:22 GMT
Dave Hearn posted on Twitter yesterday that he was en route to Glasgow for the show. Is he back in it now? I’m meant to be seeing it on Saturday so this would be amazing news if so! Dave joined the tour in the middle of October, after Sean Carey broke his hand, and has been in it for the Norwich, Leeds and Cheltenham tour stops (conveniently I was already booked to see it in Norwich so got to see Dave again - for the 3rd time this year!). Sean tweeted this 2 days ago:
So it looks like whether or not you'll see Dave depends on which show you are seeing on Saturday and, of course, whether Sean is actually recovered enough to do all the shows he is scheduled to do.
By the way, pace ellie1981's post, if anyone wants to see the (very good) current London cast you have until 16th December when the next cast change will happen. |
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Post by stuart on Nov 7, 2018 18:17:05 GMT
Dave Hearn posted on Twitter yesterday that he was en route to Glasgow for the show. Is he back in it now? I’m meant to be seeing it on Saturday so this would be amazing news if so! Dave joined the tour in the middle of October, after Sean Carey broke his hand, and has been in it for the Norwich, Leeds and Cheltenham tour stops (conveniently I was already booked to see it in Norwich so got to see Dave again - for the 3rd time this year!). Sean tweeted this 2 days ago:
So it looks like whether or not you'll see Dave depends on which show you are seeing on Saturday and, of course, whether Sean is actually recovered enough to do all the shows he is scheduled to do.
By the way, pace ellie1981's post, if anyone wants to see the (very good) current London cast you have until 16th December when the next cast change will happen. Sean Carey will be on every night show? I’m going Saturday matinee so fingers crossed! |
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 7, 2018 19:17:45 GMT
Sean Carey will be on every night show? I’m going Saturday matinee so fingers crossed! Good luck! However if you so end up seeing Sean he is very good and, having seen both of them, I felt that Sean did (perhaps unsuprisingly) fit in better with the rest of the tour cast. Dave was almost too good in the role, if that makes any sense: he has so much confidence & stage presence as Sam that it slightly unbalanced the show. It probably didn't help that the understudy Mitch, Eddy Westbury, was on when I saw the tour in Norwich & both he and Julia Frith are recent graduates & came over as younger than Dave who, while very boyish-looking, must be nearly 30 by now, so the bits when Mitch is supposed to be dominating Sam didn't always quite work.
One more point for the tour casting record: Ashley Tucker is now officially playing Ruth permanently. The originally-cast Ruth, Yolande Ovide, apparently won't be returning to the role & she never did any public performances. (Yes, I am aware that probably no-one other than me cares about this sort of thing!)
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Post by stevej678 on Nov 7, 2018 19:35:28 GMT
One more point for the tour casting record: Ashley Tucker is now officially playing Ruth permanently. The originally-cast Ruth, Yolande Ovide, apparently won't be returning to the role & she never did any public performances. (Yes, I am aware that probably no-one other than me cares about this sort of thing!) Please keep the updates coming Dawnstar, they're always an interesting read and much appreciated! That's a shame for Yolande that she never got to join the tour but a well deserved promotion for Ashley. She was my favourite Ruth so I'm excited to see her again when the tour comes to Chester at the end of January. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 7, 2018 20:35:22 GMT
Please keep the updates coming Dawnstar , they're always an interesting read and much appreciated! That's a shame for Yolande that she never got to join the tour but a well deserved promotion for Ashley. She was my favourite Ruth so I'm excited to see her again when the tour comes to Chester at the end of January. I'm glad that someone other than me is interested! Yes, I was pleased to find that out when I saw the show in Norwich - though ironically Ashley wasn't actually on for that performance so I got to see Charlotte Duffy's Ruth debut, who was also very good especially considering she's the 2nd cover. I'm eyeing up Milton Keynes at the end of this month but I'm not sure I can justify it when it'll take me nearly twice as long to get there as to the West End production. |
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Post by stuart on Nov 10, 2018 23:24:22 GMT
No Dave Hearn at the Glasgow matinee today but still thoroughly enjoyed it! It was my second time seeing the show and the touring cast are just as strong as the ones I saw in the West End about a year ago.
We did have three show stops though owing to sound and power issues. One 5min one straight after the interval, another 10min one right before the wall scene and a third immediately after the second when it was clear that there was still no sound for FoH (apparently the side of stage’s sound was fixed so they assumed the whole theatre was). The irony of a Mischief Theatre production going wrong was not lost on us. It meant it was well past 5:30pm before the curtain went down on the 2:30pm matinee!
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 11, 2018 19:23:31 GMT
stuart I'm sorry for you that you missed seeing Dave but it least it evidently means that Sean is fully recovered. That is a lot of show stops but at least it sounds like you did get the whole show eventually.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 11, 2018 21:09:32 GMT
Enjoyed the matinee of this today. Another success from Mischief Theatre.
This cast are exceptional and the comic timing is impeccable. Although I didn't find it all as hilarious as some of the audience it is very fun. Not sure it's the sort of thing that would merit a return visit but maybe that's just me.
All of the business with the bed was wonderful.
Five very loud gunshots in the second half (not recorded ones)
Also my first visit to the Criterion. Found it lovely and the perfect size of theatre for this farce!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2018 3:07:03 GMT
Whoah! 5 gunshots? Have they changed the ending? I know they have changed things several times. I don't remember so many, but of course I could be wrong.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 12, 2018 10:14:02 GMT
Whoah! 5 gunshots? Have they changed the ending? I know they have changed things several times. I don't remember so many, but of course I could be wrong. I'm pretty sure that the number of shots has stayed the same since the show started. The identity of one of the victims did change then change back, when all the 2nd cast re-writes were done then mostly undone, but that didn't alter the number of shots. Freeboys shoots Roger
Mitch shoots Freeboys
Mitch shoots Prince Ludwig
Mitch shoots Sam non-fatally (Caprice during the 2nd cast re-writes)
Shuck shoots Mitch |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2018 0:53:16 GMT
I personally wouldn't have said the gunshots were VERY loud in this, and I usually can't stand them. Or at least not compared to War Horse, which prevents me from wanting to see that again, but I definately wouldn't stop myself from seeing TCAABR again because of them.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 13, 2018 22:59:07 GMT
I think the gun shots are done well in this. When I saw the Royal Ballet's Mayerling last month I found the gun shots, which seemed to be done as sound effects, to be very unrealiatic by comparison.
Jack Whittle made his debut as Shuck tonight. I took advantage of the rare luxery of actually having advanced notice for a 2nd cover debut & went. I thought he did an excellent job. I don't believe that anyone watching with no prior knowledge would have known that a) it was his first show & b) he's "only" 2nd cover. Also the TCAABR make-up team did a great job in making him look 3 decades older than he is! He's on until Saturday if anyone else is interested in seeing him.
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