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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 21, 2022 12:02:21 GMT
Bird College are putting on: - The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2-5 Feb - Crazy For ou 23-26 Feb - Pippin 16-19 March - Follies 27-30 April - Bare the Musical 11-14 May I'm sure it's somewhere very obvious, but I cannot for the life of me find any information on when booking opens for any of these shows or if public booking is even possible? Do let me know if you spot anything. Several of the Bird College productions there that I'd like to see. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 21, 2022 20:49:04 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed LJ this afternoon and have booked same seat for GPB in 3 weeks time. Again they they are charging £8 less for seats at the two weekday matinees.
I'd never heard of Bird College and also can find no way of booking their shows. I'm going to phone on Monday and will report back.If only college and university productions weren't so difficult to find out about and, in this case, book ; I guess they aren't really aimed at the general public but they are invariably professional standard.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 21, 2022 23:18:59 GMT
I saw Lysistrata Jones today and wasn't convinced to be honest. I think that may have been more the fault of the show itself rather than the cast though.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 22, 2022 1:32:04 GMT
I saw Lysistrata Jones today and wasn't convinced to be honest. I think that may have been more the fault of the show itself rather than the cast though. i did find the first half a bit repetitive but the cast carried it, especially the two female leads, and I was thoroughly entertained for a couple of hours which is all I ever want from a musical. |
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Post by showgirl on Jan 22, 2022 5:49:56 GMT
I didn't love the LJ music, which seemed undistinguished to me; indeed the whole musical seemed very similar to umpteen others based around high schools/colleges, etc. However, I did enjoy visiting a venue new to me, seeing a lively production of professional standard and being mesmerised by one of the female leads and highly impressed by one of the male leads. Sure these people are going to be snapped up soon if indeed they haven't already been.
Also booked yesterday for a matinee of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which I've only seen once and not for years. This time I'm having to go on a Saturday but matinees for seniors are still far cheaper than evenings.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 22, 2022 10:11:29 GMT
I managed to see both casts for LJ (mostly due to this being a local venue to me and also because I expect this will rarely ever be produced).
The production was excellent as is usually the case with ArtsEd and this could easily transfer straight into a professional venue. The musical itself has all the hallmarks of one of those sleeper hit teen musicals (Heathers etc) but it doesn't quite work for me. I think the problem is how it presents all high school girls as being desperate for sex, which rather goes against the whole female empowerment vibe.
I also thought they very cleverly avoided showing any basketball being played. The very athletic cast were not demonstrating the greatest ball skills (although that could be part of the plot).
There are some catchy songs and this is a snappy 2 hours 15 minutes in one of the nicest theatre spaces in London. There are a lot of jokes and topical references, many of them which must have been added since the Broadway production, but they don't hit home for the UK audience.
One of the most interesting parts to me was seeing how both sets of leads were so different. Typically, a professional production has covers who look like the leads and perform things in a similar way. In this case, the two casts were very different, different ethnicities in many cases, different looks and vocal styles and there some staging changes. I don't want to pick out one cast over the other as both were excellent, just different. I did enjoy the show more the second time I saw it, but that may also be due to familiarity.
Funny note on the overheard conversations was that one of the cast had warned her mum that the show was terrible (it wasn't terrible and the mum didn't think so either - but I'm not sure it's the kind of show I'd want to invite my family to). I also had who I assume was Djavan's van de Fliert's boyfriend sat a few seats away one night, who got very loud and excited every time Djavan was on (most noticeable as he was the only person in the audience to do this, although I thought Djavan played the fun geek role well and would an excellent Jamie). I must also mention that Charis Alexandra's voice was sublime.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see more productions of this from student groups as it's very much age appropriate. I look forward to seeing GPB in a few weeks time.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 22, 2022 13:28:46 GMT
I did enjoy the show more the second time I saw it, but that may also be due to familiarity. I did wonder if I didn't enjoy the show so much because I wasn't familiar with the music or plot, but I went into ArtsEd's SpongeBob show blind and I had a fantastic time with that. I personally can't see this show having the same kind of following as Heathers or something similar, but my friend who went with me did like it a lot more than me so it's likely just a personal taste thing. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 24, 2022 13:20:11 GMT
Bird College are putting on: - The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2-5 Feb - Crazy For ou 23-26 Feb - Pippin 16-19 March - Follies 27-30 April - Bare the Musical 11-14 May I'm sure it's somewhere very obvious, but I cannot for the life of me find any information on when booking opens for any of these shows or if public booking is even possible? I just phoned Bird College and spoke to a very nice lady who explained that theirs is a very small theatre so the shows are restricted to family, friends and I'm guessing industry personnel. I explained about this Forum and she read your post as we were speaking. She kindly took my email address in case any seats do become available for the public. I said that alternatively she could join and make a post here. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 24, 2022 13:41:59 GMT
She kindly took my email address in case any seats do become available for the public. Oh I see! Well if any seats do become available for the public and you're emailed, please do let me know! I'm very interested in seeing Hunchback, Follies and Bare. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 24, 2022 14:22:08 GMT
She kindly took my email address in case any seats do become available for the public. Oh I see! Well if any seats do become available for the public and you're emailed, please do let me know! I'm very interested in seeing Hunchback, Follies and Bare. Of course. I'll post it here if I have permission to do so or send a private message if I don't. They're the same three shows I'd book. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 24, 2022 14:27:45 GMT
I'll post it here if I have permission to do so or send a private message if I don't. They're the same three shows I'd book. Fab! Thank you for doing the legwork  |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jan 24, 2022 14:35:22 GMT
Hunchback and Bare are two of my favourites! I'm glad they're being performed, even if the public can't book :')
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 27, 2022 20:44:21 GMT
Urdang have just released tickets for their 3 shows this term: Legally Blonde, Urinetown and Kinky Boots!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 27, 2022 20:57:40 GMT
I just checked and Legally Blonde is actually already sold out for all of their evening shows + their Saturday matinee! |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 7, 2022 9:16:50 GMT
I saw the Mountview production of Company last week and thought it was excellent. Having only seen the recent gender swapped revival, in was different to see it in original form, with lots of 70s fashion on show.
Iwan James was on in the lead role and, unlike Bobby, I'm sure will have lots of offers for marriage if he's still unwed when he gets to 35.
Sung well throughout and making excellent space of the packed Backstage Theatre. And great to see Mountview enforcing checks of Covid tests and mask wearing.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 7, 2022 19:56:17 GMT
I saw Ally as Bobby and thought he was really good too. Thoroughly enjoyed that entire production!
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 8, 2022 11:05:46 GMT
Carousel - Mountview
Another excellent production.
This has been restaged to the natural home of 80s, 90 and 00s Southend-on-Sea, much more cleverly and naturally done than the recent Regent's Park production.
There are a few line changes and twists, but otherwise this is very sympathetic to the original material. The odd glaring line, but most of it works very well. With that said, I can't imagine R&H using the c-word (even whispered) or finding a new rhyme for "anchor", but an Essex full of single mothers and shell suit wearing men who get snort powder and get baked at the Clam nightclub at the weekend would seem out of place without it. If you've ever wanted to hear the Carousel Waltz in club style, now is your chance.
The only real issue was the sound in parts, with microphones not turned on and some odd echoes. I also had one of those people near me who found everything hilarious, even the moments that were meant to be poignant. Yes, there is a lot of physical acting showing off the strengths of the cast (especially when they play schoolchildren), but there is a fine line here. No gunshots either, which is always a bonus.
There aren't many tickets left, but do attend if you like R&H and are fine with updated versions. I'm already booked to see the other cast later in the week. The way this is staged, it works perfectly with a younger cast and could very easily transfer to a professional theatre if the rights allow.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 17, 2022 1:18:03 GMT
Italia Conti musicals for March/April are Footloose, Carrie and Cry Baby. They also have three plays coming up in February/March - A Small Family Business (Ayckbourn), Banana Boys (looks like this one is a gay coming of age story) and Innovation (drawing a blank with searches for this one). The first two plays are on sale here: www.gigantic.com/spring-season-italia-conti-ticketsFootloose and Carrie are now on sale, Cry Baby not yet. Seating is unreserved. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 25, 2022 9:00:55 GMT
The Mountview productions for Legally Blonde and Carrie have quietly gone on sale.
I did read somewhere that Legally Blonde is going to be a radical reinvention, but that's quite common for Mountview.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 25, 2022 9:39:24 GMT
It’s quite common for Legally Blonde at the moment it would seem!
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 25, 2022 12:40:16 GMT
Carrie is going to be an actor musician production!
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Post by sprampster on Feb 25, 2022 14:36:42 GMT
Saw a brilliant production of Legally Blonde at Urdang earlier this week. Full of feelgood and brilliantly performed
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 25, 2022 16:35:22 GMT
The Mountview productions for Legally Blonde and Carrie have quietly gone on sale. I did read somewhere that Legally Blonde is going to be a radical reinvention, but that's quite common for Mountview. Just booked both, good tip off. I'm hooked on college productions ! Couldn't check out without a password so requested a link to set one but when I received and clicked on it I was taken straight to checkout with no requirement or opportunity to set the password. Same happened last time I booked Mountview shows. Odd. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 25, 2022 22:10:00 GMT
Saw a brilliant production of Legally Blonde at Urdang earlier this week. Full of feelgood and brilliantly performed I would definitely have booked that had I been aware. Both performances tomorrow are sold out. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 4, 2022 23:45:03 GMT
Italia Conti musicals for March/April are Footloose, Carrie and Cry Baby. They also have three plays coming up in February/March - A Small Family Business (Ayckbourn), Banana Boys (looks like this one is a gay coming of age story) and Innovation (drawing a blank with searches for this one). The first two plays are on sale here: www.gigantic.com/spring-season-italia-conti-ticketsCry Baby is now on sale. |
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