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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 7, 2020 10:55:28 GMT
A thumbs up for Betty Blue Eyes at Mountview. I was there for the first performance last night, in the main theatre. I sat front row, but you may want to sit back for better sound balance. I haven’t seen this show before, but it’s very offbeat Stiles and Drewe. Professionally staged with production values to match many smaller West End shows. There is a loud noise warning for anyone interested. It’s a recording, happens in the first half and quite predicts when it will happen from the context. The cast for this is largely the same every night, with just one shared role. I saw cast 1, who were all good. Decent singing and dancing with lots of camp and one actor really channeling his inner Mark Gatiss. It wasn’t sold out last night so I’d imagine it will be fairly easy to get tickets. Runs another week. Ran about 2 hours 40 minutes last night. I was the only other person in the front row last night. I nearly spoke to you, sorry now that I didn't. You probably noticed my big orange bag as I'd travelled back from Wales by coach I missed my £1.99 Metro McDonalds to got there early as I hadn't pre-booked, then made sure I was first in the auditorium to get that seat, but needn't have bothered. 14 front row seats and 12 unoccupied ! I've seen Betty Blue Eyes a few times ; it's a quirky show amateur groups occasionally choose . I particularly enjoyed the pre-show on stage gossip which isn't usually done, the OTT John Cleese-ish meat inspector Wormald, and the female lead's strong vocals. Plus Betty herself of course. Still managing to enjoy a home made sausage roll with my morning coffee right now. Will try to get back to see cast 2 next week. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 9, 2020 14:40:52 GMT
I was the only other person in the front row last night. I nearly spoke to you, sorry now that I didn't. You probably noticed my big orange bag as I'd travelled back from Wales by coach I missed my £1.99 Metro McDonalds to got there early as I hadn't pre-booked, then made sure I was first in the auditorium to get that seat, but needn't have bothered. 14 front row seats and 12 unoccupied ! Do say hello next time. I'm terrible with recognising people. Mountview attendances are a bit unpredictable. Some shows they have a load of students queued up (I suspect watching and analysing the performances is part of the syllabus somewhere). They have improved a lot by giving paying customers a choice of where they sit. The front row doesn't tend to be that popular for some reason. I guess friends and family try and sit out of view so as to not distract the actors. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 9, 2020 14:45:18 GMT
A first for me yesterday, I nipped back for a second viewing of a student production. The 12:15pm performance of Assassins in the Backstage Theatre.
The start time worked for me as I was able to go straight on to another matinee. There was a bit of chaos as a train party of 32 people was delayed and people were asked to move to provide somewhere easy to allow them to slip in (this was a no interview show). I was perhaps selfish here and didn't move as I'd got there early and chosen my seat carefully. In the end, the train party didn't make it, leaving a big gap at some side of the stage.
I sat at the front centre of the opposite side to the previous viewing. Same cast (I wasn't able to make a performance with cast 2). I must say the sound was much better at this side, further away from the band at the upper level. Also thought that the student performances seemed more comfortable. This is a powerful show when done right and I got the emotional aspects fully this time.
Closing night was last night, but there are lots more Mountview performances on the horizon, including a few more shows of Betty Blue Eyes.
This coming week, I have the Arts Ed production of The Wild Party to look forward to.
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 12, 2020 11:02:32 GMT
Saw The Wild Party at Arts Ed last night. It was a very stylish production, but the whole show and concept didn't really work for me. This is a show where I think students would have benefited from having more life experienced to draw on. And I think things were remarkably restrained during what were meant to be some of the "wild" scenes.
It was sung well and the theatre looked sold out yesterday.
One near accident when the actor playing Jackie lost his pocket square, which ended up as a slip hazard on the stage. Took two good skids from other cast members before anyone took the initiative and moved it.
There was a gun waved about, but no gunshot warning anywhere. Thankfully the result was prerecorded and quiet.
Final day today if anyone wants to try and get tickets. The crowd generally liked it and I could appreciate it, but it's not a show I could imagine ever wanting to see again.
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 12, 2020 12:11:33 GMT
Is it the show, not the acting, partly? Remember not liking the music or book at all at the Other Palace. I'd say mostly the show. I hadn't seen it before and didn't take to it. For the students, I guess it's a good choice. A different style of show for their CV and lots of interesting parts. The acting was fine. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 20, 2020 22:40:06 GMT
Saw an excellent and innovative version of Little Shop of Horrors at LAMDA tonight.
They've moved the setting to a dystopian future, with the Earth having been ravaged by global warning meaning that resources are scarce. The poor people on Skid Row carry an oxygen mask and rely on supplements. Dressed dirty and shabby (at least until their fortunes changed), the only thing that suggested the poverty wasn't as bad as it seemed was a few sets of exceptionally white teeth. Audrey II is innovatively played by a human, starting from just a hand.
LAMDA don't have a musical theatre course, so it's always a treat to see their acting students try a different genre. Some strong vocalists here. Can't really comment on dancing as this isn't much of a dance musical. But great for the students to have another string to their bows. Nate Morley really stole the show as Orin Scrivello, but that's always the best part.
A nice theatre and venue too, just a few minutes walk from the centre of Hammersmith. Sadly this was the last night and wasn't quite sold out, but LAMDA's musicals are always worth a trip.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 21, 2020 0:55:51 GMT
Just checked the summer productions for Italia Conti for anyone interested. Little Shop of Horrors on Thurs 26 and Fri 27 March. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on Thurs 2 and Fri 3 April Ticketing doesn't look to be live yet, but is usually through EventBrite On sale now although three out of the four performances of Seven Brides ... are already sold out. Only Thursday evening still available. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 22, 2020 19:08:44 GMT
Tracked down the Urdang dates for anyone interested. In The Heights - 21 and 22 February (too late now and unfortunately sold out or I would have gone) Our House - 28 and 29 February (also sold out - but worth checking back) Pippin - 6 and 7 March All are Friday and Saturday, with a matinee and evening performance both days. They're all at the Bernie Grant Art Centre and bookable through that site. All final year students. Unfortunately I can't make those dates, but hope that helps someone. Maybe FrontroverPaul if you have a free Friday afternoon? |
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 22, 2020 21:34:20 GMT
Finally saw Mr Burns this afternoon (well 12:15) at Mountview. This thread should probably be in General Posts, but this is a play with music and Act III is entirely musical, so I hope it fits.
I've not seen this play before but it has always intrigued me. Previous productions have had enough trigger warnings to put me off. Mountview didn't have one, but I was slightly alarmed with a gunshot warning when I arrived. Thankfully this was limited to five quick sounds in Act II, all off stage (although there were more than enough guns being waved around).
Unusually, the Mountview host at the Backstage Theatre was requesting everyone not to film or record when they arrived and again after the interval. Presumably there have been problems. This was the penultimate performance and most of the seats were full.
Seating on three sides of a staging area. Three acts. First two acts before the interval (where we all had to leave so they could replace the set). The third act, very short, came after the interval
As I said earlier, this is more a play with music than musical theatre, but it was performed by the actor musician students, with a lot of talent amongst them.
The play takes as its inspiration one of the best episodes of The Simpsons of all time, but I don't know if all the audience had enough knowledge of The Simpsons (or dated back far enough) to understand this. It concerns a future civilisation where humanity had survived nuclear explosions that wiped out the majority of the world's population, but at the same time had lost all video recordings. At the same time as people fight for survival, groups of people try and recreate their favourite TV and use this to earn a living.
The final act sees a far future forward group combine The Simpsons and their own past to reflect on what brought them to this point. It's a very spiritual and religious performance.
The whole show is flawed and the first act incredibly slow, but this was performed well with lots of talent evident. I'm glad I got the chance to see it. Today was the last performance but Mountview still has a few shows this year and always deliver. If you were alive in the '90s and remember The Simpsons, you'll be shouting out (in your head at least) the memories of this episode. Now I'm determined to track down the original episode to see it for myself (with the rakes safely stored away).
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 23, 2020 1:26:30 GMT
Tracked down the Urdang dates for anyone interested. In The Heights - 21 and 22 February (too late now and unfortunately sold out or I would have gone) Our House - 28 and 29 February (also sold out - but worth checking back) Pippin - 6 and 7 March All are Friday and Saturday, with a matinee and evening performance both days. They're all at the Bernie Grant Art Centre and bookable through that site. All final year students. Unfortunately I can't make those dates, but hope that helps someone. Maybe FrontroverPaul if you have a free Friday afternoon? I could book Pippin but saw an amateur production of that only last Saturday and didn't like it enough to revisit so soon. Like you I would have gone for In the Heights which I haven't seen since the run at the Kings Cross Theatre back in 2016. Was free Friday too. It shows how difficult these college shows can be to track down so please carry on the detective work ! Oklahoma performed by Guildford School Of Acting at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre this week matched the professional Chichester production and the expanded dream sequence was the best I've ever seen it done. |
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Post by matilda1 on Feb 23, 2020 14:51:32 GMT
Love Oklahoma!
Any standouts? Anyone to be looking out for in the future?
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 3, 2020 1:30:52 GMT
Can recommend Urinetown at the Royal Central School Of Speech and Drama this week. Not seen it before and really enjoyed it. The cast played it all very much tongue in cheek, the male lead came close to losing it completely a couple of times. Lots of young talent there. Wildly enthusiastic audience creating a great atmosphere with loads of laughs.
Very close to Swiss Cottage tube station, directly opposite Hampstead Theatre, and tickets are only £10, £5 for concessions
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Mar 9, 2020 15:56:48 GMT
Can recommend Urinetown at the Royal Central School Of Speech and Drama this week. Not seen it before and really enjoyed it. The cast played it all very much tongue in cheek, the male lead came close to losing it completely a couple of times. Lots of young talent there. Wildly enthusiastic audience creating a great atmosphere with loads of laughs. Very close to Swiss Cottage tube station, directly opposite Hampstead Theatre, and tickets are only £10, £5 for concessions I was there on Friday and it was interesting the gender bending aspect for me! Fifth time of seeing it (third drama school grad show) and there were some brave choices! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 8:48:18 GMT
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 12, 2020 0:43:44 GMT
Visited the Bridewell Theatre tonight to see "Something Old, Something New" staged by the Musical Theatre Academy (MTA).
It's a fast moving two hour revue with 26 numbers. They've included songs from Tootsie, The Prom, Something Rotten!, The Band's Visit, I Love You Because, Seesaw, Dreaming Wide Awake, Love Me, Love Me Not and A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder, all unfamiliar to me, along with Aida, Legally Blonde, Rent, Spring Awakening, Betty Blue Eyes etc. , finishing with a full company Half A Sixpence medley.
Lots of quick costume changes, mostly top notch vocals and much creative choreography.
I enjoyed it so much I've just booked to see it again on Friday.
The next two MTA musicals at Bridewell will be " The 45th Marvellous Chatterley Village Fete" from June 10th -13th and HG Wells The Time Machine from September 9th -12th.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 5, 2021 7:58:32 GMT
Bandstand - ArtsEd
My first student production since the pandemic hit, back in one of the nicest theatre spaces in London (and with a huge stage).
I think this may be the UK debut of Bandstand, which I didn't catch on Broadway. It's a gentle musical, very swing and jazz focused, very character driven.
I saw Gregor Milne as Donny, who barely left the stage, as well as Olivia Saunders as Julia. Both were excellent. As always with ArtsEd, this was a very polished production and they made the most of the big dance numbers.
Not too much to the set. Lots done with projections, as is the modern way of doing things.
As with so many student productions, there is always one slightly camp actor, who has only a few lines, but gets great cheers and claps from the other students in attendance whenever he's on stage. I'm sure that's just some part of the theatre school experience that passed me by.
Very glad I saw this one and that the students are getting to show their talents to real audiences this year.
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 5, 2021 12:12:15 GMT
Wish I'd known this was on, glad it was good!
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Nov 5, 2021 12:40:11 GMT
Wish I'd known this was on, glad it was good! Spongebob next, sold out bar two matinees! |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 5, 2021 12:44:30 GMT
Wish I'd known this was on, glad it was good! I wish I also knew about Le Miz at the Mack theatre as it looks really interesting. |
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Post by Theatre Fan on Nov 5, 2021 13:04:41 GMT
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 5, 2021 14:09:11 GMT
Wish I'd known this was on, glad it was good! Same here, I'm sure had bookings for their cancelled 2020 shows so disappointed I wasn't added to an emailing list. Would definitely have booked but tonight* and both tomorrow's are sold out. Same with Les Mis, been to several Mountview shows but college productions don't seem to communicate with previous patrons, will keep checking back. *(Some seats are now available for Bandstand tonight but I'm going to hold off in the hope there is late availabilty tomorrow too) |
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 5, 2021 14:10:50 GMT
I'm at Les Mis for tomorrow's matinee. It was sold out but I kept checking back until a ticket appeared, so it's always worth trying. I got quite lucky with a Spongebob ticket as well. I spotted them the day they went on sale but they were almost sold out then.
We could do with a proper calendar of student productions.
Italia Conti has Pippin, Urinetown and The Wedding Singer coming up if they interest anyone.
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Post by Theatre Fan on Nov 6, 2021 0:20:03 GMT
I'm at Les Mis for tomorrow's matinee. It was sold out but I kept checking back until a ticket appeared, so it's always worth trying. I got quite lucky with a Spongebob ticket as well. I spotted them the day they went on sale but they were almost sold out then. We could do with a proper calendar of student productions. Italia Conti has Pippin, Urinetown and The Wedding Singer coming up if they interest anyone. It's incredible, especially the cast you're going to get to see tomorrow - I did a mad dash from Bristol after someone offered me their spare ticket, to see it a second time lol Enjoy 🇫🇷 x x x |
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Post by digne on Nov 6, 2021 1:41:35 GMT
I wish I could see it - maybe I will get very very lucky with a return tomorrow.
Though I'm confused they keep calling it the first contemporary staging when Dallas Theatre Center did it in 2014...
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Post by Theatre Fan on Nov 6, 2021 1:52:22 GMT
I wish I could see it - maybe I will get very very lucky with a return tomorrow. Though I'm confused they keep calling it the first contemporary staging when Dallas Theatre Center did it in 2014... What it was billed as originally, and what it actually is lol the first time a college has been allowed to stage the full production, not the schools edition x |
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