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Post by zephyrus on Feb 27, 2022 22:41:07 GMT
Saw the show this afternoon. (A friend had a spare ticket so I tagged along, even though it wasn't exactly top of my list.) It was a cavalcade of understudies at the Savoy Theatre today, and the experience was akin to watching an understudy run, as there was no Aimee Atkinson, no Danny Mac, no Rachael Wooding, no Bob Harms. I suppose we should be grateful that Neil McDermott turned up.
Must say that I felt very short-changed by the lack of principal cast; the Vivian and Edward were quite flat and lacked depth, giving very one-dimensional and unengaging performances, which didn't exactly help to bring the piece to life. To be honest, I rather enjoyed a couple of the songs but, on the whole, I felt that the material was quite weak - and the story somewhat problematic - but I have a feeling I'd have enjoyed it a bit more if I'd been seeing a few more of the advertised cast performing.
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Post by robertb213 on Feb 27, 2022 22:44:37 GMT
Danny was out when I saw it as well, and I agree the understudy was very wooden. Shame Rachael was out today as she is definitely one of the best things about it. Aimie was performing at the WhatsOnStage Awards this evening so maybe that's why she was off this afternoon.
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Post by zephyrus on Feb 27, 2022 22:49:00 GMT
Danny was out when I saw it as well, and I agree the understudy was very wooden. Shame Rachael was out today as she is definitely one of the best things about it. Aimie was performing at the WhatsOnStage Awards this evening so maybe that's why she was off this afternoon. Ah yes, the WhatsonStage Awards wasn't on my radar, but that would make sense. Not sure who played Rachael's role today but she actually fared quite well, and had an amazing voice. |
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 28, 2022 5:33:55 GMT
Having seen the show twice, Danny is comfortably better than his understudy. Aimie and Rachael were on both times and were excellent. I've seen both Happy Mans and both were great fun. Twice is enough for this show though I think, it attracts a certain audience who don't know appropriate behaviour in a theatre.
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Post by Paulw on May 19, 2022 19:25:03 GMT
Interesting show stop tonight, a full theatre evacuation
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Post by Sam on May 20, 2022 8:02:13 GMT
Interesting show stop tonight, a full theatre evacuation Would be interested to know what for. When I went a couple of weeks ago a poor woman in the front row was having an epileptic fit for the last 20 mins of the show and they carried on. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on May 20, 2022 9:50:32 GMT
You know the shows you literally forget are on still? Yeh, this one. I haven't seen it yet but now I've remembered it's a thing I'll hopefully try and see it before it ends, whenever that is.
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Post by Paulw on May 20, 2022 10:03:12 GMT
Interesting show stop tonight, a full theatre evacuation Would be interested to know what for. When I went a couple of weeks ago a poor woman in the front row was having an epileptic fit for the last 20 mins of the show and they carried on. From what I can gather it was the fire alarms going off, it was strange as all cast (in costume) and audience crammed into the gardens at the back entrance to the Savoy hotel! |
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Post by littlefluffychick on Jun 2, 2022 22:44:15 GMT
I saw the show tonight for the first time and I have to say I was incredibly underwhelmed. The good bits - Danny Mac was excellent, he can sing, dance, act and he doesn’t look bad either! He’s perfect for the role of Edward. Also Bob Harms is excellent and stole the show. Without his comedy and excellent performance I do fear that Pretty Woman would fall very flat.
The rest was quite bad. Aimee Atkinson really wasn’t very good at all, her acting was so ‘extra’ and hammy, and was annoying. Also, she unfortunately does a really REALLY loud squeaky breath intake before every line she sings. I was actually cringing.
The set looked cheap, but the costumes were good. The dancing was really good and the ensemble really gave it their all.
The music isn’t very good, completely unforgettable. As you can tell I wouldn’t hurry back or even recommend this to a friend. I couldn’t help but think what an amazing Marty McFly Danny Mac would be, and BoB Harms could be Doc. They’d both be fantastic in Back to the Future across the Strand, just a thought.
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Post by lonlad on Jun 3, 2022 9:55:33 GMT
>> completely unforgettable.
I think you mean the opposite, judging from your post LOL?
Danny Mac is indeed easy on the eye but getting on a bit to play MM.
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Post by Sam on Jun 3, 2022 11:27:47 GMT
I saw the show tonight for the first time and I have to say I was incredibly underwhelmed. The good bits - Danny Mac was excellent, he can sing, dance, act and he doesn’t look bad either! He’s perfect for the role of Edward. Also Bob Harms is excellent and stole the show. Without his comedy and excellent performance I do fear that Pretty Woman would fall very flat. The rest was quite bad. Aimee Atkinson really wasn’t very good at all, her acting was so ‘extra’ and hammy, and was annoying. Also, she unfortunately does a really REALLY loud squeaky breath intake before every line she sings. I was actually cringing. The set looked cheap, but the costumes were good. The dancing was really good and the ensemble really gave it their all. The music isn’t very good, completely unforgettable. As you can tell I wouldn’t hurry back or even recommend this to a friend. I couldn’t help but think what an amazing Marty McFly Danny Mac would be, and BoB Harms could be Doc. They’d both be fantastic in Back to the Future across the Strand, just a thought. I saw it twice in the space of three weeks, which I was only enthusiastic to do because of Bob. I'd go just to watch him. |
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Post by littlefluffychick on Jun 3, 2022 16:33:33 GMT
Yes. Bob was amazing, as was the young guy who played the Bellboy, he was also was trying his best with the god awful script and songs.
I keep thinking back to last night and how terrible this show really was. I think I must have some kind of PTSD!
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Post by emilycornnuts on Jun 3, 2022 18:06:54 GMT
I liked Aimie Atkinson in the role. I thought she made Vivian very human. Granted, I have seen it twice and previously saw her understudy, who was very wooden and seemed nervous, so she was an improvement. Bob Harms and Rachael Wooding absolutely steal the show though!
Anyone know when this is due to run until? I’d be interested to see what is going into The Savoy after.
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Post by Mark on Jun 3, 2022 18:14:02 GMT
Anyone know when this is due to run until? I’d be interested to see what is going into The Savoy after. Can count on a new show being in there from year end. |
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Post by Mark on Jun 6, 2022 11:59:45 GMT
Anyone know when this is due to run until? I’d be interested to see what is going into The Savoy after. Can count on a new show being in there from year end. Or maybe not. Must say surprised by the latest extension. Now booking to end of January with most of the current leads extending to November 13. |
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Post by longinthetooth on Jun 18, 2022 19:18:28 GMT
Caught the matinee this afternoon on a rush ticket. I’m glad I didn’t pay full price as all six leads on were understudies. They were all talented in their own right, but I was genuinely quite bored in parts. I don’t know if I’d have felt the same with the main cast there but I’m also not sure I want to sit through it again to find out! It has its place on the West End but it wasn’t full and I’m surprised to see it’s gotten an extension. I was there for Wednesday's matinee. We had four 'leading' understudies - no Danny, no Aimee, and understudies for characters Happy Man and Philip Stuckey (I don't have a programme to hand, so don't know the names of the original actors). Happy Man understudy was especially brilliant. I get what you mean, though, a couple of times my attention started to wander too. |
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Post by apwl on Jun 19, 2022 5:46:37 GMT
I saw it a few months back with principal cast and I don’t think it was much better than you experienced if that’s any consolation.
I did enjoy the Guilio character though.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 19, 2022 16:08:09 GMT
It’s time this vacated the Savoy to allow for a decent show to go in.
This will do great business on the road I’m sure.
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Post by Rory on Jun 19, 2022 16:41:15 GMT
It’s time this vacated the Savoy to allow for a decent show to go in. This will do great business on the road I’m sure. But what? What is actually ready to come in? So few transfers nowadays. |
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Post by littlefluffychick on Jun 19, 2022 20:41:54 GMT
I saw it a few months back with principal cast and I don’t think it was much better than you experienced if that’s any consolation. I did enjoy the Guilio character though. I too saw the principal cast a few weeks ago and thought it was one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen - terrible. The sooner they get a decent show at the Savoy the better, it’s a nice little theatre in a good location. |
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Post by andrew on Jun 21, 2022 0:10:25 GMT
Are there specific days that the principals don't do? I swear the Twitter account for WestEndUnderstudies is constantly tweeting about Pretty Woman 80% of the time.
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Post by keekio2 on Jul 7, 2022 12:39:30 GMT
Has Aimie Atkinson left this? I’ve just m seen a post from westendbf about its press night last night and her cover was on. Do they normally use understudies for special events? She was away for 3 weeks filming for six and doing Hampton court don’t know why she isn’t back yet |
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Post by matty on Jul 18, 2022 20:48:26 GMT
Anyone else being bombarded with adverts for this on YouTube? Seems like every other video I watch recently has this as a preceeding ad...
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Post by sarahnewington on Jul 25, 2022 20:30:47 GMT
This was one of the last shows in the West End I had yet to see, so a friend and I rushed it on Friday night. Apart from the young children (I’m not too sure what they were doing in there at all!) behind us who would not stop chattering, we both really enjoyed it! It’s cheesy as hell and I can understand some of the more negative reviews, but I thought the cast put in an excellent performance and the audience lapped it up.
I was pleased to see all the moments from the film were in there and I thought the score was good. Danny and Aimie as Edward and Vivian were really believable to me, I thought they had great chemistry together (and rightly so, you can tell they’ve been doing this for over 2 years, surely there’s a cast change soon?) Danny had Edward captured perfectly and whilst I thought Aimie lacked the vulnerability a bit in the first half, she delivered with it in the second. I thought her voice was fantastic too! She was different to how I remembered seeing her in Six a few years ago, but I think she still captures the comedy moments well, which I think is probably her ‘thing’.
The standout though as others have said is absolutely Bob Harms as Happy Man, he steals every scene he’s in and I don’t know if I’d have enjoyed myself as much without him! He is excellent.
All in all, I had a super night, I can see why it’s not everybody’s cup of tea but I took it at face value and left with a big smile on my face!
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Post by jampot on Jul 28, 2022 9:59:26 GMT
Extends to April
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