1,046 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Aug 5, 2021 8:56:32 GMT
I saw this last night - my first ever Carousel, although I had listened to a cast recording and read a synopsis before so I was familiar with the show to some extent. For the most part, I thought this production was brilliant. The new orchestrations are a total triumph, they are charming and atmospheric and the whole relocation to an English fishing town lends it a quaint and quintessentially British feel which really works well. All the performances are top notch and I personally found the choreography very effective too - it is still in McOnie’s modern style but not quite as outlandish as his work on JCS.
The changes to the material (which I think are mostly in the second half of Act Two) worked well for me, and I think it’s good that a creative team have had the confidence to make these changes to a classic show. However, they expose a fatal flaw in the material which is that without the original ending there is no resolution. Everything is left hanging and none of the interesting questions are answered. As a result the last 10-15 minutes of the show feel sort of anti-climactic.
In all other respects, though, this was another smash hit musical production from Regent’s Park.
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527 posts
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Post by vabbian on Aug 5, 2021 20:17:21 GMT
What was that
Left at the interval
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 5, 2021 20:20:31 GMT
Poll open for folks who have seen the show.
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526 posts
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Post by danielwhit on Aug 5, 2021 20:28:15 GMT
What was that Left at the interval Ah, did the weather hold up tonight? Considered going but forecast was making me doubt the fact it would go ahead. |
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 5, 2021 21:03:42 GMT
What was that Left at the interval Truly! |
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Post by vabbian on Aug 5, 2021 21:08:13 GMT
What was that Left at the interval Ah, did the weather hold up tonight? Considered going but forecast was making me doubt the fact it would go ahead. The weather was fine - only a bit of drizzle. Just an awful production. Yikes |
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527 posts
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Post by vabbian on Aug 5, 2021 21:12:09 GMT
On a tangent -
sad to see this production at nearly a full house in such a large venue, whilst Pippin (5 stars) plays to a dozen people at Charring Cross
The injustice!
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Aug 5, 2021 21:22:27 GMT
What was that Left at the interval  |
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Post by luke on Aug 5, 2021 21:51:39 GMT
On a tangent - sad to see this production at nearly a full house in such a large venue, whilst Pippin (5 stars) plays to a dozen people at Charring Cross The injustice! Have to agree with you, considered leaving at interval and by the end I was sad I didn’t. Although wouldn’t rate Pippin as highly as you either 😅 |
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628 posts
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Post by andrew on Aug 5, 2021 23:08:35 GMT
I thought it was a terrific production of a horrendous, dated and boring piece. Declan Bennett and Carly Bawden were both sensational and I absolutely loved the choreography.
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5,817 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 6, 2021 6:07:00 GMT
Ooh it’s divisive !
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Aug 6, 2021 6:48:41 GMT
I'm very excited for this now. Of course I'd be excited if it was universally loved, but it being so divisive tells me that it's at least swinging for the fences with interesting ideas, even if they don't work for everyone!
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3,334 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 6, 2021 9:25:54 GMT
It needs an ending. I think it is a 4 star show, brought down to 2 stars by the last 30 minutes.
To me, the original Carousel ending was perfect, but based on what they’re going for, a more conclusive ending showing Louise’s life echoing Billy’s could work.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Aug 6, 2021 9:47:19 GMT
My son and partner saw Carousel last night. Son got the cheap preview tickets released for the previews for young people. I wasn't there.
Text from partner at interval that she thought it was brilliant and couldn't understand why there had been a lot of criticism here. Did mention a few people leaving
Text at end that they found the second act boring and "weird" and didn't enjoy it . Both hated the ending. Said a few more left during act two.
Seems like Regents Park may have tried too hard to create something different and innovative from a classic musical. I'm not there till September for a matinee but less excited than I was.
Definitely divisive.
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Aug 6, 2021 10:03:38 GMT
I don't think it's awful as some folk have said. However, the second half is derailed by the choreography which is totally at odds with the authenticity and grit of the first half. A brave director will slice the choreography in half and work on the ending. I love the brass troupe but their entry and exits slow things - less problematic at the beginning but they create a false ending in the second half which is confusing and upsets the tempo. I'd have liked to see a bigger revolve with side entry points for cast and the band (brass section at least) on the rear part of the revolve. This might have lent itself better to smoother continuity.
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 6, 2021 10:11:15 GMT
It’s press night tomorrow isn’t it? Doesn’t sound like they’re changing much if they haven’t done it already.
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 6, 2021 11:05:33 GMT
It needs an ending. I think it is a 4 star show, brought down to 2 stars by the last 30 minutes. To me, the original Carousel ending was perfect, but based on what they’re going for, a more conclusive ending showing Louise’s life echoing Billy’s could work. I think this ultimately it. Act 1 is a 4 star show, it's the final 30 minutes that truly let it down and for me dragged it down to 2. The ballet doesn't work and the ending doesn't either... I'm all for reinventing shows, but physically changing an ending of a show isn't the way to do it. Julie becomes an afterthought, and I don't think that's fair. |
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Post by theoracle on Aug 7, 2021 7:15:09 GMT
Well last night was certainly interesting… we got a heck of a performance from Joanna Riding who really steals the show. The orchestrations do largely work to heighten the sense you’re in 1980s Scarborough but it would be hard to call this an improvement over the original orchestrations and one does need to then ask why change them?
I personally found the choreography pretty thrilling and feel the ballet is a quintessential part of Carousel and other R&H musicals. The three fellas defo have a good show and Natasha was a great Louise.
On the ending, I felt uncomfortable. It doesn’t seem to try to address the issues that were presented in the first half and a lack of conclusion left me feeling a little cold. What does happen to Billy? And what’s going to happen to Julie?
Carousel has always been a dark musical which contains difficult issues but I don’t feel like they were properly addressed here and I think it’s a pity considering the lengths to which the team have gone to revamp the show. It’ll be interesting to see what the critics have to say but I’ll give this a 7/10
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5,817 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 7, 2021 8:49:47 GMT
The ending of Carousel has always been flawed. It just ends. Very unsatisfying indeed.
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Post by theoracle on Aug 7, 2021 21:54:18 GMT
I meant that I wanted it to be more profound. The Lincoln Center NY Phil version maintained the original text but was done in a way which felt truly cathartic but this version which was supposed to address a 2021 audience just felt a little inconclusive.
Maybe I need to watch it again but overall I wanted just that bit more oomph
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4,788 posts
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Post by Mark on Aug 7, 2021 22:35:11 GMT
Really liked act one. Act two didn't work as well for me, but I think thats a mix of show and production.
One thing that does work though is the magic of being at the open air theatre - nothing like seeing a show there.
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 18:28:53 GMT
Press night tonight folks.
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Post by dippy on Aug 9, 2021 18:44:15 GMT
Brrrrr, don't envy a single person watching tonight, wonder if the weather can affect the reviews.
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3,428 posts
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Post by ceebee on Aug 9, 2021 18:46:26 GMT
Brrrrr, don't envy a single person watching tonight, wonder if the weather can affect the reviews. They've got the mops out, it's a pleasant drizzle and ominous grey skies. Now if it can dampen down some of the choreography in 2nd half, I'd be grateful. |
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 9, 2021 19:12:27 GMT
I am super interested in how this is going to review
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