Identical- Nottingham Playhouse / Lowry Salford

[Mark]

First thoughts from tonight, second preview.

For the most part I liked it, although it is overly long letting out at 5 to 10 (7pm start). The music is overall strong, with a few standout numbers (I loved “If I Became You” and the title song, sung beautifully by Emily Tierney) - classic Styles and Drewe. The book though, particularly the last 15 minutes, needs major work, and the pace needs to lift massively. I don’t think they’d struggle to trim a good 15-20 minutes. The adult ensemble numbers in particular could easily go. I’m only familiar with the Lindsay Lohan film version and I didn’t think the characters seemed as well fleshed out as in that version, particularly the new wife to be ballet dancer.

Loved the scenic design, lots on screens with some physical set pieces too but it really looked lovely and sorted

Audience upstairs were pretty horrific. I’ve never had so much noise interference from crinkly wrappers - made worse by the fact that the playhouse sell popcorn in paper bags. This made it really difficult to hear at times. Lots of young kids who were getting very restless too.

With a much tighter book I think this could be great. Often with new musicals my biggest critique is of the score but I found that to be one of the best elements.

[sph]

Jun 6, 2022 11:47:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

If they’re going to constantly refer to this as “Identical based on The Parent Trap” why didn’t they just call it The Parent Trap.

Do Disney maybe own the title?

[mrbarnaby]

Jul 27, 2022 21:53:02 GMT sph said:

Jun 6, 2022 11:47:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

If they’re going to constantly refer to this as “Identical based on The Parent Trap” why didn’t they just call it The Parent Trap.

Do Disney maybe own the title?

Disney own the title and won’t allow it to be used.

[BurlyBeaR]

But they’re ok with them saying “based on The Parent Trap” everywhere?

So I could make a musical about a flying elephant and call it “The flying Elephant based on Dumbo” and that would be ok?

I’ll never understand law 🤪

[dippy]

I am glad it's not called The Patent Trap, I've never liked that name for the story and sad that the book has officially been renamed that over here. To me it always has been and always will be "Lottie and Lisa", or "Das Doppelte Lottchen". Identical isn't a bad name for it at all but I guess it's not something people are familiar with.

From the pictures I'm glad it looks like the books, interesting that Irene is a ballet dancer and in Hansel and Gretl. I'm curious, is the Hansel and Gretl nightmare in it? I do wished I could see this soon but timings don't work at all with work, I probably won't get to see it till the very end of August.

[robertb213]

I'm reviewing the last Preview today, verdict to follow later 😁

[Ade]

Saw this last night. A pleasant enough musical. Unfortunately, for me, the weakest part was the music itself. The cast all did a decent job and especially so the child actors - it’s definitely a musical that can’t just rest on solid adult performances if the kids aren’t up to scratch. Thought the design was actually quite nicely done for screen-based backdrops, with the multiple moving parts and real pieces of set to compliment them (but please can we lose the horrible fades between scenes that are all too often used when going for digital backgrounds). And the book whips along at quite a nice pace, even if it ties it all up a bit too quickly and neatly at the end.

But the music is unmemorable, and while it has nice moments, on the whole it’s not got much oomph to it - charming but forgettable would be my summary of it.

All in all, there’s lots to like but it feels like it doesn’t quite land musically and I’m not sure, overall, it really knows who it is aimed at.

[BurlyBeaR]

Had an email from the Lowry changing the start time from 7.30 to 7.00 and an updated end time of 9.50.

[mrbarnaby]

Aug 3, 2022 6:44:06 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Had an email from the Lowry changing the start time from 7.30 to 7.00 and an updated end time of 9.50.

2hr 50 and this is supposed to appeal to families? Nope. Trevor Nunn strikes again.

[BurlyBeaR]

We’ll no doubt get the usual bunch of people who “didn’t get the memo” turning up for a 7.30 start and disturbing everyone.

[robertb213]

Yeah this is a long slog. There's some good stuff in there but it needs some major editing, it starts to feel like it's never going to end. It's perfectly pleasant, quite sweet, just all a bit too nice to be interesting. Not S&D's strongest score either, a few pretty melodies but nothing really standout.

[crabtree]

I'll go and see this. To me, so far, betty blue Eyes is their finest work.

[TallPaul]

Good reviews from some critics:

“Ingenious to the point of genius” ***** Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph
“Trevor Nunn's MASTERFUL direction is a TOTAL CLASS ACT and such a delight to witness” **** Phil Lowe, WhatsOnStage
“THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS HAVE BUILT THIS MACHINE - will surely become a firm family favourite” **** Nick Ahad, The Guardian
“HEARTWARMING - the SPARKLING performances will charm audiences of all ages” **** Broadway World

Since I last looked, a 'parental advisory' has now been added to the Nottingham Playhouse website.

Identical is suitable for 7+, but younger guests are welcome. We advise adults bringing young people to the performance that the show is quite long (approx. 2 hours and 50 minutes in total, including a 20 minute interval) and children need to remain in their own seats at all times during the performance. Children 4 years and under (including babes in arms) will not be admitted in to the auditorium.

[karloscar]

The number of parents who bring under fives to full length shows that they're not going to appreciate is ridiculous, so even though Identical is a family show it's good that they're putting restrictions in place. When I saw it, Bedknobs and Broomsticks had loads of families who left at the interval because the kids just wouldn't settle to watch the show.

[BurlyBeaR]

Yeah ALW theatres say that about Frozen too but there were many under 4’s there when I went. It’s not enforced.

[fiyero]

Aug 6, 2022 11:10:25 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Yeah ALW theatres say that about Frozen too but there were many under 4’s there when I went. It’s not enforced.

They were asking parents of tots when I last went. Can’t do more than that really, most 4 year olds don’t have ID. Some definitely slipped through though!

[Rory]

Astonishingly, when I went to see Jerusalem in June, there was a woman in front of me in the queue with three very young children. Thankfully they weren't sitting anywhere near me but I'm sure she was mortified when it started.

[sph]

I think a lot of people (and I've said it here often) are ignorant regarding what a live musical entails. They see something that looks somewhat family-friendly and pack up the kids and a picnic like they're going to a live show at a theme park.

Theatres should really enforce the policy much more. Not only are young children often unable to sit through a full-length show, a loud musical can damage their ears.

[longinthetooth]

I recall several years ago, at Shrek, mother and grandmother passing a grizzling toddler backwards and forwards to each other, desperately trying to get the child interested in what was happening on stage. She couldn't have been more than two. They were seated directly behind me - it was so annoying. They ignored my black looks, but in fairness they probably didn't even notice. They left at the interval.

[theatreliker]

I saw a tweet from Lin Manuel-Miranda a while back saying he always waits until they're 3 blocks from a theatre before giving opinions in case any cast members overhear comments.
Well I've just walked out the Playhouse saying how disappointed I was that the dog was so underused not realising a grumpy looking Westie was nearby.

This was enjoyable escapism but could do with a lot of work.

[BurlyBeaR]

Seems obvious that the intention is for this to have a life beyond the Nottingham Playhouse and Lowry runs so I think we need a poll.

If you’ve seen it please rate it and tell all of us who read this thread the reason for your score if you haven’t already!

[robertb213]

3 stars from me, and you can read my thoughts here if you're really bored 😁

musicaltheatrereview.com/identical-nottingham-playhouse/

[BurlyBeaR]

Aug 6, 2022 18:42:05 GMT robertb213 said:

3 stars from me, and you can read my thoughts here if you're really bored 😁

musicaltheatrereview.com/identical-nottingham-playhouse/

Sounds like I’ll enjoy the production more than the show. I’m a sucker for a clever video projection and a couple of tricks, it can totally make up for unmemorable songs for me 👻 🎶 

I’ll also suck on a lemon before it starts to counter all that sugar 🍋😖

[phantom1986]

Saw this at an evening performance last week. It's genuinely one of the worst things I've ever seen. It all felt so incredibly twee and dated, as though it has been written in the period it was set, not 2022. I have no idea who this is meant to appeal to as all the children around me were bored and the running time is excruciatingly long. In the age of Matilda and School of Rock it was all so incredibly old fashioned. A pleasant use of projection and design throughout but that really was the only saving grace. The plot also hasn't aged well and the idea of separating 2 identical twins on a whim comes over as cruel and rather abusive in this day and age. Amazing to think it's the same producer as SIX as this show is on the completely opposite end of the spectrum.

Wish I'd just stayed at home and watched either Disney version.

[BurlyBeaR]

I was supposed to go last week but really wasn’t feeling in the mood and the earlier start time and the total lack of buzz on here for it put the tin lid on the matter. Ended up staying in with a jacket spud with cheese and beans instead.