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Post by sph on Aug 13, 2024 1:24:39 GMT
It isn't really a beloved classic on this side of the Atlantic, so it was always going to be a tougher sell, but it was packed when I saw it. I haven't seen much mainstream coverage of it on TV etc though. Has it been on anything?
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Post by sf on Aug 13, 2024 23:06:12 GMT
Saw it this evening.
The material - it's a jerry-built star vehicle with some fantastic songs in it, rather than a "great musical". I don't have any particular opinion about the changes they've made, except to say that I really enjoyed hearing 'Love, Look In My Window'.
The production - I think they've done a really GREAT job of taking a show that was tailored to a particular kind of musical comedy star and refashioning it as a vehicle for someone who isn't, well, Carol Channing or Bette Midler. Cooke and Staunton and the supporting cast have found a great deal of honest emotion in a piece that can be a bit relentlessly brassy. It's surprisingly sweet and quite moving; Staunton is wonderful, the supporting performances are spot-on, and the set and costumes are far better than you'd generally get for such a short run in the West End. And for once there's a decent orchestra, and the production isn't over-amplified.
Four stars - would be five, but they lose one point for having the barefaced cheek to charge £12 for a programme.
(I know, I know - "brochure" - but that's all there is.)
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Post by theatrefan62 on Aug 14, 2024 7:17:00 GMT
Saw it this evening. The material - it's a jerry-built star vehicle with some fantastic songs in it, rather than a "great musical". I don't have any particular opinion about the changes they've made, except to say that I really enjoyed hearing 'Love, Look In My Window'. The production - I think they've done a really GREAT job of taking a show that was tailored to a particular kind of musical comedy star and refashioning it as a vehicle for someone who isn't, well, Carol Channing or Bette Midler. Cooke and Staunton and the supporting cast have found a great deal of honest emotion in a piece that can be a bit relentlessly brassy. It's surprisingly sweet and quite moving; Staunton is wonderful, the supporting performances are spot-on, and the set and costumes are far better than you'd generally get for such a short run in the West End. And for once there's a decent orchestra, and the production isn't over-amplified. Four stars - would be five, but they lose one point for having the barefaced cheek to charge £12 for a programme. (I know, I know - "brochure" - but that's all there is.) I wouldn't mind the £12 if it was an actual brochure, but there are very few production photos in there. It's like the worst of both brochures and programmes |
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Post by A.Ham on Aug 14, 2024 7:19:15 GMT
Not wanting to rub salt in the wound, but it was £10 when I went in mid-July (during previews)!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 14, 2024 7:32:34 GMT
Was the train constructed for this production or hired from a scenic warehouse or similar?
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Post by alece10 on Aug 14, 2024 7:40:03 GMT
I also paid a tenner and thought it was good when you compare it to the Mean Girls programme for the same price.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 14, 2024 20:19:09 GMT
Was the train constructed for this production or hired from a scenic warehouse or similar? Built for this production. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 15, 2024 7:57:46 GMT
Was the train constructed for this production or hired from a scenic warehouse or similar? Built for this production. Thanks dearie! |
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Post by theatrelover123 on Aug 15, 2024 10:54:18 GMT
Baffled by the astonishment at the train. I expected so much more based on people’s reactions. Looked like a perfectly serviceable and sized piece of scenery that would be stored somewhere. Did they need it really? Nah
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Post by fiyero on Aug 15, 2024 11:23:21 GMT
Baffled by the astonishment at the train. I expected so much more based on people’s reactions. Looked like a perfectly serviceable and sized piece of scenery that would be stored somewhere. Did they need it really? Nah Maybe it shows how used we have become to shows that don't add sparkle. A trolley-car and a steam-train in one show! |
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Post by danb on Aug 15, 2024 11:39:37 GMT
Was the train constructed for this production or hired from a scenic warehouse or similar? Built for this production. You just know that Mr Harrison has a full scale ‘Railway Children’ planned for the future!! |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 15, 2024 12:15:03 GMT
Baffled by the astonishment at the train. I expected so much more based on people’s reactions. Looked like a perfectly serviceable and sized piece of scenery that would be stored somewhere. Did they need it really? Nah Maybe it shows how used we have become to shows that don't add sparkle. A trolley-car and a steam-train in one show! I fail to be impressed by a realistic looking train, car, house etc on stage. Make it stunning,creative or innovative |
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Post by alece10 on Aug 15, 2024 12:53:31 GMT
Maybe I'm easily pleased but I was very impressed by the train.
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Post by 141920grm on Aug 15, 2024 13:51:41 GMT
Literal train or abstract train (ha), I appreciate either when it conveys its message well and with heart!
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Post by marob on Aug 15, 2024 14:34:52 GMT
Was also underwhelmed by the train. From the response on here I was expecting multiple carriages, something like the bridge in Frozen. Instead I was just like ‘is that it?’ 🫤
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Post by Being Alive on Aug 15, 2024 16:34:33 GMT
Train was fine, but is nowhere near as impressive as the Broadway train 🤷🏻♂️
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Post by knutinkerbell on Aug 15, 2024 20:16:52 GMT
Was also underwhelmed by the train. From the response on here I was expecting multiple carriages, something like the bridge in Frozen. Instead I was just like ‘is that it?’ 🫤 Same here, it’s a little bit of train. Wondered what they’ll bring on stage after I read the comments here. From first row it was visible that it’s a flat train. The front is oval. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 15, 2024 21:03:27 GMT
I felt the same about the bridge in Frozen. After all the hype… meh.
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Aug 15, 2024 21:12:27 GMT
I felt the same about the bridge in Frozen. After all the hype… meh. I will see Dolly in September. Saw Bette, Bern and Donna and loved the new production. I also saw Carol in Boston in her final tour. Let’s leave Carol out of comparison as the OG. I hope London didnt get a cheapened version of this revival. Imelda deserves better. |
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Post by theatrelover123 on Aug 15, 2024 21:37:30 GMT
I felt the same about the bridge in Frozen. After all the hype… meh. I will see Dolly in September. Saw Bette, Bern and Donna and loved the new production. I also saw Carol in Boston in her final tour. Let’s leave Carol out of comparison as the OG. I hope London didnt get a cheapened version of this revival. Imelda deserves better. Maybe just treat this production as something different and don’t worry about comparisons? |
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Post by theatreian on Aug 15, 2024 22:05:55 GMT
Maybe just treat this production as something different and don’t worry about comparisons? I agree with the above. It is a different take on Dolly from other productions I have seen.Imelda is more nuanced and shows another interpretation to the brash /in your face ones I have seen previously. I enjoyed both, they were different. It often causes disagreement as to which is better but just enoy it for what it is.Very well acted from Imelda. |
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Post by singingswimmer on Aug 15, 2024 22:28:38 GMT
I continue to check for updates on a possible cast album of this revival. Any news about one being recorded or the contrary?
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Post by Figaro on Aug 15, 2024 23:25:38 GMT
Are there any photos of this train?
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Post by jaybird89 on Aug 17, 2024 22:44:20 GMT
So I was in london to see next to normal and was going to see that again in the evening but needed a little uplifting checked the website and managed to get row a royal circle for £45 so thought why not and had a lovely evening.
I've never seen the show before or even the film so really don't know much of it but had a lovely evening just good idk fashioned fun I did find the opening of act two didn't glow all that well, and I enjoyed the choreography but has expected more having seen Bill Deamers other work but still had a great evening and very glad I went along.
I really enjoyed the cast but have to say I think Emily Lane is just outstanding I loved her in Frozen and didn't even realise she was in this I just find her so watchable on stage.
Glad I decided to step outside the box and see something else as this is probably the only
Opportunity I'll h w this summer to see the show.
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Post by Dave B on Aug 18, 2024 8:26:31 GMT
So I am going to be an outlier here though a few voting lowly at least.
First off, adding my thanks to various posters who mentioned the front row seats. We were just next to the conductor in row A and the visibility was more than fine. For £20, they are quite some tickets.
Otherwise, I suppose if it is your kind of thing then you might like it but for me it was just issue after issue - mainly all down to the plot. There isn't a hint, not even vaguest most broad hint, that Vandergelder is at all interested in Dolly. There isn't a glance, a moment's thought - the plot here just doesn't stand up. There isn't even a suggestion that he in anyway likes her. Total disinterest, he has more care and awareness for his clerks than he has for her. The sudden swerve into that is frankly nonsense. Not hard to fix, the slightest piece of direction could do it, add a lingering glance, an appraisal, a smile - anything at all. Honestly to the interval I was going with three stars but I think this is so poorly done, I've knocked it down to a two.
I have to assume this is done with a level of reverence for the original that means they won't make any changes. Tucker being 17 is from line in the script, cast someone close to the age or change that single line. Huntley is more than twice the age. He also feels wasted in this. I really liked Harry Hepple, I thought he was the best on the stage, but even allowing for the age difference, there also isn't anything in Hackl's relationship with Mrs Molloy, it is all text/lyrics, there is no chemistry, no interest - no spark. It just falls totally flat.
I probably could go on about original plot issues which I suppose a revival is just stuck with, Dolly has to hand out cards to everyone at the start and while some people know her, there isn't this great outpouring of love or even affection and then the title number just goes the other way, it too feels like it comes out of nowhere.
That might be my overall issue with this, nothing actually drives the plot. It just happens without buildup or precursor
Nothing was as bad as Ermengarde with a notable split, sighs and groans from people next to me contrasting with the performative braying from the people sat behind me, one laughed so the other laughed and then the third laughed - almost like they were timing it. The 'say that again' line is funny, I will grant that.
Good bits, some of the comedy is done well, the Orchestra sounds great but overall, no wow, no spectacle - it just was.
Two stars.
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