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Post by theatreian on Jan 19, 2020 22:37:40 GMT
Yes I loved MG too saw it many times at Prince Edward and in it's reincarnation with new songs at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. It has a great score and I really hope it comes back , with the original score. Some fantastic melodies in the score, All I know is one of my favourites.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 20, 2020 0:50:29 GMT
I'm senior-railcard old but still love everything (well 99% of) I see. Helps justify all the money I spend on theatre going. Being non-critical and easily pleased does have certain advantages. Really want to see Martin Guerre on stage, great CD. Fair play to you, im almost that age but i dont understand the non critical bit. Soz What I mean is that I just enjoy every minute of every musical. I rarely think about things like who performed less well or who stole the show, whether there was a meaningful or even sensible storyline etc. I just take it all in and it makes me happy to have seen the show and usually wishing I could see it again asap. I have no discernible talent of any kind and have nothing but admiration and respect for those who do and share it in live entertainment. I couldn't write a critique if my life depended on it. I've always had a positive outlook on life, nothing stresses me or bothers me and I have zero interest in politics or issues that trouble many people. Maybe I should but I don't. Shallow but harmless, just the way I am. |
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Post by anita on Jan 20, 2020 9:56:30 GMT
I saw the original production at the Prince Edward. - Lovely music but it just didn't work.
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 20, 2020 10:44:16 GMT
19 hours in and nobody has brought up James Corden's small part. Outrageous!!!
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2,676 posts
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Post by viserys on Jan 20, 2020 10:46:49 GMT
I saw the original production at the Prince Edward. - Lovely music but it just didn't work. The godawful whiny "heroine" aside, I think the movie Sommersby, that came out around the same time, showed how this story needed to be told: In Sommersby the audience was left guessing {Spoiler - click to view}
to the end whether the returned man was really the husband or not, which kept the viewers engaged. In the musical, we knew straightaway it wasn't him, so the stakes were gone. |
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Post by crabtree on Jan 20, 2020 13:46:43 GMT
And that viserys, is exactly the problem with the show, and one they have not tried to repair. There is no mystery or suspense for the audience. They can rejigged the order of the songs as much as they like but when the central conceit is revealed, the show is dead in the water. But a ravishing score and wonderful staging in its various forms.
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Post by danb on Jan 20, 2020 16:37:03 GMT
19 hours in and nobody has brought up James Corden's small part. Outrageous!!! I thought that discussing the size of Cordens ‘part’ was banned? It doesn’t really fit with the otherwise wholesome identity of the board. 🤣 |
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Post by ceebee on Jan 20, 2020 17:37:01 GMT
Who is the imposter here?
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Post by anita on Jan 20, 2020 17:47:53 GMT
19 hours in and nobody has brought up James Corden's small part. Outrageous!!! I thought that discussing the size of Cordens ‘part’ was banned? It doesn’t really fit with the otherwise wholesome identity of the board. 🤣 It's at times like this I really miss Ryan. |
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Post by danb on Jan 20, 2020 19:19:43 GMT
Are we assuming that ‘x’ had previous with JC’s diminutive part? I thought he was a chap of some taste? (Countdown to a warning no doubt, to not discuss board members who are no longer present...).
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 20, 2020 20:40:42 GMT
Let’s move on from discussing ex members please. They don’t have the ability to reply/comment so it’s not fair. Thank you.
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Post by anita on Jan 21, 2020 9:55:08 GMT
Sorry. I just miss his jokes.
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Post by ceebee on Jan 23, 2020 22:29:08 GMT
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jan 23, 2020 22:32:28 GMT
I was there lol if I remember correctly, I think he is working on it, hinted they will bring it back hopefully x |
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Post by crabtree on Apr 29, 2022 17:42:56 GMT
The programme for the Prince Edward production just fell out of the shelf, and there's James Corden looking about 14. Did the show ever find a format that worked fully. Such a glorious score, but in each version i think they gave the game away, the plot twist, too early.
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Post by inthenose on Apr 29, 2022 17:57:34 GMT
It was best at the WY Playhouse, but no, this show much like Chess or Jekyll and Hyde has never had a definitive book. It probably never will.
Let sleeping dogs lie with this show I reckon, there's some really nice motifs and gorgeous music generally throughout, but as a piece of theatre it has always been a dreadful slog for me.
Every few years they try and get it off the ground again with a new treatment - in essence the only draw it has is B&S ("from the creators of "Les Miserables") on the poster.
It has never and can never work.
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Post by ptwest on Apr 29, 2022 18:30:12 GMT
I saw the first incarnation and the West Yorkshire Playhouse version and thought the story telling was better in the latter, the staging better in the former.
It could work up to a point if it was reordered. If you take the original version it’s basically four quarters.
Part 1 is Martin in Artigat - leaves at the end of this section
part 2 is Arnaud in Artigat claiming to be Martin, meets Bertrande, falls in love etc.
part 3 the trial, ending with Martin’s return
part 4 the aftermath / finale
Reorder it to
1. Arnaud in Artigat claiming to be Martin
2 The trial. Crucially we won’t yet have met Martin who would arrive at the end of act one.
3. Act 2 - Martin’s evidence - the original first section presented as a flashback ( like the Leeds version)
4. The aftermath/ finale
This would at least keep the ambiguity, and the musical structure of each section could remain similar.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 29, 2022 18:43:03 GMT
Merged
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Post by ceebee on Apr 29, 2022 20:29:30 GMT
Damn, I hoped this was an announcement about a new staging
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Post by cezbear on Apr 29, 2022 20:33:32 GMT
How I love Martin Guerre. I've loved different things about each version, though they've all had their issues. I'd happily smoosh them together to make the perfect version. And no it still wouldn't be a big hit, probably.
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Post by notmymuse on May 6, 2022 9:32:24 GMT
The true story of Martin Guerre is on radio 4 extra now, but sure it'll be on catch up too
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2022 9:36:30 GMT
I don't know why there isn't at least a concert staging of this show. Theatre fans would flock to it, if we can get another chess concert and we've even had the pirate queen, why not Martin guerre
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Post by oxfordsimon on May 6, 2022 9:40:04 GMT
Martin Guerre would do great business with amateur groups. Lots of parts. Good chorus work. Readily available period costumes. Can be staged without fancy sets.
I would love to direct it
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Post by ceebee on Aug 30, 2022 10:36:39 GMT
Surely it's now time for Regent's Park OAT to schedule a production of this for 2023?
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Post by danb on Aug 30, 2022 10:51:43 GMT
I really couldn’t think of more perfect homes for this than the likes of the Watermill, Regents Park or even the Minsck in Cornwall. It needs grounding in the elements or something similarly rustic.
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