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Post by stagebyte on Aug 23, 2023 0:35:25 GMT
Also, special shout out to the conductor, whose name escapes me, but he was electric throughout! Freddie Tapner from the LMTO - he’s amazing. Did Chess last year also |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 23, 2023 0:37:08 GMT
So Norm lost his place mid way through Til I Hear You Sing and he just walked around the stage saying “sing, sing”, I guess trying to find his place again… lasted about 20 seconds. Norm’s diction is horrendous. Beauty Underneath is 100% pre-recorded. His mic came back on mid-gasp. Sally Dexter’s French accent is life. I thought it was pre recorded too. For Musos on here two questions. How does that work with an orchestra on stage. Why would they do that? It didn’t seem the most taxing of songs? |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 23, 2023 0:38:55 GMT
I'd pedantically take issue with calling the London production a flop. I was at the first preview, I was at the last matinee (furious still I missed the last performance) and many (many) performances between the previews in February 2010 to August 2011. Just saying. Completely agree. Ran for 18 months. Was similarly there at the start and the end. Though it was certainly up there with Sunset Boulevard and Cinderella for backstage drama. Was quite the ride! Adored the Adelphi version though and found it way superior to the Aussie/Hamburg one! That set was stunning. Cinderella and sunset I knew about. Didn’t realise there was drama on LND - can anyone elaborate pls? |
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Post by anthony on Aug 23, 2023 1:04:26 GMT
So Norm lost his place mid way through Til I Hear You Sing and he just walked around the stage saying “sing, sing”, I guess trying to find his place again… lasted about 20 seconds. Norm’s diction is horrendous. Beauty Underneath is 100% pre-recorded. His mic came back on mid-gasp. Sally Dexter’s French accent is life. I thought it was pre recorded too. For Musos on here two questions. How does that work with an orchestra on stage. Why would they do that? It didn’t seem the most taxing of songs? It's quicker paced than other songs and unfortunately, Norm's diction was horrendous. I imagine that played a major part in it - he was clearly already struggling to remember the lyrics of the piece as a whole (he missed maybe 4-5 lyrics in the matinee, but he got them all in the evening - he just missed other lyrics instead...!) Have to admit, I am sort of surprised seeing the positive comments about tonight's performance... Maybe it's because I know the show reasonably well and can probably sing the entire album word-for-word that I noticed things, maybe? In the second act, Norm flubbed every single time he was on stage. I still enjoyed it, but I don't think we should be giving allowances for forgotten lyrics - he (and Sally dexter!) have had months to learn the script prior to rehearsals... Obviously Celinde was wonderful but I actually think Courtney Stapleton stole the show?!?! Just wow! Genuinely fabulous. |
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Post by chernjam on Aug 23, 2023 3:20:18 GMT
10/10 for this concert production, certainly one of the best of these events there has been. But the source material is still duff. Such a waste of some gorgeous music on such banal lyrics and such a ridiculous plot. I can never keep a straight face when they are recounting their night of passion (“and I licked you, and I flicked you, and I sucked you, and I f…” etc) that has been conjured out of thin air to enable them to have a son. Didn’t think Norm Lewis was right for this at all either. All these years later Steve, you never fail to entertain. Literally fell out of my chair laughing at your version of Beneath a moonless sky |
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Post by theatrefan572 on Aug 23, 2023 6:22:39 GMT
After the matinee, I saw Andrew Richardson and almost went weak in the knees talking to him. I was wondering if any G&D cast would be there this afternoon so it was nice to see him. It’s always nice to see him. Marisha Wallace was at the matinee too! |
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Post by theatrefan572 on Aug 23, 2023 6:23:35 GMT
I had a really lovely time at this tonight! I saw it three times in London before it closed (but post-reworking, my first viewing was Sierra's final performance). It's been one of my favourite ALW scores and it was magical to hear it with such a lush orchestra today. I feel much the same as many of you on here — tonight really was Celinde's night. She was transcendent as Christine. I was lucky enough to see her run in POTO so it was special to see her in the sequel. ALW certainly seems keen on bringing this back based on what he said tonight... I wonder if scheduling the upcoming international tour to have a stop in London would be a viable option Did Andrew speak? What did he say? |
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Post by h86 on Aug 23, 2023 7:14:12 GMT
[quote timestamp="1692751028" source="/post/479495/thread" Obviously Celinde was wonderful but I actually think Courtney Stapleton stole the show?!?! Just wow! Genuinely fabulous. Courtney is so good. Loved her in Dear Evan Hansen and Beauty and the Beast, not surprised she was great here as well. Interested to see what she does next. |
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Post by 10642 on Aug 23, 2023 7:14:24 GMT
So Norm lost his place mid way through Til I Hear You Sing and he just walked around the stage saying “sing, sing”, I guess trying to find his place again… lasted about 20 seconds. Norm’s diction is horrendous. Beauty Underneath is 100% pre-recorded. His mic came back on mid-gasp. Sally Dexter’s French accent is life. I thought it was pre recorded too. For Musos on here two questions. How does that work with an orchestra on stage. Why would they do that? It didn’t seem the most taxing of songs? The conductor put headphones on during beauty underneath so I assume he had the prerecorded material along with a click track coming through those, allowing him to conduct the live orchestra exactly in time to the prerecorded stuff. The conductor in POTO does the same for the Title Song and the Phantom’s notes etc |
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Post by michaell8 on Aug 23, 2023 7:24:17 GMT
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Post by steve10086 on Aug 23, 2023 8:10:45 GMT
I’ve certainly disagreed with ALW a number of times, been baffled and annoyed by some of his comments and behaviour, but I was happy for him last night. |
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Post by alece10 on Aug 23, 2023 8:31:16 GMT
I'm a bit late reporting as I was too tired last night when I got home so most of what I wanted to say has been said.
Another great concert produced by Fourth Wall, i've been to several and they are always excellent. This was semi staged and not a concert. Lighting and sound and costumes were brilliant.
It was so lovely to hear the glorious music played by such a big orchestra and, I would say, most of the stalls where I was sitting stayed and listened to the exit music with massive applause at the end.
Talking of applause I do enjoy these concerts as you get an audience of real MT fans so there is also such a great atmosphere and massive applause. Even a standing ovation in the stalls after Celinde sang Love Never Dies.
Great cast and lovely to see Matthew Seadon-Young as Raoul. I really like him as an actor. Also have to mention the young lad who played Gustave, Cian Eagle-Service. What a sweet little boy with an angelic voice who had the awwww factor.
As for the 2 leads Celinde was absolutely perfect and totally stole the show. I might go against the grain but I was slightly underwhelmed by Norm Lewis. I just thought his voice was not up to the role. Maybe I am biased as I saw the original production with Ramin who has the most amazing voice. But saying that Norm was fine and it didn't spoil it for me. Also great to see how well rehearsed it was with no music stands and scripts.
My memory of the original show was obviously not brilliant as I had completely forgotten what happens at the end so that was quite a shock to me.
As mentioned, the Lord was in the stalls. He slipped in and out at the beginning so not noticed until returning to his seat for act 2 and once people realised who it was he got a standing ovation and waved to the audience. I waved back for some strange reason and stopped when I realised I must have looked a right idiot. He came on stage at the end and made a rather nice speech.
I am giving the concert 5 stars, I took half a star away for Norm but added half a star for the amazing orchestra.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 23, 2023 8:50:04 GMT
Completely agree. Ran for 18 months. Was similarly there at the start and the end. Though it was certainly up there with Sunset Boulevard and Cinderella for backstage drama. Was quite the ride! Adored the Adelphi version though and found it way superior to the Aussie/Hamburg one! That set was stunning. Cinderella and sunset I knew about. Didn’t realise there was drama on LND - can anyone elaborate pls? The idea of C & Mr E when gorgeous R exists was a huge fan ick for the diehard phans. ALW painted the gorgeous Grade II listed Adelphi black. www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/black-day-for-lord-lloydwebber-as-legal-threat-looms-over-theatre-paint-6459825.htmlAs mentioned above, the nitty gritty of "the night it all went down" lyrics and accompanying ick from audience. ALW / Directors changed loads of things, staging - originally it opened to Fleck huddled on a scabby bit of beach and being found and made to tell what had happened (the story of LND being as how Fleck recalls it). It was reworked to be curtain up and Ramin singing the Til I Hear You Sing - while people around me were putting phones away and that, frankly p*ssed me off. Loads more. Anytime someone types the PND I lose my mind. Have a look at West End Whingers and their review (search bar on their website) ... (I will not link as it will rage me). |
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Post by doornumberthree on Aug 23, 2023 9:34:08 GMT
I thought it was pre recorded too. For Musos on here two questions. How does that work with an orchestra on stage. Why would they do that? It didn’t seem the most taxing of songs? It's quicker paced than other songs and unfortunately, Norm's diction was horrendous. I imagine that played a major part in it - he was clearly already struggling to remember the lyrics of the piece as a whole (he missed maybe 4-5 lyrics in the matinee, but he got them all in the evening - he just missed other lyrics instead...!) Have to admit, I am sort of surprised seeing the positive comments about tonight's performance... Maybe it's because I know the show reasonably well and can probably sing the entire album word-for-word that I noticed things, maybe? In the second act, Norm flubbed every single time he was on stage. I still enjoyed it, but I don't think we should be giving allowances for forgotten lyrics - he (and Sally dexter!) have had months to learn the script prior to rehearsals... Obviously Celinde was wonderful but I actually think Courtney Stapleton stole the show?!?! Just wow! Genuinely fabulous. I couldn’t disagree more about Courtney ‘stealing the show’ although have to admit, this is the first time seeing her in something where I’ve actually thought she did a good job (and I’ve seen her in multiple roles over the years) I thought it was one of the best stages concerts I’ve seen. I loved the set and the lighting. The orchestra were sublime, my dislike for the book/original production always overshadows how much I do like the score. |
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Post by distantcousin on Aug 23, 2023 9:38:06 GMT
It's quicker paced than other songs and unfortunately, Norm's diction was horrendous. I imagine that played a major part in it - he was clearly already struggling to remember the lyrics of the piece as a whole (he missed maybe 4-5 lyrics in the matinee, but he got them all in the evening - he just missed other lyrics instead...!) Have to admit, I am sort of surprised seeing the positive comments about tonight's performance... Maybe it's because I know the show reasonably well and can probably sing the entire album word-for-word that I noticed things, maybe? In the second act, Norm flubbed every single time he was on stage. I still enjoyed it, but I don't think we should be giving allowances for forgotten lyrics - he (and Sally dexter!) have had months to learn the script prior to rehearsals... Obviously Celinde was wonderful but I actually think Courtney Stapleton stole the show?!?! Just wow! Genuinely fabulous. I couldn’t disagree more about Courtney ‘stealing the show’ although have to admit, this is the first time seeing her in something where I’ve actually thought she did a good job (and I’ve seen her in multiple roles over the years) I thought it was one of the best stages concerts I’ve seen. I loved the set and the lighting. The orchestra were sublime, my dislike for the book/original production always overshadows how much I do like the score.
She was a total standout for me too. I don't know anything about her, but she understood the role perfectly, didn't ham it up the way other actors last night were prone to (understandable, given the material) and was flawless in every scene. Extremely impressed!
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Post by westendboy on Aug 23, 2023 10:15:39 GMT
After mulling it over and reading what everyone else had to say, I have to admit that Norm wasn't really at his best. I may have seen him on one of his better performances, as I didn't notice much line flubs from him as much as everyone else did.
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Post by musicalfloozie on Aug 23, 2023 10:55:40 GMT
I went to yesterday's matinee. I had booked for the tour that got possibly covid cancelled then totally pulled so when it came in sale I knew I wanted to head down.
It was an event for sure. Celinde was sublime and it seemed almost effortless for her to sing. I've never seen her before and boy was that a treat. Norm was a little disappointing,he did forget some lines, wasn't as powerful as I expected and just didn't match the powerhouse that was Celinde. If another partner for her I think it would have been total magic. Cian playing Gustave was great, I read in the programme he only started singing in 2021 so he'll be one to look out for in the future!
The orchestra was amazing, it's an usual show but my what a score.
In the stalls we seemed to have a big nose blower which did distract especially when it was pin drop quiet before LND.
4 stars for me.
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Post by longinthetooth on Aug 23, 2023 11:09:23 GMT
Thinking back to yesterday's matinee. Yes, I did love it and the glorious music, but it wasn't perfect. As others have said, Norm wasn't entirely up to scratch, with (by the sound of things) flubbed lyrics in every performance, but Celinde was fabulous. According to the blurb in the programme the little lad, Cian, had no musical theatre or vocal training prior to lockdown. After watching a recording of Phantom in 2021 he started singing songs from the show and asked to have singing lessons (although he has played Michael Banks in Poppins and Gavroche in Les Mis, but not sure when). Pretty impressive! Anyway, I'm so pleased I saw this, and also glad I was alone, so I could take it all in without distraction!
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 23, 2023 12:11:38 GMT
10/10 for this concert production, certainly one of the best of these events there has been. But the source material is still duff. Such a waste of some gorgeous music on such banal lyrics and such a ridiculous plot. I can never keep a straight face when they are recounting their night of passion (“and I licked you, and I flicked you, and I sucked you, and I f…” etc) that has been conjured out of thin air to enable them to have a son. Didn’t think Norm Lewis was right for this at all either. All these years later Steve, you never fail to entertain. Literally fell out of my chair laughing at your version of Beneath a moonless sky I was going to say I didn't remember the lyrics being quite that explicit in 2011! Although I hated what was done to the characters so much that I've never listened to the songs since. I'm definitely with those who would like a completely new plot to go with the lovely music. |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 23, 2023 12:46:18 GMT
The Cinderella plot was abysmal also. Andy writes gorgeous scores and hires terrible writers.
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Post by demelza on Aug 23, 2023 13:37:56 GMT
The Cinderella plot was abysmal also. Andy writes gorgeous scores and hires terrible writers. Blame for this one can't be solely left with Ben Elton... Andy cooked up the story with Frederick Forsyth in the 90s |
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Post by anthony on Aug 23, 2023 14:07:43 GMT
Cinderella and sunset I knew about. Didn’t realise there was drama on LND - can anyone elaborate pls? The idea of C & Mr E when gorgeous R exists was a huge fan ick for the diehard phans. ALW painted the gorgeous Grade II listed Adelphi black. www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/black-day-for-lord-lloydwebber-as-legal-threat-looms-over-theatre-paint-6459825.htmlAs mentioned above, the nitty gritty of "the night it all went down" lyrics and accompanying ick from audience. ALW / Directors changed loads of things, staging - originally it opened to Fleck huddled on a scabby bit of beach and being found and made to tell what had happened (the story of LND being as how Fleck recalls it). It was reworked to be curtain up and Ramin singing the Til I Hear You Sing - while people around me were putting phones away and that, frankly p*ssed me off. Loads more. Anytime someone types the PND I lose my mind. Have a look at West End Whingers and their review (search bar on their website) ... (I will not link as it will rage me). Isn't it Mme Giry? Mme Giry is walking along the pier several years later and she sees an old poster advertising the Ooh La La Girls and a performance by Christine Daae. Then Fleck crawl out from coats on the floor? "Of course we are still here. The freaks, where else could we exist but here?" and then the Coney Island Walz starts, if I recall correctly? Fleck starts singing and then Mme Giry takes over, Fleck is escorted off stage and Mme Girl is alone on the pier - you're then left alone with Mme Girl as Coney Island comes alive through her eyes. The original Coney Island Waltz was 100% superior! The Waltz is the one thing I think could have been done better yesterday - surely they had some of the old props from the original waltz lying around? My other half (who didn't know the plot!) had no idea what was happening and didn't understand why all of the ensemble were sitting on the floor randomly!) |
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Post by anthony on Aug 23, 2023 14:28:13 GMT
The Cinderella plot was abysmal also. Andy writes gorgeous scores and hires terrible writers. I actually genuinely don't mind the plot too much I just hate the execution of it. I think the ending, at least, needs a major rewrite - all characterisation goes to hell. There are 2 main issues I have with the ending: 1) After they discover Meg has Gustave, the Phantom dramatically yells "I know where they are, but we must go quickly!" before he runs off stage. It's genuinely like a Scooby Doo episode and is completely random and out of character. It also begs the question as to HOW he knows where they are? The entire plot hinges on the Phantom not caring or taking notice of Meg after everything she has done for him - so he would never have known Meg likes swimming. Equally, we never see Gustave and Phantom discuss Gustave's wish to learn how to swim (other than a mention of Gustave being drowned in his nightmare). So the fact the Phantom knows where they are is totally rubbish. They certainly have no reason to believe Meg is about to drown him... 2) "Don't tell Gustave I'm his daddy" "OK I won't lol". 30 minutes later. "GUSTAVE, your father! No, your real one is here! surprise!!!" <<< All of this whilst Christine is dying. Poor Gustave is already having the worse day of his life without discovering that he isn't just losing his mum, but his dad too? It's just awfully written. Comic, even. I don't understand it. |
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Post by alece10 on Aug 23, 2023 14:36:23 GMT
Plot was fine for me. I understood it which gets a big tick as far as im concerned. I dont want to come out of a theatre more confused than when I went in or have to think deeply. Hurts my brain at my age.
I recently saw the concert of Dr Zhivago and even though there was a Narrator I didn't have a scoobie what was going on and in the end decided to forget the plot and enjoy the music.
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