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Post by anthony40 on Oct 11, 2022 12:04:50 GMT
Just a lille aside, but can i ask, is this the first time Andrew Rannells has performed in a show in London? I think so, yes. He may have done concerts but not a show (I think). That's what i thought, thus my questioning. I hope he enjoys his time here |
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Post by alece10 on Oct 11, 2022 14:42:58 GMT
I think so, yes. He may have done concerts but not a show (I think). That's what i thought, thus my questioning. I hope he enjoys his time here I might be wrong but I don't think he has even done a concert here. I'll be damm mad if he has and I've missed it. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 11, 2022 23:49:49 GMT
The Almedia box office are the best. It's so nice to have an actual person answer the call and help you.
I had a ticket for Thursday which was cancelled and phoned to get a refund as I couldn't make the 14/15th dates offered. I asked if they had a returns policy for tickets on the day, should I want to try again, and they had a ticket available for this Friday and in the row behind where i was originally booked. The woman I spoke to was super helpful and it was done in minutes. You rarely get that service from the big theatre chains these days.
Fingers crossed they don't cancel Friday too, now.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 12, 2022 12:14:47 GMT
An interesting article about the show here:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2022 12:47:06 GMT
I am so interested in this
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Post by kathryn on Oct 14, 2022 13:28:57 GMT
Looks like first preview is going ahead tonight!
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Post by FJ on Oct 14, 2022 14:37:00 GMT
Kept an eye on the Almeida site today and managed to get a ticket pop up for tonight! Very excited to see it.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Oct 14, 2022 22:04:00 GMT
Anyone worried they didn’t get tickets, don’t be. This is going to run in the West End for about a million years.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Oct 14, 2022 22:16:32 GMT
Guessing it's a positive verdict!
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Post by jampot on Oct 14, 2022 22:34:23 GMT
It went down a storm this eve...whole cast worked their socks off. Had us rocking in the alises. Its bright.. brash..sassy and camp..just the right amount of humour and tragedy. Some catchy gospel vibe tunes but a song at the end called "IF you came to see me cry" was a cut above everything else for me..the 2 leads will get nominations for their performances. Defo west end transfer..Praise the Lord!!
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Post by Jon on Oct 14, 2022 22:35:28 GMT
Out of interest, does Katie have a lot of costume changes and does she pull off the iconic Tammy look?
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Post by jampot on Oct 14, 2022 22:38:39 GMT
Out of interest, does Katie have a lot of costume changes and does she pull off the iconic Tammy look? Yes..and the look you refer to only the last 20 nmins.. |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Oct 14, 2022 22:43:11 GMT
It’s incredible. I very rarely see musicals and this is just an instant and obvious hit.
The dancing and choreography are particular highlights. It’s also just very very funny. You can tell it’s a James Graham script and if you like James Graham’s plays go see this, because he puts his stamp on it more than perhaps book writers generally do.
There are quite a few costume changes and the costumes are all bang on for the time period, as we move through the 70s and 80s. It’s a very colourful production.
I was also sitting behind Emilia Clarke who seemed to like it!
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Post by Jon on Oct 14, 2022 22:50:26 GMT
It’s incredible. I very rarely see musicals and this is just an instant and obvious hit. The dancing and choreography are particular highlights. It’s also just very very funny. You can tell it’s a James Graham script and if you like James Graham’s plays go see this, because he puts his stamp on it more than perhaps book writers generally do. There are quite a few costume changes and the costumes are all bang on for the time period, as we move through the 70s and 80s. It’s a very colourful production. I was also sitting behind Emilia Clarke who seemed to like it! How big is the show in terms of potential theatres it can transfer to? I know the Almeida isn't that large but I assume they're aiming for a bigger playhouses or perhaps at a push a 1000-1100 seater theatre like the Phoenix or Savoy. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Oct 14, 2022 23:11:02 GMT
This was fantastic tonight! For a first preview of a brand new show, it's in great shape. I think there is definitely some work to be done, especially towards the end of Act 2, but wow, really impressive.
Watching Katie Brayben's performance as Tammy Faye, made me think of Ellen Green as Audrey. I can't see it being done better. She was that good. She deserves a much better moment to shine in the final bows. The final song, which i'm not sure the show needs and feels tacked on, was a bit too much like 'take me to heaven' from Sister Act.
I wasn't disappointed as such, but Andrew Rannells is too Andrew Rannells/Book of Mormon, and there were a few moments that felt VERY BoM-ish. It's not a bad thing, but when you have Katie Brayben totally transformed as Tammy Faye, it was a little distracting.
Overall, The score was great, which surprised me after hearing Devil Wears Prada. It has a gospel sound and really uplifting, but saying that, one of my favourite songs was Satellite of God, sung by Zubin Varla as Jerry Fulwell, which has a darker side to it. There is a song in Act 2, He Promised Me, that was a huge highlight for me, but it needs a button for the big applause it deserves. The 11 o'clock number If You Came To See Me Cry was good, but i felt it just needed something a bit more to make it the song it's trying to be.
It scary that the politics in the show are so relevant in America today. Trump getting the evangelical endorsement that helped him win, Jerry Fulwell Jr and his recent 'pool boy' scandal and Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham was only recently touring the UK spreading the same hate his father was.
This will 100% transfer and Katie Brayben will win every award going, including the Tony Award if she transfers with it.
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Post by FJ on Oct 14, 2022 23:29:31 GMT
As much as I enjoyed myself this evening, there is definitely work to be done to tighten this up in previews.
There are some amazingly catchy up-beat songs, some fantastic ballads, but there are also definitely a few songs which I think fell quite flat, especially at the beginning of act 2.
I’m so glad the first half is really over the top and camp, I think the entire cast were fantastic, the choreography was great and really love the staging.
But I have to say I was getting bored for the first 20 minutes of act 2, and I think it really loses pace, and could do with a couple of songs dropped and scenes trimmed.
There is so much potential for this show, and as others have said above Andrew Rannells is fantastic, and Katie as Tammy is sublime. But i’m booked to see it once again in previews and then later in the run and I’ll be very interested and excited to see what changes get made.
In comparing it to the first preview of Groundhog Day a few years ago, which turned in to the open dress rehearsal, I have to say I think Groundhog Day was a stronger piece at this first stage. And then it went on to not be a big hit on Broadway.
But I have everything crossed for Tammy Faye, and I’d say a solid 4 stars for a first preview, with the hope it could climb to 5 with some changes.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 15, 2022 5:09:20 GMT
This was fantastic tonight! For a first preview of a brand new show, it's in great shape. I think there is definitely some work to be done, especially towards the end of Act 2, but wow, really impressive. Watching Katie Brayben's performance as Tammy Faye, made me think of Ellen Green as Audrey. I can't see it being done better. She was that good. She deserves a much better moment to shine in the final bows. The final song, which i'm not sure the show needs and feels tacked on, was a bit too much like 'take me to heaven' from Sister Act. I wasn't disappointed as such, but Andrew Rannells is too Andrew Rannells/Book of Mormon, and there were a few moments that felt VERY BoM-ish. It's not a bad thing, but when you have Katie Brayben totally transformed as Tammy Faye, it was a little distracting. Overall, The score was great, which surprised me after hearing Devil Wears Prada. It has a gospel sound and really uplifting, but saying that, one of my favourite songs was Satellite of God, sung by Zubin Varla as Jerry Fulwell, which has a darker side to it. There is a song in Act 2, He Promised Me, that was a huge highlight for me, but it needs a button for the big applause it deserves. The 11 o'clock number If You Came To See Me Cry was good, but i felt it just needed something a bit more to make it the song it's trying to be. It scary that the politics in the show are so relevant in America today. Trump getting the evangelical endorsement that helped him win, Jerry Fulwell Jr and his recent 'pool boy' scandal and Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham was only recently touring the UK spreading the same hate his father was. This will 100% transfer and Katie Brayben will win every award going, including the Tony Award if she transfers with it. Andrew Rannells can only play Andrew Rannells. Very happy to hear such positive reports already. Particularly that the score isn’t as bad as one would expect from Elton John. Can’t wait to see Katie Brayben pick up another Olivier |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 15, 2022 7:42:04 GMT
It’s sold out
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Post by kathryn on Oct 15, 2022 8:08:41 GMT
So pleased to see good initial reactions for this!
You never can tell how a show will run long-term - there’s plenty of great shows that were never Broadway hits - but this does sound promising for a future life, given the sold-out Almeida run and the Names involved, as long as there is a theatre available to transfer to.
I don’t know why anyone would expect an Elton John score for
a show in 70s and 80s America with gospel overtones would be bad - that’s his era, it’s right in his wheelhouse.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Oct 15, 2022 8:26:59 GMT
It was created for the West End, and was going to go straight to the West End until Goold requested an Almeida run first. It’s not a case of “will it transfer,” it’s a case of “it would have to flop really hard for the West End transfer that’s already contracted to be cancelled.”
Ditto the Broadway run.
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Post by alece10 on Oct 15, 2022 8:27:53 GMT
This is indeed great news as, let's be honest, us board members are quite a critical audience so to see from 1st preview it's getting 4 and 5 stars it's got great potential.
I'm due to see it on Friday and very much looking forward to it.
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Post by G on Oct 15, 2022 8:40:29 GMT
Katie Brayben (who I did not know of before) and Andrew Rannells were amazing in this. Special mention also to Zubin Varla as Jerry Falwell. The cast is so full of energy - the {Spoiler - click to view}big dance number as Tammy and Jim got kicked out of their network was stunning. Earworms for me are ‘If you came to see me cry’ and the {Spoiler - click to view}erm the ‘Jesus put it in me’ song among others - the latter clearly has a South Park/Book of Mormon vibe (for me, one of the BoM moments that Bobbie remarked on above). I also felt that the final number as the cast took their bows did not fully do justice to the cast members - it’s a bit confusing to be listening to a number and clapping along to the song, but then having to clap clap clap much faster as audience members take their bows at various spots in the song - I felt that they got less of a cheer than they would have otherwise. The set and lighting work very well. I got quite starstruck about having to ask Jake Shears and the person he was sitting with to make way for us to squeeze through to our seat - after having scanned the front and back of the stalls to see if there was an alternative path. They made a friendly comment which I did not register as I was fully going ‘OH MY GOD’. Not entirely sure about the proper etiquette when one is fanboying - should one acknowledge knowing who the other person is (for a split second a muffled ‘big fan’ and head nod while squeezing through was a viable option in my head) or feign indifference? I went for the second option in the end, thank god, and I think most people did - hopefully that made it a less awkward experience for them. Hoping for the cast recording, there surely will be one at some point and I hope that is soon…? The songs definitely work and it would be a shame not to have one. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 15, 2022 9:06:06 GMT
Really? Handling cash is faster that a card transaction nowadays? I think not!
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Post by alece10 on Oct 15, 2022 9:13:10 GMT
Really? Handling cash is faster that a card transaction nowadays? I think not! Returns always used to be cash only. |
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Post by alece10 on Oct 15, 2022 9:14:37 GMT
Katie Brayben (who I did not know of before) and Andrew Rannells were amazing in this. Special mention also to Zubin Varla as Jerry Falwell. The cast is so full of energy - the {Spoiler - click to view}big dance number as Tammy and Jim got kicked out of their network was stunning. Earworms for me are ‘If you came to see me cry’ and the {Spoiler - click to view}erm the ‘Jesus put it in me’ song among others - the latter clearly has a South Park/Book of Mormon vibe (for me, one of the BoM moments that Bobbie remarked on above). I also felt that the final number as the cast took their bows did not fully do justice to the cast members - it’s a bit confusing to be listening to a number and clapping along to the song, but then having to clap clap clap much faster as audience members take their bows at various spots in the song - I felt that they got less of a cheer than they would have otherwise. The set and lighting work very well. I got quite starstruck about having to ask Jake Shears and the person he was sitting with to make way for us to squeeze through to our seat - after having scanned the front and back of the stalls to see if there was an alternative path. They made a friendly comment which I did not register as I was fully going ‘OH MY GOD’. Not entirely sure about the proper etiquette when one is fanboying - should one acknowledge knowing who the other person is (for a split second a muffled ‘big fan’ and head nod while squeezing through was a viable option in my head) or feign indifference? I went for the second option in the end, thank god, and I think most people did - hopefully that made it a less awkward experience for them. Hoping for the cast recording, there surely will be one at some point and I hope that is soon…? The songs definitely work and it would be a shame not to have one. I agree about the clapping along to the music at final bows. Happens a lot and the actor doesn't get the recognition they would otherwise have got with no music. |
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