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Post by waybeyondblue on Aug 2, 2016 18:54:27 GMT
Mr Huntley was unavailable yesterday matinee so we were treated to the covers band style of Mr Dever. Fortunately many of the cast reciprocated with performances somewhere between BGT and busking. Band is great, venue is great, underlying musical is great. Jesus over emotes then shouts a lot. Mary puts extra syllables in words like "my" and Pilate couldn't find a real emotion if you nailed him to a tree. Whilst we're on trees, WTF was the thinking behind sticking the cross right at the back of the stage? For that matter WTF was the thinking behind lighting a gas fire round the edge of the stage so the audience could share some unwelcome fumes and heat? Herod would have been a great Marc Almond if only they had a talent to match the idea. Loved the staging - very rock musical. Finally Annas - what a gem of casting and performance. No idea why they would transfer with this lot. Absolutely astonished to read this. I think we must have seen different productions!  I'll swap. No refunds, no warranty, no return. |
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Post by showtoones on Aug 3, 2016 19:47:10 GMT
Any further update on what theater in the West End that JCS will transfer to?
Thanks!!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 21:31:25 GMT
Any further update on what theater in the West End that JCS will transfer to? Thanks!!! Nope, nothing been mentioned since. I've heard a venue it's looking at but i dont know the likelihood of it. ALW making a decision this week apparently |
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Post by lolli on Aug 4, 2016 17:01:31 GMT
Do they check concessions with the barcodes as you go in? I now have an extra under 18 in my party, who will now be using an adult ticket...?
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Post by joem on Aug 4, 2016 17:10:06 GMT
You would find it difficult to screw up such a gem but this production has big flaws which make me believe it couldn't possibly be a long runner as it stands.
Some of my comments may not be exclusive to the production ie I don't know for sure if some of the lyrics have been changed before and this production has kept those changes. I have to say practically none of these changes, though they are minor, are for the better.
There are technical problems - Jesus distinctly said "There's no volume!" after one of his lines was not heard - and I wondered why more of the main characters had to carry their own mikes. This affects their mobility and creates a rock-concert vibe on many occasions where the cast are stage front singing at the audience, rather than each other. And this is one of the problems in the production, really not enough interaction between characters. A weird use of space means that even though the Regent's Park stage isn't huge at times the actors are bawling at each other from distance when the moment is supposed to be a close-up confrontation or other moment of intimacy.
Allied to this is the unwillingness to marry some of the singing to the action and to point it. These are not “songs” they are sung dialogue and there is meaning behind them which has to be put across.
The transitions from the flogging to the climactic "Superstar" to the crucifixion were rushed.
There is nothing particularly wrong with the cast but there is little overwhelmingly right about it either. Some good voices, notably Judas (Tyrone Huntly), Mary (Anoushka Lucas) and Caiaphas (Cavin Cornwall).
On the positive side, Caiaphas and the priests as some kind of doo-wop or boy band outfit is an innovation which works. Annas (Sean Kingsley) was very effective and Peter Caullfield's camp cameo as Herod was good as well.
Kudos for the team for delaying the start as there was an explicably long queue to get in - only one person looking at tickets almost until the last minute - and thanks to the weather for the omnipresent rain holding off.
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 4, 2016 23:07:29 GMT
Tickets might be still available if you're lucky, you won't need to walk across Regent's Park Boating Lake for one, but it's worth a try to snag one.
The Open Air theatre delivers again and weaves the magic of the outdoors, like only it can. This beats Monday's very very 'damp sodden squib', the park comes alive in this very well conceived revival. I loved every part of it from the powerhouse Declan Bennett singing Gethsamane, who could have passed as being Bono. Yes it was played out like a rock concert, but that didn't detract from the source, with delightful direction at play and evident here with the last supper being staged on the cross, so powerful symbolism at play here. Brilliant imagination how they done the 40 lashes, this is where my lips are sealed.
This will transfer as heavily speculated, but in truth there is only one place to see this, in this one of a kind venue. This production removes those horrid memories of that arena tour ***shudder***, this will sent you out grinning from ear to ear. Caps a perfect week for revivals after seeing Half A Sixpence last week.
A 5 star triumph.
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Post by tom on Aug 5, 2016 12:56:45 GMT
Saw this yesterday and thought it was excellent. It is well staged and most of the performances are outstanding. Took a while to warm to Declan as Jesus as I felt his voice wasn't suited to the role but when I got over the fact that he wasn't going to be singing it as I am used to hearing it I enjoyed his take - he performed an emotional gethsemane. Also wasn't totally convinced with Anoushka as Mary. She has a nice voice but a little too husky and not smooth enough for me. The star of the show is undoubtedly Tyrone Huntley as Judas though, what an amazing vocal from him! Some of the choreography was repetitive and a little out of place in my opinion. Other notable performances were cavin Cornwall as caiaphas, Sean kingsley's Annas and the ensemble guy with the bleached hair. Would probably be better seeing the evening show as I feel I missed out on lighting effects during the day. Overall though, I loved it!
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 5, 2016 16:26:03 GMT
I am with you with Anoushka as Mary, I thought Rachel Adedeji had better singing chops, in the UK tour last year.
I love your aviator, looks like Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Aug 6, 2016 9:19:49 GMT
I only just realised now, and it's mostly done, but the BBC Radio version from 1996, starring Roger Daltrey, Tony Hadley, Frances Ruffelle and Julian Clary is on BBC Radio 4 Extra right now. Hopefully it'll be available on demand afterwards. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mqkng |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 10:02:15 GMT
I only just realised now, and it's mostly done, but the BBC Radio version from 1996, starring Roger Daltrey, Tony Hadley, Frances Ruffelle and Julian Clary is on BBC Radio 4 Extra right now. Hopefully it'll be available on demand afterwards. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mqkngJulian Clary as Jesus? Now there's a left field choice. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 16:44:44 GMT
Baz has been tweeting about this transfer again this afternoon.
I'd heard from people involved that it had been abandoned. Even if it does transfer, where is it going?! Unless a show announces an imminent closure, I don't think there's a theatre available.
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Post by zsazsa on Aug 8, 2016 16:49:17 GMT
Could it go to the Phoenix after Guys & Dolls closes this month?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 16:52:31 GMT
Could it go to the Phoenix after Guys & Dolls closes this month? He's just tweeted that that isn't possible. Also, I gather a play has been lined up to fill. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 18:01:21 GMT
Heard a rumour of a few weeks back but think that's gone dead now.
Interested to hear where it would go
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 18:27:48 GMT
I only just realised now, and it's mostly done, but the BBC Radio version from 1996, starring Roger Daltrey, Tony Hadley, Frances Ruffelle and Julian Clary is on BBC Radio 4 Extra right now. Hopefully it'll be available on demand afterwards. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mqkngJulian Clary as Jesus? Now there's a left field choice. He's Herod on that recording. Not exactly singing the role but putting in loads of ad-libs. Makes me wonder what his Emcee was like in Cabaret. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 21:17:03 GMT
Baz has said they don't want the transfer to clash with the arrival of School of Rock.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 21:18:23 GMT
Also the transfer is wanting to happen either late 2016 or early 2017 dependant of theatre availability.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2016 21:38:36 GMT
I read that as it wont make its way to the west end until 2017. No theatre is free before the opening of SOR and as mentioned a clash of openings wants to be avoided
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Post by tom on Aug 8, 2016 23:21:19 GMT
I read that as it wont make its way to the west end until 2017. No theatre is free before the opening of SOR and as mentioned a clash of openings wants to be avoided They'd need a very good replacement for Tyrone Huntley though. Isn't he going in to Dreamgirls? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2016 9:21:11 GMT
There are always replacements though, aren't there? Tyrone Huntley was a replacement himself for the original Judas cast in this production according to mrmusicals...
Very much looking forward to this production, and seeing him, after all his positive reviews.
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Post by max on Aug 9, 2016 11:03:54 GMT
I think that makes sense, and if they could hold on for Tyrone Huntley they'd have some of their best pull quotes in tact. Or just do it again at the Open Air next year.
The thing about the contemporary look is that we don't expect video projections against a backdrop of trees, but in a conventional Theatre we'd ask why they're not there to accompany the rock look/feel (which then starts to head it to the Arena tour). I just wonder if this plays best where it is already, and that should be recognised and preserved.
Irony is that the New London with a bunch of trees would replicate it.
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Aug 10, 2016 7:58:09 GMT
I saw this last night, and thought is was phenomenal. I loved everything about it. Yes, it has a rock concert feel about it (intentionally so), but it was well balanced with the choreography, staging and characterisation you'd expect in musical theatre - the perfect rock musical. The score has never sounded better, and is a great reminder what an innovative and exciting composer ALW can be - give me this over Sondheim, any day. I'd love a cast recording of this production. Does anyone know whether there are plans for one?
The cast were uniformly impressive. Tyrone Huntley deserves his moment in the spotlight, with assured vocals and a fiery performance. Declan Bennett brings an incredible intensity to Jesus. Sitting a few metres directly in front of him as he performed Gethsemane was thrilling. His vocals were light and contemporary a lot of the time, bringing a modern edge to the score. Anoushka Lucas is a tender Mary, who used some jazz phrasing and ornamentation to great effect. Rather Norah Jones. Peter Caulfield as Herod was a sinister Pierrot in a scene which was spectacularly staged. Special mention to Cavin Cornwall, Sean Kingsley and the priests, who were menacing with a boy band twist.
Well done to the Open Air Theatre. What a magical venue.
Incidentally, Glenn Carter was in the audience. I wonder how he felt watching this...
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Post by ceebee on Aug 10, 2016 8:29:35 GMT
Quite wooden I'd imagine. Saw him in the Lyceum production, admittedly after Steve Balsamo, but much preferred Steve's vocal (if underacted) performance. Found Glenn Carter a bit whiny and wooden. The Lyceum production was excellent, but in my view this production at Regents Park absolutely blows it out of the water. Superb ensemble, several knockout performances, provocative and bold direction and staging, with superb yet subtle new orchestrations. Go if you haven't seen it (and if you can get a ticket). Somebody asked about a cast album on another post - Tyrone Huntley's twitter feed suggests that it isn't in the pipeline. But given the new trailer that came out a few days ago, one could argue that something is afoot...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2016 10:07:37 GMT
Quite wooden I'd imagine. Saw him in the Lyceum production, admittedly after Steve Balsamo, but much preferred Steve's vocal (if underacted) performance. Found Glenn Carter a bit whiny and wooden. The Lyceum production was excellent, but in my view this production at Regents Park absolutely blows it out of the water. Superb ensemble, several knockout performances, provocative and bold direction and staging, with superb yet subtle new orchestrations. Go if you haven't seen it (and if you can get a ticket). Somebody asked about a cast album on another post - Tyrone Huntley's twitter feed suggests that it isn't in the pipeline. But given the new trailer that came out a few days ago, one could argue that something is afoot… Seven Brides did a trailer last year. Isn't it just something that Regent's Park do? Hope a transfer comes off…but it won't happen until next year at the earliest! |
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Post by paplazaroo on Aug 13, 2016 9:36:19 GMT
Late to the party but this is so bloody good! If they could harness the energy from this they could power enough midgey lamps to keep the entire audience safe
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