236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on Sept 3, 2021 21:19:07 GMT
Well I have had a fantastic night! There’s not much of props or anything but the cast sure make up for it, with no weak “Link” there. I didn’t see my programmes for sale unfortunately so I don’t know fully who played who, but the lady playing Tracey was an absolute hoot. Had me cackling in my seat and she had a gorgeous voice.
“You’re Perfect To Me” and “You Can’t Stop The Beat” got the biggest reactions and tonight’s audience were wild I loved it. It was the best atmosphere. I really don’t think I can fault any of the cast at all. Tbh I thought Brenda Edwards was a gimmick casting, but no! That lady can SING.
I thought maybe the first act dragged a little bit but other than that it was wonderful. I haven’t had such a fun Theatre night in so long I had tears streaming down my face during multiple songs! A bit let down by a cheap production but the cast alone carry it perfectly.
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Sept 4, 2021 17:53:48 GMT
Having seen the West End cast multiple times over the summer, I am now seeing the tour cast in Liverpool. I already know it’s a cheap/non-existent set, but looking forward to it. Covid pass checks more thorough than many of the London theatres I have been to this summer.
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Sept 4, 2021 22:42:04 GMT
The audience were wild this evening, and I thought the roof was going to come off the Empire when You Can't Stop The Beat started, such was the cheer from the audience. I've seen all 5 tours (both original production tours, and the 3 tours of this production) and Hairspray always gets an incredible response here.
The cast are brilliant - standouts for me were Katie Brace as Tracy, Rebecca Thornhill and Jessica Croll as the von Tussles, Rebecca Jayne-Davies as Penny (she nailed the growl in Without Love) and Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle, but the whole cast did a brilliant job with such a great show. I was even able to forgive the cheap 'set' because the performances were so good.
Almost all the script changes for the London show are in the tour version, but only one of the lyric changes ('sees both white and black') is in.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 17, 2021 17:10:48 GMT
Both of today's performances at Woking cancelled. I was notified at 1.45 this afternoon when already waiting to go in. Cast illness. Too late to avoid a £22 wasted train journey but I'm used to it by now
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408 posts
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Post by maggiem on Nov 18, 2021 12:04:23 GMT
A little heads up for you. BBC Four will be showing "Kiss Me Kate" (BBCProms), featuring Alex Bourne, on Sunday at 8pm.
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1,928 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 18, 2021 21:01:45 GMT
Here tonight and some of the performances leave a lot to be desired…
The incredibly strong score and infectious energy make up for it but if I was at a lesser show I’d be coming away quite disappointed.
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376 posts
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Jan 23, 2022 21:38:19 GMT
Tickets taken off sale for Wycombe next week
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1,928 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Aug 31, 2023 14:20:50 GMT
Looks like this is touring again sometime next year…
Announced for Brum in September.
I love Hairspray but this touring production is beyond cheap.
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Aug 31, 2023 16:27:29 GMT
Happy to see it again as it's one of my favourite musicals, but I would prefer the original touring production (based off the West End show) than the Curve production.
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1,441 posts
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Post by theatrefan62 on Aug 31, 2023 17:12:17 GMT
One of my favourite shows but I can't stand the cheap touring version we get now. It's not like the original was all that complex to tour.
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Post by erik24601 on Oct 3, 2023 13:14:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2023 17:48:34 GMT
Booked for Manchester this morning on the pre-sales. Even though the staging for the last few productions have been massively reduced, it's still a fun show overall. |
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19,650 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 4, 2023 7:09:40 GMT
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Post by danb on Oct 4, 2023 7:20:12 GMT
Was that Brenda’s vocal on YCSTB over the add? Jeepers!
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651 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Oct 4, 2023 7:22:51 GMT
Much as I think this production isn’t as good (mainly because of the set), I love this show. The last time I saw it in Liverpool, the audience absolutely adored this show and You Can’t Stop The Beat was basically a huge party with the whole stalls dancing along (from the start of the song!). The social media for Liverpool is filled with people eager to book tickets, so I think it will sell well again.
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5,138 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 4, 2023 7:41:27 GMT
Were you there, our david? 😁 |
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3,301 posts
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Post by david on Oct 4, 2023 11:44:26 GMT
Were you there, our david ? 😁 - I can confirm I was there and had a great night. There was a fantastic party atmosphere at the end. 🕺 |
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Post by erik24601 on Oct 4, 2023 14:36:41 GMT
Exciting that they are doing open auditions for this. I wonder how many of the cast will end up being non-represented performers?
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Post by sisterfan on Feb 8, 2024 7:25:45 GMT
I have looked at loads of pages on this forum and can not see a Thread for the 2024 tour so thought i would start one.
Does anyone know when the casting will be announced?
its a shame that Lizzie Bea is busy this year doing Sister Act as would have been great to have her do the UK tour of Hairspray as she played Tracy well when it was in London a couple of years ago.
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19,650 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 8, 2024 8:13:10 GMT
Merged
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Post by erik24601 on Mar 11, 2024 2:53:17 GMT
It would seem a casting announcement is imminent. Exciting!
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Post by osdtdg on Mar 11, 2024 9:51:43 GMT
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Post by sisterfan on Jul 24, 2024 16:37:15 GMT
Could not find a Thread for the new UK tour that started last week in Manchester last week so though i would start one.
Has anyone seen this in Manchester yet?
if so has anything changed since the last tour?
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3,301 posts
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Post by david on Aug 21, 2024 19:27:05 GMT
Having had a bit of a lull in theatre over the last few weeks, it was great to get back inside an auditorium last night at the Liverpool Empire to watch this wonderful feel good show. Swapping the stage for the director's chair and making her first foray as a director, Brenda Edwards (along with Paul Kerryson) has got off to a great start here with 2.5hrs of fun, laughs, emotional punch, slick choreography (from Drew McOnie) and a cracking score performed by a fantastic cast and band with plenty of energy, heart and hairspray.
Reading the programme notes, I was really surprised to learn that this current cast making their professional debuts on this tour (Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby as Tracey Turnblad and Michelle Ndegwa as Motormouth Maybelle) and from my viewing, I will say that both these ladies have got a great future in the industry. Two fantastic performances both in the acting and singing and totally owned the stage throughout the show in their respective roles. Michelle totally nailed her big number in Act 2 "I know where I've been" wringing every drop of emotion from the lyrics.
A wonderful cast has been assembled here and there really wasn't a weak link amongst them and were an absolute joy to watch on stage either as a main or side character. Alongside the two ladies mentioned, Neil Hurst as Edna and Dermot Canavan as Wilbur must get a shoutout here. As a double-act they worked brilliantly and their Act 2 duet "You Are Timeless To Me" was a real standout emotional moment in the show whilst bringing plenty of laughs from the audience and the two guys themselves performing the song. Reece Richards as Seaweed was another standout here with his dancing and vocals for "Run and Tell That".
If there was any criticism, it would be the staging, the big video screen at the back of the stage does a lot of work to set the scenes and was sometimes out of focus from where I was sat a few rows from the front of the stalls. A little bit more set would of been welcomed here to help fill the Empire stage.
With a shed load of fantastic songs from Mark Sherman and Scott Wittman, no matter how many times I see this show, they are always great to listen to and along with the cast, the on stage 8 piece band did a great job in bringing the score to life. Certainly, "You Can't Stop The Beat" as always is a big crowed pleaser to end the show and to get us all on our feet singing and dancing away to end the show. This show was certainly getting positive comments from folk on the way out last night.
Rating - 4 stars
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Post by erik24601 on Aug 23, 2024 10:19:26 GMT
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