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Post by shady23 on May 17, 2022 13:21:24 GMT
I don't mind cheap staging or costumes for a show like Legally Blonde, no. Other shows, for sure. I disagree as weren't many characters rich, stuck up and obsessed with their appearance? Surely the costumes need to reflect those characters. |
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Post by Being Alive on May 17, 2022 13:42:13 GMT
I'll be sad if we don't see a production of Legally Blonde again that has some heart.
It's one of its selling points for me - yes it's camp as hell and hilarious, but Elle especially makes you root for her and feel for her too - there's nothing in Corutney's performance that isn't just played for laughs (that's not necessarily her fault, as for me it comes back to Lucy Moss's idea for the production, but it makes the character so 2D).
say what you will about Sheridan Smith these days, but her performance in the original production was spectacular.
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Post by westendcub on May 17, 2022 13:55:50 GMT
To anyone who has been already - can you take a drink/snack in with you? Hi, correct you can bring your own snacks and food with you. The writing is a little hard to understand but certainly never had an issue taking own drinks into the theatre at other productions. Can I bring my own food to the theatre? Although we would prefer you to purchase food and drink at the theatre as this revenue further supports our productions, you may bring your own picnic to eat on the picnic lawn or in Queen Mary's Gardens next to the box office in Regent's Park (please do not bring sharp knives). Hot food purchased elsewhere may not be brought onto the premises. Those purchasing food may be given priority to tables at the theatre and, though drinks purchased from our bar may be taken into the auditorium, food is not permitted in the auditorium. |
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Post by inthenose on May 17, 2022 14:41:44 GMT
I appreciate the need to lower expectations in these difficult times, I really do. Especially when "full" productions like Anything Goes can go on the road and do so badly at the box office.
I am also someone who is not averse to reinventing older works - for the right reasons. This should happen naturally, a germ of an idea from talented creatives; "wouldn't it be interesting if...".
What tends to happen is the opposite. It's a case of "well, Legally Blonde hasn't been done in a while and we can get the rights. Now, what can we do to make ours different?". That is not reimagining, it is desperation.
The former case would be a director and producers with a vision, the latter is filling a schedule. I think I know what this one is.
Ps. Sorry but state of the costumes and set. Appalling work from a professional.
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Post by ladidah on May 17, 2022 14:47:21 GMT
To anyone who has been already - can you take a drink/snack in with you? Hi, correct you can bring your own snacks and food with you. The writing is a little hard to understand but certainly never had an issue taking own drinks into the theatre at other productions. Can I bring my own food to the theatre? Although we would prefer you to purchase food and drink at the theatre as this revenue further supports our productions, you may bring your own picnic to eat on the picnic lawn or in Queen Mary's Gardens next to the box office in Regent's Park (please do not bring sharp knives). Hot food purchased elsewhere may not be brought onto the premises. Those purchasing food may be given priority to tables at the theatre and, though drinks purchased from our bar may be taken into the auditorium, food is not permitted in the auditorium. Thanks!  |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2022 15:02:07 GMT
I'll be sad if we don't see a production of Legally Blonde again that has some heart. It's one of its selling points for me - yes it's camp as hell and hilarious, but Elle especially makes you root for her and feel for her too - there's nothing in Corutney's performance that isn't just played for laughs (that's not necessarily her fault, as for me it comes back to Lucy Moss's idea for the production, but it makes the character so 2D). say what you will about Sheridan Smith these days, but her performance in the original production was spectacular. Hmmm sorry disagree on sheridan. She was very good being sheridan smith and mugging to the audience etc, yes she had a vulnerability to her but it was still sheridan. She was far away from the valley girl Elle is meant to be. |
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Post by Jon on May 17, 2022 15:23:57 GMT
I appreciate the need to lower expectations in these difficult times, I really do. Especially when "full" productions like Anything Goes can go on the road and do so badly at the box office. I am also someone who is not averse to reinventing older works - for the right reasons. This should happen naturally, a germ of an idea from talented creatives; "wouldn't it be interesting if...". What tends to happen is the opposite. It's a case of "well, Legally Blonde hasn't been done in a while and we can get the rights. Now, what can we do to make ours different?". That is not reimagining, it is desperation. The former case would be a director and producers with a vision, the latter is filling a schedule. I think I know what this one is. Ps. Sorry but state of the costumes and set. Appalling work from a professional. I don't think Legally Blonde is old enough as a show to justify reinvention. It makes sense to do say Cabaret and Oklahoma! differently because there have been many productions and I think with the right creative team can breathe new life into a show but I get the feeling the Open Air wanted to tap into the Six/Heathers audience with Legally Blonde and clearly it hasn't worked out. |
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Post by danb on May 17, 2022 15:36:20 GMT
I struggle not being really put off by all this. Its hardly a legacy show, but is just so positive and life affirming that someone dulling its light makes me angry. Doing things ‘for the sake of it’ rarely ends well. From the pics I’ve seen, the stage looks plain fugly (but I haven’t seen it lit.) Casting Isaac as Margot sounded great and really progressive, but not if the result is them sounding out of place and spoiling the harmonies? Did they not run this beforehand? Are they going for the effect of ‘this is what Margot would sound like…deal with it!’? It just sounds like a lot of ideas rather than a cohesive whole.
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Post by LaLuPone on May 17, 2022 15:52:59 GMT
I saw it last night and wasn’t hugely impressed, I definitely preferred the Lucie Jones tour 5 years ago. The costumes really are so cheap looking, most of what Courtney has been given especially. If anyone watches RuPaul’s Drag Race, the dress she changes into at the end of the opening number (“this one’s perfect” no it is not!) is reminiscent of the pink rag Baga Chipz made in this year’s design challenge! The man sitting next to me audibly gasped at how bad the outfit was. As people have said, Isaac as Margot was awkward because of the harmonies and sounded strained on the higher notes when they were singing their solo lines. Representation is important, but should it hinder the quality?
I wasn’t hugely impressed with Courtney either, she sang the songs well and was funny enough but she didn’t fully give me what I want from an Elle, I’d be interested to see the show again with Vanessa Fisher as Elle if she gets the chance to go on. Nadine Higgin was very good as Paulette to be fair, great voice and brilliant comic timing, and Lauren Drew as Brooke was also a highlight.
I actually thought the twinks dressed up as dogs were one of the best decisions in the end, hilarious!
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Post by David J on May 17, 2022 16:35:38 GMT
It does feel like since Jesus Christ superstar Regent’s Park has been trying to catch lightning in the bottle
What classic musical can we put on whilst adding a twist or flair to it
Which I like but jcs felt organically made. Evita felt like that but less successful to me
Now as others as said, they’re chasing trends with the six crowd
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2022 16:47:55 GMT
Legally Blonde is a camp show anyway so to take it even further perhaps doesn't work. This sort of diverse cast would work superbly in a show like Rent more from my mindset.
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Post by FairyGodmother on May 17, 2022 17:38:53 GMT
I said pages ago that if you cast a transwoman or somebody non-binary who'd been through male puberty you would have problems with that.
My male flatmate is the MD for a choir (all girls) and he can sing at pitch with them — helps that he's a tenor. But he's high in his range with the altos and singing falsetto to match the sops. At their last concert they were down in numbers with covid, and I could instantly hear it in the songs where he was singing to give them a bit of a boost. It just sounds different.
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Post by ladidah on May 17, 2022 18:42:28 GMT
Here and can't stop laughing as the set is truly awful
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Post by ladidah on May 17, 2022 18:48:16 GMT
It looks like plastic hay, the lines of the pattern aren't even lined up
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Post by inthenose on May 17, 2022 19:25:12 GMT
It looks like plastic hay, the lines of the pattern aren't even lined up Wait til you see the cozzies and a few of the performances. One of the worst. |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2022 19:34:45 GMT
Casting Isaac was an original idea but if his voice isn't right then probably should have been thought through more. There are lots of none binary roles in theatre and male roles that Isaac would be perfectly able to be cast for so I really think this is diverse casting just for the sake of it. The set doesn't look great either and this show when done in the right way is a sure fire hit. I feel a bit sorry for the likes of Courtney, Isaac and co being in something which seems a mess - they all deserve better.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 17, 2022 19:57:51 GMT
I wonder why they didn't cast someone male/non-binary/transgender who has a good falsetto voice? Then they could have the visual they are presumably after without having to compromise on the singing keys. Of course the sound wouldn't be exactly the same as a woman singing but it'd be closer than singing an octave down.
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Post by ladidah on May 17, 2022 20:07:34 GMT
Interval here, absolutely loving it. Despite the primary costumes and dodgy Margot!
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Post by Dr Tom on May 17, 2022 20:09:45 GMT
Isaac’s voice is great. Even if it wasn’t, about half the words in every song are inaudible anyway due to the horrible sound mix, so it wouldn’t matter.
The biggest laugh in the first half was reserved for the appearance of a dildo!
In all seriousness, it is much better so far than I feared. But it would work better on a much smaller stage.
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Post by terrylondon79 on May 17, 2022 20:15:41 GMT
Oh dear....
How have they managed to get this so wrong.
Sucked out all the humour..
Cast probably quite good... But not in the parts they've been cast in for this.
Who needs to sing in key, when you can just shriek louder.
Set and costumes.. I can only assume. They have no budget left.
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Post by ladidah on May 17, 2022 20:48:03 GMT
Due to downpour show has paused, am soaking wet!
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Post by terrylondon79 on May 17, 2022 20:48:22 GMT
And the stereotypical gay dog... That's not even borderline homophobia laugh at the gays...
Thought that type of humour was left in the 70s.
Highlight so far is the rain stopped them 'singing'
Apart from Nadine Higgin playing Paulette... Who is fantastic. She learnt the score and is the.productions saving grace.
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Post by LaLuPone on May 17, 2022 21:04:48 GMT
And the stereotypical gay dog... That's not even borderline homophobia laugh at the gays... Thought that type of humour was left in the 70s. Highlight so far is the rain stopped them 'singing' Apart from Nadine Higgin playing Paulette... Who is fantastic. She learnt the score and is the.productions saving grace. See as a gay man I thought the dog was hilarious and just a bit of fun, no worse than “Gay or European” for sure, but then of course I don’t speak for the entire community so can see others may not like it. It is kind of ironic I guess that this production makes every effort to be “woke” but then making fun of gays is still allowed. |
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Post by inthenose on May 17, 2022 21:38:49 GMT
And the stereotypical gay dog... That's not even borderline homophobia laugh at the gays... Thought that type of humour was left in the 70s. Highlight so far is the rain stopped them 'singing' Apart from Nadine Higgin playing Paulette... Who is fantastic. She learnt the score and is the.productions saving grace. See as a gay man I thought the dog was hilarious and just a bit of fun, no worse than “Gay or European” for sure, but then of course I don’t speak for the entire community so can see others may not like it. It is kind of ironic I guess that this production makes every effort to be “woke” but then making fun of gays is still allowed. I hear you, I really do. And I agree. But in this day and age "a bit of fun" at the expense of any minority isn't allowed, because someone, somewhere, identifying as something, will take offence. Then you have Twitter to deal with, however innocently meant the bit was. Safest to cut it. |
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Post by stagebyte on May 17, 2022 21:39:27 GMT
The biggest laugh in the first half was reserved for the appearance of a dildo!. 🤢 Just why? Why go low when the humour is already there with LB I guess it says a lot about the production when that got the biggest laugh 🤔 |
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