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Post by amyja89 on Nov 18, 2023 10:06:12 GMT
I'm 33, and I would wager that most people my age (who aren't specifically into musical theatre) would only know Bernadette Peters by face and not name, and only for her role in the 1990's Disney version of Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston. It was certainly my first introduction to her as a child before getting into the world of musicals!
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Post by lotster on Nov 18, 2023 11:11:53 GMT
I absolutely loved this show, have seen it twice and want to go back before it closes, but I remember when they announced the long run (following the one night only concert) I was really shocked, as I just didn't see how it would have broad enough appeal to enough people. Yes, the audience there is great, as it's full of genuine musical theatre lovers, but your average man/woman on the street I doubt will have heard of either of the leads.
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Nov 18, 2023 14:22:45 GMT
I'm 33, and I would wager that most people my age (who aren't specifically into musical theatre) would only know Bernadette Peters by face and not name, and only for her role in the 1990's Disney version of Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston. It was certainly my first introduction to her as a child before getting into the world of musicals! Yes! A lot of my friends recognise her when I show them pictures but are not sure what from. |
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Post by Fleance on Nov 18, 2023 15:15:10 GMT
I think a show like Old Friends is basically mounted as a tribute and as one which will primarily appeal to Sondheim fans, of which there are many in the UK, although there is always hope that it will appeal to wider audiences, for educational as well as commercial purposes. I think the UK Sondheim fans would have heard of Ms. Peters, via recordings, etc. I don't think Bernadette was selected to appeal to a wider range of the UK public and to bring in the crowds, but rather due to her important connection to the history. I was unaware of any connection of Ms. Salonga to the history. Bernadette, on the other hand, serves as a kind of imprimatur for the show.
I saw Old Friends on a recent visit to London, and I loved it, even more than I thought I would. I watched the BBC production of the show on a friend's iPlayer, and I liked that as well, but not as much as the current show. I was going to see the show at the Gielgud again but just didn't have time.
The first show I ever saw on Broadway as a kid was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, toward the end of its original run. I'll never forget the experience. I also saw Sunday in the Park with George (original) and Sweeney Todd on Broadway (original as well as NYC Opera productions), but apart from that, I've seen most of my Sondheim in London, where his work is beloved and done so well: Pacific Overtures (ENO), Sweeney Todd (Julia McKenzie), Follies (Shaftesbury), Follies (NT), Company (Donmar), Company (Gielgud); Road Show (Chocolate Factory), The Frogs (Lost Musicals), A Funny Thing (Chichester), A Funny Thing (NT), A Little Night Music (NT), Merrily We Roll Along (Pinter).
Some more trivia:
Bernadette Peters lives up the street from me, and I've seen her walking her dog.
One of my favorite Sondheim songs is "Impossible," from A Funny Thing, but it wasn't used in the film and (to my knowledge) never makes its way into the Sondheim revues. It's a great song. Another lesser-known but beautiful Sondheim song is "Goodbye for Now," which he wrote for the film Reds.
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Post by theatregoer22 on Nov 18, 2023 18:52:04 GMT
As someone in their early 30's, I keep checking this thread out of curiosity, but nothing I've seen so far has persuaded me that I must go and prioritise seeing this show out of the many others on in the West End at the moment. Especially as I've only vaguely heard of Bernedette Peters and Lea Salonga and 95% of my friends would go 'who' if I told them I'd seen them on stage. And the one friend I do know who is a big fan of Lea's saw an advert for it and said she wasn't interested as it was a revue show, not a full West End musical.
In fact I've just looked at the full cast and I'm more familiar with Bonnie Langford than Bernadette or Lea.
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Post by ruthieh on Nov 18, 2023 19:16:56 GMT
As someone in their early 30's, I keep checking this thread out of curiosity, but nothing I've seen so far has persuaded me that I must go and prioritise seeing this show out of the many others on in the West End at the moment. Especially as I've only vaguely heard of Bernedette Peters and Lea Salonga and 95% of my friends would go 'who' if I told them I'd seen them on stage. And the one friend I do know who is a big fan of Lea's saw an advert for it and said she wasn't interested as it was a revue show, not a full West End musical. In fact I've just looked at the full cast and I'm more familiar with Bonnie Langford than Bernadette or Lea. Go for Bradley! |
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Post by theoracle on Nov 18, 2023 19:22:24 GMT
I think the names are too big for CamMack to close it early. I think he would just cut his loses for sentiments sake. Indeed I’ve heard from one insider there’s talks it might even extend a few weeks just to keep the Gielgud open till Sheridan’s show opens… |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 18, 2023 20:35:34 GMT
I think the names are too big for CamMack to close it early. I think he would just cut his loses for sentiments sake. Indeed I’ve heard from one insider there’s talks it might even extend a few weeks just to keep the Gielgud open till Sheridan’s show opens… Sorry but that makes no sense. It’s cheaper to have an empty theatre than pay the wages of a company and crew, and FOH staff for a show that is losing money. |
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Post by sph on Nov 18, 2023 23:07:09 GMT
I think the names are too big for CamMack to close it early. I think he would just cut his loses for sentiments sake. Indeed I’ve heard from one insider there’s talks it might even extend a few weeks just to keep the Gielgud open till Sheridan’s show opens… That's not happening. It was the original plan, yes, but now it will close on its expected date and there is to be a filler show in between. |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Nov 18, 2023 23:30:04 GMT
Indeed I’ve heard from one insider there’s talks it might even extend a few weeks just to keep the Gielgud open till Sheridan’s show opens… That's not happening. It was the original plan, yes, but now it will close on its expected date and there is to be a filler show in between. any ideas what this filler is? otherwise all feels like conjecture |
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Post by sph on Nov 19, 2023 0:21:13 GMT
Don't know what the filler is - final details are currently being ironed out. It may still fall through of course, but that seems unlikely.
Anywho, the cast of Old Friends signed on with the possibility of an extension until March, but that now won't be happening.
I heard a vague and unlikely rumour that Jersey Boys might transfer to the Gielgud for a few weeks, but I really just don't believe that one - it has announced its West End closing date.
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Post by Fleance on Nov 19, 2023 2:43:47 GMT
I've heard from a reliable source that the U.S. cast of Old Friends will consist of Americans.
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Post by ceebee on Nov 19, 2023 7:22:39 GMT
This comment isn't intended to offend, but I'd like to suggest that many people simply find Sondheim's work a little boring and maybe can't stomach the idea of watching actors indulge themselves and eulogising for a couple of hours. Whilst undoubtedly talented, I've never really connected with SS's work and always feel it rewards the actors far more than the audience.
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Nov 19, 2023 8:05:35 GMT
This comment isn't intended to offend, but I'd like to suggest that many people simply find Sondheim's work a little boring and maybe can't stomach the idea of watching actors indulge themselves and eulogising for a couple of hours. Whilst undoubtedly talented, I've never really connected with SS's work and always feel it rewards the actors far more than the audience. Could not disagree more. |
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Post by Rory on Nov 19, 2023 8:12:08 GMT
A Voyage Round My Father was looking to come in. It could do a few weeks quite nicely in the Gielgud.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 19, 2023 9:28:20 GMT
This comment isn't intended to offend, but I'd like to suggest that many people simply find Sondheim's work a little boring and maybe can't stomach the idea of watching actors indulge themselves and eulogising for a couple of hours. Whilst undoubtedly talented, I've never really connected with SS's work and always feel it rewards the actors far more than the audience. Hard disagree. |
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Post by anthony40 on Nov 19, 2023 10:44:08 GMT
This comment isn't intended to offend, but I'd like to suggest that many people simply find Sondheim's work a little boring and maybe can't stomach the idea of watching actors indulge themselves and eulogising for a couple of hours. Whilst undoubtedly talented, I've never really connected with SS's work and always feel it rewards the actors far more than the audience. Hard disagree. Sorry, I'm with Mr Barnaby on this one! |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 19, 2023 11:45:06 GMT
I like Sondheim, but I do think he escapes criticism that others get.
For me, as much as I'd like to see some of the cast, I'm just not a fan of concerts/revues of musical theatre songs. I like seeing them in the context of the full show.
Theatre for me is the piece as a whole. Story, music, acting, sets and costumes etc etc.
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 19, 2023 12:46:46 GMT
This comment isn't intended to offend, but I'd like to suggest that many people simply find Sondheim's work a little boring and maybe can't stomach the idea of watching actors indulge themselves and eulogising for a couple of hours. Whilst undoubtedly talented, I've never really connected with SS's work and always feel it rewards the actors far more than the audience. Probably the most I've ever disagreed with a comment on here actually. |
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Nov 19, 2023 12:54:59 GMT
I like Sondheim, but I do think he escapes criticism that others get. For me, as much as I'd like to see some of the cast, I'm just not a fan of concerts/revues of musical theatre songs. I like seeing them in the context of the full show. Theatre for me is the piece as a whole. Story, music, acting, sets and costumes etc etc. Ironically 90% of the time when I fall in love with an MT song performed out of context, whenever I hear it in the context of the show I’m almost always so underwhelmed. So much happens before and after that it just feels like another ‘moment’. In fact to add on to this, I saw Sunset Boulevard recently and Nicole performing ‘As if We Never Said Goodbye’ was incredible but I remember thinking ”this whole dramatic song for THAT??“. The reason for her singing that song felt so benign compared to the actual song/performance. |
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Post by jay78uk on Nov 19, 2023 13:03:18 GMT
This comment isn't intended to offend, but I'd like to suggest that many people simply find Sondheim's work a little boring and maybe can't stomach the idea of watching actors indulge themselves and eulogising for a couple of hours. Whilst undoubtedly talented, I've never really connected with SS's work and always feel it rewards the actors far more than the audience. Probably the most I've ever disagreed with a comment on here actually. While I adore almost all of Sondheim’s shows, I reckon most folk seeing this show unaware of Sondheim’s music would be overwhelmed, confused, consider the music very ‘busy’, the whole thing a right ‘love in’ and be perplexed what the fuss is all about! Sondheim is many things but accessible he is not. |
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Post by apubleed on Nov 19, 2023 13:26:04 GMT
I think Sondheim is by far the best musical theatre composer of all time and none even come close. However, I still acknowledge that the general population and even some musical theatre fans do not respond to his music the same way I do lol, so I'm happy for people to say that as I notice it myself with my own friends and family lol.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 19, 2023 13:29:16 GMT
Probably the most I've ever disagreed with a comment on here actually. While I adore almost all of Sondheim’s shows, I reckon most folk seeing this show unaware of Sondheim’s music would be overwhelmed, confused, consider the music very ‘busy’, the whole thing a right ‘love in’ and be perplexed what the fuss is all about! Sondheim is many things but accessible he is not. These people would be the ones who only go and see Dirty Dancing or Grease and get drunk throughout. Maybe have a fight. For me- no composer writes with the wit, intelligence and emotion of Sondheim. Nothing ruins me like Our Time from Merrily, Move On or Being Alive. If people don’t ‘get it’… their loss. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 19, 2023 13:50:11 GMT
While I adore almost all of Sondheim’s shows, I reckon most folk seeing this show unaware of Sondheim’s music would be overwhelmed, confused, consider the music very ‘busy’, the whole thing a right ‘love in’ and be perplexed what the fuss is all about! Sondheim is many things but accessible he is not. For me- no composer writes with the wit, intelligence and emotion of Sondheim. Nothing ruins me like Our Time from Merrily, Move On or Being Alive. If people don’t ‘get it’… their loss. Nope. Not liking SS doesn’t automatically make you a yob, just as liking Dirty Dancing doesn’t either. If you want to start generalising like that we can say that all Sondheim fans are all up themselves, theatre snobs and paid up members of the black polo neck brigade. Which they’re not. |
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Post by amyja89 on Nov 19, 2023 14:34:41 GMT
This thread is threatening to get a little bit elitist, which sadly is exactly what a lot of people stereotype Sondheim fans as in the first place. Don't be a stereotype!
Old Friends was one of the best times I've had at the theatre this year, and songs like Being Alive, Everything's Coming Up Roses and Sunday are always going to stir me and plenty of others. I can see, however, how work like Getting Married Today, The Worst Pies In London or A Weekend In The Country can be overwhelming or baffling for the uninitiated, especially in a revue completely out of context!
I think SS was a genius, but I can also understand that he is marmite.
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