608 posts
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Post by chernjam on May 15, 2023 2:53:54 GMT
Oh damn you guys... I had closed the browser before when it was over $1500 for a London trip this summer and Steve comes in with a second review that has me longing to go see this, much like when I was reading the ecstatic posts over Glenn Close in ENO - thinking "I saw her 3 times on Broadway, and the show 8 times on Broadway..." - which is what made me not make the leap back then. But when Sunset did come here as a revival I ended up seeing in 5 times in 4 months. Aspects has been so long forgotten and dismissed (or revived in such ridiculous minimalist fashion) that none of those reviews ever got me mildly excited as you both have tonight. A full-fledged revival of one of ALW's finest scores. Excuse me as I go look at savings accounts  |
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Post by cezbear on May 15, 2023 6:49:34 GMT
I really think Steve should be doing the promo for this to be honest. I was already excited to go (one of my long time favourites) but now with a lot less trepidation!
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Post by newyorkcityboy on May 15, 2023 7:08:11 GMT
So glad this isn’t five actors and a piano. And a painted backdrop of the Pyrenees. (Though I shouldn’t give Bill Kenwright ideas…)
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910 posts
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Post by karloscar on May 15, 2023 11:12:21 GMT
I don't how much enchanting and passionate and rapturous I can take! The score always made me feels queasy enough on its own!😂
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2,480 posts
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Post by zahidf on May 15, 2023 14:05:40 GMT
whats the run time for this pls?
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Post by mattnyc on May 15, 2023 14:08:04 GMT
About two and a half hours total, including interval.
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2,480 posts
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Post by zahidf on May 15, 2023 14:58:56 GMT
About two and a half hours total, including interval. Thanks! going on Weds |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on May 15, 2023 20:40:51 GMT
Is this selling well? I hear they're papering Many shows give away tickets for the first few performances. |
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Post by drfootlights on May 15, 2023 22:25:26 GMT
Hands down the worst thing I’ve ever seen in the west end. Embarrassingly bad.
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Post by amp09 on May 15, 2023 22:29:11 GMT
Is this selling well? I hear they're papering Doesn’t look like it - seen it being papered up until the end of June for all performances. |
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Post by Dr Tom on May 15, 2023 22:37:14 GMT
Very very good tonight, viewed from the very rear corner at the back of the stalls. There was a pillar in view, but for £20 I can't complain at that.
Less welcome were the surrounding people. Continual crew who moved around, opening doors, swapping positions, taking notes, checking radios, leaning on pillars right next to me etc. I know they're making sure all the kinks are ironed out, but very distracting. That, plus the late arriving nurses immediately at front who couldn't keep still, really took some of the magic away. You could tell they'd only booked to see Michael Ball when one said "I didn't know there'd be a story" during the interval.
I also had Andrew sitting a few rows in front, right at the end, who managed to slip in almost unnoticed right at the start, and again at the end of the interval.
Anyway, the show sounds fantastic. Michael Ball is perfect and it's as if the show was written with George as the lead role. Laura Pitt-Pulford is wonderful too. Jamie Bogyo tried his best as Alex, mostly very good, but some parts are challenging to sing. Very odd having Alex announced as being from Maine. I thought they made Jenny come across as older, but perhaps playing her too young is just too controversial in 2023.
They do some great stuff with screens and projections, especially using these to cover scene changes. The only bit I didn't think worked very well was Journey of a Lifetime.
Finished about 22:10 tonight, may have started a few minutes late. Definitely running longer than the advertised 2 hours 20 minutes.
I shall certainly go back and plan to see this from a better seat.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 15, 2023 23:04:36 GMT
Hands down the worst thing I’ve ever seen in the west end. Embarrassingly bad. this seems to contradict some other posters - intrigued to see why! |
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Post by mattnyc on May 15, 2023 23:16:10 GMT
Was there again tonight and the interval was very long, I think around 26-27 mins
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58 posts
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Post by drfootlights on May 15, 2023 23:35:54 GMT
Hands down the worst thing I’ve ever seen in the west end. Embarrassingly bad. this seems to contradict some other posters - intrigued to see why! Yes, I seem to be in the minority!! Lovely big orchestra, it’s a pity it’s playing that score. I particularly enjoyed the song that ended up in Whistle Down The Wind. I counted at least 15 people complaining in the interval to staff about how bad it was and they wanted there money back. I can’t fault the cast (apart from the guy playing Alex- he was terrible) they tried their best but the direction was utterly dreadful. I’ve never, in the 20 years I’ve been going to the theatre been at a ‘serious’ (so to speak) musical where the audience are laughing at how awful it is. The projections!!!?? It was like they’d ripped them from YouTube. If I’m in the minority I can handle it lol, but honestly, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen on a west end stage. |
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Post by appoul on May 16, 2023 0:00:05 GMT
I saw it tonight and loved it. I did not know the score (except for "Love changes everything" and "The first man you'll remember") and enjoyed it so much (I think it is Andrew Lloyd Webber at his best). Michael Ball is in great form (so moving to hear/see him revisit both of his old hits--"The first man you remember" acquires a new meaning) and all the ladies were excellent, too (let's not forget Rosemary Ashe whom I hadn't seen for a long time!). First time I'd seen Jamie Bogyo. I thought he was quite good but he seemed to be struggling at some points--perhaps he'll improve during the previews.
The designer and the video/projection designer did a great job, too!
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Post by magnificentdonkey on May 16, 2023 0:14:41 GMT
I particularly enjoyed the song that ended up in Whistle Down The Wind. I wonder which song you're referring to. |
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Post by vabbian on May 16, 2023 7:33:57 GMT
I really enjoyed this last night. 4 stars.
Wonderful melodies, romance, a very talented cast.
I particularly liked the painted backdrops, the red Lautrec-like one of the audience was divine.
Let down by a bit sh*t plot, when the cousin romance thing happened, I was like ehhhh....
am I missing something... aren't they cousins?.....
There's nothing like it in the West end, a fun light-hearted show
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Post by alece10 on May 16, 2023 8:13:39 GMT
this seems to contradict some other posters - intrigued to see why! Yes, I seem to be in the minority!! Lovely big orchestra, it’s a pity it’s playing that score. I particularly enjoyed the song that ended up in Whistle Down The Wind. I counted at least 15 people complaining in the interval to staff about how bad it was and they wanted there money back. I can’t fault the cast (apart from the guy playing Alex- he was terrible) they tried their best but the direction was utterly dreadful. I’ve never, in the 20 years I’ve been going to the theatre been at a ‘serious’ (so to speak) musical where the audience are laughing at how awful it is. The projections!!!?? It was like they’d ripped them from YouTube. If I’m in the minority I can handle it lol, but honestly, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen on a west end stage. I'm interested to know if all those people complaining at the interval left or came back for the 2nd act. I would presume if it was that bad they would have left so were there big gaps in the audience for act 2? |
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Post by viserys on May 16, 2023 8:19:37 GMT
I would respect a negative opinion if it was well reasoned and fair or simply stating "sorry this wasn't for me".
The hyperbolic expressions used here "worst thing I've ever seen on a west end stage", "15 people complaining","audience laughing how bad it is" just sounds like trolling and ALW-bashing and I can't take it seriously.
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139 posts
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Post by appoul on May 16, 2023 8:26:54 GMT
Yes, I seem to be in the minority!! Lovely big orchestra, it’s a pity it’s playing that score. I particularly enjoyed the song that ended up in Whistle Down The Wind. I counted at least 15 people complaining in the interval to staff about how bad it was and they wanted there money back. I can’t fault the cast (apart from the guy playing Alex- he was terrible) they tried their best but the direction was utterly dreadful. I’ve never, in the 20 years I’ve been going to the theatre been at a ‘serious’ (so to speak) musical where the audience are laughing at how awful it is. The projections!!!?? It was like they’d ripped them from YouTube. If I’m in the minority I can handle it lol, but honestly, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen on a west end stage. I'm interested to know if all those people complaining at the interval left or came back for the 2nd act. I would presume if it was that bad they would have left so were there big gaps in the audience for act 2? Two people sitting behind me in row H left indeed (and thank God they did because they were very noisy during the first act, they showed their intentions before the beginning of the show). Also a person sitting next to me left and that is strange because he seemed to be enjoying the show. But other than that I didn't notice big gaps in the audience. |
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Post by newyorkcityboy on May 16, 2023 9:00:25 GMT
I particularly enjoyed the song that ended up in Whistle Down The Wind. I wonder which song you're referring to. Probably Chanson D’enfance - the (wonderful) version as recorded by Sarah Brightman includes a ‘middle eight’ that is basically If Only from WDTW. I assume they’ve retained this version in the show. |
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Post by BVM on May 16, 2023 9:51:39 GMT
I would respect a negative opinion if it was well reasoned and fair or simply stating "sorry this wasn't for me". The hyperbolic expressions used here "worst thing I've ever seen on a west end stage", "15 people complaining","audience laughing how bad it is" just sounds like trolling and ALW-bashing and I can't take it seriously. Completely agree. “15 people complaining.” Do me a favour. I’ve been going to the theatre for 37 odd years and have never heard more than 2 or 3 people complaining in the interval. |
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Post by Dr Tom on May 16, 2023 10:05:43 GMT
I just think there are people who expect a completely different style of show. I'd struggle to call it light-hearted.
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Post by newyorkcityboy on May 16, 2023 10:13:48 GMT
I just think there are people who expect a completely different style of show. I'd struggle to call it light-hearted. In fact there’s only one song with any jokes (She’d Be Far Better Off With You). |
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