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Post by distantcousin on Mar 1, 2018 8:12:52 GMT
Just seen (thanks to facebook!) that I saw Chicago 8 years ago today, with Ruthie as Roxie! Ian Kelsey was Billy Flynn. It may have been 8 years ago but I still remember that it was brilliant! I saw that too. With Anna Jane Casey as Velma - two formidable, musical theatre experienced actresses in the role were dynamite... |
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Post by frontrowcentre on Mar 1, 2018 8:46:18 GMT
I think that's probably the last Chicago cast I saw in the West End, though Velma was played by Terra C MacLeod who also nailed it opposite Ruthie's perfect Roxie
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Post by crabtree on Mar 11, 2018 13:41:25 GMT
a few weeks ago I was wittering on here about a song that was cut from Chicago. I finally found it in my collection. Called Ten Percent, and yes it's from an agent, and does fit in the style of the show, including a short piece where he adopts a female voice scamming a client. And a good, catchy ballsy melody, but I guess the character only appeared briefly.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 11, 2018 13:52:17 GMT
I think that's probably the last Chicago cast I saw in the West End, though Velma was played by Terra C MacLeod who also nailed it opposite Ruthie's perfect Roxie Ooh I saw Terra on Broadway and she was amazing, she had a strong Chita Rivera vibe around her. |
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Post by shady23 on Mar 27, 2018 10:15:06 GMT
First preview last night, was anyone there?
I don't like this though...
I'm certainly no fan of Cuba or this show but anyone can pick up a random comment from Facebook that suits your own agenda.
View it yourself and make up your own mind!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 10:32:20 GMT
Just had a peak on Instagram for any photos. Don't get excited over a proper revival... same sets and costumes that have been used since the 90's. Are we not bored of the black and red posters now? Can't we do something new?
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Post by theatremadness on Mar 27, 2018 11:34:18 GMT
Just had a peak on Instagram for any photos. Don't get excited over a proper revival... same sets and costumes that have been used since the 90's. Are we not bored of the black and red posters now? Can't we do something new? How do you mean? That's what was expected, no? If they are replicating the sets and costumes this production has been associated with since the 90's, then isn't that exactly what a proper revival is? For me personally, it's quite an iconic production/look (and was great on tour when I last saw it, the one with Sam Bailey and John Partridge - except he wasn't so great), a real triumph in storytelling, and the black and red posters (which I personally find quite classy) are all part of the fact that this a revival of the black box version, but completely understand that some may find it boring. I didn't see the Leicester Curve version whenever that was on, but I believe that was completely redesigned/re-conceived as something completely separate to the black box version. Lots of colour, I think. Some pics are probably online and I'm sure some members who did see it may be able to expand! And as for Shenton from a couple of posts above, I'm not sure what's going on with him anymore. He's turning into some sort of grotesque parody. |
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 27, 2018 12:52:39 GMT
This was always going to be a return of what we knew - and I think that’s only right.
I’m excited to see it - although now less excited about Cuba...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 13:16:04 GMT
Pah. I want to see Mark Shenton tweet one of @parsley's messages.
Complete with sentence
structure and line
breaks
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Post by sf on Mar 27, 2018 13:58:55 GMT
This was always going to be a return of what we knew - and I think that’s only right. It's certainly no surprise that this is a recreation of the Walter Bobbie/Ann Reinking staging. It was never going to be anything else. Unfortunately the show works better when it's presented with the staging concept indicated in the script, costumes that amount to more than just lingerie, and the complete uncut book. |
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Post by Seriously on Mar 27, 2018 14:36:24 GMT
Mark Shenton tweeting gossip from Facebook, about the first preview, long before press night.
What an idiot. All these interviews he does with male members of casts, and all this gushing about young students at theatre schools.... he really should just concentrate on reviewing shows.
Suddenly announcing he'll only review productions where he's been personally assured that everyone is being paid? Maybe he should just do the job he's been paid to do, at the time he's paid to do it?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 14:44:56 GMT
I did enjoy Shenton being taken to task by Matthew Bourne. And I agree with Bourne- while Lulu won't get me to flock to 42nd Street, she is a talented and proven performer so let her crack on I say. As for Chicago, they've used 'star names' for years, but it's a show in which it works (after all being about celebrity) and anyway, if it gets bums on seats for it again I say crack on .
As for it looking the same....am I alone in not wanting it to be different? Chicago has an iconic look and feel to it, that I think needs to stay. But hey I'm also not likely to go to the revival so I probably shouldn't get a vote.
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Post by showtoones on Mar 27, 2018 15:27:47 GMT
Pah. I want to see Mark Shenton tweet one of @parsley 's messages. Complete with sentence structure and line breaks Parsley writes in a Haiku style which is difficult with a limited number of characters. Also, throwing shade and negativity are hard to convey with limited space so Shenton could never retweet parsley. |
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Post by horton on Mar 27, 2018 16:05:55 GMT
This has always been advertized as the return of the existing show, from the same producers. Of course it is going to be the same set and costumes.
What is really disappointing is that it seems to have been put back on its feet so sloppily!
(But I totally agree with Shenton about only reviewing shows where the cast get paid properly- there is some terrible exploitation of professional actors on the London Fringe at the moment!)
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Post by Steffi on Mar 27, 2018 16:32:47 GMT
...am I alone in not wanting it to be different? Chicago has an iconic look and feel to it, that I think needs to stay. But hey I'm also not likely to go to the revival so I probably shouldn't get a vote. Agreed. For me the look is a big part of what makes Chicago... well, Chicago. |
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Post by viserys on Mar 27, 2018 16:50:00 GMT
I don't know... to some extent it's become iconic, yes. But there used to be different stagings of Chicago before this one, too. And I think if they had waited a few years longer and then come up with a brand-new production with different staging and costumes, people would have been more excited to see this.
If it didn't sell enough tickets anymore to make it economically viable a few years ago, what makes them think there's a sudden rush for tickets for exactly the same thing now?
It's like... If I heard of a production of Les Mis or Phantom done all new and fresh, I'd be eager to see a fresh version, but I have zero desire to see the museum pieces of the 80s. Only very very performers could entice to see it solely for them. Same with Chicago really. I saw this version with Ute Lemper and Ruthie Henshall first and I don't think they could be bettered, so I'll just cherish my memories.
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Post by Jon on Mar 27, 2018 17:01:14 GMT
I don't know... to some extent it's become iconic, yes. But there used to be different stagings of Chicago before this one, too. And I think if they had waited a few years longer and then come up with a brand-new production with different staging and costumes, people would have been more excited to see this. If it didn't sell enough tickets anymore to make it economically viable a few years ago, what makes them think there's a sudden rush for tickets for exactly the same thing now? It's like... If I heard of a production of Les Mis or Phantom done all new and fresh, I'd be eager to see a fresh version, but I have zero desire to see the museum pieces of the 80s. Only very very performers could entice to see it solely for them. Same with Chicago really. I saw this version with Ute Lemper and Ruthie Henshall first and I don't think they could be bettered, so I'll just cherish my memories. I remember reading somewhere that the producers cut the marketing budget of Chicago when it was at the Garrick because they thought it would run a while which proved to be a fatal mistake, that combined with the Olympics helped killed off the show. I imagine it could run on half full houses at the Phoenix and still break even but I imagine ATG only see it as filler until something better comes along |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 17:04:17 GMT
I mean I don’t disagree that we all could have lived our lives without Chicago for a good few years yet...
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Post by distantcousin on Mar 27, 2018 18:48:51 GMT
Just had a peak on Instagram for any photos. Don't get excited over a proper revival... same sets and costumes that have been used since the 90's. Are we not bored of the black and red posters now? Can't we do something new? How do you mean? That's what was expected, no? If they are replicating the sets and costumes this production has been associated with since the 90's, then isn't that exactly what a proper revival is? For me personally, it's quite an iconic production/look (and was great on tour when I last saw it, the one with Sam Bailey and John Partridge - except he wasn't so great), a real triumph in storytelling, and the black and red posters (which I personally find quite classy) are all part of the fact that this a revival of the black box version, but completely understand that some may find it boring. I didn't see the Leicester Curve version whenever that was on, but I believe that was completely redesigned/re-conceived as something completely separate to the black box version. Lots of colour, I think. Some pics are probably online and I'm sure some members who did see it may be able to expand! And as for Shenton from a couple of posts above, I'm not sure what's going on with him anymore. He's turning into some sort of grotesque parody. The Curve production was a breath of fresh air! |
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Post by horton on Mar 27, 2018 19:21:02 GMT
But this show is still produced by the Weisslers, isn't it? The website lists the same director and choreographer. So it's still the same production. It's not like the Curve production is coming into town.
I expect the Weisslers still hold exclusive rights for the West End and the Curve had to get special permission just to do a one-off in Leicester.
Of all musicals, this is the one that says it's all about the business. And the Weisslers are not going to let go of this cash cow.
'It's all a circus. A three-ring circus.'
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 19:32:20 GMT
And the Weisslers are not going to let go of this cash cow. It's one thing to milk the cash cow, but by this point they've sucked out most of its organs. |
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Post by ali973 on Mar 27, 2018 22:55:09 GMT
'This revival isn't mean to be a new production with a new look. It's like asking for a new Phantom.
Having said that, the show has a big costume inventory and there are some variations in the way costumes appear across productions, and tend to be customized for the actors.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2018 7:15:51 GMT
Just to clarify, I had slight hope there would be soemthing new to excite me haha. I was fully aware it was not a proper revival.  |
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Post by danb on Mar 28, 2018 8:43:35 GMT
Cuba Gooding jr doesn’t excite you? He must be better than Jerry Springer no?
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Post by andrew on Mar 28, 2018 9:25:10 GMT
Cuba Gooding jr doesn’t excite you? He must be better than Jerry Springer no? He certainly doesn't excite me. He's a name and a face I recognise, but I don't think he's a massively loved character is he? |
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