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Post by Steve on Mar 7, 2024 12:03:23 GMT
I think any credibility went out the window when saying “I loved Thriller live” 🤣🤣 Can we just accept that tastes are different to begin with and that it is absolutely possible to both enjoy a highbrow piece from time to time AND some switch-your-brain-off fun show? I agree entirely. And my point is that "MJ The Musical" is at heart no more highbrow than "Thriller Live," both of which feel like pure Vegas Entertainment. My opinion is that as a dramatic psychological exploration of Jackson, MJ is pretty feeble (for genuinely revelatory profiles in psychology, see Jamie Lloyd's "Sunset Boulevard" or Imelda Staunton in Gypsy, etc, lol), and longwinded with what little it has to say (with the exception of the "Thriller" song, which I loved dramatically), and should probably tire us less with that and do more of the pizzazz!
And while I may not have needed you to stick up for me, your doing so is a credit to you. Thank you.  But that's not what that was? The comment referred to another posters comments, not ones made by Mr Barnaby themself, so it wasn't self-depreciating. And the laughing emojis usually mean laughing at something. Steve's original post says "(maybe the only one on this board lol)" which certainly reads as self-deprecating, tongue in cheek to me. So the context of Mr B's comment with the two smileys reads very differently IMO.
I knew I'd rankle Mr Barnaby with that comment, since I'm well aware of his opinion of "Thriller Live," and I laughed (with him) at his response, and took no offense at all. I love Mr. Barnaby, lol, but I bet you this production won't last as long as "Thriller Live" did, and the reason is that a lot of audiences, like me, also loved its endless action and topping itself. In MJ the Musical, the character of Michael says that the music is everything. That was the perfect description of what "Thriller Live" was about, rather than a laundry list of chitchat about budget additions, made one after the other after the other after the other. MJ very may well not last as long as Thriller did- but then that was put on cheaply and is nowhere near as huge a production as this is. I would hate for you to take my remark seriously. You are clearly a passionate and discerning theatregoer I didn't take your remark seriously. I value your contributions to this board very much. Thank you for them.
The performers in "Thriller Live" delivered their songs fabulously, when I saw that show, as did the performers in this one, on an even more epic scale. I wasn't criticising the epicness, I was moaning about its pretensions to seriousness, which outstay their welcome, and which get in the way of even more fabulous epicness.
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Post by Dave B on Mar 7, 2024 12:05:51 GMT
As if they knew were were talking about them... extended until December 07.
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Post by fiyero on Mar 7, 2024 12:25:44 GMT
This line from Mean Girls springs to mind:
Different people will like different things! I only saw the earliest iteration of Thriller Live and hated it but really thought it did deserve its place in the West End! There was a market for it.
This show isn't just about the music, but the music was where it shone. The 'plot' never really resolved for me.
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 7, 2024 13:58:08 GMT
As if they knew were were talking about them... extended until December 07. 2107? Blimey, that must be unprecedented!!!  |
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Post by argon on Mar 7, 2024 14:17:52 GMT
What's Mr Frost's tenure on this UK production. Will it me short i.e just to kick start it off.
Named as such it's a pity he is not working the boards over in Drury Lane.😀
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Post by showtoones on Mar 7, 2024 14:21:19 GMT
Will Myles be extended through the shows extension (Dec 7)? He is a big reason to see the show.
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Post by jamesd123 on Mar 7, 2024 14:34:46 GMT
Will Myles be extended through the shows extension (Dec 7)? He is a big reason to see the show. I doubt it, most times when a Bway star transfers with a show they’ll do ~6 months. |
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Post by Being Alive on Mar 7, 2024 14:46:39 GMT
Will Myles be extended through the shows extension (Dec 7)? He is a big reason to see the show. I doubt it, most times when a Bway star transfers with a show they’ll do ~6 months. Enough to win the Olivier and then sod off |
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Post by Sean on Mar 8, 2024 7:10:43 GMT
Do we know the alternate schedule?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 8, 2024 10:30:13 GMT
Do we know the alternate schedule? I’m not sure they announce this do they? |
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Post by Sean on Mar 8, 2024 11:04:12 GMT
Do we know the alternate schedule? I’m not sure they announce this do they? Possibly not. I was just wondering if there was a set alternate date. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Mar 8, 2024 21:48:27 GMT
Was lucky enough to get 2 tickets off of a friend for Wednesday’s first preview, and can only add to the praise. The theatre was buzzing. 2 mid show standing ovations- after the ‘Wanna be starting something’ sequence, and after ‘Thriller’. Absolutely incredible!
This is what a show looks like when creatives at the top of their game come together- every element was 5 stars!
With such a massive and spawning career, let alone complex and darker parts, a character study on Michael Jackson was always going to be a challenge but the framing device works for the most part. I didn’t expect it to delve in controversy, as much as I would’ve been interested in it. It just ticked the boxes and that was fine by me.
This show is carried on the back of Myles Frost- he is the reason I gave it 5 stars. I think had I seen someone else it could have easily been 4 stars. His transformation is nothing short of mind-blowing. It was in act 2 I was in awe of him, genuinely like watching Michael Jackson in front of you.
Special mention to Phebe Edwards- incredible voice.
The sound design was flawless; lovely and loud, cannot stand a quiet show, this music deserves to be blasted. And the bass got turned up during thriller which added to the electric atmosphere.
The choreography, and the ensemble performing it was beautiful. Worth going to see them alone. I was in the second row, and wish I was further back just to take it all on. It’s great being up close but from a far can imagine it looks better.
The audience behaviour was dreadful, people talking and heckling. One lady directly behind me providing running commentary, and when Michael was ever being shown in a bad light, which is few and far between, she’d vocally express her frustration with an array of swear words. Will only get worse I imagine.
Had the option of this and ‘Opening Night’ and I’m glad I picked the safer bet!
This will run for a while, and I would love to go back to see Myles before he leaves.
If you enjoy the music then don’t see how you can’t enjoy this. Just wish there was more of his ‘Off The Wall’ album featured!
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Post by apubleed on Mar 8, 2024 22:21:59 GMT
Myles is so great in the role. It is indeed a must see. I think id put up with another zoo audience just to see him again.
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Post by apwl on Mar 9, 2024 16:01:33 GMT
Just at the interval now. We’ve got the debut of Kieran Alleyne as Michael. The show was running late and one of the creatives came and said due to family emergency that Myles Frost wouldn’t be performing. It sounded a bit hit or miss as to if they show was going to ahead. I’m guessing he probably hasn’t done a cover run yet? Anyway he is doing great. No slips up from I can tell.
Also despite my concerns from some of the posts the audience has been fine so far.
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Post by ceebee on Mar 9, 2024 19:16:04 GMT
Looks like Myles Frost is on tonight according to the cast board.
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Post by unseaworthy on Mar 9, 2024 19:50:41 GMT
Is there a storyline to this? Is it just a chronological look at his life from beginning to end or is there more to it?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 9, 2024 22:58:39 GMT
Is there a storyline to this? Is it just a chronological look at his life from beginning to end or is there more to it? It’s set during his rehearsal period for the Dangerous Tour. He’s being filmed by an MTV documentary crew and there are flashbacks to his early life and various points along his career. It’s also about the creative process of putting on the tour. Myles was indeed on tonight and for the second time this week I saw it (perhaps a 1st in my theatre going life). This is going to be a whopping great hit. |
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Post by Steve on Mar 9, 2024 23:01:10 GMT
Is there a storyline to this? Is it just a chronological look at his life from beginning to end or is there more to it? Some spoilers follow. . . The storyline is that MJ is prepping his "Dangerous" Tour and he's trying to make it the greatest tour ever. His people allow reporters in for two days to document the rehearsals, and we worry about whether they will disrupt the perfectionist MJ from his preparations, and whether they will witness the pain pills he must take on account of burns that he got making a music video. In the course of the rehearsals, MJ recalls his formative moments as a boy with the Jackson 5 and as a young man, creating the Thriller album. . . |
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Post by ceebee on Mar 10, 2024 0:28:51 GMT
Saw MJ Saturday night. Absolutely sensational. A fantastic show. Really slick and the sound was out of this world. Possibly the easiest five stars I've ever given. I'm not a huge MJ fan but came away feeling like I had learnt a little more about his influences and creative process.
I was sat in row AA so whilst it was a lively audience, I was so immersed in the show that I didn't really notice the odd shout out. The subwoofers actually shake the floor - Thriller was off-the-scale brilliant. So many highlights.
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Post by fiyero on Mar 10, 2024 10:26:03 GMT
Saw MJ Saturday night. Absolutely sensational. A fantastic show. Really slick and the sound was out of this world. Possibly the easiest five stars I've ever given. I'm not a huge MJ fan but came away feeling like I had learnt a little more about his influences and creative process. I was sat in row AA so whilst it was a lively audience, I was so immersed in the show that I didn't really notice the odd shout out. The subwoofers actually shake the floor - Thriller was off-the-scale brilliant. So many highlights. I’m helping my friend book. How is AA for legroom and sight lines? Legroom is more important for him. |
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Post by latefortheoverture on Mar 10, 2024 10:34:07 GMT
The subwoofers actually shake the floor - Thriller was off-the-scale brilliant. So many highlights. The bass during that Thriller sequence was incredible! Loved it. |
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Post by ceebee on Mar 10, 2024 12:47:50 GMT
Saw MJ Saturday night. Absolutely sensational. A fantastic show. Really slick and the sound was out of this world. Possibly the easiest five stars I've ever given. I'm not a huge MJ fan but came away feeling like I had learnt a little more about his influences and creative process. I was sat in row AA so whilst it was a lively audience, I was so immersed in the show that I didn't really notice the odd shout out. The subwoofers actually shake the floor - Thriller was off-the-scale brilliant. So many highlights. I’m helping my friend book. How is AA for legroom and sight lines? Legroom is more important for him. Legroom is fantastic in AA - I'm 6'0 and could stretch my legs out in front of me with room to spare. Sightlines are good - depending how tall they are they might need to do a bum clench and lift themself a couple of inches to see MJ's shoes (particularly for the first moonwalk). Having sat there, I don't think I would sit anywhere else. A warning though, it is VERY loud in those seats. In built speakers flank the edge of the stage at head height and hidden subwoofers sit beneath these. The seats shake with the force of it. The scene and set changes are seamless and this is particularly wonderful to witness in the second half. |
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Post by Figaro on Mar 10, 2024 14:22:45 GMT
Any recommendations for best ‘bang for your buck’ seats? Not top priced!
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Post by ceebee on Mar 10, 2024 16:18:31 GMT
Any recommendations for best ‘bang for your buck’ seats? Not top priced! Well it depends how you define top price - my AA seats were 79.50 each which is considerably less than some of the stalls / dress circle seats. On nights were there is less demand, great stalls seats are around £80. For this show. I'd say it's better to be as central as possible as so much of what MJ does is centre stage, plus the scene/set transitions are so glorious, you want to appreciate the whole vista. For less expensive seats, I think most seats in the Prince Edward have a good view, so obviously further up and back will give a broader price range. |
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Post by fiyero on Mar 10, 2024 18:09:51 GMT
I’m helping my friend book. How is AA for legroom and sight lines? Legroom is more important for him. Legroom is fantastic in AA - I'm 6'0 and could stretch my legs out in front of me with room to spare. Sightlines are good - depending how tall they are they might need to do a bum clench and lift themself a couple of inches to see MJ's shoes (particularly for the first moonwalk). Having sat there, I don't think I would sit anywhere else. A warning though, it is VERY loud in those seats. In built speakers flank the edge of the stage at head height and hidden subwoofers sit beneath these. The seats shake with the force of it. The scene and set changes are seamless and this is particularly wonderful to witness in the second half. Thank you so much! He has booked. I’m hoping he loves it and we’ll both go later in the year! |
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