19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 26, 2023 13:09:12 GMT
*£45 goes back in handbag*
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343 posts
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Post by Sam on Jan 26, 2023 13:24:49 GMT
There is a proshot if you're not sure.
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Post by danb on Jan 26, 2023 13:37:58 GMT
*£45 goes back in handbag* There are (many) better things to do with £45 imho (and five minutes into the pro-shot you’ll know if it’s for you or not.) |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 26, 2023 13:48:09 GMT
Is there any point isn seeing this if I have never seen the tv show? Will it go right over my head? Trust me, you really don't have to be a fan of the cartoon to enjoy the musical. There are a few references to famous jokes from the show ("is mayonaise an instrument?" etc.) but they are easter eggs for the fans rather than things you need to get to enjoy the show. The musical has a completely original story from any of the tv series or movies, so all you really need is a general idea of who the main characters are (which I'm sure most people know through pop-culture osmosis), but even then the opening number does introductions so even going in cold you'll pick it up quickly. I don't know if it'll change at all, but the Broadway version is family friendly but not a 'kids show' (it's surprisingly emotionally mature, covers things like why racism and anti-science mindsets damages communities. Also the whole 'there's a potential world ending emergency, everyone must stay inside' subplot will be VERY interesting to see post-COVID.) It is kid friendly, but you're not going to be given a theme park mascot show that's very 'hello kids!' Check out the Pro-Shot filmed in Plymouth for a better idea about the overall show. The opening number is the most cartoon-like it gets (the actors purposefully play up their voices to show who they are for people expecting the cartoon, before settling into their own voices for the characters) so don't judge it on the first song alone. I am an extreme defender of this show, if you couldn't tell. Don't judge it as a baby show, it very much isn't. The original director Tina Landau made it very creative visually, so all the costumes invoke the cartoon without being mascot costumes. Also there are some very good songs. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 26, 2023 13:49:15 GMT
Quite excited about this! Shame Gareth Gates isn't doing the London stop, but maybe I'll find my way to one of the tour stops where he will be on.
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 26, 2023 13:51:41 GMT
Casting update (I WISH WhatsOnStage would put ensemble roles and understudies on the cast announcement page so we wouldn't have to go digging):
Eloise Davies as Mrs Puff is also cover Spongebob and Sandy. Very excited to see a female Spongebob understudy (although a little bit unsure about a white woman understudying Sandy, which is purposefully written for a black woman)
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 26, 2023 18:00:21 GMT
I dipped my toe into a bucket of slime and watched the first 15 minutes. I hated it. But I was kind of fascinated by it.
So the handbag is ajar.
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 26, 2023 18:06:38 GMT
I dipped my toe into a bucket of slime and watched the first 15 minutes. I hated it. But I was kind of fascinated by it. So the handbag is ajar. I saw it on Broadway knowing nothing about it and had never seen the cartoon. I really enjoyed it and there was a couple of amazingly staged big show stopping numbers in it with some very impressive dancing. But I don't know if it'd be as enjoyable in a paired down production as the staging and theatre re-design played a big part in it and I don't think I'd ever see it again, but it's a fun night out for sure and a very traditional big musical. |
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 26, 2023 18:21:39 GMT
I’m thinking it might be in the same category as Shrek which I never saw the film of but really like the musical.
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1,046 posts
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Post by jgblunners on Jan 26, 2023 18:21:53 GMT
I think that Tina Landau’s vision was a big part of what made the Broadway production work so well. I’m sceptical that this UK team will be able to find the same alchemy, but I’ll hold judgment until I’ve seen it. De Campo as Plankton is good (or at least interesting) casting, Gareth Gates as Squidward not so much…
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 26, 2023 18:43:41 GMT
I think that Tina Landau’s vision was a big part of what made the Broadway production work so well. I’m sceptical that this UK team will be able to find the same alchemy, but I’ll hold judgment until I’ve seen it. De Campo as Plankton is good (or at least interesting) casting, Gareth Gates as Squidward not so much… Completely agree. I haven't seen Gareth Gates in anything, but with Squidward you kind of need to have a character actor (so you have the physicality and voice, while also being a good dancer) and Gareth doesn't seem to have that vibe - he seems more like a leading man / secondary romantic lead. I hope it isn't just a random star-casting they're banking on for tickets rather than being accurate to the role. |
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 26, 2023 18:45:55 GMT
I think that Tina Landau’s vision was a big part of what made the Broadway production work so well. I’m sceptical that this UK team will be able to find the same alchemy, but I’ll hold judgment until I’ve seen it. De Campo as Plankton is good (or at least interesting) casting, Gareth Gates as Squidward not so much… Completely agree. I haven't seen Gareth Gates in anything, but with Squidward you kind of need to have a character actor (so you have the physicality and voice, while also being a good dancer) and Gareth doesn't seem to have that vibe - he seems more like a leading man / secondary romantic lead. I hope it isn't just a random star-casting they're banking on for tickets rather than being accurate to the role. Gareth Gates is a star? |
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 26, 2023 19:02:15 GMT
So for all the venues that Gareth Gates is missing, do we think they will be announcing another actor, or will the understudy take over the role?
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 26, 2023 19:11:46 GMT
So for all the venues that Gareth Gates is missing, do we think they will be announcing another actor, or will the understudy take over the role? Some of the cast have mentioned they're also understudying certain roles in their celebration posts, but the full list isn't out yet. Here's what I've picked up so far: Richard J Hunt - Mr Krabs / 1st Cover Patrick Star Reece Kerridge - Old Man Jenkins / 1st Cover Spongebob / 2nd Cover Plankton Eloise Davies - Mrs Puff / Cover Spongebob and Sandy Hannah Lowther - Karen / Cover Pearl and Sandy And Rhys Batten is a swing They don't seem to have announced any ensemble or other swings (Rhys is the dance captain so was mentioned). Also there are still named characters that haven't been announced (Perch Perkins and Larry the Lobster, who are both secondary characters with dialogue and singing) |
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Post by alece10 on Jan 26, 2023 22:25:54 GMT
Completely agree. I haven't seen Gareth Gates in anything, but with Squidward you kind of need to have a character actor (so you have the physicality and voice, while also being a good dancer) and Gareth doesn't seem to have that vibe - he seems more like a leading man / secondary romantic lead. I hope it isn't just a random star-casting they're banking on for tickets rather than being accurate to the role. Gareth Gates is a star? Might depend on your age as, for me, Gareth Gates is a star but personally I've never ever heard of Divina Di Campo who others will have heard of and she maybe is a star. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 26, 2023 22:35:34 GMT
Completely agree. I haven't seen Gareth Gates in anything, but with Squidward you kind of need to have a character actor (so you have the physicality and voice, while also being a good dancer) and Gareth doesn't seem to have that vibe - he seems more like a leading man / secondary romantic lead. I hope it isn't just a random star-casting they're banking on for tickets rather than being accurate to the role. Gareth Gates is a star? I’d not heard of him but he has top billing on the website and marketing material, so I assumed it was me being oblivious |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 26, 2023 22:43:07 GMT
Gareth made a surprisingly good Marius in the Les Mis 25 tour but his Willard in Footoose was somewhat lacking.
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 27, 2023 16:20:24 GMT
Oh so he has done stuff before, I have not heard of him since X-Factor or Popstars or whatever he was on.
I'd say he is more a 'name' than a 'star'.
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Post by h86 on Jan 27, 2023 17:18:56 GMT
I think he played Warner in the legally blonde tour as well
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8,096 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jan 27, 2023 17:44:24 GMT
This from Wikipedia- he has done a fair bit of MT.
Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Joseph. West End 2009
Les Misérables international tour. Marius 2009/10
Les Misérables. Marius. West End 2010/11
Loserville. Eddie Arch. West Yorkshire
Playhouse, Leeds 18 June – 14 July 2012
Legally Blonde UK Tour. 'Warner' At various venues from 17 July 2012 to September 2012
Sleeping Beauty. The Prince. Marlowe Theatre 30 November 2012 to 20 January 2013
Boogie Nights. Dean. UK tour January to April 2013
Footloose. Willard. UK tour January to October 2016
Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack. Hull New Theatre December 2022[48]
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Post by intoanewlife on Jan 27, 2023 18:30:07 GMT
This from Wikipedia- he has done a fair bit of MT. Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Joseph. West End 2009 Les Misérables international tour. Marius 2009/10 Les Misérables. Marius. West End 2010/11 Loserville. Eddie Arch. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds 18 June – 14 July 2012 Legally Blonde UK Tour. 'Warner' At various venues from 17 July 2012 to September 2012 Sleeping Beauty. The Prince. Marlowe Theatre 30 November 2012 to 20 January 2013 Boogie Nights. Dean. UK tour January to April 2013 Footloose. Willard. UK tour January to October 2016 Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack. Hull New Theatre December 2022[48] That would explain it as I have not seen any of those shows lol |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 28, 2023 1:00:42 GMT
I’m still thinking about Gareth Gates as Squidward, mainly about his ability to do the Not A Loser number.
Gavin Lee (the original Broadway performer) is an experienced tap dancer and has been doing it since he was a child, and even he said that it’s a very tiring number to do - especially with the additional legs. You need to get the other two feet attached to your back feet to make the tapping sounds (that’s why the number is so impressive in the first place!)
It’s also meant to be Squidward’s big number, where he essentially becomes Fred Astaire so you need to have a very confident dancer with that theatrical suave flair.
Unless Gareth Gates is somehow already a tap dancer or they dumb down the choreography, I really can’t see someone picking it up that fast. And if you need to dumb it down, then why cast him? There are so many talented performers who have tap experience out there.
I hope I get proven wrong, but (and I know it’s dumb) but this number means a lot to me and I’m actually nervous that the number is going to be a non-tap dancer miming to a backing track.
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Post by annette on Jan 28, 2023 2:00:55 GMT
Having seen and absolutely loved the Broadway version of this show ( and I’d never seen the cartoon, I was dragged along by my husband who works in the animation industry and was curious to see how this TV show could work on stage), I genuinely can’t understand the casting of Gareth Gates. The role was played by Gavin Lee on Broadway, who is not only a phenomenal dancer but also great at playing comedy.
Unless this role has been significantly altered, as far as I know Gareth Gates has never displayed either of these talents before.
As far as him being ‘a name’, I’d say that ship sailed quite a while ago.
Unless GG has been hiding extra talents under a bushel, there are just so many musical theatre actors who would have been great in this role. He is just such a weird choice for the part which is a great shame.
Divina de Campo ( an alumni of Ru Paul’s UK Drag Race) has just come off a Hedwig tour and is an interesting choice
Choice for the role of Sheldon J Plankton. This character has a big rap and dance number in the show so it’ll be interesting to see if he can pull it off.
That said, I’m not sure I can bear to go and see it in case it’s a travesty of the magic Director Tina Lucas and designer David Zinn created in the original show. To be honest even with a great cast , I’m not sure how well a touring version will play to an English audience.
Age-wise it is a difficult show to categorise.I guess it’s a family show but not for those with very young children.
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Post by joni89 on Feb 6, 2023 17:15:16 GMT
Surprised to see the announcement re: Gareth Gates!
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Post by musiqualetheater on Feb 6, 2023 22:11:43 GMT
Maybe he can tap dance? Or maybe they’ll train him to. Stephen Ashfield played McKinley in Book of Mormon hadn’t tapped until they requested him to in the audition.
Alternatively, as it’s a new production, it’ll be reworked.
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