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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 6, 2023 11:21:00 GMT
Really enjoyed this tonight. I’ve been a big fan of the soundtrack for a long time and have been waiting for it to finally come to the UK. Stand outs for me were Lewis Cornay as SpongeBob, who I thought was incredible, and Divina De Campo. Main criticism is the cheapness of some of the props and costumes, which is odd because I thought some of the costumes and set pieces were actually amazing, but then some very cheap looking ones too. Also Tom’s tap dancing was not good. Thankfully the ensemble picked up a lot of the slack. But overall loved it, will definitely go and see it when it hits the Southbank centre in summer. I’m a massive fan of this show and I was so relieved they kept the makeshift aesthetic with plastic bottles and other rubbish that would sink to the bottom of the ocean. Some of the sets were quite cheap but I think it works with the aesthetic a lot of the time. The cast were amazing, especially as the ensemble is a lot smaller than the original production so they have to double up a lot of roles (Hannah Lowther especially). The main cast are amazingly talented, especially Irfan Damandi as Patrick. Also Perch Perkins, who was an on-stage ensemble member on Broadway, is a pre-recorded performer on a screen (which kind of works as he is a TV presenter). There was a few screen projections but the only one that didn’t work was the Land Mammals Go Home sign which was originally a sign Sandy kicks in half but she instead ‘erases’ it which is far less triumphant. The director did a pre-show announcement warning that there might be some errors, but the only ones I noticed was a few sound issues. The biggest one was that the bass line was way too loud and in the stalls you sometimes couldn’t hear the lyrics or spoken dialogue during songs. I know the show backwards but people who don’t know the show would probably be quite confused at some plot points. I have to agree with the tap dancing, it was really not great (I do harder tap routines at my tap lessons for warmups). Not A Loser is meant to be the big showstopping eleven o’clock number where Squidward is a Fred Astaire-like star - but this version of it is massively underwhelming (especially when the broadway / US tour version got standing ovations every night). It’s still baffling they’ve decided to stunt cast a role that requires a very experienced tap dancer. Edit: Just wanted to tag on that acting and singing wise Tom Read Wilson is good as Squidward (although he has less bitterness and more gentle sorrowful wallowing than Gavin Lee’s version). It’s just the tapping that let it down, but that isn’t his fault as a performer and more down to the casting team overlooking that factor. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 7, 2023 11:25:20 GMT
Looking at the general reaction from social media, I think this show is going to get great word of mouth. I don’t know what the official reviews will say, but there’s a lot of very positive feedback from audiences and parents who expected to be bored 😅
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Post by mkb on Apr 7, 2023 12:01:53 GMT
Is this not just for kids then?
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 7, 2023 18:50:23 GMT
Is this not just for kids then? Haha let me just get on my soapbox! No it’s not and that’s why it’s great. It’s obviously a family show that appeals to kids but the Broadway production was made very much with an artistic mindset - both with the set and costumes being very representational (a lot of it was made of materials that would be found on the ocean floor, like plastic bottles, traffic cones etc. and this production has kept that aspect). The plot itself is also really political Short version: A volcano is going to destroy the town, and the villain sews conflict by getting then to blame Sandy who is an immigrant (a land mammal played by a woman of colour) and also spreading anti-science rhetoric against her attempts to save them. Also a cult forms around Patrick as they think his blindly ignoring the impending disaster will save them. It was written in 2016 but there is a large subplot about the town being under lockdown and the government massively mishandling everything (which has aged very nicely for topical jokes). The moral is very much pro-science, anti-racism and that the only way to fix things is through working together Because it’s called the SpongeBob Musical people assume it’ll be a little kid show like Peppa Pig, but in reality a lot of the younger kids (especially the under 6’s) at opening night looked quite bored because it’s (ironically) a bit too mature for them. Their parents and older siblings however were loving it! TL;DR The show is for families in the very literal sense that most members of the family will enjoy it, but very little kids may be better off seeing something Peppa Pig or Hey Duggee on tour |
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Post by evilmat360 on Apr 7, 2023 22:43:22 GMT
Saw it yesterday, glad it's finally come as a production to the UK other than the recorded broadway version. Can agree with the comments about some of the younger kids getting a bit restless and bored, it definately is a show for the older kids and those that have grown up watching spongebob.
As they haven't put the full cast information online, the two pre-recorded roles have been included in the Mayflower programme.
The French voiceover is Alex Gaumond and Perch Perkins is played by Richard Arnold, not that you may be able to tell from a distance as screens used aren't the largest.
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Post by lolalou on Apr 7, 2023 23:22:21 GMT
The fact the director came out before and said that remember it’s the first show and anything can happen in live theatre didn’t fill me with hope! . This isn’t a preview it’s a show that should be ready? They’re not reducing the prices or offering for free so this shouldn’t be an acceptable thing? ‘Remember it’s a first show’ is giving me Year 6 drama teacher anxiety at the end of term effort not a professional show charging £60 a ticket. |
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Post by theatregod on Apr 8, 2023 7:26:50 GMT
The fact the director came out before and said that remember it’s the first show and anything can happen in live theatre didn’t fill me with hope! . This isn’t a preview it’s a show that should be ready? They’re not reducing the prices or offering for free so this shouldn’t be an acceptable thing? ‘Remember it’s a first show’ is giving me Year 6 drama teacher anxiety at the end of term effort not a professional show charging £60 a ticket. It’s selladoor, so it would have been under rehearsed to save money.. in their eyes, the whole first 2 or 3 venues are previews. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 8, 2023 19:49:08 GMT
The fact the director came out before and said that remember it’s the first show and anything can happen in live theatre didn’t fill me with hope! . This isn’t a preview it’s a show that should be ready? They’re not reducing the prices or offering for free so this shouldn’t be an acceptable thing? ‘Remember it’s a first show’ is giving me Year 6 drama teacher anxiety at the end of term effort not a professional show charging £60 a ticket. I walked past the director on the first night who was chatting with friends and she did say something along the lines of that the show was still in previews, and seeing it again today there has been some minor changes. I kind of understand the director wanting to preface a first ever performance too, especially if they considered it a preview stage. I might be wrong because I’m not that experienced with touring productions, but I always assumed the first venue was essentially a preview stage. When I saw Beauty and the Beast it had changed somewhat from when I saw it at its first venue in Bristol to when I saw it again at the London Palladium. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 8, 2023 19:57:07 GMT
Saw it yesterday, glad it's finally come as a production to the UK other than the recorded broadway version. Can agree with the comments about some of the younger kids getting a bit restless and bored, it definately is a show for the older kids and those that have grown up watching spongebob. As they haven't put the full cast information online, the two pre-recorded roles have been included in the Mayflower programme. The French voiceover is Alex Gaumond and Perch Perkins is played by Richard Arnold, not that you may be able to tell from a distance as screens used aren't the largest. I kind of understand why they’ve pre-recorded Perch in terms of budget / cast doubling up, and him being on TV does work mostly, but I do miss the live performance of Perch from Broadway. There was a great running gag that every time he appeared he was slightly more bedraggled like he’s been in a fight, and him fighting with the mayor made the rivalry between The Government and The Media a more obvious parallel. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 13, 2023 10:21:36 GMT
It's the show's official opening tonight according to the cast on social media, so I suppose the Mayflower and first few shows of Birmingham were the previews. I don't know if it's Press Night or if that's a different event.
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Post by lolalou on Apr 13, 2023 10:42:15 GMT
This isn’t a preview it’s a show that should be ready? They’re not reducing the prices or offering for free so this shouldn’t be an acceptable thing? ‘Remember it’s a first show’ is giving me Year 6 drama teacher anxiety at the end of term effort not a professional show charging £60 a ticket. I walked past the director on the first night who was chatting with friends and she did say something along the lines of that the show was still in previews, and seeing it again today there has been some minor changes. I kind of understand the director wanting to preface a first ever performance too, especially if they considered it a preview stage. I might be wrong because I’m not that experienced with touring productions, but I always assumed the first venue was essentially a preview stage. When I saw Beauty and the Beast it had changed somewhat from when I saw it at its first venue in Bristol to when I saw it again at the London Palladium. Not sure they’ve been transparent will audiences if they’re considering the first few weeks ‘previews’ Price should be adjusted if that’s the case. |
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Post by StageyBrum on Apr 13, 2023 12:10:02 GMT
It's the show's official opening tonight according to the cast on social media, so I suppose the Mayflower and first few shows of Birmingham were the previews. I don't know if it's Press Night or if that's a different event. It is Press Night tonight. I’m going and actually really looking forward to it. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 13, 2023 12:18:43 GMT
It's the show's official opening tonight according to the cast on social media, so I suppose the Mayflower and first few shows of Birmingham were the previews. I don't know if it's Press Night or if that's a different event. It is Press Night tonight. I’m going and actually really looking forward to it. Have fun! |
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 13, 2023 12:59:08 GMT
I'm reviewing tonight, I'll report back 😁
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Post by stuartmcd on Apr 13, 2023 13:53:26 GMT
Saw this last night in Birmingham. A lot of empty seats which was a shame as the production itself was great fun. Very ridiculous and incredibly SpongeBob. I don’t know if you would enjoy this if you’d never seen SpongeBob before. The cast was great across the board. A couple of little sound issues here and there and some of the live sound effects weren’t timed very well but apart from that it all ran very smoothly.
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 13, 2023 17:16:13 GMT
Saw this last night in Birmingham. A lot of empty seats which was a shame as the production itself was great fun. Very ridiculous and incredibly SpongeBob. I don’t know if you would enjoy this if you’d never seen SpongeBob before. The cast was great across the board. A couple of little sound issues here and there and some of the live sound effects weren’t timed very well but apart from that it all ran very smoothly. I think it’s currently being held back by people assuming it’s a little kids show (as in something like Hey Duggee), the marketing team need to work more on advertising it to teens and adults on the nostalgia factor |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2023 17:37:45 GMT
It appears to be selling poorly in Manchester which is only a month away, the prices have really come down to sell the tickets, with stalls starting at £13.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Apr 13, 2023 19:58:53 GMT
I hear Gareth Gates is back in the show tonight. I'm not sure if thats true, I thought he had left the tour!
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Post by evilmat360 on Apr 13, 2023 20:20:12 GMT
I hear Gareth Gates is back in the show tonight. I'm not sure if thats true, I thought he had left the tour! From posts on instagram, he's been in for the Birmingham performances. He was only out for Southampton because of injury which resulted in Tom Read Wilson covering the role. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 13, 2023 20:21:18 GMT
I hear Gareth Gates is back in the show tonight. I'm not sure if thats true, I thought he had left the tour! Yeah he only didn’t do the Southampton dates because of injury, he is due to be at all the dates previously scheduled for him |
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 13, 2023 20:59:01 GMT
I can confirm Gareth was on tonight and danced with no obvious hindrance from any injury, he did fine. As for the show itself, it never really got past silly pantomime fun for me. With such minimal story they needed really strong songs to carry it, and most of them aren't. Maybe it's a grower. They need to be very thankful that they found Lewis Cornay, he really is a brilliant lead.
I also followed Tom Read Wilson into the auditorium. Sorry but his voice doesn't half grate.
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 13, 2023 21:24:27 GMT
I can confirm Gareth was on tonight and danced with no obvious hindrance from any injury, he did fine. As for the show itself, it never really got past silly pantomime fun for me. With such minimal story they needed really strong songs to carry it, and most of them aren't. Maybe it's a grower. They need to be very thankful that they found Lewis Cornay, he really is a brilliant lead. I also followed Tom Read Wilson into the auditorium. Sorry but his voice doesn't half grate. I’ll admit that the tour doesn’t do the emotional beats as well as the Broadway version. (In my opinion anyway) you end up really feeling for Sandy being persecuted as an outsider and Squidward for not getting to perform until mid Act 2. If you can find the liveshoot or a bootleg then it’s worth checking out. |
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Post by StageyBrum on Apr 13, 2023 22:26:11 GMT
I really wanted to enjoy it but I just didn’t. After a couple of years of listening to the soundtrack and enjoying most of the songs I was hyped to finally see it but it just didn’t deliver. The one thing I will say though is some of the vocals are superb like the cast have got chops. It all just seemed a bit manic.
I know it’s a children’s character but honestly the amount of children that just shouldn’t have been there as they were 2 and 3 year olds running riot.
It did seem quite packed tonight but I know that’s because it was press night and they comped ALOT to get bums on seats. Opening night this week had just under 20% of the hippodrome filled.
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 13, 2023 23:05:29 GMT
I can confirm Gareth was on tonight and danced with no obvious hindrance from any injury, he did fine. As for the show itself, it never really got past silly pantomime fun for me. With such minimal story they needed really strong songs to carry it, and most of them aren't. Maybe it's a grower. They need to be very thankful that they found Lewis Cornay, he really is a brilliant lead. I also followed Tom Read Wilson into the auditorium. Sorry but his voice doesn't half grate. I’ll admit that the tour doesn’t do the emotional beats as well as the Broadway version. (In my opinion anyway) you end up really feeling for Sandy being persecuted as an outsider and Squidward for not getting to perform until mid Act 2. If you can find the liveshoot or a bootleg then it’s worth checking out. Yeah I've got the proshot and 2 bootlegs (Chicago and Broadway) to watch over the weekend, I'll still give them a go. Just had the cast recording on while driving home as well, it's just not doing it for me. This production gets the characterisation spot-on and it's very bright and energetic, but the story and songs just aren't enough for me. "Just A Simple Sponge" was the only moment for me where it stepped out of pantomime and into musical theatre, it really delivered at that point. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Apr 14, 2023 12:35:14 GMT
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