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Post by ArbitraryGibberish on Apr 8, 2023 21:54:18 GMT
I was really excited for this based on my remembrance of its off-Broadway awards season hype and really loved it tonight. It’s hard to say exactly why I liked it but from the start the music was really great and beautifully sung by the whole cast.
This is one of those shows that’s tied less to a strong central narrative and more to the characters, and whether or not it’s one that does that well is a question I’m still asking myself. At the beginning I was questioning the focus of the show and was curious where it’d go but towards the end of the first act I thought I knew what it was doing and that it had weaved a lot more nuance in than I had initially thought. It wasn’t until the final song that I realized that if the show was ending i would be pretty dissatisfied with it. It felt like certain parts had been abandoned and left unresolved. I understand in a way what they were doing, but it felt very unsatisfying. It may just be me though. I went back and started looking at the broadwayworld thread for this and one comment on how it didn’t know whether it wanted Lily to be the lead or if it wanted to be an ensemble piece felt like it connected with my thoughts.
I’ll be back Tuesday and am very curious to see how I react the second time, but up until the ending I loved it so much and would’ve said it’s one of the best things I’ve seen this year.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 8, 2023 21:58:38 GMT
I am there on Wednesday night
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Post by FJ on Apr 8, 2023 22:22:48 GMT
Really struggling to put my thoughts together on this.
In most ways I thought it was brilliantly staged, the songs were strong, though a lot not overly memorable, and the cast were all fantastic.
But there was just a bit of a disconnect for me, especially in the second half. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
It seemed to me that at times it was trying to merge the dialogue and songs together with no breaks for applause, and at others there were long pauses where the audience didn’t know whether to applaud or not.
I also felt like often the score didn’t fit the scene. There would be an emotional or serious scene and then the track would start with quite an upbeat intro and it just seemed a bit off at places, but that might be fixed in previews.
I would agree above about it seems to be showcasing the characters more than the actual story, which i didn’t think was the most riveting for a musical but just my opinion.
The last 2 musicals I saw at The Almeida (Spring Awakening and Tammy Faye) I returned 4 or 5 times each but I can’t imagine myself going back to this, however I’m very glad I did see it, and my biggest takeaway was the fantastic cast, and there were some standouts songs and performances.
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Post by musiqualetheater on Apr 9, 2023 22:39:14 GMT
Superb performances from this one. I’d hazard that fans of Girl From The North Country fans would like it, based on (to echo above comments) that it’s character-led over major plot points. To be honest, with no prior knowledge, that’s what I expected based on the title. There are some great songs (standout was “It’s my car”(name?)) and while it felt like there wasn’t a consistent sound, they all matched the tone of the show.
A sombre evening out but uplifting by the end.
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Post by showgirl on Apr 10, 2023 3:24:04 GMT
To those who have seen it, what's the approximate running time, please? The Almeida have yet to put this info on their website (surely they could give an interim one until after PN?) and though 2 pm - for matinees - isn't the earliest start they've had, it does suggest a long show.
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Post by musiqualetheater on Apr 10, 2023 9:39:17 GMT
To those who have seen it, what's the approximate running time, please? The Almeida have yet to put this info on their website (surely they could give an interim one until after PN?) and though 2 pm - for matinees - isn't the earliest start they've had, it does suggest a long show. Act 1: 1 hour 10 20 minute interval Act 2: 1 hour 5 Started late and got out just before 10:15. |
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Post by showgirl on Apr 10, 2023 10:41:14 GMT
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 12, 2023 11:02:21 GMT
I am there tonight
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 13, 2023 11:04:31 GMT
Well, what an unexpected, pleasant surprise that was.
Although I have never read the book, I am certainty aware of it.
So much so that, at the time, I attended the screening of it in Leicester Square as part of the BFI Film Festival. I don’t remember a great deal about it. I do remember that the fate of one of the female characters differs significantly that what I saw last night.
The theatre was about ¾ full yesterday. Possibly because it was mid-week and the weather outside was so rubbish.
Sitting in the audience the first thing that struck me was the simplicity of the set.
Then when those ladies walked on stage, the beautiful wide smiles.
Kudos to the casting director who sought out these women. Such wonderful, varying, rich and full voices that harmonised and blended so well.
And the way each of them held themselves, their stylised movements.
The dresses were in keeping with the time period.
Although original, I thought the music was great! I found myself tapping my left foot and my hand on my thigh. Give me a cast recording now!
The carefully choreographed beatings in the show carried out in slow motion was darn powerful!
Whilst racial tension was a theme throughout the show, did anyone else whose seem it pick up on the quickly glossed over lesbian sub- plot involving the eldest sister, August?
The respect and admiration for Black Madonna was also beautiful
Genuinely, I didn’t anticipate being as moved by this piece as I had expected.
In fact, I’m struggling to fault the production, in any way.
My only wish, is that this transfers to the West End so that it us seen by a much wider audience.
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sky
Auditioning
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Post by sky on Apr 14, 2023 9:56:44 GMT
Hi there, does anyone know when previews end or if there is a preview period at all?
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Post by Dave B on Apr 14, 2023 10:15:31 GMT
Hi there, does anyone know when previews end or if there is a preview period at all? Press night is the 19th. |
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Post by alessia on Apr 16, 2023 7:19:55 GMT
Surprised there aren't more reviews of this...
Went last night and found it excellent, one of the rare occasions I see a musical and loved it. The music and songs are very good (still remembering some bits this morning, I guess a good sign) and all performers were perfect, some truly stunning voices- particularly Ava Brennan/June.
Nice to see the fairy from Jerusalem taking one of the central roles here.
Found myself sat next to one of the producers, Lauren Schuler Donner - of course I did not know who she was but at the end she asked me if I liked the show, and then said 'I'm proud of it'. Later on the train I looked on the programme, googled some of the names and found her. (Interestingly, she was in the worst seat behind the slim pillar - F11, so an unplanned visit for sure).
Have not read the book or seen the film so went completely blind, no idea how faithful this was but really enjoyed how the music and songs narrated the story, it was all very smoothly done and the time flew by. I have nothing negative to say about this at all.Very much recommend!
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Post by NorthernAlien on Apr 20, 2023 13:18:51 GMT
How 'restricted' are the 'restricted view' seats in the Circle? I've never been to The Almeida and TheatreMonkey's excellent site doesn't seem to cover this venue. Thanks in advance.
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Post by FJ on Apr 20, 2023 14:57:44 GMT
How 'restricted' are the 'restricted view' seats in the Circle? I've never been to The Almeida and TheatreMonkey's excellent site doesn't seem to cover this venue. Thanks in advance. It can vary production by production at the Almeida, but this gives a pretty good idea of view from the seats: seatplan.com/london/almeida-theatre/seating-plan/ |
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Post by partytentdown on Apr 20, 2023 15:20:26 GMT
I enjoyed this overall - I did feel the second half was perhaps a smidge too long. Having gone in totally blind, have never read the book or know what it's about, I was a bit confused about what was going on once we got to the 'bee farm' - who were these glamorous ladies, and why are they in some kind of honey cult?! But a very talented cast and I hope it does well.
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Post by foxa on Apr 20, 2023 15:42:00 GMT
These comments have made me very excited to see this on Saturday!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 20, 2023 21:41:48 GMT
Is there an original cast recording of this? (From the original production) I can’t see one which is weird!
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 21, 2023 8:05:47 GMT
Is there an original cast recording of this? (From the original production) I can’t see one which is weird! I too would love one! |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 21, 2023 17:55:31 GMT
Is there an original cast recording of this? (From the original production) I can’t see one which is weird! I too would love one! I can’t believe there isn’t one. The Americans record everything! |
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Post by QueerTheatre on Apr 21, 2023 21:46:55 GMT
i saw the show this evening & was pretty disappointed to be honest. it’s a brilliant cast and production, but the material is severely lacking and at points completely tone deaf.
glad the white girl ended racism by standing up to her dad 🙄
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Post by pws on Apr 21, 2023 23:55:22 GMT
i saw the show this evening & was pretty disappointed to be honest. I was at the same show. Thought it was lacking and nearly left at half time. Wish I had... |
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Post by shownut on Apr 22, 2023 7:29:16 GMT
i saw the show this evening & was pretty disappointed to be honest. I was at the same show. Thought it was lacking and nearly left at half time. Wish I had... I thought the same as you did though I felt the first act had promise. But the show ran out of steam very quickly in act two. The songs, of which there were far too many, stopped moving the action forward when the song cues kicked in I kept thinking "Good God, not another one" which is not the norm when watching a musical. I did think the performances were quite good but what a shame they did not have better material to work with. |
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Post by jaqs on Apr 22, 2023 17:39:41 GMT
Great cast, great vocals, loved the lighting.
Agree the story didn’t do enough. It was neither Lily’s story or a civil rights story. It wimped out on both.
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Post by zahidf on Apr 24, 2023 21:13:42 GMT
Thought this was very good. Great songs
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Post by annette on Apr 27, 2023 0:21:14 GMT
I had much the same criticisms as Queer Theatre, Shownut,Jacqs and PWS about this show, so won’t go over the same issues again.
I would add that the score didn’t measure up well against some of Duncan Sheik’s other work. A lot of it felt too generic and how that number about the car, which was completely out of place and sounded like something from Hairspray, made it into the show is a mystery to me.
I very rarely find myself drifting off during a performance, but after a very short while that’s exactly what happened. The linear adaptation of the book, lack of any significant character development and way too many underwhelming songs that definitely hindered the flow of the story failed to grip my attention in any meaningful way.
Very disappointing.
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