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Post by anita on Apr 1, 2023 9:14:49 GMT
I've got it booked for in a few weeks.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 2, 2023 12:25:02 GMT
Has there ever been a new West End show with so little buzz on here? I agree. Zero excitement for this one. The mimed performance on tv hasn’t done much to impress me I must say. |
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 2, 2023 14:23:21 GMT
Honestly had no idea it had even opened until I was walking back to Piccadilly through Soho on Friday night
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Post by terrylondon79 on Apr 2, 2023 18:05:06 GMT
We was "lucky" enough to get rush seats for this today....
I can now see why they chose to mine at lottery show.
Don't know if there was a bug, or just sound problems, but singing was not very good.
Book felt like someone decided to just put the Wikipedia entry for the temptations to some songs,
The set, well if you like like reading various American city's, you are in luck! They are projected, displayed on 2 screens, and on fake marquee set piece. Occasional other props and lights brought down. But nothing to write home about.
Show not interesting enough to be bad, just came out of the show thinking how can a show that dull have lasted nearly 3 hours. Especially when they only singing 30 second snippets of most the songs.
Band was apparently 12 strong, but sounded quite synthy?
Surprisingly audience not that bad this afternoon, though noticed ushers in auditorium watching like hawks. Also quite a few security there.
Went in not expecting much, hoping to be surprised, but was more underwhelmed than I thought I would be....
You wouldn't have guessed this was a Broadway transfer, just felt cheap.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 3, 2023 10:17:48 GMT
There may be no buzz or excitement, but poll added anyway.
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 6, 2023 11:08:51 GMT
I thought this was very watchable last night. I got a rush ticket, which was in the Dress Circle slips. A perfect view despite some of the reviews (although I'd always still pick the Stalls by choice). Fairly full. The sound was good there as well, worlds better than the recent mimed performance.
As jukebox musicals go, this is quite weak, although there are moments of jeopardy and the signing is good. I couldn't compare this with being anywhere close to the level of Jersey Boys, the only similarity really (other than the fact it's a jukebox musical) is having one character serving as a narrator. I don't see this having a long life, but perhaps that's just because I'm not as familiar with the music as with many other shows of this type (and several of the most memorable songs were ones I'd associate with other acts, or were performed by the Supremes).
We do get to see the live band at the end and good to see that most of the band from Get Up Stand Up have found more work.
The five leads are all incredibly talented. Like many others, I'm sure, I'm always excited to see Tosh, but it's Sifiso who really holds everything together. And great to see ArtsEd graduate Kyle Cox in a leading role (part of a bumper year of successful ArtsEd graduates). Kyle's performance of For Once In My Life is the show highlight.
Glad I've seen this. I would see it again, but I don't feel the need to rush back.
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Post by Steve on Apr 6, 2023 23:12:40 GMT
Saw this tonight, and it was much more fun than I expected. It's a biographical jukebox musical, so the least original kind of jukebox musical, and it's straightforwardly told, so the least original approach for the least original kind of jukebox musical, but the music is terrific, the performers are terrific and there's a sly tension introduced by the book writer about whether the main character (Sifiso Mazibuko's Otis Williams, whose biography this is based on) is actually a massive villain lol! Some spoilers follow. . . This is not as clever or as good as "Jersey Boys," a Rashomon like puzzle of four accounts of the same history, nor is it as emotive or clever as "Tina the Musical," which actually makes the songs speak to the plot so much more, and which told a story of one woman's triumph over abuse beautifully. However, this, in my opinion, is significantly better than "The Drifter's Girl" (which was a musical torn between the Drifters and finding songs for Beverley Knight to sing), better than "Get up Stand Up" (which was a musical with the best denouement singalong ever but was otherwise about Bob Marley giving a girl a slap and how many times Arinze Kene could tap his foot), better than "Motown the Musical" (which was a Berry Gordy hagiography that seems to have been written to contradict "Dreamgirls"), better than "Cilla the Musical" (which was mostly one long gig in which Cilla's boyfriend was actually and wrongheadedly the main character), and about on a par with "Beautiful" and "The Cher Show," both of which were quite entertaining. Unlike those latter two musicals, this is not about genius songwriters: in fact, Smokey Robinson and Norman Whitfield, who wrote most of these great songs, are completely sidelined and we learn nothing about them. What this is actually about is:- (1) Which Temptation do you like the best? Is it the uber charismatic David Ruffin (played by the Uber charismatic Tosh Wanogho-Maud more like a rasping explosive Otis Redding than the actual David Ruffin)? Is it the sweet honeyed Eddie Kendricks, played by the sweet honeyed Mitchell Zhanghaza, who actually sounds like the real David Ruffin lol? Or is it the loveable and decent and kindly and witty Melvin Franklin, played by the reassuringly bass-voiced wonder that is Cameron Bernard Jones with more charm than anyone else on stage? Cos, realistically, those are your choices; (2) And having decided which of the above 3 you like the best, now you have to choose just how much you hate (or just maybe, like a little bit) the main character, Sisifo Mazibuko's Otis Williams? At one point, the book writer makes clear her barely hidden disdain for this least-talented but longest lasting member of the Temptations, when she has Zhanghaza's Eddie ask how come every time anyone gets on the wrong side of this guy, "poof-" they vanish from the group, despite an initial promise that all power would be shared equally among the star lineup of 5? The way the lead character builds relationships with Berry Gordy's boss character, turns the band manager into an ally and sidekick, sweettalks various band members one by one into betraying each others hopes and dreams, means that he always tops the band from the bottom, and it is the juxtaposition of this scary fact with his own presentation of himself in his monologues as the ultimate well-meaning survivor that makes this show both amusing and interesting, even as it presents us with a smorgasbord of hits beautifully choreographed and performed. As the self-justifying survivor, with the heart of a mafioso, Sisifo Mazibuko is quite wonderful, muscular and forceful, even when he's pretending just to fit in. And the real stars of the Temptations (see the above 3) are all wonderfully defined on stage, and a delight to listen to perform. This is a jukebox musical purporting to be about a Mozart, but which might actually be about a Salieri, and it's the complexity of that that spikes an otherwise utterly conventional storyline, and which makes it interesting. 4 stars for a jukebox show that is above average for this sort thing.  |
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Post by StageyBrum on Apr 13, 2023 11:36:29 GMT
Has anyone had experience of Dress Circle F for the Prince Edward. I’m trying to book relatively affordable tickets for this after previews. The ones I’m looking at are on the left hand side but the last two closest to the centre. I’ve checked Seatplan and Theatre Monkey but can’t really get much out of it. I’ve read there’s a bar (is it distracting) and that there’s an aisle in front of this row which you’d think would be good but a lot of people are saying you constantly get people walking past you which i don’t mind if it’s not during the show.
Anyone got any insight into this row
Thanks,
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Post by SuttonPeron on Apr 13, 2023 11:50:59 GMT
Has anyone had experience of Dress Circle F for the Prince Edward. I’m trying to book relatively affordable tickets for this after previews. The ones I’m looking at are on the left hand side but the last two closest to the centre. I’ve checked Seatplan and Theatre Monkey but can’t really get much out of it. I’ve read there’s a bar (is it distracting) and that there’s an aisle in front of this row which you’d think would be good but a lot of people are saying you constantly get people walking past you which i don’t mind if it’s not during the show. Anyone got any insight into this row Thanks, Dress row F is a safe bet. But the slip seats at the Prince Edward are much cheaper and the view is great. Nearly as good as the seats you´re looking at. |
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Post by anita on Apr 19, 2023 9:26:09 GMT
I was in the front row last night. You can tell it's by the people behind "Jersey Boys". I enjoyed it. Theater was packed & from the reception the audience gave , they loved it.
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 22, 2023 16:48:26 GMT
Does anyone know if they’re doing day seats for this? I know it’s on Rush on TodayTix but wondered if there’s any other ‘on the day’ options.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 23, 2023 6:09:26 GMT
Just waiting for the reports of bad audience behaviour at this one to appear.
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Post by bwayboy22 on Apr 29, 2023 2:21:08 GMT
So, I was at the performance on Friday night 28 April. The show started about 20 minutes late. Before it started, they kept apologizing for the delay and saying the show was going to begin as soon as possible. From our seats, we could see the conductor was not at the piano. Eventually, the conductor came out and about 2 minutes later they announced 2 understudies and then the show began. I would guess they did about 30 minutes of the show and during the middle of a song, 1 of the 5 Temptations left the stage and didn't come back. The song ended and the next scene was an interview and one of the chairs was empty. The interviewer asked a question or 2 and then the whole cast left the stage. They announced the show would resume as soon as possible and to remain in your seats while they resolve the issue. They announced this multiple times. I would guess after nearly 30 minutes, a woman came out on stage and said they were sorry but due to a cast injury the show was unable to continue. The ushers had handouts explaining how you would get a refund and to please leave the theatre. I had 3 friends visiting from San Francisco with me and they won't be able to see the show before they leave on Sunday morning as they have an all day tour on Saturday. Really disappointing they didn't have an understudy to take over. I hope the actor is ok. Kind of a bummer of an evening.
Was also surprised the grand circle was closed and most of the box seats were empty. Also could see scattered empty seats in the stalls. Not good for a show that just opened last week on a Friday night. Imagine it must really be empty on a Monday!
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 29, 2023 12:35:40 GMT
Today’s matinee has just been cancelled, and I’d only got my rush ticket at midday!
TodayTix have emailed me and sent a voucher so all good there. But I’m sat having brunch outside Balans and the theatre staff are having to tell audience members as they’re arriving for the show 😞
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Post by voyagerweb on Apr 30, 2023 4:16:35 GMT
Saturday evening started 15 mins late two understudies on. I think David Ruffin not the advertised so maybe a late change. A couple of sound issues later on in the performance but didn’t spoil our enjoyment
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Post by A.Ham on Apr 30, 2023 8:13:55 GMT
Saturday evening started 15 mins late two understudies on. I think David Ruffin not the advertised so maybe a late change. A couple of sound issues later on in the performance but didn’t spoil our enjoyment Thanks for the update, I was wondering if the evening show went ahead. It was Tosh I really wanted to see but it sounds like he could be the injured cast member. Hoping for a swift recovery whoever it is. |
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Post by idinafanzel on May 3, 2023 20:19:59 GMT
Does anyone have a list of the Understudies 1st & 2nd ?
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Post by bwayboy22 on May 5, 2023 0:48:05 GMT
I looked on Wednesday night to see about buying tix for Thursday. Discovered they had canceled the evening performance but still did the matinee. I saw the matinee. Tosh is still out. Weird they were able to do the matinee but not the evening.
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Post by nash16 on May 5, 2023 20:22:15 GMT
What is going on??
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Post by Mark on May 5, 2023 20:38:09 GMT
He obviously has a mid to long term injury/issue which will keep him out of the show for a long enough period of time that they want to temporarily recast the role so they’re not relying on understudies all the time. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on May 5, 2023 21:22:34 GMT
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Post by thistimetomorrow on May 6, 2023 12:56:28 GMT
Weird they were able to do the matinee but not the evening. apparently the evening was cancelled to tech/dress Matt in and he debuted yesterday evening |
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Post by luvvie23 on May 6, 2023 17:02:28 GMT
Weird they were able to do the matinee but not the evening. apparently the evening was cancelled to tech/dress Matt in and he debuted yesterday evening Apparently he is absolutely incredible! |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on May 7, 2023 12:37:55 GMT
Apparently he is absolutely incredible! yes i saw him yesterday and he was amazing!!! |
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Post by anita on May 9, 2023 9:14:33 GMT
I thought Tosh was great.
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