42nd Street - A New Production - London & Tour

[shady23]

I am really not a fan of a cast for a month in town and then another in the regions. It must be a right pain for everyone involved.

[mrbarnaby]

Jul 1, 2023 21:49:56 GMT shady23 said:

I am really not a fan of a cast for a month in town and then another in the regions. It must be a right pain for everyone involved.

More of a pain than being unemployed?

[Dr Tom]

They do seem to be down a bit in numbers this week (which I presume is illness related), but the cast size is exactly right for the stage (and, I presume, the tour).

I've seen this production five times now (the final one will be closing night tonight) and I find it completely enchanting. I've seen this three times from the front row, which is still not all that close to the stage due to the orchestra pit, but you do feel involved there. Tonight, the only seat I could get for a reasonable price (aka the £42 offer) was the third row, but as this is all but sold out now, I'm happy. I will see this on tour, of course, but the cast is different.

I've never toured with a show, but I'd think that a month sit-down in London is easier on a lot of the cast/crew than moving to different towns for a week at a time and finding digs. A lot of them will have a base in London already, plus friends/family/contacts. And there's just more going on to do. I do have a friend who rents out rooms as digs and, regardless how pleasant both sides try and be, it's never going to be home.

Apart from that, on Friday evening I felt very fortunate to see both Jordan as Andy Lee and Alyn as Pat Denning. Alyn, mostly because I saw him cover Pat Denning many times in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production, so this brought back happy memories. He is rather wasted in that role where he doesn't get to dance. And, despite the reservations expressed, I like Jordan. There's a line in the show "you're not in the back row now" and he has a wonderful smile when he remembers. Les Dennis has grown on me as well, and it's amazing really how many people comment and point him when he comes on stage. I think we sometimes forget how big a name he is.

We don't have a poll set up, but this still an easy 5 stars from me. Just a shame the next dates in the London (wider) region aren't until September - and then Dartford and Woking are in consecutive weeks - although as fate has it, there's a good chance I'm going to end up in Leeds during the week this is playing there.

[BurlyBeaR]

Jul 2, 2023 12:25:12 GMT Dr Tom said:

We don't have a poll set up, but this still an easy 5 stars from me.

We do now! 

[mattnyc]

I saw this three times the past week - I just loved everything about it. I’d never been able to see Ruthie in person before so that was a thrill for me and thought she was just fabulous and exceptionally funny. I’d love to see Adam Garcia in another staring role in a musical after this - while he was wonderful it’s a shame he only really gets to dance at the curtain call.

[vabbian]

last show at Sadlers Wells today, 5 stars from me.
(although I am probably biased, my third favourite musical behind Company and Miss Saigon)

Nicole Baisden was fab, would love to see her again.

Saw the Drury Lane production 10+ times,
of course as a touring show this was never going to live up to that.

The smaller cast didn't bother me,
I think anymore people and that stage would've been too full.

The stairs scene was indeed quite sh*t, a bit of a let down,
but I understand they are restricted not having a permanent home in the West End.

Couldn't stop smiling throughout! my face hurts!

[theatremiss]

Jul 1, 2023 18:06:55 GMT Being Alive said:

I went in with pretty low expectations for this actually, knowing some of the cast are a bit ropey and it couldn't possibly match the thrilling heights of Drury Lane but I had a great time!

Sure Ruthie can't really sing anymore, but she's a star and played Brock really well. Adam Garcia was good (and thank god they let him dance in the finale). Really enjoyed Josefina and that she was allowed to tap, and even though Les Dennis is pretty terrible, I was weirdly charmed by him.
I thought Nicole was dreadful in an otherwise perfect Anything Goes in 2021, yet here she really surprised me. She's a super tapper (not Clare Halse level by any stretch but who is) and held her own in those big numbers. She's very much to me an understudy who could play a lead a bit, and not a leading lady, but that's what Peggy is so she worked well for it I thought.

I felt exactly the same. I barely recognised Nicole against what I saw if her as Hope Harcourt. Here I felt she really shone and I thought she was superb. I actually whispered to my husband “I hope Garcia gets to tap in the encore” just as he slid in from the wings. 

[jr]

I never saw 42nd st before, though I am familiar with the songs. A jukebox musical (can't remember the details but was kind of an obsession for producer David Merrick) with a weak book, entertaining but lacking punch, maybe due to the smallness of the production. I think this is the same director of Singing in the rain, I walked out of that at Wimbledom theatre, which was awful. He does a much better job here. Actors are ok, the protagonist really taps for her dinner. I did not care much about the others, though Ruthie Henshall knows how to command attention. The last number on the stairs was a bit of a letdown, I was up in the theatre, the lighting and the costumes had similar tones and everything blended, not very distinctive. I wouldn't see it again but it was an ok afternoon.

On the plus side, it was full, groups of friends, lots of children and I was expecting the worse, glad I was wrong, it was a very well-behaved audience.

[Dr Tom]

Excellent closing performance last night. It was sold out, although a few small gaps at the front, which I presume were either seats held for special guests or people who did not show up.

My impression is that most of the audience had no idea that it was the last show, or that several of the leads were not going out on tour. Some people did know, so there was great applause at the end. Ruthie was really going for it during the show as well. No speeches or anything.

10 out of 10 too for Jordan's facials. I know our posts are being read, so hopefully I've avoided accidentally offending anyone. They really are a hardworking cast.

[Dr Tom]

No tour reports yet, so I'll start. I decided that Canterbury counts as outer London, so made yesterday evening's show. The tour is selling rather well, and I decided I can't make Leeds work on any of the dates when there are decent seats left.

Getting to Canterbury should be easy with the high speed rail line (and is relatively well priced with a Network Railcard). In fact, it's rather stressful, so not something I'd do regularly. My tube broke down on route, I then missed my planned train, had to change at Ashford, and made the show with about two minutes to spare. The last train back to London is at 22:23, so I was also worried around timing (I did book a very cheap 1:00am coach as a backup). As it happens, the show was over at 22:02, earlier than scheduled, and this is with starting slightly late (and the interval running more than 20 minutes), so there were no issues. I did wonder if other cast/crew would be commuting, but didn't spot anyone obvious rushing for the train.

The Marlowe Theatre itself is about a 10 minute walk from the station, through a bustling area of Canterbury, but I didn't get chance to do much more than walk through. It's a modern building. The front row is tight and not terribly comfortable.

This is the first venue, second week, for the tour cast (mostly the same as London, with the exception of the leads). The new leads played things quite differently. All good, some different comedy approaches. Michael Praed is always very watchable, but it takes a bit of getting used to a Julian Marsh with a southern drawl. He did have one rather strange line, which he tried to correct and didn't really help himself, but it was done with conviction and that's the important thing.

There has been quite a bit of restaging due to the smaller stage and some scenes are a bit crowded, but the ensemble did a great job. Not all of the set has made it onto the tour. The band is also smaller, and it does make a difference.

One benefit of a smaller orchestra pit is being much nearer the stage. I was on the front row, there was certainly eye contact. George looked like he was going to burst out laughing throughout. Alyn was as charming and professional as ever. Of course, this is 100% the Nicole-Lily Baisden show, and she was really on form.

The biggest annoyance was the positioning of speakers, lighting etc at the front of the stage, basically blocking out the feet of the cast, which for a tap dancing show has to count as restricted view. Hopefully that isn't as bad in other venues.

Back to eight male ensemble for Plenty of Money, which looks better, although no longer with a piano. Still my favourite number. It didn't surprise me at that point that the final staircase hasn't made the tour, which does lose something, but the post bow closing sequences also looks better without the dancers navigating around stairs.

The touring production will likely never quite match the Sadler's Wells version, but this is still once of the most enjoyable nights out you'll have. I am booked for Dartford, but perhaps I'll brave Milton Keynes in between.

[Someone in a tree]

Thanks for the reporting. Interesting to hear how it's developing.

[mrbarnaby]

What did you make of Faye Tozer and Samantha Womack? One friend of mine who saw it said that both were considerable downgrades from Ruthie and Josefina.

[Dr Tom]

Jul 19, 2023 15:02:52 GMT mrbarnaby said:

What did you make of Faye Tozer and Samantha Womack? One friend of mine who saw it said that both were considerable downgrades from Ruthie and Josefina.

I think I’d prefer to comment when they’ve had more time to settle into the roles.

[Being Alive]

That bodes well

[mrbarnaby]

Jul 19, 2023 16:46:25 GMT Dr Tom said:

Jul 19, 2023 15:02:52 GMT mrbarnaby said:

What did you make of Faye Tozer and Samantha Womack? One friend of mine who saw it said that both were considerable downgrades from Ruthie and Josefina.

I think I’d prefer to comment when they’ve had more time to settle into the roles.

Enough said

[ceebee]

Saw this Wednesday night. It's like the show has had all of the nutritional goodness sucked out of it. One or two strong performances but flat linear direction and messy choreography made this a hollow experience.

[alece10]

Samantha Womak and Faye Tozier are on This Morning talking about the show.
Alison Hammond said she thoughts the tap was "sound effects". Sorry but this woman is a total embarrassment and an idiot.

[alece10]

And the cast just performed "We're in the money. I know I'm biased but it's pretty p**s poor compared with Drury Lane. No offence to the cast. Guess I was just spoilt with Drury Lane production.

[ceebee]

Jul 21, 2023 11:11:08 GMT alece10 said:

And the cast just performed "We're in the money. I know I'm biased but it's pretty p**s poor compared with Drury Lane. No offence to the cast. Guess I was just spoilt with Drury Lane production.

Spot on - this production is "42nd Cul de Sac" by comparison.

[Rozzi Rainbow]

Saw the matinee yesterday in Leeds. I enjoyed it overall - as a tap dancer myself I love all the tap dancing and Peggy's achievement of the starring role.

Didn't see Les Dennis as he was off (along with someone else who I can't remember).

The finale really is no patch on the West End version - I was left thinking "is that it, has it finished?". But of course they are limited by touring constraints, and people who haven't seen the West End version wouldn't know what they were missing.

I liked the changes to the overture with the projections on the curtain and showing the dancers auditioning, but I did miss the curtain stopping on the way up for us just to see the dancers' feet.

We had a show stop just before I Only Have Eyes for You. The sound had been going a bit iffy just beforehand, so I don't know if it was anything to do with that. There was an announcement for us to remain in our seats, but no explanation. The house lights went up, so of course people started moving around as they were possibly impatient for the interval, but it just re-started after a couple of minutes with no notice, which took the movers by surprise.

[david]

Some thoughts on last night's visit to the Liverpool Empire. A few cast changes in the show with Kevin Brewis as Bert Barry, Ben Mundy as Abner Dillon, Connor Hughes as Mac and Ashleigh Grahan as Lorraine Fleming.

I didn't see the SW version, so I'm unable to make any comparisons with that version to the current tour one. Whilst An enjoyable night out and the ensemble tap numbers are great to watch and listen to, I didn't get that WOW factor from my viewing. Dr Tom made a comment about having tech equipment at the front of the stage on his recent visit causing a restricted view of the dancers feet. I can confirm that from my 2nd row stalls seat last night, this issue hasn't been resolved (the equipment ran the entire front of the stage) and certainly was an annoyance.

From a casting point of view, Nicole-Lily Baisden owns the show as Peggy and was definitely worth watching. I have to say I thought Sam Womack and Faye Tozer did well in their roles. The comedy bits landed well with the audience

Whilst we didn't have any sound issues, I thought that the orchestra could of been a bit bigger than the 8 piece one we have on this tour to get a bigger and richer sound in the musical numbers.

Overall, the show was well received by the audience at the bows with people seemingly have had a good night out.

As an aside, I may be going to the Empire a bit too often as I got recognised by a lovely FOH staff member  from previous visits when I went to buy a programme. 

[Dr Tom]

This reminds me that I did brave Milton Keynes on a free evening last week to catch the tour (an easy enough trip from London). Second row seat, the view was fine, but the seats are not the best positioned to see past the rows in front.

Kevin Brewis was on as Bert all week. I thought he brought this own spin on the character. Connor Hughes was on as Mac, which is such a waste as he just doesn't get to dance much.

I did think that everyone was on better form that an the start of the tour.

I'm booked for Dartford next week, which is one of Michael Praed's final dates before he leaves the show.

[anita]

Sept 6, 2023 8:49:26 GMT Dr Tom said:

This reminds me that I did brave Milton Keynes on a free evening last week to catch the tour (an easy enough trip from London). Second row seat, the view was fine, but the seats are not the best positioned to see past the rows in front.

Kevin Brewis was on as Bert all week. I thought he brought this own spin on the character. Connor Hughes was on as Mac, which is such a waste as he just doesn't get to dance much.

I did think that everyone was on better form that an the start of the tour.

I'm booked for Dartford next week, which is one of Michael Praed's final dates before he leaves the show.

Dartford won't be happening as the Orchard has shut due to concrete.

[Dr Tom]

Sept 6, 2023 8:59:14 GMT anita said:

Dartford won't be happening as the Orchard has shut due to concrete.

Thanks, that news had completely escaped me. Such a shame for everyone involved. I'll see if there are any decent seats left for Woking.

[marob]

Was at today’s matinee. Very enjoyable, but feels like there’s something lacking. Others must have felt the same as despite every song getting really enthusiastic applause there was no standing ovation at the end.

A few covers on, including for Les Dennis. Would normally be disappointed one of the stars wasn’t on for a matinee, but I saw him in Hairspray, and I can’t imagine he gives a vastly different performance here. It also meant Samantha Womack’s sugar daddy was 20 years younger than her, which I actually kinda like.

The row of speakers on the stage was annoying. I was about 7 rows back but still couldn’t see their feet. Wouldn’t normally be too bothered, but it is disappointing for a show built around tap dancing. I remember Ashley Day saying the Drury Lane cast’s feet were mic’ed for the tap dancing. Would I be right in assuming it’s the same here and it’s to amplify the taps but keep the sound coming from the stage rather than off to the sides?

One unfortunate bit of footwork I did notice was when one of Alyn Hawke’s feet slipped in a scene. I wondered if it was one of those deliberate ‘mistakes’ they put in since they’re supposed to be rehearsing a show after all. But I guess not as one of the other dancers went flat on his arse in a later scene. Leapt straight back up and carried on, while the others didn’t so much as flinch, but must be mortifying when that happens.

I gave it four stars, but it’s more like 3.5. Good show, great songs, but too scaled-back.