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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 14, 2023 18:42:17 GMT
Several Crucible shows have transferred apart from Sky’s Edge.
There’s a tiny show called Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Showboat (less of a hit in the WE) , Life of Pi, Flowers for Mrs Harris…
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Post by BVM on Aug 14, 2023 19:36:08 GMT
No I know about those lol.
I meant has any show returned to The Crucible to go a second season in Sheffield!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 14, 2023 19:59:06 GMT
No I know about those lol. I meant has any show returned to The Crucible to go a second season in Sheffield! Standing on sky's edge did return ... I wish My fair lady had returned
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Post by ceebee on Aug 14, 2023 20:55:46 GMT
Caught this again twice on Saturday. Not much to add from my last review but it’s simply stunning. The staging is so clever. The score sounds so glorious. The story is even more powerful than ever. So many wonderful creative moments of story telling. - the mundane tedium of being in a supermarket then being overtaken by a panic attack - the trauma and PTSD experienced by soldiers post war and the staging of Bui Doi - Chris and Ellen not being rich and wearing normal everyday clothes and not staying in huge hotel rooms with 4 poster beds - the terror of boat people at sea for days in storms (parallels with the current migrant crisis). - Tam watching his life unfold and the story of his mother. Reminding you that the cute little kid grows up and has to come to terms with his start in life. Just overall making it so clear how there are no winners in war and the horrific impacts it has on people’s lives. On a more upbeat note Joanna Ampil is giving the performance of a lifetime. The progression of the character is sublime. And she SINGS. And I love it. I think it’s all the same key but for some sections she goes an octave up and belts the hell out of it and I have eargasms. Finally the set and projections are incredible. For something that looks so simple when you walk in, the constant flickering, changing, morphing into scene after scene with these gorgeous but subtle lighting changes. It’s incredible. It’s filmic. You kinda get an even better sense of time and place than the mega set version. So clever. I so hope this won’t be the end of the road for this production. Easily the best thing I’ve seen since (strange but true) Miss Saigon in Vienna. Think I said 4.5 stars last time. I’d say 5 now. Pretty much perfection! I was there Saturday matinee and thought it was absolutely superb.
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Post by BVM on Aug 14, 2023 21:08:26 GMT
No I know about those lol. I meant has any show returned to The Crucible to go a second season in Sheffield! Standing on sky's edge did return ... I wish My fair lady had returned I think I’ll hope for this. It just fits perfectly in The Crucible space.
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Post by CG on the loose on Aug 14, 2023 22:45:44 GMT
I was back for both shows on Saturday too, having previously been at first preview. It didn't wholly convince me then, but it did in spades on Saturday. With changes made and the natural 'bedding in' as it progressed through the run, the whole was so much tighter and so much more powerful for it. It pushed the all emotional buttons that it didn't quite hit last time and it sounded AMAZING. I'm another who'd very much welcome a future life for this production, whether back at the Crucible or elsewhere.
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Post by richey on Aug 16, 2023 12:41:43 GMT
Just waiting to go in for this afternoon's matinee. There are notices all around the foyer that this performance is being filmed!
Edit: I just asked, it's only for archives
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Post by jaybird89 on Aug 16, 2023 16:45:12 GMT
Just on my way home after seeing this and had a lovely afternoon, a bit gutted I didn't see it sooner so I could see it again but still very pleased I went along.
My first trip to the crucible and it's a lovely space I will definitely be back to see more there again overall I really enjoyed this and would give it a strong 4 stars from me.
I haven't seen the show for a while since the revival opened at the Prince Edward but I don't think much has changed lyric wise a few lyrics have gone which may have been deemed more offensive it doesn't really bother me either way.
I quite enjoyed the cast sitting around the edge sort of watching the action unfold and I think you could really see how unhinged the whole situation had made all of the characters.
I still don't really care for the song maybe but Shanay Holmes was brilliant and I thought I still believe was a really strong moment and was staged really well and a nice change from the usual.
The deaths were a bit strange but I was still moved may have been a bit more confusing if you didn't know the show I guess but I was really moved seeing the older tam look at Kim like he was being told or understanding what had happened to his mother.
All in all a nice afternoon made me cry and if I had the time I would certainly see the show again :-)
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Post by richey on Aug 16, 2023 17:00:59 GMT
Second viewing this afternoon and just as incredible as the first time. Sat a bit further back this time and was able to fully appreciate the stunning lighting and projections.
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Post by dapo212 on Aug 17, 2023 10:35:01 GMT
Just on my way home after seeing this and had a lovely afternoon, a bit gutted I didn't see it sooner so I could see it again but still very pleased I went along. My first trip to the crucible and it's a lovely space I will definitely be back to see more there again overall I really enjoyed this and would give it a strong 4 stars from me. I haven't seen the show for a while since the revival opened at the Prince Edward but I don't think much has changed lyric wise a few lyrics have gone which may have been deemed more offensive it doesn't really bother me either way. I quite enjoyed the cast sitting around the edge sort of watching the action unfold and I think you could really see how unhinged the whole situation had made all of the characters. I still don't really care for the song maybe but Shanay Holmes was brilliant and I thought I still believe was a really strong moment and was staged really well and a nice change from the usual. The deaths were a bit strange but I was still moved may have been a bit more confusing if you didn't know the show I guess but I was really moved seeing the older tam look at Kim like he was being told or understanding what had happened to his mother. All in all a nice afternoon made me cry and if I had the time I would certainly see the show again :-) I was there too and I agree with everything you said above. I wish I could see it again.
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Post by BVM on Aug 17, 2023 16:03:57 GMT
Second viewing this afternoon and just as incredible as the first time. Sat a bit further back this time and was able to fully appreciate the stunning lighting and projections. They are so good aren't they. I was very much a projection sceptic for years (in the camp that they were a cheap way to avoid physical sets) but increasingly, when done well, I find they can be breathtaking.
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Post by toomasj on Aug 17, 2023 17:34:54 GMT
I think when I saw it they had changed the “processing the gooks as fast as we can” lyric - but I can’t for the life of me remember the new lyric. Anyone able to help?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 17, 2023 17:37:08 GMT
My first trip to the crucible and it's a lovely space I will definitely be back to see more there again I’m looking forward to their take on White Christmas this festive season!
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Aug 17, 2023 17:48:15 GMT
It’s my first trip to the Crucible tonight. I love Miss Saigon so can’t wait to see what the have done with it here!
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 17, 2023 18:01:40 GMT
It’s my first trip to the Crucible tonight. I love Miss Saigon so can’t wait to see what the have done with it here! I'll see you there. I've decided to dress down for the evening by leaving my tie in the office. (100 pure silk, obvs,) 🙂
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 17, 2023 18:09:16 GMT
It’s my first trip to the Crucible tonight. I love Miss Saigon so can’t wait to see what the have done with it here! I'll see you there. I've decided to dress down for the evening by leaving my tie in the office. (100 pure silk, obvs,) 🙂 Have you got a tubbyware box of lemon iced fancies for half time?
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Aug 17, 2023 18:11:41 GMT
I think when I saw it they had changed the “processing the gooks as fast as we can” lyric - but I can’t for the life of me remember the new lyric. Anyone able to help? It’s now schmucks
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Post by toomasj on Aug 17, 2023 18:25:43 GMT
I think when I saw it they had changed the “processing the gooks as fast as we can” lyric - but I can’t for the life of me remember the new lyric. Anyone able to help? It’s now schmucks Thanks. I remember thinking it was an odd change. I mean, it’s obviously an offensive word - but then it was one at the time too. That was the writer’s intention. It was meant to show the American GIs general attitude towards the people of Vietnam. I’ve read numerous non-fiction books about this completely unjust war and every single source emphasises the mentality of the infantry in regards to their foe. Truth be told, this - and “Kongai whore” and other phrases which got re-worked actually made the show more nuanced. I found when I saw it, it was a good deal more sympathetic to the American cause than previous productions, which was very strange because I never felt that previously. Chris and John weren’t all-American heroes, they were grunts doing their jobs and making life liveable the ways they could - by drinking and whoring and other activities. Another example was “screw the Siamese” - a particularly bizarre change because they were literally Siamese people at the time the action takes place.
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Post by richey on Aug 17, 2023 19:59:02 GMT
Second viewing this afternoon and just as incredible as the first time. Sat a bit further back this time and was able to fully appreciate the stunning lighting and projections. They are so good aren't they. I was very much a projection sceptic for years (in the camp that they were a cheap way to avoid physical sets) but increasingly, when done well, I find they can be breathtaking. I loved the effect at the end of act one. That was amazing
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Post by BVM on Aug 19, 2023 12:02:25 GMT
They are so good aren't they. I was very much a projection sceptic for years (in the camp that they were a cheap way to avoid physical sets) but increasingly, when done well, I find they can be breathtaking. I loved the effect at the end of act one. That was amazing It really was. Actually moved me to tears which that scene has never done before. I read in the programme before the show the extraordinary personal account of someone who had left Vietnam by small boat and spent weeks at sea during that period. Made the scene even more powerful for me.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 19, 2023 19:34:46 GMT
I loved the effect at the end of act one. That was amazing It really was. Actually moved me to tears which that scene has never done before. I read in the programme before the show the extraordinary personal account of someone who had left Vietnam by small boat and spent weeks at sea during that period. Made the scene even more powerful for me. One of my old school friends was a boat person (immigrant). These people went through hell to escape. His family were treated marginally better as immigrants than people in the same position today.
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Post by marob on Aug 19, 2023 20:25:18 GMT
I saw the same effect in used in Message in a Bottle which had an equally chilling scene on a boat. The projections are really effective when used like that. There was one of a helicopter that I thought looked a bit naff though.
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Aug 19, 2023 21:05:53 GMT
I finally got to see this this afternoon, and WOW just WOW!!!
I thought I wasn't going to be able to get there, as I'd had to postpone my first trip in July thanks to the train strikes. I thought I'd escaped the strikes this time around but then I only found out earlier this week that there were strikes on Cross Country trains today, meaning there were no direct trains for me. I nearly decided last night not to bother going, but everything surprisingly went to plan for me and I made my connections each way, and had sufficient time before and afterwards.
I'd never been to the Crucible before (been to the Lyceum many times) and it really is a lovely theatre. It was much smaller than I thought from watching the snooker on TV - how they fit two snooker tables in there is beyond me! I had a great seat at the side for a brilliant price, I don't think I really missed anything other than having to lean slightly to see the projections on the back wall.
I loved the staging of this show, I really felt I was part of it rather than just watching it. As others have said, it's hard to imagine it working in a different sort of theatre. I loved the lighting projections, the cast sitting at the edge of the stage, and Chris' breakdown in the supermarket. For me, having a female engineer worked great, and if I hadn't seen the show before I would never have thought it was originally a male part. I found Movie in my Mind more emotional than usual, especially with Joanna joining in at the end. It emphasised that she has the same dreams as the girls.
I thought Tam looked a bit too tall, but I see now having caught up with earlier posts that he was meant to be a bit older - I don't really understand that. I also don't really get Kim and Thuy not physically dying - it didn't bother me too much with Thuy but I thought it did lose a bit not having Kim physically dying in Chris' arms. It did seem a bit weird him crouching over an imaginary body.
The very best bit for me was the helicopter scene. It brought the audience to a stunned silence. There was then a smattering of applause from those who were a bit more composed, followed by the rest of us joining in. I really believed the helicopter was up there, and found it utterly heart-breaking how Chris was literally torn away from Kim. That was the most emotional version of that scene I've seen.
I thought all the cast were fantastic and I would have loved to have gone again if it was going on longer, so I'd be all for it coming back to Sheffield for another run.
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Aug 19, 2023 21:30:56 GMT
I knew I'd think of more to say after I posted my review! I also really liked how they used the front of the stage as well as the back for entrances and exits. Especially how the cast just followed the audience in at the start of each act, and then the show started suddenly with them there.
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Post by ceebee on Aug 20, 2023 5:49:35 GMT
I saw the same effect in used in Message in a Bottle which had an equally chilling scene on a boat. The projections are really effective when used like that. There was one of a helicopter that I thought looked a bit naff though. I think it was actually a projection of ceiling fan wasn't it?
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