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Post by hugomilosz on May 15, 2023 11:04:56 GMT
I have one ticket to this that I won’t be using for tomorrow evening if anyone would like it. No charge. Bought two dates for my trip in case of rain but don’t need to use this. Hi is this still available by any chance? |
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Post by mattnyc on May 15, 2023 11:21:27 GMT
Still have a free ticket (center, row L) for tonight if anyone wants it. I can’t attend and don’t want it to go to waste. If nobody takes it we can truly say that you couldn’t give tickets away for this  Ticket claimed. But I thought the same thing… |
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Post by newdawnrisin on May 16, 2023 9:10:44 GMT
I saw this on Friday and was really pleasantly surprised. I went in completely blind, not knowing anything about the story (only that it was based on the original little mermaid) and not knowing any songs or previous productions of it. I thought the set was a bit meh (but liked how they used the lights), the story and songs were great, and the costumes were incredible! Gabrielle was incredibly talented and I thought the supporting cast were really great. Loved the choreography and the staging (fire!) and think it's got a lot of potential after any changes they might make before press night tomorrow - as long as you're not comparing it to the Broadway production, which a lot of people here seem to be doing. As its own show, I really enjoyed it and will definitely go back after it's officially opened to see it again.
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Post by lolli on May 16, 2023 22:34:22 GMT
This does not compare well to the recent Broadway production — a definite misfire from the park
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Post by theoracle on May 16, 2023 23:00:51 GMT
Unfortunately this felt very misguided despite a terrific team involved. The first 10mins just felt rather jarring with the balloons and the rather odd choreography. The set as others have said is very disappointing and doesn’t make the most of the theatres offering - it’s very underwhelming.
That being said, Gabrielle Brooks is an absolute star. I wish she had more songs especially towards the second half where I really wanted her to have a big solo number. The cast while good, don’t always match her I’m afraid to say. There isn’t much effort to try to flesh the characters out more and you can tell from the audiences reactions that they’re not having the impact the material should allow them to give. The man next to me walked out before the bows and rudely kept checking his watch and counting down the songs in the setlist in the programme.
The show does get better as it goes along but overall this was not the wonderful experience I’d hoped I’d get from my first open air show of the year. Hopefully it gets better towards the end of the run as there are some lovely moments in the show
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Post by shownut on May 17, 2023 6:54:32 GMT
Caught last night's performance and while it is not the best version I have seen of the show (this being my 4th which includes the US National Tour back in 1992 and the more recent Broadway revival), there is still much to admire about it.....and to dismiss.
The good:
- A strong cast through-out and no weak links
- An interesting design scheme that includes puppets, fire and mirrors. Unfortunately, you do not get a sense of anyone actually being on an island (bare feet and sand like other productions) but you do get some interesting elements that enhance the story.
- This is a very strong score and the cast vocally do it justice. Sadly a lot of lyrics get lost due to not-so-great diction and some very uneven French-Caribbean accents, but from a musical standpoint I was not disappointed (though I have one caveat below).
- Band was crystal clear and 'punchy'.
- Gabrielle Brooks was a fine TiMoune (though I am not sure how she will retain vocal stamina during this run. Most songs are belted rather than mixed so will be curious to see if she is still at top level vocally in a few weeks).
- Interesting direction (if wildly inconsistent), especially the most interesting and effective staging of "Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes" I have seen.
The not so good:
- The choreography was bland and at times amateurish. The opening number should grab our attention but staging wise, it was a mess. Looked more like line dancing rather than sharp, grounded and purposeful choreography.
- Some of the tempos killed the songs. "Mama Will Provide" should stop the show. This version seemed to plod to its conclusion and the cluttered choreography didn't help. Quite a missed opportunity.
- There is the addition a scene with a gun and another with a cat fight (but no spoilers here though the fight has been mentioned elsewhere on this board). Both were unecessary and surplus to requirements.
A strong 3 stars from me.
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5,139 posts
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Post by Being Alive on May 17, 2023 21:58:46 GMT
Oh this was bad wasn't it!
I guess the positives were that it largely sounded very good (particularly Gabrielle's Waiting For Life) but otherwise a total misfire from every angle.
It looked horribly cheap (the costumes are...very poor), they played so much of it for laughs when it's not meant to be, and they had absolutely no idea what to do with the ending and thus everyone just went...eh?
Also, any show that needs to turn the orchestra up to 110 isn't worth much to me. (And don't get me STARTED on the choreography!)
Gabrielle is ultimately too old to play Ti Moune but somehow just about gets away with it but barely. Thought the guy playing Daniel was pretty terrible, and the gods (apart from Erzulie) all pretty unremarkable.
I think it was just a director who lacked any clear vision of what to do with a show that (when not staged spectacularly with a phenomenal cast a la Circle In The Square) is at BEST three stars, but more likely two.
2 stars for this production from me.
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Post by kasper on May 17, 2023 22:39:46 GMT
I have a ticket for thursday the 26th evening performance. Anybody? I'll mail you the ticket. For free.
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Post by capybara on May 18, 2023 10:03:23 GMT
The reviews haven’t actually been too bad this morning. Mostly 3* but a smattering of 4* as well.
Which is confusing because of the response on here, as well as people I know who have been, who have been very critical.
I was going to get a rush ticket but the seats on offer seem to be very far away from the stage. Had hoped there would be more offers to get bums on seats but I can’t see anything anywhere just yet.
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1,442 posts
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Post by theatrefan62 on May 18, 2023 10:27:44 GMT
The reviews haven’t actually been too bad this morning. Mostly 3* but a smattering of 4* as well. Which is confusing because of the response on here, as well as people I know who have been, who have been very critical. I was going to get a rush ticket but the seats on offer seem to be very far away from the stage. Had hoped there would be more offers to get bums on seats but I can’t see anything anywhere just yet. Weren't the Legally Blonde reviews last year more positive than here too |
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Post by Being Alive on May 18, 2023 10:30:10 GMT
Yes which again was quite baffling.
This wasn't quite as bad as Legally Blonde though.
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Post by theatregoer22 on May 18, 2023 18:09:19 GMT
The reviews haven’t actually been too bad this morning. Mostly 3* but a smattering of 4* as well. Which is confusing because of the response on here, as well as people I know who have been, who have been very critical. I was going to get a rush ticket but the seats on offer seem to be very far away from the stage. Had hoped there would be more offers to get bums on seats but I can’t see anything anywhere just yet. I saw a 5* review in either The Metro or Evening Standard today. |
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on May 18, 2023 22:51:12 GMT
The reviews haven’t actually been too bad this morning. Mostly 3* but a smattering of 4* as well. Which is confusing because of the response on here, as well as people I know who have been, who have been very critical. I was going to get a rush ticket but the seats on offer seem to be very far away from the stage. Had hoped there would be more offers to get bums on seats but I can’t see anything anywhere just yet. I saw a 5* review in either The Metro or Evening Standard today. Sounds as though it had some quite significant work during previews. |
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Post by Dr Tom on May 19, 2023 9:12:53 GMT
I imagine there's a much better atmosphere watching this in a packed theatre on press night, and on a pleasant warm summer night. It makes it easier to suspend disbelief watching a show set on a tropical island.
But I really can't believe that the show has changed substantially since previews.
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Post by digne on May 19, 2023 9:24:24 GMT
Really enjoyed this last night - I've been waiting for years to see this show again. I'm very happy I have another ticket booked in a few weeks.
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