629 posts
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Post by jek on Jul 26, 2019 11:39:13 GMT
Looking forward to seeing this next week - my offspring are of an age that they all loved the books as they came out (the first one came out in 2006 when my eldest was 9). Has anyone seen it yet? I know it is now in preview.
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3,303 posts
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Post by david on Jul 26, 2019 11:43:21 GMT
Will BurlyBeaR be making his stage debut in this show. 🐻🕺? |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jul 26, 2019 13:10:30 GMT
I haven't booked this as Mr.Gum mean nothing to me. I felt it was too squarely aimed at children but would be interested in the view of any adult who sees it.
David Walliams' Billionaire Boy is one of my 10/10 favourites of 2019 and already booked a revisit, plus Dennis and Gnasher for next March (if only I'd kept all my 1960s Beano comics ...)
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Post by songbird on Jul 27, 2019 16:44:37 GMT
Fun show stop during today's matinee with Gary Wilmot entertaining whilst the balloon got fixed
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629 posts
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Post by jek on Aug 2, 2019 7:58:27 GMT
Went to see this last night and greatly enjoyed it. 18 year old daughter described it as 'trippier than the second part of Angels in America' and it has to be said that it - like the books - is properly weird at points. Fantastic performances, particularly from Helena Lymbery as Billy William. And for those of us of my generation Brian Cant's son Richard looks just like him and so it's easy to sit and reminisce about Playschool and Play Away.
Would I have enjoyed it if I didn't have an emotional attachment to the books? Probably not. It's definitely one for families with appropriately aged children. But if you do have those what a fantastic introduction to theatre. The design is really clever too. Theatre seemed pretty packed. The National Theatre should be proud of this.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Aug 2, 2019 21:59:32 GMT
I felt the same FrontroverPaul . If it gets great notices, I'm sure it will fill very quickly, though. I've taken the plunge from the generally excellent reviews and after a quick read of your always-useful website booked P15 circle seat for £15 |
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5,690 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 2, 2019 22:28:05 GMT
Thanks for directing me to the thread already here. Seeing this on Tuesday with appropriately aged companions. We have read the book. V mixed reviews in the newspapers. Puzzling.
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5,690 posts
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Post by lynette on Aug 7, 2019 10:19:12 GMT
A well thought out production for 6-9 year olds. Better if they are acquainted with the book. Songs weak but needed to break up the plot which isn’t totally clear to be honest. Some much younger children there. One started mighty yell two minutes in and ruined the beginning. Should not have been there, far too young.
Excellent balloon and ballroom ball effects.
Acted with gusto and not too over the top as some kids’s Shows are.
They managed to hold on to the self referencing that Stanton has in the books. So for example, the sad song’s lyrics were ‘ this is the saddest song in the show’ Clever.
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Post by Jan on Aug 28, 2019 17:10:37 GMT
Didn't like this at all I'm afraid, and neither did my appropriately-aged companion. We both like the books so it was particularly disappointing. The main problem is it is totally without charm. Also the jokes in the book are mostly literary and didn't translate well to the stage. It was half-empty, word has obviously got around.
Some much younger children there, one with a mother who explained the whole thing out loud in a running commentary, when asked politely to shut up she snapped "It isn't Shakespeare !". Well, she had a point there.
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