Chorus Member Joined: 12/15/10
Hi.
I'm going to London in next week (17 to 19 April) and can't decide if I should see Once or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What would you suggest.
I like musicals in the style of ALW, Les Mis, Wicked, Matilda etc. The most important for me in a show is the music and the plot.
If you suggest other shows too for me, I'd like to hear them :) Fringe or West End - as long as it is a musical :)
Best regards.
I would skip both, but that's just me.
I second Urinetown. Great show.
Out of those two, though, I would suggest Charlie. Once bored me to death.
ONCE by a mile! IMO Once is THE best musical in the West end right now and the best for many years. Beautifully written book, a simply stunning score and visually brilliant.
I would also agree that URINETOWN is a fantastic show. And THE BEAUTIFUL GAME at the Union is seriously great.
But, as always, it depends on personal taste.
Chorus Member Joined: 12/15/10
Thank you very much.
So far I've ordered tickets for POTO (17 April - matinee), Urinetown (18 April) and The Beautiful Game (19 April - evening).
I would like to see two more musicals. Any suggestions, now most of you don't recommend Charlie and Once?
Best regards.
Definately Charlie... Once is a bit boring (IMO) Charlie is a great.
As I said before - it all depends on personal taste, so you have to go with what kind of show you like.
Personally I would say ONCE is anything but boring - utterly compelling and emotionally moving both times I saw it and would gladly see it again. It's a VERY special piece of musical theatre. But I could not sit through Charlie a second time. But that's just me LOL
I hated every thing about Charlie, but in saying that. If you wanna see it go, you might enjoy it.
Charlie is Ok. Once is delightful. I don't know that either fits your request for "style of ALW, Les Mis, Wicked, Matilda" Once is not "BIG" and Charlie is not sung-through nor does it have witty lyrics.
So, I'd recommend Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for an old time big musical and masterful performances from Robert Lindsay and Samantha Bond. Haven't seen the production of Urinetown and the Union Theatre is definitely fringe....
Chorus Member Joined: 12/15/10
From what I've seen in trailers DRS reminds me of Top Hat which I didn't like. But maybe I'm wrong. Do you think DRS is in style of Top Hat?
I didn't see Top Hat. The music in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is by David Yazbeck who also wrote the music for The Full Monty. YouTube has the number "Great Big Stuff" from the Tony awards, although the number has been updated and changed slightly since then. But they lyrics throughout have wit and charm . Direction/Choreography is Jerry Mitchell who does big and brassy. So, I can see how you would think this is like Top Hat - but this ain't no 1930s movie musical transferred to the stage.
Still, if big and brassy is not your style, then I'd pick up some discount tickets to Once and get there at least a half hour early to have a drink on stage with the performers and then watch a charming show.
Butz and Stuff
Chorus Member Joined: 12/15/10
So, I went to see POTO, Once, Urinetown, Charlie and Beautiful Game. Here are few of my thougts.
Scott Davies was on as the phantom. He did a great job. I've seen him before but this time was his best performance of those I've seen. Olivia was on as Christine. Great singing voice. Great cast.
(I would rate it 5 stars)
Once I found long. The story was boring, the music was okay and the cast was good. I found the set design boring.
(I would rate it 3 stars)
Urinetown: Funny evening. Fantastic cast and set design.
(I would rate it 4 stars)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: First act was long, the second act was okay. Great cast and beautiful set design. The music was boring.
(I would rate it 3 stars)
The Beautiful Game: Fantastic Cast, lovely music and interesting story about some of Ireland's history. A great way of using the small auditorium. I love intimate theatre and Andrew Lloyd Webber's music.
(I would rate it 5 stars)
Thank you for your help with deciding which shows I should go see Happy Easter!
Great you took time out, to give feed back.
Videos