Back From a Disappointing London

Alright just spent 2 weeks in London, great trip but i won't bore you. The musicals I saw were: Fame, Bombay Dreams, Blood Brothers, Jerry Springer the Opera and then I saw Judi Dench in the RSC presentation of Alls Well That Ends Well. I loved Blood Brothers so that is the exception to what I am about to say: The musical casts in London have become really weak. I felt like I was watching semi-professional theatre most of the time. Most of the actors had no presence and some looked almost uncomfortable on stage. The voices were ok... not fabulous but decent and the acting was so melodramatic i wanted to puke. I polled other Americans whom i met at the shows and they all agreed that the casts in NY are much stronger....don't know what's going on over there. Has anyone else had the same experience with the recent casts in London?

Side note: I loved Judi Dench and everyone else in Alls Well That Ends Well. The Royal Shakespeare Compnay is amazing.

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Updated On: 4/19/04 at 09:27 PM

I agree...I just saw Millie in London and it made me want to cry. Amanda Holden is so awful as Millie. I was just so disappointed by the London production. And the worst part...I recommended the show to friends...and then took them to see it...I felt so awful for taking them.

Kate

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Amanda Holden was dreadful as Millie. She belted through her nose, had a weak head voice, and comedic timing that left the audience going, "Huh? Was that a joke?"

Off-topic, but does anyone know why they have "safety curtains" over there? My father and I laughed at it every time we saw a show. Are they afraid of something flying out at the audience?

Anyone know why they're not in NY?

I was in the West End last month. I also saw Blood Brothers and Jerry Springer. I didn't enjoy Jerry Springer very much. I thought it was stupid. Blood Brothers was awsome. I thought the acting was amazing especially by the actor who played Michey. Actually, the actor I saw as Eddie won the Drama Desk for playing the role on Broadway.

Gotta say I love how they sell ice cream right in the theater during intermission that you can eat during the second act.

Updated On: 4/18/04 at 11:11 PM

Interesting what you say about musical theatre in London. I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang two weeks ago, and thought it was great. It looked just as grand as the first time I saw it with the original cast. The present cast only just started a month ago, with the exception of the actors playing Caractacus, Truly, Lord Scrumptious, Coggins and one or two ensemble members most of whom are left from the original cast (Gary Wilmot started last July). However, EVERYONE in the cast looked as though they were giving 110%.

One correction though about the play you saw -- Dame Judi Dench has been appearing in ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, not AS YOU LIKE IT. I saw that show as well, and enjoyed it thoroughly. What a treat to see Dame Judi on the stage -- and a very gracious lady she was at the stage door as well. I think that production closes the end of April.

I love London Theater. They are not afraid to do stuff America would be shunning. I think that British Theater is still a national thing. In America, it has become an elite thing. Songs from London shows still become hits on the radio and people know the stars from the shows. Here in America, I am sure if you went to Iowa most people whould not know Sutten Foster or Alice Ripley.

I know of quite a few people in Iowa who know who Sutton Foster ans Alice Ripley are.

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Why in the world, if you are going over to London, with so much excellent theatre to choose from, would you see an American show like Millie or Fame? What a waste.

You must also eat at McDonalds when you go to Paris.

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Or maybe *gasp* we want to see the London interpretation and compare!

How shocking we are...

Updated On: 4/19/04 at 05:59 PM

Shocking - No, I think boring or pathetic would be better words to describe it.

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I was in London over winter break and I saw: Blood Brothers, Jerry Springer, Anything Goes, and His Dark Materials.
I LOVED blood brothers. so much, jerry springer i HATED, anything goes was eh. and his dark materials was so technically amazing! but i do agree w/everything you said!

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Plum--
Just a few decades ago, songs from the musical theater where popular. Songs like Send in the Clowns and many many more before that were huge hits on the "pop charts".
What I was trying to say was that that in London, the theater stars are still regarded as highly as our movie stars.
Ruthie Henshall, Elaine Paige, Barbra Dickson are household names in England.
I know that there are people in Iowa who would know Alice Ripley and Sutten Foster are....but I bet the majority of the population does not.