Company London- Page 11

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 12/2/18 at 10:08am

I’m seeing this tomorrow. I never go to the stage door, but I want to for Patti. Do they stage door in the West End? I want to be respectful so if this is something that’s considered invasive or is just not done over there, I would want to know.

I’m so excited!!

[BeNice]

Posted: 12/2/18 at 11:11am

I have been part of so many productions/pre-productions that Reidel has written about in his column and it’s always confounding how he makes things up or misleads. Sometimes what he says is true but not if it gets in the way of an entertaining column!

[JBC3]

Posted: 12/2/18 at 1:01pm

theatregoer3 said: "I’m seeing this tomorrow. I never go to the stage door, but I want to for Patti. Do they stage door in the West End? I want to be respectful so if this is something that’s considered invasive or is just not done over there, I would want to know.

I’m so excited!!"

They stage door and this one draws a fair amount of people. Easy to spot on the side of the theatre.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 12/2/18 at 6:07pm

Hey all in case any of you missed this but I had to pick it out for another poster. There are stalls seats for this from £27,50 about $35 from January and even seats in the Grand Circle from £12.50 about $15. I picked a random Thursday Mat in January and a Friday eve in February. 

[JBC3]

Posted: 12/3/18 at 12:57pm

Theatre Monkey provides great info on seat selection for London theatres. Here is the link for the Gielgud Theatre. Intimate space so even rear stalls is pretty decent, but this show benefits from being as close and as center as you posssibly can be.

http://www.theatremonkey.com/GIELGUDbooking.htm

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/3/18 at 6:14pm

Lonny Price was there Friday night. *insert speculation here*

This is not a review, but just a few thoughts.

As a woman who falls under the category of unmarried 30-something, who has a long history with this show, I knew feelings would be had and it did not disappoint.

Some of the book changes worked better than others. It's not perfect, by any means. The people I saw it with and I all had different things we focused on. I don't know if there's an easy fix for all of them. I don't know that anyone wants more drastic changes, so maybe it will remain imperfect. Some parts, like the Act 2 scene with Susan and Peter and the post-Ladies Who Lunch scene, didn't work for me in their current format.

But when it works, it works so well- the gender switches, the 3 boyfriends, Jamie. Marry Me a Little was so, so good. It's a very different song when a woman sings it, and basically justifies this whole production. I also liked what they did with Tick Tock as well.

I loved Jonathan Bailey. I also liked the directed moments throughout that show he and Bobbie really are best friends. I really hope if it transfers, we don't get some tired shtick from Michael Urie or whoever instead.

Rosalie is wonderful, and her tone and humor throughout fits so well with Bobbie as written. She feels very genuine, despite the fact that the same lines she's saying have always be said by men. And Patti is the best I've seen her since Gypsy.

I'm jetlagged, so this probably doesn't make much sense, but yeah. Great show. Doesn't erase the traditional show, but is a welcome alternate in 2018.

Updated On: 12/3/18 at 06:14 PM

[Mike66]

Posted: 12/3/18 at 6:37pm

JBC3 said: "Saw this for the third time today. As good as some of it is, I do hope a few things are changed should it transfer.

The changes in the script during the final bar exchange between Bobbie and Joanne needs some work. Joanne offering up Larry for Bobbie to sleep with sounds so out of place and unexpected. It does not have the emotional or psychological effect of Joanne offering herself up to Bobby personally.


Saw this last week.  Loved it.  But agree 100% with the need to change the ridiculous choreography on "100 People."  I had to close my eyes.  Why do they have to try so hard?  It's a great piece in a great show.  Let's be honest -- if she walked to the front of the stage and sang it in a white spotlight, it would still be fabulous.  All that visual noise behind her is d-u-m-b. And for anyone who has ever been in the subway (even at 3 am), it's absurd.

ALSO, totally agree with Joanne/Larry thing.  I wasn't crazy about Joanne asking Bobby to join her in the bedroom in the original, but it made sense -- Joanne is drunk, Bobby is single, and she's bored with Larry, and has no emotional commitment to him.  So a nooner with a friend would be well within reason.

Joanne offering her husband to Bobbie makes no sense.  It doesn't work on any level.  There's no chemistry presented between Larry and Bobbi to make Joanne think Bobbie would be interested.  And it's not like Bobbie is 'doing without' -- we just finished 'Barcelona' in the scene right before this. And Joanne gives us no reason to believe that Larry is so very bedroom talented that he's a gift worth getting. Larry is probably the least developed character in the show -- so why should we be focusing on all of this.  It really doesn't work.  

Mostly, I couldn't figure out if Joanne was offering him for an afternoon, or something more permanent. After all, it's as easy to believe that she's really tired of him, has only been using him all along, and would love to have him disappear.   

Finally, Bobbie gives NO reaction to the offer -- not when it's first offered, and not when it's referenced again at the end of the scene.  And then, of course, it's straight on to "Being Alive" where Im not even sure Larry is on stage.  It's just a total dead end.

 

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 12/5/18 at 6:32am

Saw it this Monday. I thought it was near perfect. I have no quibbles. I’m surprised with some reactions posted here and can only assume folks came in with preconceived notions. I thought the book changes and direction were flawless. I was fine with the 100 People dancers and thought that segment worked quite well actually.

Rosalie was giving the best performance I’ve seen from a musical performer in quite a while. It’s so grounded. I do hope she comes with the show to New York. Also, I found the Jaimie wedding sequence to be very emotional as well as funny.

If you’re in London, GO!!

[JBC3]

Posted: 12/5/18 at 7:27am

theatregoer3 said: "Saw it this Monday. I thought it was near perfect. I have no quibbles. I’m surprised with some reactions posted here and can only assume folks came in with preconceived notions. I thought the book changes and direction were flawless. I was fine with the 100 People dancers and thought that segment worked quite well actually.

Rosalie was giving the best performance I’ve seen from a musical performer in quite a while. It’s so grounded. I do hope she comes with the show to New York. Also, I found the Jaimie wedding sequence to be very emotional as well as funny.

If you’re in London, GO!!"

You know what they say about making assumptions. Seems like general consensus here is that it is a strong production with a few things that might benefit from tweaking. That certainly has been the spirit with which I have made my observations.

[GreatBroadwayFan]

Posted: 12/5/18 at 3:27pm

Is there any word yet on when the cast recording is being released? One source said early 2019 but I'm just curious if there is anything more concrete.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 5:02pm

Nearly perfect.
And more than worth flying to London for! I knew I’d love it, but I truly LOVED it.

The staging, the performances, the book changes - it all worked. I agree that Rosalie’s performance is brilliant, and I adored the way Patti has evolved the role.

I’d see it again in a heartbeat and can’t wait for the cast recording.

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 1:46am

Flew to London to see it. Genius! Musical theater heaven. Rosalie, Patti, and Jonathan are geniuses!

[binau]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 7:26am

Patti LuPone is being interviewed in a second, and they will apparently play "Ladies Who Lunch" from the new cast recording!

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_two

[binau]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 7:46am

LuPone said she'd pretty much only go to Broadway if the cast transfers with her because she is bonding with them and is the happiest she has ever been on stage. She basically said if they don't, it'll be like the Les Mis situation and it'll end in London for her. She claims that the reason she didn't go to New York with Les Mis is not because the role was too small but because she had such a great experience she didn't think it could continue in New York with the change in company etc.

LuPone claims that her husband almost divorced her after the way she treated him through the "Sunset" fiasco. She took it out on him. 

LuPone: I never get the roles I want. If I go after them I never get them and I get depressed, so I don't go after them. I take what comes to me. 
 

Updated On: 12/16/18 at 07:46 AM

[BJR]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 10:11am

qolbinau said: "LuPone said she'd pretty much only go to Broadway if the cast transfers with her because she is bonding with them and is the happiest she has ever been on stage. She basically said if they don't, it'll be like the Les Mis situation and it'll end in London for her. She claims that the reason she didn't go to New York with Les Mis is not because the role was too small but because she had such a great experience she didn't think it could continue in New York with the change in company etc.

I believe she means that, but I can't imagine her passing it up. I have a feeling it will end up being a mixed company, and as she begins to win awards, I think Rosalie is more and more likely to come over with it.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 11:03am

Wow!! Her recording of Ladies is phenomenal. Her belting is clearly held back in certain spots, as opposed to in the theater, but it works wonderfully. I am sometimes an original orchestrations snob, but the new orchestration of this number is stunning.
When did Sondheim change the Wife/Life lyric to Time/Prime? Does Patti sing that in the theater, or is it new for the recording?

[binau]

Posted: 12/16/18 at 11:13am

Even in the theatre in my opinion it does feel held back like this compared to say how she sung it at the Sondheim Birthday concert or in the NPH concert. I'm certain it's an acting choice because she is singing the song sitting at a table as if she is having a conversation with Bobbie that seamlessly moves from dialogue into song (as opposed to the concert or NPH version where she stands centre stage belting).....it wouldn't make sense for her to scream her face off while sitting at a table...so it works....but I do love a good belt.

Updated On: 12/16/18 at 11:13 AM

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 4:32pm

This looks really dope! I'm hoping for a transfer.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Watch-Highlights-of-Rosalie-Craig-Patti-LuPone-More-in-West-End-COMPANY-20181218

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 5:21pm

They previewed Ladies who lunch from the upcoming cast recording on Michael Ball show on BBC last Sunday and it sounded gorgeous. The new orchestrations are wonderful.

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 8:50am

Has anyone seen a release date for the album? I can’t wait to hear it. This show has really stayed with me and I can’t get it out of my head.

[ShutUpLuPone2]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:20am

We've uploaded the whole song on youtube. Check it out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQcHMUHxR0

[StylishCynic]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 2:31pm

Nick Hern Books will publish the revised libretto, available January 10th. "This [revised] edition features the complete revised book and lyrics for the production, colour production photographs, and an introduction by Sondheim's biographer David Benedict."

https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/company

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 9:48pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "This looks really dope! I'm hoping for a transfer.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Watch-Highlights-of-Rosalie-Craig-Patti-LuPone-More-in-West-End-COMPANY-20181218"

^This

[GreatBroadwayFan]

Posted: 1/30/19 at 2:04pm

Just two more days (February 1st)  until the cast recording is available for digital download (both in the US and the UK)!!! No word yet on if they will release a physical CD for purchase!

Now that we've got our cast recording, let's get that Broadway transfer! 

[binau]

Posted: 1/30/19 at 4:42pm

I heard that as of one month ago certain members of the cast believe the show is going to transfer. 

Can't wait for the recording! I hope it's a good record of this spectacular, historical Sondheim revival.