Dirty Dancing in Westend.........- Page 2

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:05pm

Go to their website as posted above.

Click on CRITICS RAVE.

Read through some of the "reviews." Not one of them is a review of the actual production, and not one of them is a rave about anything. It is laughably hysterical. You must check it out.


And for people who don't want to, it's basically (let's just use THE WEDDING SINGER for example:)

"Laura Benanti's really thin! Her hair is brown and she's back on Broadway!"

[mrkringas]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 1:05pm

There is plenty of "trash" produced on both sides of the Atlantic. You have to remember though that running costs for any west end show is going to be a lot lower as the Equity minimums are quite different.

There are certain producers in the UK who put on shows with low budget sets, wide appeal, discounted tkts and a talented cast working their butts off for not that much money (in relative terms).

Mack and Mabel isnt trash. Its not a "cheap" production and who cares if David Soul is an ass? Loved the production and seen him out in Manchester with a very cool leather trenchcoat with younger women crowding him!

Footloose was great fun too and its well executed. But you cant compare it to Sunday in the Park or even Billy Elliot. Entirely different aims and objectives. No disrespect intended. Even in a long running "trash" (your terms people!) show like Fame you can find talented leads and ensemble. Look at the cast of Avenue Q. Julie Atherton is a wonderful young performer. However she did spend a lot of time in Fame. Do we diss her or others talent? No, cause anytime I have gone to such shows I am almost always impressed by the level of talent in the West End. We are not as big as Broadway but its still a cut throat business to get to that level.

If anything its the market thats at fault here. The demand for musical theatre and what produceres are willing to invest in. Wht can get them a good steady return. Therefore its sad to see so many great performers over the years "wasted" in such shows but its still work and they give 110%

[west end artist1]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:25pm

Man you really wanna fight with people dont you BLESS

You can insult footloose all you like(try watching the uk versin first coz its a hell of a lot dif from the mess broadway made of it)

AND THEM SHOWS STILL OPENED ON BROADWAY AND DEF WOULDNT HAVE EVEN BEEN GIVEN A SECOND GLANCE IN LONDON Hmmmm wonder why

[joshy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:18pm

I'm so ashamed of how long a run Fame had in London, and even moreso that Dirty Dancing has such a huge advance. It will also run for years full of people who've never been to the theatre before but who just want to see the movie played out onstage. Meanwhile, Mack & Mabel, a far more creative and entertaining show, struggles to fill seats. Sigh. I hate that accessible, brainless trash is so popular.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:27pm

I agree 100% with you Joshy.

Why the hell is Wicked/Lion King/Beauty and the Beast still running on Broadway!? When shows like The Wild Party and Caroline, or Change fold in less than 100 performances.

UGH

[joshy]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:34pm

It is sad. And I mean, I do enjoy those three shows you mentioned, it just sucks that mediocre but brainless entertainment dominates the masterpieces. I don't know The Wild Party but omg Caroline!! I'm so excited to see it in London the end of this year. I've been watching the youtube vids in anticipation!

[west end artist1]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 7:23pm

i will say this ONE more time

shows like fame .footloose,dirty dancing,wicked etc run because they introduce new people to theatre who in a few years will go back to watch barefoot etc(it aint rocket science people).In all the time ive spend doing musicals Fame was the show which had the most effect on its audience(especially the kids).We would see them at the end of the show at the stage door and there faces were alive and excited and would come up to us and ask us about becoming a dancer or a singer they were really inspired.The stupid comment about the people coming to them shows who havent been to theatre before HELLO thats the point.
Without them people broadway and the west end would fold.
Its the snobby attitudes like some been expressed on this board that keeps new people away from the theatre coz they think its not meant for them etc.
A show runs for 10 years coz people keep going to see it coz for them its a great night out.and a show closes after a year coz the same people dont want to see it SIMPLE.
Fame did a strong 10 years in the uk(and will continue to do so when it goes out on tour next year)dont bitch about it ,be happy coz its bringing in money and new audiences who one day will be wanting to see C and C in a revival Or barefoot etc

[alterego]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 11:10pm

Some very interesting arguments put forward by all parties here.

At the end of the day you have to remember it is showBUSINESS. So if there is an audience for DIRTY DANCING or FAME who are willing to pay their money to be entertained by these shows let them. That's their choice. It also provides work for actors, singers, dancers, musicians, crew, front of house etc. at that isn't a bad thing is it?

Footnote: The producer of DIRTY DANCING also produced the very successful Australian tour of FAME which ran for over a year and provided a lot of employment too.

[west end artist1]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 2:22pm

thankyou alterego

theese shows are important to the west end and broadway and im sure many people on this board would love to work in musicals and theese shows are great platforms for young people to get there foot in the door .Thats how i started out with fame and it let me move on to do some great shows and now im in footloose coz i wanted some fun again and fun is what i get every night(they was only so much superstar and on the town i could take hehe)

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 2:25pm

I get your point, West End, but please stop refering to Barefoot in the Park as high art.

It's a second rate Neil Simon.

And I believe that the Wicked's of the world could/should be able to coexist with the Caroline, or Change's of the world.

[west end artist1]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 3:03pm

i agree that the likes of Caroline should be able to co exist but what the audience wants the audience gets i think we need to face it that the overblown spectacle musicals are where broadway is heading(i appologise as a brit as i think that was our fault with the likes of phantom,les mis etc).
Though you do seem a bit bitter towards wicked and its fans?its bringing joy in to there lives so that can only be a good thing right?
I quite liked wicked i thought it was fun and had some catchy music but it aint the best show around but is still a lot of fun and hope it does as well here in the UK.
Plus
smaller shows such as taboo(uk)could have worked great in the states but yet again what happened ?so many changes were made and it was given a broadway makeover and before u can say opening night its ready to close

tut tut