Meniers Big Musical for 2009 — Page 3
#52
Posted: 4/11/09 at 12:00pm
Carrie, Carrie, Carrie
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
#53
Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:44pm
someone on WOS has posted it may well be Company
#54
Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:47pm
Done at the Donmar only 12 years ago. Transfered to The Albery but found no audience.
#55
Posted: 4/11/09 at 4:47pm
Why not Carrie?
It needs a new production and small could be what it needs.
It needs a new production and small could be what it needs.
#56
Posted: 4/12/09 at 5:16pm
I saw Amazing Grace at Theatre Clwyd 3 or 4 years ago and felt it showed a lot of promise but the book still needed work.
#57
Posted: 4/12/09 at 5:25pm
Amazing Grace is probably the worst attempt at musical theatre I have ever seen. Although the score is full of really good songs, the style of music was totally wrong for the piece, the songs held up the plot rather than advancing it, some of the songs were totally out of character for the characters singing them - and the book did not need work, it needed to be thrown out and start again from fresh! It was utter gibberish - and at times embarrassingly corny. I was literally falling og my chair at times - in scenes that were supposed to be serious! Also, Michael Bogdanov proved that he has no idea how to direct a musical - most of the staging of the songs was hysterical.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#58
Posted: 4/12/09 at 10:40pm
There are any number of really good English musicals that could/should be given an airing. Some of them might need a bit of tweaking to bring them up to an acceptable level for todays audiences but surely the people associated with the Menier are better suited (size/finances) to do this rather than some of the larger production groups?
Do you really need yet another CHARITY, PIPPIN or PAJAMA GAME? That really is just more of what everyone else is doing. Why not THE BOYFRIEND, VALMOUTH, CANTERBURY TALES or any of the near hits of the last 40 or so years?
Do you really need yet another CHARITY, PIPPIN or PAJAMA GAME? That really is just more of what everyone else is doing. Why not THE BOYFRIEND, VALMOUTH, CANTERBURY TALES or any of the near hits of the last 40 or so years?
Updated On: 4/12/09 at 10:40 PM
#59
Posted: 4/13/09 at 6:40am
MamasDoin'Fine, you say 'Company' was last in the West End only 12 years ago (13 actually) but this was at the same time as 'A Little Night Music' was at The National (the Best production I have ever seen) and as we all know has just been revived! Any way the Union theatre are doing Company next month. It says on the WOS forum Lucy Williamson is playing Joanne!
http://companythemusical.co.uk/
I would love to see 'Passion' at the Menier after the average OLC and subsequent boring revival at the Bridewell
http://companythemusical.co.uk/
I would love to see 'Passion' at the Menier after the average OLC and subsequent boring revival at the Bridewell
#61
Posted: 4/13/09 at 2:42pm
Ooh, I'd go with Valmouth- that's one crazy show!
How about some Stiles & Drew? Tutankamen was great. What's happening with Soho Cinders?
Poppy could be worth a dust off. Oh, and then there's always The Hired Man!
How about some Stiles & Drew? Tutankamen was great. What's happening with Soho Cinders?
Poppy could be worth a dust off. Oh, and then there's always The Hired Man!
#63
Posted: 4/13/09 at 3:12pm
'Poppy' and 'Ballroom'
Oh my God your so cruel -I cant chose!
Oh my God your so cruel -I cant chose!
#64
Posted: 4/13/09 at 5:21pm
Surely Ballroom deserves a large scale West End production and not squashed into the Menier?
I'd be interested to see Valmouth in there.
I'd be interested to see Valmouth in there.
#65
Posted: 4/13/09 at 5:50pm
I don't really know Valmouth, so I can't make much of a comment about it. I have to say I find Stiles and Drew's songs rather bland and boring in general. And Poppy was pretty dreadful even in its first outing.
I would love to see Ballroom - at the Menier or ANYWHERE!
But, as I said earlier - why does the Menier's choice for a musical production have to be a revival? Why can't they do a NEW musical? Surely its intimate fringe space would be ideal for developing new work.
I would love to see Ballroom - at the Menier or ANYWHERE!
But, as I said earlier - why does the Menier's choice for a musical production have to be a revival? Why can't they do a NEW musical? Surely its intimate fringe space would be ideal for developing new work.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#66
Posted: 4/14/09 at 5:09am
Doing a new musical is pointless as the xmas musical revival is something that works for them, clearly.
They do do new musical, like Take Flight, generally in the year/summer.
If something ain't broke... don't fix it! This works for the Menier.
Nothing was being mentioned about Company. Id be surprised if this is on the table as i don't think they want to do back to back sondheim and company has been on broadway recently, and i believe ATG has the rights currently still from the broadway revival...
They do do new musical, like Take Flight, generally in the year/summer.
If something ain't broke... don't fix it! This works for the Menier.
Nothing was being mentioned about Company. Id be surprised if this is on the table as i don't think they want to do back to back sondheim and company has been on broadway recently, and i believe ATG has the rights currently still from the broadway revival...
#67
Posted: 4/14/09 at 5:10am
Good point bob. There is a fantastic cast recording of Sandy Wilson's Valmouth, starring two divine ones: Fenella Fielding and Bertice Redding. It's a deliciously camp and silly show about a seaside resort where Mrs Yajnavalkaya offers massage and aphrodisiacs, and Lady Parvula de Panzoust has arrived at the spa for just one more fling:
Just once more!
Though I'm audacious and I know it
I would like to toss my bonnet just as far as I can throw it.
And I want to fascinate another man-
Just to show my friends (and enemies) I can.
Just once more!
Before I have to throw the sponge in
I want to cast convention to the wind and plunge in
To a lover affair, with everything "en place"-
Which will probably provide my coup de grace!
Just once more-
though when my dear husband popped his soul out
I swore I'd keep the beast in me
From throwing self-control out-
Now I find myself attracted to a lad
Who quite compares with many that I've had
I'm unable to combat the urge to add to my score...
Just once more..
A little sample of the lovely witty lyrics.
Just once more!
Though I'm audacious and I know it
I would like to toss my bonnet just as far as I can throw it.
And I want to fascinate another man-
Just to show my friends (and enemies) I can.
Just once more!
Before I have to throw the sponge in
I want to cast convention to the wind and plunge in
To a lover affair, with everything "en place"-
Which will probably provide my coup de grace!
Just once more-
though when my dear husband popped his soul out
I swore I'd keep the beast in me
From throwing self-control out-
Now I find myself attracted to a lad
Who quite compares with many that I've had
I'm unable to combat the urge to add to my score...
Just once more..
A little sample of the lovely witty lyrics.
#68
Posted: 4/14/09 at 9:36am
devonian - thanks for the lyric sample!
anythingoes - I take your point about the fact that doing a Christmas revival obviously works for the Menier. But surely its only criteria should not be purely commercial. If a fringe theatre is not brave enough to concentrate on developing new work, then there is no hope for the future of musical theatre other than what is currently happening in mainstream houses - i.e. revivals, juke box shows and a splattering of rather mindless new shows with a pop-culture appeal.
anythingoes - I take your point about the fact that doing a Christmas revival obviously works for the Menier. But surely its only criteria should not be purely commercial. If a fringe theatre is not brave enough to concentrate on developing new work, then there is no hope for the future of musical theatre other than what is currently happening in mainstream houses - i.e. revivals, juke box shows and a splattering of rather mindless new shows with a pop-culture appeal.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#69
Posted: 4/14/09 at 11:14am
I agree, but I think think Menier do provide that, just not at Xmas/this period of the annual seasons.
It would be great for their to be no commercial reasons into putting on a show/running a venue...but you try and find a producer or owner! The menier makes it's great money in this popular season to probably fund the less commercial ventures for the rest of the year and venue
It would be great for their to be no commercial reasons into putting on a show/running a venue...but you try and find a producer or owner! The menier makes it's great money in this popular season to probably fund the less commercial ventures for the rest of the year and venue
#70
Posted: 4/14/09 at 7:11pm
It would be great if the Menier DID use their christmas shows to fund new work at other times. But this is sadly not quite true. Of the last 5 musicals they have done at other times of the year, only ONE was a new show (Take Flight). The others were They're Playing Our Song, Little Shop of Horrors, Tick Tick Boom and The Last Five Years (which was admittedly new to the UK but not a brand new musical). And even Take Flight was not a new British show.
I'm not condemning the Menier for wanting to make money - it has to be profitable to survive. I'm just making the point that the Menier - and all but a VERY small number of fringe venues in London - makes no effort to provide a vehicle for devloping new musical theatre writing. (As opposed to Off Broadway which has a a host of theatres where producers provide the breeding ground for new musical theatre writing.)
The reason we don't have a host of exciting new musicals emerging in the UK is not because we do not have the writing talent. It's purely because we do not have venues or producers who are prepared to encourage new work. It is understandable in West End houses where costs are so high and commercial success is paramount. But Fringe theatre ought to be about more than that - that's why it's called "fringe". Sadly, it is not. And I fear for the survival of new musical theatre in the UK.
Sorry to get on my soap box. LOL
I'm not condemning the Menier for wanting to make money - it has to be profitable to survive. I'm just making the point that the Menier - and all but a VERY small number of fringe venues in London - makes no effort to provide a vehicle for devloping new musical theatre writing. (As opposed to Off Broadway which has a a host of theatres where producers provide the breeding ground for new musical theatre writing.)
The reason we don't have a host of exciting new musicals emerging in the UK is not because we do not have the writing talent. It's purely because we do not have venues or producers who are prepared to encourage new work. It is understandable in West End houses where costs are so high and commercial success is paramount. But Fringe theatre ought to be about more than that - that's why it's called "fringe". Sadly, it is not. And I fear for the survival of new musical theatre in the UK.
Sorry to get on my soap box. LOL
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
Updated On: 4/14/09 at 07:11 PM
#71
Posted: 4/15/09 at 4:58am
^Little Shop was actually the christmas production for 06/07.
#72
Posted: 4/15/09 at 6:04am
Okay - I stand corrected - my ancient brain seemed to remember seeing LSOH during summer time. lol Even so, I still feel strongly about all I said earlier. They still only did one new show at other times of the year. But, time to move on from this or I risk overkill of my arguments..............
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#73
Posted: 4/15/09 at 6:51am
Hehe I know what you mean, but just think that if the menier hadn't produced them we might not have seen productions of Last 5 years/tick tick boom in the UK (That said Notes from New York are having runs of these at the Duchess).
How likely would it have been to ever get a new production of Sunday/Little Night Music/La Cage into the West End without the Menier? Im guessing it probably wouldn't have happened.
Perhaps after the current economic decline starts improving again we might see some new work coming from the fringe theatres. Until then we can only hope that whatever show the Menier do this christmas, it will kick ass!
How likely would it have been to ever get a new production of Sunday/Little Night Music/La Cage into the West End without the Menier? Im guessing it probably wouldn't have happened.
Perhaps after the current economic decline starts improving again we might see some new work coming from the fringe theatres. Until then we can only hope that whatever show the Menier do this christmas, it will kick ass!
#75
Posted: 4/15/09 at 8:20am
Mark, right - I'm not knocking the Menier. I've loved everything I've seen there and they have brought some wonderful productions to London audiences. I guess I've just been giving vent to the fristration I fear for new writing in the UK in general. I will certainly be there watching whatever the Chocolate Factory decides to stage at the end of the year.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
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