The Light Princess

[The Dark I Know Well]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 6:30am

Really enjoyed it, still sounds like it changing lots in previews but beautiful sets and music. Some of the staging and stagecraft is exceptional. Will surely be going back to see it once it's opened.

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 9:17am

I'm seeing it on my Dec London trip. Can't wait!

[thespian geek]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 10:36am

Wanted to see it, but it's not playing the entire time I'm going to be in London in November, so will be missing out this time...

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 3:50pm

I saw the second preview.

Thought it was in excellent shape, apart from a few mic issues, everything ran smoothly and slick, despite the many technical demands that are evident.

Utterly beautiful piece of musical theatre, I was entranced the whole way through. So many elements that bring together this world and it's just stunning how they've used everything, sets, puppetry, projections, lighting, it all blends and supports one another to create this wondorous land.

Was never familiar with the story itself, and I couldn't help but think how joyous it was to see another fairy tale brought to the stage. There are so many parallels to other shows and stories that it draws upon (Little Mermaid kept springing to mind a lot), but it highly succeeds in it's own right and while I began to thought it looked a bit discombobulating at first, they achieve the floating princess aspect in very magical and inventive ways, major props to the acrobats for being a major contribution in the illusion.

Cast are for the most part incredible, I'd like to throw Rosalie Craig as a potential Olivier nominee this year, but I also thought Piper, King Darius and Falconer were highlights.

Orchestrations are stunning and suit the piece so well. I wasn't sure what to expect from Tori Amos, but I was impressed that she had construced such a narrative-based score that was pulsating and encapsulating, like eagerly turning the next page of a storybook.

The National do go all-out when they put on a musical, and I want this to succeed in the long run. Wonderful evening and highly recommended.

Already wanting a cast recording release to be announced!

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 5:24pm

I have only seen Rosalie Craige once, it was her big debut role I believe as my friend and I had never heard of her. It was Julietta in the Menier's "Aspects of Love". In a pretty good revival of a medium quality show, she easily stood out and I have, from here across the pond, been happy to see her star slowly ascend. Looking forward to seeing her again.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 7:18am

I have the echo AvenueQResident in everything written. This is a lush, complex score that is beautifully orchestrated and performed by a terrific ensemble. So much talent in this case.

Rosalie Craig has been a treat for a number of years. She was one of the good things in Lord of the Rings, belted crap out of Aspects of Love, impressed as Mother in Ragtime and had her moments with Finding Neverland. I've also seen her in a few plays and pretty sure she did London Road? So yes slowly ascending and this role should really put her on the map for the wider audience.

[DeNada]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 8:30am

Yeah, Rosalie Craig was in London Road - she's the one with the blonde bob , she sings the "Classic FM" line at the end of "The Verdict" and opens "It Could Be Him". Of course, London Road was not a show to showcase the beauty of someone's singing voice, as marvellous as it was.

God I want to see this show I need to get down to London in December.

[dgjbear]

Posted: 9/30/13 at 6:46am

This sounds great! Was wondering how it was shaping up before I get a ticket. The National are just great at musicals, and so nice to see something brand new.

[Fan123]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 4:09am

A couple of official reviews, courtesy of the Whatsonstage forum:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10366887/The-Light-Princess-at-the-National-Theatre-review.html

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/oct/10/the-light-princess-review

I really hope these aren't accurate. I have high hopes for this show.

[jman16]

Posted: 10/10/13 at 4:33am

No, pretty accurate actually. A real disappointment. Such a lot of talent and effort has clearly gone into the show, but theres just something missing. Rosalie is phenomenal, yes, but the music is dull, set and costumes look cheap and the story is lacklustre. Especially odd that people have compared it to Wicked. I wish the National would do more musicals, but not like this.

[Fan123]

Posted: 10/11/13 at 2:37am

More review links on the West End board now, including a fair few positive ones. Maybe I'll just choose to believe them for now...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/board/readmessage.php?thread=1065316&dt=3&boardid=3

[frapperia]

Posted: 10/11/13 at 3:42am

It's not a disappointment at all. It's going to be very divisive - and by that, remember that what Jman says is his or her personal opinion. Personally, I thought it was stunning.

[jman16]

Posted: 10/11/13 at 3:47am

And that is Frapperia's opinion. Allow me to rephrase that; I was disappointed. An incredibly talented creative team, combined with a ludicrously talented cast, I was disappointed it wasn't as good as I'd hoped.

[Fan123]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 6:30am

The script is on sale at the National Theatre shop now. According to @samuelmcadamson, a cast recording will be made "one day. not imminent, though." Not sure if I should be hopeful or not on that front...

https://twitter.com/samuelmcadamson/status/388612696964206592




NT bookshop link Updated On: 10/13/13 at 06:30 AM

[Wickedmonkey332]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 8:03am

I heard from a friend that the direction, cast, and music are exceptional. She also said that the costumes and choreography are worse that most community theater. She said it also ran too long (2:45); however she saw the third preview and cuts have supposedly been made since then.

[Fan123]

Posted: 11/25/13 at 4:09am

You can now preview a few pages of the published libretto at Amazon. Yay!

[Jacobonce]

Posted: 11/27/13 at 12:29pm

The National Theatre has posted 2 songs from The Light Princess on the show homepage.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-light-princess?play=1

*swoon*

[Fan123]

Posted: 11/28/13 at 3:47am

At last! And hopefully this does mean a cast recording is on its way.
Hard to judge based just on this, but I'm still intrigued. It sounds more traditional music theatre-esque than I, for some reason, had expected.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 11/28/13 at 3:58pm

The score is very much a musical theatre score with its use of leitmotif and lyrics that at least drive forward or reveal character. Something that pop composers sometimes seem to forget and end up writing a one note song that doesn't say more than the title.

SPOILERS



"Althea" is the first duet between our romantic couple. The staging is quite breathtaking. The theme is reprised later in the show to great impact. Note the two distinct melodies and rhythmic structure to the opposing characters. We have our star crossed lovers.

You hear more of the verbose literate style of Althea in her morning after song "Better than Good". This is the OMG I've just fallen in love and perhaps had sex how can life ever be the same moment.

Cannot wait to hear the full album. Its a tuneful, intricate score. IMHO the Prince and his people have much more simplistic melody and lyrics as opposed to Althea and her dramatic father and best friend. There is a level of detail in the work that some just didn't warm to in the theatre. I think part of that is the almost sung through nature of the show. The design. Definitely the weight of expectations. This is the first original musical produced by the NT since London Road.. and its an American composer. Which doesn't bother me one jot but for some there is an issue. Throw in some gripes about American performers in the West End (a two way street that benefits both).

We have writers but they just don't get the platform from commercial producers*. Or when randomly a new voice appears - From Here to Eternity - it is utterly appalling and would close in previews on Broadway earning its own chapter in Not Since Carrie 2.

* Stiles & Drewe aside who just can't catch a break since Honk and Mary Poppins but continue to create good work.

[Fan123]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 6:06pm

As reported by BWW, there are now two more songs up on the National Theatre website linked above.

[sephyr]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 2:07am

I like the new songs. Tori's folk stylings really give the music a fresh, melodic feel that I really fancy. I love the chord progressions. The first new song, My Fairy Story, is riveting, my favorite so far.

[Fan123]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 6:31am

Here's a trailer, showing some of the floating effects used for the titular character.

Link

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 7:26am

That looks really well done, and I quiet like the song as well.

[exedore]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 1:15pm

Saw this on a recent trip to London and it was the most magical, captivating thing I'd seen in ages. There are echoes of Peter and the Starcatcher in terms of some of the visibility of staging, but whereas Peter always felt clever, Light Princess pulled me in from the start and was simply wondrous. Sadly, I can't imagine it transitioning well to being filmed, and the chances of a commercial transfer on either side of the pond are slim at best.

A shame.

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 12/24/13 at 5:21pm

Wow. That actually gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. It looks incredible!