The director- (John Landis) has a son who lives in the same apartment complex as me and goes to the same college; well, we both graduated this past semester. He can be REALLY annoying but funny at times. He has been in some movies (as an extra).
My old roomate did some 'stuff' with him years ago.
Sorry- that was just a little off-topic story.
"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule
"I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178
OBC? But wasn't it an off Bway show? Well, in either case, I don't have the London Cast... is it worth getting? I love the OOBC, and can't wait for the movie.
"Writing should be easy, like a monkey driving a speedboat..." -[title of show]
"I'm tired of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're going and meet up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg
I was sad that in the London version they cut my two favourite songs and replaced them. Plus there is a special place in my heart for Kerry Butler. So I saw that the Off-Broadway Cast Recording was better
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Reviews and the like
the London cast cd is much better quality than the OBC. its a lot clearer, the music is louder. IMO, the london cast rec is better. ive seen the show live off broadway and in london. london was better.
as for the film, its not happening now. One fo the producers/directors have pulled out. which means no one is there to carry the film. Unless someone else wants to take on the film, it wont happen. This is the info from someone who would be involved in the creative team.
The London production was terrific! Did anyone else here actually see it? No?... well let me lay the scene.
It did very well with the critics when it opened in a regional theatre then got slammed by the papers' top tier in London. Why? Noone quite knows as those of us who supported the show had one of the best nights in the West End for years. Also it was in the Shaftesbury Theatre. Not a good sign! Its the graveyeard of so many shows; Tommy, Rent, Napoleon, Loutrec, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Fields of Ambrosia and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Why did we love it so much? Simple. The cast were terrific. Although they were playing to crowds of less than 100 by the end of the run they never failed to deliver. Such high energy, cominc timing and total committment to the characters and story.
Deven May recreated his role and won a lot of fans in the process. Also the other leads equal the off-Broadway cast in comparing the cast recordings. I didnt see it off-Broadway but sure Kaitlin Hopkins/Sean McCourt were brilliant. That aside, Becky Vere and John Barr were on top form as Meredith and Dr Parker.
Her Meredith was completely genuine and never knowing. Timing was superb and I thought there was a touch of the Audrey in her characterisation. Just a touch mind you! Then we have the vocals: in younger years she was Adult Cosette at the Palace. No mere soprano though, she is a fierce belter! You get a taste of this from the cd but in the theatre her vocals were electric. "Three Bedroom House" raised the hairs on the neck, especially when she flipped the final note up into the stratosphere.
John Barr is a performer he has been around for years. I believe he started as an Oliver many years ago. Such a nasty, evil and unhinged Dr Parker. Yet he seemed so normal in the beginning. Shame we dont see him in many leads these days. Some criticism was made of Emma Williams as Shelley. She is no Kerry Butler in the vocal dept. But her performance was winning enough for me. She had such a pure soprano in the final duet with Bat Bay. Some of the other cast members were American, like the Reverend. Every single member of that ensemble delivered each time I saw it.
Its a real shame that it didnt last but perhaps it was too big a theatre or the marketing didnt get it quite right. Also it was before the revival of the West End with Marp Poppins, Billy Elliot and the Producers.
Indeed, Bat Boy was an utterly fantastic show. I was at the final performance and even then the audience was tiny, which felt criminal- the show was so brilliant, but like others have said, it was unfortunate to be stuck in a graveyard theatre, and at the time the West End was in a rather poor state. Had it had different circumstances, i believe that it very well might still be running today.
The cast were universally superb and the quality of the performances at the last night (the only night i saw it) were phenomenal.
I've never heard the entire London recording but I have heard Mine All Mine. Though Inside Your Heart and Mine All Mine are both great songs, Inside Your Heart is much better, especially to further along Shelley's character.
The London Batboy was Terrific!??!?!? GOOD GOD!!! IT was HORRIBLE...... One of the worst shows I have ever seen. 1000000% the directors fault. The projections.....some of the cast (like the guy who played the Doug Storm part and the Preacher part)..that whole video game looking video during Mom and Shelly's duet..just awful!!
They couldn't GIVE tickets away. I kid you not. That is what the people at the box office said. Not a good sign.
With that out of the way....one could not but feel sorry for the cast. That theater is just cursed. Because it is a tick out of the way, it probably looses some walk-up business. I have seen 3 shows there, and NEVER have I see the theater more than half full. The leads (I saw an understudy for Batboy,) were all really good. I LOVE JOHN BARR. And for the most part the cast was good...REALLY trying hard. But, it is hard with such a small audience. The show should not be in a big place like that.....it is better in a small venue....though Batboy flying up like an angel at the end, was nice......
Wow that is soo cool about the movie and I'm soo happy they chose May! I hope that they stick with the originals because Kerry Butler and Kaitlin Hopkins and Sean McCourt are amazing in those parts!
RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~
While i've never heard the complete London Recording i have heard the Inside Your Heart replacement, Mine, all mine, and Inside your heart is by far the better song.
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
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