West End's Last 5 Years?
West End's Last 5 Years?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#1West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 4:01pm
I know this is far from new, but Ive just learned that Jonathan Bailey starred in the West End's The Last 5 Years with Samantha Barks. ( 2017 ish?) I admittedly don't pay much here to UK news, just peripherally.
Anyone here see it? What were your thoughts? I just overdosed on content from it, and I'm chomping at the bit to hear more about the production. (Mostly because I have been gobsmacked by his performance in Fellow Travelers.
Thanks for any memories in it.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#2West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 4:34pm
In case you haven't already found them, here is where comments about the performances start on the UK theatre board thread about the production:
https://theatreboard.co.uk/post/65801/thread
#3West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 4:43pm
Saw it and thought it was entirely underwhelming. Was there most for Banks who delivered a vocally enjoyable performance, but acting was all of the place. Bailey was fine but mostly not memorable, despite his good looks. This was also not many years after the 2nd Stage production (which I loved…): It felt cheap by comparison.
As an aside: was this technically West End? I distinctly remember this being near a more southern portion of the palace in what felt like a “off-Broadway” theater.
#4West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 4:47pm
I wish I had seen this. Most of the songs are available on YouTube though to give you an idea of what it was like.
The Schmuel Song
#6West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 4:55pm
Play Esq. said: "Saw it and thought it was entirely underwhelming. Was there most for Banks who delivered a vocally enjoyable performance, but acting was all of the place. Bailey was fine but mostly not memorable, despite his good looks. This was also not many years after the 2nd Stage production (which I loved…): It felt cheap by comparison.
It was at an off west end type theatre called the St. James I believe!
As an aside: was this technically West End? I distinctly remember this being near a more southern portion of the palace in what felt like a “off-Broadway” theater."
#7West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 5:25pm
Yeah, it was the St. James before ALW bought it and renamed it The Other Palace.
Rumpelstiltskin
Broadway Star Joined: 4/22/07
#8West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 6/30/24 at 10:35pm
I'm responsible for roughly half of the audition video's 1.7M views. Love this.
DeNada
Broadway Star Joined: 7/7/07
#9West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 7/1/24 at 4:25am
He was (very) good, she sang it well; the reverse of the previous West End staging I saw with Paul Spicer (not particularly convincing as a superstar essayist) and Julie Atherton.
A more evenly matched production was the Menier premiere with Damian Humbley and Lara Pulver back in 2006.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#10West End's Last 5 Years?
Posted: 7/1/24 at 1:11pm
Thanks everyone!
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Videos