I mentioned in another thread that I had heard there was a case of cold feet going on.
Novello has 2 potential customers if S.A. doesn't make it, (not wishing ill, but that's just the way it is).
Calendar Girls is doing ridiculous business at the moment so that's going nowhere. The Geilgud is just settling in for another run of Av Q. So options are getting a little limited.
Have to agree with Childcatcher, after all the raves (and having never seen it before) I was disappointed (and a little bored). The three woman were excellent though.
compared to what i have heared people say about the original london production this one is a bore ! i didnt enjoy it ! fankly quite bored, the new music was boring ! i loved the original west end cast recording ! pellow was awful i thought ! poppy, rebbeca and ria were amazing and rachel as felecia was hilllarious ! my review is floating about somewhere but if witches wants to make a return run please for the love of god change it back to original form ! including i love the little town and loose ends and whos the man not the glory of me please !
As I posted elsewhere, I enjoyed the tour after going in with litte excitment, the women as reported are excellent and Marti is indeed phwoar worthy, however after the inital excitment/business Pellow would bring I wouldn't see this production lasting in the WE.
Maybe I'm on nobody's side
http://phdconfessions.blogspot.com/
Love this show. Loved the tour version - especially Pellow, far and away the best Darryl I've seen. I preferred the new songs (always hated I Love This Little Town to be honest). The only thing I preferred in the original was the inclusion of Loose Ends, which is a fantastic song. And, of course, the flying scene in the West End show was far more spectacular than the tour. I really wish this could have a successful run in the West End but it - very suprisisingly to me - failed to capture the imagination of the public the first time round, so I fear a transfer is unlikely.
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***
People seem to forget that this just a touring production and the values of this show are pretty high compared to some of the rubbish thats been sent around the UK in the last 10/15 years. This production was never intended for a London run, it never crossed the producers minds when it opened last autumn. On its 5th week of the tour in Wimbledon, a number of Cameron's office went to the Wednesday evening performance. They thought it was a terrific production and the following evening Cameron went himself. In the following few weeks Cameron said he wanted to take the show on in 2009 and proposed a West End opening in September. Nothing was confirmed but he kept in touch with the production. If and when this does happen you can rest assured that he will spend a hell of a lot of money on upgrading this 'touring production' to meet his high West End standards and no doubt he will be heavily involved in its production weeks prior to opening as he is on all shows. I just think, for now, people should be grateful for such a big show to be out there touring on a weekly basis across the whole of the UK for 9 months. Its a dying breed.
It's always a revelation to read how different people react to individual shows and how people's tastes obviously differ. In absolute contrast to Princeton, I've seen 5 productions of Witches of Eastwick and never found a single second boring. I think the book is very strong - genuinely witty with lots of great one liners and very clearly defined characters with plenty of depth of sub-text. And to my ears it is full of great songs.
But then I found Hairspray deathly boring and hated the music - while others think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Isn't musical theatre a weird but wonderful world?
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***
Witches is a strange one, whilst yes its a good musical i think the book has problems and some of the changes for the UK tour were not for the better. The music is good, but not great, a few songs stand out (Dance With The Devil being a highlight) but so many of the songs seem to be fillers, albeit nice ones.
The cast on the tour are great as was the design elements of the show (hated the church bit though it looked tacky as hell)
Its a show that seems to be very much placed in the middle, it could have been great but it turned out good, unfortunately it does not seem like anything can be done to sort out the problems
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
When I left Drury Lane after that first preview I felt I had just seen a good old fashioned Broadway, comedy musical! For almost everyone I know it ticks all the boxes.
lol - SADM, that just proves my previous point about how strange it is how people's likes and dislikes vary. Dance With The Devil is one of the few songs in the score I don't particularly like!
I LOVE "Words, Words, Words"; ""Waiting For The Music To Begin"; "Something"; "Dirty Laundry" and "Make Him Mine", "I Wish I May" and "Look At Me" are just mindblowing.
And it's one of those shows I could sit through time and again and love every second.
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***
Everyone I know who was involved with the original production love it as a musical (obviously...fond memories) but said this production was 'odd' and the changes werent for the better. But as Bob said, its funny how different shows grab different people.
I love Hairspray, Lord of the Rings and the recent London revival of Cabaret, but didnt like Jersey Boys much or Priscilla
And oh god how ANNOYING was that young girl, cant quite remember the point of her character but she was so bloody annoying lol
The show doesn't pretend to anything it isn't. It isn't as dark as the movie and never tries to be too clever. Its been given a lighter treatment and I think it works. As much as I love it I do agree that the changes, at least most of them, arn't really called for.
'Dirty Laundry' on that huge stage of Drury Lane, the whole company and Rosie Ash giving it full blast - musical theatre heaven!
For me, I think the problem is with all the things the show is not, rather than what it was.
When I first heard there would be a musical of the film, I was really excited. I loved the original artwork, and though I'd been hoping Bob Lindsay would take the Daryl role (or at least Jonathan Pryce), the casting of Ian McShane didn't seem like a total disaster. Add to that, Jo Riding and Maria Freidman and all looked promising.
I went to see the show the weekend after the opening and sat back expecting fireworks. For me, though, it was a damp squib. I had envisaged something darker, dirtier and more grown-up. I hated the set- almost in every way. The lighting was too washy and there was nowhere near enough magic/ special fx. Most importantly, there was a strange lack of momentum and pace in the book. The juv leads sub-plot was a real "so what?" and even though I adore Bob Avian and Stephen Mear is no slouch, I found some of the numbers poorly shaped and focused.
I came out at the interval thinking "is it me?" As I looked around, I saw an audience that was totally un-energized. Something was very wrong- after the flying, the bar should have been a riot. Not so.
The exploding church at the end was pitiful and the whole closing sequence seemed muffed- it comes to something when the support (OK, it was Rosie Ash), was the climax of the evening.
I went back twice more as the revisions were put in place, but as far as I'm concerned, I never saw a show that held together to be the sum of its parts.
In my head, there is a dark, glossy, Chicago-like musical, still waiting to emerge!
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