Weeks Forward/Back 09/10/2012

[ClapYo'Hands]

So, just a little report about the shows I have seen in the past few weeks. Please add what you have seen recently!

First I saw The Lion King Tour. This is a pretty remarkable production of a great show and from what I gather the tour is not hugely different to the West End production. There are some beautiful moments: the opening, the opening of Act II, He Lives in You being a few, which make up for some of the less good performances. The Lion King is not the greatest show, in fact, sometimes I don't even class it as a musical but what the show it does, it does well. Even if at times it is a little style over substance, it is hugely entertaining.



Next was Welsh National Opera's production of Jephtha by Handel which was just terrible. The production itself was fine but the piece is just so boring. As beautiful as Handel's music is, he has no sense of storytelling and some of the acting was so appalling that we didn't care about what story there was left to tell. Many people left in the first interval, many more in the second, few remained for the final act.



Then it was the UK Tour of 42nd Street which pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting it to be appalling and only bought a cheap upper circle ticket. It turned out to be not bad at all, with a wonderful high-energy cast and a wonderful set design. Look, it's not the most life-changing musical it merely exists to provide reason for a jolly good song and dance extravaganza. And that it does. This production does it very well. The dancing especially was wonderful and the orchestra better than I thought. Dave Willetts was not bad if a little gruff and shouty and Marti Webb simply does not sound a day older than she did in Tell Me On A Sunday. I've heard the producers are interested in taking it into the West End, and though it's not on the same par as Top Hat or Singin' In The Rain, I for one would not a deny it a limited run at a small theatre.



I decided to brave the Welsh National Opera again. This time for La Bohème. And I'm so glad. It was quite simply one of the best things I have ever seen. Unlike 42nd Street, La Bohème is quite simply the best example of it's form. Puccini is a master of composition and unlike many operatic composers is a natural, first and foremost, storyteller. He is a playwright through his music and...content dictates form! We have romantic, comedic, jovial and serious content and therefore these all manifest themselves in the music. The production was breathtaking. Updated to the Edwardian era, the sets were not just beautiful but perfectly evocative of a city many (including I myself) love and the performances more than lived up to the wonderful material they had to work with. As well as a fantastic score, this opera has a wonderful libretto. Let me put it this way: It was so good, I've just booked to see it again in Bristol.



Then finally, on Sunday night, it was back to the Wales Millennium Centre for the finale of the Cardiff Music Festival - A Night At The Musicals, presented by Connie Fisher and starring John Owen-Jones, Kerry Ellis, Sophie Evans, Lauren Samuels, Lucie Jones and members of Only Men Aloud. It included songs from all over the world of musicals and I have only one word to describe it: WOW!

So a busy but wonderful couple of theatrical weeks which concluded also with being in a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street last week. The next thing I have booked is American Idiot next week, again at the Wales Millennium Centre. I'm excited to hear what everyone else has been up to/has planned though!

[bob8rich]

Last Saturday saw my first shows for a number of weeks - Marguerite at the Tabard and Call Me Madam at the Union (I posted my brief views on them on a separate thread). And on Sunday night I was at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden for an amazing night of performances by some of the best voices you could hear anywhere. It's hard to single anyone out but some of those who completely blew me away were - the always astonishing Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Diane Pilkington, Sarah Galbraith, Rosa O'Reilly, Laura Mansell..... And hearing the vocal greatness of Killian Donnelly singing one of my songs was a definite "goosebumps" moment.

There's nothing coming up for me theatre-wise in the next few weeks - not until I see Steel Pier at the Union on November 13 (and then head to New York for a week of musical theatre madness!)

[246015]

I saw "Finding Neverland" at Leicester Curve on Saturday. I have copied and pasted below, what I wrote in the "Finding Neverland premiere" thread:

"...First thing I have to say is that it looked gorgeous! The sets/costumes/effects/lighting were really beautiful and have left a lasting impression on me, particularly the stunning projections. It is certainly one of the best looking shows I have seen in a long time. I also have to give credit to the direction of some truly wonderful stage pictures/mise-en-sc�ne that are extremely evocative. I won't give anything away for those who haven't seen it, but the last image of the show, with the gauze coming down at the end, was beautifully realised, as was the penultimate scene where Sylvia ascended the staircase. I found it to be extremely symbolic/poetic.

I also loved the score. I have heard many people comment that the score was not particularly memorable or that it was formulaic, but I completely disagree. To me, it was never formulaic and constantly interesting. There were some real lyrical and melodic moments which were beautiful. If one didn't come out humming the songs then I believe that is because the songs weren't hit over the heads of the audience by being reprised hundreds of times. I hope that the cast record a cast album soon so that we can have the score preserved for prosperity.

The cast were all excellent, particularly Julian Ovenden who sang and acted the role of J.M. Barrie brilliantly. What a truly great talent he is!

I agree that this is not really a family show and should not be aiming for the family market. There are some extremely dark themes in the piece that children do not understand and apart from a few moments that verge on panto for the sake of the families (which really should be removed), it does not seem orientated towards children at all.

I look forward to seeing this show again upon its West End transfer to see what they have done with it."

While not strictly theatre, this week I am going to see baritone, Christopher Maltman in recital at Nottingham's Lakeside Arts Centre, and then seeing an encore cinema screening of "L'Elisir d'Amore" from the Met.

[ClapYo'Hands]

"this week I am going to see baritone, Christopher Maltman in recital at Nottingham's Lakeside Arts Centre"

Being a baritone, I approve! :P

[SoonerOrLater]

Ah the Lakeside Arts Centre, as a former Nottingham resident I have fond memories of that place (and a few not-so-fond!)

I saw 'The Monster in the Hall' a David Greig play that's touring with his 'Yellow Moon' (well I say saw, I worked it so was also policing numerous slightly naughty school children) an excellent piece of theatre that works both as theatre for young people and 'normal' theatre.

I'm seein 'Our Boys' in London on Saturday followed by American Idiot next week-looking forward to both.

[jaqs]

Had a quiet week last week, saw kerry Ellis with guest Rory Taylor at the Matcham room in the Hippodrome casino, beautiful room and kerry was pretty great.
Sunday saw You can do it, basically Roger Wright and Paul hazel singing, both sounded amazing, the audience at times was more like you'd find at a chippendales show, but it was such fun and the most diverse audience in race and age ive seen in a long time.

Last night saw Our boys, was the wos outing so q&a after which was interesting, half the cast are making their westend debuts, and are doing a great job, its not the best play but it has a few excellent scenes and Lewis Reeves puts in an amazing performance as a soldier recovering from being shot in the head.

Tonight back to the Matcham room for Judy Kuhn, tomorrow After show and hoping to catch Loserville at the weekend.

Next week is pretty diverse JCS, Rent and Charlies aunt.

[DeNada]

All I've seen recently I'm afraid is Loserville at the Garrick.

As I posted elsewhere, it's a Disney Channel film on stage - it feels churlish to criticise it too much as it achieves much of what it sets out to do I suppose. Good set design (simple, fluid, suits the concept), but some muddy storytelling and over-compensating choreography let it down in particular alongside a mixed bag of performances.

[Mark_E]

I saw Loserville last Wednessay, and then this week I saw Cabaret last night and am seeing Idina Menzel tonight!

[SoonerOrLater]

Oh-mention of Kerry Ellis reminded me-I saw 'A Night at the Musicals' at the WMC part of Cardiff Music festival on Sunday night. A lovely night of musical theatre treats, featuring Kerry Ellis (who was brilliant and I'm not always a fan) John Owen Jones, who sang brilliantly and was highly amusing as always, as well as several members of 'Only Men Aloud' and two Dorothys! The only person who didn't impress was an X Factor reject whose name escapes me... (not because she was on X factor I didn't find that out until the interval and already wasn't impressed)

[jaqs]

Lucie Jones?
Shes about to do the WWRY arena tour, which surprised me.

[bob8rich]

Yeah, Lucie Jones was on the X-Factor - and she also played Cosette in Les Mis for a while. Obviously I didn't hear her at the WMC, but I've always really liked her voice.

Wish i could have seen this concert - but I was in London! The main attraction for me would have been Lauren Samuels - I honestly think she is one of the genuine world class musical theatre actress/singers in the UK.

[jaqs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Iwoz9E7nMQ

Video of the 3 girls doing mama who bore me in their dressing room at wmc.

Bob I also love Laurens voice.

[SoonerOrLater]

Loved Lauren too! With Lucy I think she was singing songs that didn't necessarily fit her voice which was frustrating-I may have been of a different opinion otherwise!

It was a really great concert!

[ClapYo'Hands]

The others were OK but the genuine virtuoso quality definitely lay with JOJ and Kerry Ellis.

Lucie's "With You" from GHOST, though not Caissie, was pretty good.

[SoonerOrLater]

That's where that song was from! Had no idea when I heard it (having not seen/heard Ghost I wouldn't have...)

Agree about JOJ and Kerry Ellis-I'd forgotten she was going to be there until I heard her start to sing!

[ClapYo'Hands]

It would be nice to see Sophie Evens allowed to break out of the Dorothy mould too. She was a good Dorothy, but it's obvious that she has a far wider reaching talent. Her "Mama Who Bore Me" was wonderful.

[SoonerOrLater]

Yes loved it! I loved that they opened with that too-felt some of the audience go 'What?' but there was a good mix of standard stuff and newer things like that and Ghost (although I didn't know it clearly!)

I didn't see Sophie Evans in Wizard of Oz (mainly as I hate that show!) but I really enjoyed her performances.

[ClapYo'Hands]

It seemed appropriate too that Kerry Ellis sang "Anthem" as she has a voice the size of a small country!

[Bob30]

Saw Much Ado at the Noel Coward last week, Loved it! American Idiot last night and The Ladykillers and Our Country's Good next week! :)

[Phantom of London]

I was going to see 'Loserville' this afternoon, as matinees have a 3pm start, which is appealing as I should finish work at 2:30 today, but to my horror mid-week matinees don't start until end of October, which is common practice for previews, but would like to say I made up for it by seeing 'Chariots of Fire' a show I never really fancied, but went to see, as there are so many good notices for this one. There was plenty of movement on stage, but I certainly remain unmoved by this.

Over the next week or two I hope to see:

Marguerite
Desire Under The Elms
Cabaret
42nd Street
Taboo
Call Me Madam

Also like to see Much Ado Nothing also if I get a chance.

[SoonerOrLater]

Re: Kerry Ellis' voice-indeed! Love that version though.

Also one last thing on the concert for Malladro (and anyone else who remembers the Connie Fisher/SoonerorLater disscussion) she's coloured her hair the same colour as I did a week or two ago. And so it goes on...

Let us know how Ladykillers was when you see it Bob30? it's a way off but I'm debating going when it comes to Cardiff? Never saw it in the West End...

[ClapYo'Hands]

^^ Likewise! Was going to catch the tour of The Mousetrap this week but it's completely sold out in Cardiff!

Going to see the NT Live broadcast of The Last of the Haussmans tomorrow night instead :)

[mallardo]

"Also one last thing on the concert for Malladro (and anyone else who remembers the Connie Fisher/SoonerorLater disscussion) she's coloured her hair the same colour as I did a week or two ago. And so it goes on..."

Well, so she's now imitating you. Can't say I'm surprised. Shows she's got good taste.

[SoonerOrLater]

I tried for the Mousetrap as well! Sadly I'll be serving drinks at the work instead of seeing Haussman's tonight

haha Malladro, clearly she is what can I say?

[songanddanceman2]

Off to see the first performance of 9 to 5 in UK tonight. Will of course report back

[Phantom of London]

I hope you enjoy the show tonight.

Last night I saw a rather splendid 'A Chorus Of Disapproval', the cast had a brilliant Rob Brydon and a rather excellent Nigel Harman.