21 replies to this topic

[Ghostmusicalfan]

Break a leg to all cast and crew for tonight's World Premiere of Monkee Business.  And also congratulations to ATG for bringing another World Premiere to Manchester.

[Ghostmusicalfan]

Just got home from seeing this,  I will keep my comments brief.  I wish I had stayed at home!!!

[zyx123]

Really glad I didn't buy a ticket for this judging by some of the comments on twitter. Did they paper the house? If you look for tickets past previews they've barely sold any.

Seemed like a stupid time to open. Wonderful Town is opening at the Lowry and Phantom coming next week.

[freckles]

Please elaborate....

[Zippy]

Was it really that bad? The acting, singing, staging - everything?

[Ghostmusicalfan]

In a word yes!  The set was very cheap looking and reminded me of an amateur pantomime with cut out skylines from around the world slid onto the stage by poles painted the same colour as the floor in an attempt to hide them.The company were to be fair vocally good with the 4 leads obviously taking much of the limelight although the sound mix was very poor and hearing them above the band was sometimes difficult to say the least.  There was a company of 17 from memory although this could quite easily have been cut to 12 without any loss of effect.The acting in my view was poor however, to be honest when you have a poor script it transpires on stage through no fault of the actors.  The storyline was more like a farce with a group of lookalikes ravelling the world impersonating the Monkees as the real ones were too busy to tour.All in all a very poor show which I can't see surviving past the initial tour and the theatres in London can be safe in the knowledge that there will be no Monkee Business heading their way.  Some audience members last night left at the interval.These of course are my views and would love to hear others.

[harveyjnr]

it was a complete joke!a few people left at the interval.i don't see this carrying on much longer to be honest.. a talented cast from brilliant shows seemingly selling out and committing to this.. did not like.

[Zippy]

The reviews are terrible. 1 star from What's on Stage. I wonder if they'll scrap it after the 3 touring venues?

'You're not too sure whether you are watching a pantomime, a musical or just a bad farce, it is a notion that needs to be taken right back to the drawing board.'

'Dancers are quite frequently out of time with one another.'

'a truly embarrassing script.'

'the ensemble do their best with the pitiful material they have been given.'

'this is a real let down of a world premiere and needs to be taken back to the rehearsal room.'

Edited by Zippy, 04 April 2012 - 10:50 AM.

[cat123]

Can we have Scarlette back at the Shaftesbury please? Thanks

[Laughingmonsta]

A few more reviews

1.5*s from The Public Reviews: http://www.thepublic...use-manchester/

Also scathing review from British Theatre Guide: http://www.britishth...a-house-ma-7401