jamescrispy94

This theatre is special to me (being a local Brummie) as it was the first proper professional theatre I had ever been to (aside from the Palace in Redditch). But I must admit I haven't seen anything there since Spamalot in Christmas 2010 just as its over-shadowed by the Hippodrome's large scale hit shows.
Not to say there haven't been any shows recently that I regret not booking, i.e. One Man Two Guvnors, Chicago, Sweeney Todd or Scrooge (which I later saw at the Hippodrome anyways) but it seems the line up is mostly one-nighters like comedians, psychics, singers and kids shows.

However I can't help thinking that there have some recent Hippodrome shows that have looked to small there and probably would have been better suited to the Alex such as Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors, the countless number of Blood Brothers visits (however I suppose that's due to the combination of the  popularity and the larger capacity).

Catqc, on 23 February 2013 - 04:07 PM, said:

I know that's where I saw him! But to stay in such an energetic role continuously for a long time is definately an achievement. I can imagine this role also requires a huge amount of energy, so (forgive the pun) HATS OFF TO HIM for coming straight into this from Poppins!

Oh right all this time I thought it was Andrew Lloyd Webber!

I think it was going to be Cate Blanchett for Mrs Johnson and Bono as the narrator for the Blood Brothers movie. I personally would love to see a Blood Brothers movie but I think it would be better as a British film with a smaller budget than a huge Hollywood blockbuster as it would be better at portraying the back street sort of Liverpudlian poverty. It would be interesting seeing it with ACTUAL child actors. But I think the downside would be (as pointed out when the west end run ended) that a film or any sort of recording would stop schools visiting the UK tour, or unless Kenwright decides to tour it more rarely now (which I hope he doesn't!). Plus one of the huge pulls of the show is the dramatic plot that most the audience wouldn't expect.

This might be a bit unlikely as it isn't as popular on stage (and it hasn't even been in the west end yet!) but I'd love to see a Jekyll and Hyde movie, just as long as it isn't another Tim Burton/Jobnny Depp/Helena Bonham Carter collaboration.

Also I remember reading an article somewhere that Jerry Springer would play himself in a movie of Jerry Springer - The Opera, but obviously that wouldn't happen now with Christian protests. Plus it wouldn't really work anyway.

"It's just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right, put your hands on your hip, and bend your knees in time, and it's the pelvic thrust that drives you really insane..."

Best lyrics in the whole show <3

popcultureboy, on 06 December 2012 - 04:01 PM, said:

Well no, but neither has he anything to do with the Bodyguard. Just because he owns the theatre, doesn't mean he has to always go. Was he at the press night for Sweeney Todd? One Man Two Guvnors? Scrooge? Matilda? Shrek? Singin in the Rain (back when the Palace was his)? I just thought seeing as Les Mis is probably a musical he knows very well seeing as its the world's most popular musical for 27 year (despite not actually being his). I just dont understand why he would have prefered to go to another film to stage jukebox musical. Besides if it wasn't for him and I'd Do Anything, Sam Barks wouldn't have been discovered! After all his twitter account tweeted this:

"@OfficialALW: Best of luck to Cameron & the team at @LesMiserables for this evening. Sorry I can't be with you, ALW. #LesMisPremiere #LesMis"

poster J, on 06 December 2012 - 11:10 AM, said:

I'm quite surprised he chose the Bodyguard press night over the Les Mis movie premier! I would have chosen Les Mis anyday!

Hmmm I've got very mixed feelings for those clips. Visually the direction is great (except the shot-reverse shots for Vailjean / Javert and Cosette / Marius) but I was always concerned about having the actors sing live as at times it can make them sound quite quiet and even sometimes you miss some lines because of the environment and the diegetic sounds being at the same volumne level as them. Another thing the orchestra sounds even more quieter (obviously so you can hear the actors). I personally think that there was no need for them to do it like this as (now I know there haven't been many) recent movie musicals have improved with their soundtrack playing back. For example both the singers and orchestra sounded fine in movie of Sweeney Todd as they were louder and clear and yet it didn't seem so fake or unreal like an earlier movie musical would be, it still included diegetic sounds but they were quiter and didn't distract away from the singers and orchestra.
But then again I am listening to these clips on my iPod touch (and it is 2.15am!) so I probably am being unfair, so I suppose I'll just have to wait and hope that it will sound better at the cinema, later on DVD. Either that or I need to go to the hearing hospital!

Bit surprised that Singin In The Rain has had nominations as I thought the show had to open (as it Press Night) before 2012, but I suppose it kind of did with its pre-run in Chichester.

Another thing is I still dont understand why The Wizard Of Oz is a "revival" because it's not the same as the RSC version being reproduced, it's Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Jeremy Sams etc. starting from scratch and making it completely new with new book and songs, but still glad it's got a nomination for something! Was hoping Hannah Waddingham or Robert Jones for the set was going to get one!