Jamiem

wetheatreboy

I realise that the show is going to be quite scaled down and and different to the London Production, that is fine by me as I'm interested in how Priscilla will work on tour and a different twist to the story will give it a fresh new look. My friend who was  technician for Priscilla in London said that they are making the bus easier to tour and there will be LED lights involved, as far as I know the bus will be involved in the show, so anything can happen on tours, you can't really say it's not possible to tour the bus, anything can be made possible in theatre!

Even if the show is very different with the set restrictions, I will always love Priscilla and I will support the touring cast from opening night till end!

The strongest element for me watching the London production was the incredible staging and the effects. A "simpler" touring production could strip the show of its strongest elements. Plus of course touring productions now charge West End prices which I find infuriating when you are getting ( in most cases ) a hugely scaled down production. The exceptions to this (eg Lion King) really stand out! The "provinces" are routinely short changed and Ghost appears to be no exception.

I really like Gavin, loved him in Hair also. It is a shame they don't think they could find British actors. But maybe they didn't really want to and knew they'd be bringing over some American cast. To comply with Visa rules they would have to had make it look they they had looked. It seems to fit in that Mark Evans has left for the US for 7 months. I think he will take over once Gavin has been here 6 months.

I'm still really excited to see the show! & if it doesn't work with Brit audiences it will be full of the American tourists who can't get seats on Broadway!

Tough one this. I bet Doran really did his best to find Asian actors suitable for all three plays. As a gay man with a Jewish partner, he knows about minorities. But beware the dangerous path of only having actors who 'fit' the role. Think Sarah Bernhart. She acted Hamlet, as an older woman with one leg. Gotta love that gal. But you get my point. And she kinda proves it both ways.

But Vertigo you wrote that review! Lol Unless you actually claim to not to be songanddanceman/craig hepworth from the bww boards even though you both write the same things and have a company called vertigo productions

vertigo1, on 13 October 2012 - 10:53 PM, said:

Ghostmusicalfan, on 13 October 2012 - 10:34 PM, said:

Does whether anyone stood or not really matter? That's no sign of anything, especially on a first preview. Those who know the cast will stand, while those who don't, won't (and nor will they be impressed as it's not slick yet). That's almost always the case, isn't it?

^ and now I can sleep soundly knowing that the west end is safe and well

.Bring Me Sunshine Nobody said 9 to 5 is not fun, the Broadway production was a lot of fun. Right now the UK production needs a lot of tightening to make it that fun night out show, last night seemed more like a chore a times to sit through than a froffy musical. Will the UK one find it's feet?  yes probably and i wish them all the best. To say they are not looking for awards etc is daft, the Broadway version got 14 drama desk nominations and 4 Tony Award nominations. It may be fluff but it (or did) used to have a very big heart and stand for something. As for the 'Sometimes theatre is just there to be enjoyed and not picked apart' comment well im dumbfounded. All theatre is there to be 'enjoyed' but all theatre will and should be picked apart since people are paying a lot to see it. If things don't work and casting is wrong etc then it SHOULD be mentioned... thats why critics are invited.

As for Natalie, can you honestly tell me that the performance you watched last night represented a sweet, demure, timid woman who is on the brink after her husband left her and is scared to raise her voice? HONESTLY?
Sorry but that was not her performance at all. If you have seen the film or the musical before you will know how the role is supposed to be played.

It makes no difference if Natalie gets laughs, of course she is going to, she is a comedy actress and did some very funny lines, however she is not that character at all.

As for Get Out and Stay Out, that song would get an applause whoever sang it and however well they sang it as its an 11 oclock number, big chorus building to it's climax as the woman takes control of her life. It was not for poor Natalie that people were applauding at the end of that song, anyone could have sung it.

That song every time i have seen it done before has had such an impact when acted and sung beautifully, shouting random words throughout the song and keep pretending to be crying so we cant hear the singing is not how it should be done. Natalie was not helped by the fact they have re staged it from New York with Natalie is now singing only one verse to him before he leaves (she used to make him stay and listen to every word before pushing him out of the door and going in to soaring final part). Calhoun also has Natalie singing the only verse with her ex on stage with her back turned to him......she is supposed to be confronting him but in this version it's like she is still scared of him. He also just walks off the stage rather than Judy throwing him out.

Also Nat did not get the biggest cheer at all, the 3 women came out and bowed together and got huge cheers.

It bothers me in this country so much that especially on our tours we seem to be perfectly willing to except sub par performances all because 'we like them in other stuff' or 'they made me laugh'. We seem to (with 'celebs') give them a pass when they cant sing well or are miscast. Sorry but when tickets are expensive i want a well cast and well directed show. I write and direct myself and run my own production company (as well as work as a theatre critic) and for ANYONE not to see such obvious miscasting really bothers me.

If you have not seen how Get Out and Stay Out should be performed then please watch Stephanie J Block from the Broadway production. Then tell me Natalie performed it well.

Get Out and Stay Out - Broadway


Jamie- Kenny
The whole scene before that song with the women in their own homes etc leading in to the song has gone as well. This is what i mean by the heart of the show has gone and instead its just become a campy comedy with very little soul. Other than a few ignoring her in work we dont see how upset Doralee is that she can't fit in (all her Husband and her moments are cut except in the opening). Anything with Violet's son has gone (except in the opening) and we only see Dick once briefly at the beginning and when he comes back for Get Out and Stay Out, the attachment to the women is missing, that's why (other than Natalie's performance of it) things like Get Out and Stay Out are not as powerful as they have been in the past

9 to 5 i am sure will be fun when it pulls itself together, and as i say i wish them all the best but right now it's not clicking at all and some direction choices etc need looking at straight away

The previous thread seems to have been removed for some reason. But as it's finishing soon and is a long-runner, I thought there should be one on here.
According to his management website, Mark Michael Hutchinson (Eddie 1990-2006) will reprise the role for the final two weeks at the Phoenix. I assume more casting will be announced as some of the current cast leave on the 27th October. Will miss the show. Who would be your ideal cast members?

Are you for real?

Yes, this is depressing. A show that died only two months ago for lack of ticket sales, and they apply the paddles to make it limp on for a few months in one of the West End's prime venues. I appreciate that producers may have lost money on some riskier propositions recently, but this is surely the definition of 'will this do?' scheduling. What will they do next, bring back Starlight Express?

Jamiem, not hugely wise to admit that you are an insider and posting confidential information such as the advance. The unauthorised reveal of that sort of information is gross misconduct.

Thanks Mark.

Also, you see UK tours advertised as 'The West End production' but rarely does it have the West End cast.

This revival closed on Broadway in August 2008

Yeah the cast isn't Broadway for sure... They had some closed auditions last week at the Dominion, and open ones at the weekend at the Palladium (I think).

Location is important.. And so is advertising..