Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi - Union Theatre
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 11:27 AM
After the disappointment of sitting through Love Never Dies this Thursday night at the Adelphi Theatre, what a pleasure it is to say that the original British musical is alive and very, very well at the Union Theatre.
Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi once again proves that you don't need big sets, special effects and huppla to create a succesful musical. What you need, as we all know, is a clear, touching story, great songs, exciting performances and fabulous choreography. This and more can be found at the tiny Union Theatre.
This show takes places both in the present and the past, the 1930's, and focuses on the stories of a group of people working at the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool.
Phil Wilmot has put together a huge cast (I didn't count but there must be at least 20 people) and they filled the tiny stage of the Union. Particularly impressive were the big, full out dance numbers which made me think of 42nd Street. Sadly I didn't get a programme so I'm not sure of the choreographers name but he deserves huge praise.
As for the music, it is charming and tuneful and the lyrics are clever and funny.
The performances are all impressive with the leading man, JP Hevey, giving a particularly charming and assured performance.
I won't give away the story, but suffice to say that it is engaging, funny, surprising and very, very touching. The woman in front of me was in floods of tears at the conclusion. But best of all, it was wonderfully British and about real people!!!
The show was sold out last night so I recommend you get your tickets to this wonderful new musical right away. I hope it gets the publicity it deserves and transfers to a larger venue.
Who knows, after the mess I saw at the Adephi Theatre Thursday night, it might very well be free soon.
The show was packed last night, Saturday, so I recommend
you get a ticket as soon as possible.
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Guest_Guest_debbie_*_*
Posted 07 March 2010 - 11:44 AM
i totally agree - i saw a preview in the week and loved it.......
think the choreographer is andrew wright but not sure...
also saw love never dies and if only adelphi had their budget and space!
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#3
Guest_Jimminy_*
Posted 07 March 2010 - 12:17 PM
I agree. Went to see this expecting nothing at all, given the venue, and -- to my disbelief -- was bowled away.
This has got to be the best musical I've seen in a couple of years. The tunes (particularly "Once in a Lifetime") are world-class, the cast are putting everything into it, the dance numbers are phenomenal and you actually give a damn about what happens to them.
Add to that a story that's sentimental in a good way, and it becomes a real mystery why this isn't going out somewhere in the West End with a hundred times the budget. Although, frankly, Adelphi is *so* good that within about three minutes you've stopped noticing you're sitting in a railway arch.
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Posted 07 March 2010 - 01:46 PM
I know they did a cast recording when it was in Liverpool - hopefully if this is a success in London they will release it! Julie Atherton was fantastic - so gutted I am not going to get chance to see this revival personally
This is my street, I smile at the faces I've known all my life, They regard me with pride.
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Guest_Guest_*
Posted 07 March 2010 - 05:44 PM
andrew wright is the choregrapher..very good i agree QUOTE(DSG @ Mar 7 2010, 11:27 AM)  After the disappointment of sitting through Love Never Dies this Thursday night at the Adelphi Theatre, what a pleasure it is to say that the original British musical is alive and very, very well at the Union Theatre.
Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi once again proves that you don't need big sets, special effects and huppla to create a succesful musical. What you need, as we all know, is a clear, touching story, great songs, exciting performances and fabulous choreography. This and more can be found at the tiny Union Theatre.
This show takes places both in the present and the past, the 1930's, and focuses on the stories of a group of people working at the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool.
Phil Wilmot has put together a huge cast (I didn't count but there must be at least 20 people) and they filled the tiny stage of the Union. Particularly impressive were the big, full out dance numbers which made me think of 42nd Street. Sadly I didn't get a programme so I'm not sure of the choreographers name but he deserves huge praise.
As for the music, it is charming and tuneful and the lyrics are clever and funny.
The performances are all impressive with the leading man, JP Hevey, giving a particularly charming and assured performance.
I won't give away the story, but suffice to say that it is engaging, funny, surprising and very, very touching. The woman in front of me was in floods of tears at the conclusion. But best of all, it was wonderfully British and about real people!!!
The show was sold out last night so I recommend you get your tickets to this wonderful new musical right away. I hope it gets the publicity it deserves and transfers to a larger venue.
Who knows, after the mess I saw at the Adephi Theatre Thursday night, it might very well be free soon.
The show was packed last night, Saturday, so I recommend
you get a ticket as soon as possible.
0
#6
Guest_Liverpool_*
Posted 07 March 2010 - 06:58 PM
They didn't do an official cast recording - they recorded one of the live shows onto a cd, but it's a bit dodgy - if you phone up the liverpool playhouse and get put on hold they used to play it - not sure if its still on now though! x
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#7
Guest_Mrmusical_*
Posted 08 March 2010 - 12:34 AM
I saw the show today and i thought the whole cast were absolutely fantastic!!!! This show needs to go to West End as soon as possible, it's so much more entertaining than a lot of other shows out there at the moment...The girl playing Babs was hysterical!!!!! So much energy ....laughter and tears what more could you ask for in a show!!!!Bring Adelphi to the WEST END!!!!!!!!
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#8
Guest_MissPenny_*
Posted 08 March 2010 - 04:22 PM
Came back to the union from my experience last time seeing sondheim here and can I just say that this exceeded my expectations.... Wonderful strong cast and direction and all it needs is a biggern space to really do this wonderful piece justice.... Well Done!x
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Posted 09 March 2010 - 01:40 PM
Holy moly! I second everything said here, I absolutely loved it. And still can't believe how they managed such choreography in such a small space!! Am thinking about going again already, hope it could get a trasnfer though.
Don't bother, I'm here...
http://oughttobeclowns.blogspot.com
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Posted 10 March 2010 - 05:35 PM
 :blink - i think the union musicals are a real treat normally. i enjoyed the night but not sure it was as good as they normally are in this venue . loved the choreography x
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