[Daniel]

What a great evening !! Full credit to Jude Kelly for her colourful & action packed production overcoming the usual problems created by the RFH. The cast do need to work on articulation. Wonderful though it was to have a full orchestra it did tend to drown the words on occasions. Interestingly enough one of the few who overcame this problem with bell-like clarity was Brenda Edwards as Pearl. Wonderful singing from Andrew Clarke as Joe & Sherry Boone as Cindy Lou. Tsakane Maswanganyi was a super sexy Carmen if not up to some of the others as a singer. And full credit to John Moabi (previously Simba in the Lion King) for a fantastic performance as Dink. One of the best musical evenings I've had in the theatre for a long time.

[west end boy]

What a great evening !! Full credit to Jude Kelly for her colourful & action packed production overcoming the usual problems created by the RFH. The cast do need to work on articulation. Wonderful though it was to have a full orchestra it did tend to drown the words on occasions. Interestingly enough one of the few who overcame this problem with bell-like clarity was Brenda Edwards as Pearl. Wonderful singing from Andrew Clarke as Joe & Sherry Boone as Cindy Lou. Tsakane Maswanganyi was a super sexy Carmen if not up to some of the others as a singer. And full credit to John Moabi (previously Simba in the Lion King) for a fantastic performance as Dink. One of the best musical evenings I've had in the theatre for a long time.

I agree with all your comments Daniel, it's in preview so I'm sure the they will tweek little things but have to echo that Brenda was fabulous and the show came alive during her number she has done so well and come so far

[Daniel]

This discussion board contains endless comments about Grease, Joseph & the like. Presumably there is little comment on this brilliant musical & wonderful production because so few regular contributors have been to see it. You don't know what you're missing. Go !! - before it finishes. This is what musical theatre is all about.

[Epcot99]

I'm going this Saturday and have heard nothing but great reports. Am looking forward to it!

[armadillo]

This discussion board contains endless comments about Grease, Joseph & the like. Presumably there is little comment on this brilliant musical & wonderful production because so few regular contributors have been to see it. You don't know what you're missing. Go !! - before it finishes. This is what musical theatre is all about.

Some regulars are undoubtedly horrified at the very idea of a black Carmen... I agree wth you - it's a fantastic production and I'm surprised there are so few comments about it

[Melody]

I enjoyed this but couldn't say it was the best musical I'd seen for a while. It's not a great musical, in fact it's staged more like light opera, although the potential is there. When you have lyrics following the exact melody of the music and no harmony it tends to grate a bit and dull the senses. What I was most impressed with was the leading lady who has immense stage presence, beauty, apt facial expression although the voice lost me at times, as professional as it is. It didn't move me tremendously (unlike, say, Porgy & Bess, similarly adapted from an opera) but it was a good production, overall in a nice venue.

[Reich]

I'm surprised there are so few comments about it

Grease and Joseph are getting all the space

If the weather wasn't so crap I would expect more on Lady be Good but why so little on Take Flight? *



* I'm seeing Carmen J. and Take Flight in the last week of Aug & I'm hoping for a dry night to see Lady be Good

[SHope]

Some regulars are undoubtedly horrified at the very idea of a black Carmen... I agree wth you - it's a fantastic production and I'm surprised there are so few comments about it

Patti Boulaye played Carmen in 1993 Ish at The Old Vic, it was a fabulous production and she is black and talented. What difference should it make?

[armadillo]

No problem at all unless you are one of the many posters on this board who believe black actors should only play roles which the stage directions specify as being non-white.

[Reich]

I caught this last night and really loved it.

It’s the best piece I've seen staged in the RFH (Follies and On Your Toes). By not pretending it’s a proscenium theatre and giving it the feel of Graham Vick community opera it really came to life. I was hooked from the start, with I think the most harrowing murder scene I’ve ever watched and made me squirm in my seat.

Tsakane Maswanganyi sang with a throat infection. GOWD she was amazing. I would love to hear her in full heath. She was also totally captivating to watch and I think could turn me straight!

I also loved Brenda Edwards. Beat Out Dat Rythem on a Drum was brilliant and I loved the Stomp part towards the end … The match of the Toreadors (sorry I don’t know what is called in called in Carmen Jones) was staged pretty similar to the Welsh National Opera & Scottish Opera version !

I wonder what the RFH will do next year for a summer musical?