[Millie Dillmount]

i would urge anyone who has the time to jump on the train and get up to liverpool to see the fabulous new musical - once upon a time at the adelphi which is written and directed by phil wilmot and starring the fabulous julie atherton and simon bailey from teatro

the entire cast was fabulous - it looked great with a double revolve used to form all of the scenes and the most terrific score ive heard!

this is amongst the top five things i have ever see and ive seen over 2000 productions over the years, and it must surely have a life beyond its short liverpool run

speaking to julie atherton afterwards at the stage door she said they werent sure it would work elsewhere because it was set in liverpool, but as i pointed out blood brothers was set in liverpool and spend spend spend in the north and they both worked elsewhere - its the themes that matter and they are universally transferrible

i think once up on a time would do really well in town, and it would need julie to come with it. it would work really well somewhere intimate like the apollo

this is a 5* show, and it got a well deserved standing ovation and cheering from the audience - well done to all involved

[Matthew Winn]

i would urge anyone who has the time to jump on the train and get up to liverpool to see the fabulous new musical - once upon a time at the adelphi which is written and directed by phil wilmot and starring the fabulous julie atherton and simon bailey from teatro

I'm going to see it next week. I had one hell of a time booking: for six days they kept putting me through to an answering machine saying they'd call me back, but there's no number they can call me back on during the hours they're open. It was terribly frustrating not being allowed to remain on hold. They nearly lost my booking. But I was determined and eventually managed to find a human.

[Courfeyrac]

I'm going to see it next week. I had one hell of a time booking: for six days they kept putting me through to an answering machine saying they'd call me back, but there's no number they can call me back on during the hours they're open. It was terribly frustrating not being allowed to remain on hold. They nearly lost my booking. But I was determined and eventually managed to find a human.

I feel sorry for the poor box office staff there. The organisation doesn't appear to be the best. They must be pulling their hair out in frustration, especially with this show seemingly so popular and currently no online facility for buying tickets. They did eventually call me back about a week after I'd left a message but by that time I'd already managed to speak to somebody after trying for days.

After all that, the show had better be good.

[Millie Dillmount]

you wont be disappointed!

i booked mine on line via their web site

[Courfeyrac]

It's a good musical. I wouldn't particularly say it was one of the greatest things I've ever seen (maybe that's just my built-in Mancunian defence mechanism against all forms of scouse sentimentality lol) but it is an extremely enjoyable night out.

Julie Atherton, Simon Bailey and the whole cast are fantastic though, with some great characters. I did especially like Neil McCaul's creepy Hollywood producer. A special mention for the mechanical horse which stole the scene at the end of act 1.

I'm really not sure that it would work elsewhere without some rewrites. I don't know how the endless namechecks of the likes of Allerton and Blundellsands would work in London.

[amy_vocalist]

(maybe that's just my built-in Mancunian defence mechanism against all forms of scouse sentimentality lol)

The feeling's mutual...


I've also heard very good reviews about this show

[Matthew Winn]

I don't know how the endless namechecks of the likes of Allerton and Blundellsands would work in London.

That was the one thing that marred what was otherwise an excellent musical: I felt there was a bit too much geographical name-dropping, rather like a generic pantomime made local by filling in blanks in the script. The local references don't interfere with comprehension of the show, but I was certainly very aware of them and there were times when the local names thudded into place with clunky deliberateness.

That aside, I loved this show, and it's certainly the best thing I've seen this year, with Julie Atherton and Simon Bailey giving a couple of the best performances I've seen this year and leaving me blinking back the tears at a couple of places. The show represents one of the few occasions I've been impressed enough that I've gone straight out afterwards to buy another ticket. This is a proper musical comedy.

Audience response seems to be overwhelmingly positive, to the extent that they've extended for another two weeks, to 2nd August. I can't see it working in London but I hope a short tour can be arranged. If you're anywhere near Liverpool - no, if you're anywhere near Earth - go and see it while you have the chance.

[Laughingmonsta]

Just come back from seeing this - what an amazing show, this is one of the best of new british musicals, the show has heart humour and some great tunes (maybe Boubil & Schnoberg should go see and get some new inspiration?) we enjoyed it so much were going to try and see it again before the end of the run in just over a weeks time.