| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Fantastic new cast, full of energy. the show is tighter after some minor changes and does not fail to please. (Those ranting about miming have probably never seen a Bollywood flick as all songs are mimed there and in the show only those that claim to be filmi music are mimed.) An entertaining fun evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.188.238.89) | 08 Oct 03 |
| First half was excellent.
Second Half was dragged.
The end was excellent, with all the spectators getting invloved.
Overall entertaining.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.113.37.9) | 22 Sep 03 |
| Beautiful costumes, set decoration and choreography but the most of the songs are boring and the story is to thin. But it has it moments! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.224.83.136) | 02 Sep 03 |
| Bombay Dreams is the best musical I have seen in a long time, fresh and original. The new cast are excellent, and Stephen Rahman-Hughes (the new Akaash) deserves to be a big star - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.13) | 01 Sep 03 |
| An amazing exteravaganza of music and choeography, the cast were full of pumping energy.
Superb!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.128.5) | 29 Aug 03 |
| AWFUL.
TERRIBLE.
DREADFUL.
A MESS.
A TRAGEDY.
*AVOID* - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.13) | 17 Aug 03 |
| Who wants to pay 40 quid to watch a load of people miming-a disgrace and shouldnt be allowed-Dont waste your money on this gimmick to get ypur hard earned cash!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (64.12.97.13) | 28 Jul 03 |
| One of the most innovative musicals for years. Fun all the way. I love that some of the reviewers here claim it is "ridiculous" - er when was the last realistic musical? Phantom perhaps? Or how about those cute singing and talking felines? Get a life. It's a musical - it's supposed to be fun and entertaining - and it is. The best thing that ALW has done without Mr Rice. If you want realism, grab the anti-depresants and go and see Brand (which is excellent) - but if you want fun, you could do a lot worse than spend it here. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.107.230.104) | 24 Jul 03 |
| Bombay Mix sorry I mean Dreams! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.40.206.224) | 21 Jul 03 |
| It seems you either like it or loathe it! My view, having seen it twice, is that it's colourful and entertaining but hardly ground-breaking. I can't really see how you can take a dislike to this show. I also can't see how you can give it 5 stars! It's bringing in a new audience and provides a perfectly acceptable night out. What's all this one and five star rubbish ? - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.211.106.23) | 15 Jul 03 |
| Left the theatre with a happy buzz. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.111.24.42) | 11 Jun 03 |
| very entertaining, seems the cast has found its feet with the roles, full of energy with brilliant dance numbers. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.185.10.110) | 05 Jun 03 |
| The real problem with this show is the extremely poor cast.
The songs, are extremely catchy, if a little on the simple side, but they are let down by the amateur nature of the lead cast members.
I saw the production last August and was highly disappointed that this was the BIG production, representing the first Asian foray in musicals. Preeya Kalidas uses a false Indian accent, which proved to be a source of amusement in my family.
The cast CD recording is, on the other hand excellent, in quality and performances. It is a shame that this was not transferred to the stage.
If the production is to float in the US it really needs a MUCH STRONGER CAST. The UK cast is in change, and this may help.
Regarding the script, it is the usual MEERA SYAL MESS OF LAME SEXUAL INNUENDO AND POOR GRASP OF ENGLISH....if you have read any of the two"novels" she has written you may be aware of her simple style.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com (155.198.17.121) | 02 Jun 03 |
| NO stars.
a waste of a big theatre- so terrible i was amazed quite frankly. Bombay goes Lloyd Webber. Rubbish. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.50.14) | 16 May 03 |
| It grew on me after I saw it.
But ultimately, its just another "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back" not supported by overly terrific songs, comedy, drama or story. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (128.250.6.246) | 20 Apr 03 |
| Ridiculous! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (24.57.69.59) | 07 Apr 03 |
| I have to say I did not like this new musical.I admired the energy of the cast, and most of the songs were good, but Mera Syal's script is extremely bad and the moments of tension were completely lost. Steve Pimlott does not direct with his usual skill, and there is some of the worst overacting I have ever seen on show. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.225.196.13) | 02 Apr 03 |
| Thoroughly enjoyable, but you have to leave cynicism outside the theatre door. Nice over the top performances Bollywood style, however an uneven book that tries to encapsualte too much somewhat marrs this very well produced brilliantly choreographed show. Definately worth it - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.181.253.16) | 14 Mar 03 |
| Hmm, disappointing. Preeya Kalidas was truly appalling (thought pro singers were supposed to be able to correct themselves when they go flat?!) Raza Jeffrey is OK, and the rest of the singing is moderate. The choreography is fabulous - but the book is abysmal. Truly appalling. The lyrics aren't much better (what is Don Black thinking, this crap and R+J?!) Don't bother - not worth it. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.194.17) | 26 Feb 03 |
| Bombay Dreams is fresh, romantic, moving and very funny. People have commented on the miming but this is only done a couple of times and it fits in with the Bollywood theme. You are meant to know that miming is taking place. It is not a conspiracy!
The dancing is absolutely breathtaking and the stage set is one of the best I have seen. If you want to see new musical which borrows from others and doesn't hide it- but at the same time offering you new elements such as the memerising music- then go! I loved it.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.122.68.191) | 17 Feb 03 |
| The people who like this show,should really get out more.
It has to be the worst piece of Junk ever to hit the west end stage and up for an olivier i see,well the pillocks that gave the award to McCutcheon last year as probably ready to hail this pile of crap too.
Bombay Mimes it should be and the day i saw it the lead Preeya Kalidas was off but we still heard her voice on 2 occasions on tape and Raza Jaffrey mimes a lot.
A discrage of a show and Lloyd webber prooves once again all he cares about is money.
A pure rip off-Avoid like the plague. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (64.12.97.13) | 19 Jan 03 |
| Please get this trite out of such a great theatre. Where do you start?!?!? Well the staging was truly awful. I did begin to wonder which show i was watching as there wasn't an original idea on the stage. Unless you count cutting the stage to a quarter of its size using a massive film hoarding. The visible musicians are stright from Lion King as is the curved staircase. Dummies as people on a staircase (Phantom) There were smatterings of Les Mis with the down and outs and whilst the jail set looked impressive you just have to ask, WHY? Having seen interviews with the cast I wondered why they were all directed to use such strong Indian accents, it took me about an hour to tune in to what the cast were saying and i think i missed the two jokes in the script! I believe the producers have missed an opppotunity a totally new idea, great, using old fashioned and even amaturish staging ideas,bad. A shame to that the leading mans entrance and first song was on click track, this clearly happens in a few shows but you need to ba able to at least open your mouth when miming to yourself the night I saw he seemed to forget he should be singing. Acting wise, didn't really give two hoots about whether they got together or not.The baddie will be availiable for panto next year( as will hopefully the theatre)and ,oh yes, nice direction at the end to have the leading man give his moral speech whilst two large thugs stand directly in front of him.Thereby blocking him from view to over half the audience Clever that. I found myself and my wife sitting discussing where the track used to be and genereally admiring the theatre.
Nice fountains though, bur My One and Only had a water feature and look what happened to that. We can only hope. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.69) | 02 Jan 03 |
| Best show I've seen in ages! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.135.200.5) | 16 Dec 02 |
| The actors and actresses were brilliant - all got excellent voices. Shame Rani is leaving the show - she's so beautiful and can really move - was fascinated just watching her dance. Great to see a cast having a good time while they're performing too! I'd love to be up there with them. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.135.200.5) | 16 Dec 02 |
| Anyone who gives this show one star obvious has no personality - how can anyone say this show isn't brilliant - best theatre show I've seen in ages - colourful, fantastic dancing, brilliant singing, good story, funny and romantic. I've been to Bombay and it really made me feel I was there again (and I'm English). I can't wait to go and see it again! I loved it and didn't want it to end! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.135.200.5) | 16 Dec 02 |
| From the minute this show starts it is clear that Lloyd Webber has spotted something new. The story line itself may be somewhat conventional, but the ideas and creative energies behind this musical are new - young and vibrant. Colour, dance, LOUD, fast-paced and grippingly emotional sequences as well as indian dancing in wet sari's around a fountain combine with the expensive production to ensure that this show MUST be recognised artistically. The set design and staging is phenomenal and the song 'The Journey Home' is one of the best ballads to come out of the West End in the last 15 years! Even better than it's producers own 'Memory'. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.219.116.210) | 21 Nov 02 |
| It is bolly awful. I can't believe that this piece of musical theatre rubbish is attracting an audience. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 25 Oct 02 |
| What an excellent show! The water effects are a pleasure to watch. The music is very enjoyable to listen too; all very modern. The set is a joy to watch. and the jail is superbly created and it has an excellent lighting effect used. The cast are all very strong. It is a pleasure to see that Starlight Express has been replaced with a show worth going to see. You will l;eve the theatre feeling happy - it is good to see a piece of new theatre in London. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 25 Oct 02 |
| Well I say thank you for bringing something different to the stage. My daughter (her first visit to a London stage production) and I were thoroughly entertained. The lyrics ARE simple but surely that mirrors a bollywood film, isn't that the idea? I think some critics here are missing the point. Shakalaka Baby is certainly a great tune, but I've also come away singing Chaiyya Chaiyya and Like an Eagle. Nobody seems to have mentioned the absolutely incredible drumming! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 21 Oct 02 |
| Music is gorgeous and the dancing is dazzling.When I went the understudy Zehra Naqvi was playing the female lead Priya and she was excellent. Raad Rawi as the villainous JK also caught the eye.He seemed to be having a ball playing the part. Wonderful acting by Raza Jaffrey as male lead Akaash. It seems that theatregoers either love this show or loathe it. Not too many in-betweens here. By the way, it seems some people are duplicating their entries. Is there a fault in the system? - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 16 Oct 02 |
| A very original musical with a bouncy score and original choreography. The performances are very good from the entire cast.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 08 Oct 02 |
| A very original musical with a bouncy score and original choreography. The performances are very good from the entire cast.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 08 Oct 02 |
| a thoroughly original and different show with a lovely score and very food performances by the entire cast - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 02 Oct 02 |
| a thoroughly original and different show with a lovely score and very food performances by the entire cast - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 02 Oct 02 |
| Its not brilliant,but it is not terrible either.The story and some of the acting are weak,but some of the music is the best i have ever heard in a musical and i been to see musicalls all over the world.
A good try att doing something different.Go and see it,take it as it comes and you will have a great night out. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 29 Sep 02 |
| Sorry, my mistake. I jumped the gun: my two-liner is still there. Blink and you miss it (as I did...).
Still a rubbish show, though, eh? I haven't met a single person who's seen it who's felt differently. How long before the truth about BD overcomes the disgraceful hype - not to mention the gullibility of the hyped? - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Sep 02 |
| Whatever happened to my polite, un-rude one-star review of one of the previews? Removed to improve the ratings? Surely you're not in the pay of ALW, Terri. That would be too too sad, and I'd have to change my site allegiance. Please PUT IT BACK.
Thanks in advance (because I know you wouldn't let me down like this twice).
Job - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Sep 02 |
| I Saw this show the other night and though it utterly dreadful. The lyrics were awful, dull story line, repetitve dancing... As usual Mark Shenton does not know what he is talking about.. better to avoid anything that this amateur hack likes. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 19 Sep 02 |
| Very disappointing. I almost fell asleep halfway through the show . I'm an Indian who has seen several Bollywood movies and while most of them have ludicrous storylines... they are q spectacular in terms of their music, dance routines, costumes etc... something that Bombay Dreams fails to achieve entirely. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 10 Sep 02 |
| Very disappointing. I almost fell asleep halfway through the show . I'm an Indian who has seen several Bollywood movies and while most of them have ludicrous storylines... they are q spectacular in terms of their music, dance routines, costumes etc... something that Bombay Dreams fails to achieve entirely. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 10 Sep 02 |
| NO STARS!!
SET- DULL AND UNIMAGINATIVE
COSTUMES- CHEAP
PERFORMERS...NOT ACTORS OR SINGERS...WHY CAST THEM...
LLOYD WEBBER SHOULD HAVE JUST THROWN HIS MONEY AT IT AND KEPT AWAY.....BOLLYWOOD DOES SOPPY LLOYD WEBBER. Not what it was billed as. Its shameful that the advertising makes people think its a 'ANDREW LLYOD WEBBER MUSICAL'- its NOT. Hes just ruined it thats all. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 04 Sep 02 |
| vacuous rubbish - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 04 Sep 02 |
| If you want to pick holes in Bombay Dreams it's difficult to know where to start. Perhaps with the extremely disappointing score from Don Black, the writer behind Sunset Boulevard who we know can do a hundred times better? Or maybe with the two dimensional cast of characters (many of which are merely renamed Goodness Gracious Me regulars). The lead merely comes over as a self-obsessed embarassing dad type (complete with ridiculous dancing) and his best friend, a tragic transvestite eerily reminiscant of an almost identical character in the even more awful Rent, is just annoying. The music is upbeat and often enjoyable, but hardly memorable, and many of the songs seem thrown in so that they break, rather than enhance, the flow of the story.
The highlights of the show are the straight dance numbers, which are well done and fairly spectacular, yet there are too few of these moments.
Ultimately the show leaves one feeling flat, confused and slightly angry at the missed opportunity. To sum up in the style of one of those sound-byte loving reviewers who manage to get their names on posters so often - Shakalakacrapa! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 29 Aug 02 |
| I had been so looking forward to this show. I thought that anything involving ALW must be good. Even though I realised he was not directly involved in the writing - he would surely have advised and overseen both the writing and direction. If so - then I'm afraid he's losing his touch. Despite being colourful and featuring some good dance routines the show did absolutely nothing for me. I found myself looking at my watch about 4 times (always a bad sign!). It seemed to completely lack focus. By trying to please both types of audience - Indian and Westgern - I feel it pleased neither. I couldn't have cared less about the fate of the characters, especially the male lead. The staging seemed dated and amateurish (intentional?) There wasn't a memorable song in it and the lyrics were appallingly trite.
"My husband and I" are taking bets as to how long it will last - I'll give it 6 months.
An after-thought. It is a very long show so why can't it start at 7.30 instead of 7.45???? The night I was there (8th August) it didn't start until nearly 7.55p.m. with the result that we couldn't find anywhere to have a meal by the time we got back to the are where our hotel was!! This has no bearing on my review I hasten to add!
I take no pleasure in writing a bad review as I am great fan of the London Musical stage and love travelling down from my home in the Scottish Borders to visit the theatre. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 13 Aug 02 |
| Loved the show-I keep waking up in the night with Shakalaka Baby going round in my head and I don`t mind! The cast are excellent-the leading lady has a wonderful voice.Well done! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 07 Aug 02 |
| Loved it! The set was excellent and the dancing and music were fab too. I will be buying the CD. My only complaint was the uncomfortable seats! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 02 Aug 02 |
| Most impressed. Can't understand why Meera Syal's book has attracted so much criticism (in some quarters). She tells a colourful (and very witty) story and has created some memorable characters. My own favourite is Sweetie, the eunuch who is wonderfully played by Raj Ghatak. The opening to act two where the cast appear dancing on top of a revolving wall to the driving sound of the song Chaiyya Chaiyya is truly stunning. A. R. Rahman's score is breathtaking, as are the Bollywood dance sequences. Can't wait to see it again. Congrats to all concerned, particularly Lord Lloyd-Webber for having the courage to put it on. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 18 Jul 02 |
| out of this world!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 16 Jul 02 |
| Well this is the first time that I've paid £40.00 for a ticket for a west end show and it was worth it. I really enjoyed the show - the story was funny and dramatic, the actors were very good and visually it was one of the most impressive shows I've seen. I think some of the songs were under developed and some of the lyrics a bit lame but otherwise it was a most enjoyable experience and I loved most of the songs especially Like An Eagle, Shakalaka Baby and the Journey Home. It's a breath of fresh air in the west end. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 14 Jul 02 |
| I have just been to London to see a few shows, of which Bombay Dreams was one. I had been really looking forward to it, seeing it as an exciting change from the traditional west end show, however I was really disappointed! The singing was out of tune the story was non exsistant and the acting terrible.
I had not previously read any of the reviews of the show and had hoped that it would be a success. However, both myself and the people I was with found it one of the worst shows that we had ever been to and find it hard to believe that anyone can find such a show so enjoyable. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 14 Jul 02 |
| Amazing Show - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 14 Jul 02 |
| I was gobsmacked by what I saw. I attended the final preview before opening. Plenty of time you would think to get in tune, in character and up and running. The actor playing Sweetie was out of tune a few times, though his characterisation was watchable. I found to my dismay that I lost track of the lead actor’s voice as I lost interest in him and the love story in general. Priya Khalidas certainly held her end up as regards the singing, but couldn't act for toffee... or barfi (an Indian alternative). It was always my belief that you need to 'like' the lead characters in order to care and share in their happy ending... I sat there hoping that both would drown under the fountain that marked the set for the best dance sequence in the show or at least fall into the orchestra pit whilst playing a balcony scene, providing us with at least one belly laugh. The script was mildly amusing, the odd laugh here and there, but it could not cover for a narrative that sucked. The set was appalling. A huge theatre such as the Apollo has huge potential, which was realised only once that I can call to mind, in a Elvis style prison sequence in the first half. For the rest of the time I remember only that huge hoarding that became a back drop to one gag in the show (and not a funny one at that). Hated the MC character, who would have been better played as Ruby Wax, than Eartha Kitt. And the villain.... I wonder whether to continue here... actually got away at the end of the play! The unfortunate thing is that he gets away with an appalling performance night after night. Not like any Bollywood villain I have ever encountered. He didn't even seem Asian. Might be that I missed something in the narrative bogginess of it all. Perhaps he wasn't Asian at all. I just couldn't get a handle on where the genre of Bollywood film started and ended. It was a piece attempting to mirror and send up the Bollywood film industry by showing us how facile and shallow it is. And yet the piece itself seemed so facile and shallow. I couldn’t work out where it was deliberately laughable and where it was laughable because the narrative collided with what it was actually trying to send up. Why a rating of 2… the choreography was worthy of a West End show and the ensemble held it together… though why we saw a hand full of actors playing a multiplicity of small parts when there was such a huge cast bemused me. Can dancers and singers really not take on a few lines. And can actors really not sing…. Go see this show if you really want to find out! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 10 Jul 02 |
| This audience thinks this is very commendable effort on the part of Lord Lloyd Webber, to put on a totally different show offered when everyone seems to be playing it safe by producing
revivals. The effort has certainly pulled it off! You can expect an Indian heat wave coming to London. A R Rahman's music is just fantastic! It is amazing how Rahman is able to merge his music into a big West End musical with such ease.I think we will be a lot of 'Shakalaking' for a long time. From the moment the music starts you know you are back to good old days of Miss Saigon or Sunset Boulevard. The story by Meera Syal is based on an idea by Shekhar Kapur and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It has just the right touch and doesn't tend to go overboard. It just as a Bollywood story should be: fun, campy, and with a happy ending. (After
seeing We Will Rock You, any ending would be better). Although I didn't understand some of the jokes, I was still to guess their meanings.
Steven Pimlott did a great job. Perfect casting Raza as the slumboy-turned-superstar, Raza knew his own singing ability and did it just right. The lovely Preeya as the ambitious Bollywood director has the most lovely voice I've heard in a long time. But Ayesha, Raj,Shelley's characters really steals the show.
The choreography by Anthony Van Laast and Farah Khan is really the star of the show: you just can't get enough. For this alone, I would see it again and again. A spectacular show stopper!
The superb lighting by Hugh Vanstone plays a very important part in complimenting Mark Thompson's wonderful stage design, especially the rotating staircase in the Miss World scene. It remind me of the spectacular MGM days.
The costume are just great. Because of my former background in graphic and advertising, I want to pay a particular compliment to the designer who did a great job with the logo and ad campaign which usually don't get any credit. (It's about time we add an award for the best graphic or photographic work in the annual award ceremonies!)
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 30 Jun 02 |
| A Bombay Nightmare - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 26 Jun 02 |
| Full Of Color Song and Dance true Bollywood Style. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 25 Jun 02 |
| Superb, It is Fun, Exciting, Original Just Enjoy the Spectacle. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 25 Jun 02 |
| FANTASTIC!!!!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY AND I WILL GO AND SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN....FOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T LIKE IT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE ENERGY, FUN AND HOPE THAT I FELT WITH BOMBAY DREAMS ELSEWHERE.....GO SEE IT PEOPLE!!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 25 Jun 02 |
| I managed to get tickets for the Saturday Matinee yesterday, and I have to say that I was completely enthralled by the show. The music is superb, the dancing out of this world, and most of all I thought that it was great fun. The critics and public who have slated the show I think went with perhaps different expectations to me. I just like to go to the theatre to be entertained, and boy was I!!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 23 Jun 02 |
| What remains after you take the two dance sequence (Shakalaka Baby) out?
Very little, because of uneven direction and lack of thoughtfulness on how to pitch it effectively to both Asian and Western audiences. But because of its sheer energy and catchiness, that S.B. sequence alone is worth 60% of the ticket price. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Jun 02 |
| The most amazing dance routines I've ever seen in the West End! This is such a refreshing, fun, night out.We enjoyed every minute. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Jun 02 |
| It is wonderful to see a new West End show that is so free of pretensions. A good, honest, entertaining night out with stunning dancing and songs that lift the spirits! (It also looks amazing!) I'm really looking forward to going again soon. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Jun 02 |
| rotten, a complete turkey - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 21 Jun 02 |
| Sad to say, but "bombay Dreams" puts the Bomb in Bombay. With the exception of the opening numbers of both acts, Bombay Dreams is a disaster. It may have begun as a stage hommage to the joys of Bollywood films, but has somewhere along the line tunred into an embarrassing condescenion of it instead. The hero lacks charm, and many in the cast can't hit their notes. The choreography has some spunk as do A.R. Rahman's tunes, but the rest of the creative team has failed miserably, most notably, lyricist Don Black. His words not only fall into generic, bland "june/moon"-style rhyme schemes, but the lyrics rarely even scan -- leaving the far from fully skilled chorus struggling to get their mouths around the words. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 21 Jun 02 |
| Oh what a shame. This could have been so good and I was really looking forward to it. BUT, the whole thing just fell apart. The story tries to do too much and fails to hang together. The "in" bollywood jokes are lost on none bollywood fans and the performances just aren't good enough. Nobody in the cast had a strong enough voice and the lead male (can't remember his name/character) was very off key a couple of times. The only bits that really worked (which did get whoops from the audience) were the big Bollywood dance numbers. The stage is also surprisingly spartan, given the cash that has allegedly been thrown at this show. Over hearing some of the Asian audience members on the way out (I am not Asian) they seemed disappointed too. It is such a pity and it makes me realise that We Will Rock You is actually not that Bad. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 21 Jun 02 |
| Crap - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 20 Jun 02 |
| I agree with a lot of the comments above. The advertising for the show promised a great deal - fantastic sets, colourful costumes, big song-and-dance numbers, amazing melodies, and so forth. Unfortunately what we've got is something neither Bollywood enough nor Western enough, so it ends up alienating both potential audiences. On the preview night that I saw the show, either the mikes were not working or the leads were not projecting enough, so I missed the subtleties of the melodies. I know AR Rehman's stuff well, having bought many of his film CDs, but I thought the music for Bombay Dreams was well below-par. The melodies were not particularly memorable (apart from "Shakalaka Baby", which is catchiness personified), and I came out of the theatre feeling that if this was the best Rehman could come up with then he wasn't going to give any Western composers too many sleepless nights. The inventiveness of his film tracks just wasn't there on stage - it was like he'd watered things down, or he'd run out of creativity. For me, it particularly didn't work in the ballad-y numbers, as you'd get intrinsically Indian melodies fitted up with strangely scanning English words - it somehow didn't work. What I think the show should have had more of were the big, brash Bollywood ensemble numbers, as those were the moments in the show that I thought worked particularly well. I agreed with the comments re. the set and costumes not being particularly awesome - it's true, they weren't, and so yet another wasted opportunity of glamming and kitsching it up in style. So, not a bad show, but certainly not a classic. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 20 Jun 02 |
| I can't believe your reviewer was in the same Theatre as me last night; what I saw was neither Bollywood or Western - just a bad blend of the two...but best of luck to ALW anyway - if he has the cash/investor confidence to blow £4.5m away on (yet another) untested idea. Whatever happened to development these days? - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 20 Jun 02 |
| I enjoyed every minute!
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 18 Jun 02 |
| To rubbish Bombay Dreams on the strength of Shakalaka Baby alone is ridiculous! It is a dance track, suported in the show itself by a stunning dance routine. Would you go and see a Kylie concert and complain that the lyrics to Can't Get You Out of My Head were awful? Treat it in the same way! You either like that style of music or you don't! But the variety of music in the show itself is astounding! Not every song sounds like that one. From western style traditional ballads to bhangra.... to well known Bollywood film tunes. The show certainly is something different and in my opinion what it needs! I'm tired of stale old songs pieced together with a flimsy script just to sell a few back catalogue albums. Justify the script of WWRY if you can! I'm not saying that's a bad show at all.... just that Bombay Dreams is no worse! At least they have tried to introduce something new to the western public! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 17 Jun 02 |
| What a huge disappointment. After all the hype that it would be a huge lavish show, its one huge damp squib. The plot is a sham..no coherence, little humour, couldnt care less about the badly drawn characters, performers adequate, set appaling...wheres the vibrant colours and spectacle? a few squirts of water DO NOT make the show spectacular. The dancing however was fab, but there was never a WOW number that it needs (and was promised). The show just doesnt fill the huge theatre. The stage is used badly, the slum scenes are a mess and the film set scenes are not shown adequetly. The same old revolving staircase keeps going round. No variety in the set. the costumes look cheap- not kitsch like they should. The music is just appaling....the lyrics-laughable, many people were just laughing AT the music and lyrics. The direction is also fluffed throughout the whole thing...the murder at the end of act 1 is badly directed..and who cares anyway? As you can tell- im not a fan! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 14 Jun 02 |
| I have attended over 200 shows and it is the first time ever that I have left at the interval despite being tempted at shows like Doctor Dolittle and Return to the Forbidden Planet.
Found so hard to follow, did not understand "IN" jokes, one or two chorud lead numbers were OK but nearly all others were just so forgetable.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 14 Jun 02 |
| Just average.
OK, initial feelings in the first 10 minutes - messy. But it got much better. The problem was in the first 3 numbers (Bombay Awakes, Bombay Dreams, Like an Eagle) was that there were far too many people crowding the stage. I know it was supposed to set the scene of a crowded slum, but I thought it looked bad.
The characters are OK - you build up emotions for them very slowly though.
Sets were fairly good - I HATED with a passion the Slums set though, because they stuck a huge billboard in the middle, it looked w-r-o-n-g.
Music was random. I'd advise you all to download clips from
http://www.bombaydreamsthemusical.com/music.asp. The best song is Only Love - although the clip doesn't do it justice.
I believe the single Shakalaka Baby has already been released. I'm not sure how well it will do - but it was very poppy.. and the dance/effects in that were great.
My greatest hatred were the Slums and the fact that the orchestra playted the melody line of the singing.
Great use of water effects! Shakalaka Baby is worth at least half the ticket price!
I think the production will be a hit because of the huge Asian community, who made up 80% of the audience.
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 09 Jun 02 |
| Hasn't got a prayer. It'll fold before the summer's out. Don't be misled by the five-star insider comments on this listing: this is about as bad as west end musicals ever get. Job - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 09 Jun 02 |
| Firstly, well done Clear Channel, the Theatre looks wonderful.
Secondly, well done RUG fab, very different show. You are very brave and I think it works.
Very different show but excellent. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 06 Jun 02 |
| Well sadly the show didn't really work for me. This is the bravest attempt at doing something completely different in the theatre that I have ever seen but I could't recommend the show to anyone I liked as it is now. I loved the first 15 mins of the show - lovely melodies - fun book - great big synchronised dance routines to loud banging indian music. Then it got incredibly dull for the next three hours or so. The songs are either loud dance tracks to accompany the routines or "This must be love" / "these are my dreams" / "this is my destiny" / "Will she ever love me" kind of affairs. Not exact lyrics but you get the idea. The lyricist is Don Black and to say that the lyrics are not taxing on the brain cells is an understatement. The promise of the opening is certainly not fullfilled over the next very long few hours in my opinion. At the moment in this early preview there are far too many similar big dance troutines to music that all sounds the same and the above mentioned ballads all sort of flow into one another. None of the main actors have very impressive voices either in my opinion. You also have to accept that they are using Bollywood conventions where it is perfectly feasible for a small woman to beat a room full of big men into submission, where assasins choose to strike in public surrounded by dozens of people and the villain laughs menacingly as he plans to murder poor slum dwellers. The book mostly went down like a lead ballon tonight with few laughs which is surprising because the writer Meera Syal is fantastic normally. As I walked out a man next to me said to his friends "That was awful, F***ing awful".I didn't hear anyone raving around me although it got a reasonable amount of applause. The other thing is that it is a VERY large theatre to fill post starlight refurbishment - 2519 seats. Tonights audience were about 80% Indian/Asian - I am thinking how long can it survive on a niche audience who are used to Bollywood concepts unless the critics all rave?
- USER: Whatsonstage.com | 06 Jun 02 |
| A wonderful, colourful show, what a breath of fresh air in a very stagnant West End.
May it run as long as Cats - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 05 Jun 02 |
| terrible - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 04 Jun 02 |
| Well I saw the second preview and thought it was just fantastic. I didn't really know what to expect. The theatre was full. The music is amazing - mixture or Western and Indian (emphasis on Western). The cast is huge (over 40 I counted). The colours on stage are amazing and the script is very enjoyable indeed. There's a great fight scene as well. I wanted to buy the CD but it's not out yet. Guys, I loved it! And there was a standing ovation. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 04 Jun 02 |
| A wonderful show ,shakala baby is a classic sung by the gorgeous Preeya Kalidas,a must see show in my opinion which i plan to see again before there will be a big returns queue outside.! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 03 Jun 02 |
| Thought it was weak and won't last very long. The best thing is definitely the script by Meera Syal, funny and witty, but the music is unmemorable and the lyrics totally bland. The acting is good but the singing is quite weak. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 02 Jun 02 |
