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Post by partytentdown on Feb 11, 2024 23:07:37 GMT
If anyone could get me a badge I'll be ever so grateful!
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Post by thedriftersgirl on Feb 15, 2024 14:42:29 GMT
I enjoyed the show, but wouldn’t rush back.
Managed to get the pin set, a magnet and the free badge at the end on Monday night, but sadly they didn’t have any tote bags as they sold out on the first night and only got them back in on Tuesday and sadly I live outside of London so won’t be able to pick one up anytime soon.
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1,098 posts
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Post by theatrefan62 on Feb 15, 2024 16:14:00 GMT
I enjoyed the show, but wouldn’t rush back. Managed to get the pin set, a magnet and the free badge at the end on Monday night, but sadly they didn’t have any tote bags as they sold out on the first night and only got them back in on Tuesday and sadly I live outside of London so won’t be able to pick one up anytime soon. Keep an eye on the website, they may add a merch online store eventually
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Feb 16, 2024 14:31:47 GMT
My thoughts :
First visit to this venue.
Loved the regional accents. Was a bit jarring at first but grew on me a lot. It's Greek mythology so why not?
Melanie La Barrie is just outstanding in this show as Hermes. Everyone is but her performance stole the show. The band are also brilliant and it was lovely to see everyone at the end proper applaud them.
An amazing atmosphere, I am so happy I've seen this show again.
Side note: I was sat in the stalls - the haze was a bit much, smelt chemically. The venue was quite hot.
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Post by ladidah on Feb 16, 2024 15:31:44 GMT
Can't wait to see this, is it a long show?
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Post by Matt on Feb 17, 2024 13:14:04 GMT
Hi everyone, I've joined the forum recently so I thought to make a first for what used to be my favourite musical, Hadestown.
When it first opened at the NT, I unfortunately missed it, but had the privilege to see it twice on Broadway, with the original cast. I was completely in love. The set, the actors, the story and the music were perfection. I was very excited to see West End production, and attended a performance on 13/02 (I was sat in the stalls).
Unfortunately, it wasn't to my liking at all. In fact, I couldn't wait for it to finish. My main problem were the actors playing Orpheus and Eurydice as they were quite underwhelming. Orpheus couldn't hit the high notes which were signature for the role and were present throughout the performance, and would fall flat on many other parts. I really wish they adjusted the songs to fit his voice, which was noticebly powerful in songs like "Wait For Me".
I found Eurydice shrilling, with her portrayel lacking calm and, as another forum member (Afriley) said, sweetness in her voice. That was noticeable in several songs such as "Flowers", "Hey Little Songbird" and even "Doubt Comes In".
Unfortunately I won't be seeing this production again, which is a shame because I intended to book it several more times. I rate it a 2/5
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Post by moonoverwater on Feb 17, 2024 16:12:22 GMT
We saw it yesterday, 16/02. Whoever above said the theatre is hot wasn’t lying - I actually had a minor medical wobble in the lobby afterwards due to the heat.
I don’t know if Eurydice read Theatreboard feedback in the interval, but I thought her voice became a lot sweeter in act 2. The Northernness was great for early flinty Eurydice, but I felt the belief more when she was rescued.
Orpheus was better earlier on. The falsetto in Doubt Comes In didn’t work for me. It was like they’d done more on the staging and less on the vocals there.
I really enjoyed Hades as a bit of a sleazy car salesman turned tyrant! I think the musical suffers from having his character development at the end (His Kiss The Riot etc) but the spin was very fresh from the Broadway version.
Persephone was incredible - a deep well of sadness covered up with bravado, and that voice. My favourite part was her standing behind Hades during Why We Build the Wall and then the beginning of act 2 - her and Hermes have a wonderful relationship.
The workers are an incredible ensemble and deserve all the praise they get and more. Astonishing vocal power, intense energy, and it was just really good to see someone with a limb difference onstage and killing it.
My highest praise is for Hermes and the Fates. The Fates have their harmonies down, their characters slightly different, and are wickedly entertaining. Hermes has knocked the Broadway one down for me - we listened to the album on the way home and it didn’t sound right! Her command of the stage is absolute. Her voice during the ending reprise was heartbreaking. Standing there stony faced as Eurydice begs for help with her choice - GOD. She deserves all the awards.
Also a shoutout to the front of house team at the Lyric - they were lovely and helped me get some sugar and cold water in me after I collapsed (it was a SMALL collapse, and I didn’t faint, I’d just been stupid about eating/drinking and was having a body Thing anyway). But still no tote bags!
4/5 from me. I’d love to see it again in a less crowded atmosphere - maybe I can ask for box seats for Christmas&birthday.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Feb 17, 2024 20:19:13 GMT
moonoverwater it was me who mentioned the heat; really uncomfortable. Sorry to hear you weretaken poorly - hope you're ok 🫂 I agree - Hermes and the Fates outstanding.
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Post by viserys on Feb 18, 2024 14:54:22 GMT
Hi everyone, I've joined the forum recently so I thought to make a first for what used to be my favourite musical, Hadestown. When it first opened at the NT, I unfortunately missed it, but had the privilege to see it twice on Broadway, with the original cast. I was completely in love. The set, the actors, the story and the music were perfection. I was very excited to see West End production, and attended a performance on 13/02 (I was sat in the stalls). Unfortunately, it wasn't to my liking at all. In fact, I couldn't wait for it to finish. My main problem were the actors playing Orpheus and Eurydice as they were quite underwhelming. Orpheus couldn't hit the high notes which were signature for the role and were present throughout the performance, and would fall flat on many other parts. I really wish they adjusted the songs to fit his voice, which was noticebly powerful in songs like "Wait For Me". I found Eurydice shrilling, with her portrayel lacking calm and, as another forum member (Afriley) said, sweetness in her voice. That was noticeable in several songs such as "Flowers", "Hey Little Songbird" and even "Doubt Comes In". Unfortunately I won't be seeing this production again, which is a shame because I intended to book it several more times. I rate it a 2/5 Hi Matthew, very happy to read this, as I am very much in the same boat and it's somehow good to know that I'm not alone. I saw Hadestown at the National Theatre, fell in love with it and went to New York three times to see it on Broadway (well, I saw other shows as well, but HT was the main thing which I saw a total of five times across these trips) I also felt that the London production is let down by its performers, although for me Eurydice was the smallest problem, I quite liked Grace's portrayal! That said, while Eva Noblezada has a great voice (and a better voice than Grace) I never really liked her whiny crybaby approach to the part, I so much preferred Solea Pfeiffer when she took over and Grace plays her in a similar "tough lonely wanderer" vein. As for Orpheus, I wonder if Dónal Finn has already shot his voice with a role outside his range? I've heard from two independent sources that he was pretty terrible and he's been off twice - Friday and Saturday evening so far. I saw the understudy Simon Oskarsson on Saturday afternoon and he was decent enough, as I never expected him to match my memories of Reeve Carney and his insane high notes and I was also aware that it was only his second performance and he probably hadn't had a chance to rehearse all that much yet. My main problems were Persephone and Hades though. Where one hurt or angry look was enough for Amber Gray and Jewelle Blackman to convey a wealth of emotion, Gloria Onitri tended to ridiculous overacting at times and Zachary James was no match vocally or acting-wise for any of the three Hades performers I was fortunate enough to see in New York. It was easy for Melanie La Barrie to walk away with this show, but that said, I am not sure what the reasoning behind her casting was. Sure they changed from male to female on Broadway, but I had always thought this was more a one-off stunt casting for Lillias White and more importantly, to give legends like her and before her André de Shields a chance to perform on Broadway again when good roles are SO rare for people that age. I'd rather seen a similarly aged legend get given the role of Hermes in London. Anyway, I am booked once more for July already and I do hope that Dónal Finn will turn up then, but beyond that I think I will also rather cherish my memories of the amazing people I was fortunate enough to see in New York.
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Feb 18, 2024 17:09:25 GMT
Gosh little is making me want to see this musical, and a side from people who have been actively awaiting its transfer from New York I don’t know if I see it being a smash over here.
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6,338 posts
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Post by danb on Feb 18, 2024 18:16:14 GMT
I’m booked and kind of dreading it. I have tried listening to it several times and only a few of the tunes have sunk in. I’ll be alright if they reprise ‘Wait For Me’ a similar amount of times that ‘Moulin Rouge’ does ‘Come What May’. I know that one 🤣
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Feb 18, 2024 19:26:19 GMT
I’m not even a huge fan of sung through musicals either which doesn’t help
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Post by max on Feb 18, 2024 21:05:29 GMT
I’m not even a huge fan of sung through musicals either which doesn’t help From what I've seen of a naughty Youtube video of the Broadway cast it's got a lot of narration running contemporary with the action, so more storytelling than full-on sung through. Reminds me a bit of Godspell and Pippin which may be odd references as Hadestown is touted as cutting edge and very 'now', but a folkiness shading into various 'music of Black origin' styles is popular right now; add a klezmer violin and you're laughing.
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Post by thedriftersgirl on Feb 19, 2024 17:01:16 GMT
Any sign of the tote bags returning yet?
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Post by sophia on Feb 19, 2024 19:17:12 GMT
From the cast board tonight it looks like Dónal Finn is off again.
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Post by thedriftersgirl on Feb 19, 2024 19:19:01 GMT
From the cast board tonight it looks like Dónal Finn is off again. Are the tote bags back?
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6,338 posts
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Post by danb on Feb 19, 2024 19:24:51 GMT
Would they recast do we think if it doesn’t work out?
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Post by Matt on Feb 19, 2024 19:31:12 GMT
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2,564 posts
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Post by viserys on Feb 19, 2024 19:41:29 GMT
Simon Oskarsson. I saw him on Saturday evening after Donal was on for the matinee. He was okay. I heard from two people independently that Donal was struggling during the week and cracked more than once on the lalalalaas, whereas Simon didn't crack and did a good job, especially considering he can't have had that much rehearsal time yet. I think they might want to take Donal out for a few days longer so he's fully rested for opening night.
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Post by andrew on Feb 19, 2024 20:08:22 GMT
Don't forget that the rehearsal and early previews can be very intense for the cast and crew, running it through multiple times a day for weeks on end, he may well be perfectly up to the role and just struggling with this first bit of it. Totally agree with others though that I'm not feeling enticed having seen the fairly flawless original NT cast to see what sounds like more of a mixed bag at the sweltering Lyric.
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Post by danb on Feb 19, 2024 20:35:29 GMT
When DEH first opened, Sam Tutty was very vocally tired and really struggled. I didn’t think about how many times he might have run it that week. He was much better subsequently.
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Post by forfivemoreminutes on Feb 19, 2024 21:17:58 GMT
Would they recast do we think if it doesn’t work out? recast?? what a cruel thing to say when as andrew has mentioned they’ve been doing very intense rehearsals whilst also starting to perform the show. other cast members have said Dónal is ill, maybe remember that performers are indeed human beings working hard and get sick, before throwing around accusations that they’re ‘not good enough’
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Post by danb on Feb 19, 2024 21:35:48 GMT
Would they recast do we think if it doesn’t work out? recast?? what a cruel thing to say when as andrew has mentioned they’ve been doing very intense rehearsals whilst also starting to perform the show. other cast members have said Dónal is ill, maybe remember that performers are indeed human beings working hard and get sick, before throwing around accusations that they’re ‘not good enough’ …and if you then read my next post you’ll see me remember a time that it has happened before and how it was ok. Didn’t need the lecture thanks.
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Post by ntherooh on Feb 19, 2024 23:40:54 GMT
Anyone know why the guitar part of We Raise Our Cups isn’t played by Orpheus in London?
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 19, 2024 23:42:38 GMT
Anyone know why the guitar part of We Raise Our Cups isn’t played by Orpheus in London? Simon didn't play it tonight, but someone I know went last week and he did play it, so not sure if they're just trialling various bits?
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986 posts
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Post by nash16 on Feb 19, 2024 23:50:49 GMT
From the cast board tonight it looks like Dónal Finn is off again. Are the tote bags back? Dónal was replaced with a tote bag tonight, but they refused to sell the bag in the foyer afterwards.
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Post by curiouskc on Feb 19, 2024 23:53:25 GMT
Would they recast do we think if it doesn’t work out? Honestly, as soon as the Wyndham's Next to Normal run finishes in September they need to snap up Jack Wolfe for Orpheus. For whatever reason, Orpheus does seem to be a really hard role to cast well, but I think Jack would be perfect. But in the meantime, I hope Finn improves.
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Post by Matt on Feb 20, 2024 12:33:09 GMT
Would they recast do we think if it doesn’t work out? recast?? what a cruel thing to say when as andrew has mentioned they’ve been doing very intense rehearsals whilst also starting to perform the show. other cast members have said Dónal is ill, maybe remember that performers are indeed human beings working hard and get sick, before throwing around accusations that they’re ‘not good enough’ Unfortunately it is a tough and ruthless industry which has no room for mediocrity (or at least shouldn't). If the main cast is not up for the task they will very likely be recast (I am not talking about being off sick, that happens. I am talking about not being able to sing the songs you are meant to.) The previews are very important because they set up the entire run. Can you imagine this happening on Broadway? It would close after a month, if not sooner. Just look at what happened to ALW's Cinderella.
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Post by forfivemoreminutes on Feb 20, 2024 12:58:05 GMT
recast?? what a cruel thing to say when as andrew has mentioned they’ve been doing very intense rehearsals whilst also starting to perform the show. other cast members have said Dónal is ill, maybe remember that performers are indeed human beings working hard and get sick, before throwing around accusations that they’re ‘not good enough’ Unfortunately it is a tough and ruthless industry which has no room for mediocrity (or at least shouldn't). If the main cast is not up for the task they will very likely be recast (I am not talking about being off sick, that happens. I am talking about not being able to sing the songs you are meant to.) The previews are very important because they set up the entire run. Can you imagine this happening on Broadway? It would close after a month, if not sooner. Just look at what happened to ALW's Cinderella. that is… not how contracts work… if they’re not performing well then they wouldn’t be extended of course, but no producer is going to terminate a contract early because they miss a few previews (for illness, again, may I add) to name one example, mean girls broadway had a standby learn a role she didn’t cover during previews and the principal didn’t get fired, the show didn’t close straight after previews, and in fact is about to open in the west end! people in this thread seem to have forgotten that performers are humans🤔
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Post by danb on Feb 20, 2024 13:21:44 GMT
None of us know anything about the industry and all believe that performers are robots. We also lack any compassion. 2 posts in and you’re being quite incisive Mrs Finn.
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