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Post by robertb213 on Dec 28, 2017 18:22:36 GMT
Saw the matinee of this today. Well, Act 1, as unfortunately I decided to leave at the interval.
It just didn't work, there was only one memorable song and the set/staging did the production no favours at all. The cast can't be blamed at all, they threw their all into it, but the source material is just not very good. Although I did love all the 80s cartoon theme tunes being played before the show started! And thankfully thanks to the Southwark Playhouse's PAYG package it kinda feels like I got it for free (and it only worked out at £12 anyway).
Probably a case of 'well, it sounded a good idea on paper...'
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 28, 2017 22:26:54 GMT
I was also at today’s matinee.
This was well acted and had plenty of heart, but also it was pretty much terrible also.
This was a solid 1 Star from me, so therefore glad I only paid £12 on PAYG.
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Post by ellie1981 on Dec 28, 2017 23:19:35 GMT
Oh dear. And we just booked tickets this morning for 2nd Jan. wish I’d read this thread first! I was optimistically hoping it would be in the same spirit as The Toxic Avenger, just more family friendly.
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Bananaman
Dec 28, 2017 23:55:56 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2017 23:55:56 GMT
I'm in my 30s, used to watch the cartoon and read the Beano religiously (though the two didn't merge until I technically outgrew 'em), recognised all but maybe two of the kids TV themes from the '80s that were playing before and during the show, and I honestly loved it. Don't go in expecting art, go in committed to two and a half hours of silliness, a plot with the depth and sense of a comic strip, a cast of terrific voices, and just let it happen. Maybe I was helped by this miserable thread (high expectations are often disappointed, but low expectations are so often exceeded), maybe I was conveniently *exactly* the target audience, but I had a great time and was very happy with my decision to attend.
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Bananaman
Dec 29, 2017 0:29:29 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on Dec 29, 2017 0:29:29 GMT
Oh dear. And we just booked tickets this morning for 2nd Jan. wish I’d read this thread first! I was optimistically hoping it would be in the same spirit as The Toxic Avenger, just more family friendly. Uh oh! Hopefully you'll enjoy it like @baemax did. I too was hoping it would be similar to The Toxic Avenger as I really enjoyed that, and it definitely is more family friendly than that was. That show definitely had stronger songs but who knows, maybe I just wasn't in the right mood today. Hope you enjoy it anyway 😁
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Post by gra on Dec 29, 2017 9:06:35 GMT
I was surprised that the show made little attempt to encourage audience interaction.
The afternoon I attended, half the audience were kids 5 to 9 years, and I would have expected much more enthusiasm from them. Instead many were restless and obviously not totally engaged.
A shame because the cast is talented and worked hard.
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Bananaman
Dec 29, 2017 19:43:49 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Dec 29, 2017 19:43:49 GMT
6.5/10 for me
Was fun and some good songs/good acting, but was over long by a lot. Cut 30 mins id say!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 29, 2017 19:55:35 GMT
It will be a shame if it bombs because I like the idea of a steady supply of daft musicals of the Xanadu and Toxic Avenger ilk. This has been in the pipeline for an awful long time too. Was it on the old board that we first saw the “coming soon” artwork?
Of course it’s a fine line between bad and intentionally bad.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 2, 2018 17:45:12 GMT
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Bananaman
Jan 2, 2018 19:22:35 GMT
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 2, 2018 19:22:35 GMT
Waiting for this to start soon. Get there early - they play nothing but 1980s kids show theme tunes as people are taking their seats.
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Bananaman
Jan 2, 2018 22:21:54 GMT
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Post by ellie1981 on Jan 2, 2018 22:21:54 GMT
Well I thoroughly enjoyed that. Lots of kids there probably between the ages of 7-10 and they were loving it too.
It’s good to have something silly to kick off the year. Very tongue in cheek with just a couple of adult innuendos. Extremely talented cast; some songs were better than others and I think there were just 3 standouts, mainly coming from the brilliantly played Dr. Gloom.
I’d recommend it if you’re prepared to have a laugh for an evening and for the nostalgia factor if you’re a child of the 80s.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2018 22:45:35 GMT
I don't suppose Mark likes it...
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 5, 2018 8:15:34 GMT
I have to agree - while I didn't hate it, it's one of the weakest things I've seen in a long time 😔🍌
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Post by djp on Jan 7, 2018 15:56:07 GMT
Well the 4-7 year olds liked it. Think panto without ugly men dressed as ugly women and someone who was something once in the eighties - plus good singers.
The first act goes into a timeloop and takes about 3 songs too many to stagger to the interval. The book writer was overpaid.
But Act two is much better. More action, bigger bananas, better jokes, of true panto awfulness, for the adults.
Its also got some really good performances - particularly by the baddies, and its got Jodie Jacobs singing, which is always a plus.
Impossible to rate, as some will find act one snooze inducing, but kids of all ages may love it. And its less than a fifth the price of the Palladium rip off panto alternative.
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Bananaman
Jan 11, 2018 16:09:55 GMT
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Post by daniel on Jan 11, 2018 16:09:55 GMT
#BananaGate
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Post by shady23 on Jan 11, 2018 16:43:20 GMT
What apeeling behaviour!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2018 16:56:16 GMT
Good job it was only one woman, imagine if there had been a bunch of them!
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Bananaman
Jan 11, 2018 18:54:17 GMT
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Post by daniel on Jan 11, 2018 18:54:17 GMT
shady23, @baemax, taxi is on its way!
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Post by Seriously on Jan 12, 2018 1:08:17 GMT
Did this really happen, or did they just set it up for publicity?
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 12, 2018 1:33:53 GMT
Was Theatremonkey there, if so stands to reason!!! 🍌🍌🍌🍌🐒🐒🐒🍌🍌🍌🍌
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Bananaman
Jan 16, 2018 20:44:52 GMT
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Post by daniel on Jan 16, 2018 20:44:52 GMT
I know comedy is really subjective and we all find different things funny...but my god this is bad. It's probably just me, but most of it feels forced. I actually like the guy playing Bananaman himself, but the guy who is playing the dustbin/bad guy/Dr Professor is seriously grating. He's trying to be funny, but he isn't.
It's a bit like a less rude Toxic Avenger...except Toxic is actually funny.
I'm not gonna leave as I paid so may as well stick it out...let's see what Act II brings.
On and there's a baby in the audience.
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Bananaman
Jan 16, 2018 22:46:11 GMT
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Post by daniel on Jan 16, 2018 22:46:11 GMT
Okay so, on post show reflection, I think my interval rant was perhaps a little on the harsh side. Act II was a HUGE improvement, in every sense. I even found myself cracking a smile towards the end.
For that reason, I'm gonna round up my two stars to a three.
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Post by candela on Jan 17, 2018 15:33:14 GMT
They only allowed to use the material that the Beano have approved which is a shame on the cast as they are a talented bunch!
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Post by musicalmarge on Jan 17, 2018 23:24:22 GMT
Saw this tonight, it’s a mess. Really energetic cast and some good performances/singing but it has serious identity issues and doesn’t know if it’s a panto, kids show, theatre in education or a musical. For a story that is connected so heavily to the 80’s (including the pre soundtrack in the auditorium) why have iPhones in the show and mention 2002?
The score, script, jokes and book just aren’t good enough or ready and it shouldn’t have made it to public presentation at its current state. As others have said previously the source material just isn’t up to the standard we expect at Southwark and it just came across like a Btec project. (I did a Btec so I can say that!).
Too many group numbers, the casting was a mixed bag and it was also far too long. By far the weakest musical I have seen at Southwark for years sadly which is a shame as in a “Toxic Avenger kinda way” there is a good show there somewhere. 5/10.
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Post by criticalprole on Feb 10, 2024 14:51:04 GMT
So it's been five years and despite a messy first act, I felt this show had heaps of potential, mostly Gen X parents taking their kids to see a bit of nostalgia. It's probably missed the boat on that now, if I'm honest, but I really did like the songs and I'm sad it never made it past the Southwark.
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