404 posts
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Post by dlevi on May 22, 2019 7:14:57 GMT
The only thing good about this production is that it marks the end of Josie Rourke's time at the Donmar. It's fitting that she goes out with something so misguided, miscast and miserable. Now they just have to fumigate the place to get the stench out. Charity has three things going for it: a great score, a funny and heart-breaking book and an opportunity for a choreographer to show what they can do . Thanks to Miss Duff's horrible ( though weirdly confident) singing voice, the score is destroyed. Thanks to Ms Rourke having no sense of what comic timing is ( except of course in the bullet-proof elevator scene and Mr Darvill's considerable skills) the book simply drones on and on. The laughs were few and far between. And while no choreographer is going to be better than Bob Fosse on this show , Mr MacGregor came up with NOTHING. A horrible production. ( and when you can't make Rhythm of Life a show stopper you're in big trouble) . Grrrrrr.
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Post by partytentdown on May 23, 2019 10:04:04 GMT
The only thing good about this production is that it marks the end of Josie Rourke's time at the Donmar. It's fitting that she goes out with something so misguided, miscast and miserable. Now they just have to fumigate the place to get the stench out. Charity has three things going for it: a great score, a funny and heart-breaking book and an opportunity for a choreographer to show what they can do . Thanks to Miss Duff's horrible ( though weirdly confident) singing voice, the score is destroyed. Thanks to Ms Rourke having no sense of what comic timing is ( except of course in the bullet-proof elevator scene and Mr Darvill's considerable skills) the book simply drones on and on. The laughs were few and far between. And while no choreographer is going to be better than Bob Fosse on this show , Mr MacGregor came up with NOTHING. A horrible production. ( and when you can't make Rhythm of Life a show stopper you're in big trouble) . Grrrrrr. What do you really think though
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on May 23, 2019 13:04:47 GMT
Seeing it tonight, so, uh, looking forward to it.
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Post by foxa on May 23, 2019 22:14:02 GMT
Well, I was warned.
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Post by alece10 on May 24, 2019 4:53:03 GMT
I dont use Twitter so may have missed it but there doesn't seem to be any news on who is doing the guest appearance next week.
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Post by raiseitup on May 24, 2019 8:32:33 GMT
I dont use Twitter so may have missed it but there doesn't seem to be any news on who is doing the guest appearance next week. They announced this week's on Monday morning, so I imagine the same might happen next week.
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Post by foxa on May 24, 2019 8:45:53 GMT
We had Shaq Taylor last night. I get the feeling they've sort of given up on the stunt 'Daddy Brubeck' casting, given the recent lack of fanfare in terms of announcements. This is a bit of a grumbling review for two reasons. One is that I splurged and got two stalls seats (C1 and C2) for £40. I cannot tell you the last time I spent that much on tickets at the Donmar - I'm usually £20/£10 up in the circle, but I thought this might be an occasion I didn't want to miss. Just to get the seat comments out of the way C1 and C2 are not good seats. Although your view is not actually restricted, much of the production has been stage out front, so you have a poor view of things like the elevator scene. My daughter said she felt cut off from the show, it was a bit like watching it from the wings - close, but at an odd angel. The other reason, despite the criticism here of the singing, I'm not a musical purist, so thought that since I like the music, a good concept/acting/staging would carry it for me. Alas. The Duff's singing isn't good, and she also sounded like she might be losing her voice, so it was a bit rough and warbly, but I hadn't been entirely prepared for her lack of dancing. However she wasn't alone in that. I'm usually a big fan of ensembles, but, with a couple of standouts, the group numbers were poor. There was scarcely a number that wouldn't have been better staged or executed in your average American high school or a piece of choreography that anyone on this forum couldn't execute. I know someone on here (Steve? Mallardo?) wrote brilliantly about the Warhol influence - and I think that is one of those clever directorial ideas that, in practical terms, sapped the musical. Members of Warhol's factory, judging by their films, were often lacklustre, exhausted, drugged up. When you apply that to the ensemble as they slowly haul out a sign that says 'Park' or whatever, it just deadens the show. I agree Oscar was v. good and the show picked up upon his arrival. The beginning of 'I always cry at weddings' was strong, until {Spoiler - click to view} it became a weird mess of tying balloons to Charity and smearing cake on each other. Though it didn't bring the house down, Rhythm of Life was well sung by Taylor but {Spoiler - click to view} not well staged and he got bogged down in lighting a big joint which wasn't as funny as they had hoped, I suspect.
Duff was moving and good in her final scene with Oscar.
But overall - what the heck.
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1,465 posts
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Post by foxa on May 24, 2019 8:49:29 GMT
Poop - my spoilers are all over the place in that - sorry, can't fix them - but you get the idea. It was a 'what the heck' evening. (And I'm surprised it got so many 4*)
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Post by theatregoer2019 on May 24, 2019 9:38:22 GMT
I think there might be a domino effect of negativity here. The production and actors are fantastic. There are a couple of moments where things don’t necessarily land with all audience members, which will always be the nature of a 3-sided space, but having read some of these reviews makes you hate it before you’ve even arrived. I was so wrong to do that. I have now seen in 3 times, twice with a standing ovation at the end of the performance from the entire audience. There’s not a single bad actor in this show, and for those concerned about the Daddy, that is it’s an added thing, the show was already sold out before the Daddy’s were announced, having the hump because you don’t know who you’re gonna have on your week is silly, as far as you knew when you booked the ticket you would never have known until you got there anyway. I hate how much this has been shot down, when there are other shows on right now that are far worse... also £40 for a ticket is the cheapest in most theatres these days, this is the most expensive ticket for the Donmar. They aren’t over price for the work and the actors on that stage
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Post by foxa on May 24, 2019 9:52:33 GMT
Nah - my daughter doesn't read this forum and she really disliked it, probably more than I did. But she loves good dancing, so was expecting more. If I usually pay £10 or £20 at this venue (as I explained) then £40 was a splurge and I explained how that may have influenced my enjoyment. If £40 is a bargain for someone else, great - I'm writing about my experience. If you weren't sat in our exact seats, I'm not sure how you can comment on what the musical was like from them. Your personal experience, of course, is also valid, and interesting to read. Three times - wow - glad you enjoyed it (and certainly some people did - a couple of people in the front of the circle stood at the end, but certainly no huge standing ovation our night.) And thanks for your first post!
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1,316 posts
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Post by tmesis on May 25, 2019 17:35:56 GMT
I was apprehensive about today's matinee but actually enjoyed it. My heart sank at the start with the style of production but in the end I thought it worked. The weakest bit was the lack lustre choreography but the band were terrific and the sound balance exemplary. This is the third Charity I've seen, the other two being the Menier one of ten years ago and the Watermill one of last year. This was definitely the best of the three for getting the sleaziness of the club across - the other two were way too 'polite.' For me Anne Marie Duff was the most convincing Charity I've yet seen and I actually liked her voice. OK she has a limited range and was a little gruff but here intonation was virtually spot on and, because she is such a good actor, she can 'sell' a song really well. I'd love to see here do other musicals (maybe Sondheim) and at the end she was absolutely heartbreaking and made this 'problem' part of the musical really work for me.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on May 25, 2019 19:52:40 GMT
Loved this. I vaguely remembered reading something on here about Warhol although for unknown reasons kept coming up with the name of Julian Asange instead, did he ever have blond hair? But since I knew nothing about Warhol apart from famous for 15 minutes that didn't explain anything but I just accepted it was all randomly silver and had giant brillo boxes and whatnot. Thanks for the explanation earlier on and the photos, now makes more rounder picture and explains that random pillar! I don't usually do musicals, people will keep singing, and perhaps that helped as I have little experience and am not really wowed by people dancing or singing amazingly. Also I love AMD and had skipped the last two things I could have seen her in, Common and Macbeth cos of the reviews and feedback on here, so really booked for her and as the final production of the JR regime. Didn't know anything about it and from my reading here it appears it was darker, less upbeat? I like grim so equally that worked for me and AMD not having an amazing voice worked as it seemed to fit the character. I loved some of the bits that seem to have exasperated others, the lift scene, the coney island scene and oohh the songs. The rhythms of life scene does I agree seem a bit shoehorned it but it's a great number, I would have happily bopped for longer (back row of circle, no people behind me to put up with me). I suspect the things that made quite a few people loathe it are rather why I liked it, a sharper, 'better' musical version of this might have done little for me. AMD back on my top I love to watch actresses.
Somehow missed the fact that the bar was full of a band, I kept wondering if it was a live band as I could see someone conducting on the screens but couldn't think where they'd have put it. Doors opened late today, not sure if linked to fact a member of the ensemble had to cover a role due to illness but suddenly realised how small the donmar is when everyone is crammed into the circle bar, stairs and downstairs.
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Post by xanady on May 26, 2019 19:50:27 GMT
We are seeing this on Wednesday and I have just received from the theatre,a very detailed and comprehensive ‘welcome’ e-mail from them with rehearsal photos,guide to facilities,how to get there etc.Very impressive and classy.Never come across this before in such detail from other venues.
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Post by poster J on May 26, 2019 20:33:27 GMT
We are seeing this on Wednesday and I have just received from the theatre,a very detailed and comprehensive ‘welcome’ e-mail from them with rehearsal photos,guide to facilities,how to get there etc.Very impressive and classy.Never come across this before in such detail from other venues. I've had the same email (I'm going on Tuesday) and it was missing the one detail I actually want to know, which is who the guest star will be!
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3,476 posts
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Post by showgirl on May 27, 2019 3:19:26 GMT
I was at the Wednesday matinee and experienced an astonishing and unexpected act of generosity from the box office: the only seat I had been able to book was a really dire Klaxon ticket at the far end of a back row in the circle and I was dreading sitting there but had had to be a bit devious about going online when I shouldn't even to get that.
Frequent checking for better returns proved fruitless so when I reached the theatre, I asked if they'd had any £30 stalls seats back as I could pay the £25 concession rate for one; not because the show sounded worth it but for comfort.
To my amazement and delight, the box office assistant simply handed me a ticket for a brilliant stalls seat (on the aisle, too!) and declined any payment, though this must originally have been advertised at £40. Once in the auditorium I did see a few gaps in the prime stalls seats and that these were being offered to a handful of latecomers but I think they were guests (house seats?) rather than people who had booked.
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Post by partytentdown on May 27, 2019 9:13:03 GMT
Kobna Holbrook-Smith is Daddy this week
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Post by raiseitup on May 27, 2019 9:13:36 GMT
Kobna was sitting next to me when I saw this during Clive Rowe’s stint as Daddy.
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Post by foxa on May 27, 2019 9:14:26 GMT
Daddy Brubeck is being played by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (who won an Olivier for Tina the Musical.) I think he'll be very good!
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Post by foxa on May 27, 2019 9:14:53 GMT
Oops - we all posted at the same time!
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Post by poster J on May 27, 2019 10:45:53 GMT
Ah excellent, now sort of looking forward to this a bit more!
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Post by alece10 on May 27, 2019 11:26:28 GMT
Have to say I'm a bit disappointed and was hoping for a bigger "name" but as it's almost the end of the run they dont really seem to be bothering anymore. I've not heard him sing but he was co presenter at WOS awards and was pretty dire.
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Post by foxa on May 27, 2019 13:40:44 GMT
He was good in 'Tina' (and I've also heard very positive things about him from folks who have worked with him.)
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Post by theatrenewbie on May 27, 2019 23:10:35 GMT
Just watched sweet charity tonight ! And I have to say I really did love it and was quite moved at the end! I loved the slightly down beat but Optimistic ending Ann Marie is by far no Sutton foster but I kinda liked the rasp to her voice and forced notes it matched her ambitious positive character. Debbie and lizzy where great! Debbie getting the biggest laugh of the night! For joke in the second act! Can’t remember it though but i was in fits. The choreo was great although didn’t know whether Wayne was trying to do chroma for royal ballet or stagey musical production number but it worked 80% time. The new daddy seemed abit dry and very still and maybe nervous but this was his first show! I think. But the staging for rhythm of life was the probably the worst part of the show..unfortunately.
Rich mans frug I thought was great and Ann Marie CAN dance! Yes again she isn’t Margot Fonteyn (get the joke)
Lauren drew in ensemble was on for someone tonight can’t rmewnbr who! But one of the hookers was trans?!? Was it purposely chosen part for more inclusive casting? Or just the male ensemble knew the track...either way genius.
And speaking about genius... Elevator scene very inspired.
And loved the Andy Warhol design worked well and didn’t seem college course! (In my humble opinion)
I’d say deffo go see this! People can be very cruel about shows and some aren’t obviously going to be as good as the evergreens or YouTube famous musical stars! But I really came out with a smile and quite moved.
4 stars from me!!
But what do I know 🙄
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Post by theatrenewbie on May 27, 2019 23:17:54 GMT
Oh and “there’s gotta be something better to do” was probably the best staged number and got the biggest round of applause and was probably Wayne’s more inspired choreography. Lovely seeing Debbie taking centre stage
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Post by popcultureboy on May 28, 2019 6:53:45 GMT
Have to say I'm a bit disappointed and was hoping for a bigger "name" but as it's almost the end of the run they dont really seem to be bothering anymore. I've not heard him sing but he was co presenter at WOS awards and was pretty dire. You say pretty dire, I say he managed to keep the show together in the face of some pretty big obstacles. Which really makes him ideal casting for Daddy.
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Post by Someone in a tree on May 28, 2019 9:39:13 GMT
I'm really glad I dont read reviews or this board in advance, I went in blind and loved it. Well apart from the wretched pilar which serves no point at all apart from arogance.
SC is not a romantic show so why does it generally get a twee staging with its romantised view of the 60's?
Yes I missed the Fosse chorgraphy but what we get elsewhere makes up for it and would the Fosse steps fit with the tinfoil? I'm not fan of Mcgregor (not looking forward to his Orfeo ed Euridice) but here he his alien style worked wonderfully.
Duff sounds like she is on 50 B&H a day which fitted perfectly - I think she would make a great Dot.
I also loved the ball pool. Can all musicals now have them?
This is the 3rd Charity I've seen (Victoria Palace & Chocolate Starfish) and the best. I never knew the book was so funny and here the anti valentine message perfectly shone through. Top marks from me.
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Post by zephyrus on May 29, 2019 12:21:55 GMT
Saw it last week and thought it was, for the most part, an ugly and joyless production. Much of the audience looked like they were having a miserable time (especially in the first half) although things did improve once Arthur Darvill turned up, and we all enjoyed his scene in the elevator. It felt like a lot of it didn't really connect with the audience, most of the supporting characters failed to make much of an impression, and you know you're in trouble when one of the biggest numbers in the show - The Rhythm of Life - goes for nothing.
No, Anne-Marie Duff is not a natural singer, and a lot of her numbers weren't easy to listen to but by the end I did at least care about her character and thought she gave a very affecting performance.
But, my oh my, the Bacofoil set, the Brillo boxes... Josie R is, IMO, over-rated and her departure from the Donmar is very much a cause for celebration all round.
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Post by poster J on May 29, 2019 15:20:01 GMT
Saw it last week and thought it was, for the most part, an ugly and joyless production. Much of the audience looked like they were having a miserable time (especially in the first half) although things did improve once Arthur Darvill turned up, and we all enjoyed his scene in the elevator. It felt like a lot of it didn't really connect with the audience, most of the supporting characters failed to make much of an impression, and you know you're in trouble when one of the biggest numbers in the show - The Rhythm of Life - goes for nothing. No, Anne-Marie Duff is not a natural singer, and a lot of her numbers weren't easy to listen to but by the end I did at least care about her character and thought she gave a very affecting performance. But, my oh my, the Bacofoil set, the Brillo boxes... Josie R is, IMO, over-rated and her departure from the Donmar is very much a cause for celebration all round. I was there last night and agree with all of this - aside from the elevator scene this really was a bit of a drag. I counted half a dozen empty seats before it started and there were three or four interval walkouts in my section of the Circle alone. I was tempted to leave but the intrigue of seeing how they did Rhythm of Life led me to stay. When that number started I promptly wished I hadn't - it was dreadful. Kobna Holbrook-Smith was fine, but had no chemistry whatsoever with the rest of the cast, which is unsurprising given it was only his second performance, and I found the ensemble vocals in that song (and at other points) did not mesh well. It was all too harsh, too abrasive. There is some good in this - I thought Arthur Darvill was generally good save for the last scene where it all lunged too far into melodrama. Debbie Kurup is great. Anne-Marie Duff is a terrific actress and her characterisation is wonderful, but sadly ruined by the harshness of her singing voice every time she tries to raise the volume. Her voice actually works quite well in the softer, more reflective parts, but it is sadly painfully obvious that she is not a singer any time she tries to project or belt. The set looks amateurish at best, the Warhol aspects are overplayed and the choreography just doesn't work at times. Duff holds it all together for the most part (it pretty much collapses when she's off stage) but for me she didn't entirely save it. A huge missed opportunity, particularly when compared to some of the good musical productions the Donmar has put on in the fairly recent past, such as City of Angels. I did think it was a nice touch for Duff to step out of character before the show began to explain that one of the ensemble was stepping in to cover Ursula despite not being a proper understudy (she was very good) and asking the audience to support her. That was about as lively as the audience got all night though!
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Post by JJShaw on May 30, 2019 8:59:25 GMT
full thoughts later but a quick one, much like City of Angels (although it was minor) upon researching, the finale was different for this version. The girls and Charity sang a little reprise of Something Better Than This, which I quite liked, a shame there's no recording of this version of the ending but it was nice! (one of the few nice things about this production, what a shame I really wanted to love it)
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Post by mallardo on May 30, 2019 9:39:44 GMT
full thoughts later but a quick one, much like City of Angels (although it was minor) upon researching, the finale was different for this version. The girls and Charity sang a little reprise of Something Better Than This, which I quite liked, a shame there's no recording of this version of the ending but it was nice! (one of the few nice things about this production, what a shame I really wanted to love it)
For me the best ending - and the one used in the last Broadway production (2005) - is Charity herself reprising, in a teary but determined voice, I'm The Bravest Individual.
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