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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 7:55:06 GMT
Ooooh how could I have forgotten Follies. Didn't get, still don't get the hype there, I was bored and am still dissapointed by it. The best part was I'm Still Here and that's on YouTube so I'm good.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 8:28:53 GMT
Definitely! Most recently at Kiss Me Kate, which I found really dull. Previously at the McKellen/Stewart Pinter thing which OH MY GOD I hated. We were on the end of a row and dashed straight out at the end while everyone else was cheering and having a standing O.
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Post by frankubelik on Dec 15, 2018 9:01:46 GMT
Increasingly. But I am aware this is to do with age and experience of seeing some truly great stuff here and in New York. I also will not apologise for being a devotee of the "golden age" of both productions and performers. Nevertheless I keep trying but am inevitably disappointed but that's mainly due to lacklustre performers who seem to continue to work despite their (to me) obvious shortcomings (Ria Jones, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and the like). I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about HAMILTON, FUN HOME and of course COMPANY (aside from Ms LuPone naturally). I simply did not understand the "Rocky Horror" style reaction to MORMON either. That's one party I was not invited to!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 10:05:40 GMT
Increasingly. But I am aware this is to do with age and experience of seeing some truly great stuff here and in New York. I also will not apologise for being a devotee of the "golden age" of both productions and performers. Nevertheless I keep trying but am inevitably disappointed but that's mainly due to lacklustre performers who seem to continue to work despite their (to me) obvious shortcomings (Ria Jones, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and the like). I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about HAMILTON, FUN HOME and of course COMPANY (aside from Ms LuPone naturally). I simply did not understand the "Rocky Horror" style reaction to MORMON either. That's one party I was not invited to!
I definitely agree about the age and experience thing. I've seen some fantastic stuff over the years, and sometimes I think the people raving on Twitter about how utterly AMAZING and FANTASTIC and MINDBLOWINGLY AWESOME shows are, just haven't seen much to compare. I think it's great that people are enthusiastic about stuff they've seen, and are loving things, but I feel a bit jaded in comparison.
Having said that, my regular theatre companion is half my age and we usually agree on what we just don't get, when the rest of the audience seems to be losing their minds over something.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 10:32:35 GMT
Oh god I'd forgotten Lion King (I think I repressed the memory) for me it was 10 minutes of 'Oh great! you're a Lion!' and another 2 hours of 'Oh GREAT you're a Lion'
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Post by ptwest on Dec 15, 2018 10:36:19 GMT
The one that comes immediately to mind is Cats, by far the most bored I have ever been at a musical, apart from possibly Fame. I was clearly in the minority that night. Some shows have a hit or miss effect on me, such as wicked - have seen it three times, loved it twice, but on the other there was nothing going on on stage to warrant anything other than polite applause.
The big change in my opinion is the way in which audiences react. I enjoyed Dreamgirls for example, but didn’t feel the need to stand up and scream every time Marisha hit a high note or got even louder. Likewise I loved Hamilton but didn’t feel any of the actors warranted entrance applause. I like to enjoy shows in a quieter manner but I often find myself wondering what I have missed due to not being in a state of hysteria.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Dec 15, 2018 10:38:17 GMT
Increasingly. But I am aware this is to do with age and experience of seeing some truly great stuff here and in New York. I also will not apologise for being a devotee of the "golden age" of both productions and performers. Nevertheless I keep trying but am inevitably disappointed but that's mainly due to lacklustre performers who seem to continue to work despite their (to me) obvious shortcomings (Ria Jones, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and the like). I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about HAMILTON, FUN HOME and of course COMPANY (aside from Ms LuPone naturally). I simply did not understand the "Rocky Horror" style reaction to MORMON either. That's one party I was not invited to!
I definitely agree about the age and experience thing. I've seen some fantastic stuff over the years, and sometimes I think the people raving on Twitter about how utterly AMAZING and FANTASTIC and MINDBLOWINGLY AWESOME shows are, just haven't seen much to compare. I think it's great that people are enthusiastic about stuff they've seen, and are loving things, but I feel a bit jaded in comparison.
Having said that, my regular theatre companion is half my age and we usually agree on what we just don't get, when the rest of the audience seems to be losing their minds over something.
On the other hand some just get stuck, as with haircuts and clothes, so experience is a two edged sword and can hold people back. Take Company, for example. The original was ground breaking for its time, the Mendes revival was perfectly attuned to its time and the Elliot one now is stunningly recreated for now. None is ‘better’, just aimed differently. One thing that I have changed on is spectacle. I used to think it mattered but now I can take it ir leave it.
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Post by danb on Dec 15, 2018 11:18:40 GMT
Yep, Cats & Dreamgirls for me too. Could be the weak stories in both, but Dreamgirls especially was just dull.
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Post by ruby on Dec 15, 2018 11:24:32 GMT
Footloose and Book of Mormon for me. I think I already documented this on the board but it still annoys me that some people thought the shoddy production values and general (though not all) lacklustre performances in Footloose were the best that live theatre has to offer.
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Post by daisy24601 on Dec 15, 2018 11:48:47 GMT
I generally do enjoy things, but some I could take or leave. Having seen The Lion King once I'm in no hurry for a repeat visit, I'd rather watch the film. I'd also agree with those who said Cats. Some enjoyable songs but pretty dull overall.
The one I've probably enjoyed least was the play Translations. Started off okay but omg so boring. I was glad when it was over.
I did like Company but that's one where I felt like I was seeing something else when it comes to Patti. Sorry folks, just don't get the big deal with her *hides*.
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Post by lou105 on Dec 15, 2018 11:49:16 GMT
We all know what I'm going to say: One Man Two Guv'ners. I will take being bored senseless any day over being the ONLY person not dying with laughter. Painful. Me too. But I generally find farce less funny then I'm apparently supposed to. And We will Rock You, but then I think it's not unusual to be underwhelmed by the story in that and it was just so loud (I know, sign of old age).
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 12:12:12 GMT
We all know what I'm going to say: One Man Two Guv'ners. I will take being bored senseless any day over being the ONLY person not dying with laughter. Painful. Me too. But I generally find farce less funny then I'm apparently supposed to. And We will Rock You, but then I think it's not unusual to be underwhelmed by the story in that and it was just so loud (I know, sign of old age). Yes, I usually preface my hate of 'One Man' with 'I also hate farce' so I knew I was getting into something I wouldn't LOVE but man was I not prepared for how much I HATED it. Also I found WWRY a bit dull...admittedly I'm not a HUGE Queen fan either (I like their music just never been massively into it) but I was also reminded that I just don't enjoy Ben Elton's writing much either.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 12:47:23 GMT
I generally do enjoy things, but some I could take or leave. Having seen The Lion King once I'm in no hurry for a repeat visit, I'd rather watch the film. I'd also agree with those who said Cats. Some enjoyable songs but pretty dull overall. The one I've probably enjoyed least was the play Translations. Started off okay but omg so boring. I was glad when it was over. I did like Company but that's one where I felt like I was seeing something else when it comes to Patti. Sorry folks, just don't get the big deal with her *hides*. *whispers* I was bored to tears by Patti in Gypsy. I don't know if it's Gypsy I hated or her though. Both are obviously highly unpopular opinions. I did enjoy her in Company though. Mainly perhaps she was doing 'Patti LuPone does Patti LuPone crossed with Karen Walker' and that's a vibe I'm HERE for in life.
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Post by showgirl on Dec 15, 2018 13:25:30 GMT
I thought I was the sole dissenter (again) at Dreamgirls - phew!
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Post by sf on Dec 15, 2018 13:40:41 GMT
Oh yeah, forgot "Dreamgirls." Late teenage clown-boy behind me whooping, everybody else stoney-faced. Spectacle, has to be original now, I think. More than just flying something on an extendable arm, really.
And certainly more than just shoving a hydraulic lift up Elphaba's bum and disguising it with black drapes. That "flying" effect in Wicked is laughably bad.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Dec 15, 2018 15:25:49 GMT
The only show I can say that I absolutely hated was School of Rock, there's no denying the kids are really good, but my life I was bored to tears.
The audience loved it but me and my Grandad really did not enjoy it.
I must say I went about a year ago, Saturday night, and the theatre was near enough half empty. I think that added to my boredom, there wasn't an ounce of atmosphere. I'm quite surprised this is still running considering it was quiet a year ago, god knows that it must be like now.
And to top the night off as we walked out of the theatre we watched a taxi hit a woman, throwing her in the air! Great night has by all!
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Post by jgblunners on Dec 15, 2018 15:31:01 GMT
For me it was Hamilton and Fun Home this year - in both cases, I agree that almost every aspect of these shows was brilliant and they both stand out as unique modern musicals that have developed the genre rather than fitting into the standard form. However, in neither case did I feel completely blown away emotionally. There were moments in both shows that were touching, but I clearly wasn't feeling the same emotional engagement as other audience members. I wouldn't say I was disappointed by either of them, but I clearly didn't have as strong a response to them as others.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 15, 2018 15:35:18 GMT
Farinelli and the King By Jeeves Bat Out Of Hell Gone With the Wind
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 16:18:50 GMT
I misread the above as 'Bat Jeeves' and wondered what the hell that was.
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Post by distantcousin on Dec 15, 2018 17:50:11 GMT
The show that most springs to mind for me in that context was "Sunday In The Park With George" down the Wyndhams Theatre around 2007.
I absolutely hated it and couldn't understand why most of the audience were so enraptured and moved by it.
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Post by distantcousin on Dec 15, 2018 17:54:26 GMT
Book of Mormon - it's ok but nothing I'd not really seen before so wasn't understanding the fuss totally agree on Mormon - both my friend and I stopped finding it amusing after the first 40 minutes and actually found so much of it to be poor writing masquerading as satire and shock value.
Was so bored in act 2, I went to the loo! It was so predictable how it would all turn out too. Truly terrible. Yet afterwards, people were elated by it including some Australian acquaintances of me we went for dinner with after who were rapturous.
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Post by poster J on Dec 15, 2018 18:23:21 GMT
The only show I can say that I absolutely hated was School of Rock, there's no denying the kids are really good, but my life I was bored to tears. The audience loved it but me and my Grandad really did not enjoy it. I must say I went about a year ago, Saturday night, and the theatre was near enough half empty. I think that added to my boredom, there wasn't an ounce of atmosphere. I'm quite surprised this is still running considering it was quiet a year ago, god knows that it must be like now. And to top the night off as we walked out of the theatre we watched a taxi hit a woman, throwing her in the air! Great night has by all! Oh I'd forgotten about School of Rock - hated it so much I'd blocked it out of my mind entirely! I think I was the only one in the theatre not enjoying myself.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Dec 15, 2018 18:40:44 GMT
Another few - Drowsy Chaperone (extremely flimsy), Grey Gardens (pallid score and questionable ethically), Carrie (performed like a CBeebies cartoon) and The Life (very questionable ethically).
On people who hark back to an imaginary golden age. On one of our American equivalents, and I swear I’m not making this up, there were a series of posts recently saying that revivals of shows weren’t necessary when there was a perfectly good original production that could be recreated. Jaw dropping stuff, really.
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Post by missthelma on Dec 15, 2018 20:10:03 GMT
Fun Home. Fun Home & oh yes Fun Home.
More disappointing as I was so looking forward to it and had booked nearly a year in advance. Obviously anyone can have a bad day but I thought the cast were almost entirely dreadful at the performance I attended, the actor playing the father seemed amatuer in the extreme with a poor vocal ability, showing great personal ignorance I had never heard of him and was amazed reading after that this was not his first professional production (like I say, maybe it was a bad day). Child actors have a built in annoyance factor and having that many at a time is a recipe for disaster. I was astonished that the role played by Jenna Russell here (and Judy Kuhn, Rebecca Luker on Broadway) was essentially a one song cameo. What a waste. The music seemed to be a series of dissonant chords played randomly to show how clever the writer was. At the end at least 2/3 rds of the audience leapt to their feet in a bordeline orgasmic rapture whilst I and the other third clapped half heartedly and looked a little dazed.
And also while I'm here, The Bodyguard. Can anybody explain to me the appeal of that diabolically bad travesty of a show which I cannot even call a musical as that would be an insult, even to Fun Home which at least tried. And yet, people rave and it seems like it will run forever on tour.....
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Post by showgirl on Dec 15, 2018 21:43:29 GMT
Yes, School of Rock must also join my growing list - though I escaped that one at the interval in disbelief & disgust.
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Post by kasper on Dec 15, 2018 22:44:15 GMT
Let's drop a bomb...
I was completely amazed that everybody in the auditorium became so wild. I thought Wicked was a total flop. I felt alone on this planet for a moment.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Dec 16, 2018 1:32:03 GMT
Interesting question. I've often felt that way.
I enjoyed and appreciated Fun Home and The Inheritence as works of theatre, but neither touched me emotionally as a gay person the way I expected them too. I felt disconnected from the audience especially knowing much of the audience was likely gay. I believe it's because I was raised in a theatre family and grew up in Soho, so never knew there were parts of the world where being gay wasn't considered completely ordinary and normal until years after I came out. I never felt isolated by my sexuality, so I don't need or respond emotionally to "representation" the way other LGBT audience members may do.
I saw Hadestown on press night and noted the disparity between the raucous stalls and muted circle. I can't explain it, except to say the NT bunged all the Brit industry guests into the circle for once and kept the stalls for a large group of Americans who evidently were friends of the show. I guess they wanted critics to be surrounded by enthusiasm.
Otoh I was the only one going wild at Grease.
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Post by kathryn on Dec 16, 2018 9:08:38 GMT
Dreamgirls that left me completely cold while everyone else was losing their mind. And The King and I made me realise that I just don’t connect with that traditional style of musical.
Oh, and I don’t get why people love Kinky Boots at all.
But as someone on here once said to me: it’s almost as if people respond to art in different ways... 🤔
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Post by couldileaveyou on Dec 16, 2018 9:13:31 GMT
Chess at ENO, the material is so poor and the book so idiotic that I was preparing to leave at the interval. The guy next to me told his wife, "isn't this an amazing work of art?" 🙄
Although I did enjoy The Inheritance and I don't think it's bad at all, I don't think it's that dramatic masterpiece people describe on its thread. The writing is pretty bananas at times.
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Post by distantcousin on Dec 16, 2018 9:25:13 GMT
Yes, School of Rock must also join my growing list - though I escaped that one at the interval in disbelief & disgust.
Oh gawd. I keep planning to see this - as a ALW completist - I feel I must (I've seen all his shows bar By Jeeves) but so much dislike for it here, is making me wonder now!
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