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Post by theatre241 on Jul 23, 2019 22:50:44 GMT
Okay thank you! That’s fine I just didn’t want a pillar in view but it seems like all restricted seats are okay! Do the projections matter that much to the story? They serve as a background really and they are a major part of the production delivering some beautiful moments but we’re not talking The Woman in White at the Palace here... also you will miss part of them but no all of it. If that makes sense Yeh, I’ve seen some photos and I think I’ll miss one “wall” of the set but hopefully it might be on the other two walls so hopefully I would miss too much
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Post by zinone on Jul 24, 2019 9:39:10 GMT
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 24, 2019 9:41:11 GMT
Didn't think critics would love this sadly. Shame, but they've got a sold-out run at the Menier none-the-less!
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 24, 2019 10:13:13 GMT
Looks like the Standard are going down the sensationalist Times/Treneman route to get clicks. Sad to see Hitchings and Mountford go, who always had integrity, despite the vanishing word count for their reviews. FWIW Mountford didn’t like it either (via twitter) but such reviews, where the average is pushed to the extremes instead is sad to see. Most reviews give three stars, which seems to be a fair representation.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 24, 2019 10:15:16 GMT
Saw the last preview yesterday. Jenna is a sensational actress in probably one of the finest moments of her career. Vocally is not broadway standards (apart from Shanay Holmes) having that would have been the icing on the cake as the cast acts flawlessly and even the set is one of the most impressive I ever seen on a fringe venue. Sir Double Denim sat in the audience taking notes and sipped champagne during act two, so I guess he's happy with what he was seeing.. I can see why some people didn't like it, specially if you are used to listen to the OBC recording but I wouldn't avoid going, specially if you already have a ticket. And you don't have a ticket yet and you don't fancy paying Menier premium prices D21 and D22 at 25 pounds are absolutely bargains, there are listed as restricted but you only miss a couple of moments. Thanks for the tip on D21, I just booked in.
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Post by Gregor on Jul 24, 2019 12:43:34 GMT
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Post by alece10 on Jul 24, 2019 12:47:03 GMT
I've not seen the show yet so cannot comment on performances but it's interesting that in all the reviews so far, including the 1 star ES review, that the critics have singled out Jenna Russell for praise whereas quite a few board members have criticized her performance.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2019 13:31:10 GMT
The Independent review makes me excited to see it now.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jul 24, 2019 13:38:30 GMT
I’m seeing the show next week, and am extremely excited, if a little nervous about some of the performances.
I’ve read some of the reviews this morning, and cannot take seriously any review that bashes the score (which a few of them have). Of course, I haven’t yet seen it played out in context, but BRIDGES is easily one of the most beautiful scores to be written for the musical stage in recent memory, and fits alongside PARADE as one of JRB’s best. Of course this is just my opinion, but can’t believe that many critics feel the way they do about it.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 24, 2019 13:47:51 GMT
I've not seen the show yet so cannot comment on performances but it's interesting that in all the reviews so far, including the 1 star ES review, that the critics have singled out Jenna Russell for praise whereas quite a few board members have criticized her performance. I think she done well; considering she's being asked to sing songs which are hard for her. Sadly EBD brings her chemistry down, and the production. The chemistry needs to be believed, his acting makes that near impossible.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 24, 2019 13:50:29 GMT
Seems this show is very much marmite. Hopefully I'm on the positive side. I love the score so I've already passed one apparent hurdle considering some of the reviews.
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 24, 2019 15:07:50 GMT
Surprised by the rather tepid reviews, I caught the first preview and like the pros didn’t blow me away, but thought it would improve, Thought that the score would’ve been singled out for praise.
The reviews tell us it is a poor production of what I think is a very good musical.
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Post by theoracle on Jul 24, 2019 20:10:19 GMT
I actually thought the lack of 'natural chemistry' made this piece more romantic. Neither character seem to be consciously aware of what they're doing, both questioning their life decisions and yet falling completely for each other. I'd like to see how EBD has improved his vocals since I saw it last week but am rather dismayed by the ES review. As others have said though, Shanay Holmes' number was a true showstopper, LITERALLY, everything just seemed to stop.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 24, 2019 20:13:01 GMT
Has anyone been persuaded to book BECAUSE of the lukewarm reviews?
I have a crazy theory that people on TheatreBoard do this, because we’re curious to see what the fuss is about.
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Post by apubleed on Jul 24, 2019 21:06:21 GMT
I’m seeing the show next week, and am extremely excited, if a little nervous about some of the performances. I’ve read some of the reviews this morning, and cannot take seriously any review that bashes the score (which a few of them have). Of course, I haven’t yet seen it played out in context, but BRIDGES is easily one of the most beautiful scores to be written for the musical stage in recent memory, and fits alongside PARADE as one of JRB’s best. Of course this is just my opinion, but can’t believe that many critics feel the way they do about it. It’s an incredible score. But to be fair without the right vehicle ie production and singers that could be lost on the audience.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 24, 2019 21:14:50 GMT
Or other people might have different views about the score? I, for example, thought about a third of the score was lovely and impressive but much of it was functional filler.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 24, 2019 23:13:00 GMT
I need an audio of Shanay Holmes singing Another Life!! A stunning song, but she's better than the OBCR!!!!!
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Post by andrew on Jul 24, 2019 23:16:36 GMT
I've read a lot of the reviews (including that fairly shoddy 1 star one, they must have felt REALLY bored to knock it down to there), I think the spread of opinion is actually vaguely more positive than our thread has been. Really interesting that I only saw one or two almost side-glances about the quality of the singing, and nobody really criticised EDB at all.
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Post by alece10 on Jul 25, 2019 5:48:47 GMT
Another 1 star review, this time from The Times. But again praise for the cast.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 25, 2019 8:01:06 GMT
The 1 star reviews are completely uncalled for/unwarranted. I would have given it 3 stars/ 6 out of 10 easily.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2019 8:27:47 GMT
I think people who are theatre-keen enough to spend time on a theatre discussion board are more often than not the sort of people who decide to book shows long before reviews come out.....
EDIT: (Admittedly there are times when people are uncertain about a show and decide to wait for the reviews to come out to help with the decision-making process, but I don't think mediocre reviews are what they're after.)
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 25, 2019 8:54:02 GMT
I guess the world just isn't as full of soppy romantics like me as I though haha. How anyone dislikes the scores for this or Light in the Piazza when they're so sweeping and full and lush and romantic is beyond me but I guess I'm just that much of an easily emotionally-manipulated person!
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 25, 2019 10:14:28 GMT
Looks like the Standard are going down the sensationalist Times/Treneman route to get clicks. Sad to see Hitchings and Mountford go, who always had integrity, despite the vanishing word count for their reviews. FWIW Mountford didn’t like it either (via twitter) but such reviews, where the average is pushed to the extremes instead is sad to see. Most reviews give three stars, which seems to be a fair representation. The above posted the day before Treneman’s one star review copying the Standard’s one. These people have seen how political polarisation has propped up their failing business model and are trying it on across other subjects. Divide and prosper, it’s just a way to get clicks by riling up its readership, the death rattle of professional theatre reviewing.
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Post by xanady on Jul 25, 2019 15:23:14 GMT
Maybe it’s the heat but have read the opening paragraph of the ES review three times and it doesn’t make sense,does it? ‘...an Italian war-bride married alive in Sixties Iowa’ What???
Also I have been known to write the odd caustic review here and elsewhere...but to call a show ‘slop’ is beyond the pale...
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Post by sf on Jul 25, 2019 15:32:49 GMT
Maybe it’s the heat but have read the opening paragraph of the ES review three times and it doesn’t make sense,does it? ‘...an Italian war-bride married alive in Sixties Iowa’ What??? Also I have been known to write the odd caustic review here and elsewhere...but to call a show ‘slop’ is beyond the pale...
The source novel, on the other hand, most definitely is 'slop'. Actually, 'slop' is generous.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jul 25, 2019 15:45:54 GMT
I have a pair of meal deal tickets (meal and theatre) for tonight. Can't now make it. Paid £105 for the pair but VERY open to offers if somebody can use them. Message me if interested.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 25, 2019 15:46:56 GMT
Maybe it’s the heat but have read the opening paragraph of the ES review three times and it doesn’t make sense,does it? ‘...an Italian war-bride married alive in Sixties Iowa’ What??? Also I have been known to write the odd caustic review here and elsewhere...but to call a show ‘slop’ is beyond the pale... It’s an attempt to be clever but how clever is up for debate. If they are referring to a previous musical by Jule Styne that started off called Married Alive and then became the flop Darling of the Day then it is just obscure and clever-clever. If they weren’t making that reference then it’s just a well worn pun on the phrase ‘buried alive’.
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Post by latefortheoverture on Jul 25, 2019 17:34:20 GMT
I do think 1 star is extreme for this, I don't think I've seen a 1 star show. Its so disrespectful; 1* for all that work, regardless of what you think.
Think 3* is fair for this.
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Post by foxa on Jul 25, 2019 17:46:21 GMT
After a slight hesitation, I booked restricted view tix for this some time ago. I've heard bits of the score and liked it. I find it hard to believe it's actually a 1* show. I remember there were a lot of complaints about Barnum and it was miscast, but I still had a good time at that show (okay I was comped in, but still.) The design was good, there was some clever staging. Anyway, not seeing this until sometime in August so will check back in then.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Jul 25, 2019 17:55:46 GMT
I’ve seen two shows I would consider to be 1 star. These were: - GHOST - 9 TO 5
Of course, this was just my personal opinion, and there are many others who would disagree. I just found the two shows mentioned above to be the worst kind of theatre imaginable.
BRIDGES will certainly not be that, as it has that score and Jason Robert Brown going for it.
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