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Post by The Matthew on Aug 6, 2016 19:49:23 GMT
I was originally looking forward to this — 42nd Street was the first West End musical I saw, and at Drury Lane too — but the rumours of star casting have put me off. The whole point of the story is that an unknown can carry the show and do better than a celebrity. An attitude of "what we really need to do is cram this full of famous names" does little to convince me that the show is in good hands.
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Post by Jon on Aug 6, 2016 19:55:16 GMT
Given 42nd Street has no original songs in it, wouldn't it technically be classed a jukebox musical even it comes from an era before the jukebox musical
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Post by whygodwhytoday on Aug 8, 2016 0:48:10 GMT
Who was smoking what when they decided to OK this? 42nd at the Drury... disaster. I'm not a fan of dance anyway, but the times I've really enjoyed it have always been in 1000- capacity theatres - theatres where you can see the feet so to speak...
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Post by angel on Aug 8, 2016 22:37:43 GMT
Who's casting ? X
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Post by angel on Aug 8, 2016 22:38:36 GMT
Who's casting?
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Post by cathyfromlex on Aug 9, 2016 5:05:06 GMT
The original Drury Lane opening had the spectacle of the curtain going up a little way, revealing a long line of lovely lady legs all tapping in time. I guess that's why they are doing it in the same theatre - it's quite a start to the show. I think that's a "thing" for 42nd Street. I saw it on tour in the US 10 years ago (or more-the memory fades!) and they did that, too. I agree that it's a great start to the show! That's basically all I remember about it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2016 7:59:33 GMT
The original Drury Lane opening had the spectacle of the curtain going up a little way, revealing a long line of lovely lady legs all tapping in time. I guess that's why they are doing it in the same theatre - it's quite a start to the show. Is it gonna be possible to see this from the gods? Or should I hope out for comps?
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Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Nov 4, 2016 6:17:03 GMT
Wow! Also cast - Tom Lister as Julian Marsh and Clare Halse as Peggy Sawyer Great news for the Sheena Barmy Army!
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Post by ali973 on Nov 4, 2016 6:19:47 GMT
who?
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Xanderl
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Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Nov 4, 2016 6:33:37 GMT
She was an unknown singer who did a documentary called "The Big Time" where she was set up for stardom by Esther Rantzen, and did stuff like this ....
The she met Prince and things got a bit saucier ...
And she did a Bond theme ...
She's been based in the USA doing Vegas residencies etc for years.
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Post by viserys on Nov 4, 2016 6:58:40 GMT
I'm old enough to remember her as a pop star. Is she still a name in the UK? Slightly underwhelmed by the entire casting tbh. Now immensely glad I extended my Paris trip for a day to catch 42nd Street there with Ria Jones and Alexander Hanson.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 8:00:19 GMT
Haven't heard of the majority of the people cast. Not heard of the Dorothy or Peggy at all but I know little bits about the other cast members.
To be honest i was a little disappointed by this casting. I was expecting a really big name to be headlining!!
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Post by The Matthew on Nov 4, 2016 8:20:36 GMT
She was an unknown singer who did a documentary called "The Big Time" where she was set up for stardom by Esther Rantzen Eventually. IIRC they had to repeat that episode of The Big Time before anyone paid attention. I still like Modern Girl and Summer's Over (the B side of One Man Woman), but I can't say this casting fills me with excitement.
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 4, 2016 8:20:45 GMT
The original Drury Lane opening had the spectacle of the curtain going up a little way, revealing a long line of lovely lady legs all tapping in time. I guess that's why they are doing it in the same theatre - it's quite a start to the show. One of the greatest openings I've ever seen. Then for "I'm in the money" they all came on holding giant coins and at the appointed moment the coins were dropped with a tremendous "crash" resonating out into the auditorium. Then the ladies leapt onto them and started a tap no which resonated to the back of the Gods. Magic. (Trusting my memory here) This was a creation of the Producer David Merrick (who employed choreographer Gower Champion.) One of the last of the Old School Broadway producers – his Biography is called - The Abominable Showman. It was quite an undertaking because it was based on a film featuring some of the most flamboyant choreography of Busby Berkeley. As opening night drew near Merrick felt it wasn’t right. So he postponed for a month, and in the days before previews, had changes made and the show performed every evening for an audience of one, himself. Eventually he was satisfied, the show was allowed to open and he made another fortune which he shared amongst many wives. There’s a great chapter on him in Mark Steyn’s Broadway Babies. Is it a revival of the Merrick/Champion show or an entirely new production?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 8:22:21 GMT
I thought Sheena Easton was black!
Interestingly my local cinema is having a dementia friendly showing of 42nd Street this morning
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 4, 2016 8:26:00 GMT
How to say this.... is Miss Easton getting the part of the young unknown her gets her chance? If so can I play her brother or son?
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Post by Mark on Nov 4, 2016 9:07:46 GMT
Genuinely haven't heard of any of the cast. Not necessarily a bad thing but it slightly worries me that the general public just won't fork out those extortionate prices.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 9:26:33 GMT
Wow! Also cast - Tom Lister as Julian Marsh and Clare Halse as Peggy Sawyer Great news for the Sheena Barmy Army! SHEENA EASTON?!?!?!?!?! O M Gosh Sharpening my elbows for the stage door as I type. I've. Just. Died.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 9:28:11 GMT
Genuinely haven't heard of any of the cast. Not necessarily a bad thing but it slightly worries me that the general public just won't fork out those extortionate prices. I agree with this. I thought they would get a huge headliner. Never heard of Sheena Easton
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Nov 4, 2016 9:30:29 GMT
Genuinely haven't heard of any of the cast. Not necessarily a bad thing but it slightly worries me that the general public just won't fork out those extortionate prices. I agree with this. I thought they would get a huge headliner. Never heard of Sheena Easton When you're 50 you'll be shaking a virtual fist at young whippersnappers saying that about Sheridan Smith Mr Snow - Sheena is the ageing diva who is unable to perform and gets replaced (I mean, that's who she's playing)
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 4, 2016 10:23:06 GMT
Not sure this cast will fill Drury Lane. Let's hope it's a spectacular show though!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 4, 2016 10:45:11 GMT
Sheena Easton... last seen playing to a crowd of 9 in a hotel foyer in Vegas.
She taught herself to sing by learning all of Barbra's songs and copying her voice. So how did we end up with this?
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 4, 2016 11:07:17 GMT
Mr Snow - Sheena is the ageing diva who is unable to perform and gets replaced (I mean, that's who she's playing) Thank you. In that case I'd be best palying her manager.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Nov 4, 2016 11:16:05 GMT
I can't see this doing well.
The music is beautiful and catchy but the lyrics and the book/storyline are totally banal, predictable, uninspiring and irrelevant.
It has not aged well.
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 4, 2016 11:41:36 GMT
I can't see this doing well. The music is beautiful and catchy but the lyrics and the book/storyline are totally banal, predictable, uninspiring and irrelevant. It has not aged well. 83 years and still got legs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Street_(film)Whilst some shows are beyong salvaging (Camelot) it all depends on the production. I would never have predicted a life beyond the previews for Me and My Girl and that did fine.
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Post by CG on the loose on Nov 4, 2016 12:22:32 GMT
You can be pretty sure that if you CBATG someone else will... not sure about 'Blood Brothers', but she had three stints on Broadway in the 1990's - Aldonza in 'Man of La Mancha' (twice) and Rizzo in 'Grease'.
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Post by lou105 on Nov 4, 2016 12:33:38 GMT
Did Ms Easton do a run in "Blood Brothers" once? CBATG but I seem to vaguely remember. Was I the only one who, ironically, googled the acronym?
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Post by viserys on Nov 4, 2016 12:47:59 GMT
Did Ms Easton do a run in "Blood Brothers" once? CBATG but I seem to vaguely remember. Was I the only one who, ironically, googled the acronym? I'm still staring at it cluelessly like the old person I am.
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Post by viserys on Nov 4, 2016 12:48:49 GMT
Aha.
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Post by alece10 on Nov 4, 2016 13:39:50 GMT
"My baby takes the morning train".......... Song stuck in my head now.
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