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Post by theatremadness on Aug 8, 2019 15:27:08 GMT
Happening in October!
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Post by ABr on Aug 10, 2019 8:23:48 GMT
I would be very game to see this! Though I'd want Megan Hilty to reprise her Encores! performance!  |
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Post by showgirl on Aug 10, 2019 8:32:57 GMT
Interesting, theatremadness, but can you direct us to any info, please, as there's nothing about it on the Union's site? |
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Post by theatremadness on Aug 10, 2019 11:15:09 GMT
As far as I'm aware, there's no official info showgirl as no announcement has been made yet, but the casting process is beginning soon which is how I know it's happening (for the moment!). |
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Post by Fleance on Aug 13, 2019 12:08:49 GMT
I love this show. It has a great score, most of which was not used in the movie. I also found Marilyn Monroe to be no substitute for the Carol Channing of the original Broadway cast album. The problem with the Open Air's production of many years ago was that they tried to copy Monroe, rather than Channing, who made a much better flapper.
Here's Carol on the original cast album:
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Aug 17, 2019 19:08:42 GMT
Performances from 2nd-26th October.
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Post by rob359 on Aug 26, 2019 18:16:15 GMT
Tickets now on sale for this rarely performed Jule Styne show. See Union Theatre website for further information.
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316 posts
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Post by ABr on Aug 30, 2019 11:16:06 GMT
Any idea of when casting will be announced for this? A friend and I are planning on going, and hopefully seeing some familiar names will make it even more worth it!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Aug 30, 2019 11:56:47 GMT
Any idea of when casting will be announced for this? A friend and I are planning on going, and hopefully seeing some familiar names will make it even more worth it! You won’t be seeing familiar names in the leads but can guarantee they will be worth seeing - new graduate friends of mine have been cast in this production. |
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Post by ABr on Aug 30, 2019 13:45:00 GMT
Any idea of when casting will be announced for this? A friend and I are planning on going, and hopefully seeing some familiar names will make it even more worth it! You won’t be seeing familiar names in the leads but can guarantee they will be worth seeing - new graduate friends of mine have been cast in this production. I think we'd have been going regardless, but good to know that the cast should be good regardless  |
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Post by Fleance on Aug 30, 2019 13:52:42 GMT
You won’t be seeing familiar names in the leads but can guarantee they will be worth seeing - new graduate friends of mine have been cast in this production. I look forward to seeing this, if it's the original. Will they be performing the full original Broadway score? It was butchered for the Marilyn Monroe movie, with additional songs added that had nothing to do with the original. |
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Post by robertb213 on Sept 4, 2019 15:15:07 GMT
Use promo code Earlyblondes for £5 off tickets booked by 13th September
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Post by ABr on Sept 4, 2019 15:50:39 GMT
Use promo code Earlyblondes for £5 off tickets booked by 13th September Thanks for that, just booked our tickets! Will be going on the first Saturday evening! |
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Post by londonmzfitz on Sept 6, 2019 16:26:59 GMT
Produced and Directed by Sasha Regan of the Iolanthe at Wiltons? I'm booked and thanks for the discount code. I loved the G&S at Wiltons!
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Sept 24, 2019 10:22:10 GMT
Cast details are now on the Union Theatre website.
The cast includes Abigayle Honeywill (Lorelei Lee), Eleanor Lakin (Dorothy Shaw), Freddie King (Henry Spofford), George Lennan (Josephus Gage), Virge Gilchrist (Mrs Spofford), Tom Murphy (Sir Francis Beekman), Aaron Bannister-Davies (Gus Esmond), Maria Mosquera (Lady Phyllis Beekman), Ashlee Young (Gloria Stark).
Ensemble: Liam Dean, Patrick Cook, Lewis Rimmer, Arran Bell, Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Jo Bird, Stephen Loriot, Jasmine Davis, and Florence Beaumont.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Sept 28, 2019 9:35:21 GMT
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Post by frankubelik on Sept 29, 2019 7:03:48 GMT
Oh dear.......
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Post by showgirl on Sept 29, 2019 8:28:25 GMT
Was curious, being interested but not having booked. The clip isn't selling it to me.
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Post by ABr on Oct 4, 2019 12:32:15 GMT
I'll be seeing this tomorrow evening, is anyone on here going to see it before then? If so please let us know your thoughts |
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Post by xanady on Oct 4, 2019 19:41:40 GMT
Nothing at all against the Union,but when I think of shows like this I think of them working well at someplace glam like the Savoy with a huge set and big orchestra...hope it goes well for the creatives and the audience take to it.
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Oct 4, 2019 21:48:50 GMT
I saw this tonight for what was its third performance and overall I really enjoyed it.
As flimsy as the book might be, the score is a dream and has some real earworms in there, from Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend and It's High Time, to I Love What I'm Doing, Bye Bye Baby and the title song.
The other real strength of this production is the casting of the two leading ladies, especially Abigayle Honeywill who's an absolute riot as Lorelei Lee. Very funny and quirky, with great stage presence. Alongside her, Eleanor Lakin showcases some stunning vocals as Dorothy Shaw.
The show as a whole is a silly and frothy curiosity. It's throwaway good fun but worth seeing, I think.
Running time is 1 hour 55 mins including an interval. And brace yourself for the cast to bring that interval to a barnstorming close in the bar!
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Post by ABr on Oct 5, 2019 7:50:32 GMT
I saw this tonight for what was its third performance and overall I really enjoyed it. As flimsy as the book might be, the score is a dream and has some real earworms in there, from Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend and It's High Time, to I Love What I'm Doing, Bye Bye Baby and the title song. The other real strength of this production is the casting of the two leading ladies, especially Abigayle Honeywill who's an absolute riot as Lorelei Lee. Very funny and quirky, with great stage presence. Alongside her, Eleanor Lakin showcases some stunning vocals as Dorothy Shaw. The show as a whole is a silly and frothy curiosity. It's throwaway good fun but worth seeing, I think. Running time is 1 hour 55 mins including an interval. And brace yourself for the cast to bring that interval to a barnstorming close in the bar! This has filled me with confidence, thank you! Really looking forward to it now |
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Post by stevejohnson678 on Oct 9, 2019 14:17:56 GMT
Pleased to see this getting good reviews after its press night last night!
There's three reviews I can find so far.
4 stars from Pocket Sized Theatre and LondonTheatre1.com.
No star rating but another very positive review from There Ought To Be Clowns.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Oct 9, 2019 15:01:43 GMT
Saw this at the afternoon show on Sunday - my first visit to the Union Theatre. Full house! Blooming hot, rather loud with the AC on too. I thought the cast brought lots of energy to the show, but I can't say I loved it. Just an OK 2.5 stars from me.
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Post by ABr on Oct 9, 2019 15:26:49 GMT
I saw this on Saturday evening, first time to the Union.
There were some great performances from the cast, all of the leads were really strong, though Eleanor Lakin as Dorothy was particularly a stand out. Use of the stage was good, when everyone was one they really filled the space, and some great choreography moments, shout out the ensemble men! As has been mentioned in one of the reviews, the voice that Abigayle Honeywill is putting on for Loreli is good, but it does impede her overall performance at a few moments, for us one of the those being 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friends'.
The issue we had was that as a show, there is not much too it, and we really didn't feel that it fitted a 'Fringe' theatre aesthetic. Some of the bigger show stopping numbers are meant to transport you, and you really don't get that feel from a fringe style venue like this. Also the second act is very weak, very little happens, and you almost go, 'Is it worth it?' Also 'Diamonds' which is such an iconic number, really didn't work for us, which wasn't helped by the lighting.
Overall, some great performances, but we felt that it required more from some of the production aspects to be presented better in what we would class as a Fringe venue.
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 20, 2019 22:00:34 GMT
Saw this this afternoon. It’s one of the better productions that’s been in the Union Theatre recently.
A large cast. The show is incredibly slight, but if you go in realising that you won’t be too disappointed. The usual excellent pianist for this one is accompanied by a drummer. Sound is generally fine, but there is no amplification on the vocals, so try and sit away from the corner which has the small band in it.
I got there about five minutes after numbers started being given out and ended up in group 2. I still managed to get a front row seat. The show was sold out this afternoon.
The whole show only runs one hour and 55 minutes, including it an interval. It could easily run straight through without an interval. During the interval everyone is asked to leave the theatre, this is so they can re-start the show with a piano version of Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend in the bar. Without that, the show would be even shorter.
This isn’t perfect. I did feel that they left some plot strands hanging at the end of the show. But maybe I just missed something obvious. Still, if you want a light evening or afternoon out, this show may fit the bill.
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Post by tmesis on Oct 26, 2019 21:07:38 GMT
There's a reason why this musical is not often performed - it's not very good. However, this didn't stop me enjoying it. The production was excellent. Maybe that's because it was produced and directed by the theatre's founder Sasha Reagan. I may be wrong but since they moved 'over the road' and things have generally not been as good, there have been far fewer productions directed by her. Many of the best productions in the past have been by her and Michael Strassen.
It started badly with some appalling approximate ensemble harmony, unintentionally adding a bit of Stravinsky-like polytonality to Jule Styne! Then things picked up and musically and choreographically standards were high.
The principals were generally good. The stand out was Elinor Larkin as Dorothy; Abigayle Honeywill as Lorelie was just too 'Marilynish' for me.
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Post by robertb213 on Oct 26, 2019 21:21:40 GMT
We do need to give a shoutout to the wardrobe department though - they put the fellas in vests and shorts in Act 1, and then the tightest black trousers in Act 2 👍
I thought it was good, I wasn't blown away but it had its moments and worth the £15 I paid.
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Post by robertb213 on Oct 27, 2019 9:48:14 GMT
Also, for anyone interested, the Encores production (starring the fabulous Megan Hilty) can be found on YouTube, and the soundtrack is on Spotify as well 😀
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