3,932 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Feb 28, 2023 13:38:05 GMT
Thanks couldileaveyou. I think I might find that a bit of a damp squib of an ending.
|
|
|
Post by interval99 on Feb 28, 2023 18:56:18 GMT
Found the tour production and cast so much better than the Colosseum version, with actual chemistry between the cast and they presented the whole show in a different manner, really did show how a cast can perform the same show but take it to a different level.
The set which looked sparse in London filled the Hippodrome better and the two leads had a genuine connection and really brought over in the spoken ending that these were two people who had a connection but were also totally incompatible together, compared to the London which was devoid of even a whiff of romance or basic bond between them.
The songs were played and sung wonderfully, not so keen on the I'm getting married segment being played quite so crudely, normally it's a celebration. Surprised at the interval and end hearing so many people who seemed to be hearing and seeing the show for the first time and who loved it, guess the film is not shown as often as it was.
Very glad I saw this on tour as renewed my love for the show and songs, disappointed I wasted a London trip slot seeing the inferior version at the coliseum and at a higher price. Four star tour version Two star west end version
|
|
|
Post by theoracle on Mar 1, 2023 9:13:28 GMT
Nonetheless, Catherine Zuber’s been snubbed of a nomination!!!
|
|
|
Post by A.Ham on Mar 1, 2023 9:24:01 GMT
Really interesting seeing so many comments saying they’ve found the tour version better than the London production - usually I find it’s the other way round, but guess an awful lot of it (as in this case) is down to casting.
|
|
529 posts
|
Post by drowseychap on Mar 4, 2023 1:49:25 GMT
Travel zoo have discount tickets for Birmingham
|
|
1,281 posts
|
Post by mkb on Mar 10, 2023 10:54:02 GMT
At the Birmingham Hippodrome last night, we had Rebekah Lowings on as Eliza. She did a reasonable job, but, like every other Eliza I've ever seen, on both stage and screen, was not convincing pre-transformation. Why do all Elizas look like a well-to-do lady who happens to be dressed in rags, what with their beautiful face, perfect complexion, perfect teeth, perfect posture? The acting never makes me believe that they really are from the street, but, then again, My Fair Lady the musical does not really inhabit the real world, only that Hollywood/Broadway sugar-coated confection of reality, so maybe I'm being too picky. Ironically, despite criticisms of Adam Woodyatt in this thread, his accent was probably the least Mockney one, presumably because it's his own. The show is saved by Michael D. Xavier (don't remember that "D" before) who is perfect as Professor Henry Higgins, my favourite interpretation I think. Otherwise, I was underwhelmed by the whole affair. The first thing that struck me was how quiet the volume was. I couldn't work out if they'd chosen not to amplify the orchestra at all and were only amplifying the cast to match. Whatever the explanation, the effect from the centre of stalls row K was a bit like watching telly at normal volume, i.e. no aural impact at all. Next, the set design was rather more pared back than I expected for £65 a ticket. The only detailed set was for the Higgins house, on a revolve, which seemed to have been designed for a much smaller stage on the tour. It's floor was raised about a foot, and cast members kept stepping off it on to the undressed stage in front, which triggered me each time, my inner pedant yelling in my head that some fourth wall had just been transgressed. Worse than Mockney was whatever you want to term the faux impersonation of posh accents. Some of the minor characters made decidedly am-dram attempts. I hated the ending. If you've made the decision that the Professor does not get the girl, then at least frame it in a way that's conclusive and life-affirming. Having Eliza simply exit stage right made me think at first that something had gone wrong and we were having a technical stop. But this is not a gritty tale; it's frivolous nonsense, and the audience yearns for a schmaltzy, and-they-lived-happily-ever-after conclusion so that they can leave on a high, rather than thinking "Oh, is that it?" Three stars. Act 1: 19:01-20:28 Act 2: 20:49-21:58 I was impressed that the Hippodrome kiosk on the left of the lobby (front-circle level) had delicious carrot cake for sale at £2.25 a piece. It was unusual in not tasting mass-produced -- take note Birmingham Rep -- and that was a very reasonable price I thought. £5.80 for a medium wine at the bars too. That's about half what the rip-off merchants that are ATG charge.
|
|
306 posts
|
Post by Sam on Mar 10, 2023 19:22:04 GMT
I'm glad I'm not the only one who hates the ending, though I hate the tacked on ending Shaw added too. {Spoiler - click to view}I just really don't see the point in her coming back to just leave again straight away. I'd rather she stayed but stood up for herself a bit. It doesn't need to be romantic, she literally says she just wants to be friends. I've never liked the idea of her with Freddie. She needs to retain her independence whether that is at Wimpole Street or on her own.
|
|
4,507 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Mar 10, 2023 22:14:51 GMT
I love the ending because it's what Shaw originally wanted to do with Pygmalion, and a multitude of other reasons that I could write you an essay on (it's my favourite musical)😂
|
|
|
Post by FairyGodmother on Mar 11, 2023 3:29:48 GMT
I'm happy with the concept of the ending, just not fully convinced by the execution. I think it would it perhaps be better if she actually left through the front door of the house, rather than just walking off into the wings. Or am I just horribly literal? [\spoiler]
|
|
2,153 posts
|
Post by richey on Mar 22, 2023 21:27:13 GMT
Oh dear. I wanted to enjoy this but really didn't like it. I stayed until the interval, but the awful characterisations grated on me and I couldn't stand any more. Eliza was just shrill and unlikeable, Freddie a buffoon and I'm not sure what they intended Higgins to be, he just came across as mad to me.
|
|
3,092 posts
|
Post by david on Mar 26, 2023 21:16:18 GMT
So with a little bit of luck, I managed to get a £25 limited view (which when the show started really wasn't that limited) stalls ticket for this afternoon's show. Having not been terribly impressed with the production when I watched it last summer at the London Coliseum and rated it as 3-star show, I was hoping that the tour version would be a better watch. Certainly, after the 3 hours I have to say the touring version was by far a much more enjoyable watch and I would be happy to bump this version up a star to a 4-star show.
Firstly, the set actually filled the Manc Palace stage very nicely unlike in London where the same set just looked lost on that stage. Also, the tour cast for me were a definite improvement on the cast I saw in London (No Lesley Garrett today but really wasn't a big miss). In the LC version, I really couldn't engage with any of the cast and I didn't get any sense of chemistry between them. On the other hand, there was for me a real chemistry amongst the tour cast which made the relationships between the characters that more believable and the ending as a result had a greater impact for me. As HH, Michael D. Xavier was an absolute joy to watch and listen to and was by far the standout in this cast.
A major difference with today's viewing and my London one was the audience atmosphere. In London there wasn't much atmosphere within the LC auditorium, however at today's show there was a definite improvement in the atmosphere and energy levels coming from the audience which was far more enjoyable to sit in.
One criticism I made of my London viewing was the low volume of the orchestra. Unfortunately, this really hasn't improved on the tour. I am not really sure the reasoning for this. It's a great score to listen to and the poor sound really doesn't do it justice. Despite this issue, this show was a great way to round off my Manchester theatre weekend.
|
|
18,861 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 30, 2023 22:41:21 GMT
There was something missing for me tonight. All of the elements were there but none of it went POW! I felt that lots of iconic moments (made iconic from the iconic film) were thrown away. Not just performances but also sets and cossies. Ascot.. beautiful costumes but washed out grey? I found the show competent but underwhelming.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Footnote: I thought the drag element of Get Me To The Church was ill conceived. Can I go and see a classic 80 year old musical without seeing drag/cross dressing please? Was this Bartlett Pear’s (deliberate typo because I can’t help myself 🙂) original vision or has this been added in? It jarred.
|
|
43 posts
|
Post by emmy on Mar 30, 2023 23:22:42 GMT
Footnote: I thought the drag element of Get Me To The Church was ill conceived. Can I go and see a classic 80 year old musical without seeing drag/cross dressing please? Was this Bartlett Pear’s (deliberate typo because I can’t help myself 🙂) original vision or has this been added in? It jarred. Original vision, it was in the broadway production
|
|
18,861 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 30, 2023 23:36:45 GMT
Thanks. I didn’t think it worked.
|
|
6,349 posts
|
Post by Jon on Mar 31, 2023 0:11:00 GMT
My Fair Lady isn't that old Burly, it's only 67!
|
|
|
Post by FairyGodmother on Apr 2, 2023 9:24:07 GMT
I was there last night. Second visit, but with four months in between. I really noticed the brass last night, absolutely fantastic. I couldn't decide if I liked it as much as last time... I thought Michael D. Xavier was hamming it up a bit too much to be honest, and some of his more serious monologues didn't seem to land because people were just waiting for him to waggle his eyebrows again. The lady behind me said "Isn't he like John Cleese?!" Gorgeous singing though. Also going full panto was Adam Woodyatt on the table at the end of IGMITM, signalling for more applause. No round of applause for Lesley Garrett after her ICHDAN solo (she got one in Edinburgh), but Eliza got one for saying "The rain in Spain..." correctly for the first time. Funny what different audiences go for! I'd forgotten how charming and engaging Freddy is, bounding across the stage and lovely voice. Charlotte Kennedy fantastic again. She was in tears through the final scene and the bows. I hope she's really enjoyed the tour, I thought she was absolutely marvellous and I hope to see her in other things.
|
|
2,153 posts
|
Post by richey on Apr 2, 2023 9:57:22 GMT
I was there last night. Second visit, but with four months in between. I really noticed the brass last night, absolutely fantastic. I couldn't decide if I liked it as much as last time... I thought Michael D. Xavier was hamming it up a bit too much to be honest, and some of his more serious monologues didn't seem to land because people were just waiting for him to waggle his eyebrows again. The lady behind me said "Isn't he like John Cleese?!" Gorgeous singing though. Also going full panto was Adam Woodyatt on the table at the end of IGMITM, signalling for more applause. No round of applause for Lesley Garrett after her ICHDAN solo (she got one in Edinburgh), but Eliza got one for saying "The rain in Spain..." correctly for the first time. Funny what different audiences go for! I'd forgotten how charming and engaging Freddy is, bounding across the stage and lovely voice. Charlotte Kennedy fantastic again. She was in tears through the final scene and the bows. I hope she's really enjoyed the tour, I thought she was absolutely marvellous and I hope to see her in other things. I was there last night too. Really enjoyed it this time- i decided to give it another try after going last week after a long day at work and not enjoying it because I was tired. I still found Michael annoying in part, as you say he definitely hamming it up and that was detrimental in some scenes, particularly in Mrs Higgins' house near the end. I loved the audience reaction to the Rain in Spain! That was so spontaneous it was brilliant. Was pleasantly surprised with Adam and even forgave him that audience encouragement at the end of Get me to the Church. Was sat near the front this time and able to fully appreciate the scale of the house set, it was amazing! Didn't like the characteristion of Freddie, he came across as far too simple, but Tom did have a lovely voice and On the Street where You Live sounded stunning. All in all, glad I gave it another try. Just goes to prove how sometimes your reaction to a performance can vary according to the day you've had and the frame of mind you're in.
|
|
2,153 posts
|
Post by richey on Apr 2, 2023 10:03:21 GMT
Thanks. I didn’t think it worked. it certainly seemed out of place. It sort of gave me the impression they'd wandered into a molly house
|
|