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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2018 6:42:22 GMT
I think thats an incredible accolade for the production team behind the Open Air production. Most deserving.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2018 8:47:59 GMT
I dunno, maybe it’s just because it’s a musical about torturing a man to death around 1985 years ago! Makes a change from Stephen Sondheim the composer torturing the audience to death I suppose.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 7, 2018 11:01:28 GMT
Finally got round to watching it this morning. There were many good things about it.
The energy throughout was great - until they stopped for the adverts. It would have been so much more satisfying without the pauses - which robbed it on the dramatic flow necessary to make it all really land.
Legend really doesn't have the power at the top of his voice like a Balsamo. But he does have presence - which is key to the role. You could get a sense of why people might follow him.
Dixon made a very fine Judas. He had the acting and vocal chops to carry it off with aplomb. Bareilles had some wonderful moments as Mary - she never overdid it (which is all too easy with an under-written role like that)
I loved the rock authenticity from Erik Grönwall and Norm Lewis landed most of his low notes - though was perhaps not as menacing as he could have been.
Ben Daniels was going great guns as Pilate - until his final bars where the screaming just went wrong. Shame as up to that point he had been unexpectedly good.
I thought the flying effects for the crucifixion were very effective. Simple (in terms of look - though I doubt in execution) but very effective.
The choreography was not original. Too many literal moves for my taste. I also thought that Herod's Song needed more pizzazz from the dancers (there were some serious timing issues in the final chorus kicks) - Alice Cooper really did just phone it in. Not as good as his earlier incarnation in the role.
It was a well put together piece of musical entertainment. Not perfect. It didn't redefine the way you do musicals on TV. But it served the piece well enough.
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 7, 2018 22:14:44 GMT
Finally caught up with this today - Brandon and Sara were fantastic, loved the ensemble and the staging, for me John Legend was a tad underwhelming (mainly because he couldn't really deliver Gethsemane). And Alice Cooper had zero energy or performance style at all. But otherwise I really enjoyed it 😁
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2018 10:19:51 GMT
Ordered the CD from Amazon and became available for auto rip yesterday. Have to say I struggled to listen to it, the audience cheering for EVERYTHING is constant and very irritating. No idea why they made the recording like this as you can't see what they are cheering for. And it never ends. I really want to hear the voices and orchestration.
Assume is less annoying if you are watching. Does anyone know if there will be a DVD/Blu-ray release? Thanks.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 8, 2018 12:23:44 GMT
Just watched this. I have to say I really don’t care for this cast at all. Great energy from the ensemble though! Only kept watching for Norm Lewis...
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Post by richey on Apr 8, 2018 14:35:37 GMT
Whole album is available on Spotify
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 8, 2018 20:19:26 GMT
Alice Cooper absolutely dreadful.
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Post by freckles on Apr 9, 2018 14:37:08 GMT
I enjoyed it, and thought Sara Bareilles made a wonderful Mary. I love her voice and that she kept it subtle and classy. Brandon VD also made a fantastic Judas, and even John Legend was OK - better than expected. I thought the performance had great energy and I enjoyed the crowd reaction, I thought it added to the excitement of a live performance and blended with the 'on-stage' action. I disliked Annas; the actor couldn't seem to decide what register to sing in, and kept changing. I never think the bits with the officialdom work as well as the rest of the show, and this production didn't change my opinion on that. And I dislike Herod being quite so panto. But overall, I liked it and thought the end was spectacular.
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Post by fiyero on Apr 18, 2018 8:17:40 GMT
Ordered the CD from Amazon and became available for auto rip yesterday. Have to say I struggled to listen to it, the audience cheering for EVERYTHING is constant and very irritating. No idea why they made the recording like this as you can't see what they are cheering for. And it never ends. I really want to hear the voices and orchestration. Assume is less annoying if you are watching. Does anyone know if there will be a DVD/Blu-ray release? Thanks. Is it worth listening to, I'm on track 2 and hating the audience noise!!!
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Post by anita on May 7, 2018 14:07:56 GMT
Available to order on DVD from Amazon - out 15th June..
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Post by Rory on May 10, 2018 20:47:14 GMT
I bought the soundtrack without seeing the tv broadcast or listening to it first on Spotify (daft I know) and feel like returning it to HMV. John Legend's Gethsemane is SO disappointing. Give me the Steve Balsamo or Ian Gillan versions anyday. They are infinitely superior.
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Post by 49thand8th on Jul 12, 2018 15:56:10 GMT
Wow!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 18:13:46 GMT
So John Legend could get his EGOT pretty soon?
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Post by theatremadness on Jul 12, 2018 18:36:19 GMT
So John Legend could get his EGOT pretty soon? Oo yes good point! This Emmy would do it for him. Though having seen him competition in the category (admittedly I haven't seen all performances), I'd be very surprised if he won. Wonder when else he'll get the chance to be nominated for an Emmy?!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 21:05:45 GMT
Throwing it out there, I don't want John to win, I didn't think he was that good in Jesus Christ Superstar. Wouldn't mind seeing Sara win though, her solo was the best part of the while thing! Even though I don't think he will win, Darren Criss really does deserve it. He was amazing!
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Post by johartuk on Jul 12, 2018 22:29:10 GMT
Throwing it out there, I don't want John to win, I didn't think he was that good in Jesus Christ Superstar. Wouldn't mind seeing Sara win though, her solo was the best part of the while thing! Even though I don't think he will win, Darren Criss really does deserve it. He was amazing! Darren Criss was phenomenal in The Assassination of Gianni Versace - he definitely deserves to win!
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Post by 49thand8th on Jul 12, 2018 22:46:36 GMT
I was very, VERY impressed by him in that. I don't have many emotional attachments to the Emmys this year, but I'll be happy if he wins!
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Post by theatremadness on Sept 10, 2018 1:27:52 GMT
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Post by steve10086 on Jan 10, 2021 18:19:21 GMT
Just a accidentally caught John Legend absolutely murdering Gethsemane on Sky Arts. Never seen it sung this bad in my life... and that includes me in the shower. How do things like this happen? How does no one, at any stage, point out that he just can’t sing the song?!
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Post by peggysue on Jan 12, 2021 14:45:01 GMT
Also saw this recently on Sky Arts. John Legend was totally miscast . I agree that he absolutely murdered Gethsemane. The rest of the cast were very good but Alice Cooper could have put a bit more effort in. Overall a very good production and would probably watch again.
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