Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Phoenix

Amazing how someone can see a 1/5 and someone else a 5/5

I’m a New Yorker, and the NY Post is closer to tabloid than legitimate news source, and Johny Oleksinski is a hack. Terrible writer with little to no credentials as a critic. Not surprised his review is so off the mark. It actually makes me more excited to see the show.

Same. As I said on the spoilers thread, I did overall enjoy it and would give it 4 stars purely for the moments that do work really well. But a 5 star production to me is flawless and this definitely isn’t.

Wow they had some serious celebs at the press night

I saw this the other night and would put it at a solid 4 stars. It was very long! Joyce was fantastic, she even sounded like Winona, same with Bob who I absolutely loved. Hopper was good, but I wouldn't have known who he was if I hadn't been told, though I did see the occasional mannerism.

I know it was probably necessary, but there's a scene at the beginning where they might as well put up a card listing the character names and whose parents they are, it felt really clunky.

Excellent effects, loved the beginning especially. That and a slow motion part at the end looked like comic book panels. Beautifully done. I'll probably go back and see this again.

I'm hoping that at some point in the future, they'll use this story and film a prequel for Netflix, though I think it'll be a while.

Lyric, Apollo, Gielgud would be my guess?? 🤣 no idea tho

I got B14/15 - it was allocated before I picked up the tickets, not sure how they did it. I assume the whole first row is lottery.

Boring question but what time are people getting out of the theatre at currently for this?

I went to today’s matinee, and got out of the theatre at 16:15 pm. But we had a small technical issue, which forced the show to pause for a few minutes.

I've just read through this thread before commenting and wanted to pen down thoughts before reading the spoiler thread, I'm not sure if there's more commentary on there because this thread is actually more barren than I'd have thought given the prominence of the play.

Cards on the table, I've watched Stranger Things since it came out but in recent years have found it a bit disappointing and reckon it should have ended itself by now. I got the cheapest reasonable seat I could in the back row of the dress circle which was OK view wise but maybe distanced me from the action a little bit.

I didn't think much of it to be honest. Positive aspects are that yes, as everyone says, there is significant technical achievement putting on this much stuff in a West End theatre. Is there an effect in here that we've not seen before? I didn't think so. In terms of visual amazement I would put Cursed Child above it which was at times astonishing, this is merely impressive. Lots of sparks pyros, lots of projection and screens. It's all clever and well thought out though. It is quite fun, as others have said it's literally taken the TV show and planted it on stage, it's not trying to be Lorca or Shakespeare it's trying to do a family orientated action/horror flick on stage (I always thought Stranger Things was really for adults seeking the 80s nostalgia, but this didn't really feel like it was aiming at that, more aiming at anyone who watches the show, I guess you can't do 80s nostalgia when it's set in the 60s). So being like the TV show it's a romp. There's a bit of adventure in it. The actors are all great.

But what was the point? It's so slight and meaningless. A subplot involving a search for a family member is the closest they came to an emotional plot point, and it didn't come even close to delivering. The main thrust of the plot, without saying any spoilers, just sort of happens. And if you've seen the TV show you know where it's heading. And even the truly tragic and sad elements of the story that it grazes past are just not looked at or dealt with, they're incidental to just getting to the next effects sequence. It reminded me an awful lot of seeing a sort of blockbuster musical, like Back To The Future or something. It's all just about getting from moment to moment, in a plot that isn't even that interesting, not really taking the time to have any tender or character building moments. Here's one or two funny lines thrown in. Here's a big set piece here. Here's the finale section, oh look we're finished. Doesn't matter if this had any meaning, we've done all our moments now and can wrap things up. With the added benefit that they can chuck Stranger Things references in and a few jump scares.

What was the point. I'm glad it doesn't last 4 hours anymore. I think if I was a 12 year old boy I'd like this. If I was a non-theatre going adult and wanted to sit with popcorn and my beer (as many were) and not think too hard, I'd like this. For me it wasn't entertaining enough, wasn't interesting enough and wasn't emotionally engaging enough to justify it's existence.

Front row when I won.