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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2017 15:30:27 GMT
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Post by d'James on Aug 8, 2017 15:34:10 GMT
Very creepy. Sounds interesting though. Love Wilton's!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 8, 2017 15:48:20 GMT
I have very fond memories of the programme - and had often wondered how it might transfer to the stage. Intrigued to see how they pull it off.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2017 11:01:43 GMT
Casting has just been announced for this. This is from The Stage's article: Matthew Kelly and Josefina Gabrielle are to star in the world premiere of The Box of Delights at Wilton’s Music Hall in London. John Masefield’s Christmas book has been adapted for the stage by children’s author Piers Torday. The Box of Delights will run from December 1 to January 6. It is directed by Justin Audibert, with design by Tom Piper. Joining Gabrielle and Kelly, who won an Olivier Award for his performance in Of Mice and Men, will be Mark Extance, Safiyya Ingar, Tom Kanji, Samuel Simmonds, Rosalind Steele and Alistair Toovey. Matthew Kelly said: “I couldn't be more delighted to be returning to Wilton's, a magical venue and the perfect setting for the Christmas classic The Box of Delights. “How they will achieve the effects of snow, flood, talking animals, miniaturised children and flying cars in this exciting time-travel adventure I have no idea. If anybody can do it, Justin Audibert directing and Tom Piper designing can and that's why I'm on board.” The Box of Delights is produced by Wilton’s Music Hall and Hero Productions. www.thestage.co.uk/news/2017/matthew-kelly-josefina-gabrielle-star-christmas-show-wiltons-music-hall/?utm_content=buffer511ff&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferThis was my favourite Christmas story growing up, the 1984 TV series has dated a little in terms of its special effects (and the fact that the kids can't believe a plane could fly silently makes me laugh), but as a tale it will always be a timeless classic. I can't wait to see how they adapt it. |
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Post by East End Theatre Lover on Oct 10, 2017 11:48:23 GMT
I loved this when it was on the BBC years and years ago as a Children's TV drama. I remember a really good story that was quite spooky at times, but perhaps that was my age!
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 10, 2017 12:21:19 GMT
You know how, for an unknown reason, a TV theme tune stays in your head for years and years? The Box of Delights is one of them.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2017 14:15:58 GMT
I loved this when it was on the BBC years and years ago as a Children's TV drama. I remember a really good story that was quite spooky at times, but perhaps that was my age! It's definitely a spooky one, Abner and his gang threaten to murder one of the kids and kidnap several more, and at the end *spoiler alert* it's implied he drowns so definitely some quite heavy themes  You know how, for an unknown reason, a TV theme tune stays in your head for years and years? The Box of Delights is one of them. It's iconic! They don't make theme tunes like that any more. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 12, 2017 10:36:37 GMT
Anyone seen this yet?
(The theme tune was not written for the TV adaptation - it is taken from A Carol Symphony by Victor Hely-Hutchinson. But it is one of the best choices ever for a theme tune. It is the very epitome of Christmas to me)
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Post by andromedadench on Dec 15, 2017 19:06:30 GMT
Anyone seen this yet? (The theme tune was not written for the TV adaptation - it is taken from A Carol Symphony by Victor Hely-Hutchinson. But it is one of the best choices ever for a theme tune. It is the very epitome of Christmas to me) I saw one of the early previews. I wasn't familiar with either the book or the Tv show and went only because I wanted to finally visit the Wilton's, so I had no idea what to expect. And to be frank, I'm not sure what I think of the show as a whole. Visually, it was stunning. The use of light, animations, puppetry and movement choreography were all extremely clever and made for some truly beautiful but also charming and funny moments. However, those moments would get lost among the longer, seemingly unnecessary parts with superfluous dialogues that didn't further action in any way or, when trying to be humorous, fell flat due to the lack of pace. As I don't know the original material I've no idea what should have been done differently except that I'd have trimmed the text significantly, taken out the parts that clog the flow and kill the pace, and even taken out some characters that feel superfluous. Interestingly, the two major female characters, a goodie (well, mostly) and a baddie, dominate all their male peers on their respective sides of good and evil. Each of them is more daring, energetic and competent than any of the males they're dealing with, and even at one point they recognise each other as such. I doubt this was a part of the book, yet it doesn't feel forced. But the show does drag on and feels boring for the most part. I'm not sure if it's entirely up to the not-so-good stage adaptation of the book or if the staging itself plays some part in it. Then again, there are really well staged parts, so it's all a very mixed bag. I'm not familiar with the actors playing the children, but they were all great. So, I'm not sure I'd recommend this, but perhaps it has undergone some tweaking in the meantime. I hope it has, as it's obvious that lots of effort has been put into it and there are some excellent moments and ideas swallowed by the cumbersome and confusing storyline. I'd give the production 5* for the visual impression and atmosphere, and 2* for the writing/staging. I'd love to hear what people who saw it later in the run thought of it. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 23:15:32 GMT
The plucky children saved Christmas! To warm applause!
That was a nice afternoon's theatre. Simply, but effectively staged - a stage full of crates, ladders, wardrobes, basically wood - well used. All the magic through puppetry and projections and models. The perfect room for the story to be told in, with its exposed plaster, and barley twist poles, and history, and a christmas tree. Would have preferred actual children in the children's parts - just so the adults could have felt a bit more threatening. Don't think it quite had the creepy factor of the BBC adoptation, and it took a little while to settle, but they created some real sense of peril, and a world where magic things could happen.
Looking above, slightly surprised to see Andro's comments about a lack of pace - there was certainly some abbridgement going on - though I did find in the accoustic of the room some of finer details of the plot became somewhat inaudible. Stong performance from Josefina Gabrielle.
It was good.
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Post by martello736 on Oct 10, 2018 17:06:01 GMT
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Post by david on Oct 10, 2018 17:38:00 GMT
Having watched this last year, I was interested to see how it would be translated onto stage having watched the 1980s BBC version as a child when it was on tv. Overall I really enjoyed it. As others have said previously, it was simply staged but the use of the projections and puppets were really effective in helping to tell the story. It also helped in my opinion in having it staged at Wilton’s. It being my first time there, I really loved the old building and its design and i think this helped to bring the story to life which I don’t think would have been as effective had it been staged in a more modern environment.
I would definitely recommend getting a ticket to see it. A great afternoon or evening at the theatre that is suitable for the whole family if your looking to get away from all the Christmas madness.
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Post by jek on Dec 12, 2018 8:22:05 GMT
Interesting how a year on from andromedadench seeing this my response is pretty much identical. Maybe you have to be familiar with the source material to fully understand what is going on. I didn't grow up in the sort of house where a book like this would have been read and I am too old to have watched the TV version (I would have been about 21 when it was shown). The secondary school party (Yr 10 or 11 drama I would guess) sitting around me were all armed with copies of the text and a booklet to fill in and I didn't feel that they were very engaged with the play either - although nothing to warrant an entry in the bad behaviour thread - and the primary school kids I could see from the balcony all sat very still throughout - not necessarily a good sign. There are certainly wonderful moments on stage but it did feel like a long afternoon. I'm glad I went but it wasn't as engaging as I had hoped for. I will, as a result though, seek out some biographical material on Masefield - clearly a fascinating life. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 13, 2018 23:01:35 GMT
“Box, take me swift”
This was a charming evening’s viewing.
Missed it last year but very glad to see the play this time around, being in London on the right day.
I have fond memories of this on Christmas TV as a child. Even videod it. Read the book too. But don’t think I completely understood it. Like many, I was swept away by the fantasy and what were incredible production values at the time.
It’s year since I’ve seen it.
But it all came back, using the same music as the TV series. And I think I understood the plot this time around.
It’s a short play, only 2 hours 10 and with the first “half” much longer than the second.
And with Wilton’s how it is, you can’t expect more than a simple multi purpose set with a few levels. They pulled off a few tricks, used puppets and did things with projections. But you need imagination to view this as well.
A mostly full theatre. I was towards the back of the Stalls, by a pillar, but had a few empty seats around and an almost clear view with another pillar lined up with the right of the stage. That’s useful as there’s no rake.
Not sure what the audience all made of it. Think many others loved it like I did. A few gigglers, mostly at the effects. Some didn’t return after the interval. And very few children, who I think would have struggled to understand this. Because of how it’s presented, I think this is one for nostalgia.
The cast of eight, including several fresh from ArtsEd, played multiple roles. Great to see the talented and engaging Theo Ancient as the lead. I also saw him as Albus in my only trip to Harry Potter, where he was great also. Two productions on very different scales. He played Kay Harker exactly as he did Albus.
I’d love to see a fuller staging of this some day, but right now it’s a perfect Christmas treat.
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390 posts
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Post by theatrenerd on Sept 20, 2023 9:12:43 GMT
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