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Post by Being Alive on Jan 21, 2024 11:29:08 GMT
Finally got to see this yesterday, and I have a lot of thoughts about it 😂
It's so nearly there for me, and has all the ingredients of a properly fun, dark family musical, but there are some bits that just need work doing to them before it can properly take off.
The score needs one more absolute banger, and at least two more earworms that you come out humming I think. What's there is at times very clever (brilliant Dave Malloy lyrics as per but very wordy) but it's quite uneven. Get Up, which I've heard the intro to about 8000 times due to YouTube ads, is fine, but it needs more voices behind it. Just having the kids singing doesn't allow it to take off - I'd have had the adults in the wings adding some oomf to it as it got into the final chorus.
Also, for a show about Witches, it's not nearly magic enough. When you get to the end of Act 1 and the most magical thing that's happened is some doors opened on their own, you have an issue, so that's another big thing for me - just have some fun slight of hand tricks you don't need to spend ££ on it really.
My other main issue is that if this was to have a future life, or be revived in 10 years time, the references are incredibly specific to now (TikTok etc). The creative team are cleverer than that and they could have set it in a non descript time and it mean it's timeless. It'll just need unnecessary work doing to it if that opportunity arises and they could have done without that (did love the Grand High Witch's Cilla Black moment though!)
Casting wise it's super strong which I think we all could have expected - the chorus of women is absolutely stacked with people I love watching in shows and it's great to see a chorus of solely women of all ages etc. Daniel Rigby is fun - it's a shame he can't really sing but it sort of works anyway. Sally Ann Triplett and Katherine Kingsley are chewing the scenery to high heaven but are absolutely excellent. Kids are alright (I hate kids in shows but they were fine) Our Luke was fine, but our Bruno was a star (THAT number was fabulous) 5 stars to the hoover.
They've properly shot themselves in the foot with the design though. It's absolutely ENORMOUS and sort of unnecessarily so. Most Olivier shows feel like they can fit into the Gillian Lynne but this has absolutely no hope. This is Drury Lane or bust, but I think it would get lost in that auditorium.
So it's 3 stars for me, but a strong 3 stars because there is bags of potential. Couple more great songs, a bit more magic, and don't have it so specifically 'now' with the references and I think there's a really good 4 star show in there that could have a healthy run in the west end.
(Sorry this was so long 😂)
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Post by ceebee on Jan 21, 2024 16:57:14 GMT
Great review Being Alive - enjoyed reading it. I agree with pretty much all of it. Seems the combo of different Brunos and THAT number really hits the mark - it was my one high point of the production. I'd hate to see Drury Lane wasted on this show, though would happily see Frozen melt away.
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Post by greatauntedna on Jan 21, 2024 21:31:06 GMT
Great review Being Alive - enjoyed reading it. I agree with pretty much all of it. Seems the combo of different Brunos and THAT number really hits the mark - it was my one high point of the production. I'd hate to see Drury Lane wasted on this show, though would happily see Frozen melt away. The way you talk about this show is as if it has some mean spirit or irredeemable rotten core, which it just doesn’t.
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Post by ceebee on Jan 21, 2024 21:53:21 GMT
Great review Being Alive - enjoyed reading it. I agree with pretty much all of it. Seems the combo of different Brunos and THAT number really hits the mark - it was my one high point of the production. I'd hate to see Drury Lane wasted on this show, though would happily see Frozen melt away. The way you talk about this show is as if it has some mean spirit or irredeemable rotten core, which it just doesn’t. That's your opinion and mine is mine. Such is the joy of life - views differ.
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Post by jr on Jan 25, 2024 5:42:44 GMT
£20 ticket available on noticeboard for Friday evening. DM if interested.
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Post by singingbird on Jan 26, 2024 14:20:15 GMT
I finally saw this this week and loved it a hundred times more than I expected. It was joyous, anarchic, surreal and totally bonkers in the most wonderful way.
My expectations, from reading comments on here, were pretty low, and my experiences of family musicals at the NT have generally been so poor that there's no way I'd have booked for this if it hadn't had a Dave Malloy score. I was wary, however, because I thought doing another Dahl musical smacked of unoriginality. It felt calculatedly designed to be an easy sell, and my alarm bells ring when original talents, like Malloy, are employed to contribute to something that wasn't their original vision. But, in this instance, it really worked.
I know neither the book or either film, so I couldn't tell how much was Dahl's invention and how much was unique to this adaptation, but I just thought it was glorious. From the eccentric, yet very humane characters, to the hyper-real and beautiful sets (that kitchen was insane), and from the super-literate and off-beat lyrics to the totally delirious touches (who on earth decided that the Grand High Witch would suddenly channel Cilla Black? And how did they know it would work so brilliantly?!), I was completely swept up in the world of it, and had no idea what madness would happen next.
Malloy's work is usually much more driven by theme and allusion than by narrative, so it was nice to see him contribute to something more traditional, and yet still bring his left-field slant to proceedings. It could have failed, but it worked a treat. I don't think the music was unmemorable - I would just argue that it's a rare new show you ever come out of humming the tunes, unless the composer has reprised them repeatedly. The only son, actually, that I didn't rate at all was Get Up (or is it Stand Up?) which felt very by-numbers and only there because shows like this seem to demand a song of that nature.
The performances were also completely committed and so well realised. I'd echo that the three adult leads knocked it out the park (shades of John Cleese-esque mania, as everything span out of control), but equally the children were just outstanding, and the role of Bruno in particularly was exceptionally demanding but delivered with a level of verve, wit and polish that would be the envy of many way more experienced adult performers.
I honestly haven't enjoyed a show this much in ages, in terms of laughing and being constantly delighted, and it ranks with Sunset Boulevard for me as theatre highlight of the last 12 months. Bravo!
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Post by greatauntedna on Jan 28, 2024 13:51:31 GMT
The final performance was great last night, the atmosphere was electric! Lots of tears!
I ended up seeing the show 5 times. Everyone gives such detailed performances, it’s tricky to know where to look. I think the standout from the witches though was Bobbie Little, her choreography was elastic and demented, she always tore up the stage!
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Jan 29, 2024 8:25:37 GMT
Does anybody think that this is going to get a transfer/have heard any rumours of one?
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 29, 2024 8:26:57 GMT
It can't go anywhere. It was made for the Olivier which means it either comes back to the Olivier or it goes to Drury Lane.
It's not going to Drury Lane and I hear that it's not back for next Christmas either so I'm not sure what's happening.
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Post by vickyg on Jan 29, 2024 10:37:32 GMT
It would be such a shame for this huge show to not have a second life after what sounds like a very long development period and a relatively short run. Katherine Kingsley's instagram post seemed quite final though and even whispers of transfers seem to get to this Board somehow.
I saw the last performance on Saturday and it was great. There has been so much progress since the early stages of the run and it's been such a feel good show. I'm sad to see it go.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 29, 2024 12:42:14 GMT
Would it be that hard to restage for a smaller theatre? I know some of the set pieces were big but I don't think any of them were essential if they can't take them. It needs a fair size cast due to all the witches and children but, as much as I loved the staging, I feel that could be shrunk.
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Jan 29, 2024 15:39:09 GMT
It can't go anywhere. It was made for the Olivier which means it either comes back to the Olivier or it goes to Drury Lane. It's not going to Drury Lane and I hear that it's not back for next Christmas either so I'm not sure what's happening. What about the Gillian Lynne after Sky’s Edge? Or is Sky’s Edge set to extend?
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Post by Being Alive on Jan 29, 2024 15:41:56 GMT
Unless it's drastically shrunk, this wouldn't fit in the Gillian Lynne - I cannot stress how massive this show is...
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jan 29, 2024 20:31:58 GMT
Unless it's drastically shrunk, this wouldn't fit in the Gillian Lynne - I cannot stress how massive this show is... This. There is no wing space in the Gillian Lynne , or depth to the stage. The Witches uses every inch of the Olivier- the only stage it could currently fit on is Drury Lane. I’m not exaggerating.
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Apr 24, 2024 9:24:10 GMT
There’s been many a rumour circulating that this’ll fill the gap between Oz and Totoro, any thoughts?
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Post by bigredapple on Apr 24, 2024 9:33:15 GMT
There’s been many a rumour circulating that this’ll fill the gap between Oz and Totoro, any thoughts? Judging by comments here, it does seem it would have to be re worked a lot for the smaller stage But personally I’d love to see it transfer! With a few small changes
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Post by thedrowsychaperone on Apr 24, 2024 9:37:50 GMT
There’s been many a rumour circulating that this’ll fill the gap between Oz and Totoro, any thoughts? Won't Oz finish late December and did I see that Totoro opens in March? A rather small gap (and undesirable time of year) to load in a fully re-worked set for a large musical!
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Post by backtothetheatre on Apr 24, 2024 9:58:18 GMT
There’s been many a rumour circulating that this’ll fill the gap between Oz and Totoro, any thoughts? Won't Oz finish late December and did I see that Totoro opens in March? A rather small gap (and undesirable time of year) to load in a fully re-worked set for a large musical! The Wizard of Oz is only on for 3 weeks. 15 August - 8 September.
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 24, 2024 9:58:55 GMT
This isn't going to the Gillian Lynne.
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Apr 24, 2024 10:44:38 GMT
This isn't going to the Gillian Lynne. How do you know this?
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 24, 2024 10:47:06 GMT
Because it doesn't fit?
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Apr 24, 2024 10:52:43 GMT
This is where I feel that you are incorrect. The Gillian Lynne has had two National Theatre transfers that have been perfectly downsized to fit the stage. The theatre’s layout is almost identical to the National’s. There’s a lot more evidence pointing yes towards this transfer than you actually realise, you’ve been anti-this since January so I’m not surprised that you’re out here saying it won’t transfer. Have you got any better ideas? Because there’s many reasons I could list as evidence right now as to why this would be an expert transfer from The National and LW Theatres.
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Apr 24, 2024 10:56:26 GMT
And considering they’ve just announced Totoro for the Gillian Lynne.. I just saw a Tweet that stated about wing space at the GL being the only one big enough to store one of the largest set pieces in the show. So this disproves your comment regarding wing space for The Witches.
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Post by Jon on Apr 24, 2024 10:58:07 GMT
Standing at the Sky's Edge didn't originate at the National TBF it originated at the Sheffield Crucible which is smaller than the Olivier.
Just because theatres have similar layout does not mean they have similar stages or backstage capacity.
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Post by thedrowsychaperone on Apr 24, 2024 10:58:40 GMT
Won't Oz finish late December and did I see that Totoro opens in March? A rather small gap (and undesirable time of year) to load in a fully re-worked set for a large musical! The Wizard of Oz is only on for 3 weeks. 15 August - 8 September. Apologies, I'd somehow got it in my head that Oz was going in for Christmas!
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Apr 24, 2024 11:00:04 GMT
Just because you don’t like the show.. I get it, it’s not for everyone, but you’ve got to admit with the Christmas season and also Halloween season being free too, it would be an amazing seller for the GL and LW Theatres, no? Because they would’ve extended Oz otherwise, it seems to have been put there as a filler and money maker as they’ve definitely got something large scheduled in that 7 month gap before Totoro. Now, it may not be The Witches and if it isn’t, I’ll stand corrected but I don’t see why it shouldn’t get a shot like the rest of the National Theatre’s transfers that’ve been to the GL?
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Post by thestageyscribbles on Apr 24, 2024 11:02:02 GMT
Standing at the Sky's Edge didn't originate at the National TBF it originated at the Sheffield Crucible which is smaller than the Olivier. Just because theatres have similar layout does not mean they have similar stages or backstage capacity. Apologies about Sky’s Edge, I forgot about Sheffield’s run. But I feel like the idea of The Witches shouldn’t be shut off for the GL? What would you suggest goes in there for 7 months? The only other show I’ve heard about moving into this space is Newsies and apparently that transfer was due from September but was pushed/cancelled?
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Post by ceebee on Apr 24, 2024 11:30:04 GMT
Standing at the Sky's Edge didn't originate at the National TBF it originated at the Sheffield Crucible which is smaller than the Olivier. Just because theatres have similar layout does not mean they have similar stages or backstage capacity. Apologies about Sky’s Edge, I forgot about Sheffield’s run. But I feel like the idea of The Witches shouldn’t be shut off for the GL? What would you suggest goes in there for 7 months? The only other show I’ve heard about moving into this space is Newsies and apparently that transfer was due from September but was pushed/cancelled? Just For One Day... just for seven months...
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 24, 2024 11:34:47 GMT
If you go back to my review of the show (at the top of this page!), you'll find there's a lot about the show I liked, and I wanted bits of it to be better because it's got bags of potential so I don't know where you've come up with the idea that I'm anti-Witches TBF.
I'm just trying to explain that this show is enormous (the NT themselves literally acknowledged they made a show that can only fit into Drury Lane) and the Gillian Lynne does not have the capability to house it...
Something else is filling at least some of that 7 months to be announced shortly.
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Post by Jon on Apr 24, 2024 11:36:10 GMT
Seven months is not really enough time for a large scale musical like The Witches to recoup, I think Just For One Day which has a lot of commercial producers attached plus slightly easier to transfer has a better shot of going in for a limited run.
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