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Post by westendwhistledown on Nov 26, 2022 22:41:35 GMT
word on the street is they’re having to pay out for loads of extra physio for Laura. She’s having real bad back issues from carrying the production…..
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 27, 2022 9:30:58 GMT
Saw this recently after a gap of several years and it did feel like it was going through the motions. We had covers on for Elphaba, Fiyero and Boq. Moments that were once hilarious have become so overwrought and exaggerated that they fell completely flat. The English events, once a fun quirk of the London production, felt very over-done on all fronts and not 'natural'. The show simultaneously dragged while the songs flew by. Diction from several leads wasn't great. The three leads don't really pass as student age in the first half. That bloody statue still wobbles.
It does feel like it needs someone to go in and give it all a good shake.
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 27, 2022 10:49:34 GMT
Saw this recently after a gap of several years and it did feel like it was going through the motions. We had covers on for Elphaba, Fiyero and Boq. Moments that were once hilarious have become so overwrought and exaggerated that they fell completely flat. The English events, once a fun quirk of the London production, felt very over-done on all fronts and not 'natural'. The show simultaneously dragged while the songs flew by. Diction from several leads wasn't great. The three leads don't really pass as student age in the first half. That bloody statue still wobbles. It does feel like it needs someone to go in and give it all a good shake. *accents not events
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Post by shady23 on Nov 27, 2022 22:14:12 GMT
Just a few simple tweaks could make it fresher.
For example, the lion cub scene when Elphaba "gets mad" really is just the students going "aaahhhh". A few special effects thrown into that would not take much but would give it a bit more oomph.
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Post by kyvai on Nov 28, 2022 7:45:12 GMT
I agree it really needs a shake up/freshen up, and I came away in August very disappointed, although it was better this week IMO so I’ll now just say it’s patchy! In August there were some very basic flaws like poor sound mixing and spotlights not following people, at least that was mostly ok more recently. But definitely multiple moments when you just felt sad it wasn’t shiny and polished any more. The time dragon audibly squeaks when it moves, for example. I agree about some terrible diction as well. The tin man’s lines in March of the Witch Hunters were completely unintelligible, and they tell a LOT of plot so it’s terrible to lose them.
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 28, 2022 7:58:26 GMT
Every time I've seen it over the years I'm amazed they haven't fixed that lion puppet or that section 'behind the wardrobe'. I guess special effects that were impressive 20 years ago just don't cut the mustard anymore.
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Post by filendile on Nov 28, 2022 8:23:13 GMT
The time to do these refreshes would have been when it reopened after Covid. I don’t think they care.
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 28, 2022 9:06:07 GMT
Does anything change on the tour
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 28, 2022 9:10:01 GMT
Not for the better!
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Post by kyvai on Nov 28, 2022 14:08:12 GMT
Every time I've seen it over the years I'm amazed they haven't fixed that lion puppet or that section 'behind the wardrobe'. I guess special effects that were impressive 20 years ago just don't cut the mustard anymore. I think that’s it, it’s just old. The time dragon was impressive 20 years ago, now we have puppet tigers winning best actor Oliviers. A simple lift and black drapery was impressive 20 years ago, it looked like she was flying - now cars and nannies actually do “fly” right out into the auditorium over audiences heads. Can you imagine a revamp where they upgrade the lift effect so she is flying out into the auditorium? It’s clearly possible now. The show is still really popular (sorry!) it must be profitable. So why not? It does leave one to wonder whether it is down to the powers that be just not caring.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 28, 2022 14:38:15 GMT
To be honest I don't think wicked was all that impressive 20 years ago.
Flying isn't a new thing (e.g. witches or eastwick, chitty), and the tin man change always seemed a lazy cop out.
Wicked is a bit like phantom, it's a relatively simple staging with some old school theatre tricks and a couple of wow moments
As you sat, it's still popular and profitable, so why would they? Why spend more money when you don't need to. If it ain't broke etc
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 28, 2022 14:40:29 GMT
Shall we compile a wish list of things that need updating or changing? I’ll start!
Update: the “flying” Change: ditch those two humpty dumpty things that come dancing on in One Short Day. I’ve never understood what they’re supposed to be there for and they’re cringe AF.
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Post by tsxmitw on Nov 28, 2022 15:23:57 GMT
In No One Mourns The Wicked, tighten up the score so there’s no awkward, uncomfortably long pause between: “what does it mean … it’s atrocious.”
Feels like something that should have gone after try-outs. It’s especially awkward in London because the ensemble just sort of stands there…
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Post by StageyBrum on Nov 28, 2022 16:16:56 GMT
Sorry for this absolutely stupid question but want to get some day tickets but a bit confused as to when.
So if I wanted to go on a Sunday would I need to get them the Wednesday before that Sunday or the Wednesday before that Wednesday (hope that makes sense)
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Post by shady23 on Nov 28, 2022 16:30:17 GMT
It is the entire week after that goes on sale every Wednesday, not shows the same week.
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 28, 2022 16:31:53 GMT
Shall we compile a wish list of things that need updating or changing? I’ll start! Update: the “flying” Change: ditch those two humpty dumpty things that come dancing on in One Short Day. I’ve never understood what they’re supposed to be there for and they’re cringe AF. What ARE those things
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Post by jacob on Nov 28, 2022 21:44:31 GMT
Shall we compile a wish list of things that need updating or changing? I’ll start! Update: the “flying” Change: ditch those two humpty dumpty things that come dancing on in One Short Day. I’ve never understood what they’re supposed to be there for and they’re cringe AF. What ARE those things if you’re looking for a genuine answer they’re called ‘Hammerheads’ (or Flatheads), a quick reference to the original characters and illustrations in the Oz books .. check google images and you’ll see the connection 😭 terrifying .but justifiable for sure
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 28, 2022 21:59:19 GMT
if you’re looking for a genuine answer they’re called ‘Hammerheads’ (or Flatheads), a quick reference to the original characters and illustrations in the Oz books .. check google images and you’ll see the connection 😭 terrifying .but justifiable for sure I see. This also brought up a few photos of the Wicked scene in question showing four of these characters on stage, when I saw it recently there were only two. Is this a change that has been made or was it just a shortage of cast?
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 28, 2022 22:03:10 GMT
if you’re looking for a genuine answer they’re called ‘Hammerheads’ (or Flatheads), a quick reference to the original characters and illustrations in the Oz books .. check google images and you’ll see the connection 😭 terrifying .but justifiable for sure I see. This also brought up a few photos of the Wicked scene in question showing four of these characters on stage, when I saw it recently there were only two. Is this a change that has been made or was it just a shortage of cast? I think it was always 3 in London and 2 on tour but when I saw the show in September it was also just 2 then. I assumed it was cast illness rather than cutting it down for good but not sure now?
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Post by longinthetooth on Nov 28, 2022 22:09:03 GMT
I see. This also brought up a few photos of the Wicked scene in question showing four of these characters on stage, when I saw it recently there were only two. Is this a change that has been made or was it just a shortage of cast? I think it was always 3 in London and 2 on tour but when I saw the show in September it was also just 2 then. I assumed it was cast illness rather than cutting it down for good but not sure now? Yes, exactly this. There used to be three of them (I always called them the Tweedle Dums and Tweedle Dees!), but a couple of weeks ago there were only two, and I also wondered if it was down to lack of cast through sickness.
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Post by kyvai on Nov 29, 2022 7:04:21 GMT
There as only 2 both times I’ve seen it this year, in August and this week. In August there were just 2 of them but 3 spotlights, awks.
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Post by deej4life on Nov 29, 2022 19:36:07 GMT
Laura Harrison is on as Elphaba tonight (29th November, 2022).
According to someone on Twitter, Laura has performed as Elphaba every Tuesday for five weeks now!
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Post by cezbear on Nov 29, 2022 19:42:07 GMT
Laura Harrison is on as Elphaba tonight (29th November, 2022). According to someone on Twitter, Laura has performed as Elphaba every Tuesday for five weeks now! Aside from the obvious raised eyebrow at Lucie, do we not wonder where Amy is for all of these shows too?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 29, 2022 19:52:50 GMT
if you’re looking for a genuine answer they’re called ‘Hammerheads’ (or Flatheads), a quick reference to the original characters and illustrations in the Oz books .. check google images and you’ll see the connection 😭 terrifying .but justifiable for sure Is the casual theatregoer supposed to know this though? There’s no explanation in the show. Is it an in joke of some sort? I suppose one of the volumes of the forthcoming film will explain… at length Zzzzzzzz 🙂
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Post by filendile on Nov 29, 2022 20:19:44 GMT
Laura Harrison is on as Elphaba tonight (29th November, 2022). According to someone on Twitter, Laura has performed as Elphaba every Tuesday for five weeks now! Aside from the obvious raised eyebrow at Lucie, do we not wonder where Amy is for all of these shows too? On Instagram I saw she had a chest infection for a couple weeks that didn’t seem to budge, and now she’s on holiday in New York with the guy who plays Boq.
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Post by LaLuPone on Nov 29, 2022 21:54:01 GMT
if you’re looking for a genuine answer they’re called ‘Hammerheads’ (or Flatheads), a quick reference to the original characters and illustrations in the Oz books .. check google images and you’ll see the connection 😭 terrifying .but justifiable for sure Is the casual theatregoer supposed to know this though? There’s no explanation in the show. Is it an in joke of some sort? I suppose one of the volumes of the forthcoming film will explain… at length Zzzzzzzz 🙂 I think they’re supposed to just be a bit of fun for the younger audience members to be honest. (When I say young I mean like under 10s!)
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Post by pomegranate on Nov 29, 2022 23:43:09 GMT
Is the casual theatregoer supposed to know this though? There’s no explanation in the show. Is it an in joke of some sort? I suppose one of the volumes of the forthcoming film will explain… at length Zzzzzzzz 🙂 I think they’re supposed to just be a bit of fun for the younger audience members to be honest. (When I say young I mean like under 10s!) Aren’t they apart of the “Wizomania” show? I’ve never been particularly confused by them
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Post by deej4life on Nov 30, 2022 13:28:37 GMT
Laura Harrison is on as Elphaba for both shows today (30th November, 2022).
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Post by shady23 on Nov 30, 2022 20:29:21 GMT
I think they’re supposed to just be a bit of fun for the younger audience members to be honest. (When I say young I mean like under 10s!) Aren’t they apart of the “Wizomania” show? I’ve never been particularly confused by them Exactly this. They have to watch something when they watch the Wizomania show. Why not this. I like them
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Post by kyvai on Nov 30, 2022 21:00:25 GMT
Laura Harrison is on as Elphaba for both shows today (30th November, 2022). Well Lucie Jones is presenting on Magic at the Musicals radio tonight. Or is that pre-recorded?
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