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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 10:11:57 GMT
Alright danb I'm back now! I have a million day job things to do today but sneaking this one in for you! So I unashamedly loved this one, and I think it's doing a lot more than the 'romcom musical' element gives it credit for. I was a sobbing mess at times. We are talking ugly-crying. But i'll get to that. I thought KMP was great. She hit 'She Used to Be Mine' out of the park, and yes extended applause for that on Saturday too. The second half was stronger as far as her performance is concerned, and I really go the emotional element of it personally. Standout for me was Laura Baldwin who is just born to play Dawn, and I'm so happy for her! I loved David Hunter's adorkable Doctor. And frankly tall dark skinny dorks are my romcom man of choice so I was a happy bunny. Thought all of the supporting cast were great. I don't love your man from 30 Rock, his comedy style isn't my style and no he can't sing for, well pie, but hey it worked in context so I'll let it go and chalk it up as 'not my style'. I've heard the songs to death, but didn't know the ins and outs of the plot. I will say I think Sara's songs give it more depth, and have a better handle on what is going on deeper in the plot than the book does. The book seems to keep on the 'sitcom' side of things, rather than hit on the more emotional, and also darker notes that Sara's songs bring out in the plot. And my only critique is that there are elements of the darker/serious side of the story I'd like to have seen more in the book. The above said, I love that this isn't a typical 'romcom' musical (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and that under it there are some really interesting stories- all the women have really complicated, and yes flawed love lives. And the story doesn't apologise for that, and I kind of love how 'real' that felt. Also it may surprise anyone who knows me to know I love the story about Jenna's pregnancy. I may not want spoglets, but I still love a story rejoicing in someone else's happiness, and I don't find it remotely unfeminist for a woman's story to be 'I wasn't mad keen on a having a baby but ultimalty it saved me' because of course having a baby changes you, and why shouldn't it turn out to be a wonderful thing even if you don't want it in the beginning? (anyway I'm straying into stuff I want to say in a review...) And finally the female friendships in this just warm my heart. And yes I ugly cried. I think 'Soft Place to land' got me welling up. And of course 'She Used to be Mine' and 'Everything Changes' got me, as expected. But no, I proper ugly-cried at 'You Matter to Me' a few complicated in-the-moment connections and things, but damn that song might be my favourite musical theatre love song in about 10 years. But overall I just cried because it's all so damn lovely too. Right, on with your pies...proper reviews a-coming. |
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Post by singularsensation10 on Feb 11, 2019 22:58:51 GMT
Went again tonight. All I can say is... Great British public please invest in some vitamins and eat some broccoli. Could barely hear the show over the coughing and sneezing.
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Post by ensembleswings on Feb 11, 2019 23:15:58 GMT
Managed to catch tonight’s show. I’ve been wanting this transfer for a while having loved the cast recording beforehand and it didn’t disappoint. The cast were great overall but I couldn’t get past Jack’s weak/lack of singing voice, he acted the part great but his songs were the letdown of the show. It’s definitely a show I wish to return to though, didn’t imagine it would have as much of an emotional impact on me as it did.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 23:23:41 GMT
I’m wondering if JMB will leave at the same time as KMP?
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Post by ensembleswings on Feb 11, 2019 23:26:45 GMT
Side note these ‘pies’ they’re selling taste great but I’m reluctant to call it a pie, it’s simply the filling.
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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 11, 2019 23:31:49 GMT
Lots of availability for this - even this week.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 16:25:31 GMT
I'm thrilled to finally be seeing it tonight! I realise it's weird saying "finally" when it's only it's fifth preview, but I've wanted to see it since it's Broadway premiere guys!
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Post by argon on Feb 12, 2019 16:53:36 GMT
but I couldn’t get past Jack’s weak/lack of singing voice, Yes,simply,his vocal performance was poor. I'm now intrigued to see the show again but with his cover on. Anybody know when his cover is on for him? |
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Post by andrew on Feb 12, 2019 16:56:19 GMT
From the cast instagram stories it looks like they are still doing rehearsals before the shows, and Sara mentioned it after the first preview as well. Although I didn't think that it needed more rehearsals, it's good that they are still perfecting it.
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Post by danb on Feb 12, 2019 18:19:44 GMT
but I couldn’t get past Jack’s weak/lack of singing voice, Yes,simply,his vocal performance was poor. I'm now intrigued to see the show again but with his cover on. Anybody know when his cover is on for him? Remember when Caprice was in ‘Rent’ and they recorded her ‘Take Me or Leave Me’ vocal so she didn’t sound shocking night after night? Just an idea...😘 |
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Post by jaqs on Feb 12, 2019 20:44:48 GMT
Having a confusing stop, everyone got up as if interval to be told it isn’t, just an issue with scenery.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 23:05:34 GMT
Boy do I have mixed emotions about this one.
Firstly, those with a sensitive nose needn't worry. The smell of baking is only in the foyer. Audience was well behaved even though the fangirls were in screaming after every number.
It was a show of halves for me. It started five minutes late, We had a show stop just before the final scene of Act 1 where everyone got up thinking it was the interval and the interval ended late too. So a show that was meant to be 2h 15m according to the programme, including interval, ended at 22:20.
I didn't really get fully into the show until the middle of Act 2 with You Matter to Me. Not that everything was bad before, it was just that was when it got emotional and you felt for any of the characters. Some aspects were funny, but from then, it really was emotional and touching. I had a major issue with the show, which I'll get on too in a sec.
The cast were great for the most part. Katharine was brilliant, especially in Act 2. Marisha great, if anything the least of the three ladies. Laura Baldwin was the star of the show. I have a soft spot for David Hunter and I thought he was fabulous! I thought Peter Hannah as Earl was fantastic and shout-out to Kelly Agbowu for her Nurse cameo, she was hilarious. Peter and Katharine were amazing together, as was Katharine and David. Jack hasn't got a singing voice in him at all and was mugging to the audience the whole time. The weakest performance by a mile. On the mention of Jack, this leads me on to my biggest issue with the show.
I was disgusted with the Ogie/Dawn storyline. I thought it trivialised a subject and I didn't appreciate that at all. I couldn't help but sit there and be shocked by the first scenes with them and how it was treated by the other women and by him. And hearing people be bowled over with laughter made me all the more annoyed with it. Now I haven't seen the film or the show before, and I only know a few of the songs, but I didn't expect that at all and it actually ruined the show for me. No spoilers of course for those who haven't seen it, but I'll be interested to see how those who have seen it feel or if it's just me.
So taking into account all that, I'd say for me, it's a 3* show. It's got a great cast but with it really only reaching its peak for me three quarters of the way through and the Dawn/Ogie thing, I can't give it more. I'll go again once it's had a chance to settle in and see if it's just portrayals or if it's the show itself.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 23:06:41 GMT
I've heard a few horror stories about stage door already. Not the H******s lot, but in general, there has been a lot of pushing and shoving, and on the whole it seems like a disorganised bunfight. Someone has posted on the MTAS Facebook group about it, and friends of mine who have been told me that it looked very chaotic.
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Post by eatbigsea on Feb 12, 2019 23:07:52 GMT
I went in knowing nothing about it other than that it was a successful musical that I had skipped every time I go to New York because there's always something else I'd prefer to see. And I'm afraid I was very happy with that decision. The score was lovely, the songs were excellent and the singing generally also excellent (except for Jack McBrayer).
But I hated the book (that poor woman resident who dared to take a residency somewhere other than Connecticut, dragging her poor husband along with her and throwing him head-first into cheating on her) and I thought that Katharine McPhee had much better chemistry with Marisha Wallace than she did with David Hunter (although the whole Jim Halpert does adultery storyline left me cold from the beginning). And I don't have any children myself, but I thought I could feign interest in a doll better than Katharine McPhee did. (The less said about Jack McBrayer the better). Even though I am North American, this was much too American for me.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 23:30:10 GMT
For those who care btw.
Jenna (Olivia Moore/Sarah O'Connor)
Becky (Kelly Agbowu, Charlotte Riby)
Dawn (Olivia Moore/Sarah O'Connor)
Pomatter (Piers Bate/Michael Hamway)
Earl (Piers Bate/Mark Willshire)
Joe (Stephen Leask/Christopher McGuigan)
Ogie (Michael Hamway/Nathaniel Morrison)
Cal (Christopher McGuigan/Mark Willshire)
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Feb 12, 2019 23:54:13 GMT
Boy do I have mixed emotions about this one. Firstly, those with a sensitive nose needn't worry. The smell of baking is only in the foyer. Audience was well behaved even though the fangirls were in screaming after every number. It was a show of halves for me. It started five minutes late, We had a show stop just before the final scene of Act 1 where everyone got up thinking it was the interval and the interval ended late too. So a show that was meant to be 2h 15m according to the programme, including interval, ended at 22:20. I didn't really get fully into the show until the middle of Act 2 with You Matter to Me. Not that everything was bad before, it was just that was when it got emotional and you felt for any of the characters. Some aspects were funny, but from then, it really was emotional and touching. I had a major issue with the show, which I'll get on too in a sec. The cast were great for the most part. Katharine was brilliant, especially in Act 2. Marisha great, if anything the least of the three ladies. Laura Baldwin was the star of the show. I have a soft spot for David Hunter and I thought he was fabulous! I thought Peter Hannah as Early was fantastic and shout-out to Kelly Agbowu for her Nurse cameo, she was hilarious. Peter and Katharine were amazing together, as was Katharine and David. Jack hasn't got a singing voice in him at all and was mugging to the audience the whole time. The weakest performance by a mile. On the mention of Jack, this leads me on to my biggest issue with the show. I was disgusted with the Ogie/Dawn storyline. I thought it trivialised a subject and I didn't appreciate that at all. I couldn't help but sit there and be shocked by the first scenes with them and how it was treated by the other women and by him. And hearing people be bowled over with laughter made me all the more annoyed with it. Now I haven't seen the film or the show before, and I only know a few of the songs, but I didn't expect that at all and it actually ruined the show for me. No spoilers of course for those who haven't seen it, but I'll be interested to see how those who have seen it feel or if it's just me. So taking into account all that, I'd say for me, it's a 3* show. It's got a great cast but with it really only reaching its peak for me three quarters of the way through and the Dawn/Ogie thing, I can't give it more. I'll go again once it's had a chance to settle in and see if it's just portrayals or if it's the show itself. I think there's definitely issues to be had with the Ogie/Dawn relationship reinforcing the idea that men should keep at their advances even after being told no but I think in the context of the show, in which Dawn is afraid of commitment of any kind for insignificant reasons, the idea is less abhorrent but still feels quite questionable just for what it seems to suggest in any other context (it would be better if Ogie recognised that Dawn needed a push to open up to commitment to anyone but it just kinda seems like he would act this way with any woman no matter their true feelings about him which is where the major problem lies I think). |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 23:59:43 GMT
I'll be blunt with it this show glorifies harassment and stalking with Ogie and Dawn. I was disgusted at the treatment of it. And what's more, what pissed me off was the women working with Dawn pushed her into going along with it rather than telling her to stay away from this creep who doesn't understand the meaning of the word no. Honestly, it made my skin crawl, and I found myself getting increasingly angry about it.
I bet he murdered her.
What kind of message, in 2019, is that to send to women?! To anybody?! Urgh, I can feel myself getting more and more angry just thinking about it. |
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Post by beatrice on Feb 13, 2019 1:05:36 GMT
I'll be blunt with it this show glorifies harassment and stalking with Ogie and Dawn. I was disgusted at the treatment of it. And what's more, what pissed me off was the women working with Dawn pushed her into going along with it rather than telling her to stay away away this creep who doesn't understand the meaning of the word no. Honestly, it made my skin crawl, and I found myself getting increasingly angry about it.
I bet he murdered her.
What kind of message, in 2019, is that to send to women?! Or anybody?! Urgh, I can feel myself getting more and more angry just thinking about it. I AGREE SO MUCH!! I love the show, mostly, but this plot line is insane to me. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 13, 2019 1:33:45 GMT
Well, despite the booking period extending to October 19th "due to popular demand" - there is huge availability for this. The prices don't help of course with the continuous spread of the premium seats taking huge swathes of the stalls and circle at £100 plus a ticket. £100 for huge swathes of stalls and circle. Good luck with that one!!! Unless they get Sara to reprise her role. |
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Post by sparky5000 on Feb 13, 2019 7:01:01 GMT
Alright danb I'm back now! I have a million day job things to do today but sneaking this one in for you! So I unashamedly loved this one, and I think it's doing a lot more than the 'romcom musical' element gives it credit for. I was a sobbing mess at times. We are talking ugly-crying. But i'll get to that. I thought KMP was great. She hit 'She Used to Be Mine' out of the park, and yes extended applause for that on Saturday too. The second half was stronger as far as her performance is concerned, and I really go the emotional element of it personally. Standout for me was Laura Baldwin who is just born to play Dawn, and I'm so happy for her! I loved David Hunter's adorkable Doctor. And frankly tall dark skinny dorks are my romcom man of choice so I was a happy bunny. Thought all of the supporting cast were great. I don't love your man from 30 Rock, his comedy style isn't my style and no he can't sing for, well pie, but hey it worked in context so I'll let it go and chalk it up as 'not my style'. I've heard the songs to death, but didn't know the ins and outs of the plot. I will say I think Sara's songs give it more depth, and have a better handle on what is going on deeper in the plot than the book does. The book seems to keep on the 'sitcom' side of things, rather than hit on the more emotional, and also darker notes that Sara's songs bring out in the plot. And my only critique is that there are elements of the darker/serious side of the story I'd like to have seen more in the book. The above said, I love that this isn't a typical 'romcom' musical (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and that under it there are some really interesting stories- all the women have really complicated, and yes flawed love lives. And the story doesn't apologise for that, and I kind of love how 'real' that felt. Also it may surprise anyone who knows me to know I love the story about Jenna's pregnancy. I may not want spoglets, but I still love a story rejoicing in someone else's happiness, and I don't find it remotely unfeminist for a woman's story to be 'I wasn't mad keen on a having a baby but ultimalty it saved me' because of course having a baby changes you, and why shouldn't it turn out to be a wonderful thing even if you don't want it in the beginning? (anyway I'm straying into stuff I want to say in a review...) And finally the female friendships in this just warm my heart. And yes I ugly cried. I think 'Soft Place to land' got me welling up. And of course 'She Used to be Mine' and 'Everything Changes' got me, as expected. But no, I proper ugly-cried at 'You Matter to Me' a few complicated in-the-moment connections and things, but damn that song might be my favourite musical theatre love song in about 10 years. But overall I just cried because it's all so damn lovely too. Right, on with your pies...proper reviews a-coming. Nice review! I’ve always thought ‘You Matter To Me’ was one of the more underrated Waitress songs, and I think that entire scene with Jenna and Dr P is maybe my favourite scene of the entire show, I just want to give Jenna a big hug!! |
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Post by sparky5000 on Feb 13, 2019 7:44:10 GMT
Lots of availability for this - even this week. They’re basically asking for the show to sell 50% more tickets each night in London than New York, going from a theatre with a 1,050-ish capacity to one with 1,500. So if you’re comparing to that it’s selling v well here and would be a sellout in NYC, but I know that means nothing given the additional rent / costs etc of the Adelphi etc. I think venue size will be what may end this show sooner than I’d hope  and I still don’t get why they chose such a large theatre, especially given that Waitress is not a big showy show! |
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Post by jaqs on Feb 13, 2019 8:44:05 GMT
It wasn’t a show for me. The smell is very over powering, like being caught behind someone vaping. I could smell it on my jumper most the way home.
I sat at the back of the circle in a cheaper high up seat, the only thing I missed was the top half the diner sign and could lean forward to see that.
There were two blocks of empty seats, like an allocation that had gone unsold, but otherwise seemed well attended for a Tuesday.
The creative team came in during the phone warning song and just as the lights went down for the second act, causing a stir amongst Sara’s fans but they weren’t jumping out their seats or anything.
The cast are mostly good, and the show seems in good shape despite the stop. But it was all a bit bland for me. None of the characters are fleshed out much, they’re all one note and while I enjoyed it well enough I’d not go back or listen to a cast album.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2019 9:09:35 GMT
I loved lots about the show a great deal, but danieljohnson14 is completely right, that bit is a serious mis-step that could SO EASILY have been fixed with a little re-writing and really SHOULD have been. Also, the best pie jar is the banoffee one, you can put that on the posters if you like. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 13, 2019 9:30:46 GMT
Well, despite the booking period extending to October 19th "due to popular demand" - there is huge availability for this. The prices don't help of course with the continuous spread of the premium seats taking huge swathes of the stalls and circle at £100 plus a ticket. £100 for huge swathes of stalls and circle. Good luck with that one!!! Unless they get Sara to reprise her role. I could buy an awful lot of pies for 100 quid or buy multiple day seats for Come from away |
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Post by MoreLife on Feb 13, 2019 13:25:19 GMT
I loved lots about the show a great deal, but danieljohnson14 is completely right, that bit is a serious mis-step that could SO EASILY have been fixed with a little re-writing and really SHOULD have been. Also, the best pie jar is the banoffee one, you can put that on the posters if you like. When I saw the show in NY weeks ago with Sara, Gavin and the original Ogie (Christopher Fitzgerald) in the cast, I must say I never for a moment felt annoyed or disturbed by the whole Dawn-Ogie interaction. I'm afraid what you guys have noticed has little to do with the book, and is instead down to the IMHO rather appalling job that Jack McBrayer does here. Not only does he probably have THE worst singing voice I have ever had the displeasure of hearing in a professional production of a musical, but he plays the role purely for the laughs and constantly over the top. He pulls faces, he contorts his eyebrows, he acts with the same subtlety that Jack McFarland would display after too many coffees or energy drinks... and there is no need for all that for the character to work. Most of all, you need to see that Ogie genuinely cares for Dawn, and that behind all his craziness there is a sweet and vulnerable side to him. When I saw it on Broadway, I honestly felt the whole Dawn-Ogie relationship was rather a playful celebration of two unconventional characters - as both are slightly odd ones, with their quirks and unusual interests - falling for each other and finding in each other's peculiarities just what goes well with their own ones, and what makes them both happy. Last night I thought Dawn's portrayal was practically perfect - as I instantly cared for her, I smiled at her quirks and just wanted for her to be happy, to find the right guy and all - but sadly I found Ogie's interpretation to be seriously sub-par. And I couldn't believe for a moment that those two would actually have any chemistry! |
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and I still don’t get why they chose such a large theatre, especially given that Waitress is not a big showy show!
