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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 10, 2022 17:50:35 GMT
Sorry to probe you @tallpaul how was the 20 minute internal?
*sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm diagnosed with dyslexia (and im the king of typos) but I should also be diagnosed with innuendo syndrome! Love and hugs xx
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 10, 2022 18:43:49 GMT
Had it only been a 20 minute internal, it wouldn't have been too bad. Those 10 extra minutes were hard! 😉
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Post by joem on Jan 1, 2023 14:09:29 GMT
I finally saw this on Friday and can say unreservedly it is a wonderful production. Being a big fan of Richard Hawley's music I made sure I put on my objective specs for this but cannot be faulted. Yes, it is an unusual experience (for me at least) to go to a new musical where I recognise all the songs. The last one would have been "Sunny Afternoon", but good as the music in that was it bears no comparison to this as a musical. Yes, it is a musical. What creates doubt is how well crafted the various stories have been and how the songs - which were not written with a musical in mind - fit seamlessly into the narratives. This is no jukebox musical; it tells a relatively complex tale - by musical stadards - very well, and deals with wider issues of belonging, who we are and where we are. In this sense it acts like a play but the music is absolutely central to the proceedings making it, for me, a musical.
You don't need to know much about Sheffield or Hawley's career to enjoy this but it will do you no harm if you do. Having said that it is, unapologetically, a musical about Sheffield, Hawley's entire solo career has been a love letter to his native city, warts and all. Watching it in Sheffield is special though, the audience loved the self-referential, deprecatory humour in particular.Proper heartfelt standing ovation at the end, not one for the gallery.
The singing and playing was of a pretty high order. If I had to highlight two songers it would be Faith Omole as Joy and Maimuna Menon as Nikki but there were no weak links. One quibble, if I must... the first half of the show ends on a tremendous high note with the entire cast bombing it out on stage. The ending, by contrast, is rather muted. I know it's a production choice but wonder if it was the best decision.
I see no reason why this can't become a sizeable hit in London, it is a gem. And it threatens to introduce Hawley to a whole new audience and maybe a bew career.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 1, 2023 16:09:29 GMT
I saw this right before Christmas and must have forgotten to post about it then. Missed it first time around. I didn't grow up in Sheffield, but I did grow up in a similar enough Northern town to follow and appreciate everything.
I sat in the front row off to the side and I really appreciate how well staged this was to all sides. The set is pretty minimal and doesn't really change and there was only one section where the view was badly blocked. Good sound too.
I didn't know the music at all. It's accessible enough, but not something I would rush to listen to. To me, this really comes across as a very good play, which has had songs added to it. All performed very well.
A good plot and framing device. All very modern and diverse. Alex Young is fabulous as always. It would be better if it lost 10 minutes from the run time. But very glad I made the detour.
Not too sure how well it will do in London. It's a short enough run that it could sell out. To me, it doesn't scream out as a show to watch multiple times, but I might try for a Friday Rush, just to make sure I pick up on some of the plot strands I missed first time around.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 1, 2023 16:39:25 GMT
My visit before Christmas was scuppered by the rail strike. No refunds, not even a credit note, but they offered to change to another date so I booked for another matinee at the end of the run. Not sure that I’ll make it but at least I saw it first time around.
I’ll be interested to see if the specificity to that particular block of flats in that particular city might alienate london audiences a bit. A story about different generations of tenants of a council flat from when they were brand new to when they finally get gentrified and become desirable could work anywhere. It’s a great idea to be that specific when it’s at the Crucible which is literally in the shadow of those flats but whether it will chime with people in the same way in London seems questionable. I hope it does though.
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 4, 2023 15:11:19 GMT
To think I used to respect you, joem. Unusually for a play, it was announced last week that, in addition to the published playtext, there's also going to be a cast recording. #StandingAtTheSkysEdgePlay
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Post by joem on Jan 4, 2023 15:18:41 GMT
I really, really wanted to agree with you TallPaul as I enjoy your comments and most often agree with your views but.... anyway thanks for tagging me I will definitely buy the "play's" soundtrack!!!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 4, 2023 15:49:31 GMT
😀
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 11, 2023 12:12:32 GMT
Apart from returns, all the remaining performances in Sheffield are now sold out. We love our plays with songs here in the steel city! If anyone sees a caped bear loitering outside the world-famous Crucible Theatre, offering tickets for sale, please check his credentials very carefully.
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Post by theatrenerd on Jan 16, 2023 16:12:26 GMT
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 18, 2023 15:39:05 GMT
Scuppered by train strikes for a second time, however because the run is sold out The Crucible have bought my ticket back. So there’s a single seat available for the Saturday matinee 21st Jan if anyone’s interested.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 18, 2023 15:59:04 GMT
Scuppered by train strikes for a second time, however because the run is sold out The Crucible have bought my ticket back. So there’s a single seat available for the Saturday matinee 21st Jan if anyone’s interested. And five minutes later it had sold.
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 21, 2023 14:49:50 GMT
Do you know, Sheffield Theatres employs some very perceptive staff. As I handed over my winter coat, the cloakroom attendant commented, correctly, on how stylish it is. "That's too nice to stuff under your seat." Standing at the Sky's Edge is the type of play with songs that needs to be seen at least three times, ideally from left, right and centre. Quite by chance, I've now had seats on the left, on the right, and in the centre. Last time, in 2019, I thought this was mostly Poppy's story. This time, after several more viewings, I've come to the conclusion that it's mostly Joy's. There's an excellent 5-star review in The Yorkshire Post, which could have been written by me, rather than Yvette Huddleston. "It has a unique dynamic, making it not so much a musical as a very valid drama with music added." We've had a lot of fun, but as the source of news you can trust since 1754, I think that ends the debate once and for all! Yorkshire Post reviewAlex Young was off being a mummy for a few days earlier this week, so I had the opportunity to see her excellent understudy, Rachael Louise Miller, who was my direction seeker from six weeks ago. I'll probably be given my own twinkly star, or summat, for services to lost actors. I appreciate this is theatrical heresy, but I think I may actually have preferred her more vulnerable portrayal of Poppy. No crying at the end on this final visit...I started much earlier in Act II and never really stopped. Just think, BurlyBeaR, you would be there right now if you'd made an effort. I hope, at the very least, you've ordered the LP. You obviously can't, living in a luxury loft apartment, but I shall be turning the volume on my music centre up to 11 when it arrives!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 21, 2023 16:41:34 GMT
Don’t tell me you bought my return….!
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 21, 2023 18:37:47 GMT
Don’t tell me you bought my return….! I would have done...had I been given first refusal. 😡
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 21, 2023 19:27:38 GMT
Don’t tell me you bought my return….! I would have done...had I been given first refusal. 😡 If they hadn’t bought it back off me I was going to offer it to you for nowt so you can blame the world famous Crucible for that!
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Post by ptwest on Jan 22, 2023 7:43:30 GMT
Well that was something really special last night. Perfectly performed by an outstanding cast. My only gripe is that this was my first visit, and I wish I had booked earlier in the run so I could have gone more than once. A solid 5 stars from me with no reservations.
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Post by timothyd on Jan 22, 2023 9:28:57 GMT
I am in London next month and this show really fascinates me. Really want to see it. But since I am not from the UK, after reading the reviews, I am a bit worried that I might not understand parts of the story or references.
Is the show easy to follow for people that aren't from the UK?
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Post by ptwest on Jan 22, 2023 10:54:29 GMT
I’m sure you would be able to follow the story, you just might not get some of the dialogue references that are very specific to Sheffield. But none of these are essential to knowing what is happening.
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 22, 2023 16:43:34 GMT
Seems to be selling really well. Just managed to bag myself a ticket for 16th Feb
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 22, 2023 17:31:30 GMT
Seems to be selling really well. Just managed to bag myself a ticket for 16th Feb Good luck with the Sheffield accents Anthony! 😉
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Post by grannyjx6 on Jan 24, 2023 20:21:49 GMT
I’m from Sheffield and saw it first time round, but it was a few years ago. We went last week and I did struggle with remembering some of the characters (which family they were with), but don’t think I’ve seen anything so incredible in a long long time. I really hope it is successful in London as apart from a couple of very local references, it could be any large city back in the day. The acting, music and singing were just incredible. I laughed and cried in equal measure and would have gone again, but as others have said, it completely sold out for the full run.
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 4, 2023 17:03:57 GMT
Official trailer just released
No problems with the accents so far.
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 7, 2023 14:33:25 GMT
Right, you 'orrible lot. Stop talking at the back. That includes you, Anthony. Today, we're going to learn how to talk like a proper Sheffielder. I want you to imagine, if you can, that you've spent all afternoon in t'Big Gun on t'Wicker, supping Stones' with Alf, your best pal. As the pair of you stagger back into the city centre, you stop on Lady's Bridge and look down at t'Don below. "There's a weir there.""Where?""There!"To be a true Sheffielder, where and there must be pronounced the same as weir. "Repeat after me. Weir, there, where. Weir, there, where..."In future lessons, we'll learn why there's a bottle of Henderson's Relish in every kitchen cupboard in Sheffield, and why Standing at the Sky's Edge is a play on words. (Or should that be a play with songs on words? 😉
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 7, 2023 15:58:35 GMT
Geeyore!
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Post by djdan14 on Feb 9, 2023 21:02:37 GMT
Here for the first night and loving it so far at the interval. Been very enthusiastically received by the audience. As a northerner who went to uni in Sheffield I’m appreciating all the references.
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Post by jamb0r on Feb 9, 2023 22:40:36 GMT
Was also there tonight and had a great £10 Friday Rush seat.
This was just WONDERFUL. I loved every second of it and didn’t want it to end! I feel like I could watch an entire series following the lives of these characters, they were so beautifully crafted.
Everything else about it (casting, lighting, performances) was just perfect for me and it filled the Olivier stage very well.
Can’t wait for a return visit already! 5 stars.
(I’ve just googled and found that Sainsburys stock Henderson’s Relish. Will definitely be looking out for it on my shop!)
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Post by shownut on Feb 9, 2023 23:12:03 GMT
I was there tonight as well and do not agree at all with the opinions shared thus far.
This was dull, pretentious and after 3 hours I still couldn’t tell why I was supposed to give a damn. At least you don’t have to issue spoiler alerts for this show as nothing really happens.
There was the occasional book scene that worked but musically it was barely serviceable and instantly forgettable.
After the catastrophe known as MANDELA, the derivative mis-fire SYLVIA and now this crashing bore…maybe UK composers not named Elton John or Andrew Lloyd Webber should learn more about the craft before bringing us yet another dud.
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 9, 2023 23:39:15 GMT
Hard disagree with the above.
Absolutely loved this tonight - wonderful to have a brilliant, original musical on the Olivier, filling the space, with such a wonderful cast.
Alex Young, Rachael Wooding and Faith Omole were all hugely moving, and I thought the whole piece worked really well, with some brilliant numbers in there.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Feb 9, 2023 23:39:50 GMT
I was there tonight too. I absolutely adored it. The school group who were in - brilliant. Their enthusiasm just made it for me. I feel like I want to go back!
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