270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on May 2, 2022 9:52:14 GMT
Does anyone know when the cast change will be? Hoping to catch Roger Bart again before he leaves.
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Post by mrnutz on May 26, 2022 8:17:07 GMT
Saw this for the second time last night - it really is an incredible production in terms of creativity and staging.
Some of the songs are forgettable / unnecessary, but there are a few that are growing on me.
Excellent performances from all, but it is the immersive feeling in the stalls, and the effects / sets / projections etc that really blow me away (even second time round).
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Post by inthenose on May 27, 2022 9:54:34 GMT
We are seeing this tonight!
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Post by Matt on May 27, 2022 12:47:26 GMT
Cast change is 15th August, does anyone know any confirmed leavers? I just know a couple of ensemble so far.
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Post by aingidh on May 27, 2022 17:40:11 GMT
Haven't heard any whisperings or rumours at all but I imagine Olly and Hugh will stay, unsure about any other principals.
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Post by inthenose on May 28, 2022 1:18:15 GMT
Well, I quite liked it. Didn't love it, but it was my best night out at the theatre for a while. Todaytix rush giving us £25 plum seats in the middle of the dress circle makes a mockery of paying full price to see a poor "Oklahoma" or an atrocious "Legally Blonde".
Full cast as far as I am aware; Roger Bart was terrific.
The songs are hugely forgettable. In fact, I don't remember any of them. Would this work better as a "play with songs"? The fact it won "Best Musical" is a pretty damning indictment of how poor the new shows have been.
But it does everything else right.
The sets, effects, design (lighting, costume and sound) and performances are all absolutely top notch.
Would I see it again? Probably not. It did nothing for me in content. As a one off experience it was wonderful and very tight.
3*
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5,299 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 28, 2022 6:52:22 GMT
How’s this show doing?
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2,795 posts
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Post by ceebee on May 28, 2022 8:57:59 GMT
I've seen it a couple of times recently. Production is slick, audience usually at least 3/4 full. Think there's some discounting going on though as it has been on TKTS a few times offering McFly zone for £60.
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Post by inthenose on May 29, 2022 8:54:25 GMT
Very full. Getting plum seats for a Friday night via Rush pretty much sums up the state of most West End shows right now though, sales wise. Hamilton, Cabaret (small house though) and Frozen are propping up the rest. Stalwarts like LM, Phantom and Wicked aren't doing close to the business they've done in the past. As for the show itself, it's very tight and slick. The effects are stunning, second probably only to The Lord of the Rings and Spiderman that I've seen on stage. The cast are superb.
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Post by anthony on May 31, 2022 9:54:16 GMT
Saw this for the 2nd time a few weeks ago. Should state, the cast are amazing. When I first saw this last year, I wasn't a fan - other than 'It Works', it's all a bit nothingy - genuinely struggle to remember any songs leaving the theatre. The special effects are amazing. The staging is amazing... it just lacks in terms of songs and pacing.
Anyway, saw it again because my mum really wanted to see it and it was a birthday present. We had the u/s Marty and he was great... Bart is wonderful, though. I am almost tempted to book to see it when he's off because I can't imagine anyone else pulling Doc off?!?!
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Post by MusicalTalk on May 31, 2022 10:16:03 GMT
yes - a big part of me wished they got a real musical theatre lyricist on-board... Mr Ballard proved with Ghost he can't really do it but he's worked with Silvestri on the Zemikis stuff before - so it was probably a done deal. Some of the lyrics are lazy, sadly. EG - "mover/cooler" and "booster/future" are not acceptable musical theatre rhymes. I do love the show - but so much of the musical material could be condensed. It's still thrilling to watch though!
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234 posts
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Post by lolalou on May 31, 2022 10:55:38 GMT
Agree with all of this. The staging, choreo, performances, effects stunning. Can’t remember one song. The audience gasped in all the right places though and what a perfect show to take a new theatregoer to, especially a child. The wow factor would definitely make an impression.
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Post by inthenose on May 31, 2022 10:57:51 GMT
I really can't imagine this show working as well without Roger Bart, with all due respect to his covers and future replacement. He really carried it on stage for me. Absolutely terrific performance.
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Post by ShoreditchTom on May 31, 2022 11:18:43 GMT
I love this show and personally think there is a bit of snobbery creeping in about the music - having seen it a few times and listening to the soundtrack on Spotify it is really good and grows on you - you have 80s and 50's influences with lots of hooks plus the arrangements and orchestrations of some of the songs are brilliant - "Wherever we're going" and the "Hello is anybody home?" sequence (in my opinion) show a team at the top of their game in terms of arrangement/orchestration - some really nice stuff going on whilst (and this is key) keeping everything in check for the overall 80s/50s soundscape of the piece - a lot harder than it seems. Plus you have Alan Silvestri's incredible score - the "Doc Returns/Finale" arrangement is just so good!
Sure some of the lyrics appear simple, but that usually suits the character - Marty is a 17 year old kid remember - AND they also suit the "straight ahead" story telling style of the film. I think a lot of the lyrics are clever with lots of little internal references to the film and future events - Doc's lyrics are more sophisticated than Marty's for example which again reflects the characters so well.
Overall this is what I think the team have got right - everything is appropriate and true to the source material and characters and that is what the audience have come for - Bob Gale has made sure everything has stayed faithful to the original film which is why it works so well.
For me it's a pure joy to see new audiences come to the theatre - so many people I've spoken to say it's their first west end show or they "don't do musicals" but it's the love of the film that has brought then here, often bringing their kids to the theatre for the first time. They all leave loving the show and who knows maybe they re-evaluate theatre in the process. The "exit banter" I overhear at this show is some of the strongest I remember. The cast are top notch and it's also a real family show with something for everyone - I hope it runs and runs and it well deserved the Best New Musical Olivier!
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Post by Matt on May 31, 2022 14:04:47 GMT
Mark Oxtoby is an INCREDIBLE Doc, I might even prefer him. I think Roger over does it with the ad libs sometimes, but I do love him, still. But Mark is hilarious, and he's more of a Christopher Lloyd Doc than Roger, as Roger pretty much changed Doc from the film in every way. I would have absolutely no problem with Mark taking over, go see him and you'll love him.
Its a total guess but im thinking Roger may leave at cast change?
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4,588 posts
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Post by Mark on May 31, 2022 18:33:03 GMT
They’re doing “It Works” tonight on BGT.
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84 posts
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Post by littlefluffychick on Jun 1, 2022 0:20:13 GMT
I liked their performance of It Works tonight. Rodger and Olly sold it as best they could out of the context of the full show.
I think the BTTF cast positively promoted their show, as opposed to Moulin Rouge last night whose performance was out of tune at the beginning and all over the place.
And I like both BTTF and MR alot.
In fact I’m going to see BTTF tomorrow night. Yay!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 14:55:10 GMT
Confirmed to open in New York in 2023 (exact time and theatre tba).
I wonder if they will close London and ship the set to NYC. It seems to do OK business but does seem easy to get tickets for, often at a discount
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Post by inthenose on Jun 22, 2022 15:04:50 GMT
Confirmed to open in New York in 2023 (exact time and theatre tba). I wonder if they will close London and ship the set to NYC. It seems to do OK business but does seem easy to get tickets for, often at a discount I hope not, I think it's a huge asset to the West End. Great show experience
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 22, 2022 15:13:52 GMT
It's a great theme park ride but it's a terrible musical
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 22, 2022 15:28:12 GMT
Yeah this is one I'd happily wave off to Broadway to free up a theatre in the West End.
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Post by mkmg on Jun 22, 2022 16:52:40 GMT
It's a great theme park ride but it's a terrible musical Don’t think a terrible musical can win a WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award…
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1,651 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jun 22, 2022 17:02:29 GMT
I have seen much better musicals but as an experience in a theatre it is really up there for me. Been 5 times and in a moment of madness have booked for matinee and evening on back to the future day. Tempted by cast change but their last night is a Monday which will feel weird! The joy it brings is worth it alone.
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Post by budd on Jun 22, 2022 17:04:13 GMT
It's a great theme park ride but it's a terrible musical Don’t think a terrible musical can win a WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award… It didn't win the Olivier in particularly stellar company.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jun 22, 2022 17:09:18 GMT
I have seen much better musicals but as an experience in a theatre it is really up there for me. Been 5 times and in a moment of madness have booked for matinee and evening on back to the future day. Tempted by cast change but their last night is a Monday which will feel weird! The joy it brings is worth it alone. When is the cast change do you know, please? Had no idea there was one coming up!
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7,545 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 22, 2022 17:19:30 GMT
Well board members seemed to like it (including myself) as it has mostly 4 and 5 star ratings.
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1,651 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jun 22, 2022 18:41:31 GMT
I have seen much better musicals but as an experience in a theatre it is really up there for me. Been 5 times and in a moment of madness have booked for matinee and evening on back to the future day. Tempted by cast change but their last night is a Monday which will feel weird! The joy it brings is worth it alone. When is the cast change do you know, please? Had no idea there was one coming up! Last night is 15th August from the bits of information I’ve gleaned from social media. (Mainly the back to the future fan pages)
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 22, 2022 20:16:46 GMT
It's a great theme park ride but it's a terrible musical Don’t think a terrible musical can win a WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award… WOS is a nothing as it's fan voted and the public vote on name recognition (Amanda Holden won best Actress in a musical one year...!) and it was pretty slim pickings at the Olivier's for new musicals (and I thought Frozen miles better and much more visually exciting)
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Post by ceebee on Jun 22, 2022 20:28:35 GMT
Back To The Future is a great night out - I hope it sticks around for a good while longer.
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 22, 2022 20:36:34 GMT
Oh it's a good experience and like, it's getting in people who don't go to the theatre. I just think it'd be much better in the vain of Harry Potter, as a play with stage magic/tricks.
The score is...truly horrendous.
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