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Post by steve10086 on Jun 12, 2022 22:08:35 GMT
Laurence Connor's deliberately cryptic reference could be an allusion to LW dealing with the unfolding tragedy within the composer's family, and rightly so. That's not for LC (or anyone else) to discuss. The what now?! |
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904 posts
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Post by lonlad on Jun 12, 2022 22:18:50 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is.
Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 12, 2022 22:26:42 GMT
The issue is Laurence can't say no to ALW - as he produces the show, owns the theatre and has written the music. If ALW presents a song that's derivative, bland, banal or something we've heard before - he can't exactly tell him to go back to the drawing board with it like Hal Prince would, for example. Laurence probably has the most shows on in the west end of any director - but they're mostly re-hashes... good on him though, if he's found his niche. I didn't mind the direction of School of Rock. ALW Just needs someone to tell him to re-write material at times - as opposed to him messing around with his music team and probably writing down the first thing that comes into his head and sending it off to have lyrics forced into the melody. As usual ALW has blamed the failure of a show on everything apart from his ability to write a strong score. Covid, cast, government, design, direction - whatever... it's never the fact that his music is weak. Absolute nonsense. Hal Prince could not make ALW do anything that he didn't agree to, not when it came to the music. He persuaded ALW and Tim Rice to drop a song from Evita, big deal, and maybe tone down the rock element in Phantom. And you characterise that as ALW being completely subservient to the director. And your remarks "derivative, bland, banal' mean absolutely nothing, they are merely vague unsupported assertions by you. |
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Post by dan28 on Jun 12, 2022 22:29:06 GMT
It is all very unfortunate. But I think with this score, direction and vision everyone involved should be thankful that there ever was a single performance for an audience at all. The amount of attention and performances this show got is really a miracle to me.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 12, 2022 22:29:17 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is. Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure. I am surprised that Rodders didn't try to smash the set like he enjoyed doing to the plates in one of his videos. |
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Post by musicbox on Jun 12, 2022 22:30:35 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is. Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure. Maybe in a touring or short production, but it felt very brutal given the circumstances. |
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Post by Oliver on Jun 12, 2022 22:32:23 GMT
It is all very unfortunate. But I think with this score, direction and vision everyone involved should be thankful that there ever was a single performance for an audience at all. The amount of attention and performances this show got is really a miracle to me. A miracle to you? Really? You must be surprised often. |
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Post by dan28 on Jun 12, 2022 23:15:23 GMT
It is all very unfortunate. But I think with this score, direction and vision everyone involved should be thankful that there ever was a single performance for an audience at all. The amount of attention and performances this show got is really a miracle to me. A miracle to you? Really? You must be surprised often. Actually, almost nothing in life surprises me. But this did. Maybe you see the "show" through pink glasses? |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 12, 2022 23:36:35 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is. Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure. Maybe in a touring or short production, but it felt very brutal given the circumstances. It is absolutely standard to strip out a show very rapidly so that work on the next one can start as soon as possible. I once had a show running in a small theatre in their last week before a refurb. Within 20 minutes of the curtain coming down, the dimmers used to run the lighting were gone to a nearby theatre. The next show in the Gillian Lynne opens on 18 July. They are going to want to start tech runs at least a week before that. Obviously they want to start their set up next week. Nothing insensitive or callous about it. It is what happens. |
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Post by musicbox on Jun 12, 2022 23:46:35 GMT
Maybe in a touring or short production, but it felt very brutal given the circumstances. It is absolutely standard to strip out a show very rapidly so that work on the next one can start as soon as possible. I once had a show running in a small theatre in their last week before a refurb. Within 20 minutes of the curtain coming down, the dimmers used to run the lighting were gone to a nearby theatre. The next show in the Gillian Lynne opens on 18 July. They are going to want to start tech runs at least a week before that. Obviously they want to start their set up next week. Nothing insensitive or callous about it. It is what happens. I just felt at the time that they could've at least waited til the morning, but then again I'm not privy to the theatres plans. The van drivers got out and said 'Ok everyone move out the way' to the que waiting for Carrie, it was all a bit abrupt. To be completely honest though, I'm not sure why this is the one thing being extracted from my far too long essay post, especially with such callous comments form ALW... |
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189 posts
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Post by saral on Jun 12, 2022 23:50:34 GMT
I was at the closing night of Company and while we were waiting at the stage door the set was being taken out
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jun 12, 2022 23:54:02 GMT
I'd have been surprised too to be honest, although I can see others saying it's normal. I'd have thought it would have been more expensive to have it done at that time (compared with the following morning) plus more risk of breaks/things going wrong due to it being done in the dark and late at night.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 13, 2022 0:04:23 GMT
I wonder what Oliver makes of all this... Thank you for asking. It's not a great letter and his words weren't well chosen. I expect it was rushed at the last minute. However, it's clear to me that what he was referring to when he said "costly mistake" was opening at the time they did, not the show itself. If you look at the show from a commercial standpoint then you could also make the argument that the show itself was a costly mistake, but I don't think that's what he meant. That would be to reduce musicals to little more than commercial enterprises. |
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 13, 2022 2:09:05 GMT
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Post by sph on Jun 13, 2022 3:44:37 GMT
It is absolutely standard to strip out a show very rapidly so that work on the next one can start as soon as possible. I once had a show running in a small theatre in their last week before a refurb. Within 20 minutes of the curtain coming down, the dimmers used to run the lighting were gone to a nearby theatre. The next show in the Gillian Lynne opens on 18 July. They are going to want to start tech runs at least a week before that. Obviously they want to start their set up next week. Nothing insensitive or callous about it. It is what happens. I just felt at the time that they could've at least waited til the morning, but then again I'm not privy to the theatres plans. The van drivers got out and said 'Ok everyone move out the way' to the que waiting for Carrie, it was all a bit abrupt. To be completely honest though, I'm not sure why this is the one thing being extracted from my far too long essay post, especially with such callous comments form ALW... Abrupt, but very standard practice. When a show closes an entire team moves in and usually works overnight striking the entire set. The audience has usually barely left the building when it starts. That's showbiz kid! |
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Post by jamie2c on Jun 13, 2022 4:44:03 GMT
Looking at the lightweight set on the video, methinks they will be using it again, on tour.
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5,795 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jun 13, 2022 6:07:44 GMT
Looking at the lightweight set on the video, methinks they will be using it again, on tour. They absolutely won’t be taking this on tour. The show is dead. It won’t even get to Broadway (as ALW has said). He won’t get the investors for it, and it has terrible word of mouth in the states. |
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Post by cezbear on Jun 13, 2022 6:16:57 GMT
Excellent writeup musicbox. I also noticed Rodney's antics being dragged back and was appalled. I will be happy for him to be forgotten after this, he must be an absolute nightmare to work with
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jun 13, 2022 6:35:43 GMT
Apparently Rodney has got an audition for his next gig as a supermarket delivery driver, but there are concerns over his lack of ability to read the dots in the right order.
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343 posts
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Post by properjob on Jun 13, 2022 6:54:13 GMT
Laurence Connor's deliberately cryptic reference could be an allusion to LW dealing with the unfolding tragedy within the composer's family, and rightly so. That's not for LC (or anyone else) to discuss. I didn't take it as deliberately cryptic I took it as him wanting to say there was a particular good reason for ALW not being there in person but stopping himself mid sentence from betraying a confidence. If there is something going on in ALWs personal life (which is none of our business) it is a pity noone around him helped him edit or reword his letter slightly to reduce the chance of misinterpretation. |
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Post by inthenose on Jun 13, 2022 7:01:00 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is. Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure. Maybe in a touring or short production, but it felt very brutal given the circumstances. It's called the strike and get out. It happens in every single show, ever. I've done enough of them 🤣 |
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Post by spathzthecat on Jun 13, 2022 7:04:07 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is. Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure. Really? I was outside the stage door area for about an hour, no removal vans were there. One transit van unloaded some stuff. Parker street was chocked with people, cars bikes and stuff were having trouble driving through the crowd. |
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Post by inthenose on Jun 13, 2022 7:04:17 GMT
I just felt at the time that they could've at least waited til the morning, but then again I'm not privy to the theatres plans. The van drivers got out and said 'Ok everyone move out the way' to the que waiting for Carrie, it was all a bit abrupt. To be completely honest though, I'm not sure why this is the one thing being extracted from my far too long essay post, especially with such callous comments form ALW... Abrupt, but very standard practice. When a show closes an entire team moves in and usually works overnight striking the entire set. The audience has usually barely left the building when it starts. That's showbiz kid! Stage management are striking props as they come off stage during the show. The final show, the ASM's are clearing prop tables, binning stuff, marking stuff for storage literally as it comes off stage. Closing nights are usually very loose shows because everyone has had enough and wants to go to their next job. |
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Post by inthenose on Jun 13, 2022 7:11:18 GMT
>>two removal vans drew up outside the theatre and proceeded to go in to remove the set, around 20 minutes after the show ended...if that's not all you need to know about how ALW feels about this show, then I'm not sure what is. Huh??? That's standard practice on any production. Curtain down, and out the set goes. No need to over-interpret such customary procedure. Really? I was outside the stage door area for about an hour, no removal vans were there. One transit van unloaded some stuff. Parker street was chocked with people, cars bikes and stuff were having trouble driving through the crowd. The dock isn't at the stage door at the New London... |
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Post by inthenose on Jun 13, 2022 7:16:45 GMT
That certain cast member - what an absolute card. It's all so funny, he's so brave, big and clever sticking it to the man!
I can't wait to see him in his next big leading role, which he'll get - he is a company manager's dream!
Coming soon to a Starbucks near you.
He had six official warnings. Three final warnings. THREE FINAL WARNINGS.
Well, the crew you treated like ****, the people fitting your mics, the people calling your cues, the people who wanted to drop tabs on your head. Everyone hates you.
He was unsackable, short of a single gross misconduct incident which they couldn't get him on. All the disciplinaries and "improvement plans" doesn't make it easier to sack someone, especially certain individuals.
Loathed by all backstage.
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