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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 27, 2023 20:26:57 GMT
Caught this last night, Jason's understudy (name has escaped me sorry!) did a lovely job as the Lion, a really nice performance, as did Louis as the scarecrow. Ashley was... fine. Hated the new Hamilton-esque rap. Seems that with the punch up in production for the Palladium run a little of the charm has been lost from the Curve run; and it feels as if direction has been pointed even more so to the panto-esque and not really trying to find any real humanity in the characters? Love Dianne and have a soft spot for her but I think her accent was doing a world tour but she was very funny, and tried her hardest to hide her obviously taking off her shoes prior to the melting scene as a 'character choice' and not a practical reason....! Orchestra sounded gorgeous, again I think they've taken out some of the more funky orchestrations but it was a treat to hear them fill the theatre. No matter my qualms when it came time for the curtain call I just knew id had a lovely, easy time, which WOZ I think always gives you! Punch up in production? How so? What are the changes made with the production then?
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Post by colelarson on Sept 4, 2023 9:44:57 GMT
Went to the last performance yesterday and it was a fun take on the well known tale/film. I saw the production with Hannah Waddingham etc. back in 2011 and this production was more reliant on the screen/video usage, I am glad I was in Row J in the stalls as being to near would have been headache inducing! I liked the different touches to the 2011 production like the puppet Toto, Ben Thompson really brings the character alive. The poppy fields that became a Poppy Motel was totally trippy and loved the touch of the vending machine selling Poppy-Cola! The backdrops in Emerald City were fun with nods to the film like Margaret "Hamilton" the musical and The Lahr King! Georgina Onuorah was sublime singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" I saw her in Cinderella last and she was fantastic to see again on stage, having not see Louis Gaunt in anything before he was loveable and sweet as the scarecrow. Ashley Banjo brought his own style to the Tin Man (I see the programme says additional choreography by him) and was great to see him bust a move on stage! Jason Manford adds the humor as the Lion and reminded me of Bert Lahr in the original movie. The witches were both evil and sweet! Dianne Pilkington as the Wicked Witch hammed it up and I liked her big number "Red Shoes Blues" she has a sublime voice and reminded me we need Bedknobs And Broomsticks in the West End next! Always a joy to see Christina Bianco a pocketful of happiness - I would have loved to have seen her more on stage and her final number "Already Home" did bring a tear to my eye! The show finished with rapturous applause and Jason did a sweet speech which thanked everyone who was part of the show and they all had a group hug afterwards. It was a fun show to watch almost like a pantomime and I'm glad I saw it, goodbye yellow brick road! imgur.com/a/fiGyDOPimgur.com/a/ZzpZnkx
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Post by WireHangers on Sept 11, 2023 9:56:45 GMT
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Post by Jon on Sept 11, 2023 9:59:17 GMT
Aston will be able to sing a lot better than Ashley Banjo!!
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 11, 2023 10:39:29 GMT
That's hardly a compliment!
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Post by michaell8 on Sept 11, 2023 12:13:09 GMT
I thought Ashley Banjo did very well. His overall performance (movement, voice, acting, costumes) was really enjoyable to watch. I like supporting performers doing their performances on stage as I think it's really courageous to get up there and perform - I know I couldn't do it. So for me, seeing Ashley Banjo perform was one of the highlights of a really enjoyable production for me. I have read a lot of comments about his voice but he is not an object - he's a human, doing a great job in the role he performs, and I really appreciate him. I enjoyed hearing his voice. Bitchy comments about his voice are really destructive in my opinion.
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 11, 2023 19:53:18 GMT
Ashton Merygold taking over as the Tin Man for the tour- to be fair, from the promo pics he looks more like something from Starlight Express!
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 11, 2023 21:40:45 GMT
...bitchy comments about his voice?
He's a great dancer, but he cannot sing - I don't get why it's harsh to say this? He does panto every year and dances and that's great, but there's a reason he doesn't sing as was in display here 🤷🏻♂️
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Post by doornumberthree on Sept 11, 2023 21:59:17 GMT
...bitchy comments about his voice? He's a great dancer, but he cannot sing - I don't get why it's harsh to say this? He does panto every year and dances and that's great, but there's a reason he doesn't sing as was in display here 🤷🏻♂️ He gave one of the worst professional performances I’ve ever seen! It isn’t harsh to say at all considering it’s a fact. I’m sure he’s a lovely guy but his performance was awful!
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Post by bellatheatre on Sept 11, 2023 23:27:53 GMT
I feel they’ve taken a somewhat classy show from the curve and have made it more year long panto with every casting choice since then …
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Post by danb on Sept 12, 2023 4:53:45 GMT
Ashton Merygold taking over as the Tin Man for the tour- to be fair, from the promo pics he looks more like something from Starlight Express! I think he’ll struggle with the material too to be honest. There isn’t a lot to work with. Banjo’s imposing physicality did a fair bit of heavy lifting in making the tin man come to life. If he’s all light and spry it won’t really match the character. Vocals will be killer at least.
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Post by theatrenerd on Sept 12, 2023 17:32:09 GMT
I feel like there's a "Heart Won't Beat Again" joke in there somewhere with this Tin Man casting...
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Post by evilmat360 on Oct 10, 2023 9:28:47 GMT
Finally another announcement for Wizard of Oz.
Craig Revel Horwood to play The Wicked Witch of the West in Woking, Belfast, Dublin, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes and Cardiff.
The Vivienne to play The Wicked Witch of the West in the already announced Liverpool, along with Oxford, Southampton, Hull, Sheffield, Canterbury, Edinburgh, Southend, Norwich, Llandudno, Bradford, Plymouth, Bristol, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Wolverhampton and Sunderland.
Gary Wilmot to play The Wizard of Oz in Canterbury, Edinburgh, Southend, Norwich, Llandudno and Bradford.
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Post by capybara on Oct 10, 2023 11:57:31 GMT
I loved seeing Daniel Hope, Hannah Waddingham and Michael Crawford is this production many years ago. But this is basically a pantomime now, isn’t it?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2023 12:40:08 GMT
Lots of people popping in and out of roles on this tour.
We need Hannah back on stage too
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Post by bellatheatre on Oct 10, 2023 12:58:09 GMT
I loved seeing Daniel Hope, Hannah Waddingham and Michael Crawford is this production many years ago. But this is basically a pantomime now, isn’t it? my thoughts exactly above… even the curve cast wasn’t this, it’s cheapened it massively for me
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 10, 2023 13:37:41 GMT
I mean the production was pretty poor anyway, but they're REALLY leaning into the Panto vibes now...!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 10, 2023 13:52:11 GMT
Is Alison Hammond going to play Dorothy?
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Post by LaLuPone on Oct 10, 2023 13:55:17 GMT
Would avoid Horwood like the plague but probably will pop to Oxford or Bristol just to see The Viv.
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Post by WireHangers on Oct 10, 2023 18:38:15 GMT
Is Alison Hammond going to play Dorothy? Somebody made that joke already.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 10, 2023 18:46:19 GMT
Is Alison Hammond going to play Dorothy? Somebody made that joke already. Oh gosh, my sincerest apologies
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Post by toomasj on Oct 10, 2023 20:00:52 GMT
I wasn’t blown away by the mega musical version with star cast (Crawford, Wads) when it played at the Palladium, so there’s no chance I’m seeing a cheap and nasty version. I came out completely cold seeing the “proper” version, so a bunch of no-marks off the telly and Gary Wilmot aren’t parting me with my time/money I’m afraid.
In fact the only thing I remember liking about the show at the Palladium was Toto. I’m hoping at least there’s a real dog in this version and not something embarrassing like a puppet?
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 10, 2023 20:02:07 GMT
The other good thing about the palladium show was the interval.
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260 posts
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Post by theatrenerd on Nov 13, 2023 15:27:54 GMT
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Post by jj9692 on Nov 13, 2023 20:15:23 GMT
Still no Tin Man for the tour after Liverpool
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jan 11, 2024 22:34:29 GMT
Just home from press night in Oxford and it was not as bad as I might have feared from reading this thread.
The sound balance, as always at the New, was woeful. And everything was too loud.
Ensemble work really hard and deliver what is needed.
Central casting is fine though the Dorothy was drowned in the sound mix disaster.
U/s on for Tin man and he did a good job (though I would have cut the rap sections)
The Viv steals the show. Old fashioned bit of camp, yes. But done with relish.
They need to radically rethink the Wizard look. I don't want to be reminded of Rolf Harris every time he appears.
The big problems come with the script and new songs. Other than the Witch song, they are all instantly forgettable.
It is entertaining fluff. And has sold well here. I have seen far worse over the years.
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Post by damaskanddark on Jan 12, 2024 8:26:09 GMT
Just home from press night in Oxford and it was not as bad as I might have feared from reading this thread. The sound balance, as always at the New, was woeful. And everything was too loud. Ensemble work really hard and deliver what is needed. Central casting is fine though the Dorothy was drowned in the sound mix disaster. U/s on for Tin man and he did a good job (though I would have cut the rap sections) The Viv steals the show. Old fashioned bit of camp, yes. But done with relish. They need to radically rethink the Wizard look. I don't want to be reminded of Rolf Harris every time he appears. The big problems come with the script and new songs. Other than the Witch song, they are all instantly forgettable. It is entertaining fluff. And has sold well here. I have seen far worse over the years. I love the design but I would much rather they stuck with the original RSC version which is a beautiful faithful adaptation of the movie. The new songs are terrible.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 12, 2024 8:46:00 GMT
Good to see they’re finally advertising Marley Fenton as the Tin Man. I guess he isn’t fully ready yet as his previous show only closed last Saturday.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jan 12, 2024 12:37:02 GMT
Good to see they’re finally advertising Marley Fenton as the Tin Man. I guess he isn’t fully ready yet as his previous show only closed last Saturday. He wasn't on last night. Martin McCarthy was and did a great job
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Post by evilmat360 on Feb 2, 2024 14:29:48 GMT
Aston Merrygold is back as the Tin Man for a few venues. Those being Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff.
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