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Post by bobbievanhusen on Mar 31, 2023 20:09:00 GMT
[And as for the ending of the competition - what a damp squib to top it all off! Yes, GBBO is a competition, but it's not really about who wins, its about the contestants along the way, their stories, their bakes, their triumphs and fails. Yes people might have a favourite at the end, but them receiving a glass cake stand after all that effort isn't exactly a rousing finale either.
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Mar 31, 2023 22:18:37 GMT
[And as for the ending of the competition - what a damp squib to top it all off! Yes, GBBO is a competition, but it's not really about who wins, its about the contestants along the way, their stories, their bakes, their triumphs and fails. Yes people might have a favourite at the end, but them receiving a glass cake stand after all that effort isn't exactly a rousing finale either. CONTAINS SPOILERS, INCLUDING THE ENDING For me, a show about a competition which contains a series of unconnected, arbitrary back stories, topped off with āweāre not actually telling you the winner, but letās just say āthe best things come to those who bakeā insteadā does not make for a good story. There was plenty of scope to have a coherent and engaging narrative, which cleverly combined various backstories, ending up with a worthy winner and a clear overall message. It just didnāt happenā¦
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Post by fiyerorocher on Mar 31, 2023 22:37:38 GMT
Agreed - the ending was a little pitiful. Too heavy handed on the moral 'message' and entirely forgot they had a narrative to wrap up.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Apr 1, 2023 1:35:16 GMT
āweāre not actually telling you the winner, but letās just say āthe best things come to those who bakeā insteadā does not make for a good story. There was plenty of scope to have a coherent and engaging narrative, which cleverly combined various backstories, ending up with a worthy winner and a clear overall message. It just didnāt happenā¦ But it did happen, you found out who won the bake off competition. Yes, there was a fake out, but they went back to it and that concluded the story. They then told you what each contestant had been up to since the series ended, as they do on TV. All neatly wrapped up.
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Post by anita on Apr 1, 2023 9:12:26 GMT
āweāre not actually telling you the winner, but letās just say āthe best things come to those who bakeā insteadā does not make for a good story. There was plenty of scope to have a coherent and engaging narrative, which cleverly combined various backstories, ending up with a worthy winner and a clear overall message. It just didnāt happenā¦ But it did happen, you found out who won the bake off competition. Yes, there was a fake out, but they went back to it and that concluded the story. They then told you what each contestant had been up to since the series ended, as they do on TV. All neatly wrapped up. April Fool.
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Post by amygdalopita on Apr 1, 2023 15:36:16 GMT
the person who writes the cookbook wins.
direct from the writers
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Post by fiyerorocher on Apr 1, 2023 15:53:34 GMT
the person who writes the cookbook wins. direct from the writers I thought he should. It would just have been nice to see that play out on stage. Would have been a good moment.
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 6, 2023 21:54:09 GMT
Well, I loved this today. I just wanted to be entertained, and I was. It was funny, I was engaged by the characters and enjoyed the music. I do agree, though, that the ending was ... well ... frustrating, although I get what their message was. That and because I can't remember a single song is why I've only given it 4 stars, but I would happily see it again.
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Post by alece10 on Apr 7, 2023 8:34:09 GMT
Well that was great fun and I really enjoyed it. Very silly and very British. It doesnt take itself seriously and neither should we. Agree that you need to be a bit of a Bake Off fan otherwise a lot of the humour would go over your head. I enjoyed the songs, even though I cant remember any of them. But I think if there was a cast recording and I listened a few times are are several that I would definately remember. A very good cast as well. I especially liked Damian Humbley as he has such a great voice. I am going to give it 5 stars purely because I had so much fun.
There was an American family sitting opposite me, mum, dad and 2 kids. I wondered what they thought of it so in the interval I spoke to them to find out if they "got it". Turns out they are big Bake Off fans and watch the programme on a regular basis where they live in New York. They said the programme is really big over there which is why they wanted to see the musical. Apparantly the Americans use the tent once a year to film an American episode with Pru Leigh and an American judge. When I was walking out I could hear quite a few American voices so its obviously popular with them.
One for the famous people spotted - Alison Hammond was sitting in the front row of the Dress Circle (handy as I had just mentioned to the Americans that she was the new host and there she was). She is also going into the bad behaviour thread.
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Post by alece10 on Apr 7, 2023 10:42:45 GMT
I love reading threads from the beginning once I've seen a show. This one is especially interesting as there was so much negatively on the first couple of pages when it was announced but by the time you get to peoples reviews seems most of us thoroughly enjoyed the show. To quote the bible "Oh ye of little faith" š
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Post by dontdreamit on Apr 7, 2023 21:20:39 GMT
I was in tonight and love it- it was fun, easy going and just what I needed today. I hope this has further life in it.
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 7, 2023 21:23:46 GMT
Saw it on Wednesday and agree with the posts above, it was a lot of fun and very entertaining.
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Post by sam22 on Apr 16, 2023 22:44:15 GMT
Despite loving the show, I didn't have much desire to see this. I only booked as there was nothing else on this afternoon that we hadn't already seen or fancied and the ticket offer made it a bargain. So glad we did. I really liked it. Yes the plot is fairly thin and somewhat predictable but it was just joyous with a stellar cast. The songs were really good and it captured the essence of the TV show perfectly. Really think it deserves its West End run. Solid 4 stars from me š
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Post by Figaro on Apr 17, 2023 12:20:01 GMT
Trying to find the link to an upgrade offer! Anyone have it to hand??
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Apr 17, 2023 14:21:44 GMT
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Post by 141920grm on Apr 18, 2023 11:11:58 GMT
not seeing the discounts- is there a code to use? or has the upgrade offer ended?
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Post by jamb0r on Apr 19, 2023 11:19:07 GMT
Such a shame this isnāt selling well - am going for a second visit this evening and just had an email to say the balcony and grand circle are both closed so my seats have been upgraded to the stalls.
If anyone wants to risk it it could be worth booking a cheap balcony ticket for a midweek performance with the hope that youāll very likely get upgraded!
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 19, 2023 15:03:52 GMT
(I believe) the cast recording gets officially released next week -26th in physical formats and all streaming platforms.
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Post by Eartha on Apr 19, 2023 15:27:02 GMT
Thank you. I'm hoping to book for next week and was just going to ask if anyone thought this was possible.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Apr 20, 2023 4:56:42 GMT
not seeing the discounts- is there a code to use? or has the upgrade offer ended? They must have changed it since. sorry.
There are some 50% off tickets on Time Out
discounted here:
They have also done seats just before the performance, for Ā£25.
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Post by anita on Apr 20, 2023 8:56:24 GMT
(I believe) the cast recording gets officially released next week -26th in physical formats and all streaming platforms. An actual Cd?
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Apr 20, 2023 17:56:29 GMT
I quite enjoyed this today. Itās not as good as it could be, but also not as bad as it could have been. Entertaining enough, with some standout numbers. Though the book is weak and there are numerous attempts at humour that fall very flat as well as questionable lyrics.
I agree with various posters that the narrative isnāt there. I thought the second act was much stronger mainly because they leave the repetitiveness of the TV show and actually build in some āoff screenā story. I feel it just needs more of that and less spoofing of the actual show itself wholesale.
Glad I saw it though. I canāt see it having a very long life beyond this production and potentially a tour (which would benefit from opening in sync with the next series).
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Post by Stephen on Apr 25, 2023 21:35:42 GMT
This was a lovely way to spend a Monday evening with a friend. The sweet moments are suitably heartwarming. 'My dad' and 'grow' in particular. We got last minute dynamically priced seats directly from the DMT website. Stalls row T Ā£15 each which were then upgraded at the theatre to row M. At this view and for cheaper than most cinema tickets now it felt excellent value. It won't be nominated for many awards but it's exactly the kind of escapism we need just now! I will be listening to the whole recording when it's released at the weekend. Hope there's a tour to come and wish it well! {Spoiler - click to view} I loved the band being projected onto the tent at the end for the playout. Thought this was a lovely touch and should be done more often on occasions, like in the NoĆ«l Coward, where the band don't sit in the pit!
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Post by alece10 on Apr 29, 2023 18:47:10 GMT
Just been listening to the cast recording and there are some really lovely songs in it. Usually when I see a new musical I know the music if it's already been released but I went to see Bake Off with no knowledge of any of the songs apart from the "slapping" song. So it's nice to hear them again and the music is very strong and uplifting.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 29, 2023 20:03:51 GMT
I dowloaded the cast recording last night
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Post by critchyboy on Apr 30, 2023 16:12:41 GMT
Caught this yesterday afternoon thanks to a TodayTix Ā£25 day seat. Bagged B11 in the stalls and have to admit I had a wonderful afternoon!
It really is a beautiful little show - heartwarming, fun and a beautiful tribute to the TV show. Great to JOJ in a fun role and away from Valjean and Phantom!
Would love to see it again so hoping it tours again in the not too distant future.
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Post by NorthernAlien on May 1, 2023 12:07:36 GMT
Saw this on Sunday afternoon - Ā£20 on TodayTix got me Row G in the Royal Circle - an absolutely superb ticket for the price. There were several empty seats around me, and the TodayTix app showed a lot of seats in the two higher levels still available on Sunday morning.
I really wasn't sure what to expect, having read through the posts here - and it was the cheapness of the ticket that got me through the door.
I really enjoyed it - and I really enjoyed it from the end of the first song on. It knows its subject material so, so well, and is, I think, doing that thing of being both tongue-in-cheek, but respectful with it, that shows the love for the show, and that very British nature of not taking something too seriously. I felt like it was also very, *very* British, and I wonder how all of the cultural references that are British, but not GBBO related, would be received if this ever travelled abroad? The only joke that didn't quite work for me was the bit about riding The Big One up and down - the innuendo only works if you don't know about the rollercoaster of the same name in Blackpool - and I'm from the north west, so I do!
It's a shame that this seems not to be selling too well - the smiles on people's faces as they were leaving were huge, and it's so nice to have something so feel good on stage. Also - nice little bit of Theatrical Theory with the reference to Peter Brook's Empty Space right at the end!
I want this to tour, so that I can tell my mum to go and see it - she'd love it!
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Post by anthony40 on May 1, 2023 18:28:33 GMT
Don't forget that the British Bake Off version is shown on Netflix in the USA and apparently it's HUGE! So the judges and contestants are all well known so the musical has that international wider audience appeal.
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Post by ruthieh on May 1, 2023 19:01:53 GMT
We saw it Saturday afternoon, and also loved it. Very warm show, very affectionate about its inspirationā¦I would definitely see it again if it tours. Though I will say that JOJ as Phil (Paul!) was fantastic, not just the singing, but the actingā¦.it would be hard to see someone else get those knowing smouldering looks!
As it happens we sat next to an American visitor, who was with a British friendā¦and she loved it as much as we all did.
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Post by Being Alive on May 12, 2023 11:08:01 GMT
I was so surprised with how much I hated this actually - and I LOVE the TV show and have done for years. I knew it wasn't going to be high art, and I went in with low expectations hoping it would have charm and I'd have a nice evening.
It's totally humourless (bar a couple of puns which I did chuckle at), but it's main problem is the score. I just don't know what Pippa Cleary was thinking because they are (without exception) terrible š¤·š»āāļø Also living for the fact that John Owen Jones and Haydn Gwynne didn't look at each other for the entire show (make of that what you will...) It was just unbearably cheap looking, and don't get me started on the stupid end result of the competition - I was ready to throw things at the stage.
One of the worst things I've seen in a West End theatre - 2 stars but only just. The kind of show that I would understand people seeing and going 'this is why I hate musicals'.
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