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Post by ceebee on Dec 8, 2022 17:08:35 GMT
Three stars for me. I just don't get the fuss and hype. Apart from the two sisters, the acting was wooden, the set overblown, the vocalist occasionally off-key. People 'aaahing' at large stuffed toys, an inflatable cat, and a plot that meanders its way to nothingness. A childish story about children for children. The show is largely about feeding nostalgia, perhaps adults (just) yearning for childhood. It wasn't terrible but in my view it's nothing special. Undoubtedly there's a market for it but I wouldn't go to see it again - nor would my kids. The Japanese are quite big on slice of life, and meandering just seems to be part of the package. Adults yearning for childhood? There's a popular manga called Yotsubato! that feeds on that. Fair enough - my expectation was for something close to perfection, synonymous with Japanese attention to detail and high production values. This fell short for me.
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Post by yokollama on Dec 9, 2022 14:12:38 GMT
The Japanese are quite big on slice of life, and meandering just seems to be part of the package. Adults yearning for childhood? There's a popular manga called Yotsubato! that feeds on that. Fair enough - my expectation was for something close to perfection, synonymous with Japanese attention to detail and high production values. This fell short for me. That's completely valid. I merely wanted to point out it's an intrinsic part of the film and Japanese culture/entertainment. We're talking about a culture here that gravitates towards tea ceremonies, zen gardens, and the pursuit of harmony. (Japan is also a land of dichotomies, but we'll skip past that for now ) Perhaps it's also some form of relief for a country where the people are mentally taxed and suicide rates are high. I did worry how the mundaneness of the film would translate on stage. It's obviously not for every one but that's okay. The acting's not really for me either (also a big reason why Japanese dramas don't really do it for me when they dial it up, exaggerated anime style) but thought it blended in okay with the play when you consider the source material and whether a more nuanced approach would've dragged things out further.
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Post by marob on Dec 9, 2022 17:32:19 GMT
I said earlier in the thread I’m always a little mystified at how popular Totoro is. I haven’t seen the stage show, still hope to, but I did wonder about how slight the story is for a two act night at the theatre. The film is 86 minutes, and if you don’t count the opening and closing credits sequences it’s probably barely 80. Plus a big element in the film is Hayao Miyazaki’s love of nature, which I’d imagine is really hard to get across on a stage.
In terms of dichotomies, I wonder what people would have made of it if act two was Grave of the Fireflies like the original Japanese double-bill movie release?
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Post by dollybm on Dec 9, 2022 19:29:50 GMT
If Grave of the Fireflies was act 2 like the original double bill release I’d have had to have left at the interval. It’s a beautiful movie in a lot of ways but definitely one of those I could never watch again - utterly heartbreaking. I don’t think I could cope watching it on stage!
I enjoyed Totoro on stage and attended the performance with post-show Q&A where one of the creatives stated the simple nature of a lot of the effects was intentional and supposed to prove anyone can make their own magic. They discussed more technical ‘tricks’ they’d originally tried out during workshops that they felt were too overpowering (and one too dangerous).
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Post by yokollama on Dec 13, 2022 10:12:09 GMT
I don't think I'd be able to handle Grave of the Fireflies on stage either and wonder how they'd cast Setsuko.
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535 posts
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Post by jek on Dec 13, 2022 12:10:35 GMT
I rented Grave of the Fireflies from a video shop (remember them?) when my children were small. As they'd loved a lot of Studio Ghibli and as I was a harassed mother of three I wasn't really paying attention. Sat down to watch it with them and realised this was something very different. Magnificent, but not for the primary years!
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Dec 14, 2022 21:14:30 GMT
any chance of this having a further life given its whopping huge scale?
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4,472 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Dec 16, 2022 23:35:24 GMT
Finally got in to see this tonight - thanks to Mark for the advice on how to cheat the website and we got two centre front row seats for £25 each. The show - like a lot of people I expected a lot as it's been so praised. It has a gorgeous set, superb puppets (although I have seen better 🤷🏻♂️), nice music, some good performances, and more than anything, a nice bit of spectacle. I can't deny it left me cold though. Wasnt emotionally connected to it in any way, nor did I really get a lot of the Nuance that there evidently is in it somewhere. 4 stars for me (just) Barbican will have this back next Christmas for sure - it's sold out to the hilt.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Dec 19, 2022 5:09:36 GMT
Totoro bored me. One of my pet hates is adults pretending to be young kids add in long sections of very little happening, along with people saying Act 2 was slower and I cut my losses at the interval. It also didn't help that i really don't like small things like ants, swarming around in huge numbers, so even the house dust thuings made me look the other way lol
I liked the way they did Totoro, the sheer size of the inflatable was impressive, as was the way he just appeared out of the darkness. Great set that used every inch of that huge stage, but meh. Not for me.
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Post by FJ on Jan 6, 2023 10:31:45 GMT
Went to see Totoro again last night as I wanted to see it again before it closes. And I'm so glad I did because after the first night I gave it 4 stars, but last night I'd give it a solid 5.
Even though there was obviously less surprise factor with the puppets etc. it didn't hinder the magic and joy of the show in any way. It seemed a lot funnier the second time, maybe a few changes since the first preview and maybe actors becoming more comforatble in their roles, but the whole show is just an absolute delight.
Really hope we see it back in London in the not too distant future, and I also absolutely need an Ai Ninomaya 'cast' recording.
Loved, loved, loved it.
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562 posts
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Post by jadnoop on Jan 8, 2023 18:05:24 GMT
As someone who’s part-Japanese and with this film being a v cherished part of my childhood (and now my child’s as well), I was pretty nervous about seeing this.
However, I neednt have worried. Following some comments from family and those on here I’m very pleased to have caught it. The play was a delight, with the puppetry, visuals and music being personal highlights. Whenever the puppets were on stage the claps and gasps from kids in the audience was really lovely. And my daughter was completely captivated. The smattering of Japanese here and there in the dialogue (names, small words & phrases), worked nicely and accents seemed generally good. Acting was also pretty good, although I found the grown woman playing a 4yr old quite odd at times; perhaps amplified as we were at the front.
If there’s one thing I found let the piece down it was that the changes made from the film generally made it worse in my opinion. This might be my love of the film bias, but so many parts that were subtle, or implied in the film had to be made explicit and explained at length in the play. New scenes like those between Kanta and his dad seemed unnecessary, and some of the characteristics of some key characters have been changed. Cutting those changes would’ve also helped with length.
All in all a fab day out and a solid 4 stars for me.
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Post by petittournesol on Jan 15, 2023 22:29:45 GMT
I really enjoyed this, a solid 4 stars. Loved the puppetry and gentle vibes.
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 19, 2023 19:56:39 GMT
Managed to refresh the page enough times to grab a day seat for this, very glad I did. I haven't seen the film, but it is just a very small, gentle, plot following two sisters. I'm not normally a 'slice of life' plot fan but because of the scope of the show i was absolutely fine with it. I will put under a spoiler just in case it transfers? I think it should it was very very good. {Spoiler - click to view} From the moment the show started and the title started to dance I knew I was going to like the physical production, and I was correct! I loved how practical everything was, with only two instances of projections. The flats were great and I just loved the big scale of the show, I imagine it felt similar to people seeing the first 80's mega-musicals after being 'starved' of not seeing a grand scale on stage, it felt amazing to not see something striped back and to see it so big. And everything was so inventive, the maze corn being attached the way the were so when pushed aside the bounced back like they would naturally, painting rain on the umbrellas so it looked wet, I just loved it all.
I thought the score and singer were gorgeous and really hope they do record that at least!
Yes it did meander a little, but overall I had a wonderful, wonderful time!
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328 posts
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Post by Figaro on Jan 31, 2023 19:02:24 GMT
Any news on this shows future?
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Post by theatrelover123 on Jan 31, 2023 19:29:33 GMT
Any news on this shows future? No
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328 posts
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Post by Figaro on Jan 31, 2023 19:32:36 GMT
Any news on this shows future? No Thanks!
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Post by cirque on Jan 31, 2023 22:18:42 GMT
Stratford ?
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1,189 posts
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Post by theatrelover123 on Feb 1, 2023 4:45:28 GMT
Theatre Royal Stratford East is far too small to stage a play of this scale Unless you meant they stage it in Westfield shopping centre Oh……..
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Post by alece10 on Feb 1, 2023 7:52:04 GMT
I really know nothing about this play but everyone seems to have loved it so if it does transfer I will give it a go.
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4,472 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 1, 2023 15:11:41 GMT
Any news on this shows future? I had heard this will be back to the Barbican for the Winter season again this year...last heard a month or so ago so may have gone cold.
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Post by Rory on Mar 29, 2023 23:03:48 GMT
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140 posts
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Post by FJ on Mar 29, 2023 23:09:14 GMT
Hallelujah!
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Post by marob on Mar 29, 2023 23:41:04 GMT
Not unexpected, but very welcome news. Missed it first time around.
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Post by ceebee on Mar 30, 2023 8:00:23 GMT
I was one of the few who just didn't get on with this. Happy for those who loved it, but I shan't venture to EC2Y any time soon.
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Post by mrnutz on Mar 30, 2023 9:39:17 GMT
Skipped it last time but I'll catch it on the next run for sure.
Is it suitable for a seven-year-old?
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Post by alessia on Mar 30, 2023 9:45:43 GMT
Skipped it last time but I'll catch it on the next run for sure. Is it suitable for a seven-year-old? When I went, there were many children around that age and they seemed to love it! I was worried they would be a bit distracting/noisy but not a peep from anyone, they were mesmerised!
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Post by mrnutz on Mar 30, 2023 10:23:21 GMT
Skipped it last time but I'll catch it on the next run for sure. Is it suitable for a seven-year-old? When I went, there were many children around that age and they seemed to love it! I was worried they would be a bit distracting/noisy but not a peep from anyone, they were mesmerised! Thank you! Think my son would love it judging by the trailer.
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Post by mrnutz on Mar 30, 2023 10:24:06 GMT
Skipped it last time but I'll catch it on the next run for sure. Is it suitable for a seven-year-old? When I went, there were many children around that age and they seemed to love it! I was worried they would be a bit distracting/noisy but not a peep from anyone, they were mesmerised! And in my experience most kids are often better behaved than some grown-ups...
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Post by ladidah on Mar 30, 2023 10:38:56 GMT
Great news, missed out before
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Post by yokollama on Mar 30, 2023 16:55:59 GMT
Excellent news! But I don't envy the costs a family would likely need to cough up, especially now that it's a proven success.
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