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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2023 8:38:56 GMT
An hour, BurlyBeaR !?! Are you one of those drivers who pootles along like it's always Sunday afternoon? Bakewell, Edale, Chatsworth all show as between 47 mins and 65 minutes drive from Sheffield and that’s at 9.30 on a Saturday morning. Ignore TallPaul’s travel tips everyone, he knows nowt! 😃
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Post by PhantomNcl on Jul 8, 2023 10:32:51 GMT
Is anyone there for opening night tomorrow? I'm there Monday night
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2023 10:49:47 GMT
Is anyone there for opening night tomorrow? I'm there Monday night Sounds like you’re our first then. Looking forward to your feedback!
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Post by ptwest on Jul 8, 2023 11:42:08 GMT
Is anyone there for opening night tomorrow? I'm there Monday night Two days ahead of me. I’m there on Wednesday.
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 11:48:30 GMT
I'm in tonight!
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Post by TallPaul on Jul 8, 2023 12:23:03 GMT
No screenshots, BurlyBeaR ? I'm very disappointed! I can't let such a terrible slur pass without rebuttal. Firstly, 47 minutes is not "a good hour". Secondly, a full one third of Sheffield, by area, is within the Peak District, so it's perfectly possible to visit the latter without leaving the former. do you have any recoomendations for a nice Indian restaurant near the theatre? More for information than a recoomendation, or even a recommendation. In addition to 400DC, also nearby is The Monkey Jar , which is one of the food outlets within Kommune, directly opposite the Premier Inn, and there's The Chakra Lounge in the aforementioned Fitzalan Square. I'm afraid I don't have first-hand experience of any of the three. kommune.co.uk//www.thechakralounge.co.uk/Anyway, back to Miss Saigon. There are just six seats currently available for tonight's first performance. All dynamically priced upwards to £50 each.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2023 13:27:06 GMT
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Post by ceebee on Jul 8, 2023 16:58:35 GMT
I'm liking the helicopters for the poll!
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 18:08:00 GMT
I'm already not a fan of the female engineer idea, and the first impression of a silver set with a staircase to nowhere and a tiny TV are not boding well. I've come with a group of friends who've all seen every production in this country, so we hope for the best but do have strong feelings for this show. For what it's worth I liked the LNOTW video although I wish her voice was prettier. Hope to be reporting back that I am pleasantly surprised!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2023 18:23:39 GMT
Give it to us straight cezbear we need the truth!
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Post by dazzerlump on Jul 8, 2023 18:36:48 GMT
I'm already not a fan of the female engineer idea, and the first impression of a silver set with a staircase to nowhere and a tiny TV are not boding well. I've come with a group of friends who've all seen every production in this country, so we hope for the best but do have strong feelings for this show. For what it's worth I liked the LNOTW video although I wish her voice was prettier. Hope to be reporting back that I am pleasantly surprised! Oh dear, I'm worried now!! Did you take a photo of the set when you went in? I've been searching all over to see if anyone has posted an image Fingers crossed you are only seeing part of the set and it opens up when the show begins. Sheffield Crucible usually create some great sets for their shows.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 8, 2023 18:39:30 GMT
Also, and sorry to be demanding cezbear but people with travel plans etc… run time please?
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Post by BVM on Jul 8, 2023 19:21:54 GMT
I'm already not a fan of the female engineer idea, and the first impression of a silver set with a staircase to nowhere and a tiny TV are not boding well. I've come with a group of friends who've all seen every production in this country, so we hope for the best but do have strong feelings for this show. For what it's worth I liked the LNOTW video although I wish her voice was prettier. Hope to be reporting back that I am pleasantly surprised! Eeeek! Can’t wait for your review though. Desperate to hear what this is like. My second fave musical of all time, simply adore it! The recent Vienna production was utterly stunning. Know this will be different of course but hope it’s not TOO minimalist…..
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 19:51:10 GMT
Well, we're calling it Miss Sanitised. (Run time is 2h 35m including interval)
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1,173 posts
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 8, 2023 19:55:58 GMT
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 19:56:23 GMT
Full thoughts will come after act 2 but this has been sanitised beyond any recognition. I feel like I'm watching a student version, if such a thing exists. I'll upload set pics if I can but it's very very minimal. The cast are the redeeming feature - Jessica in particular is simply wonderful, and this show lives or dies on the Kim for me.
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Post by BVM on Jul 8, 2023 20:08:47 GMT
Does it change scene by scene or is that it?!
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 20:10:04 GMT
That's it. Doors open in that big silver wall thing in various places to let actors come and go, though often they're sat on the side. The staircase moves around. Occasionally there's a table wheeled about but really what you see is it. Oh and occasional projections on the wall but they don't do a lot.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Jul 8, 2023 21:43:45 GMT
What does 'sanitised' mean? do they shoot each other with nerf guns
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Post by ceebee on Jul 8, 2023 21:49:37 GMT
Yet again we've got a one star rating but nothing to substantiate it... A review with some detail would be super helpful.
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 21:59:38 GMT
Yet again we've got a one star rating but nothing to substantiate it... A review with some detail would be super helpful. It's not me! I'm mid writing my proper post and pondering my rating.
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Post by cezbear on Jul 8, 2023 22:21:19 GMT
Ok, I'll get my thoughts down while they're fresh. Keep in mind I'm very attached to the original staging and so will be biased but I've tried to be fair. The opening has a guy (possibly meant to be older Tam?) walk towards the TV, then the little Tam runs around and it fades into the proper opening. Seemed unnecessary but harmless. The bar scene was very underwhelming... The girls costumes looked quite cheap and were obviously chosen to cover up more than in traditional productions. Gigi had a crop top and shorts for example. The girls don't really dance around or interact as much with the soldiers, so the energy is all coming from the guys and the girls were just there. Obviously deliberately toned down but it loses a lot for it. Kim no longer says her age (which is funny as Jessica is the first I've seen in a while to look passably 17). It's now John who 'likes it rough' as the engineer defends Gigi. Other sanitised bits are various lyric changes to change whore to girl, etc. No gunshot for Thuy and he doesn't fall down so it's not clear he's dead. I Still Believe is staged with Ellen and Chris in a supermarket which is a bit weird. There's no entr'acte which was disappointing. Bui Doi staging was inspired IMO, it starts with John singing in some kind of group therapy, then moves to him handing out leaflets on the street, finishing up with him presenting to a group as per the original staging. There's no helicopter beyond a shadow projection but they go up the staircase and then Chris exits via a rope ladder into the roof as Kim reaches the top and they reach for each other. I found that quite moving. Ellen's song is still Maybe and the god awful stilted dialogue before it is gone. The American Dream has Joanna dressed as Marilyn Monroe and it worked fairly well. Her voice was sensational at the end of this and it got a big response. Finale had Kim singing her last lines as a ghost while Chris seemed to be sobbing over an invisible dead body, but at least there was a (very quiet) gunshot so we knew something had happened.
Overall there were a few changes I thought worked well but for the most part for me and my friends it felt as though the essence had been sucked out. The minimal staging wasn't the problem, the completely ruthless santising was. It felt as though it had been directed with absolute fear of the slightest criticism. The story should be raw and brutal sometimes, this felt like a demonstration of what happens to shows when you're too scared to upset anyone.
The biggest strong point they have is the cast. Jessica is absolutely stunning as Kim. I haven't liked a Kim this much in a long time (Eva left me cold I'm afraid). Wonderful and possibly worth going for her alone. I'm going to guess now that Christian won't be popular here but I loved him so I'll get my praise in now before I'm shouted down. Age appropriate, a really good actor, he brought something new to the character and was completely believable and had great chemistry with Jessica. I had a huge smile on my face for LNOTW. He lacks power vocally though and although I found his voice gorgeous in places, I know many will be disappointed in his lack of beltiness. I wonder if he was tired vocally as he went raspy a lot in act two. I really enjoyed the Thuy and John, and Shanay as Ellen was solid but didn't quite do it for me. I appreciated her also being cast younger though. Lastly, Joanna. She's obviously a fantastic performer, she acted and sung the role incredibly well. But it didn't feel like the engineer and it for me felt like a clear shoehorning in places. Her character would be sensational in another show, but it doesn't sit right for me. Also the humour was almost entirely gone and it really needs that from the engineer.
I'll go with three stars I think - mostly because of the score and cast. The production isn't it for me but I'm fascinated to hear what others think!
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Post by dan28 on Jul 8, 2023 23:37:21 GMT
The girls don't really dance around or interact as much with the soldiers, so the energy is all coming from the guys and the girls were just there. Obviously deliberately toned down but it loses a lot for it. Kim no longer says her age (which is funny as Jessica is the first I've seen in a while to look passably 17). It's now John who 'likes it rough' as the engineer defends Gigi. Other sanitised bits are various lyric changes to change whore to girl, etc. The minimal staging wasn't the problem, the completely ruthless santising was. It felt as though it had been directed with absolute fear of the slightest criticism. The story should be raw and brutal sometimes, this felt like a demonstration of what happens to shows when you're too scared to upset anyone. The engineer defends Gigi about the "rough" remark? Like a bond of "girl power"? The engineer should care more about money and the clients. The girls can't dance anymore? They can't show or do anything anymore that could upset someone? They can't seduce men anymore? They are only allowed to be weak victims? Weird.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 9, 2023 5:34:02 GMT
I wonder if the sanitisation was in response to the earlier criticisms directed at The Crucible or was always the director’s vision for this.
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Post by cezbear on Jul 9, 2023 6:30:54 GMT
The girls don't really dance around or interact as much with the soldiers, so the energy is all coming from the guys and the girls were just there. Obviously deliberately toned down but it loses a lot for it. Kim no longer says her age (which is funny as Jessica is the first I've seen in a while to look passably 17). It's now John who 'likes it rough' as the engineer defends Gigi. Other sanitised bits are various lyric changes to change whore to girl, etc. The minimal staging wasn't the problem, the completely ruthless santising was. It felt as though it had been directed with absolute fear of the slightest criticism. The story should be raw and brutal sometimes, this felt like a demonstration of what happens to shows when you're too scared to upset anyone. The engineer defends Gigi about the "rough" remark? Like a bond of "girl power"? The engineer should care more about money and the clients. The girls can't dance anymore? They can't show or do anything anymore that could upset someone? They can't seduce men anymore? They are only allowed to be weak victims? Weird. No, I wouldn't call it a girl power thing. It plays out as usual but when Gigi flings her sash at John he no longer hits her, the engineer appears and I think she moves him away and then says 'it's ok it's John, he likes it rough'. The rest of it though, yeah... There's really no indication that the girls are selling sex. Their individual lines were very flat because they're really not doing anything. It was weird, at least for someone familiar with the show. But I think it doesn't make sense even if you're not familiar.
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Post by richey on Jul 9, 2023 8:07:06 GMT
What about the Bangkok scene? Is that sanitised too?
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Post by BVM on Jul 9, 2023 8:47:31 GMT
Ok, I'll get my thoughts down while they're fresh. Keep in mind I'm very attached to the original staging and so will be biased but I've tried to be fair. The opening has a guy (possibly meant to be older Tam?) walk towards the TV, then the little Tam runs around and it fades into the proper opening. Seemed unnecessary but harmless. The bar scene was very underwhelming... The girls costumes looked quite cheap and were obviously chosen to cover up more than in traditional productions. Gigi had a crop top and shorts for example. The girls don't really dance around or interact as much with the soldiers, so the energy is all coming from the guys and the girls were just there. Obviously deliberately toned down but it loses a lot for it. Kim no longer says her age (which is funny as Jessica is the first I've seen in a while to look passably 17). It's now John who 'likes it rough' as the engineer defends Gigi. Other sanitised bits are various lyric changes to change whore to girl, etc. No gunshot for Thuy and he doesn't fall down so it's not clear he's dead. I Still Believe is staged with Ellen and Chris in a supermarket which is a bit weird. There's no entr'acte which was disappointing. Bui Doi staging was inspired IMO, it starts with John singing in some kind of group therapy, then moves to him handing out leaflets on the street, finishing up with him presenting to a group as per the original staging. There's no helicopter beyond a shadow projection but they go up the staircase and then Chris exits via a rope ladder into the roof as Kim reaches the top and they reach for each other. I found that quite moving. Ellen's song is still Maybe and the god awful stilted dialogue before it is gone. The American Dream has Joanna dressed as Marilyn Monroe and it worked fairly well. Her voice was sensational at the end of this and it got a big response. Finale had Kim singing her last lines as a ghost while Chris seemed to be sobbing over an invisible dead body, but at least there was a (very quiet) gunshot so we knew something had happened. Overall there were a few changes I thought worked well but for the most part for me and my friends it felt as though the essence had been sucked out. The minimal staging wasn't the problem, the completely ruthless santising was. It felt as though it had been directed with absolute fear of the slightest criticism. The story should be raw and brutal sometimes, this felt like a demonstration of what happens to shows when you're too scared to upset anyone. The biggest strong point they have is the cast. Jessica is absolutely stunning as Kim. I haven't liked a Kim this much in a long time (Eva left me cold I'm afraid). Wonderful and possibly worth going for her alone. I'm going to guess now that Christian won't be popular here but I loved him so I'll get my praise in now before I'm shouted down. Age appropriate, a really good actor, he brought something new to the character and was completely believable and had great chemistry with Jessica. I had a huge smile on my face for LNOTW. He lacks power vocally though and although I found his voice gorgeous in places, I know many will be disappointed in his lack of beltiness. I wonder if he was tired vocally as he went raspy a lot in act two. I really enjoyed the Thuy and John, and Shanay as Ellen was solid but didn't quite do it for me. I appreciated her also being cast younger though. Lastly, Joanna. She's obviously a fantastic performer, she acted and sung the role incredibly well. But it didn't feel like the engineer and it for me felt like a clear shoehorning in places. Her character would be sensational in another show, but it doesn't sit right for me. Also the humour was almost entirely gone and it really needs that from the engineer. I'll go with three stars I think - mostly because of the score and cast. The production isn't it for me but I'm fascinated to hear what others think! Thanks so much for your review Cezbear. Great to hear your thoughts and can't wait to see this for myself (strikes dependent!) Quick question - how was the orchestra and were the orchestrations same as previous or adapted/changed? If the orchestra and performers voices are top notch I can forgive most other things to be honest as this has such an epic score. I am sorry to hear it's been sanitised though - parts of it are meant to be shocking/uncomfortable. I guess it's inevitable in 2023 though sadly as people are so frightened of offending anyone and social media pile ons..... It does somewhat stifle the "arts" though. Oh, also what was the purpose of the small TV in the set?
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Post by cezbear on Jul 9, 2023 9:21:23 GMT
Bangkok scene also sanitised in that there wasn't anyone (male or female) dancing that I remember, though this was less glaring because the focus was on the club owners and engineer.
Orchestrations - nothing stood out to me as different other than the missing entr'acte but I'm not the best at picking up on that so hopefully someone with better ears than mine can report back. The orchestra was up high behind the silver wall but you don't see them until bows (and only the MD then).
I will say I think the direction of the performers was actually really good, in that they seemed like real people and the actors brought out things in their characters I've never seen before. The direction of the production itself however just stifled it. This isn't the show that was written.
Edit: sorry, the TV was only used for the very opening scene where someone (older Tam??) stares at it briefly. Then in the finale Tam is watching it as Kim sings her song.
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Post by hades on Jul 9, 2023 9:53:33 GMT
I've never seen Miss Saigon before so have nothing to compare it to but I absolutely loved this last night. Some of the staging choices were slightly odd but most of it worked really well for me (the way they did the helicopter was very good!). The cast are incredible and I can't fault a single person among them. Jessica and Joanna especially have incredible voices
Will be interesting to see if anything gets changed, but I'd give this 4.5 stars
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Post by toomasj on Jul 9, 2023 11:49:22 GMT
I also went to see this last night.
I didn’t like any aspect of it as a production, unfortunately. It’s a confused production, and oddly lacking in soul. I’ve seen the word sanitised used above, which is absolutely spot on. It feels like it is treading on eggshells and for all the changes, I can’t think of one aspect which was actually improved from prior productions.
On the train home, I was slightly more positive than the rest of my party of four. I am not precious about updating classic shows for modern sensibilities, provided there is a clear and defined vision for the piece. This production in my view sadly fails on this and most other levels, feeling insincere and cold. Last night I was leaning more towards 2*, but having slept on it I think it’s more of a 1* production. I’ve seen some terrific new productions over the years in Sheffield (such as a superb My Fair Lady) but this is not one of them.
Finally, I’m not one for debating social politics, least of all in theatre. That said, it would be a terrible shame for theatre to lose its ambition and edge by polishing every rough edge. Not everything in theatre, as in life, needs to be glossy, saccharine and double dipped in sugar. We don’t want to get to a stage where every single moment of every production is workshopped, focus group tested and made “SFT” (Safe for Twitter) for fear of offending someone, somewhere.
Oh and the cast were fine.
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