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The Musicals/Stage Productions Topic!!!

Been meaning to drop in here, as I realised that I've seen a fair few new shows of late that may or may not be of interest.

I've been seeing lots of talk online about Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder - which is ostensibly about a pair of women doing a True-Crime Podcast out of one of their mum's garage in Beverley, near Hull (you won't of heard of it). It very much lived up to its hype and was a very good comedy musical, well worth checking out if you're wanting a reasonably light musical with a darkly humourous twist. It's on in London until the end of Summer, and I suspect it will go back on tour at some point after.

A couple of unfortunate things let it down a little in its current home at the Ambassadors Theatre - I was upstairs, and the legroom was miniscule, I don't know if it was better downstairs, but it was properly uncomfortable if you have long legs. Also, the sound quality wasn't the best, which was unfortunate given there are various points where the lyrics are important.

During the same trip, I also saw Hadestown, which was an impressive piece of theatre. I'm not sure how to sum it up beyond a modern take on a Greek Tragedy (both in form as well as in story) that works very well with some extremely striking musical numbers and technically impressive set. The script falters in a couple of places, but the overall package is some properly commanding stagecraft.

And talking of impressive theatre, if you get to see Come From Away whilst it's on tour, absolutely do. I cannot recommend this musical enough. It is probably one of the best new musicals to be produced in the past decade and is such a well told story about overcoming adversity in the most challenging of situation.

A very different musical, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York is a fun little rom-com-esque musical at the Criterion. It was a fun couple of hours, if you want to switch your mind off and enjoy some very pleasant, but ultimately rather forgettable musical theatre. I think I paid something like £25 for a ticket and at that price it felt like a good value for what you got, especially for the Westend.

Standing at the Sky's Edge - another musical very much anchored in a Northern city - I knew nothing about thing going into it, but I'm honestly not sure if I was prepared for a musical based on the iconic brutalist Park Hill housing estate in Sheffield, tied together by dramatic election results over the past five decades. (I saw it in the run-up to the election, so that element was particularly effecting).

It was a very well put together musical with some moments that were particularly good, but unfortunately it was let down by some of the storytelling, including some very poor LGBTQIA+ representation, which overshadowed one of the storylines. It somehow managed to suggest that gay folk should be grateful for what they get in life and their relationships and emotions are somehow less valid, so they should just be happy if they can get anyone to like them. Which was, at the very least an... odd(?) conclusion to slip in to the plot!

I also saw Stranger Things: The First Shadow, but I almost forgot to mention it, because it was so - darn - forgettable.
 
The reason I say it was forgettable is because I saw it a few months ago, and I honestly had forgotten I'd seen it until I was part way through writing the post above.

What you've heard is correct though, a lot of the effects are impressive (not all the effects mind), and that would be the best reason to go and see it, unless you're really deep into your Stranger Things fandom (it serves up a lot of fan service). But, as you've heard, the story is quite flabby, and it probably would have been better had they cut at least one subplot and a couple of characters. It really feels like it tries to fit too much into its running time and the main plot line on its own could have done with more time dedicated to fully develop its storytelling.

But that is not to say I regret seeing it - it wasn't bad, it was just not as good as it probably should have been. I picked up a £50 ticket in the dress circle, and that felt like a reasonable price to have paid for what it is.
 
I've just got home from the 50th aniversary Rocky Horror Show, at The Dominion. Staring Jason Donovan.

Smegging fantastic!
I was a bit concerned, as the last time I saw him, five years ago in Joseph, his voice was so knackered he couldn't even manage the one song he had. But this time, his voice fitted the part perfectly.
As usual, Magenta stole the show for me.

Techy types will enjoy the "beam spam" of lighting in a couple of the songs. And they had a whole five mirror balls for the "floor show".

Was surprised to see that very few of the audience were engaging in the call-backs. I guess West End types are too sophisticated for such things. The few who did got some good comebacks from the narator, though.

Highly reccomend you go see it if you get the chance. (It's not on for long, but I believe a tour is planned, though without Donovan). You haven't lived until you've been part of a 1,000+ theatre crowd doing The Time Warp together!
 
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DiogoJ42 said:
I've just got home from the 50th aniversary Rocky Horror Show, at The Dominion. Staring Jason Donovan.

Smeging fantastic!
I was a bit concerned, as the last time I saw him, five years ago in Joseph, his voice was so knackered he couldn't even manage the one song he had. But this time, his voice fitted the part perfectly.
As usual, Magenta stole the show for me.

Techy types will enjoy the "beam spam" of lighting in a couple of the songs. And they had a whole five mirror balls for the "floor show".

Was surprised to see that very few of the audience were engaging in the call-backs. I guess West End types are too sophisticated for such things. The few who did got some good comebacks from the narator, though.

Highly reccomend you go see it if you get the chance. (It's not on for long, but I believe a tour is planned, though without Donovan). You haven't lived until you've been part of a 1,000+ theatre crowd doing The Time Warp together!
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the rocky horror picture show GIF
 
Matilda the musical last night. What a masterpiece of musical theatre and storytelling.

The kids in it are astonishingly good, not just getting away with it by being young and cute but by being properly accomplished at singing and acting and a little acrobatics. Matilda comamding the stage more confidently than plenty of adult leads I've seen over the years. At 9 years old. Mental.

The set is soooo good too, the gates and alphabet wall, swings, and the quick switch trickery and lighting in the pigtail throw especially magical. Astounded they are allowed to let the kids swing high over the audience without safety gear, they're putting some huge trust into them there!

If I was going to find one criticism it would be some of the sound mixing, when so much narrative is packed into sharp quick lyrics you really need to be able to hear the words clearly but they were lost occasionally. A tiny point though in another wise near faultless show. An easy 10/10 from me.
 
I still need to see that one, it does sound good. I've heard a few things about it from someone who used to work on it. I had to stop him to avoid spoilers.
 
It's on my list as well. Given it was written by Tim Minchin, I'm expecting good things.
 
You won't be disappointed. We took our 5 year old who was completely enthralled, but it's certainly not just for kids. I'd say around half the groups near us were adults without kids.

We were in the 4th row, excellent seats but I can see now that it could be advantageous to be sitting mid to rear stalls if you have a free choice.
 
Matilda was my first west end musical that I ever saw, very shortly after it originally opened at the Cambridge. It is bewildering, although perhaps a little dated now in its design, but that doesn’t hold it back. The score is genius and the false proscenium arch is incredibly impressive.
 
pluk said:
You won't be disappointed. We took our 5 year old who was completely enthralled, but it's certainly not just for kids. I'd say around half the groups near us were adults without kids.

We were in the 4th row, excellent seats but I can see now that it could be advantageous to be sitting mid to rear stalls if you have a free choice.
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I always try and get circle seats. If I sit in the stalls, I end up spending most of the show looking up the fly tower at the lights. ;)
 
Summer is over… next up … Christmas !

Just a shout out if anyone is in the Northwest area, I’m going to be playing the role of Buddy in a production of Elf The Musical. The show is on in Hartford, Cheshire, from the 13th - 16th November

For anyone unfamiliar, this adaptation of the movie features the story you know and love, with a catchy big band score - we’re lucky to be accompanied by a 12 piece band

www.thegrangetheatre.com

Elf The Musical | The Grange Theatre

www.thegrangetheatre.com www.thegrangetheatre.com

This is by far the biggest role I’ve played, and it’s set to be an incredible show
 

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Burbs said:
It is bewildering, although perhaps a little dated now in its design, but that doesn’t hold it back.
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I didn't think it felt dated at all in its staging, design and effects, certainly held up better in that regard than other long runners I've seen in recent years, especially the lion king.
 
Jonathan said:
It's on my list as well. Given it was written by Tim Minchin, I'm expecting good things.
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The best song, which opens the second half, When I Grow Up was the first one written for the show and sets the tone of the whole thing, despite doing nothing to move the plot along. Its about children thinking about the fact that when they are grown up they will be strong enough to handle the big issues in life, and I find it a perfect counterpoint to the song I Wish I Could Go Back to College from Avenue Q where Princeton is dreaming of simpler times where he didn't have to handle the issues of life. I just enjoy the way two musical theatre productions perfectly capture both the issues of wanting to be able to handle adult tasks and not wanting the responsibility of being adult.

(oh and no particular reason why this was the comment to reply with my musings, I could have replied to many of them!).
 
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Echo all the comments recommending Matilda, it’s really excellent. Saw it this summer in London, it’s an absolute staple of the West End and I don’t see it going anywhere soon.

Also saw Operation Mincemeat on that same trip which has been widely praised and I can see why - funny, poignant, catchy songs and an extremely talented cast. Only downsides are it’s pricey, and the venue is very cramped and outdated.
 
I assume we’re talking about the Matilda musical that’s been running in the West End for (I’d guess) over 10 years? Or is there a newer one now?

If it’s the one that’s been running for years we’re talking about, I too remember that one being very good! I admittedly saw it 9 years ago now, so it’s not too fresh in my mind, but of the (admittedly relatively few) stage shows I’ve seen, I do remember it being one of the better, more memorable ones.
 
John Godber's "Do I Love You?" returns for a 2025 tour. I caught a production of this at the lovely New Vic theatre, in Stoke, earlier this year. The show is about three 20 somethings struggling with their jobs and aspirations, in a modern post-Covid Britain, who find solace in the music of Northern Soul.

The New Vic theatre is a purpose built theatre in the round and the show worked perfectly for the format, I'm aware that most of the other theatres on this tour are traditional proscenium arches and I'm not sure how well it translates there. The music used, is of course, sublime. The choreography and the way the cast move was meticulous. It is important that I stress at this point that it is not a musical. There is no singing. It is very much a play, which features movement and dance as storytelling mechanisms when required.

In typical Godber fashion, the cast is very small (3 people) and the chemistry between them is magical.
I highly recommend catching it if it's coming anywhere near you, which is mostly the north.

www.thejohngodbercompany.co.uk

Do I Love You? — John Godber Company

www.thejohngodbercompany.co.uk www.thejohngodbercompany.co.uk
 
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