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The Musicals/Stage Productions Topic!!!

SMEGGIT!
Help me out here guys, what's the definitive cast? Come to the conclusion that the so-called "main characters" are actually the least important people on stage...

Greaseball: Current Wembley

Electra: Asia / Aus tour

CB: '92 London

(Just ALL original freight cars (Rockies, Flat Top and Dustin..... NOT the 'Hip Hoppers') over the current fuel trucks. No. Just no.)

NATIONALS over colours. /fight me.
 
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I went to see the current West End revival of The Producers recently. As a huge fan of the original movie with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, and the musical adaptation (both stage and movie), I've been waiting for a proper revival in the UK for a long time. Unfortunately, it did not live up to high expectations.

As much as I enjoyed it, and glad I went, the production itself left a lot to be desired. Firstly, the stripped back staging really did not lend itself to the larger than life characters, particularly when compared to the original Broadway production. The entire Springtime for Hitler scene felt like classic revival cost-cutting, that not even creative accounting could fix. With this in mind however, there were some great creative choices, with the inclusion of some hilarious puppetry during a particular Franz Leibkind scene.

Performances were for the most part great, with Andy Nyman playing a great Max Bialystock, but it felt the cast were speeding running the entire show and not leaving any jokes to breathe. Unfortunately, the actor who played Leo Bloom wasn't to my taste, and his performance was grating by the end of the first act. Plus, with the Garrick being sat right above a tube line, the rumbling of trains every few minutes underneath the theatre made some dialogue difficult to make out.

Overall, a frustrating production that should have been absolutely great. A part of me is still however, considering giving it another go when Richard Kind returns to the role of Max for a limited run soon.
 
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Got to see Back to the Future: The Musical the other day, honestly loved it so much. Pretty much a live performance of the first film (with a few minor plot changes), and a lot of the songs are reminiscent of American High School 50’s/80’s musicals with time travel sci-fi elements. Really like how Doc Brown and Marty McFlt are re-interpreted for the stage whilst hitting the iconic beats of the film. George McFly and the Mayor also get more development compared to the film, which is great to see.

But of course the ‘wow’ moments are of course the tech the show uses, especially the DeLorean which is really the showstopper of the entire thing. I’ve seen a lot of reviewers call this a ‘theme park’ type of musical especially involving the ending scene with the DeLorean which left my jaw dropped and the biggest cheer from a very enthusiastic audience.

It’s about to wrap up it’s West End run and go on tour across the country, which is going to renew the talk around show. If you’re a Back to the Future fan in any capacity or know nothing about the films but want a guaranteed showstopper, this is for you.

Also would be great if we got a reworked version for Universal United Kingdom if they do get the Hill Valley area, because it really deserves a permanent home down the line!
 
Went the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool today to see a production of Waiting For Godot starring Matthew Kelly and George Costigan.

Famously its a play were nothing happens, and then in the second act nothing happens again.

Studied it long ago when I was in university and its amazing how with actual actors it really jumps off the page and is surprisingly funny in places.

Well worth going to see, The Everyman is a cracking theatre as well with it being nice and compact.
 
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