Been to the theatre to see...
Discussion
Theatre, or rather plays, isnt an art form that computes for me.
A film is remote enough to turn off the artifice.
With a play I'm imagining how bored the actor is saying the line for the 1000th time or whether there's a game of baseball happening just offstage.
A bit different watching someone just wittering away, but I probably couldn't summon the energy for that either.
A film is remote enough to turn off the artifice.
With a play I'm imagining how bored the actor is saying the line for the 1000th time or whether there's a game of baseball happening just offstage.
A bit different watching someone just wittering away, but I probably couldn't summon the energy for that either.
Cotty said:
Baldchap said:
I'd like to see the Back to the Future stage show.
Lion King, Book of Mormon, The Cursed Child and Hamilton all brilliant shows. Have tickets for Stranger Things next year that I can't wait for.
filthypig said:
Cotty said:
Baldchap said:
I'd like to see the Back to the Future stage show.
Does it use the same songs featured in the original movie or have they written new songs for the stage version?
Often, when a decision is made to turn a movie with music (not always necessarily a musical), they run into copyright and other issues regarding using the songs that were featured in the original film.
A good example is the stage version of "Some Like it Hot" - one of my favourite films. I saw the stage version about 30 plus years ago with Tommy Steele and Billy Boyle playing the Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis parts but none of the songs from the film were used.
I actually performed in the stage version of "The Full Monty" (I wasn't one of the strippers, I hasten to add) and none of the songs used in that film made it into the show (it's still a great story).
Often, when a decision is made to turn a movie with music (not always necessarily a musical), they run into copyright and other issues regarding using the songs that were featured in the original film.
A good example is the stage version of "Some Like it Hot" - one of my favourite films. I saw the stage version about 30 plus years ago with Tommy Steele and Billy Boyle playing the Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis parts but none of the songs from the film were used.
I actually performed in the stage version of "The Full Monty" (I wasn't one of the strippers, I hasten to add) and none of the songs used in that film made it into the show (it's still a great story).
Just remembered, I have been a fan of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds since I first heard it as a child. I had wanted to see the live show for a long time, and last year I finally got the chance at the O2.
Maybe those decades of waiting had built it up too much but I thought it was pretty s
te. Essentially watching a film while every now and then the singers (Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton) came on stage and sung for a bit.
I was most excited to see Justin Hayward, unfortunately his voice is not what it was.
I left feeling like I really wish I hadn't seen it, infact I have not listened to any of the original album since then.
Maybe those decades of waiting had built it up too much but I thought it was pretty s
te. Essentially watching a film while every now and then the singers (Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton) came on stage and sung for a bit.I was most excited to see Justin Hayward, unfortunately his voice is not what it was.
I left feeling like I really wish I hadn't seen it, infact I have not listened to any of the original album since then.
Just bought tickets for this - https://dropdeaddonkey.co.uk/
Most of the original cast, so should be a blast!!
Most of the original cast, so should be a blast!!
Baldchap said:
Shawshank Redemption was awful - actually like a bad school play.
I actually thought they did a decent job of taking it to the stage when we went to see it.Although it wasn't a patch on The Commitments - I believe it was Ian Mcintosh playing Deco, some set of pipes on him!
Just seen Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear this evening.
The last Lear I saw live was 24 years ago in the Royal Exchange in Manchester with the lead played by Tom Courtenay. His was a raging, angry king. Whereas Branagh has gone for the pathetic “old before wise” angle.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and was my 13 year old daughter’s first live experience of Shakespeare (I’ve had to expression she’s witnessed the great Shakespearean of our age - she thinks of him as Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter!).
Before we became parents we went to the theatre pretty often and watched a wide variety. These days it’s trips to the big mega production musicals. They’re great - saw Hamilton in August which is the best musical I have seen - but nothing beats actors having to truly act their way through a play to hold your attention, draw you in and bring the words to life. There’s no hiding with a play.
Next on the list is in November to see Ralph Fiennes playing Macbeth with Indira Varma as Lady Macbeth in a Liverpool film studio. More death and bloodshed!
The last Lear I saw live was 24 years ago in the Royal Exchange in Manchester with the lead played by Tom Courtenay. His was a raging, angry king. Whereas Branagh has gone for the pathetic “old before wise” angle.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and was my 13 year old daughter’s first live experience of Shakespeare (I’ve had to expression she’s witnessed the great Shakespearean of our age - she thinks of him as Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter!).
Before we became parents we went to the theatre pretty often and watched a wide variety. These days it’s trips to the big mega production musicals. They’re great - saw Hamilton in August which is the best musical I have seen - but nothing beats actors having to truly act their way through a play to hold your attention, draw you in and bring the words to life. There’s no hiding with a play.
Next on the list is in November to see Ralph Fiennes playing Macbeth with Indira Varma as Lady Macbeth in a Liverpool film studio. More death and bloodshed!
MYOB said:
filthypig said:
Cotty said:
Baldchap said:
I'd like to see the Back to the Future stage show.
The way they use projection and lighting is fantastic.
I went to quite a few some years ago as a GF could get heavily discounted tickets with good seats.
They were all pretty good but the outstanding one for me was Dirty rotten scoundrels at the savoy theatre with Robert Lindsay and Rufus hound. Staging, dancing, singing (and songs) humour, absolutely spot on.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VhX9N2t9sUM
This is a good example of a song (a broadway vid with sherie Rene Scott and John lithgow in the main role) stunning
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq_Ebf1VmdI
They were all pretty good but the outstanding one for me was Dirty rotten scoundrels at the savoy theatre with Robert Lindsay and Rufus hound. Staging, dancing, singing (and songs) humour, absolutely spot on.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VhX9N2t9sUM
This is a good example of a song (a broadway vid with sherie Rene Scott and John lithgow in the main role) stunning
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq_Ebf1VmdI
pidsy said:
The choice of score - i.e not using anything recognisable from the films is a bit odd but it’s worth watching just for the set and tech side.
The way they use projection and lighting is fantastic.
See my post above - probably a copyright issue. As I said earlier, it's not always possible to get permission to transfer music used in a film to a new stage musical version.The way they use projection and lighting is fantastic.
Joey Deacon said:
Just remembered, I have been a fan of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds since I first heard it as a child. I had wanted to see the live show for a long time, and last year I finally got the chance at the O2.
Maybe those decades of waiting had built it up too much but I thought it was pretty ste. Essentially watching a film while every now and then the singers (Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton) came on stage and sung for a bit.
I was most excited to see Justin Hayward, unfortunately his voice is not what it was.
I left feeling like I really wish I hadn't seen it, infact I have not listened to any of the original album since then.
Not theatre but "War of the Worlds the Emersive Experience" looks good and planning to do it next year. Maybe those decades of waiting had built it up too much but I thought it was pretty s
te. Essentially watching a film while every now and then the singers (Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton) came on stage and sung for a bit.I was most excited to see Justin Hayward, unfortunately his voice is not what it was.
I left feeling like I really wish I hadn't seen it, infact I have not listened to any of the original album since then.
https://thewaroftheworldsimmersive.com/
I don't think anyone has mentioned it - but if you get a chance go to see Dear England. it is quite a gripping portrayal of Gareth Southgate and the England football team - and relive all the penalty shoot-outs! I highly recommend this if you can get tickets
Cotty said:
Joey Deacon said:
Just remembered, I have been a fan of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds since I first heard it as a child. I had wanted to see the live show for a long time, and last year I finally got the chance at the O2.
Maybe those decades of waiting had built it up too much but I thought it was pretty ste. Essentially watching a film while every now and then the singers (Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton) came on stage and sung for a bit.
I was most excited to see Justin Hayward, unfortunately his voice is not what it was.
I left feeling like I really wish I hadn't seen it, infact I have not listened to any of the original album since then.
Not theatre but "War of the Worlds the Emersive Experience" looks good and planning to do it next year. Maybe those decades of waiting had built it up too much but I thought it was pretty s
te. Essentially watching a film while every now and then the singers (Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton) came on stage and sung for a bit.I was most excited to see Justin Hayward, unfortunately his voice is not what it was.
I left feeling like I really wish I hadn't seen it, infact I have not listened to any of the original album since then.
https://thewaroftheworldsimmersive.com/
We saw the live show back in 2018, and unlike JD, really enjoyed it.
It was a different cast though with Adam Garcia, Jason Donovan, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Newton Faulkner and Nathan James. Beforehand I was a bit dubious about Jason Donovan as the parson, but he did a really good job.
I've also listened to it many times since its original release in 1978, and have copies on CD and vinyl.
bunchofkeys said:
Thanks for this! I've wanted to see him on stage for a while, book tickets for March.
Well done for getting tickets - it was a nightmare trying to book the Liverpool date. I’m hoping he is as good on stage as on screen - I’d expect him to channel menacing pretty well. Naturally daughter associates him with being Voldemort in Harry Potter. Good preparation for this role..!
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