OT: Les Miserables Review
n. thompson
I was sent this review and I can honestly say I wasn't really all that
surprised by its contents. For those who have visited Les Miz in London
you'll know what I'm talking about.
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/reviews/story.jsp?story=509198
--
Nicky
Co. Antrim (Northern Ireland)
Scott
news:c5f0eg$vqm4$1...@ID-127059.news.uni-berlin.de:
I would be interested in a review by someone who didn't come in hating the
show to begin with.
Scooby
on 4/12/04 2:16 PM:
>> http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/reviews/story.jsp?story=509198
> I would be interested in a review by someone who didn't come in hating the
> show to begin with.
Well, to be fair, viewing a show with your head up your a** can be very
difficult. But this review does prove that crack has made it's way across
the pond, yipeeeeee!
Scoo
******
Emma
> I would be interested in a review by someone who didn't come in hating the
> show to begin with.
Awww, I don't know how anyone can hate Les Mis. I still have yet to see
Miss Saigon though I have always known Les Mis....
Emma
n. thompson
> I would be interested in a review by someone who didn't come in hating
the show to begin with.
I agree Rhoda is not a fan of the show! Moreover, I do agree with her that
the show is dwindling with the many cuts and now orchestrations. It's a
shame they couldn't move back to the Barbican, a place with great space and
acoustics. Despite of the unions it would've been happier to close and go
out with a good bang!
Scott
Would it have been happier for those who are still employed by the show,
the many actors, technical crew, wardrobe, makeup, musicians etc., not
to mention the many fans who still get to see this great show.
Any large show like Les Mis and Miss Saigon eventually have to be cut
down to continue on, thus the cuts in the current U.S. and upcoming U.K.
tour. I think that when Les Mis does eventually close in London, it can
still go out with a big bang as you say.
I understand the debate over using the sinfonia to replace musicians,
especially if it is not physcially demanded as in the case of Les Mis
where the just isn't room for the full orchestra. Since I have not
heard this device I can't comment on how it will affect the quality of
the show(s), but I watch a lot of theater and most of it, including
muscials do not have large orchestras and the shows are still enjoyable.
Scott
Scott
> Would it have been happier for those who are still employed by the show,
> the many actors, technical crew, wardrobe, makeup, musicians etc., not
> to mention the many fans who still get to see this great show.
>
> Any large show like Les Mis and Miss Saigon eventually have to be cut
> down to continue on, thus the cuts in the current U.S. and upcoming U.K.
> tour. I think that when Les Mis does eventually close in London, it can
> still go out with a big bang as you say.
>
>>
>
Sorry, it is the Miss Saigon tours that have the cuts in them, not Les Mis.
Scott
n. thompson
> Would it have been happier for those who are still employed by the show,
the many actors, technical crew, wardrobe, makeup, musicians etc., not to
mention the many fans who still get to see this great show.
Not if they can't produce good quality performances. I understand your
reasons of employment issues, I'm involved in the arts and I know how hard
it can be to find jobs so I do sympathise.
I have a good friend (she sent me this review) who recently visited London
to see the show and referred that the sound quality was awful and the
theatre was not suited for a production of this scale. The sound quality
might have been only for one show, but think about the amount of money that
was spent to see that show, airfares, ticket costs, transport costs etc...
More importantly the memory that she brought back with her - it wasn't good.
If this new theatre keeps on turning out performances like this, I ask is it
worthwhile continuing? Is this how we (the fans) wants to remember Les Miz?
> Any large show like Les Mis and Miss Saigon eventually have to be cut
down to continue on
Yes, but they have been chopping Les Miz since its inception.
> I understand the debate over using the sinfonia to replace musicians,
especially if it is not physcially demanded as in the case of Les Mis where
the just isn't room for the full orchestra. Since I have not heard this
device I can't comment on how it will affect the quality of the show(s), but
I watch a lot of theater and most of it, including muscials do not have
large orchestras and the shows are still enjoyable.
Personally I'm in favour of acoustic orchestras and that means providing
big spaces and money to spend on musicians. Last year I heard "Whistle Down
The Wind" performed using keyboard technology. It provided orchestrations,
but pending on the volume the keyboards are set to sometimes the music can
be overdriven. I'm just an old fashioned musician.
Scott
> I have a good friend (she sent me this review) who recently visited London
> to see the show and referred that the sound quality was awful and the
> theatre was not suited for a production of this scale. The sound quality
> might have been only for one show, but think about the amount of money that
> was spent to see that show, airfares, ticket costs, transport costs etc...
> More importantly the memory that she brought back with her - it wasn't good.
> If this new theatre keeps on turning out performances like this, I ask is it
> worthwhile continuing? Is this how we (the fans) wants to remember Les Miz?
Hopefully the music will get better as the actors adjust to the new
sounds and the new theater, or perhaps it was just a bad day. I agree
if they can't put on a great show then they should cancel it or take
it elsewhere. Sorry your friend had a bad experience, unfortunatley
even on great shows without changes that happens.
> Personally I'm in favour of acoustic orchestras and that means providing
> big spaces and money to spend on musicians. Last year I heard "Whistle Down
> The Wind" performed using keyboard technology. It provided orchestrations,
> but pending on the volume the keyboards are set to sometimes the music can
> be overdriven. I'm just an old fashioned musician.
I would agree with you on live orchestratons being the best, but
unfortunately its not always possible. Eventually I would think they
will tour Les Mis (in the UK)to the smaller theaters as they are doing
with MS now, hopefully they will come up with a viable solution that
still brings a great show.
btw, I will be seeing the US tour of Les Mis in two weeks for my
birthday.
Jess
mom told me that...I was too young to remember- ;-)
~Jess~
Something has changed within me, something is not the same.
I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game.
Too late for second guessing, to late to go back to sleep.
It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap
Scott
news:20040413233851...@mb-m14.aol.com:
Yes, I believe the original in France was not well received.
n. thompson
> btw, I will be seeing the US tour of Les Mis in two weeks for my
birthday.
Enjoy!
I'm looking forward to seeing the new production of MS when it comes to
Belfast (not sure when though).
n. thompson
think my mom told me that...I was too young to remember- ;-)
No it didn't. When the first UK production was staged at the Barbican the
press gave it mixed reviews. It was the audience and the many fans that
supported the show turned around the negative reviews and properly launched
it.
MECHHELO
>down to continue on
>
> Yes, but they have been chopping Les Miz since its inception.
les miz as far as i know the touring production is still like 7 trucks....and
has been that way for quite a while...
bruce
Nicky
> les miz as far as i know the touring production is still like 7
trucks....and has been that way for quite a while...
The score, Bruce. Cameron mentioned on TV that the set was cut down in
London to accommodate it's new venue.
--
Nicky
MECHHELO
mind....hahaa
bruce
could this be the year for monster mash....
Nicky
> oops ok i thought yalll were talking about the tour.....well never
mind....hahaa
LOL. No, Les Miz in London has moved theatre. As well as the score, it
seems that their chopping down the sets too! What show are you travelling
for now?
--
Nicky
MECHHELO
>for now?
>
> --
> Nicky
i am on rent until the summer break which should start like the 1st of july
then i go on vacation for a month
bruce
monster mash a great song......
Nicky
> i am on rent until the summer break which should start like the 1st of
july then i go on vacation for a month
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy "Rent". I'm one person in a small minority
who thinks this, and I know many people here from the ng enjoyed the show
and I don't want to trodd on folk's feelings, but it just didn't do it for
me - "The Passion of the Christ" as well as - yikes!
Be sure to enjoy your vacation come August!
--
Nicky
"Mozart never got to hear Beethoven's 5th!" by me!
Jess
>who thinks this, and I know many people here from the ng enjoyed the show
>and I don't want to trodd on folk's feelings, but it just didn't do it for
>me -
I like the show, but I don't love it. Actually, music-wise, I like Jonathan
Larson's Tick, Tick...BOOM! a lot better. I've never seen TTB though...
Nicky
> I like the show, but I don't love it. Actually, music-wise, I like
Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick...BOOM! a lot better. I've never seen TTB
though...
For me the comedy in it was too much. Perhaps it was just the performers
who over powered it at some stages...?