Post by marion on Jul 1, 2022 9:13:06 GMT
To Wimbledon yesterday for this terrific show. Unlike Private Peaceful where 80% of the audience was under 10, it was more like 80% over 60, but at least that meant you could hear what was going on.
This is the Chichester production which is usually a good sign, and I have to say this went down a storm with our audience. Wimbledon has a big stage and the cast is quite generous so it showed itself off well. It was a real old school show, no changes or efforts towards modernity, and really uplifting. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. There was a ton of water splashing down on the stage but, unlike at Chichester, our front rows weren’t soaked! (That happened to us at Neville’s Island despite the plastic capes provided. God I was pissed off!). There was also excellent use of the silent movie they were trying to save, very funny stuff with the dubbing etc.
The ensemble were imho excellent. I had not heard of the three main stars who were Sam Lips (Gene Kelly), Charlotte Gooch (Debbie Reynolds), Ross McLaren (Donald O’Connor). But I suspect that they have all got extensive musical theatre experience and the chemistry between them was great. Sandra Dickinson made a lot of a little role as the Hollywood reporter/elocution speaker, which I thought was funny as she had that squeaky voice in her hey day. But everyone involved in the musical numbers could sing and dance very well despite one unfortunate fall when our heroine leapt upon Sam Lips’ back and he promptly fell over.
At some future venues there are star changes to the cast with Adam Cooper, Kevin Clifton and Faye Tozier coming in. Needless to say Wimbledon did not get a star turn but our cast was really good so who cares? A fantastic show, the crowd went wild, what more could you ask?
This is the Chichester production which is usually a good sign, and I have to say this went down a storm with our audience. Wimbledon has a big stage and the cast is quite generous so it showed itself off well. It was a real old school show, no changes or efforts towards modernity, and really uplifting. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. There was a ton of water splashing down on the stage but, unlike at Chichester, our front rows weren’t soaked! (That happened to us at Neville’s Island despite the plastic capes provided. God I was pissed off!). There was also excellent use of the silent movie they were trying to save, very funny stuff with the dubbing etc.
The ensemble were imho excellent. I had not heard of the three main stars who were Sam Lips (Gene Kelly), Charlotte Gooch (Debbie Reynolds), Ross McLaren (Donald O’Connor). But I suspect that they have all got extensive musical theatre experience and the chemistry between them was great. Sandra Dickinson made a lot of a little role as the Hollywood reporter/elocution speaker, which I thought was funny as she had that squeaky voice in her hey day. But everyone involved in the musical numbers could sing and dance very well despite one unfortunate fall when our heroine leapt upon Sam Lips’ back and he promptly fell over.
At some future venues there are star changes to the cast with Adam Cooper, Kevin Clifton and Faye Tozier coming in. Needless to say Wimbledon did not get a star turn but our cast was really good so who cares? A fantastic show, the crowd went wild, what more could you ask?
Anymore to come?
