Tag: Theatre

Posted in Theatre

Stunt/ Celebrity Casting in Theatre

Posted on by Georgia Haze

Today I want to discuss the topic of stunt/ celeb casting in theatre so please pass me a ladder so I can get myself up onto a fence because I don’t really have a clear side on this. Sometimes it’s necessary, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes the celeb is fantastic for the role, sometimes they’re not.

            Usually celebrity casting is done in theatre to keep the show running. Most of the time, investing in theatre is a really risky affair. A lot of shows lose more money than they make and it’s not uncommon for shows to close early or sometimes not even happen at all when the ticket sales aren’t looking great. Oftentimes, the show itself, even if it is a well-known show, isn’t enough to guarantee strong enough sales figures so casting a celebrity in one of the roles (or multiple celebs in multiple roles) is a handy way to get a few more seats filled. This means some amazing shows that don’t have the advantage of being well-known already or have missed out on awards, don’t lose their audiences to other shows that are sustaining their popularity. Which, also means that if the celebrity casting can keep the show open, the people working on that show get to keep their job. This also means that there are plenty of cast and crew members who could be getting their big break in theatre world and are getting to keep a job for a significant period of time (which can be unusual for some people working in theatre. For some, moving from one project to the next with periods of unemployment is common) because the celebrity casting is keeping the show running and therefore benefitting the rest of the team working on it.

            Except, when you think about how that role is now unavailable for aspiring actors and actresses who have trained for to work in theatre and are potentially missing their chance to get a leading role that could see their career take off. Plus, sometimes the stunt casting is done purely to bring in a ‘name’ regardless of whether they’re the ideal fit for the role or not. Working in theatre is hard work, I don’t think you need to be a professional actor to see that (I’m certainly not!). So, it can be really noticeable when someone on the stage doesn’t really have the skills or training required to be there. This then can make the show suffer in its storytelling and can be especially annoying for anyone who is more of a fan of the show itself than the cast in it.

            The other issue with celebrity casting is when the celeb has a day off and the understudy fills in for them. Now, I am a big advocate for celebrating understudies. They work incredibly hard and nearly every time I’ve seen an understudy perform, they have been amazing. So, when the understudy goes on for the celeb role you’d hope the audience would appreciate they’re seeing the show and support whoever is playing the role. But, unfortunately, not everyone thinks that way. I’ve heard really nasty things said by disappointed audience members who are there to see the celeb but see the understudy instead. Ergh. I swear, people that hate on understudies are worst people in theatre and celeb casting can make these people even worse for moaning and causing a negative atmosphere. This really is another topic for another time though.

            Overall, celebrity casting is not always a bad thing. Sure, sometimes the celeb clearly wasn’t the best choice for the role and it’s kind of annoying to see the part being taken away from someone who could have done it better but equally sometimes the celebs are brilliant and manage to keep the show open by increasing ticket sales. As I said at the start, I’m really on the fence about this but would love to hear your thoughts.

            Also, this post was totally inspired by all the drama that’s been going down at Waitress in London and I just want to say another issue with stunt casting is when there’s fantastic actor or actress in a role but then suddenly they’re dropped from the production for a few months to bring in a celeb*. Not cool. #JusticeforLauraBaldwin!

 *No hate to Ashley Roberts though, this situation is definitely not her fault and I wish her all the best for her run as Dawn.

Posted in Theatre

The House on Cold Hill Play Review

Posted on by Georgia Haze

The House on Cold Hill is a play based on a novel by Peter James currently touring the UK. The story follows a young family as they settle into their very old new home, the ominously named “Cold Hill House”, not knowing that the house is haunted. There’s a psychic, a séance, a priest who refuses to perform an exorcism and an Amazon Alexa with a mind of its own. That’s the jist anyway.

            Overall I didn’t really enjoy this show. The dialogue was ok but the lines given to the teenage girl made her sound more like a caricature than a real living, breathing 21st century teen. Or, you could say, she sounded just like how a middle-aged man might imagine a 16-year-old of 2019 might talk. The plot itself wasn’t all that compelling either, I think ghost stories in general are usually quite predictable and this show served as a reminder of that for me.

            There were also a few odd moments where it would seem they were hinting at some information that would come in handy later but then there would be no pay-off. Unlike most stories where if something seems like foreshadowing it probably is, in this story, it’s mostly not. Who was the mystery other bidder on the house? Who knows and don’t worry it’s not important because it won’t come up again. Why is the family’s techie friend repeatedly warning them against using an obvious Wi-Fi password in this scene? Forget it, it’s not important.

            There were moments of true potential with this show. The use of the technology with the Alexa and laptop playing up in a ghostly way was fairly spooky and could have given this show a really unique modern twist on the classic haunted ghost narrative but they didn’t use this enough for it to feel important. There was a moment when the whole family managed to convince themselves their techie friend who also happened to be obsessed with ghosts was behind their Alexa’s creepy messages despite the fact two of out of the three family members had themselves come face-to-face with the ghost at this point.

            The tour is nearly finished anyway but I think it’s fairly obvious this isn’t a show I’d really recommend. I think if you like a simple ghost story with the odd laugh and you’re not too bothered about originality then go for it. It’s not something I’d be rushing back to see again though. There’s a different Hill House that I find much more interesting and I can watch that from the comfort of my home (and behind a pillow) on Netflix instead.

Posted in Theatre

Hadestown First Listen & Reaction

Posted on by Georgia Haze

I don’t know where Hadestown came from but it seems like suddenly it’s everywhere. And everyone loves it. So, I did a bit of Googling to figure out the background of the show before going into my first listen of the 2017 cast recording. Turns out it’s a musical based on a concept album by Anaïs Mitchell from 2010 that has since had a few small runs and a live cast recording and was even on at the National Theatre recently (I’m so mad I didn’t go and see it because, spoiler, I’m now obsessed with Hadestown) before making its way to Broadway with an amazing cast.

            But, what’s the story? Hadestown is a modern/modern-feeling retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. If you don’t want anymore Hadestown spoilers, I’d stop here because I’m about to have a natter about Greek mythology and the show itself now so will probably spoil the ending for you.

            Are you ready for a slightly-random-and-kind-of-unrelated-but-actually-kind-of-is-related anecdote? I sure do hope so, because you’re getting one. About two weeks ago I knew very little about Greek mythology. That was before I stumbled upon a copy of Mythos. Mythos is essentially a book of Greek myths retold in a comedic style by Stephen Fry. It’s great, I’d definitely recommend it and I’ve already started his second book on Greek mythology, Heroes. But, honestly, I have no idea why I bought Mythos. It’s not the kind of thing I’d normally pick up. It’s not a novel and I don’t really read short story collections or anything similar but something made me really want to read it. As I said, I’m glad I did because I loved it and now have a new-found love and appreciation for Greek mythology.

            Naturally then, when I found out Hadestown, as the title suggests, had a link to Greek mythology, I was keen to start listening. So I did. I listened to the first song of the live recording and… I didn’t really like it.

            Here’s the issue I had. I’m not a big fan of jazz, it’s just not my thing and that first number (Road to Hell) is very jazzy and bluesy. I really wanted to like it but it just didn’t click with me on first listen so I stopped and that was it for a couple of days. But, then I saw Amy Lovatt (a theatre YouTuber who makes brilliant videos so if you don’t watch her, you should!) did a cover of All I’ve Ever Known and it didn’t sound jazzy at all. It just sounded nice. So I decided to give it another try.

            Livin’ It Up on Top was more fun to me and I love Amber Gray from the Great Comet cast album so I enjoyed that song but it wasn’t until I listened to All I’ve Ever Known that I fell properly head-over-heels-and-walk-right-into-the-Underworld-just-to-get-tickets in love with a Hadestown song. It’s just beautiful. I have nothing else to say. I just love it and have listened to it on repeat several times.

            I’m not going to go over every song in this live recording especially since it’s so fresh in my mind but here are a few further initial thoughts:

  • Amber Gray is amazing and I love her voice so much, please God may I see her live one day?!
  • I love chantey numbers in musicals and there’s literally a song called “Chant” so of course it’s one of ,my faves!
  • Damn Patrick Page’s voice goes low in Songbird, I hope he has some throat sweets back stage with him on Broadway.
  • Wait For Me is beautiful ahhhhhh and I can’t wait for the new cast recording so I can listen to the new lyrics ahhhhhh
  • Ow my heart hurts. Orpheus, why? You literally had one job. Even if she didn’t follow you out you were getting out of Hades anyway, why did you turn around?!
  • Hermes getting sad at having to sing the tragedy over again in Road to Hell II is almost more painful than when Orpheus looks back.
  • Maybe I do like a bit of jazz and blues after all…

I just want to go way down way down to Hadestown (not literally, I think I learnt the lesson) and see this show. Why I didn’t go and see it at the National Theatre I don’t know but maybe the Broadway hype will bring it back over here soon. I did look into the cost of tickets to see it on Broadway and they were literally the same price as the flight to New York so might just park that idea for now.

ANYWAYS, the moral is listen to Hadestown. And read Mythos. Bye for now!

Posted in Theatre

Three Mini West End Reviews: Aladdin, Wicked and Waitress

Posted on by Georgia Haze

I’ve seen a few West End shows lately so I wanted to group them all into one post and natter away about them for a little bit. Wicked is the only one of these shows I’d seen before and the Waitress tickets were a birthday surprise for my sister because I am, clearly, the best sister ever.

Overall, I thought Aladdin was bright, fun and colourful. The changes they’d made from the Disney’s animated movie (side note, even though I’m a bit over the Disney live action remakes, I am quite excited about the Aladdin movie, anyone else?) made sense and for the most part worked well. There are no animals in the show but Aladdin actually gets some real friends which is good for him. The new songs are nice but it’s the ones that come from the film that really have the entertainment factor, particularly the high-energy and genuinely spectacular Friend Like Me scene. Trevor Dion Nicholas is hilarious as the Genie, his comedic timing and stage presence lights up the stage almost as much as his glittery head.

           The World New World scene was also executed nicely even if the actors did look a little scared to be floating around the stage on a “flying carpet”. The main criticism I have for the show, however, is the way they’ve worked Jafar and Iago into the stage show. As I said, there are no animals in the show so how do they get Iago in there? Well, he’s Jafar’s pretty annoying pantomime-esque sidekick. Sure, Aladdin is a pantomime classic and Jafar is widely considered to be one of Disney’s best villains but it felt a bit too over-the-top for me. I guess, maybe I’d feel different if I’d been to see the show with kids because that, for sure, would work for them. But, not for me and considering how many adults there were in the audience, it just felt a bit much.

           Stepping away from the negatives though, this show is lively and, like I said, oh so colourful and visually spectacular. Fans of Disney will love it, families will love it, everyone else will probably enjoy it too.

How can I see it?

Aladdin is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre and booking through to July 27th (it will be closing in the coming months though so if you’re keen on seeing it, make sure you get tickets soon!)

This wasn’t my first trip to the Emerald City. Seeing Wicked again was a bit of nostalgia fest since it was the first show I ever saw on the West End back in 2014 and is now the only London show I’ve seen twice (though there are quite a few I’m desperate to see again).

           Every musical fan seems to love Wicked, there’s something about it that just transports you into a magical realm where people can say slightly cringey non-words like “braverism” without anyone batting an eyelid. What I found most exciting about seeing it again was 1. Re-realising how funny it is and 2. Getting to see the amazing cast that is currently in the show. Alice Fearn as Elphaba and Sophie Evans as Glinda are brilliant and great when they perform together.

We were sat very far back right up at the top of the dress circle but you forget you’re so far back because the belting is so damn powerful and you get a great view of the random but awesome dragon at the top of the stage.

           Whether you have or haven’t seen Wicked on the West End yet, the cheap seats at the top do actually have quite a good view so I think you should treat yourself this summer if you can.

How can I see it?

Wicked is showing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and booking until May 2020.

I was so excited to see Waitress and it didn’t disappoint at all. It’s funny, moving and inspiring. The cast were fantastic. Katherine McPhee had such a long applause after She Used to Be Mine and rightfully so because her performance was so heart-wrenching. She was just amazing. So were her co-stars, Laura Baldwin as Dawn (who was also fab in Eugenius last year) and Charlotte Raby (who was understudying for Marisha Wallace) as Becky. Their friendship felt real to me and it was so great to see a show so focused on women’s issues and humour relating to what it’s like being a woman. I already knew I loved the songs but I didn’t realise how much I’d love the book and choreography as well. Also, I did not know how awkward and adorable Dr Pomatter is from just the songs. David Hunter was hilarious and played the lovable doctor really well.

            I got too much merch – including a Waitress cookbook even though I rarely bake but I appreciate clever merch and I’m far too tigger-happy when it comes to buying things I don’t need so I got it – and obvs bought a pie there which came in a cute little jar.

            Everything about this show was brilliant, I feel like I was grinning the whole way through. I’d recommend it to everyone I know. I feel like I’m probably as enthusiastic about this show as Ogie is about Dawn… maybe… if that’s even possible. Just, if you can, go and see it. It makes for a great feel-good evening.

How can I see it?

Waitress is showing at the Adelphi Theatre and booking through to October 19th. Go see it!

Let me know if you’ve seen any great shows lately. I already have a long list of shows to see but I’m constantly extending it anyway so feel free to give me recommendations! 😀

Posted in Theatre

Heathers the Musical Original West End Cast Recording Act 2 Mini Song Reviews

Posted on by Georgia Haze

This is the second part of my last blog post where I wrote mini reviews of each song from Act One of the Heathers the Musical Original West End Cast Recording so make sure to check that out before taking a look at these Act two Reviews.

My Dead Gay Son

Honestly, this isn’t my favourite song on the original American cast album but it is quite funny and I like that it gives Nathan Amzi and Jon Boydon a chance to show their amazing comedic skills and great voices on the album.

Seventeen

More of Carrie and Jamie’s vocals together? Yes please! Again, I actually wouldn’t count Seventeen up there amongst my favourite Heathers songs but I am a big fan of both Carrie and Jamie’s voices (and Barrett Wilbert Weed and Ryan McCartan’s too!) so this is definitely nice to listen to.

Shine a Light

When I saw the show this scene was a particular highlight. The wacky nature of Rebecca Lock’s Ms Fleming and the audience interaction were fantastic. It’s a shame that the audience interaction can’t translate into the album but this song is upbeat and hilarious regardless. Love it!

Lifeboat

Anyone just want to hug McNamara when listening to this song? Sophie Isaacs has a lovely voice so it’s nice that we get her sing on her own solo. I feel like this song can feel quite relatable to many people in school and the violins (please correct me if they’re not violins!) in the music make this sound even more haunting and poignant.

Sine a Light (Reprise)

Yikes, don’t get on Duke’s bad side!

I Say No

NEW SONG Number #3! This is the only song on the album that wasn’t in the show when I saw it and I’m so sad I never got to see this performed live because since its release as a single, it’s my new favourite song! I’ve watched Carrie’s YouTube videos for a long and seen her do a lot of covers so hearing how incredible her voice sounds in this song is weirdly moving. It just feels like she’s come so far to carry a song this big with so much confidence and attack. This is also a great song for anyone in a bad situation to listen to, there’s so much power in saying no sometimes and we should never forget that.

Heathers the Musical Original West End Cats Reocridng Act Two Mini Song Reviews
What the Heathers the Musical stage looked like when I saw it at The Other Palace

Kindergarten Boyfriend

I’m not crying, you are. This was another scene that stuck out to me when I saw the show as I knew it would from having listened to the original American cast recording. Jenny O’Leary brings so much innocence to the role and her voice is so soft and sweet-sounding that it just suits Martha so well. Again, there aren’t any wild changes from the original but I’d have been really disappointed if there had been, this song is gorgeous and heartbreaking as is and it’s just great to get to see a recording of another singer’s take on it (that’s not to Katie Ladner’s version is subpar in any way, it is equally as stunning).

Yo Girl

I like the inclusion of the “that’s not my handwriting” line, Veronica sounds honestly terrified at this point. Which she probably would be, you know, considering her murderous ex-boyfriend has as-good-as told her she’s his next victim.

Meant to by Yours

Need I say again just how much I love Jamie Muscato’s voice?? This is one of my favourites on the original cast album but I think this version might have overtaken it. Gahh I just love it so so much.

Dead Girl Walking (Reprise)

I’m fan of the “Don’t talk about my mom” line, it seems to give JD a weakness we don’t hear in the original cast album. I also love Carrie’s “yeahyeahyeahhh” in this song.

I Am Damaged

“Please stand back now… little further”, I don’t know why this line always cracks me up but it does. That’s all.

Seventeen (Reprise)

I love this number in the OG recording and I love it in this one. It’s a sweet number that rounds off the show perfectly, or you could say beautifully! Just one thing I wanted to comment on though, I’m glad they changed the “take off our clothes and dance” line to “take off our shoes and dance”, the old lyric just felt a bit sexual and out-of-place for a song that’s about embracing youth and favouring friendship over hatred.

That’s it, that’s my review of the Heathersthe Musical Original West End Cast Recording. I hope you enjoyed my thoughtsand ramblings. Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s show is a hilarious satirethat never loses its significance even now, over 30 years since the originalfilm was released. Let’s all just hope Heathers will return to London one day.

Bye for now!

Posted in Theatre

Heathers the Musical Original West End Cast Recording Act 1 Mini Song Reviews

Posted on by Georgia Haze

Greetings and salutations!

I was lucky enough to see Heathers during its run at The Other Palace, one of my favourite venues. Its small space makes it feel intimate yet the productions still feel high quality which means you always get great value for money on your ticket price. I was a bit gutted I didn’t get around to seeing it at the Haymarket (I’ve got to give my bank balance a break sometimes!). Sadly, I never got to see Carrie Hope Fletcher belt out I Say No but luckily they released a cast album so I can hear her take on Veronica whenever I like as well as the rest of the amazing original West End Heathers cast!

Here are my reviews of the songs from Act One:

Beautiful

From “September 1st 1989” straight through to that last note, I was buzzing listening to this. It’s very like the original American cast recording but it’s the introduction to the show so it makes sense for it to be the same with a few differences here and there. It’s also the first time we hear a few of the cast members’ individual vocals (which are fab!) and the ensemble singing together (also fab!).

Candy Store

Yessssss galsss, this song is just as feisty as the original American Heathers take on it and Jodie, T’Shan and Sophie’s harmonies are gorgeous. I honestly think I’d be honoured if Jodie Steele threatened me in song.

Fight For Me

Firstly, Carrie Hope Fletcher’s “daaayyuuumm” is hilarious and how her voice sounds so soft and hopeful (no pun intended) in this song suits the theme of the song so well, I love it!

Freeze Your Brain

Oh my Lord. I think I did a Carrie daaayyuuumm the first time I listened to this. Jamie Muscato’s voice is so so so smooth. I also feel like he made this song totally his own. To me at least (baring in mind I have little-to-no actual music knowledge), the way he sings this song is totally different to Ryan McCartan on the original cast recording. It’s more smooth and feels more like he’s being a bit flirty with Veronica as he’s singing which totally makes sense for the scene. And, somehow his voice STILL sounds smooth as hell when he’s singing the harsher end of the song and his last “freeze your brain” line is so… am I going to say it again?… apparently yes, for lack of a better word, smooth. The whole damn song is smooth ok. This is one of my favs from this album so sorry but I just needed to get this ramble of me.

Big Fun

~ Do I hear lyric changes? ~ “You’re a natural, just like my mom”, had me cackling. I very much approve of this new version of Big Fun.

Dead Girl Walking

Ok, so what I was saying about how The Other Palace is a small and intimate venue… yeah I felt *very* close to the actors when this scene was happening which was a… unique theatre experience let’s just say! Again, this song is fairly similar to the original but hey, you can’t improve on perfection and I like the way Carrie changes the way she sings certain parts – especially that last note. This song really reminds me of the confidence Carrie oozed on the stage in this number and the cheer from the audience which was LOUD so this one evokes memories for me.

Pictures from outside The Other Palace on the day I saw Heathers the Musical

The Me Inside of Me

The transition from Jodie’s “No one sees the me inside of me” to “Jesus, you’re making me sound like air supply” was hilarious, what a comedy queen. Also, did Ms Fleming really say, “What this song needs is a good old-fashioned rap session”? Because, I really hope so. Might just leave this one with “HOLY CRAP THIS IS AWESOME!” because, yep, same Jodie.

You’re Welcome

NEW SONG #1! Ok, so I can’t help thinking of Maui when I listen to this song but honestly I love Christopher Chung and Dominic Anderson’s vocals together in this song and, this might be a bit random, but I also love their accents in this one for some reason. They just sound so much like your classic American high school movie jocks. This is one of those songs where it makes you feel slightly uncomfortable but it’s meant to since it’s actually about a really important topic. It’s great to hear Veronica’s thought process about how she handles the situation and manages to get away. Combining comedy with genuinely serious topics is something Heathers does better than most stories and this song is a great example of that.

Never Shut Up Again

NEW SONG #2! We’ve reached the new song relay part of the album and this is when T’Shan and her fierce vocals get to rock out as the new self-elected head bitch of the school. It’s great to see Duke getting a solo in this version of Heathers as we see from both Chandler and McNamara’s points of view and it doesn’t seem right that she didn’t have her own song before. Plus, it totally makes sense that Duke would want to take the limelight for a moment as she finally has a voice after being silenced by Chandler for so long. Although, again, bit of a random thought here, but a lot of musicals make Wizard of Oz references, don’t they?

Our Love Is God

I mean, this song has a lot of Jamie’s Muscato’s vocals and we’ve established how I feel about that (should I say they’re smooth again or have we sort of got that point now?). This is the first time we really hear Carrie and Jamie properly sing together though and their voices blend so nicely it’s just so daaayyuuumm good. This song is also quite similar to the original but again, it’s a great song and scene so why change it?

Phew that’s Act one Done, read my reviews of the songs of Act Two here.

Posted in Theatre

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Piccadilly Theatre | My First London Play

Posted on by Georgia Haze

Despite the fact I’ve seen quite a few London shows, I’d never actually seen a play until I saw The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time earlier this month. I had wanted to see it when it was in London before because the reviews were amazing and I read the book a few years ago and absolutely loved it. But, tickets are pricey and seeing a play wasn’t top of my theatre priority list back then. However, it was announced that the show was coming back to London and the glorious people at TodayTix had a 24hr cheap ticket deal so I was straight on it (if you love theatre but don’t have a TodayTix account, I would highly recommend it). I really didn’t want to miss the show this time and I’m so glad I didn’t because it was, as all the reviews suggested, amazing.

Ok, it did take me a few minutes for my brain to adjust to the fact that at no moment was any character going to burst into song but I got past that soon enough and was totally enveloped in this story and these characters that the amazing cast were portraying.

The show is about a boy called Christopher with a non-specified disorder, likely Asperger’s Syndrome, who becomes determined to find out who killed his neighbour’s dog with a garden fork in the dead of night. What you really see though is a fascinating family drama through the perspective of Christopher as his parents’ many secrets are revealed.

One thing I particularly liked about this play is that it shows the positives and negatives to having a condition like Asperger’s for an individual and their family. Christopher’s family find it difficult to explain things to him in ways he’ll understand yet he is incredibly intelligent and is confident in his mathematical abilities. He is uncomfortable with other people touching or chatting with him but he clearly has a great appreciation for animals and their welfare… he really genuinely cares about finding out who killed the dog because, in his eyes, the dog, Wellington, matters just as much as any human.

I also really liked how they managed to use the theatre format to show what sensory overload is like. The scenes where Christopher is taking a Tube journey took a fairly mundane activity and cleverly showed how overwhelming it can be for someone with a condition like Christopher’s, surrounded by strangers and in a place he doesn’t know well. The actor playing Christopher, Joshua Jenkins, was especially great in his role and particularly in the scenes depicting sensory overload.

I will warn you now though, if you see the show it ends up being the welfare of Christopher’s rat that you become more concerned with than Wellington. I’m hoping there is some sneaky tricks to get Toby in and out of his case during the very physical scenes of Christopher tackling the Tube where the case is flung around quite a lot but it did worry me for a while!

All in all, I am so so glad I got to see this show. Having not read the book for a long time, it was great to be reminded of this fantastic story. The cast and creatives are also great, the stage itself is so cleverly designed and I hope as many people see this show as possible. It’s the kind of play that promotes empathy for kids like Christopher and that’s a pretty special thing.

The Piccadilly Theatre and Curious Incident Stage

Where can I see it?

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is showing at the Piccadilly Theatre in London and booking until the 27th April 2019.

Posted in Theatre

5 Musicals That Could Actually Have Good Sequels

Posted on by Georgia Haze

Musical theatre sequels aren’t really much of a thing – apart from the odd exception here and there. Love Never Dies is one everyone thinks of when it comes to theatrical sequels but then you have shows like The Cursed Child where you see two performances anyway, it’s basically like the second show is a sequel. So, I’ve put together a few shows that I think could have potentially amazing sequels.

**Warning, spoilers ahead!**

Bare: A Pop Opera

I’d love to see the aftermath of the events of Bare, maybe with the sequel beginning a few months down the line. It would be so interesting to see how Peter, Nadia and co. handle their grief and graduate school to start new lives in university/college. We could see Peter find acceptance in his new community and maybe even find love again. Bare: A Pop Opera does such a great job at showing the complexities that can form between faith and sexuality so a sequel where Peter learns he can be both Catholic and openly gay in a far more accepting society than St Cecilia’s would be really heart-warming and such an important message for young viewers. This would be especially moving since we see his mum start to overcome her initial shock at realising Peter is gay and decide that she will ultimately love her son no matter what in Bare so the sequel could also dive more into Peter’s relationship with his mum.

I would also love to see a proper friendship develop between Nadia and Ivy. Their budding enemies-to-friends storyline only comes into effect in the last few scenes so to see Nadia be a supportive friend to Ivy as she makes the decision of what to do about her pregnancy would be great. As the school community seems quite traditional in their beliefs I’d imagine Ivy would be encouraged to keep her baby. In which case, the sequel could also tackle the topic of teenage motherhood.

Also, I just feel like I need more Sister Chantelle being a legend in my life so a sequel would be fab. K, thanks.  

Hamilton

Ok, so there’s a fairly obvious obstacle with this one in that Alexander Hamilton dies in the show and it’s based on real history so there’s no bringing him back to life for a fun zombie spin-off… or isn’t there???? Erm, no, I’m going to say there isn’t. I think a Hamilton sequel could work though if it was focused on Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton, AKA one of the most inspiring women in history. The show could tell the story her life after the death of her husband, which was hardly uneventful. Do I need to remind you she raised funds for the Washington Monument, spoke out about slavery and established the first private orphanage in New York City?

I, for one, would not say no to learning more about her in glorious musical form (not say no… see what I did there?).

Also, I saw a YouTube comment one time that had the theory that the show is called “Hamilton” because that could refer to Alexander or Eliza and that blew my mind and makes me think this sequel is totally justified. So, Lin, I know you’re really busy right now but like, just think about it ok?

Les Miserables

Lol jk, a sequel wouldn’t work because everyone dies. Except for Marius and Cosette. And no one really cares about them.

In The Heights

Sorry to throw another Lin Manual Miranda musical into the mix, I know he’s very busy and has no time for sequels but hear me out. Benny and Nina have some of the best love songs in musical theatre so I just want to more from them. I want to see Nina finish her degree at Stanford, move back to Washington Heights, marry Benny, have an amazing career in her field whilst Benny is also building up to an amazing career, have children with Benny, grow old with Benny and retire to a nice house paid for by the hard-earned money they both got from their amazing careers. Is that too much to ask?

Besides, I don’t want it to all be exclusively about Benny and Nina (but mostly about Benny and Nina), I also want to see Usnavi and Vanessa’s second date and I want Usnavi’s shop to be the most successful spot in Washington Heights. I want Vanessa to get to travel on an airplane as her and Usnavi jet off on a trip together. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY, OK. Is that TOO MUCH to ask? Is it?  

It’s ok, I’ve calmed down now… let’s move on, shall we?

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Now, for this musical sequel, wouldn’t it be so cool to see Jamie a few years down the road living his life as the iconic adult we all knew he was going to be? In this case, the sequel would just work because Jamie is just such a fun character. Another show all about him would definitely be an exciting treat for theatre fans. I don’t really have many ideas for the story as such but Jamie Campbell is a huge fan of the show and has seen it many times so it could go full theatre-ception by showing the adult Jamie New going to see a musical about himself from when he was younger which is the real musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie… I’m not even sure if that’s a good idea or just plain confusing but now I really want them to try it.

Something Rotten!

I’m sad this musical hasn’t made it’s way to the UK yet but as the story of Nick, Nigel, Bea, Portia, Nostradamus and Shylock ends up with them having to leave London for America as exiles it would be great to see them bringing musicals to New England. It would be an amazing chance for some more silly antics for this gang of ridiculous individuals, especially if they brought Omelette! to America. It would also be entertaining to see how Nick and Nigel would fair as fathers and we could maybe even see the brothers coming to loggerheads over which of them has the most theatrical family. I’m thinking a Cheaper by the Dozen 2-style family feud comedy show would work well here.

So, there you have it. Those are just a few musicals I think could work as sequels, from the sincere to the silly. I’d love to hear your suggestions too!

Posted in Theatre

I Saw Come From Away’s First London Performance!

Posted on by Georgia Haze

Squee. My first ever time of seeing the first performance of a new London show was a pretty epic experience. Come From Away’s first London performance was on the 30th January 2019 and I saw it from the third row. I had eye contact with the actors at points. I don’t think I’ve never felt more #blessed lol.

So, what was it like? Well, let me tell you, Come From Away is not a show that disappoints. It’s a fantastic celebration of all that’s good in humanity and a reminder that kindness and positivity can still prevail even in the darkest of times. I know that’s kind of a cliché but when you remember that Come From Away is based on a real event and each individual story told in the show is based on a real person’s accounts of what happened to them, this message loses it’s corniness and starts feeling like a real comfort. Especially in light of the grim stories that are being churned out of the news every day.

Come From Away had me laughing (A LOT more than I thought I would, honestly) and holding back the tears too. It was fun and it was heart-breaking and it was simple and complicated all in one. In case you haven’t been able to guess this already, I completely loved it.

I’ve listened to the cast album many times and I’d consider Me and the Sky to be one of my favourite songs ever (it’s, like, a feminist anthem!) so needless to say I was very excited about the seeing the show. The first thing I’ll say is that the cast and the band were amazing. The way the cast so quickly changed characters, which often involved switching accents and rarely involved leaving the stage in-between character changes, was seamless. One moment I was believing Rachel Tucker was Annette, a Newfoundland fantasist, the next, there she was as Captain Beverley Bass, the first female captain of a US commercial airline. The whole cast worked together so well and the comedy and sense of camaraderie that the show thrives on was generated brilliantly by everyone involved. The live band got to shine as well, particularly during Screech In and at the end when they showcased how talented they all were as individuals.

What surprised me the most was how little of the story I knew from listening to the cast album. There’s a whole storyline about Bonny and the animals on the planes (including the only rare Bonobo chimp in Newfoundland which was particularly touching) that you only get from seeing the show itself. I also found myself getting very emotional over certain parts of the story, particularly Hannah’s struggle to find out the fate of her son and her budding friendship with Beulah and the treatment of Ali by those around him. The show doesn’t shy away from important topics and actually makes the audience see issues from different points of view without ever losing the cheery spirit of the performance for too long. This is something I really admire in the writing of Come From Away.

It’s a beautiful show and I feel very lucky to have been there. I bought a Me and the Sky t-shirt on my way in and collected my free “I’m an islander” badge on the way out (they’re only giving out 20,000 of them so that felt a little bit special too). It’s uplifting and thought-provoking and moving and I hope I get to see it again before the end of its run but if I don’t then so be it. I still got to see it and it has to be one of my best theatre experiences ever. Getting to see it on its first London performance when the audience was full of die-hard fans and there was a buzz of excitement throughout the theatre was really special.

Just one question I was left with… why is every West End show now performed on a revolving stage??

What’s it about?

Come From Away is a musical about Operation Yellow Ribbon. After 9/11 happened, the USA closed its airspace and the planes flying in were told to land at Gander International Airport in Newfoundland. The show tells the stories of the plane crew, passengers and the people of Newfoundland who took in 7,000 people for several days until they were able to get back in the air. It’s a heart-warming show with a small cast playing multiple roles to tell the stories of many different individuals involved in the operation.

How can I see it?

Come From Away is currently showing at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End and booking until the 25th May.