#post: theatre review

[operafantomet]

"The history of the Musical-Theater Basel once began with Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. With this very production, the theater operator FBM Entertainment is fighting against the Basel government's plans to close the theater 29 years later.

(photo of the theatre's facade during the original 1995 production)

A few of the not-so-young premiere guests on Thursday evening will probably still have some memories of when Basel tried to establish itself as a musical city on October 12, 1995 with Webber's successful work based on the chilling novel by Gaston Leroux. Among them was certainly Basel tenor Florian Schneider, who sang and played the title role at the time. A good 700 performances were staged within two years before the musical was canceled in 1997.

At the premiere, Schneider was a sought-after interview guest for the numerous TV and radio teams in attendance. He was faced with a new production that didn't really seem particularly new. Nor could it, as the story is unmistakably set in the Paris Opera in the 1930s, when ballet dancers still wore tutus and the singers performed in lavish baroque costumes.

(...)

The tragic love triangle between the sad and evil phantom in the catacombs of the opera, the beautiful opera diva and the aristocratic lover is clearly still captivating, as the short but powerful final applause at the premiere showed. This was certainly also due to the vocal performance of the trio, above all the soprano Georgie Wilkinson as Christine, but also Dougie Carter as Raoul and Nadim Naaman as the Phantom.

(Dougie Carter and Georgia Wilkinson in Little Lotte)

In terms of the setting, however, some compromises had to be made in comparison with the original Basel Phantom. In 1995, the Phantom was able to make full use of the stage in a theater that had been built explicitly for this production. 29 years later, some compromises had to be made here, as this is a touring production, but one that can boast a high formal standard.

(photo of the original Basel proscenium and chandelier)

It remains to be seen whether the new Phantom production can prevail as an argument for the preservation of the musical theater. It has a relatively long run until December 22. The Basel government would like to convert the theater building into an indoor swimming pool. A popular initiative aims to prevent this. This means that the voters will ultimately decide whether "The Phantom of the Opera" will not only be the beginning of the theater's history but also its end."

Review from here: https://www.bluewin.ch/en/entertainment/return-of-the-phantom-of-the-opera-to-the-musical-theater-basel-2438493.html

[normalbrothers]

TOMMY: Why do you play games with people when there's no benefit to you? TATIANA: In Russia, because we were bored. In England, because we don't know how to stop. At least there are silly games and orgasms. TOMMY: So lets fuck.

[follow-the-ghostlight]

The way I have studied this musical since 2016 and have made it one of my longest standing hyperfixations is worrying, because I swear on my rare musical merch I have so many opinions and so many words. I love this musical so much that I plan to audition for a show a company 2 hours away from me is putting on. That is the closest I have ever gotten to being in or seeing this musical.

I have also convinced myself that the musical imploded cause of horrible casting decisions, because, like, HOW CAN YOU GO FROM MULTIPLE AWARDS AND BREAKING RECORDS TO NOW NOBODY’S EVER HEARD OF IT. More people have heard of WAY more niche musicals and it’s baffling to me. WHY oh WHYYY did they have to make the TV special that ALL OF AMERICA COULD SEE be the one with Hasselhoff. Why. Why did he have to be the one. To be frank, he sucks ass as this lead. Like, he’s maybe ok at singing, his acting is cheesy and hammy, and he is just absolutely not fit for that role at all. He’d do fine in an ensemble, but not the lead. He cannot bounce between tenor and baritone effectively, he does not sound or look like a different person when he “changes”, unlike Cuccioli and Warlow, his vibrato is out of control… I could keep going, but I won’t unless someone wants to hear it in dm or something lol.

And with the revival??? Why did they have to change the aesthetic??? Why did they have to make it over sexualized AND steampunk?? IT’S A GOTHIC MUSICAL!! IT IS NOT A PUNK ROCK CONCERT!! IT IS IN THE EXTENDED TITLE!!! I could go on forever about this. I am so mentally ill. I wrote a 4000+ word, 10-page, cited paper for fun about how it could be properly revived for broadway and although some of my thoughts and ideas have changed, I will definitely die on quite a few hills with the opinions I have. I’ll likely rewrite that paper over the summer or even make a video on YT discussing it, cause I wanted to make a Jekyll & Hyde iceberg video anyway. In any case, thanks for listening to my TED talk.

[datshitrandom]

Darren Criss | 2023 | ON TOUR

Los Angeles • México • Australia • London

[dingus0401]

ok yall I just saw the Cabaret revival. I think the American critics are stupid because holy shit that was amazing!!!

the overall experience of going into the club was mind blowing. I felt like I was in some Indiana Jones movie. the prologue performers were incredible and the atmosphere was unmatched.

the show was very cool. how they redid the stage was actually insane.

my only problem was with the show itself. i’ve never seen it before and had no idea what it was abt prior. i thought it was an interesting concept and idea, but the story had no real grit and i didn’t feel like i cared enough about the characters. that doesn’t really matter with the revival tho.

THE PERFORMANCES OMFG. eddie redmayne was absolutely insane wtf😭like i still hope that groff gets the tony but holy shit eddie redmayne. (he also said les miserables when introducing a french dancer which made my les miz heart happy hehe) gayle rankin was incredible!!!!!!! she absolutely nailed the big songs like Maybe This Time and the final one i forgot what it’s called💀she really embodied Sally and made her my favorite character. I hope she wins the Tonyyy.

overall, if u can, i’d recommend going. not even just for the show, mainly for the whole experience and atmosphere which are honestly once in a lifetime.

[thealogie]

Can I just say, I know next to nothing about theatre but hearing you talk about it is so fun, you’re really good at conveying information. So I end up going “oh Sarah Snook won, good for her!!” despite knowing nothing about her or the Dorian Gray production outside of your account. But your posts paint a really interesting picture about the specifics of each production you talk about, I want to start going out and enjoying plays.

Aw thank you! I have so much to say about Sarah Snook’s performance. She really truly physically and emotionally transformed into so many different characters right there on stage. I’m so glad she was rewarded for it, like she truly changed my mind about the power and possibility of one actor plays (as did the whole production).

[music-interpretation-review]

Link to playlist of contestants

[yumedoca]

Yuca reads 'The Rumic Theatre!!': Those Selfish Aliens

First up, Those Selfish Aliens (Kattena Yatsura)!! Oh my god, I love this one. Like, I love all of the Rumic World One-Shots but I have a special soft spot for this one because it really shows Rumiko's skill and potential. This work was judged by a couple of mangaka since it was an entry to Shonen Sunday's "newcomer contest", in quotes because I forgot the actual name of the contest and I'm too lazy to google it but it's basically what it says, and the judges comments were more or less like "art could improve a lot but it is a very fun and creative story". And yeah, they're right. The artstyle is cute and nostalgic but some drawings, expressions and stuff feel a bit weak. I've noticed this in early UY too btw, there's this one panel where Lum is sitting on branch in a tree and the size difference and proportion between Lum and the tree felt really off. Of course, these are all things Rumiko improves at while making UY, Her drawings and expressions looks a lot more alive and wonderful since then, her size and proportion game is incredible and her artstyle is literally iconic and it's really satisfying to see how much someone like Rumiko has improved and it's really inspirational too. The story also showed off Rumiko's potential perfectly when it comes to storytelling, it's so wonderfully wacky and creative, a literal example of thinking outside the box. Like, the whole concept of 'a newspaper delivery guy gets abducted by aliens and then fishmen and then humans, who all place bombs inside of him, while he wants to deliver the goddamned papers and also meets this cute, awesome girl who was the fishmen's pet, but then the universe is in peril because of the bomb planters stupidity and selfishness (thus the title) and they form a truce and make sure the guy delivers his papers as safely as possible while the guy doesn't know that he's a literal fucking explosive and the girl hangs out with him even though she knows' is absolutely insane, like oh my god (I had so much fun typing everything in the single quoted section lol). It's so entertaining and it shows that Rumiko Takahashi has a bunch of great ideas with this being one of them. It's charming, funny, the characters are likeable and it just such a fun and cozy read. Also, I hear many say that this is the blueprint to Urusei Yatsura but asides from the Sci-fi themes, dappyamen, the title, Akane's flirtatious behavior being a bit similar to Lum's; it's not really all that similar to UY lol. Anyways, Kei is a funny protagonist and the gag of him being dedicated to his newspaper deliveries is so damn funny (on a related note: He's dedicated to his job, and he respects women, 10/10 man) and Akane (Rumiko's first ever Akane) is a lovable, strong and supportive female lead.

They are both also really cute together btw, made for each other.

Anyway, really enjoyed this one: 8/10.

[thisbluespirit]

Pictures of Jeremy Northam in Salad Days at Nottingham Playhouse in June 1986, courtesy of the Nottingham Evening Post of 11th July (p1) & 10th June (p5).

Plus, a review from the same from 27th June 1986 (p6):

& another from The Stage 24th July 1986 (p13).

[fat-fem-and-asian]

Sarah Snook's Theatre Career 🎭

The Lover Talker (2007) as Gowdie - NIDA

Review for the Shape of Things (2008) as Evelyn - NIDA (couldn't find any photos)

DNA (2009) as Leah - The Old FItz

King Lear (2009) as Cordelia/The Fool - State Theatre Company

S-27 (2010) as May - Griffin Theatre Company

Crestfall (2010) as Olive - Griffin Independent

Rope (2011) as Leila - Tamarama Rock Surfers Co.

The Master Builder (2016) as Hilde - Old Vic Theatre

Saint Joan (2018) as Joan of Arc - Sydney Theatre Company

The Picture of Dorian Grey (2024) as All Roles - Theatre Royal Haymarket

[tobbogan-13]

I think I just like to make myself mad at this point

For the past like, hour, I've been scrolling through the low rating reviews of various movie musicals on letterboxd

why are half of the reveiws "I dont like musicals"

Heres a genius idea. If you know you hate musicals, maybe, just maybe, dont watch a musical then bitch about it online. The movie did not waste your time, YOU wasted your time. You went into it knowing you woldnt like it, yet still did it, and complained like a fucking baby. Wah wah wah bitch.

One of the movies I was looking at was A Chorus Line (1985) and this one review was just so infuriating.

"It’s kinda hard to enjoy a movie where all the characters are annoying theater kids. And A Chorus Line is full of them. The dancing and some of the music was fun though!"

Oh, so you don't like theatre kids, and you think theyre annoying? The obvious next course of action to take from that observation is to watch a movie adaptation of a broadway musical, made by theatre performers, for theatre performers, about theatre performers, then complain that it was annoying!

I will be honest, that movie is a horrible adaptation, but the concept is the same.

If 👏you 👏don't 👏like 👏something 👏dont 👏watch 👏it 👏anyway 👏then 👏complain 👏about 👏it 👏online 👏 👏 👏 👏

And I know i'm being incredibly hypocritical with this but like, idek

[dwsavideos]

My mom got us tickets to the Hadestown National Tour for Christmas as a surprise but she accidentally told me whoops.

I’m super excited I’ve been wanting to see this show since NYTW!!

[unproduciblesmackdown]

when you're looking for that info about "is there a possible phil/orville romance" and get "though there isn't a, quote, romance between the two men...it's a marvelous pairing and i'm totally happy with there being homosexual overtones between the two"

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

show finally over :D back home at 12:30 (pretty early tbf) because prom is tomorrow, it was an extra quick up time with cancelled rehearsals, and even without that we're all just really tired lol. so no IHOP, but we might go out to a late lunch later this week slfjdhkls. it was a great show and cast party though :)

[yououghtaknow]

being glared at at the theatre for laughing too loud, they hate my whimsical joy

[upontheshelfreviews]

Faerie Tale Theatre Reviews: The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Faerie Tale Theatre Reviews: The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“‘Please your honors,’ said he, ‘I’m able, by means of a secret charm, to draw all creatures living beneath the sun that creep, or swim, or fly, or run, after me so as you never saw! And I chiefly use my charm on creatures that do people harm: the mole, and toad, and newt, and viper; And people call me the Pied Piper.’” For 300 years, a stained glass window depicting a colorfully dressed piper…