★★★ REVIEW: Stranger Things The First Shadow (West End) | my thoughts on the 2023 Netflix stage play
Вставка
- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
- Join my channel to gain access to exclusive content:
/ @mickeyjotheatre
Get your tickets to STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW in the West End ⬇️
prf.hn/click/camref:XXXXXX/de...
•
OHMYGOD HEY!
Based on the global hit Netflix series created by the Duffer Brothers, a prequel play set within the universe of STRANGER THINGS has just opened at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End, London.
The play, which is called Stranger Things: The First Shadow, features the Creel family and young versions of popular characters Joyce, Hopper, Bob, and Dr Brenner.
•
00:00 | introduction
04:21 | what is Stranger Things about?
07:09 | what happens in the play?
13:38 | what did I think of the play?
18:39 | what were the shortcomings?
28:26 | are there continuity errors?
34:37 | how are the performances?
•
SUBSCRIBE to My Channel: @MickeyJoTheatre
#strangerthings #theatre #london - Розваги
I have to say, I was completely in awe of this show. I've seen a lot of theatre and I think this show had some of the best set design, lighting, projection, special effects & casting I've ever seen. I thought it was such an incredible piece of theatre. It was a very easy 5 stars for me.
I just got back from London after seeing this today and WOW! Phenomenal! Everything was so on point, the effects, the set design, the costumes, and of course the absolutely FANTASTIC cast! My two standouts had to be Isabella Pappas as Joyce Maldonado Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, they NAILED their roles! It was like they’d been plucked right out of the show itself and put right in front of us on stage!
I think the program being that big is mimicking an 80s record and the liner notes it would have on the inside.
But the show is set in the 50s? And no other 80 references are made.
Records from the 50s feature in Season 4 of the show too
Honestly, based on your description, it's reminding me of the episode of Riverdale where it flashes back to their parents at school together 😬
I saw the third preview so don’t know how much has been cut but I completely agree with you about the patty thing at the end. I actually thought she had died, it made sense narratively and packed an emotional punch. Then in the next scene she just walks on stage, completely fine, it was utterly baffling to me and left me really underwhelmed, after the big climax where she “dies”. A very strange choice
I've seen stranger things
I agree too with possibility that she was kept alive, because she most likely is going to feature significantly in Season 5 of the TV show I bet. (although to note she was limping and using a walking stick when we see her in her final scene in Nevada).
I did not have the same experience thinking she had died, the scene where she appears in the end was what the “climax” ended up being for me as I instantly realised that she will 100% be a key character in S5 because she holds a lot of knowledge about Vecna.
Watch Season 5. It’ll explain it all. It makes sense if you go back to a part in the middle
I mean they mention she was critical condition not dead
SPOILERS****
if they bring Patty Newby into season 5 as a plot point and not bring back Kali...that is super annoying!
I think that the Upside down didn't always look like a city, so it might have looked different than when he was sent there in Hawkins/ Eleven opened up the gate to the upside down INSIDE of him lol so that probably made him react differently. It also could have been the Void and not the Upside down. When Eleven went into the Void and touched the Demogorgon, that was what allowed the upside down to start influencing things i think, and the more influence the upside down had the easier it was for the gates to be opened. the Demogorgon could open gates itself in the show.
Henry was drawing the mind flayer when we first see him in flashbacks, so that also seems logical.
Joyce, Hopper, Lonnie, Bob, and Karen all talk about how they went to high school together in earlier season, so i don't think it is too Fanfiction-y...especially because it is patently hard to escape a small town.
The time jump where henry meets 11 is probably just because 11 would have been literally a toddler and they couldn't get a toddler on stage.
With Patty and the lights could be that in the upside down the Mind Flayer could be around, the lights flicker in the show when ANYTHING on the other side interact with the lights.
Al Munson not getting to be a real actor and seemingly getting someone pregnant and stuck in a small town could definitely lead to a life of doing whatever to get by.
Lonnie was canonically abusive to Joyce, he hits Jonathan once and that is when they get divorced i think.
Excellent, excellent breakdown - I was one of those Americans that went over to London a week and a half ago to see the play and then had to figure out how to fit the program in my carry on 😁 This whole thing felt SO Cursed Child, from the tone of the play, the focus on these alternative versions of characters we knew, the types of effects, the whole marketing and even the in-theater experience. And I came to the same conclusion here that I did with Cursed Child - I don't think either are brilliant theater, but as a fan I ended up having a blast at both. I agree with all the short comings you brought up (I did have quite a bit of young kids at my night show, which surprised me and maybe points to a broader fan base than I assumed, and more similar to Cursed Child than expected). ** SPOILER** I do wonder like you said towards the end that it willl be Patty resurfacing that will make it to the 5th season. The more I think of it the more it doesn't feel so odd that the adults haven't brought up the incident in the series so far - with most of them in Russia last season, and Bob passing away earlier in the series with not that much screen time. I do agree, in season 5 once they get wind of what happened in season 4 it should all come back up. I wonder if Patty is going to be the secret weapon to finally get Vecna. Also, quick observation - it was really neat how the main trio also resembled so closely some of the kids in the series, ie. Bob was a dead ringer for Dustin - from his love of technology and his gadgets, his nerdiness. Young hopper was very much coming off like Steve - his cool dude act, his hair, his back and forth with Joyce. Joyce though, did feel a little off from current Joyce I agree. My cynical thought is that they just wanted a strong and spunky female character, which feels lazy. Hope they have better reasons. Overall, a fun time though. Agree, not necessary viewing, same as Cursed Child, but a nice filler till we have the next season.
The mind flayer best👍👍 не обращайте внимания:_)
Oh man - wished I had bought a programme now. As I really want to try and find a list of all the songs used in the show, and can only remember a few of them. But more definitely used, especially in the diner scene. Does the programme list all the music used/licensed?
*SPOILERS*
As well as Patty being key in S5, what did you think about Mrs Creel knowing Dr Brenner?? She asked him to take Henry… then another scene she gives him a key and ask him to ensure he is kept locked, but the Dr simply let him leave and go to school for the play. That does not add up, but I have my own theories which could be a huge plot twist.
Is that the girlfriend, that would be brilliant, argh, living in Tasmania Australia I'll never ever get to see this, I just want to know henry's story, because they won't have much time to fit everything in to season 5 🤦♀️🙂👍.
The original drafts of the tv show were called Montauk. You can research the Montauk Project for reference.
The warship that is mentioned is the USS Eldridge, for more info you can research the Philadelphia Experiment.
This stuff is old time conspiracy theory material. The Duffer brothers managed to find a smart way of weaving these old stories into their tv show.
This debunks the theory that vecna created the mindflayer. I always knew that wasn’t the case but everyone else was convinced
I forgot as saw the show November last year and think I was a little confused at the time, so Vecna was influenced by the Mind Flayer and that’s what started his path to becoming evil?
@@SpiderBatFan also on new stranger things vr video game it’s also confirmed that the mind flayer was already there in the upside down and lead Henry down an even more darker path
Just want to chime in and agree about the size of programs! I’m trying to form a collection and finding a box that comfortably fits both the usual ones and the silly oversized ones is tricky! Looking at you BTTF!
Louis is awesome in it.
I haven’t seen the play but from this i think the implication of henry’s connection to the mindflayer is that will has the same connection in the show, and will might get psychic powers
Hey ! Great video. Are you still planning to do a review of Rachel Tucker in SB ?
Anyone else’s legs nearly dead after sitting in those cramped seats? Was brilliant effects just nice to be able to see Hawkins again
I enjoyed the play though I haven’t seen the TV series. It’s tough because I enjoyed not knowing what was happening in the plot beforehand and watching it play out, but I can imagine if you already know how it’s going to end might not be as compelling.
MY FRIEND MADE THOSE SPIDER JARS!!!!
I really wanted to see the show because of them, and luckily I won the lottery to see one of the previews. The tickets were in the first row on the left side of the stage so unfortunately I couldn’t see a lot of the action upstage. Which means I didn’t see the Demagorgon and was confused why it was on a lot of the show merch. Honestly I’m not a super big fan of the show but honestly I think it’s wayyyyy better than the First Child in the way of story. The First child is just so out of character for Harry Potter and completely breaks the lore in a frustrating way. I think this hit the balance for not breaking the story too much by sticking to what actually happens in the show, but just elaborates on it more. I do think the “play with in the play” with the main adults being the b plot to solve a mystery (that they ultimately never figure out because then it would break cannon) is a little cliché but as someone who’s read a lot of fan fiction this is on the better end. As you mentioned there were some lore things that didn’t add up to you, like no-body connecting the pet murders to the murders in the 80s but they actually DO. That’s how Nancy and Robin even make the connection to Henry in the first place since Hopper and Joyce weren’t around to make the connection for them (and even if they did they would have thought it was Henry’s dad).
I need to go back to see this show again as it has changed a lot since first preview excited to see it again though some of the special effects were incredible!
The was a early promo photo with bats, but I saw this show recently and don't remember that scene? was it cut?
As you are the only reliable critic in London, I don't have much comments on this production but last night my cousin saw the new musical Untouchable, She loved it. Can't wait for your review❤
Question, do they use the series theme music in the play? Also, after the conclusion of season five, how long until the Stranger Things musical hits the West End?
They Do! It’s actually really cool, the beginning of the play is almost like this cold open and then after the scene concludes the lights on the stage + projections light up with the classic red lines as the synth kicks in. My audience actually cheered cause we were so hyped.
Also, this is technically already on the West End, and it’s not a musical. There’s musical moments but it’s not a musical.
@@Junoisverysleepy Thank you for letting me know about the series theme music. I would think that would be eerie to hear it for a stage production. The second part was kind of a joke, but a serious joke. When I say a Stranger Things musical, I mean a proper musical where the characters sing, sing several times throughout the course of the production. The joke part is that most of the West End or Broadway is filled with shows that were movies that became musicals (and then became movie musicals). That's all I was saying.
@@mts7130 fair enough! I just saw a lot of people assuming this was a musical in a /srs way 😅
I think the use of the Netflix theme tune, and opening credits, is very well used, and mimics exactly the way the Tv show pre-credit prolouges, opening and closing credits, and famous 'Chapter 1: The Girl From Nowhere/ Chapter 2: Captain Midnight is used. In fact the entire show is almost split into a twochapter mini series of Stranger things, with Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 very distinguishable from each other.
@@mts7130there is a parody musical called “Stranger Sings” - it is actually very good and I am not a big fan of parodies. I don’t think a standard ST musical will be made though
Should have opened with if only could id make a deal with oh my god hey
This song was released in 1985 and the play is set in 1959… I think this would make some people pick on this detail - still I would have loved the song to be in the play.
Is the play necessary to watch season 5? Doubt I’ll make it to London lol
Apparently not. It is Canon. But anything revealed which is relevant will be covered off in the new season, we are told.
SPOILERS FOR THE PLAY AND SERIES:
-
-
-
-
I’m a bit puzzled by the whole thing about the Mind Flayer controlling Henry. To my knowledge, didn’t Henry CREATE the Mind Flayer after Eleven banished him? Is the play retconning that? I guess we’ll have to see in Season 5.
The mind Flayer was already there, Henry just molded it into the spider shape.
not a retcon, the play and season 4 were written at the same time
Mind flayer😭🥰😭
@@AgOti-ZaDrOtI why are you everywhere
Problem is you’re taking henrys word as law but if he’s been influenced from the start how reliable of a narrator is he? Especially in s4 he’s already shown to be an unreliable narrator and the play writer (who also works on the show) says he is as well. So either he was lying to eleven or he genuinely isn’t aware. Either one makes sense because it’s be beneficial for the mind flayer if they focus on taking out Henry instead of it
Also, id there’s any sort of retcon here it’d be Henry being made in charge with s4 in the first place. It’s pretty clear pre s4 they were writing the show with the mind flayer in charge
*TINY PLOT SPOILERS* As far as the character you mentioned & the end of the play I think today's news about there being 2 more plays potentially coming explains why it's left so open for them. They are going to milk this biiiiiig time. As far as the two not reacting in the TV show to the name I believe they will just BS around it next season like they suppressed the memory then it hits them kinda thing. They'll defiantly be dropping those links though in since again 2 more plays coming & this one coming to Broadway. Oh & drama & crime so go together so I kinda buy it hehe. This is all my best guess though as someone who hasn't seen it & am going based on info in this video & other things I've read.
I feel like the worst way to make a prequel is to rely on the characters who made the actual show good, only portrayed as younger or with heavy emphasis on referencing the thing that was actually good. Nothing in your breakdown made me want to see the play or even accept it as canon. Great video though! It was extremely well put together, thank you for the review!
Also from a behavior analyst perspective: the love interest for Henry, the development of his character in this play as you’ve described is absolutely counterintuitive to the character we see in the show. Be an depicts sociopathic tendencies, delusions of grandeur, and homicidal and misanthropic behavior which are directly at odds with the concept of how he interacts with Patty and others in the play.
I hated how they retcon Vecna's backstory and no longer making him the completely evil nightmarish villain we knew him as.
This debunks the theory that vecna created the mindflayer. I always knew that wasn’t the case but everyone else was convinced
Bro, i see you again...
But in fiction and real life, most villains don't start off being bad...they evolve into being evil
I saw this on Saturday 6th January. And your review accurately sums up most of how I felt about it. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a good show. But, I was expecting more larger scale special effects, and for it to be much darker/scarier than it was, and a bit more 'gore', if I am honest. Interestingly I have since found out that there has been several changes to the play since preview month. Disappointed to see that images of scenes used in the promotion of the show - like this one showing Henry Creel fighting a Demegorgaon, are simply no longer in the play. (Mind you, having seen the way they depicted the Demegorgons in the prologue, maybe it best they did cut it, as they did look a bit silly. That 'man in a Demegorgon Suit' at the start, made me giggle - which I don't expect was their intended audience reaction)
ALSO.. can I just add one correction to your review, please. (and honestly I am not a Stranger Things Nerd or Fanboy - I just enjoy it, like the average Netflix viewer does) BUT you reference the Upside DOwn quite a bit, and I wouldn't want people to be misled into thinking we see the Upside Down in this play. At this point in time 1959, the Upside Down (which is an alternative copy/version of Hawkins) does not exist yet, and no one goes to the Upside Down in the play. (we see Dimension X at the start of the play, And we see Henry in 'the Void' (the place he has his visions) a few times, and at one point we see the possible forming of HellSpace (the place we see Henry eventually getting banished to in Season 4) or Henrys Mind Lair (the place in Vecnas Mind where he eventually fights with Eleven in S4), but I can't recall seeing The Upside Down?).
Wow, you really dug into the lore, that's some dedication!
And now for completely unrelated reasoms, i shall loudly ask: 'Disney, where's the Kingdom Hearts musical?". XD
Interesting review. I will say I am a massive ST fan and that person that will rewatch the series because they are THAT good. In my opinion it is probably the highest budget show Netflix have ever done (barring the Crown) and it is the best one of them all which is why I think its stood the test of time.
I will say the one thing that constantly concerns me is that you say this is integral to season 5. For me I live in the north of England so it isn't possible for me to come and see it with a drop of a hat and my question is if its integral what with ST and Netflix do to ensure that this can be accessible for everyone because I think we'd all love to see it but if we can't then its excluding us.
theyve said everything important from the play will be in season 5, theyve said that if you see the play you will be able to see how it will connect with season 5, which yeah its actually a very obvious connection and one that wont be hard at all to explain in the show without leaving people confused, especially since majority of the fandom already guessed it was going to be the case anyway.
Honestly- couldn’t agree more!! We just watched it and left with many question marks and issues.. so thank you for this video 😁👍🏻
Hello, if you can go see one play Stranger Things The First Shadow or Harry Potter and the cursed child ... which one would you see? Given the fact currently the tickets are around £160 each. I am fan of both, but can not decide.
Henry and the ship got sent to dimension x not the upside down. They’re two separate places.
Seems like they’re setting up Henry to be an unreliable narrator (s4 has shown him to be one as well) for the mind flayer still being the big bad twist in s5. I’ve always thought Henry being made the big bad in s4 was a retcon and now with this play it seems like it was them setting up a twist for s5
Ah that's a very interesting take and thank you for the clarification!
I think the programme is vinyl record size? Like from the actual 80s? Interesting to hear your reflections on the show!
But that wouldn't make sense, as the show is not set in the 80s, and no other references to the 80s are used. I just think it's big to provide 'perceived value' and charge more for it. Interestingly in theatre, the programme is not something that the 'show producers' create. The long standing agreement used to be that, the producers make money off show tickets and merchandise, and the theatre makes money off a commission of show sales, but ALL of the profits of programme sales and refreshments. Not sure of that is till the case. if so, then the producers (other than providing some content for I and signing it offt) would have had little to do with the programme.
Quite aside from thinking you are fit as hell as a theatre affectionado like me, I can’t spend as long watching a review and I would watching Act 1 of a show.
Hard to do but maybe capping vids at 15 minutes would boost followers? Short and sweet reviews: what worked/what didn’t. I value your views and options but prefer to cut to the chase…
I wish you hadn't watched the TV show in such a hurry ahead of seeing the stage play. I would have preferred hearing if it felt like a stand alone show, as Cursed Child can/does by someone not invested in the TV version.
Yeah but how much of a part does Gavin Creel have in this plotline? ;)
As a devout stranger things fan, you really have to surround yourself with it fully for a long time to begin to understand the show. It really is much more complicated than it seems at first watch
thorne adapted His Dark Materials for the recent series. He gets around
Interesting take! We liked it although the first half was questionable 🤨 questionable indeed 😮
Wow, 24:45 this is the tv series thought aswell, i bet they've been watching you guys, i want to know all the good things about Henry, not the evil things, i want to see a heart there 🥴🥴🥴🙃🙂💕. You've done an Awesome job 🏆🎉.
I want spoilers...I'm 53 in Tasmania Australia, as much as I would pay to go to London to see any play, I really really really want to know what victor creel's back story, I can't see this being anything like Harry Potter, I'm very confused at why they turned an American Netflix TV show into a London play 🤯🤔🤷♀️ it makes no sense, I really want his back story, it's fascinating to me ❤❤❤.
Or was something else in control all along 🤔🤔🤔arhhg this is driving me crazy ❤❤❤.
39:11 yes, i agree ❤.
wait did they age up Henry? bc the whole premise makes no sense if they didn’t. he’s like 10 or something in the season 4 flashbacks, so i have no idea how he got a lead role in a high school production lmao
Definitely older than 10 here.
I’m so gutted I can’t see this show
Good review. Very thorough, and I agreed with a lot. It's a good play, and everyone should see it if possible, but I was a little disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high. Great effects. Good acting. Interesting ideas. lots of intense scenes. But, too much Joyce and not enough Henry and Dr Brenner. The plot about the school play bored me. Disappointed in the way they did the scene in which he killed his mother and sister. Also didn't like the revolving set. Wanted much more Stranger Things.
Oh to have the problem of watching too much theatre.
Hi how are you doing
Agree with the 3 star. I was sitting front centre and nothing amazed me. Harry Potter was much better
I don’t think you understood the show. I thought it was incredible.
My daughter and I saw it today and we loved it, amazing.
I said how the production wasnt going to give you any answers with season 5 underway and soon meeting its conclusion. They arent that stupid, okay there was a few ends tied up throught characters who belongs to who and Brenners background and why hea doing these experiments. The story is about Creels and their origins. But i loved the effects and the younger characters of the Series stars. You could feel the chemistry. I felt for Henry and his struggles. No spoilers for final season but i didnt expect anything. So im giving it a 8.5/10. Brilliant.
i HATE jack thornes writing but i have to say as a fan it is always fun. this pains me to say😭
Never got into Stranger Things because of Millie Brown didn't fall in love with her during interview she sounded spoiled and self centered. Watched a few clips of her her acting was terrible. While Sadie Sink would be my top reasons her acting is outstanding. Also, Caleb McLaughlin. Best part and famous was when they did E.T. but upset the kids knew nothing about that movie it is a classic.
first 🩵
Ah wish this was a non spolier review
Paty si eleven mother!!! Mark my words
Patty is a Black African American
whyd u think that
No no she's not. We know who Eleven mother is. But is Eleven Creels daughter?
@@yonnie4416SPOILER: All of the children (1 through to 11 - and beyond - are infused with Creels blood, but you ask a good question as to whether Creel is 11's biological father? Season 5 may tell us more)
stranger things is being boycotted because one of his stars is a disgusting genocide supporter.
Nobody asked, nobody cares
I loved the play, it adds a lot more depth to Vecna's character. From the set design, to the characters, to the story, the play did what it needed to do!
Can't you do a second video with all spoilers 😁💞 you know for people like me that can only go to London in their dreams, be the totally awesome guys that makes our dreams come true 🤗🤗🤗💕🇦🇺🦘💕💕💕🌏🌎🌍🙏.