GUYS & DOLLS but make it *immersive* | review of new west end revival at the Bridge Theatre, London
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
Last night saw the opening of a brand new, semi-immersive revival of GUYS AND DOLLS at the Bridge Theatre in London.
This new staging of the classic musical comedy stars Celinde Schoenmaker, Andrew Richardson, Marisha Wallace and Daniel Mays.
Check out today's new video for my thoughts on this bold new production...
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#theatre #westend #musical
I just came across this, thank you for the VERY kind words, means a lot:)
An absolutely wonderful performance. Really felt that you grounded Sky and made him real.
I just saw this last night. IT WAS SO ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I'm so appreciative that was able to go and see it
EDIT: 25:20 - This actually isn’t new for this production!! It’s a brief double reprise called “Adelaide Meets Sarah.” It isn’t featured on the 1992 or 1951 albums, however it IS found on the big 1995 studio recording with Emily Loesser and Kim Criswell. Such an underrated piece of the score!!
I really, REALLY appreciate your perspective on this production!! This show is my all time favorite; I know it inside out and backwards. I got to see the Kennedy Center production back in October, and was really impressed with how they were able to freshly update the staging and material while also keeping the pace quite well. It’s so great to hear how this version differs from one that also happened so recently, as well as how they compare.
Thank you for this video!! ❤
Yep, was in the 1993 Jerry Zaks version and 2001 Arena Stage version we did.
I saw this production on Thursday and LOVED it, such an original and clever staging, never seen anything like it on stage, the moving stage was really cool, and having audience in and around the action was great fun!
I've just come home from this tonight. I loved it! Just in case anyone is thinking of booking a seat rather than standing in the pit, bring layers as it is freezing! Everyone was sat in coats.
Wonder if that will apply in July?
@@TravelingStageManager it wasn’t cold at all last night although we were seated and not ‘sat’.
I saw it 5//24 and was too warm in sports jacket.
I'll be seated just above pit but will wear one of my tshirts from the G&D tour I did in the US (and sweater) in July
@@TravelingStageManager Stand! Don’t get seat! Seriously. So much better to be part of the action
I loved it! I saw it last Thursday night and then saw Oklahoma! the following evening which was a very interesting dichotomy between the two revivals... I almost got whiplash haha! Andrew Richardson as Sky Matheson was breathtaking, he bodied that role.
I hope and pray this goes to Broadway. NY has been devoid of a revival of this musical since before the pandemic, and I think Gen Z and Gen Alpha would really appreciate the balance between fresh, modern, but also digging at the source material / not reinventing the third wheel IMHO. Have never seen this, but completely agree with these takes.
Saw Guys and Dolls last week and sat in the front of the gallery next to the musicians. It gave a fantastic view highlighting how impressive the staging is and allowed you to follow the fluid scenes without restrictions plus it’s a wonderful front row seat for sit down you’re rocking the boat which was the standout moment of the show!
I saw this last night. The best party in London bar none. The set, the songs, the atmosphere are all something else. Simply outstanding.
I had the luck to have seen Celinde in the Phantom of the Opera in 2017 as Christine. And oh my god that girl can sing! She can straight jump into an opera production.
Definitely go back and watch it in a seat! It was incredible to watch from above in gallery 2!! Best seats in the house
I'm thinking about going to see this with my parents though we'll definitely be doing seated as I can't stand for two and half hours! I loved Marisha in Hairspray so I'm really excited to see her again and I remember Cedric's number being one of my favourites from Back To The Future so excited to see him in something else too.
Having had the standing experience at both Julius Caesar (I got to hold Caesar's blood soaked clothing!) and A Midsummer Night's Dream ('our song' became Love on Top after we got to throw around giant inflatable moons at the end!), I have been so excited to see this production. It's definitely something that is manageable for those who don't like to get fully involved (my partner enjoyed both the Shakespeare's immensely and he's someone who prefers to stand back and watch and he didn't join in the big dance parade at the end of AMSND) but you definitely do get swept up in the middle of the action, which is something I absolutely love. Can't wait to see Marisha and Cedric in particular.
Just saw this and the cast was incredible. Made me want to see every show in this immersive style. Genuinely incredible
I was laughing at "Bi Masterson" and then you hit me with "havana grand ol time" and I died. This is your fault.
Bi Masterson. Genius. I loved the production but agree the staging left me wishing for a larger space for dancers and as someone who stood throughout, I wondered if it necessarily worked to be jostled around. Didn't feel as "part of the action" as I had hoped.
The Simpsons were the ones who made the Guys and Dolls song!?! My mind is blown
Thanks for the review. I'm looking forward to seeing this production when we visit London in July. I was the PSM for the US/Japan tour of the Jerry Zaks production staring Lorna Luft in the 90s and another North American tour for the 50th Anniversary.
I’m going to London for the first time on the 25th! I already have tickets to Cabaret, but since Guys and Dolls is one of my favorites, I’m planning on rushing it and Bake Off via TodayTix!
Definitely do Guys & Dolls, if you love the show. It’s a really exciting production - and get a ticket in the pit if you’re okay to stand - it’s so close up and fun you won’t notice you’re on your feet. The best night I’ve had in a theatre in ages!
I would check TodayTix regularly, because tickets might come up. That's how I got mine for later this month.
Thanks Mickey Jo, I would be very interested in you seeing this again from a seat and doing a comparison of the experiences.
Fab review, Marisha does a great job here. Those dancing scenes blew me away. Note: I hope ppl know that you can't even sit down during the interval they are super strict on that. X
I saw it a week before it officially opened and I completely agree with your assessment, one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in a theatre but the material itself is far from the best I've seen.
As I’m in the middle of rehearsals for a community theater production of this, right now, the scene where Sarah and Adelaide meet before “Marry the Man Today” - the song has always been there, but a lot of people struggle to make it sound good! I think most people end up cutting it. I do love it for its intentions ❤
Saw this last night immersive standing and it blew me away. I cannot get over this experience.
It’s interesting that the hat was free because when I went for the second preview they cost £5.
A through overview and critique. Well done. I hope it's still there when I'm in London in August. BTW when are you going to NYC?
Been waiting for your review of this, with the plan to take my dad for his birthday later in the run. Would really like to hear your thoughts when your experience from the seated section too!
I do wonder what you think the impact would be to the experience if the standing section is less full, say on a quieter weekday evening. Would it possibly look somewhat empty and lacking some of the energy? Obviously hopefully this isn't a problem and every performance is packed out. But knowing the Bridge Theatre (which I love as a theatre) being that bit further away, worried how a less busy performance could be impacted.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this and thank you for another great review!
Having just watched it from a seated section, it is still excellent with a helicopter view.
We were in the seats and its still brilliant . Well worth it!
As always-wisdom beyond your years. Thanks for a detailed, clear and objective review. No reason to make an audience stand thru Guys and Dolls, glad there is an option. Glad you are no longer spending time in a classroom.
i watched it in july with my school and sadly we werent in the standing area as some students werent old
enough but it was sooo good! very immersive even when youre not stood
We saw this last night and I can honestly say this is a genius production. We can't fault it, just bloody brilliant and a great, fun night out. It's best that the public go out and see this show without watching reviews like we did. We knew nothing. No spoilers should be revealed, it will take away the surprise elements of the show. However, standing is the way to go with this. We will be off to see it again soon, 10/10 for us. 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I was considering popping over to
London to see this! It’s my favourites but no way could I stand for all that time.
Been so looking forward to this review. I really want to see this.
Looking forward to going to this on April 29th! Will see what I think of it! I’ve seen amateur productions before including one at the Minack! Never seen a pro production
Absolutely fantastic! Was sitting ............. now of course want to go back and stand............
We did the 1993 Jerry Zaks' Broadway tour with Lorna Luft and the 2001 Arena Stage version on tour with Maurice Hines as Nathan. So you can imagine our excitement we get to see it in July when we vacation to London!!! (Oh, and we did We Will Rock You with Arlene Phillips in Vegas 15 years ago but I am sure we won't get the chance to see her) Thanks for the great review.
I've seen it the other week but I've bought a sitting tickets cause I'm not a fan of immersive experience. From my perspective the show was 5/5, if I could I would potentially give it 6/5 but what I must say - the standing area was very annoying. At the time I went, standing area was very crowded which made it very difficult for people to be pushed around and very distracting for sitting people cause for most of it we were focusing on the crowd control.
Having said that I really loved Guys & Dolls (keep in mind this was my first interaction with the show, I haven't see the movie, I didn't know any of the songs), it's a show full of pure joy and absolute fun. Maybe dated, maybe oldschool but it just overwhelms you with joy. Both me and my friend were constantly laughing, enjoying the songs and simply having a great time. Possibly one of my favourite musicals I've experienced live! Cast was absolutely fantastic, technically it's a super well-made show. Definitely worth seeing (especially that it's not super expensive).
What I would say is to avoid standing area (also, if you're hunting for TodayTix rush tickets - they only apply for standing tickets so bear that in mind).
Also when it comes to seating - you'll get a great view from majority of the seats (probably the worst one would be 2nd gallery, right hand side on TodayTix seating plan, you'll miss part of the show but the view is still worth the price).
Definitely a must see!
Do I know the exact episode of the Simpsons where it comes from, yes I do! Including Luke be a Jedi tonight 😂😂😂😂
Immersive sounds interesting
i was in London for work a few months ago, I saw Sunset Boulevard because I was going to be conducting it in 2024 and so missed Guys & Dolls. When I saw that some people told me Guys & Dolls was a "must see" and the best show in London in 20+ years. Luckily I'm back in London again for work in December and managed to get a ticket to Guys & Dolls...
If the staging is any like the genius of ‘a midsummer night’s dream’ immersive show they did a couple of years ago then this will be incredible. I saw that show twice. It was amazing
Hi
Seeing these in a few months
Do u suggest getting there early w standing tix Or doesn’t matter
I really do love the idea of an audience that is apart of the stage. I would think a production of Barnum with a great band stand would be amazing
Attended last night with some understudies on, including Jack Butterworth as Sky. He was sensational, perfectly suited for this era of musical. I very much enjoyed the production; it fits the energy and vibe of the material so well, I think it might be difficult for me to see the show again in a traditional theatre.
I think it was smartly staged - we were sat in gallery 2 (above the orchestra) and loved seeing all the transitions and levels set up. You should see it again, but out of the pit because the perspective is different. Not necessarily better or worse, but when you are so close to the moving elements, you do get lost in it at a point.
We've been three times now - standing every time. I can see how the sensory overload thing can be an issue to some but to me - especially now the floor is not quite as heavily populated as it was earlier in the run - it is all a part of the fun. There is nothing I do not love about this show. You are right about the directioning of Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat, but once you know the best place to stand (and you can move around of course) you aren't going to miss anything.
I have a friend who is an usher and she told us on our first visit, the best place to stand - pretty much straight ahead of you as you come down the steps into the pit, about 1/3 of the way along so the band are up to your right.
Also - that allows you to get out PDQ at the interval so you can grab a seat in the foyer. 90 minutes standing at my age...oooft.
This is still my favourite show in London
I *must* get back to see this with a quieter standing audience because it was VERY busy when we first went.
@@MickeyJoTheatre we went two weeks ago while Daniel M was on his break. It seemed much quieter.
More relaxed
Thank you as always, MickeyJo. I'll be visiting London in June, and am interested in this show. Could you tell me what part of the theater would be the best seat to the best view of the stage (i.e. which of the four sides to book)?
I was there last night and I don't think they're giving away free hats anymore. They cost £5. But the staging was amazing! Agree about the sight lines though. If you haven't seen the show before or know nothing of the plot, it might be best to buy seated tickets to get a grasp, then go back at a later date for the immersive!
Interesting... TY for the review! The immersive thing started a while ago here in NYC. Sounds similar to what they did with the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim musical Here Lies Love at The Public and I LOVED it soooo much! To this day it is one of my all time fav experiences in a theatre and THRILLED that it is coming to Bway this summer where they are completely removing the orchestra of the Broadway theatre to recreate the dance club vibe like they did at The Public. Sooooo excited!
I'm not sure immersive theatre was born in New York but interesting
@@QuirkyCarmi fair you may be right
With the free hats, do they ever really run out? I would love to get one of them and am afraid that I will miss out.
Is there accessible seating? I wouldn't be able to stand to watch it.
Yes there is.
I saw this a couple of weeks ago and thought it was amazing! So glad I went for the "immersive" tickets!
Edit now ive finished the vid: I got separated from my companions during the shuffle of the first act and at the interval the first thing I said to them was "Bi Sky!"
I personally found the staging emotionally engaging - 'I've never been in love before' made me cry. Dreamy was definitely the right word for this Sky
It's very possible that it didn't come across this way at all in the staging, but the implications of "evangelical Christian starts fistfight in gay bar over flirtatious dancing" don't exactly seem *great* to me.
I was close enough to David Morrisey as Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar that I definitely saw some spit come out during one of the more passionate speeches. But apart from that the way the audience was moved by security goons so the staging could move really heightened the atmosphere - at the end when it devolved into war I was actually separated from my friend across barbed wire and it was really intense so I've been really interested to hear how they'll bring that sort of experience to a musical.
Best thing I've seen in the theatre in AGES xx
Just spotted myself in this video, we were at the same performance!!🤣
What was the star rating? Did I miss that bit?
I neglected to include one! But it would have been 4*
I totally sang the simpson's song when I saw the thumbnail.
I thought this show was brilliant, mainly because of the staging (I was on the floor level). Its a very clever way to revive a dated, cheesy show that audiences might not otherwise be interested in seeing. I think West Side Story would also work well in this format.
I’m autistic and the standing tickets sound like absolute nightmare for me. This a show I would proudly watch from the nosebleed section.
It was so amazing ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Have seen many Guys and Dolls including the National theatre one in the early 80s and Jane Krakowski as Adelaide who was fab and I loved everything about it this latest revival except (sorry Celinde) Sarah Brown. Just couldn’t deal with the chest voice belting/head voice operatic switches mid song and mid phrase, also found the characterisation slightly odd. George Ioannides was Sky when we saw it and he was brilliant, Cedric Neal and Marisha Wallace were outstanding and Daniel Mays was a revelation
I've been lucky enough to have seen Punchdrunk shows since back in 2008 and when I saw 'Sleep No More' in NY back in 2012 I came away feeling that it may be their masterpiece.
Not sure if you have seen any of their work before but if not then 'Sleep No More' would be a very fine place to start. The only preparation I remember doing was reading a plot synopsis of 'Macbeth' beforehand.
Their shows don't demand active chatty participation from the audience (most of the time), but the iconic white mask that you wear gives you the freedom of anonymity so the fun is about choosing actors to pursue, finding spaces to explore and enjoying the feeling of being a voyeur in a strange dream.
I hope you guys get a chance to see it. If you get the earliest time slot you can then you can enjoy the show space before it fills up. 🙂
Will be seeing the show in a couple of weeks time I’ll forgive for for spoilers just makes want to see it more. I have seen a few shows at the bridge theatre and feel that both front of house and the theatre space does lack atmosphere.
Is this the same production in which Vanessa Williams was to play Adelaide that was cancelled because of the Pandemic?
I think the standing area and being moved around might be too overwhelming for me (autistic & very hypersensitive)
Perhaps a gallery seat would be better for me in this case 🤔
Just curious, what is the black kitty's name.
Here Lies Love at The Public Theatre 10 years ago and Fuerza Bruta (Off-Broadway) both had primarily standing audiences that were shifted with the stage platforms. I thought it worked well in both of these cases but I think both shows called for a little bit of chaos. I think that we have the rise of immersive productions in London to thank in part for the fact that Here Lies Love will be opening on Broadway this summer. I am interested to see how the larger space and bigger budget affect the overall experience of that show. This sort of staging did seem like an odd choice for a production of Guys and Dolls but I guess when you have a solid piece with good crowd appeal why not experiment.
“Here Lies Love” is a massive critical and financial flop on Broadway.
@@ChienaAvtzon It unfortunately does seem to be struggling financially but, critically, a majority of the reviews leaned positive. Even the hard-to-please Johnny Oleksinski of the NY POST called the production "splendidly built" and the score "devilishly catchy". The New York Times review was a little more on the fence but favored the show overall.
Also, the show has been drawing in Asian audiences who don't normally attend Broadway productions in a way that KPOP didn't quite manage. So, it definitely isn't the overwhelming success story that the producers (or I as a fan) were hoping for, but I don't think it is quite right to consider it a total flop.
@@nyctheatergeek - Johnny Oleksinsky also stated “Here Lies Loves” was all flash and no substance. The only thing he seemed to enjoy was the scenic design, because he was not even fond of any of the actors.
@@ChienaAvtzon Still pretty positive coming from him 🙃.
they closed. Guess it wasn't the best space for it on Broadway. The theatre is too large. I saw it off-Broadway also and it seem to work very well.
8:50 "thes" lol
DAMNIT 😂
I know I may be in the minority here but I saw the show about 3 months ago and by the end didn't understand what all the fuss and hype had been for. I wouldn't say the show is dated, its more the fact I didn't like or even see the point of the story. The only genuine showstopper was 'Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat', the performance of which was impossible not to love and was milked for all it was worth. I was seated in a wheelchair-accessible area and had no real issues with the view I had. However, as a lover of what may be called 'old' or 'classic' musicals this was not to my taste at all and was therefore very disappointing. I couldn't fault the performers for their energy and the standing audience seemed to love it. For me though, I fail to see why it is regarded as a classic musical as there are only really two or three memorable songs and the story is basically unpleasant. I know that some people will see this production more than once. I personally doubt whether I will see this or indeed any revival of it in my life again!
It's interesting that you didn't find the arrangements contemporary or lively. If you compare the new arrangements to the ones from the 1950's that are licensed if you rent the show, the differences are night and day. The new are so fresh and fun whereas I find the original a little dated. That not withstanding, thanks for a detailed review.
Yikes "Sleep No More". That show was... interesting. I didn't know what to expect going in to that one. Still didn't get it. Lol
Did Nathan sing 'Adelaide'?
I was annoyed by the "immersion." it was like watching from backstage with stage hands constantly telling you to get out of the way. and standing for 3 hours is no joke
You are wrong about Cabaret; it has been done in a lounge setting before by Sam Mende at Studio 54. And a better production. Frecknall and Eddie Redmayne by the way turned a grossly cyclical character, the Emcee, into someone who joins the dispossessed and appears anti Fascist. The original, reflected by Joel Grey in the Bib Fosse film adaptation, portrays the Emcee as a nasty piece of work - an opportunist who turns into a neo-Nazi and anti-Semite. He may even have abused Sally Bowles. By the closing scenes he’s entertaining Nazi officers. Far not powerful that the version at the Playhouse. And Cliff’s sexuality is more interesting and fitting for the 1930s by not being so obviously signposted as at the Playhouse when Omari Douglas performed the role.
Even the original Hal Prince production had mirrors on the stage. Meaning, he turned the audience into the Nazis. As everyone’s worst qualities were reflected back at them.
It will be interesting to see if Rebecca Frecknell will ever direct a musical again. Since, she was already fired (and replaced by Rachel Chavkin) from Florence + The Machine’s “Gatsby”.
I not a participatory type person either and tho I love G and D I doubt it would be for me
I wasn't a fan of the show watching it from the seats- it was stress inducing watching the audience being herded from place to place (a lot of people were not good with standing for so long), also very distracting seeing every item being set and cleared for the next scene. Loved the interval performance, but ultimately it's still got the plot flaws of guys n dolls (the ending is so problematic). I also would have liked the Adelaide character to have more energy, it just didn't match the level of the others on my night. Some great characters but the big dance numbers were restricted as they were limited by the small platform space. I could not see the point of the gay bar dance scene, it felt like it was pandering to the crowd, for a moment I thought they were going to make the reason sky wasn't into her was because he was actually gay.
Sorry video far too long. Didn’t even get close to reviewing it when the ads kicked in
There's no need to apologise, I'm sure you did all you could.
How can you not have heard of Guys and Dolls in the UK? They do a revival like every five years in London.
I love Guys and Dolls but I don’t think this production is for me.
I've seen Guys and Dolls seven or eight times. This is as good as the legendary National Theatre production of the 1990's. Every character is pitch perfect. Every song is perfect. Sit in the gallery. Don't let Mickey Jo put you off.
Thanks, John
G&D is one of my favorite shows.
There's a reason that audiences want to keep the old Broadway shows alive, and it's not to see something "new and innovative". We like the old shows that way they are. Save the "new and innovative" for new shows.
If the staging is any like the genius of ‘a midsummer night’s dream’ immersive show they did a couple of years ago then this will be incredible. I saw that show twice. It was amazing