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Original poster

To ask for West End Show Recommendations

137 replies

Geminijust · 22/08/2021 12:21

4 of us usually have a trip to a West End Show a couple of times a year. We're trying to arrange the next long overdue outing and am looking for some recommendations. One of the girls has suggested Mary Poppins but I'm not sure that's my cup of tea as not generally a Disney fan (am prepared to be convinced otherwise!) but obviously need to find something everyone is happy with so am looking for some alternative suggestions to go back with.

Shows I've seen and loved:
Six
Tina The Musical
Woman in Black
Curious Incident of the dog in the night time
Mamma Mia
School of Rock
War Horse
Everybody's Talking About Jamie (would see again tomorrow)
Billy Elliot (ditto above, although no longer on sadly)

Shows I've enjoyed but not loved:
Lion King
Charlie & Chocolate Factory
Wicked
Matilda
Comedy about a bank robbery

Not really hated anything but remember being quite bored by Phantom of the Opera when I was much younger (found it depressing)

Quite fancy Les Mis but know one of the girls has seen it and it's not for everyone. Heard good things about Book of Mormon & Come from Away but really don't know too much about them.

Would be grateful for suggestions of shows you've seen and enjoyed!

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
OswaldOwl · 23/08/2021 01:53

@PinniGig I think it’s the rave reviews that can lead people to seeing it without knowing what to expect. Certainly the case with me. When a show is a mainstream West End hit, and you’re a fan of musical theatre, I think the assumption is you’ll enjoy it. I admit I have never watched South Park. So when it said ‘from the creators of South Park’ that didn’t mean much to me, and watching South Park by way of research was just a step too far really. There is no other musical that I haven’t enjoyed, I am pretty broad and easygoing in my tastes, but I think “not for the easily offended” is a gross understatement: “only for those who enjoy causing offence” would be nearer the mark!

What you say about there being a “moral message” to BoM may be true, but it’s so damn subtle you have to really really look to find it, and also be desensitised to the generally shocking ‘humour’ in order to free up the thinking part of your brain. The show is so frivolous in its delivery, it in no way encourages the audience to do this or gives any signal that it should be taken at anything other than face value.

Believe me, I wanted to enjoy it. I paid £80 for a seat after all! And the music was catchy, for sure. But as I looked down the row at people guffawing hysterically at the ‘gay’ Mormon and ‘unintelligible’ Africans, I couldn’t help but think they weren’t cackling like that at the deep social commentary. These were not wry sniggers in recognition of an ironic truth. I felt like ugly enjoyment of having carte-blanche to enjoy some down-punching humour, behind the veneer of respectability (but it’s Theatre dahling).

OswaldOwl · 23/08/2021 01:54

^That rant is all about Book of Mormon btw! SmileGrin

PinniGig · 23/08/2021 02:45

@OswaldOwl

Yeah I get it and it's part of the reason even I as a lifelong fan was “Oh no...they're not opening a show on Broadway and going all out. The world outside of their existing fan-base ain't ready for that shit in the medium of song and dance” and yet it oddly was.

It's like the way audiences still appreciate and see the humour despite the dodgy content in things like The Producers or Blazing Saddles. It would struggle to be written and make it onto the stage or screen today but then again, maybe it would and did with Book of Mormon.

Then again I wouldn't pay the price of a cinema ticket to see something I hadn't read up about and decided is worth it beforehand. I'm a cheap bastard though to be fair.

Have often wondered what people must have thought if they had never heard of South Park or its creators, gone in blind and what went through their mind when the skeletons appeared in those naff B&M Halloween costumes and plastic tridents like kids going out trick or treating. Oh God those shit costumes and friggin cups.. 😂

PinniGig · 23/08/2021 02:53

This looks good - never heard of it before but I'm intrigued now.

www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/circus-1903

PurpleFlower1983 · 23/08/2021 03:01

Oh how could I forget Hamilton! That’s a work of pure genius.

Comefromaway · 23/08/2021 10:02

"Wicked" has the most fantastic arrangement and really clever, complex elements to it that jump out and really pop when you isolate and remove all the vocals.

Unfortunately Wicked on the West End has never used the full Broadway orchestrations, they use the touring version.

My son listens to the instrumentals a lot. If they don't exist, he creates them in Logic which is what he's done with BOM.

twilightcafe · 23/08/2021 14:43

Loved Come From Away. It's one of the few musicals that I would watch more than once.

sunflowerdaisies · 23/08/2021 19:29

I really loved Come from Away. I also saw Mary Poppins recently and absolutely loved the big dance routines!

Brendabigbaps · 23/08/2021 19:31

Hamilton

sequin2000 · 23/08/2021 20:00

Come from away is the only show I've seen in which the whole theatre immediately jumped to their feet at the end. It's short with no interval so plenty of time for meal/drinks afterwards

ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 02/09/2021 01:29

I just got home from seeing Back to the Future.
All I can say is wow. Wow wow wow. As the teens say "I can't even".
Just wow.

PurpleFlower1983 · 02/09/2021 02:31

@ImNotWhoYouThinkIam

I just got home from seeing Back to the Future. All I can say is wow. Wow wow wow. As the teens say "I can't even". Just wow.
My husband is going to see it tomorrow night, we were meant to see it when it opened in Manchester but sadly wasn’t to be! We have new baby now so we can’t go together! :(
ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 02/09/2021 02:42

@PurpleFlower1983 oh no Sad congrats on the baby though. Of all the reasons to have to miss it that's the best I think! I hope your DH has as good a time as we did.

Gredandforge · 02/09/2021 03:37

A filmed version of Come From Away on Broadway is coming to Apple TV soon, for any fans! I loved it so much I saw it twice in two months.

Netaporter · 02/09/2021 04:03

I’d recommend Windsor’s Endgame. Very, very funny.

Back to the future is next on my list, so glad to hear it’s as good as I hope!

Longdistance · 02/09/2021 04:26

We went to see the Book of Mormon last year before lockdown. It was bloody hilarious. Even dh who has a sick sense of humour was shocked.
We saw Cine from Away a couple of weeks ago. Best one ever! The acting and performances were superb 👌🏼
Loved Miss Saigon, but not sure that is on at the minute?!

NewPapaGuinea · 02/09/2021 07:36

Had “& Juliet” booked and covid cancelled twice. Seeing BTTF in October and very excited about that.

maddening · 02/09/2021 07:42

We have tickets for Frozen , but it is a new show, however the trailers look amazing, we were originally booked for March 2021, but it has been pushed back to March 2022 due to covid

TwoBlondes · 02/09/2021 07:53

We Will Rock You!

TwoBlondes · 02/09/2021 07:54

@TwoBlondes

We Will Rock You!
I didn't mean that, I meant Bat Out of Hell 😳
WhatdoImean · 02/09/2021 08:09

A couple of classics for me, but not sure if they are showing at the moment:-

  1. "The Complete Works of Shakespeare - Abridged" by the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Three people go through every Shakespeare play in about 2 hours. Really funny if you are not a Shakespeare fan, totally hilarious if you are. LOVED this one.

  2. Return To The Forbidden Planet. Used to be o in the West End, then transformed to "Return of Return To The Forbidden Planet" and went touring. Pretty sure it is not showing at the moment though. REALLY loved it

  3. Currently touring, but doing mega shows, is The War Of The Worlds - Jeff Wayne's musical version. More of a concert than a play, but still brilliant. I am also hearing good things about the "immersive" version, which IS on in London. Not seen it myself, but reviews are pretty good!

NeedToKnow101 · 02/09/2021 08:37

That's so weird. Not massively into musicals but I was reading this thinking I must check out Come away with me, as so many people are recommending it. I was actually grounded in Newfoundland over 9/11.. will definitely book tickets.

Marni83 · 11/09/2021 20:10

@ImNotWhoYouThinkIam

I saw Hairspray a few weeks ago. Absolutely amazing. I cried for most of it.

I'm going to see Back to the Future in September. Will try and remember to report back.

Have you seen back to the future yet?? Recommend? Thanks
ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 11/09/2021 20:12

@Marni83 I have. I posted about it when I got home. It was amazing. Definitely recommend!

ShinyMe · 11/09/2021 20:17

What is coming soon, and which will get me back to London (I don't go often, and not since summer 2019) is something which opens in October at the Criterion, called Pride and Prejudice (sort of)
I saw it on tour pre lockdown, and I LOVED it. Funniest and most enjoyable thing I've seen in years. It's Pride and Prejudice, as told by the servants, but with 6 women playing all the parts, and with songs. It was so good! The tickets are really good value for London too, nothing over £60. I am very very excited about seeing it again, and I would go multiple times if I could.