Meshack

See it if You have nothing better to do

Don't see it if You care about the film and would hate to see it massacred by sub par performances and a DREADFUL script

Also Come on COME OOON!!!! We waited 20 years for this, and THIS is what we get??!!?

Zero danger, zero sex (unless girls showing you their thongs, and ONLY doing that is sexy).

The design, although impressive initially, reduces the vast stage to a catwalk that is too short for any of the actors to get any purchase. Any sense of Puccini-esque foreboding or doomed love is wiped off the board in favour of reducing the extraordinary original score, to a 6 minute pantomime before the show even starts. When the “rouge girls” come out (borrowing heavily from the Aguilara, Missy Elliot, Mya and Pink music vid) you go… “there’s the old one, the anorexic one, the big black one and the trans one, how daring this production must be”. I sighed heavily at the tokenism of the pointless producers. But that is to do a disservice to the performers, and they are all truly excellent and brilliantly cast. Leads though. WHOOPS. DREADFUL. 😬😬😬

It is painfully and unforgivably slow. What were they THINKING... Read more Read less

See it if There are no reasons to see this

Don't see it if Just don’t

Also Like a piece of ill judged GCSE drama, here comes this strangely cheap looking, and comedy flat NT production.

The good: John Heffernan is good, but has nothing and nobody to play off. And one of the maids with a blond bob was pretty funny.

The Bad: everything else. It’s so badly staged, the comedy falls flat or serves no purpose, and the choreography … well that needs to be seen to be believed (lets all stand in a circle stage right and left and kinda walk around to a jazz’ish score). There are some truly baffling accents, such as Claudio's contemporary urban south London drawl, complete with wideboy finger slapping. Why? Everything is ardently 1930’s, why the contemporary reference with this character.

Left at the interval.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to support new British musicals and young singers

Don't see it if You don’t like song cycles without narratives

Also It’s fine. It is a song cycle that the director seems to have shoved into some kind of mental health narrative which actually highlights the issue; the show isn’t about millennials, more about Gen Z. From it’s infatalising but fun set to its hideous costumes (See Southwarks ANYONE CAN WHISTLE & Regents Park LEGALLY BLOND for identical examples) from the self absorbed songs and the outright rejection of anyone over 25, it’s pretty masterfully encapsulated, more cynically, the current full stop swerving & hysterical younglings. It is, however, REALLY important to support new/young artists right now, so if you feel brave, take a punt, sit in the downstairs bit, get there SUPER early and cue to get into the ball pit as a seat… you also get a can of boozy soda water free (well at least they get that right.. no self respecting millennial is ever sober atm)... Read more Read less

See it if You fancy spaffing £80 on nothing much

Don't see it if you expect anything other than images

Also I have a real problem with this sort of immersive experience. I am paying for you to tell me a story, not for me to find it. Yes some of the images are nice, but unless you have a degree in classics and have read all the recommended reading, you’re likely to just wonder about confused. If this is what you like, fill your boots. I have seen three Punchdrunk shows, each time i feel like i’m being patronised, that i’m missing something and that i’m being ripped off. The design on BURNT CITY, is nowhere near the scale or depth of DROWNED MAN which is disappointing because at least there would be something to look at. It is, unfortunately, same old same old - creepy sound track, actors climbing things very slowly, blood, punchy jumpy dancing, no talking and having to wear those godawful vulture masks - No thanks theatre … no thanks…... Read more Read less

See it if You want Edinburgh fringe musicals for £60

Don't see it if If? IF? DO NOT SEE THIS

Also Utter mess. One of the ugliest set/costume designs i’ve ever seen. It feels like a student production that would do well in a late night Edinburgh Fringe venue. But not here. The updates are weird, and a lot of the casting pretty off the mark. The Elle is fine, she can definitely sing it, she’s quite sweet and endearing, but is she Elle? No. 1st time director of professional narrative drama Moss seems to think a musical which is ABOUT extreme white privilege can be solved by an inclusive cast. It can’t. It would also help if the first person in your show to sing, could sing the notes written… you know… like the composer intended…... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see Bertie Carvel’s Trump impression

Don't see it if You feel you’ve had enough of American politics for now.

See it if you want to see how not to do it

Don't see it if You have any sense.

Also I still cannot fathom the raft of positive reviews and constant extensions on this one. It’s banal drivel at best.

Its like a few drunk students got together to write a pastiche musical for the Edinburgh fringe. It’s a mess. Its content, form and structure childish, and its understanding of music in relation to that story non existent. This is EXACTLY what people who hate musicals think musicals are... i despair...... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see the poisoned heart of the USA laid bare.

Don't see it if you’re REALLY excited about My Fair Lady at ENO.

Also Truly the best theatrical experience you can have at the moment. It really shows up British musical theatre quite a bit. This is true theatre being brilliant, not some reverential snoozefest with terrible accents.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in seeing a rarely performed Sondheim Musical

Don't see it if you want an entertaining evening and to discover what the show is actually about

Also I've always known this was a 'difficult' show, but the weird staging adds an extra layer of utter chaos which means you can't actually follow what's going on. The show is very much set in America after WW2 and at the heat of communist hysteria, but they all have British accents, there may be a reason for this, but it flew over my head and made things more confusing. The traverse staging hinders the action utterly and its use is not particularly skilled, but it's the truly hideous and baffling costumes that mean you never really get a grasp on who anyone is... if that was the point of them, it's a bad idea to have done it from the outset.. we know nothing of this world yet and you're locking us out, unless that too is intentional. Alex Young (as Cora) is great, but predominantly the cast is pretty weak and other principles not strong enough to deliver the material. Do note that if you are sitting anywhere near the band (in a traverse staging) you won't hear anything else. Problematic.... Read more Read less

See it if You always wondered why it has been running for soooo looooong

Don't see it if You’d rather see something else

Also Genuinely surprised at how much i liked this! It’s fun and funny, whips along and is generally quite satisfying. The art deco wood panelling of theatre is worth the admission cost alone.... Read more Read less

See it if You are on a hen party, drunk and like ABBA

Don't see it if you are not on a hen party, sober but still like ABBA

See it if You like your comedy with some heavy clowning

Don't see it if Pies in your face gags are beneath you.

Also A masterclass in farce.... A farceterclass?

See it if You are looking for a raw and direct emotional experience

Don't see it if You aren’t a fan of stripped back physical style theatre.

Also This is by far and away Sally Cooksons greatest production. I’ve not always lived everything she’s done, but this is a powerful and beautiful adaptation of Patrick Ness’ (Based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd) book. It isn’t sentimental, so it pulls a massive emotional punch.... Read more Read less

See it if You love theatricality, invention and big bold statements

Don't see it if You expect the animation live on stage.

Also I still love this show! I LOVE IT.

See it if You fancy a really well constructed beautiful bit of entertainment

Don't see it if You’re not really into creepy romance

See it if You saw the movie and were quite ok with it... and know it has 3 of the people who did stuff

Don't see it if You like pasta

See it if You know nothing of art.

Don't see it if You know ANYTHING about 20th Century art, and you think that Warhol literally killed art..like totally... like.. he killed it.

See it if You kinda like PG cock gags

Don't see it if You care about new musicals.

Also This show at LEAST has as new score.. so it does get points... it is also NOWHERE near as shit as ‘Stephen Ward’ (friendly osteopath).... so Give it a go if you get a cheap tic!... Read more Read less

See it if You love a massive long play, that is about the human condition

Don't see it if You hate long plays about racism and acceptance

See it if you are interested in new musicals and you love the soundtrack.

Don't see it if you are expecting anything to interesting.

Also The writing in act 1 is brilliant, but the songs get in the way (which is weird). Unfortunately the play loses its way in act 2 and shies away from exploring the brilliant set up. I was disappointed with its conclusion, its all a bit to neat and comfortable.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Trey Parker/Matt Stone's critical social commentary

Don't see it if you want big production values and innovative staging.

See it if you like something short and sweet!

Don't see it if you're expecting a musical. It's not a musical. It's good... but it's not a musical.

See it if you adore Bob Marley's music

Don't see it if you are expecting a set, directing, a script or anything resembling a story being told,

See it if you love a long story beautifully told in a unique, powerful way.

Don't see it if you don't like theatre.

See it if you want to see the film recreated EXACTLY on stage, with a few minor embellishments.

Don't see it if you love the theatrical juiciness of the LION KING which revels in the metaphorical power of live stage work.

See it if you like loud bangy crashy shows with slight plots and a heavy dollop of faux feminism.

Don't see it if you conception of feminism goes beyond that of the comprehension of a 10 year old.

Also to be fair to it, it is very well put together and the audiences ADORE it.... Read more Read less

See it if you like slightly old fashioned shows with a LOT of set and you want value for money.

Don't see it if you have an ounce of cynicism in your body.

See it if you want a beautifully observed piece of theatre, with emphasis on theatricality.

Don't see it if You hated War Horse, puppets or projections.

Also Some of the acting is REALLY dodgy... See it from the balcony or dress/royal circle, the projections onto the stage can be missed from the stalls.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a great night out with a LOT of words.

Don't see it if you are expecting anything groundbreaking in terms of staging. It's pretty traditional.

See it if You enjoy watching a world class actor being betrayed by terrible creative choices from the team.

Don't see it if For any of the following reasons: You understand what an important play this is; You value your sanity; You want to bankrupt the producer

See it if You like to keep brilliant actors in work despite the quality of the material

Don't see it if You have anything else to do. Ironing, staring into middle distance, taking the dog for a walk.

See it if You want some faith in humanity!

Don't see it if your heart was constructed by satan and you hate life.

See it if You love a beautiful show directed masterfully.

Don't see it if the Sam Mendes version from the Donmar or Broadway changed your life.... this is different, but still not as good as that.

See it if You loved the film but were worried they’d mess with it too much! And also for the car!!!

Don't see it if You expect anything new, original or groundbreaking

See it if You hated the book

Don't see it if You LOVED the book