Well Christmas is fast approaching and I felt seeing this show was only right. It's been years, as far as I know, since a Christmas teamed musical has been on the London stage. The musical is based on the 1954 film of the same name.
Aled Jones was also a reason for me. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am by no means a fan, but I was interested to hear him sing live. In 2012 I met him at St Paul's Cathedral for the final of Young Chorister Of The Year. He seemed like a overly person (and the partner of a grind of mine is also godfather to one of his children) but I've never heard him sing live. He is also liked to Christmas just as much as bad cracker jokes. Just in case you don't know, Aled first came to fame by dining Walking In The Air. The song was made famous by the short animated film The Snowman, though Aled didn't sing the version in the film.
The show is at the Dominion Theatre, where We Will Rick You was on for a number of years (I reviewed the show here). This is a large theatre and I must admit that I was uncertain if the show could fill it well. I was disappointed to see that the theatre was fairly empty. This always upset me, though I understand slightly as theatre is getting more and more expensive. The theatre also only supplies £8 souvenir programmes, a massive inconvenience. Not only are these programmes horrid to travel home with (and the store at home if you wish, like me) but they also often contain more photos that actual information about the show. I would much rather buy the regular program you get at most shows that's only around £4 yet is contains more written information and far fewer photos. At least give us an option. I mean the tickets are expensive for this show, but to then pay almost £10 for a program is shocking.
Talking of money, I am afraid to say this show left me bitterly disappointed for what I paid. I had high hopes and felt it might be able to get me more into the Christmas mood. Now the theatre itself has been wonderfully, yet sparsely, decorated but the show just left me deflated. Now I payed far less than the asking price for the ticket, but even I felt that I'd wasted my money and a perfectly pleasant Wednesday afternoon. I felt I was seeing a dress rehearsal rather than an actual performance. The show contains a large number or dance routines, and I feel the producers/directors concentrated far more on the dancing than the acting or singing, and even then they appeared not to spend a lot of time on that. This however has resulted in near failures in all three. Maybe it will get better the later in the run it gets. who knows.
I'm sure the older generation will get a thrill out of seeing this, in fact all of them that were in with me were having a great time. This show is definitely one that I think seasoned theatre goers can forget. You will leave bitterly disappointed and feeling like you wasted the evening and your money.
Tickets and Info
I'm sure the older generation will get a thrill out of seeing this, in fact all of them that were in with me were having a great time. This show is definitely one that I think seasoned theatre goers can forget. You will leave bitterly disappointed and feeling like you wasted the evening and your money.
Tickets and Info
