Bend it Like Beckham
Bend it Like Beckham
Mr Smith
Featured Actor Joined: 3/16/15
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#2Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/16/15 at 12:14am
Early thoughts from people who did see it
Apparently, it's loooong. Lots of reprises.
Wallace4
Swing Joined: 5/17/15
#2Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/17/15 at 8:34am
"Early thoughts from people who did see it
Apparently, it's loooong. Lots of reprises. "
Someone beat me to it !!
#3Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:25pm
I can't open the link. How long is long? I have tix to see it this summer when I come to London...assuming it survives until then.
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
#4Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/17/15 at 1:25pm
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
Updated On: 5/17/15 at 01:25 PM
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#5Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/17/15 at 3:01pm
Sorry about the link. It is to theatreforum.com and you need to register to read. I read first preview was 240 but that included the interval.
Updated On: 5/17/15 at 03:01 PM#6Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/17/15 at 6:36pm
Got it, thanks!
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
BroadwayB8bE
Swing Joined: 3/27/14
#7Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/18/15 at 4:48am
Saw it over weekend. Finished at 10.30PM. Too long at the moment but they have very long preview period to tidy up before it opens. A lot to like about it. Intrigued to go back in a couple of months. Certainly worth the £15 I paid.
Swing Joined: 12/31/69
#8Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/21/15 at 5:18pm
I would love to hear more about this show , love the movie
#9Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 5/21/15 at 7:18pm
my review from theatreforum
Well I loved it. Never seen the film so nothing to compare it to.
Great score, great cast and lots of laughs.
It can only get stronger as previews continue. There are some verses need chopping here and there and some tighter choreography (especially in the opening and the "dream football" sequence) but it's almost there. I loved loved loved the wedding/football scene at the end. And really liked the big scene in the house near the beginning.
Natalie Dew is already giving an extremely polished performance. Shame she's up against Imelda for the awards!
Will definitely be returning once it's officially opened. Will be interesting to see how much more they tweak it.
My only worry is with a massive cast (32 on stage I counted!) it will need to sell very well to have any chance of staying open.
Mr Smith
Featured Actor Joined: 3/16/15
Nicklovestheatre
Swing Joined: 6/3/15
#11Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/3/15 at 7:51am
Very good show! If you liked the movie you will love it, definitely has become one of my favourite west end Musicals! Ive also got a really good deal through this new company that sells theatre tickets for really cheap, and i do my price compassion research, trust me :) would advise you check it out for net time! Hope that helped. http://wwbblondon.com/theatres (Great customer service)
Mr Smith
Featured Actor Joined: 3/16/15
#12Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/3/15 at 7:34pm
"Very good show! If you liked the movie you will love it, definitely has become one of my favourite west end Musicals! Ive also got a really good deal through this new company that sells theatre tickets for really cheap, and i do my price compassion research, trust me :) would advise you check it out for net time! Hope that helped. http://wwbblondon.com/theatres (Great customer service)"
A new person a new site this sounds like bullsh
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#13Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/3/15 at 7:39pm
Yes Mr Smith - Nick spammed this board and the main board as well. I even checked one night for Book of Mormon and the official website had better seats at a lower price.
cymro1604
Swing Joined: 10/19/11
#14Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/4/15 at 9:02am
I saw the show last night and was really impressed with it. There are some moments of complete musical theatre perfection however, I think there are a few small issues that need to be ironed out before it officially opens in a few weeks. Dialogue and scene changes were somethings that I picked up on, but nothing that can't be sorted. The score is amazing and is paired with an equally amazing great cast (Natalie Dew, Preeya Kalidas and Sophie Louise-Dann really stood out for me).
It breathes fresh air into the west end - I'll definitely be returning when it opens!
AnythingGoes23
Broadway Star Joined: 11/21/11
#15Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/5/15 at 6:12am
Its a £30 show at best. Some good bits but it just screamed - pretty good, good if it was on tour at £30...
Fiyero2
Chorus Member Joined: 3/27/10
#16Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/6/15 at 5:55am
I finally could watch the show and I must recognise that I was very impressed and surprised. I think that it's a wonderful show, with an amazing cast and catchy tunes. Some scenes are very good, like the wedding, with a fantastic choreography. But it's true that it's very long, almost 3 hours including the break. Some songs are unnecessary, sometimes I was like: "Are they going to sing again? Oh no!!!". And I don't think that's good for a musical. But I'm sure it's something that they will change before the opening night. I recommend to go and watch it. It's not the best show in the West End but it's beautiful, entertaining, enjoyable and very funny, so why not? I just wrote a review on my blog if you want to have a look here: http://wp.me/p4QC69-8d
Cesar
http://musicalsaregreat.wordpress.com/
#17Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/10/15 at 4:16pm
Just saw the afternoon performance. This show seemed more like a community theatre production with a decent budget-- no stand out talent, no memorable songs and so many random dance numbers that drag on and on.
The part that got me was the finale of act one. The song lasted forever and there was this intended huge buildup only for it to literally go black and end.
The show seriously needs to cut out another 20 minutes. At intermission, three people in front of me and two on my right left and didn't return...and it was row B stalls! 
Another thing was the forced and contrived attempts to get the audience into it at the end--no one was, only polite clapping.
I know it is still previews, but there is no way this show will last at West End prices and not so good word of mouth (I had been warned to save my £15, but I go and see everything!).
I hope the show improves, but this one is best made for school groups--of which there were at least 5 at today's performance!
lotiloti
Broadway Star Joined: 1/23/06
#18Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/15/15 at 6:38am
japhun2, you were spot on with with your comments. Saw this on Sat night, I thought it very amateur. Generic script & score. I soon realised that middle aged men, should not write music for supposedly street cred kids. I would have preferred a full blown Bollywood score. That would have really brought it to life. So, what's next for the Phoenix, I fear it will be vacant very soon.
#19Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/16/15 at 1:01pm
"japhun2, you were spot on with with your comments. Saw this on Sat night, I thought it very amateur. Generic script & score. I soon realised that middle aged men, should not write music for supposedly street cred kids. I would have preferred a full blown Bollywood score. That would have really brought it to life. So, what's next for the Phoenix, I fear it will be vacant very soon."
Yep...they should start packing up their saris and cleats...
Wonder what is next? Please let it be something good!
EmilyJ23
Swing Joined: 6/22/15
#20Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/22/15 at 6:30am
Saw this the week before last. It was a fun filled, feel good show; energetic, chaotic and humorous - and a bit different from your typical musical.
#21Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/24/15 at 6:18pm
5 star rave reviews from The Independent & The Telegraph & from Mark Shenton in The Stage! Looks like it's a hit!
https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/bend-like-beckham/
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#22Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/24/15 at 6:58pm
"5 star rave reviews from The Independent & The Telegraph & from Mark Shenton in The Stage! Looks like it's a hit!
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/bend-it-like-beckham-the-musical-phoenix-theatre-first-night-review-joyous-and-refreshing-revival-of-gurinder-chadhas-film-10342096.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/11693987/Bend-It-Like-Beckham-Phoenix-Theatre-review-irresistable.html
https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/bend-like-beckham/
"
And some heads are exploding on a UK message board...
kp
Understudy Joined: 8/14/04
#23Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/25/15 at 3:41am
Maybe it will stop people making sweeping judgments based on their own taste. In this thread there are actually some very positive comments but a couple of vociferous voices who didn't like it. It is fine not to like it and to say that but it does lead people to make the assumption that what they say is fact rather than opinion.
Hopefully the West End board doesn't go the way of the Broadway one,where people are just plain rude and mean to each other on a regular basis.
We should embrace diverse opinion but have respect for other peoples views and express our opinions in a way that demonstrates that respect.
I haven't seen the show yet but happy that a new musical with a new score is garnering some very good reviews.
BroadwayB8bE
Swing Joined: 3/27/14
#24Bend it Like Beckham
Posted: 6/25/15 at 4:12am
IMHO this show won over the critics on its heart and craft. There is really nothing not to like about it. Everything feels heartfelt and, refreshingly, its neither showy nor calculating. I'd say its honesty stands out...rather like its predecessors in the same theatre: Once and Blood Brothers. Though only time will tell which one it will end up emulating.
Updated On: 6/25/15 at 04:12 AM