Groundhog Day the Musical - Reviews

[songanddanceman2]

since the show will be for sure heading to New York I thought I would post the reviews from tonight's press night of Groundhog Day here in the UK.

The reviews have been fantastic 

5 star rave - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/groundhog-day-the-musical-is-an-instant-classic--and-could-be-be/

5 star rave - https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2016/groundhog-day-review-at-the-old-vic-london-an-absolute-triumph/

4 stars - very positive https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/aug/16/groundhog-day-review-tim-minchin-musical-old-vic

5 star rave - http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/review-groundhog-day-old-vic-tim-minchin_41556.html

Positive - http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/theater/review-groundhog-day-all-over-again-now-with-song-and-dance.html?referer=https://www.google.co.uk/

 

[songanddanceman2]

Rave - http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/08/08/groundhog-day-the-musical-review-a-masterpiece-with-a-sensationa/

[songanddanceman2]

Positive - http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/groundhog-day

positive https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/1623708/first-night-review-groundhog-day-starring-tv-star-andy-gray-is-a-super-musical-flashback-at-the-old-vic-in-london/

[JBroadway]

Excellent! I've heard mixed things, but happy to hear a a majority have been reacting positively. Glad I snagged tickets for the final performance of their London run. 

[songanddanceman2]

The reviews are some of the best I've read in a long time for a new musical here in the UK, hopefully it will have a good run in NY.

Brantley's review is so annoying, I wish he would stop trying to be so witty, it's annoying. Plus he might have liked it here but let's not forget this is the guy who enjoyed American Psycho in the UK, then when it got to Broadway and became a far stronger show he didn't like it.

[gypsy101]

maybe in his view it became a weaker show?

[rosscoe(au)]

gypsy101 said: "maybe in his view it became a weaker show?

 

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And Mic Drop

[Skimbleshanks2]

Saw it a few weekends ago... It was of course a brilliant show ... Very strange at times and messy in the second act, though ... I can see why Scott Rudin left ... He probably wanted to make it a tiny bit more mainstream ...

Will this transfer to Broadway?? It deserves to, if only because of ANDY KARL ... What a truly terrific performance; his best to date!! I hope they recast the actress who played Rita though ... She was cloying and basic. I wish it could be played by ORFEH!! I really hope this transfers!!!

[dramamama611]

So nice to hear great the reviews, esp for Andy Karl.  

 

I'm not often a fan of the movie to musical kind of show,  but thought from the beginning this vehicle might work well.

[AnnieBlack]

So happy for Andy Karl. He is such a nice guy- he deserves this success! 

[massofmen]

I remember when Ben Brantley gave a rave to honeymoon in vegas. He us so on top of what theater audiences love these days. 

[Kad]

At first, due to its very casual tone and lack of real critical analysis, I thought Brantley's review was one of those "critic's notebook" pieces that aren't formally reviews. But... I guess it is his official review.

[Liza's Headband]

There are plenty of critical hits that end up becoming massively embarrassing flops. This will be one of them. You read it here first. 

[neonlightsxo]

Liza's Headband said: "There are plenty of critical hits that end up becoming massively embarrassing flops. This will be one of them. You read it here first. "

 

I agree 100%. Scott Rudin has good taste, he knew what he was doing when he bailed.

 

[songanddanceman2]

gypsy101 said: "maybe in his view it became a weaker show?

Sorry but if he thought it got weaker them he shouldn't be a critic. The Broadway production had a better cast, a better leading man, the book was better, staging a million times better and the orchestrations head and shoulders above.

"

 

[songanddanceman2]

Liza's Headband said: "There are plenty of critical hits that end up becoming massively embarrassing flops. This will be one of them. You read it here first. 

Lol ok luv.

"

 

[Liza's Headband]

songanddanceman2 said: "gypsy101 said: "maybe in his view it became a weaker show?

Sorry but if he thought it got weaker them he shouldn't be a critic. The Broadway production had a better cast, a better leading man, the book was better, staging a million times better and the orchestrations head and shoulders above.

"

 

That is an opinion. Not a quantitative fact. 

 

[Oak2]

Glad to hear it's doing so well critically! Though as pointed out, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be successful with the audiences - Critics' opinions aren't always the same as most others'. Still, I hope it does do well, and that it does get a transfer over here - I'd love to see how an adaptation of this works for myself. I am curious to see how they adapted some aspects of the original movie.

[¿Macavity?]

I feel like this show will do well, it's name alone will attract audiences. I hope it does anyway.

[songanddanceman2]

Liza's Headband said: "songanddanceman2 said: "gypsy101 said: "maybe in his view it became a weaker show?

Sorry but if he thought it got weaker them he shouldn't be a critic. The Broadway production had a better cast, a better leading man, the book was better, staging a million times better and the orchestrations head and shoulders above.

"

 

That is an opinion. Not a quantitative fact. 

 

You mean like this?

 

'There are plenty of critical hits that end up becoming massively embarrassing flops. This will be one of them. You read it here first. '

"

 

[Liza's Headband]

If a prediction based on quantitative and qualitative data is an "opinion," then yes. It would match your criteria. 

[songanddanceman2]

Liza, your an idiot, make some friends, let this bitter thing inside of you go. You ain't even seen the show, what exactly are your basing your opinion on?

[Scarywarhol]

Ignore

[DeNada]

For the sake of completeness, we should probably include the Daily Mail, where Quentin Letts thinks the show needs more work and new leads with better singing voices:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3744401/Groundhog-s-missing-Bill-Murray-s-zany-appeal-music-version-hits-old-Vic.html

However, Quentin Letts is diametrically opposed to almost every audience member I have ever met, so take that with a pinch of salt.  I would note, however, repeated comments about a relatively weak female lead actress and some bits being a bit rough and ready still.

It's a shame I'm not going to get to see this, no longer living in London.  I'll have to wait for the cast recording.

 

 

[Owen22]

songanddanceman2 said: "Sorry but if he thought it got weaker them he shouldn't be a critic"

Songanddnaceman2 is a liar. Not that he knows he's lying, He's a fabulist. But he doesn't know he's a fabulist.  His delusions appear in the form that he completely believes his world view and his alone is reality. 

 

 

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