It's a hard group to follow. The original cast weren't just the "first ones hired for the role", they were a group of friends who created this show years ago in a little pub and grew it over time to a larger theater, then a proper West End Theater, then spin-offs and tours and Broadway and beyond... I'd think they bring something very special and irreplaceable to the show, and am ready curious how well it can be followed up.
Also very excited to see what's next from the creators, who said they're working on a Christmas TV special next.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is on Youtube. It's great. I haven't seen the replacement cast but I've seen the original in the West End and on broadway. They'll be hard to top though.
Apparently each cast member helped in hiring their replacement(?) so hopefully that is a good sign.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
I haven't seen the replacement cast myself, but have friends who have and said they enjoyed the new players. They're obviously finding their footing and they noted that it seems much more americanized but they didn't elaborate on how.
I can't speak to rush, but I did easily purchase a $30 balcony ticket for tonight's performance 2 minutes AFTER the play started (or, perhaps, more accurately, 2 minutes after the "pre-show" started). Per prior threads on this topic, the balcony is an ideal view of the stage, especially given the action that takes place in the box seats (and you don't miss any of the action). Also, the balcony ushers let latecomers sit anywhere in the side balcony except for the front row. The balcony was only about 1/4 full, so I had plenty of seats to choose from.
I wish I had the chance to see the original cast before they left the Broadway production, but I felt the new cast held their own. I can definitely see how some would argue that the new cast "Americanized" the play a bit, though I still found it quite funny.
I've rushed the show four times, all with the original cast, including their last performance (which was one of the best nights of theatre I've experienced in my life, but I'll leave that for a different post/thread. Hahaha).
Out of the four times I rushed, the only time I arrived before the box office opened was for the OBC's last performance because, as I correctly assumed, there were a good number of people like me that day who really wanted to see the OBC on their last performance. The other three times, I arrived at the box office probably 1-3 hours after it opened, and I was fortunately always able to get a "full view" seat. It is my understanding that if they run out of full view rush seats, then they start selling partial view.
My seats were all in the orchestra section. In order of the times I went, the seats were second row center, second row right, eighth row right, and then eighth row right again. I believe that at least a good portion of the rush seats are located on the extreme sides of the right orchestra section, and if I had to guess, the "partial view" seats are located on house left. Action happens in the box on house left, so I'm guessing partial view means that you're sitting underneath the box, so you can't really see what's going on up there.
A heads-up about the rush, I got to the theatre on a Saturday morning at about 9:15am and was second in line (was first to buy for the evening). I got Row A, seats 2-4; perfect, full view seats for $30.
Having seen the original cast, the show is still in very good shape. The replacement cast is only lacking when it comes to the physical intensity of the "stunt" gags; the original cast made the chaos seem spontaneous, sharp and slightly dangerous in a way that probably only comes with having perfected the choreography over the years, like Malka2 suggested. That said, the new cast is successful in creating fresh characterizations. Many characters have been replaced with actors who are completely different than their original counterparts instead of carbon copies of their predecessors, which makes this group of actors feel distinct. Mark Evans, Alex Mandall and Clifton Duncan are all strong but Ashley Bryant as Annie ends up winning the evening.
I enjoyed the new cast after having seen the UK cast twice. They bring a different energy but it works equally well. I thought the division of accents was a little odd (if it wasn't for the asides at Trevor still having a British accent, I'd say it was just because the "actors" were in character vs. the "crew" just being themselves).
Finally got to see this tonight. Thanks to those who responded. I loved it. Funny as hell and the timing on the physical gags was spot on. Didn't see the original cast but these guys were great. Highly recommended.
Mark Evans, who is in the replacement cast, toured as Elder Price in BOM for over a year - loved his performance there and he was perfect for the role in TPTGW
I’ve seen the play and loved it. I’m thinking of taking my daughter and her friend (9-10 year olds) for her birthday .... but I can’t remember if there is any bad language in it??
Anyone know for sure? I don’t mind as much if my daughter hears a stray bad word or two but I can’t bring someone else’s child to an inappropriate play. ; )
AMWB said: "I’ve seen the play and loved it. I’m thinking of taking my daughter and her friend (9-10 year olds) for her birthday .... but I can’t remember if there is any bad language in it??
Anyone know for sure? I don’t mind as much if my daughter hears a stray bad word or two but I can’t bring someone else’s child to an inappropriate play. ; ) "
The recommendation on Telecharge is for 8+. It's been 6 weeks since I saw it and I can't remember either if they used any bad words as it doesn't stick out for me in general but there were definitely kids that were probably about 10 in the audience. I think you're probably pretty safe but you could always tweet them and ask specifically. Hope you get to take them. I think the kids will love the physical comedy especially.
The Butler repeatedly mispronounces a word so that it comes out sounding like the F word but it’s done very humorously. There may be a sh— or two but I don’t remember.
Thank you SO MUCH for the responses and help! I know my daughter will love this so much and now I feel safe bringing her friends without upsetting any parents... LOL : )
How's the current cast of this? How's Mara Davi? Deciding whether to see this again before closing, though the $45 rush price is a turn off. I heard it may be moving to New world stages, any info about that?