GUYS AND DOLLS in London

[actor]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 7:57pm

Sorry for posting this on the main board instead of the west end board, but this is urgent.

Is Guys and Dolls in London any good? I can't count on the current cast being there once I see it, though. Therefore, does any cast member "make" the show and I "have" to see that person?

Is Mary Poppins better? Why?

Thanks.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 8:06pm

Yes it is good.

Comparing Poppins and Guys and Dolls is like comparing a book to a pillow.

[actor]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 11:02pm

What do you mean?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 11:04pm

They are two totally different shows, you can't really compare them.

[actor]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 11:22pm

Ok.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/7/06 at 12:50am

I've seen them both and they are both totally delicious and nutritious. Guys and Dolls is very energetic. The big numbers ("Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" especially) are very well done. I can't remember the name of the guy who played Nicely, Nicely - Martin something. He was wnderful.

Mary Poppins is also great. I saw it with the original Burt, not Gavin Creel, and he was great. The staging of the Supercaliectectect number is inspired. They spell out... just go see it.

Also, it would be wrong for me to mention that you can see, shall we say footage from both shows on a site YOU w=may know about. I was pleased to see excerpts from Guys and Dolls on this year's Royal Command Performance which was televised on the BBC from Wales.

Updated On: 10/7/06 at 12:50 AM

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 10/7/06 at 1:52am

I saw this production with the original cast and in my opinion it was much better than the most recent Broadway revival. The choreography by Rob Ashford is breath-taking, especially during the Havana scene, "Take Back Your Mink" with Jane Krakowski was one of the most exciting numbers I've seen live (and I doubt anyone could match Krakowski during this number), and the staging of "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" is exhilarating. I can't speak for the current cast, though I doubt the original cast could be improved on (especially Krakowski in her Olivier-winning star turn), the directorial concept and staging of the production should make it worthy of your money and time. Has anyone heard any news about a possible transfer?

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 10/7/06 at 8:32am

Both shows are amazing! I've seen all the casts for both shows.
Guys & Dolls - the new cast change sounds very good, but still, if you can catch Adam Cooper as Sky it's worth everything!
Mary Poppins - they have some new changes which isn't that great, but once again the leading man Gavin Creel is worth the tkt price alone.

Both shows have show-stopping numbers like 'Havana', Lucky Be Your Lady', 'Sit Down You're Rockin The Boat' ; 'Supercali..ous', 'Temper Temper', 'Step In Time', 'Anything Can Happen'.
BOth set are amazing.

See both if you can, but Im guessing Mary wud be easier to get tkts? Cuz Patrick Swayze's in Guys & Dolls now so tkts maybe quite booked! If you can't catch either, try Avenue Q !

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/7/06 at 10:53pm

Adam Cooper is one amazing dancer. Not the greatest singer, not even as strong as Fred Astaire, but when he starts to move, man, there is nobody better on the boards right now

But then, he was originally a ballet dancer, so.....

[west end artist1]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 4:32am

The new production of guys and dolls is jaw dropping and stands head and shoulders above the broadway revival in 1992.
The cast are exciting and the look of the show is awesome and a lot darker.
The havana section is wicked its one evryone should see.

Its closing soon in london but is also going out on national tour which is gonna be the second must see tour of the year(after the producers tour with mel brooks in it).

In my opinion Guys and Dolls is far better than Mary Poppins,MP seems to be great to look at and the sets and lights for MP are great but guys and dolls has a far better score and story and more well rounded charachters

xx

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 4:37am

Adam Cooper is one amazing dancer AND singer as well surprisingly! His voice is not everyone's type but he manages to sing and better than Ewan McGregor or even Nigel Harman so that's gd. HE doesn't hav as much WOW factor like when Ewan go onstage, but I wudnt blame Adam for it!
As for Mary... the lightings/sets are ABSOLUTELY amazing... so is the choreography, but I think if you're based in NYC, I guess u can skip this show as its opening in around a wk's time!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 12:05pm

Sorry, west end artist, but buying tickets for the Producers tour and expecting to see Mel Brooks live will probably be a disappointment. The man has been seriously depressed over the tragic and far-too-early death of his wife, the beloved actress Anne Bancroft and has only recently been able to get back to work on "Young Frankenstein" which is supposed to open next year, so I don't believe he's going to be going out on tour.....

[algy]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 12:21pm

I was bit suprised to see the post about Mel Brooks being in the Producers tour... When he was doing the press junket for the Producers Movie over here, one of the interviews was prefaced by the fact that he was still too upset about the death of his wife to talk about her on camera. So Sad.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 1:19pm

I don't like Guys and Dolls, but the London production is the best I have ever seen......fantastic revival.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:51am

Martin Ellis. THAT'S the guy's name. Damn, what a great Nicely-Nicely.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:35am

Both are good - there are legit recordings (NOT boots) taken from Children in Need of Poppins on a certain web site and they show two of the songs quite well. 'Super' is one there....check it out.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:39pm

What are the London Guys and Dolls sets like? I have yet to find a good picture that shows them.

Akiva

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 7:25am

There aren't that many - the stage itself is a black box with buildings and bilboards made up of lights on the three sides (inspiring the logo made of lights). The mission is just a wall with windows and a door that comes down from the flies. Havana is a curved bar with stools on stage left and a low wall that slides across way upstage, along with tables and chairs for the dancers to fling themselves around! The sewers are represented by two huge drainpipes above stage left and right and a forced perspective sewer pipe at the back which has a ladder they can climb up and down. The nightclub is just tables and chairs left and right and a glittery curtain at the back for the girls to enter through.

I'm not really doing them justice, but the show really isn't about the sets - just the music and wonderful choreography. I think anyone expecting the cartoon-like nature of the 92 revival will be disappointed...

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 9:41am

If I remember correctly, the sets wereintentionally made to reflect this production's origins at the much smaller Donmar Warehouse. So there are very limited sets, just basically a brick wall and some set pieces. It puts all attention on the actors.

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:52pm

Martyn Ellis sadly left G&D in August and in my opinion, the show isnt quite the same without him. Saying that it's still a happy clapping/uplifting experience, and if you cant get advanced tickets, go for day seats. Mid week you should be fine getting there about 8.30am right now.