Theatre-O-Rama

[przed]

Last night, I saw the Lord of the Rings play/musical. I hadn't planned on seeing it because it pretty much scared me, but the ticket was a birthday present from one of my best friends, so I had to go. And I ended up very much enjoying myself

Comments

[faramir_boromir]

No Faramir?

*cries*

[przed]

I thought of you when I realized that Faramir wasn't even going to make a token appearance. (I also picked you up a program.)

[faramir_boromir]

You are great and wonderful. Thanks. *g*

[kortirion]

Yeah, I knew they really, really had to cut it - even cutting stuff out after the previews. My reaction was the same as yours when I first heard it was mooted as a musical - WTF??? - Since then I've heard it compares with The Lion King, which I thought was brilliant, and I'm someone who doeasn't like musical theatre [hence original forebodings] But I've now heard sufficient that I'll certainly be going when it transfers to London... plus a friend wrote the Old English lyrics for the song of the Dead - I've already told her - if she gets an invite, I'm going too!!

[przed]

The very first performance was 5 1/2 hours, so they've lost nearly 2 hours of stuff, whether through cuts or tightening scenes. In some ways, I wish I'd seen some of the stuff they cut out, but I don't know that my back could have taken that much time in a theatre seat.

The Lion King comparison is apt. The Black Riders and Shelob are achieved with similar techniques to the animals in that play. And in my opinion, the music is far superior. (Apart from the staging, I wasn't at all fond of The Lion King. I'm also not a huge fan of musical theatre. Though I have to admit to a sneaking fondness for Les Mis.)

You should totally see it in London. If I'm back there when it's playing, I'd be tempted to see it again myself. I'd like to see what an English company could do with it. (I love Toronto theatre, but a number of times I've seen the same show in London and Toronto. The London show always kicks the Toronto show's arse.)