Britmania
- Thread starter CastleOSullivan
- Start date
Who wants to camp outside of the Globe Theatre and wait for a soft opening? 
Somewhat related, I'm happy the park isn't treating new shows like new rides anymore.
Who wants to camp outside of the Globe Theatre and wait for a soft opening?
Wish I could but I'll be celebrating Father's Day Weekend with my family.
After looking at the Showtimes calendar it seems that Britmania will start performances on the 29th. It's interesting that they didn't do the preview performances like they did last season.
Just got back from Britmania. It's essentially the same exact show from last season with just a handful of new cast members. The cast is extremely talented. My one complaint is there were some sound issues. One singer's mic went out during Stairway To Heaven. Poor guy was singing his lungs out to try to compensate for it. Next time he came back out with a handheld microphone for the rest of the show. So essentially same mediocre show, a few technical issues, with a very talented cast that deserves a better show to perform with. Not saying the show is bad either. I quite like it and will probably see it a handful of times this season, I just think it could be a lot better.
Like others have said: it's mostly the same show as last year. Most of the criticisms that I had with the show in 2017 are still there. The best change was in "Hello." The singer now waits until the Austrian curtain behind her rises to drop her robe, revealing her red dress underneath. Previously, it looked both unapologetic and tacky. Now they use the lights that flash quickly enough for her to turn a 180 and reveal the red dress without most people noticing what happened. I am overall happier with the lighting and costuming situation. I also thought the performers were stronger than last year.
Sure it's too bad that it didn't make any changes, but I'm personally glad to hear that it's still a solid show all around. If I can get to the park again this summer I'll check this out and the new Spark show.
Um. I hate to say this and be the odd man out, but I really didn't like it, and neither did my kids. I loved the songs, sure, but I actually loved London Rocks. I thought the story was stupid, going on and on about his dad, and his band, yada. It just didn't do it for me. We saw it opening day, and I know the first shows are always shaky. The choreography was stiff and boring, and switching sets was painful. While the kids were talented, they weren't at all well rehearsed. The only thing that saved it was the music choices, and the Stairway to Heaven bit.
My question is why did they think Britmania would work when it is borderline London Rocks rebranded? I mean I understand it is difficult to make a show themed to England, it's not quite as easy as something like Celtic Fyre. I guess we will just never have a good show there until they decide to stop focusing on the England part and focus on the fact that it is the Globe Theatre, and either bring back ghosts or even do like something Shakesperean who knows.
The young chap singing Stairway this year is phenomenal. Potential to be the next generation Gabe in that one, IMHO. I hate the story-telling also. This is likely a theatre convention to give the cast time to change costumes. A better idea is needed. The 80's selections of songs are poor choices for me. And not suited for a 4-piece band. Having cast dress as popular musicians then not using their tunes is lame, as has been discussed previously. Billy Ocean and Robbie Williams? Perhaps well known in England but not in the States. And where is the Bowie and Queen music? The projections are also poorly utilized and used way below potential.
All that said, British Jukebox feels like the right direction to us. I would suggest a tweaked tune selection and transition scenes, steal some projection spectacle from LR, with a sprinkling of more Led Zeppelin and Adele type numbers. Many of the LR tunes could be well performed with the current band and are nice tunes when not mashed-up. It might even work better as staying an “oldies” revue not going past the 70’s? I do like live music and have enjoyed snippets of every iteration of the music productions done to date.
MSoRR and Scrooge work in the Globe, so it all can come together. A good music show is almost within reach, too. Just WHAT that would look like is slightly below the mark. I also think a Ghosts of the Globe type show could work. Isn’t that what Scrooge is? Some story and some music? The days of quaint, cute, and little shows are probably well passed. Thanks to Monster Stomp Revamped, and then Fiends, pushing the production bar into a higher level. To me, Irish Thunder was the most immersive production they had before then. Celtic Fyre was a shift that worked in a whole other way. They could use that kind of shift in the Globe.
But hopefully, NOT a new paradigm folly like changing All For One into that gigantic flash in the pan Coke ad that is Spark. At one time, I'd say Cedar Fair wants their show back. But Carowinds actually has 9 shows with many being live music and musicians. Also, IMHO, Season of Cirque there is the best entertainment I've enjoyed since Monster Stomp Revamped. .
But, I digress having derailed the Britmania thread.
In the end, you can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Someone important said that once.
All that said, British Jukebox feels like the right direction to us. I would suggest a tweaked tune selection and transition scenes, steal some projection spectacle from LR, with a sprinkling of more Led Zeppelin and Adele type numbers. Many of the LR tunes could be well performed with the current band and are nice tunes when not mashed-up. It might even work better as staying an “oldies” revue not going past the 70’s? I do like live music and have enjoyed snippets of every iteration of the music productions done to date.
MSoRR and Scrooge work in the Globe, so it all can come together. A good music show is almost within reach, too. Just WHAT that would look like is slightly below the mark. I also think a Ghosts of the Globe type show could work. Isn’t that what Scrooge is? Some story and some music? The days of quaint, cute, and little shows are probably well passed. Thanks to Monster Stomp Revamped, and then Fiends, pushing the production bar into a higher level. To me, Irish Thunder was the most immersive production they had before then. Celtic Fyre was a shift that worked in a whole other way. They could use that kind of shift in the Globe.
But hopefully, NOT a new paradigm folly like changing All For One into that gigantic flash in the pan Coke ad that is Spark. At one time, I'd say Cedar Fair wants their show back. But Carowinds actually has 9 shows with many being live music and musicians. Also, IMHO, Season of Cirque there is the best entertainment I've enjoyed since Monster Stomp Revamped. .
But, I digress having derailed the Britmania thread.
In the end, you can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Someone important said that once.
Because it's American Jukebox on a fancy stage (and British). My biggest problem with Britmania is that it feels like the show was created with the idea that people who visit theme parks are too "dumb" to appreciate anything more sophisticated. Maybe they could improve the show by removing all of the boring dialogue, but I'm already tired of the show. I felt that way after seeing it maybe three times. It feels too much like "soup in a can" to me. It feels very bland and doesn't compare to something less cookie cutter-ish.
I love Stairway to Heaven, though.
The Stairway to Heaven bit was cool, the dance was a little messy however. That singer can sing.
It's sad they use that amazing stage for that and force the effects throughout the show.
The Hello - Adele bit almost made me fall out of my seat laughing. It was so pitiful.
The end where they did those cringey dances ruined the entire thing for me.
I'm ready for Monster Stomp.
It's sad they use that amazing stage for that and force the effects throughout the show.
The Hello - Adele bit almost made me fall out of my seat laughing. It was so pitiful.
The end where they did those cringey dances ruined the entire thing for me.
I'm ready for Monster Stomp.
I would love to see Ghosts of the Globe in that theater, even a revised one would be cool. Plus I'm glad that you see that Spark is nothing more than a flashy distraction with nothing to offer in comparison to the more ambitious All For One that was undeniably flawed but at least it was a show that used the Royal Palace Theater really well.
As for Britmania, yeah it could be much better, but I'll take it in comparison to the horrendous disappointment called London Rocks.
Stairway to Heaven is an amazing production. The vocalist and both of the main dancers this year and the choreography are all stunning. It's a piece that gives chills if one appreciates the artistic aspect.
This was an outstanding show! Great cast and music and already scheduled to return in 2019 on the BGW website.
Nope. It's being replaced with Churchillmania: a musical biography.