paulears Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I've got involved with an amateur production of Forbidden Planet, one of my old favourites - remembering the original from 25 years ago when it beat Miss Saigon in getting an award. I've had a soft spot for it even though it's a bit 'cult' in it's appreciation. I popped down to London to see the professional version which is doing a tour. I have to say I was a bit disappointed, which is odd as the original Director did it again. A few tweaks to the script, and a few song swaps, but pretty much the old show I remember well. The need to have the cast play multiple instruments is always a toughie, but I got the distinct impression that many of them had had to learn the instrument for the show, and it was new to them. There's one bit where the cook plays an anguished version of "She's not there" and this was really dreadful. Imagine somebody taught to do random hammer ons and tapping, plus high bent 'squealy'notes - and then applying them randomly with the fx device on a mega setting - add a few behind the shoulders and teeth plucking, and there was a real mess, that the majority of the audience thought was amazing. His playing ability, or lack of it, was shown in the finale by one of the other cast who played a proper blistering solo up and down the neck, making the wall of noise the cook made look a bit pathetic. A few people played bass guitar, but only one seemed to be a bass player. One saxophone was consitently out of tune, and the weird fingering by somebody on a clarinet just showed the lack of a proper music teacher in the past. They were all decent singers and actors, but in the original I don't think anyone was a weak player, and many of these were - making the band loose and hardly a wall of sound. Trombone and two saxes were frequent, but blended dreadfully. There were a few good bits, but I found it sadly lacking - and came away with no ideas from it, which was the point really - see something and 'borrow' it. The preflight stuff with the audience was half heartedly carried out, and the tension leading up to the polarity reversal saving the day just poor managed. Lighting was, well, OK - if a few LED movers on the set and some gobos light the candle for you. Sound quality was not bad at all - BUT - most cast members shared a few handheld radio mics and stand mics, with the mics being passed around, or held for people to speak into. For a few times, having a crew member suddenly hold out a mic for somebody to say a line into, then aim it at somebody else is neat, but the entire show was done passing around and pointing handhelds. After the twentieth time it gets really irritating. The set was made quite well - the decorating and finish first class, but it was a bit cramped with people crawling all over it, all of the time. for some reason, the Aerial robot character had roller skates in the production photos, but didn't have them on stage? Maybe depth didn't allow enough flat space? The big screen upstage worked nicely, but was very underused, and the monster from the ID, rather manky and plain. However the roller screen dropped in to project Dr Brian May, the narrator, took 30 seconds to drop, and everyone was waiting for it. Oh yes - the science officer had a ridiculous Russian or German accent - what on earth was that all about? If it comes near you on the tour, and you didn't see the original or the later version which was very similar, it would be nice to hear what you think. A bit hard to see this winning an award, sadly. I've got the original lighting plan somewhere - no idea how I got hold of it, but this is a much scaled down show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ojc123 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I'd thought of going to see it again but I think you've put me off. The first time I saw it Cookie played one of the most jaw-dropping solos I've ever heard. He seamlessly referenced Hendrix, Clapton, Santana and, most notably, a whole section of Led Zeppelin I and II licks. I've seen it two or three times since and always felt disappointed. It's a fun show and I just regret that I'm far too old to play Cookie in any production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w/robe Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Paul, did you see it at the New Wimbledon, or earlier on the tour at Hornchurch?We went to see it recently in High Wycombe taking our teenage kids with us who were not even thought about when we last watched it. I agree with some of what you say, particularly the bizarre accent from the Science Officer. I wonder if some of the problems with it are because it is too similar to the original, the handhelds being very tiresome.I think you are a bit harsh on Cookie and as you say it was well received. Maybe young people are not sat in their bedrooms playing that sort of guitar anymore? To me it did not feel as good, fresh and innervation as the original but it was the first big actor/musician show that I saw. Perhaps having see a number of them in the intervening years I just expect everyone to play sax, trombone, guitar, bass and drums brilliantly where as the first time round it was amazing that they could play them at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Yep - New Wimbledon. The trouble with Cookie is that that role needs a proper guitarist, not someone who just gets by. I am being a bit harsh - but that song reall is critical, and just random distortion and basic technique isn't musical. Sadly, it spoilt the whole song. Seeing somebody trying to play with their teeth, badly, is perhaps going to wash for non-musicians, but when you can play the guitar, it makes you cringe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddproduction Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 A few years ago my local school production gave Cookie an inflatable guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Coker Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 No...I have the original lighting plan.... Stop me if you've heard this one, but the original advert for casting in the Stage said: "Wanted: Actor/musicians. No recorder players" Some original pictures here : http://www.bubbleped...rbidden-planet/ KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 likewise advert for stage management from the same period - "Must like mud. Wellies provided" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Coker Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 likewise advert for stage management from the same period - "Must like mud. Wellies provided" Andy: I just want you to know I have spent an entire afternoon searching through 400 slides and trying to use my iPad as a slide scanner - just so I can see if this is true! KC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Hi Ken, sorry to have been the cause of a task of what sounds like Augean proportions...I can't swear to those actual words, but for some reason they have stuck in my head for 30-plus years. I do recollect very clearly arriving at Blackheath for the first day of my work experience fortnight in the Forbidden Planet / Rogues Progress season and being shown a large pile of black rubber footwear in a caravan and being told to find two that fitted... so the "wellies provided" bit is a true memory, but the advert may have been a product of my imagination! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.