Lord of the Rings musical closing this July - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 03-14-2008, 06:20 AM

More here http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.ph...Date%2C+19+Jul

I think we'll have to agree to disagree about the music - I'm listening to the cast recording now & I (like all the reviewers on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Rings-O...5496825&sr=8-2 ) think its fantastic - though I admit it I didn't 'get' it first time I listened. I've probably listened to it a good couple of dozen times & its one of my favourite albums of all time.

Still, its not the end of the show altogether - a scaled down touring version is heading for Germany & New Zealand. Perhaps if they'd gone for a scaled down version initially they wouldn't hjave struggled so hard to recoup their costs.....

For anyone who doesn't know the show - their website has footage. I can't speak from experience, but it looks more interesting than the movies... http://www.lotr.com/

Sauron the White · 03-14-2008, 07:34 AM

davem ... I did check out the Amazon site and reviews. Of course, the reviews are from people who purchased the CD because they had heard it and liked it a great deal... enough so to shell out good money for it. That is hardly an impartial or objective review. Those are reviews of the true believers in the concept.

I find this comment by you insightful

Quote:

though I admit it I didn't 'get' it first time I listened. I've probably listened to it a good couple of dozen times & its one of my favourite albums of all time.

The music was written for a play that most people are going to walk in having not heard it before. They should be able to "get it" on first hearing or else the composer has failed in his job. Is the composer suppose to take the approach that the music is simply so dense and complicated that you have to come back and pay big bucks to hear it again and again until it sounds right to you?

Bêthberry · 03-14-2008, 08:25 AM

Sauron the White, you say you saw--heard--the production in Toronto. But my understanding is that the music underwent considerable changes for the London show and I believe davem is talking about the London cast recording? I could be wrong, though.

Sauron the White · 03-14-2008, 09:16 AM

It is my understanding that the changes in the two venues were mainly in tightening up the play so that it ran a bit shorter through the elimination of a character or two and a scene or two. This may have caused the shortening of a song or two - I do not know for sure. However, it is my understanding that the music is basically the same for both shows.

I would welcome the knowledge of anyone who actually saw both shows.

However, regardless of that, my point is that the music failed in its main goal of supporting the play and adding to it. Davem said that he "did'nt get it" on first listen. A first listen is what the vast majority of playgoers have. If they also "don't get it" then the music has badly failed as part of the play.

Everybody has a total right to like what ever they decide to like and there is no right or wrong applied to that. My comments are simply geared to evaluate the success of the play and its music.

davem · 03-14-2008, 12:43 PM

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/theatre/...lord_of_t.html

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story...cal-close.html

Quote:

The music was written for a play that most people are going to walk in having not heard it before. They should be able to "get it" on first hearing or else the composer has failed in his job. Is the composer suppose to take the approach that the music is simply so dense and complicated that you have to come back and pay big bucks to hear it again and again until it sounds right to you?

I can only advise anyone who hasn't heard the music to listen to the album - or just go to the website & watch the videos there. The music - particularly the instrumental/elvish pieces - is awesome.

Of course, maybe the show itself is terrible - I haven't seen it - but I love the designs - especially the costumes, which are far more interesting than the ones in the movie .

Estelyn Telcontar · 03-14-2008, 01:09 PM

I saw the show in London and enjoyed it very much! I realize that it was changed from the Toronto version, which was apparently a test-drive, and it will be interesting to see what changes are made for the next 'edition'. If it comes anywhere near me in Germany, I will definitely plan to see it there.

Of course a stage version that is played on one evening has to be cut down, both time-wise and space-wise, even more than the movie version was. I was able to allow for that because there were some things that I found positive. It will not surprise anyone who knows my preference for the royal family of Gondor that I really liked the way Arwen was portrayed. On the other hand, Galadriel's role was revved up too much for my taste. I could go on like that, but I would like to point out one aspect that I find important - physical presence. There is something about being in the same room with the actors rather than seeing everything on a screen that makes a difference. The personal experience is a factor that shouldn't be underestimated, the third dimension that even today's technology cannot yet offer on flat screens.

I hope there will be all kinds of versions of Tolkien's works performed in the future, keeping the stories alive to introduce new readers to the books. I know of at least one puppet performance which friends saw, and like Smith of Wootton Major, I am not ashamed of the little doll fairy queen if she can awake some hearts to the enchanted realm.

Mithalwen · 03-14-2008, 01:59 PM

I saw it on the first night and shall do my best to see it again. I loved it.

03-14-2008, 06:20 AM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	More here http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.ph...Date%2C+19+Jul I think we'll have to agree to disagree about the music - I'm listening to the cast recording now & I (like all the reviewers on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Rings-O...5496825&sr=8-2 ) think its fantastic - though I admit it I didn't 'get' it first time I listened. I've probably listened to it a good couple of dozen times & its one of my favourite albums of all time. Still, its not the end of the show altogether - a scaled down touring version is heading for Germany & New Zealand. Perhaps if they'd gone for a scaled down version initially they wouldn't hjave struggled so hard to recoup their costs..... For anyone who doesn't know the show - their website has footage. I can't speak from experience, but it looks more interesting than the movies... http://www.lotr.com/ __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects." Last edited by davem; 03-14-2008 at 06:26 AM.

03-14-2008, 08:25 AM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Sauron the White, you say you saw--heard--the production in Toronto. But my understanding is that the music underwent considerable changes for the London show and I believe davem is talking about the London cast recording? I could be wrong, though. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

03-14-2008, 01:09 PM	#6
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I saw the show in London and enjoyed it very much! I realize that it was changed from the Toronto version, which was apparently a test-drive, and it will be interesting to see what changes are made for the next 'edition'. If it comes anywhere near me in Germany, I will definitely plan to see it there. Of course a stage version that is played on one evening has to be cut down, both time-wise and space-wise, even more than the movie version was. I was able to allow for that because there were some things that I found positive. It will not surprise anyone who knows my preference for the royal family of Gondor that I really liked the way Arwen was portrayed. On the other hand, Galadriel's role was revved up too much for my taste. I could go on like that, but I would like to point out one aspect that I find important - physical presence. There is something about being in the same room with the actors rather than seeing everything on a screen that makes a difference. The personal experience is a factor that shouldn't be underestimated, the third dimension that even today's technology cannot yet offer on flat screens. I hope there will be all kinds of versions of Tolkien's works performed in the future, keeping the stories alive to introduce new readers to the books. I know of at least one puppet performance which friends saw, and like Smith of Wootton Major, I am not ashamed of the little doll fairy queen if she can awake some hearts to the enchanted realm. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

03-14-2008, 01:59 PM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I saw it on the first night and shall do my best to see it again. I loved it. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

03-14-2008, 09:16 AM	#4
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	It is my understanding that the changes in the two venues were mainly in tightening up the play so that it ran a bit shorter through the elimination of a character or two and a scene or two. This may have caused the shortening of a song or two - I do not know for sure. However, it is my understanding that the music is basically the same for both shows. I would welcome the knowledge of anyone who actually saw both shows. However, regardless of that, my point is that the music failed in its main goal of supporting the play and adding to it. Davem said that he "did'nt get it" on first listen. A first listen is what the vast majority of playgoers have. If they also "don't get it" then the music has badly failed as part of the play. Everybody has a total right to like what ever they decide to like and there is no right or wrong applied to that. My comments are simply geared to evaluate the success of the play and its music.