Has anyone seen the new ALW musical Woman in White & if so what is your opinion? Iwould like to wait until I get to London in May to get a ticket. Is it such a "hit" that reserving ahead would be better. Also any info on "Billy Elliot" the new musical written by Elton John.
Thanks

Hello,
I haven't seen it, but the Guardian had a so-so review of it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/revie...305706,00.html.

Their reviews are usually fairly accurate.

There have been several posts here by people who have seen and commented on Woman in White. Enter that title in the search function, click UK, and read away. That's a lot better than asking those people to repeat everything they've already posted here once.

OK, I apologize. I just followed my own directions and found a number of posts, but none of them with the "reviews" in them. Once again, the search function here fails.

Let me say that generally the opinions have been lukewarm to good. No one has raved about it, but many feel it is worth seeing. And the special effects of the projections are viewed either as amazing or causing "motion sickness" in the viewers.

We saw it last week. Thought the rear/front pojections used as "scenery" were good; thought the diction was also good. We did not come away humming any tunes despite its being touted as "the greatest score since 'Phantom.' Personally, we thought it was worth the time and money.

I'd give The Woman in White a mixed review . I thought the music was the weakest part of the show – but then, I've never been a big fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's music, so my opinion on that subject should probably be disregarded by anyone who likes his music. On the positive side, I thought that most of the performances were very good, and the scenery "projections" were amazingly creative.

One thing you should be aware of is that Michael Crawford (who gives a very funny performance, wearing a "fat suit" that makes him look completely different from his matinee idol days in Phantom) has been out of the show since January with what's being described as a flu-like virus. He's currently scheduled to return in April, so he may well be back by the time you're in London, but if seeing him is important to you, you may want to wait until he actually returns to the show before you buy your tickets. (On the other hand, his replacement, Michael Ball, is no musical slouch himself.)

We thought Crawford's replacement was very good...and there is a "scenery" "special effect" at the climax of the show which was done quite well.

Just combining the last couple of posts, I'm pretty sure the replacement Intrepid saw was NOT the famous Michael Ball, who should be wonderful in the role. He is taking over this week or next (I forget) for 6 weeks.

To describe a musical as having "the greatest score since 'Phantom'" must be the ultimate in damning with faint praise.

Yes, I saw Woman in White...and was not impressed--even with the "special" effects. Here's the short review that I posted on my website:

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The production we saw—star Michael Crawford was absent—was largely unimpressive. The score was adequate, but not memorable. The acting was generally up to the standard expected of a big name West End production, but the staging detracted from the show.

The play was staged using projected video images to provide scenery, backdrops and transitions. The video projection was distracting—at times dizzying—and had a decidedly video game quality. The big production "surprise" was the 3D projection of a train rushing towards the audience. Llyod Webber used a suspiciously similar device in a previous musical—Whistle Down the Wind. That show bombed in the US, but has established itself in its London production.

Bottom line? Let's just say Woman in White is no Phantom of the Opera and Andrew Lloyd Webber does not recapture the glory of his past works.

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David White
[email protected]

I saw the show in November and pretty much agree with everything Bree said. Love it or hate it or luke warm in the middle, there were no walk up tickets then for the performance I was attending (w/ advance tickets) and no tickets for the rest of that week. Maybe someone has more recent experience or knowledge of that possibiity.

"Billy Elliot" is in previews still at the Victoria Palace and is simply fantastic. At times the Northern accent is so heavy that for an American ear it can be a struggle to understand every word. But having never seen the film we had only a sketchy idea of the story line but we all laughed and cried. It's bound to be a big hit - try to snag a ticket before it becomes the hottest one in town after its May premiere. Good luck.

Hope you don't mind, acereid, but I've copied your post and reposted it with the title "Billy Elliot on the London stage" so that others will find it.

I haven't -- and probably won't -- see this musical but can HIGHLY recommend the novel it's based on. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is one of the greatest suspense stories ever written. It had me staying up until midnight, with my heart in my throat. I highly recommend it!!! Skip the musical. Read the book!!