★★★★ REVIEW: The Lord of the Rings: a Musical Tale (Watermill Theatre) | first ever stage revival
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- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
I was recently invited to attend the press night performance of The Lord of the Rings: a musical tale at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
This is the first revival of the show since its famously challenged original production at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London and takes a bold new approach, with an actor musician staging that is semi immersive.
Check out today's brand new video review to find out what this production is actually like and whether this story works as a musical...
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00:00 | introduction
02:47 | what is it about?
05:53 | how does it work?
13:04 | star rating
16:41 | strengths
21:40 | weaknesses
24:34 | performances
31:39 | who should see?
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#theatre #lordoftherings #tolkien 
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"A big magical hike together to yeet the ring in a volcano."
Exactly the reason why I have been waiting for this one 😅
"Look at the trees! There is magic and power and light and magic and trees! Elvish words!" 🎶
I went to see the original production, and it was the inspiration for me pursuing a theatre degree that included theatre design. Two standout moments for me were the Balrog (where they blew hot air and ash into the audience) and especially Gollum’s entrance where he climbed down the auditorium so I’m thrilled they kept his entrance similar as it still hits me when I think about it 15 years later!
I went during the previews, and was so pleased. The Watermill is such an incredible setting and it’s such a bold thing for them to be doing (particularly given their government funding was savaged). Utterly glorious. And even if anyone is disappointed by a lack of character depth, or by such a brisk pace and what gets missed, it’s still an wonderful evening and so worth making the trip out. You kind of just need to go for the experience (and Galadriel’s songs).
With the esthetics of the production being one of its best parts, what if they adapt The Hobbit in a similar way?
A much shorter story so it can easily fit the 2-3 hour musical format, the book is already filled with songs and just think of what they can do with Smaug...
Your summary of the plot was amazing, thank you!
That curtain call was so charming! I wish I could take off work and fly to the UK to see the whole production. This theatre seems like the perfect venue for such a story.
I went to see this yesterday, and honestly it is the best theatre experience I have ever had. It was a perfect location for such a show! I wanted to see the original Theatre Royal Drury Lane production when it was on. This was when I was 11. I always wanted to see it. And when it was announced that it was playing again, I went to see it!! And honestly, the whole experience was even better and more remarkable than I could ever imagine. I got to talk to Bilbo while he was walked about the party. I also got to speak to the actors a the end, while waiting for a taxi. Honestly, I was *gushing*, proper gushing. They could not have done a better job. My highlights were the puppetry for the Black Riders (the most frightening adaptation of these creatures I’ve ever seen) and Shelob. The projections were phenomenal. The sound design and the skill of the performers as both actors and musicians and singers? Fantastic. I truly felt like I’d been transported. It was so intimate. We were front row, in the centre. It was amazing.
I would add my favourite songs were Star of Eärendil, Lothlórien, Wonder, and The Final Battle
I gotta say one small correction - the original production wasn't based on the films, it was developed separately at the same time. Of course the films influenced it once they came out! But it's like the Hunchback / Notre Dame de Paris situation. While I was at uni I did a work placement on the London production, it was a stunning, stunning show - but fatally flawed by trying to fit such a huge story into one evening. It was the last Mega-Musical - they spent money on it! They used real gold leaf when paint would have done. They had enough budget to not be scrambling - until flu went around backstage at least. Things weren't the cheapest possible. And the global financial situation of 2008 paid a big part of why the show was such a financial flop! I don't think the original production was an artistic flop so much as a victim of being FAR too expensive right as the global financial crisis bit.
If I remember correctly the original creative team went on about "this is NOT a musical!" - it's a play with diagetic music and live underscore. The changes made from the first Toronto production to London kinda lost that, with adding "Lothlorien" being absolutely musical theatre. I still adore the score, it plays in my internal jukebox frequently. There was a lot of circus and puppetry in the original - mostly amazing, Shelob was.... uuugghhhh... veeery effective... I was in the wings, stepped back out of the way of someone passing and felt a slight light touch on the back of my neck... turned, looked up, tendrils from Shelob who was rearing over me! Meeeep! But the Balrog was... so disappointing. Amazing build-up, then finally this massive puppet reared up - and looked like a crunched up paper bag. Oh well!
I so so hope I can get to see this revival, it sounds like they've done everything right. Still never going to be able to get over the flaw of the story being far too big for one night onstage! But it sounds like an amazing experience and that's my favourite kind of theatre!
It is interesting to see/hear that in the English language there is no real substitute for this type of theatre. In The Netherlands (where I am from) we have the term ‘muziektheater’ what translates into ‘music theatre’ a form of theatre that is quite popular and know for years in The Netherlands. Started more or less in the ‘70 by Hauser Orkater. Maybe one of the reasons why shows like ‘Come from away’ are less impactful here than in the UK and the USA.
Directors like Ivo van Hove also use it a lot but in another way. He uses it by creating live music as an extra persona / layer in his plays. Like the music in ‘A small life’.
All though it is sometimes difficult to make a choice what style it is, at my master I was learned that in musical theatre we have three options:
Opera/operetta: these performances are those without any use of microphones, so the performance is very technical if it comes to the singers and that is also why it is always stage in a quite demanding way. The music and singing are the main focus.
Music theater: Is a performance where two performing arts come together: acting and music/song. And mostly songs are more stand-alone and not song by a persona but by a ‘nameless’ singer who is clearly part of a band setting.
Musical: Is a performance where three performing arts come together: dance, acting, music/singing. Songs in these performances are musical monologues or dialogues and therefore a continuation of the drama.
Maybe it is helpful for a next review! Keep up the good work! Will be visiting London this week for 7 shows, thanks for the guidance😉
god it would be 2 hours, two trains and a bus but i really want to see this
At least it’s not an international flight 🥲
By the time I’m seeing this comment you could have gotten to it
Yes, to fly to another country...
@@Ayanamy-vl2pl I don’t see why not
I’m in the states
I soooo love unique stagings. I'm glad that the UK is getting a wonderful performance but I'm jealous too. Sounds like an amazing concept and I appreciate the vivid descriptions.
A LotR musical makes a surprising amount of sense, considering how much singing was in the books. But oh boy, that sounds sooooo condensed
I saw this on Saturday. I was blown away by the stage craft and the immersion. I would agree that the story does lose out by being so condensed but it was an impossible mission from the start. I don't think that it could have been done better. The performances were astonishing and the staging truly deserves an award. They had so little and they did so much with it. I would put this up there with Warhorse for use of puppetry - there is much less of it here but it is done so well. At first, some of the Indian musical and dance influences threw me a little but as time went on, I came to see that of course things would be different from what I would expect. This is a distant and magical land. There were multiple stand out performances but Mr Bugg's performance was a tour de force.
I could not believe how impactful Shelob was. Loved it from start to finish, but that's something I won't forget any time soon.
I saw it in London and flop or not, it was amazing! Absolutely incredible and I have never seen anything to equal on stage before or since. x The soundtrack is also wonderful and I still listen to it. x
I’m so going to this! Great review and always wanted to check out The Windmill Theatre. Thanks for highlighting
I am so happy this review is up! We are travelling down from Glasgow to see it in September. I am a huge fan of the books and movies so I am fascinated by this production and I can’t wait to see it. X
I’ve been so excited for this review.
We're going this weekend! So excited 🎉
I guess this is the closest I will get to seeing this so glad to have such an in depth review. It sounds amazing. I know I would live it whatever. Hope there is some life after the watermill where I can go see it 😊
I absolutely adore the soundtrack for this musical and have been looking forward to a revival for SO many years!
I remember first hearing about the musical years ago and have been wondering how you stage it! This sounds really interesting and meshes my Tolkien nerd with Broadway nerd 😂
I'm beyond thrilled to hear good things about this as I got extremely excited and got tickets - I am so hyped to go later in the year (hoping it won't be too chilly...)
Thanks for making this vid. I had no idea anyone had brought this musical back until this popped up in my feed! LOTR The Musical in London in 2011 absolutely blew my mind at the time. It was beyond spectacular! So naturally I ran to go find a ticket for this version, and literally could only find one final performance not sold out (a matinee), and one last seat available. Grabbed it! It'll be worth a day off work. Very exited to see this!
Going to see it tomorrow! Can't waittt
I grew up in Newbury and did my first professional job, on a tour with the Watermill, working with the incomparable Jill Fraser. I was devastated to hear about their funding cut, but very encouraged to see them take this on, as you say, it’s a brave choice, but with risk comes great reward, right? Thanks for the enlightening and thorough review 👏👏👏
I suspect this won't be on when I'm in the UK (late Autumn), but it does sound magical.
I'm travelling from the US just to watch this show!
I so wish I could see this production! I saw the original in the West end, and remembered it as such an epic spectacular of a production (and Sam delivered a stellar performance in that one, too). Thanks for the review!
Sounds so amazing! I hope one day it makes it to New Zealand
you're looking sharp today, Mickey. I'm loving the vest
I pray that one day I can see this production... I am a sucker for a large production, so I hope that it gains enough traction to eventually look more like the original.
I'm really hoping this current run of successful immersive productions means we'll finally get a UK run of The Great Comet.
Thank you so much for this review. I'm over in America and will not be able to see this unfortunately. I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan and love the music from this show but have never seen a production of it. Very glad to hear that they did a good job with the material. The use of the outdoor space, the puppetry, the stage design, and Gollum's acrobatics all sound amazing! The orcs in gas masks are an interesting choice but very much in keeping with Tolkien's themes of industry vs. nature. Some of the costumes look a bit too Renaissance Faire to me but I could probably live with that given how awesome everything else sounds.
Not sure if the Watermill is planning to do a cast recording. But if not, I'm glad I was able to live vicariously through your review (and the preview video they released).
Oh man, I wish I could go to the UK to see this. It looks like such a Fun time for a lotr fan
You are great and Im a big fan. The game is called Ring Toss. I kept waiting for someone to say it in the Vlog yesterday.
I'm a huge fan of the Watermill so it's great to hear you reviewing the venue and the cast so positively :) All of their shows are always full of the most talented people, often singing and playing instruments as well as acting too so please add their shows to your revolving schedule!
I saw the original production in Toronto, before it went to the West End. I was a 15 or so, so my critical perspective was definitely not fully developed, but I loved it. I loved the folk songs in the score (Now and For Always, Frodo and Sam's duet was and is a huge standout for me). But the staging was the magic. It sounds like this version uses what they have with the same ingenuity as the Toronto stage used its layers of revolving circles. Magical. The original, original production ended Act 2 at the Paths of the Dead and it was some stand out theater magic. It lives only in my mind, but it was magnificent. They did have a small version of Rohan and had a Helm's Deep battle, but it was a much cooler battle than the battle at the end, so I get why they merged them. Gollum climbing down and along the side of the stage was also in the original. He came out of one of thr theater boxes and climbed down the faux treee branches. It was dope.
Anyway, it's really cool to hear this show having more life to it. I have the West End soundtrack and it's a big part of my life. I sing Now and For Always to my kids at bedtime. This show is messy, but it attempts something pretty amazing, and that's worth celebrating.
I remember seeing the Toronto version as well. I thought it was a great concept but when the first act ends with the balrog and if you know the books or movies you quickly realize that they are only half way through the first book and have a lot of story left. To me act two felt rushed and I'm not really sure why they had a third act as it only had a five minute intermission mainly for a big scene change.
Moving to the uk in a month and highly considering seeing this ahhhh do I justify the multiple train/bus rides?😭😭 it looks so good
Loving your stuff
I’m in the US but I’ve been in love with the lotr musical (particularly the London cast ost) since it came out, and I only found out *yesterday* there had been a revival, and I’m honestly SO glad. This sounds like a magical production, despite (or certainly at least within) its limitations and I’m just sorry I didn’t get to see it myself!
If you're near Chicago, it will be premiering in July at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre!
@@Ryan-hh4yv I am not near Chicago but oh my godddd it might be worth the trip 👀👀👀
I happened to be in London when the original was playing so I went. It was terrible in many ways, but definitely a unique experience and I still think about it. Glad it's been revived and improved, by the sounds of it.
I went to see this last night and absolutely loved it 🥹 the only thing I want to mention is that there were a lot of incredibly bright flashing lights during fight scenes and I was SO blinded by them I couldn’t see a lot of the fights 😅 I’m not sure if it’s because of where I was sitting near the front.. but please be aware of this if you are going to see this and I hope they tweak it in future!
I am on the wrong continent darn it! I hope it comes back in the spring!
I made the trek from the USA to see this, and I saw it three times!
As much as I respect all the work that went into this production and making an honest attempt at adaptation
I think ultimately since you’ll never be able to capture the story like the films did just go full camp and jump all the sharks
Troupe of tap facing orcs
Jazz scene with the balrog
Musical number of the eye(ball) of Sauron singing about how he’s not the bad guy (and he’s on roller skates)
Legolas is basically an old spice commercial hit for hair conditioner
I mean I would watch the hell out of it
Thanks so much for your kind words!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the show! R x
Saw the show in london and already there they had amazing puppetry and sets..and the fight choreos with the orks were soo good. It was a mix of show, spectacle and musical. I think it was a "flop" bc it was just too big and expensive, bc artistic and music wise it was really good!
Hello Mickey Joe ! I am bringing my mother from France to the West End to see Rebecca (she retired this year, this her present). Do you think for a musical newbie you would reccomend this over Cabaret, Phantom ?
All the community if you have something you would reccomend me please reach out.
Just to be clear, it was FIRST put on in Toronto Canada which I am extremely proud of. It failed there, and was then revived in Britain a year or something later and failed there again. Which blows my mind, having listened to the soundtrack over 20 times now online. I'm extremely angry I never knew about it when it was in Toronto, cause I'll never get another chance.
I'm going in September - and we're really looking forward to the Hobbit-y accompanying menu in the restaurant - but are there any best places to stand / sit when in the back garden? Would love to get the best experience possible!
the biggest achievement was getting hold of the rights to do the show!
So, what exactly inspired this musical to happen originally? Because when I think of a LotR musical, my mind is cast back to the 2002 San Diego Comic Con, a year after Fellowship was released to theaters, and a group of Tolkien fans put together this performance dressed as the characters from the movie and they sang a version of "So Exciting! (The Pitch Song)" from Moulin Rouge - because that movie had also come out the year before in 2001 to much audience fanfare, but the lyrics were rewritten to be about Fellowship, and the characters were singing, dancing - doing a little chorus kick line. I don't know if they still do it anymore, but on Night 2 of the SDCC, they would hold a large party for con goers in one of the convention center's "ballrooms" where guests would mingle and hang out, there was a dance floor where people could cut a rug and let loose, as well as the costume and talent contest where guests could win awards for "Best Costume", "Most Creative Costume", while the Talent Contest would feature guests acting out quick little skits for the audience, and that was the year they had the quick little mini musical mash-up of LotR and Moulin Rouge!
I swear I'm not making this up because this little LotR "musical skit" was the talk of con that year, getting coverage from Internet 1.0 fan blogs at the time! (I heard about it because my friend at the time was in attendance that year-- she managed to get in nearly every year via invite/strong-arming her way in there via acquaintances or guys she was dating, and that was the year she attended the con with a group of casual friends, saw the LotR x Moulin Rouge performance and "met the love of her life", a 19yo (going on 20) college student (she and I were 15 at the time), and they "talked all night and fell in love" while Incubus's 1999 single "Drive" played on the overhead speaker system.
I don't know if anyone else who is around my age, who was a part of 2001/2002 internet nerd/geek culture and was either there that night or read about it online, actually remembers this happening, but I swear to god it did! 😂 The Tolkien fan group had even come up with a catchy name for their skit, and I'm sure it was LotR related, but unfortunately, I don't remember what it was called.
Mickey-joe, why am i having deja-vu? I thought you saw an immersive version of LOTR a year ago. Did i dream it? I kind of remember you talking about using the gardens as the shire setting and having the audience move around.
he was talking about going to see it...
So if I went to see this would it be the tube from King's Cross to Paddington then a train from Paddington to Newbury then a bus or taxi?
Not sure about bus, but that's right, the Watermill is about 10 minutes drive from the station.
@PandasAndPancakes I don't drive. It might be a bit too much hassle for me but I like to challenge myself to experience new things and travel to new places every new and then.
Honestly, as much as 'musicals' and 'epic fantasy' might feel a nonsense combo for people nowadays, I think Tolkien would've understood the story as a musical adaptation best. That's how storytelling was done in the time of medieval legends, and he certainly had an interest in balladry and epic poetry. It's MEANT to be entertaining. I've never seen the original but I love the soundtrack, and I'm SO glad to hear it exists again.
Having seen the OG run; I was very curious how this would turn out.
I would honestly love to see someone try a hobbit musical; a more a manageable scale; and you even fix the ending of the book.
I'm sorry.....did you really just say the end of the Hobbit.....needs to be FIXED?!
@@vernandsockey8611 it is narratively unsatisfying in many ways - the fact biblo doesn’t even matter by the end; half of the underdeveloped cast just wipes with no narrative resolution and that the dragon just dies the way he does. I’ve seen a lot of brilliant anti-climaxes that worked for me - the hobbit was not one of them.
If you like Broadway folk scores I'd point you to Big River and Spitfire Grill
Éowyn was part of the show in Toronto, but that didn't really work because there was too little time to develop the character properly, so she dropped some iconic lines, and that was it. I'm glad that the West End and Watermill left her out tbh
So, now only two female characters?
@@MorusRubra definitely more! Rosie, Pippin, Elranien, Arwen, Galadriel, and several unnamed Elves and Hobbits.
@@emskulblaka I don't know if the person portraying Pippin is a female in this production.....But the character is definitely male.
@@vernandsockey8611 Pippin is played by Amelia Gabriel, and referred to as "Miss Took" with pronouns she/her in the Watermill production.
@@emskulblaka Well, quite frankly, that's dumb and disrespectful to Tolkien's writing. And it doesn't matter what the Watermill production says. I'm sure the actress does a fine job, but the CHARACTER is Mr. Peregrin Took.
Question to the rest of the audience actually, when there's both a vlog and a review - which do you watch first?
Great review. I went to see it, hands down best show I watched last year. Still re-listening to 'Now and for Always'
"No one would try to fit all 7 Harry Potter stories into one show." Oh never you fear, it's coming. I'm just waiting for someone to try. Or if not one show, one week of theatre where they put on one book each night and start it all over the next week.
They couldn't even originally fit _one original_ Harry Potter story _created for the stage_ into a single evening at first.
@@hanonondricek411 I know. I saw it when it was still 4 acts. I'm convinced they only did that because they thought they could make double the money. Clearly they were able to edit it down to one show but I haven't seen the new version to see if it's any worse (I suspect not)
Two guys actually did a retelling of all seven Harry Potter books called potted Potter it started as something they did at a festival in the UK somewhere and they eventually ended up touring with it.
Are you going to see Rebecca?
I am!
Did you lower lower your Voice?
No, just particularly hoarse!
You mean Aragon doesn't say, 'For Frodo'?
But it is not this day
Does Sam have his speech about not being able to bear the ring, but will bear Frodo? Sniff
“Professional Theatre Critic” 😂😂😂
If you liked that one, you'll love my tax return 😉
I believe this show was developed more or less concurrently with the movies, sharing no creative, the movie greatly expanded Eowyn's character to include female representation. It seems the musical stayed truer to the book in that regard byt to its detriment since people now remember more fondly the films.
The movies didn't expand Eowyn's character at all. In the book, she has an entire arc in the Houses of Healing that showcases her innate depression and despair, and her gradual healing process over time with Faramir. All of that is excised in the movie completely. Tbh, the movies didn't really add anything at all with Eowyn, but they did cut a lot from her storyline. She's a character with no real arc in the films, and Tolkien's anti-war themes (which is what she is there to represent) get lost in translation. In the books, she has a whole A-to-B character arc. She goes from depression and suicidal despair to hope and a rejection of war. A far more purposeful use of her character.
You're confusing Eowyn with Arwen. Arwen is definitely given a lot more to do. Galadriel and Eowyn, however, are not. The only reason Eowyn was cut from this production was for time, not because it was "being more faithful to the book." Jackson was initially going to do two films instead of three, and he was going to cut out most of Rohan as a result. This is what happens in compressed adaptations. Hell, Jackson still left a ton of stuff out, despite having three long movies to tell the story.
I also wouldn't say that people "remember the films more fondly." The Lord of the Rings is often considered one of the most important books of the 20th century, and it essentially created the high fantasy genre. The movies' legacy is not nearly as wide as that. It did not kickstart a new genre like Tolkien did, nor did it influence nearly as many people. There was no Renaissance of high fantasy films ushered in because of the movies, and yet the 70s and 80s were entirely dominated by Tolkien's influence on the fantasy genre.
I saw the original musical in Toronto where it had the world premirere . Fantastic! The critics killed it because they are idiots.
When did shows start performing during and after the curtain call? I find it very awkward and unnecessary. Take your bow and leave!