Last Saturday I saw the play 'Once upon a time in Wigan'

There were a few good bits in it, but on the whole I didn't like it.

Having said that I don't want to be overly negative & judgemental, as there were 16 other members in our group and most of them seemed to enjoy it.

Just wondered if I'm alone!

All opinions appreciated, both positive & negative.

Col.

Edited May 4, 200520 yr by Soulsmith

I also saw the play on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was the second time, as I went to Southampton last year. Generally, I thought that it was well written and caught a lot of the feel and attitudes of the scene and the Casino goers. There were a few thoughts I had about it all being only about Saturday and Wigan. Personally I went to a venue most nights of the week like Leyland Public Hall on Monday, Burscough FC on Tuesday, Wigan Wednesday and Friday and Aughton or St Helens on Thursday, also fitting in Places like Samanthas Blackpool Mecca Whitchurch etc at various times. I ended up Joining the Navy in 76 for a rest!. For many people in the whole scene it certainly was a way of life, not just for Saturday.

Back to the play, I thought the lead character was better this year than last, and I was impressed in the way the actors got the dancing pretty much right.

My sister also a Station Rd veteran came down to see it and definately thought it was worth the trip from South Wales.

We both shed a tear at the end.

Paul

PS I never used to call my scooter a "chair"

Last Saturday I saw the play 'Once upon a time in Wigan'

There were a few good bits in it, but on the whole I didn't like it.

Having said that I don't want to be overly negative & judgemental, as there were 16 other members in our group and most of them seemed to enjoy it.

Just wondered if I'm alone!

All opinions appreciated, both positive & negative.

Col.

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I have seen it now for the third year running and its not easy to judge...The cast is different each time but all have been very very good actors..On the whole its been getting very good feedback from the press and public,aint heard much negative feedback at all...I know the cast and the producer/director so maybe i'm not in the best position to judge....Its a tall order for 4 people to hold the stage for two hours without losing the crowd but they seem to have done this really well...

Did you see the show to a full house or not??? i have found the weekend nights with a full house are the best for atmosphere etc...Half empty on a school night aint gonna be the same...Let me know what you did not like,aint nothing wrong with negative feedback,each to there own.....Did you see it in Blackpool,Pompey or elsewhere???????

Paul, how come this has never been filmed for a DVD release, I'd love to see the show

Paul, how come this has never been filmed for a DVD release, I'd love to see the show

link

Pete

You could go and see the show on this tour..Starts in Manchester tonight for 4 nights and then London,Glasgow,Wigan and last to Coventry,on you're doorstep aint it...Pop along mate but leave the camcorder at home A certain person sneaked one into the show at Manchester but the red record light was spotted and they were told to F"*& off :angry: ..They are not gonna release it to dvd while its showing live....

Paul, how come this has never been filmed for a DVD release, I'd love to see the show

link

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Do you not do theatres?

Went to see it last year, not totally accurate, but then what is. Well worth seeing in my opinion, reasonably humerous, and well acted.

Winnie:-)

P.S. Aren't my reviews short these days

Back to the play, I thought the lead character was better this year than last, and I was impressed in the way the actors got the dancing pretty much right. 

Paul

PS  I never used to call my scooter a "chair"

link

Seen the show twice, last year in Leeds and at The Grand Blackpool the other week, enjoyed the shows on both occasions, but must admit to prefering last year better, the cast from last year portrayed the whole thing better, acting, dancing, etc, one thing that puzzles me is at Blackpool there seemed to be a lot of non soulies, theatre go'ers if you like that didnt seem to get the gist of some of the dialogue:unsure: (IMO dont you need to understand what the whole way of life was??) Never mind that anyway. The actual footage was good for me seeing the likes of Huddersfields Bob Monkhouse pushing his way through the doors, waiting to see myself coming in after him only for it to be cut before the glorious moment (bummer). Right about the scooter tho!! Chair indeed Im now going to sit in my comfy scooter at home and watch This England footage Oh no just remembered I cant, as Mr Smiths DVD'S havent arrived as yet did you promise me them for last Monday

Saw it in Blackpool the other week and mentioned in another thread that I really liked it.

Never went to Wigan myself, however totally related to a lot of the play, found it very funny and would recommend to anyone assosciated with this scene or even not!

I went with some friends and their better halves who have not been to a soul do for ages. Now they wanna hitch along with me to the next soul do!

Kinda speaks for itself...

Tunes were stone cold classics, acting was excellent, go see it!

Sam

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Do you not do theatres?

Went to see it last year, not totally accurate, but then what is. Well worth seeing in my opinion, reasonably humerous, and well acted.

Winnie:-)

P.S. Aren't my reviews short these days

link

It hasn't played anywhere near enough to me to see it except Birmingham and I don't go to that dump out of principle

anyway you know I don't like going out :angry:

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Do you not do theatres?

Went to see it last year, not totally accurate, but then what is. Well worth seeing in my opinion, reasonably humerous, and well acted.

Winnie:-)

P.S. Aren't my reviews short these days

link

Don't know if they would let his sort into the theatre ..Paul R SAID THEY SHED A TEAR AT THE END,thats been done many a time over the last few years,myself included and i aint ever been to Wigan..That says something in itself about the play..We all see aspects of our own lives on the scene during the two hours,some more than others..I think the plays given joy and memories to many people..Its also got a lot of people back onto the scene with flyers for soul nights and djs playing at the theatres in the bar area before and after....

Saw it in Blackpool the other week and mentioned in another thread that I really liked it.

Never went to Wigan myself, however totally related to a lot of the play, found it very funny and would recommend to anyone assosciated with this scene or even not!

I went with some friends and their better halves who have not been to a soul do for ages. Now they wanna hitch along with me to the next soul do!

Kinda speaks for itself... 

Tunes were stone cold classics, acting was excellent, go see it!

Sam

link

Sam in the theatre Did you steal the toilet rolls or the lead off the roof you scallywag

It hasn't played anywhere near enough to me to see it except Birmingham and I don't go to that dump out of principle 

anyway you know I don't like going out  :angry:

link

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I know you don't go out much, but the play is worth seeing. Did bring a lump to my throat (not a prison love kinda lump) and bring back some memories

Winnie:-)

It hasn't played anywhere near enough to me to see it except Birmingham and I don't go to that dump out of principle 

anyway you know I don't like going out  :angry:

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Go on Pete..Get out of the house..You can tape all that reality tv crap and watch it later... Coventry is quite near..If its the £12 ticket then i could try and sort you out a guest pass .....

If anyone is going to see the show in Manchester this week..We have an after show party tomorrow and here is my plug plug plug No tickets or pass required its free to all punters even if you aint gonna go to see the play....Also our last Thursday night event so come along and meet the cast plus a few pissed up soul source members...

Cool Off are gonna host the After show party for the Once Upon A Time In Wigan Play....

Thursday 5th May....Mint Lounge..Oldham street.. Manchester...Free entry...

A chance to meet the cast and sample the best underground venue in town...

DJs....

Paul Sadot (director of the award winning play)

Brett Franklin (the Ducie Bridge landlord)

Steve Cato

Chris Morgan

Greatstone soul club

Mark Bicknell

Carl Rhodes

60s/70s..Northern/RnB/crossover plus a few wigan classics

8pm to 2am.....

For more info...07752084878..............www.cooloff.net...stevecato64@yahoo.co.uk

Cool Off.............Keeping it real

Saw this last year in Clacton. Entertaining, but wouldn't rave about it.

Brett Franklin (the Ducie Bridge landlord)

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Is Brett the Al Murray of the northern soul scene

I watched it in Greenwich last year.

Tried to buy a ticket for my girlfriend for the following night but it was sold out.

Thought it ideal for explaining to Non Soul people, the unexplainable pull of Northern Soul.

Music was great, if not too accurate. Dancing, especially the girls was spot on. Like the fella's, girls style of dancing has altered over the years. The girls dancing in the play took me back to my youth, like nothing else has ever done.

The story is fine, and captures some people's experience of Wigan. I never went, but I can remember how I felt when I heard Stafford was stopping. Brought all that back.

All in all a quality play, that I'd recommend to soulies and non soulies alike.

Sam in the theatre   Did you steal the toilet rolls or the lead off the roof you scallywag

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No Stevie, I was on my best behaviour honest! Well I was a bit giddy, just excited at the thought of an evening of culture.

Robbed the KFC on the way home tho...

Ok, my thoughts to follow.

But, if you are thinking about going please don't let my comments put you off. Remember in my orig thread 16 other people in our group did go & they all seemed fairly happy with it. So, I'm probably a bit out of step.

I didn't like the play's focus on drugs with-in the scene. My memories of Wigan are generally up beat and not particularly related to drugs. Sure they were around, but they weren't that important to a lot of people. You've never needed drugs to appreciate soul. Had I taken non-soulies to see the play I would have been embarrassed about the amount of references to drugs.

When I'm watching a play or a film its important to me, to either like or dislike the characters. The actors portayed characters in the play that were a bit thick & superficial for my liking. After a while I just couldn't give a toss about them and their protracted arguments.

I mostly liked the bits where the actors stopped ranting at each other & the music started. Would have been nice to hear 1 record that was played all the way through.

Col

Yes Stevie I did go to to the afternoon show so the theatre was a bit empty.

That probably played a part.