I saw this show for the first time on its opening night of the tour at the Leicester Curve and I was thoroughly impressed!!! It definitely reassured me that touring shows don’t have to have lacklustre sets just because they are on tour (I’m looking at you Shrek)
Had the pleasure of seeing Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes on Broadway in Bonnie and Clyde. During intermission patrons could not understand why the show was closing. Sold out matinee with enthusiastic response to the material. People felt that once again the Times knifed Wildhorn
Saw it 4 times last week in Southampton, ita an amazingly breathtaking musical that I don't think I'll ever get bored of. I was lucky enough to see Katie, Alex, Lauren, callum and nate as bonnie and clyde and seeing their different versions of each character was beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing it again on tour. Its definitely my favourite musical.
I saw the show in London last year and I honestly wasn’t expecting much so it was a wonderful surprise when I absolutely loved it. It was my favorite show I saw last year and I was (and still am) obsessed with it, my entire Spotify Wrapped of 2023 was a mix of the Broadway and the West End Cast Recordings
Saw this last year when it was at the Garrick. I enjoyed it at the time with a solid score and great performances however im debating about seeing it again. The tour seams to be struggling to sell tixs (its at my local venue this coming week and the theatre not even 1/4 full and this is with the grand circle not being used, which is sad to see). Good to hear your thoughts that the tour is just as good may have to grab a last min tix or catch it when its back near me later in the year.
I'm a long time b&c fan. I'm glad the show is getting the appreciation it deserves and in the past couple years I see regional theater companies performing it. In the US there are people who hate b&c on principle and I'm convinced this is partly why the show never got support here. I enjoy the obc recording and listened on a road trip last weekend. For me, the ladies stole the show. "What you call a dream" is a standout. Regarding the parents, in the original pre-broadway production one of the moms (mare winnigham) had a song and there was a cut song "what we call guns" that was replaced by "raise hell" reprise that elaborated on the armory guns. Sadly, the show was bland and the book seemed to be based on the 70s movie. The more recent book, i believe is more factual as it appears based on the Gunn book. B&c were fascinating characters in that many changes and some laws were effected because clyde was a revolutionary criminal, albeit unsuccessful. I think they are worthy of a musical. I don't think I world enjoy the tour because my fav scene is the the MO shootout with young and adult clyde.
Also long time US B&C fan! I was lucky enough to have seen the show four times on Broadway during its short run (both in previews and the final set show). Having seen the movie and read the Guinn book, I disagree the final original Broadway script was based more upon the movie. I think most similarities between the two come more from the general lore and legend about Bonnie & Clyde. The musical is much more sympathetic towards Bonnie, Clyde, Buck and Blanche (Blanche especially, as the movie made her, in Blanche Barrow’s own words,, “A screaming horse’s * ss”). I feel like that is why American audiences didn’t overwhelmingly take to it at the time. There were still people who wanted them to be nothing but a black and white villain. That being said, the show changed immensely even between the Broadway previews and closing night. So what could have started as more movie centric out of town morphed into something that tried to take the actual history more into account than the outright fabrication of the film.
I love this show. Have a front seat booked in April. Saw the show in both London locations.. taking a young friend to it this time and cannot wait! Btw always love the bears, but gangster bear is fabulous!
Brilliant review, Mickey- I totally agree with so many of your points! Saw it on the last night in Leicester and fell in love with the show straight away. The cast are so lovely too 🧡
That was so interesting. Thank you. I’m going to see it at our closest theatre, His Majesty’s in Aberdeen in April. Didn’t catch it in the west end and I’m looking forward to seeing it even more now after listening to your review.
Fun Fact Nathaniel Landskroner as the alternate Clyde becomes the 4th former JD actor to play the role after Jeremy Jordan, Jamie Muscato and Jordan Luke Gage. So much for "I'm not Bonnie, you're not Clyde"
My plan was to see it at my local theatre- The Mayflower in Southampton- but I’m actually on a cruise from LA to San Francisco and Vancouver so… sorry Bonnie and Clyde! I will try and catch it at another local stop as I loved it both times in the West End
I love Wildhorn's scores because each & every one usually has a fun ear worm or too that will just get stuck way too far into your head. I'd love for an album listen if you do Wonderland sometime cause I saw it in a pre Broadway run so I have such a fantastic memory of seeing it. Seems like the tour is in great shape & a sold recommendation.
This review makes me sad. I sprained my ankle while in Norwich and didn't make it to the theatre 😢 maybe I will catch it one day! I really wanted to see Lauren too as I lived her in Rebecca.
I went to see Days of W+R and Doubt yesterday. You were right about Days. Not Mr.G's best score. I will give it a second hearing on the CD. Ms.O'Hara is giving the performance of her life. House seemed to be sold out. Doubt is very good. Mr. Schreiber is so good I almost crossed myself with him at the end of his sermon . Amy Ryan is giving quite a slow boil of a perfirmance. My S cookies were, as usual,delish.
I saw it a few months back and I liked it, but ‘dyin’ ain’t so bad, not if you both go together, only when one's left behind does it get… sad’ contends with Sadè’s ‘I’d rather have a piece of toast and watch the evening news’ for terrible lyrics 😂
Thanks for another interesting, in-depth review. It always amazes me how different we all are when it comes to theatre...I saw Bonnie and Clyde at the Wolverhampton Grand on it's opening night and felt very differently when I left the theatre. I thought most of the cast were very good (although I struggled with certain actors diction), the set and lighting were wonderful but unfortunately the production left me cold. I didn't rate the music: I felt it was unmemorable and I couldn't hum one tune from it. I felt nothing for the characters and didn't care what happened to them. Maybe it was the subject matter but nothing sat comfortably with me. The show lacked gravitas and often approaches the dark story with a tongue in cheek comedy....maybe it would have resonated more had it been handled with a darker edge. The dialogue and song lyrics were uneven to say the least and in some places it was a little cringe worthy. In truth, I couldn't wait for it to end. Theatre can be divisive and this certainly was for me - I'm glad I saw it but I would not want to see it again.
I enjoyed this show in Norwich but we were sat quite far back so found it hard to concentrate properly on the show when I couldn’t really see their faces etc, think I would go back maybe and sit nearer, I know the rest of the tour got cancelled, not sure where they got to on the tour before it was cancelled
I saw the production at the Garrick Theatre and I'm seeing the touring production more closer to home at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh in July. I'm probably going to also avoid more merch but famous last words 😂
Saw this in Norwich yesterday, the acting and singing was very strong, also the orchestra were super, having a great view of them in the pit. Sadly not a sell out on a mid-week but still a standing O from many!
Great to see another perspective. I saw this in Cardiff and it was just meh for me. I just didn't really get it. I felt no emotional connection with any of the characters. Some of the numbers were ok but some just fillers. The brothers singing about cars in particular. I didn't hate it, but just struggled to see the point of it.
I'm a big fan of the writers of this show & I have read 8 books about the real 'Bonnie & Clyde' so I thought I would love this but I didn't like one single song!x
I wanted to love this show but there were some major issues holding it back for me. I felt that the darker side of the relationship between Bonnie and Clyde wasn't explored well enough to make them compelling protagonists, they touched on it a little but not enough for me to see them as more than surface-level characters. I also felt that Act 2 petered out into nothingness to the point that I had a "wait, that was the end?" moment when it came to an end. Happy to be convinced otherwise by those who love the show.
You're not wrong, that's what I was trying (and struggling!) to articulate about prioritising the relationships over the plot's dramatic capabilities - there are definitely darker possibilities here that are eschewed.
They died -- not a spoiler.😉 I've seen the bullet riddled car, it used to be on display in a Nevada casino. That was as much of B&C as I want. The "Barrow Gang" would have been deservedly forgotten, but for the movie (and song). Any number of other violent hoodlums have come and gone, and been forgotten, before this. There just isn't that much appetite for B&C in their home country. Is there some affinity for American thugs in the UK?
I saw this show for the first time on its opening night of the tour at the Leicester Curve and I was thoroughly impressed!!! It definitely reassured me that touring shows don’t have to have lacklustre sets just because they are on tour (I’m looking at you Shrek)
As a long time Frank Wildhorn apologist, I'm glad others are coming around to my guy. Bless him, I love him
NY Times has been his nemesis. Was a Jeckie and liked Dracula and Bonnie and Clyde.
Had the pleasure of seeing Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes on Broadway in Bonnie and Clyde. During intermission patrons could not understand why the show was closing. Sold out matinee with enthusiastic response to the material. People felt that once again the Times knifed Wildhorn
Saw it 4 times last week in Southampton, ita an amazingly breathtaking musical that I don't think I'll ever get bored of. I was lucky enough to see Katie, Alex, Lauren, callum and nate as bonnie and clyde and seeing their different versions of each character was beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing it again on tour. Its definitely my favourite musical.
Worked on a local production of Bonnie & Clyde as a sound mixer/designer. Can't wait to actually see this in person in Manchester :)
Saw this last night in Cardiff. Thought the cast and the staging were excellent. Major props too to the accuracy of the costumes!
I’m 15; went to watch this show at the Garrick last year and absolutely loved it!
I saw the show in London last year and I honestly wasn’t expecting much so it was a wonderful surprise when I absolutely loved it. It was my favorite show I saw last year and I was (and still am) obsessed with it, my entire Spotify Wrapped of 2023 was a mix of the Broadway and the West End Cast Recordings
Saw this last year when it was at the Garrick. I enjoyed it at the time with a solid score and great performances however im debating about seeing it again. The tour seams to be struggling to sell tixs (its at my local venue this coming week and the theatre not even 1/4 full and this is with the grand circle not being used, which is sad to see). Good to hear your thoughts that the tour is just as good may have to grab a last min tix or catch it when its back near me later in the year.
I'm a long time b&c fan. I'm glad the show is getting the appreciation it deserves and in the past couple years I see regional theater companies performing it. In the US there are people who hate b&c on principle and I'm convinced this is partly why the show never got support here. I enjoy the obc recording and listened on a road trip last weekend. For me, the ladies stole the show. "What you call a dream" is a standout. Regarding the parents, in the original pre-broadway production one of the moms (mare winnigham) had a song and there was a cut song "what we call guns" that was replaced by "raise hell" reprise that elaborated on the armory guns. Sadly, the show was bland and the book seemed to be based on the 70s movie. The more recent book, i believe is more factual as it appears based on the Gunn book. B&c were fascinating characters in that many changes and some laws were effected because clyde was a revolutionary criminal, albeit unsuccessful. I think they are worthy of a musical. I don't think I world enjoy the tour because my fav scene is the the MO shootout with young and adult clyde.
Also long time US B&C fan! I was lucky enough to have seen the show four times on Broadway during its short run (both in previews and the final set show).
Having seen the movie and read the Guinn book, I disagree the final original Broadway script was based more upon the movie. I think most similarities between the two come more from the general lore and legend about Bonnie & Clyde. The musical is much more sympathetic towards Bonnie, Clyde, Buck and Blanche (Blanche especially, as the movie made her, in Blanche Barrow’s own words,, “A screaming horse’s * ss”). I feel like that is why American audiences didn’t overwhelmingly take to it at the time. There were still people who wanted them to be nothing but a black and white villain.
That being said, the show changed immensely even between the Broadway previews and closing night. So what could have started as more movie centric out of town morphed into something that tried to take the actual history more into account than the outright fabrication of the film.
I love this show. Have a front seat booked in April. Saw the show in both London locations.. taking a young friend to it this time and cannot wait! Btw always love the bears, but gangster bear is fabulous!
Fantastic review man as always. After going back and forth about seeing this for years, just went and booked tickets.
Brilliant review, Mickey- I totally agree with so many of your points! Saw it on the last night in Leicester and fell in love with the show straight away. The cast are so lovely too 🧡
That was so interesting. Thank you. I’m going to see it at our closest theatre, His Majesty’s in Aberdeen in April. Didn’t catch it in the west end and I’m looking forward to seeing it even more now after listening to your review.
Fun Fact Nathaniel Landskroner as the alternate Clyde becomes the 4th former JD actor to play the role after Jeremy Jordan, Jamie Muscato and Jordan Luke Gage. So much for "I'm not Bonnie, you're not Clyde"
I was thinking about this the other day! 😂 pretty sure Alex covered JD when he was in Heathers too??
Nathaneal Landskroner is my dance teachers brother
@@MickeyJoTheatre🤣
My plan was to see it at my local theatre- The Mayflower in Southampton- but I’m actually on a cruise from LA to San Francisco and Vancouver so… sorry Bonnie and Clyde! I will try and catch it at another local stop as I loved it both times in the West End
Yay! Its my local theatre, so glad the Grand is getting some love ❤
I love Wildhorn's scores because each & every one usually has a fun ear worm or too that will just get stuck way too far into your head. I'd love for an album listen if you do Wonderland sometime cause I saw it in a pre Broadway run so I have such a fantastic memory of seeing it. Seems like the tour is in great shape & a sold recommendation.
The Grand is my favourite venue. Its just so warm and welcoming and has an old school theatre vibe. ❤
This review makes me sad. I sprained my ankle while in Norwich and didn't make it to the theatre 😢 maybe I will catch it one day! I really wanted to see Lauren too as I lived her in Rebecca.
Oh no! So sorry to hear that, hope you'll get to catch it eventually!
seeing a finnish production of this next summer! excited to see how it's gonna work at an open air theatre 🙈
First heard about this show through your videos & looking forward to seeing the tour in Cheltenham 😊
Oh that's so cool! I hope you enjoy!
I have tickets for Manchester and I’m really looking forward to it. l like Wildhorn scores generally so I’m hopeful that this will be up my street.
I went to see Days of W+R and Doubt yesterday. You were right about Days. Not Mr.G's best score. I will give it a second hearing on the CD. Ms.O'Hara is giving the performance of her life. House seemed to be sold out. Doubt is very good. Mr. Schreiber is so good I almost crossed myself with him at the end of his sermon . Amy Ryan is giving quite a slow boil of a perfirmance. My S cookies were, as usual,delish.
I saw it a few months back and I liked it, but ‘dyin’ ain’t so bad, not if you both go together, only when one's left behind does it get… sad’ contends with Sadè’s ‘I’d rather have a piece of toast and watch the evening news’ for terrible lyrics 😂
Thanks for another interesting, in-depth review. It always amazes me how different we all are when it comes to theatre...I saw Bonnie and Clyde at the Wolverhampton Grand on it's opening night and felt very differently when I left the theatre. I thought most of the cast were very good (although I struggled with certain actors diction), the set and lighting were wonderful but unfortunately the production left me cold. I didn't rate the music: I felt it was unmemorable and I couldn't hum one tune from it. I felt nothing for the characters and didn't care what happened to them. Maybe it was the subject matter but nothing sat comfortably with me. The show lacked gravitas and often approaches the dark story with a tongue in cheek comedy....maybe it would have resonated more had it been handled with a darker edge. The dialogue and song lyrics were uneven to say the least and in some places it was a little cringe worthy. In truth, I couldn't wait for it to end. Theatre can be divisive and this certainly was for me - I'm glad I saw it but I would not want to see it again.
I enjoyed this show in Norwich but we were sat quite far back so found it hard to concentrate properly on the show when I couldn’t really see their faces etc, think I would go back maybe and sit nearer, I know the rest of the tour got cancelled, not sure where they got to on the tour before it was cancelled
Saw the show at the wolverhampton grand it was amazing 😀
I'm in it in my home town as Clyde. 🎉 great show
I saw the production at the Garrick Theatre and I'm seeing the touring production more closer to home at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh in July. I'm probably going to also avoid more merch but famous last words 😂
😂 hope you enjoy!
Saw this in Norwich yesterday, the acting and singing was very strong, also the orchestra were super, having a great view of them in the pit. Sadly not a sell out on a mid-week but still a standing O from many!
It does seam to be struggling to sell tixs. It's at my local venue this coming week and the theatre but even 1/4 full.
Love the video ❤❤
Great to see another perspective. I saw this in Cardiff and it was just meh for me. I just didn't really get it. I felt no emotional connection with any of the characters. Some of the numbers were ok but some just fillers. The brothers singing about cars in particular. I didn't hate it, but just struggled to see the point of it.
I'm a big fan of the writers of this show & I have read 8 books about the real 'Bonnie & Clyde' so I thought I would love this but I didn't like one single song!x
im in nyc . I loved it , it was not a hit . you look awesome , glowing skin
I wanted to love this show but there were some major issues holding it back for me.
I felt that the darker side of the relationship between Bonnie and Clyde wasn't explored well enough to make them compelling protagonists, they touched on it a little but not enough for me to see them as more than surface-level characters.
I also felt that Act 2 petered out into nothingness to the point that I had a "wait, that was the end?" moment when it came to an end.
Happy to be convinced otherwise by those who love the show.
You're not wrong, that's what I was trying (and struggling!) to articulate about prioritising the relationships over the plot's dramatic capabilities - there are definitely darker possibilities here that are eschewed.
Sorry we can't see it it's been cancelled in Sheffield
glanced at the thumbnail and thought you ere Chris briney
Main reason: Score by Frank Widhorn
Just back from reviewing it in Cardiff. I enjoyed it but disappointed. The tone was just wrong for me.
U.K. and Ireland tour! Not just U.K.
Sweeney Todd is shutting on broadway , why😢😢
They died -- not a spoiler.😉
I've seen the bullet riddled car, it used to be on display in a Nevada casino. That was as much of B&C as I want.
The "Barrow Gang" would have been deservedly forgotten, but for the movie (and song). Any number of other violent hoodlums have come and gone, and been forgotten, before this. There just isn't that much appetite for B&C in their home country.
Is there some affinity for American thugs in the UK?
I thought this was a terrible musical 😑