★★★ REVIEW: Just For One Day (Old Vic) | the new Live Aid musical in London
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
I recently visited the Old Vic Theatre in London to see one of this year's most anticipated new shows, a jukebox musical telling the story of the historic Live Aid concert, 'Just For One Day'.
The show depicts characters including Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and contains the music of Queen, Madonna, The Police, David Bowie, The Beatles, Bog Dylan, and more.
Check out today's new video review for my extensive thoughts on this popular new show and the critical mistake I thought it made...
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00:00 | introduction
01:47 | history / synopsis
07:07 | strengths
10:36 | biggest issue
17:37 | other weaknesses
25:51 | performances
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#liveaid #theatre #london - Zábava
This is a really interesting idea for a show. I remember Live Aid when it actually happened in ‘85. I was about 11/12 years old at the time and it was a huge event we got to watch on TV. I was born and raised in rural Michigan so this was pretty exciting stuff! It’s so hard to wrap my brain around the idea that this was so long ago. Getting older is wild! 😂
Just here to say two things and I'll leave:
1. You look fabulous in this video.
2. Never in my life have I heard someone refer to Bohemian Rhapsody simply as "BoRap" before and I don't know how to feel about it. 😂
I think it was Ben Elton who first used that term
I actually went to Live Aid and was at Wembley Stadium for 10 hours! it was an amazing day and the tickets in 1985 were £30 which was a lot of money then!. As soon as this was announced i bought tickets, i loved the fact that it brought back so many memories for me and i have to admit a couple of times it brought a tear to my eye. Also i loved the fact that my 18 year old son could experience this with me as all he has ever heard me say was "I was There" when people talk about Live Aid! I loved the show as someone who was there and my Son loved the show as someone that didn't know much about it! i would def recommend it to anyone that loves the music!
I remember this vividly. I can't imagine this as a play. I would love to see a film version. It would be a nightmare to produce, cast,and film, but potential for an exciting film is there.
I was actually at Live Aid. Stood on the pitch for the whole concert.
I don't think you can really comprehend what a ground breaking event this was. This was a time before the internet and social media, so peoples understanding of world issues were very limited. So Geldofs achievement as to be the corner stone of the story.
Bridging the fairly feel good element of Live Aid and the story of the Ethiopian famine is an interesting and i think very doifficult challenge…..having lived through that time i am not sure folks spent a lot of time learning the details of the famine and media did spend more time on Geldoff. People felt good about themselves being the saviors of Ethiopia but not sure anyone wanted to see the actual results of the famine. Would be interested in how you would combine what seems like two connected but very seperate stories.
I saw this last weekend and thought it was brilliant. I thought Craige Els was terrific, with other standouts for me being Olly Dobson, Danielle Steers, Joel Montague and Julie Atherton. I did think the Thatcher stuff was a bit weird but kinda go with it at that point 😂
The “Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” lyric from the Band Aid single was also a source of contention when the song was originally released. Bono has since stated that at the time it was recorded he didn't want to sing that line as he felt it could be taken out of context, but Geldof refused to change it.
there are SO many issues with those lyrics. The song should just be scrapped quite honestly. Does the largest christian community worldwide know that it's Christmas time? I don't know. Let me ask my sisters moroccan fiancé who grew up in snowy mountains...but that also can't be...can it?
I went to see it shortly after it opened. Happened to sit next to Jamie Wilson who was taking notes. (Silly me thinking he was a reviewer 🤣) he explained about some changes they'd be making before press night and told me to come see it again (of course he did 🤷). Wasn't going to as there are so many shows I haven't seen yet to throw money at... But your review reminded me how much I enjoyed it and might actually try and catch it before it closes after all 🙈🙈 It was such a feel good show (which I guess is your issue with it haha).
Also being at the Old Vic reminded me of Groundhog Day and I'm devastated it's not in London anymore. Really hoping that one returns ..
I saw this recently and the vocals and arrangements blew me away. I hope they do a cast recording. I really enjoyed the show but there was something I couldnt put my finger on and I think you’ve articulated it so well here. An insightful and intelligent review as always, thanks 😊
Can I just say as someone who was at live aid in 1985 this is the best tribute I have seen to date.
Amazing show, fab story, you even get to.like Maggie thatcher ...the cast were all amazing ...so we'll produced and directed ..sorry 5 stars all the way for me
Mickey Jo, I get your perspective on how the focus is not on the Ethiopian people who were starving in the famine, but I don't see how you could change the story-telling to include that other than the one scene where Bob Geldof is in Ethiopia. I think it could be a powerful moment but you couldn't deviate much from the main story for it and it might feel inauthentic or a "check-box" for the story. I think they did well overall telling the Live Aid story from the British perspective. Yes, it is white savior themed, but that is what Live Aid was.
I saw this show on Feb. 15 and was throughly blown away. What touched me was that famines do not go away, they simply move. When will the world learn. 😢
It was JUST announced that this is coming North America, with the premiere in Toronto. I watched this video when it was first posted, but will be watching again as I think I just might get tickets for this!
I booked my tickets for during the preview. I acc booked them because of your video about your most anticipated of the year and I really enjoyed it. Had a great time. You may have gave it a 3 star review but thank you so much of the suggestion😆😆😆😆
Thanks for covering this. Did it need to be a jukebox musical? I was at my college newspaper during this, adored Bob Geldof before the event, was all in on it, but maybe the next jukebox musical could be about producing a Duran Duran tour? Or the book Stars in their Underpants (also featuring Geldof)? All the drama in this show is offstage
I went to university with Freddie!!! It’s been thrilling to get to see them ascend to this show. It’s like it was yesterday, doing their old-age makeup in Dialogues des Carmelites. But this is SO much more their flavor and I’m absolutely chuffed that they captured your attention. 💜💜
Saw it on the 14th and I did watch it through a nostalgic lens and it did bring lots of joy. I can definitely see what you're saying through a critical lens (the gen z character was annoying and I would dub myself as woke) but would happily go and see it again as it was but would be great if they could make those few tweaks to uplift it even higher.
I was 7 when live aid happened. I've been saying for ages there should be a musical about this subject. I'm looking forward to seeing it at some point.
So I took my parents to this show on a Wednesday Matinee as a Christmas present and they were both 17 at the time live aid happened. They both loved the show so much, including my dad who is not a musical fan. The audience was a crazy mix of teenagers on a school trip to older people in there 50s/60s and then I was there as a young adult just kinda vibing. The audience was probably the best part, I have never been a theatre where everyone screamed when two characters kissed, I was laughing so hard.
Also never thought I’d watch Margret Thatcher sing I’m still standing and I’m still trying to process that.
It wasn’t a 10/10 live changing musical but it was fun.
Basically this ramble is to say this is the kind of show you go to with family or friends to just vibe.
So I took my parents to this show on a Wednesday Matinee as a Christmas present with my parents who were both 17 at the time live aid happened. They both loved the show so much, including my dad who is not a musical fan. The audience was a crazy mix of teenagers on a school trip to older people in there 50s/60s and then I was there as a young adult just kinda vibing. The audience was probably the best part, I have never been a theatre where everyone screamed when two characters kissed, I was laughing so hard.
Also never thought I’d watch Margret Thatcher sing I’m still standing and I’m still trying to process that.
It wasn’t a 10/10 live changing musical but it was fun.
Basically this ramble is to say this is the kind of show you go to with family or friends to just vibe.
Really interesting review. Had strongly wanted to go (and still might) though had considered comparisons with Come From Away (seen many times and again on tour this month). There are too many “options” for such a show (what I remember from my VHS recording of last 3 UK hours were some of the segways ….just before Elton “ this is such a star studded event we naturally cut a David Bowie interview in two”…..just before Paul Mc “ he’ll be on in 15 mins so you have time to get a cuppa. In the meantime we are off to Philadelphia to see Madonna” …but maybe aligning with your view was the impact of the The Cars “Drive” video …and everyone being visibly upset and remembering why we were all there
Thanks for your insights!!! I recently MCed a Live Aid show, and reviewing the music and researching it, I found British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal (BRAFA), who made a parallel reggae single and event Let's Make Africa Green Again, as they were ignored. Because if you look at Live Aid, it was a wall to wall white sausage fest - Sade was the only person of colour and Alison Moyet the only other woman, and she only got to do back up singing for male artists. I think this was because most of it was put together through contacts and friendships, and honestly at the time I'm not sure we even noticed a lack of gender and race diversity - different times. But to not address either of these things in the present, as well as continuing to treat the people of Ethiopia as anonymous victims is pretty tone deaf. Geldof has never really acted like a white saviour, and continues to do quiet work in Africa, so I don't get how this keeps happening.
The on-stage musicians were amazing. Julie Atherton was terrific, but I really struggled with Margaret Thatcher being treated as a comic character. I wanted to boo Mrs T (although Julie Atherton deserves lots of cheers for a terrific performance). I did appreciate the wider political discussion at the end and think that Sir Bob was wonderfully played - someone behaving heroically who did not want to be celebrated as a hero, wanting the focus to be on suffering people and supporting them.
I have a choice of seeing this or mamma mia next year in Toronto and I'm so torn. I've never seen mamma mia live and it's definitely gonna be fun, but this looks more interesting in theory
Danielle Steers is amazing
Hi my mum and dad went to the live Aid back in the day so cool 😊🙃
I was a baby when Live Aid happened so this subject matter was always going to intrigue me (as well as being a BIG fan of the music from that time). I saw the show a couple of weeks ago, and I fully agree with you on the music and the vocals. They blew me away.
I realised after listening to you that I also agree with you about the issues you raised with it, particularly with the Gen Z character. I kind of feel like she was written in almost as a box ticking exercise to please the young viewers with no further development on how she could impact the older audience into reflecting on how the world is still a ****show today. I feel she was almost there to be laughed at by them so they can still feel happy with themselves when they leave the theatre.
No way do kids today not know what cassette tapes are 😢they were a huge part of my childhood omg
I agree the book and direction wasn’t all there, definitely especially at the start I felt like it was just very cheesy, but the music was so well done and powerful that it was worth the trip for me. Had quite a rowdy audience in my performance, a group behind me loudly booing for Margaret Thatcher (brought me back to the Diana concert!) and singing along though generally only for a couple lines here or there.
Even though I’m not generally one for romances, I did actually enjoy the subplot young Suzanne I think because the two actors were very charming. I hated the moment where Marsha and Jim went off for a quick one though, now that was an unnecessary moment that came out of nowhere…
I honestly didn’t know what the musical was about. I did get interested just hearing the title since I knew it’s from ‘Heroes’ by Bowie lmaoo
I went to a PWC preview performance
I'm still not sure how I felt about it
I did sort of enjoy it but I got the feeling that it was not sure what it wanted to be and some of it felt trite.
I think, all in all, I agree with you on every aspect, Mickey Jo
I’ll stick with Live Aid the way it was supposed to be watched.
Saw it last week and was really unimpressed. Every character was completely over the top with hammy acting (except the boyfriend guy!) and I think the fact I wasn’t born around the time meant I just didn’t relate, which seems like something a two hour how should have helped me get past. The only thing that moved me was the concept of people coming together itself - the show didn’t do any of that and just leant on the existence and purpose of live aid. Some of the songs just didn’t work in how they were placed at all - there was a point where “I don’t like Mondays” which of course is about a shooting was used at the moment an innocent young girl was looking forward to trying to secure live aid tickets…it just didn’t fit and I think a lot of the issue with this show is that it wants to be a million things and achieves none. It certainly isn’t a musical and none of the songs worked to tell the story - maybe they weren’t meant to, but then there wasn’t much help from the dodgy cringey script and poor pacing.
The framing as well was just odd - the vague “I want to mobilise my generation” stuff was just appalling to watch unfold and ultimately added nothing. Would’ve been so much better if they had just told the story of live aid through musical theatre from start to end and maybe had some modern day reflection at the end if they really felt it necessary. The characters reflecting on their time at live aid was trite and simplistic, and some of the lines they were given were as if a year 7 drama class had been asked to write an inspiring play. The caricature of Thatcher was unfunny (but again, people were lapping it up - I just don’t think it had any use in the storytelling and mocking a historical figure to the extent where they seem to have no sense or relationship with reality makes the whole tension between her and live aid just seem silly and pointless) and the laziness of the whole thing came to a head for me in the “mrs t and Mr G” segment of the songs - they hadn’t even attempted to rhyme the lyrics properly and the I’m still standing moment left me speechless.
Maybe it’s just not my sense of humour, but considering people were paying up to £165 to see this (thankfully I payed £15) it felt like such a cheap attempt at something edgy. If you go to any tribute night for the time period you’d get essentially the same thing. Lazy choreography that consisted of standing up and sitting down, along with a completely uninspiring set, it just looked like it was still being rehearsed. They also need to give some better guidance on when the audience should get involved - some people were singling along to the sadder songs and we weren’t sure when to clap and cheer, which is a minor thing but seeing how rowdy the Saturday matinee was around me made me worry that this could get a rep as a sort of party show and therefore distract from what is apparently a much better show than I think it is - most people were singing its praises so perhaps I’m just not into it at all. Great for nostalgia fans but I don’t see how it will survive as a piece of real theatre.
The old Vic also needs to work out its bench seating policies - not because they’re wrong but to help the poor staff who have to deal with ignorant, rude people who get to their as-described seat and refuse to sit in it because it’s uncomfortable or restricted view :(
I never usually comment on these (wonderful) reviews whether or not I agree but I just had to say this as I was genuinely in disbelief at the positive reactions from other audience members, which made me so impassioned that I knew when you reviewed I’d share my thoughts. It wasn’t all bad but I couldn’t give it more than 2 stars being generous. Please keep the amazing content coming - it’s so refreshing to hear a “normal” person reviewing things without the pressure of headline grabbing scorn or extreme praise, and to see inquisitive and informed comment sections full of theatre fanatics :))
It sounds very self congratulatory. Unfortunately, juke-box musicals always seem to have amazing musical performances set against frustrating and poorly thought out stories.
As soon as I heard the premise, I worried about the white savior undertones. Disappointed they didn't fully grapple with it.
Why the generalised assumption that everyone in the theatre is a conservative voter……
I'm generalising to illustrate a point - I also don't think everyone in the theatre attended Live Aid.
i only have one question; does it have the part Led Zeppelin fucked the whole set up
Bob geldof is a very dominant person and according to at least one british female aid worker who had been working in ethopia since 1980s when geldof and live aid charity came they swept her aside and took over and she was save the children or something. She said they had been writing to the British government and warning them about famine since 1979. Geldof was a domineering and swearing guy but He got things done. Progressive don't like him very much. He was not one for sitting on his ass. He took one look at the dole queues in Ireland and setup buy and sell magazine in Ireland
Sounds like boomer propaganda/pandering tbh
I'm sorry to say that, but I think criticism of the "activism" and "wokeness" of current days us warranted. There is a lot of vacant virtue signaling, saying things without fully learning and understanding issues to the point of actually making things worse for people they supposedly speak for, taking on causes as trends, misinterpreting things in an egocentric way through own perspectives.... Current teens/young adults should not be spared from criticism just because they're the "cool" group now. Better criticise things more in the present than realize the problems years later.
Good grief. Art has become insufferable.