Hairspray

Last night I watched Hairspray the musical, which is touring at he moment.  Over the years I have seen the show roughly four times. While that's not that many, it's a lot for me. 

I was dancing at the end.  

It was interesting to see different actors to take on some of my favourite characters. Now the times I've seen it, I've seen Michael Ball play Edna. This time Mark Benton took on the role. He added his own style to the role, for me though you knew it was him in the costume. The first time I saw Michael Ball as Edna, I had to keep looking and people round me were asking 'Is that him?'  

The two other names in this show were Marcus Collins and Lucy Benjamin.  Now Marcus I knew was a talent show singer. But let me tell you this, his future is in musical theatre, his voice blew the house down.  Lucy Benjamin I only knew as an a actress. The lady can act, sing, dance and has amazing comic timing.

Hairspray you can't fault. It has the feel of the 60s with a touch of technicolor. The entire company sing and dance their hearts out right to the encore. And you can't stop dancing. And I did.  It does cover all issues, race, weight and feeling like the outsider. But the message for me, is look on the inside and not the outside. And try to see past people's differences.

I enjoyed it so much I'm going back again.  

Everyone should see the stage musical!!

You Can't Stop The Beat!

One Man Two Guvnors

Last week I saw One Man Two Guvnors. Which is based on One Servant Two Masters.

If you go in early there is a nice surprise on stage. Thanks to Michelle for letting me know in time.

It is a comedy, that, to me, harks back to films like Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello. That's just for the sheer amount physical comedy going on. I'm sure there are some bruises after each show.

The jokes are silly, good humoured type jokes. I never noticed any rude or offencive jokes, the show doesn't really give you time to breathe from one joke to the next.

Rufus Hound makes a great lead as Frances Henshall. A man hired as muscle for a local gangster, yet while he is sorting lodgings for his boss, another man asks him to work for him.  Yet poor Frances gets confused very easily and a lot of things start to wrong.

I'm glad I didn't know much about Rufus Hound as it helped to believe in his character. There are only sixteen main characters who double up on characters so seamlessly you don't even notice.

I did feel for the first two rows of the audience, as they became part of the show, the whole auditorium at times were in on the action.

I have never been in a theatre, where at the interval everyone is grinning or giggling as you pass them. It is such an upbeat atmosphere. I'm over the moon I got to see it.

Bring tissues. Glad I did. I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face, also waterproof eyeliner. I looked a bit like a panda. But I wasn't the only one!

To go into detail would actually spoil it. I can think of a few scenes. Me being the chatterbox that I am, some people actually said they had been told of scenes and it spoiled some of the experience for them.

The clips on Youtube don't do the show justice, doesn't capture the magic of live theatre. It looks flat on Youtube.

So if it comes to you check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Health warning. May cause laughing!

Legally Blonde the musical

Last night I went to see Legally Blonde the musical. It was amazing! The cast were phenomenal, I mean to single anyone out would be wrong. I do have to say the actress playing Elle(Faye Brookes) had the Reese Whitherspoon look to a tee. Her voice was a treat to listen to. Being a touring cast, a lot of the actors had to play two and three different roles. The energy never faded if anything, it got even more upbeat. You can not sit still in your seat, you want to dance and sing, even if you don't know the lyrics! The dogs get the biggest round of applause when they take their run on. If you're a fan of Smash, The actor who plays Tom was in the broadway version as Emmett alongside Laura Bell Bundy. The show recieved a standing ovation and you can see why. I was up before everyone. You really can't find any fault, my face ached from smiling so much. Especially at the Riverdance scene! So this wannabe Elle says go find out where and when it's on and I promise you will not be disappointed "Just let me be Legally Blonde."

Hi all

I know I haven't posted in a while, hopefully in the coming weeks and months that will change.  Just letting you know I'm still going to keep this up.

Take care for now

DQ

Jack and the Beanstalk

You know Christmas is upon you when the pantomimes start.

I've seen Jack and the Beanstalk with 3D effects.

You've got Dame May Trot, Jack, King Crumble, Princess Apricot, Daisy the cow and Fleshcreep as well as the good fairy. There are a chorus of dancers and the babes.

Everyone acts, dances and sings their hearts out. No wonder the actors lose weight and their voice by the end of the run. Each show feels like the first show each time and that must have some pressure for cast and crew alike.

Fleshcreep has a child catcher type of feel about him. I saw a lot of Richard O'Brians characteristics in his role. Little four year olds hide when he appears. Jack the hero keeps the audience right behind him throughout.

The 3D, I find the adults enjoy more than the children at times. Ducking and diving out of the way.

Pantomimes are a great way to see a live show when your little.

(A little boy told me it was like watching a DVD but not the same as their were people there. His words, though he was four years old.) He was heading home, the bad boy frightened him.

If you want an evening of laughs and forget your troubles then I highly recommend finding your nearest panto and enjoy it. You will leave with a smile on your face!

That's all from me

Wish you all a merry christmas and happy holidays.

Beauty and the Beast

Last night the theatre came alive with the magic of Disney. This was an Am Dram version, but believe me, it was of such high standard you would have thought you were on Broadway watching it.

The cast were amazing from the enchanted chandelier to the wire work of the enchantress. It was spell binding. Little faces were taken with Belle, laughed at Gaston and Lefou.   Fell for Cogsworth and Lumiere, who got the best laughs plus the biggest cheer at the end.

I remember seeing this in NYC in the 90's and believe me not one thing was left out. The ensemble, pit singers and orchestra set the scene from the very start.

These are people who give up their nights and weekends to rehearse. They only had just over two months to put it together. Well they should be very proud, they did themselves and Disney proud.

Just wonderful!

Rhinestone Mondays

The views here are mine and mine alone.

On the 12th of October I went to see Rhinestone Monday's. A musical comedy set in the backdrop of a local pub in England where a line dancing group meets once a week to practice and socialise. Along the way there is romance, jealousy and many, many laughs. I was sat in the audience and the people around were enjoying it and were surprised to here it's heading into the last week in Newcastle http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/


Part of me would have loved a CD as there were many highlights from 'Thank God I'm a country boy.' to 'Annie's Song'.For a cast of ten they acted sang and danced with 110% never failing to get the audience involved. Ally Holmes was brilliant as Carol her comic timing was perfect. Lyn Paul from the New Seekers has a powerful voice and it shows.

I think from what I could hear round me, people were surprised by Ian Watkins and Faye Tozer from Steps, they can sing, dance and have perfect theatre timing. If they read this, thank you both for stopping to chat after the show. I hope they get more theatre roles as they deserve the credit.

Anthony Topham and Shaun Williams are great as comic foils to each other. They're voices are amazing.

So check it out, as this show is one never to missed. Let's hope they get to tour again. I guarantee you will love it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0yfKuZz7Zk

'Make my day'