Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder-Fringe / Tour / Ambassadors

Yes, you've reminded me I felt the same about the sample song a year ago - just checked it again on Youtube.  The performers have great understated offbeat timing on the promo; hope that's there in the full show.

Just a word of warning that the stage at the Ambassadors is often extremely high. I sat in the front row for Belonging and could only see the cast from waist up unless they were right downstage, whilst from the third row at My Son's a Queer feet were cut off. 

There is a "24 hour sale" on TodayTix with 75 GBP stalls seats marked down to 35 GBP and 98 GBP marked down to 55 GBP on a Wednesday evening. The 24 hour sale is on its third day so don't know how many more days this will be available. Saturday does not seem to be on sale.

Booked! I booked it during the sale.

Not seen this yet (but did see it's first Fringe incarnation and enjoyed it - so I will see the West End production), but a friend went yesterday and said the view from the front row was very restricted as the stage is extremely high. She said she could only see heads and necks at some points!

Saw that the night I booked for this is the one Phoebe Waller-Bridge is doing a post show talk. Bonus!

We're back into the "Musical or Play with Music" debate, as several of John Godber's shows for Hull Truck went into the West End. Haven't seen them all but Bouncers certainly qualifies at least as a Play with Music and it's been to London. Would be surprised if some of the others like Teechers or Up n Under didn't make it too and they are mostly (at least implicitly) set in Hull.

Sat through ‘On The Piste’ once. Wish I hadn’t.

And why arent lucy beaumont and dame maureen cast ?

Managed to catch the 1st preview of this on Saturday. As a massive fan of the 3 previous iterations, I can't help but believe that this is a bit of a downgrade from the almost-perfect Bristol-Manchester version of the show...

It still has so much going for it and I will be returning multiple times. It still is the same show I fell in love with and pestered everyone since the original FRINGE production to go and see.

However... A standout from previous versions was the wonderful Jodie Jacobs and her presence here is missed. Hannah Jane Fox picks up the role of Felicia+ and I can't help but feel she is incredibly miscast and it feels like the show has had to shape around her as a result. From the prologue you hear her struggle as she's trying to belt "who could ever solve". The majority of felicias new lines were lost on me due to her diction, this combined with the sound design made me feel bad for anyone's first time at the show but I'm hoping the latter will get better as it is previews, not the worst sound design I've witnessed in a West End theatre. I noticed she also didn't do any of the ensemble parts as was previously done in the felicia track which I found odd. But I am glad I didn't have to witness her Detective Sue Shaw.

I wasn't sure why they had split the multi-roling at first. However, the new sequence during "Murder Con" made up for it, which was very cleverly done. Elliot Bradfoot is a delight as Justin+ and is hilarious as Kathy's mum. I very much appreciated Elliotte Williams-N'Dure as Detective Sue Shaw, brought wonderful vocals to what I would otherwise consider a "speak-song". Had a hilarious moment where an alarm went off and she handled it amazingly (it also helped the dialogue just so happened to line up perfectly with the situation) "This isn't a story... this is real life" I think she'd make for a fantastic Felicia and was sad to find out she doesn't cover the role.

I do hope they continue to work on it during previews. The breakneck pacing during the fringe and tour versions really worked for it and it was obvious they are trying to slow it down a bit which feels unnecessary. Loved a lot of the upgrades for this version apart from some of the clunky setpieces. It makes for one of the most enjoyable nights out you can have at a theatre right now. The music will be stuck in your head for days.

Oh and Brontè and Bex as Kathy and Stella are both worth the ticket price alone. Outstanding vocals and insane chemistry.

I can't wait to see how it settles into it's new home and will be doing everything in my power to see some covers. Chelsea Hall was a wonderful Felicia previously (who she no longer covers).

A little pre-warning - the stage is very high and I'd avoid the first 2 or 3 rows.

“Hannah Jane Fox picks up the role of Felicia+ and I can't help but feel she is incredibly miscast and it feels like the show has had to shape around her as a result. From the prologue you hear her struggle as she's trying to belt "who could ever solve". The majority of felicias new lines were lost on me due to her diction, this combined with the sound design made me feel bad for anyone's first time at the show but I'm hoping the latter will get better as it is previews, not the worst sound design I've witnessed in a West End theatre. I noticed she also didn't do any of the ensemble parts as was previously done in the felicia track which I found odd. But I am glad I didn't have to witness her Detective Sue Shaw.”

I’m not sure HJF has ever recovered vocally since her Scaramouche days in We Will Rock You. She has fantastic comedic timing though so its disappointing to hear your review.