The Bodyguard - Tour

They paused the show due to technical problems for about 45 minutes but when it's come on again Carole gave it her all.

This is probably one of the most complex stage shows in terms of physical sets and effects I've seen in Belfast or even in bigger venues like Dublin it was definitely West End quality in its production values no doubt about that.

I seen the matinee on the 13th and they stopped the show because of a set malfunction around 15 minutes in, it paused the show for 45 minutes but when the cast came back out there was still heaps of energy and boy did Carole deliver she belted out every song and riff she could and I wasn't disappointed.

My one complaint was that there was a group of drunken female audience members in the stalls who decided they'd start shouting at the actors on stage and ruining the more intimate and quiet moments with their ad libs.

It wasn't enough to ruin the show but it was certainly distracting and disrespectful to the actors on stage especially Benoit who they focused a lot of their more negative comments toward.

I'd definitely pay to see it again for the spectacle alone. The book could have been better but all in all it was a solid 4* for me. Best sets I have seen on tour yet.

Jennlee Shallow is alternate Rachel for the Japanese dates, so I presume that’s why she’s doing some Wolverhampton dates.

Whatever you do, stay for act two. Better yet, COME for act two. The show really only gets good when it stops trying to tell a story and goes into a 20 minute Whitney tribute with her greatest hits at the end.

...that may be why I’m going then. 😂

Can I expect Lisa Stansfield to turn up and do her one off the album?

I saw the Bodyguard in Milton Keynes on Saturday night. It was ok but unfortunately Alexandra Burke cannot act and guy playing the Bodyguard REALLY cannot act or sing. He had the charisma of a plank of wood. I felt more chemistry between Alexandra Burke and her microphone than I did between the two of them! It’s a shame, as it seems such a waste of what could be a fantastic show as the music is tried and tested. Alex has a superb voice though, so full credit to her as the score is very demanding. Unfortunately the kid playing Fletch also couldn’t sing in tune and we hardly understood a word he said in his bad fake American accent,

The musical seemed confused to me - was it a serious piece of theatre or a concert or chopping and changing between both? Were we watching a musical or supposed to be in the audience of Rachel Marrons show? God knows! I wouldn’t see the show again.

In other Bodyguard related news... A moronic pea-sized brain Neanderthal man seated near me in the front stalls and his chavvy partner were actually thrown out of the theatre at the interval due to their bad behaviour. It was an utter disgrace - loud talking throughout, eating crisps, drunken singing, clapping, clicking and when the stalker first came on stage the pea-brained man heckled the actor and shouted across the theatre “woah you’re ripped- whip it out mate”. Who are these people and why do they even bother going to the theatre in the first place?

Hmm, I think there’s a case here for you reading what you want to read and not what I actually wrote, which is a shame. 

I said nothing about the story ‘not doing it for me’, nor did I say I didn’t enjoy ‘the damn songs’ as you call them. I simply noted that, in my opinion,  the show as a whole is confused as it skips between jukebox/concert-esque style and serious drama. 

And as for justifiying a leading man as being wooden in his performance? Well I suggest you get yourself pronto down to the tour and watch the guy currently playing Frank before you reassure us all. He was dire - again, in my opinion. And I obviously know the kind of character he is supposed to be portraying. 

That seems a bit unnecessary doesn’t it? Oooo handbags at dawn!

I suggest you drop the insults and keep your posts about the show. I simply corrected your earlier misunderstanding of my original post - I didn’t resort to childish insults. Each to their own and all that...

Dearie me, Alexandra slid her way up to several of those higher notes tonight at the Palace and on some occasions she even hit them! 😖

Seriously, It was a bit of a struggle in parts, and not to take it away from AB she has a lovely voice with a very pleasant tone when she’s in her range but it’s very clear that some of those songs are a challenge for her these days. I’m sure the first tour I saw she was better vocally. Having said that, her acting has improved significantly and she seems much more comfortable in that respect. 

I never saw the WE production so can’t compare, but I have no issues with the production values of this touring version. The sets are impressive and the transitions between scenes very slick. Ben Lewis was playing Frank and was fine. 

Some hiddy audience behaviour but overall a really enjoyable night. 

🧸🧸🧸🧸

Without a doubt the worst night at the theatre I’ve ever had seeing this tonight. There’s about 1 good singer in the whole cast (and it isn’t Alexandra Burke) and not a single good actor among them. To top it all off, the audience was hideous. A guy kept repeatedly shouting things out, people were constantly talking over scenes or singing along loudly or filming it. They also laughed hysterically but given how awful it was, I presume they were just laughing at the disaster unfolding in front of them but they were still the most rude and disrespectful audience I’ve ever had the displeasure of being sat in.

It’s all subjective I guess. I saw both tours a few times and don’t think it’s gone downhill in any significant way. Alexandra’s voice isn’t as strong perhaps but her acting and dancing is better now.
It’s never going to be everyone’s cup of tea; it’s a cheesy jukebox musical.

I do think that audiences need to be reined in more. Perhaps an announcement like at the beginning of “Tina” would be good- i.e. it’s not a singalong. It tends to feel like a hen night but I’ve seen worse behaviour at other shows.

Looks as if The Bodyguard will be back on tour next year with dates at the Liverpool Empire from 20 March. Tickets on sale 9 June.