The Bodyguard - Tour

Anyone seen Carol Stenett yet?

Changes... lots of changes

First gunshot there's a splatter motion on the curtain
I think Queen of the Night and How will I Know choreography has changed slightly, also Fletcher seemed to be featured more in How Will I Know
Fletcher runs on during Greatest Love Of All reprise hugs Rachel and runs back off, at the same time where The Stalker would come from the shutters he is pushed on with a desk and the dress, same with just before the Mayan bit he comes back with the desk (most pointless bit imo) seals the envolope and leaves the normal way
Mayan medley. Rachel now comes from the back on a little podium thing which looked fine until you see someone push it whilst against a lightish backdrop
Jimmy now has a helper collecting glasses (didn't actually mind that he was quite funny)
Nicki's stabbing seemed very dragged out, he grabs her holds the knife to her throat she makes a gagging noise, they get up he stabs her then she lurches around a bit until Rachel helps her to the floor.

They were the biggest changes that spring to mind right now other then Ray Court now wearing glasses.

Cast wise Carole was amazing, really liked her voice and acting, I don't think she really suits the current Queen of the Night staging tho...

Rachel as Nicki, amazing voice but not my favourite Nicki, seeing her as Rachel this arvo so hopefully I'll enjoy her more...

Sy's character seems almost aggressive with wanting Rachel to do what he wants, I actually prefer the slightly camper way I've seen it played before with the snide remarks at Frank.

Tony and Bill I had no problems with, no real changes to the roles...

The Stalker had the most changes and I didn't really enjoy Mathew Stathers as him, if it's the way he's been told to play him it'd not good, certain bits seemed almost panto like..

At the moment I'm assuming my dislikes are because I'm stubborn with change but I just think if they were going to change things I'd prefer it more like the original production

Rachel as Rachel (not confusing at all lol) is fantastic! She is so much more suited to Rachel then Nicki! I really wish she had more dates on!

You reckon she'll be on tomorrow? She said all mid-week matinees.

Saw the tour yesterday and although I didn't love the show, I was really only going for Rachel, and she was outstanding.

The story was so slow though. I found the stalker more awkward than scary, and the dialogue was so stilted and cliche.

Did think that the slow motion concert scene looked really good though, and lighting design was nice enough.

Was thinking of seeing it on the west end because I love Beverley Knight a lot, but probably won't bother now. Still, glad I saw it and can cross it off the list.

Sort of been announced by Sunderland and Zoe just not the actual show! I'm going for her last two

I've finally settled down and can write a little something something about Rachel John.

I have to say that she is way too overqualified to be only the first cover and not the alternate, especially with Carol being alternate. I haven't seen Carol as alternate, but did see her as cover in London and thought she was passible, but not wonderful by any means.

Rachel actually glides through this and is vocally quite fantastic. The acting is very good too. I would only think that she needs to have a little bit more fun as Rachel, instead of being quite so serious. I think this would eventually happen if she gets more shows under her belt.

Her Rachel is slightly younger than the others, so she's more of a Rihanna kind of Rachel, than a Beyonce kind of Rachel.

I actually had a nice little chat with Dominic Taylor who plays Sy in the new cast. I basically sat next to him at the theatre lobby and noticed him and just strike up a conversation. Turns out that the cast will head over to Toronto after the London run. He was not allowed to say who Rachel would be, but he smiled when I told him it must be Deborah Cox doing it in her home town in Toronto before starting the US tour. I would just think that this company will only do Toronto, and the US tour company will be selected from scratch.

I'll be curious to see how Carole steps it up when I see it next month. TBH, even with Rachel (as Rachel), I think the way they keep on casting the show with a pop/soul star that is outside of the world of musical theatre is definitely the way to go. While musical theatre ladies are just fine in it, there is an unspoken quality when it was played by Heather, Beverley and Alexandra. It just felt more believable that Rachel is a global pop diva when it was in the hands of these ladies.

I think Ben Richards is perfect for the role, I was hoping for Lloyd Owen as didn't see the original cast of this show but Ben has a lovely voice and is nice to look at ;-)

Question... now that The Bodyguard has done so well on tour and on the West End first time round, is the Dominion set as a strictly limited run, or, if it does find success once again (as I suspect it could) is there a chance it could become an open-ended run?

As nothing is set for after (that we are aware of) and if it sells well there and brings business, it should, in theory, extend right?