Funny Girl

George I do hope when you finally get to meet Sheridan it's no where near as disappointing as my meeting of Kerry Ellis when she was in Oliver! (I was a big fan!) that old saying of never meet your idols could not have been more true.

I feel it might break your little heart if it is the case

Yes George - rare to go out between matinee and evening performances.  You have made a good move in changing.

Cote, St Martin's Lane does an excellent Pre Theatre, or you could treat yourself at Tge Savoy ....

Still due out July 8.

Smollensky's (steakhouse) on the Strand is good too.

...or soak up the luvvie-fest that is 'Joe Allen' in the street behind the Lyceum. 

Sophie's Steakhous is excellent and does an nice pre theatre menu. Also Flat Iron on Henrietta Street. Their signature steak for a tenner is bliss (only usefull if you eat meat, of course). Both tend to be quite busy on Friday and Saturday evenings though.

I'd say wait until it's official that she's back. Let's just say she doesn't return, hypothetically. You send the letter now but she never gets it, and I'm sure you wouldn't want that.

Thanks for the advice! Yeah I think I will - there's more chance of her reading it if I send it when she's back. I hope she can read it before I visit!

Have you ever tried sending a letter through her agent George (or is that not done anymore)? Not that I think they'll be passing them on at the moment.

Don't forget to use green ink

Saw this last night. When the pre-curtain announcement went out... "Ladies and gentlemen, in tonight's performance the role of Fanny will be played by Natasha J. Barnes", there was a roar of approval from the full house audience. The conductor - I was right behind him - laughed out loud, clearly loving it.

The crowd was with her and then some.  Who doesn't love it when the understudy goes on and kills it - and kill it she did. She's amazing. A much better singer than Sheridan, the songs sounded the way they're supposed to sound, without vocal compromises. And she's a fine actress as well. Especially in the more dramatic 2nd Act she wrung every ounce of emotion from her scenes. She and Darius Campbell had a great rapport.

She has to work harder at the comedy though. She's not the comedian Sheridan is and it shows. Lots of mugging and face pulling to get laughs. Sheridan mugged too but she has that natural, whatever it is, that makes it all look effortless. Of course part of Natasha's issue is that she's "doing" Sheridan, to a degree - she's following the template.

When all is said and done though, Natasha deserves every bit of the acclaim she's getting. She shed tears at the curtain call and who can blame her. What a fantasy she's living. It was wonderful to witness.