Audra is back! - Leicester Square Theatre, April 2017

No programmes, unfortunately

I see no one has mentioned the rather odd queueing experience last night. Not sure if it will be repeated. The tickets said that the show started promptly at 8:45 and doors would be open 30 minutes prior. Rocking up at five minutes before show time for my aisle seats found me in a queue that was snaking towards Chinatown and growing by the minute, we were told we would be let in soon. There was a lot of murmuring and confusion amongst some people. We all got in fairly rapidly but it delayed the start and therefore the end of the show which if it happens again might effect people travelling home, hit the street at about 11 last night.

I so enjoyed seeing Ms McDonald live, her voice is a thing of wonder, but as others have mentioned the miking was a bit overpowering at times, with an instrument like that less is more! I think it helps that she presents as so warm and genuine, although obviously it could be an act, she has won awards for that kind of thing! It really doesn't seem to be though.

My only complaint would be that it all seemed a bit 'safe', I wish instead of Climb Ev'ry Mountain, I Could Have Danced All Night and even Summertime, thrilling though that was, there had been more eclectic choices although I appreciate there is a risk of alienating your core audience with such a move. I loved the Craigslist Leider for example.

I've spent an entertaining day thinking of songs I'd love to hear her sing/try out, jazz numbers like Satin Doll, Lush Life, Bacharach/David numbers from the 60's and 70's but mostly I kept thinking of country songs from the 70's like In The Ghetto, Till I Get It Right, Tell Me A Lie and even I Will Always Love You ( not the eardrum shredding massacre Whitney Houston version but the original plaintive style). Hck I'd even pay to see her sing Call Me Maybe!

zsazsa you are so right...

Last night was absolutely amazing. Audra has a fantastic stage presence, she owns it, she commands it. She's like a force of nature.

Seth was a great host, he was funny, he was sassy, he was exactly as you see him on YouTube in his Deconstructions.

I think that "I will be here" was my favourite song out of the entire night, simply because it's so touching and sad.

It looks like they made some child-related changes to the songs that were sung. Will performed Stars from Les Mis and "I am a Pirate King", but they didn't sing the duet. Seth also asked Audra to sing bits of other songs with Billie Holiday voice (like "I dreamed a dream") - hilarious.

I will be in London in July to see Angels in America, I will definitely consider getting tickets to see Lady Day.

There was a a performance of Sh*t faced Shakespeare at 7, which seemed to overrun. We were there quite early and were sent to the Studio downstairs which had a bar, but once that was full I guess they held people outside. Then the downstairs contingent got restless about 8.35 and started heading up to the foyer, at which point tickets were checked and we were asked to wait again, but could at least get to the toilets!

Of course we want to see your and Audra's pic! What was she like?

Once again Audra was a delight to watch, an extraordinary voice and some entertaining stories. I have to say I was a tiny bit disappointed that the songs were largely the same as last year's gig and also a bit sad we didn't see her and Will sing together (get a bloody childminder!). But the addition of Seth was fun and to be honest I could listen to her sing every night if needs be.

That sounds amazing! Wish she sang that on Thursday Did she sing that instead of Summertime?

^ Oh my, what a treat! What is Seth's husband's voice like?
I really hope that she enjoyed these concerts and that she'll be back. Or that Seth decides to ship another diva into town, so we can have a nice eargasm