Dreamgirls - Savoy / UK Tour

Isn't that because it's her scheduled show though?

Yes, but my point is that I expect they'll eventually realise that giving Amber two shows a week off is a good idea, like Beverley Knight had in Memphis...

Marisha has a scheduled show, next Wendesday!

So can it be assumed that each alternate will do week a/week b/week c? Or just Karen and Marisha? To be honest, I doubt even they know themselves....

You know what I mean... no disrespect to Ruth, but if it is her or Marisha... bye Ruth, shoulda been "ready" at the start, not "i'll be ready by February".

To be fair, I suspect that the rehearsal situation was probably out of Ruth's control.  No-one expected Amber to come down with pneumonia.  It sounds to me as if Marisha was brought in to effectively take over the role of Effie until Amber was well again (a recent WoS article suggested as much).  If that's the case, it's likely that Ruth had had very little (if any) rehearsal time when Amber went off sick.  Add to that some other cast members getting ill, and it would have been very difficult for Ruth to get any rehearsal time in!

Fivehundredtwentyfivethousandsixhundred minutes?

Interestingly the matinee was delayed a good 15 mins, no reason given just announcements apologising and saying they will start shortly.

I was getting worried Amber had been taken ill again....but then the show finally started abd she appeared so don't know what the problem was.

I was sat next to the sound desk and they appeared to have a problem there, lots of people gathering including the resident musical director. They were sorting something then heard them saying "okay good to go" two minutes before the show started again. In this case I believe technical difficulties were genuine!

I really enjoyed today's matinee. I've never seen the show or film before, so went in with only a vague idea of what would happen. The two songs I'd heard before (Listen & And I Am Telling You...) never really moved me before but within the context of the show and the scene they were fantastic. The entire cast seemed very strong, especially the three Dreams and Jimmy. Got to say Lily Frazer's diction was so poor I had little idea what she was singing, but it's a small role so I'm hoping it wasn't pivotal! Sound was pretty good at the very back of the stalls, probably quieter than at the front and I think we benefitted from that!

A year. Could change but it is a year at the moment.

Is Marisha a full-time alternate then? I don't want her to return to Broadway yet! I'd like to see her stay around in the West End for a while

It was fantastic. If that is Amber not 100% and getting back into the swing of things she must be another level than even this fully fit. Her vocals were insane at times. Really stunning. I didn't think maybe her acting was up to the standard of her singing (but what is?) but that was great too still and definitely came on during IAMT and in the second act.

Interestingly ctas it wasn't Lilys diction i had problem with (who i didn't find bad at all btw), during Lorrel and Jimmys number i could barely make out a word that Candace (on as lorell and btw i think would make a very strong Effie is she ever went on) was actually saying/singing. But she has an great voice so i wasn't that fussed. It sounded good even if i didn't know what was being sung! She was fantastic in her more comedic role.

Lissi as Deena i loved by the end, but she shone a lot more in the second act than the first. At first i was a bit underwhelmed by her voice but then she got to show how strong it is in her solos and then Listen in the second act. I really enjoyed her acting performance too.

Adam J Bernard was FANTASTIC as Jimmy Early. The audience loved him and his energy, his dancing and his voice were all insane.

Joe was good. I dunno, sometimes i found him annoying. Haha. He sounded good but a bit like he had a cold sometimes, i can't remember if he sounded the same in ITH or not.

Tyrone was great, as ever, not really a role that does him justice is it though really.

The set at first i seemed a bit disappointed with but as it went on you realised how cleverly it's utilised and then there is the introduction of some stunning backdrops and set pieces.

Overall, really really enjoyed it, thought it was great and glad i got to see Amber, who delivered. You know, i may be tempted to go again and she one of the alternates as well.

Oh and i couldn't help but always notice that kid off Stage School or whatever it was called on E4. It made me chuckle (but he was actually very good)