Close To You

I am looking forward to this, taking my stepmother as a Christmas present on the 9th February.

Following advice from good self’s on here (ok so in our old home!) I went and booked us onto the on-stage sofa’s. I love the concept and being up in the action, with it pure songs rather than a storyline I don’t think it matters too much at times we not be able to see all of the performers – I’ve told my stepmother what show we are seeing and that we must make sure we are at our seat 10 minutes before curtain up but she has no idea we are going to be on the stage!!

It was between this and ‘Beautiful’ – that is still very much on the list but I thought with this coming to its end of the run on Valentine’s day that it was see it now or never!

Looking forward to hearing Burt’s wonderful songs sung with twists and strong vocals!!

I did fell in love with the cast (especially Stephanie McKeon) and Bacharach' cant do any wrong with me. I loved the staging, and although it doesn't really have a plot I liked it as a show.

I loved that show! The cast is absolutely amazing! Had a pleasure of celebrating New Year with a few actors (onstage seats are really good, as you may guess), so now I have a ver special feelings for that show and don want it to close

At the Menier it ran right through with no interval which works better. But I believe the interval had to be added as part of the contract with the theatre ie. bar/ice cream sales.
This is one of my favourite shows ever and I will be at the last performance on Sunday night.

No, but you can sign up to hear about it first, here. bit.ly/1lw2Rzz

Got to the final performance. Wonderful as usual.

Quite surprised that the female understudy was on, but it's been a week of illness in the west end. Perfect, you would not have known that she hadn't been on the whole run.

Theatre was pretty full. A mix of people returning for the closing night and first timers not knowing what they were going to experience. There were a few chatterers near me, unfortunately (near the front of the stalls) and one girl in the box who kept checking her phone, lighting up the whole area.

The security guard on the entrance was telling everyone "they're flying back to America tomorrow" - didn't correct him, but most of the cast are British.

Show finished around 10 minutes later than usual, but couldn't see anything changed, maybe a slightly longer break and more applause. There was no indication that it was the final show until some brief thank yous from Kyle at the end. Two standing ovations, which was unusual and deserved.

No mention of a tour, but let's hope so.

Also was at the last show on Sunday night. Anastasia's replacement was great but I had been spoilt by hearing Anastasia perform many times who has a wonderful soulfulness to her voice. Will just have to wait for the CD now for my "fix" of Bacharach.
Man sat behind us kept falling asleep and snoring loudly, so my friend kept trying to wake him and a few seats along 2 women gave a running commentary such as "Oh Cilla did that one" and "this was one of Dusty's songs" which I could have done without.

Anastacia's last performance was the previous Saturday because she had to go back to America - I think because she has a play starting (that she wrote), but I could be wrong assuming that was the reason. I was at her last show and Kyle thanked her specifically during the curtain calls. Her last "Don't Make Me Over" was particularly wonderful.

I was also lucky to be at the final show on Sunday - in an on-stage armchair. Yes, I noticed that annoying girl in the box with her phone on at the start of act 2, but fortunately an usher told her to stop after a few minutes. Her rather well known boyfriend filmed the bows on his phone and posted them on Twitter. I thought Shanay Holmes as Anastacia's understudy did an excellent job and added a few vocal embellishments that made it distinctive. I'd also seen her cover Steph McKeon's role and she was really comfortable doing that too. Speaking of understudies. I was suprised to learn that neither Kyle or Daniel Bailen had understudies and hadn't missed a single show during the run!

I was told that Daniel Bailen and James Willliams were flying back to America the next day. My programme says that the two of them plus Anastacia were performing following one of the usual equity swap agreements. Presumably the Canadian equity equivalent doesn't require the same agreement.

Any clues as to who the "rather famous boyfriend" was? I didn't twig on the night.

Thanks, all figured out with the aid of a Twitter search. Certainly handsome and I recognise him from the recent documentaries he's done.

A good source told me it was imminent when I spoke to them on the last night of the show, has gone a bit quiet and Kyle has not published anything on instagram for a bit. Hope that is a good sign that its in post production

Great news!!!