5,169 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Feb 22, 2018 23:53:49 GMT
I mean, nothing against her, but Lulu is significantly older than I had thought. Shes 69. Sheena Easton is 58. It’s quite an age jump...
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583 posts
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Post by princeton on Feb 23, 2018 0:00:57 GMT
She did Relight My Fire with Take That in 1993 (and then again and again and again!), was in Ab Fab including the very bad movie (playing herself), and was a contestant on Strictly (for a few weeks) in 2011.
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5,877 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 23, 2018 0:20:10 GMT
Not impressed by this casting at all. Now I can’t go back and see it while she’s in it. She comes across dreadfully whenever she’s on tv- absolutely loves herself.
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2,777 posts
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Post by daniel on Feb 23, 2018 0:21:05 GMT
Tom and Clare staying. Ashley Day as Billy Lawler!
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Feb 23, 2018 0:41:23 GMT
Ashley Day is an exciting addition to the cast!
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Feb 23, 2018 1:52:50 GMT
Ashley Day is a great choice, not sure about Lulu but can see her knocking out a great Boulevard of broken dreams.
Will she sell tickets? I'm not convinced!
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 2:57:03 GMT
I wish we didn't have to wait until tomorrow to hear about the rest of the cast! Well Lulu it is ( as if we did not know) Tom Lister is staying as Julian Marsh We already knew Clare Halse was staying Ashley Day is joining as Billy Lawlor from March 19th and I believe Matt Goodgame is going in as Pat Denning
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 3:17:57 GMT
Clare Rickard, Ryan Gover, Philip Bertioli are all staying as is Chris Howell and Jasna Ivir
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 3:18:39 GMT
Clare Rickard, Ryan Gover, Philip Bertioli are all staying as is Chris Howell and Jasna Ivir Greg Bernstein and Eddie Myles are going :-(
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656 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Feb 23, 2018 6:48:55 GMT
Not a fan of Lulu's casting, but a huge fan of Ashley Day's casting. That said, I'll wait until Lulu has gone before seeing this again.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Feb 23, 2018 7:41:13 GMT
Clare Rickard, Ryan Gover, Philip Bertioli are all staying as is Chris Howell and Jasna Ivir Daniel Johnson will be delighted!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2018 8:29:41 GMT
I don't know who Lulu is - so not sure people in their 40s and below may know who she is? (I'm 39). Maybe I'm just naiive? LOL I'm in my 20s and I know who she is - much more than I knew Sheena Easton when she was announced! I'm not a fan but at least we know she can (or could?) hold a tune, and it's not exactly an overly difficult role. Excited to see Ashley Day though! The important thing anyway is that Clare is staying - nothing else really matters that much for this show as far as I'm concerned.
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311 posts
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Post by showoff on Feb 23, 2018 8:31:03 GMT
I don't know who Lulu is - so not sure people in their 40s and below may know who she is? (I'm 39). Maybe I'm just naiive? LOL I think quite a lot of people know Lulu, I'm 31 and I know her, when I grew up Shout was used a lot, then she sang with Take That too, and she was also on Strictly. I have to say though, I really don't like her and can't see her in this. I'm not sure the age matters too much, when I saw this the audience's average age was well over 40.
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8,143 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 23, 2018 8:40:26 GMT
Well seems it's just me but I like Lulu and looking forward to seeing her.
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 9:00:35 GMT
Have you all noticed, Lulu is in it for 16 weeks only? This would run up to 7th July. I wonder what will happen then?? Hope it won't come off then? Although booking until Oct 20th, there are never any guarantees in this game!
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2,394 posts
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Post by theatreian on Feb 23, 2018 9:59:38 GMT
Not sure about Lulu in this , her voice is more bluesy now but will wait and see. She doesn't always come across as likeable but when I saw her in concert a while back her vocals were still great.
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736 posts
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Post by dippy on Feb 23, 2018 10:19:22 GMT
Ashley Day as Billy makes me happy, look forward to seeing him at some point.
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239 posts
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Post by dizzieblonde on Feb 23, 2018 10:19:46 GMT
Sort of a bit gutted about the Lulu announcement, as I think she's an awful actress- the AbFab movie confirmed she can't convincingly play herself, so I'm definitely not sure about her playing another person entirely! I've already booked to go in May, so can't change that now! I'm happy Clare Halse is staying, she was the one I really wanted to see (although I know no one is a definite on any given performance - does she actually have an understudy?).
I particularly wonder if Lulu's voice can hold up to the rigours of this kind of singing, and the intensity of repeated performances. She has a gravelly vocal quality, that often indicates a voice not terribly well protected, and the classic American songbook numbers aren't forgiving to people who aren't well trained. Her wiki entry has a revealing line "Notable London stage appearances came in the early-1980s in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance and the Royal National Theatre's Guys and Dolls. She damaged her vocal cords while performing in the Lloyd Webber show, requiring surgery that threatened her singing voice."
I'm not sure if she's performed as a stage musical actress since this time, which tells it's own story I think. They are certainly gambling on having a recognised name, who's nearly 70 years old, probably at the expense of having someone who can do 8 shows a week, without incident. I'm betting there's an alternate who'll get one or two shows a week, by the middle of her run!
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1,089 posts
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Post by tonyloco on Feb 23, 2018 10:27:59 GMT
Have you all noticed, Lulu is in it for 16 weeks only? This would run up to 7th July. I wonder what will happen then?? Hope it won't come off then? Although booking until Oct 20th, there are never any guarantees in this game! Ooer...20 October? What's going on? Yes, I just checked and the Really Useful Theatre site is indeed now booking only until 20 October, which was the previously announced closing date and I have in my hand a ticket for Stalls A0 for that date. But I also have in my hand a ticket for Stalls A23 for 1 December which was subsequently announced as the new closing date. For entirely selfish reasons I hope that 20 October will in fact be the real closing date. Can anybody throw any light on this situation?
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 10:41:20 GMT
Have you all noticed, Lulu is in it for 16 weeks only? This would run up to 7th July. I wonder what will happen then?? Hope it won't come off then? Although booking until Oct 20th, there are never any guarantees in this game! Ooer...20 October? What's going on? Yes, I just checked and the Really Useful Theatre site is indeed now booking only until 20 October, which was the previously announced closing date and I have in my hand a ticket for Stalls A0 for that date. But I also have in my hand a ticket for Stalls A23 for 1 December which was subsequently announced as the new closing date. For entirely selfish reasons I hope that 20 October will in fact be the real closing date. Can anybody throw any light on this situation? Tint, I am sure it is just a booking ploy. They did have seats advertised to December but then these were withdrawn back to 20th October. I also have my seat for 20/10. I am wondering if after the 16 weeks and she has done ok if they will extend Lulu's contract. I really can not see the show coming off this side of Christmas 2018. Hoping I am right! If anyone else knows anything do tell.
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 10:42:41 GMT
So it is now official - Matthew Goodgame is the new Pat Denning taking over from Norman Bowman
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 10:44:33 GMT
Sort of a bit gutted about the Lulu announcement, as I think she's an awful actress- the AbFab movie confirmed she can't convincingly play herself, so I'm definitely not sure about her playing another person entirely! I've already booked to go in May, so can't change that now! I'm happy Clare Halse is staying, she was the one I really wanted to see (although I know no one is a definite on any given performance - does she actually have an understudy?). I particularly wonder if Lulu's voice can hold up to the rigours of this kind of singing, and the intensity of repeated performances. She has a gravelly vocal quality, that often indicates a voice not terribly well protected, and the classic American songbook numbers aren't forgiving to people who aren't well trained. Her wiki entry has a revealing line "Notable London stage appearances came in the early-1980s in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance and the Royal National Theatre's Guys and Dolls. She damaged her vocal cords while performing in the Lloyd Webber show, requiring surgery that threatened her singing voice." I'm not sure if she's performed as a stage musical actress since this time, which tells it's own story I think. They are certainly gambling on having a recognised name, who's nearly 70 years old, probably at the expense of having someone who can do 8 shows a week, without incident. I'm betting there's an alternate who'll get one or two shows a week, by the middle of her run! I'm kind of with you on this, but let's hope we are wrong! Will giver her the benefit of the doubt and reserve judgement after I have seen her a few times in the role.
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1,089 posts
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Post by tonyloco on Feb 23, 2018 10:50:00 GMT
I'm happy Clare Halse is staying, she was the one I really wanted to see (although I know no one is a definite on any given performance - does she actually have an understudy?). According to my (early) programme, Clare Halse has two covers, namely Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson and Clare Rickard. On 21 August I saw Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson as Peggy Sawyer opposite Norman Bowman replacing Tom Lister as Julian Marsh and they were both brilliant. At the time I thought Gabrielle actually gave a slightly stronger impression dramatically of Peggy as a star on the opening night of 'Pretty Lady' but subsequent viewings of Clare Halse have proved this to be no longer true. On my other nine viewings it has always been Clare Halse as Peggy and I really don't want to see anybody else!
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2,694 posts
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Post by viserys on Feb 23, 2018 10:52:38 GMT
Add me to the club who's excited for Ashley Day returning to the West End in another great part - I have no idea who Lulu is and couldn't care less but I will have to see this now!
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160 posts
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Post by stageyqueen on Feb 23, 2018 11:10:04 GMT
Full Cast List
Dorothy Brock - Lulu Julian Marsh - Tom Lister Peggy Sawyer - Clare Halse Billy Lawlor - Ashley Day Pat Denning - Matthew Goodgame Mac/Thug/Doc - MarkMcKerracher Andy lee - Graeme henderson Maggie Jones - Jasna Ivir Bert Barry - Chris Howell Abner Dillon - Bruce Montague Anytime Annie - Emma Caffrey
Ensemble / Swing
Clare Rickard, Ella Martine,Hannah Amin, Lucy Andic, Sara Bispham, Pamela Blair, Abi Curruthers, Danielle Cato, Lisa Dent, Natasha Ferguson, Madeleine Francis, Maria Garrett, Maddie Harper, Leah Harris, Rebecca Herszenhorn, Bethany Huckle, Sarah Kacey, Annie Kitchen,Jenny Legg, Hannah-Faith-Marram, Billy Kaye, Katy Riches, Zoe Rogers, Jessica Stent, Josephine Camble, Gabrielle Cocca, Emma Johnson, Jasmine Kerr, Lucy Renouf, Christina Shard, Steph Parry.
Freddie Clements, Martin McCarthy, Zac Watts, Thomas Audibert, George Beet, Philip Bertioli, Joel Cooper, Matt Cox, Adam Denman, Luke George, Ryan Gover, Alyn HAwke, Tom Partridge,James-Royden Lyley and Liam Wrate.
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