ALW's Cinderella - Gillian Lynne / U.K. Tour (rumour)

Caught the matinee yesterday. It’s very different to ALWs usual vibe but I enjoyed the music and the story for what it was.
Some thoughts.
The set was magical - there I said it. Lit it looked beautiful. The photos they released of the unlit stage made it look like a Year 6 end of term play don’t do it justice. Same with the costumes. They look gorgeous and intricate under the lights. The Queen gets all the best costumes naturally. Hers had the wow factor for sure.
The songs work much better in context. Bad Cinderella works when she’s being pulled around the stage by the villagers but still doesn’t excuse the mental health slur lyrics in whatever context. They’re not clever or funny.
CHF is believable when she’s playing the bolshie Cinderella but the softer emotional scenes definitely need work. Pulling a ‘sad face’ didn’t really do it for me. She has a pure voice and I think the singing lessons she’s been talking of on sm have definitely strengthened her voice which was sounding tired in Heathers. Good chemistry with the understudy Sebastian though who looked more her age than Ivano. Michael Hamway smashed Only You Lonely You. Best round of applause of the show seemed to carry on and on and definitely Andy’s best tune in this. I can see it being an audition standard for years.
The ‘did someone say my name’ and reveal is a blatant attempt to elicit entrance applause for the leading lady. It worked,
Stepsisters were a hoot and straight out of the Essex girls/Love Island playbook. Laura Baldwin goes from strength to strength with each role.
Stepmother - couldn’t decide whether that accent choice was a work of genius or the oddest thing I’ve ever heard. if we’re going Disney Villainess I guess it worked but script wise I don’t think she was evil enough to justify the accent. She was scheming sure but she relented a few times over Cinderella’s behaviour? A true villain would’ve cast her out penniless into the snow. And at the end? Can’t work out how to do a spoiler button but surely not a villainess reaction?
The hunk song went on far too long and was neither sexy enough or camp enough to justify a little encore.
Relying on bitch, Pr**k and knob as punchlines is lazy writing.
The wig on transformed Cinderella and the silver dress combined with the paleness of her makeup made her look washed out rather than dazzling at the ball. I know the change is quick but she at least needs lipstick to avoid looking like an ancestor from Addams Family. I’m unsure whether the point of ‘the look’ is to make her irresistible at the ball (she was attracting lots of attention) or bland as bland can be (so he doesn’t recognise her) But the dowager duchess vibe is what I was getting and that’s entirely down to the styling. Her entrance reveal music seemed to suggest she should look knockout though so? CHF is a beautiful woman - the look did her no favours.
I want the crystal shoes.
The god mother - what a voice, what a song! But so many questions?
Why the constant threats to be home by midnight? Why did she want Cinderella’s treasured possession (very Little Mermaid) There are no consequences for not being home at 12? The item is returned v easily later for no apparent reason. Beauty has a price is a great song but the character seemed to be quietly dropped after this huge number. What a waste. Would love to see some more character development there- and the weird mannequins either choreo something menacing for them to do or lose them?
The screen ball transformation is a poor device.. Come on, this is the west end I’m sure something more sophisticated could be pulled out of the bag.

The returning character needs an adventure song to explain further.
The little medley Cinderella sang towards the end felt a bit odd. Just choose a song and sing a reprise? Singing a bit of every song you’ve sung through the show was indulgent.
Had something in my eye for Marry for love. Andy’s tunes are the best thing about the show.
In the pantheon of his work if we’re giving Evita/Sunset 5 stars and Joseph 2 I’d give it 3 stars. A perfectly nice afternoon out and great to be back in the west end .