Chess

^Ok, I'll say it then.

Anyone lost a kitten?

^ Freddie Trumper didn’t have his teeth in at the time of the photograph, hence the absence. The good news is that Alexandra has turned up.

News from today’s rehearsal:

(Mickey and Alfie have been running through Molokov and Anatoly, a very serious song in which the Russian chess player is told how tricky the American can be. They stand around the piano.)

Laurence Connor: That sounds really good, boys... but... erm... (Plucking up courage.) Look, I think we can lose the high leg kicks.

Mickey: But that went down a storm when we did it for the Brucie special.

Alexandra: I liked that bit. I mean, it livened the song up a bit, because otherwise it would have been a bit boring.

Mickey: You see? She liked it.

Laurence Connor: And, Alfie... (Looking down.) I wonder if we can lose that face when you’re singing...

Alfie: (Defensive.) What face?

Mickey: Yeah, what face? He has to pull that face otherwise he can’t do that kind of singing.

Alfie: (Singing.) “Take that loook off your face-

Mickey: (Duetting with Alfie.) I can see through your smile...”

Alexandra: D’you know, I didn’t even know that song was in it! This is gonna be amazing!

(Day three tomorrow when Tim Howar tries to smuggle Mike and two mechanics into the Alpine chorus.)

Cellen Chugg Jones as 1st cover Freddie

Waiting for the holiday dates now...

But the whole point of a sung through musical is to convey your acting skills through song. Just plucking a pop star out and handing them the libretto is not likely to result in a great story telling performance. Gone are most triple threat performers sadly.

Exactly! Thank you for saying what I couldn't quite find the words to say properly! She's not a musical theatre star, she is unlikely to understand the exact connotations that theatre people put on certain words, and in particular that some people seem incapable of looking beyond the exact word she used and thinking about the context and what she might have meant. It was obvious to me that she meant this was a concert version, not fully staged. What she said will barely have even registered to most of the public, so the amount she has been vilified for it on here I find ludicrous.

I really do find it sad how many people seem determined to find fault with whatever she does. It happened during Strictly and now it's happening again. Maybe it's unintentional, I don't know, but that's how it's coming across to me. I find it very unsavoury and frankly it's putting me off posting in this thread as it seems any sort of positive comment about her is unwelcome and apparently wrong...

Interesting little piece about this on R4 Today today (Wed 21st) around 8.30ish.

Wasn’t that toe curlingly cringe?

Is there ANYthing that The One Show can’t trivialise and make look cheap and naff?

I heard he was doing the one show and was going to watch it for Tim Rice, but thought better of it as I thought I Know Him So Well.

Fair. I don’t think I’d fully thought through my comment before posting.
She just infuriates me. And seems quite unbothered by the whole project from the interviews she’s done (my take anyway).

I’m just looking forward to seeing the massive orchestra play the score!

I can’t think of an up-coming production with a lower profile actually. Having spent two days in the West End this week, travelling on the tube each day, I didn’t spot one poster for it. Walking past the Coliseum... zilch!

Anyway...

(Mickey’s had a crack at Anthem today, bringing the house down.)

Laurence Connor: That was sensational, Mickey!

Alfie: Nice one, Mickey mate. There’s no way your first cover’s gonna be able to match that! Who is your first cover by the way?

Mickey: It’s you, Alfie-

Laurence Connor: Just one thing, Mickey. Can we lose the wink at the end?

Mickey: What wink?

Alfie: Yeah, what wink? I never saw him wink? Hey guys, did anyone see Mickey wink? The director’s saying he winked at the end. 

(Long, long pause. The rest of the cast look embarrassed.)

Alexandra: (Quietly, to Murray.) I liked the wink as it goes. Made it a bit more showbizzy. It’s a bit of a boring show otherwise, isn’t it?

Laurence Connor: (Laughing.) Nearly had you there, didn't I, Mickey? “Lose the wink...!” 

(All start to see the joke, joining in with the laughter.)

Laurence Connor: As if I’d really ask you to lose the wink... Of course we’re keeping it in!

Alfie: D’ya hear that, guys? Mickey can keep the wink in!

(General laughter amongst the cast.)

Alfie: If I get to go on for him, shall I do the wink as well?

(Next week Alexandra helps to put posters up outside the theatre and tries her luck at singing Someone Else’s Story on the underground to drum up some more business.)