Everybody’s Talking About Jamie - UK Tour & Peacock Theatre

Ivano was on this afternoon. In fact, I think it's the first time I've seen all of the current cast on without any covers. If he's recovering from an injury, it doesn't show in his performance.

I'd still change some of the audience. Making a crisp sandwich on stage should not be a signal to open your bag of crisps! Jamie's revelation to his mum in Act 2 shouldn't lead to a big chorus of laughs in the rear Stalls. Not should anyone set a phone alarm to go off during He's My Boy (not the only phone incident). I was sat with the Giovanna Fletcher fan club (Giovanna has grown on me) and they were keen to exchange notes during the show. Still, I wouldn't change the cast!

Oh no!  As indicated in my review up-thread, I've never been so happy to sit amongst an audience of school parties at a midweek matinee, plus random olds like me.  Pindrop quiet when it mattered; ecstatic or expressing shock when it mattered. Just great. 

In general, in life, young people aren't the problem
Must admit when I sit amongst a 'safe' older audience my thought is: how many of you won't remember or even know how to fully switch your phone off.  Many embarassing show stops when Will Young was at the Hampstead Theatre and not tolerating it - very awkward!

My experience is that the main leads are usually scheduled for final performances. However, I have no insider knowledge related to holidays/other commitments etc.

It's one of those situations where they'll hear and see absolutely nothing they don't know or say already; but some adults would prefer to play the game of 'I don't know that you know'.  A benefit is that year 9s will feel honoured for being treated as grown ups - and perhaps will value that so much that they protect it by not relaying too much to parents. 

An exceptionally multi ethnic, visually multi faith crowd of young people when I saw it.  There's a chance that some have more conservative / orthodox parents who either don't know, or want to pretend that modern life isn't happen to their child. In that context there's certainly enough in the show for a new front in the 'culture wars' over what Arts our children are exposed to - if a complaint got amplified by the usual sources ever ready to condemn 'the modern world' (Daily Mail etc). That's also one of the good things about the show, of course, that those same young people were reflected on stage.

Interesting discussion with the couple sat next to me on opening night in Plymouth on Monday.

Does anyone think that Race Swapping Jamie is an attempt to protect the character from the 'Entitled White Boy' criticism that seems to get thrown at the character?

I've always found Jamie to be a bit of a self centred prat, but always just put it down to that's the armer he's putting on to try and protect himself from those that put him down. But also, he's a teenager, that's what teenagers do, they all think their king of there own little world.

A few thoughts from Monday's visit to the Liverpool Empire. Well, I had a fantastic night watching the latest tour of this brilliant show. With Sam Barks not on as Ms Hedge, we had the wonderful Georgina Hedge covering the role with the rest of the main cast present. As Jamie, I certainly thought Ivano did a great job in this portrayal of Jamie - making him someone who you could care about and become emotionally invested in with Jamie's ups and downs during the show. Ivano's Jamie felt more rounded as a character which I thought was missing with Layton's version in the previous tour.  Along with some great vocals and choreography on show Ivano is an absolute star here .

With the rest of the cast, Rebecca McKinnis reprising her role as Margaret brings a real warmth and depth to the role and there a real on stage chemistry with Ivano to make that mum-son relationship feel real and easy buy into. With the show's standout number 'He's My Boy' in Act 2, there is a real rawness in the vocal that hits you hearing her sing  it. It's the one song in the show that always brings a tear to my eyes hearing it performed. As Margaret's best friend Ray, Sejal Keshwala brings some nice comedic touches to the story. Kevin Clifton did an exceptional job as Jamie's  world-weary mentor Hugo / Loco Chanelle. 

For the younger cast members, Talia Palamathanan as Jamie's BFF Priti was the standout here. A real standout here amongst the younger cast -some lovely vocals ('It means beautiful' a really lovely rendition in this tour) and witty line delivery when needed, her Priti comes across as the sort of friend everyone needs in their life. 

This show is still able to pack an emotional punch since its original staging in Sheffield no matter how many times you see it. You can laugh one minute at a biting comment from Jamie and then next have a heart breaking moment with Jamie and his Dad or Jamie's run ins with bully Dean. Every song is a winner for me and performed brilliantly by this cast and band. With a nice lighting and video design, this show just grabs you from minute one to the final playout music. It's message of love and self acceptance still hits the mark with every viewing. 

Rating - 5 stars