Aspects of Love w/ Michael Ball - Lyric

So saw this again twice this week, once on Monday and once yesterday evening.

It's definitely grown on me and I now spend long sections of the show in a very pleasant trance like state thanks to the gorgeousness (is that a word?) of the score. I am drawn in and invested in the characters by the end and LPP's Anything But Lonely is possibly my favourite moment currently available on a West End stage. Why oh why do they not give her the big finish making it clear to applaud (audience applaud about half the time as it's not obvious!)

I do still find sadly that the atmosphere comes crashing down for the awful ugly circus scene and for the woefully underpowered Hand Me The Wine And The Dice. But, yup this little production has gained in appeal for me otherwise.

I saw Vinny Coyle as Alex last night. Very fond of him as he's one of those actors that seems to have been cast in so many of my favourite musicals. Seen him in Les Mis, Phantom, Miss Saigon (he was a fantastic Chris) and Cinderella. I really liked his Alex. He has a gorgeous pitch perfect classic musical theatre voice and was quite an innocent and sweet Alex, especially in the first act. My only complaint is why did they have to lumber him with the American accent. Honestly, drop the two references to Maine and let him use his normal accent!

The last three times I've been it has been much fuller. Not sure if it's selling better (can I be hopeful?), it's papering more (seems unlikely, don't they run out of places to go to paper in the end?), re-bookings from now cancelled months (advance was low so also seems unlikely) or people who were leaving it to book for later in run decided they do want to see it before it closes. Anyway - no idea what the reason is but nice to see it a bit fuller. And certainly deals which were everywhere seem to have dried up - so guess that is a good sign.

And the best thing about this show - perfect audience behaviour! Never had any problems all the times I have been. Very rare in a West End musical these days.

Final thought is that audiences now seem genuinely appreciative of it. Made me think they need to market it to the right audience. Was obvious in retrospect the blogeratti, MJT, the social media generation etc etc were never gonna like it so why do they invite the kinda people that are gonna laugh at the death scene or "get the ick" every 5 minutes etc to the press night? They could have got better initial responses by inviting the demographic more likely to appreciate it.

Anyway, relieved it seems to be going out in better shape and not whimpering to an empty theatre demise.

I do hope there will be a future for it!

(Also delightful to be there with my lovely German friend viserys last night!)

I guess they're hoping people forgot that the original run was thru November - and if it started to sell out they could tell Michael Ball to unpack his bathing suit?

Was at the show yesterday- alt George day- the auditorium was a sad sight, stalls & dress circle a quarter full with grand circle & balcony closed off. Perhaps because of that (or general Monday blues) I noticed some of the principal cast were not giving as much, including vocally. A real shame, as Dave sings and acts George so differently and so well (I've seen him several times and enjoy him so much I have been recommending Mondays to friends), though most of the paltry audience did give a standing ovation at the end, and I saw Dave receiving many sincere compliments at stage door.

Dislike how Mondays are marketed as 'non-Michael Ball days' (though of course understand the reasons) as it's a fantastic George performance people will be missing out on.

Agree with @bvm re repeat visits (have done the same) and especially re Vinny- what a difference a well-acted, well-sung Alex makes! He should honestly be alternate or sharing the role 50/50, so returning audiences can see something new... Having seen him last Fri and Sat, then the principal yesterday... the difference in chemistry with Laura is very noticeable lol. Overheard some theatre staff gushing about Vinny's performance over the weekend too, so he's obviously popular- not just among existing fans like myself.

I caught this over the weekend and was deeply disappointed; judging from the chatter of those around me as we left (“awful ending” complained one female couple; “simply terrible” noted another pair), the handwriting was on the wall for this. I don’t think I’ve ever exited a West End show with so many baffled patrons.

It’s the plot. I get that ALW was trying his best to expand his range with this quasi-chamber-opera, and I appreciated the weirdness of that starkly-lit quartet in the second act, which is the sort of thing that opera does best. But, egads, even with some cleaning up, the plot is still, well, icky, even distasteful, particularly with the introduction of the young cousin.

For what it’s worth, I saw it with Vinny Coyle (sp?) as Alex, and he was great. Understudies/covers are *amazing*.

The more I've listened to the revival A couple of random thoughts:

- the more the placement of Love Changes Everything doesn't work for me. Lyrically, musically, context it just doesn't make sense to me. While for this 30+ year fan its a bit awkward not having it at the start and knowing the history of the show how ALW didn't necessarily want that to open the show - I think it would work better as a close to Act 1 with Alex singing it. Hearing the (then) surprising news that George and Rose were married and expecting - I think dramatically it makes more sense there and would be a great Act 1 finale.

- I do like the expanded Chanson d'enfance (with the inclusion of the extended version that was used for "If Only" from Whistle Down the Wind) the first time I heard it, I didn't quite get why Rose was singing it twice, but I get it,she's having a mountain top moment, goes and gets Alex and then shares it with him. (Perhaps they should've cut out his temper tantrum "Rose where are you?") and the pacing still seems too fast like they're rushing things so people can get their train or something.

- Michael Ball doesn't sound like George to me. I don't know if it's that he's playing him too loud and gregarious or what. The way he sounds so emphatic LIFE goes on LOVE goes free - just sounds overly dramatic when it doesn't need to be.

Point taken; and I was ambivalent about including hearsay because--as you note--it's not exactly a random sample. I included the two above only because 1) I too was thrown by the ending and it was something of a relief that the couple in front of me also had a strong reaction and 2) there was quite a group of us outside afterwards trying to figure out the understudy situation (swing to Hugo, Hugo to Alex, we thought -- we had all missed the understudy notice, I guess). So I actually chatted at some length with a different couple, and we compared reactions. 

But I should stick to reporting my own observations, and not those of others, unless absolutely germane (immersive theater or such). 

Does anyone know if any leads off tonight? Thinking of going but only if an understudy or two on as seen the leads twice now

- Michael Ball doesn't sound like George to me. I don't know if it's that he's playing him too loud and gregarious or what. The way he sounds so emphatic LIFE goes on LOVE goes free - just sounds overly dramatic when it doesn't need to be.