1,995 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 14, 2018 9:32:51 GMT
Stress fracture in the heel, apparently. Elaine Paige is putting her tin of Whiskas back in the fridge as we speak. I wonder if DVO came a cropper in rehearsals?... |
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1,995 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 14, 2018 9:34:27 GMT
I saw Chicago last night and really enjoyed it. The cast is very strong overall. I had booked mostly to see Alexandra; I know she’s not everyone’s favourite here but I thought she did really well. No oversinging and I found her very funny in parts. It does show at times that she is not a trained actress but for the most part, she’s excellent. She gives it her absolute all and it’s a really spirited, high energy performance. She’s also a great dancer too, which helps. I met her at the stage door afterwards and she was very sweet. It’s the second time I’ve met her and she was nothing but lovely and gracious. She gets a rough ride from some folk in the comments here and elsewhere at times, which from what I’ve seen of her is very much undeserved. Josefina Gabrielle and Mazz Murray were really fabulous, too. Duncan James was decent as Billy Flynn, also. The staging is simple and perhaps this might disappoint some, but I like how the orchestra is integral to the staging and there is a bit more razzle dazzle towards the end of the production. It didn’t feel tired to me, as some others here have commented, but if I was to see it again, new staging would be nice. All in all, a very enjoyable night out! My only gripe would be how tight the legroom is in the Phoenix theatre. Space felt more at a premium here than at other West End theatres I’ve been to, but perhaps it’s just where I was seated. It's probably only tired to people like me who are very familiar with this incarnation of the show that has now been around since the late 90's. |
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Post by anthem on Sept 14, 2018 11:30:35 GMT
^Fair point! It’s only my second time seeing the show. I only saw it before on tour with Hayley Tammadon.
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Post by anthem on Sept 20, 2018 11:21:31 GMT
Laura's credits include Matilda, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, From Here To Eternity, Cabaret, Spamalot, and most recently Ruthless.
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Sept 20, 2018 11:26:50 GMT
A very short run, I assume Denise will be back 6/10 then. I’ll hopefully see it with Laura, then maybe with Denise depending on how much I enjoy it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2018 11:30:36 GMT
Oh how lovely. Her audition will be shown on an ITV show no less.
You at the back! Who shouted "downmarket"? Oh, the cheek of it.
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1,054 posts
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Post by David J on Oct 6, 2018 16:37:21 GMT
I can’t remember the first time I saw this musical, but seeing this now reminds me why I had no urge to see it again (despite enjoying the film)
Everyone has gone on about how it needs a fresh coat of paint and they’re not wrong. Whilst a minimal production can be creative, this is the most minimal of a minimal production you can get. The solo performances give a little variety but once you seen skinny clad men and women strut their stuff in All That Jazz you’ve seen it all
Duncan James’ charismatic Billy Flynn and Mazz Murray’s stellar Mama Morton were the highlights. Alexandra Burke was off but Emma Harris made for a sultry Roxie. Laura Tyler could do with projecting more as Velma
I’m inclined to give this two 3/4 stars just for the professional performances and the orchestra for being a character of its own. Really the overture, entr’acte and after show music was the only times the production had some oomph, but otherwise I kept thinking “okay do something different, could someone wear something that isn’t black...”
An average production
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336 posts
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Post by Roxie on Oct 6, 2018 21:45:44 GMT
I’m watching this next weekend and I’m looking forward to it! I love this musical, and the cast looks good. I LOVED Mazz Murray as Tanya in Mamma Mia and I bet she’s great as Mama. Alexandra Burke I think is a fantastic vocalist, really keen to see her take on Roxie. My only concern was that she’s oversing it, adding runs and riffs etc. I saw Usher do Billy Flynn on Broadway and he did all that and it spoiled it a bit for me. I like musicals to be sung straight, leave the runs to Beyonce
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Post by anthem on Oct 6, 2018 22:14:30 GMT
^Hope you enjoy it- Alexandra doesn’t oversing it in my opinion. That rearranged version of ‘Me & my baby’ she recorded is very different to the version in show.
I saw this again tonight, it was a full
house- Alexandra’s brother got married this weekend so she’s off. I really loved the new Velma, played by Laura Tyrer- she’s definitely up there with Josefina Gabrielle in her portrayal. She has a great voice, is a fantastic dancer and is very witty in the role. I wasn’t as convinced with Emma Harris as Roxie. She’s undoubtedly a great actress and dancer but her vocals weren’t my favourite and I felt the portrayal lacked a bit of oomph. Still, she was likeable in the role and she did a good job winning the crowd over. Mazz Murray is fab as Mama and Duncan James is very polished as Billy.
A D Richardson as Mary Sunshine and Paul Rider as Amos are also great. The band still gets some of the biggest cheers of the night.
I’ve heard murmurings that Alexandra’s run will be extended a few weeks, not sure about Duncan. No sign of Denise Van Outen making her return yet.
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336 posts
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Post by Roxie on Oct 6, 2018 22:32:23 GMT
Yeah that arrangement of Me and My Baby She did was fantastic and it worked in that setting, but I did think ‘I hope it’s not like that in the show!’ I do love it when talented singers do runs but I think it’s a very different style to musical theatre and it jars me if people do that in shows. Glad she sings it straight and hope she’s on next Saturday matinee
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2018 14:03:22 GMT
Very surprised now (well, surprised ish) that there has still not been an announcement as to whether this is closing or transferring!
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882 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Oct 10, 2018 21:12:18 GMT
Do we know if Denise Van Outen will still be in this? She has removed all mention of Chicago from her Twitter bio.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2018 21:13:59 GMT
Very surprised now (well, surprised ish) that there has still not been an announcement as to whether this is closing or transferring! I'd be very surprised if it transferred. It really hasn't caught on this time around at all it seems. |
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Post by anthem on Oct 11, 2018 22:23:36 GMT
Alexandra has extended to Nov 10th (though she has 10 days off between now and then) & Duncan has extended to November 17th.
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336 posts
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Post by Roxie on Oct 11, 2018 22:58:07 GMT
So she’s not on on Saturday then?
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Post by anthem on Oct 12, 2018 0:29:25 GMT
^ I think she’s finishing out this week before her time off, but not sure.
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700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Oct 12, 2018 1:54:40 GMT
Does anyone have any info if this is extending or still being a limited run ? I'm looking at Daniel since he's the most reliable one here 😂
Also, Alexandra has barely any time off between this and The Bodyguard which opens at my work in December, I don't envy her at all.
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629 posts
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Post by jamb0r on Oct 12, 2018 10:43:49 GMT
Does anyone have any info if this is extending or still being a limited run ? I'm looking at Daniel since he's the most reliable one here 😂 Come From Away opens at the Phoenix a few weeks after this is due to close, so I doubt there will be any extension. Or did you mean is this moving to a different theatre? |
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700 posts
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Post by cheesy116 on Oct 12, 2018 15:50:59 GMT
Does anyone have any info if this is extending or still being a limited run ? I'm looking at Daniel since he's the most reliable one here 😂 Come From Away opens at the Phoenix a few weeks after this is due to close, so I doubt there will be any extension. Or did you mean is this moving to a different theatre? Ahhh yes so it is, ignore me, I forgot that Come From Away was going into this theatre! |
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Post by shady23 on Oct 12, 2018 17:24:32 GMT
They organised a Facebook live event this afternoon with the cast, performances and some invited guests.
Seems daft to do all that if it is about to close.
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Oct 12, 2018 18:22:10 GMT
Re: my review a few pages back, I must be one of the only people here who really enjoyed this! And I went expecting to loathe it!
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Post by anthem on Oct 12, 2018 19:35:58 GMT
Re: my review a few pages back, I must be one of the only people here who really enjoyed this! And I went expecting to loathe it! I really enjoyed it too, it’s not the best show in the West End by a long shot, but it’s a good evening’s entertainment all the same. I’ve seen both Alexandra and Emma Harris as Roxie, and Josefina Gabrielle and Laura Tyrer as Velma- all impressed me. Mazz Murray and Duncan James as Mama and Billy were great too, along with Mary Sunhine (AD Richardson) & Amos (Paul Ryder). Zoe Gappy made a great alternate Mama, too! It seems not many on the board have seen it since the lukewarm reviews when it initially opened with Cuba etc? |
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Post by showtoones on Oct 13, 2018 2:31:56 GMT
Everyone on the board has seen it...and seen it...and seen it.
Just not this go ‘round lol
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336 posts
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Post by Roxie on Oct 13, 2018 11:35:13 GMT
Thanks guys, she tweeted this morning today was her last day before her 10 days off. I’m currently sat in my mates flat in Bayswater about to head into town - looking forward to it! Also I know it’s not this thread but Heathers was brilliant last night!
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Post by anthem on Oct 13, 2018 12:22:47 GMT
^Enjoy!
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