Everybody's Talking About Jamie - Sheffield Crucible/Apollo

There was a day or two in this thread when Beverley was expected to be announced as Margaret when Layton was joining

The bit in bold has always been one of my pet peeves with the musical - we never really get a payoff to the Mimi Me character, or even a meaningful reveal. It always feels like a missed opportunity and a bit of an anticlimax.

Agree both versions have their strengths, although for me personally the movie has the edge on the stage show. I thoroughly enjoyed what they've done with some of the musical numbers, think Sarah Lancashire gives a standout performance and provides the whole movie with a huge amount of heart (though I find it a shame that the visuals during her big number rather shift the focus to Jamie and his father rather than her character) and overall it's just wonderful to see a modern British musical done so well on screen.

Turn the heating on or grab a blanket 😝

Reporting back from today's closing performance (before this restarts next year).

A very receptive, but also very well behaved and polite audience. The lights must have been hotter than usual as several of the cast had watery eyes from the start.

A few little tweaks and touches to make it clear it was the last clothes. A lot of the pupils had stickers on their blazers. James Gillan saying "That was our story" instead of "That's our story" at the end to give a sense of closure. The drag queens all applauding each other instead of vying for attention. Noah kissing Hiba on the cheek at the end of the bedroom scene instead of blowing her a kiss.

Gillian Ford was on as Margaret and she sang her heart out, really getting the emotion across in both If I Met Myself Again and He's My Boy. Harriet Payne was on as Miss Hedge and Zahra Jones was on as Becca. It's a shame Melissa Jacques had to leave the production just before the closing performance, but you would never know this wasn't the regular line up which just shows how tight the cast is and everyone everyone did their bit.

Noah held it together remarkably well until My Man Your Boy, but he couldn't hold back the tears for the rest of the show and rearranged his lines in the final scene in a way that made very little sense, but no one cared. At the end of the show, he took off his shoes and left them on the stage (creating an Instagram ready moment).

I can't leave a closing review without mentioning how strong the entire cast is. Sejal Keshwala really gets the humour of Ray across. Hiba Elchikhe sings beautifully and you feel every bit of Pritti's vulnerability. And, although Luke Bayer will always be the Jamie I most remember, Noah has a special place in my heart, he sings well, looks right for the role and it's been a pleasure to watch him grow in experience and confidence since he started the role while he was still at Mountview. That is to say nothing about the other pupils who hold everything together (and constantly beat Marvyn at Rock-Paper-Scissors).

It must have been a really emotional day for Harriet Payne and James Gillan who have been with the show since the very first performance in Sheffield. And it was certainly emotional for the audience. When I left, there were still people on the front row crying uncontrollably, with one girl huddled on the floor against the stage. As the director said in his closing speech, this show means such a lot to so many people. I do hope it returns to the West End soon.