Well, having travelled most of the night having missed my train connection late last night I have finally returned home from last nights performance.
Last nights performance was quite simply amazing. Far better than I thought any first night could possibly be. Mr Daldry could have not bothered giving his introduction as there isn't a person in the audience that could have told, from the performance alone, that it was anyone's first night.
Leon started strongly. His verse in "The Stars Look Down" showed off a voice with a wonderful tone and a strength that belies his stature. He went on to create his own Billy, a confident Billy. He has obviously watched the others and learned what works and what doesn't but the part he portrays is as different as you could wish. Joey has done the same thing creating a new Michael and forged a great new partnership.
Leon's acting, singing and dancing are all superb. If this is the calibre of the next generation of Billys then the show is in good hands and Decembers changes don't seem quite so daunting as they might have otherwise. If the cast recording were being recorded today rather than a few weeks ago, I would put Leon forward as a very serious candidate for who should be performing on it as his voice is really something special. That's not to say his dancing and acting lack anything, they most certainly do not. His interpretation of the "Angry Dance" was tap perfect and you could literally feel the buzz in the air through "Electricity" which shows off his amazing voice and amazing dancing in equal measures.
"Express Yourself" was a pleasure to watch as usual and Joey got to show what a star he is as well. It was wonderful in the finale that Tim Healy pushed Joey forward for a joint ovation with Leon that was fully deserved.
All great things must come to pass. We know the first will soon be last and in the ground we may be lain , but a seed is sown to rise again.
