Ldn Chicago & Guys & Dolls review

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 8:54pm

Soz for these reviews, hope its not too much and boring! But 2-3 more to come later this wk! Plz bear with me!

WEDNESDAY

Went to see Chicago. Very happy/excited that I could see a Velma understudy! I thought the Cambridge actually suited Chicago more than the Adelphi!

First of all, the audiences were WILD! Never heard/seen such wild audiences in the Westend. When they announced that it's Ms. Natalie Edmunds playing Velma, the people in the stalls went CRAZY! And when she came out for her ATJ entrace.... the whole theatre just bursted into applause!

Natalie Edmunds (Velma): What can I say?? Simply brilliant! Her dancing is simply amazing! And that girl can SING! She is so tall and so young just like Velma should be.
Bonnie Langford (Roxie): Been waiting for AGES to see her! And she is FANTASTIC! She is really perfect for the role. Right age, right height. She short and slim and prob the best dancing Roxie I have seen! Even though I still think Linzi was more funny, she did the role brilliantly! I didnt like her wig though... made her look too old!
Luca Barbareschi (Billy): He wasnt as bad everyone said he is. I think he tried his best. He is kinda funny as he sounded very funny, very ... Italian! His singing is his weak point, his 'We Both Reached For The Gun' was dreadful.
Brenda Edwards (Mama): Girl can she sing! Great voice. But someone should really teach her how to act! She reminds me of that black girl in Scary Movie.
Victor McGuire (Amos): Disappointing performance. No life at all, seemed really tired and dull about the show.
CC Mullaney (Mary): Great voice but once again, bad acting. Her (his) voice gave me shrills!
Ensemble: Like the others said, the choreography is much tighter and is simply a joy to watch... great performances, a great mixture of younger and older performers. I am also happy that they brought back one of my fav. female costume, the one where they have a scarf around like a dress. It's sad that Steven Grace was there, but his swing was great. And may I also add that Tobias Walbom (Fred) and Ed White are HOTTT!!! The girls beside me were screaming when they saw the both of them onstage!

I waited outside the stagedoor, and ALL of Natalie's students/family were waiting there! And its just a mess. There was such a HUGE crowd that people were guided back onto the pavement. Whilst waiting, there's this tall guy in a suit talking in a mobile walking pass. He is very handsome and very recognisable, I thought it might have been Prince Harry but wasnt sure. Then after he walked past, everyone shouted 'omg! that's Prince Harry there!' and they all screamed. And I was pretty sure it was him... why he was there, God knows!
Then Bonnie came out, screams with joy! She and Brenda were SO nice! Overall, it was one of my best Chicago experiences and I am SO happy!

Me & Natalie Edmunds (Velma)

Me & Bonnie (Roxie)

Djalenga Scott (Liz)

Jennifer Gayner (Hunyak)


THURSDAY

Went to see Guys & Dolls tonight! Seating on row B! It is SO different watching the show so near. And I didnt realise today's the 1st anniversary of the show!

Adam Cooper (Sky): WOW! So much stage presence and charm! Not as much as Ewan, but overall he was better than Ewan. His singing was surprisingly gd and his acting too. Sad to see he doesnt dance much here.
Sally Ann Triplett (Adelaide): Never disappoints! She was very different to Jane Krakowski's who was more cute and squiky. She made the role her own. She is funny and I think her age suited the role more. Love her.
Kelly Price (Sarah): At first didnt really like her as she looked very wooden. But afterwards, she was so lively and funny! Esp her scenes in and after the Havana! She was sweet and cute and adorable! And I think she has a stronger voice than Jenna.
Neil Morrissey (Nathan): Fine job, but his voice was ok, much better than I expected it to be! And he had great chemistry with Sally Ann.
Dominic Watson (Nicely): Understudy. Great. Very different from Martyn but still, great acting and singing! Wouldnt have noticed he was an understudy!
Ensemble: Great as well, its so nice to see so many familiar faces like Verity Bentham, Claire Taylor..etc.

I waited at the stagedoor for 2 hrs before the last member came out. They were having drinks and cakes backstage after the show. But it was all worth it. And I was shaking with excitement when Adam came out. I was like 'omg, that's him, that's Adam Cooper!' He was extremely nice. The others came out and was like 'omg, u didnt just waited here for 2 hrs!' and they all lined up and signed my programme and said 'well-deserved'. Taylor James called in Pip Jordan to sign and told me 'she was my Havana girl in the show, now she's in Evita' and Pip said 'I am still your Havana girl-friend' haha lol! And when I saw Sally Ann and Kelly, I was just so happy to express my love for them and their performances. It was great seeing them and they were all SO nice! And I think got like 95% of the casts' autograph which made me SO happy cuz I really enjoyed them tonight!

Ben Clare (dance captain), me & Ashley Hale

Jo Servi (Lt. Brannigan), Taylor James (Havana guy), me & Pip Jordan (former Havana girl)

me and Kelly (Sarah), Darren Carnall and I don't know who she is

Sally Ann Triplett (Adelaide), me & Kelly Price (Sarah)

Adam Cooper (Sky) & Me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!