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#1

Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/11/08 at 8:26pm

Just got back from the London Palladium and this year's Royal Variety Performance. Very strong West End musicals presence this year with The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Zorro and La Cage aux Folles.

We got a sneak peek at Graham Norton in the La Cage segment - he didn't do a great deal but it appears he can actually carry a tune although he did look rather nervous and uncomfortable (still looks a complete fright in drag, though).

I wasn't a huge fan of Jersey Boys when I saw it on Broadway but what I saw tonight was much better - I could even be persuaded to see it again in London.

Josh Groban reprised his Chess In Concert performance of Anthem (backed by Only Men Aloud) and raised the roof (and some goose pimples).

Kerry Ellis and Brian May performed an almost thrash metal version of Defying Gravity - not sure it really worked, it sure was loud. Couldn't imagine Idina doing anything like it, however.

It's all on BBC One next Wednesday night - I'll be reliving it all with my programme and box of Maltesers.
#2

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/11/08 at 9:13pm

Who did they use as the 'surprise' guest? or have they given up on that all together now?
#3

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/12/08 at 5:52am

I'm most looking forward to seeing Kerry Ellis and May, however I am worried it will be 'too' much!
#4

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/13/08 at 6:37am

I'd like to think that I was the 'surprise guest' LOL.

Still don't know how we got such fantastic seats, ten rows back on the aisle. There were minor celebs with worse seats.

I got lots of comments because of my look - my long hair was scraped back into a ponytail with a black ribbon bow, seemed to go well with my dinner jacket. One woman asked if I was connected to Zorro! Another said she expected to see me up on stage. I got a wave from The Prince of Wales as they left the theatre through the lobby - woman next to me said he must have been attracted by my flashy waistcoat.

I liked the fact that there was no compere this year, instead different people introduced the acts. Some were more successful and appropriate than others e.g. George Sampson from Britain's Got Talent was introduced by Olympic diver Tom Daley.

One highlight, which you won't see on TV, was the warm-up man, Ian Royce. He had to come out 3 or 4 times when there was a slight technical hitch backstage which usually meant getting sets on and off. He was very funny and quick, picking on people in the audience and almost but not quite stepping over the line regarding the royal guests.



Updated On: 12/14/08 at 06:37 AM

#5

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/15/08 at 3:19am

I'm so glad Kerry Ellis did Defying Gravity. I was worried she might do No One But You. Ugh.
#7

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:35pm

Kerry Ellis was incredible, I'm still watching and no one has toped her! Peter Kay is hilarious though! I dont like Josh Groban! And i've never liked Zorro!
#8

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:21pm

Did anyone else find the ****cat dolls quite disturbing?? o_O
I loved all the musical lots =)
#9

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:32pm

Zorro and Jersey Boys to be fiar were very weak ! was disapointed really and i like zorro ! Douglas Hodge with I Am What I Am was FANTASTIC ! lion king very well done in the limited tiny space ! did look a tiny bit cramped poor animals !
No Doubt Our Paths Will Cross Again ! Matt
#10

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:33pm

Damn I missed Lion king as I didnt get in from my Choir rehersal til 8! I really enjoyed La Cage, Graham seems good (ish) But i would have liked to see him do more!
#12

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:49pm

lion king looked very tight on the paladium stage i must say ! i think graham and douglas should have shared i am what i am ! and zorro used all my fave songs just didnt think there was power ! same with jersey boys great songs could have done with some more power !
No Doubt Our Paths Will Cross Again ! Matt
#13

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:52pm

Yeah for some reason the energy didn't quite come across from Zorro, and I love them! I really liked La Cage though, and I think Graham Norton will be ok!!
#14

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:58pm

Hated Jersey Boys, But i've never liked it, Just a bunch of pretty boys singing, waiting for there balls to drop! Saw Zorro's tour, and HATED it, but i do prefer it now by the looks of the royal variety! I think Douglas and Graham should have switched the parts they sang, but Kerry Ellis really stole the show!
#15

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 7:23pm

Re. Jersey Boys waiting for their balls to drop, I think Forbidden Broadway nailed it with "Walk like a man, Sing like a girl".

The sound on the tv broadcast differed in some places from the live event last week. Kerry Ellis' vocals were much clearer tonight, Brian May's guitar was turned up to 11 in the Palladium and he pretty much drowned her out. Similarly, Josh Groban was so loud (he doesn't really need a mic) poor old Only Men Aloud couldn't be heard last Thursday. Jersey Boys and Zorro came across much better on the night than on telly for some reason.
#16

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/17/08 at 9:24pm


Kerry's performance.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5 May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
#17

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:18am

^ that is from her CD- Wicked in Rock....sounds much better on the CD for sure.
#18

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/18/08 at 8:36am

The show was pretty good viewing!

Kerry really did shine, not really sure about the shortness of the dress however. She's going for rock and roll though, so she can get away with it. Vocals were superb, if not a bit shouty - but again, she's going 'rock'.

I love the opening to the Lion king, but the amount of times it's been used on shows like this has made it quite samey - maybe they could have remixed it to include more songs? Can You Feel the Love Tonight maybe?

Zorro, dunno...I can't work out how I felt about it. It might have been because the crowd weren't really 'right' for it so the energy was lost. It looks like it works on the whole though, the look/sound etc.

The Jersey Boys performance really surrounded me not getting over the 'chick with a dick with a heart' transexual from Jerry Springer the Opera performing as Frankie Valli...still not even remotely interested in seeing the show though.

Duffy, Leona, Rihanna and the Pussycat Dolls also gave good performances...the latter maybe a bit of a 'wrong crowd' situation haha.

Ah, and who could forget Geraldine!

Updated On: 12/18/08 at 08:36 AM

#19

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/18/08 at 8:39am

Just watched the Kerry appearance...

1. Her makeup and hair are awful.
2. I feel really bad for Brian May for having to waste his talent on a limp rearrangement.
3. I have this feeling that Kerry wouldn't actually sing the score as written in performance even if you had her hooked up to a machine that shocked her every time she unnecessarily riffed.
#20

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/18/08 at 10:01am

I cannot describe how hard (and how often) I laughed at the Jersey Boys performance.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#21

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/18/08 at 10:10am

I completely agree with Exedore about Kerry's hair and makeup. I have no idea why but her hair has always annoyed me. And, by Christ, does that woman have a jawline and a half.

But as for Brian May... isn't the limp arrangemenr his own arrangement? Personally, I don't reckon that arrangement fo the song works at all. As an instrumental, fine, but for backing a vocal, especially that as shouty as Kerry's, it needs toning down a bit or perhaps just a bit of loosening up. As it is, it sounds like karaoke. Somehow though, it sounded better live than it does on that bloody awful £9forthreesongs CD.
#22

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/19/08 at 2:28am

Have to disagree with your comments about the Jersey boys
their performance was really brilliant and what have their
looks got to do with anything?
#23

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/19/08 at 6:00am

It looked like Ryan was miming - when the close up appeared on the screen behind. That could've just been the delay, though

I really don't get why people mime at things like this. I think the miming of Peter Kay was done in an ironic way (or that could just be my reading too much into things)

A lot of dross on the show, as usual (cringeworthy introductions, too many reality popstars... and what were Pussycat dolls doing?! - but it is variety).

I don't know why Lion King were there - it's not like the show needs promotion...


Nick Hutson Co-Presenter/Producer MusicalTalk - The UK's Musical Theatre Podcast http://www.musicaltalk.co.uk
#24

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/19/08 at 7:27am

You'll find there's a delay on the screens during those parts of the show itself, just as there is at any live performance that uses big screens.

Updated On: 12/19/08 at 07:27 AM

#25

re: Royal Variety Performance

Posted: 12/19/08 at 7:48am

Did anyone else not find the "At leasht if I'm flying sholo, at leasht I'm flying free..." really annoying? She did it a lot...maybe I'm just picky :P
And Peter Kay just went on and on and on!

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