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Post by QueenOfTheDance on May 23, 2007 7:30:48 GMT 9.5
Ahhh yes, my bro saw that Follies...and that's so weird you said about 'Losing My Mind', I've had that on repeat for the last few days. Gorgeous song, heartbreaking. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUfX6BYm08oThat's ^^ Adrian Lester singing 'Marry me A Little' from 'Company'...it's truly remarkable. He is a genius, I believe! (Him and Sondheim that is!!) Evita was brilliant. I loved Elena and Phillip Quast was AMAZING. So was Matt Rawle...I have pictures with both of them actually, but I look appalling in them ahah! I don't know much about The Drowsy Chaperone, I must say, but like you, I'll wait and see who's in it after Elaine..I don't dislike her, I'm just....indifferent..! Definitely going to see the new production of 'Fiddler On the Roof' and did you see the new Donmar Warehouse musical is 'Parade'...I've heard bits of the cd and it sounds amazing. That's in September. Oh and there is a production of Into the Woods at the Royal opera House but I'm not sure there are any tickets left....I might go and beg outside for a few days. I'm hearing more and more that Avenue Q is very good...I was being a disgusting snob about it, really (as I do a lot, but hey I admit it!) but I think perhaps I should go and see it. But I must must must see Les Mis first. Actually hoping to see it in the next couple of months. I heard that Rent rumour too...my god, very exciting!! Fingers crossed. Have you seen the film yet? I can't remember at what point into our musicals conversation I went MIA I'm so so glad you saw Idina...so many of my friends are going to see it now and I want to tell them not to, in a way! One of my friends didn't really like it, and I drove her crazy saying 'yes, but, if you'd have seen Idina, you would have loved it' A lot of people seem to be putting it alongside the fluffy musicals I mentioned before, and I don't think that's fair. I think it has tremendous heart. I cried from the very beginning...you did too, didn't you?? I remember pm'ing about it!! I saw the revue 'Side By Side By Sondheim' at The Venue a few weeks ago, which wasn't great. The songs were, of course, but the humour was pretty cheap and the cast were poor. Although Alisdair Harvey, the guy in it (who was in 'Sunday...' recently) was amazing. One of the girls was Abby Osmon, the Evita alternate who I saw first time I went....shocking, absolutely shocking. Haven't seen the Producers on stage, just the movie...can't say i loved it enough to want to see the stage show. Let me know how it is? Not keen on 42nd Street at all, so won't be seeing that. Did you see Chitty when it was near you? With lovely Joe Mcfadden? And oh-my-god, aren't you getting Darius in 'Guys and Dolls' ?? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by Kathleen on May 23, 2007 12:47:16 GMT 9.5
The Producers movie was funny. My brother sang the "Heil Myself" song in his voice lesson. I'm not into musicals, but my brother likes Bernadette Peters, he saw her in concert with my mother and says that her singing live is perfect and much better than her speaking voice. I think I saw her in that Wood thing in school. My brother is obsessed with Maria Callas too, he saw Tosca a while back although obviously not with her in it lol. My brother also thinks the Phantom is just about him wanting to sleep with Christine (which is sort of is if you listen to the songs).
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Post by QueenOfTheDance on May 23, 2007 20:27:17 GMT 9.5
Ahhh wow, I love Bernadette Peters! ;D And you've seen Into The Woods?? Hoorah!
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Post by helen on May 24, 2007 8:44:40 GMT 9.5
Ahhh yes, my bro saw that Follies...and that's so weird you said about 'Losing My Mind', I've had that on repeat for the last few days. Gorgeous song, heartbreaking. I wanted to see it because Claire Moore was playing Sally. I think she's awesome and she would definately have sung Losing My Mind fantastically. Go and see Les Mis as quickly as you can. There's a cast change at the end of next month. The guy whose playing Jean Valjean at the moment is brilliant and I'm not sure if he's going. Don't put your friends off seeing Wicked! Just get them to check Kerry Ellis' myspace before they go so that they don't go on her holidays! I cried so much at Wicked! For Good gets me every time. I have the CD in my car, but I have to skip it in case I crash! Although, I cry at most musicals I see. That's how I judge my favourites, which ones make me cry most! Have you ever got day seats for Wicked? I'm not sure if I'll see it again next time, and if I do, I'll just be getting the tickets on the day. Go see Avenue Q! It's so much fun. I'm a bit similar to you in my taste in musicals, so I wasn't expecting to enjoy it that much. We are getting Darius in Guys and Dolls. Unfortunately, I saw it last time it was here. I got Claire Sweeny as Adelade and a guy called Ben Richards (apparantly he was in Footballer's Wives, I don't watch it) as Sky and Joe McFadden as Nathan Detroit. I don't think I'll go again, unless I'm bored one afternoon. I didn't go to see Joe McFadden in Chitty. The tickets were far too expensive. At the theatre it was in, I always sit in the dress circle cos I'm disabled and there's fewest stairs to climb. To get to the stalls, it's four flights and for the upper circle it's 3. I don't think I'll bother seeing Fiddler on the Roof. I saw it on Broadway and I wasn't too keen. It was alright, but nothing special. I've not seen the Rent movie yet. I'm still looking. On your recommendation, I got Cabaret on DVD and loved it. I quite fancy seeing that in London. I spent a while on youtube today looking at clips from Sweeny Todd. It looks amazing. I didn't watch the final scene clip because I don't want to know the ending. I watched a few from Sunday... which looks wonderful too. I really must increase my knowledge of Stephen Sondheim!
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Post by Anne Mette on May 24, 2007 20:07:39 GMT 9.5
Ah why do I even bother? If I get ignored there is no point in being in a discussion at all...
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Post by QueenOfTheDance on May 25, 2007 10:25:17 GMT 9.5
Anne - You're not being ignored sweetie! ...I wrote a (v long) response to your last post, it's on page 2. I was enjoying our discussion! It's always good to talk to fellow musical theatre fans ;D Helen - Ohhh I know, there's nothing like having a good old cry at the theatre, eh?? I'm sure we've had this conversation but have you seen Blood Brothers? I got day seats for Wicked the second time I went...front row! Being that close to Idina was a bit overwhelming. We actually started queuing at 7am though, just to warn you...and there were still about ten ppl in front of us! Craziness. For Good is so beautiful. Oh god, I cry so much at that show! It got to the point where I was snotting all over the place And shaking in my seat!! It destroys me that glinda never knows that elphie is alive and ok. Which Sweeney Todd production clips did you watch? Was it the concert with Patti Lupone? There's an amazing guy in that called Neil Patrick Harris who I saw in Tick Tick Boom in London, and he sings the song - 'Not While I'm Around' in this concert and seriously...shivers down the spine...Think it is on youtube actually. Sweeney has such haunting, evocative music, I can really understand why Tim Burton would want to direct it. Did you watch the 'Company' clip I posted the link for? There's pretty much the whole thing on youtube of that too, so if you get bored at any point...! Which 'Sunday' songs did you watch? Ohhh you are so lucky to get Joe Mcfadden so regularly! How was he as Nathan? And lovely Darius... I fall in love with Scottish men so easily I don't know how you manage to get anything done with them all speaking in that accent all day long I know what you mean about Fiddler really...it's quite a drab kind of musical...although the ending is very powerful. Really want to go because Damian Humbley is in it (you saw him in Woman In White didn't you? I saw him in that and The Last Five Years and think he's amazing) I saw the current Cabaret when it was in previews and wasn't overly impressed. It was ok, but I'm a diehard of the Donmar production (even though I didn't see it!! Have the cd and book and seen many clips) so it seemed a bit of a cheap copy... plus James Dreyfuss is shocking. I guess cos I've been in Cabaret as well, I'm quite critical...I think it's one of those shows where you have very specific ideas about how things should be done. Well, I do anyway! Sheila Hancock was a great Freulein Schneider though, and Cliff was magnificent... think he'd already played it on Broadway though. Anna Maxwell Martin was ok but not what I had hoped. I imagine she must have got better through the previews though cos I heard such wonderful things about her. Think the next time I'm in London is 7th June...will the Les Mis cast have changed by then? I think Rent is really cheap in HMV at the moment, as a tip!! About 6 quid!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by helen on May 27, 2007 7:57:45 GMT 9.5
Think the next time I'm in London is 7th June...will the Les Mis cast have changed by then? Cast change is on the 23rd, so you'll get the current cast on the 7th if you go. Be prepared to get Jon Lee as Marius though. I saw him a few years ago and I didn't think he was bad, but a lot of people I've spoken to don't like him. Blood Brothers: I LOVE it! I cried so much! I'm going to see it for the second time in October. I never bother seeing it in London though. There's no point, it's constantly touring. It was an audio I listened to of Sunday... Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell were singing it. I think it was the main song. I've not listened to Company yet. I was too busy listening to Sweeny Todd! Someone has posted practically the whole of the Broadway revival production of Sweeney, so I was watching that for ages. I also watched Patti LuPone singing The Best Pies in London from that concert you were talking about. I have a new found respect for that woman! I've never really liked her before (have you heard her murder I Dreamed a Dream?!) but I like her now! Fran, I've got a wee bit of a confession to make. It wasn't Joe McFadden I saw as Nathan in Guys and Dolls. It was Joe McGann. What do you mean about the Scottish accent?! It's not nice! Now the Irish accent... I saw Darius being interviewed on TV the other day, and he said he was touring with Guys and Dolls, perhaps he'll be at a venue near you. I enjoyed Guys and Dolls. Joe McGann was good, but the biggest surprise was that Claire Sweeney was actually rather good as Miss Adelaide. I don't think I'll bother seeing Wicked when I'm in London. I'm going on the week Kerry Ellis is on holiday, and I really want to see her as Elphie. I saw Damian Humbley in Woman in White. He was excellent. I belive Alexandra Silber who played Laura is also going to be in Fiddler on the Roof. The Broadway production was interesting, they had the orchestra on stage instead of in the pit at the front of the stalls. I've still not made up my mind about seeing Cabaret. I don't know how they can better the movie. I'll make up my mind when I get there to London. There's so many shows and so little time to see them! And I also need to fit in time to go to the Dress Circle shop! xx
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Post by QueenOfTheDance on May 29, 2007 7:11:04 GMT 9.5
I know what you mean, there is so much to fit in! All my favourite actors seem to be converging on London and doing plays as well...I don't have enough money for it all! Especially when I go in Dress Circle.. oh Helen, it's like paradise for ppl like us!! I'll let you know if I do see Les Mis...can't say I'm overjoyed at seeing Jon Lee but I'll go with an open mind. I sometimes am really surprised at people I think will be bad (ie Adam Rickitt in Rent was really rather good!) Hoorah for Blood Brothers! You're very brave seeing it again, I don't think I could do it to myself again! I was in floods. Such an amazing musical. I love the concept of the narrator and the ominous foreboding of the whole piece. God, it's just heartbreaking. I haven't seen it in London either, I saw it touring with one of the many Nolan sisters. Don't know which one!! Ohhh Daniel Evans...he is one of my absolute idols...he was stunning in '..George' - seeing him in a Sondheim concert in a couple of months actually, with Maria Friedman. Glad you heard him and Jenna...I love Bernadette Peters, but to me, the best recording is the recent London one. Although, of course, I'm a little biased. I'm not overly keen on Patti Lupone, I have to say, in bits of the Sweeney concert...my goodness, I can only imagine her singing 'I Dreamed A Dream'!! Argghhh! She's a little brash for me. I think Helena Bonham Carter will be fabulously weird in the film as Mrs Lovett! Do try and watch 'Not While I'm Around' from the concert...it's one of my favourite songs in it, along with 'Johanna', which Sweeney sings...I cry every time I hear that song, and imagining Johny Depp singing it is already making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Yes I think Damian and Alexandra are playing opposite each other in 'Fiddler', which is cute cos they are going out in real life! She was in the audience the first time I saw 'The Last Five Years' and he changed one of the lyrics to her name and she was laughing! Bless. Oh Joe Mcgann is a sweetie! Not as good as Joe Mcfadden but cool nonetheless. Unfortunately Darius isn't coming near me in it...we had Nigel Harman I didn't go because I'd seen Ewan Mcgregor and the original cast and they were so good, I didn't really feel the urge to see it again without them. I would have if it was Darius though! I'm surprised Claire Sweeney was good! A good role for her, I suppose? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by helen on May 29, 2007 7:38:51 GMT 9.5
I'll let you know if I do see Les Mis...can't say I'm overjoyed at seeing Jon Lee but I'll go with an open mind. I've just had word of the new cast on Les Mis. The guy who I was talking about who plays Valjean is staying for a while at least. Jon Lee is leaving, a guy who was in Evita is playing Marius, Gary someone. If you'd prefer that, go on or after June 25th. If you want to stand a chance of meeting me, go on June 20th!! Johanna is a beautiful song, I watched that. I'll watch Not While I'm Around when I get the chance. I was surprised how much I liked Patti Lupone in the Sweeney clips. I was in New York when Sweeney was on. I didn't go because she was in it. Her Dreamed a Dream isn't great. Her voice is too nasally for the song (does that make sense?). I suppose I'm too used to Ruthie's version, which is the best ever version. Well, I think so anyway!!! I was thinking of buying the CD of Sunday, the new London one. Is it worth it? I can't wait to see Blood Brothers again. I know I'll cry, but I can't remember the last time I saw a musical and didn't cry! I saw one of the many Nolans too, I think she was called Linda. She was excellent. The Narrator's an interesting character, I spent most of the show trying to work out what his purpose was. Let me know how you enjoy Fiddler on the Roof. I never knew that Alexandra and Damien were together in real life, but I did notice that they worked very well together in Woman in White. How was Ewan McGregor in Guys and Dolls. I would have gone to see him in it when I was in London, but I think Ruthie was in Woman in White at the time, so there was no contest really. I'd have liked to have seen Nigel Harman as Sky. He's definately better looking than the guy I saw!!! Right, a quick question about the Dress Circle shop. You know how they sell the monkey music box from Phantom? Well, I want to buy it, but it's very expensive. To buy, or not to buy, that is the question...
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Post by QueenOfTheDance on May 31, 2007 22:49:01 GMT 9.5
Ahhh think I'll just miss you, I'm going on June 26th and July 7th One day we must meet and see many musicals together!! I'm glad that Jon Lee is leaving before I may go to be honest...I think this Gary person might have been Magaldi in Evita...he was ok. Yes Ruthie is THE definitive! Of everything! I remember watching her do 'I Dreamed a Dream' and this song that, to me, had always been just one of the standard musical songs they wheel out (along with Memory, Another Suitcase etc etc) suddenly made perfect sense to me and broke my heart in two. She is incredible. I wish I'd seen her as Roxie, she's so amazingly off her rocker on the cd! Love it. She was a great Velma though. Gave her levels I didn't know exsisted. YES YES YES buy the 'Sunday...' cd!! It really is worth it. You will cry your way through it, I promise. And we both like a good cry I'm a big Ewan fan, so I LOVED his Sky. He was definitely an actor in it, although his singing gives me goose bumps...and his dancing was woahhhhh sexy (let's not mention the fact he's Scottish eh???) Loved Jane Krakowski too, I think she's incredible. In fact, all four of them were pretty amazing. Douglas Hodge is an amazing actor I think (introduced to him by The Scold's Bridle, in fact!!) and Jenna Russell, although not as good as she was in Sunday, was still fabulous. I love Guys and Dolls, it's just a jolly romp, and we all need one of them once in a while! Ohhh I'm always looking at the Monkey music box...all their Phantom music boxes are gorgeous...and they have Wizard Of Oz ones too now. I think you should get it. It's one of those things that is a one-off and you'll treasure it all your life. Maybe if you get some birthday money or something? Then you won't feel as guilty! My bro saw 'Drowsy Chaperone' yesterday. He said it was good fun... nothing groundbreaking or stretching though. Def not going after such a lukewarm response! We tend to have the same tastes although he even likes more 'fluff' then me. Did I tell you I'm in the musical of 'Grand Hotel' at the moment? It was on at the Donmar a few years ago, with guess who...Daniel evans in it. Not keen on the actual musical though. We're hoping to do 'Witches Of Eastwick' soon...do you know that? I think it's fabulous! Another romp! xxxxxxxxxx
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Post by helen on Jun 1, 2007 6:42:28 GMT 9.5
Ahhh think I'll just miss you, I'm going on June 26th and July 7th One day we must meet and see many musicals together!! Yes, we must! We may actually have been to the same show on the same day at some point, who knows. I was chatting to someone about The Woman in White on another forum a while ago, and it turned out she was sitting behind me! I quite liked Jon Lee in Les Mis. His portrayal was quite boyish and young. His voice wasn't the best though. I'll see how different he is soon and let you know. I'm so jealous you got to see Ruthie as Velma. I love her on the CD. I have the movie soundtrack too (long story), but the London CD is far better. I've watched clips of her on youtube and they're fantastic. When I saw Chicago last year, the Velma was terrible, far too young and a weak singer and actress. Her and Jennifer Ellison made a great team I think I'll get the monkey music box. It was my birthday last month, so I've still got some money left over. Did you ever see the Elphaba statue they had? I saw it when I went in about a year ago. I'm still undecided about The Drowsey Chaperone. If I can get cheap tickets then I might go, I dunno. I'd also like to see Little Shop of Horrors. Have you seen it yet? One thing's certain, I won't be going near The Sound of Music! I've heard of Grand Hotel, I don't know any of the songs or anything about it. Have you got a good part in it? I have the CD of Witches of Eastwick, I love it. Unfortunately, I didn't hear of it until it had closed in the West End and I don't think it's ever toured. It's a shame as I'd love to see it. I guess I'll be off to hmv this weekend to get the Sunday... CD, and Rent on DVD if I can find it.
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Post by Anne Mette on Jun 2, 2007 22:19:00 GMT 9.5
Musicals <3 English ppl! YOU ARE LUCKY! American ppl too, but English ppl! YOU HAVE WEST END! And Norway had Evita ONCE, and that's it
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Post by helen on Jun 3, 2007 8:02:58 GMT 9.5
Musicals <3 English ppl! YOU ARE LUCKY! American ppl too, but English ppl! YOU HAVE WEST END! And Norway had Evita ONCE, and that's it Unfortunately, I live in Scotland, so I can only visit the west end about twice a year, but when I go, I make the most of it! Only 2 weeks till my next visit! You're lucky to have got Evita. It's just closed in the west end and I never got the chance to see it. I chose to see Wicked instead.
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Post by QueenOfTheDance on Jun 11, 2007 8:39:13 GMT 9.5
Anne- I really promise you, I tell myself how lucky I am every day to see such amazing theatre...I promise I don't take it for granted! Did you see Evita? Amazing show. Helen - As much as I adore Evita, I think you def made the right choice...Idina on stage is just one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Did you get the Sunday cd and Rent in the end, babe? Oh, god!! I have to just say........ LEE LEE LEE LEE LEE LEE LEE!!! Hoorah! Will definitely be seeing Joseph now then Haven't seen Little Shop, but my brother has and he said it was amazing. Not keen on the actual musical really. But I'm sure the production is terrific, seeing as it came from the Menier. By some fabulous coincidence, the 26th, when we're going to London, is 'West End Live' ... have you heard about it? Big free concert in Leicester Square, so I'll see songs from Little Shop then and also Dirty Dancing, Lord Of The Rings, Avenue Q etc. V cool! We're actually seeing two plays that day - 'Betrayal' at the Donmar and 'Gaslight' at the Old Vic...so no Les Mis that day anyway Ahhhh, you like Witches!! Love it. Esp 'Dance With The Devil'...I'm so excited to be in that number. I'm playing Jennifer, who's the young girl who sings 'Something' which is a cute song. Haven't got big role in Grand Hotel, just featured ensemble really, got some horribly hard singing though Ohhh I saw Elphie, yes!! *wants it* *wants everything in Dress Circle* I went to Stratford this week...saw Ian Mckellan as King Lear and 'The Seagull' as well. Pretty damn amazing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by helen on Jun 12, 2007 7:01:34 GMT 9.5
I got Rent! Haven't had a chance to watch it get though, I will at the weekend. I can't find Sunday though. My local HMV have decided to get rid of their films and shows section. Can you believe it?! I'll have to get it from Amazon or itunes. I've heard of that West End live thing. I really wanted to see it. That's two years in a row I've missed it by a few days. I'm in London this year from 19th-21st June and last year it was held the weekend before I went. Maybe next year. I love the song Something. My favourite ones from Witches are Words, Words, Words and Evil. I'd love to see it onstage, maybe one day! I've heard of Betrayal. It's meant to be very good. I've not heard of Gaslight though. Is there anyone in it them that I might have heard of? You're probably best not going to Les Mis on the 26th anyway. I've been told the new cast starts on the 25th, so they'll still be settling in and probably still be fairly nervous. I've only ever seen an amdram production of Little Shop. From what I remember it was good, and I love the music. I just won't have time to see it, sadly. Woo, Lee is Joseph! ;D Doubt I'll be able to see him though, so many shows, so little time.
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