I've made more visits to Blood Brothers in the West End than I'd care to admit over the past year or so, so it was with an element of dread that I headed across to Leeds to see the touring production.
I find myself slightly numbed to its emotional impact now. I sat in a relatively empty matinee audience of pensioners who were sniffing into their Fisherman's Friends and didn't shed a tear. I don't even jump at the gun shots anymore.
I also think I've been spoilt in hearing Niki's vocals as Mrs J because Maureen Nolan just wasn't even close to having the same strength in her voice. It's a shame, because it's a role that has so much more impact with a strong vocalist but she just wasn't that.
I think it's pretty safe to say that I am well and truly Blood Brothers-ed out now.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
A Little Night Music
I must prefix this by saying I am not really a Sondheim fan. I'm one of those weird people who would consider themselves a musical theatre fan without liking Sondheim OR Andrew Lloyd Webber (though I actually actively, intensely, dislike ALW and the same can't be said for Sondheim). So although I'd heard good things about this production of A Little Night Music, I wasn't especially enthusiastic about seeing it.
I've never enjoyed a Sondheim more.
Primarily, this was down to the cast. Hannah Waddingham is, simply, a goddess. Though not your traditional Desiree, she just holds the stage beautifully. Maureen Lipman gave a real tour de force performance and Alex Hanson and Gabriel Vick were also fabulous. Jessie Buckley failed to convince me of her abilities anymore than she had done during I'd Do Anything but given how irritating the character is, I could quite happily dislike her without it having an impact on the show.
Star of the show, in my opinion, was the fabulous Kaisa Hammarlund, whose Miller's Son was just fantastic. It's one of the few Sondheim songs that I do actually really like anyway but even allowing for that, she still managed to completely blow me away.
No-one was more surprised than me by how much I want to rave about this show!
I've never enjoyed a Sondheim more.
Primarily, this was down to the cast. Hannah Waddingham is, simply, a goddess. Though not your traditional Desiree, she just holds the stage beautifully. Maureen Lipman gave a real tour de force performance and Alex Hanson and Gabriel Vick were also fabulous. Jessie Buckley failed to convince me of her abilities anymore than she had done during I'd Do Anything but given how irritating the character is, I could quite happily dislike her without it having an impact on the show.
Star of the show, in my opinion, was the fabulous Kaisa Hammarlund, whose Miller's Son was just fantastic. It's one of the few Sondheim songs that I do actually really like anyway but even allowing for that, she still managed to completely blow me away.
No-one was more surprised than me by how much I want to rave about this show!
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