West End Gossip #3

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As harsh as it sounds, it’s unacceptable to give such a lack lustre performance, as a professional actor, child or otherwise. If you’re being put forward to audition, the people around you, parents, agents, teachers etc should be preparing you for the pressure of live theatre and most importantly supporting you, while also knowing if it’s the right choice. There are many many talented young actors working on the west in, Matilda, the lion king, frozen, Oliver, are just a few, yet they go on night after night, rehearse, are dedicated and have fantastic singing, dancing and acting skills, as well as stage presence. They’re going a job, and people pay a lot of money to watch a show. I’d be disappointed if I’d bought a tickets to Starlight Express and one of the actors was struggling to keep up, out of time, looked fed up, nervous and bored. (Much like his aunt)
I’m by no means blaming Buzz, he’s clearly not ready, and yet he’s being thrust not just to a stage every night, but people will be recording the curtain call, and those videos are there forever.
 
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As harsh as it sounds, it’s unacceptable to give such a lack lustre performance, as a professional actor, child or otherwise. If you’re being put forward to audition, the people around you, parents, agents, teachers etc should be preparing you for the pressure of live theatre and most importantly supporting you, while also knowing if it’s the right choice. There are many many talented young actors working on the west in, Matilda, the lion king, frozen, Oliver, are just a few, yet they go on night after night, rehearse, are dedicated and have fantastic singing, dancing and acting skills, as well as stage presence. They’re going a job, and people pay a lot of money to watch a show. I’d be disappointed if I’d bought a tickets to Starlight Express and one of the actors was struggling to keep up, out of time, looked fed up, nervous and bored. (Much like his aunt)
I’m by no means blaming Buzz, he’s clearly not ready, and yet he’s being thrust not just to a stage every night, but people will be recording the curtain call, and those videos are there forever.
The half hearted clapping and looking round to see if he’s doing it right is painful.
 
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As harsh as it sounds, it’s unacceptable to give such a lack lustre performance, as a professional actor, child or otherwise. If you’re being put forward to audition, the people around you, parents, agents, teachers etc should be preparing you for the pressure of live theatre and most importantly supporting you, while also knowing if it’s the right choice. There are many many talented young actors working on the west in, Matilda, the lion king, frozen, Oliver, are just a few, yet they go on night after night, rehearse, are dedicated and have fantastic singing, dancing and acting skills, as well as stage presence. They’re going a job, and people pay a lot of money to watch a show. I’d be disappointed if I’d bought a tickets to Starlight Express and one of the actors was struggling to keep up, out of time, looked fed up, nervous and bored. (Much like his aunt)
I’m by no means blaming Buzz, he’s clearly not ready, and yet he’s being thrust not just to a stage every night, but people will be recording the curtain call, and those videos are there forever.
Well he won't be on every night, shows always have at least three for each child role that they rotate around, in this case looks like they've got seven in the role. So he might do a couple of shows every week or it might be that he does every third show for a week and then has a week totally off, don't know.

But you look at the other kids in the role and some of them have various stage schools in their bio and have clearly worked had for it. Very unfair to them and also to the audiences to have someone so obviously only there on contacts rather than merit. I'm disappointed in the production for allowing it. And I still fear it's part of lining him up to have a role in something else, like the forthcoming Paddington musical.
 
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Well he won't be on every night, shows always have at least three for each child role that they rotate around, in this case looks like they've got seven in the role. So he might do a couple of shows every week or it might be that he does every third show for a week and then has a week totally off, don't know.

But you look at the other kids in the role and some of them have various stage schools in their bio and have clearly worked had for it. Very unfair to them and also to the audiences to have someone so obviously only there on contacts rather than merit. I'm disappointed in the production for allowing it. And I still fear it's part of lining him up to have a role in something else, like the forthcoming Paddington musical.
What's sadder is that the Fletcher Followers will blindly follow him and praise him just like they do Cazza, Tom and Gi (I don't think they care about Jowl), even if the performance is wooden and underprepared.
 
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Brigadoon announced as Regents Park main musical. Not a classic I've seen, and Danielle was an incredible Elsa in Frozen (better than Sam to me).


Also doing the UK premiere of Shucked from broadway

Excited for Shucked & in particular seeing Stevie Webb in it
 
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The muses are absolutely perfect and pure joy.

I like the guy playing Hercules, lovely voice, but they appear to have changed some of the lyrics in Go To Distance and I can't begin to understand why?
Perhaps a time constraint? Often in these shows (similarly with royal variety show) they cut songs to fit the filming.
 
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Brigadoon announced as Regents Park main musical. Not a classic I've seen, and Danielle was an incredible Elsa in Frozen (better than Sam to me).


Also doing the UK premiere of Shucked from broadway

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre on a warm summer evening (if you can find one), seeing the sun go down and the lights take over is my idea of heaven so Brigadoon is definitely on my list of must-sees for 2025.
 
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I'm glad it seems to have gone back to what it was good at. Classic classy modern revivals without too much reinvention. Seven Brides, On The Town, JCS were all excellent. In recent years they seem to have focused more on being edgy rather than good. Although I hear fiddler last year was excellent
 
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Perhaps a time constraint? Often in these shows (similarly with royal variety show) they cut songs to fit the filming.
Not sure, something's things are just tweaked between film and musical. I remember being surprised at hearing "He Lives in You" in The Lion King" musical as growing up I only heard it in The Lion King 2.

On the subject of Disney musicals, I have booked to go see Mary Poppins on its tour to my local theatre. Has anyone seen it and what are their thoughts?
 
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I think its just had the lyrics changed. Sometimes creative just look at songs and make changes (even long running shoes have had lyrics changes). It could also be to reflect the storytelling, especially as Disney shows are lengthened.



I saw the Mary Poppins tour last time around with Zizi Strallen. It's not my favourite disney show to be honest but it's a high quality production with some amazing moments. Definitely worth seeing
 
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In the interests of actually being nice about someone on Tattle, we saw the touring version of Dear Evan Hansen yesterday and got the second cover for Evan, a young lad called Will Forgrave. He was brilliant, really one to watch out for in the future.
 
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Maybe we should start to name actors and performers who are awesome too to add some positivity haha

Off the top of my head...

Nathaniel Ong, one of the best Eponines ever. Stunning singer and actress.

Emma Williams, criminally underused and should have had a much bigger career.

Alexia Khadime, my favourite Elphaba ever

Luke Brady, hopefully Hercules launches him to bigger things

Bradley Jaden, the new Ramin Karimloo

Danielle Fiamanya, very talented actress and powerful singer

Ramin Karimloo, have mixed feelings on but can't deny his talent

Adam Filipe, saw him in Titanic and he has such a gorgeous voice and is a talented actor. Currently playing Joseph in the UK tour.

Gina Beck, possibly the best Christine and Glinda I've seen

Daniel Boys, another who should have had a bigger career
 
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I think there are two versions of go the distance the one in the film and the one Michael Bolton recorded that was released as a single because the film version doesn't have many lyrics.

It was kind of a mash up of several songs for Hercules for the Big night of musicals anyway.
 
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Maybe we should start to name actors and performers who are awesome too to add some positivity haha

Off the top of my head...

Nathaniel Ong, one of the best Eponines ever. Stunning singer and actress.

Emma Williams, criminally underused and should have had a much bigger career.

Alexia Khadime, my favourite Elphaba ever

Luke Brady, hopefully Hercules launches him to bigger things

Bradley Jaden, the new Ramin Karimloo

Danielle Fiamanya, very talented actress and powerful singer

Ramin Karimloo, have mixed feelings on but can't deny his talent

Adam Filipe, saw him in Titanic and he has such a gorgeous voice and is a talented actor. Currently playing Joseph in the UK tour.

Gina Beck, possibly the best Christine and Glinda I've seen

Daniel Boys, another who should have had a bigger career
Definitely agree re Luke Brady and Alexia Khadime. Enjoyed before of them in Prince of Egypt.

Shout out to Daniel Boys as well, loved him as KGIII in the tour.
 
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I would also shout out Kaya Monticillo who's currently doing Pearl in Starlight Express, it's her professional debut and she is absolutely excellent (she's on the cast album they released at the end of last year).

We also had Scott Hayward on as the cover Rusty when we went to see the how and he's also excellent.

And to keep with the Starlight Express them, Hayden Vijn also really good, seems like a sweetie as well.
 
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Top of my awesome list has to be Sam Tutty in Two Strangers last year - so good I saw it twice. His voice makes me go all fan girly. Still listening to the cast recording on repeat.
 
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I adore Emma Williams. She was perfect in Love Story, a show I wish got a bigger life too.

I saw an understudy Eliza in My Fair Lady at the Coliseum who was amazing but name escapes me - will come back to this!

I could absolutely do without ever seeing a Strallen cast in anything again.
 
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I adore Emma Williams. She was perfect in Love Story, a show I wish got a bigger life too.

I saw an understudy Eliza in My Fair Lady at the Coliseum who was amazing but name escapes me - will come back to this!

I could absolutely do without ever seeing a Strallen cast in anything again.
Oh reminds me. Scarlett Strallen. Sublime and elegant in everything I've seen her in.

But I've not a fan of her sisters personally
 
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In the interests of actually being nice about someone on Tattle, we saw the touring version of Dear Evan Hansen yesterday and got the second cover for Evan, a young lad called Will Forgrave. He was brilliant, really one to watch out for in the future.
I saw this recently with Ryan Kopel in the role and he was also fantastic. In fact the whole cast were brilliant, not surprising though when you look at who’s in it.
 
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