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Post by musicbox on Jun 28, 2024 23:18:07 GMT
Caught Alexandra as Deloris last week and thoroughly enjoyed her performance. Nailed singing as you would expect, comic timing was excellent and her energy exhausting to watch. Audience connected with her as they did with Beverley and was rewarded with a tremendous deserved ovation which all but blew the roof off the Dominion. The surprise was Lee Mead. He clearly is having a great time and plays his character up splendidly. Perhaps one of the under appreciated performances is that from Lesley Joseph. At 78 years of age nightly defying gravity hoisted high above the Dominion stage and with energy and fun having a great time getting down as a funky bass!! A great fun night out which I’d go back to see in a heartbeat. I'm probably a bit biased because I'm an Alexandra fan and make a point of seeing her in every show she does, but I also seen her on Monday night and thought she did a marvellous job. The score is written for a lyric soprano, but Alexandra has a very unique, deep mezzo voice, so I think it makes sense to lower and alternate some of the keys. Regardless of this she still has a totally stunning voice that couldn't possible leave anyone in the audience disappointed in my opinion - there were many genuine goosebump moments that got a huge response. She also added quite a lot of really impressive r&b style runs in that Bev didn't, which might be overkill in another show but totally works in this context. Her comedy timing was also definitely on point, anyone whose ever met or worked with her will know she's one of the most hyper people on planet earth, so that really didn't surprise me! I have to say as well...I've seen Bev in this four times and each time I felt that her accent occasionally sounded a bit off, but Alexandra literally sounded like she was born and raised in the states to me - just my opinion though! Beverley was obviously amazing in this and a huge act to follow, especially with no break in-between, but I do think some are being a bit overly harsh on Alex. She's a really great performer and I think the response would be very different had she not followed Beverley to be honest. |
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jun 28, 2024 23:25:52 GMT
Caught Alexandra as Deloris last week and thoroughly enjoyed her performance. Nailed singing as you would expect, comic timing was excellent and her energy exhausting to watch. Audience connected with her as they did with Beverley and was rewarded with a tremendous deserved ovation which all but blew the roof off the Dominion. The surprise was Lee Mead. He clearly is having a great time and plays his character up splendidly. Perhaps one of the under appreciated performances is that from Lesley Joseph. At 78 years of age nightly defying gravity hoisted high above the Dominion stage and with energy and fun having a great time getting down as a funky bass!! A great fun night out which I’d go back to see in a heartbeat. I'm probably a bit biased because I'm an Alexandra fan and make a point of seeing her in every show she does, but I also seen her on Monday night and thought she did a marvellous job. The score is written for a lyric soprano, but Alexandra has a very unique, deep mezzo voice, so I think it makes sense to lower and alternate some of the keys. Regardless of this she still has a totally stunning voice that couldn't possible leave anyone in the audience disappointed in my opinion - there were many genuine goosebump moments that got a huge response. She also added quite a lot of really impressive r&b style runs in that Bev didn't, which might be overkill in another show but totally works in this context. Her comedy timing was also definitely on point, anyone whose ever met or worked with her will know she's one of the most hyper people on planet earth, so that really didn't surprise me! I have to say as well...I've seen Bev in this four times and each time I felt that her accent occasionally sounded a bit off, but Alexandra literally sounded like she was born and raised in the states to me - just my opinion though! Beverley was obviously amazing in this and a huge act to follow, especially with no break in-between, but I do think some are being a bit overly harsh on Alex. She's a really great performer and I think the response would be very different had she not followed Beverley to be honest. I do feel people are being a bit harsh on Alex as well. Beverley’s amazing and I do feel like no one can be in her league but I do like Alexandra as well. I didn’t think she sounded brilliant in the trailers for Craig Revel Horwood’s production but the trailer was released near the start of the show so maybe she got better in that. I did feel that she would be better in this production and she does so I do feel bad for her due to the ticket sales. Reading your comment I do understand why they lowered the key for her. Do you know what other songs they lowered the key for her specifically because so far I only know Fabulous Baby has been lowered. |
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Post by musicbox on Jun 28, 2024 23:44:06 GMT
I'm probably a bit biased because I'm an Alexandra fan and make a point of seeing her in every show she does, but I also seen her on Monday night and thought she did a marvellous job. The score is written for a lyric soprano, but Alexandra has a very unique, deep mezzo voice, so I think it makes sense to lower and alternate some of the keys. Regardless of this she still has a totally stunning voice that couldn't possible leave anyone in the audience disappointed in my opinion - there were many genuine goosebump moments that got a huge response. She also added quite a lot of really impressive r&b style runs in that Bev didn't, which might be overkill in another show but totally works in this context. Her comedy timing was also definitely on point, anyone whose ever met or worked with her will know she's one of the most hyper people on planet earth, so that really didn't surprise me! I have to say as well...I've seen Bev in this four times and each time I felt that her accent occasionally sounded a bit off, but Alexandra literally sounded like she was born and raised in the states to me - just my opinion though! Beverley was obviously amazing in this and a huge act to follow, especially with no break in-between, but I do think some are being a bit overly harsh on Alex. She's a really great performer and I think the response would be very different had she not followed Beverley to be honest. I do feel people are being a bit harsh on Alex as well. Beverley’s amazing and I do feel like no one can be in her league but I do like Alexandra as well. I didn’t think she sounded brilliant in the trailers for Craig Revel Horwood’s production but the trailer was released near the start of the show so maybe she got better in that. I did feel that she would be better in this production and she does so I do feel bad for her due to the ticket sales. Reading your comment I do understand why they lowered the key for her. Do you know what other songs they lowered the key for her specifically because so far I only know Fabulous Baby has been lowered. As far as I could tell it only seems to be Fabulous Baby that is lowered - maybe I'm wrong though! As others have mentioned as well, the raise your voice belts at the end are now done by Lizzie Bea. These are extremely hard belts even for a soprano, so again I think it's slightly harsh to criticise Alex for not attempting them, considering her belt range is similar to a high male tenor. For what she lacks in range she makes up for in tone and power, which is probably why her debut album sold 4 million copies before she was effectively blacklisted from the music industry by Simon Cowell...but we won't go into that. There was an American lady sitting behind me who was complaining that she expected Bev and didn't know who Alex was before the show (She referred to her as the understudy, which I found a bit annoying as she's literally on the front of the theatre) but after the show was raving about her and saying she wants to see her in more things, which I was really pleased to hear! Apologies if I sound like Alex's unpaid PR manager (I'm just a fan I promise), but it really pains me how the press have always painted her to be a nightmare, when she's genuinely one of the most lovely people in an industry full of people who aren't. I can totally see why some people might find her hyper personality a bit overbearing, but she doesn't have a mean bone in her body. |
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jun 29, 2024 9:08:39 GMT
I do feel people are being a bit harsh on Alex as well. Beverley’s amazing and I do feel like no one can be in her league but I do like Alexandra as well. I didn’t think she sounded brilliant in the trailers for Craig Revel Horwood’s production but the trailer was released near the start of the show so maybe she got better in that. I did feel that she would be better in this production and she does so I do feel bad for her due to the ticket sales. Reading your comment I do understand why they lowered the key for her. Do you know what other songs they lowered the key for her specifically because so far I only know Fabulous Baby has been lowered. As far as I could tell it only seems to be Fabulous Baby that is lowered - maybe I'm wrong though! As others have mentioned as well, the raise your voice belts at the end are now done by Lizzie Bea. These are extremely hard belts even for a soprano, so again I think it's slightly harsh to criticise Alex for not attempting them, considering her belt range is similar to a high male tenor. For what she lacks in range she makes up for in tone and power, which is probably why her debut album sold 4 million copies before she was effectively blacklisted from the music industry by Simon Cowell...but we won't go into that. There was an American lady sitting behind me who was complaining that she expected Bev and didn't know who Alex was before the show (She referred to her as the understudy, which I found a bit annoying as she's literally on the front of the theatre) but after the show was raving about her and saying she wants to see her in more things, which I was really pleased to hear! Apologies if I sound like Alex's unpaid PR manager (I'm just a fan I promise), but it really pains me how the press have always painted her to be a nightmare, when she's genuinely one of the most lovely people in an industry full of people who aren't. I can totally see why some people might find her hyper personality a bit overbearing, but she doesn't have a mean bone in her body. I do think she’s been getting better reviews here than she had in the previous tour but I get what you mean. I was nervous because of the ticket sales that the rest of the run would be cancelled but now I don’t think it will. I can’t imagine what they will have on instead at the Dominion. |
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Post by CG on the loose on Jul 1, 2024 12:12:43 GMT
Ahhhh did not see that thankyou. I do think it’s weird when they do ‘special’ performances they take the performance out of the schedule. Also is Lee Mead any good as Eddie? Just wanted to see because no one has really mention him on here. I think it makes sense for the relaxed performance to be sold / promoted by an organization which specialises in this area and understands the complex needs of the target audience. The booking process, pricing, pre-show information, etc are all very different from standard show. As for Lee Mead - I think he's been rather overlooked coming into the cast at the same time as Alexandra, but I really enjoyed his Eddie. I've always loved his voice and it's great to see him in a role he can have a bit of fun with. |
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jul 1, 2024 12:53:34 GMT
I do think it’s weird when they do ‘special’ performances they take the performance out of the schedule. Also is Lee Mead any good as Eddie? Just wanted to see because no one has really mention him on here. I think it makes sense for the relaxed performance to be sold / promoted by an organization which specialises in this area and understands the complex needs of the target audience. The booking process, pricing, pre-show information, etc are all very different from standard show. As for Lee Mead - I think he's been rather overlooked coming into the cast at the same time as Alexandra, but I really enjoyed his Eddie. I've always loved his voice and it's great to see him in a role he can have a bit of fun with. I get what you mean with the relaxed performance. I’ve never been to one before (which is ironic since I’m autistic myself) but I understand what you mean with the process of booking and other stuff. I never really got the mixed reaction when Lee Mead was joining the cast. I saw Clive Rowe as Eddie and he was brilliant but I think Lee looks great and there was a video of him singing I Could Be That Guy and too and he sounded fantastic. Seems like a lovely guy too. |
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Post by anthem on Jul 1, 2024 16:18:29 GMT
Saw this about a week ago. I do like Alexandra and thought she nailed it. She does get a really raw deal on this board sometimes, very unfairly in my view. She does seem to do the Raise Your Voice finale belts sometimes- I’ve seen video footage on Instagram! Her rendition of Sister Act was really good.
Lee is very pleasant but his performance didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I also wasn’t that keen on Ruth but she is likeable and seems to have a lot of fun with it. She also seems to have quite a following.
Lizzie Bea was off but Chloe Hopcroft did a more than decent job. Had seen Lizzie on tour & she is exceptional.
Enjoyed seeing Lesley Joseph. TJ, Joey & Pablo all great (sorry I don’t know the actors’ names).
The Dominion is the wrong venue for this- it is huge and impacts the atmosphere I think. The band sounded really really good.
Some additional touches compared to the touring production, which are nice.
I hate the bar scene, I wish they would cut it altogether.
A fun night out for sure.
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Post by anthem on Jul 1, 2024 17:25:33 GMT
Sorry for the double post but I wanted to say something about ticket sales-just a handful of tickets left for tonight, for example, which is great.
Since this revival was announced this has very much been Beverley’s baby. There were prime time TV performances of Raise Your Voice to huge audiences on Britain’s Got Talent, the Royal Variety Show, the Oliviers & this Morning, for example (ok that’s in the morning but you get my drift). Bev was all over the promo, even covering for Elaine Paige’s show for three weeks during the recent Sister Act run. She was announced as doing the cast album (the timing of the announcement seemed odd to me given that she was just about to finish up). She and Ruth Jones were also interviewed on the One Show about Sister Act.
It was always going to be a tall order for Alexandra to take over the role of Deloris with almost no promo. A few posters in tube stations, on buses & an Instagram recording of Sister Act don’t replace big prime time TV slots. It’s a heavy burden for her to carry.
The new trailer is very good and I’m glad it’s giving Alexandra some exposure, along with the West End Live performance. She was also on Sunday Brunch yesterday, just an interview.
I also feel like the show has kind of been done to death at this point. The tour is going on and on, so people who’ve seen it around the country aren’t necessarily going to be rushing to London. I know that Alexandra’s tour in 2016/2017 sold very very well (it was one of the highest grossing touring productions at the time) but the West End in 2024 is a different beast, in a huge venue (the wrong venue for this show in my opinion) for a show that has perhaps outstayed its welcome. I imagine, as others have said, that anyone who was really keen to see it would have done so with Bev, so it’s tricky to come into it at this point, particularly as they likely have a very similar fan base.
In any event, I am glad that things seem to be looking much better now and I wish them all well for the rest of the run. I know Bev has a lot of fans here, deservedly, but for me Alexandra’s performance is well worth seeing too.
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jul 10, 2024 21:09:34 GMT
Completely random question:
I was watching LoveTheatre’s Instagram stories of Carl Mullaney’s takeover of the show. There was one of him wearing a red silk dressing robe with an eye mask and he said that he wears it very briefly.
Does this actually happen in the show and if it does what part does it happen? I’ve only seen the show on tour so it’s probably a new addition for the West End.
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Post by anthem on Jul 10, 2024 21:44:13 GMT
Completely random question: I was watching LoveTheatre’s Instagram stories of Carl Mullaney’s takeover of the show. There was one of him wearing a red silk dressing robe with an eye mask and he said that he wears it very briefly. Does this actually happen in the show and if it does what part does it happen? I’ve only seen the show on tour so it’s probably a new addition for the West End. I think he’s wearing it when Curtis and the crew break into the convent, but I could be wrong. |
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Post by thedriftersgirl on Jul 24, 2024 9:07:53 GMT
Tickets back up to £30 on Rush instead of £25.
Show is selling pretty well this week. Only a sprinkling of seats left.
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Post by amyja89 on Jul 24, 2024 9:34:02 GMT
Tickets back up to £30 on Rush instead of £25. Show is selling pretty well this week. Only a sprinkling of seats left. Summer holidays have just started, should think it'll be popular for the next month and a half. |
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Post by thedriftersgirl on Jul 24, 2024 10:33:16 GMT
I would hope that the final show sells out, always makes for a better atmosphere.
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jul 24, 2024 12:30:47 GMT
I think the show is selling a bit better than it was when Alexandra and Lee joined. It’ll be sad when it goes and I hope it might come back maybe in a smaller theatre.
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Post by thedriftersgirl on Jul 27, 2024 7:43:22 GMT
Just to let you all know, in August Sister Act has matinees on a Tuesday on 6th, 13th and 20th August, incase that’s a good option for any of you.
I can’t be 100% certain but I guess it might be because of the school holidays, they can catch people that might already have a Wednesday or Thursday matinee booked by allowing them to catch a Tuesday instead!
Will hopefully also make the cast less tired for a two show day on a Wednesday as they’ll be home relatively early on the Tuesday evening as there’s no evening show on these days, matinee only.
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Post by craig on Jul 27, 2024 8:24:28 GMT
I haven't seen Alexandra in her Dominion run (though saw her in the touring version she did many years ago) and can only echo the praise she's receiving. She is a fantastic performer and a much better singer than she is given credit for. I don't know what happened with her pop career. It seemed to go wrong so quickly after a huge debut album, and I know lots of people who just don't like her. I always found the public reaction to her on Strictly a bit uncomfortable. She was also absolutely sensational on that.
As a side note, I used to work as cabin crew and had the pleasure of looking after both Beverley and Alexandra separately and both were such warm, kind, genuine people. That they are so talented will be what got them booked in the first place, but that they are such decent people is what will be keeping both working at the level they now enjoy in musical theatre.
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Post by sisterfan on Jul 27, 2024 8:56:18 GMT
Bit cheeky of them as the final show in Aug which we have booked the seats have gone up £4.50 from £25 to £29.50.
so the seats we booked right at the back upstairs we got for £25 but now all the other seats all around us and next to ours have gone up to £29.50.
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jul 27, 2024 10:04:05 GMT
At this stage I’m just waiting patiently until the end of the run for them to release the cast album.
Is anyone seeing the show from August 5th? I’m eager to hear what people thinks of Lesley Joseph as Mother Superior as there isn’t really any reviews of her on the U.K. tour trend. I saw her twice and thought she was brilliant.
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Post by ladidah on Jul 27, 2024 10:05:38 GMT
I saw her about 3m ago when Ruth was off, she was perfect.
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jul 27, 2024 10:33:13 GMT
I thought Ruth was brilliant when I saw her in Dublin but I think Lesley has been the perfect Mother Superior I’ve seen. I saw her years ago in Annie as Miss Hannigan and was really surprised with her singing and thought her dancing was spot on, especially at her age. Would’ve loved to see her as Mary Lazarus though.
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Post by christya on Jul 29, 2024 9:45:06 GMT
I enjoyed Lesley as Mother Superior when I saw her, she's not the most amazing singer but it didn't really matter. I actually preferred her to Ruth.
One thing that keeps coming to mind for this show - if they ever make a film from the musical, what a wonderful role it would be for Julie Andrews. Easily adaptible to her current voice and she'd be just so damn good.
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Jul 29, 2024 10:11:13 GMT
I enjoyed Lesley as Mother Superior when I saw her, she's not the most amazing singer but it didn't really matter. I actually preferred her to Ruth. One thing that keeps coming to mind for this show - if they ever make a film from the musical, what a wonderful role it would be for Julie Andrews. Easily adaptible to her current voice and she'd be just so damn good. I never really got why they cast Mother Superior with an operatic voice. I didn’t really mind it with Here Within These Walls but I thought it didn’t really suit with I Haven’t Got A Prayer, especially with the higher key, because I thought it didn’t really suit the emotional side of the song. I think the lower key manages to do that. I know Lesley isn’t the best singer in the world but she isn’t bad as well. I was really surprised when I saw her in Annie and really enjoyed her as Mother Superior. I really loved her rendition of Here Within These Walls and I Haven’t Got A Prayer (I’m probably being biased though because I’m a big Lesley Joseph fan). I enjoyed Ruth’s version as Mother Superior as well though and was really surprised with her singing. |
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Post by theatrefan2007 on Aug 5, 2024 8:39:35 GMT
Can anyone who is going to see the show from tonight onwards put on here if there are any changes to the understudy list? Since Lesley is now Mother Superior I would imagine the cover list will be updated for Mother Superior and Sister Mary Lazarus.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 5, 2024 8:41:21 GMT
I enjoyed Lesley as Mother Superior when I saw her, she's not the most amazing singer but it didn't really matter. I actually preferred her to Ruth. One thing that keeps coming to mind for this show - if they ever make a film from the musical, what a wonderful role it would be for Julie Andrews. Easily adaptible to her current voice and she'd be just so damn good. I never really got why they casted Mother Superior with an operatic voice. I didn’t really mind it with Here Within These Walls but I thought it didn’t really suit with I Haven’t Got A Prayer, especially with the higher key, because I thought it didn’t really suit the emotional side of the song. I think the lower key manages to do that. I know Lesley isn’t the best singer in the world but she isn’t bad as well. I was really surprised when I saw her in Annie and really enjoyed her as Mother Superior. I really loved her rendition of Here Within These Walls and I Haven’t Got A Prayer (I’m probably being biased though because I’m a big Lesley Joseph fan). I enjoyed Ruth’s version as Mother Superior as well though and was really surprised with her singing. *cast |
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Post by unseaworthy on Aug 5, 2024 20:47:35 GMT
Is there any news on when the cast recording is going to be released?
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