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Post by distantcousin on Jun 20, 2018 17:51:19 GMT
Surprised there isn't a thread about this already....
Surely I'm not the only only theatreboard member who was in attendance?....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2018 20:05:46 GMT
I am also surprised! I was out in Bochum for the Starlight opening weekend but would have been there otherwise.
How was it?
Wonder if will have been recorded for DVD release?
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 20, 2018 20:21:00 GMT
There were signs up about it being recorded, so who knows.
My friend and I got last minute tickets on Today Tix, and they really were the cheap seats - third from the back on the grandstand.
Surprisingly the event seemed to eventually be sold out.
I enjoyed it, but being at the back did seriously detract from my enjoyment. (must get stronger binoculars). There were no video screens, so I could not make out the faces of anyone - in fact the artists were unrecognisable from my vantage point.
The show was not quite the calibre of the 60th birthday event in Hyde Park, and the star powered, high production extravaganza of the 50th was sadly a world away from this show, which came across as a little "budget" to me.
ITV grade household names and notable but not necessarily top tier musical theatre performers. (Instead of Paige, Ball, Friedman, Brightman etc we got Madelena Alberto, Ria Jones, Michael Xavier, Ben Lewis, Ben Forster, Tyrone Huntley and the like)
The top draw for this audience was definitely Alfie Boe - that got the camera phones out for Love Changes Everything and Music Of The Night. I personally don't care for his voice.
The encore was Beverley Knight singing Memory. Which was one of the best versions I've ever heard. Top 5 without a doubt. Exquisite. Her vocal tone and control is heavenly.
The stage was small and didn't allow much room for movement or decent entrances.
Myleene Klass, hosting the night was embarrassingly under-rehearsed.
The orchestra led by John Rigby (fresh from Chess at the ENO) were sensational. (Although the sound balance appeared to waver mid song during the earlier part of the show.
The set list was by and large ALW's Greatest Hits and almost all the best known numbers were represented.
The most fun moment was Forster and Xavier going full-cheese and doing a version of No Matter What extremely faithful to the Boyzone single! Complete with crowd arm swaying.
Most interesting and left-field was Imelda May's interpretations of All I Ask Of You and Another Suitcase. Purists would have probably disliked them, but I thought they were excellent and seemed to be well received.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2018 20:29:47 GMT
Thanks very much for review! Sounds fairly similar to how I imagined it being.....
Yeah, when Beverley was in Cats, her Memory was incredible!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2018 20:44:00 GMT
Thanks very much for review! Sounds fairly similar to how I imagined it being..... Yeah, when Beverley was in Cats, her Memory was incredible! I agree. The "touch meeee" part gave my goosebumps goosebumps and it was just so effortless. |
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Post by theatreian on Jun 20, 2018 21:08:49 GMT
Yes Beverley is amazing. Am looking forward to seeing her at the Old Vic.
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Post by sirdaniel on Jun 21, 2018 1:23:26 GMT
Surprised there isn't a thread about this already.... Surely I'm not the only only theatreboard member who was in attendance?.... I was there! |
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 21, 2018 6:44:35 GMT
I was there too.
Enjoyed the set list even though there were very few surprises. For me Tyrone Huntley was the standout of the night, despite being one of the less recognisable 'names' as far as general public are concerned. His Heaven On Their Minds was stunning. Also loved the Sunset Boulevard section, which was gorgeously played by the orchestra with Ria Jones and Michael Xavier giving great performances too. And of course Beverley Knight was spectacular as well!
I must say though the lack of screens was a real issue. It was basically a radio play for me on the back of the stalls area. I'm not normally one to moan about sightlines but as this was never going to be a concert that people stood for it could maybe have been a bit better thought out.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2018 13:49:24 GMT
Does all sound a little bit budget!
Did ALW speak and what did he say?!
Just finished his autobiography funnily enough which I loved!
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 21, 2018 17:06:17 GMT
Nope ALW didn't speak.
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 22, 2018 8:24:32 GMT
Does all sound a little bit budget! Did ALW speak and what did he say?! Just finished his autobiography funnily enough which I loved!
Myleene said he was there (in the audience or backstage, we don't know) but she didn't want to embarass him. She did lead 3 cheers for him, for his birthday though.
It certainly was a far cry from his Royal Albert Hall 50th do - which I feel was iconic. I wonder if he doesn't have that "star power/draw" in London anymore?
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Post by alwfan on Jun 24, 2018 7:24:30 GMT
It was strange that there was no Michael Ball to sing Love Changes Everything, EP to do Memory etc. I'm sure they would have agreed to come and perform. There also were none of his 'favourite' performers involved (Nichole Scherzinger, Sierra Boggess, Sam Barks, Danielle Hope etc ... in fact the only person from his reality TV shows was Jodie Prenger, and of course she was not one of his favourites) and also that he did not make an appearance (like he did at his 50th and 60th).
Maybe he is waiting until his 75th to have another huge concert. I wish he had a big event this year, as his 50th Birthday Concert at the RAH was almost perfection (all it needed was Michael Crawford singing POTO with Sarah to have been perfect)
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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 24, 2018 7:40:39 GMT
in fact the only person from his reality TV shows was Jodie Prenger, and of course she was not one of his favourites) Well Ben Forster (Superstar winner) was there and he sang loads, closing act 1 with Gethsemane even. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2018 10:14:31 GMT
in fact the only person from his reality TV shows was Jodie Prenger, and of course she was not one of his favourites) Well Ben Forster (Superstar winner) was there and he sang loads, closing act 1 with Gethsemane even. Nah, ALW was fine with Jodie. It was Cam Mac that was throwing his toys out of the pram. He didn’t really get the concept that it was the public’s choice not his. He was really pretty rude to her. Unsurprisingly he’s not given up his casting control over to the GBP ever again! |
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Post by heidij on Jun 24, 2018 12:33:53 GMT
Loved this concert Not surprisingly people have their own favourites , likes and dislikes. Good job we are not all the same. 😀
I quite liked the fact it wasn’t the same old names brought out. It’s good to see newer/ younger talent given the chance Imelda May was a surprise and a revelation and loved seeing the brilliant young talent that is Joe McElderry up there too, quite rightly as he’s just finished 2.5 years playing the lead to fantastic reviews
Was disappointed in the Xavier/ Forster duet: seemed off key at first until they found their groove. Tyrone Huntley didn’t do it for me. Thought the Ben Lewis/Celia Graham Phantom duet was fantastic, as was Ben Forster s Gethsemane; but it was Beverley Knight that stole the show for me. Sensational Would love to watch it all over again.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2018 18:50:21 GMT
Does all sound a little bit budget! Did ALW speak and what did he say?! Just finished his autobiography funnily enough which I loved!
Myleene said he was there (in the audience or backstage, we don't know) but she didn't want to embarass him. She did lead 3 cheers for him, for his birthday though.
It certainly was a far cry from his Royal Albert Hall 50th do - which I feel was iconic. I wonder if he doesn't have that "star power/draw" in London anymore?
So I think he has had a bit of a resurgence of late. Since the dark days of all the Love Never Dies issues, then Stephen Ward disappearing after 4 months, things have only been on the up.... School of Rock a hit, Glenn's return to Sunset, the Cats revivals, Phantom's 30th, the incredible open air Jesus Christ Superstar, the re-booted Starlight and I know this one's small but a critically successful Woman In White re-think. With the very nicely packaged Greatest Hits and the autobiography, it's a shame they didn't mount something like the Albert Hall 50th - am sure it would have sold! |
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Post by alwfan on Jun 25, 2018 4:06:35 GMT
[With the very nicely packaged Greatest Hits and the autobiography, it's a shame they didn't mount something like the Albert Hall 50th - am sure it would have sold! Yes! And I believe he has never had a big concert or celebration in New York. There were music of ALW concerts that used to tour the USA (lead by Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford etc at different times), but nothing recently that I can remember. That would be something I hope would happen in future, especially considering he wrote the longest running show on Broadway, had 4 shows open at the same time like R&H, and if I'm not mistaken, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Glenn Close all won their first Tony awards performing in his shows. |
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