Live, from Leicester Square! It’s Saturday Morning! Last weekend brought “West End Live,” a FREE showcase of many musicals performing on the boards here in Theatreland. My friend Liz and I got down there early and grabbed a good spot to catch the cornucopia of offerings – which again ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. Kicking things off in great style was “Jersey Boys.” Wow! Great style indeed! I have to admit that this Tony award winning Best Musical had not been high on my radar screen, but after watching this set, I am a believer. Fantastic singing, fun choreography and 4 fine looking me – what more does one want. Let’s hear it for the Boys! Really good showing!The Boys were followed by “Into the Hoods” - aka one of Gretchen’s favourite
Sondheim musicals meets hip-hop and rap. Ummm…yeah….They don’t use Steve’s songs at all, and the story is VERY loosely based on the show (Spinderalla is a DJ, etc). However the dancing and choreography are terrific and there are some fun numbers of 80s nostalgia that were entertaining (MC Hammer, Prince, Whitney, Chaka Khan, etc). Overall, I’m not racing out to see this, but would maybe go if it was half-price or free just to see how it all shakes out.After the ‘Hoods came the trio of lame, lamer and lamest shows. “Wicked” was represented by just one song – duet between Elphaba and Fiero and the Elphaba could not find the right key to save her life. Painful to hear. Lamer – “Lord of the Rings.” Bilbo Baggins! How is this show still running?! Again, one lame duet and I don’t even know if they were singing in English or Elvish! Lamest? “Dirty Dancing!” Nobody puts Baby in a corner and Nobody should have put this classic film on the stage. Limp dancing and lead actors that were far too old, short, and frankly ‘un-fit’ for their roles. We did not have the time of our life.
That is until we had a great run of 5 and a half shows. “We Will Rock You” and “Never Forget” are based on the music of Queen and UK boy band Take That and both were high
-energy, hot dancing and just a heck of a fun time with good music. Never Forget in particular, mainly for the Rupert Everett/Robbie Williams actor. Sigh..hot! “Grease” and “Chicago” followed and well, what can I say, they are favourites and I loved them both, particularly Chicago whose Velma was outstanding! All that jazz I might have to go see this show again!And then…and then…the
moment I was waiting all morning for – “Joseph/Technicolor Dreamcoat” with Lee Mead (winner of BBC casting show). Dreamcoat? More like Dreamboat! He is Gorgeous and has the best voice and is just about the most perfect casting ever!....sigh….He was accompanied by the Joseph Children’s Choir and they just about brought the house down. Our day wrapped up with “Mamma Mia!” Now you know I loves me some Abba and I love this musical, but not when it’s Lip Synched! At a show called West End LIVE! Benny and Bjorn what the hell were they thinking! It was soo obvious. Oh well, we still got down to Dancing Queen and then got down to lunch and sitting after standing 5 hours for free theatre! Well worth it though! More photos from the day are now online.
