Post by chellie on Jun 21, 2009 16:10:00 GMT 1
Okay... let's start this by saying that I have become quite used to seeing early runs of new casts for this show and I think I've become quite adept at deciding very quickly into whether I am going to warm to the new guys or not. Those on this board who know me and have even dared to go to the show with me before will tell you that once my mind is made, it's hard to change, so as I walked into my spiritual home on Friday night I was ready to see what this year would bring me...and boy was I in for a shock!
As I entered the POW I conducted my usual ritual of checking the box office window for any understudies on for the night, I was delighted to see Peter Challis was on for Harry - he has become my fave Harry since I first saw him in the role and I wish they could give him it full time! Also Mark Connell was on for Sam Mackay as Eddie...(the character I tend to judge harshest on!) so armed with this knowledge I bought a programme went down to the bar for a nice cosmo and then scanned the pages to familiarise myself with the new guys a little before they allowed us into the auditorium. Taking my seat I met two MM virgins who were stunned when I smiled when they asked if I'd seen it before...(the answer could count as a yes I suppose 100+ not out!) they had seen the movie though and were looking forward to it. I did have to tell them that their ideas of getting up and dancing through the show would need to wait til the end but figured at least when the time came they'd be well up for it.
The overture ended, the screen lifted and there was Niamh as Sophie. She seemed a little nervous and quiet to start with but as the show progressed she seemed to fit in well with Jodie and Laura and at times seemed to remind me of Tasha Sheridan.
Katy Secombe has big shoes to fill in the role of Rosie as Joanna Munro was just a legend but she has a warm and jovial persona - just like Jo's Rosie than instantly wins you over. She seemed to be having a good time up there and she too earned my approval.
As Donnas go, I have seen a few now, leads and understudies and as I watched Sally Ann Triplett I was reminded of Lucy Harris' portrayal of the Dynamo! She has fun where she is meant to and carries off the heavier emotional scenes well and as there should be there is a nice dynamic between her and Niamh when they appear together. (On Saturday during Money, Money, Money Sally Ann put her hands over Niamh's ears as she sung the lines 'A man like that is hard to find, but I can't get him off my mind' which I thought was a nice funny touch).
It was great to see Ben Heathcote back as Pepper, that man will ALWAYS be Pep to me and as ever he doesn't disappoint and as I watched Mark Connell I knew he (unfairly) had the hardest job as Eddie is a character that I hold dear to my heart but...the boy did well. Reminding me a little of Marc Leslie and interacting well with Ben and Oliver [- side point here the new male ensemble has a LOT of potential...girls you know what I mean
and as one of the girls beside me pointed out on Saturday night it's just a little hard to believe that Sophie would have picked this Sky over some of the other males around her, so I think Oliver might need to find some other little angle that the girls can buy into that would make Sophie fall for him].
Norman Bowman is an amiable Sam who sings well and has fun with his role, he will definitely grow on me as he progresses in this show and has some very Iain Fletcher like gestures, but needs more emotion in Winner Takes It All.
Christopher Hollis is another guy who had a lot to overcome if I was going to like his Bill...as it is if he was a little taller with curly, wild hair I'd have the Hawk back! Yes even down to the bad dancing and the instant chemistry between Bill and Sophie in Name of the Game! Take a chance is okay... something is still needing to develop in it for me though, but no doubt it will.
In the show itself on Friday there were a few 'glitches' Norman forgot one of his lines, but covered it well. Water ended up on the stage that Niamh nearly set her neck on in Lay All Your Love but managed to save herself from falling, but resulted in one of the boys needing to dry the stage with a towel and Laura having to finish it off in Gimme Gimme Gimme! Oliver took a good 'beating' from the boys in LAYLOM on both nights.
All in all it was great to see this new cast who seem to be channeling OLD SKOOL!!! Which is a good thing for me, though others will disagree. I'd give it 8/10 for the new cast and I wish I could see them again soon!
As I entered the POW I conducted my usual ritual of checking the box office window for any understudies on for the night, I was delighted to see Peter Challis was on for Harry - he has become my fave Harry since I first saw him in the role and I wish they could give him it full time! Also Mark Connell was on for Sam Mackay as Eddie...(the character I tend to judge harshest on!) so armed with this knowledge I bought a programme went down to the bar for a nice cosmo and then scanned the pages to familiarise myself with the new guys a little before they allowed us into the auditorium. Taking my seat I met two MM virgins who were stunned when I smiled when they asked if I'd seen it before...(the answer could count as a yes I suppose 100+ not out!) they had seen the movie though and were looking forward to it. I did have to tell them that their ideas of getting up and dancing through the show would need to wait til the end but figured at least when the time came they'd be well up for it.
The overture ended, the screen lifted and there was Niamh as Sophie. She seemed a little nervous and quiet to start with but as the show progressed she seemed to fit in well with Jodie and Laura and at times seemed to remind me of Tasha Sheridan.
Katy Secombe has big shoes to fill in the role of Rosie as Joanna Munro was just a legend but she has a warm and jovial persona - just like Jo's Rosie than instantly wins you over. She seemed to be having a good time up there and she too earned my approval.
As Donnas go, I have seen a few now, leads and understudies and as I watched Sally Ann Triplett I was reminded of Lucy Harris' portrayal of the Dynamo! She has fun where she is meant to and carries off the heavier emotional scenes well and as there should be there is a nice dynamic between her and Niamh when they appear together. (On Saturday during Money, Money, Money Sally Ann put her hands over Niamh's ears as she sung the lines 'A man like that is hard to find, but I can't get him off my mind' which I thought was a nice funny touch).
It was great to see Ben Heathcote back as Pepper, that man will ALWAYS be Pep to me and as ever he doesn't disappoint and as I watched Mark Connell I knew he (unfairly) had the hardest job as Eddie is a character that I hold dear to my heart but...the boy did well. Reminding me a little of Marc Leslie and interacting well with Ben and Oliver [- side point here the new male ensemble has a LOT of potential...girls you know what I mean
and as one of the girls beside me pointed out on Saturday night it's just a little hard to believe that Sophie would have picked this Sky over some of the other males around her, so I think Oliver might need to find some other little angle that the girls can buy into that would make Sophie fall for him]. Norman Bowman is an amiable Sam who sings well and has fun with his role, he will definitely grow on me as he progresses in this show and has some very Iain Fletcher like gestures, but needs more emotion in Winner Takes It All.
Christopher Hollis is another guy who had a lot to overcome if I was going to like his Bill...as it is if he was a little taller with curly, wild hair I'd have the Hawk back! Yes even down to the bad dancing and the instant chemistry between Bill and Sophie in Name of the Game! Take a chance is okay... something is still needing to develop in it for me though, but no doubt it will.
In the show itself on Friday there were a few 'glitches' Norman forgot one of his lines, but covered it well. Water ended up on the stage that Niamh nearly set her neck on in Lay All Your Love but managed to save herself from falling, but resulted in one of the boys needing to dry the stage with a towel and Laura having to finish it off in Gimme Gimme Gimme! Oliver took a good 'beating' from the boys in LAYLOM on both nights.
All in all it was great to see this new cast who seem to be channeling OLD SKOOL!!! Which is a good thing for me, though others will disagree. I'd give it 8/10 for the new cast and I wish I could see them again soon!
... niamh's only young so mabey she'll get in to it is she the youngest sophie so far??? she's younger then me but doesnt look it! i really want to go now 
... chellie i want a full male report tomorow from you lol i want to know about certain people in particular