Well, it's Satdee maunin' and I should be gannin' to bucksin' but, instead, I'll just mention a few things from this week's shows.
As Dancer has said, Tom's
Electricity on Wed. did look a bit different but, then, I don't think he ever does the same one twice anyway. It did get the same usual high and long applause, that's for sure.
What was definitely different was that the audience gave him an amazing round of applause after his first spin across the stage to Mrs. W standing at the pillar when she recognises for the first time that she might have something special on her hands. I don't think I have ever seen this happen before.
George Maycock seems to have added a little "embellishment" to his exit from the
Winter scene - a couple of little "wiggles" just before he goes out through the doors. The current trend has been that you get the same Michael/Debbie on Thursday Mat as wot performed on Wed. evening and he did repeat this at the matinee.
The footlights are back working again in
Expressing. Likewise, with the Polaroid which missed a few beats in previous shows.
The music score sheets in the MD's box have looked very ragball for a long time. Just before the commencement of Part 2 on Thursday matinee the MD arrived down with a large clear plastic holdall in his arms which must have been a new set of sheets because the old raggedy ones were gone on Thursday evening.
The matinee audience was not as big as usual (it was 5th Nov so, presumably, people had other events on their minds). As it happens the audience was very, very quiet in Part 1 (which is very, very unusual) but it didn't deter the mercurial Fox from putting on his usual amazing, breathtaking show. Well, perhaps he was feeling a bit angry with them because in
Angry Dance he shook the very foundations of the theatre with a pulsating, bone-shaker that ended with a scream that sent shivers through me from head to toe.
David Nellist got 'em going at the start of Part 2 and by the time Fox had his arms raised at the end of
Electricity the crowd were going ballistic and were (eventually
) rewarded with a mind-blowing version of the smile.
There was another first (for me, at least) on Thursday evening when the "Esquire" joke which is one thing that always provokes extended laughter was greeted almost in silence!!
Ollie's
Electricity was the best I have seen from him.
With Connor due to depart soon it was a bonus to see his name on the board for the evening show and he was just as brilliant as he had been on Brad's last night.
Kate was Mrs W in the matinee and Phil Snowden played George in the evening.
I'm not sure if there will be a change of Ballet girls on the upcoming changeover night but I hope not. Leaving aside their wonderful dancing, singing and acting skills I have got so used to those endearing and individually tailored smiles beaming down that I'd really miss them.
Pat