Re: January 2010 Reviews - London
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 9:18 am
This week: Some more Ollie + Fox
A particularly high dose of Ollie this week, fortunately the only side effect is euphoria. He has such great spirit and an infectious sense of playfulness. I can’t get over what a tremendous actor he is, every mark nailed and then some, always giving the full 100%. Highlights were his portrayal of Billy in the scene saying goodbye to Mrs. W, so touching and the profuse expletives in Angry Dance
Managed to catch a Fox as well. A real death-defying Electricity, saw some things I’ve never seen outside of a gymnastics hall. It’s heart-in-mouth stuff and amazing to witness. I don’t know how he does it and I’ve studied Uni level physics. He’s a sweet, natural singer as well.
Connor as Michael is tremendous, never heard so many laughs for a Michael and fully deserved. Impeccable timing + hilarious movements + funny, expressive face = comic genius. Even jiving away in the wings during Finale!
The understudy Dad has been sensational this week. Particularly enjoy the little repartee with Billy in Once We Were Kings, scrunching the shirt and picking the coin from behind the ear.
Further things I quite like in the UK version:
Again, the audition sequence. Terrific stuff! Things just hang better together with it in: the ‘packaged’ dancer is seen before the tete-a-tete with Dad, we can see how badly the audition actually went and sweeping up the snow is worked into the story. And the rather fey sound technician is a nice touch.
‘That man looks like Arthur Scargill’
The freer rein given to the Michael’s to let loose. Derived from the pantomime tradition?
Two extra lines given to Tony (who is played nicely by Craig): ‘this is his big chance’ and ‘when you’re my age everyone you know will be unemployed...’
The Finale sequence, especially the final flourish of somersaults.
Mr. Braithwaite playing the accordion.
Things liked less:
How the Debbie’s are made to all look the same
Extended Expressing Yourself – over long, the Michael’s are too out of breath to deliver the lines.
'... I'd saw his bloody legs off' - too harsh
Regards to the chaps we saw on Thursday, pity not more time for a chat.
Further thoughts may follow...
A particularly high dose of Ollie this week, fortunately the only side effect is euphoria. He has such great spirit and an infectious sense of playfulness. I can’t get over what a tremendous actor he is, every mark nailed and then some, always giving the full 100%. Highlights were his portrayal of Billy in the scene saying goodbye to Mrs. W, so touching and the profuse expletives in Angry Dance
Managed to catch a Fox as well. A real death-defying Electricity, saw some things I’ve never seen outside of a gymnastics hall. It’s heart-in-mouth stuff and amazing to witness. I don’t know how he does it and I’ve studied Uni level physics. He’s a sweet, natural singer as well.
Connor as Michael is tremendous, never heard so many laughs for a Michael and fully deserved. Impeccable timing + hilarious movements + funny, expressive face = comic genius. Even jiving away in the wings during Finale!
The understudy Dad has been sensational this week. Particularly enjoy the little repartee with Billy in Once We Were Kings, scrunching the shirt and picking the coin from behind the ear.
Further things I quite like in the UK version:
Again, the audition sequence. Terrific stuff! Things just hang better together with it in: the ‘packaged’ dancer is seen before the tete-a-tete with Dad, we can see how badly the audition actually went and sweeping up the snow is worked into the story. And the rather fey sound technician is a nice touch.
‘That man looks like Arthur Scargill’
The freer rein given to the Michael’s to let loose. Derived from the pantomime tradition?
Two extra lines given to Tony (who is played nicely by Craig): ‘this is his big chance’ and ‘when you’re my age everyone you know will be unemployed...’
The Finale sequence, especially the final flourish of somersaults.
Mr. Braithwaite playing the accordion.
Things liked less:
How the Debbie’s are made to all look the same
Extended Expressing Yourself – over long, the Michael’s are too out of breath to deliver the lines.
'... I'd saw his bloody legs off' - too harsh
Regards to the chaps we saw on Thursday, pity not more time for a chat.
Further thoughts may follow...