April 2009 - UK reviews

[Clazzimay]

Who will give the first review for April?
Happy April Fools Day

[Billy Whiz]

Happy April Fools Day

I've been thinking for days what I could do as an April Fools joke but couldn't come up with anything (actually I did have one or two ideas but I think they would have got me kicked off the forum).

If my memory serves me correctly somebody said last year that Liam's dog, that was presented to him when he finished, had had pups. People were coming up with names for the pups and chatting about how nice they must be. It was only a little while later that somebody remembered that the dog was male

[MrWestEnd]

somebody remembered that the dog was male

Haha. Thats what you call a good April fools!
I will probably give a May review! But no April!

[patc]

I am having such terrible trouble trying to get on to (and staying on) the Forum website that I am throwing this review on without being able to preview it so apologies if it's crap.

Thursday Matinee 2nd April

Tom, Lewis, Scarlet

But he wasn't on duty today.

The first two occasions I saw Tom perform was twice in the one day as Michael on 22nd November last. It seems like an eternity ago but ever since then he has brought his portrayal of Billy along bit by bit with something new to see and enjoy every time. He reached a new benchmark today. It seemed to me that the initial entry through the door of Dad and Billy was a little behind schedule today, milliseconds probably but, right from the word go, Tom turned out to be a bundle of dynamite full of feistiness, brimful of energy and never afraid for one moment to let his own emotions run loose on an unsuspecting audience. It was exhausting just to watch it. You could hardly keep up with it such was his dynamism.
Scarlet latched on to this ever so quickly and proceeded in the first instance to redefine the role of Debbie in a Shine perfomance that I defy anyone to better. Likewise, her attempts to catch Tom's eye in the pirouette lesson were hilarious. Talk about being in your face!! Very grateful I was to see this from close-up.
Tom's ballet has been fast improving and, in Solidarity, his highspeed tornado-like spin across the stage was a sight to behold followed by the neatest of final pirouettes before angry Dad makes his entrance.
Then it was Lewis' turn in Expressing. Even those of us who have seen Lewis perform many times were left speechless and with enormous smiles on our faces. It was an absolute masterclass and, with him and Tom so full of boundless energy, the result lifted the roof off the theatre. I feel sure the G20 talks up the road were halted momentarily in wonderment.

In the Letter Tom is turning on the taps very early in the song. He is determined that nobody in the audience will be dry-eyed by the time he can no longer continue with the song. But, if you think you've escaped, forget it. His pained facial expression and plaintiff cry of "Mam" when he sees Dead Mum appear finishes you off anyway.

Born to Boogie is blessed relief and Kate and Sean Kingsley brought it all together with a smiling Tom ending with a high-flying flip off the piano.

Scarlet was at it again in the toilet scene during which the lollipop never stood a chance as Tom contemplated the "offer".

After all this, by the time Angry Dance came around you just had to wonder how on earth was Tom going to find the energy to dance it. Well, he is human! But no worries. Contained in that slight frame is a heart of gold and steel. After Tony's tirade he leapt off the table in a rage, flew up the stairs, gave vent, ran back down again. We then heard what we thought sounded like automatic gunfire. It wasn't. It was Tom's feet tapping so fast that, in the blur that they produced, you imagined he had four legs. Hard to believe it unless you actually see/hear it. The last heartrending screech as he fell to the floor seemed to herald the very last drop of energy expounded. Like Sonny Liston against Muhammad Ali you felt he ain't gettin' up from that. But he did and when he did, if looks could kill, we were all dead.

Whew, time for an ice cream.

On the day that was in it it was inevitable that Trevor would bring something new into the front-of-curtain scene. We were not disappointed. Gordon Brown wasn't going to the Women's thingy because summit's up!!! The winning ticket number was 175 which was a complete break from recent tradition. It was hilarious though because it looked like the ticket taken out of the bucket was "a bit scrumpled" and Tom had difficulty in seeing the number. There was only a minor delay but Trevor lapped it up. That's the second time that Trevor/Tom have had a hilarious "bucket moment" in the show. The last time was when Tom came out without the bucket. I still laugh out loud when I recall that one.

I am so pleased that we still have the accordion (Sean Kingsley) in Deep into the Ground. It is such a plaintiff instrument and enhances the folk song so much. Yet another touch of genius from the company.

In the Winter scene there will be a few Forum Members pleased to hear that the "Me hands are freezing" line is back. The rest of that scene belonged to Lewis and his lead in to the Nutcracker joke was timed (and screeched) to perfection.

For the second week running Shaun Walters played Older Billy and kudos to him in doing a fantastic job again in this scene which I think is the most difficult one in the whole show, the sequence on the wire looking so hard to time. Everything went nice and smoothly and Tom seemed to be enjoying it thoroughly with a huge smile throughout his aerial session.

Just when I thought I'd spotted something new in the Dad/ Mrs W snow scene I was told it wasn't. When Scarlet came out the red door she had a hand of cards in one hand and a cup in the other. I don't ever remember seeing the cards before. Funny that.

After the usual gut-wrenching scene between Craig and Joe it with was with a great sense of anticipation that we awaited Tom's hybrid Electricity. It begins with some flips, then a magical mix of beautifully fluid and swift ballet moves, then the music and mood changes with some street, yells and everything else all rolled into one with a magnificent wall flip to finish it off. Breathtaking to watch and making you greedy and wanting more.

You'd never think that the roles of Posh Dad and the Scab could be played any differently than in the past but David Massey and Tim Funnell have done it extremely well and different since 1st December.

It was a special treat to meet up with some more Forum Members before and during the matinee this afternoon. It does add a little spice to the day and the more the merrier, I say.

BTW, the he I referred to earlier was the multi-talented Phil Snowden. It is such a rare occurrence when he isn't performing that it's worth mentioning and, if memory serves me correctly, that is only the second show I have ever seen when he wasn't on.

Very pleased to report that the audience was huge again and very involved in yet another great day's entertainment.

Pat

[Billy Whiz]

I am having such terrible trouble trying to get on to (and staying on) the Forum website that I am throwing this review on without being able to preview it so apologies if it's crap.

No need to worry Pat - it's definitly not crap. I know what you mean though as I had a hell of a job to get on as well. Maybe JohnH hasn't put a shilling in the meter.

A great review as usual. I always look forward to Friday mornings when I can read your review. Well done and keep up the good work.

[patc]

Delighted to see that "Me hands are freezing" line is back.Does that mean the scene has reverted to the way it was with no mention by Billy of going home?

No change in the way the scene is done, just that line is back to replace the "It's freezing" one.

Pat

[Billy Whiz]

Delighted to see that "Me hands are freezing" line is back.Does that mean the scene has reverted to the way it was with no mention by Billy of going home?

No change in the way the scene is done, just that line is back to replace the "It's freezing" one.

Pat

That's all it needed.

It was like that when I was down at the end of February and it made so much more sense.

[chocchipcookie26]

Brilliant review as always
Going to Cornwall today til next Sunday so will have to wait patiently to see next weeks...tricky!
x

[maria]

Thank you for all the great reviews. Can't wait to be back in London at the VPT! Meanwhile, these reviews are helping me through BETM withdrawal!

cheers.
maria

[pucka]

That was very nice review....im sooooo proud of Tom.