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Post by Tanith Messenger on Jul 31, 2008 21:45:37 GMT
Yes its not easy to pin point him as Pharaoh, I only saw him once or maybe twice. I do know he look fab in his outfit tho hehe
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Post by Eunice and Roisin on Aug 5, 2008 13:17:56 GMT
We wanted to see Ricky as Jo & we decided to treat ourselves as we didn't manage to get to the tour in Sunderland & it's a long time to wait till Newcastle. What a treat that was!!! But first, our train was an hour late (no surprise there); the next one was in half an hour so we managed to get to London in time to get tickets & a quick lunch. We got the restricted view seats at the end of row B, where we sat for Lewis, which were great as there's plenty of leg room as there are no seats directly in front of us & we only missed seeing the choir. We thought that there might be quite a few empty seats but we couldn't see any. Well, we thought that Ricky was fantastic - he has a lovely voice & was very powerful in CED & he played Jo very well. He wore a light brown longish wig & looked very good but he wasn't wearing it at the end when he went up on the lift. He got a great & well deserved reception from the audience & everyone stood up at the end A few of the cast were ill - Tom & Adam & Jonathan, the swing, were off so Stuart was Ben, he'd only had half an hour's notice & hadn't played the part before, & Brad was the baker. There was no-one to play Levi & we were told afterwards that one of the girls had gone on as Levi at the beginning. Charlene Ford, who we know from Beauty & the Beast is now Mrs Potiphar. We overheard lots of the audience say how good they thought Ricky was. He came out quickly so it was nice to meet him as we hadn't met him before & we also met Jenna for the first time. We talked to Michael & Stuart, then decided to go to Zorro stage door, well it was on the way to Leicester Square tube!! We saw Greg Barnett, who was in Jo way way back in 2001/02, on his way back in. He asked us what we thought of the show so we had to tell him where we'd been. Since we saw him in Sweeny Todd he's been doing Shakespeare & was in panto with Simon Schofield. Thank you, Chrissie, for telling us that Dean was back - it would have been nice to see Michael as Pharaoh but at least we knew before we went that he wouldn't be.
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Post by Tanith Messenger on Aug 5, 2008 21:25:41 GMT
Phillip Schofield had a wig like that and so did Jason Donovan, not sure about Jason, but I know Phillip always took it off at the end. Sounds like you had a good time ;D thanks for the review
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Post by Chrissi on Aug 6, 2008 16:03:13 GMT
I'm so pleased that Ricky had a successful run. Sounds like you had an amazing time!! Eunice and Roisin, no problems. I understand that Dean has holiday at the end of next month, so perhaps you could see Michael then, if funds permit obviously!!
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Post by Roisin and Eunice on Aug 7, 2008 12:38:00 GMT
Piccies from Saturday Ricky Michael Stuart Greg Thanks Chrissi, we did have an amazing time Yes we'd love to see Michael next month so will have to start saving up .... He was great as Pharaoh when he was on the tour so we expect him to be great at the Adelphi.
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Post by Chrissi on Aug 7, 2008 13:06:24 GMT
Fab pics
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Post by Tanith Messenger on Aug 7, 2008 21:00:57 GMT
Great pics thanks hun ;D Greg is looking well, good to know he still has his curls
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Post by chestwig on Aug 8, 2008 19:10:52 GMT
Phillip Schofield had a wig like that and so did Jason Donovan, not sure about Jason, but I know Phillip always took it off at the end. Sounds like you had a good time ;D thanks for the review Jason allways took his wig off at the end of the show, think he was glad to get the mullett off lol.. kelxx
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Post by Chrissi on Aug 17, 2008 15:38:25 GMT
I have another rather lengthy review of Joseph. I found myself there last night ;D
Part One-Act One
I could feel a very happy, excited vibe in the theatre when we were waiting for the show to start. I was sat right next to the stairs that Jacob and The Narrator use. As the music started everyone seemed to be in good spirits clapping along getting ready for the show to begin. Jenna (Narrator) came on and sang the Prologue very softly and sweetly and toned down then the time I had seen her before. Then the moment arrived when I knew Lee was going to descend. Usually my heart beats really fast at this point waiting for him to appear! This time I seemed to be in shock! (Could be to do with hurting myself.) He was so close, and his eyes from Row B were twinkling. He had a serious look on his face and then broke out into the most beautiful genuine smile I have seen!! He sort of giggled at the reaction, everyone was cheering and clapping. He sang the first line of Any Dream Will Do and everyone cheered! I had never heard that before so I was dumbstruck. He sang beautifully and very controlled. I’ve mentioned it in reviews before but I just love how he interacts with the children at this stage. His eyes just sparkle. Jenna came on with the coat, the coat was taken off of her and Lee bounded off of the stage.
Jacob and Son’s/Joseph’s Coat felt a bit different to me tonight. Adam was Jacob and Jonathan was on for Russell and Brad for Adam. I have never seen the show without Stephen (Jacob) and Russell (Butler/Gad) before. It was still a good scene though. From the seat I was in I could hear all the little asides that the brothers say and watch the actions they do. I had fantastic eye contact with Craig (Zebulun). He was teasing Tom (Benjamin). I think all of the brothers work extremely well with one another. Lee is fantastic in this scene, he portrays the young dreamer very well. His voice was controlled well again in this scene. He was bounding around the stage, flapping his coat about- I’m sure I felt a breeze!
Joseph’s Dreams is one of my favourite scenes and the brothers really come into their own here. Lee’s was singing very softly in this scene. Derek (Asher) came out with the line “Oh shut up!!!” and Craig sat on the step, right in front of me, saying “I’ve heard it all before” and “I’m going to take this stick….” and threatened to hurt Joseph with it. You can understand why the brothers are saying this as Lee has such a smug expression on his face! Poor, poor Joseph was again a moment for the brothers to shine. Their comic timing is fantastic. Lee struggled with the snake in the pit, which made the audience laugh. I swear he was going to knock the camel over when the brothers tied his hands up. The brothers were fabulously comical when smearing Joseph’s coat in the goat’s blood. I still miss John as Reuben in One More Angel, however Stephen (John Davis) does have a lovely voice. The brothers sing beautiful harmonies in this song and act their socks off. The hoedown part of the scene was energetic and performed extremely well. The Potiphar scene was as camp as usual and I must say I prefer Adam as Potiphar rather than Jacob. Lee came on in the loincloth looking very slim but toned. The audience were very appreciative of this outfit (as usual) and he gave the little tug at the back of it. The scene was performed well, I just feel sometimes Jenna screeches in this number and it is particularly off-putting.
Close Every Door was beautifully performed, it wasn’t the best vocal I have heard from Lee, but being so close he was almost directly in front of me and his eyes seem to swim with tears when he sings the song. He built up to the song very well and belted out the last few lines, not quite nailing the “Land” lyric, but to be honest, his acting was superb and he has fabulous interpretation of the lyrics. His pained expression throughout the song really moved me. I think he is a very special performer. I sometimes forget he’s only been a leading man for just over a year. Lee received a fabulous reception at the end of the song. He seemed to be having trouble with his microphone as he moved to the back of the stage, just before Go, Go Joseph and was touching his forehead.
The baker and butler as I mentioned previously were swings. I couldn’t warm to Brad as the Baker, I’m not sure why, he just didn’t seem right in the role, but I’m sure with more experience he will improve greatly. Jonathan surprised me as Butler, he was a good Butler, and if you hadn’t seen Russell perform as Butler you wouldn’t know the difference. He didn’t get as much laughs from the audience as Russell does but he did a good job. Go, go Joseph was just fabulous. This is another of my favourite scenes. The cast are fantastic dancers and I just don’t know where they get their energy from. Lee was incredibly bouncy and seemed to be feeding off of the audience’s reaction. When the curtain was going down for the interval, he and the rest of the cast were still bouncing around. Lee twirling around in circles and doing little dancy movements!
A bouncy first half with an appreciative audience..
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Post by Chrissi on Aug 17, 2008 15:39:43 GMT
Part Two-Act Two
The Entr’acte by the choir was sung sweetly. Some of them do pull the funniest faces when they are trying so hard, it’s quite sweet. Jenna came on to sing Pharaoh’s Story, and again she was a bit “too much” for me. She interacts with the children very well and has such a fabulous voice but her expressions and her mannerisms are sometimes very over the top. I do understand though that she has to do this so she is seen from the back of the stalls. The end of the song, turned very “shouty” but she was widely appreciated by the audience. She can definitely belt out a song though and has a fantastic figure.
The Pharaoh scenes were greatly appreciated by the audience and Dean whipped them up into a frenzy. Dean sang very clearly and well, giving it all he’s got. It was terrific. He has fabulous comic timing and is a showman. His ad-libs are marvellous. I love the way he works with Lee and Jenna. Lee’s back should win an Olivier award in it’s own right! He flexes his back muscles beautifully and his back does strange but wonderful things!! I can’t describe it really. From where I was sat I could see his face and he continues to act even with his back to the audience. He utters things such as “Mr Pharaoh man” and repeats words that the Pharaoh is singing. His enthusiastic waves to the band always make me smile. I missed Russell as Butler in this scene as Jonathan doesn’t chair dance as much. Lee and Dean were fantastic again working together as Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams. Lee was dragged around the stage by the girls with some rubbing his tummy and holding onto his arms tight. Going onto King of my Heart, Dean sang this well and worked up the audience fantastically. It seemed there were plenty of Dean fans in the audience as he got cheered and comments shouted out to him!
Those Canaan Days was brilliantly performed. Mark (Simeon) sings the song in a very comedic way, his face is just so expressive. The brothers were on form singing brilliantly and interacting well with one another. The long note got a cheer from a very appreciative audience. The Brothers Came to Egypt/Grovel Grovel is another of my key moments in the show. Lee was very masterful in this scene, I couldn’t help noticing how tiny his hips are! He looks well though and was strutting along the stage as if he owned it. His voice was very powerful in this scene, and he just portrays the Prince of Egypt in such an arrogant manner, he oozes charisma. The brothers always look so terrified of him. Fantastic acting from them all. I like watching them attempt to polish Joseph’s boots and arm wear. The way Lee steps over the brothers, swaggering from one to the side of the stage to another just shows how much he is living the role and in the moment.
In Who’s The Thief, Lee’s voice was incredibly powerful. I almost had a heart attack as Brad who was on for Adam, pretended he was about to fall on me. The brothers tried to accuse a lady in the front row for stealing the golden cup, but Tom (Benjamin) was trying to convince them she hadn’t. Poor Tom when it was revealed that he had the cup, he flew to the front of the stage in fright. I really focused on Tom here as his whole upper body shakes, I noticed from the angle I was at, that he was whispering “No, no” He looked completely petrified, such an amazing actor. Lee always has a lot going on if you watch his eyes- extremely expressive. As Lee slams the cup down in front of Tom, Benjamin Calypso starts. It was very vibrant and energetic and sung well by Neal. Lee was stood directly in front of me for some of the song and was completely focussed but gave out the little grin at the appropriate times in the song.
The brothers reunited is my ultimate favourite moment in the show. I just love how softly Lee sings his lines and the look of despair , confusion and lost years that he portrays. I love the way he whispers the last line and then bends down to show Benjamin it is his brother and he is safe. Tom breaks out into a huge grin and Lee envelopes him into a reassuring hug clutching Tom’s head and gripping his back.
The Any Dream Will Do reprise was sung beautifully by Lee. This is a moment where I usually can look around and see people moved to tears by his performance. Last night was no exception. His voice was chocolately smooth and emotional. I couldn’t see Adam’s face from where I was so I can’t comment on that. I did notice Adam cup Lee’s face as he was singing to him. This is the part in the show where I really enjoy Jenna’s performance. She puts such an amazing amount of emotion into this song, her eyes water and her lip quivers, she sings beautifully and softly. She interacts with Lee extremely well. The part that moves me every time in the show is when Lee belts out the line “Give me my coloured coat, my amazing coloured coat…” in the Any Dream Will Do Reprise. This is because it takes me back to the final of the Any Dream Will Do show, when he had that determined but extremely happy look on his face and I realised that was why he had won.
Close Every Door was sung well by Lee, and I preferred his 2nd version as his voice seemed stronger. Someone in the box seats that had been rather loud over the duration of the show shouted out “I love you Lee, go on Joe.” It kind of ruined the moment, but Lee smiled towards the box and focused. He performed the song well, but had a little trouble with the “Land” note near the end. He did not falter though and held the last note for a while and with great control. With the final note delivered nearly everyone in the stalls was up for the megamix. It was a FANTASTIC megamix, one of the best I’ve been involved in. The cast were completely full of energy, I honestly don’t know how they manage it, but they seemed to be bouncing off of the audience. There are some amazing dancers involved in the cast of Joseph. Neal worked the audience well and Lee appeared. A cheer went up and he looked thrilled, he was so bouncy and appreciative with a wide grin plastered on his face. It was an amazing show and I’m so overwhelmed with just how talented the cast of Joseph are at a show which is seemed to be “easier” than other shows.
------------------ I hope you enjoyed. I'm just addicted to Joseph! ;D
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Post by Lynda on Aug 17, 2008 16:19:30 GMT
Thats wonderful Chrissi, thank you. xx
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Post by Tanith Messenger on Aug 17, 2008 21:35:45 GMT
WOW! What a review, really felt I was there with you! Thanks ;D
Nice to know that they are all putting so much effort in it even after so long! Its those little things like the facial expressions and the interaction with the audience that makes the show!
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Post by Chrissi on Aug 19, 2008 9:46:30 GMT
Thank you both. I always worry I put too much detail in, but I get carried away!!!! Lol xx
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Post by Lynda on Aug 19, 2008 10:11:46 GMT
The more detail the better.
Had a dream about Lee last night.
He and his sister (he dosent have one)were going to their local hairdressers which was the same as mine. They walked into the saloon before me and my sister. As we were approaching the door an assistant came out and said sorry your appointment has been double booked and we had to give it to the celebrity, you will have to come back another day. That sort of thing does happen in real life. So I guess thats me shoved out.
L xx
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Post by Chrissi on Aug 19, 2008 12:08:51 GMT
Thanks Awww, what a dream They are strange things!
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