Theatre Trip: Les Mis #2

LES MISERABLES #2

Sondheim Theatre (formerly the Queen's)

Date: 24 February (Monday), 7:30pm

Seats: Royal Circle Row K10-12

Understudies: Luke McCall (Jean Valjean), Richard Carson (Javert), Leo Miles (Enjolras).

(Seen with Jess, and Karla while she is here on holiday!)

Karla is back! We met and saw a lot of theatre together (mostly Heathers) before she returned to Australia about a year ago. Luckily, she now works for a UK teacher recruitment agency, and is back for a work trip! So of course us girls got together several times, including for some theatre (and hopefully more before she leaves!) 

However, it being a Monday Jess and I did have work, so we met in the city at 6:30, had a very quick rushed dinner at McDonalds, and rushed over to the theatre. The Queen's is no longer, as they have just finished renovating it and renaming it the Sondheim! Inside the theatre is lovely - definitely new but quite cosy feeling, and there was barely a bathroom queue (apparently they've added 16 more than before, which is always appreciated) either time! our seats were in the Royal Circle, so right up the top, but we had a totally clear view and could see all of the barricade and the stage, even though we weren't close.

This version of the production is different to the Queen's as well. They have gotten rid of the rotating floor from the old version and now have lovely sets that cruise seamlessly in and out. I think my favourite part, production wise, was when they are in the sewer - they didn't have a set for this, only projections on the backing screen! It was very well down and saved them several different sets which must have been helpful. I feel like the production was improved on last time since being updated.

In terms of the cast, I liked almost everyone in the production. Marius (Harry Apps) was really good - his acting was great and I really liked his Empty Chairs at Empty tables. I think out of everyone, Eponine (Shan Ako) was the weaker link. She was really great but her voice sounded more 'pop singer' than 'musical theatre', which worked better when she sang alone (although I didn't like her version of On My Own as much as Carrie's) than when she was singing with others and her voice didn't blend quite as well as others.

My standouts of the ensemble were the Thenardiers (Josefina Gabrielle, Gerard Carey), who managed to be funny, but not too out of control or turning it into a farce which I really appreciated. They are supposed to be over the top, but they didn't feel crazy - well, too crazy. They also worked really well as a pair and boucned off each other fantastically!

One of the reasons I was so excited to be back at Les Mis was that Carrie Hope Fletcher has returned to the show! After originally playing Eponine, she is back and now has grown into the role of Fantine. I wasn't sure how that would work, having played both roles, but Carrie was amazing! She did get beat up and thrown around a bit but her singing was incredible and she was just so good.

Our two leads were both understudies (probably not so surprising on a Monday night, when I actually thought about it), but it was an instance of them both being amazing! I would never have suspected they were anything less than the regular leads. Javert (Richard Carson) had a really great stage presence and inhabited the role so well. I thought he did an amazing job of showing Javert as he was unraveling and losing his sanity. His rendition of 'Stars' was to die for, although watching him actually die was a bit amusing (fake running in the air for just a little bit too long...) I thought he was so great.

And then there was Jean Valjean (Luke McCall), another understudy and yet another amazing actor! He did a great job embodying the character and really felt authentic. His voice did falter just slightly on the highest of the high notes, but his acting was great and actually that added to the authenticity. Even though we were quit high up, I did feel like he connected with the whole audience.

A really good Monday night (especially when you go for donuts after!) and we ticked a show off Karla's list of shows she didn't get to in the two years she lived here! We have one more show planned together - Prince of Egypt in a couple of weeks, which we snagged on sale yesterday. Plus I booked one other and another friend asked me to see a play in a couple of weeks... Oh, and I still want to see another play and get back to the diner... I'm having a good theatre year so far!

Theatre Trip: Waitress #4

WAITRESS #4

Adelphi Theatre

Date: 3  February (Monday), 7:30pm

Seats: Stalls Row O 11-13

Lulu was played by Madison Worley in this show.

Back in the diner, order up! This time, for my 4th visit, it is a very special one. After all, how often do you get to see a show with the composer in the starring role she wrote?

Tonight I went with Viddie and Jess. We have all seen Waitress before (Jess twice, and Viddie just once) and so know the show. Before tonight I didn't realise Viddie had never even seen the same show twice, which is something I love to do. We met before the show and went to Leon to get dinner, and I also popped into the Hotel Chocolat across the street to get dessert for the interval! Jess was running a little late so she met us in the (awfully long) ticket collection queue around 7pm.

It was luckily a fast moving queue and we headed inside the theatre with plenty of time for programs and the bathroom before the show started. And as I've mentioned before, this show is amazing. I love the songs, the message of empowerment, and of course the performers!

This cast is by far the best I've seen in this show. As I mentioned, how many times do you get to see a performer in a role they wrote? For 6 weeks only, Sara Bareilles, the composer and lyricist for the show is playing Jenna! They have brought her over from the States, along with her Dr Pomatter, Gavin Creel. They both played their roles together on Broadway and her only here for a limited engagement! Having missed Lucie last time, I was very pleased to hear that she will be back in the role with David Hunter after that.

I think the cast was really on fire for this performance - and i think I know why. There were signs up in the auditorium I noticed at interval which talked about the fact that they were filming during the performance. So I think that, them of course knowing this, they put on an extra great performance for everyone!

That being said, overall this is by far and away the best cast in total that I've seen! Earl, Ogie and Becky were the same cast as before. Tamlyn Henderson was a bit better this time around, but I think overall he may have been the weakest link in the ensemble. Joel Montague is the best Ogie I've seen, for sure, and the others were equally as impressed as I was with his amazing performance. Marisha Wallace was of course fantastic as usual, but even in her number she was even better than before. This is my 3rd performance seeing her, and I love it! I am now looking forward to seeing her in Hairspray when it opens as well now that I know she will be playing Motormouth Maybelle

There were also 3 new actors to see. The first was a new Dawn (rising, haha). This is now the 4th Dawn I've seen in these shows, and Evelyn Hoskins was definitely the best! She had a great accent but was also really well in tune when singing, and between the three leading ladies, this combination had by far the best blend of voices and it was amazing. She was also funny and worked super well with Joel as Ogie.

Then there were the leads. Gavin Creel is a name I have heard multiple times and listened to him singing on cast recordings like Hair. He was incredible. Compared to David Hunter, he was not quite as funny - and not quite as silly-funny either, but he came across a bit more genuine and sweet instead. It was nice to see a different perspective on the role. And Sara Bareilles. How to explain her as Jenna... I think it's this: I've seen 3 other actresses play Jenna, but actually, Sara Bareilles IS JENNA. She just is. She was funny, sharp, sarcastic, and above all, her performance felt effortless. That was also the most impressive thing about Sara and Gavin together, they were just the perfect combination together. They both sang so effortlessly and with such grace. There were runs and playing around but it all felt natural and not a thing felt forced - at all. And I adored it.

After the show, I heard people talking about stage door, and i was like YES. Viddie had never done a stage door, and Jess and I haven't done one in ages. So we headed over only to find a rather large queue. Luckily everyone was super nice and was really kind and talkative at stage door. We met Marisha first as she was out really fast. She was giving everyone flyers about her solo show and promoting it, which was quite funny. Then Gavin Creel was out next, being so kind to everyone else, just before Sara! I said thank you and that she was amazing, and she replied, "I'm really glad, I would hate for it to be just okay." My response was, "Of course - you wrote it!" which made her laugh. After she left, most of the queue disappeared, which was a shame because Evelyn had just come out and she was super sweet! I told her I don't know how she keeps a straight face opposite Joel and she said that while they're dancing at their wedding, they're usually laughing!

After that I still had to get home and it was a super late night which has thrown me off for the rest of the week, but oh well. Totally worth it. And I want to see Sara again before she leaves, and the Lucie again once she's back! So I guess I'm addicted to Waitress and will get to at least 6... Oops?