West End Boy

WEST END HOTTIE # 16 – Mark Evans

2011-09-14T11:57:00.003+01:00

Okay, so it’s been a while, and after a brief hiatus, may I present to you the latest West End Hottie, one Mr Mark Evans.

This very handsome Welsh chap holds a plethora of great theatre credits to his name, including the recent tour of ‘Oklahoma!’ which spawned *that* infamous GaGa video tribute of Telephone, he played Brad in the UK tour of ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, channelled his inner Zac Efron as Troy Bolton in ‘High School Musical’, appeared in the original casts of ‘Wicked’ and ‘Spamalot’, and has since returned to the Emerald City and currently stars as Fiyero in the untold story of the witches of Oz at the Apollo Vic. And yes, he looks amazing in the infamous jodhpurs. Oh, and did I mention he’s fit? Just take a look!

BUT...he’s not just a pretty face...he’s also a genuinely nice fellow having worked with him in the past, he’s a fantastic blogger (do check him out at http://markevansonline.blogspot.com/) and his debut album ‘The Journey Home’ is also coming out soon. Tickets for its launch party on Sunday 16 October are also available here http://www.wegottickets.com/event/132843

He’s also on Twitter. Follow him. Stalk him. Whatever floats your boat. @MarkHEvans

pReview: ROCK OF AGES, Shaftesbury Theatre, 05/09/2011

2011-09-06T13:34:00.001+01:00

I’m more Whitney Houston than Whitesnake, more Steps than Styx and certainly more Kylie than Kiss, however when the lovely folks behind the brand new musical Rock of Ages invited me to a preview at the Shaftesbury last night, I couldn’t say no. True my decision was mainly based on a combined crush of Shayne Ward and Simon Lipkin (both who appear in various states of undress throughout proceedings and totally didn’t disappoint) but am bloody glad I went. It actually, truly, really really ROCKS.

Set in 80’s Hollywood it compiles some of the best rock anthems ever created, slotting them in and around a brilliant story with a knowing nod (or should that be headbang?) to the usual realms of musical theatre. There’s a love story, there’s lap dancing (the poles were obviously left over from Flashdance), ballads, smoke machines and even (at one hilarious point) the entire company in full-on jazz hand mode.

Beardy Bristolian Justin Lee Collins and X Factor hunk Shayne Ward headline the cast alongside theatre stalwarts Ollie Tompsett, Simon Lipkin and the adorable Amy Pemberton as the other leads, backed up by a brilliant ensemble of strippers, rockers, dodgy agents and protesters, all backed up by a rocking (sorry) live band who remain onstage throughout.

True the book is slightly trite, but it knows that and plays on that strength and is genuinely probably the funniest musical I’ve been fortunate enough to see in quite some time. Even before the show starts the ushers are bedecked in eye makeup and 80’s garb, the auditorium is dressed up in time-specific billboards, fake lighters are freely distributed for encouraged usage throughout proceedings and even the traditional ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ pre-show announcements are replaced with ‘Dudes and Dudettes’. It’s a blast before the first strum.

From there we have displays of immense vocal ability (this means everyone but Ollie Tompsett and Amy Pemberton really stand out), brilliant gags (Simon Lipkin especially who steals the show), musical theatre digs (‘Andrew Lloyd Sondheim’ is just genius), poo jokes (no, really), camp German confectioners and Shayne Ward in his pants at various points. This would never be my usual type of musical, but it’s incredible. Critics will presumably hate it and compare it to the comparatively older (read ‘exhausted’) We Will Rock You quite literally up the road, but this will be one for the fans and it deserves to have them in droves. GaGa has her Monsters, Rent had its Rentheads, Rock of Ages deserves to have their Rock of Agers or ‘Ragers’ (see what I did there) and lots of them too.

Embrace your inner rock god or goddess and go now!

WEB x

As a footnote, although last night’s show was awesome, it wasn’t without its flaws and a show stop happened in act two. As a curtain was flown out it snagged on a neon sign, shattering it and shards dropped down all over Ollie Tompsett who looked understandable worried, but also extremely pissed off. All things resumed five mins later as if it hadn’t happened but it just goes to show how great the show and the audience were as it didn’t dampen a thing. Even the stage hand sweeping them up got a rock gig cheer.

Finally, if you’re a lonely gay man wanting to find a date of an evening why waste your time frequenting gay bars in and around Soho? Judging by last night’s audience, just go and see Rock of Ages, it was a veritable who’s who - or in this case who’s straight - of the gay glitterati and their waistcoat wielding friends. Also spotted was the lovely Daniel Boys, Richard Meek and David Badella (presumably there to cheer on fellow Rocky Horror chum Nathan Amzi in the cast), Jon Lee from S Club and oodles more.

West End Hotty # 15 – James Cohen

2011-05-03T19:55:00.004+01:00

Okay, okay, I know a lot of my West End Hotty’s are from the Priscilla-fold, however if they will keep casting buffer-than-buffety cast members I simply have no choice do I? With that rhetoric in mind, say g’day to the oh so very so muscular James Cohen.

James currently resides alongside my future husband Oliver Thornton in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre London. He has a host of weird and wonderful credits to his name, including work for the RSC, various pantomimes, the movie of The Madness of King George and the disarmingly interesting sounding role of Perky Porn Star in Naked Boys Singing! Sorry I missed that one...
Behold folks...and take a bow Mr Cohen!

PS – Thanks also to @JOJO_32 for the suggestion (and some of the pics, the dirty mare!)

West End Hotty # 14 - Tristan Temple

2011-04-27T17:03:00.001+01:00

Given the weather, let’s take the West End Hotty’s up another Fahrenheit or nine and say a hearty hello to the VERY sexy Mr Tristan Temple.

Mr Temple has had a very exciting and varied career thus far, starred in West Side Story, Cats as Alonzo (hmm…imagine him in all that lycra!), On the Town at the ENO, Chicago and the movie Nine starring a plethora of gay icons. He’s also worked with Girls Aloud and is one of the VERY fit cabin crew members on the hilarious Pam Ann’s DVD.

He currently resides in the Aussie outback in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Go see him in all his ripped finery…or just enjoy the pics below…

WEB x

PS - He’s also on Twitter so follow him (tongue hanging out) @MrTristanTemple

From Fatty to Fitty

2011-04-27T16:11:00.001+01:00

Okay…I am by no means a fatty, but to be honest with an impending holiday a mere 47 days away and the need to be beach-ready (I don’t want Greenpeace pulling me back into the ocean while I sunbathe) West End Boy NEEDS YOU! Yes folks, for the first time I am blurring the boundaries between the ‘real me’ and my alter-ego West End Boy.

So why blog about it? Well…this is where you guys come in. Obviously I am probably most known for my perving over theatre land’s finest specimens in my West End Hotty blogs, and I’ve decided I want to be one too.

Yes folks…when I return from the fair and sunny climes of Greece in mid-June if I have managed to tighten up, gain some definition, grow some biceps on the spindly arms I currently possess and generally Aaron Renfree myself, I shall be my own West End Hotty. Not for any vanity or egotistical reason I must stress, but simply so that I can go on record in the most public of forums I possess and to keep the pressure on myself to achieve this goal. You’ve stuck with me for so long, I can’t let you down surely?!

So what do I need? Well, sadly I am no West End star so the nightly work outs of gruelling dance routines, stretches and warms ups aren’t something I can do (well, I can but Box Offices would have major queues for refunds were I too grace any stage and join in) so instead I need hints, tips, advice, exercise routines that I can do at home, iPhone apps that might help and some sort of balanced structure to shifting the gut and getting my lazy arse into gear.

I’m quite a lucky chap as I am quite tall and have a decent size frame so hopefully this shouldn’t be too difficult, but the one thing I lack is self-discipline. I need you fine and fabulous followers and fans (ooh, alliteration, nice) to keep me motivated, regularly check up on me, ensure I am exercising and generally not being a lazy lump. If I am the latter, feel free to send obscene tweets. Well, they’re always encouraged anyway.

Now, I have taken a ‘before’ shot, but it will only be used to accompany the ‘after’ the day I get back from Greece. Also, solely as I have plans tomorrow night and my mates Will and Kate are getting hitched on Friday, that will be my last day of lazy excess. Well, it would be rude not to toast the happy couple surely? So, with that in mind, over the next few days do comment with help, tweet me (@westend_boy) or email me westendboylondon@gmail.com and hopefully I’ll do this… (no, this isn’t me!).

West End Hotty # 13 – Duncan James

2011-04-07T10:19:00.006+01:00

Having just been browsing through WH Smith, WEB’s eye was momentarily caught by the front cover of Attitude Magazine which shows, in all of their buff glory, the boy band Blue who are soon to be representing the UK in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

Blue have enoyed their share of bad press of late. Anthony Costa decided to wee on a cashpoint, Simon Webbe got caught cheating on his girlfriend with someone from The Only Way is Essex and Lee Ryan has been publicly vilified for his inane tweeting, however Funky Dunc has escaped all the bad tabloids and is actually no stranger to Theatreland and as a result is now my official thirteenth West End Hotty.

Back in 2007 he played the smarmy lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago, and more recently played the equally arrogant Warner Huntingdon III opposite the delectable Olivier Award winning Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde. Sadly, he kept his clothes on throughout the show (with the exception of his last night which saw him sport some very tiny pink hot pants in the finale). He released ‘I Believe My Heart’ from ‘The Woman in White’, hosted Grease: The School Musical and was even a judge on ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ on Channel 5. Oh, and he’s bisexual. We like this. Hmm...a member of a boy band with a great body that loves a good show tune.

Duncan James, take a bow...

Musicals and Miranda Hart

2011-04-06T16:46:00.001+01:00

WEB loves many things in life: his dog, his family, Oliver Thornton, Galaxy Minstrels, white wine in obscene volumes and a 6ft 1 award-winning comedienne called Miranda Hart. Put simply, she is a comedy goddess, hilarious and brilliant and fully deserves every single award she has recently been bestowed. Not only is her brilliant sitcom ‘Miranda’ a firm favourite, it is quoted on almost every occasion possible to the chagrin of all and sundry. So, having won all of these marvellous awards, Miranda let slip that she wants to do some West End theatre and seeing as she’s so busy being brilliant WEB has taken it upon himself to be her own personal casting agent and lined up some roles she is perfect for.

Miss Hart, comedy goddess and angel of the guffaw, I love and salute you. Such Fun!

Annie – Miss Hannigan

Now obviously this would be a bit of a stretch. Miranda is a mere 39 years old and the gin-soaked dragoon of Municipal Girls Orphanage Miss Hannigan is significantly older, but she would be hilarious and as this clip (at 09.20mins) proves, she’s a dab hand at pissed-acting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Z-RzWlpHg

Imagine that tackling ‘Little Girls’ while annoying ginger-haired stage school brats frolic around in the background? Pure theatrical Benylin is that.

Cats – Grizabella

Ms Hart had proved on many an occasion that she possesses quite a set of pipes as she regularly bursts out into song (often reaching quite dizzying heights of perfection) in her show. Now all she needs is to don some straggly old tights, a mangy old fur coat and spend 13mins of each performance singing Andrew Lloyd-Website’s seminal (good word) classic ‘Memory’ before climbing a stepladder up to the flies (sorry, Heaviside Layer). It would be an ideal part, she’d hardly be on stage so could spend her time writing a new series, it would show her new depths as a classical feline and make WEB incredibly happy. Go on Miranda, bung on the cat ears and give us your best ‘TOUCH ME!’ etc etc.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Baroness Bomburst

A woefully under-written character but shag me sideways she’d be amazing at it! Having seen many a Chitty and (ssh!) once flown in the car itself, she would totally own Act Two with the brilliant ‘Chu-Chi-Face’ and ‘Bombie Samba’ cavorting around in a massive gown and sporting a cod-Vulgarian accent. It would be so good a bit of wee would come out. Oops, only just back to blogging and over-sharing already, my bad.

Joseph and his Amazingly Spacktacular-Coloured Waistcoat – Narrator

Okay, NOT a fan of the show having been forced to watch it way too many times as a child, teenager and now adult. Having said that, however, she would bring a hell of a lot of authority and narrative charm to the piece (of crap) and be really rather special. WEB would be especially keen to see her having a bash at the various colours of the coat, writhing up against all twelve brothers and riding a camel. Given Miranda would be the main star of the show obviously she (and indeed me) would have to insist her television co-star Tom Ellis stars as Joseph. In a loincloth. At all times. *SIGH*

Les Mis – Madam Thénardier

Okay, it’s an obvious one, but could you imagine a better pairing were she to go into Les Mis and play opposite Matt Lucas as her Inn-owning hubby? No? Didn’t think so. The woman would look immense in a mucky old apron, with a heaving cleavage threatening to give her black eyes and belting out the best part of ‘Master of the House’ and casting aspersions over the size of her husbands manhood. She’s fabulously posh and well-spoken but WEB has every faith that she can scrubber-it-up like a right French peasant.

Sweeney Todd – Mrs Lovett

At this juncture WEB needs to make a formal retraction. Some time ago a blog was posted about Michael Ball and his impending appearance in Sweeney Todd at Chichester and being, well, a little bit cheeky. Having since met Mr Ball and discovering he is a delightfully smashing gentleman this no longer stands.

I digress. Michael (as I am now allowed to call him) will be starring opposite Imelda Staunton as Mrs Lovett, a role she is going to be amazing in given she has a Ph.D in playing ruddy-faced old bags. Plus Vera Drake is a wonderful film and crying out to be made into a musical – imagine the Act One closing number ‘Sluice Me!’ being sung by northern housewives as they dip their nets. Amazing.

Anyhoo, Miranda would be epic in the role too, and I feel Chichester should recruit her as Imelda’s alternate. Legend of physical comedy that she is, she would have no problem belting out ‘The Worst Pies in London’ whilst chucking around lashings of Homepride Self Raising Flour and puff pastry and generally being a wonderful old hag. Sondheim would approve.

Wicked – Madame Morrible

Miranda would look shit hot in a bustle, and could even add in some comedy asides during her dialogue with The Wizard. Following in the foot steps of Harriet Thorpe, Miriam Margolyes and current Mozza Julie Legrand (she of ‘rapey nurse’ fame in Footballers Wives) she’d be the youngest, but certainly the funniest Morrible in the whole of Oz. Personally I have seen Wicked way too many times than is technically healthy and have avoided going as fan-girls piss me off (although the lure of the ridiculously brilliant and down-right-lovely Louise Dearman does threaten to turn me into one), however if Miranda were to take the part I’d be there nightly.

So Miranda Hart, first of all I feel it is imperative that we be best friends. We are the same height, I would be an asset to you and Stevie in your fictional joke shop and rest assured would support you to the hilt in any of the musical theatre endeavours written above.

I am, and will always remain, your most obedient casting bitch.

West End Boy xxx

West End Boy = Back with a Bang (and a cheeky little redesign)

2011-04-06T11:31:00.002+01:00

Yes boys and girls, lads and lasses, Love Never Dies-fans and Wicked fan girls, West End Boy is finally back to his blog having not uploaded a single thing since September last year - oddly enough around about the same time the casting of Michael Crawford in a The Wizard of Oz was announced. Said show is now up, running (occasionally with Crawford in the titular role or with the second cover with a script in his hand depending on which performance you attend) and apparently already struggling at the London Palladium.

So, where have I been I hear you cry and have read you Tweet? Well, West End Boy has been a very busy boyo with work matters taking over pretty much everything (try working from mid-November to mid-January with literally just Christmas Day off work, it ain’t fun), moving house (I now live in a tube zone and not sleepy and stuck-up suburbia), family emergencies (which I won’t go in to, they were worrying and stressful enough), disastrous dating (again, I won’t divulge but its certainly back on the celibacy coach for me) and then a whole load of changes with my job (I’ll stop with the brackets, I’m even boring myself) – basically its been a pretty mental seven months.

BUT....to quote Madonna in Dick Tracy...I’m back in business and back to blogging where I belong in all my alliterative happiness. So folks, what to expect? Well, since my last blog there has been a plethora (yes, a plethora) of activity in theatreland. We’ve had shows open, close, win awards, lose awards, Arts Council have pretty much raped most of the subsidised theatre community (BOO!), new casts have taken over, gossip sites have been rife, Love Never Dies somehow managed to improve, new fit lads have joined ensembles and generally I have some catching up to do. Some things, however, haven’t changed. Future husband Oliver Thornton naturally remains stunning.

So, expect more gossip, opinionated ramblings, West End Hottys so hot they’ll melt your laptops and general musings on all things musical theatre - jazz hands and all. So, to end, thank you for reading, and thank you especially for sticking with me - a fact I’m thrilled with (especially given this blog has been read an amazing 35,000 times!). I won’t leave you again!

West End Boy x

Michael Crawford joins forces with Andrew Lloyd Webber - a third time lucky?

2010-09-25T15:03:00.001+01:00

According to the Daily Telegraph, the title role of Andrew Lloyd-website’s latest venture is to be played by none other than Frank Spencer himself, Michael Crawford. Okay, they lucked out when they teamed up successfully with Phantom, slightly less so with the video-game-cum-musical Woman in White and now they’re presumably trying to test out the adage of three times being a charm.

Personally, West End Boy doesn’t see it working, not least because Danielle Hope (or Danielle Hope-she’s-off-when-I-go as I prefer to refer to her as) is fast running out of time to find herself a personality before opening night, but also because of Crawford’s well-documented diva tantrums which are apparently more explosive than a Lady Gaga concert. The part of the Wizard is surely too small for his ego? Will ALW write him in a big number named ‘Fabulous’ as opposed to Wicked’s ‘Wonderful’, and will Crawford’s head fit through the dock doors of the Palladium during the show’s get-in period? So many questions, but West End Boy is leaving it to you to answer…so what say you blog readers? Get voting and one of you lucky scamps will win tickets to one of the final previews of Flashdance…

PollPub.com VoteWhat do we think of Michael Crawford playing the Wizard?

WEST END HOTTY # 12 – Ben Richards

2010-09-25T08:28:00.001+01:00

Oh how I loved Footballer’s Wives back in the days of GCSE revision and pre-exam nerves. Pure tack, Tanya Turner’s talons, hermaphrodite footballers and, well,…Ben Richards, West End Boy’s latest official Hotty. Having starred in various musicals such as Grease, The Full Monty and filling in previous West End Hotty Adam Garcia’s stacked heels as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, Ben left the business of show and took up residence at Sun Hill Police Station as PC Nate Roberts, obviously looking very sexable in a policeman’s outfit. But…he’s BACK in theatreland now folks. And dressing as a woman…

Once again filling an antipodeans’ thongs (no, you mucky minded ruffians, in Oz thongs are flip flops) a couple of months ago our Ben took over from Jason Donovan and is appearing as Tick in Priscilla at the Palace. And by seeing a Sunday matinee not one month ago, he’s taken over and over taken his predecessor. He sings a treat, looks hot as both man and drag queen and does a very reasonable aussie accent too. However, I digress…feast your eye’s you horn bags!

WEST END HOTTY # 11 - Ramin Karimloo

2010-09-25T08:24:00.002+01:00

Ah Ramin. Name like a noodle (sort of), voice of an angel (of music) and body of a buffer-than-buff thing. Yes gays, ladies, gentlemen and those who are TBC, the latest official West End Hotty is none other than mister Phantom of the Opera himself, one Mr Ramin Karimloo.

The foxy Iranian-born Canadian (such poetry!) has appeared in an entire gamut of uber-musicals such as Les Mis, Sunset Boulevard, the Miss Saigon UK tour (you know, the one where John Partridge camped it about way too much during Bui Doi) and Phantom of the Opera. And now, of course, he’s one of the few redeeming features in its sequel Love Never Dies at the Adelphi. Despite the flaws of the show, Ramin’s voice soars at every opportunity, especially during the beautiful ‘Till I Hear You Sing’, which West End Boy loves to sing when applying a face-mask on a quiet Tuesday evening. Oh, and it doesn’t take an expert to realise he’s hot without a shirt on, although sadly Ben Elton didn’t think to write that into the sequel…enjoy folks! West End Boy is back!

REVIEW: Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park

2010-09-09T19:14:00.003+01:00

West End Boy has a long-standing tradition with one of his best friends and for her birthday every May she gets tickets for the OA’s annual musical. Oh we’ve seen them all…The Boyfriend (rather good), Gigi (awful), Hello Dolly (amazing) and each time we go armed with copious amounts of wine and nibbles and rarely remember act two. As a venue it’s fantastic, it possesses the longest bar in theatreland and its former and current artistic directors (Ian Talbot and currently Timothy Sheader) ensure their productions are staged with ingenuity and a fresh approach. ‘Gigi’ aside, it rocks.

Given Sondheim’s 80th birthday this year it seemed more than fitting that they tackle Into the Woods with which it seems more than fitting to plonk into an outdoor theatre and be at one with nature. So, having been rained off in spectacular fashion years before, West End Boy and chum (herself an Into the Woods virgin) packed their ponchos and headed to NW1 to see the rave-review winning show.

Taking the stories of the Brothers Grimm and twisting the shit out of them, Into the Woods cleverly weaves the narratives of Red Riding Hood, Jack (the ginger with the Beanstalk), Cinderella and Rapunzel and links them together thanks to a plot device involving a foetally-challenged Baker and his Wife and a curse placed on them by a Witch. Finding their ‘happy ever after’ at the end of Act One, their stories are drastically unwoven in the much darker Act Two where characters learn to be careful what they wish for, and that happy endings don’t always happen.

In its first ever outdoor incarnation, Sheader has made other significant changes to the show including using a child actor (two words West End Boy hates) to act as the Narrator. Scurrying onto the fantastically evocative multi-level and tree-lined set (by Soutra Gilmour) it’s evident our little tale-teller has run away from home. What follows is clearly playing-out in the ruddy runaway’s imagination but…ah, tell you what…as the show closes this weekend I won’t dare spoil what happens in case you’re going.

The cast list reads like a veritable who’s who (as opposed to a who’s THAT) of musical theatre stalwarts including West End Boy’s absolute favourite Jenna Russell as the Baker’s Wife, Helen Dallimore (Cinders), Hannah Waddingham (see below), Beverly Rudd (Red Riding Hood), Michael Xavier (a very foxy wolf and Cinders’ Prince) and even has the [recorded] voice of Judi Dench as the Giant. Marvellous. Cast members were clearly having an absolute ball, although given it was the one decent night weather-wise it may have just been sheer relief knowing they may actually complete a performance.

Watching a show at the Open Air is quite unlike any other, and with ‘Woods’ it felt almost intimidating beginning the show in shared light; both characters and audience members innocently exposed to the elements. As the evening wore on, however, as both the plot and night sky drew simultaneously darker, the sheer theatricality of both Sondheim and sundown made it all the more powerful.

Standout performances came thick and fast, especially from Jenna Russell as the Baker’s Wife and Beverley Rudd who gave a crackingly funny Little Red Riding Hood. Ben Stott as Jack was sweet, the two Princes (Michael Xavier and Simon Thomas) were a hilarious fusion of Rupert Everett cum Russell Brand and although the Baker (Mark Hadfield) has some great theatrical credentials his voice wasn’t wonderful – perhaps a key to him is something to gain entry to a locked door, not something to sing in. Ensemble members forming the lesser parts added to the fun on the four different levels of staging and ensured the stage was rarely bare, and the special effects were brilliant, especially Milky White the cow, the Giant, the beanstalk and the zip-wiring of actors up and down Rapunzel’s hair.

And what of the Witch? Well…West End Boy is not a fan of Hannah Waddingham. True she’s a fine singer and actor, but after Olivier-Gate in which she was publicly very hacked off at not winning for Spamalot, West End Boy has always seen her as nothing more than a two-bit Diva. Her performance was more than fine (and impressive given she spends Act One mostly hunched over using crutches on both arms), her transformation scene from hag to hotty was awful, but she failed to deliver the laughs where Sondheim so expertly put them.

BUT…having read this wonderful interview with the lady herself West End Boy is thawing slightly: http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/interviews/view/item111919/Hannah-Waddingham/

As a musical it certainly has its flaws. Some new additions from recent Broadway revivals such as the Three Little Pigs don’t quite work, it does drag on a little in places and some of the humour was lost, but in the capable hands of the Open Air and Timothy Sheader, this production is nothing less than pure woodland magic. It closes this Saturday…if you haven’t seen it GO.

INTO THE WOODS - Open Air Theatre, Regents Park until Saturday 11 September (http://openairtheatre.org)

REVIEW: Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act at the London Palladium

2010-09-08T14:28:00.003+01:00

West End Boy was fortunate enough to be invited to see what sadly turned out to be one of Whoopi Goldberg’s final performances in the role of Mother Superior in Sister Act at the London Palladium due to the sudden illness (and sadly a few days later the passing) of her mother. Not that he’d expect Whoopi to read this, West End Boy’s thoughts and prayers are with her and the rest of the Goldberg family at this sad time.

The depleting audiences of the West End run of Sister Act were given a much-need shot of Insulin (or it’s Hollywood equivalent) when producers Stage Entertainment announced that taking over from original Mother Superior Sheila Hancock would be none other than the legendary fabulous Ms Whoopi Goldberg.

According to the popular presses Sister Act ticket sales soared by ridiculous amounts, people queued overnight for [restricted view] day seats and some online auction sites were selling tickets for over £300 a pop. And for West End Boy? Well…West End Boy got comps. Yes folks, hate me if thou must, but if you’d read your Sister Act scripts, sorry, Bibles, you’d know that hate is a sin. Without wishing to rub the proverbial salt in the wound, this would be both the second sighting of Sister Act as well as marking the second time seeing Whoopi onstage having sat but four seats down from the lady herself on the show’s press night and clapping like a seal as she appeared at the curtain call.

But, this time the pressure was on WG as an actress, not as the show’s co-producer, as she got back into the now iconic habit in the musical adaptation of one of her biggest movie hits, although this time in the more understated role of Mother Superior instead of Vegas showgirl Deloris Van Cartier. As the houselights dimmed WG’s original front of house announcement about turning off all mobile phones ‘Or I’m comin’ to get you’ rang out to chuckles of delight. Her voice was soon replaced with the lady herself in person as she entered stage left, hands together in devout prayer, which quickly gave way to discreet hand gestures requesting the baying mob to pipe down so proceedings good begin. Although onstage for barely 30 seconds, it set the tone of the entire show…whether WG was gracing the stage or not, the already awesome cast remained in sixth gear throughout and drove their pope-mobile of a show faster and better than ever.

Performing the role of Deloris, the lovely Patina Miller showed zero sign of exhaustion or boredom and (forgive my language oh lord) riffed the fuck out of Menken’s score. Funny, apprehensive, arrogant and bad ass all at once she didn’t show a sign of stopping whether vocally or dramatically and made it look like she’d been playing Deloris for days not over a year thanks to her energy, enthusiasm and talent. Not an easy feat when sharing the stage with the very woman who created the role in the first place.

As always the fantastic ensemble’o’nuns performed wonderfully, especially the hilarious Claire Greenway and adorably cute Katie Rowley Jones as Sister Mary Patrick and Sister Mary Roberts respectively. Claire managed to play the fat nun with ingenious and mature comedy that never once relied on her physical stature, and Katie can do no wrong - her rendition of ‘The Life I Never Led’ had West End Boy in tears, just as it had on press night. The void of Gay Soper’s Sister Mary Lazarus was also nicely filled by Jacqueline Clarke who managed to convey the crabby convent dweller with a lot more wit and charm than her predecessor. I would mention the male cast, but why bother, they were all good (Simon Webbe was off) but being so underwritten there’s not much more to say.

And why indeed when there’s a Whoopi to talk about? True, the script had been modified somewhat, most noticeably in the climax to act one where the original dialogue was replaced with Whoopi repeating the word ‘YOU!’ while pointing to Deloris and looking angry (which fell a bit flat), and at times she looked a little wide-eyed and bewildered (but then faced with a packed out Palladium I would be too), but she sang very decently, did a very good line in world-weary stares and danced up an absolute storm during the wonderful final number ‘Spread the Love Around’ in her sparkly nun-suit.

However, what made her stage presence so great was particularly highlighted in her scenes with Patina…clearly two women who admired and respected each other off-stage, it created a wonderful chemistry onstage between them both. It also added an unexpected depth to the show; here were two African American women, both having made different life choices, suddenly united, not only by their shared experience, but also by their race. All in all? And forgive the Dairylea ending to this review, but as the song goes…it was ‘Fabulous’, baby.

According to West End Boy’s show source, despite the urgency at needing to fly back to the USA, wonderful Whoopi still found time to send her apologies to cast and crew in a letter which highlighted each and every one of them and thanked them for their support. She also vowed she would be back and rumour has it she’ll return to the Palladium altar before the run is out. Buy a ticket NOW just in case.

http://www.sisteractthemusical.com/ until Saturday 30 October 2010

WEST END HOTTY #10 - Gavin Creel

2010-08-25T19:07:00.002+01:00

Well, it would be both rude and wrong NOT to include the lovely Gavin, especially as he is only technically in the West End for another week and therefore deserves such a worthy accolade to carry home with him as he heads back to Broadway. Yes ladies and gents…give me a G, give me an A, followed by a V, I and an N and go weak at the knees for Mr Gavin Creel.

The Ohio-born hunk has carved quite the career for himself on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to lead roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie opposite Sutton Foster, which earned him a Tony nomination, the role of Jean-Michel in the short-lived revival of La Cage and the role of Claude in the 2009 revival of Hair, a role he was since invited to recreate for the London stage by Cammy Mackintosh in its current West End run. In amongst that, Cammy invited the lovely chap to play the archetypal cheeky chappy Bert in his wonderful West End incarnation of Mary Poppins which saw him do the unthinkable live on stage every night…tap dance, defy gravity by walking up, along and upside-down on the theatre’s proscenium arch and (and this is where Dick Van Dyke went wrong…), use a convincingly realistic cockney accent. Good times!

The openly gay actor has also regularly cruised (careful!) with dyke-du-jour Rosie O’Donnell on board LGBT Family Vacation ships, is a founder of Broadway Impact which fights for equality across the LGBT world and has even had time to release a couple of albums, GoodTimeNation and Quiet.

Oh, and did I mention he’s hot?

Come back and play with us again soon Gavin. It’s a travesty that Hair and all it stands for is soon to get shaved off the head of the West End, but we won’t forget you in a hurry!

Hair continues at the Gielgud until Saturday 4 September. For tickets go to: http://www.hairthemusical.co.uk/

Oh, and don’t despair, Gavin is also playing a couple of UK tour dates in October. Hoorah:

http://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/gavin-creel-tickets

Shoes at Sadlers Wells

2010-08-23T18:59:00.002+01:00

West End Boy loves to dance (he is amazingly adept at footwork, especially after a dry white wine or five), loves to watch it (especially anything by Matthew Bourne) and above all loves to watch it at Sadlers Wells - in his humble opinion one of the finest dance houses this country has. Their programming is always spot on, their relationships with the best producers and creatives in the business are faultless, and their attitude to creating new productions and introducing dance to the wider masses is beyond reproach.

I am also a huge fan of the camptastically adorable Stephen Mear. Ever since his work on ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ at Drury Lane through to ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Acorn Antiques’, ‘Sweet Charity’ and the immensely wonderful ‘Hello, Dolly!’ at the Open Air last year I have long admired his style and creativity. I also love that he has worked a lot with the legend that is Victoria Wood, especially in this nod to The Apprentice in her Christmas special last year. Amazing.

Anyway, lovely Stephen is back in town and has teamed up with several other fantastic choreographers including Aletta Collins, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Kate Prince and Mark Smith. As an additional bit of trivia, Mark is Stephen’s partner who is actually hearing impaired, hence the sign-language choreography in Poppins for Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (and no, I didn’t need to spell-check that) - cute or what!?

Their show, SHOES, come to Sadlers early next month and is basically a mixture of musical numbers, dance performances and footwear-related pieces composed by none other than ‘Jerry Springer - The Opera’ creator Richard Thomas. From Monolos to Choos, from Startrights to Crocs, we all wear them and this show endeavours to pay tribute to what we mostly all take for granted looking after our plates of meat on a daily basis – or hourly if you are West End Boy, I do love a costume change.

The show also features a live band and four singers, one of which is the fabulous Alison Jiear, famous for her role in Jerry Springer and gay clubs across the globe thanks to the dance remix of ‘I Just Wanna Fucking Dance’. Ace!

According to the marketing blurb the cast of 12 will perform in over 250 pairs of shoes (that’s 10 and a half pairs each, so presumably at one point they’ll be doing a flip flop fandango?) and features the very sexy Stephane Anelli (Never Forget, Saturday Night Fever and a rarity; a hot and heterosexual musical theatre stalwart) and Aaron Sillis (most recently in Matt Bourne’s Dorian Gray).

So, slip on your favourite pair of shoes and point them in the direction of EC1R. You won’t want to miss this!

VIEW SOME FOOTAGE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMhYvs1mkhY

SHOES
3 – 11 September 2010
www.sadlerswells.com

The lady behind the legend.... West End Boy squeals on Miranda Sings

2010-08-22T13:06:00.002+01:00

Please kindly note that this blog unmasks one of the internet and musical theatre’s most prolific and pant-wettingly funny phenomenons. If you’d rather keep Miranda intact, don’t read on!

Oh Miranda, how I heart thee. Weird squinty eyes, over applied lipstick, eyebrows that need urgent plucking, modest as a Methodist, talented as an ambi-dexterous prostitute and the voice of an angel (getting gang-raped by a tour bus of passing randy frat boys). Miranda is one of the most hilarious YouTube sensations in existence.

Off-shoot of one US comedienne Colleen Ballinger, ‘Miranda’ began uploading her work to Youtube in 2009 and has since won the adoration and acclaim of the masses thanks to her near-perfect pitch, vibrant vibrato and general fabulousness. Her videos have been viewed over nine million times and it has acted as a well deserved launchpad to live appearances across the globe.

But, what Miranda doesn’t want you to know is that...she’s actually VERY pretty and really very talented. West End Boy know’s Katie Price tries to make it look easy but to sing badly is actually an art form in itself and one that Colleen does, and exploits, expertly.

In a rare appearance as herself, you’ll see what I mean...

Oh, and for all you haters of Miranda Sings? BACK OFF!

10 Reasons why I’m Hell Bent on the Shent(on)

2010-08-21T10:52:00.002+01:00

He’s such a good Tweeter, often posting mini-reviews of shows before they go to print/online (follow him @ShentonStage)

He started his career in the same sort of job role I currently hold (it gives me hope I’ll go on to bigger and better things)

He’s a great big cuddly bear (although his personal training is paying off and he’s got infinitely more svelte of late)

He is a genuinely nice chap (I have met him on occasion and is always charming)

His boyfriend is adorable and they are seemingly inseparable

His blog on the Stage website is a daily must-read and covers all sorts of issues, topics and sometimes porn stars! (www.thestage.co.uk/shenton)

He doesn’t enter into bitch fights when other journo’s write about him

He is so damn opinionated, but usually in a good way

He’s the Chairman of the Critic’s Circle

He’s one of the most influential and eloquent theatre writers this country has (he went to Cambridge dontcha know!)

So, ladies and gents, a round of applause for the Shenton please!

WEST END HOTTY # 9 – Chris Piper

2010-08-21T10:21:00.001+01:00

After a brief hiatus, I’m back, and by way of apology for my lack of blogginess, please give a big hand to the very damn sexy Chris Piper, who in all sorts of ways makes up for my absence.

Chris has appeared in various shows both in town and on the road including Desperately Seeking Susan, WWRY, Flashdance and Fame and has also appeared in movies alongside Daniel Craig, Robert Pattinson and Christina Ricci. Impressive non?

Chris’ stock rose most recently through appearing on BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance. No, I didnt watch it either (I’m dangerously allergic to Cat Deeley), but I’m assured he was a contestant and has also appeared on Pineapple Dance Studios and Children in Need. Bless!

Currently young Christopher is appearing in several shades of black in Chicago. Their stunt casting may well be shit, but Mr Piper is surely a reason to go and see it again.

I will be back...from outta space...

2010-08-20T07:38:00.001+01:00

Dearest followers and fans, I'm so sorry for not posting recently, especially as my blog has now been viewed over 3,500 times which is brilliant news.

The last few weeks have been pretty crappy with all sorts of family woes hence the lack of West End hotties, news, gossip and scandal.

But West End Boy will be back with a vengeance this weekend.

Happy Friday everyone!

West End Boy

WEST END HOTTY # 8 - Gary Amers

2010-08-09T07:39:00.001+01:00

To say this guy is hot is a total travesty. He is sweltering. West End Boy gives you (and don’t forget to bring him back when you’ve finished with him)…Mr Gary Amers.

Gary is originally from Newcastle, but we won’t hold that against him as he soon moved to the big smoke to train and has enjoyed parts in Chess, Hair, played Marilyn in Taboo opposite Boy George, was in the original UK tour of Chicago and Wicked and has most recently appeared in the title role of musical hall masterpiece ‘Frank’s Closet’.

Gary was also cast in the fantastic, and woefully-not-returning-for-a-third-series, BBC comedy ‘Beautiful People’. Penned by Jonathan Harvey, Gary played Sasha, the buff Yank boyfriend of the lead character Simon Doonan. Alas he is only in series one, but rent it all the same or just check him out in the clip below…oh to be that pooch!

Happy Monday boys and girls…

Happy (belated) Birthday Stephen Sondheim…

2010-08-06T12:56:00.005+01:00

West End Boy loves Sondheim; he always has and always will. Ever since watching West Side Story on video as a child, growing up collecting soundtracks of Follies, Company and Into the Woods (including his own hilariously butch portrayal of the Baker in the latter at secondary school) he will forever have a deep love and respect for the ultimate lyricist/composer who has brought to the masses some of musical theatre’s most anthemic scores, songs and special moments in live entertainment.

2010 mark’s Stephen’s 80th birthday year and last Saturday night saw a packed out crowd attend a Prom in his honour at the Royal Albert Hall, with the birthday boy himself also present. Stephen hand-picked many of the performers and the BBC Concert Orchestra were under the baton of Sondheim-stalwart David Charles Abell who oversaw matters from the podium.

Absolute highlights included Caroline O’Conner (who for once West End Boy warmed to, despite her stealing the thunder from Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge) performing a part-vulnerable part-defiant ‘Broadway Baby’, a hilariously camp Simon Russell Beale performing ‘Everybody Ought to Have a Maid’ from ‘Forum’ joined by Daniel Evans, then Julian Ovenden, then finally Bryn Terfel in separate reprises plus hits from ‘Into The Woods’, ‘Company’ and ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ (performed by some young bursary recipients from the BBC Performing Arts Fund – so adorable West End Boy could smell their fresh faced enthusiasm from his sofa).

As listed on a previous blog of the top ten saddest songs in musical theatre, the wonderful Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell performed the gut-wrenching ‘Move On’ from ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ and showed the masses just why they deserved such success both in the UK and USA due to their beautiful chemistry and vocal skills. West End Boy can’t wait to see Jenna as the Baker in the forthcoming ‘Into the Woods’ revival at the Open Air either.

Special mention should also go to Maria Friedman who did a resplendent-in-red version of ‘Too Many Mornings’ (with Ovenden) and ‘Children Will Listen’. She also came into her own alongside Bryn in a rather muggy version of ‘A Little Priest’. She was funny, granted, however the real comedy came courtesy of West End Boy’s mother who was also watching and engaged him in the following dialogue of text messages:

West End Boy’s mother: Who’s that lady in red?
West End Boy: That’s Maria Friedman. We saw her in Witches of Eastwick.
West End Boy’s mother: Was that the one I liked?
West End Boy: Yes, you kept singing ‘Dirty Laundry’ for months afterwards.
West End Boy’s mother: Are you sure?
West End Boy: Yes
West End Boy’s mother: Is she pregnant?
West End Boy: I don’t think so.
West End Boy’s mother: Oh she is a size. Thank god she’s not flying.

West End Boy’s mother has always been a little weight-ist, but then in this case she kind of did have a point. Still, she sang her usual smashing way and was still a highlight, although should probably avoid wearing a block colour (especially red) next time.

The absolute and utter highlight was however Dame Judi Dench reprising her role from in ‘A Little Night Music’ and performing the iconic ‘Send in the Clowns’. In mere seconds her cracked voice, her vulnerable eyes and straining for notes was nothing short of a sheer masterclass in musical theatre and had tears rolling down West End Boy’s face. Somehow Judi filled one of the saddest and tortured torch songs in existence with even more pain and pathos than ever before. The woman is a living legend and long may she reign.

All in all? A glorious and glittering birthday celebration. Stephen Sondheim, West End Boy salutes you.

Grease should just jolly well close and a shoobop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom to anyone that thinks otherwise!

2010-08-06T07:59:00.001+01:00

Obviously the West End provides a vast array of different art forms within its’ various venues every day of the week. Some are high brow (hello National Theatre) others are low (i.e. anything at the Leicester Square Theatre) and in West End Boy’s oh-so-humble-opinion, some are quite frankly taking up too much room and need to post their closing notices. Yes Grease, West End Boy means you…

The world of the West End is fiercely competitive, roles are scarce and I do genuinely respect all jobbing actors so this post is in no way a criticism of the cast (both previous and current) as they earn their livings hoofing it up under the proscenium, but surely it shouldn’t go on much longer - especially as West End Boy’s own forthcoming musical extravaganzas of Hocus Pocus and Bedknobs and Broomsticks could easily fill its’ place instead?

Now do not get me wrong - the 1978 movie pretty much changed my life, and aged a mere 10 years old the presence of Grease filling the vast barn of the Dominion Theatre filled my (admittedly dull and pretty darn gay) childhood with absolute joy. Decked out with the HUGE, now iconic, pink logo where WWRY and Freddy Mercury now stands it was an exhilarating sight to behold and I had to wait an agonising year before I finally got to see the show. I taped it off the Royal Variety Performance, I bought the soundtrack on humble cassette, the CD (which was still relatively new to my household) of ‘You’re The One That I Want’ released by Debbie Gibson and Craig McLaughlan (complete with the official video filmed on top of the Dominion’s marquee to a packed-out Tottenham Court Road) and even set up a ‘Grease is Cool’ gang in Primary School. Odd how all three members are now fully fledged gays…

I digress… the show back then was incredible. Hydraulic lifts, neon-lit burger bars, huge bleachers which seamlessly traversed the stage, an impressively big car and an immense sense of scale and hugeness which befitted the material itself. Running for six years both at the Dominion and Cambridge it saw a wealth of talent fill the roles including the likes of Tamsin Outhwaite, Sally Ann Triplett and a young Adam Garcia and was, well…just awesome.

So…due to the popularity of BBC’s ‘How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria’ [answer: find some bint with bad teeth and no personality and stick her in a wimple] ITV soon jumped on the bandwagon with David Ian at the helm. Their less-than-impressive rival in the reality television casting stakes ‘Grease is the Word’ began broadcasting in a widespread search to find the ultimate Sandy and Danny to open a brand new West End version of the exact same show from the mid 90’s. It found Danny Bayne (snore) and Susan McFadden (since gone onto bigger and blonder things at the Savoy) and has been staged there for four long years ever since.

And so what of the show now? Well…its down-sized beyond belief within the cramped confines of the Piccadilly, Grease Lightening now resembles a Skoda with a chavvy-paint job, it looks completely dated and is played way too much like a panto. Cast members have come and gone (including some very talented friends), Ray Quinn popped in for a while (first as Doody, then as Danny), the Welsh one from Hear’Say currently fills the Zuko quiff and ‘Lil Miss Too-Smug-to-be-Dorothy’ Lauren Samuels opened last week as Sandy, but none of those casting decisions are really enough to keep it going much longer. Its forever on offer at various ticket sources, houses are rarely full and its hand jived for more than enough performances now.

The location of the Piccadilly is also rather limiting. If you didn’t know it was there or if you weren’t gay enough (don’t we move fast?!) to get tickets in time for previous West End Eurovision concerts you’d never find it. When Ewan McGregor appeared there in Guys and Dolls audiences made the effort because both he and the show were worthy of the destination. Personally if I hadn’t a clue where the Piccadilly was I wouldn’t even turn on a Tom Tom let alone crack open an A to Z to go and see the mess that is Grease 15 years on from its ‘proper’ run.
Its audiences too aren’t exactly of a calibre befitting a decent night out at the theatre. Its initial audience very much consisted of the typical ITV viewer making the trek from Ilford to the West End for a proper night of theatre. Yes…ITV! Home of Jeremy Kyle (whose guests attended the press night as ‘celebrities’ I’d imagine), Loose Women (I hate them all bar Jane McDonald) and Saturday Night Takeaway (incidentally, how about you stop ordering those and lose some weight while you stuff your faces Ant and Dec fans?) - its hardly the channel of class now is it? Thanks to the TV show, initial audiences were very healthy, but only in a bums-on-seats sense and even those chavs have since got back to their ‘An Audience Withs…’ and ‘Who Katie and Alex threesome-d with nexts’ and no longer frequent the land of Rydell High. In short, the cast are too talented and energetic (current Rizzo Siubhan Harrison is awesome for example, as is future West End Hotty Craig Tyler) to be playing to a less than impressive nightly audience.

Come on David Ian, West End Boy loves your work (and is jealous of your perma-tan) but pack the show neatly into the car boot of Grease Lightning and wave it off into the sunset…

West End Boy will now happily descend off his [Molten Brown] soap box and go into hiding for fear of repercussions from Ray Quinn’s fans…all three of them can be really quite vindictive…

Send in the Clowns...one woman....several Broadway Divas...in ONE TAKE!

2010-08-05T08:26:00.000+01:00

West End Boy has very little to say about this, just that Carly Sakolove is a LEGEND...

WEST END HOTTY # 7 - Hugo Harold-Harrison

2010-08-03T09:53:00.001+01:00

It’s probably something to do with GCSEs, A’Levels and a Degree in English but West End Boy just loves alliteration, so West End Hotty number 7’s H-ridden name alone is hugely pleasing. Add in a bucket load of talent, the fact that he works opposite my future husband Oliver Thornton in Priscilla and is a smashingly nice chap too, and Hugo Harold-Harrison (understudy to Ben Richards’s Tick and ensemble member) is a natural addition to the ever-growing list of ensemble lovelies.

A foxy French/English by birth, Hugo trained at GSA and has appeared in Fame, Eurobeat, Grease and Oh What a Night.

Hugo also comes highly nominated by several well-meaning fans who hold him in especially high regard and have ensured Hugo makes the list at some point…so, partly to appease them, partly to cheer up Hugo who is currently off the show unwell (get well soon!) and mainly cos he’s hot and we all need a Perv Tuesday (its like Shrove Tuesday without the pancake flipping) that’s why he’s here…

Come Fly with Pam Ann this autumn

2010-07-28T13:45:00.001+01:00

The world’s favourite air hostess Pam Ann has announced she will be Vaudeville Theatre-bound this autumn when she disembarks for a two week London flyover and bringing her caustic wit and hilarious antics back to the capital.

Critically acclaimed for her bitchy putdowns (Easyjet are a deserving target), knowing nods to the air traffic industry (C.S.D. anyone?) and Ozzie outlandishness, she’s an immensely popular talent and West End Boy loves her. Having seen her live many times, and despite a less-than-impressive pre-Christmas gig at the Palladium which Pam (or Caroline Reid as she’s actually known) acknowledged on her own Twitter page that she wasn’t on form, she’s just brilliant. Expect audience participation, hot backing dancers and a heavy dose of comedic artillery and don’t miss her.

Oh, and a word to the wise… gays move notoriously fast and are presumably already filling seats in both First and Business Class at the front of the Stalls, so get moving quick – if you’re in Economy you’re not deemed worthy enough to even look at her, let alone bask in all her flighty glory.

Pam Ann taxies onto the West End runway from 29th Sep to 10th Oct. For tickets head to http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/.

Also, how hot is this guy in the middle performing onstage with Pam in Brighton last year?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1fI0QtOnSM

WEST END HOTTY # 6 - Simon Adkins

2010-07-27T07:48:00.003+01:00

Why, good morning all, and apologies for not blogging for a couple of days...

But, I'm back with a bang with one Mr Simon Adkins…current long-running star of Jersey Boys in London with a bone structure that would make Tyra Banks weep, As you can see he is quite the hottie and as a result is the sixth addition* to West End Boys’ (wish) list.

In addition to his role as Bob Crewe at the Prince Edwards, Simon was in the original cast of Wicked, appeared in the UK tour of Jerry Springer The Opera, was in The Producers at Drury Lane and on tour with Peter Kay, played both Munkustrap and Tugger on the Cats tour and has been on Blue Peter. Ah, bless.

Enjoy ladies and gays…have yourselves a Tuesday treat on me :-)

* Following on from a ridiculous argument from a die-hard fan of one of the chaps featured on this blog about not coming first on Twitter, please kindly note that the West End Hotty series is NOT a competition and although they are numbered does not mean they form a compiled list in order of greatness. Some people need to chill!

WEST END HOTTY # 3 - Aaron Renfree UPDATED

2010-07-23T07:48:00.002+01:00

Um, how on earth did West End Boy miss THIS photo of West End Hotty # 3?

A photo paints a thousand words, so that is all he has to say. Happy Friday everyone!

WEST END HOTTY # 5 – Adam Garcia

2010-07-22T08:18:00.003+01:00

Well, I guess you’ve been waiting long enough, so West End Boy is delighted to post West End Hotty # 5. So please step forward hunk of spunk Mr Adam Garcia!

As you all know, Aussie Adam first came to our shores after the Oz tour Tap Dogs came to blighty, and in effect he never went away staying on to fill the role of Doody in Grease before donning the infamous white suit and strutting his disco stuff in the lead role of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium. West End Boy remembers waiting SIX MONTHS to see Adam deliver his boogie moves in the show and was GUTTED when Adam was off sick at the performance. It’s okay though, West End Boy made enough return visits to ensure he was lusted over adequately.

Hollywood soon beckoned and Adam appeared in the movie Coyote Ugly as the obligatory piece of male eye candy, and was also in Wilde opposite Stephen Fry. Adam most recently returned to the UK stage in incredibly tight breeches as the first ever London Fiyero in Wicked opposite Idina Menzel, a role he originally created in the Brodway workshops.

Adam is currently starring once again in the new production of Tap Dogs at the Novello Theatre until September before it tours to Sydney. Don’t stay away too long Adam – we heart you muchly.

Movies that should be turned into musicals - Bedknobs and Broomsticks

2010-07-20T12:18:00.003+01:00

Following last weekend’s appraisal of why Serial Mom should make it as a musical, West End Boy has decided its time for something a little more family-friendly.

Disney’s BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (1971)

A childhood favourite of West End Boy, and a Disney classic that totally deserves its staged premiere. Jollier and fundamentally more British than Mary Poppins, which it is often compared to, it would bring British spunk, ginger-haired older women, travelling beds, underwater lagoon duets and a football match teamed with sporting animals of all shapes and sizes to glittering, theatrical life. How has it never been done yet!?

PLOT

Eglantine Price, a bit like a ginger Mary Poppins, unwillingly takes in three chav evacuees from WWII-stricken London and harbours them in the relative safety of coastal village Pepperinge Eye. The three kids, Charles, Carrie and Paul Rawlins soon work out that Miss Price is not as normal as they originally think. True there’s something a bit lesbian about riding a motorbike and side car and living alone with a cat called Cosmic Creepers, but it turns out she’s actually an apprentice witch training at the Correspondence College of Witchcraft under the postal tuition of one Professor Emilius Brown.

However, when her final lesson for ‘substitutiary locomotion’ (the ability to make inanimate objects move) does not appear and the school disbands due to the war, Eglantine decides to confront her tutor in person. Hopping aboard her late-father’s bed armed with the children and her famous travelling spell, the quartet start a magical journey through war-torn London, where they encounter Emilius. The hack magician soon confesses he made each spell up out of an old book and has lost the missing page.

Searching high and low through Portobello Road and travelling to the fantastical Lost Isle of Naboombu in which they find and steal the Star of Astoroth which bears the magic words to the spell, they return to Pepperinge Eye in a bid to stop the war.

BUT…the German’s soon invade and imprison Eglantine and the children in a dusty old museum (Emilius has since buggered off back to London as he’s a latent commitment-phobe) but the apprentice witch soon uses the spell in their jail and old relics, suits of armour and knights are brought magically to live and outwit the poxy Nazis. The safety of Dorset is soon Eglantine’s, happiness is restored and they all live happily ever after (well, for the duration of the closing credits). Disney bliss if ever there was some.

GREAT QUOTES

In addition to the songs, which I will come to, there are a great set of lines that would naturally have to be extracted from the film…

-
Charlie Rawlins: [reading a container, disgustedly] Poisoned Dragon's Liver?
Eglentine Price: [repeating matter-of-factly] Poisoned Dragon Liver.
Paul Rawlins: You mean you poison the dragon, or just the liver?
-
Eglentine Price: Filigree, apogee, pedigree, perigee!
-
Eglentine Price: Oh, bother! I do hate shoddy work!
-
And West End Boy’s absolute favourite line from any movie ever made:

Eglentine: Paul, I need the bed knob back. I must get to London immediately.
Paul: (completely dead pan) What’s that got to do with my knob?

AMAZING no?!

CAST

Obviously the three kids will be played in rotation by different stage school brats, preferably a ruddy blonde (Paul), a mousy brunette (Carrie) and a greasy-haired pikey-to-be (Charlie). For this reason the musical version of Bedknobs and Broomsticks would be very much led by its two adult leads:

Miss Eglantine Price

Maria Friedman would naturally make a great Eglantine. Strong of voice and with easy sway over her sister Sonia to co-produce with West End Boy she’d make a terrific female lead. Much prettier than Angela Lansbury who played her in celluloid, she’s already proved she can play a klutzy witch in ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ and would be more than adept at all of the flying sequences. Perfect casting.

Emilius Browne

Emilius would naturally have to be played by Philip Quast. Blessed with thighs that could crack an Eponine he’d make the role his own and as British as possible.

Obviously the pre-show announcement asking patrons to turn off mobiles etc should be voiced by Bruce Forsyth, who appeared in the movie as the dodgy bookman’s henchman Swinburne.

SONGS

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (or ‘Knobs’ as it will affectionately be referred to in the trade) is already chockablock with Sherman Brothers hits including ‘The Age of Not Believing’ which was nominated for an Oscar, ‘Eglantine’, ‘Portobello Road’ complete with cockney market traders, ‘The Beautiful Briny’ sung between the two adult leads underwater with harmonies provided by blowfish and ‘Substitutiary Locomotion’ where all of the inanimate objects and items from Eglantine’s wardrobe come to life and dance. They are all amazing!

As with Mary Poppins, new songs would be added. Emilius will certainly need a solo in which he contemplates finding love later in life called ‘Your boobs have dropped but I think I still fancy you’, Paul will need a number, probably called ‘That old woman keeps nicking my knob’ and Eglantine will have an eleven o’clock number called ‘I ride my broom pillion - that’s just how I fly’. Throw in the obligatory reprises and key changes and BOOM – hello Broadway transfer and full-scale UK tour.

MARKETING

The title of the show will naturally sell itself, however to add in more of a buzz amongst audiences, a reality television casting search will have to be undertaken. Broadcast before Countdown every weekday the show will encourage OAP viewers to let their cats audition for the pivotal role of Cosmic Creepers.

WEST END HOTTY # 4 – Dominic Tribuzio

2010-07-20T07:58:00.001+01:00

Well, number four is quick off the blocks (and according to the number of emails and DMs on Twitter West End Boy has received, he’s a popular choice) is none other than the compact little gymnast, martial arts expert, blondie and real-life Rocky Horror Mr Dominic Tribuzio. Bedecked in the leopard print pants, Dom has recently completed the first leg of the UK tour of Rocky Horror, but alas will not be returning on its second outing later this year (noooooo!).

However, West End Boy is VERY happy to report that Dom has recently been cast as the understudy to Carlos and Dance Captain in Legally Blonde in town. He starts in October. Hoorah!

Enjoy boys and girls…!

West End Boy would like to point out that the flowers above were not sent from him!

Getting Ball-ache over Sweeney Todd

2010-07-18T08:51:00.001+01:00

So Chichester’s biggest (non) casting secret has finally been confirmed and Michael Ball will be starring in Sweeney Todd there next year. Is it just Wend End Boy that has a problem with this casting?!

Lovely chap by all accounts, and possessing a heck of a voice, he’s just, well…a bit too nicely smarmy to play the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Old Compton Street, maybe, but Fleet Street? Hell no.

Let’s explore the evidence…with the exception of creepy Count Fosco in the live video game musical The Woman in White he always plays nice people. From Caractacus Potts in Chitty, Marius in Les Mis and even Edna in Hairspray his roles are always pleasant and good-natured, not razor-wielding and maniacal. Surely he’ll be the only Sweeney Todd in existence to do your highlights, ask you about your holiday plans and throw in a free sample of Tresemme instead of slitting your throat?

Sweeney Todd is dark and menacing, and one of Sondheim’s most elaborate and masterful scores. With Ball at the helm we’ll vocally be in very safe hands, but West End Boy is doubting his acting skills can override his cheerful chappy persona. It would be like asking Su Pollard to play Mother Courage.

West End Boy is looking forward to seeing Sweeney Todd and imagines that it will be a terrific production as Chichester musicals always tend to be and Mrs Lovett is being played by Imelda Staunton, which is even more exciting. We all know she excels at playing the ruddier women of the dramatic world and her ‘Worst Pies in London’ will be a brilliant sight to behold.

West End Boy thinks Mr Sondheim should do some lyric changes though…

“Attend the tale of Michael Ball
With vocals so big and yet talent so small
He likes to play women pretending he don’t
Get him out of the fat suit and he simply won’t
Succeeds at making your skin crawl
Does Michael Ball
The gayest-straight man in show biz”

Sweeney Todd opens at the Chichester Festival Theatre next year. www.cft.org.uk.

Movies that should be turned into musicals - Serial Mom

2010-07-17T10:22:00.006+01:00

Inspired by last weekend’s post on Hocus Pocus, I’ve been doing some thinking and have discovered some movies that haven’t (yet) been made into live musicals. The first of which is shared with you below. Some will seem obvious choices, some would be near-impossible to stage and some are just plain self-indulgent however all of them simply must be done!

Oh, and if any producers are reading this and nick my ideas there will be trouble. I know where your offices are Cammy and Andrew…

First off the screen is…

SERIAL MOM (1994)
A classic film from the John Waters camp (pun intended) Serial Mom is an absolute scream of a film.

PLOT

A suburban housewife (Beverly Sutphin) isn’t as nice as she seems. When her kids are at school and dentist husband is at work, she kills people. From calling the neighbour and yelling anonymous obscenities to murdering her son’s teacher for failing him in maths, she gets her revenge, but always with the best of intent. With a body count of seven, justice is soon sought, and a hilarious court scene ensues - the ending of which I won’t give away.

Like Hairspray it would combine wit and humour with a bit of an edge, but wouldn’t involve fat people (apart from Beverley’s daughter Misty). Which would be nice.

GREAT QUOTES

Chip: Mom, are you a serial killer?
Beverly: The only "serial" I know anything about is Rice Krispies.

Chip: I'm so happy I could shit.
Beverly: Chip, you know how I hate the brown word.

Dottie Hinkle: Hello?
Beverly Sutphin: Is this the Cocksucker residence?
Dottie Hinkle: God damn you! Stop calling here!
Beverly Sutphin: Is this Four Two One Five Pussy Way?
Dottie Hinkle: You bitch!
Beverly Sutphin: Now let me check the zip code. Two-one-two-fuck-you?
Dottie Hinkle: The police are tracing this call this very minute.
Beverly Sutphin: Well, Dottie Hinkle, then why aren't they here, huh, fuckface?
Dottie Hinkle: FUCK YOU!
[hangs up]

Misty Sutphin: [upset after learning her mother may be a serial killer] Now I'll never get a boyfriend!

Cop: All units: Serial Mom is headed South on Ceswick. Proceed with caution. She is armed and fuckin' nuts!

CAST

Beverley - Ruthie Henshall
Blatantly. She’s experienced in playing murderesses, and she’s a shoe-in for Beverley. Mixing maternal niceties with ferocious husk she’d rock the lead role and it wouldn’t be the first time she’s played a Kathleen Turner role on the stage as she starred in Peggy Sue Got Married in 2001.

Eugene Sutphin (Bev’s husband) – Paul Baker
Good-natured and kind, Paul would make a sweet ying to Beverley’s yang.

Misty Sutphin (Bev’s daughter) – Chloe Hart
Played by Ricki Lake in the movie, naturally we’d want an ex-Tracy Turnblad from Hairspray to play the role. Either Leanne Jones or Chloe Hart would do. Actually, let’s pick Chloe; she’s far less nasal than Leanne.

Chip Sutphin – Oliver Thornton
Well duh!

SONGS

Obviously the telephonic exchange between Beverley and Dottie Hinkle would have to be set to music, and I imagine there would have to be a huge eleven o’clock number from Beverley entitled ‘I’m a Merry Murderess (but above all I am a Mom)’. Throw in a huge courtroom finale number and three-part harmony song from Bev’s hubby and kids called “We’ll write to you in jail, Mom” and the cast album will go platinum.

All seven murders would also be set to music. Four of which would be:

“I have an A grade son” - sung from Beverley’s car as she mows down Chip’s maths teacher for failing him and criticising her parenting.

“My daughter’s fat – but she has feelings too” belted out in the gents as Beverley stabs a guy who cheats on her daughter with a fire poker.

“Saturdays are our time” – a patter song in which Beverley bemoans her husband’s patients for interrupting them on a Saturday which ends in her stabbing one of them with a pair of scissors and dropping an Air Conditioning unit on another’s head.

“Legs of Lamb ain’t just for Sundays” – West End Boy’s favourite in which Beverley murders an old bitch who refused to rewind a video tape when returning it to Chip. Knocking her out with a Leg of Lamb she bludgeons the non-rewinder to death. But in a funny way.

MARKETING

Obviously with a show of this size, scale and brilliance the marketing campaign needs to rock. West End Boy can see giant posters on the underground of Ruthie dressed as Beverley with an evil glint in her eye with the tag line “THIS IS MY BAD SIDE” (a key line from the movie). At the press launch obviously Ruthie will sing a couple of numbers, John Waters will talk and everyone that attends will be given…and this is the genius part…SERIAL MOM CEREAL BOXES!!!!

So there we have it…if you’d like to start investing, email me! I could do with the cash...

WEST END HOTTY # 3 – Aaron Renfree

2010-07-17T08:48:00.003+01:00

Do you remember these cheeky young scamps?

Of course! It’s lovely little S Club 8 (also known as S Club Juniors pop pickers). More innocent and spot-prone than their older counterparts S Club 7 who went on to succeed in racism (Jo), panto (Jon), ITV “acting” (Hannah), Strictly Come Dancing (Rachel) and obscurity (all the rest of them) some of the fresh-faced folks above have actually gone on to bigger and better things.

A couple of them are working in LA with some record labels and two of them are now part of Tampax-endorsing girl band The Saturdays, however it is Mr Aaron Renfree who is officially West End Boy’s third West End Hotty. And my word hasn’t he grown up!

After the sad demise of S Club 8 Aaron went on to train at Laine Theatre Arts and soon hit the road on the UK tour of Flashdance alongside Noel Sullivan and Bernie Nolan. He is currently a swing in We Will Rock You and is also in this month’s Gay Times.

Aaron, I am dusting off my copy of 'One Step Closer to Heaven' and saluting you.

N.B. West End Boy would like to point out that he is only a few years older than Aaron so please erase any concerns that a fat, old, lecherous queen is lusting after a 22 year old! The only register West End Boy wishes to sign is the bridal one at Selfridges when Oliver Thornton (finally!) proposes.

West End Whingers...Long may they blog!

2010-07-15T16:17:00.003+01:00

For those of you that don’t know them (and if this is the case I highly recommend you relocate from underneath the rock you reside beneath) the West End Whingers are West End legends. Remaining anonymous and guzzling as much interval Merlot as alcoholically possible, they regularly post hilariously tongue-in-cheek reviews of all that opens in the West End. The high brow, the low brow, the pantos, the cabarets and the car crashes (Yes, I mean you Shirley Jones in Concert!).

Both Phil and Andrew have also reached the heady heights of theatrical notoriety having re-dubbed Andrew Lloyd Website’s sequel to Phantom Love Never Dies as the vastly improved titular extravaganza Paint Never Dries which has since thrust them into the media spotlight, the witty wags that they are.

You can follow them on Twitter (@WestEndWhingers) and read their blog here too: http://westendwhingers.wordpress.com/

West End Boy has met both of them, and can confirm that behind each blog post and witty criticism they are gloriously fine fellows and deserve their glowing reputation.

West End Whingers…West End Boy salutes you!

Why West End Boy is looking forward to Shrek - The Musical

2010-07-14T16:46:00.007+01:00

Not everyone in theatreland was that enamoured following the recent announcement that the moderately successful Broadway musical Shrek will be stomping its way across the Atlantic and setting up swamp at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from next Spring. Replacing the undeniably British ‘Oliver!’ with a live Hollywood blockbuster isn’t to everyone’s tastes I’m sure, however I’m looking forward to it immensely.

So come with me now, and I will tell you for why…

The Film
Its based on a ridiculously popular film already steeped in comedy, music and irreverence which never fails to crack me up. Who couldn’t love a movie franchise where the hero is Scottish, overweight, flatulent and green? I’ll take you a Prince Charming and raise you a Shrek anyday.

Press Reps
Its UK Press Reps are brilliant. The silent sellers behind the scenes, publicists have a hard job, but Shrek is in the safe hands of two of the finest (and nicest) in-house PRs there are from London-based company Cornershop PR.

“I Know It’s Today”
When YouTube-ing clips I happened to find this pro-shot video of Princess Fiona’s number ‘I Know It’s Today’ which instantly had me sold. Sung atop a tower by a child, teenage and adult Fiona (played in the US by Sutton Foster) each share the hopes, desires and latter bi-polarity of the musical world’s anti-heroine and echoes the same balls and chutzpah of their animated equivalent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkoAo9xfcmQ

Casting
Rumours are abound that Britain’s Got Talent panellist Amanda Holden is to be cast as Princess Fiona. West End Boy hopes this is not true…

Just because Foster played the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway and Holden played her in London a few years later doesn’t mean she is the UK equivalent of the multi-award winning American songbird. True, Britain’s Got Talent, especially in Musical Theatre, but you lady ain’t cutting the mustard even if Simon Cowell is your bezzie mate. Be on the green carpet come press night by all means but don’t you dare be on stage attempting the notes you just can’t reach. Anyone who saw her lack-lustre and feeble attempt at the TMM eleven o’clock number ‘Gimme, Gimmer’ will know what I’m talking about.

However, I’m excited to see who is in the mix (or should that be swamp?) come the autumn when casting and rehearsals are due to begin. Personally I could see James Corden make a hilarious Shrek, and he has done a musical before, not that his Dizzy-Rascal lovin’ ego would ever dare admit that nowadays…

The Dragon
Is being totally redesigned and from last week’s Saturday Telegraph Magazine feature (Yes…alright. I’m white and middle class. Get over it.) it looks amazing! I won’t share the pictures, just buy some tickets and see it for yourselves!

The Classic Line from Gingie
One of West End Boy’s favourite lines from the movie comes from some witty (though torturous) exchange between the Gingerbread Man and Lord Farquaad…

Lord Farquaad: I've tried to be fair to you creatures, now my patience has reached it's end! Tell me or I'll...
Gingerbread Man: NO! Not the buttons! Not my gumdrop buttons!
Lord Farquaad: Alright then! Who's hiding them?
Gingerbread Man: Ok. I'll tell you. Do you know... the muffin man?
Lord Farquaad: The muffin man?
Gingerbread Man: The muffin man.
Lord Farquaad: Yes, I know the muffin man. Who lives on Drury Lane?

Given the location of its West End home it’ll bring down the house surely!

Lord Farquaad
Obviously Shrek is a challenge to stage given the various characters out of folklore, fairy tales and farm yards, however the Broadway version got round this in many clever ways, which West End Boy’s looking forward to seeing in, well, the West End. Lord Farquaad alone looks genius - just pity the poor bastard who will be playing him as the actor spends the show on his knees high-kicking and tap-dancing like the best of em. Not to cast aspersions on any men in the West End who would be only to happy to spend a couple of hours on their knees for eight times a week, whoever gets the part will have a swell time.

LF’s character also has some hilarious songs (one of which ends in a total piss-take of Defying Gravity – see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GJ56wGUvWM ) and his character has been made all the more rounded with a funny plot-twist that explains why he’s so short and stroppy which I wont reveal…

So there we have it. It wont be to everyone’s taste, but give it a go. Or an Ogre might come and get you :-)

WEST END HOTTY # 2 – Jack Jefferson

2010-07-14T07:40:00.005+01:00

Be warned…the following photos may make you blush, convulse, your jaw to drop or a mixture of all three combined. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the one redeeming feature of Love Never Dies…Mr Jack Jefferson.

Jack is a former gymnast and has an impressive list of credentials including the UK tours of Chitty, Chicago and Grease as well as Cabaret and currently Love Never Dies in the West End. He’s also one of the oh-so-scrummy male dancers in the Mamma Mia movie.

I heart him muchly and I’m sure you now will too. Just remember, if there is a queue, West End Boy is first in line.

The Top 10 saddest songs in Musical Theatre

2010-07-13T14:36:00.000+01:00

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions and in-put in forming this blog piece. Having only just started blogging it’s really encouraging and exciting to be getting so much feedback and followings from you all. As promised, below is a list of ten of the saddest songs in Musical Theatre. I know there are hundreds, if not thousands, more, but below is a list that has a personal resonance to me.

10 As Long as He Needs Me (Oliver!)

Ah…the classic Act 2 solo for Nancy in Oliver!. How can anyone not love this song? Full of cockney pathos and wretchedness, it is one of my favourite songs from Oliver! and never fails to bring a tear to the eye. Starting quietly and ending in a full-on belt, it provides any actress portraying the Dickensian wench to show their range not just vocally but as a leading lady also. I love Jodie Prenger and her rendition on the live recording of the current (but soon to close) production, and even Kerry Ellis nails it (although I’m not a fan having been put-off by her tri-accented Elphaba i.e. British one minute, American the next and from somewhere outside of Bristol every now and again - all in the one performance) however my personal favourite has always been Sally Dexter’s depiction. Starring as Nancy at the London Palladium back in 1994 her buxom portrayal was nothing short of magic. Spending Act One bawdy and brash I suddenly felt the pain behind her gusto and saw the confused and heart-broken woman behind the boobs who is forever intent on loving her man no matter how much he hurts her. And don’t get me started on the reprise. It kills me every time. As a typical snivelling gayer it also has a huge personal resonance having spent way too long in a bad relationship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_C3QhmafsQ

9 Tell Me it’s Not True (Blood Brothers)

Sung by a Nolan of your choice at least twice a week in different touring venues up and down the country, Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers always ends in the heartbreaking ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’ courtesy of Mrs Johnstone. Suddenly faced with the reunion and accidental death of her two twin sons Eddie and Mickey it ends the show on a depressing, yet hopeful high and is the key to the show’s longevity. Having revisited Blood Brothers for the first time in years on its current (i.e. never ending) UK tour it made me fall back in love with the show, not least because I share the same birth date with the twins. Oh dear…a West End Boy doppelganger? That’s the last thing anyone would want surely!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf8WmBH69yk

8 On My Own (Les Miserables)

Ah poor little Eponine...A down-trodden street rat who will never get her man, it sums up so much heartache and sorrow in just a few minutes. ‘On My Own’ is quite possibly the most overly done song in the YouTube community by random teenage girls dreaming of making it big in the Business of Show (and their parents should never have bought them webcams), and thanks to Glee it seems to have fuelled its popularity even more. West End Boy does a wonderful rendition whenever it comes on his iPod when driving in his car…and once even got a round of applause by some bin men who happened to overhear him. Surely he should be cast in the 25th anniversary engagement at the O2?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuS1cCnG8xc

7 Left Behind (Spring Awakening)

Spring Awakening never had a chance really did it? A bit like ‘Dawson’s Creek’ but set in 1891 Germany it was a muddle of teenage angst, masturbation, the loss of virginity and suicide, plus a bloody annoying habit of pulling hand-held microphones out of blazer pockets and “rocking out”. Apart from those factors I genuinely did like SA and felt it wasn’t given a proper chance by audiences, and it is mainly for this reason that ‘Left Behind’ makes the list. Following the tragic suicide of Moritz, his best friend Melchior sings to his late friend’s father about his lack of affection and attention which led to his demise. Thankfully West End Boy can’t feel any empathy with Melchior as his dad is awesome, but it’s still a sad old song and for that reason makes the list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oxt2gaGLzs

6 Love Don’t Need a Reason (The Boy from Oz)

Like most of the world, I love Hugh Jackman, and I love that such a butch straight man was self-assured and talented enough to portray flamboyant fellow Aussie (alas no longer with us) Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz. Although not a huge hit on the Great White Way, Jackman won mass-adoration for his take on Peter mixing his campery with tenderness, especially in his relationship with partner Gregory Connell. Performed towards the end of Act 2 when Connell has been diagnosed with an AIDS-related illness it is a beautiful love song performed between two men and deserves to be on the list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMyHdZXn1s0

5 Somewhere (West Side Story)

In West End Boy’s oh-so-humble opinion, West Side Story is one of (if not the) best musical in history. Having grown up on the soundtrack and seeing the movie its score is entrenched in my blood and Bernstein and Sondheim deserve West End Boy medals (a bit like a CBE but more glittery and sparkly) for enriching it with ‘Somewhere’ – which is a moving piece of musical theatre foreplay (Tony and Maria do the dirty afterwards you know). We all want to live in a world where hate, racism, homophobia and Kerry Katona don’t exist, and the song sums up that plea. Its later reprise sung solo by Maria over the body of her beloved makes it even sadder too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BQMgCy-n6U

4 If I Loved You (Carousel)

Carousel was never a show I understood but somehow knew the songs from, and having seen Joanna Riding in The Witches of Eastwick I immediately fell in love with her and bought the 1993 National Theatre cast recording of Carousel for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for. More intent on listening to her songs than focussing on the others and the narrative itself (which incidentally is beyond far-fetched) I never cared about the alliterative lovers Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow until seeing the show at the Savoy last year. True, Lesley Garrett’s chest kept inadvertently pulling focus, but it made me fall for the score in a new way, especially the opening duet ‘If I Loved You’. To me it sums up the hesitancy of falling in love (so wise) and the trepidation of falling prey to another’s affections. The gut-wrenching gets worse later in Act Two as the now dead Billy revisits Julie and the tense of the song changes from ‘If I Loved You’ to ‘How I Loved You’. God this blog is starting to depress me…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHAh-2xGxw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66MvvkXg8JI

3 We Do Not Belong Together/Move On (Sunday in the Park with George)

Gloriously revived at the Menier Chocolate Factory before moving to the Wyndham’s and then to Broadway in 2006 and 2008, Sondheim’s ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ provides us with two songs for the list, both taking pride of place at number three. An examination of a failed relationship, ‘We Do Not Belong Together’ is an awkward moment between two lovers reaching the end of their flawed paths. We’ve all been there…caught between staying and going, wanting to try but not enough patience to continue. ‘Move On’ (aided by a painful vocal from Jenna Russell on the Chocolate Factory cast recording) provides a heartbreaking re-appraisal of the relationship many years on.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunday-Park-Wi-Various/dp/B000EZ9048/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1279027192&sr=8-7

2 Time Heals Everything (Mack and Mabel)

Almost there folks…and an age old adage that is of course true in matters of the heart. Mack and Mabel’s score ends with a tragic solo from one Mabel Norman from Flatbush Brooklyn. Following a tempestuous love affair with silent movie producer Mack Sennet she is left heartbroken and heron-induced quietly confident that although her heart is in pieces now, it wont always be that way. Ain’t that the truth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiOt5Yjni-Y

1 Who’s Gonna Love Me (Spend Spend Spend)

And so we reach the end, with what is one of West End Boy’s favourite musicals and most-cherished songs in the musical theatre songbook. Based on the life of 60’s housewife Viv Nicholson who won the Pools and lost every penny it charts her life narrated by an older Viv as we see the life of her former self played out by a younger actress. Neither Viv’s acknowledge each other throughout until the moment their husband dies when both women unite in their immediate and retrospective grief in the song ‘Who’s Gonna Love Me’. It never fails to make West End Boy well up and die that little bit more inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4udqGJcmq0

God…I don’t half need a daiquiri now…

REVIEW: The Sound of Music UK Tour, New Victoria Theatre, Woking

2010-07-12T12:34:00.000+01:00

I have to be honest with you…I am well and truly not a fan of Connie Fisher. There’s something about her that’s so toothy and smug, and I firmly believe she only won the role of Maria all those years ago due to a modicum of talent but mostly because of her foppish haircut which matched that of Julie Andrews’ in the movie version. When I was initially invited by my friend to see the UK tour of The Sound of Music my initial response was to politely decline, but upon being told Connie was only performing a handful of the dates at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking I relented. My sources say Connie was off moving house which is why she wasn’t performing…surely she trained at Mountview and not Pickfords who could have done the heavy lifting for her?

I digress…Suburban Woking is an odd town, armed with more Tesco Express stores than trees, however the sold out Wednesday night audience seemed in good spirits, all very much looking forward to seeing the iconic show in all its finery. And I must admit, I was one of them. Having never seen the show live (the risk of Fisher-ism meant I didn’t bother seeing it at the Palladium) I was keen to discover how it works in a live incarnation and indeed on tour.

We begin with nuns…tonnes and tonnes of nuns which I must admit did raise a chuckle as it was blatantly obvious that the majority of them were men from the ensemble, each keeping their heads down in godly devotion. Still, we are soon introduced to alternate Connie (Phillipa Buxton) who is merrily sitting atop an lame astro-turfed slope, oops, I mean, Alp. Seriously… I know theatre touring has its confines but come on. She delivers the title song with gusto, and is in fact generally a very genial Maria…warm one minute, vulnerable the next and generally peppy as a puppy throughout.

Her Captain Von Trapp (played by Michael Praed) however, really lets the show down. Obviously his character is offish and only begins to defrost halfway through the story, but his performance is just so wooden that you don’t give a monkeys about his outcome whatsoever. The pivotal scene where his relationship with the Baroness ends and she leaves is literally played on fast forward and within 30 seconds he’s shackin’ up with Maria. Trust me, love stories in pantomimes move slower than this one.

The supporting cast are all perfectly decent, but it is the 7 Von Trapp kids that really hold the show together, including two adorable little gays-to-be in the form of Friedrich and Kurt. With parts padded out way more than I expected, they raised several laughs, were will-drilled in their footwork and rightly deserved one of the biggest cheers of the night.

As I’ve already mentioned, the perils of touring often mean productions are down-scaled to allow flexibility in travelling and staging in various venues, however I firmly feel the design (by Robert Jones) wasn’t really strong enough to compare with other touring shows which have managed to create bigger and more scenically impressive set pieces with just as quick a turn-around. From rotating flats which created the interior of the Von Trapp mansion, to a sweeping staircase which regularly wobbled whenever anyone ascended or descended it, to a very bog standard Convent I couldn’t help feel that the scenic design really let it down.

Still, R&H’s finest hits were delivered well and the act one closing number ‘Climb Every Mountain’ was amazingly sung by Marilyn Hill Smith and in its entirety the legacy of Maria and her curtain wearing step-kids is very much still intact as it continues to tour the UK.

For more info log on to www.thesoundofmusictour.com

Hocus Pocus should be made into a stage musical

2010-07-11T13:11:00.000+01:00

I’m sure many a gay squealed with delight as they turned on their TV’s this morning and discovered that Disney’s Hocus Pocus was being shown. With SJP, Bette Midler and a talking black cat what the heck’s not to love?

Given the current trend of transforming ANYTHING into a live stage version (Love Story, Ghost, Desperately Seeking Susan anyone?) how on earth has the almighty Hocus Pocus NOT been done live?!

Think about it…three witches (but without a Daryl Van Horne in sight), a virgin with enough teenage angst to kill a rhino, a black flamed candle and oodles of Disney magic…it would SO work.

Picture it…a spooky prologue back in the old days of Salem in which younger incarnations of each witch set up the story followed by an overture during which we are transported into the modern day with a grand old community sing-along in which Max and his family arrive and feel a bit bewildered.

Bung in a massive set of special effects in which the older versions of the witches reappear (played by Rosemary Ashe, Sally Dexter and Jodie Prenger) and a massive ‘I Put a Spell On You’ set piece which is naturally reprised and turned into a soppy ballad between Max and Alison later on in Act Two. And don’t get me started on the ‘Oh Come Little Children’ song…yes it’s a bit paedophilic but naturally Dexter will ride pillion on a broomstick and hover over the audience causing anyone under the age of eight or the height of 4ft to fear for their mortal existences. All that’s needed is a jolly good sing-song to round matters off, an inevitable mega mix and BINGO, Olivier Awards out your ears.

Obviously Bette and SJP would be associate producers a la Whoopi in Sister Act and potentially guest star when ticket sales start to dwindle.

All together now…..BOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!!!

WEST END HOTTY # 1 – Oliver Thornton

2010-07-11T06:34:00.000+01:00

The West End stage is often graced by the beautiful people. The gorgeous girls and the buff boys of the ensemble, the handsome leading men and their pretty leading ladies. In addition to this, I’m a sucker for the boys, which is why this blog will also feature those I find the most attractive within theatreland.

Starting with a monumental bang is one Oliver Thornton. Having appeared in various productions including Starlight, Les Mis and Phantom, he has been starring as Adam in the camp-fest Priscilla since it opened at the Palace last year. Blessed with a stunning body, he also lacks any shyness in hiding it away.

Obviously Oliver and I will shortly be married and live happily ever after with his dog Lady Bea. She’s almost as cute as he is.

Little Welsh tease that he is, his Twitter updates do nothing but stoke the fires of perversion, providing details of his gruelling personal training sessions and fake tan nightmares, often with accompanying photos. I suggest you stalk, woops, I mean follow him like I do.

However he is not just hot, and all kidding aside, he is an extremely talented actor and singer, and by all accounts a thoroughly nice bloke to work with and know. Go and see him in Pricilla, his rendition of Hot Stuff will have you sweltering.

REVIEW: Ghost Stories, Duke of York’s Theatre

2010-07-11T06:26:00.001+01:00

Let’s get one thing straight…I do not like scary things. The Childcatcher in Chitty, snakes in any shape or form, hell even Jordan’s sex tape with Dane Bowers – they all have me winching and calling out for my mother. So with this in mind I’m still not sure what possessed me (see what I did there?) to go and see Ghost Stories, a play transferred from the Liverpool Playhouse and Lyric Hammersmith and now ghoulishly ensconced in the Duke of York’s Theatre.

The play, armed with a clever marketing strategy declaring anyone suffering from nervous dispositions should avoid it, certainly has a great deal of hype to live up to, not least from its trailer which shows an audience jumping out of their seats and screaming their collective heads off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ0Yhq_v4b0&feature=related

Impressionable fool that I am, I don’t mind admitting that these theme-park style declarations did make me wary as I arrived at the theatre. My nervousness was also slightly heightened by the odd scrawling of random numbers chalked on the walls of the pokey venue and hazard tape and random disfigured limbs which sat atop the bars. Hell, they even had pre-show announcements voiced by one of those typical cinematic scary movie types.

Following the show is a similar voiceover asking that departing audience members don’t impart the secrets of the show, and I won’t, but as an overview the audience are in attendance at a lecture given by Professor Goodman (played, rather hammily at times by co-writer Andy Nyman) who shares with us three separate accounts of paranormal activity which he has investigated.

Beginning each story from his lectern positioned in front of a bloodied Safety Curtain we are soon immersed in the stories themselves: A lone night watchman on his final shift in a spooky warehouse, a hit and run on a deserted road in the dead of night, and a haunted nursery complete with a strange paranormal inhabitancy and a baby that eats cat food (no, I kid you not. Whiskas perhaps has a stake in the show).

Each story is staged well thanks to some clever design and lighting by Jon Bausor and James Farncombe respectively, however the fundamental flaw is that none of the stories are actually very frightening.

The first story never really reaches a climax with just three flashes of mild horror and the use of placing recorded sound effects at different moments in different parts of the venue. The second, although probably the best in terms of its staging, is rather dull (not least hampered by the ‘body’ that has been run over is wearing light coloured clothing and therefore entirely possible to see strolling stage right as they exit the scene during a blackout). The third story is even duller until the dénouement of the tale is reached.

Despite hating the show in the immediate aftermath, it is only now (a few days on) that I have come to appreciate just how clever Dyson and Nyman’s production is as the conclusion itself suddenly brings each strand of the stories together in an unexpected twist. Clearly I can’t reveal what this is but bearing in mind the difficulty in presenting the horror genre in a live performance space, it somehow does work.

At just 80 minutes long, it is worth seeing, although I did hear a lot of departing audience members who were under the impression it was the interval. If anything, I think there could have been more scope to carry on with proceedings and present a couple more stories as by the end of the show the audience have been sufficiently scared enough to carry them into a second act where more tension could be created. Just as the far more frightening ‘The Woman in Black’ a few hundred yards away at the Fortune builds tension in act one and allows its audience an interval to get over the initial shocks and build apprehension of what might come in act two, I think this is Ghost Stories’ ultimate flaw. Despite one moment of genuine terror, it needs far more to justify its marketing message of being the scariest show in town.

Sorry Ghost Stories…haunt me if you must but you’ll have to shout boo louder than that if you really want to scare me.

So what’s this all about then?

2010-07-11T06:24:00.000+01:00

Well, I’m glad you ask. Basically this blog is an opportunity for theatre fans to read an alternative guide to the goings on in the West End theatre community. Although I will remain anonymous, I work within the industry itself, know certain people and am privy to certain bits of information which I will impart in all my gay old wisdom here.

I like to write, and I like theatre and armed with a near-encyclopaedic knowledge of all things musical theatre and a heck of a sense of humour, expect cheeky impertinence on all matters theatre-related. Subscribe, read along, join me on Twitter and tell your friends, but above all, enjoy for what I hope will become a successful blog of theatrically epic proportions. So get your jazz hands ready and let’s get on with the show…!