A Weekend In The Country
After seeing two of the three musical-ly shows in July, the gala concert having its premiere a few days ago and all three shows being on in a row I was off once more to Bad Gandersheim - a weekend in the country though was it as adventurous as Sondheim's? - ;-)
Chess - 11th August, 2012 3pm matinee
Blondgirl Undercover - 11th August, 2012 8pm
Domspitzen - 12th August, 2012 3pm matinee
Domfestspiele, Bad Gandersheim
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| Naughty me during curtain call |
Knowing what to expect from the production I kinda tried to ignore the for me issues as much as I could I had when seeing it in July (>>read here) and just focused on the actual performances which were all so slick, convincing and confident as much they could considering the material (it was interesting to learn between shows that a certain someone has pretty much the same opinion as I have about it for a change as we too often do not agree ;-) ).
I was so pleased that Thomas Christ had recovered after having throat problems the last time. Especially his "Pity The Child" was such a thrilling spine-tingling moment being an utter and well sung treat.
It is these "really feeling it" moments that make ANY of Thomas' performances, may it be in Les Miserables, Evita, Kiss Of The Spider Woman or any other show I have seen him in for the last few years, so most special to me - and not many performers (I can think of only another three right now) give me such goosebumps - and yes, that is a >> good thing as I once learnt. ;-) I have especially fallen for Alexandra Farkic's Svetlana. I have never seen such a moving portrayal of that character before. Normally I couldn't care less about that part due to the book but hers has so much heart and as much as I may want Florence and Anatoly to be happy at the same time she makes me want Svetlana to be happy too being "just" an ordinary loving woman.
Still an enjoyable afternoon but I was already awaiting the return of the "Blondgirl Undercover".
I loved the show when I saw it the first time (>> read here ) being the biggest positive surprise. Seeing a show for the second time is always a worry whether it can live up to the memories and expectations and what shall I say - this one can and it can even exceed - TOTALLY.
The fun started already before the actual show again. Being prepared this time I got to see the whole little pre-show. It was again so funny to watch the guys who are playing the firefighters and Thomas Christ and Robert Meyer as the inspectors. Especially Thomas was so hilarious when he e.g. saw people taking pictures with his constant "no pictures" as if blocking off some yellow press paparazzi - in general his facial impressions especially the looks were so scarily realistic to the original . And the poor woman (was she part of the game I do not know?) they took in custody and so on.
The actual show just had me in stitches again - one idea funnier and smarter than the other with such detailed and strong performances. There's so much to take in, so many little jokes, innuendos, wordplays that I am sure that even after having seen the show for the second time I haven't taken all in yet (*cough* well I will see next weekend - tut, tut, tut *cough*) - and I am still wondering whether Navina Heyne has actually the easiest or (second) most difficult make-up job! ;-)
The standing ovation at the end was most deserved with this excellent performance of a well thought out show.
Some more "Blondgirl" >>pictures
The Sunday then was first spent doing a few hours of sightseeing in the beautiful city of Goslar and me returning to Bad Gandersheim for the musical gala concert.
I need to say it before: I am not a real fan of these kind of concerts. So when buying the programme I got to read this set list (added some info):
| Song | Musical | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| We Go Together | Grease | Ensemble |
| Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious | Mary Poppins | Mario Gremlich, Florian Hacke |
| Blah, Blah, Blah | Delicious (movie) | Dirk Weiler |
| George Gershwin Medley | Various | Dirk Weiler |
| I Dreamed A Dream | Les Miserables | Nina Vlaovic |
| Stars | Les Miserables | Thomas Christ |
| Le Jazz Hot | Victor/Victoria | Anaïs Lueken |
| Luck Be A Lady | Guys And Dolls | Mickey Petersson & male ensemble |
| Magic Man | Brooklyn | Karsten Kenzel |
| Once Upon The Time | Brooklyn | Navina Heyne & Alexandra Farkic, Thomas Christ, Florian Hacke, Karsten Kenzel |
| Medley | Buddy - the Buddy Holly story | Sebastian Hammer & Yoko El Edrisi, Anaïs Lueken |
| Mein Herr | Cabaret | Alexandra Farkic & Yoko El Edrisi, Nina Vlaovic |
| Funny | City Of Angels | Florian Hacke |
| Copacabana | Copacabana | Thomas Christ & Ensemble |
| Medley | My Fair Lady | Mario Gremlich, Florian Hacke, Navina Heyne, Dirk Weiler |
| Go The Distance | Hercules (movie) | Robert Meyer |
| Puttin' On The Ritz | Young Frankenstein | Yoko El Edrisi, Mickey Petersson, Dirk Weiler |
| Taylor, The Latte Boy | N/A | Anaïs Lueken, Florian Hacke |
| Suddenly Seymour | Little Shop Of Horrors | Anaïs Lueken, Sebastian Hammer |
| Last Night Of The World | Miss Saigon | Thomas Christ, Alexandra Farkic |
| Hammer To Fall | We Will Rock You | Navina Heyne, Karsten Kenzel |
| West Side Story In Love | West Side Story | Alexandra Farkic, Navina Heyne, Anaïs Lueken, Thomas Christ, Sebastian Hammer, Karsten Kenzel |
| Man Braucht Ein Frauchen | Hello Dolly | Mario Gremlich, Sebastian Hammer, Robert Meyer |
| Medley | Starlight Express | Dirk Weiler, Alexandra Farkic |
| Licht Am Ende Des Tunnels | Starlight Express | Mickey Petersson & Ensemble |
So my opinion about the set list? For me some are great choices (my classic favourites as "Luck Be A Lady" and "Puttin' On The Ritz"), some okay (I may love/like them but heard often (Buddy Holly medley, "I Dreamed A Dream"), some no-go's (Starlight Express and Miss Saigon, two musicals I just cannot stand). Well you cannot have it all I suppose.
My issue though with these concerts usually, as written before when I went to "Musical In Concert", is that the journey of a musical I go on, and which is a key element for my enjoyment, is just not part of these. Too often the emotional situation these songs are part of is not told or totally changed.
What I love are concerts when there is some kind of a common thread, flow wonderfully therefore as TfN's last year's "Golden Broadway" show or even a little story around them as e.g. Ethan Freeman's "Is This Home?"
The Domspitzen concert only partly has that when e.g. two, three songs are forming some kind of a unity. Others are just stand-alone numbers. You may like that or not - well I do not really.
Besides this issue and the song selection I cannot change (If anyone needs ideas for not so well known musicals in this country: I suggest songs from musicals as "I Love You Because", "Tick Tick Boom", "Thrill Me" or "Bare" or if you do not fancy new-ish songs: give me classics anytime as from Guys & Dolls, Anything Goes, Crazy For You, Singin' In The Rain, On The Town etc.) the performances are another story and it is a positive one to tell that it was, once the show had actually started as the musical director got stuck in traffic and arrived a few minutes late (maybe Deutsche Bahn next time? ;-) ) so that it just started at 3.10pm and not 3pm.
With an empty stage (I could have slapped these elder people behind me who moaned that for 30 EUR they could expect something more but just a few songs sung as the tickets were not cheap. Mhm, 30 EUR not cheap – I think I live in the wrong city, for e.g. Musical In Concert I paid 70 EUR. Seriously have some people lost touch with reality? Theatre life is not cheap except it is subsidised repertory theatre) the show opens with a well choreographed energetic ensemble number (well most of them) of Grease’s "We Go Together" dressed as directly out of the movie with the guys in Jeans and leather jackets and the girls in tight shorts and shirts reminiscing of the period the musical is based in.
The song though being a favourite for winning the top price of the most ridiculous lyrics which was played with as once number finished Mario Gremlich and Florian Hacke came onstage making jokes about some of the funny words to burst into a few lines of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (and "Chim Chim Cher-ee") – awww the part delivered funnily was far too short with me loving Mary Poppins way too much ("Feed The Birds" or "Step In Time" are two numbers I would love to hear at concerts too) – with Dirk Weiler then coming onstage complaining about the lyrics – so musical like and starts a song with decent lyrics – you think at the beginning if you do not know it to learn that the song is called "Blah, Blah, Blah" opening a Gershwin medley. Ah, I adore Gershwin, I seriously should have been born back in these decades when these songs and the musicals the songs are featured in were originated and when it is delivered so greatly by Dirk Weiler and the band giving the numbers the right swing and pep it is more fun.
Then a hard cut with Nina Vlaovic dreaming a (Les) Miserable(s) dream. Mhm, it is one song for me which hardly ever works at a concert taken out of the show as it is one of the most emotional songs ever and I need the whole picture in the performance besides it being sung nicely.
What though perfectly worked was Thomas Christ’s "Stars". He had posted a few days before on his facebook site that the concert would feature two Les Mis songs. I had kinda expected him to sing one of Jean Valjean songs with him playing the part in Lübeck a few years ago (I miss that production) but reading in the program he would do "Stars" I was even more excited as it is one of my personal favourite songs.
Les Miserables is actually the show when I fell in love with Thomas’ performance with his Valjean still being in my top three Valjean list so to hear him sing a Javert song was unforeseen but jaw-dropping (I want to hear him sing "Soliloquy" now!) having just the right balance of emotion, not too much as that would not be Javert, but not too little not being a block of ice as some Javerts I have seen and telling well the story of his hunt of Valjean and justice in comparison to the order of the stars. Wow, goosebumps.
For both songs though I was not keen at all on the orchestration. It all was more very big band style instead of what am normally used to when seeing the show (reminds me I really need to see it again). Especially for "I Dreamed A Dream" it bugged me.
Anaïs Lueken’s "Le Jazz Hot" was well performed with her having the right charm and mischievousness flirting with the audience but with the jazz elements in the number it desperately begged for some dance choreography and some backing dancers which were not there. Too bad.
"Luck Be A Lady" is one of the choices I loved. The setting of the song was as if taken directly out of Guys & Dolls where it is sung by Sky Masterson when betting with the others gamblers that he would win the crap game and playing the game Performance-wise I had wanted some more typical Sky Masterson attitude from Mickey Petersson if already setting it properly as if in the show. The male ensemble supporting though was entertaining to watch bringing back most beautiful memories of Guys & Dolls in London and in Hanover. .
Two songs from the rather unknown musical “Brooklyn” then followed. Well, IMHO there is for once a reason it is rather unknown as it doesn’t do anything to me, never has – so two were at least one too many. The two songs, especially “Magic Man”, were sung well though even if there are too many high notes for my ears. Karsten Kenzel seriously can take it on with any black soul performer – incredible his voice! Too bad they didn't select as a rather unknown musical e.g. "Side Show". I would have loved to hear him sing "You Should Be Loved" - I can just perfectly picture him being just as mind blowing as Jonas Hein from the TfN.
The Buddy Holly medley, while heard a lot, was a crowd pleaser and Sebastian Hammer and the two ladies backing him seemed to have a fabulous time (Have I mentioned before what a sunshine Yoko El Edrisi is ;-) ). Sebastian pulls off these geeky types so well as we could see later again.
Alexandra Farkic’s "Mein Herr" was brilliant, again a song heard (too) often but she gave the song some new edge and the roughness in her voice suits the song perfectly and was also well supported by the other two ladies with a hot choreography (and costumes) that reminded a quite a bit of Chicago. Well with Cabaret being on next year, it of course had to appear in the concert.
A complete break then with Florian Hacke performing "Funny" from "City Of Angels" – unusual choice then and while it is not my favourite from the show it was pleasantly performed.
Talking about funny: to have "Copacabana" in it was funny, well in an utter cheesy way. Main singer was Thomas of this who showed some slight insecurity in the first few seconds but once he got over that it was an entertaining act with the whole (? cannot recall) ensemble on dressed in bright and fresh outfits and some bright and fresh dance choreography.
The My Fair Lady part was so-so. I was not too keen on Florian Hacke’s "Get Me to the Church on Time" - this was just not of the typical Alfred P. Doolittle rendition and without it the song just does not do much to me. "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" sung by Navina Heyne was sung beautifully but not as Eliza would slightly lacking what she feels in that moment. Dirk Weiler’s "On the Street Where You Live", again more with a big band style orchestration, was great, total different approach and it somehow worked. My favourite of this section was Mario Gremlich’s "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face". Has he ever played the part of Henry Higgins? If not, why NOT? Navina Heyne’s "I Could Have Danced All Night" finishing off that medley was a lovely closing then.
The "Go The Distance" from the Hercules movie sung by Robert Meyer was quite honestly poignant and well re-living the moment of the song in the movie and the audience fully appreciating his excellent performance.
My absolute favourite of the show was "Puttin’ On The Ritz", in the program listed as from "Young Frankenstein" which is just one show it has been featured in for the last 80-ish years (how can this song be sooooo old and feeling so young?). Most recently it's actually used in Top Hat. Not only the rendition and how the various lines were split and especially delivered by the three was so smartly and impressively done, no, we got some tap dancing at last! (If you haven’t noticed yet, am a tap dance fanatic).
Especially Dirk Weiler’s tap dancing, but the other two too, looked so light hearted, so fresh that it was a most delight to watch that (pleased I sat for once in the front row with unobstructed view on their feet ;-) ). I didn’t want that number to end!
But unfortunately it did being followed by “Taylor, The Latte Boy”, well in the German version the name Taylor was replaced by T(h)orsten. This song, actually not from a musical directly, has become some kind of a favourite at such concerts. I nearly would have written unfortunately, do not get me wrong, the original idea of it is funny and was certainly excellently delivered I have just heard it too often. I am sure the rest of the audience enjoyed it.
But also that song had to end eventually and Gaby aka Anaïs Lueken turned into Audrey and Sebastian Hammer was back for his second “geek” performance, this time as Seymour.
I can only hope any kind of (casting) director who intends to bring Little Shop Of Horrors onstage at one of Germany’s repertory theatres was there or will be as Sebastian totally managed to show that he has just the right skill set for that part (and that comes from me who is totally biased in regards to TfN’s Jens Plewinski as Seymour) totally nailing it just with that one number.
Miss Saigon’s "Last Night Of The World" was one I did not want to hear. The whole musical is just too much for me, too much dripping grease and cheese full of overwrought overdramatic emotions making me want to throw up – at least. I sat through the show three times – three different productions hoping for something new, something that would touch me but never (I am just not the romantic type of woman anyway preferring crime stories to love stories besides everything else that makes me so not typical womanlike ;-) DIY store or clothes/shoe shopping? Yes, DIY, I can spend hours in Bauhaus). Thomas Christ’s and Alexandra Farkic’s performance dressed in matching outfits was most probably a good one giving all their emotional input, I just cannot take pleasure in the song. Sorry.
We Will Rock You’s “Hammer To Fall” was one of the examples I mentioned at the beginning – a song were the emotional situation is totally changed. Okay, recycled anyway, but in the musical the song is used when Galilieo and Scaramouche are on their way to Seven Seas of Rhye arguing all the way, here it came across as being like a first date scene – interesting approach considering the lyrics of the song. :S Besides that it was incredibly sung especially Karsten showing off his luminous vocal skills once more.
For what was called “West Side Story In Love” (extracts from "I Have a Love", "Somewhere" etc.) all three couples returned to the stage in the outfits they wore in their numbers before. I do adore West Side Story seen it I do not how often and will do again on Wednesday so it has some credits though this rendition unfortunately didn’t give the pieces enough justice. Besides the fact that it was very hard to understand the lyrics most of the time it also was rather unbalanced. I do not know how it was for people further back but from where I sat, as much as I adore him, Thomas was way too loud with him more or less in front of me. The girls were compared to the guys too quiet and the intonation suffered . Okay, well.. could have been better – I think.
Mario Gremlich’s "It Takes A Woman" from "Hello Dolly" – I am convinced that he would not only be a terrific Henry Higgins but also a powerful Horace. Full stop.
The official final was then a Starlight medley finishing off with "Light At The End Of The Tunnel" as mentioned before – just as Miss Saigon a show I cannot stand very much – as well too much cheese for me once again. For curtain call the ensemble reprised the full version (?) “Copacabana”, the second time still cheese too, but not too much, so I could live with it as performance is and once a reprise of Light At The End Of The Tunnel”.
So overall an entertaining afternoon with great performers delivering excellent performances of some fantastic songs and some not so but the musical song highlights outweighing the few poor selections and while it may not have been such a turbulent weekend as "A Little Night Music" (but who would want that) it was a delightful one that I think needs to be repeated.
A few "Blondgirl Undercover" (yeah me naughty again during curtain call) pictures With an empty stage (I could have slapped these elder people behind me who moaned that for 30 EUR they could expect something more but just a few songs sung as the tickets were not cheap. Mhm, 30 EUR not cheap – I think I live in the wrong city, for e.g. Musical In Concert I paid 70 EUR. Seriously have some people lost touch with reality? Theatre life is not cheap except it is subsidised repertory theatre) the show opens with a well choreographed energetic ensemble number (well most of them) of Grease’s "We Go Together" dressed as directly out of the movie with the guys in Jeans and leather jackets and the girls in tight shorts and shirts reminiscing of the period the musical is based in.
The song though being a favourite for winning the top price of the most ridiculous lyrics which was played with as once number finished Mario Gremlich and Florian Hacke came onstage making jokes about some of the funny words to burst into a few lines of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (and "Chim Chim Cher-ee") – awww the part delivered funnily was far too short with me loving Mary Poppins way too much ("Feed The Birds" or "Step In Time" are two numbers I would love to hear at concerts too) – with Dirk Weiler then coming onstage complaining about the lyrics – so musical like and starts a song with decent lyrics – you think at the beginning if you do not know it to learn that the song is called "Blah, Blah, Blah" opening a Gershwin medley. Ah, I adore Gershwin, I seriously should have been born back in these decades when these songs and the musicals the songs are featured in were originated and when it is delivered so greatly by Dirk Weiler and the band giving the numbers the right swing and pep it is more fun.
Then a hard cut with Nina Vlaovic dreaming a (Les) Miserable(s) dream. Mhm, it is one song for me which hardly ever works at a concert taken out of the show as it is one of the most emotional songs ever and I need the whole picture in the performance besides it being sung nicely.
What though perfectly worked was Thomas Christ’s "Stars". He had posted a few days before on his facebook site that the concert would feature two Les Mis songs. I had kinda expected him to sing one of Jean Valjean songs with him playing the part in Lübeck a few years ago (I miss that production) but reading in the program he would do "Stars" I was even more excited as it is one of my personal favourite songs.
Les Miserables is actually the show when I fell in love with Thomas’ performance with his Valjean still being in my top three Valjean list so to hear him sing a Javert song was unforeseen but jaw-dropping (I want to hear him sing "Soliloquy" now!) having just the right balance of emotion, not too much as that would not be Javert, but not too little not being a block of ice as some Javerts I have seen and telling well the story of his hunt of Valjean and justice in comparison to the order of the stars. Wow, goosebumps.
For both songs though I was not keen at all on the orchestration. It all was more very big band style instead of what am normally used to when seeing the show (reminds me I really need to see it again). Especially for "I Dreamed A Dream" it bugged me.
Anaïs Lueken’s "Le Jazz Hot" was well performed with her having the right charm and mischievousness flirting with the audience but with the jazz elements in the number it desperately begged for some dance choreography and some backing dancers which were not there. Too bad.
"Luck Be A Lady" is one of the choices I loved. The setting of the song was as if taken directly out of Guys & Dolls where it is sung by Sky Masterson when betting with the others gamblers that he would win the crap game and playing the game Performance-wise I had wanted some more typical Sky Masterson attitude from Mickey Petersson if already setting it properly as if in the show. The male ensemble supporting though was entertaining to watch bringing back most beautiful memories of Guys & Dolls in London and in Hanover. .
Two songs from the rather unknown musical “Brooklyn” then followed. Well, IMHO there is for once a reason it is rather unknown as it doesn’t do anything to me, never has – so two were at least one too many. The two songs, especially “Magic Man”, were sung well though even if there are too many high notes for my ears. Karsten Kenzel seriously can take it on with any black soul performer – incredible his voice! Too bad they didn't select as a rather unknown musical e.g. "Side Show". I would have loved to hear him sing "You Should Be Loved" - I can just perfectly picture him being just as mind blowing as Jonas Hein from the TfN.
The Buddy Holly medley, while heard a lot, was a crowd pleaser and Sebastian Hammer and the two ladies backing him seemed to have a fabulous time (Have I mentioned before what a sunshine Yoko El Edrisi is ;-) ). Sebastian pulls off these geeky types so well as we could see later again.
Alexandra Farkic’s "Mein Herr" was brilliant, again a song heard (too) often but she gave the song some new edge and the roughness in her voice suits the song perfectly and was also well supported by the other two ladies with a hot choreography (and costumes) that reminded a quite a bit of Chicago. Well with Cabaret being on next year, it of course had to appear in the concert.
A complete break then with Florian Hacke performing "Funny" from "City Of Angels" – unusual choice then and while it is not my favourite from the show it was pleasantly performed.
Talking about funny: to have "Copacabana" in it was funny, well in an utter cheesy way. Main singer was Thomas of this who showed some slight insecurity in the first few seconds but once he got over that it was an entertaining act with the whole (? cannot recall) ensemble on dressed in bright and fresh outfits and some bright and fresh dance choreography.
The My Fair Lady part was so-so. I was not too keen on Florian Hacke’s "Get Me to the Church on Time" - this was just not of the typical Alfred P. Doolittle rendition and without it the song just does not do much to me. "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" sung by Navina Heyne was sung beautifully but not as Eliza would slightly lacking what she feels in that moment. Dirk Weiler’s "On the Street Where You Live", again more with a big band style orchestration, was great, total different approach and it somehow worked. My favourite of this section was Mario Gremlich’s "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face". Has he ever played the part of Henry Higgins? If not, why NOT? Navina Heyne’s "I Could Have Danced All Night" finishing off that medley was a lovely closing then.
The "Go The Distance" from the Hercules movie sung by Robert Meyer was quite honestly poignant and well re-living the moment of the song in the movie and the audience fully appreciating his excellent performance.
My absolute favourite of the show was "Puttin’ On The Ritz", in the program listed as from "Young Frankenstein" which is just one show it has been featured in for the last 80-ish years (how can this song be sooooo old and feeling so young?). Most recently it's actually used in Top Hat. Not only the rendition and how the various lines were split and especially delivered by the three was so smartly and impressively done, no, we got some tap dancing at last! (If you haven’t noticed yet, am a tap dance fanatic).
Especially Dirk Weiler’s tap dancing, but the other two too, looked so light hearted, so fresh that it was a most delight to watch that (pleased I sat for once in the front row with unobstructed view on their feet ;-) ). I didn’t want that number to end!
But unfortunately it did being followed by “Taylor, The Latte Boy”, well in the German version the name Taylor was replaced by T(h)orsten. This song, actually not from a musical directly, has become some kind of a favourite at such concerts. I nearly would have written unfortunately, do not get me wrong, the original idea of it is funny and was certainly excellently delivered I have just heard it too often. I am sure the rest of the audience enjoyed it.
But also that song had to end eventually and Gaby aka Anaïs Lueken turned into Audrey and Sebastian Hammer was back for his second “geek” performance, this time as Seymour.
I can only hope any kind of (casting) director who intends to bring Little Shop Of Horrors onstage at one of Germany’s repertory theatres was there or will be as Sebastian totally managed to show that he has just the right skill set for that part (and that comes from me who is totally biased in regards to TfN’s Jens Plewinski as Seymour) totally nailing it just with that one number.
Miss Saigon’s "Last Night Of The World" was one I did not want to hear. The whole musical is just too much for me, too much dripping grease and cheese full of overwrought overdramatic emotions making me want to throw up – at least. I sat through the show three times – three different productions hoping for something new, something that would touch me but never (I am just not the romantic type of woman anyway preferring crime stories to love stories besides everything else that makes me so not typical womanlike ;-) DIY store or clothes/shoe shopping? Yes, DIY, I can spend hours in Bauhaus). Thomas Christ’s and Alexandra Farkic’s performance dressed in matching outfits was most probably a good one giving all their emotional input, I just cannot take pleasure in the song. Sorry.
We Will Rock You’s “Hammer To Fall” was one of the examples I mentioned at the beginning – a song were the emotional situation is totally changed. Okay, recycled anyway, but in the musical the song is used when Galilieo and Scaramouche are on their way to Seven Seas of Rhye arguing all the way, here it came across as being like a first date scene – interesting approach considering the lyrics of the song. :S Besides that it was incredibly sung especially Karsten showing off his luminous vocal skills once more.
For what was called “West Side Story In Love” (extracts from "I Have a Love", "Somewhere" etc.) all three couples returned to the stage in the outfits they wore in their numbers before. I do adore West Side Story seen it I do not how often and will do again on Wednesday so it has some credits though this rendition unfortunately didn’t give the pieces enough justice. Besides the fact that it was very hard to understand the lyrics most of the time it also was rather unbalanced. I do not know how it was for people further back but from where I sat, as much as I adore him, Thomas was way too loud with him more or less in front of me. The girls were compared to the guys too quiet and the intonation suffered . Okay, well.. could have been better – I think.
Mario Gremlich’s "It Takes A Woman" from "Hello Dolly" – I am convinced that he would not only be a terrific Henry Higgins but also a powerful Horace. Full stop.
The official final was then a Starlight medley finishing off with "Light At The End Of The Tunnel" as mentioned before – just as Miss Saigon a show I cannot stand very much – as well too much cheese for me once again. For curtain call the ensemble reprised the full version (?) “Copacabana”, the second time still cheese too, but not too much, so I could live with it as performance is and once a reprise of Light At The End Of The Tunnel”.
So overall an entertaining afternoon with great performers delivering excellent performances of some fantastic songs and some not so but the musical song highlights outweighing the few poor selections and while it may not have been such a turbulent weekend as "A Little Night Music" (but who would want that) it was a delightful one that I think needs to be repeated.
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| No Pictures! |
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| I said "No PICTURES!" ;-) |
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| yeah naughty me AGAIN |
