luce76

I saw this on Saturday and really, really enjoyed it. I didn't know anything about it beforehand, other than it was Sondheim (i normally do some research on a show before I see it, but I saw this on a whim and so hadn't done that. I loved the central theme of 'how did you get here?' - a question that anyone can apply to their own life. I thought the reverse chronology worked very effectively. Hearing a song sung, when you've already heard it sung later (chronologically speaking) gave it real poignancy and pulled on the heartstrings (I'm being vague to avoid spoilers). The performances were strong across the board. Jenna Russell was excellent but I also really enjoyed Clare Foster's performance. I enjoyed her in Crazy for You and loved her again here. She does joyful enthusiasm (with that great smile)  but also heartbreak really affectingly.

People might be interested to know that I bought middle of row E of the stalls for Saturday matinee, an hour before curtain up, for £20.

I think I am going to have to file this one under 'what did I miss?' While I thought the cast were briliantly talented, both leads great, the music quite hypnotic (particularly from the front row), the best I can summon up for the plot was 'fine.' And actually, in several places 'less than fine'. I don't know how to do spoilers unfortunately, so I can't go into detail, but the final resolution for the couple made very little sense to me. My overwhelming feeling for their situation was 'so what?' I do realise that this may mean I am missing a romantic soul, as I saw three women mopping up tears as I left. My friend who I went with thought that the message of the piece was, 'love is shit so don't even bother.' But then she has just split up with her boyfriend, so perhaps not the best judge...

To clarify the dayseat situation, it is front row for £25. I got there at 9:15 today and was third in the queue.

In fairness, as far as I know this was a scheduled holiday week for Heather.

Saw this yesterday and was really pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting to particularly enjoy it, but really did. Obviously it helps that I am a fan of Whitney's music, but I thought that they had done a good job of trying to make it work in its own right, rather than just trying to plonk the film onto the stage. The plot changes involving the stalker and the sister worked I think and are sensible in making the story more simple than in the film. I did think that the stressing of the rivalry between the sisters was slightly overplayed, but that's a small gripe. I was also nervous that the Whitney songs that are not from the film were going to feel shoe horned in, but I thought they generally slotted in well. I even didn't mind the sing a long at the end, I think because they didn't try to force everybody to get out of their seats, which is what winds me up.

The understudy for Rachel was on (Gloria?)  and I thought she was very good. Obviously I can't compare her to Heather, but I thought her acting and singing were both top notch.

At The Bodyguard yesterday afternoon I was being irritated by the woman in front of me constantly talking to the man with her  (and also repeatedly checking her phone) By the second half I had got so annoyed that I almost said something but decided against it (largely because we were right at the front and I didn't want to make more of a disturbance for the performers.) Afterwards, my friend said that the man was blind and the woman was explaining what was happening on stage. I am not sure how I feel about this. Obviously I have sympathy for the blind person, but does that mean the rest of us have to be disturbed? What do other people think?

There was also a very drunk woman near the back of the stalls. I heard some commotion from her, followed by some loud 'will you please be quiet'ing. Then when Rachel is about to start singing One Moment in Time, she said 'OH I LIKE THIS ONE' incredibly loudly. Oh well I am glad madam, now I can rest easy knowing that this is your favourite.