[June]

Sorry but I cannot understand your comment saying he looks more like a Joseph. Why - just because he has blond hair like Jason? I doubt a citizen of Canaan had blond hair and blue eyes. Lee is much more the typical Canaanite and even he is too fair skinned.

[Laughingmonsta]

i thought when the audition shows were happening that the panel were onto someting when they let the really big guy through, why does joseph have to have this blonde hair fair skin look - i agree this isnt what he would have looked like again ill say what i said with blood brothers it needs a drastic relook and rethink in terms of casting and direction - if Bill is listening again - ill take the job! :-p

[Daniel]

Lewis Bradley, who came third in Any Dream Will Do, is to take over from Lee Mead as Joseph next year while Lee is on holiday.

I would rather stick needles in my eyes than see that talentless pratt as Joseph

[Matthew Winn]

I would rather stick needles in my eyes than see that talentless pratt as Joseph

I think I'm down to see one of his performances. When I booked I was advised that Mr Mead would be off that week and I said I wasn't bothered. I thought I'd be getting the first cover and I'm disappointed that I won't. I might want to borrow your needles.

I can't help wondering how much audiences will care by the time next year comes around. In a burst of post-contest enthusiasm they've gone out to buy tickets to see "Lee", but for some of the audience a year will have passed before they get to see the show. I'm sure some of them will have forgotten why they were so excited in the first place. In February none of the audience had heard of any of the Josephs, over a three month series they were worked up into a frenzy of adulation, and then comes a nine to twelve month cooling-off period. Will they still be thrilled at the thought of seeing "their" Joseph?

[armadillo]

The Sound of Music is still selling extremely well after a year. You've bought several tickets for Joseph(a show I'm sure you've said you don't even like that much). Why shouldn't people who do like the show be enthusiastic about it?

[Matthew Winn]

The Sound of Music is still selling extremely well after a year. You've bought several tickets for Joseph(a show I'm sure you've said you don't even like that much). Why shouldn't people who do like the show be enthusiastic about it?

I'm not saying they shouldn't be enthusiastic about it. I'm saying that there's no reason to expect they'll be as enthusiastic nine or ten months after the TV show ended as they were when they bought tickets nine or ten days after it ended.

The reason I'm going to see Joseph is because there are several people in the show I've liked for years and one I've known on and off since the 20th Century. Because of that, and because I go to the theatre frequently, my reason for booking to see the show isn't going to slip from my mind. It'll stay fresh. But for many of the Joseph audience that's not the case. They don't have any history with Lee Mead beyond seeing him sing a few songs on TV, and between the end of the TV series and their planned visit to the Adelphi a great many things are going to happen to them that are going to push him out of their minds. And that's even more true of Lewis Bradley.

Back at the start of 2006 I saw Amy Field play Fran Kubelik in Promises, Promises, and she gave what was easily one of the best performances I saw in 2006. Miss Field had already landed a part in Spamalot (to open that summer) and I decided that this would go on my list of Shows I Must See. But by the time booking for Spamalot opened Promises, Promises was half a year in the past, Miss Field was a complete stranger to me so I had no personal reason to see her, and buying a ticket for Spamalot just didn't really matter any more. Enthusiasm fades. I never did buy that ticket.

For most of the Joseph audience it took three months for Mr Mead to go from "never heard of him" to "must see him". Why shouldn't he go the other way just as quickly? Why should people remain at the same level of excitement for someone they've never met and who they didn't even know existed at the start of the year? How can anyone remain at that level of excitement over a complete stranger? Reality will reassert itself. I'm sure they'll enjoy the experience. (Hell, I'm enjoying it now I'm able to get seats close to the stage; I think part of the reason for my early negativity was that I'm used to sitting up close and my first, distant view made everything seem slow and compressed.) But I can't see the overwhelming "all my dreams have come true" adulation that characterised the first audiences enduring. It's already quieter than it used to be, and I expect that trend to continue.

[Note: edited at 9:48 to add the penultimate paragraph]

[Legend]

I have seen Lewis perform as Joseph and he is okay he was just outshone by the magnificent ensemble. And for the record I have booked to see this show several times not because I adore Lee Mead but simply because I enjoy the show. It was a lucky bonus that it was revived so soon.

[Felix]

u saw Amy Field in Promises Promises?! JEALOUS! I want to see her in Spamalot SO badly!!!!