ruthiefan_felix
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Chicago London 1/71st June Friday
Matinee: CHICAGO
The main reason I went to see the show was because of Josefina Gabrielle... her 7th time returning but I have ALWAYS missed her dates! we had good seats, D1 stalls, some restricted view but VERY close up! Anyway... Maxwell Caulfield as Billy was a plus... didn't know who he was/is... don't really care!
Josefina Gabrielle (Roxie): AMAZING as Roxie! I thought her performance before Cell Block Tango was abit so-so (though her Funny Honey was good) but from the scene where Roxie & Velma argues... she could not have gone any better! Yes... Linzi will ALWAYS be my fav. Roxie but Josefina just brought so much of her own style to the role. Some small gestures, moves that makes the character her own and SO much more interesting. She is definitely the prettiest Roxie I've ever seen. Alot of times she reminds me of Ruthie. AMAZING... catch her if you can!
Amra-Faye Wright (Velma): She was well... OK. It would be harsh to say she's bland but she does look kinda tired in the role. She is different everytime I sse her, but she looks like its her daily routine... I think she would improve if she has a big break from the show!
Maxwell Caufield (Billy): In Act 1, I thought he was superb. His acting was perfect for the role... never have I seen a more sleezy mick lawyer Billy in London. Though acting was great, he lost everything when he comes to singing. He has a good deep rich voice but it does not sustain... it was especially disappointing when he hits the last notes merely and holds it for less than 2 secs. But all that's fine... I am used to stunt casting and I did expect him to be an average singer. But what REALLY bugged me was him missing his entrance for 'I Know A Girl' in Act 2... he wasn't there for his line, so the doctor zipping his fly and Roxie standing there with reporters surrounding looked extremely ridiculous! Amra gave an 'ouch' face when she realised he wasn't there. When he came out for his curtain call, he made the 'Oh c'mon gimme more applause' gester. Overall, excluding his missed entrance, he was fine... would've preferred to see his understudy Mike Denman instead!
Matthew Lloyd Davies (Amos): I'm sure he's a nice guy and all... but his Amos was HORRIBLE! I just don't get what he wanted his Amos to be... timid, shy, angry or what??? Sorry to say, but apart from the doggy routine he does with Josefina... I find him the worst Amos I have seen.
Susie McKenna (Mama): Great voice, good acting
T Soloman (Mary): The manliest 'after' I have seen which is great! Great voice... though I realised sitting so close that you can see his Adam's apple which confused alot of people arround me.
Ensemble: Some new faces, alot of old faces. The ensemble is in good shape. I still hate the fact that Rachel Pressland as ensemble! She should be promoted as full-time Mama cuz she's awesome in the role! Adelle Young is O-M-G petite but SEXY and so are all the others girls who are SO leggy! As for the boys, they're in good shape but I have to mention Simeon Weedall as Fred Casely. He's SO young... but it worked quite well... never thought that Fred could be a young-er or teenager fooling around the corner.... it worked really well!... not to mention he's VERY good-looking which always helps! The whole ensemble looks amazing: HOT, YOUNG & SEXY and I love it! Would definitely love to catch some of them as the leads!
At the stagedoor, I waited for Josefina... Stagedoor manager told me there's a quite high possibility she won't come out for setting her hair. Then her hair-manager brought my programme up to sign. Abit disappointed that I could not meet her in person and tell her how great she was after tryin to see her in the past 4 years... nonetheless, COMPLETELY understandable and her performance was well worth it!
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