I can hear the pitter patter of little hobbit feet. It’s less than a month till Lord of the Rings the stage show and I for one am rather curious. From what I’ve seen via YouTube, the show looks pretty spectacular, particularly the acrobatic element. I’m not sure how the music will work with the story, but if nothing else it will give a fresh slant on the story. Lots of musicals you know what you’re getting, but LOTR isn’t one of them - I think it’s going to have to be seen to be believed…

Technorati Tags: lord of the rings, lord of the rings on stage, lord of the rings stage show, LOTR

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As ‘Any Dream Will Do’ continues, I’m starting to have my favourites. I’ve developed a real soft spot for Lee Mead, the curly haired crooner from Southend-on-Sea. As a professional singer/actor who’s been a West End understudy, he certainly has the most polished performing ability and wowed both lil’ old me and the audience with his rendition of ‘Old Makie’s Back’ on Saturday evening. But to be honest, I’m not sure if he’s got what it takes to win the show. There are others who, although I personally like them less, have more charisma. The two guys who really stood out for me were the last to perform - Chris Barton and Keith Jack. Chris has fab stage presence and a gorgeous voice as well as cheekbones to die for. But it’s Keith who I’d put money on to win the show - his performance of ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ was bouncy, bright and energetic. He has a the cheeky charm that the British public seem to go crazy for, plus a great voice and the star quality in spades. I believe Zoe Tyler called him her ‘little singing star’ and I’ve no doubt that with Zoe backing him, Keith could well go all the way.

Now to the not so fortunate Chris Crosby. He’s a sweet boy, but from the start he’s seemed to fragile to keep up with the competition. He lacked confidence in his singing and looked worried throughout his performance of ‘This Love’. Although I’m sorry to see him go, I think he was the weakest of a very strong bunch.

So will my prediction be right? Will Keith be king? Only time will tell…

Technorati Tags: any dream will do, chris barton, keith jack, lee mead

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Watching ‘Grease is the Word’ on Saturday, I can’t begin to understand what some of the auditionees hear when they sing. I can’t sing and I know that no-one would ever pay (or even be paid) to listen to me. So where do these people get the impression that they could possibly be cast as Danny and Sandy for a REAL West-End production of Grease.

Some of the talent on show is exceptional and it makes you wonder why these people haven’t yet made the grade in the theatre. Does it really take a TV show to give young people the opportunity to shine on the stage? From the good to the utterly terrible, Grease is the Word shows us that every level of talent can come with the highest degree of self-belief.

Howard from Manchester showed us a different type of Danny Zuko when he couldn’t quite get his jacket off at the start of Greased Lightnin’, and followed this up with some deep vocals as he attempted to wow the judges with his opera-singing. When David Gest asked if anyone had ever compared him to Pavarotti, he simply replied ‘Thanks’ sending Gest into a fit of laughter. Genius!

The star of the show seemed to be Danny, the young hopeful that struggled with a stammer. As he burst in to song, the stammer disappeared and we were reminded of Gareth Gates performances on Pop Idol. The judges were facing the possibility of a sympathy vote, but David Ian cast those thoughts aside as he assured Danny he was through to Bootcamp and it was solely on merit.

There was also the amazing dancing of Mehmet, who as David Gest described danced as if he was dying of piles. Mehmet saw himself more as a Marlon Brando-esque actor, and even claimed that his talent attracted a lot of jealousy. Unfortunately, Mehmet failed to impress the judges unlike Susan McFadden.

Susan, sister of former-Westlife star Brian McFadden, had a great voice and even impressed the panel of judges with her American accent. I’d say that talent runs in the family but not being a fan of Westlife it wouldn’t feel right. Susan made it through to Bootcamp and I believe she has a real chance of going all the way. Watch this space…

Technorati Tags: david gest, Grease, grease is the word

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The Grease love birds have been torn apart leaving Ben ’stranded at the drive inn’.

Last week’s “Grease is the Word” saw the hopelessly devoted couple Ben Jardine and Vicky Hoyles put though to boot-camp with hopes that their real life love could be transported to the West End Stage. Both Ben and Vicky were desperate to play Danny and Sandy however their dreams have been dashed as viewers will see over the next fortnight when Ben fails to make the grade. David Ian, the stage shows producer, has some serious money tied up in the show and claims that only the best can be put through. If you can bare to watch Ben’s reaction to his Sandy having to find another Danny and the heartbreaking separation - tune in this Saturday 6.40pm ITV1.

Check out ITV’s Grease is The Word for more information and backstage gossip on the show and contestants.

Technorati Tags: david guest, david ian, Grease, grease auditions, grease is the word, itv

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What a traumatic time in the Joseph School for both the judges and Josephs, but the final 12 have been chosen and shall perform for a BBC audience next Saturday.

The week started with badly with two unsuccessful Josephs being allowed into the school after going straight to Webber like school kids, their arrival went down like a sack of potatoes and caused an uproar among the chosen ones which resulted in them upping their game. At Joseph School the budding actors were put through their singing, dancing and acting paces with many trying to woo Denise in their performance. The boys were later graced by Andrew himself and the ultimate Joseph - Jason Donovan, Jason gave the boys some solid advice before showing them how the part of Joseph should be done.
After a few hours of workshops the boys were put to the test and had to perform their new skills to the judges and Josephs, some cracked under pressure and some stood strong and showed no fear to the talent thirsty critics. The overly dramatic and amusing selection process was a terrible way to let the unsuccessful Joes go in my opinion. They all stood in rows and were made to sing whilst John Barrowman walked slowly round them tapping the “no-Joes” on the shoulder and sending them packing. After this firing-line process the lucky 28 cried and the unlucky 22 cried, but the lucky few had to pull themselves together as the following day Webber decided to drop 8 more Joes. Once again the Joseph’s sang and danced their hearts out and more tears were shed, but the final two reduced the judges to tears as Webber made the tough choice to break one boys dream and give the other a chance of West End stardom.
The tears were barely dry on their hankies as the 20 Josephs were jetted out to Webber’s castle to perform for his friends in his local village hall, far from the West End stage but real enough for some of the Josephs as they all performed nervously and cracks began to show. The following day 20 became 12 and as you guessed it there was tears and heartbreak as 8 averages Joes were sent home.
So the final 12 remain and as predicted some of the favorites from the first show are still hanging in there, Seamus and Lee are our favorites in the office and we shall be voting for them next Saturday in the Live showdown and every Saturday after as one Joseph will leave each week. We can only hope that the boys will stop crying for five minutes so they can perform and that the panel of judges have more juicy arguments to spice up the show.

Technorati Tags: andrew lloyd webber, any dream will do, bbc, joesph school, joseph, joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat, techincolor dreamcoat

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Well the first “Grease Is The Word” was certainly action packed with many laugh out loud and cringe worthy moments. I found myself hiding behind a cushion when a 50-year old “Sandra Dee” in tight lycra leggings began dancing provocatively in front of David Guest and signing in a sultry voice. It was made even more cringe worthy when she broke down in tears saying she wanted to prove to her family that she could sing.
The deluded Sandra Dee’s didn’t stop there, the hilarious Paula was a Sandy to remember, being David Ian’s number one fan she showered him with gifts and performed her song and dance just for him. For a laugh the judges put Paula through and David Ian was rewarded with a snog, as she slapped a kiss on his face, she stuck her tongue in - much to Ians shock!
Yet even more surprises followed as the 90s pop sensation Kavanagh resurfaced to audition for Danny Zuko, bearing a slight resemblance to John Travolta he nervously sang his heart out. Although due to a muscular strain he danced pretty weirdly to Justin Timberlake, it was mostly pelvic thrusts which were embarrassingly amusing, nevertheless he got through to the next round.
Grease Is The Word had all the elements for an addictive show, squirm worthy moments, laugh out loud comments and plenty of characters which have bold personalities. Be sure to catch the next installment 6.05pm Saturday ITV1 and 8.40pm ITV2 for backstage gossip with ‘Greased Lightnin’.
For your amusement I have found a clip of Paula and a few other Grease wannabes, prepare to cringe

Technorati Tags: david guest, david ian, Grease, grease auditions, grease is the word, grease lightnin, itv, itv2, paula grease is the word

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That funny bunch are at it again, this time the cast of Spamalot are taking their comedy to the streets in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest coconut orchestra.The current record for this ‘nutty’ ensemble stands at 1,789 and is held by the yank cast of Spamalot outside the Shubert Theater New York to mark the first birthday of Spamalot’s Broadway production. So on St George’s Day (23rd April) head on down to Trafalgar Square by 6.00pm and pick up the exclusive Monty Python coconut and prepare to make a delicious history. The Spamalot team will provide a quick lesson on how to play the horse mimicking instrument before the record breaking attempt begins at 7.00pm. If you have seen the Spamalot theatre production then you know you are in for a hilarious time and if you haven’t seen it then prepare to want to see it!
I have found a couple of videos for those of you who want brush up on your coconut music skills and want a taster of the show.

Technorati Tags: always look on the bright side of life, Guinness World Records, monty python, spamalot

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In my recent trips to London, I’ve discovered some fantastic ways to spend a day out…without spending a fortune! Most people seem to think that London is really expensive and that a great day out and a lot of money seem to go hand-in-hand, but that needn’t be the case. Head to London this Easter for some fantastic days out.

Here are just a few suggestions of how to enjoy great Spring days in London for a song!

1. Take a walk around the Royal Parks and watch the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace. The ceremony takes place every other day during April and starts from 11.30am, although it’s best to arrive at about 10.30 to see everything and to suss out the best spots to take pictures from. Take a picnic with you and enjoy your lunch ‘alfresco style’ in the Royal parks after the Changing of the Guard.
(2nd,4th,6th,8th,10th,12th,14th,16th,18th,20th,22nd,24th,26th,28th,30th April)

2. Another great way to enjoy a day out in London is to wander round the immense luxury of Harrods department store in Knightsbridge. Check out the latest electronic gadgets, see the newest ‘it’ bags, get a makeover in the cosmetics department then spend some time in the enormous food hall. Last time I went to Harrods, my boyfriend and I treated ourselves to a couple of cakes - the chocolate fudge cake is incredible! Then we popped across the road to Benjys sandwich shop to buy a couple of sandwiches and some drinks. We wrapped the whole lot up and sat in Hyde Park having a picnic - yes I am quite fond of picnics! There’s a very nice spot in Hyde Park, about a 5 minute walk from Harrods, under a tree by the boating pool. You can enjoy your lunch while watching tourists struggle very hard to pedal their little pedalos - that can be quite entertaining at times!

3. The indoor market at Covent Garden is great, really colourful and bustling. It can get a bit busy and crowded at times, but I think that only adds to the atmosphere! There are loads of stalls selling everything from handmade cards to sports gear. Last time I went, my mum and I found some gorgeous, handmade ornaments that we fell in love with! Be warned, this is only a cheap day out if you don’t go overboard and buy 10 of the cutest ornaments you’ve ever seen!

4. While in Covent Garden, check out the street performers in the main square. I’ve seen such a range of performers there, from comedians and clowns to opera singers and break-dancers. If you fancy a drink, go down to the lower floor of the Covent Garden shopping centre to the coffee shop. During the day, you will often find that there will be a singer there to entertain you while you sip your coffee.

5. I love the fact that the national museums and galleries of London are free to the public. I very rarely go to London without popping into the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. My favourite painting, The Hayway, is on display there among many other fantastic pieces of art. Also well worth a visit are the Natural History Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum and The Science Museum. The Natural History Museum and Science Museum are really popular with children and are perfect examples of how to enjoy great family days out in London for free.

If you have any more suggestions of great days out in London for free, we’d love to hear your comments.

Technorati Tags: april days out, days out in london, easter days out, family days out, free days out, london, london attractions, spring days out for free

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Who would have guessed that an oyster would be the best way to travel around London? To most people, an oyster generally means a shellfish with aphrodisiacal properties and occassionally containing a pearl…but to Londoners, Oyster means cheaper travel on the tube and bus networks in and around the capital.

Oyster cards are the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to travel around London. Whether you travel to London regularly or just every so often, you’ll find that this cute little card offers a much better value way of getting around the city. With Oyster. single journeys on the London underground, London buses, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London trams are cheaper and more efficient. Getting plenty of use out of mine!

For more details and to order an Oyster card, visit www.tfl.gov.uk and enjoy cheaper London travel.

Technorati Tags: bus, good value london transport, london travel, london underground, oyster, oyster card, transport for london, travel to london theatre, tube

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In response to BBC’s Any Dream Will Do and ITV’s Grease Is the Word, Channel four has created Musicool. A group of talented unsigned singers have been chosen from all over the UK to be trained up to star in a musical which will be aired on T4. It’s not quite as big as Any Dream Will Do and Grease Is the Word but nevertheless it is still gaining a huge following as it is shown on the popular programme T4 and on a sunday afternoon. It has a range of bold personalities which each bring something to the show and has a Big Brother style living arrangement. The 11-part series has already had a head start on BBC and ITV and secured many fans of the show - check out the finalist profiles for details on the lucky finalists and their myspace page.

Here is a couple of episodes of Musicool in which they go to see the fantastic Avenue Q and have a go at acting with puppets.

Technorati Tags: channel 4, musicool, musicool at avenue q, reality tv musicals, t4

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