Yesterday I took a day off and travelled to London to see a west end show. Plan was to leave Kennedy Towers, just outside of Newcastle Upon Tyne at 9am, arrive in the big smoke at just after 12, grab some lunch, see a show on the west end, tea, a drink and meet up with a friend and then home on the 21:00, arriving home at 1:20am.
It was a superb day, the journey down was none eventful, I sat and read by book as did my beloved (well a magazine). Off the train and straight underground where Londoners were excited to hear that all lines were working to time. Right through to Leicester Square to 'Yates's' bar. A Bear and Burger meal later and after a pint of the Fosters nectar we set off for the Phoenix Theatre where Blood Brothers was showing. We collected the tickets from an American woman who had an attitude from hell, abrupt and evil so we frowned at her and left, tickets in purse, Tess' purse not mine.
To kill the hour wait we had before the 3pm matinee performance we headed tube-wise for Hyde Part and the Palace of Buckingham. Lovely walk through the park, avoiding the random joggers and cyclists then realised we should hot foot it to the Green Park tube to see 'the show'.
Arriving at the theatre there were a mass of school children in lines so we were ready to have to wait in line then realised that it was a teachers thing to sort their pupils out. So in we went, found our seats in row B of the dress circle, only the best seats in the house of Kennedy (lol).
Was it good? Well what are you doing right now? Are you bored and need something to do? With tickets from only £30.00 you owe it to yourself to get to their website and see this show. Who cares where you live, fly to London and see it because its fabulous. I know thats an arty farty word but I mean its just mind blowing.
What a hell of a mix of comedy, superb acting (apart from one who I shall come on too in a sec) and pure tragedy in the end. The music was superb and really set the mood. Stars of the show are the Narrator, this guy has presence and vocal power like I have always dreamed. And Micky. The bloke playing this role is so versatile that you just have no choice but to believe that he's 7 years old and then later that he's a 30 year old man.
Weaknesses, okay there has to be one and for once me and my lady agreed on the show's weakness. Although I could have listened to Mrs Johnston singing all day,a beautiful voice, unfortunately her acting ability didn't live up to the rest of the cast. A singer yes but when put up against the tightly trained cast she just wasn't up there. That said she certainly looked the part, she had the right figure to convince us that she was mother, her hair annoyed me but most of all she was emotionless, disappointing when the final scene is left to her. Credit where it's due most of the audience were in floods of tears, Tess included. I think this was down to the portrayal done by the 'brothers' Micky and Eddy more than anything else but if only Mrs Johnston had been that little more convincing then maybe I'd have shed a tear too. I was close, but not there.
Blood Brothers you were good, great in fact. The plot, music, sets costume and cast as a whole are phenomenal. Standing ovation, usually yes. Not on this day.
Even though its not up there as one of my favorite shows with Wicked and Les Msserables, I didnt stand at the end, and the reason is silly.
The difference between standing and not is the atmosphere. We were sat in amazing seats, however what we couldn't control was the fact that we were literally surrounded by school children so the atmosphere where we were sitting was not intense enough to lift me to my feet. In the stalls they were all on their feet and the production deserves that.
So now I am back to reality, of course I've been invited to perform back at As You Like It in Jesmond on February 23rd and the tickets are not on sale for the dinner and show combo. I have been asked to be special guest performer at a psychic night in a major bar in Newcastle, but I will tell you about that next time.
Take care,
Kennedy
Psychological Magician and Mind Reader
