Judy! at Arts Theatre, London

It was at the Southwark last year. 

I can understand the title change, I don't think Through The Mill was a great name for it, but its a bit cheeky if people dont realise and book without realising. 

how many Judy Garland plays must we endure? when will the gays be satisfied?

saw this tonight, seat B8.
It was just fabulous!!! All the three Judys were insatiable.
My personal favourite was Young Judy > Older Judy > Middle Judy.

Young Judy has striking resemblance to Judy Garland herself!! it was uncanny.

I believe tonight was the opening night of previews (?) there was some mic issues in the first half.
I felt quite a fool because I was sitting next to a famous person (people kept asking her for photos)
but I had no idea who she was...eek!
The only description I can give was 60-70 years old, white woman, huge hair and eccentric dress sense.
(I realise this could describe many celebs lol)

and yes, there was many many gays in the audience
Sure I will see it three or four more times before it closes!

Oh.

Liza?

She doesn't really talk about it but Judy Garland was her mamma don't you know.

I think it was the red headed lady that had an affair with Ken Barlow!!

Sue Pollard?

she had a very joan collins feel to her but she wasnt joan collins haha

An unexpected gem this, I really enjoyed it.

The play requires not just one Judy but three, the young Judy of Wizard of Oz, the Palace Theatre Judy and the later TV Judy. Three remarkable performances from Lucy Penrose, Belinda Wollaston and Helen Sheals respectively. Lucy Penrose as young Judy was especially remarkable both in looks and vocals and grew from a young girl of 12/13 to 18 or so very convincingly. Three remarkable performances.

The play is none linear and you would have to know about Judys life to make sense of it I felt. If you knew nothing about her you would probably come out of the theatre only a little wiser, but clearly all the audience were Judy Garland fans!

A talented supporting cast playing various roles and instruments made up the company on an effective sound stage set. If you are a fan of Judy Garland a play not to miss I feel. It got a rapturous reception and of course the obligatory standing ovation!

Probably not as good a piece as End of the Rainbow with Tracie Bennett but still very enjoyable and well done. Only on until June17th.

The Arts Theatre is a dump though - it was dark, damp and dank down there. It clearly has had no money spent on it for decades! The floor uneven and peeling paintwork. If the front of house is like that I dread to think of the conditions backstage!

Well. My trolley clanged. My bell dinged. My heart strings zinged.

It's a rollicking little show. Three terrific performances, particularly Helen Sheals as CSI Judy who gets the lions share of the work. If you squinted a bit, you might have suspected Dorothy was back from Oz and Lucy Penrose as 'Wicked' Judy has a delightful voice. I wasn't sure about Belinda Wollaston as Post-Liza/Pre-Lorna Judy in the first half but she pulled it back in the second with a sensational 'Palace' Medley. Great supporting cast and the actor/musician schtick works well here, where normally it's enough to send me straight to the bar.

Some fabulous numbers of course and they work well when you have more than one Judy on stage performing them. The show zips about between different Judys (like flashbacks) which I thought worked really well as you understand why poor Judy was in the state she was in by the end.

Oh, and thank you to whoever cast Harry Anton as Sid Luft and put him in a vest. What a delightful surprise.

coming back to the Hippodrome 22nd June.

Very very happy about this! Already got my ticket

My favourite show from last year!