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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2022 10:55:29 GMT
New video of kerry performing the title song.
Does she go wrong at about 1m 42 sec? It looks like she turns one way and quickly corrects, or is it choreographed that way?
Either way, I'm not usually a fan but she is very good here
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Post by inthenose on Jul 12, 2022 11:23:19 GMT
That was quite good - far better than I ever would’ve expected when the casting was originally announced. I’d definitely not be disappointed to see her.
I will add a bit of an asterisk here. With a critical eye, there are moments when the transitions between steps is somewhat loose. There are a few times where she is left with extra beats and it’s a bit deer in the headlights.
Specifically at… 1:16-1:19 (sloppy), then 1:32-1:34 (counting four beats), not quite sure what happened at 1:42-1:46, but good recovery. There’s a few more like this throughout the rest of the number, but I won’t bother listing them.
I don’t mean to rag on her performance, which overall is of a good enough standard to lead the production. I’m just saying it certainly isn’t perfect.
I am of the opinion that Kerry Ellis has made this work through sheer hard work and dedication. Yes it’s a bit messy, but the vocals are on-point and I suspect she has worked her butt off to get it to this standard.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 12, 2022 11:41:30 GMT
This is a condensed version of the full number, which they do whenever they're performing it out of context:
In the full thing, she goes down the line of sailors the opposite was to the above video, then there's another 30 seconds of tap before you get to the turns down the line so the set up is different to what you see above.
She definitely has made it work through hard work - she's certainly never had to dance in a show like this before - and she's giving a great performance at the Barbican.
A shame that she's lip syncing here, but that's a decision with the recording of the video, nothing against her.
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Post by filendile on Jul 12, 2022 11:42:49 GMT
Yes I think she turned the wrong way at one point. I could be wrong but it sounds like they are lip syncing to the preview that was released before the tour started, and it’s a shorter version of the number so things were cut.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2022 11:54:00 GMT
Doyou think that’sKerry’s hair or a wig? I was quite close to the stage in Manchester and couldn’t see the usual tell-tale signs of wiggery. I know Sutton was wigged but she isn’t a blonde where Kerry is. Me and my friends have a bit of a thing about wigs, especially bad ones!
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Post by Jon on Jul 12, 2022 11:56:35 GMT
Doyou think that’sKerry’s hair or a wig? I was quite close to the stage in Manchester and couldn’t see the usual tell-tale signs of wiggery. I know Sutton was wigged but she isn’t a blonde where Kerry is. Me and my friends have a bit of a thing about wigs, especially bad ones! I would imagine wig just because it's much easier to maintain a wig rather than real hair.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 12, 2022 12:01:04 GMT
Tis a wig!
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 12, 2022 12:02:55 GMT
Or a hairpiece?
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Post by inthenose on Jul 12, 2022 12:18:19 GMT
I haven’t bothered to go back to be honest, especially with all the train malarkey and having already seen Sutton/Dyer/Wilmot/Lindsay at the Barbican. And then again on TV for free over Christmas.
I’m glad people are still enjoying it though.
With it being lip-synced, how are her live vocals? I wonder if maybe she gasses and they don’t want to put that on an EPK/promo footage? I don’t remember Sutton miming in her promo spots, but I could be wrong.
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Post by dazzlair on Jul 12, 2022 12:34:38 GMT
Saw it at the Saturday matinee and thoroughly enjoyed it though not as much as I did last year.
Dennis Lawson really is woeful and the decision to do away with the top hat made an ordinary performance even worse. I didn't mind Bonnie being Bonnie; in fact I think I would've been disappointed if she hadn't! The role of Evangeline is so small I welcome any attempt to wring every bit of scenery chewing out of it.
Kerry sings and dances wonderfully. It's only because I've seen Sutton that the current show paled slightly to last year's. Sutton really is a star and when I watched it last year I could not take my eyes off her - she simply glows. Whereas with Kerry, I found myself enjoying the cast as a whole rather than just being fixated with the leading lady.
Finally, I heart Haydn Oakley. He made me laugh this year and he made me laugh even louder on Saturday. His The Gypsy In Me is just genius.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2022 14:05:57 GMT
Must be an expensive one. I have very triggering flashbacks to Sheila in A Chorus Line at the Curve
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 12, 2022 14:09:36 GMT
I haven’t bothered to go back to be honest, especially with all the train malarkey and having already seen Sutton/Dyer/Wilmot/Lindsay at the Barbican. And then again on TV for free over Christmas. I’m glad people are still enjoying it though. With it being lip-synced, how are her live vocals? I wonder if maybe she gasses and they don’t want to put that on an EPK/promo footage? I don’t remember Sutton miming in her promo spots, but I could be wrong. She is easily the fittest of the three ladies who has played Reno in London - she jumps straight back into belting after the tap number as if she hasn't just done a 6 minute number full out.
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Post by craig on Jul 12, 2022 15:35:03 GMT
I am of the opinion that Kerry Ellis has made this work through sheer hard work and dedication. Yes it’s a bit messy, but the vocals are on-point and I suspect she has worked her butt off to get it to this standard. Completely agree. I'm not a big fan, to say the least, but am very impressed with the recordings I've seen of her as Reno. Not enough to revisit at the Barbican, but hats off to Kerry for completely surpassing expectations in the role and proving a lot of people wrong.
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Post by danb on Jul 12, 2022 16:50:24 GMT
I am of the opinion that Kerry Ellis has made this work through sheer hard work and dedication. Yes it’s a bit messy, but the vocals are on-point and I suspect she has worked her butt off to get it to this standard. Completely agree. I'm not a big fan, to say the least, but am very impressed with the recordings I've seen of her as Reno. Not enough to revisit at the Barbican, but hats off to Kerry for completely surpassing expectations in the role and proving a lot of people wrong. Amen to this. I was blown away tbh having seen her last on her Elphaba return. I’d all but given up, but the firecracker is still there.
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Post by filendile on Jul 12, 2022 17:29:33 GMT
Sorry if this is dumb question but does she have any chance at award nominations for this? Or is this considered a tour with a london stop? Not sure how they work
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 12, 2022 18:43:47 GMT
It's not the original cast of a production so no - might manage a takeover on WOS awards but that's about it
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2022 18:55:31 GMT
Can I just ask.. how do you know?
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Post by marob on Jul 12, 2022 19:36:09 GMT
Can I just ask.. how do you know? Just had a look on her Instagram, hard to tell normally, but it’s quite noticeable on her current stories.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 12, 2022 20:21:01 GMT
Can I just ask.. how do you know? I've seen the show and I know what her hair looks like...
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 12, 2022 20:21:40 GMT
Also there's the original promo video where she did the 2 minute version with her normal hair, and then the video out this morning was a wig
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2022 20:37:47 GMT
Also there's the original promo video where she did the 2 minute version with her normal hair, and then the video out this morning was a wig Ah right. Would have been nice to have that detail in your earlier response! Cheers!
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Post by richey on Jul 12, 2022 21:45:03 GMT
Doyou think that’sKerry’s hair or a wig? I was quite close to the stage in Manchester and couldn’t see the usual tell-tale signs of wiggery. I know Sutton was wigged but she isn’t a blonde where Kerry is. Me and my friends have a bit of a thing about wigs, especially bad ones! Pretty sure it's a wig. I met her at stage door in Manchester after the show and her hair looked shorter than it had in the show
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 12, 2022 23:28:01 GMT
Doyou think that’sKerry’s hair or a wig? I was quite close to the stage in Manchester and couldn’t see the usual tell-tale signs of wiggery. I know Sutton was wigged but she isn’t a blonde where Kerry is. Me and my friends have a bit of a thing about wigs, especially bad ones! It’s definitely a wig. I saw a post by her when she had her hair in wig prep before a show
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 13, 2022 9:14:58 GMT
It's difficult to say anything that hasn't already been said by other posters.
I saw this last year with Sutton Foster who was truly outstanding but this show is slick and truly delivers.
Kerry Ellis is as good as Sutton Fostor.
Haydon Okaley, again, just delivers and steals every scene he is in. His 'Gypsy In Me' was a show highlight.
Simon Callow- what an interesting guy he is. I am very much aware of who he is, but always thought of him as a serious actor- more Shakespeare over comedy- let alone musical theatre. But t his credit, her was there waving his arms about and tapping to the best of his ability.
In comparing the two, for me, (as other have aid) the weakest lead was Dennis Lawson.
Yes he was doing all the right things and delivering all the lines at the right times but he wasn't a patch on Robert Lindsay. He just didn't make the character 'large' enough. Don't get me wrong, he got laughs from the audience, however there weren't enough shoulder shrugs and he just took a different approach.
But the dancing- not just the tapping- by the leads and ensemble were impeccable, costumes, set design, sound and lighting were outstanding. Thoroughly enjoyable.
This show has it all; dancing sailors, glamour, comedy, style, grace.
It got several standing ovations last night.
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cg
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Post by cg on Jul 15, 2022 22:21:27 GMT
Both Kerry and Bonnie out tonight ..Denis looked tired but the dancing was fabulous as always !
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Post by filendile on Jul 15, 2022 22:29:12 GMT
I was there tonight too. Originally booked because it was meant to be the original first night before they added extra weeks. No Kerry or Bonnie. Sammie Kelly as understood Reno was good. Was this her first show? Strong dancer but vocals and stamina not at Kerry’s level. I missed Bonnie, I seem to be in the minority that doesn’t mind her or Simon Callow. Theatre looked well sold tonight.
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Post by shady23 on Jul 15, 2022 22:39:39 GMT
Minority who doesn't mind Bonnie? Really? I thought she was absolutely wonderful in this, as she always is.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 15, 2022 22:44:39 GMT
Minority who doesn't mind Bonnie? Really? I thought she was absolutely wonderful in this, as she always is. Did you see the correct show? She was dreadful. More concerned with doing a bevel than any attempt at playing a character. I like her , but she was bad here.
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Post by filendile on Jul 15, 2022 22:49:51 GMT
Minority who doesn't mind Bonnie? Really? I thought she was absolutely wonderful in this, as she always is. I agree. I have just seen a lot of negative reviews on here for her. It didn’t work as well tonight with a clearly younger understudy playing such a role, but can’t be helped.
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Post by poster J on Jul 15, 2022 23:20:30 GMT
I didn't think Bonnie's understudy looked too young at all from where I was sitting. She didn't make much of an impression on me but it isn't the greatest of parts anyway.
Sammy Kelly was a good dancer, good actress, generally decent singer but struggled stamina-wise. I had assumed it was her first show but it didn't say so on West End Covers so perhaps not? I'd be interested to see Ellis' take on the role.
Overall still a fun evening but it all felt rushed compared to last year and for the most part the comedy didn't hit quite as well as it did last time around. Even Carly Mercedes Dyer wasn't getting half the laughs she did last year. More mic issues than I would have expected too.
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