WhatsOnStage.com Awards 2020

Elaine is vey much in the background. Inconsequential some might say!

This commentator guy is unbearable. He's not letting Elaine get a word in and talks rubbish.

Who ever put out the Theatreboard tweet just now 👏

Results here for anyone who wants them...

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/20th-annual-awards-winners-andrew-scott-claire-foy_50888.html

I think it was quite a good year this year, it didn't feel so much the popularity awards. There was a decent mix of shows winning and some that you might not have expected to win from public votes, especially when they were up against celebs or shows with big followings. I also very much appreciate that this is an awards that include regional productions and give them a chance in amongst everything from London as well as having their own categories.

I just think they need to work on the ceremony and certainly the Radio 2 coverage if they do that again next year.

Was there live and it was wonderful.Thanks to an old friend in the business,I had the full VIP treatment.Excellent!
Lots of great memories made both with the on-stage show and meeting the nominees and other guests👍

Are you implying that the voting is rigged?

I think insofar as finding an award for Sir Cameron is concerned that it's a possibility. I think in all the other categories the winners were well deserved and seemed likely. I just think that every year the Whatsonstage awards somehow find a way to either honor cameron or his shows or feature a medley from his shows or something and while I'll happily acknowledge his importance and value to our musical theatre, this revival of Mary Poppins was not asked for or demanded by the public so I'm a little bit suspect of why it won.

So if anyone has a few minutes to spare here are a few of my rambling thoughts from last night.
I was lucky enough to be invited again to the awards. I seem to be getting more important each year as I am moving further forward in the stalls
Last night I was sat behind one of the Six Queens who spent the whole time fiddling with her hair. I nearly slapped her hand away from it at one stage and was going to tell her that it would fall out if she didn't leave it alone. So annoying. And a row in front of Liam Tamme. Luckily noticed just in time as my friend was just starting to talk about the reviews for Prince of Egypt.
I've been going since the early days of Terri Paddock and its a world apart now. Very professional and slick but I kind of miss the chaos and mishaps from the early days.

Alex Parker did a fine job with a huge orchestra on stage.
Opening number a bit of a mess and didn't really work for me.

The hosts - well Jodie Prenger was fine and is always entertaining but Tom Read Wilson! Oh dear! Never heard of him before and I am afraid I didn't find him in any way amusing. Just another of that breed of funny camp men along with Tom Allen who are just camp and not funny. Plus he had the most ridiculous posh accent that was completely false. He just sounded patronising and even when there was serious stuff to talk about like the nominated charity he sounded condescending. I'm sure people will disagree with me but I just found him very annoying.

Musical numbers were great. Loved Come from Away and Dear Evan Hansen. Waitress was sung well and Only Fools and Horses funny but I still don't think I would go and see the show. However the one that made me say "yes please" was & Juliet. Loved it. Loud, crass and boy did they sing their hearts out. I know I wont know the songs but its a show now high on my list to see.
The one number I was disappointed with was Color Purple. I suppose I was comparing this version with Cynthia Erivo and they just don't compare. The singer was doing too much riffing for me, but the audience seemed to like it so what do I know.

Have to say I didn't really know many of the guest presenters. Liam Tamme made a joke about having to be there on his day off and it fell as flat as a pancake.

As for the awards themselves there was a good mix across the board and I pretty much agreed with them all. Can't really comment on the plays as I haven't seen any of them but the musical awards seemed about right. Really glad for & Juliet who did so well and the best actor and support for a musical was well deserved with Evan Hansen.
Also really pleased the Come from Away got the biggie.
Really surprised that Fiddler of the Roof wasn't even nominated for anything, especially best revival. It was certainly popular and surely was eligible.

So another lovely night out but unfortunately couldn't go to the after show party at the Café de Paris as I had to be up at the crack of dawn for work this morning.

Want to mention the FOH staff at the Prince of Wales who were so good and really helpful. When we arrived one of the ushers noticed me with a stick and immediately came up and asked if I needed any help. She got us to the lifts, showed us to our seats and even came at the interval to see if we were ok. Lovely girl who had studied at Guildford so high hopes that she gets a great career in the theatre.

Finally, and I think I mentioned this last year, how come people who work in the industry can behave so badly in the theatre. Coming in late, using their phones even when the ushers tell them not to and rustling of bags of sweets. I bet they would be the first to complain if it was going on when they were on the stage so why do it when they are in the audience?

Best off-West End production - Falsettos at the Other Palace, London.

I literally hated every second of it and it immediately replaced Cats as my most hated show of all time.

I was hoping for a Preludes win, though I didn't really think it had a chance even though it deserved to win.