Sometimes movie transfers to the stage just don’t exactly gel and I must admit wondering exactly how Legally Blonde would come across. Pauline had seen it on Broadway before it shut down and she absolutely loved it, but then again she was a huge Legally Blonde fan. I’ve seen the first movie and remembered liking it but didn’t exactly rate myself as a diehard fan. I don’t think I’ve even seen the second movie!

Turns out Pauline was right about the musical – it was excellent!

Sandra says that she thought it was a mixture of the first and second movies – I will have to take her word for it since she has the DVDs and has seen it more recently than I. To be honest this has been one of the better musicals I’ve seen – you needn’t have seen the movies to understand what was going on and the story was well told throughout.

The musical was funny, witty, smart, great engagement with the audience and, to my absolute pleasure, included live animals in particular the English Bulldog who belonged to the character played by Jill Halfpenny. So cute!

Oh, a quick summary for those unfamiliar with the movie. Elle is a spoilt blonde whose entire world revolves around her boyfriend. When said boyfriend dumps her and heads off to Harvard. Determined to win him back she follows him only to find that he’s moved on to someone more serious and career-driven. In the end she finds confidence in herself, works out she’s too good for him and ends up with an unexpected love.

Sheridan Smith, who I know best for playing Smithy’s sister Rudi in Gavin & Stacey though I’m sure her CV is a bit more wide-ranging than that, was absolutely stunning as Elle. She couldn’t have been more different from Rudi that’s for sure! The character with her so chirpy, ditzy, so pink ways could have been grating and annoying but she wasn’t and I think that’s due to Sheridan Smith’s sense of comic timing and delivery. Sheridan was supported by Duncan James, of former boy band Blue, who was oh so sexy (so very sexy!) as Elle’s smug boyfriend and Jill Halfpenny, remember the one who owns the adorable bulldog! who plays a hairdresser that Elle befriends.

A fantastic show and it deserves to stick around for a bit. Boyfriends, husbands and partners be warned though – there is a LOT of pink in this show!

From a traditional play to something a little less traditional but no less entertaining. The Boom Boom Club is a cabaret show that is hosted in The Bath House. Finding the venue was an adventure in itself. Jo, James, Lana, Mikey and I must have circled the streets of Liverpool street a few times before we finally found the entry. We’d missed it because it was this small little almost booth at the top of some stairs that lead to the real thing.

Upon descending the stairs you’re met by a dark, but not dingy, area. The stage is quite small so the venue is very intimate. We started off with some dinner (pizza and a beer) before taking our seats for the show. Though the show is scheduled to start at 9pm its pretty informal and runs to its own schedule. Seating is unreserved and there is space for about 20 or so people to sit so if you want to sit you’re advised to get in and grab a spot. However, the venue is small enough that you could easily stand around to see the show easily. The other patrons of the show seemed happy to stand and watch. In fact, from the comments I could gather from around me, they all seemed to be regular visitors, all seeming to know each other or the acts at least.

As a cabaret you get a mix of all sorts of acts to support the headline burlesque dancing of Miss Vicky Butterfly. The acts change every week so you never know what you can get. Tonight we had the strange gyrations of Agent Lynch (another burlesque dancer), to the comedic sensations of Sarah-Louise Young (after the compere I thought she was the best act of the night), to Tom Baker – both of whose acts totally confounded me. At one stage he donned this alien/sea creature outfit and sung some sort of ditty. It had most of the audience giggling and joining in but I just didn’t get it.

The absolute stand-out of the night however was Dusty Limits. This singer comedian was perfect as the MC for the night – he had perfect timing, great improvisation skills and was just overall entertaining. Loved him and I’d come back just to get more of him! (Not THAT way – I suspect he’s not available for us ladies 😉 )

Don’t you just love wallpaper in the toilets:

It was an interesting show though less “skin” was shown than I was expecting. All pertinent bits and pieces are kept safely under guard though there is a risk of a wardrobe malfunction which nearly happened tonight. heh heh.

We witnessed some theatre magic tonight.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is a transfer to the West End from Broadway and after tonight’s performance I could understand why it was a sold-out run. This play by Tennessee Williams is the story of a Southern family delivered with a twist – an all black cast. The play is told over the course of one evening and focuses on the rocky marriage between Brick and Maggie and their interaction with his family. Supposedly the family has gathered to celebrate his Brick’s dad’s birthday however they are hiding a big secret – that he is dying of cancer. In the mean time relatives scramble around trying to ingratiate themselves with Big Daddy.

Five great names: James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Adrian Lester and Sanaa Lathan play Big Daddy, Big Mama, Brick and Maggie respectively and Debbie Allen, you may recognise her from Fame, directs. What an awesome formula and it produced a great result.

From the outset you are drawn into the drama of Brick, the former college football player now alcoholic, and Maggie, his frustrated and beautiful wife, fighting against the memory of Brick’s dead (male) best friend. Add to this element the rest of the cast, including the age-old father-son conflict, the tension with his own brother and greedy sister-in-law, and the loneliness of his mother it all makes for a rather moody but moving few hours.

Cast-wise though everyone delivered their characters perfectly – I loved James Earl Jones. He was by far and away the star of the show though Sanaa Lathan was not too far behind him. As soon as Jones hit the stage it was like – wow – that’s some stage presence. He hasn’t lost any of his mojo that’s of sure.