He has just forgotten to put it back on

Thank you Meg, that's lovely. Sue

He asked me to do it - and was pleased to be able to.

This is who will replace D wen he finishes Chicago on friday.

 

Terence Maynard Joins Cast of West End's CHICAGO

 

 

Darius Campbell will finish his current run as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO on Saturday 24 December. Terence Maynard will return to the role on Monday 26 December. America Ferrera and Amra-Faye Wright will star as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly until Saturday 31 December. From Monday 2 January, the roles of Roxie and Velma will be played by Sarah Soetaert and Rachel McDowall. James Doherty will continue as Amos Hart, Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and R. Whitehead as Mary Sunshine.

 

Now the most successful Broadway export ever, CHICAGO had its final performance at the Cambridge Theatre on 27 August, establishing the record for the longest running American musical. During its 5-year run there, the multi award-winning musical played to over 2 million people, notched up numerous records and became in the process the West End’s longest running revival ever.

 

CHICAGO originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.

 

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. CHICAGO is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissle

 

 

 

I though that Darius was finishing up today?

Must have misread it somewhere lol

I though that Darius was finishing up today?

Must have misread it somewhere lol

His last day is tomorrow Claire. I'd imagine he'll be flying straight home then for a family Christmas in LA.

Oh well at least he will get home in time for Christmas

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day :)

 

OK report time.

 

I won the auction for the charity meet&greet tickets with Darius and arranged it for Thursday the 22nd. Meg was kind enough to meet up and keep me company, and after insisting on buying my meal in the pub next door(thanks Meg :)), we moved in front of the stage door, awaiting D's arrival. I was expecting to say a quick hello as he passed, and then for him to re-appear later, so we could go in and do the meet&greet thingy.

 

I spotted Darius arriving, and he greeted us with his usual big, friendly smile. He said he'd be right back, as he was just going to buy our tickets. A minute or two later, he re-appeared, and to my surprise, asked us through the security gate and on in to his dressing room. He told us to make ourselves confortable, and nipped away for a few minutes.

 

He returned with a couple of friends, a lady called Karen and a gentleman called Kevin( who was the choreographer and fitness trainer from Fame Academy a while back). I'd seen Kevin outside, thinking it was him, but he looked so much slimmer and younger than I remembered him from TV, I wasn't confident enough it was him to say hello outside. He was dressed in black, immaculately turned out, and looked great. He seemed like a really nice guy, and was very easy to talk to, as was Karen.

 

Darius poured out the Champagne for those that wanted some, and was kind enough to get sparkling apple juice as a non alcoholic option for those not drinking. He made a toast and we all smiled and took a sip. Darius popped in and out a few times, leaving Meg and I in Karen and Kevin's company, finally returning with some more guests. One lady who I remembered worked for Virgin Airways, had her Mum with her. There was also another lady and gentleman. I'm afraid the only name I can rememeber, is that of the gent, as his name was also Paul, I'm not good with names :rolleyes: I wasn't sure exactly if theses people were friends or just guests, or a combination of both, but they were all very friendly, and we chatted with them too.

 

I gave Darius a Christmas card that Mum and Dad had sent for him, as well as my own, and also a CD of my images, that he'd asked me to bring if I was coming back down to see the show again. As soon as he'd asked for the CD, I was definately coming back down again :)

 

We took a few photographs with D, and then he led us downstairs to the internal stalls entrance, so we could take our seats for the 1st half. He'd already said about returning to his dressing room for the interval, and we were to wait at this internal entrance for him to open it for us. The first half was excellent, and Darius in particular, seemed to incorporate so much more than my first visit of this run, in which he'd already been excellent! His timing, mannersims/expressions were wonderful, and with the audience being the most receptive I've heard at a Chicago performance, everyone seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was, although I did hear a rumour of someone falling to sleep at some point during the show :o

 

We waited for the door to open, and returned to D's dressing room, for more pics. Once again D popped out, and it was only on his return that we discovered he was doing another m&g at the same time. The other people had left the room and just D, Meg and I were left. D told us we could leave our stuff in the room and collect it after the show, and Meg was just asking about the finishing time of the Friday matinee, when there was a tannoy request," can Mr Campbell report to the stage immediately please". D bolted and we made our way back down the steps, to go take our seats. We opened a door to our left and almost ended up on stage, closing it and then finding the correct one :rolleyes:

 

The second half was as good as the 1st, and even though the star billing went to America Ferrera playing Roxie, D was clearly the star of the show IMO! I dissagreed with Meg about America's singing voice, in that I felt it was the same as the first time I'd heard her. Her acting was also the same to me, brilliant throughout! At times I felt she was too sweet as Roxie, most particularly when she put on her beautiful smile :wub: and would have preferred a slightly more slutty portrayal, but that's just my opinion.

 

Meg had to dash off immediately after the show, so I made my way around through the security gate to the backstage area, for my 3rd visit to D's dressing room B-) I knew he'd made arrangements for after the show, so I quickly congratulated him on what I considered to be his best performance in the role so far, and told him we'd see him tomorrow! I picked up my camera and laptop bag, and left a very happy bunny :)

 

The next day, I met up with Meg again and had a lovely afternoon(after a nightmare of transferring hotels in the morning ^_^ ) and we took our seats for the matinee, after having said another quick hello to D outside. He hugged me twice, and I can honestly say, I've never hugged another man anywhere near as much before. It does make you feel special, when a star like D is so warm and friendly towards a nobody like me.

 

After another great show, we met up with Nina and once again made our way through the security door to wait for Darius to come and say hello. It'd been a few minutes, so Meg made an enquiry about Darius, and was told to once again go on to his dressing room. She returned for us, and I thought I'd let Nina and Meg have their own time with Darius, as I'd already had more than my fair share with him, so I waited under the canopy outside. I heard a booming "Paul" from Darius, and then Nina popped back around the corner and said he wanted me to come in too :) That might not sound much to many people, but it really thrilled me that he's been kind enough to ask me back in again :)

 

As I entered the dressing room, I noticed that D had put up the cards I'd left him the day before on his dressing table. I stepped forward to take a few pics of the ladies with D, and he then insisted that I get another with him. All too soon, we were back outside, thrilled once again with our interaction with a true gentleman indeed. We went to a pub for a quick drink, before Meg had to leave. Nina and I stayed for a bite to eat and then walked to the tube station for our journeys home/hotel.

 

It was wonderful spending time with you ladies, let's hope we have many more chances next year to do the same :)

 

Finally, I'd like to say a massive thank you to Darius for being such a warm and friendly host. There are very few like him in the world, and far, far fewer famous ones. It just makes you realise how very special a human being he is :)

sounds wonderful;, thanks for the report, makes me feel warm and fuzzy just reading it.

 

 

KarenMillen_OBE Karen Millen

@DariusOfficial , great to see you again and thank you x pic.twitter.com/XUhFQmbS

 

photo

 

 

karen = karen millen , clothes designer obe

Edited December 26, 201113 yr by prettyinpink

He had her standing on a chair for that one. The whole group of people were great. Cathy would have recognised her as she used to shop in Karen Millen when she lived in London. It was a good 2 days. I went from spending time with Paul for the days to seeing the show and meeting Darius - which, for some reason, I didn't say no to. I do like the meeting up with people I've seen through the years. It was a shame I couldn't stay with Paul and Nina for the meal but I enjoyed the time we had

Hope everyone had a good Christmas :D . Lovely report Paul, you always remember every detail, I don't know how you do it. Glad you all had such a great time. Sue