It ended with a standing ovation but, who knows what the critics will write.

Thanks. Goodnight.

Goodnight

Here you go Meg ;) - From the Press Association

 

LINK

 

Standing ovation for Darius' Rhett

6 hours ago

Pop Idol star Darius Danesh received a standing ovation for his performance as Rhett Butler in the new production of Gone With The Wind.

The 27-year-old Glasgow-born singer stars opposite US performer Jill Paice in the Trevor Nunn show.

A star-studded audience turned out to watch Danesh take on the role made famous by Clark Gable in the 1939 film.

The first preview of the adaptation of the 1936 Margaret Mitchell novel ran to a mammoth four hours.

By the US civil war epic had been cut down to three-and-a-half-hours, including the interval, in time for opening night.

Actresses Joan Collins and Barbara Windsor, broadcaster David Frost, comic and writer Ben Elton, model Twiggy, ex-Blue singer Duncan James and Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Philips turned out to watch the musical adaptation, which cost a reported £4.5m to stage.

Danesh said afterwards: "I had a blast, it was my first opening night and it was great to cut my teeth with the inimitable Trevor Nunn."

Of the length of the production, he said: "We are still shorter than the film."

The production is the first play written by US mother-of-three Margaret Martin, who took the idea to director Nunn after gaining the rights to the story.

Danesh previously played Sky Masterson in Michael Grandage's production of Guys and Dolls and was the youngest actor to play Billy Flynn in Chicago.

 

 

 

 

Not such a good review until it to comes to Darius :)

 

Reuters.com LINK

 

Darius Danesh, who won fame on the U.K. television show "Pop Idol," does a much better job of channeling Clark Gable as Butler. He's a fine singer and not a bad actor. The rest of the cast have the burden of delivering a series of musical numbers that, unusually for a musical, are not listed in the program.

 

 

 

 

He is the best thing in it. It was a really good night. The audience was laughing when they should (apart from Melanie's labour, when they shouldn't have but it's hard to resist), clapped when there was enough of a hole to fit it in and I saw quite a few tears shed.

I love it. I'm finding that the more I see it, the more in tune I am with the way it's done. The first half is a little rushed but, there's a lot of story,

doesnt sound too bad, I for one would be happy with "the only good thing in the show is Darius" when we get down to it!

 

so far he isnt doing too bad in reviews

 

I loved the lines in the story, Rhett is so dry in humour, the I can't wait to catch you inbetween husbands..is a standout line in the film..

That gets a laugh.

it made me laugh in the film -

 

shall we have a pinned thread for all the offical reviews coming???

Yes please, can you post then close again PiP?

 

...It would be better with no chat do you think

Edited April 23, 200817 yr by SpamFritter

agree, I have pinned and closed the thread but with a message saying any reviews can be posted in this thread and we can move the up to the closed topic as it is for reviews alone - I think that will be ok, feel free to tidy it..LOL

http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=2...e+With+the+Wind

 

Yet another critic with only Clark Gable in his head but he does actually praise Darius's voice. Is that a a half thumbs up then?

Edited April 23, 200817 yr by Baytree

trouble is these critics go along with "critism" in mind and it blinds them I am sure, how can anyone live up to gable and Leigh?? you have to go looking for a different experience

I think we all knew that was going to be one of the major stumbling blocks.

 

My fears have not been realised. I feared that if the critics disliked the show, Darius would be the scapegoat. Thankfully he gives such a great performance that there is no way they can take that tack so they compare him unfavourably to Gable.

I found a Times one last night but I wasn't sure if it was just a blog. re Darius it said something like he'd got the suave side of Rhett but wasn't mad bad or dangerous enough.

yes, I am releived in that

Wendy rang me at 8a.m. this morning to tell me that she had the Daily Express review - very good for Darius - apparently it was only he who saved the show!! Hopefully someone will post it soon!! :D

 

Julie

Just popping in to add my congrats. He's got some great reviews

Edited April 23, 200817 yr by munchkin

thanks, as said I think the show is coming in for stick - Darius isnt on the whole

The stage called him "wooden"

 

It remains to be seen whether Gone With the Wind will be another Les Mis or will have only a short run. In either case, taking on such a big role, will already have taught Darius a lot more in weeks than he could learn in years at acting school in LA.