I dont know who Ian Kelsey is either I never watch Emerdale.

 

Ive just read that Ashlee Simpson is taking over the role of Roxie for 5 weeks.

that will be interesting, she is all of 12 isnt she

that will be interesting, she is all of 12 isnt she

 

:D

 

Jennifer Ellison was only 21 when she first played Roxie. She's done it twice now and she's doing the tour, I think, - so the producers must be happy enough with her portrayal. I suppose they might cut out the odd spoken line which would be incongruous. I haven't seen JE so I wouldn't know.

 

In the film version just before Razzle Dazzle, Billy says something like "I've been in this business a long time, kid", but I can't remember if Darius said that.

Maybe he did, because he certainly looked much older on stage and in the pictures in the brochure of all the Billys, he doesn't stand out as a particularly young man.

 

I fear Ashlee Simpson will be more Bugsy Malone than Chicago.

Darius didnt come across as a 25 year old at all, he had an air of carry Grant to him, which I felt put him in his early 40's. he looks older than his years as it is, but what with th ehair and suit and character.

 

 

Ashlee is nearly 22

What is interesting about Ashlee simpson appearing in chicago is it compliments her having an album out here. I believe her last album didnt do well.

I'm not sure that Chicago is likely to raise her profile before the release of an album as much as a full blown promotional blitz on national and local radio and TV would do.

 

A lot of new shows have opened in the West End, Les Mis I think is celebrating an anniversary (21st?) and of course The Sound Of Music is going to be all over the place, so I'm not that sure that the media will be desperate to interview another new Roxie.

 

FYI Tony Hadley will be on This Morning today at 12.15pm. He's singing live.

 

Edit: Did anyone else see the little clip of All I Care About Is Love? What did you think, compared to Darius?

 

The interview was mainly about promoting his new album but Tony did talk about how nervous he was playing BF and what a challenge it was with the American accent and having to get it right all the time, whereas in films you can reshoot and in concerts get the audience to sing when you forget the words. He said first night was terrifying.

 

 

 

Edited February 12, 200718 yr by Baytree

FYI Tony Hadley will be on This Morning today at 12.15pm. He's singing live.

 

Edit: Did anyone else see the little clip of All I Care About Is Love? What did you think, compared to Darius?

 

The interview was mainly about promoting his new album but Tony did talk about how nervous he was playing BF and what a challenge it was with the American accent and having to get it right all the time, whereas in films you can reshoot and in concerts get the audience to sing when you forget the words. He said first night was terrifying.

 

Yes, I saw the clip BT and........ (I know I'm extremely biased and that I have only seen Darius play Billy Flynn) but I thought the song was just not right for Tony Hadley's voice!! It must have been in the wrong key for him or something - there was just no depth there!! Also his acting voice didn't have the power behind it that Darius's did!! Don't get me wrong, I love Tony Hadley and I thought he would be great for this part but just judging by the clip this morning Darius seemed much more in character!! :D :wub:

I wonder what Tony's dancing is like!! :D

 

Julie

 

I was shocked I thought Tony would have been much better than he was.

I said to Andrew I know I'm biased but he isn't a patch on Darius and Andrew agreed.

Just goes to show how great Darius was at that part, although I didn't need any proof

IMO Darius sang that particular song much better than Tony at NUTS, which took place nearly a week before D's opening night.

 

I thought Tony's American accent was amateurish and generic.

 

Before today I was considering sneaking a trip in to see TH play BF. Now I'm going to hang fire until I see more clips or there's someone else in the cast that I'd really like to see too.

 

BTW I see Debbie Kurup is a friend on D's myspace. I think she was Velma last February.

 

 

Usher - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0J8lr5UDso

 

I think he sounds better at the beginning of AICAIL than at the end. Of course, he's a tremendous dancer and he has charm and charisma but I think Darius edges the speaking parts because he projects his voice better and has a more authentic accent. Usher only just manages to stop his southern drawl coming through.

 

The clip of Huey Lewis doesn't seem to be on broadway.com any more. I thought he was dire.

 

I haven't found the Mathew Goodgame clip on youtube either. I thought he was adequate.

 

Richard Gere was only OK as a singer in the film and excluding the tap dance, which according to the director took him three months, his dancing wasn't all that.

Edited February 12, 200718 yr by Baytree

Well we may yet see another Billy flynn. It has been posted in several papers over the last week or two that Brendan cole the dancer is to play billy flynn, which I had expected as he was so keen to be singing with beverley knight in just the two of us tv show accent being from new zealand.I didnt see tony hadley today but I would imagine he would struggle with the accent. He said on tv last week he suddenl.y realised what a lot of work it was to be in the west end.

Sorry ahead of myself again. should have said I wonder how he will cope with the american accent being from new zealand himself.

You're not tempting me, you know, Preston. I wouldn't travel to Edinburgh never mind London to see Mr Cole.

 

Out of curiosity, I'll wait and see if it comes to pass because I remember the papers said Darren Gough had been offered the role when he won SCD. Wasn't he supposed to take over from Darius ?

 

 

 

Huey Lewis for comparison. http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=520576# Click on the watch video box.

 

This is the guy who played Broadway and then did the bulk of the American touring production..........Why?

Edited February 12, 200718 yr by Baytree

I agree, BT I didnt think Hughie Lewis looked that great in the clip.

I saw a clip of TH on TV, I must add the applause he got as he came forward wasnt anything as loud or noisy as Darius' and we were at a mantinee plus from clips from peoples vids I have seen he got grreat applause. I wonder at TH dancing too, and his stamina to be honest, he is looking really bulky these days. and I say this as someone who likes TH a lot, and was almost tempted to go to see him at our local theatre duirng his swing tour

I thought Darius was great as BF, to the extent that I actually forgot it was darius up on the stage!!

from all the clips and bits I have seen of others doing the part I realise that he did a fantastic job.

From all the clips and sound clips I've seen/heard of other BFs, Huey Lewis is by far the worst.

 

He's not too bad at AICAIL although he doesn't have the Flynn flash. He's Huey Lewis... one expects a roughness to his voice.

 

We Both Reached For The Gun doesn't work at all! It's not Roxie saying Billy's words in a female puppet voice but her opening and closing her mouth while he rasps out the words. It's appalling! Imagine living in a faraway state and relishing the prospect of a Broadway production coming and THAT's what comes.

 

If you can only watch one song, watch Fizzle, Fizzle, I mean Razzle Dazzle. The tune is all over the place and he WALKs through the performance waving his hands or cane around.

 

If Huey can walk it through, maybe Tony will be able to do something between that and the dancing that Darius had to do. I don't think the dancing element needs to be that strong because the ensemble is very busy in Razzle Dazzle but Flynn does have to give an impression of energy and movement.

 

I'm sure TH will be doing another swing tour for his new covers album.

 

 

 

 

Tony Hadley finishes on 24th March. I wonder if the producers will offer Darius first refusal as they seem to have done very frequently since his run at the Adelphi.

 

I know in my heart that Darius was absolutely right to turn down a 3rd run at the end of last year and he needs time to be with his new family and to work on the album, especially if he's determined to do everything himself, but from a purely selfish point of view, right now I want him back in the UK, even in the guise of Billy Flynn.

 

Ditto I also wondered that. 24 march is not that far away but have seen nothing about a replacement, maybe the billy flynn on tour will be doing it, dont know when the tour finishes or maybe tony hadley will extend.

I'm almost sure that Tony said quite definitely that he was going on a singing tour immediately after his run in Chicago.

 

I guess we won't know if Darius is offered the role again, unless he accepts or he lets it slip later on. In the unlikely event he did, I'd go back because there'd be both a new Roxie(Tina Arena) and a new Velma, for me (Annette McLaughlin(sp?)and a new Amos. That would be interesting because I've only ever seen Victor (excellent!) in the role.

 

I definitely wouldn't fancy Brendon Cole. What about Duncan James? Would he make a Billy? Sky are saying today that he's going to give upmusic and concentrate on the theatre and TV presenting?