Wednesday Matinee (16/09/98)

It was my first visit to this show and I waited for student standby tix for £10. We sat in the 2nd row and it’s a truly magnificent, exciting musical. I knew the story and the music from Puccini’s “La Boheme”, and I think Jonathan Larson has done wonders with it. It’s even showing respect to what Puccini did with it (with some music from ‘Musetta’s Waltz’ when Mimi ‘dies’). As far as the story goes, I think it’s really something for the young at heart, with lesbian and gay relationships and lyrics like “To dildo’s...Mucho Masturbation...Cunningham and Cage...La Vie Boheme”stuff. But I must say, it’s fun and it’s emotional and it’s one of the best new scores I’ve heard for years.

A musical without spectacular effects and without a simple storyline, usually becomes a flop, but not this time. It’s a pleasure to see this cast, headed by the gorgeous Krysten Cummings as Mimi, Adrian Lewis Morgan as Roger, the wonderful Anthony Rapp as Mark, Jocelyn Hughes as Maureen and Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel. I particularly liked Sharon D. Clarke as Joanne, Angela Bradley as Mark’s Mom and Josh Cohen as The Man as well.

It’s wonderfully emotional and the cast really ‘live’ their characters. I think it should become a real cult show in London as well and I’m definitely seeing it again ! The hit of the season...

Saturday 6th March mat. 1999: Peter Eldridge, Joe McFadden, Krysten Cummings, Mark Vincent, Jacqui Dubois, Andy Senor, Angela Bradley, Leon Maurice-Jones.

No Day But Today. Indeed, this show still makes your day. Simply stunning. Except for Krysten, I didn't see these principals in the cast before, and I was stunned. Eldridge is a very different Roger than Adrian, but the voice is incredible, really superb. Looks a bit like the new Phantom (Mike Sterling) with his short hair I thought... McFadden wasn't really giving the best show in years, but the voice was nice. Liked Jacqui Dubois as Joanne and loved Angela Bradley, understudying Maureen. Andy Senor doesn't sparkle as much as Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel, but he was very sweet. Mark Vincent was vocally a much better Tom Collins, though I missed some emotion. I can't ignore Andy Mace as Steve and the waiter because he was deadly funny ! Really worth the money on its own to see him in "La Vie Boheme" !

There were some new people in the orchestra, who at times did some very weird things, but overall it was nice. And Krysten Cummings did it again ! I was crying when she 'died'. Go see it, not just any day, but TODAY !!!

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