Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Whats On Stage Theatregoer Awards 2010

Every year, Whats On Stage host the Theatregoers' Choice Awards which celebrates the success of British theatre and promotes a selection of the most talented actors and actresses and this year is no different.

The first stage is the short-listing of the shows and individuals and this is where you can come in. If you think Jessie or A Little Night Music deserve to be nominated to go through to the final round of public voting, you can submit your nominations via the voting form.

However, there are some exceptions: A Little Night Music can be nominated for Best Off West-End Production for it's run at the Menier Chocolate Factory but it cannot be nominated for Best West End Musical because it is no longer running.

So if you'd like to see Jessie, A Little Night Music or indeed any other favourite theatre productions or actors be short-listed for an award then getting voting!

Jessie Buckley - Musical Superhero


It would appear there are no limits to the scale of Jessie's talent as she managed to step into a role last night at very short notice and will be continuing to the end of the shows run, reports Whats On Stage.

Jessie Buckley Shows Perfect Timing???

"I'd Do Anything runner-up Jessie Buckley, last seen in the West End in Trevor Nunn's production of A Little Night Music, has shown herself to be something of a musical superhero this week.

Twenty-year-old Buckley, who came second to Jodie Prenger in the BBC casting show, was called on at the very last minute to understudy an actress in the Whatsonstage.com-supportedPerfect Pitch new musicals showcase, currently running at Trafalgar Studios 2

According to Perfect Pitch producer Andy Barnes: “On Tuesday, Jessie stood in for Fiona Sinnott, who was struck down with suspected pneumonia. She had an hour and a half to look at the script before going on to play the role of Mairin in Dougal Irvine's In Touch.”

“We have no understudies due to the nature of what we do so we put a frantic call in yesterday morning and Jessie cancelled a singing lesson to come over and help us out. She did an amazing job and barely even needed the script she had with her!”

Buckley, whose fellow Nights Music cast member Kaisa Hammarlund who is also currently performing in a Pitch Perfect production 'From Up Here' this week, will be playing the role for the rest of the duration of the run."

Further information about 'In Touch' can be found here

Link to WOS article

Show Synopsis: In Touch

The internet is running our lives. Or at least it soon will be. Never before have humans had access to so much information. It could seriously blow your mind! In this dark comedy from the writer of Departure Lounge, two characters completely dependent on this other world clash with two others looking for escape. Then the internet itself gets involved, and all hell breaks loose! All beg the question; in our quest to be in touch with everybody, are we losing touch with ourselves?

Monday, 2 November 2009

A Little Less Ordinary


Last night saw Jessie take part in her first public performance since finishing her stint in the West End in the summer. The occasion was a night at the Apollo Theatre and featured a score of newly composed songs by Michael Bruce who is something of a prodigy in the world of musical composition and remarkably talented at the meagre age of 25 years old. Unfortunately I was not in attendance myself and not able to write a personal entry, I am therefore leaving it up to The Stage to give a run-down of last nights events. As and when (if) more reviews/photographs become available, they'll be up here.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/26098/michael-bruce-a-little-less-ordinary

"Two years ago, a young composer called Michael Bruce won the Stage-sponsored Notes for The Stage competition, as a result of which his entry, Children, was heard as part of the 2007 Christmas in New York concert at the West End’s Lyric Theatre. I should declare an interest here - I was part of the judging panel that made that choice. And now I’m relieved to be able to report that our faith in this exceptional talent was fully justified - but more importantly, so has the faith that the producers Neil Eckersley and Paul Spicer have invested in him, in every sense, in nurturing him to the next stage.

Although I’m tempted to echo the Blossom Dearie song and declare, “You wear too much puce, Bruce” in reference to the vivid purple suit he sports, he certainly stands out from the songwriters that are trying to make their mark in this crowded field.

He has a remarkable facility to change between different moods and melodies. That bodes well for someone who will need to harness his talent into creating evenings with plenty of both - but there’s also something immediate, fresh and contemporary about his musical sensibility too, that puts one in mind of a younger version of Jason Robert Brown.

And just like his American counterpart, he creates story songs that must be a treat to perform and duly attract high-calibre performers to do so. In fact, it has the slight problem of making his own vocal contributions harder to take - he’s not in the same league as some of those who are performing here. The ever-invaluable Julie Atherton provides a comic highlight with In a Disney Way, written especially for her, and reprises the hauntingly melodic Children with spellbinding emotion. Another comic bullseye comes from Emily Tierney’s hilarious rendition of Continental.

But if the comic numbers score particularly highly, there’s plenty to enjoy from the rest of a stellar line-up that also includes newcomer Phoebe Fildes (who won her own chance to be here by a YouTube competition), Finty Williams, Helena Blackman, Sarah Lark and Jessie Buckley, among others. The future of British musical theatre was being forged before our eyes and ears. It was a privilege to be there to witness it."

Monday, 27 July 2009

Closing comments on A Little Night Music

We have all seen the glittering praise from the press about A Little Night Music. However, it isn't the journalists and press who make up the audiences each night. Obviously as we know, Saturday night saw the final curtain call for the first-rate cast of the West End's most sophisticated, intelligent and wickedly funny shows. So, I thought it might be nice to post some of the comments from the punters who were lucky enough to revel A Little Night Music one last time. Forget the pomp, verboseness and cerebrality of the press critiques who like to talk in theatre jargon, here is what the paying public thought.

"I went for my final visit to the show last night and yet again I was blown away by how good the show was, the cast were all giving their best and the chemistry between some of the actors was brilliant. It was nice to see the theatre verging on full for once and the cast seemed to really pick up on this and if possible improve on their performances!"

"It was nice to see the show once more before it closes, it is just such as shame that it is closing already.
Afterwards I did go to stage door, not that I was imposing on the cast, but they were genuinely more than happy to chat and sign the programme. Kaisa and Kelly both stopped and chatted for about 5 minutes each and they were genuinely dissapointed that the show was closing."

"Very sorry to see this one die. It does kind of make one wonder what difference, if any, the much-vaunted (on here) tourist season does actually make to ticket sales - if a show with such a pedigree can't even draw in the passing trade."

"Well, what a final night it was! Such touching last performances - it was obviously hard for the cast to play it for their final time and say goodbye to such gorgeous music and fantastic characters. And all the way through the run it's felt like there's a real warmth between the entire cast - last night more than ever.
There was a great energy but definitely a last night feel. I think a lot of the audience had seen it before so there wasn't always the huge laughs that certain lines get when people see it the first time. Kaisa seemed to be the only person who managed to be bubbly and full of smiles to the end - but then she does have a more cheerful part than the others! Hannah seemed completely tortured to be singing Send in the Clowns for the last time, she almost had to snarl the lines towards the end. Alex was on top form as usual but I did see tears in his eyes a few times. Hannah and Alex really took their time building up to You Must Meet My Wife - that song remains my favourite bit in the show - his amazing singing and her hilarious reactions! Gabriel was very solid, like Kaisa, great performance. Every Day a Little Death was very emotional - both Jessie and Kelly shed a lot more tears than usual. The beautiful chorus were stunning as ever, I've really enjoyed them every time.
At the very end, the 2 other Frederikas (Holly was on last night) came on in costume to take a bow and the swings came on too. The whole cast looked very sad but then - a stroke of genius - people started throwing flowers on to the stage and it really lifted everyone and the cast all started picking up a few each and laughing and the audience loved it, it really brightened up a sad moment. There were a few curatin calls, more flower gathering and then Maureen said a few lines. She just explained who the 2 other girls were - she seemed to forget the swings! - and then just said it was such a shame "such an intelligent and lucid show" was closing."

"The show was brilliant as always, and I ended up sobbing like a baby. Shed a tear during Every Day A Little Death, but from Send in the Clowns onwards I was blubbing! Very sad to see it close, I've loved the show so SO much. One of the strongest casts I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing, and I wish them all the very best for the future. They are all brilliant and deserve to go on to other great things!"

(All comments from the ALNM thread on the What's On Stage forums.)

Saturday, 25 July 2009

A Message From Jessie!

A Little Night Music plays to West End audiences for the last time tonight at the Garrick Theatre and as it marks the end of Jessie's first professional role since I'd Do Anything it will definitely be a momentous occassion. The support for Jessie during IDA and thereafter has been remarkable and she has a little message for you all!

"I'd like to say a huge thank you for everyone's support throughout A Little Night Music and I'd Do Anything. From the bottom of my heart I cannot thank each and every one of you enough."


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I'm sure I speak for us all when I say we look forward to seeing what Jessie gets up to next and, as ever, the blog will continue to report all the news and information.

What would you like to see Jessie do next? Have you got any ideas for what roles you think she should do in the future? Let us know in the comments section!