Re: Liverpool Reviews
Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 5:54 pm
Liverpool 12th and 13th May
It was with (at least half of a) heavy heart that I departed this morning from the city centre hotel bound for Liverpool John Lennon Airport. 12th May is a date firmly etched into the DNA of Forum Members, the Billy anniversary date celebrated each year since the beginning. That gathering in London of Forum Members from near and far and especially our friends from the US of A. We miss y’all. It was always a unique occasion packed with atmosphere plus the big welcome at the Victoria Palace from the wonderful staff and, of course, the Anniversary cakes that they had waiting for us in the bar.
On 12th May this year it was to be a very small gathering of Forum members this time in Liverpool. Naturally, there would be no sense of the occasion at the theatre but, nonetheless, we felt that we should do it. This would be the last time ever.
Despite that overhanging shadow, it was a great occasion with the last Anniversary Billy honour going to the very latest UK Billy in the line, Emile…..and what a truly superb performance we got from him and the fantastic cast backed up by the amazing music gurus below decks on this ship of geniuses. Sailing into Liverpool port with the new crew members safely aboard, the entertainment was mighty.
The Liverpool Empire, I gather, will be 100 years old in 2025 and I quite enjoyed its old worldly atmosphere albeit if the seats might not have been the most comfortable I have sat on. The front row view was quite something. Especially interesting for anyone into the music side of things. Being so close to the very engine of the music department was mind-blowingly awesome. Watching the full range of MD Patrick Hurley’s talents was something else. Now, if I could just get my hands on one of those Yamahas…and I am not talking about motorbikes.
On Saturday the shows were masterminded by two of those iconic doyens of the Tour, Adam and Haydn also in sparkling form.
As far as I could see the theatre was close to full for all three shows and the audiences were all up for the occasion. Standing ovations abounded. All three Dream Ballets had the applause ringing out long before the final flourishes. Hearing the reaction to the Liverpudlian Ballet Dancer makes me think they might have missed a trick by not moving his birthplace around the various cities. I’d love to have heard how a BETM Dublin accent might have sounded!
It is, of course, a great shame that Annette had to leave and she will be greatly missed but, by the Saturday evening show, Anna Jane had fully cemented herself back into the role she had performed previously in London. Forum Members will be pleased to hear that she is playing it in the same fashion and that she has resurrected the, ahem, “appropriate gear” for the second part of Shine. Her goodbye scene to all three Billys was very, very emotional. Great to see Phil Snowden back on board. New (Very) Big Davey, Milan, has a fantastic stage presence. In all three shows Phil actually sang the opening scene with Small Boy (“Through the Dark”) with Milan taking over just speaking the next set of lines with the clipboard in hand. (“and though our hands”).
On Saturday evening Barnaby appeared from nowhere to dance in the Finale.
Liverpool itself was fascinating. We just had time for a brilliant Saturday morning sojourn down in the splendidly (and very tastefully) redesigned docks area (a must visit, IMHO). The city was liveliness personified, the people were lovely, the hotel was in what must have been the Irish Centre with such as Nellie Foley’s place, The Celtic Bar, Lanigans Bar et al nearby. All that was missing was Delaney’s Donkey!
Thanks to the supreme skills and dedication of the entire Billy Company the show continues to rattle along and enthral its audiences. With so little time left, shadow or no shadow, it continues to be a must-see…and as often as possible.
Pat
It was with (at least half of a) heavy heart that I departed this morning from the city centre hotel bound for Liverpool John Lennon Airport. 12th May is a date firmly etched into the DNA of Forum Members, the Billy anniversary date celebrated each year since the beginning. That gathering in London of Forum Members from near and far and especially our friends from the US of A. We miss y’all. It was always a unique occasion packed with atmosphere plus the big welcome at the Victoria Palace from the wonderful staff and, of course, the Anniversary cakes that they had waiting for us in the bar.
On 12th May this year it was to be a very small gathering of Forum members this time in Liverpool. Naturally, there would be no sense of the occasion at the theatre but, nonetheless, we felt that we should do it. This would be the last time ever.
Despite that overhanging shadow, it was a great occasion with the last Anniversary Billy honour going to the very latest UK Billy in the line, Emile…..and what a truly superb performance we got from him and the fantastic cast backed up by the amazing music gurus below decks on this ship of geniuses. Sailing into Liverpool port with the new crew members safely aboard, the entertainment was mighty.
The Liverpool Empire, I gather, will be 100 years old in 2025 and I quite enjoyed its old worldly atmosphere albeit if the seats might not have been the most comfortable I have sat on. The front row view was quite something. Especially interesting for anyone into the music side of things. Being so close to the very engine of the music department was mind-blowingly awesome. Watching the full range of MD Patrick Hurley’s talents was something else. Now, if I could just get my hands on one of those Yamahas…and I am not talking about motorbikes.
On Saturday the shows were masterminded by two of those iconic doyens of the Tour, Adam and Haydn also in sparkling form.
As far as I could see the theatre was close to full for all three shows and the audiences were all up for the occasion. Standing ovations abounded. All three Dream Ballets had the applause ringing out long before the final flourishes. Hearing the reaction to the Liverpudlian Ballet Dancer makes me think they might have missed a trick by not moving his birthplace around the various cities. I’d love to have heard how a BETM Dublin accent might have sounded!
It is, of course, a great shame that Annette had to leave and she will be greatly missed but, by the Saturday evening show, Anna Jane had fully cemented herself back into the role she had performed previously in London. Forum Members will be pleased to hear that she is playing it in the same fashion and that she has resurrected the, ahem, “appropriate gear” for the second part of Shine. Her goodbye scene to all three Billys was very, very emotional. Great to see Phil Snowden back on board. New (Very) Big Davey, Milan, has a fantastic stage presence. In all three shows Phil actually sang the opening scene with Small Boy (“Through the Dark”) with Milan taking over just speaking the next set of lines with the clipboard in hand. (“and though our hands”).
On Saturday evening Barnaby appeared from nowhere to dance in the Finale.
Liverpool itself was fascinating. We just had time for a brilliant Saturday morning sojourn down in the splendidly (and very tastefully) redesigned docks area (a must visit, IMHO). The city was liveliness personified, the people were lovely, the hotel was in what must have been the Irish Centre with such as Nellie Foley’s place, The Celtic Bar, Lanigans Bar et al nearby. All that was missing was Delaney’s Donkey!
Thanks to the supreme skills and dedication of the entire Billy Company the show continues to rattle along and enthral its audiences. With so little time left, shadow or no shadow, it continues to be a must-see…and as often as possible.
Pat