To summarise the show as I could write pages.... all I can say is WOW!! this is amazing,Jeff Wayne has certainly realised his dream and brought this masterpiece to life it may have taken almost 30 years but it was worth the wait.....the CGI is a fabulous addition that runs continuously telling you the story and mixing the performers in perfectly.....I must say I was thrilled when Justin Hayward walked on as `The Journalist`and he sang `Forever Autumn` he has the most beautiful voice and I wasn`t let down disappointed when I heard him live also his lines in `Eve of The War were just as good....Chris Thompson who sang Thunderchild like Justin he was on the original album was a highlight for me he put everything into his performance and mixed with the CGI again,just as I had always heard it.... Alexis James,The Artilleryman certainly has a very energetic part and he sang and acted Brave New World the audience were enthralled... Tara Blaise who played the parsons wife Beth,beautiful girl and a beautiful voice..... Russell well what can I say...... he was a revalation he put everything into being the Parson he limped on and I was completely convinced by his performance that he was a desperate man who was questioning what he had believed and lived by all his life and couldn`t comprehend what he was seeing....and his voice rang out I was totally mesmerised by him and I`m pleased to say that this is another string to his bow and he did it so well.I spoke to my eldest daughter who has never seen Russell before and to be honest does not like his style of music.. she said to us that she had great respect for what she had seen and he now has her seal of approval she had her doubts about him taking the role like a lot did, and he played it wonderfully.. but she won`t be going to see him in concert... ...For myself I am pleased to say he never tried to mimic Phil Lynott ,no one could of, but he took the role and put his stamp on it and it worked so very well much to the delight of the audience in the arena.
The orchestra and band,well these guys are so talented they are playing non stop and they never faltered,it was perfect!!
Jeff Wayne conducted proceedings under the martian tripod I`m sure on the completion of the tour he will feel it was a job well done!!
I have to mention the fighting machine.....this was amazing as it unfolded itself out of the rigging and its huge feet and legs lowered themselves onto the stage, the eyes blinked into life and every so often my gaze kept straying to it as it perused it audience with its huge green and sometimes red eyes.It moved an huffed out steam and smoke and explosions every so often in perfect time to what was happening on stage, the heat rayfired out into the crowd lighting up different sections and the camera inside the gun highlighted members of the audience into the big screen specially in the interval.
at the end of the performance every cast member came on to huge applause,of course we whistled and cheered when Russell came out to take his bow we stood up and applauded.. the arena came to its feet when Jeff wayne casually wandered on.After the applause died down we left and went to wait for Russell.....
Sharon said how fab it was and he looked quite surprised that we`d enjoyed the whole show so much!!
Lots of photos taken and we said we`d see him on Saturday in Sheffield he was thrilled!!
Must say those who know us know we are not shrinking violets or particularly quiet BUT we never said a word or moved throughout the whole performance.... mind you during the interval our mouths were goiing a mile a minute!!
FAB evening.. and roll on Sheffield tomorrow night!!
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