So last night I had the pleasure of hanging out at the O2 in a swanky box drinking free champagne, eating noodles and watching Julie Andrews sing some lovely songs… or so I thought.
Okay, okay – I know she had some serious surgery fourteen years ago and can’t sing the high stuff anymore (I was never a Sound of Music fan anyway) but I was kind of expecting her to… you know… sing a bit. Well she did, a bit, but that was about it. We’re talking perhaps a song and a half, the rest she left to her able gang of Broadway mates.
And don’t get me started on the gold lame dress.
Quote Julie Andrews: ‘I may not be able to sing the high notes any more, but I assure you, I can still sing the HELL out of Old Man River’ to much tittering and appreciative applause.
So why the hell didn’t you Julie?!?!?!?!
The first half ended with a jubilant sing along of Do-Re-Mi (after Jules interupted the old school Sound of Music video clip that was playing with a perfectly clipped; ‘Oh enough of that, let’s just SING the blooming song!’) but the second half was a ‘musical’ version of Julie’s children’s book ‘Simeon’s Gift’ which prompted one of my companions to comment; ‘Well I hope he kept the receipt!’
I mean really, if I was to see a poorly constructed workshop production of a new musical… I’ll go to work.
Needless to say, the gang and I retired to the faaaaabulous yet ridiculously overpriced bar in our box. I highly recommend the O2′s box culture by the way… and the VIP bar. Good times! Potent wine! Lovely!
Bless Connie Fisher though, she looked like she was having a good time. Although I’m a bit worried about her… I know she hasn’t had a job in a while but would it kill the girl to eat a burger or something? Felt like giving her my leftover noodles.
A lovely aside to the evening was my running into the man who had once given me my first job in the West End. He’s something high and mighty at the O2 these days, but back then he was a Theatre Manager and allowed this crazy, overenthused West End Wendy to tear tickets in his theatre for a bit which started me on my path to theatreland domination! (and introduced me to Maxie G and Polkadots)
Mwah!
RitziCx
