Thursday 29 October 2009
Legally Blonde: The Musical Wear It Pink Photocall
Sheridan attends Legally Blonde The Musical - Wear It Pink Photocall on October 28, 2009 in London, England.
Sunday 18 October 2009
Sheridan attends the Willow Foundations 10th Anniversay Dinner
Sheridan attended The Willow Foundation's 10th anniversary dinner held at the prestigious Royal Courts of Justice, London on 17 October 2009.
Thursday 15 October 2009
Review – Legally Blonde – The Musical!, Savoy Theatre
OMIGOD! The Whingers’ biggest ever outing!
OMIGOD! 20 of them. 20 different opinions including one who famously “doesn’t do musicals”. How could one show possibly please this disparate bunch?
OMIGOD! Over the last few months Phil had been bombarded with pink envelopes with that irritating expression embossed in silver upon them as the publicity for Legally Blonde went into hyperdrive. The envelopes each contained a CD featuring (presumably the best) four songs from the show. Phil played a CD once and only once and passed onto Andrew with the words OHDEAR!
As the Whingers and their crew started the long trek down the stairs into the beautiful Art Deco Savoy Theatre they spotted signs telling them that the performance was being recorded and that if they didn’t want their images filmed they should have a word with the management. Would the Whingers’ cover be finally blown? Would they have to adopt their signature poses for the entire evening? How could they possibly find and tell the management in time?
Well they probably could have as the packed house (capacity 1,158) took some seating. Despite urgent entreaties that the performance would start in one minute the curtain went up 10 minutes late. Even worse, programmes were an absurd £6.50* and the show features Phil’s theatrical pet hate park benches – yes two of them! – it was going to take an awful lot of theatrical magic to turn the evening round for the Whingers.
This Broadway import based on the popular 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon. For those who haven’t seen it (Is there anyone? Apparently, yes: the elderly gentleman and friend of the Whingers who happened to be sitting in the row behind them hadn’t even heard of it) LB tells the tale of the irrepressibly perky and popular college girl Elle Woods (Sheridan Smith) who gets dumped by her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Blue’s Duncan James whose entire fan base seemed to be in the house – they even dress like him) and follows him to Harvard Law School to try and win him back.
The Whingers expected to be underwhelmed, frankly. But do you know what? Who would have thought? It was an evening of utter delights. It’s the Priscilla/Hairspray effect all over again. Legally Blonde is a show that knows exactly what it’s doing and barely puts a foot wrong.
OK so let’s get the whinging out of the way before we start straining at the superlatives. The music (Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin, Music/Lyrics, Lyrics/Music respectively – yes what is the difference exactly? – we’re quoting the website here) didn’t make much of an impression - there isn’t really a take-home tune in the show, (unless you count the rather irritating “OMIGOD!” number that is recurs so often it’s practically chiselled into your brain). Anyway, on first hearing there seemed to be nothing approaching the hummability of anything in Hairspray.
For a musical you might think this is a problem, but the numbers are put over with such panache, energy, humour and an awful lot of camp choreography that it isn’t. Not only that but on the whole the songs advance the story so you never get the feeling that everything has ground to a halt while someone sings something. It’s all wonderfully integrated and sprinkled with enough witty lyrics to keep even the whingiest Whinger sat in rapt attention. And the whole thing simply hurtles along at a breathless pace.
And, yes, humour. This is musical comedy that doesn’t leave you checking the trade descriptions act. Not only is it funny but it’s funny throughout (book by Heather Hach), but never more so than in the second act courtroom number about which it would be churlish to reveal any more details. And it’s difficult. Because it’s a very, very funny song indeed. But you need to be surprised by it. Let’s just say it was playing to the crowd of this particular Monday night preview. The audience were howling and cheering.
There’s also some terrific choreography (by director Jerry Mitchell) including an audacious exercise video routine involving skipping ropes. How Aoife Mulholland sang and skipped is beyond us. We were worn out just watching it. There’s a brilliant subplot theme of Irishness (including a very sweet and funny song) which leads to an extraordinarily funny Riverdance moment and there is superb support from Alex Gaumond as Elle’s new love interest Emmet, Jill Halfpenny as Elle’s bending-and-snapping new best friend Paulette and some hysterical posing by hunky UPS man Kyle (Chris Ellis-Stanton). And for good measure there’s even a former Doctor Who in the form of Peter Davison as Elle’s law professor. Oh, what the hell, everyone was fantastic.
As were the dogs.
But the biggest relief of the evening was the star-making (if she isn’t already one) turn of Sheridan Smith who pretty much has to carry the whole shebang. According to the website’s statistics she has to sing 16 of the 18 numbers in the show and she makes it seem effortless. Overlay that with her comedy timing, her sheer likeability and her occasional deliberate gaucheness and you have a really impressive performance. And you actually care what happens to her because she’s so damn adorable - she could be the new Joe McElderry.
Judging by the thunderous reception and standing ovation when Sheridan Smith came on for her curtain call we weren’t alone in our enthusiasm. In the straw poll of our group (including the hard-to-please pensioner friend and the one who doesn’t like musicals) there wasn’t a dissenting voice. Everyone came out grinning from ear to ear. This could indeed be the new Hairspray. It may not have the edgier black/drag things going on but it matches it in charm and joie de vivre.
At a watering hole nearby after the show Phil was forced to prove that he could still bend and snap. Of course the bend was no problem but the snap was perhaps not the one intended. Who knew people still wore stays?
OMIGOD! 20 of them. 20 different opinions including one who famously “doesn’t do musicals”. How could one show possibly please this disparate bunch?
OMIGOD! Over the last few months Phil had been bombarded with pink envelopes with that irritating expression embossed in silver upon them as the publicity for Legally Blonde went into hyperdrive. The envelopes each contained a CD featuring (presumably the best) four songs from the show. Phil played a CD once and only once and passed onto Andrew with the words OHDEAR!
As the Whingers and their crew started the long trek down the stairs into the beautiful Art Deco Savoy Theatre they spotted signs telling them that the performance was being recorded and that if they didn’t want their images filmed they should have a word with the management. Would the Whingers’ cover be finally blown? Would they have to adopt their signature poses for the entire evening? How could they possibly find and tell the management in time?
This Broadway import based on the popular 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon. For those who haven’t seen it (Is there anyone? Apparently, yes: the elderly gentleman and friend of the Whingers who happened to be sitting in the row behind them hadn’t even heard of it) LB tells the tale of the irrepressibly perky and popular college girl Elle Woods (Sheridan Smith) who gets dumped by her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Blue’s Duncan James whose entire fan base seemed to be in the house – they even dress like him) and follows him to Harvard Law School to try and win him back.
The Whingers expected to be underwhelmed, frankly. But do you know what? Who would have thought? It was an evening of utter delights. It’s the Priscilla/Hairspray effect all over again. Legally Blonde is a show that knows exactly what it’s doing and barely puts a foot wrong.
OK so let’s get the whinging out of the way before we start straining at the superlatives. The music (Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin, Music/Lyrics, Lyrics/Music respectively – yes what is the difference exactly? – we’re quoting the website here) didn’t make much of an impression - there isn’t really a take-home tune in the show, (unless you count the rather irritating “OMIGOD!” number that is recurs so often it’s practically chiselled into your brain). Anyway, on first hearing there seemed to be nothing approaching the hummability of anything in Hairspray.
For a musical you might think this is a problem, but the numbers are put over with such panache, energy, humour and an awful lot of camp choreography that it isn’t. Not only that but on the whole the songs advance the story so you never get the feeling that everything has ground to a halt while someone sings something. It’s all wonderfully integrated and sprinkled with enough witty lyrics to keep even the whingiest Whinger sat in rapt attention. And the whole thing simply hurtles along at a breathless pace.
There’s also some terrific choreography (by director Jerry Mitchell) including an audacious exercise video routine involving skipping ropes. How Aoife Mulholland sang and skipped is beyond us. We were worn out just watching it. There’s a brilliant subplot theme of Irishness (including a very sweet and funny song) which leads to an extraordinarily funny Riverdance moment and there is superb support from Alex Gaumond as Elle’s new love interest Emmet, Jill Halfpenny as Elle’s bending-and-snapping new best friend Paulette and some hysterical posing by hunky UPS man Kyle (Chris Ellis-Stanton). And for good measure there’s even a former Doctor Who in the form of Peter Davison as Elle’s law professor. Oh, what the hell, everyone was fantastic.
As were the dogs.
But the biggest relief of the evening was the star-making (if she isn’t already one) turn of Sheridan Smith who pretty much has to carry the whole shebang. According to the website’s statistics she has to sing 16 of the 18 numbers in the show and she makes it seem effortless. Overlay that with her comedy timing, her sheer likeability and her occasional deliberate gaucheness and you have a really impressive performance. And you actually care what happens to her because she’s so damn adorable - she could be the new Joe McElderry.
Judging by the thunderous reception and standing ovation when Sheridan Smith came on for her curtain call we weren’t alone in our enthusiasm. In the straw poll of our group (including the hard-to-please pensioner friend and the one who doesn’t like musicals) there wasn’t a dissenting voice. Everyone came out grinning from ear to ear. This could indeed be the new Hairspray. It may not have the edgier black/drag things going on but it matches it in charm and joie de vivre.
At a watering hole nearby after the show Phil was forced to prove that he could still bend and snap. Of course the bend was no problem but the snap was perhaps not the one intended. Who knew people still wore stays?
Sunday 4 October 2009
Sheridan attends The Night No One Stays In
Sheridan attended a party launching 'The Night No One Stays In' where clubs across the capital are urged to open their doors to punters for a £1 fee, with all proceeds going to Help A London Child, Kids Company and Volunteer Police Cadets. 3rd October 2009. Sheridan is pictured with Kathryn Drysdale.
Friday 2 October 2009
Sheridan attends The Inspiration Awards For Women
Sheridan attends The Inspiration Awards for Women at Cadogan Hall on October 1, 2009 in London. Pictured with Kathryn Drysdale.
Thursday 1 October 2009
Company Magazine (October 2009)
Sheridan Smith, 28
As the Dormouse
"I love my garden flat in north London, but I miss home terribly. I'll always be a northern lass at heart. Whenever I'm not working, I jump in the car with my three dogs - Enid, Trish and Barry Manilow - and head up the M1 to see my family in Epworth, outside Doncaster. There's something comforting about my mum's Sunday roasts and sleeping in my childhood bed, minus the My Little Pony wallpaper nowadays.
I like the acceptance of big cities though. In my hometown, if you walked around in a silly hat everyone would stare. But in Camden, north London, nobody bats and eyelid. I also love the nightlife of Manchester's Canal Street and shopping in London's Selfridges. The British high street is second to none. You can't get much better than Topshop and Primark, can you?
I spent time in LA recently and thought I'd hate all the fakery, but I loved it, and everyone was genuinely friendly. Still, I'm not sure I have the right look to fit in with the beautiful people of Hollywood with their big, white smiles. I'd rather sit in my garden and get all the girls round for a barbecue - usually in the rain!"
As the Dormouse
"I love my garden flat in north London, but I miss home terribly. I'll always be a northern lass at heart. Whenever I'm not working, I jump in the car with my three dogs - Enid, Trish and Barry Manilow - and head up the M1 to see my family in Epworth, outside Doncaster. There's something comforting about my mum's Sunday roasts and sleeping in my childhood bed, minus the My Little Pony wallpaper nowadays.
I like the acceptance of big cities though. In my hometown, if you walked around in a silly hat everyone would stare. But in Camden, north London, nobody bats and eyelid. I also love the nightlife of Manchester's Canal Street and shopping in London's Selfridges. The British high street is second to none. You can't get much better than Topshop and Primark, can you?
I spent time in LA recently and thought I'd hate all the fakery, but I loved it, and everyone was genuinely friendly. Still, I'm not sure I have the right look to fit in with the beautiful people of Hollywood with their big, white smiles. I'd rather sit in my garden and get all the girls round for a barbecue - usually in the rain!"
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