Given the instant reaction the safe bet argument may become important. The public vote in the ALW shows with girls has never gone to the best actress, the best singer or the most interesting or novel potential Maria or Nancy. It has gone to the one most like the original and the least challenging. Its never gone to who met ALW's description. Here you have the two extremes of wholesome and homely and lively, edgy and adventurous Dorothy . Its going to take a change in the audience to get Jessica or Jennie to the win because not everyone will accept that they are what an edgy dynamic Dorothy would look like and not everyone will understand or go with what ALW says he wants. Logically its likely to be someone who is in the centre of the spectrum who acts it with a bit of style but doesn't upset people who want Judy 2.

I reckon Stephanie would be a safe bet, but bring enough fun and energy to the role of Dorothy to please ALW. Jessica and Jennie may be too quirky, and the likes of Steph Fearon are probably too sophisticated for this role, but would be excellent in others. Others, maybe such as Dani Rayner, may not be ready for a West End role at all right now, but would be a more conventional Dorothy even in 2 years time, with more experience.

I'm sure the fact that her personality connected with the audience helped Jodie to win IDA, although she was indeed very talented. Stephanie and Emilie, for exa,mple, have shown a lot of personality that we haven't seen from others yet - but too much personality and they may go the way of Amy, because we'll get to know them so well we can no longer see them in another role.

A safe bet is a lot more important on this kind of show than a show like American Idol, so I'm glad my favourite on OTR is a fairly safe bet. and my favourite on AI is in with a chance, but not the safest bet of all, who the votring public may tire of

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Stephanie or Danielle? Though Lauren with her voice and the right songs and make up might get the votes.

Problem is the safe bet can end up meaning bland and middle of the road so it doesn't put anyone off and it can just mean like the last one. Even people who act a role brilliantly seem to put some people off if they don't sound like the under-acted note-perfect CD vocal. I think the safer bets here are better than that but it means that getting someone really different or interesting or who can do something new is difficult.

The other problem with safe is that ALW shows have form at claiming some people can't do the 6/7 day, 8 show job and the public vote has form in slavishly following the comment. Its ironic that the only person on the Maria show in the top 6 who hasn't been able to do 8 shows a week even with similar amounts of singing, was the one they didn't find problems with. If they make the same rgument for Jennie and Jessica, I would be inclined not to believe them.

Interesting to see Stephanie so high up, I really liked her in Dorothy Farm but in the live shows I've kind of gone off her too much red lipstick...they need to lay off that IMO!

Also, have you seen this article: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s90/o...pediments.html


Could this affect the odds as the weeks go on and we see more of this?

This sounds like an excellent subject for a VT clip.

"This week, Jessica went to Harley Street for tongue surgery. Watch the medicam on iPlayer!"

Stephanie's speech seems fine to me, not sure about the others yet although some had clearer diction when singing than others. I even found Stephanie's diction on Mama Do clearer than Pixie Lott's

As I'm so keen for Stephanie to win, I don't mind if we don't get an especially unusual Dorothy this year, but Stephanie certainly wouldn;t make a boring choice. I also like Emilie and Danielle, and either one would suit the role of Dorothy, but I found Lauren's vocals a little too shouty and didn't see as much star quality from her.

I don't think Jessica or Jennie's performances last week did them any favours - well, they shouldn't have done. Jessica's doing well in the odds so perhaps the punblic are changing their collective mind about how close to the original they want their winner to be.

I'm pretty certain that Stephanie could handle 8 shows a week. I'm not sure about Emilie yet, but she has potential. I reckon Danielle and Bronte could deliver - so could Steph Fearon, but not as Dorothy. Maybe in Thriller Live? Not sure yet on Sophie or Lauren, Jennie seems well suited to Glee but I'm not sure how well she'd handle Dorothy's role at all. Jessica would be hit and miss but wasn't Judy like that too? I'd have serious doubts about Dani Rayner but she is Dorothy-like so maybe she could take over in a couple of years' time.

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