They producers seem to have gone through a length of measures to ensure that they get the girls ALW and they need for the show...

a) Getting rid of Jenny and Jess (and Stephanie for that matter) despite it being the first time they've ever been in sing-offs, as they could potentially have been threats to the girls that they want.

b) They've started playing Danielle in a better light, appearing more fun and giving her an amazing song to sing (On My Own) and a good section in the medley, however she doesn't seem to be living up to their expectations as yet, she seems to be on/off each week which puts her consistency into question..

btw, I'm a Danielle fan so this is a shame. I think her problem is the lack of belt at the top of her voice - I would have been won over if she belted the end of On My Own ("a world that's full of happiness that I have never KNOWN") but she used her head voice... Perhaps I have too many inlaid qualms with jumping into head voice... it seems like a 'cheat' to me..

b) Lauren is the most consistent and strong as an actress, she explores the emotions of her songs and had a variety of different styles.
However the editors are constantly portraying her as self-confident (as an actress certainly should be) which immediately comes across to the public as arrogant, and she loses votes because of it.
She also acts older than her age, and that can turn people off from the image of Dorothy, despite the fact that she would perform night after night.
'Being Alive', although a ballsy and brilliant stand alone song, put all of these aspects of Lauren together in a Seamus-esque vote losing way.

c) Steph is the remaining 'edgy' choice, though also consistent and with a strong acting style (from what we saw in this weeks mission), and was given some songs that can turn into a trainwreck, but which she always pulled the stops out on and gave her all.
She is willing to do the work it requires to make her a Dorothy-style performer and not just the outside runner. Her height may also be an advantage, although her powerhouse vocal and acting style are much older.

d) Sophie seems to look like she is performing better in Dress Rehearsals, at least in some of the shots from 'Being a Girl' in rehearsal, she was letting loose, enjoying the song and putting her all into it without inhibition. We also saw glimpses of this in her performance of Popular in the audition rounds.
The panel seem to have cracked it - nerves seem to affect Sophie in her solo songs, and bring her performances in too much. She always shines in medleys and group songs, with the rest of the girls around her, but does that potentially mean she is a chorus girl, and not quite ready to lead an entire West End cast.
One must wonder.

Whatever happens, ALW/OTR producers seem to have manouevered this show in as many ways as possible to end up with a suitable girl in the top spot, and avoid the Jodie fiasco they had last year (despite how consistent Jodie always was, they just took a disliking to her...) and at least the 4 girls left are strong enough or have enough of a way to go to make it worth the money we will spend to see any one of them!!

Danielle is clearly the ALW chosen one but she lacks that spark that makes me want to see her in the role. Her performacne this week was quite poor. Steph's voice lacks the power needed for a west end lead. Her performance in that last group song was very below par. Lauren has an amazing voice, is a wonderful performer that really brings the character to life but she really IS too old for this role. She could pass for late 20's. Sophie wasnt one of my fav's until now but she came through yesterday with flying colours and grew in confidence by the end of the show. She has the innocence required for the role.

I like all the girls left and am really warming to Sophie and think her or Danielle are the only 2 that I could see as Dorothy but Steph and Lauren are brilliant singers just not right for the part will be very interesting to see who wins out of these 4

I'm hoping for a Sophie/Steph final two.

Danielle will be in the final, and like Lewis, Siobhan and Sam before her she fall flat.

I really can't warm to Lauren, all the others I can deal with might turn to my support to Sophie now be a bit patriotic like lol

a.) All apart from Jenny had the lowest public votes, so I dont really see it as manipulating... And Lauren is a good singer. I dont particularly like her, but I would still agree with ALW on that.

b.) Danielle has a lower voice than the others, I think... Thats not her fault, just nature. And if she's anything like me, there is no choice but to go into a head voice for those high notes! However, as the judges said, she needs more training for it. And I dont think she's being portrayed in any better light than the others - in fact, shes gt worse placement on group songs recently, and On my Own, whilst a good song and wellknown, is NOT easy to sing - I think a lot of the girls would have been vulnerable with it.

I lose track of your letters here... :P

Basically, I dont think ALW + co have been very manipulative of late. They like Danielle, but then why should they pretend not to? Charlotte doesnt pretend about Lauren, and John, until Bojangles, clearly liked Stephanie a lot. Its mainly just Sheila who is obviously very into Danielle, ALW is pretty positive about all the remaining girls (though less about Sophie.)

*sigh* I just dont see why there has to be a conspiricy theory floating around - all the girls have proved they COULD perform well, and ALW knows Jodie got bums on seats and good reviews, so I just dont think he's being favouritist this time. He saved Danielle, but she had higher viewer votes too.

I agree Sophie's not ready for the west end, but I think she could be ready for when the it opens, which I think is March 2011. She has what is needed, and I think she is the perfect Dorothy, I think with the right training she could be ready.

I think you have hit the nail on the head here. She is very weak in the belt range -
I've just listened back to 'On My Own' and there first half is actualy a very pleasant and comfortable vocal, it's only when the song cranks up a notch that she starts to struggle. I think she meant to go for the belt on that last big note but realised she wasn;t going to manage it - you can see the frustration in her face at that moment. I do wonder if her voice was struggling a bit this week, because she wasn;t great in themedley and it sounded to me more like tiredness than a the song being out of her range. What it said to me is that she maybe needs more time and training to build up stamina and expand her range. I know I'll make myself unpopular with Danielle fans by saying it, and I think she has really good moments, but IMO it was her acting that really let her down in On My Own - I usually well up at the mere mention of that song and it left me completely unmoved. I hope she has a good rest this week and does herself proud in the semi final.

Edit: I meant to also say that if there's been any favouritism it seems to me its only in giving her songs that, until this week, haven;t tested any weaknesses in her vocal range - and that's been the case for most of the girls, at least the ones still in it now (Emilie is the only one I can think of who was consistently given numbers she couldn;t hope to cope with)

She slso has the look to be a dorothy very innocent and she shows emotions when singing .