It happens just about every year jayfan! Off the top of my head, last year Peter A had an album and tour, and I am sure there will be others if we looked closely.

Others do it for a career boost, e.g. there is nearly always an out of work soap actor looking to get themselves noticed. It definitely raises their profile. I wonder how many do it just for fun?

BIB. It could be argued that Strictly uses the celebs in the same way, ie in order to raise their public profile. And Strictly are willing to pay handsomely for it. So, it could also be argued, that, if you put Strictly on the one hand, and the celebs en bloc, on the other: each are just fulfilling the needs of the other.

ETA. And the same, it could be argued, can be said for any of the plethora of 'Reality Shows', I have been told, grace our screens, at the present time.

Thanks Isih. Will try and report back

And have fun to everyone seeing BIG. Still resisting the urge to impulsively book a plane (+ train) ticket. Surely tickets are still available at the box office.

ETA: Thanks again. worked Will try again to see if I could use it for voting as well. If so, could have used it last year

Strictly Speaking...

I'm not going in it to win it
Just tagging along for the ride
Hoping to learn something new
Get those dancing legs back into stride

Boom! My teacher's to be Aliona
I'll never be able to match that
There's going to be some disparity
And I don't want to let her down flat

So we're training and laughing a lot
Never dreamt it would be this great
Takes a lunch break of nearly two hours
We'll never get there at this rate

It's the launch, I'm all over the place
Stiff and straight like a lost wooden spoon
I just want to keep up the pace
But I'm sure I'll be going home soon

Wow, this waltzing is really romantic
Doesn't feel like I'm dancing at all
It's so fun to be lost in the moment
I'm completely entranced in her thrall

In the jive I'll just throw her about
Do lifts and all that kind of stuff
It's going to be just so fun
Till she slaps me and says 'that's enough'

So, we're doing a bit of Pulp Fiction
The hair's all been woven back on
It's a bit like a massive audition
Oh god, where's my confidence gone?

But somehow it's just all come together
Like one of those perfect storms
I say 'it's the best too much, ever'
The best we have ever performed

I'd like to tell more of this story
Of the best thing that I've ever done
But the judging did get a bit gory
So I'll just leave it there that we won!

BB, This is great! I really liked it. And so true, from what we've gathered, of his experience on Strictly......

PS. Don't you dare say it's 'daft doggerel'........

BB - I love your poem, and all the little nods to words and phrases used by J, such as 'disparity', 'wooden spoon'. I can picture just when he said them!

Glad you enjoyed it, Rafferty and SR - just daft, er, stuff!

Couple of nice comments here.

https://www.facebook.com/TheatreRoya...page_internal#

Hi all - just delurking to say for those visiting edinburgh next week, St James redevelopment is causing chaos near Playhouse - digging up Leith Walk, demolishing buildings etc - so if you're bussing it or parking at Greenside allow extra time.

ETA - just heard snow is forecast also......

Afternoon all

I have been scouring the internet (well....as best as I know how) for any reviews etc from Big
Nothing
Then a little drop of sunshine from BB thank you a couple of reviews from the Theatre

Good ones too

Well done to the Big cast and of course Jay/Josh.

Any of the thread going this evening? Hope Jay has a rested voice and good luck
Last edited by sky_lark : 07-11-2016 at 15:50

Loved your reply Hannah!

Nelliek-you deserve plenty of hugs! Hope you get them

Korky-you may surprise yourself; you will grab the opportunity with both hands!

Perhaps they are respecting the idea of a preview week? Or perhaps they just didn't want to work on the weekend and we will see reviews emerging late today/tomorrow.

Just popping in quickly before getting changed to head off to Plymouth ..

Great to read the BIG comments, tweets, etc. - so looking forward to it now. Eeek.

Watched Strictly. Did loads of muttering about bent legs, flailing arms and sack of potato lifts ...

Will report back as soon as poss ...

Oooh, lucky you! Just been listening to the Overture - as soon as it starts up I get goosebumps. I'm sure you'll have the best time tonight.

Sine
Reading an article in the newspaper today, the nasty cold weather's apparently due to a weak vortex. Sounds like something Borewood would suffer from....

BIB thanks nellie. It just sort of popped straight into my head having read KLTD's post.

Glad you're back and defrosted. I hope Jay has hugs aplenty for all you lovely ladies

Thanks for the heads-up re the traffic chaos.

Re the weather report - Good job I've just ordered a new coat and boots.
Hope any snow doesn't add to the traffic problems.

Thanks for explaining, but can I ask whats a preview week?
Only ever done amateur dramatic pantomine never Big enough for preview week

If anyone is interested, I have scanned the souvenir programme from BIG and am happy to e-mail a pdf to you if you send me a PM with an e-mail address.

Most shows and plays run a number of preview nights (at reduced seat prices) before the main press night so they can iron out any problems and get up to speed before they let the press in for reviews.

I'm not sure what the situation is with BIG, as everyone thought that Plymouth was a sort of 'dry-run' week before the 'European premiere' in Dublin, but Plymouth was calling their first performance the European premiere on their posters and website

I should think there will be a review in the local press but haven't seen one yet.

A day later than promised, but have a streaming cold and just want to sleep. Not feeling especially erudite, so apologies if this is a bit perfunctory.

I met up with Rosedroplet and her lovely daughter early afternoon at the Barbican, which is a charming bit of waterside old Plymouth that escaped the bombs in WW2. It's full of interesting little shops and galleries in which she'd spent an expensive morning . Her DD was despatched off with the precious cargo and we had a bit of a mooch around the shops as we wended our way up towards the Hoe and the sea front. Sat outside on the terrace of a cafe overlooking Plymouth Sound which was looking spectacular in the sunshine and had coffee and a chinwag. Out of the chill it felt like summer! There were even some nutters swimming in the sea . Headed over towards the theatre and the restaurant at about 4.30. Speedy and jnb rolled up (after sussing out the stage door and running into Jessica), and then janetshep. After excited chatter, terrible selfies (delete!delete!) we decided to order. I rang nelliek who was just getting organised in her hotel and took her order over the phone so it was ready for her when she arrived . We decided that there was no point staking out the stage door pre-performance as Jay was most likely already inside, keeping his throat warm and getting in the zone. Felt very nervous for him, but shovelled in some pizza in his honour nonetheless .

We toddled over to the theatre about 7 and some bought BIG! merchandise. Saw a few familiar faces formerly of this parish , had a bit of a catch up with Imogen (Wendy on twitter) and Kazzie, and also Stella (not from DS, but who had been adopted by speedy and jnb at KD at MK and who I'd met at Wimbledon).

Time to take our seats....
Rosedroplet and I were in the stalls and found ourselves a couple of seats along from Kazzie and Rachel, so I asked the couple sitting between us if we could swap and sit next to them. Stella and her gorgeous kids were two rows in front and very excitable and chatty. I now had a tall person in front of me, but nevermind. Turned out the couple we swapped with were there to watch their daughter who was in the show (there's the main cast including young Billy and Josh and then about 8 local children. Their daughter was the one who screams when Josh pulls the head off her Barbie, for anyone else going to Plymouth). I asked them what she thought of Jay and apparently he's 'lovely'. Well, who knew?! . I also asked if they had any goss about why DVO had dropped out, but just the standard 'family commitments'...

Proper butterflies now....Eeek! Let it be okay!

....to be continued...

Just sent you a pm

Hello, waves uncertainly, anyone remember me? Just thought I would make a few jottings regarding awfully my BIG adventure.
What I can say is that James McGuiness has a lot to answer for. I've never fangirled in my life and here I am, Wembley , O2 x2, Wimbledon x2, and now BIG😳
I'm not a regular theatre goer, nor a musicals fan, so my expectations were low as is my cringe threshold . BUT the staging was clever and effective, the cast were excellent- didn't cringe once, and Jay blew me away, he WAS Josh, he totally inhabited the character and for the most part, I forgot he was Jay- until he danced, of course😍People, let me reassure you that his feet are just as fast, he's smooth, slick, breathtaking,
FAB-U-LOUS

There is a particular moment, and those who have seen it, and those who are going to see it ,will know when I mean, I was set to rush the stage and make sure that little boy in that big body was safe and ok. Utterly believable, drawn in to that moment, breaking my heart😢
I was happy to go and just support Jay , but it was so much more. I think the highest accolade I can pay , is simply to say that if it comes to the West End, I shall go again.It is a great BIG success for him and I hope it's a commercial one too.
Take confidence young man, you did good , and I for one, feel very proud of him.

Oh, I know what song you mean, Rosedroplet. I've been listening to it this afternoon and can't wait to hear the real thing sung by Jay - I've pre-ordered the cast CD.

What a vivid feel of the night you give, and I love your last line, straight from the heart. He did good indeed. And thank you for taking the trouble to share the magic.

fridgesoup - so tantalising! Can't wait for Part 2

Hi, janet. Lovely to see you again on Sat.

In the programme there's a page where they ask the cast what they would wish for if they had a Zoltar machine. Lots of them ask for world peace and what have you, but Jay's was funny and typical Jay. Could you post his comment on the thread, do you think? (afraid I didn't buy one and don't trust my memory enough.. )

Hi Beth,
It hasn't arrived. Would you like to try again??

No problem- not sure what happened there!
Will try again now