My thoughts about Big on Saturday afternoon- non spoiler bit
Can I just say before I go into a spoiler in my next post, what an absolute joy it was to see Jay act, sing and dance.
No doubt he can still find things he wants to improve, but he had a presence on the stage which other people I have seen on TV simply don't have when you see them on the stage. Many a panto and musical has been ruined for my family when we have been drawn in by a name from a TV show who has turned out to be either invisible on the stage or so hammy and cheesey that you just didn't believe in them.
Jay was believable, touching, funny and I just wanted him to be on the stage all the time.
He has obviously worked really, really hard to get to this point.
Originally Posted by jayfan: “My thoughts about Big on Saturday afternoon- non spoiler bit
Can I just say before I go into a spoiler in my next post, what an absolute joy it was to see Jay act, sing and dance.
No doubt he can still find things he wants to improve, but he had a presence on the stage which other people I have seen on TV simply don't have when you see them on the stage. Many a panto and musical has been ruined for my family when we have been drawn in by a name from a TV show who has turned out to be either invisible on the stage or so hammy and cheesey that you just didn't believe in them.
Jay was believable, touching, funny and I just wanted him to be on the stage all the time.”
I just read that as "you wanted to be on stage with him all the time", and I thought "well I know you held his hand for half-a-mile (allegedly) but that's taking it to another level
Books eye appointment to get contact lenses checked
Originally Posted by jayfan: “I am hoping to report back from Edinburgh and I am sure others will too.”
Thanks Jayfan
Originally Posted by jayfan: “My thoughts about Big on Saturday afternoon- non spoiler bit
Can I just say before I go into a spoiler in my next post, what an absolute joy it was to see Jay act, sing and dance.
No doubt he can still find things he wants to improve, but he had a presence on the stage which other people I have seen on TV simply don't have when you see them on the stage. Many a panto and musical has been ruined for my family when we have been drawn in by a name from a TV show who has turned out to be either invisible on the stage or so hammy and cheesey that you just didn't believe in them.
Jay was believable, touching, funny and I just wanted him to be on the stage all the time.
He has obviously worked really, really hard to get to this point.”
I completely agree with you - I was a bit like fridgesoup with her' crap-crap-crappity-crap' worries just before Jay appeared on stage, because he has always been so self-deprecating about his abilities and I was worried that his acting might not be up to scratch. There was no need to worry whatsoever about his acting or his stage presence. He was believable and completely watchable. He led the dance troupe like he had been dancing all his life. The only slight worry was his sore throat, as he fell off a couple of the bigger notes (I think in cross the line), but in everything else he was star.
Originally Posted by Beth_19: “I'm hoping that someone who is going to Edinburgh will report back on the q and a for the non attendees ”
Originally Posted by KorkyTheCat: “I'm sure many will, Beth. DS folks are lovely like that. ”
Originally Posted by jayfan: “I am hoping to report back from Edinburgh and I am sure others will too.”
Wonder if anyone going does shorthand..........
Thanks for all the reviews, pics & poems over the last couple of days. Its lovely to see J so happy. He really is generous with his time & totally gets what it means to his fans to have a word, hug, pic etc.
To watch his transformation for that first SCD dance, shaking with nerves to the happy, secure & confident performer in BIG has been joyous & heartwarming.
Not forgetting of course Aliona. She instinctively knew the right thing to do was let J be himself . She nurtured his talent allowing it, and their partnership to blossom & shine, leaving us with the beautiful portfolio of Jaliona dances that we still regularly re-watch one year on.
Hope all going to KD have a brilliant time & safe journeys. (And if you are kind enough to post a review that will be fabulous )
I am not going to try to do a scene by scene review as such, having only seen it once, so here are my highlights in some kind of order.
1. The Coffee black scene after the night before with Susan. Wow, wow, wow. Jay was so confident, so smooth, so slick with a fast, tricky song, which I really liked- cool, witty, sung perfectly. I loved seeing Jay leading the dance - those legs. I was desperate to drag off his slightly too big jacket to appreciate his 'technique' more
2. The scene when he is alone on the bench, wanting to go. So, so touching, and a lovely vulnerable quality to Jay's voice. A very sweet song too.
3. The scene when he wakes up 'big'. So, so thrilling to hear him in character for the first time. Not going to lie, no hardship seeing Jay in his underwear either.
4. The scene with Susan's grown up friends when they are in a relationship. A very funny scene where Jay was just spot on with his characterisation and comic timing.
5. The scene where he tells Susan who he really is. I was thinking, Please don't go back. I want you to stay just as you are. A really touching moment.
6. The piano scene, great assemble piece with Jay leading the moves. Very nicely done.
7. The bit with Susan in his flat where they are talking at cross-purposes. I thought it might be a bit cringey or feel inappropriate but it was very funny. Jay's characterisation was spot on as was Diana's.
I am not someone who is particularly bothered about staging and so although it very impressive in Big, it alone would never draw me to a show. It would always be the characters.
Originally Posted by jayfan: “My Big highlights from Saturday afternoon
Spoiler
I am not going to try to do a scene by scene review as such, having only seen it once, so here are my highlights in some kind of order.
1. The Coffee black scene after the night before with Susan. Wow, wow, wow. Jay was so confident, so smooth, so slick with a fast, tricky song, which I really liked- cool, witty, sung perfectly. I loved seeing Jay leading the dance - those legs. I was desperate to drag off his slightly too big to appreciate his 'technique' more
2. The scene when he is alone on the bench, wanting to go. So, so touching, and a lovely vulnerable quality to Jay's voice. A very sweet song too.
3. The scene when he wakes up 'big'. So, so thrilling to hear him in character for the first time. Not going to lie, no hardship seeing Jay in his underwear either.
4. The scene with Susan's grown up friends when they are in a relationship. A very funny scene where Jay was just spot on with his characterisation and comic timing.
5. The scene where he tells Susan who he really is. I was thinking, Please don't go back. I want you to stay just as you are. A really touching moment.
6. The piano scene, great assemble piece with Jay leading the moves. Very nicely done.
7. The bit with Susan in his flat where they are talking at cross-purposes. I thought it might be a bit cringey or feel inappropriate but it was very funny. Jay's characterisation was spot on as was Diana's.
I am not someone who is particularly bothered about staging and so although it very impressive in Big, it alone would never draw me to a show. It would always be the characters.
”
Thank you for a lovely review jayfan
Spoiler
Re your first point just wondered what of J's did you want to drag off??...
I also think the producers etc. must be so thrilled that their perception of J and their recognition of his multifarious talents have proved so successful and rewarding. They saw exactly what they wanted in J and he's more than lived up to their hopes. 💕
Originally Posted by Whiffle_09: “Wonder if anyone going does shorthand..........
Thanks for all the reviews, pics & poems over the last couple of days. Its lovely to see J so happy. He really is generous with his time & totally gets what it means to his fans to have a word, hug, pic etc.
To watch his transformation for that first SCD dance, shaking with nerves to the happy, secure & confident performer in BIG has been joyous & heartwarming.
Not forgetting of course Aliona. She instinctively knew the right thing to do was let J be himself . She nurtured his talent allowing it, and their partnership to blossom & shine, leaving us with the beautiful portfolio of Jaliona dances that we still regularly re-watch one year on.
Hope all going to KD have a brilliant time & safe journeys. (And if you are kind enough to post a review that will be fabulous )”
Some lovely words here Whiffle.
Agree with everything you say.
De lurking (again) to offer a deserving home to my two Keep Dancing Tickets for Edinburgh Saturday 19th November, Matinee 14:30 and Evening 19:30, best seat in the house.
Free to good home. Or a donation to the CBC
I have had the worst week ever that I'd not wish on my worst enemy.
Suffice to say I was in A&E Last Monday night having Tramadol IV in the worst pain of my life with no relief then it happened again on Wednesday but they wouldn't give me anything and the pain lasted 14 hours. Still in pain now & no idea when it will end.
I can't go and it's broken my heart.
Nothing will make up for missing it but if someone else could have the enjoyment please PM me in here or DM on Twitter @janetnbecks
Originally Posted by Lola the cat: “I just read that as "you wanted to be on stage with him all the time", and I thought "well I know you held his hand for half-a-mile (allegedly) but that's taking it to another level
Books eye appointment to get contact lenses checked ”
Originally Posted by jnb_7: “De lurking (again) to offer a deserving home to my two Keep Dancing Tickets for Edinburgh Saturday 19th November, Matinee 14:30 and Evening 19:30, best seat in the house.
Free to good home. Or a donation to the CBC
I have had the worst week ever that I'd not wish on my worst enemy.
Suffice to say I was in A&E Last Monday night having Tramadol IV in the worst pain of my life with no relief then it happened again on Wednesday but they wouldn't give me anything and the pain lasted 14 hours. Still in pain now & no idea when it will end.
I can't go and it's broken my heart.
Nothing will make up for missing it but if someone else could have the enjoyment please PM me in here or DM on Twitter @janetnbecks”
Janet, I'm so sorry that you are in so much pain and can't make it to Edinburgh. Hope you recover in time for Christmas and Dublin.
Originally Posted by Whiffle_09: “...To watch his transformation for that first SCD dance, shaking with nerves to the happy, secure & confident performer in BIG has been joyous & heartwarming...”
It truly has been, Whiffle. Thank goodness he eventually accepted the invitation to do SCD which has had such happy consequences.
Left home in what I thought was plenty of time to find parking, only to discover that there was some University event on which the car park people knew nothing about. Even the largest car park in the city had no spaces, and had been full since 9.30 am.
We were told to drive up to the top level, and if we couldn't find a space, come back down. Happily, another attendant was up there, and helped me to wedge my tiny car into a space that no one else could fit into because it wasn't an actual official space! Phew.
Arrived at the theatre with just enough time to select my merchandise.
Second miniature disaster was realising our tickets were Upper Circle, and not Circle as I had thought. That'll teach me for not checking before I clicked "buy".
Jay, you'd better be worth it after this....
Seats were great though - dead centre, perfect view of everything.
The announcer chose a very topical way to ask us to switch off mobiles when the performance was about to start!
The audience was a really good mix of all ages, which I thought boded well, and there were actually some quite young children. I was worried that some of the youngest might get fidgety after a short while, as they sometimes do, but all of the ones near me were totally enthralled.
The rest in spoilers, not that I think I am saying anything which hasn't already been said....
Spoiler
The whole staging, back scenery, revolving stage etc were impressive, and there were no malfunctions that I could notice, other than the piece of rogue toast which has already been mentioned. Some of the illusions, when young Josh/big Josh swapped places 1)in Josh's bedroom 2) the dream sequence on the sofa - had me thinking - Whaaaaaat, how did they do that????
(While talking about Mrs Baskin's toast mishap, I will just say how pleased I am, having seen Jessica Martin, that DVO either dropped out or was replaced. I really cant imagine her in that role.)
A couple of others have said how touched they were particularly at the point when Josh was so vulnerable and alone, curled up on the bench near the beginning. I have to say that the part that made me start to get teary was at the end when Susan, having realised that Josh had to go home, led him off stage by the hand, looking even more like the little boy he really was inside. Gulp.
All in all, I had a fabulous time. Jay really does look in his element as part of a large ensemble cast, and they were all great. The Plymkids were wonderful, and what an opportunity for young local performers to take part. I am sure that the talented young Dublin dancers will do just as well.
Jay's voice was still sounding a little bit husky after the cold, to me more noticeable in the quieter songs, but for me it added to the poignancy. If he is intending to further pursue a career in musical theatre, he is off to a flying start because I thought he captured Josh to perfection.
As we came out, I thought what a lovely modern theatre we have, which was looking especially glorious lit up at night, with the nearby trees also sparkling with fairy lights.
I just have to say as a footnote, how proud I am that our local theatre has produced such a stunning set for Big, and been the start of what I hope will be successful run for the show.
I've probably forgotten loads of what I wanted to say, but for now will click "submit" and add more if anything springs to mind.
Happily, another attendant was up there, and helped me to wedge my tiny car into a space that no one else could fit into because it wasn't an actual official space! Phew.