Fab review Queenie

Ben is ace in the role isn't he *in my unbiased opinion*

I didn't mention in my review of 31st, that I thought the acting from Ben, Leanne and Michael Ball in the Record Shop, when Link leaves Tracy, was fantastic and you can hear a pin drop in the auditorium. So

Oh thanks Shoey and is always more special coming from a lovelee as they not watching him thro rose tinted specs like us!!

I totally agree about MB. Iwatched the movie last night and realised that John Travolta is quite scarey looking with all the prosthetics on his face

Hello,

Really enjoying all the Hairspray reviews. I have seen the show twice and think Ben is perfect for the part of Link. His singing and acting are brilliant and his dancing simply amazing. As Denise said on ADWD - "Ben has the magic and the star quality" He really lights up the stage.

What an amazing year Ben has had - from college to just making it to the final 12 of ADWD, reaching the semi final, being lead vocalist on the Music of Dirty Dancing to Link in Hairspray in the West End - and the Royal Variety Performance and maybe meeting the Queen!

I would like to book to see Hairspray again but if anyone knows/hears when Ben is due to be on holiday from Hairspray please can they post the dates here - it would be such a shame to go when Ben is away - it just wouldn't be the same without him! x
Last edited by Mary 118 : 24-11-2007 at 17:11

Hiya Mary

Glad you loving the show and Ben as 'link' He is perfect for that role isn't he?. His mum posted in his fan forum (see address in my profile) and although no definate dates as yet, she did mention Feb/march. Once we know specific dates we will post

Hi Mary,

Glad you're lovin' Ben as Link...he is fab isn't he, we have a group trip for 5th Dec (thats 10 days away! )

Twingle...Ben's hols are possibly going to be March/April (not Feb/March)

Hi Twingle and Nicky,

Thanks very much for your replies and very grateful if you can confirm Ben's holiday dates on this forum as soon as they are finalised

I watched the movie at the weekend and thought how much better the role of Link has been developed in the show.

One of my favourite parts of the show is following the fun of "Timeless to me" the stage is in darkness but for the flickering of Link's lighter as he looks for Tracy in the prison cell, followed by a really moving performance of "Without Love" through the prison bars (great acting and singing by Ben!) In the film Link is singing to a photograph!

I'm really looking forward to seeing Ben on TV in the the Royal Variety Performance and hope they perform "I can hear the bells" and "Can't stop the beat".

I'm sure you'll have a great time on the group trip to Hairspray on 5th December and can't wait to hear your reviews.

Thanks again
Mary

Saw Hairspray on Saturday night and absolutely loved it! Standouts for me were Leanne Jones as Tracy (absolutely loved her entire performance) and Johnnie Fiori as Motormouth (I know where i've been completely brought the house down).

Bens dancing was very good but thought his vocals wern't the best and were the weakest out of all the other principal cast members (minus Mel Smith lol. Now that was bad but in a good way) - especially in You can't stop the beat where he was stopping in the middle of lines to catch his breath. Seemed like he was putting too much into the dancing which made his singing suffer.

Was one of the best shows I have ever seen and am already planning to go again next year.

Hiya Mark

I wonder if Ben had an off night on Sat as ben's vocals have been great since the show opened after previews. I saw the first preview and he was very breathless in YCSTB but not in the 2 times I have seen it since.

He is alos singing ballads which are meant to be softer than the loud belters the others are singing but hey i am biased anyway

I am glad you enjoyed it so much though and you hope to go again

I saw it Saturday matinee and it was great again. Ben's vocals in in You Can't Stop the Beat were really strong and clear probably the best I've heard them (but he did seem to be putting a lot energy in so maybe he overdid it for the evening - he'll learn) But hey I'm biaised too - although I for one hope he doesn't stop putting his heart and soul into the dancing, you can tell he just loves to dance and I think that's why its so special (actually Arlene said something similar on SCD -its the difference between good and great dancing)

glad you enjoyed it.

Hi all

Great to hear everyone's enjoying the show!

The point about Ben's vocals is an interesting one. I saw him last Monday and he sounded great but then he had had a rest day and no matinee.

I wonder if it is a case of him not pacing himself quite right just yet - especially on the days where there is a matinee. He has no previous experience of doing eight shows a week and whilst his natural enthusiasm and desire to give 100% all the time is absolutely right and I certainly wouldn't want him to hold back, maybe there is a particular skill in being able to last the distance, or balancing the singing AND dancing - or maybe you just need to develop extraordinary levels of stamina!

I do remember MB saying in interview that however experienced you were, eight shows a week never got easy.

Third set of tickets is in the post! I was singing the praises of Ben and the show to the peeps at Keith Prowse AGAIN.

Don't get me wrong he was very good but then maybe he just had an off night. I was never really a fan of his on ADWD and he was better in Hairspray than he ever was on the tv show - Without love was great. Just didn't like his It Takes Two and he was running out of breath in YCSTB. Still looking forward to see it again - looks like it will be March by the time we get though .

Congratulations to the cast of Hairspray, named Best Musical at last night's Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Not sure if the link will work but here goes ;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7115359.stm

Oh and a nice piccie;

http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.ph...wards+at+Savoy

Thanks for letting us know - Brilliant news and congratulations to all involved in Hairspray - the award is so well deserved.

On the What's on Stage link there is an opportunity to vote in the theatregoers choice awards. The short list is to be drawn up in December and the results announced in January.

I have already voted for:

Best Musical - HAIRSPRAY
Best Actor in a Musical - BEN JAMES ELLIS (of course!)

It would be great if Hairspray could get another award and even more brilliant if Ben could win an award too!

I went yesterday to the matinee. It was great and I really enjoyed it. Ben was excellent and got a huge cheer at the end. He is a superb dancer and this part fits him like a glove.

Mel Smith was not on and his understudy took the part - he was good.

why was mel not there

why do you need to know?

They didn't let us know that Mel Smith wasn't there which in itself is unusual. Unless there was a notice in the foyer which we missed.

i was there on wednesday night and saw mels understudy (it was his first time on!)

Anyway... the understudies are posted on a piece of paper on the box office. They dont make announcments and/or include a slip in the programme.

One day til Hairspray hits the Royal Variety Performance...and they meet the Queen!

And they won The Evening Standard Award for Best Musical.................'tis all good in Hairspray World!

GO GO GO BEN!

Great news! Just in case anyone hadn't heard - The Royal Variety Performance is due to be shown on ITV Sunday 9 December 8pm-10.30pm and MB says the cast are doing "you can't stop the beat".

Enjoy the group trip to Hairspray on Wednesday 5 Dec. Please give Ben a big cheer at the end of the show for all those of us who cannot be there!

Can't wait for your reviews - please post them here!

It was great to meet people last night whose forum names have become so familiar over the last few months. Twingle. Lula Mae, Angel Amy and especially Shoequeen!

I won't review the show in detail, except to say that it ws joyous and I will certainly be going back. Ben was delightful as Link - it's a gift of a part for him that he performs with sheer exuberance. I cannot fault him. Is is the boy part kangeroo?

The rest of the cast were similarly wonderful. I was very taken with Adrian Hansel who plays Seaweed but Michael Ball stole the show. He was perfect as Edna, and I totally believed he was a woman. It would be a real disappointment if he wasn't performing on a future visit.

Afterwards I followed the Angels to the stage door and gushed to Adrain about how gorgeous he was . Stole a kiss and a cuddle from Ben (whilst also telling him how gorgeous he was ) and was very impressed at how much time Michael Ball spent signing and posing for photos.

Angels - I have got to say how much I admire and respect (and maybe even slightly envy) the easy relaxed realationship you have built up with Ben. There is an obvious mutual respect for each other and when he included me in his goodbye kisses he made a fan out of this lovelee for life .

Seeing him stroll casually away from the theatre and disappear unnoticed into the hubub also made me a little sad for Lee .

Thank you Twingle for organising the tickets. I had a ball. Sorry that I went all fangirly over your boy, but I think I could be an honoury Angel - if you'll have me!

Hi to all, was not a Ben fan until last night

Went with Spider to see the show and was completely blown away, it was absolutely fantastic, all the cast were superb and any cast member caught by the stage door were absolutely lovely, those that asked spent time willingly giving autographs and having pictures taken Oh and kisses too

Hi spider it was good to meet you and heyjude last night and was so glad you enjoyed the show. The first time I went I accepted MB as a woman straight away.

heyjude nice to meet you last night - I am jealous that you all got kisses as I had to rush off and couldn't stage door.

why sad for lee?