Because I think he expected to be able to do that too, but it seems to be increasingly difficult.

Anyway - Ben was utterly charming and I left very happy

Spider and hey Jude (and Shoequeen) - good to put another face to forum names and discover once again everyone very normal and don't have two heads My two real life friends who came with me last night were very impressed with all my internet friends

Last night was my 4th visit and I am still discovering bits I have missed (or have they changed it?) It is lovely to see the cast grow and develop into their roles. The whole cast are fantastic and even better than my last visit (yet you think that cannot be possible as they were fantastic last time)

I think the final word should come from my son (aged 21) who is very hard to please and he thought the show was great and the best he has seen in the west end (to be fair he hasn't seen loads!!) I managed to be a proper mother last night and embarass him by introducing him to Ben. This was from afar as my son thought it far too uncool to be up close and personal but Ben did wave and laugh.

Thank you Ben and cast for once again another fabulous night at the Shaftesbury and of course we will be back!

*waves madly at new forum friends*

Having written such a long review last time, I will keep my comments on this performance short. It was a glorious show, absolutely to the same standard as the one I saw a couple of weeks ago. Wonderful performances all-round and a fabulous audience enjoying every last moment. Like twingle, there were elements that I had totally missed the previous time (or have since been added) and the whole thing stood up to re-watching incredibly well. Like last time, I adored it.

I know I have corresponded with the angels for many months now but twingle, looby, lula, claire, nicky, amy, mermaid etc - thank you for making me feel so welcome last night and inviting me to join you for dinner. It was so lovely to meet you all. And spidey too!

I can only echo spidey's comments about how utterly lovely Ben was after the show. Despite being exhausted, his endless willingness to pose for photos and just chat to us about the RVP, lula's hats etc spoke volumes I think. Oh and the kiss was lovely too!

Finally - HUGE thanks to twingle for co-ordinating what turned into an enormous group trip. It was a wonderful evening and much appreciated.

Queenie x

Hello - glad you all had such a great time at Hairspray and Ben's performance was fabulous as usual!

What did he say about the Royal Variety Performance? Did he get to meet the Queen and did she know him from ADWD I wonder?

Really looking forward to watching it on Sunday night.

Mary when we asked him what the Queen said he said she told him she watched ADWD and had voted for him He does have a great sense of humour. Actually he then went on to say she didn't say much but I suppose having to meet people every single day must get tiring

He also said he was exhausted - probably didn't have a day off this week witht he RVP

Fab reviews from Spider, HeyJude and Queenie It was ace meeting you all last night and put some faces to names.

I am soooo glad you enjoyed yourselves...it was a wicked night You are all Angels now you know

The show just seems to get better and better. I think the cast have really relaxed into their roles now and it was a joy to watch Ben relishing every second of the performance.

LOL at the Queen voting for him in ADWD...was funny

Hello

In case you have not heard Ben has been nominated in the Whats on Stage Theatregoers awards for "The best supporting actor in a Musical". You can vote for him (and Hairspray, Leanne and MB etc) at www.whatsonstage.com and go to the Awards section.

It would be absolutely brilliant if we could get the award for Ben - please vote!
Last edited by Mary 118 : 08-12-2007 at 15:09

Thanks Mary

I have sent you a private message- check your in box

Hello Spider, HeyJude and SQ *waves*

It was fab to meet you all the other night. So glad you all loved the show. Hope to see you again on the next outing (if they let me out again )

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it a 3rd time - but boy, it was as amazing as ever. I didn't stop laughing, cheering, dancing in my seat (sorry to the man in front of me whose ear I kept screaming in ). It's perhaps not quite appropriate to laugh before the jokes have actually been said so next time I shall try and wait till after! Here's hoping the next time is soon!

How bizarre the stagedoor expreience is - the first time I saw Michael Ball I was quite excited but didn't bat an eyelid last night hehe. It's all about Ben *whispers* and the gorgeous Adrian Hansel!


I just got a little over excited at seeing hairspray on the RVP They were fantastic - I didn't think I'd be quite so excited. Only criticism was there wasn't enough of them. Hope we see them again at the end and some very tall man isn't standing in front of Ben (yes you Simon Cowell).

pmsl, Lula!

The cast of Hairspray, including the gorgeous Mr Ben James-Ellis, performing You Can't Stop The Beat at the Royal Variety Show.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQhTMdLrts

You want tickets now doncha!!!!!

Hi - I've just got back from today's Hairspray matinee and wanted to tell you all about it.
Worried all morning in case Ben might not be in the show - would be just so disappointed!

When I got to the theatre the foyer was packed - not a spare seat in the theatre this afternoon so just shows how strong the cast is and ticket sales have not been affected by MB being on holiday.

I have not seen Hairspray since a preview in October so noticed a few changes.

In the foyer managed to pick up a free leaflet with a lovely picture of Ben with a quote from the Sunday Times on it: "Ben James-Ellis has musical star quality" - great start to the afternoon. There is also a new programme (£6) which includes lots of new pictures of the cast, including Ben of course.

Then managed to find the details of the understudies which were posted on the ticket office - it showed Adam playing Edna, Jenni playing Penny and Terel, Seaweed - hurray Ben must be here!

The understudies were excellent and completely agree with Becca that Adam who plays Edna is really excellent - really loved the bit when could not help himself laughing during "Timeless to me" - all the audience laughed too!

Leanne was excellent as usual and her signing just perfect.

And so to Ben - just two words to describe his performance this afternoon - "absolutely fantastic!" He was just full and energy, enthusiasm and showed such sheer joy in playing the part. I was as surprised as Becca was that Ben had told her he had calmed the performance down since the previews. Didn't look like that to me. He just gives 150% to the show - his singing voice was lovely today, his acting brilliant and of course, his dancing is simply amazing.

Link seems to have been given additional scenery moving duties since the previews - love the bit when he slides across the stage on the trolly - he pushed the trolly so hard today he looked in danger of toppling of the stage with it - luckily he managed to stop it just in time. He also moves some stands around, not to mention the prison cell - hope he gets extra pay for thsi!

A few bits have been changed since the previews - my favourite part of the show is when Tracy is in the prison cell and Link comes to rescue her - especially now that Link climbs up the bars trying to get in - brilliant! His version of "Without Love" today was really excellent - he puts so much emotion into his performance of the song.

Link and Tracy are so convincing and there is so much chemistry between them it is easy to forget they are actually Ben and Leanne. At the end they looked so thrilled by the audience's reaction - Ben got a huge cheer and just did not seem to want to leave the stage at the end of the show. It is lovely to see him enjoying the show so much and his enthusiasm is just infectious.

I think I enjoyed Hairspray today even more than the preview if that's possible and there is no doubt that Ben brings a very special magic to the show which just makes it so brilliant - and unforgettable!

Thank you Mary for your review and I agree it is so much better now than the previews

I'm trying my best to get Hairspray tickets but i can't find any. I went Lord of the Rings the other night which was quite good but Hairspray is just HAIRSPRAY!!

Hi Kyri - have you tried the show website - www.hairspraythe musical.co.uk as there is a "Link" for tickets on there - just to let you know though that if you want to see Ben in the show he is on holiday 3rd to 8th February inclusive, back 9th February.

Hope you can get some tickets ok - I'm sure that you will absolutely love the show! If you do go be sure to post your review here.

I saw Hairspray last Friday, and it was fantastic! I really enjoyed the performance and Leanne Jones and Ben James-Ellis were excellent as Tracy and Link.

I thought James' It takes Two was brilliant, I've seen the film, and it was one of my least favourite songs but seeing it on the stage was totally different and much better.

The dancing from everyone was great, as were the vocals in particular Run and tell that and I know where I've Been.

I loved the whole thing, and can't wait to see it again!

Hiya Totalshopaholic (think you have pinched my handle!!)

Glad you enjoyed the show. I am off to see it again tomorrow altho sadly no Michael Ball as Edna but heard the show still great

There's only like 15 seconds of It takes Two in the movie :S.

Yes, I think the show is so much better than the film and as Ben says "if you're having a bad day and you go and see Hairspray, you feel better" - its absolutely true and I can't wait to go and see it again soon!

I have the soundtrack too and it's one of the songs I always skip! There's just something about it I really didn't like... but I found it far better sung on stage.

I shpuld be seeing it again sometime in late January

I have two tickets for the stalls, on April 19th! That was the next Saturday matinee performance I could get, with stalls seats avalible

I can't wait though! Have seats A11 & 12

Saw it last night and it was brilliant BUT - no Ben!!!!

Very disappointing, I knew Michael Ball was on holiday, but we were all looking forward to seeing Ben

.

Aw am so sorry you didn't see Ben he is amazing in the role although I have heard Neil Toon is very good too. Was Leanne back? I saw it Tuesday with three main leads off. Penny, Tracy and Edna. They were good but just don't have the edge that the leads have and of course no one can match Michael Ball he IS Edna!!

I wonder if the dreaded lurgy is spreading through the cast again!!

Yes , Neil Toon was OK, but a bit bland. Penny was played by an alternate too, but at least Leanne was there. (She's fantastic!)

I've been lucky enough to see Hairspray twice now, once with Neil, once with Ben - agree that Neil has a very good voice, but Ben just has that extra va va voom! (and this is coming from a lovelee )

Hairspray is a brilliant show, I had a stupid grin on my face for hours afterwards. The whole cast look like they're having a blast. And I have to confess a little crush on Seaweed

[quote=shelly_77;20570583]I've been lucky enough to see Hairspray twice now, once with Neil, once with Ben - agree that Neil has a very good voice, but Ben just has that extra va va voom! (and this is coming from a lovelee )

Hairspray is a brilliant show, I had a stupid grin on my face for hours afterwards. The whole cast look like they're having a blast. And I have to confess a little crush on Seaweed [/QUOTE]

back of the queue shelly