My thoughts exactly!

Interesting to read people's opinions of the understudies - glad to hear that they're good. I have one question though - what's the Tracy/Link chemistry like when it's the understudy Tracy in the role? The chemistry between Ben and Leanne is great; I just wondered if he'd managed the same with the understudy.

Is it time to start the Seaweed appreciation thread then?

The Angels' forum already has one!

Great minds think alike...

We do have a thread for him on the Ben forum. You are not alone he is lovely too at stage door. He says he wears a wig for the show but to me doesn't look any different but maybe I wasn't examining his hair too closely

Shoe the night I saw it Penny and Leanne were both understudies and I would say the chemistry not the same but did notice both boys giving them lots of support during the show

Calling shoequeen and spider9....I have got tickets on hold for the Hairspray group trip.....pop over to the mansion for the details

Hey everyone. Anyone know what the queues are like for day seats at the moment and what time we need to be there for to get tickets (approximately). Gonna go next week Saturday.

Afraid I can't help on that one - but good luck!

Mark

One of our members (yeh for Lipgloss) is there tonight having queued up very very early this am (7.50 think it was and know there was 6 in front of her!!) So think you will be having an early rise next Saturday . Good luck

We are getting the bus down overnight and it stops at Marble Arch at 6:20 so looks like we will have plenty time for breakfast too .

Mark you should be fine at that time - lol.
The first people arrived 7:30, I was 7th in queue at 7:50 and there were enough in the queue for all seats by 8:30(maybe before).
Got super super cold waiting, especially my feet - wear extra socks and takes gloves etc. Is undercover though so not so bad if it rains.
If you can, get a good look at the people around you, some of the days seats were sold on over the odds on sat which is a real shame.

Anyway this was my 7th time at the show(I thought it was the 6th but miss counted - v.embarrassed) and the cast had been decimated by illness and holidays, heard afterwards some of the understudies were sick but went on anyway(probably didnt want to miss their big chance, and there was little alternative). After a brief scare(one of the cast boards had neil toon not ben down for link) all the main 4 were on. Motormouth, Little Inez, Penny and Amber were all played by understudies, creating quite a few gaps in the ensamble.

Sandra Marvin who played Motormouth was sensational. If you get a chance to see her go, she add so much to the role of Motormouth, she's a better actress and has a bigger vocal range than Johnnie Fiori, she had so much sass!

Ben was terrific as usual, sometimes its hard to believe he's the same boy who was on ADWD he just ooozes confidence in the role and has really nailed the different sides to link, the heartthrob on the corney show, the lovestruck teen falling for tracey and the goofy guy who isnt as cool as he thought when next to the ultra hip and cool seaweed.

It was lovely to have Michael Ball back and I'm super curious to see how things will change with the new wilber.

Everyone seen this?

http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.ph...+%26+Blair+MPs

Thanks Shoe although we knew from the Mail but not seen that article.

He has a very long and illustrious CV so appears well qualified - just none of us have heard of him and at 65 seems old to be playing Tracy's dad (mind you Mel looks about the same age although he isn't! - shhhh)

Just hope the chemistry is there which i am sure it will be as would have been part of the audition process

Hi Angels/Ben fans/Hairspray fans
I'd love to see Ben in the show, but am booked out with shows and trips to London for the immediate future. Do you guys know how long he is contracted for?
Thanks!

We dont know his exact leaving date but he was originally contracted for a year. So October leaving, we dont know if the year starts from previews(early oct) or press/official opening(end oct).

I've just booked for myself and my family to see Hairspray on March 25th. Sitting in the stalls, four rows back, at the centre. So I hope we get a good view of Ben. I feel all happy and bouncy now!

LeiwsH those are good seats you will have a great view and look forward to your review!

We read somewhere but not sure how official that MB, Leanne and Ben's last night is 25th October 2008. Of course Leanne and Ben could extend but I hope not. I want to see them in something else

Ooh, those are good seats! You will be able to see everything really well from there. Enjoy!

you'll feel even more bouncy after you've seen it lucky you!

Will be heading for the bus in about an hour or so and aiming to get to the theatre for 7ish to queue for the day seats. Lets hope its not raining! Will post reviews when I get back, can't wait to see it again

Hope you hope you have a wonderful time. Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Wooo - What a day! Was absolutely fantastic! Got to the day queue at 7:15 and surprise surprise we were the first ones there! Next people arrived at about 7:30 ish and then at about 8 alot more people started arriving with all the day tickets allocated by 9:15-9:30 I would say.

Went to see Rent on the afternoon which we got £20 tickets for. Absolutely loved it, wasn't sure how the "remix" would be but I was nicely surprised.

Hairspray on the night - We were front row on the centre aisle - Couldn't have asked for better seats. Enjoyed it alot more than last time due to the fab seats - Mum was grinning all the way through. It was so funny when Pennys mum comes running into the audience - we had to get up for her to come past lol.

Oh and for any Ben fans - My mum noticed about halfway into Nicest Kids in Town that his fly was right down, good job he got them sorted out lol.

Standout for me was the same as last time - Motormouth - What a Voice! Michael Ball and Mel Smith seemed extra funny too, I felt I got alot of eye contact in timeless to me lol.

Can't wait to go again!

Oh dear Ben and his flies.......And what was your mum doing looking in that direction

Actually he did a concert in Scarborough where the same thing happened but being the professional he is he just lay down flat on the stage and pulled them up again while singing - was brilliant

Glad you got the seats and enjoyed both shows

Mark,

Glad you got your tickets ok. Sounds like you had a great time. It seems such a fun show.

Oh it is and seeing it from the front row was an experience I will never forget!

I hope that isn't referring to zipgate 2