Absolutely loved reading your post Ashrell, and, (of course ), agree with most of it! I'll post my thoughts on the boys performances later today. There's also this thing called a job I have to attend to...

Galinda; thanks for the information. I figured it would be something like that. I already knew the rules weren't as strict in the UK as they are here, otherwise just 3 boys for the part of Oliver wouldn't have been enough.

Great post, Ashrell. I'd go along with your summation except that for me, the stand-out has been 'You Give a Little Love'. Like you, I loved the dancing in this number and the energy of it. I loved that it allowed them to be playful and to be exuberant, just little boys goofing around and letting their hair down. You could see they loved doing it too; even the perma-worried Jonny.

'Together Wherever We Go' - I just adore the camaraderie in this number. The boys have a lovely chemistry and Harry in particular has a brilliant connection with Sarah. Unfortunately, it's a Dodger with Nancy connection (and despite her not being my favourite, I could really see Sarah playing the part on the strength of this. Actually, I'd love to see all of the woman do this number with the Olivers - that'd be a real Nancy litmus test).

'Teamwork' was a great ensemble and they looked like a fully-formed group of young pros rather than a bunch of amateurs.

'Pie Jesu' is just gorgeous. Chester sings it like an angel, particularly the very last "requim" of the song. I actually like the harmonies and I've always liked the orchestral arrangement of this song.

'It's a Hard Knock Life' - again, I love this. All of the boys made a decent hash of it. And I think I must prefer the more upbeat, choreographed numbers because they seem more like the group of ragtag street-fighting orphans they're supposed to be in those.

'Electricity' I've never really liked the song. I find the lyric itself a bit... dunno, really... naff. BUT, it's one of the few songs to showcase all of their voices rather than just the few who've already been picked. And that really meant sorting the wheat from the chaff.

'I Whistle a Happy Tune' - enjoyable, although I agree with Ashrell that singing in pairs isn't the way I'd have gone. I do love the way Harry performs his line though - watch it again for some real acting ability. Sam stands out for the wrong reasons I'm afraid.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - a tough song to sing and a difficult routine for the boys to master but they did it really well, particularly Lawrence. It was a shame that Niamh was chosen because she just looks and sounds all wrong - neither Nancy nor Truly Scrumptious. Don't get me wrong, she performs the song well in terms of her physical movement, she just can't help not looking or sounding right for it. They really really really have to let us see each of the Nancies perform on their own with the boys; it's proving a real eye-opener.

'Bright Eyes' - Gwionn's accent makes it very cute but taken as a whole, they slightly oversing it for me and the song loses the sentiment and the tragedy it's supposed to have.

'A whole new world' - a bit meh for me. I'm not mad on the song and it was a bit girly for them.

Breaking Free - I didn't hate it but the musical itself has to the biggest pile of guff to hit the screen in years and its popularity is a total mystery to me. Yeah, I know kids love HSTM but even as a child I was more discerning. We had 'Grease' and 'Star Wars' dammit!

Also remember that they all can technically understudy eachother, and if that was to happen it could throw off any scheduling for a week or more. So if you do find a schedule, don't treat it as 100% accurate

Thank you. So other than the fact kids can perform more in the UK, it's basically the same to what I'm used to here. The kids I work with also understudy eachother. There's always one child performing and another "stand by".
Oh well, I just have to go to London for an entire week and see Oliver every night!

And Scarlet, loved reading your views on the Oliver performances too! I really just want to write mine down as well, but I really should get back to work...
Last edited by Chaperone : 13-05-2008 at 15:18

chitty was great - that lovely irish boy was caught out a bit though as when the camera had a close up on him he was doing all the dance moves but wasnt singing !!!

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[/quote]

oh dear........

Awww Gareth... Just watched Chitty again, and you're right: he isn't singing at the end of the song. Might have been to focused on the choreography?

I think I'll write about the performances as well, great idea Ashrell.

Give A Little Love - This is without a doubt my favourite performance from the Olivers. I loved the costumes, the choreography, the singing and the song! It was just fantastic.

Electricity -This is probably my most watched/listened to performance. Most of the boys sang really well in Electricty, Chester, Jonny and Alex really stood out.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - I may be biased because I'm a fan of Niamh's, but I love this. I think Laurence was fantastic in this too, really showed off his great vocals which I hadn't really noticed before.

Together - I thought this was lovely. Sarah interacted well with the boys and they all looked so happy just singing away on the steps. I liked the song and I thought it was just a very cute performance.

I'll Be There - Kwayedza was amazing in this. Such a talented boy. I'll say again, I don't think he's Oliver, but there is definitely something out there for Kwayedza.

Pie Jesu - Although I don't listen to this over and over like I do quite a few others, Chester's voice gave me goosebumps. I would have loved to hear just Chester singing though because he has a stunning voice and the backing vocals were a little out of tune.

Teamwork - Some of the boys seemed happy with this song, however I think it was a bit too young for some of the others. The choreography was very cheesy, but I liked the vocals and I just thought it was a fun performance.

It's A Hard Knock Life - I liked this because I like the upbeat numbers and I love the muscial Annie. However there wasn't really one boy that stood out me, they were all good but not amazing.

I Whistle A Happy Tune - This was very sweet, I just didn't like them singing in pairs!

Food Glorious Food - I like this, firstly because it comes from Oliver and secondly because it shows how far the boys have come! I would have liked some solo parts, but maybe that's a little much to ask from the first show!

Breaking Free - Very very cheesy, but I love HSM. Whoever choreographed this routine though - well, it was pretty bad! But the boys had a good go at it and I thought the vocal was okay!

Bright Eyes - I'm not really a Gwion fan, so that's probably why I don't particularly like the performance. Well done to him for singing alone one one the first live show though!

Can You Feel The Love Tonight? - The arrangement was way too fast and most of the boys couldn't keep up! Alex was clearly nervous which caused him to go quite out of tune.

A Whole New World - I'm not a fan because I don't like Arthur! I feel mean but his vocal was not good, therefore I couldn't really enjoy it. Gwion and Chester were good however.

Well I'm Team Jonny all the way. [I have a Fan Page set up for him and we've named ourselves Team Jonny! (: www.bebo.com/-jonnyfans- is the place to visit if you wanna have a gander!] If he doesn't get the last hat then I'll be most upset.

My views on some of the songs:

You Give A Little Love - I love Bugsy and for me this really was class. I loved the boy's outfits and they looked like they were having a ball in this, especially during the Da da da ra ta ta ta bits! I loved Jonny's hat lifting and dancing in this, he completely stood out in this for me.

Electricity - Billy Elliot rocks and is one of my firm favourite musicals so this song scores highly in my book. The boys did a smashing job of this song and it's definitely the one I've listened to/watched the most!

Together Wherever We Go - Sarah was delightful in this and her chemistry with the Olivers was clear for all to see in this I think. It was also obvious they all loved her! Harry is sometimes not always the best singer but he's a terrific actor. A really lovely routine by Sarah and the Olivers. :]

Kwayedza. From the little we see of them I think him the least "stage school". That in itself is recommendation enough for me.

I just can't stand the pushy precocity of some of the boys. Is there no way of teaching children to sing, act and dance without making brats of them????

I like Kwayedza he has a great voice, but I think Jonny is brilliant also..he has that lost star like quality....I spotted him at the very begining and he someone your eye goes too.

So, the following Olivers are set for the semi-finals:

Gwion, Arthur, Kwayedza, Chester, Alexander, Harry, and Laurence.

Who is your favourite for the last spot?

So, the following Olivers are set for the semi-finals: Gwion, Arthur, Kwayedza, Chester, Alexander, Harry, and Laurence

Who is your favourite for the last spot?
Last edited by James Welsh : 15-05-2008 at 12:47

Jonny!!

Even though I've posted numerous comments about the boys throughout this thread, I couldn't resist giving an indepth

Alexander
I'm never sure what to think about Alex. He has a good voice, and he definitely has potential. However, I worry about his nerves as can you feel the love tonight was not his best performance. That being said, he does seem to have gained confidence and he cracked me up with his River Thames comment last week's mission. I see him perhaps as the reserve Oliver, giving him time to grow into the role. Maybe oliver

Arthur
He's cute. But should not have made it in the semi-finals when stronger candidates won't make it through. He has a good belty voice, but he struggles with singing in tune. I also think he needs voice coaching, because, though I am no expert, I think the way he belts out when sings, could led to serious damage of his vocals. Not Oliver

Chester
If anyone out of the Olivers or Nancy was to be considered a clear frontrunner, it would have to be Chester. He has the whole package. There's really no more to say about him that hasn't already been said. Definitely Oliver

Gareth
I'm not sure what to make of Gareth. I like him and there's talent there. But he fails to make much of an impression on me. Possibly Oliver

Gwion
I think his biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. His welsh accent makes him stand out. However, I do find it a bit of a hindrance too. Not because of any preconception I have about Oliver's accent. But because as a English native speaker, I still struggle to understand anything coming out of his mouth. And after looking in more details at some of the Oliver performance, I do think he is a decent but mediocre singer. Maybe Oliver

Harry
There is something about Harry. He is very charming and he always stands out. PNot the best vocally, but he is a natural performer. I do think he is too old and too confident to play Oliver. Not Oliver, but maybe Doger

Jonny
I am mixed minds about Jonny. Sometimes he seems so blank and I wonder whether he actually wants to be there. However, he is really good when he wants to be, e.g Electricity. I also wonder about his age. He seems in an awkward transition period. He's not quite a teenager like Kway or Harry. But neither is he a young boy either. I still think he has potential if he wants the part. And he seemed to come out of himelf during last week's mission and like Laurence, I think he might come into his own, if felt more relaxed having made the semis. I definitely think he should, and will, be the last Oliver chosen. Maybe Oliver

Jordan
I change my opinion constantly on Jordan. On the one hand, I love that he is enthusiastic all the time. And I always find myself drawn to his performances. However, I do think he would struggle showing the vulnerability of Oliver as he seems to ooze confidence. He can also be a bit much sometimes. And I thought his version of "Please, sir, can I have some more?" was very forced.
Not Oliver

Joseph
Aw bless him. He is always trying so hard. It's interesting because based on his audition, he would be one of the strongest candidate. However, his lack of experience and youth is showing. I definitely think he has potential in a couple of years, but I am confident that he won't be going through to the semi finals. Not Oliver but maybe in a couple of years


Kwayedza
Definitely one of the strongest candidates. Unfortunately he is wholly unsuited to being Oliver. He is visibly older than the other Olivers, and he would struggle with the higher key that Oliver sings. However, it would be a travesty if this boy's talent went to waste Not Oliver, but very talented. Maybe Dodger?

Laurence
I think the way I feel about Laurence is how others feel about Jonny. Even though he hasn't had much airtime in comparison to some of the others, he has always been one of my favourites, and I always felt that he had something there. So I was impressed but not surprised by his Chitty Chitty bang Bang performance. He has obviously had vocal coaching, and his voice, which is lovely anyway, is very controlled. Admittedly, he could do with some work on his moves, but I thought he gave the best version of "Please, sir, can I have some more?"Definitely Oliver

Sam
I admit that his resemblance to Anne Widdecombe put me off him slightly. Horrible I know. He can sing well but he seems the most disinterested of all the Olivers. I'm not sure if this is because he knows he is not going to go through to the finals.Not Oliver

I definitely think last week's mission was the best to date. I think it was nice to see the way that boys interacted.

Jonny, I think he has it all, star quality and watch ability........if he doesnt go through its a travesty

But most of the time he doesn't look like he wants to be there? If it is true or not is not really relevant though - he should of been told to act as though he is enjoying himself, and he can't take the direction.

I just love Jordon - but only coz he is beautiful! I just melt as his wee face and dark hair. Not right reason I do but I think he lovely.

I dont see that, he was complimented on one of their missions and I think he has the vulnerability of Oliver. He has that haunting look on his face at times and he can dance..........IMO

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by robtuk06:
“But most of the time he doesn't look like he wants to be there? If it is true or not is not really relevant though - he should of been told to act as though he is enjoying himself, and he can't take the direction.”

[/quote]


I dont see that, he was complimented on one of their missions and I think he has the vulnerability of Oliver. He has that haunting look on his face at times and he can dance., he also has quite a strong following..........IMO

I understand that he has a following, and I know he can sing and dance, infact I don't dislike him at all. But my point still stands - a lot of the time he just has a blank expression - a few others have noticed it too. It is a shame because it might stop him from progressing.

Every single performance Gareth stands out he always looks like he's enjoying himself and puts so much into each song, I hope he gets the final place.

Let hope not............................

I really enjoyed reading your post, it's nice to see that most of us here seem to basically agree.

Since I also liked Ashrell's idea to "rate" the performances, so here's my Top 14

1. Give A Little Love – Thought about this long and hard. Which did I love more: Give a little love or Electricity? Eventually decided this one deserves the top spot. Loved everything about this performance, but especially the fact that the boys were clearly enjoying themselves so much.
(I’ve been hearing this song non stop btw since I got home from work a few hours ago, since my 12 yo brother -who lives with me- and his friend are playing it over and over again, whilst trying to copy the choreography, lol)

2. Electricity – Close second! Love Billy Elliot, so maybe that has something to do with it as well. But mostly because they are all so amazing in this performance. Especially we you realise this was only week 2! Love their solo’s in this song and the moment they all come together in “and suddenly you’re flying…” nearly made me cry.

3. Together – Third place for me because of all the chemistry there. The little smiles between the boys were priceless and you could see Sarah really connected with them.

4. Pie Jesu – Like most of you, this is not a performance I watch/listen to over and over again, because it just not “that kind of song”. However, Chester's performance is so amazing that Pie Jesu is still one of my favourites. I do agree that this song was clearly too much for some of the boys though.

5. I'll Be There – Kwayedza’s voice is absolutely wonderful and this song suited him well. I also liked the others in this song.

6. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – This must have been so difficult. It’s such a hard song to sing. I thought Laurence in particular was great, but to me it sort of lacked the chemistry that was there the week before.

7. Food Glorious Food – Don’t really know why but I still quite like this performance. Maybe because it was their first and you can just tell how nervous some of them are. Cute. Also like the fact that it’s an Oliver song.

8. It's A Hard Knock Life – Thought this was a nice performance but none of the boys really amazed me.

9. Teamwork – Sweet, but imo not really a song that suited most of them.

10. I Whistle A Happy Tune – Like so many, I liked the performance in general, but I didn’t really like them singing in pairs either (although, come to think of it, I didn’t mind it with ‘Give a little love’).

11. Bright Eyes – Don’t really know why, but I just didn’t care much for this song. But, even though he was out of tune from time to time, I do think Gwion deserves some credit for singing solo and he looked like he was totally comfortable.

12. A Whole New World – Just not one of their best performances in my opinion. But I also think the song is to ‘girlie’ and although Arthur really tries, it’s just not his song.

13. Can You Feel The Love Tonight? – Well, what can I say… I feel kind of mean putting this performance so low in my list, since I really do like Alexander and my heart went out to him during all this. But the arrangement was wrong and a lot of the boys (not just Alex) were out of tune. But really, Alex, bless him. He clearly knew that it wasn’t going well. I could just imagine him crying backstage after this .

14. Breaking Free – Everything has already been said about this performance. So I’m not going to repeat all that. Putting it down as my #14 says it all, I think.


You know, the first thing that came to mind when I read this was "yay, let's analyse the missions next!"

Absolutely loved your post - and I think I'm near 100% agreement with you which is rare! The only difference being that Laurence was never a favourite of mine until recently, but he has completely won me over in recent weeks. I've happily revised my initial impressions. Thankfully Oliver isn't much of a dancing role, which is his weakness

At the moment, I think (as per everyone else, it seems):

Definitely Oliver - Chester & Laurence
Maybe Oliver - Alexander, Jonny, Gwion, Gareth
Not Oliver but too good a talent to waste - Harry & Kwayedza
Not Oliver - Jordan, Joseph, Sam, Arthur

I've been pondering about the last slot for a while between Jonny or Gareth, but I think it would probably go to Jonny. While I'd hate to see Gareth disappointed - for me it would be the most heartbreaking to watch because he is the one who always gives it everything, whereas Jonny has been lucklustre on several occasions - I do think that Jonny overall suits the image of Oliver better, moves around the stage better and would draw the initial attentions more. If I had it my way I'd replace Arthur with Gareth, though.

But I'd probably be completely wrong and the final spot would go to Jordan or something.
Last edited by James Welsh : 15-05-2008 at 12:47

I want it to go to both Jonny and Gareth, though I'm a much bigger Jonny fan. But Gareth's face each week when he doesn't get through makes me really feel for him, and I agree with you, I'd just replace Arthur with Gareth! As mean as that sounds, Gareth just has a far better voice than Arthur. I think Jonny will get through this week as Cameron has mentioned him twice now, last week and the week before last, and I'm not sure if Cameron is aware of it but Jonny seems very popular on things like YouTube. But I do want both Jonny and Gareth through

It probably will go to someone like Jordan now!