Bring on the flash bang wallop!
Naturally, I woke up early so I could catch my bus to Gatwick Airport. There was quite a queue for train tickets but I didn't mind waiting as my show wasn't until the evening and I was in no particular rush. I eventually got my train to Victoria Station and arrived around 11am. My first stop was Oxford Street. I went to The Disney Store and had a chat with my friend Ash who works there, it was also his birthday. I then went across the road for a browse in HMV. Not sure about you but I really miss the much bigger HMV on Oxford Street that closed a few years ago. That place was my idea of heaven!
Me and my Disney pal Ash!
Hey I know that droid!
I started to feel peckish so headed to The Fresh Pizza Co. at Victoria Station once again! It wasn't the most successful of meals I've ever had there if I'm honest. The pizzas at the buffet were being brought out very infrequently compared to normal and the drinks machine wasn't working. In fact, the drinks machine only started working just as I was leaving. I paid for my meal and was given quite a disgruntled look by the waiter because I didn't leave him a tip. I'm not tight by any means but I think when you're at a buffet and getting everything yourself then there's no need to give the waiter a tip. I will return to the restaurant again but it made me think twice about going there on my next trip.
Come on Pizza guys! Pull your finger out!
After a rather unsatisfactory lunch, I made my way to Piccadilly Circus to take some photos of all the nearby theatres. The first theatre I photographed was the Prince of Wales theatre, which I would be visiting in a couple of days time to see The Book Of Mormon. It's not the most attractive of theatres on the outside but the interior tells a different story.
The Mormons are calling my name!
I don't quite think he works for Her Majesty!
I then made my way to find the Noel Coward Theatre which hosts Half A Sixpence. When I saw it for the first time last month, I got quite lost trying to find it in nighttime London, so I thought this time I would make myself familiar of it's whereabouts during the day.
I found the theatre!
Now firmly knowing where the Noel Coward Theatre was, I decided to head to The Theatre Cafe for a quick drink. I had a good chat with the lovely Josie who works there. One thing I wanted to do was get myself familiar with the names of everyone who works at the cafe as I'm always there and have good chats with them upon every visit. Saying that though, sometimes it's impossible to get a seat in the cafe as it's tiny and incredibly popular. I was lucky this time to get a seat though. I was also being quite nosey because I was sat on a table next to a casting director who was conducting interviews for a new production, although I'm not sure which show.
That's what you call a snazzy bathroom mirror!
I left the cafe around 5pm and headed towards Her Majesty's Theatre to try and catch some of the Phantom cast at the stage door. Much to my joy I met my good friend Matt Blaker, who was the understudy Raoul when I saw the show last month. He's such a great guy. We had a good chat about Phantom and theatre in general. He was also kind enough to pose for a selfie and sign two of my photos of me and him. Next to arrive at the theatre was the Phantom himself, Mr Ben Forster! When I met him for the first time last month, he was easily the nicest actor I've ever met. Once again, he was incredibly down to earth and took his time to talk to me, have a selfie and also sign some more photos for me. I also met the hilarious Lara Martins, who had a good chat with me and of course, a selfie! One of the nicest things with the Phantom cast is that they all know me by name now. I'm even on a hugging basis with them too! How awesome!
The Stage Door at Her Majesty's Theatre
My favourite understudy, Matt Blaker.
The Phantom of the Opera! Or Ben Forster to be more precise!
Me and the lovely Lara Martins. Not a diva like her stage character!
After meeting my friends at Phantom, I made the little journey to the Noel Coward Theatre for Half A Sixpence. I was getting so excited! I knew I was going to be in for a great show after being amazed by it the previous month. I sat down in the stalls and was stunned by my seat. I couldn't believe it! I was just two rows from the front! Now I know what you're thinking. Why was I surprised at where I was sitting as I'd chosen my seat when booking the ticket. Well my ticket said Row D, so I took it that meant four rows from the front but in the stalls there was no row A or B. I wasn't complaining though. I'd never been so close to the front at a show before.
Look how close I am! I can practically touch the stage!
Have to take a theatre seat selfie!
Hold it, flash bang wallop, what a show! Really, what a show! The performance was easily just as good as the first time I saw it, maybe even slightly better. The whole cast really put their heart and soul into the show. Being so close to the front as well, you can really appreciate the finer details in the acting, especially the facial expressions. Again, Charlie Stemp wowed the audience with his fine performance. He really is a talent. His performing is out of this world. His singing and dancing are second to none. Being closer this time, I didn't notice before how much comedy Charlie Stemp puts into his acting. He gave so many funny looks, it was quite hilarious to see. Emma Williams also gave a fine performance, which actually reduced me to a few tears in her last scene. Ian Bartholomew gave a hilarious performance as Chitterlow once again. I'd also like to praise the performance of Devon-Elise Johnson who plays Ann, she's just amazing. Another brilliant actor in the show is Gerard Carey who plays scheming James and also the over-the-top drunk photographer at the end, to great effect!
After the show I thought I'd try to meet some of the main cast and get a selfie and some autographs. Lucky for me, they all came out of the stage door quite quickly, which was a good thing for me as I had to rush to Victoria station to get my train home! First out was the one and only Charlie Stemp. He was just fantastic. Being the same age as me and very easy going, it was like talking to a best friend! He very kindly signed two photos for me and had the obligatory selfie! I missed most of the other cast but I got to meet the very lovely Devon-Elise Johnson and Bethany Huckle, who play best friends Ann and Flo. They were absolutely lovely, especially Devon-Elise. I had a good chat with her about the show and she told me that the show is going to be getting recorded for a film release, which I can't wait to see!
Me with the legend in the making Charlie Stemp!
Me and the girls! The wonderful Devon-Elise Johnson and Bethany Huckle.
So after one very tiring day I finally got home to Crawley! My bed was calling my name and I pretty much collapsed under the covers! It was yet again a fantastic theatre day. So how does it compare to the other theatre days so far?
Trip Rating: 8/10
A very good day! Theatre days number 3 was yet again another success story. I knew I was going to be in for a great show having seen it the previous month and boy I wasn't wrong! Half A Sixpence really is such a triumph. It's clear to see why people are still raving about it, myself included. I think it will go down in history as one of the best shows to hit the West End in years. I've never seen a show that has made me smile as much as Half A Sixpence. Sure, it made me cry at times but the smiles easily outweighed the tears. I just love everything about it. Like I mentioned above, the songs are memorable, the choreography is eye-catching and the acting is just phenomenal. I've never seen such a perfect cast for a show. The show has easily become one of my favourite musicals in the space of just two months. Phantom will always be my favourite but Half A Sixpence is definitely up there with the best for me!
Everyone's talking about it!
Show aside, there was lots to enjoy about the day. I met lots of lovely people again. It was great to catch up with my friend Ash at The Disney Store on Oxford Street. It was also nice to have a good musicals chat with my friend Josie at The Theatre Cafe. Meeting the cast of Phantom was a delight as always. Like I mentioned before, to now be on a hugging basis with them now is just amazing! Meeting some of the cast of Half A Sixpence was also amazing, especially to meet the legend in the making that is Charlie Stemp.
So all in all, theatre days number 3 was another triumph!
But wait!
There's more!
Another theatre trip in just two days time!
Surely not?
Oh yes! Bring on the Mormons!
Hello Michael! My name is Elder Price and I would like to share with you the most amazing book!
