We’re going down, down underground…” – Memphis the Musical, The Shaftesbury Theatre, London 29.01.2015

With Christmas over and a new year started, I realised 2014, wasn’t a great year for seeing productions, unlike 2013, but nevertheless I still saw some amazing shows new and old. But with 2015 I tend to try and see a lot more if possible, and will try to at least see a show once a month preferably one I have yet to see…but there are a few tours happening of shows that I would love to see again…just saying! Also it has to be within reason of money sense also (someone is currently trying to get herself a new  home with the other half!). So what better way to start my theatre viewing year than returning to my favourite city London, to see a brand new musical that was Memphis the Musical, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and also to see again my favourite West Ender…like you don’t know. Jon Robyns announced during his time when performing in Dessa Rose that his next step on the west end stage would be the alternate Huey in the new upcoming Musical Memphis, and I awaited the confirmed tweet to say which nights he would be performing. it wasn’t long and once announced it would be Thursday nights, it was clear which night I had to book, and who would be joining be but my very classy Theatre Buddy Hayleigh! Now I have been to this theatre before, as it was the first time that I saw Rock of Ages, so I was fully aware that this was not a big theatre, and I knew that it would either have to be up in the circle, or the front of the stalls to get good seats, and a good view of the stage. As I knew that this was the only night that Jon would be performing as Huey I didn’t care as to how much I paid for the ticket, and when I saw two tickets available in row CC in the centre seats 21, and 22 I knew I was going for those even if they were £61.50!! The view was perfect, the view you could not complain about! I would have a photo but its so close that the photo isn’t that good! but trust be up is good!! if you go quite far back you may miss the action that happens on top of the stage as there is two floors sometimes. Though not going to lie Jon nearly gave me a heart attach a week before the show, having announced that he has tonsillitis and was currently not playing, or performing anything! I searched the Web to find how long it takes to get over tonsillitis and it stated a week, so I kept my fingers crossed! Then seeing he was feeling better, he then made a further announcement that he was on holiday these next few days! again I panicked until I sighed a massive relief when he said that he would be back on Thursday, and on the actual day said how much he was looking forward to returning back to his Memphis family, and to be Huey again! so thanks Jon for getting better, and coming back for the night to allow Hayleigh and I to get what we paid for!, and I just had to take a picture just to prove it actually happened! Was kind of weird is that situation has happened before with me wanting to see a particular actor and weirdly it was Simon Lipkin as before I was due to see him in Rock of Ages as Lonny he had fallen down the stairs at the theatre and hurt his back, it was again the night I went to see the show that he had returned back! Maybe I’m just a lucky charm I don’t know. But anyway onto Memphis! It is a brand new original musical, which is quite rare now with many shows coming from films, Memphis has all new songs, and an original storyline based on events in the past. A brilliant choice to start my 2015 theatre year! Memphis is set in the 1950s, where integration was just starting in the United States, Memphis is a small city in the South Western corner of Tennessee. Within this city is a run down club, to which those who were black come to enjoy the food, drink, and most of all the music, which thrived in one bar, owned by Delray, a respected man within his street, and a protective older brother of Felicia. Felicia is a star in the making, with amazing talent, and an even amazing voice, which not only is loved by her friends, but also by Huey, a young white guy, who has fallen for the music that Felicia and also falls for her a little more, and her friends play each night, and stumbles into the bar much to the others horror! He makes his way in to everyone’s hearts and friendship bonds. Huey has a eye for talent, and with that he also wishes for fame, especially if it involves music, Sick of hearing the same old boring slow music, Huey takes a stand and fights his way to being on the Radio and play the song that he loves, and with it changes how Memphis listen. Huey also fights for Felicia to appear on the radio, and she falls for him as much as he has fallen for her, but their love remains in secret. Huey rises to fame within Memphis and becomes the start of his own TV show with integration his dancers are all black and that is the way he likes it, and aint nobody will stand in his way. But Felicia wants more, and she craves to be accepted and no longer live in fear of being attacked, to which has happened before causing her to no longer be able to bear a child, she begs for Huey to join her up north where they can be together and not be judged. But Hueys heart stays in Memphis, and his stubbornness causes Felicia to leave and grow to a huge star. Well that is a brief synopsis, but then I want you to want to see this show, so I don’t want to give anything away that may ruin it for you! so you have to book your tickets!! GO! Tonights cast was as follows:

Felicia – Beverly Knight

Huey – Jon Robyns (alternate)

Delray – Rolan Bell

Gator -Tyrone Huntley

Gladys – Charlotte Gorton (Understudy)

Bobby-Jason Pennycooke

Mr Simmons – Mark Roper

Now you all are thinking why I was so hung up on Jon being in Memphis with the Beverly Knight in this show, and believe me from the moment I saw her perform a the West End Eurovision I knew I had to see her perform in a show, so yes I was excited that she was playing tonight! and Yes she really is AMAZING! her Felicia was just spot on, you could see how much she felt for her character, and knew that she believed everything she did, but again her voice was just, words really can’t describe there aint a not that girl can’t sing! I don’t think anyway? I loved all her costumes and dresses, now I have met her before very briefly though and only enough for a signature tonight I managed to get both a photo and signature, and she is just as lovely in person as she is on stage! I defiantly want to see her again!

Jon was on top form, as if I didn’t expect anything less. He has me laughing, smiling, crying, and some moments gasping, as with his return back to stage after a week off, there were a few hiccups which if your watch carefully you may have missed them, but those close to the stage yea we could see. in Act one, not only did he have a slip of the hand by dropping the record slip off the stage into the audience (that one you could have missed if you weren’t watching him on stage, so nearly did a Dickens Abridged by taking it but I resisted!) but when fighting to stay on air on the radio, and slamming the door so the manager couldn’t get in, Jon slammed his thumb in the door also, and it bled quite a lot, but this is just how good Jon is and he didn’t let it phase him, he continued the scene and then carried on to the other scene without drawing too much attention to it, but the occasional thumb in mouth, and the grabbing of the tissue to stop the bleeding. I take my hat off to him also cause he just remained calm, He showed me the thumb after at the door and he really slammed that thing! Also you would not have thought that he had had tonsillitis just a week before cause his voice as always was beautiful! I always love meeting him at the stage door and I cannot not have a photo!

Beverly and Jon had brilliant chemistry on stage, and you could tell that they were having so much fun along with the supporting cast, there were so many new faces that I have yet to see on West End, such as Tyrone Huntly as Gator, and Jason Pennycooke playing the comic role of Bobby who brought laughs to the audience, both also ran away from the stage door before I could say anything but I did get an apology from Jason so next time (as I will be seeing this show again) he wont run!! It took me a while to realise where I had seen Mark Roper who played Mr Simmons before and once reading the programme I realised he was the neighbour in the Inbetweeners who gets angry with the boys after they hit his daffodils off his garden with the golf clubs, and that was exciting to see him! The only other actor I had already seen was Rolan Bell, who played Delray, as he played mine and Hayleighs Britney in We Will Rock You last year, and he performed just as well as he did as Britney! sadly no photo but did get a signature this time!

The cast were amazing, and the dancers were rocking, they all seem to be having so much fun that made you want to get up in your own seat and bogey yourself!

I can’t express how much I really enjoyed this show, and how much I liked it being my first show of  2015 cause it made me realise how much I missed coming to see a show! I recommend it to anyone, and seeing that it has just won Best New Musical at the What’s on stage awards its going to be of high demand for a while! If I am going to see it again, then I will be eyeing up Jon’s dates as I don’t think I can not see him play Huey! but ive heard Killian is just as amazing!

Now what am I going to choose for my next show?