Week 9: The Semi Finals
Thank the lord (not ALW) that BBC iplayer exists, as I was out reviewing The Osmonds last night and forgot to record the show. So, having had the chance to catch up, it was clear that last night was one of the best shows of the series. Each girl had to raise their game and the performances really show the audience who could cut it and who should leave.
First up was Rachel who had a mammoth task. Andrew is not feeling her performances and she has been in the bottom two twice. So, she had everything to gain with her version of Cabaret. We were shown clips from a summit meeting in which the judges and Cameron (at last!) talked about the girls’ strengths and weaknesses.
They claimed that Rachel lacked heart, Jodie was too cabaret, Sam received praise but lacked emotion, Jessie was talked up via her voice but little else. But with Cameron Mackintosh on board, you feel that this show is entering a new phase. Put it this way, Barry should step aside for him!
Rachel - “Cabaret”
Back to the competition, Rachel was asked to bring individuality to the table and she certainly did that. Her version of “Cabaret” was an absolute show-stopper! She gave the sort of performance that the panel had been looking for. I felt that she connected with the material ten-fold, filling your living room with her personality. She could breathe life into Bill Kenwright’s ropey West End Cabaret. DVO thought it was “Phenomenal” and even Barry was swayed claiming that it was a “star performance.” Cameron said: “By george. She’s got it!”
Jessie- “What I Did For Love”
This clearly left the others with a tough act to follow. Next up was Jessie. John and DVO criticised her in the summit meeting but The Lord talked her up slightly. She sang “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line. Her vocals were sweet and at times powerul but she throws her arms around like a teen having a tantrum. Her hunched shoulders are back too. Many will claim that these areas could be ironed out, but they should have gone ages ago. She is simply not ready for the role.
The judges thought the same on the whole. John said: “Good vocal, but slightly bored me.” Barry gave his usual “It was heartfelt” comment. DVO said it was a “little bit aggressive, good vocals.” Cameron thought it was a “beautiful version but other areas were lacking.” Jessie then pleaded for her life. The Lord said she had “star quality” maybe implying he would save her if she were in the sing off?
DUET No: 1
The first duet followed with Sam and Jodie delivering “Jesus Christ Superstar” (possibly plugging Lloyd Webber’s next search for a star?!). Jodie belts this one out with real passion. Sam ups the sex appeal but Jodie definitely gives the song the gospel feel that it needs.
Next we head off to catch up with the Olivers as we see which three have been chosen. Gwion, Laurence and Harry will grace the West End stage. I, personally would have picked any of the runners up, but not these three. Gwion will struggled with the accent unless they allow to keep the Barry Island twang, but you would hope not!
Samantha - “When You Believe”
Sam was next up with “When You Believe” from The Prince Of Egypt. I associate this song with X Factor though as it was last year’s winning song. This draws other comparisions as I feel Sam would make a great contestant on that show, but somehow, she looks out of place here. The whole arrangement for this song felt like Simon Cowell was waiting in the wings. It was ok, but Sam hit a few bum notes and it felt fairly empty and not the stuff of semi finals.
John said it was a “powerhouse performance.” DVo said that Sam had the likeability factor (did she mean the X Factor?!!!) and Barry said she had a “great connection” with the song. Cameron commented that the delivery was inconsistent. The Lord implied he would help her out stating “When you get through….!”
Jodie - “Out Here On My Own”
Jodie was next up and during the summit the judges all felt the same, it was time for some “real grit” in the words of JB. She sang “Out Here On My Own” which felt really apt as it feels like that at times. She needed this song to convey her vulnerable side. “I may not win but I can’t be thrown” she sang with real conviction. I felt it was nicely understated, not perfect but good enough. DVD cried and called it “so heartfelt.” JB shouted that she “needs to be in the final.” Barry said it was “too restrained.” Cameron called it “Slightly matronly but a great performance.” Andrew praised Jodie saying it was “really on the button.”
DUET No 2
It was duet time with a bit more rivalry highlighted. The song was “Buenos Aires” from Evita and the singers were Rachel and Jessie. Good vocals by both of them but Jessie’s awkward moves are beginning to look so clumsy now that it completely detracts from her singing voice. Rachel is clearly on a roll and is much more showy than ever before.
SING-OFF PREDICTION
In terms of the sing-off. Samantha and Jessie need to be in the bottom two based on the performances. But I think the two who will end up there will be Rachel and Jessie. Hopefully, the Lord will send Jessie home but you never quite know how his mind is going to work.
Tune in tonight to find out! The excitement that this show has lacked is clearly in place now!
May 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I was disappointed with Rachel’s performance. It was too aggressive, shouty and at times frightening.
Jodie’s performance blew me away and made me cry. Was Denise really crying? I couldn’t tell from iPlayer.
During the opening sequence (Food Glorious food) Samantha looked out of place. She is too much of a modern pop star rather than an actress playing a period role.
I find Barry more and more revolting and ALW reminds me of a blob of Phlegm.
May 25th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Rachel and Sam will be in the sing off and ALW will save Sam because he just doesn’t like Rachel. I have no idea what his agenda is but it feels to me as if he is not choosing objectively. I still think Jessie will win. I don’t like her myself though.
I think, if the cast are as spoilers have indicated, this will be a very odd production anyhow. With Mr. Bean {sorry, but I have never seen him do anything else} as Fagin, Burn Gorman {a great actor but rather short and skinny} as Sykes, one Welsh Oliver and a tall, Irish Nancy who can’t dance, it will be interesting but on the strange side.
Concerning Jessie, we had a friend from Germany over and she wanted to see some back episodes. We sat and watched a whole lot of them all at once. While watching I was astonished to notice that Jessie appears to have learned nothing at all since she was first chosen as one of the 12. She is still doing the same old arm and hand gestures and still can’t move on stage in any professional manner. I don’t like her attitude either. She seems to me to be rather rude. However, I was raised very strictly. Anyhow, I think there is no chance whatever of Jessie being sent home. She is going to win, even if a fix has to be done.
As for Barry—-Er ist abstoßend.
As for Cameron Mac. I was very disappointed in him. I didn’t think he added much to the proceedings.
May 25th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I think Samantha should go out tonight. She may be good, but she is definitely not right for this role. As much as I like Jessie, I think her time will short come to an end. ALW will keep tabs on her and train her to be in his next show. Rachel was the best tonight, but overall I don’t think she is the lovable Nancy; Jodie really fills that box!
JODIE TO WIN!!!
May 25th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
[…] For another view on last night’s show, check out the What’s on Stage blog here Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Absolutely Positively Wellington OpenRoland Garros […]
May 25th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Guys
Just watching the Sunday evening show as I type so I don’t know who will go through but I just wanted to say how much I think there’s some real quality here now, I’ve got my favourites of course but even in the girls that I would not vote for I can see some real quality and real determination. They all talk about giving it everything and they all really want it. So good on them. I hope there’s a career in musical theatre for all of them if they want it.
May 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Here’s my take on Saturday and Sunday night-
Rachel-Shouty and OTT performance of cabaret and could not believe Denise was ’shaking from excitement’-who knows what the hell she was watching-it was OK-not anything special or extraordinary. She deserved her place in the bottom 2.
Jessie-I have to agree with DVO on this one-it was extremely aggressive in places and vocally it was just OK. The hand movements, the posture, the accent, the awkwardness are all becomin extremely irritating and tonight John and DVO were right-she isn’t Nancy.
Samantha-What a terrible song for her, very un-Nancy like and her performance of it was poor. It’s a shame as she is the most talented there but she was always destined for the bottom two-to the displeasure of Andrew and Cameron/
Jodie-Bland, bland, bland. I was sooo bored by her performance! She looked devestated when Cameron said she was the weakest and not Nancy…But it seems as though this year the panel and ALW ain’t gonna get what they want…..
As for the Olivers-Gwion was the right selection, but Chester should have got it-really couldn’t care about the third one.
May 25th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Rachel-The prformance of the series. Totally incredible. She fully deserved the comments she got. She put her all into that and it was amazing.
In the acting performance again she left the rest of them way behind. She is a greasinger & a great actress
Jessie- Has real problems. When she is good she is very good but that not often. She seems incapable of taking direction. The same comment have ben made to her week in and week out yet sh has fixed none of them. If she cannot take direction and fix minor things can she do the role at all when her acting is poor , her movements are poor and her singing eratic.
Another concern I would have is as she keps repeating from a small town in Ireland. Could she really understand city life and get into that role. I also at time have difficulty understanding her and have to really concentrate to do so.
Samantha- She has probably improved the most. The major concern with her is the acting other then that she is very good
Jodie- Is an ok singer but not great she can belt big numbers out but is not so good with others. Has similar acting and posture problems to Jesse but not as bad. Biggest problem with Jodie is she cannot really act. I found her of putting with her strong northern accent. With the acting tonight she was easilly the worst. Jesse actually turned in for her a reasonable performance
Still with Rachel now out it gives them a big problem. Th only one I think could reasonably do the roll of Nancy is Sam. Jodie & Jesse would really struggle. I still remember Jodies attempt with the bottle stunt it was comical.
I suspect they may end up with Jodie
May 25th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Shocked that Samantha was saved. Public opinion should count at this stage. Thought Rachael as really turned a corner now and can only get better. Am worried that whole show will be rigged towards Samantha winning next week which will be so disappointing. She is the least sincere and the least suitable to play a gritty Nancy. How can Cameron M say Jodie is not gritty??!! Hope Jodie wins, she’s just fab. ps. think Rowan Atkinson will be a fantastic Fagin - he’s extremely versatile, just think of Blackadder.
May 25th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Have to agree with Lauren that, although I would not vote for Jodie, saying she is not gritty is like saying Everest is not a mountain. Keep the guy back of house in future I think…
May 26th, 2008 at 6:10 am
They really only have one potential canidate in the form of Sam. She is perhaps not ideal but is by far the best of the remaining three. Jodie and Jesse are both very high risk both have lots of problems on the movement and acting side. Jesse is probably the weakest and also seem incapable of improving. She is the only one that has shown no sign of improvement over the series
May 26th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Extraordinary that Rachel has gone, she put in by far the best performance at the sing off, but it’s not about that is it? Once ALW has stopped drooling over the teenager he may realise what he has done. Sam is lovely and all, but she cannot act and is 17. She will never last the course and has opportunities for endless other stuff, probably with him, poor girl. Rachel is ready now, can act and shows every sign of delivering. Do these people learn nothing from their previous mistakes……..how long did Connie last? I have enjoyed this show, but what with the great british public voting for whoever is the underdog and ALW voting with his pants…….there really is no hope for the real talent…………
May 26th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I was amazed that Rachel and Sam were in the sing off. Who will benefit from Rachel’s votes? ALW obviously feels that he and he alone should have the final say. Evidence for this is last night’s minor sulk and a previous episode where he threw his toys out of the pram.
Jessie aand Jodie are popular with the the voting public but probably not with the panel who would seem to support Sam. I think there will be major support for Sam from the panel next week in order to sway the voting public. This may backfire leading to perm any one from three.
None of the three finalists are ideal but my preference goes to Jodie. However any of the girls would be able to perform the role and develop into it.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I was just reading the comments people had left about this weeks shows, and i thought i’d add my opinion.
All the people i know, and myself, are backing Sam. I think she could offer something new and fresh to the role. Who said that Nancy couldn’t be 17/18 ish? Jodie for me is maybe the stereotypical nancy, and if she won i wouldn’t be too fussed!
However, if Jessie wins it will be a disaster. She can’t act, her singing bores me……she should have gone last week instead of Rachel who was fab!
And regarding Olivers…well, i think Harry and Lawrence are fine, but gwion just isn’t right. I though chester should have got it, or Johnny. But i’m sure the three that were picked will be great, as CM probably knows what he wants for the part and has seen the olivers act and sing etc more than we do in the shows.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
On these comments a majority of people are backing Rachel and saying she shouldn’t have gone, whilst criticising Jessie-which is strange considering Rachel was frequently in the bottom two, whereas Jessie has been saved every week-so who the hell is actually voting for awkard, terrible Jessie???
May 30th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Jodie is by far the best and has been since the beginning of the competition - there is not one moment where I have doubted her ability to perform as Nancy. Sam is too young, and Jessie is just…awful. I’ve never liked her, but my friend who watches it with me wants her to win, so there’s one vote for her, I just don’t see why!
Rachel deserved to go, I find it highly unfair that two girls who had performed already in the West End managed to get through to the final, it’s utterly ridiculous and not what the competition is about - it is about finding talent in your average person, not the trained performer, who everyone knows is good anyway. She’s good, definitely, but she can get other jobs easily.
At this stage I find it doesn’t matter who wins, as they will get jobs anyway, just as in the two previous competitions - some even got better jobs than the winners.
And Gwion not being right! Gwion is brilliant! He’s just so cute! I would love to go see a show with Jodie, Gwion and can’t believe Rowan Atkinson will be Fagin!
My boyfriend is rooting for Sam to win as then he says he’ll take me to see it - typical. If she loses I have to go with someone else…