WEST END UNPLUGGED EPISODE 3****

 

By Emma

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S4bpL2fPrw&t=9s

Available until: Unknown

I think this is such a lovely way of celebrating the West End and showing certain people everything we’re missing. Anthony van Laast (the presenter) doesn’t just talk about the performers, he talks about everyone backstage and the way that so many people are struggling because their jobs are being taken away. They could go out and get another job and some of them have but it’s not that simple because lots of people have been let go from their jobs and they aren’t being replaced so where are they supposed to get a job?

David Bedella was the first guest, he sang Sweet Transvestite from The Rocky Horror Show. He sang very nicely but I was sad he wasn’t in costume. I think all the singers should dress up as their characters because costumes are important to the West End too. But he put lots of character into it. He was in & Juliet when the pandemic happened. He had a slightly different story from a lot of performers, they’d already had to make changes to the show so they knew things weren’t good. David is very funny and he’s very proud of his DIY and he should be. I’m not sure I know any men who can put up a shelf. Women yes but not men. He also sang a re-lyricked (sp?) version of Don’t Worry ’Bout Me.

West End Unplugged is usually happy but some of this one was really sad. Hannah Waddingham talked about the bad times for herself and her friends but she’s so funny. I’m sure she’s lovely at the stage door. She sang At Last and she has a really big powerful voice and she sings it with lots of emotion. And I don’t think even Imogen could object to her lovely brown dress. Except Imogen is a teen so she is quite experienced at finding reasons to object to things.

Hannah also sang Do I Love You, Do I? by Cole Porter which was really romantic. I can see why she’s had such a big and varied career.

Floor manager Sarah Seymour was interviewed, she liked getting to sit down for once. She said one in three people didn’t qualify for the Government scheme for freelancers. It’s awful but I think that the number of disabled people who didn’t qualify for PIP was two in three so it’s not a new thing for Government to withhold money from people who need it. It has been a problem for years. At the moment, Sarah’s delivering parcels for Hermes. It’s sad but I know a lot of people who are ordering more parcels like as a replacement for theatre so she’s still doing work which theatre fans really appreciate. It’s not the same though.

Joe Stilgoe did a funny song about The Emperor’s New Clothes only it was called The King’s New Clothes and made a dig at Donald Trump so I’d have loved that even if he hadn’t sung, spoken and acted the song so brilliantly. But he did so it was even better. But I am a bit shocked, I’m sure they do picture books of The Emperor’s New Clothes and that seems a bit wrong now I’m a mum! Obviously they wouldn’t show anything but mine would ask such awkward questions!

Joe also sang There’s Me by his dad Richard Stilgoe. It was written for Starlight Express but it was cut. Maybe it was just too good for Starlight Express. I saw it and I didn’t think it was very good. It just seemed to be about trains having races. I wanted to see people falling in love. Joe takes after his dad, he also played a song called Seaside which he wrote himself. I thought it was good but I hope it doesn’t encourage more people to go to the seaside. Not that they’d want to in this sort of weather.

It was a good concert but I wish they’d had a few more younger singers. It’s important to show the West End is (or was) a thriving workplace for all ages. And it would also be nice to hear a few more songs from the West End so we can hear what we’re missing instead of songs we wouldn’t have heard even if the West End had been open. But I’m being really fussy now!

Concert 4 is up too but we’re a bit behind with reviewing because we’ve got this big timetable and we’re not doing it till next week.