Whiskey-A-Rainbow, November 7, 2012

Week 8

by Stuart Munro

Dear friends. This is it. The week we’ve all been waiting for. The week where we find out who will be headlining Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Mirvish’s new production of The Wizard of Oz. With only three girls left, there’s a 66% chance that someone I adore will win the coveted spot, but will Canada agree with me? Let’s find out!

(As a side note, I just have to say how much I’m going to miss this Monday night ritual. It’s been the perfect wind down from a long first day of the week. In a way, I’m glad my Monday night classes for the next two weeks have been cancelled . . . I won’t have a reason to  want to come home and drink!)

But on to more serious matters . . .

This week, AJ, Danielle, and Stephanie sing to the death for their chance to play Dorothy. Daryn Jones reintroduced us to Lord Lloyd Webber (calling him Andy . . . the lord looked mad) before the girls went into a medley of songs from Oz (accompanied by a troupe of Ozian-clad back-up dancers). ALW then announced it was the American public that would be choosing Dorothy this week, which received a (well deserved) round of boos from the audience. Man...At least he seemed to think all three girls were up to the challenge of playing the role.

I believed every word of it.

The girls would be singing big ballads by ALW himself this week, and AJ was up first with “Memory” from Cats. ALW explained how difficult the song would be for such a young girl to sing. She sounded a bit under supported on the first few notes, but quickly recovered. Despite her youth (AJ is only 18), she really managed to connect with the text about being a faded star. I believed every word of it. She kept it sweet and simple for much of the song and finally proved to me that she didn’t have to belt to seem comfortable. Of course, when the time came to belt at the end of the song, she knocked it out of the park, but managed to pull it back and keep it really honest. Brava girl. All four judges leapt to their feet at the end (which is a first). Louise said that AJ “talked to us,” and called her the truest with the widest range of emotion. Thom applauded how she takes every note she’s given to heart, and how any show would be lucky to have her. AJ looked genuinely stunned! Both Arlene and ALW wanted to run up and hug her.

Danielle was next and had to sing what may be my favourite ALW tune of all time, “As if we never said goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard – another song about a faded star. Like AJ before her, Danielle started the song very simply without a lot of unnecessary work. She just told the story of the song as honestly as she knew how (which was pretty darn honest). The longing and pain in her eyes was palpable, even through the camera and CBC’s less than stellar web streaming. The only criticism I had is that she, once again, seemed a tad uncomfortable in her heels, an issue from earlier in the competition. But whatever. The girl owned the song, though she only got an instant standing ovation from ALW and Arlene. Louise predicted a bright career for Danielle, and Thom said she was a winner.

for the first time, I saw a bit of life in her eyes!

Stephanie came next with “I believe my heart” (another song for a slightly older person, though at least not about a faded star this time!) from The Woman in White. As ALW explained, audiences may have a harder time connecting with this one since The Woman in White never found its way to Canada. It is, nonetheless, a beautiful tune. Stephanie sounded a bit unsure on her first few notes, but for the first time, I saw a bit of life in her eyes! It was probably Stephanie’s strongest performance so far in the competition (for me at least), but it was vocally and emotionally weaker than the two that had come before it that evening. Louise called it “effortless,” and Thom just loved how she “cannot be a faker.” Arlene called her a fairy-tale princess and that she has everything Dorothy should have, and ALW pulled out his notes from Barbados (remember episode 1?) where he wrote that Stephanie would “blossom and blossom.” They all seem to like her best, and I want to know what it is they’re seeing and hearing that I’m not at home.

After Lindsay was crowned Canada’s honourary Toto (I was hoping for Daniel), AJ, Danielle and Stephanie sang one of the new tunes from The Wizard of Oz, “Already home” (which isn’t a great song). I have to say, Stephanie probably looks and sounds the part the best, but I honestly don’t believe she could keep my interest for the two plus hours that the show will require. AJ is probably the best all around performer of the trio, but I fear she might sound a little too mature for the role. The same might be said for Danielle, but of all three girls, she seems the best capable of adapting to the requirements of the part. And that’s why I’d like to see Danielle win. ALW explained that the song is actually sung by Glinda and then, somewhat inappropriately, commented that his teenage boys would be very happy if any of the three girls turned up at his house (what?) to which Daryn responded “Those boys are rich, you should do it.”

Awkward ending aside, this was a great a finale to an exciting season. ALW said he would be thrilled to have any of the girls in any production of his around the world. Kind as that is, only one girl gets to be Dorothy here in Toronto.

The final elimination episode began with ALW on piano and our three girls singing the Queen’s official diamond jubilee song (which I didn’t know she had until tonight), “Sing.” Backed up by the Bach Children’s Chorus, the girls sounded fantastic, and the audience was clearly into it. Our judges were dressed to the nines for the series finale (Thom was wearing a diamond choker!), and Daryn was looking as sharp and handsome as always . . . I’m gonna miss seeing his face every week.

She may not be Dorothy, but AJ has a stage presence that will take her very far in this business.

AJ was the first of the three girls to find out she will not be playing Dorothy, which was met by a round of “Awww” from the audience. Showing some real class, AJ urged everyone to come see the show regardless, because either of the two girls remaining will be amazing. She may not be Dorothy, but AJ has a stage presence that will take her very far in this business.

Danielle and Stephanie both sang their most popular songs from the competition, beginning with Danielle and “Big spender,” the song that convinced me she had what it would take to win this thing. Stephanie sang “Buenos Ares” and, again, just didn’t seem to connect at all – her eyes were almost completely dead. Still, the audience loved her.

But at the end of the day, Canada loved Danielle just a little bit more. Canada and I agreed! (Finally!) ALW said he could listen to her sing all night and that he couldn’t wait to start working with her, before Danielle closed the show with her own rendition of “Over the rainbow.” Obviously full of emotion, she sounded amazing, even as she was forced to float up in a basket attached to a comical number of balloons.

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. She may not have been my first choice at the beginning of the series, but Danielle grew and matured I think more than anyone in the competition. And more than anyone else, she adapted to each song, giving us a slightly different side of herself as each song demanded. This is the kind of versatility needed for anyone hoping to make a career in theatre, and I can’t wait to see Danielle (who will have already started into rehearsals by the time this will be posted) on stage in the new year!

Friends, thanks for coming along with me on this journey over the last eight weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again in January on opening night!