I Dreamed a Dream
Alan McHugh & Elaine C Smith
I Dreamed a Dream
The musical follows Susan Boyle’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global icon and features signature songs from her multi-platinum selling albums.
3.9 out of 5 based on 6 reviews
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Omniscore:
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| Location |
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne |
| Venue |
Theatre Royal |
| Director |
Ed Curtis |
| Cast |
Andy Gray, Ashleigh Gray, Karen Mann, James Paterson Elaine C Smith |
| From |
March 2012 |
| Until |
March 2012 |
| Box Office |
08448 11 21 21 |
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The musical follows Susan Boyle’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global icon and features signature songs from her multi-platinum selling albums.
Touring from April 1 until June 23
Reviews
The Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish
“Using pop songs and hymns too in a reverie of changing moods and moments, the show illustrates that it’s not originality as such that counts as the ability to invest whatever song speaks to you with heartfelt emotion of your own. Songs liberate what cannot be said ... the overall shape of the show is hard to fault, and in matching the gutsy good humour of its heroine without stooping to hagiography, this is a delight that deserves to go far, and fast, as she has done.”
28/03/2012
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The Times
Libby Purves
“Smith catches, uncannily, the jokey wiggle, the simple-hearted physical solidity, frissons of fear and temper. Her voice doesn’t have the rounded tonal beauty of the original, but the other singers sing in a deliberately ordinary way for contrast. Only James Paterson as her father gives an operatic thrill — until the moment after the curtain call when the real Susan Boyle comes on and sings. Which felt immense, now that we know her better. She promises to do it most nights. Maybe.”
27/03/2012
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The Observer
Susannah Clapp
“Smith helps to turn what could have been simply karaoke into something more. Her voice is powerful though less honeyed than her subject's; she captures Boyle's waddle and twinkle, as well as her lurch between the lack of words and overspilling garrulousness. When you see Smith bundled up in a towelling dressing gown, tucking into biscuits in front of the telly, you feel you are seeing Boyle. ”
01/04/2012
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The Sunday Times
Lisa Verrico
“ Smith doesn’t sing like Boyle, but boy, does she look like her. When the pair hug and high-five at the show’s close, it’s like seeing double. That Boyle appears every night sums up the anti-star quality that her fans love her for, and that this new show captures from start to finish”
08/04/2012
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The Stage
Mark Shenton
“we have a respectful, perhaps over-reverential, rehearsing of those key facts, wrapped up in an amiable jukebox of popular period hits that makes it sometimes feel like a real-life Dreamboats and Petticoats. In an age of biographical musicals ... here’s another to add to the collection, although Boyle hasn’t quite created or even just put her stamp on enough songs herself to make a show entirely reflect her career.”
28/03/2012
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The Guardian
Alfred Hickling
“The show has been conceived and co-written by Elaine C Smith ... who previously parodied Boyle in pantomime; while co-writer Alan McHugh's list of credits includes seven Aladdins and eight Cinderellas, which indicates good working knowledge of fairytales.”
28/03/2012
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