LA NUIT DES NUITS

TT Here. Well it's been and gone.  We are sitting in our little apartment with nary a sound except the clacking of computer keys (Sheldy's emailing his Mum) and the spectral thump thump of the aftershow party still ringing in our ears. We had to leave cos Sheldon started to scream at people over the music and was losing his voice.

 The major Toronto review is already on line and is an unqualified rave.  There is one other niggly one but if word of mouth is anything the show will sell like hot petits fours.

I am not going to tell you what I thought of the show except that my face is scalded with tear acid and I had a major melt down on my gorgeous date who you will see in the pics. So here follows a visual impression of tonights splendid evening.

This is the media bus which was parked outside the thartar. Because it was raining they had to cancel the pink carpet.

The invitation said to come fabulous.Well this lady certainly complied

Here is the gorgeous Lisa Stevens, actor, dancer (Chicago amongst loads) choreographer (with Jeff Calhoun on High School Musical 2 and the latest 9 to 5) and thoroughly the nicest date one could wish for.

The clothes are off the bed and on the bod

Sneaky pic from the fifth row just before the mirror ball snow storm which had them all screaming.

Imagine the show in between

LA GRANDE FINALE

Here come the Antoinettes. By now with five minute to go the audience in true North American style was on its feet. I thought 'Fuck it. I'm snapping'

That's the Leaning Tower of Pisa they are trying to make up there. There was a small glitch in the evening when a drag queen's knickers got caught in the treadmill but C David Johnson ( bearded kanga)  handled the situation with superb aplomb. The curtain was lowered and within seconds they picked up where all had clanged and the audience couldn't have cared less.

The three musketeers in delighted triumph

That's me fella

Kyle, Tad, C. David & Nathan

Is that pure unadulterated joy or what?  Nathan Lee Graham and Jacquie B Arnold.

 And here follows a mixed bag of mixed bags all taken from standing and clacking indiscriminately with shaking hands so please forgive the quality and accept them with grace. And to any of the brilliant cast who got left out you may kneecap me when next we meet.

Jessica

Luke

Jeff

Keala & Nathan

Mike

Tad

Gavin

Ashley

Mike & Jessica

Steve

Ashley, J. Elaine & Staci

Kyle, Tad & C. David

(R) Thom

Kyle

Thom

Steve

J. Elaine

Jeff

J. Elaine

THE AFTERMATH

This is all I saw as Lisa led me sobbing into the foyer. This is only the seventh time I've seen this show in all its continents. and I won't see it again now til New York. That way it always comes over as fresh and surprising. They really all were fucking brilliant.  Matt and Nick and C David just blew me away. Sheldon was quite good.

The Torontonians milling after. The lady in the wheelchair looked fab in the thartar with feathers galore. Sheldon thinks it was Mrs Mirvish.

Gift shop not doing much biz cos all the punters were given everything for zilch.

Clifford, our chauffeur, drives us to the party

Ms Stevens a study in elegance

The welcoming ladies. A study in decadence

The brilliant Simon Phillips and Caroline, his most loving right arm on the left

Sheldon and company face the pippiruzzi

Mr Nick Adams

Mr (gulp) Will Swenson

The principals

Mr C David Johnson

Lisa and Sheldon

Lisa and Thom Allison. Ms S choreographed a production of Spelling Bee with Mr A and adores him!

Ms Jacqueline B Arnold

Mr Tad Wilson with Emily

 Ms Audra McDonald, the first of the stars to be seen. Surprisingly Ms Midler who is supposed to have hands on involvement was not in evidence, The cast is wondering if they will ever meet her or get a card or a nod.

The sumptuous interior of the Westin ballroom. No expense was spared. All the drag queens of Toronto were rounded up, swathed in pink and red and made to kneel down as chairs.

The central bar

There were five separate food stations all serving different delicacies

I was just taking a photograph of a group of ladies when one of them succumbed to a sushi attack

This is Woody, who looks after Sheldon and whips his frocks on and off.

The second of the celebs we spotted. Mr Bruce Vilanch, who seemed to be having a good time.

 

And two of our favourite people Colin and Justin. They make the most wonderful series of makeover shows of people's homes. Their finest achievement is the Scottish housing estate which, against all odds, they helped transform from a spiritless almost hopeless ruin into a vibrant caring community. Justin asked Sheldon if he had anything to do with the show and was shocked at his not recognising him as Bernadette. We were secretly thrilled!

THUMP THUMP THUMP

And Ms J Elaine Marcos. You could mistake her for the dessert table

THUMP THUMP THUMP   WHAT DID YOU SAY? OH, RIGHT, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE

We wait for Clifford to bring the car round

And trusty Clifford drops us home. We take the lift up and open a can of Wolfgang Puck.

This is where you came in.  Night, DAHLINGS!