Music Tour 2005

Michael arrived at about 4:40pm - we'd all been waiting there some time (David and I since 3pm - I wasn't going to miss Michael!). The bus pulled up to the door, and suddenly there he was, smiling and cheerfully calling out "Hello" to everyone.

He stopped to sign some items and pose for some photos. Some ladies from Australia had brought him a Brisbane baseball cap (Bev and Kim), together with a little toy koala bear. Michael immediately put on the cap. He was then asked to pose for a photo by another lady, and he said, "Do you want me with the hat on or off" (What a question!!).

He then spotted another lady carrying a lovely little baby girl, who was crying. He called out, "Oh bless her!", and leaned over to the little one, stroking her cheek with his finger, saying soothingly, "There's no need for tears....there's no need for tears." He then stroked the back of her head - he was lovely with her (he so loves kids! - David took a photo of him with her).

Thinking that I wasn't going to have a hope of getting near him at the Hammersmith stage door, I took an early birthday present for Michael to Oxford with me. I stood right at the back of the crowd, and caught him just by the door - just handed the bag to him, saying what it was. He took it, saying thank you, then looked at me saying, "Hello Lovely, how are you?" - seems he's beginning to recognise my mug! I told him I was ok, and asked him if he was too - he said that he was. (Actually David made the comment afterwards that he thought Michael looked a bit tired - which wouldn't be surprising, would it?).

After saying hello to someone else, he went inside, saying "See you all later!". Before we left the crowd, however, we came across Annie - the last time we were in Oxford, she had kindly posed for a photo with David, but it hadn't come out very well - so we asked her for another, and she kindly agreed - she's very sweet and friendly .We all went off to freshen up / find

something to eat, eagerly anticipating the evening ahead.

Finally the time came to go into the theatre and we made our way to our seats - this was the first time that I have managed to get front row seats, so I was especially excited!

At 8pm, the support act, the violinist Lucia Micarelli, came onto the stage. She is certainly very talented, with a very likeable personality, and deserved the applause she received. When she left the stage, we were told that Michael would be with us after 20 minutes. That seemed like an eternity!

Finally, though, Callum and the band trooped onto the stage, and started playing - then Annie, Dean and Louise appeared, and we knew Michael's appearance was imminent!

There was a big black and white striped backdrop to the stage, and suddenly we heard Michael's lovely voice, and saw his silhouette through a white bit of the backdrop. A few squeals of delight went up! Then the backdrop fell to the floor, and Michael was with us - cue screams! He strode down the steps, full of smiles, singing the Queen hit (whose title escapes me at the moment - sorry!). What a brilliant start to the show!

As we all know, it is tradition to stand up for the first song, to welcome Michael. I was all set to stand up, but noticed that the ladies alongside me, and some others, were a bit reluctant to do so (in fact they didn't stand at all - whether they were newcomers, I don't know - they did stand for party time - or some of it). Conscious that I was at the front, I looked round, then saw the people behind me starting to stand up, so jumped to my feet. It just wouldn't have seemed right, not standing to welcome him!

The show progressed to the photo opportunity bit. Michael said that he fancied a group flash...and received some giggles. He said, "If you have a flash camera - and I don't mean one with a big, posh lens on it - I want you to get it out, and charge it up. "

He said that he knew the theatre had said no photos, but that this one would be ok, then we would have to put the cameras away again, at least until party time.

He gave us all a chance to fetch our cameras out (I have David well trained - he was already prepared!). I must remember to clear the messages before the show at Hammersmith! David got his photo in - Michael was pulling a funny face on Tuesday, and after the traditional pose, then put on a macho pose too.

Once the photo was done, he asked us to put our cameras away until later, then continued talking. There were still some flashbulbs going off, so Michael paused mid-sentence and good-naturedly, but firmly said, "Put them away, girls!!

Michael at one point gave us an insight into how he feels before a show. I can't remember his exact words, but the gist of it was "I'm sitting in the dressing room before the show...then it starts...the distant rumble - you lot!" (He smiled at us) - "And I think, 'Here we go!' Then the band strikes up the overture, and it's like this knot of tension building up (he gestured, putting his fist against his stomach) - it only goes when you step out on stage, and things start to settle down." - Oh, bless him!!

We came to a bit of the show that I had been really looking forward to - Woman in White. Michael gave us a bit of background to it (again, I can't remember all Michael's exact words): " It was February when they rang me - I was walking on the beach with Freddie, the dog - he's here, backstage, actually" (lots of 'Aaahh's from the audience!), ".....howling. He can hear Daddy singing!" (Giggles from us). "They asked me to help out, because an important member of the cast had been taken ill. 'Ah, I said, you want me to play the young, handsome, romantic hero, Walter!' They said 'No, we don't want you play him.' 'Oh, I said - you want me to play the evil, smooth, sophisticated Sir Percival Glide - I can do that - Ding, Dong....He-llo!!?' "(We all giggled - Michael made

himself sound like the perfect letch!) "They said, 'No, we don't want you to play him either'. You are going to have to forgive my language here, because it's what they said to me... 'We want you to play the evil, fat bastard.' In fact they said, 'The middle aged, evil, fat bastard' - can you imagine how I felt?!!" (We all giggled!).

Michael said that he had jumped at the chance to play Count Fosco, and had loved doing it. He was standing at the side of the stage, and pulled out a life-size cardboard cut-out photo of himself as Fosco, and received enthusiastic applause for it! The spotlight lingered on the cut-out, and Michael called out jokingly, "Oi! Keep the lights on the good-looking one!" He then went on to say how Walter had had some of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's most beautiful, romantic songs to sing, and how he (Michael) had become "Bitter and twisted" because he hadn't been allowed to sing them. He said that he was about to make up for it.

Michael then sang three songs from Woman in White - including "I believe my heart" - I had longed to hear Michael singing this song, and was not disappointed - the combination of Michael's lovely voice and this beautiful song was just breathtaking!

He then turned himself (obviously not with the fat suit or makeup) into Count Fosco - reproducing the wonderfully funny mannerisms, and Italian accent. He tottered across the stage, waving his hands about, saying as he did so, "He's a bit camp, as well!" We were all laughing - it was great to see him being Fosco again! He proceeded to sing, "You can get away with anything" - much to the delight of us all! Towards the end, he paused, and announced the arrival of his co-star - to anyone who is not on the forum, it must have sounded as though Maria Friedman, or similar, was about to appear....but instead we saw Annie walk onto the stage, carrying a large glass box, with Missy inside! We all applauded, and Michael took her out of the box, and continued with the song, encouraging Missy to run up and down his arms and across his shoulders - she obliged, pausing to walk around his

neck - Michael made those in the audience who are not so keen on rats, cringe when he went nose to nose with her, making as if to kiss her! (I actually think she's really cute!). Bless her, her foot kept slipping off his hand, too...

At one point, Michael paused, looking at us mischievously, and saying in his Italian accent, "Do you want to play with my Furry Precious?" - causing us all to burst out laughing (I'm sure I don't need to say why!). Michael in turn got a really bad attack of the giggles - he doubled up, turned his back, trying to stop - turned back to us, started giggling again (we were all in fits of laughter, just loving it!) - waved his hand at us as if to say "For goodness' sake, stop!", doubled up, turned his back again to regain his composure, before turning to face us again, and continuing with the song. Great fun - I was rocking in my seat with laughter!

To add to the mirth, Missy decided, in the middle of all this, to swish her tail round and round in circles - she couldn't have timed it better, and looked so funny....Michael's face, watching her, was an absolute picture!

After Missy had left the stage, Michael hinted at some jealousy between Freddie and Missy..."There's Freddie going 'Grrr', and Missy going (he made a smug face), 'I'm in the dressing room' "!

Not long after this, Lucia was called back onto the stage during the song "Music", to play the instrumental part in the middle, which enabled Michael to go and change from his jeans, black shirt and jacket, into a dark grey suit (I think - difficult to tell in the lights!) and pink shirt.

During the second half, Michael said to us, "Are you in a generous mood?" We answered that we were, and Michael continued talking, hinting about the Welsh rugby team (didn't they win the Grand Slam or something a short while ago?). While he was

speaking (it was all done very tongue-in-cheek) the backdrop was suddenly transformed to show the Welsh flag several times, side by side - Michael pretended to be surprised when it appeared!! This caused some amusement, as Michael put his hand on his heart, being all patriotic, and the band broke into "Bread of Heaven" - the Welsh rugby team's theme song! I always enjoy this song - Michael sings it beautifully. (He is still mischievous with his movements when it comes to the "Oosa, oosa" bit of the chorus though).

We came to party time, and Michael was enjoying himself! After all the wonderful new songs, it was also nice to hear some old favourites - "Help Yourself" (with all the usual mannerisms!), "One Step out of Time", and "Love Changes Everything".

All too soon it was over, and Michael left the stage, after a final encore, to rapturous applause.

How he has managed to to put together (I won't say throw together, as that doesn't do it justice) such a fantastic show in such a short space of time, I cannot imagine - it is testament to his professionalism and determination to give 110% - so much new material, so many wonderful songs. His voice just seems to get better and better - how I wish this show could be recorded, for later release on DVD!!

Thanks Michael - you were brilliant!!!