I don’t know about you besties but I was certainly hyped up for day two of the virtual West End Live highlights after yesterday’s offering. 

One hour may not be long enough but it’s certainly a satisfying morsel. The event as a whole does wonders each year for marketing the shows and has definitely convinced me to book up for musicals that have been sitting on my back burner for far too long. 

Today’s performances come from Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Strictly Ballroom, Only Fools and Horses, Kinky Boots, The Phantom of the Opera, Matilda, The Barricade Boys, Mamma Mia, School of Rock, Dreamgirls and Waitress.

‘Proud Mary’ from Tina brings high energy from the outset, performed by Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and backed by the spirited female ensemble. Talking of spirit, the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Kinky Boots have this in abundance with Layton Williams from the former really bringing the sass in ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’. 

Strictly Ballroom‘s set comes alive with the classic ‘Love Is In The Air’, diverting us from Will Young’s exciting one-piece costume. I’ve always thought Zizi Strallen was far too beautiful to be cast as ugly ducking Fran, but let’s face it, she can do anything she turns her hand to. I look forward to enjoying the campness of this show on its UK tour next year. 

‘Tis the day for the child performer today with superb performances from Matilda and School of Rock. I suppose in the latter there is safety in numbers but Matilda‘s Sarah Munday commands the stage single handedly and with ease. How these children have the talent and confidence they possess at such a young age is beyond me!

Soloists SLAYING the stage are Lucie Jones performing ‘She Used To Be Mine’ from Waitress (with audience backing vocals) and Marisha Wallace as Effie in Dreamgirls, putting her absolute all into ‘And I Am Telling You’.

The long runners are represented by Phantom and Mamma Mia, both opposite ends of musical theatre spectrum but representing the longevity of our genre. Like Wicked yesterday, a lovely montage of Phantom has been edited together showing a number of Phantom’s and Christine’s performing the title number. Mamma Mia never fails to get people up dancing and brings the joy with ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Waterloo’. 

I don’t think I’m quite ready for this stagey weekend to be over yet but it’s reignited a fire within me and so many others to get back to the theatre as soon as it is safe to do so.

Remember part two of the highlights remains on the West End Live Facebook page until 2pm tomorrow (Monday 22 June). Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!