Hall for Cornwall: The Bodyguard

While this show is no longer on at the Hall for Cornwall, it continues to tour the UK and I would definitely recommend it.  Basically, if you like the film, you will like this show.

It's a well known story with the Bodyguard film first released in 1992.  I think the age of the film meant that it mostly appealed to the age group who remembered it's release.  It would still appeal to younger people though, as long as they liked Whitney Houston's music.

The music was absolutely key to the show and it was great to see even more Whitney tracks in the musical than in the film.  The musical also has a longer run time, so the songs were also given more time.  Sidonie Smith was great as Rachel and she has an amazing voice, as does Sasha Monique as Nicki.  We all know that Whitney is not easy to sing!  Adam Garcia as Frank Farmer demonstrated this very well in the karaoke scene...

Adam is a great actor and it was lovely to see such a big name in the production.  Personally I would loved to see him dancing, but that just isn't really his part in this!  Maybe I will get to see him in something else where he dances.

I do have one gripe with regards to Adam, but it's the audience I want to complain about, just a tiny bit.  There was one scene where we get to see a partially dressed Adam.  He was not doing anything sexy, he was being pretty passive, and yet, quite a few of the audience felt the urge to wolf whistle him.  I get it, I mean, he is definitely an attractive man, but really?  It's no longer acceptable for men to wolf whistle women, so why on earth do some women think it's Ok to do this to a man?  I just find it a little uncomfortable, that's all.  It's a personal gripe.  I used to work in a small team with a very attractive man and I got to witness up close the way in which he was harassed.  I think it's easy to underestimate the impact this sort of thing has on individuals and their relationships.

The dancing and production were also great.  Plenty of great lighting and pyrotechnics.  The sets were well thought out and the theatre was well used.  The mobile elements of the set were great and seamlessly slid in and out.  There was even an on stage dress change for Rachel.

For me though, there was someone who absolutely stole the show!

And no, it wasn't the delightful Fletcher, Rachel's son, although it could have been...

The Stalker...

James-Lee Harris without dancing or singing...  or even really speaking (I am not sure if he did say anything, if he did, it was very very little....) was just such a huge presence.  He made the audience jump more than once, and yes I know that production absolutely played a part in that.  It was all very cleverly done.  There were no chinks in his persona.  He was absolutely believable in his focused menace and danger.  His physicality was intimidating and opposing.  

What I found really interesting was how he switched it all off for the curtain call.   It was clear he can sing and dance and not just act as phenomenal baddie.  I do hope this great actor receives more recognition and has a thriving career.

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