Everybody's Talking About Jamie (Ahmanson Theatre - LA)

[Dan6]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 1:25am

What a treat tonight to be at the Ahmanson for the first North American performance of "Everybody's Talking About Jamie."  As someone who was fairly lukewarm about the movie version, I didn't expect a whole lot, but it was an extremely entertaining and heartwarming show.  The Sheffield accents take some getting used to, and there were a few sound and projection glitches (the sound system at the Ahmanson is notoriously bad to start with, and the over-miked ensemble resulted in a lot of lost lyrics), but nothing you wouldn't expect from a first preview.

Most of the cast have previously performed their roles in the U.K., and all the performances were strong, but I have to single out Melissa Jacques as Jamie's mom Margaret; her "He's My Boy" in Act Two stopped the show and brought me (and many around me) to tears.  I experienced the same chills I had the first time I saw Jessie Mueller performing "She Used To Be Mine."  Bianca Del Rio/Roy Haylock was a delightful (if times a bit too Martin Short-inspired) Loco Chanelle/Hugo, and Layton Williams was thoroughly believable and touching as Jamie. The ensemble was tight, the choreography was energetic, and overall it was just a very fun night at the theater.

I don't know if there are any plans for this production after LA, but I would not be at all surprised to see it ultimately make its way to Broadway. See it if you can. 

 

Updated On: 1/17/22 at 01:25 AM

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 3:29am

I was there tonight as well. Agree with most of your assessment thought I was cooler on Bianca/Haylock. I thought He’s My Boy will be one of those performances that will actually stay with me forever. It was amazing to see the audience be rapt by her. I think Layton is a star and couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying performance.

wish I could make it back to see it find the technical footing that was just slightly amiss, but I think if audience reaction is any indication, this will have a nice run in LA.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 3:29am

I was there tonight as well. Agree with most of your assessment thought I was cooler on Bianca/Haylock. I thought He’s My Boy will be one of those performances that will actually stay with me forever. It was amazing to see the audience be rapt by her. I think Layton is a star and couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying performance.

wish I could make it back to see it find the technical footing that was just slightly amiss, but I think if audience reaction is any indication, this will have a nice run in LA.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 12:09pm

Have they made any changes to the show based on the film? (ie. including "This Was Me"?)

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 12:51pm

I actually really enjoyed the film version! And I’m seeing this on Thursday so excited to hear the feedback!

[Dan6]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 2:44pm

Tag said: "Have they made any changes to the show based on the film? (ie. including "This Was Me"?)"

I don't know the original so can't comment on any changes, other than some pandemic lines that were clearly added about masks, hand sanitizer, and the 6-foot rule.  But "This Was Me" was not in the show.

I should add to my initial post that another clear standout in the cast was Hiba Elchikhe as Pritti, whose rendition of "It Means Beautiful" was....well, beautiful.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 1/17/22 at 5:33pm

Saw I in London- and am considering going to LA to see it again- I loved it that much. The film was really good, too- but there is nothing like theater. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 2:53am

Just got back from seeing this show and it's a mixed review to me, but, I mean, who couldn't leave that theater with a smile on their face? The performances were all lovely. I thought the show really came alive when we go all the drag queens on stage and Bianca Del Rio in true Bianca Del Rio fashion. 

As have been said "He's My Boy" was a showstopper and she got mid-song applause. Gorgeous. 

Layton is a star and loved his energy and personality. 

Overall the story was a bit interesting to me. Act 2 is ballad after ballad and is super heavy. Of course there's a bully, of course the dad's not in the picture. Just felt like gay movie tropes. But still a solid book with some good zingers. 

I thought the direction was just super sloppy. No nuance. Most of the time the actors are just standing there with no motivation during the songs. I just couldn't help but think of how a more clever director would make this piece just snap to life. 

My other big qualm is it's a show about a boy becoming a drag queen and we never see any drag. They could have easily intercut his performance into "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" at the top of Act 2. Just have him in some parallel world lip syncing and dancing. I was also hoping the finale was going to be more drag and everyone glammed out. I was really waiting for the mom and her friend to have a big drag moment at the end. But eh. Didn't happen. 

Overall enjoyable. I laughed, I cried. I'd imagine this would do well in NYC, but it does feel VERY England, which is maybe why they've hesitated. Even a lot of the songs felt very British pop. But if you're in LA or thinking about going, def go. It's a lovely theater as well. 

[Timon3]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 10:29am

Overall enjoyable. I laughed, I cried. I'd imagine this would do well in NYC, but it does feel VERY England, which is maybe why they've hesitated. Even a lot of the songs felt very British pop. But if you're in LA or thinking about going, def go. It's a lovely theater as well."

Firstly i'm glad you enjoyed Jamie, if it made you smile then that is a very good thing.

Billy Elliot was very English and that did the show no harm.

I always though Jamie would do well to play off-Broadway and assess if it has legs to play Broadway, however they went for a soft opening in Los Angeles instead, which is a tough theatre market, San Francisco would have been a lot easier.

it is no mean feat for a show basically about a drag queen that wants to do prom to sell $750k tickets a week, do you guys thinks that is possible?

 

[Timon3]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 1:08pm

Overall enjoyable. I laughed, I cried. I'd imagine this would do well in NYC, but it does feel VERY England, which is maybe why they've hesitated. Even a lot of the songs felt very British pop. But if you're in LA or thinking about going, def go. It's a lovely theater as well."

Firstly i'm glad you enjoyed Jamie, if it made you smile then that is a very good thing.

Billy Elliot was very English and that did the show no harm.

I always though Jamie would do well to play off-Broadway and assess if it has legs to play Broadway, however they went for a soft opening in Los Angeles instead, which is a tough theatre market, San Francisco would have been a lot easier.

it is no mean feat for a show basically about a drag queen that wants to do prom to sell $750k tickets a week, do you guys thinks that is possible?

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 4:42pm

I think it could do well on Broadway. The producers are smart to put in a very famous drag queen into the show to get people into the theater. And the show is infectious and fun and you leave with a smile. I don't think it's a top tier musical personally - it needs some new direction and design to make it interesting. But they could stunt cast this with Drag Race girls and it would do well, I think. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 7:02pm

Goldstar was running a $22 deal for this, after fees ticket for front mezz on a sunday evening was Just $31 

looking forward to it

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/22/22 at 2:17am

I sat front Mezz and though it was fantastic. Honestly, I was surprised at how "small" the space felt even though it's not. It felt very intimate.

[Dan6]

Posted: 1/22/22 at 10:56pm

EW - Everybody's Talking About Jamie review: The drag musical's U.S. premiere is a glitter-fueled celebration of individuality

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/22/22 at 11:04pm

I'm glad they agree that not having Jamie in drag is just a real miss. Like that's all the audience wants. That's why I felt Act 1 just sorta ends. They need to work that into the show. At least a curtain call moment. I didn't really get the point the show was trying to make? And they kept saying "a boy in a dress is stupid but a drag queen is everything" and then *Spoiler* he goes to prom in just a dress....? Huh?

[Dan6]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 4:26pm

Review: A drag queen is born: ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ arrives at the Ahmanson

Mostly positive from LA TImes: "It’s a pity that “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” an exceptionally sweet-natured show, couldn’t have hit Los Angeles at a more welcoming moment. The genial musical wears its heart on its sleeve, and though it’s formulaic and sentimental, the force of good will coming from the stage is hard to resist."

“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” – A Fizzy, Pop-fueled Delight

Rave from the South Pasadenan, singling out the "exquisite vulnerability" of Melissa Jacques:  "Jacques gives a transcendent performance that, honestly, feels like the heart of the show. Her heart-pounding anthem of motherhood, “He’s My Boy”, in the second act, literally stops the show. Jacques blows the roof off the place and her role of Margaret is the best depiction of motherhood I’ve seen on stage since Rachel Bay Jones in Dear Evan Hansen." 

Updated On: 1/24/22 at 04:26 PM

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 5:53pm

A friend and I who had both seen it in London, saw it in LA. We both felt it played better across the pond.