Blog post

WC January 28

Nipped over to the Mayflower on Monday to meet up with an old friend, Earl Carpenter, who is currently playing the title role in Phantom of the Opera. He has now played the role in 1500 performances. He recorded an interview for JH Meets on Sunday February 3 and also a piece for a feature in this week’s CP Weekender.

Went to the rehearsal rooms of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, on Tuesday to interview another old friend, this time Matthew Kelly. He is opening soon in God of Carnage at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton. He’s such a great guy and being in his company is very exhilarating. We have always hit it off and he gave me a wonderful 30 minute interview. It was also nice to meet up again with Tracey Childs, who many, including me, still fondly remember as Lynne Howard from Howard’s Way.

Later in the day, en route back to the Island, I caught the press night of Phantom, at the Mayflower. I stunning production with superb performances from Earl Carpenter and Katie Hall as Christine.

On Wednesday night I did an Evening With JH at the Newclose Cricket Club. Lovely crowd, nice food and a good time was had by all. The punters seemed to enjoy it. The hospitality was excellent and I met a few old friends and made a few new ones.

Thanks to a tip off from Vic Farrow, I was able to pop down to Shanklin Theatre on Thursday tea time to interview a great star from the world of musical theatre – Maria Kesselman, who had been in the original London production of Phantom and went on to play opposite Michael Crawford in the leading role of Christine. She has also done other top shows, including Barnum. She also appears in opera, concerts, Friday Night Is Music Night and has her own one-woman show.