Oz Blog: The second sing-off

11th May 2010

Read our Oz Blog on Saturday’s show here.

Having already said goodbye to one Dorothy, Sunday’s Over The Rainbow audience were nervous. “Isn’t it tense?” said warm-up comedian Stu. Jenny was back though, sat in pride of place in the audience with some of her supporters. Stu tried to keep us entertained by throwing out chocolate – including lobbing some up at Jenny – as the crew prepared for the start of the show. “Hmm, I never offer chocolate to the panel,” he said, as Charlotte, John, Sheila and Andrew took their seats. “Do you want some?” he said, to which Charlotte responded with an instant, “yes.” She’s a caramel kind of girl, in case you wondered.

Another burst of ‘Defying Gravity’ to start the show and, after a quick recap on the previous night’s events, Graham caught up with the panel as in the studio we watched the crew transform the set by laying out yellow-brick road tiles. It was nearly time for the final five Totos to make their first studio appearance. “I’ve got Dangerous Dave!” we saw Jessica mouth excitedly at her family, and what she meant by this soon became clear as each of the five dogs were led onto the ‘doggy catwalk’ by one of the Dorothys. Joining Jessica and Dave were Danielle and Troy, Lauren and Eddie, Sophie and Missy, and Steph and Spider. As each of the girls tried to make the dogs sit, there was one funny moment as Graham introduced the video footage of the Toto challenge. Let’s just say the recorded bark at the beginning of the footage caused some excitement…

We watched as the girls, including Jenny, were asked to act out a scene with one of the Totos at Richmond Theatre. Not only were they being judged by the Toto panel – Jodie, Sarah and Gerry – but they were also performing in front of what looked like hundreds of school children. And before even getting onstage, they had to persuade one of the Totos to choose them. Lauren was forced to sit the challenge out after the each of the dogs picked one of her fellow Dorothys. “Maybe they can sense that I have cats at home,” she said.

The panel’s top dog was Spider, who performed with Jenny, while Dangerous Dave won the kids vote after playing the scene with Sophie. Back in the studio, the dogs had been led back off-stage. “They’ve had a long day,” Graham said to the panel. “So have we!” Sheila retorted.

And then it was mash-up time, as the Dorothys this week served up a combination of ‘Matchmaker’ from Fiddler on the Roof, ‘Rich Girl’ by Eve featuring Gwen Stefani, and the Black Eyed Peas – ‘I Gotta Feeling.’

With the second sing-off fast approaching, the panel gave us their thoughts on the girls. As we watched the video footage in the studio, someone in the audience took the opportunity to shout out, “John!” As the panel turned around, Stu read out the sign being held up – “John, we will be your Syed!” We think John was impressed with this reference to his recent Eastenders love-split, although yet again he wouldn’t give us any more gossip from the show…

After Graham’s quick catch-up with the girls, we saw the Dorothys make their first appearance at a West End opening night, attending Sweet Charity and heading backstage afterward to meet the show’s star Tamzin Outhwaite, who told the girls, “this will happen for all of you, in whatever job, you’ll have an opening night – remember that.”

Then we got a glimpse of what it’s all about as we saw Tamzin perform an iconic number from the show – ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now.’ Afterwards, Tamzin told the girls what they can expect from an opening night. “Lots of nerves, loads of adrenalin pumping through the body… make the most of your opening night because it’s never that exciting again.”

Then, time once again for the dreaded sing-off – and another surprise this week as Jessica, previously the only girl not to have been in the bottom two, was in the sing-off with Danielle. “A real dilemma for me, I think,” said Andrew, as the girls took to the floor to sing ‘Take That Look Off Your Face’.

Decision time again, and Andrew saved Danielle, telling Jessica: “I’m just a little bit unsure about [you for] Dorothy, but you are so wonderful and quirky… it’s Funny Girl, something like that. You are a real star in the making.”

And so the second goodbye of the weekend was to Jessica, who told us she was going on to train in September. “I’ve had the best experience of my life so far,” she said, before re-joining the Dorothys for one last performance.

Four Dorothys and two weeks to go. The race is on…

For updates on the upcoming Wizard of Oz production, sign up for Andrew’s newsletters

For more information on Over The Rainbow, visit www.bbc.co.uk/dorothy.

Comments [8]

Actually – I didn’t really want to write anything about this story. My Husband and I are in Kenya where we are supervising an orphanage build. Today I had to do the ironing and put on Whistle Down the Wind – which I saw a couple of times in Cornwall. I just love the music. I just want to know if you have put this on to a DVD. I would love to have it.

Posted by myrali on 11th May 2010 at 12:40

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Jessica should not have gone. She has a captivating style of her own that sets her apart from everyone else. Got to be what anyone need as a leeding lady. What a fantastic, talented girl she is, would have made a great Dorothy. I’ve lost interest in the show now. Jessica was Dorothy for me.

Good luck to her, I’m sure we will be seeing her again.

(......i’d be friends with the sparrows and the boy who shoots the arrows, if I only had a heart. (Tin man))

Posted by thetinman on 11th May 2010 at 18:40

Having seen Jessica singing Supercalifragiwotsit, I think she’s the obvious choice to play Mary Poppins!

Posted by polperrobookworm on 11th May 2010 at 22:33

I hope that Alw relises that he let a wonderful singer actress dancer and comedien down when he did not choose her over Danielle . Who has been in the sing off more than once . I think that if in a sing off more than once they can not be saved otherwise why bother with the public vote ,
I hope with all my heart that he now helps Jessica in anyway he can . She is briliant , the other girls to me seem very much the same , with the odd ocassional sign of more , but Jess was consistant all the time , even if the panel who had thier favorites tried to bring her down untill they had to accept how brill she is . She is a natural in musical theatre , she shows how much she loves and enjoys it ., The others had to work so hard that they forgot to enjoy it .
I am very sad and will not be watching the rest of the shows ,and will only check maybe to who got the part .
And much as i love the work of shiela Hancock , never really understood why she said Jessica frieghtened her !
So please find her a show, to shine in soon x

Posted by pottypam on 12th May 2010 at 21:07

I’m just glad Lauren made it from the bottom! I couldn’t get through to vote first half so was confused how she could be in that position!? I know everyone has their favourites, but can’t understand the publics mean reaction towards her!? In any other country in the world, Lauren’s talent would be celebrated & appreciated, & her confidence admired, after all, she has every right to be confident with talent such as hers. Unfortunately, most people in Britain seem to confuse confidence with arrogance and feel they have the right to slaughter anyone with such attributes! I really want the public to give this girl a break & support her, rather than slate this wonderful talent our country has! Lauren for Dorothy!

Posted by Linz1976 on 15th May 2010 at 03:50

Ii agree with the previous wiriter. lauren ahs been tarnished with a brush – thanks to Charlotte that has made the public view her differently – I feel sorry for the youngster who has to endure being slated for her talent and the hard work she must have put into to developing a voice like that , instead of the public supporting her – instead they support girls who wouldnt last one week in theatre let alone three months

Posted by otis on 17th May 2010 at 23:32

Steph is a sweatheart, but definately the right choice by Andrew!
Poor Lauren looked devastated, and I really felt sorry for her.
All she has done, is come out ever week & knock our socks off with an outstanding performance!
She is by far the best & I really hope people think about what this show is trying to achieve.
She CAN sing, act & dance! (The latter weve had to rely on group performances to see as lets face it, she wasn’t given a great Dance solo). She is a wonderful talent & deserves this role!!
The other two finalists are ok, but not at all confident they could do the 8shows a week!
Personally, Danielle bores me (No matter how much, Shelia rams her down our throats) – she does have a future, but think she’s a way to go yet. As does the lovely, Sophie! She’s likeable & you do urge her to do well, but I don’t think she’s at filling & working an entire theatre just yet!

Lauren should be Dorothy, end of!
Vote Lauren!!!

Posted by sully111 on 18th May 2010 at 22:50

Hi! Just wanted to add my sadness at seeing Jessica get voted off the show. I’ve been a fan since the first time we saw her on OTR. A star in the making indeed!!!
When The Wizard of Oz is done, could you please develop FUNNY GIRL for a revival on the West End stage. This time with Jessica. No elimination shows. No sing-offs. No need. Your leading lady has already proved herself!
Thanks for listening : ) and the utmost success for Oz and whoever gets to play Dorothy.

Posted by MikeW on 20th May 2010 at 14:02

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Oz Blog: The second sing-off

Comments [8]