Hills are alive with complaints after Julie Andrews show

Afp
Monday 10 May 2010 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Disappointed fans and critics on Monday slammed the first concert in Britain for 30 years by Julie Andrews, saying she had only sang sporadically and repeatedly left the stage.

Some concert-goers are believed to have demanded a refund after walking out during the much-anticipated comeback show by Andrews, 74, the star of classic films "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound of Music".

Some paid more than 100 pounds (150 dollars, 115 euros) to see the concert at London's O2 Arena on Sunday.

One fan who attended the show told AFP he was "disappointed and bemused" and had walked out during the second half, which featured a "dreadful" musical staging of a children's story that Andrews wrote with her daughter.

"There was quite a crowd in the lobby as I left, many of whom were clearly angry and remonstrating with O2 Arena staff," David Torrance said.

At the start of the show, "five cheesy musicals singers appeared on stage, basically to drown her out and cover up the fact that she can't really sing at all," he added.

The Evening Standard's critic said: "Her carefully managed singing effort amounted to little more than 20 minutes over more than two hours."

"Much of the heavy lifting in this show was left to five younger Broadway performers," he added.

The Daily Telegraph said: "Now the tills are alive with the sound of refunds."

Andrews had warned before the concert that her voice had never recovered fully from a botched operation on her vocal chords in 1997.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in