Newspaper Reviews
2010 Hairspray Tour
- The Public Reviews - 14/05/2010
He is still vocally supreme but it is his comic sense and delivery that really blows the crowd away
- Southern Daily Echo - 13/05/2010
The utterly convincing Ball has unmistakable chemistry with Les Dennis as comical husband Wilbur,
- The Portsmouth News - 13/05/2010
Michael Ball surprised all in the West End by donning the show's most flamboyantly feminine outfits and he shows south coast audiences just why he won an Olivier in the role of Edna Turnblad.
- Wales Online - 15/04/2010
“The last few years have been the most successful and enjoyable of my whole life, personally and professionally,” he said.
- Wales Online - 09/04/2010
"...he is totally convincing as the mother of Tracy Turnblad ..."
2009 UK Tour
2009 West Wycombe
2008 Summer Concerts
- Liverpool Echo ~ 21/07/2008
Over the years that voice has matured adding richer, deeper notes and with them a seemingly never-ending amount of clout.
- The Stage ~ 21/07/2008
This was a quite astonishing performance from a true master of his art and one can only hope that it isn't a further three years before he graces the stage in this way again.
- What's On Stage ~ 21/0720/08
An absolute quality performance from an absolute star and his companions.
2008 Hairspray
2007 Hairspray ~ Press Night
- Broadwayworld.com ~ 12/11/2007
Musical theatre veteran Michael Ball also proves to be a stroke of casting genius
- IHT - 6/11/2007
The truth, of course, is that Ball was indeed there, giving his all in the guise of the Baltimore laundress and mother
- Classical Souce.com
"Michael Ball really makes the most of his chances "
- The Londonist ~ 05/11/2007
" Michael Ball dons the rather large brassiere of Edna Turnblad and he is magnificent "
- The Independent Online ~ 04/11/2007
"Michael Ball is having a blast in the Dame role as Tracy's mum"
- Theatrenews Online ~ 04/11/2007
"Ball acts the role with real maternal solicitude and sweetness"
- Times Online - 04/11/2007
"We were actually singing the finale as we stepped out into the street: “ 'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above . . .”"
- Observer - 04/11/2007
" his (Mel Smith) ''Timeless to Me' duo with Ball is one of the unexpected showstoppers; when they kiss, it's more kind than camp."
- Western Mail 02/11/2007
"It is easy to see why it won practically every award going in New York and justice will not be done unless London follows suit "
- The Financial Times - 01/11/2007
"I struggled hard to resist being washed away on the wave of feelgood this show generates but, in the end, washed away I was"
- Variety - 02/11/2007
but the most pleasant surprise is Michael Ball's Edna. Getting into a dress has clearly released Ball -- his usual over-bright stage persona has vanished.
- The Herald ~ 01/11/2007
"Michael Ball has the part of a lifetime. Obese and camp, Ball is the best pantomime dame London has seen in years. "
- Bloomberg ~ 01/11/2007
"Ball turns in a funny and touching performance, resisting the temptation to go over-the-top."
- The Independent ~ 31/10/2007
"...the fat-suited Ball, who is appreciably better than John Travolta in the recently released movie version of the show, gives one of the warmest, funniest and most oddly touching performances in a musical that I have ever seen."
- The Times ~ 31/10/2007
"But when Leanne Jones's Tracy is bounding about the stage exuding all-American resilience and optimism — well, she brought out the inner cheerleader I didn't know I had. "
- Telegraph ~ 31/10/2007
"There's even a delightful vaudevillian routine for Michael Ball, who plays Tracy's corpulent mum in spectacular big-bosomed drag and looks as if he's having the time of his life, and Mel Smith as her devoted, joke-shop-owning husband. "
- The Evening Standard ~ 31/10/2007
"Michael Ball deliciously fattened up and dragged down in bland frocks and lurid gowns, majestically slips into the role of the fat, foghorned laundress, "
- The Stage ~ 31/10/2007
"a man plays Tracy's mother Edna, a role it appears Michael Ball was born to play and he is obviously loving every minute. "
- Daily Express ~ 31/10/2007
"It is only when she discovers big-haired glamour that Ball turns on the floodlights, knocking everyone else off the stage. "
- The Guardian ~ 31/10/2007
"...and Michael Ball is very funny as her muscular moll of a mum who once entertained dreams of being a designer. "
- London Theatre Guide ~ 31/10/2007
"Ball seems in his element in a frock, gaining much comedy value from his ample bosoms and behind, while Smith plays Ball's straight man, milking the pair's duet Timeless To Me with undisguised pleasure. "
2007 ~ Hairspray
- West End Whingers - 18/10/2007
"...so Ball's casting was a bit of a surprise, but he proves himself to be a first rate Edna with great comic delivery and he really, really gets Edna (and loves her) "
- Baz's Watch Out For: 18/10/2007
...but this London production is better than when I saw it three or more times on Broadway.
2007 ~ UK National Tour
2005 ~ Woman in White on Broadway
2005 ~ Patience
- NYTheatre.com (17/09/05)
"
Ball is, in short, a splendid leading man, of the sort in very short supply these days (and it doesn't hurt that he's still youthfully handsome).
"
- Columbia Spectator (15/09/05)
" Ball is best known for his powerhouse baritone belt (an untrained sound for an opera house, but one that is appealing nonetheless)"
- North Jersey (15/09/05)
" writer of verse so exalted and ethereal its preciousness is matched only by that of his personality."
- New York Post (13/09/05)
" delivers a hilarious term as the poet modelled to some degree after Oscar Wilde."
- Backstage.com (13/09/05)
"
He is the brilliant centerpiece of Tazewell Thompson's fine production"
- New York Times (12/09/05)
"We keep thinking, "Too much, too much," and then Mr. Ball and Mr. Burdette appear and charm the pants off us."
- Newsday (14/09/05)
" the insufferable Bunthorne benefited not only from his good looks and easy, charming voice, but from the canny stage instincts of a genuine West End star. "
- The Star Ledger (12/09/05)
So Ball's appearance as the "ultra-poetical, super-aesthetical" Bunthorne is something of a sneak preview of his comical gifts.
- New York Sun (12/09/05)
"The costumes of Merrily Murray-Walsh were interesting and appropriately colorful and Mr. Ball used his fur-collared cape to great effect. "
2005 ~ UK Tour
- Life! magazine, The Gazette ( 28 May 2005 )
"Michael Ball has enjoyed an enormously successful career as the UK's top male musical theatre star and million selling recording artist."
- Evening Post ( 1June 2005 )
"...
he has consistently proved he has the voice, the charm, the acting talent and the charisma to be rightly described as the best of the best.
"
2005 ~ Woman in White
- The Stage
"...gloriously completes his journey from juve and romantic lead to ornate, hilarious character actor here..."
2004 ~ Singular Sensations
- Financial Times
"... Michael Ball may still not be my particular cup of tea but I realise that I had underestimated him."
- Times (29/98/04)
"Ball manages to eclipse Edith Piaf on the insistent, foot-stamping refrain of Padam and turns There's No Business like Show Business into something approaching a reverie "
2004 ~ Salt Lake City
2004 ~ Australian Tour
2002 ~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- The Daily Mirror ~ A bitty Chitty
Chitty magic for Charlotte
- This is London ~ comes the day
after the musical's hugely successful world premiere
- Guardian ~ half an hour after
the scheduled curtain up the cast and capacity audience were sent home.
2002 ~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Premiere Night
- The Mirror ~ Michael Ball is the large
cast's only genuinely impressive singer
- The Times ~ The show is cast to the
hilt, with Michael Ball as an attractive, open-faced Caractacus Potts...
- Theatre Now ~ The curtain call itself
had been one of the longest and liveliest in recent memory
- Sunday Times ~ with Michael Ball
as an attractive, open-faced Caractacus Potts
- Rainbow Net ~ plenty of charm and
a relaxed stage presence
- Times India ~ Chitty ,
the ridiculously lovable car with wings
- Guardian 2 ~ this Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang is in almost every respect superior to the original
- Guardian ~ Last night was a full glamour
frocks and rocks first night such as the RSC has not seen for some time
- Financial Times ~ I am bewildered
by how much I love the new stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Evening Standard ~ Michael
Ball's powerfully sung, soulful Caractacus
- Ananova ~ "We still adore it today,"
he said
- BBC ~ Mr Ball sings Hushabye Mountain,
the best ballad, with real charm and relish
- BBC 2 ~ Michael Ball is a likeable Caractacus
Potts
- BBC 3 ~ Emma Watson: "There
was lots of magic. It was very cool."
- What's on Stage ~ top-notch cast including
Ball
- Sheridan Morley ~ be careful,
very harsh review!
2002 ~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Pre-Show Reports
- Evening Standard
~ "Another challenge is that I have to dance - I've never danced
on stage before.' And how's it been? 'I've never known pain like it,'
he sighs."
- BBC ~ Producers say audiences are
in line for a treat
- BBC ~ about the Dog-Casting
- Virgin ~ Richard O'Brien Interview
- The Independent ~ Richard O'Brien
Interview
- This is London ~ Interview
with Emma Williams
2002 ~ Charity Gala Premiere
- BBC website ~ invited guests were
Joan Collins and new husband Percy Gibson, Sir Cliff Richard, Shirley
Bassey and ex-EastEnder Martin Kemp.
2001 ~ Donmar, Christmas Tour
- Evening Mail ~ Michael Ball is
simply a magnificent performer.
- The Daily Telegraph ~ Still,
it's a finished artist who can make something new of There's No Business
Like Show Business, sung here very slowly, almost as a lullaby until
the inevitable wow finish.
1999 ~ Tour, Summer concerts
- News of the world ~ The stage
idol couldn't wait to explore for spooks after appearing at an open-air
concert at creepy Glamis Castle, Angus.
- Sunday Mercury ~ Musically, he's
been there, seen it, done it and probably has a collection of T-shirts
to prove it.
- Birmingham Post ~ Never mind
chocolate eggs and bunnies - Michael Ball was the Easter treat..
- Evening Mail ~ For
his marvellous voice was enough to inflame the passions of the mostly
female sell-out audience.
1996 ~ Passion
1994 ~ Tour
- Such a nice boy, and what a good voice:
...or standing nonchalantly with his hand in his trouser pocket, as
self-conscious as the male models you see on the front of patterns for
chunky-knits
1985 ~ Les Mis
- Daily Telegraph ( 10/10/1985):
(...) with Valjean's death after his ward's wedding to her wounded student
lover. It left me doubtful about the whole ponderous exercise.
- Time Out (17/10/1985): (...) their
world is that of the showman - they are concerned to shock, rarely to
provoke
- Spectator (19/10/1985): (...) The
songs are unmemorable save for one, quite rousing, beer-hall number
which buzzed about in my head for a couple of hours after the performance.
1984 ~ Godspell ~
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