February 2008

Dear all,

I can't believe it's 2008, and my oldest girl has started school! When did she get so grown up?! Last year was a year that brought me to my knees with the tragic death of my wonderful sister Noel and my father being ill, and it leaves you so raw and grateful for the little things in life. I am happy if my girls are happy and that is that.

My husband Tim and his band Van Tramp are on the up and you can download at Vantramp.com. I may love him but take it from me their music is fantastic and they so deserve the success that is coming to them.

At the end of last year I was involved with the 10th anniversary of Chicago and it was one fabulous night. All the original company returned and it was as if we had never left. We all fell into old relationships like 10 years had not passed and I was so emotional when I watched the original ensemble rehearsing, they looked amazing. Amazing dancing, amazing bodies and they had had a lot of children between them! I didn't come across one ego over that two day period and there were a fair few names there. Mind you, if an ego had surfaced someone would have put them in their place!

For me, the chance to revisit a part you played 10 years ago again was such an extrordinary thing. It is the most revealing thing about who you were and are today. I remembered my old performance like yesterday but it just did not fift with who I am now, so it was very different from 10 years ago. I personally now think anyone under the age of 40 is too young to play Roxie!! Anyway a great night was had by all and I still caught the last train home!

Dancing on Ice has been a hoot to do and such a great bunch of people. Yes, it really is live and no we have no idea who is going to be in the skateoff until it is announced. Before going on it, I always thought these things were fixed but you have it from me there is not even a slight time delay. I just did Ready Steady Cook and I can tell you that the cooks really do only see the food as you reveal it and they really do only have 20 minutes. Isn't it grand!

Now to the business of fabulous musicals - MARGUERITE. Now that really is a fabulous musical. Take it from me, great songs by Michel Legrand and written by the creators of Les Miserables, Alain Boublil and Claude Michel Scheonberg its pedigree is unmatched. Michel "3 Oscars" Legrand and Bouberg (various Tonys and Oliviers) are, I believe, a winnning team. The fantastic Jonathan Kent directs and Herbert Kretzmer does the lyrics thing that he does so well. It is a dream role. She is mistress to a high ranking SS officer (Alex Hanson) but falls in love with a piano player half her age (Julian Ovenden) and so the plot thickens! It is high romance stuff and I get to play the colours of the rainbow emotionally and the piece is blinding. I cannot wait to start. It will play at the Haymarket theatre from May till Nov.

See you there!

All my love,



Ruthie xx