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Post by thatsshowbizkids on Sept 22, 2024 11:01:33 GMT
I really feel for this talented company committing to the show despite the horrendous costumes and being abandoned by THAT terrible producer for Diana Vickers. Say what you like about the show - I personally think it's a fun riff on the other period shows made contemporary - but the cast don't deserve this.
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Post by Dr Tom on Sept 22, 2024 12:52:12 GMT
I did see this earlier in the week with a heavily discounted ticket. I'm not sure if it's a great show or not, but I'm sorry that everyone involved is having to go through the early closure. I really don't think the marketing helped. Some people say they thought this was a jukebox musical. If I only glanced at the advertising, I'd have thought this was a dry historical.
The music is quite pleasant. I think it's a bit too derivative of other musicals from the past few years that it doesn't add anything new, and the whole historical premise isn't very appealing. I'm sure I missed some plot details and the lyrics weren't always clear, but this felt like this would be a scene or too in a musical like Hamilton, not a whole show. It is cast well and I feel there's the potential for a 3 star musical here, but I suspect this will struggle to have a further life without rewriting, and likely a change of title as well.
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Post by sph on Sept 22, 2024 14:53:58 GMT
I think some shows suffer from awful titles too. Cake is such an odd name. I mean I get the connection to Marie Antoinette obviously, but still.
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Post by Steve on Sept 22, 2024 15:05:02 GMT
I do wonder how much has changed between the Lyric version and this one. . . Just saw today's 1:30pm matinee (exchanged from October) and it's much better than it was at the Lyric:- Some spoilers follow. . . The grotesque icky Cardinal is no longer vomit-inducing, no longer simulating abusive sex acts, and is, ironically, given the above, much more masculine, and also much more charismatic and appealing in Travis Ross's characterisation; The leading double-act of Zizi Strallen and Renee Lamb, Marie and Jeanne, while their relationship still doesn't develop perfectly, is MUCH more believable and endearing now, with significant work done to suggest a genuine bond between them. After a brilliant first half, this still begins to fall apart plotwise with the exchange of cash for jewels, which exchange is neither clearly depicted in its happenstance nor in its logic (I read up on the real story last year, but that's the only reason I could follow it). Still, this is easily fixable. What isn't so easily fixable is why we should root for the bloody carnage and murder of the French Revolution, so that even though we now buy the leading duo's bond, we haven't been sufficiently seduced into buying their choice to support said Revolution (there has to be a better way of sharing bread about than mass murder). This is all by the by, because in this improved state, I easily had 4 stars of irrepressible uproarious enjoyment (can an early Sunday afternoon EVER be this much camp raucous fun!!??), again from the hilarious multi-talented Zizi Strallen (my only joy at the Lyric, and simply glorious again this afternoon) but this time from everyone else as well, not least from Renee Lamb's commanding lead, but also from Travis Ross's sly slippery camp Cardinal, from Millie O'Connell's pragmatic poised revolutionary prostitute, and from the power-dancing gem-trading duo of Tarik Frimpong and Lilia Eccles. The raucous dancing standing ovation at the end may have been partly influenced by empathy for the cast, but it also because this is a show that is rollicking fun, and could have and should have found its audience if better marketed. 4 stars from me, upgraded from my Lyric experience.  PS: Thank goodness a Studio recording now exists that preserves some of Strallen's brilliant work on this, especially the comedy of "Tax" (like a mashup of Don't Cha, Vogue and the Chancellor of the Exchequer) and the oddly poignant "Champagne Dreams!!!" |
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Post by Afriley on Sept 22, 2024 15:51:25 GMT
I had a terrific amount of fun at this. The leads are effervescent - the humour is sharp and it works, some of the music is superb and with a bigger ensemble the dance numbers would be spectacular.
Award winning masterpiece it is not, but this is pure campy entertainment with Zizi Strallen a charming, hilarious centre.
The plot could be clearer in Act 2 as already noted above, but this is easily fixed through a little dialogue.
Shame about the early closure as there are much much worse shows out there. This deserved to find its audience.
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Post by freckles on Sept 22, 2024 17:09:25 GMT
Saw this afternoon, mixed feelings about the score & book but phenomenal cast and choreo.
I’m not sure if this is new, but when Marie’s ‘Z-list’ comes up on the projection, it now contains Paul Taylor-Mills’ name rather prominently… 😂
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Post by iwanttix on Sept 23, 2024 18:01:35 GMT
I managed to get in to see this at the weekend. It's not the best thing I've seen, but it's by no means the worst either. Some catchy songs, some very funny moments (the tom Francis picture esp tickled me), and the cast absolutely give it their all.
It's a real shame that it's being cut short and isn't being given a real chance, it does deserve more than 2 weeks.
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Post by Seriously on Sept 23, 2024 22:46:42 GMT
Saw this afternoon, mixed feelings about the score & book but phenomenal cast and choreo. I’m not sure if this is new, but when Marie’s ‘Z-list’ comes up on the projection, it now contains Paul Taylor-Mills’ name rather prominently… 😂 Word on the street is their closing has nothing to do with the show itself, and everything to do with one particular person's finances! |
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Post by capybara on Sept 24, 2024 0:13:07 GMT
It didn’t make sense to me how much I’d been thinking about this show since seeing it at the Lyric last autumn. I knew I enjoyed it at the time, having seen it twice, but in the weeks and months that followed I found myself hoping for news of a future run. I was totally captivated by the immensely exciting score, as well as the stunning individual performances from both Zizi Strallen and Renee Lamb.
So, you can only imagine my excitement when eight weeks at The Other Palace was announced. I booked a couple of trips and was just about to buy tickets for closing night in November when I heard the news it was closing early. And not just early, a mere two weeks or so after the first preview.
So, following a hasty visit to see Cake on Sunday evening, I really should be talking about it how it exceeded my expectations, what a wonderful job the creatives have done to tighten up the book and improve upon its initial run, as well as the excellent performances from cast members, old and new.
And that will come after my second (and, tragically, final) visit. But, for now, all I can think about is how disappointed and angry I am on behalf of this company. They’ve been properly screwed over here and deserve so much better for their efforts.
The fact the closure was announced before it even held its press night speaks volumes. This can’t purely be based on poor ticket sales - and if that were the case, reevaluate the marketing. Some potential customers have already said the addendum of ‘The Marie Antoinette Playlist’ put them off because they thought it was a jukebox musical. That’s fair and could have been addressed, similar to how Next to Normal finally ditched their awful art rebrand towards the end of their run.
No, this has been pulled for reasons as yet unknown and I’m not going to speculate, even if the producer involved has received public criticism for the handling of other shows over the past 12 months. I notice his name is included on the ‘Z list’ prop and wonder if that was the case before the closure was announced..?
This is a stunning visual and audio show. We had a 15 minute show stop after Zizi performed Champagne Dreams in almost total darkness, so presumably a problem with the lighting.
I can’t wait to see it again on Tuesday evening, where I promise I will focus more on the show itself rather than my disdain for the way this run has been handled by the powers that be…
However; five stars from me.
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Post by ladidah on Sept 24, 2024 8:07:15 GMT
Cake is much better than Why Am I So Single.
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Post by Paulw on Sept 24, 2024 8:50:24 GMT
Cake is much better than Why Am I So Single. And his other nonsense at The Criterion! |
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Post by Matt on Sept 24, 2024 21:44:07 GMT
Saw this tonight after seeing it at the Lyric last year. Can someone remind me if it was 90 mins with no interval then too? It felt a lot slicker this time.
It’s absolutely criminal that this is closing early or had a limited run in the first place. It’s brilliant, the songs are excellent, the cast are great but Zizi Strallen is just on another level. She’s such a natural star.
Tonight was a gala night but I didn’t really see anyone there of noterietay, apart from people in the industry who are friends with the cast. The devil himself PTM was there though and I really wanted to let him know how I felt about it all, but I refrained.
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Post by flouise on Sept 24, 2024 22:18:12 GMT
Saw this tonight after seeing it at the Lyric last year. Can someone remind me if it was 90 mins with no interval then too? It felt a lot slicker this time. It’s absolutely criminal that this is closing early or had a limited run in the first place. It’s brilliant, the songs are excellent, the cast are great but Zizi Strallen is just on another level. She’s such a natural star. Tonight was a gala night but I didn’t really see anyone there of noterietay, apart from people in the industry who are friends with the cast. The devil himself PTM was there though and I really wanted to let him know how I felt about it all, but I refrained. I'm guessing that PTM wasn't included on the Z-list tonight then?? |
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Post by andrew on Sept 24, 2024 23:08:58 GMT
Cake is much better than Why Am I So Single. It's really not. |
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Post by capybara on Sept 24, 2024 23:54:56 GMT
My second visit in three days to see this thrilling new musical and, as promised, this time I will focus (predominantly) on all the reasons I love it so much. I loved it at the Lyric but it’s evident that the cast and creatives have worked flat out to make it even sharper for this off-West End run.
Let’s start with the cast. I’ve said it many times but I would pay good money to see Zizi Strallen in absolutely anything. She really is a marvel and the epitome of a triple-threat. But it’s her character acting here that is so captivating, her Marie expertly treading the tight rope between “silly little rich girl” and misunderstood historical figure.
I was excited to see how they would re-stage Marie’s entrance after Zizi straddled a box at the Lyric and her frenetic Sunset-inspired sprint through The Other Palace was an inspired choice by director Bronagh Lagan.
Renee Lamb is immense as Jeanne also. She can hit every note and ‘Filthy Rich’, especially the reprise, is fast becoming my favourite number of the entire show. I love some of the choices she makes in the role. Meanwhile, Travis Ross has made the Cardinal so much more enjoyable to watch.
Millie O’Connell is absolutely stunning as Nicole. The combination of Joshie Harriette’s lighting design and the intricate way her face is made up makes ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’ a hauntingly moody showstopper. O’Connell absolutely *commands* the stage and is utterly hypnotic.
Drew McOnie’s original choreography has so much energy but it really is Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus’s score that makes Cake such a hit. I literally cannot stop listening to the entire OCR (and am so thankful for its existence!). Morgan Lloyd Malcolm has tightened up the book for this run also.
It was gala night on Tuesday and the audience reaction was electric. The producers might have screwed up big time with this (it’s already better than Six, better than WAISS?, etc) but it deserves more and better.
It might not be a lavish, money-spinning West End revival but Cake is as exciting as anything you’ll see this year and I will continue to champion it.
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Post by capybara on Sept 24, 2024 23:55:57 GMT
Saw this tonight after seeing it at the Lyric last year. Can someone remind me if it was 90 mins with no interval then too? It felt a lot slicker this time. It’s absolutely criminal that this is closing early or had a limited run in the first place. It’s brilliant, the songs are excellent, the cast are great but Zizi Strallen is just on another level. She’s such a natural star. Tonight was a gala night but I didn’t really see anyone there of noterietay, apart from people in the industry who are friends with the cast. The devil himself PTM was there though and I really wanted to let him know how I felt about it all, but I refrained. I'm guessing that PTM wasn't included on the Z-list tonight then?? He was indeed - and it felt like Zizi left the list on display a little longer than previously too… |
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Post by Paulw on Sept 25, 2024 6:06:18 GMT
My second visit in three days to see this thrilling new musical and, as promised, this time I will focus (predominantly) on all the reasons I love it so much. I loved it at the Lyric but it’s evident that the cast and creatives have worked flat out to make it even sharper for this off-West End run. Let’s start with the cast. I’ve said it many times but I would pay good money to see Zizi Strallen in absolutely anything. She really is a marvel and the epitome of a triple-threat. But it’s her character acting here that is so captivating, her Marie expertly treading the tight rope between “silly little rich girl” and misunderstood historical figure. I was excited to see how they would re-stage Marie’s entrance after Zizi straddled a box at the Lyric and her frenetic Sunset-inspired sprint through The Other Palace was an inspired choice by director Bronagh Lagan. Renee Lamb is immense as Jeanne also. She can hit every note and ‘Filthy Rich’, especially the reprise, is fast becoming my favourite number of the entire show. I love some of the choices she makes in the role. Meanwhile, Travis Ross has made the Cardinal so much more enjoyable to watch. Millie O’Connell is absolutely stunning as Nicole. The combination of Joshie Harriette’s lighting design and the intricate way her face is made up makes ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’ a hauntingly moody showstopper. O’Connell absolutely *commands* the stage and is utterly hypnotic. Drew McOnie’s original choreography has so much energy but it really is Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus’s score that makes Cake such a hit. I literally cannot stop listening to the entire OCR (and am so thankful for its existence!). Morgan Lloyd Malcolm has tightened up the book for this run also. It was gala night on Tuesday and the audience reaction was electric. The producers might have screwed up big time with this (it’s already better than Six, better than WAISS?, etc) but it deserves more and better. It might not be a lavish, money-spinning West End revival but Cake is as exciting as anything you’ll see this year and I will continue to champion it. I do t think there is a might have screwed up, they have definitely screwed up by closing early! If the rumours are true and he has ran out of money PTM has closed the wrong show out of the 2! |
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Post by Jon on Sept 25, 2024 10:18:55 GMT
There are differences between IWYW and Cake like length of run, cast size and just how technical each show is. IWYW looks extremely cheap so probably has lower running costs compared to Cake.
I suspect BKL wasn't willing to bail out PTM both as co producer and theatre owner hence why Cake is closing early.
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Post by thatsshowbizkids on Sept 25, 2024 11:21:52 GMT
My second visit in three days to see this thrilling new musical and, as promised, this time I will focus (predominantly) on all the reasons I love it so much. I loved it at the Lyric but it’s evident that the cast and creatives have worked flat out to make it even sharper for this off-West End run. Let’s start with the cast. I’ve said it many times but I would pay good money to see Zizi Strallen in absolutely anything. She really is a marvel and the epitome of a triple-threat. But it’s her character acting here that is so captivating, her Marie expertly treading the tight rope between “silly little rich girl” and misunderstood historical figure. I was excited to see how they would re-stage Marie’s entrance after Zizi straddled a box at the Lyric and her frenetic Sunset-inspired sprint through The Other Palace was an inspired choice by director Bronagh Lagan. Renee Lamb is immense as Jeanne also. She can hit every note and ‘Filthy Rich’, especially the reprise, is fast becoming my favourite number of the entire show. I love some of the choices she makes in the role. Meanwhile, Travis Ross has made the Cardinal so much more enjoyable to watch. Millie O’Connell is absolutely stunning as Nicole. The combination of Joshie Harriette’s lighting design and the intricate way her face is made up makes ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’ a hauntingly moody showstopper. O’Connell absolutely *commands* the stage and is utterly hypnotic. Drew McOnie’s original choreography has so much energy but it really is Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus’s score that makes Cake such a hit. I literally cannot stop listening to the entire OCR (and am so thankful for its existence!). Morgan Lloyd Malcolm has tightened up the book for this run also. It was gala night on Tuesday and the audience reaction was electric. The producers might have screwed up big time with this (it’s already better than Six, better than WAISS?, etc) but it deserves more and better. It might not be a lavish, money-spinning West End revival but Cake is as exciting as anything you’ll see this year and I will continue to champion it. I do t think there is a might have screwed up, they have definitely screwed up by closing early! If the rumours are true and he has ran out of money PTM has closed the wrong show out of the 2! |
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Post by Matt on Sept 25, 2024 11:33:09 GMT
Cake is much better than Why Am I So Single. It's really not. Are you feeling okay? |
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Post by Paulw on Sept 25, 2024 11:58:07 GMT
Cake is much better than Why Am I So Single. It's really not. I have seen both and I can say it is, WAISS is a long very boring show which I gave 2 stars, this it have now seen on 2 occasions (exactly a year apart to the day) and I have enjoyed it on both occasions |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Sept 25, 2024 13:33:40 GMT
PTM knew from the start that the run wouldn't be allowed to go beyond the end of September and didn't tell anyone. He had no intention of giving the show a fair chance. So much shady behavior.
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Post by Paulw on Sept 25, 2024 14:20:31 GMT
PTM knew from the start that the run wouldn't be allowed to go beyond the end of September and didn't tell anyone. He had no intention of giving the show a fair chance. So much shady behavior. Where has this info come from? |
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Post by max on Sept 25, 2024 16:39:59 GMT
I can't fathom what went wrong with the projections of viabiltiy and producing of this show - it seems to have all the popular ingredients, just the absence of a star name. Imagine Anne-Marie or similar in it.
After Scarlett Strallen's bad experience with the contract for 'ALW's Cinderella' and then the show pulled before the new cast got to perform, there was a feeling that the old producers were getting it all wrong and younger performers were turning to the new generation of producers with much more trust. Now Zizi Strallen gets to perform - but briefly.
That's not to say Paul Taylor Mills has necessarily handled this badly. Behind the scenes it may be regret and understanding of the vagaries of commercial theatre amongst all involved. Though when a producing partner owns the venue you might hope for a bit more bias and largesse towards an in-house show.
If only for the sake of appearances ALW/Really Useful kept their 'Cinderella' production going, with the benefit of 'my house, my rules'. Their mistake was in not pulling the plug earlier, creating ridiculous hope in another incoming cast.
Controversial revisionist take: Too generous? [Okay - maybe it was just 'protecting own ego'].
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Post by matty on Sept 26, 2024 20:19:03 GMT
I went into this tonight with rather low expectations, but I had absolute blast! Loved the majority of the songs, the cast was great as was the choreo. Just a fun, campy night out.
It's a real shame this closes on Sunday because I'd love to take others to see it, but probably can't squeeze that in before Sunday.
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