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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 11:34:10 GMT
Michael Billington has written a Guardian Opinion piece this afternoon, agreeing with everything you say! However, on the night I saw it, all the above worked, with our audience. Yes, although I'm a grump and didn't particularly enjoy it the rest of the audience lapped it up...and given it's only 5 minutes or so of an otherwise brilliant show, I can live with it! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 11:38:28 GMT
Well, given that he's doing it with a Blackpool accent and talking about Primark you'll have to forgive me for not entirely buying in to that! Yes, as we said a couple of months ago, this production follows the traditional story and is scenically set in St Tropez but it also strongly references the UK, most noticeably with the characterisation of Albin and the Northern club entertainment vibe. For me, this made the show blatantly much more relevant to us all now, here in the UK. Presumably, the original production seemed relevant to Broadway in a similar manner. The story was set in St Tropez but the book music and lyrics are firmly and absolutely in the style of the Broadway musical. When La Cage aux Folles is produced in the UK, it can seem doubly distant from us, with its St Tropez story and its Broadway music and pizzazz. So, for me, one of the strengths of this production is that, while retaining the original story and music, it also directly introduces more local characterisation and cabaret environment. I get that you didn't like that. But it improved the show for me and really made it fully connect with us. We have different opinions, as ever. |
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Post by shady23 on Mar 17, 2017 11:54:51 GMT
Not a John fan. He comes across as so pompous to me. However, I am a huge Grease 2 fan so will be going just to see Adrian.
If only we could have "let's bowl tonight" fitted into the show somehow 😂
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 17, 2017 11:57:24 GMT
I haven't seen it yet, its at the Lowry in June. JP is probably licking his lips at the prospect of mining the rich seam that is Canal Street, llike we haven't heard every gag possible about that already.
I'm fine with putting a different spin on things, and updating productions for new audiences but not when it blatantly jars with what the piece is about. It sounds like they went down the easiest and most obvious route for a few cheap laughs.
However I'll reserve final judgement until June. I might eat my words!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 12:05:21 GMT
I haven't seen it yet, its at the Lowry in June. JP is probably licking his lips at the prospect of mining the rich seam that is Canal Street, llike we haven't heard every gag possible about that already. I'm fine with putting a different spin on things, and updating productions for new audiences but not when it blatantly jars with what the piece is about. It sounds like they went down the easiest and most obvious route for a few cheap laughs. However I'll reserve final judgement until June. I might eat my words! "Mining the rich seam that is canal street"
Average Friday night...
(couldn't resist)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 14:41:28 GMT
Burly, you are my spirit animal!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 17, 2017 14:44:16 GMT
I am hearing that Zmed is still not fully on top of his lines - more than 2 months into the tour.
Anyone else noticed that it has been pulled from Aberdeen due to poor sales?
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Post by foxa on Mar 17, 2017 15:39:47 GMT
I'm genuinely glad that others have liked it - I want theatre to succeed and if it did for others - great! Obviously there were problems with the performance I saw if the actor is asking the audience (after a long silence from something that I think was meant to be funny): 'Have I lost you?' (or does he always do that?) I hesitated to post my thoughts because I know it's annoying if you've loved something to have someone poke holes in it. I adored 'She Loves Me' and not everyone else did - and I was like 'I can't believe it, it's heaven.'
But that is what makes the board interesting. And we're all seeing slightly different shows, under different conditions.
(A personal pet peeve of mine is the 'I can't hear you' stuff - even in pantomimes I'm a bit yergh about that, so obviously I wouldn't be the ideal audience for that approach.)
Zmed: I talked to a lovely woman before the show who was there especially to see him, so he has his fans. I didn't feel entirely secure when he was on stage - to me, it felt a little tentative, but there were no obvious flubs. He's very short and some of the other performers, especially in heels, towered over him which made for some sight gags.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 17, 2017 15:42:10 GMT
Burly, you are my spirit animal! I am Bear, hear me roar. |
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Post by westendwendy on Mar 17, 2017 17:15:07 GMT
I'm genuinely glad that others have liked it - I want theatre to succeed and if it did for others - great! Obviously there were problems with the performance I saw if the actor is asking the audience (after a long silence from something that I think was meant to be funny): 'Have I lost you?' (or does he always do that?) I hesitated to post my thoughts because I know it's annoying if you've loved something to have someone poke holes in it. I adored 'She Loves Me' and not everyone else did - and I was like 'I can't believe it, it's heaven.' But that is what makes the board interesting. And we're all seeing slightly different shows, under different conditions. (A personal pet peeve of mine is the 'I can't hear you' stuff - even in pantomimes I'm a bit yergh about that, so obviously I wouldn't be the ideal audience for that approach.) Zmed: I talked to a lovely woman before the show who was there especially to see him, so he has his fans. I didn't feel entirely secure when he was on stage - to me, it felt a little tentative, but there were no obvious flubs. He's very short and some of the other performers, especially in heels, towered over him which made for some sight gags. The "have a lost you?" is a scripted by John. It wasn't specific to the actual performance in question. Although the random German part was odd and rather eggy. It made sense in the moment. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 13:38:11 GMT
I'm catching the matinee in Wimbledon today! Not knowing the score other than I Am What I Am and ot knowing the story at all, I am actually really excited about this one! And who doesn't love a good drag show!  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 14:17:25 GMT
I must admit, considering I am currently the youngest in the Dress Circle, it is lovely to see that the audience is mainly older people. Especially considering the subject, forgie me pre-judging, but I didn't think it would be that much embraced haha.
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Post by anita on Mar 18, 2017 14:21:31 GMT
I am an "older person " & would love to see it. I saw the show at the Chocolate factory a few years ago. Jon looks amazing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 14:22:32 GMT
I am an "older person " & would love to see it. I saw the show at the Chocolate factory a few years ago. Jon looks amazing. Ah lovely. And I do apologise if you thought me rude, it was wrong of me to pre-judge, but it is locely to see!  |
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Post by anita on Mar 18, 2017 14:24:05 GMT
I certainly didn't think you rude Daniel.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 14:25:01 GMT
I certainly didn't think you rude Daniel. Ya see, I've always liked you! |
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Post by Jon on Mar 18, 2017 14:38:59 GMT
I'm catching the matinee in Wimbledon today! Not knowing the score other than I Am What I Am and ot knowing the story at all, I am actually really excited about this one! And who doesn't love a good drag show! It's a glitzy campy musical, I'm sure you'll love it! In all seriousness, it's a very good show, I've not seen this production but the Menier production was top notch. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 16:01:58 GMT
I mean, what can you say haha.
It is a brilliant production thus far, John Partridge is stunning, and even Adrian is good! Very responsive audience too, though the Upper appears closed, and the back few rows of the Dress are empty, constant cleers and applause, with a few people even standing at the end of John's Act I finale, qnd totally deserved! He is amazing, as are the other Drag Queens. La Cage Aux Folle is my favourite number though, the choreography is amazing and the set is beautifully designed!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 17:17:34 GMT
Firstly, I was wrong, Upper was open, full house standing ovation. Fanstasic show, really loved it! Several around me crying toward the end, including myself. But a fantastic show!
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Post by shady23 on Mar 18, 2017 17:42:22 GMT
The stars of this were on the Graham Norton radio 2 show today. They played John singing I am what I am. It wasn't great!
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Post by rooby on Mar 19, 2017 11:06:52 GMT
Saw this last night for the first time. Felt the first half was too long and didn't like the audience jokes routine. But the second half was much tighter and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved the songs and would have liked more Marti Webb!
I felt Adrian was a bit old in the role but he had a lovely singing voice and knew his lines! 😊 Good job because Bill Kenwright was sitting in front of us, with Jenny Seagrove and others I didn't recognise.
One criticism is that it was fecking boiling in the theatre. We could feel the heat blasting out of the radiators in the interval! 😩
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Post by westendcub on Mar 19, 2017 15:52:44 GMT
Saw this last night for the first time. Felt the first half was too long and didn't like the audience jokes routine. But the second half was much tighter and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved the songs and would have liked more Marti Webb! I felt Adrian was a bit old in the role but he had a lovely singing voice and knew his lines! 😊 Good job because Bill Kenwright was sitting in front of us, with Jenny Seagrove and others I didn't recognise. One criticism is that it was fecking boiling in the theatre. We could feel the heat blasting out of the radiators in the interval! 😩 Omg yes it was way too hot in there..totally agree..I walked back to the train station and to East London holding my jacket..It was blooming boiling inside 👿 |
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Post by junet on May 11, 2017 1:00:13 GMT
Saw this tonight in Dartford at the Orchard Theatre. I thought John Partridge was brilliant in this role, a full standing ovation at the end.
This seemed like a slightly different version than the one I saw at the Chocolate Factory a few years ago. The Cagelles were very young here and seemed to be having fun whereas at the Menier they were older and more world-weary and just seemed to be going through the motions.
Fabulous songs, lovely voices, a great cast all round, a great show.
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Post by schuttep on May 11, 2017 9:30:41 GMT
The Cagelles were very young here and seemed to be having fun whereas at the Menier they were older and more world-weary and just seemed to be going through the motions. I wonder if the world weary Cagelles was the director's choice rather than the cast being bored? It works for me, having seen many work weary drag queens perform! |
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2017 9:45:28 GMT
The Cagelles were very young here and seemed to be having fun whereas at the Menier they were older and more world-weary and just seemed to be going through the motions. I wonder if the world weary Cagelles was the director's choice rather than the cast being bored? It works for me, having seen many work weary drag queens perform! I saw the Chocolate Factory too many times, and my take on it was always that they'd been deliberately cast/directed as 'run down and weary' Queens. |
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