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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 26, 2023 17:38:02 GMT
I think even Graham Norton knew he was awful in it. He was (I witnessed it) so you have to ask why he accepted the part in the first place. He’s done no acting since.
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Post by toomasj on Jul 26, 2023 17:46:03 GMT
I think even Graham Norton knew he was awful in it. He was (I witnessed it) so you have to ask why he accepted the part in the first place. He’s done no acting since. It wouldn’t have been for the pay, I know that much. A friend of mine (15 years West End experience) was offered a very good part in a recent production and turned it down because they pay Equity minimum. I suspect he wanted to challenge himself and felt the role was achievable for his limited skill, perhaps underestimated the level needed to be even passable. I am sure BurlyBeaR would agree, sometimes you see a flat/miscast lead or understudy, it rarely veers into incompetent. |
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Post by richey on Jul 26, 2023 19:04:29 GMT
Anyone in for opening night? Yep I'm there on Saturday. Decided to make a long weekend of it with Evita on Monday |
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Post by n1david on Jul 26, 2023 22:17:07 GMT
I think even Graham Norton knew he was awful in it. He was (I witnessed it) so you have to ask why he accepted the part in the first place. He’s done no acting since. He has written in one of his books that he was unsure about taking it on, but then talked into it. There was then sickness in the cast before he was scheduled to take over and he went on early with virtually no rehearsal. He says that friends in the industry said that he should not do it at the time but he wasn't savvy about what acting in the West End involved and went ahead with it. I don't think I blame Norton for this; he was a bad choice by the producers and was badly advised, which is why I'm sure we'll never see him acting on a West End stage again. |
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Post by ladidah on Jul 27, 2023 8:20:06 GMT
Must be terrible to know you're awful in something and have to stick it out.
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Post by ladidah on Jul 27, 2023 10:04:31 GMT
God, must be unbearable.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 27, 2023 13:40:23 GMT
Paging the entire cast of Aspects…. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jul 27, 2023 14:23:56 GMT
Interview in today's Indy confirming it will be set in the 1970's
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 27, 2023 14:51:30 GMT
Promo photos out!
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Post by cherokee on Jul 27, 2023 15:09:25 GMT
I much preferred Roger Allam to Doug Hodge. The less said about Graham Norton the better… Oh yes, Douglas Hodge was AWFUL. I couldn't understand the acclaim he got for it. A horrible, clichéd version of a camp gay man by a heterosexual actor which lacked any authenticity whatsoever. I didn't believe him as Albin for a moment. |
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Post by richey on Jul 27, 2023 17:45:23 GMT
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 27, 2023 17:51:12 GMT
So he is using 1990s clubs as inspiration for a 1970s setting.
Methinks he doesn't truly understand his cultural heritage...
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Post by mattnyc on Jul 27, 2023 17:52:10 GMT
I get what you’re saying but I’ll take that over setting it in 2023.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 27, 2023 18:36:09 GMT
Well yes. But it makes me wish he had taken the time to do his research and fully understood the period.
The original play was written in 1972 so I have no problem in using the original period for the musical version.
But it is important to understand the history of gay rights in France.
Being gay had long since ceased to be illegal in France (1791 to be exact). There was a 1960 law that increased the penalty for indecent exposure involving homosexual acts. But compared to many countries France was far less legally restrictive during this period. Not to say that there weren't issues of homophobia but France was one of the less oppressive countries.
Context is important.
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Post by barrowside on Jul 27, 2023 20:56:53 GMT
Is this production still set in France?
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 27, 2023 23:35:27 GMT
A horrible, clichéd version of a camp gay man by a heterosexual actor which lacked any authenticity whatsoever. I didn't believe him as Albin for a moment. I'm not sure what being hetrosexual has to do with it. Are you under the impression that a gay man would be more authentic? It's not exactly a role with much nuance. If you want authentic, should the role have to be played by someone who's an aging drag queen? |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 28, 2023 10:35:38 GMT
Is this production still set in France? Croydon I think |
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Post by theoracle on Jul 28, 2023 10:40:14 GMT
Is this production still set in France? Croydon I think I believe I read/heard somewhere it’ll be NorthWest England… so Blackpool ish |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 28, 2023 10:48:47 GMT
Oh god. Memories of John Partridge’s horrible portrayal come flooding back all over again. Hideous.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Jul 28, 2023 10:54:56 GMT
Anyone in for tonight's first preview?
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Post by cherokee on Jul 28, 2023 11:01:29 GMT
A horrible, clichéd version of a camp gay man by a heterosexual actor which lacked any authenticity whatsoever. I didn't believe him as Albin for a moment. I'm not sure what being hetrosexual has to do with it. Are you under the impression that a gay man would be more authentic? It's not exactly a role with much nuance. If you want authentic, should the role have to be played by someone who's an aging drag queen? It has everything to do with it when a performance is unconvincing. I have no problem with heterosexual actors playing gay roles: Andrew Garfield was brilliant in Angels in America. But in Hodge's hands, the camp mannerisms and physically felt, to me, forced and inauthentic. It was an imitation of how a straight man thought a camp, gay man behaves, and I didn't buy it for a moment. Others clearly felt differently, but it ruined the whole show for me. So please don't misunderstand me when I criticise Hodge's performance as inauthentic. I'm not an ideologue who believes queer roles can only be played by queer actors. But I feel I'm entitled to call it out when a non-queer actor plays a gay man poorly. |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 28, 2023 11:07:44 GMT
I'm not sure what being hetrosexual has to do with it. Are you under the impression that a gay man would be more authentic? It's not exactly a role with much nuance. If you want authentic, should the role have to be played by someone who's an aging drag queen? It has everything to do with it when a performance is unconvincing. I have no problem with heterosexual actors playing gay roles: Andrew Garfield was brilliant in Angels in America. But in Hodge's hands, the camp mannerisms and physically felt, to me, forced and inauthentic. It was an imitation of how a straight man thought a camp, gay man behaves, and I didn't buy it for a moment. Others clearly felt differently, but it ruined the whole show for me. So please don't misunderstand me when I criticise Hodge's performance as inauthentic. I'm not an ideologue who believes queer roles can only be played by queer actors. But I feel I'm entitled to call it out when a non-queer actor plays a gay man poorly. I completely agree, but just to add its not just a straight actor thing. I've seen plenty of gay performers ham up the gayness for cheap laughs. |
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Post by samchap8787 on Jul 28, 2023 11:18:30 GMT
Anyone in for tonight's first preview? tomorrow.. 29 july |
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 28, 2023 11:19:53 GMT
Anyone in for tonight's first preview? tomorrow.. 29 july (Genuinely) I hope the weather holds out. |
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Post by cherokee on Jul 28, 2023 13:20:33 GMT
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