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Post by richey on Jul 29, 2023 18:14:20 GMT
Waiting to be let into our seats now. I can see some of the set through the gates and it looks great. Giant gold proscenium with glittery gold, red and purple curtains draped from it. And there's a glitter ball
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Post by richey on Jul 29, 2023 20:31:23 GMT
A few interval thoughts.
Ticket price is worth it for the title number and I Am What I Am, which deservedly got a massive cheer and standing ovation.
It is supposedly set in St Tropez but there's a bizarre array of accents including Lancashire, Geordie and Cockney from various characters.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 29, 2023 20:40:00 GMT
Holiday resorts like the South of France are a melting pot of visitors from all round Europe and beyond. A range of accents is fine.
These days, you would hear a lot of Russian...
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 29, 2023 21:10:37 GMT
Holiday resorts like the South of France are a melting pot of visitors from all round Europe and beyond. A range of accents is fine. These days, you would hear a lot of Russian... True, but like you say they'd be a bit more international than all UK based lol |
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Post by alece10 on Jul 29, 2023 21:20:51 GMT
Maybe none of the cast were any good at dodgy French accents so they have stuck to their own.
Or we would be having comments about the terrible French accents.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 29, 2023 21:20:51 GMT
Just see it as a form of diversity!
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 29, 2023 23:05:05 GMT
If a show set in another country is done in English I'll always prefer actors to use their natural accents than put on a bad (or honestly even good) accent from the country it's set in. I don't see the point if you're just going to speak English anyway.
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Post by richey on Jul 30, 2023 7:45:31 GMT
So, putting the accents aside, I really loved this production and it got a rapturous welcome last night.
There's a feel of faded glamour to the show. The set is a huge dancefloor, backed by a proscenium which has exposed plaster and peeling wallpaper, but fabulous glittery curtains behind which the band sit.
The drag costumes are wonderfully retro. The cagelles first appear in silky negligee type gowns but there's plenty if more risque ones too.
For me the best numbers were the ensemble ones. Both the opening number and the title song seemed to go on forever with extended dance interludes. The Best of Times was brilliantly performed using a rotating restaurant dining booth.
There were a few times I thought it veered to being panto-esque, with the audience booong and cheering but it didn't go too far thankfully.
I've given it four out of five, but this was a very solid first preview and hopefully should get great reviews (though I think there are elements which others may find divisive)
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Post by harry on Jul 30, 2023 7:57:45 GMT
Pleased to hear you enjoyed it overall, Richey. It sounds a bit like my memory of the Menier production in that although they don’t have a lot of lines or plot, the cagelles were the real stars of the show due to the dance numbers.
Without wanting to sound like I’m being facetious as this is a genuine question, which accent would you have preferred everyone to have? The show is set in St Tropez as you said but I don’t think (to my knowledge) it’s ever been done with everyone doing French accents speaking English. Of course the Broadway original was all American accents but I don’t see that that would make much sense in a British production unless the performers were American. Having not seen it yet I can’t comment on the effect but from a theoretical point of view I’d have thought having everyone use their own accent is as sensible a way to do it as any, no?
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Post by richey on Jul 30, 2023 8:13:53 GMT
Pleased to hear you enjoyed it overall, Richey. It sounds a bit like my memory of the Menier production in that although they don’t have a lot of lines or plot, the cagelles were the real stars of the show due to the dance numbers. Without wanting to sound like I’m being facetious as this is a genuine question, which accent would you have preferred everyone to have? The show is set in St Tropez as you said but I don’t think (to my knowledge) it’s ever been done with everyone doing French accents speaking English. Of course the Broadway original was all American accents but I don’t see that that would make much sense in a British production unless the performers were American. Having not seen it yet I can’t comment on the effect but from a theoretical point of view I’d have thought having everyone use their own accent is as sensible a way to do it as any, no? It's not everyone using their own accent though. Debbie Kurup as Jacqueline uses a really strong Geordie accent for example and Carl Mullaney as Albin has a Lancashire one. John Owen-Jones over emphasises his Welsh accent. Ultimately it didn't detract from the show for me once I'd got used to it, but I can see maybe some reviewers picking up on it. |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 30, 2023 8:44:47 GMT
Is it definitely still set in France? The accents would fit with the rumours it was going to be set in the North of the UK
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Post by Jon on Jul 30, 2023 8:49:41 GMT
La Cage has never been really that consistent with accents.
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Post by richey on Jul 30, 2023 8:51:14 GMT
Is it definitely still set in France? The accents would fit with the rumours it was going to be set in the North of the UK Supposedly. The opening speech welcomes us to "the pride of St Tropez" then in Act 2 Georges mentions the Riviera but there's nothing else which gives it setting. |
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Post by samchap8787 on Jul 30, 2023 8:54:32 GMT
Very solid first preview
Cast - Just sublime. Carl Mullany sensational. Felt so natural and he absolutely nailed it vocally and gorgeous acting choices. John Owen Jones hilarious.
Cagelles - Wow. Strong strong dancing and ensemble.
Accents - Yes the cast use different accents. Was absolutely fine. An artistic touch and a great range of accents.
Songs and music - Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Very true to the original and wonderful orchestra.
The set is fab and there are some stairs used by the cast which are treacherous. Hope the cast are careful as they use them a lot.
For a first preview, was really fab. Cant wait to again.
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Post by richey on Jul 30, 2023 9:05:36 GMT
Very solid first preview Cast - Just sublime. Carl Mullany sensational. Felt so natural and he absolutely nailed it vocally and gorgeous acting choices. John Owen Jones hilarious. Cagelles - Wow. Strong strong dancing and ensemble. Accents - Yes the cast use different accents. Was absolutely fine. An artistic touch and a great range of accents. Songs and music - Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Very true to the original and wonderful orchestra. The set is fab and there are some stairs used by the cast which are treacherous. Hope the cast are careful as they use them a lot. For a first preview, was really fab. Cant wait to again. Have to agree with you about Carl. His singing was absolutely gorgeous. The two highlights for me were I Am What I Am, which gave me shivers and The Best of Times (loved how he started this on the steps then grew it into that wonderful ensemble number) |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 30, 2023 12:10:22 GMT
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. Exactly, which makes an actors sexuality irrelevant. |
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Post by cherokee on Jul 30, 2023 13:27:08 GMT
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. Exactly, which makes an actors sexuality irrelevant. No, it doesn't at all. And with respect to theatrefan62, they're talking about a different thing. Sure, gay performers can ham it up and get laughs from being camp. Is that cheap? I don't know. I suppose there are instances where it can be - it depends on the material. Julian Clary, for instance, uses his sexuality and his effeminacy to get laughs, and is brilliant and hilarious, and I would never describe it as 'cheap'. He's a master of it, and I certainly wouldn't dream of putting his performance in the same category as Douglas Hodge's. And as I said earlier, the big difference is authenticity. Watching Clary on stage, I as an audience member am in no doubt that the character he is portraying is gay. I was unable to do that while watching Hodge as Albin. I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief because his gayness was performative, inauthentic and ultimately unconvincing. Which is not to say that a heterosexual actor couldn't have delivered a convincing performance, just that Hodge was unable to. And as I sat in the audience watching him, the one thought in my head was: I am not watching a gay character, I am watching a heterosexual actor failing to inhabit a role convincingly. So although sometimes I agree that an actor's sexuality is irrelevant, in this instance it was fundamentally at the root of why I couldn't believe in Hodge's Albin. |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 30, 2023 13:39:34 GMT
Personally I think musical theatre has a big problem with its portrayal of gay men in general. They are always camp, and almost always used for a cheap laugh.
Yes camp men exist (both straight and gay), but they are not the only type of gay man.
You had cheap fairy jokes towards a gay man in Finding Neverland, the photographer in Half a Sixpence, background characters like the hairdressers assistant in the original Legally Blonde and the last year the camp dog etc etc.
Julian Clary is a bit different as that's him, that's his act he owns and controls. Its not director thinking 'Oh let's put a gay guy in to get some laughs' to tell a story.
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Post by Jon on Jul 30, 2023 15:00:03 GMT
Albin in La Cage Aux Folles is a fairly OTT character but that's balanced by vulnerability and it's contrasted by Georges who is quite boring in comparison.
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Post by harry on Jul 30, 2023 22:48:16 GMT
It's not everyone using their own accent though. Debbie Kurup as Jacqueline uses a really strong Geordie accent for example and Carl Mullaney as Albin has a Lancashire one. John Owen-Jones over emphasises his Welsh accent. Ultimately it didn't detract from the show for me once I'd got used to it, but I can see maybe some reviewers picking up on it. Again not trying to come across as facetious, nor especially trying to defend the decision to have lots of UK accents as I’ve yet to see the show, but just pointing out that the three people you mention would probably have those regional accents naturally. Debbie Kurup’s Wikipedia says she’s from Sunderland, John Owen-Jones is Welsh, and a google of Carl brings up his agent and CV which has Lancashire listed as his native accent. Perhaps they lean into this in the show, and I couldn’t comment if or why that would be, but I’m just saying doesn’t seem like they’ve picked random regional accents to have a go at. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jul 31, 2023 4:38:05 GMT
Exactly, which makes an actors sexuality irrelevant. No, it doesn't at all. And with respect to theatrefan62, they're talking about a different thing. Sure, gay performers can ham it up and get laughs from being camp. Is that cheap? I don't know. I suppose there are instances where it can be - it depends on the material. Julian Clary, for instance, uses his sexuality and his effeminacy to get laughs, and is brilliant and hilarious, and I would never describe it as 'cheap'. He's a master of it, and I certainly wouldn't dream of putting his performance in the same category as Douglas Hodge's. And as I said earlier, the big difference is authenticity. Watching Clary on stage, I as an audience member am in no doubt that the character he is portraying is gay. I was unable to do that while watching Hodge as Albin. I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief because his gayness was performative, inauthentic and ultimately unconvincing. Which is not to say that a heterosexual actor couldn't have delivered a convincing performance, just that Hodge was unable to. And as I sat in the audience watching him, the one thought in my head was: I am not watching a gay character, I am watching a heterosexual actor failing to inhabit a role convincingly. So although sometimes I agree that an actor's sexuality is irrelevant, in this instance it was fundamentally at the root of why I couldn't believe in Hodge's Albin. Julian Clary isnt putting on an act,nor pretending to be anything other than himself. Ever since his start as The Joan Collins fan club, he has always been himself and has always been in on the joke, as it were. Thats like being impressed that Douglas hodge can play Douglas Hodge really well. |
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Post by ladidah on Jul 31, 2023 9:57:35 GMT
Happy this seems to have gone done well, will try to see soon
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Post by MrBunbury on Jul 31, 2023 10:04:17 GMT
I was there on Saturday night as well and I confirm the positive impression. There was a very nice atmosphere (maybe due to the relief that the weather was nice) and the performances are excellent. I particularly liked how believable the affection and connection between Georges and Albin was. It was my first time seeing this musical: the songs overall did not impress me (I intend the type of song, the performers were very good), but I found Carl Mullaney great and his rendition of "I am what I am" was really moving in its wounded dignity.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 1, 2023 10:43:57 GMT
After a series of largely terrible shows at the Open Air Theatre, this is a very traditional production and all the better for it.
I got a Rush ticket yesterday, which was on the aisle of the front row next to the steps. As you'd expect, the front row has a lot of opportunity for interaction with the cast. Some people did move from there during the interval, but this might well have been due to the height of the stage. For me, the angle and the closeness were fine. This was selling well, but there were still enough empty seats on a Monday night for people to shift around if they wanted to.
Thankfully it didn't rain (one reason I chose to book on the day once I've seen the forecast) but the seats were wet, so bear this in mind when deciding what to wear. I was glad I'd taken a coat. There was a show stop in Act 2 before The Best of Times, but this was due to a problem with the set, rather than the weather.
The two leads are excellent, particularly Carl Mullaney, who was able to bring a tear to my eyes (once I'd blocked out the inconsiderate audience member who decided that I Am What I Am was the perfect point for them to laugh). John Owen-Jones only has a small part, but he is faultless. And such a pleasure to see Ben Culleton as Jean-Michel, who has been a favourite of mine since his Arts Ed days.
Moan time. I know theatres make money from drinks, but I can't understand them selling jugs of Pimms and Ice for people to take to their seats.
The location is rather curious. The accents are British and there was mention of a "10 pound note", but later talk of being on the Riviera. It doesn't matter too much.
The large stage is used well. The sound is fantastic, both the singing and the orchestra.
I know a lot of people here will see La Cage Aux Folles as a classic. I would rate this as a very good production of a musical with great songs, but where I've always felt it just lacks something. That is not the fault of any of the actors. I'll see this again certainly and I recommend it, but it's not one of those shows I could go to every week during the summer. I'm sure there are people reading this who will be back many more times than me.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 1, 2023 12:48:11 GMT
There are shows you *would* go to every week in the summer?!!!
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