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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 1, 2023 13:10:55 GMT
There are shows you *would* go to every week in the summer?!!! Nothing weekly I can think of that's currently playing in London, but there are several shows I would happily see once or twice a month! |
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Post by ceebee on Aug 1, 2023 13:46:29 GMT
There are shows you *would* go to every week in the summer?!!! Surely We Will Rock You would need to be somewhere on the list. |
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Post by alece10 on Aug 1, 2023 15:30:41 GMT
I'd happily see Crazy for You once a fortnight and then possibly be able to tolerate my work colleague for the 2 weeks before I lose my sanity and see it again.
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5,795 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Aug 1, 2023 19:50:48 GMT
I'd happily see Crazy for You once a fortnight and then possibly be able to tolerate my work colleague for the 2 weeks before I lose my sanity and see it again. I actually may be with you on that one. |
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Post by ladidah on Aug 2, 2023 7:00:25 GMT
Was going to get tickets for tonight, but after seeing the forecast will postpone!
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Aug 2, 2023 7:57:26 GMT
Was going to get tickets for tonight, but after seeing the forecast will postpone! La Cage Au Brollies |
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Post by marob on Aug 2, 2023 9:20:41 GMT
Never seen this so am very tempted, but I dislike outdoor theatre at the best of times. Must put such a dampener on it (literally and figuratively.)
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Post by jarnew on Aug 2, 2023 9:52:53 GMT
Haven't seen this yet, but the idea of using different British accents to mimic a vacation spot with lots of different languages and nationalities feels like such a great one. It allows the actors to play more naturally, and gets the point across without having to put on terrible French accents for 3 hours.
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4,171 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 2, 2023 13:53:12 GMT
Never seen this so am very tempted, but I dislike outdoor theatre at the best of times. Must put such a dampener on it (literally and figuratively.) If youv'e never been to Regents Park Open Air Theatre before it has the most marvellous atmosphere - on a good night - especially if you go for an evening performance when the show starts at twilight and as the sun sets the surrounding trees start to light up.Get to the theatre early as the fairy lit bar/cafe is also charming. Yeah, but don't go tonight |
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Post by richey on Aug 2, 2023 14:03:37 GMT
Never seen this so am very tempted, but I dislike outdoor theatre at the best of times. Must put such a dampener on it (literally and figuratively.) It's a wonderful venue, it felt really magical waiting for the show to start on Saturday night, firstly under the trees lit by coloured lights, then sat in the auditorium as the sun set through the trees. (Admittedly it can also be less fun in the rain, we got drenched a few years ago watching Evita but I think it's all part of the experience) |
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Post by ladidah on Aug 2, 2023 14:14:32 GMT
I love it there, magical venue
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511 posts
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Post by Deal J on Aug 2, 2023 14:37:06 GMT
Never seen this so am very tempted, but I dislike outdoor theatre at the best of times. Must put such a dampener on it (literally and figuratively.) If youv'e never been to Regents Park Open Air Theatre before it has the most marvellous atmosphere - on a good night - especially if you go for an evening performance when the show starts at twilight and as the sun sets the surrounding trees start to light up.Get to the theatre early as the fairy lit bar/cafe is also charming. I agree, it's one of the most wonderful venues on a good night. The only thing I don't like is around 15 minutes after the interval, just as I've re-immersed myself in the magic of the show, being suddenly scared witless by the massive crash of bottles being emptied into the recycling bins! |
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Post by JJShaw on Aug 3, 2023 9:55:41 GMT
Rain stayed away last night so I was able to see the show, woo! I was familiar with The Birdcage and I Am What I Am, but this was my first time seeing the stage production. I'll put my opinions under a spoiler just in case: {Spoiler - click to view}
I loved the set design and how they had all the furniture pieces off to the side as if it was the 'wings' of a stage; very smart and good use of space and clearly the vibe they're going for is 'slightly run down British expat/ northern beachside area' reflected in the variety of British accents too. This seemed to work for me as I imagined this French Riviera to just be full of British tourists and such.
While all the performances were nice it did feel a little lacking, or that there was a slight disconnect. The costumes (beautiful!) all looked to be 80s/90s with even Jean Michel wearing flared jeans and yet the direction felt very 'current day' mannerisms. Speaking of the actor playing JM had a lovely voice and is a wonderful dancer but seemed to not have a clear vision for his character, which to be fair to him is a strange one to balance. One woman in the audience was particularly against him and during act two proceeded to 'boo' him (assuming the character choices, not the actors choices!) It felt very 'fresh-new-grad'.
Georges is giving his best Kenneth Branagh but I could have had a little more, lots of the book scenes could have used a little more colour in the actors delivery I didn't get any 'ups and downs' so to speak, and the actor playing Albin seemed to suffer the most from what felt to be a slight lack of direction.
Choreography was great, there's a bird section that was particularly amusing, and I think the show works great in an open air setting, they've also fixed the sound design as the band sounded crystal clear and amazing!
I would give it 3.5*, on here though I couldn't quite round it up to 4 so sadly gave it 3. Its a solid production and maybe im being too harsh on it! |
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Post by ladidah on Aug 3, 2023 10:58:06 GMT
Got a last minute rush ticket, so seeing this tonight!
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Post by zsazsa on Aug 3, 2023 11:06:17 GMT
I saw the show on Tuesday evening and adored this production.
La Cage is my favourite show. I saw the Menier/Playhouse production several times.
This production is more high camp drag in a run down, end of the pier drag club though the characters would believe they are in glamorous St. Tropez. The wide open stage allows for a glimpse into “the wings” of the drag show.
Les Cagelles returned represent every shape and size and move beautifully together in toule gowns and wigs straight out of Dolly Parton’s 70’s collection.
Albin is a cross between Dick Emery and Jodi Prenger. He nails the extravagance and the vulnerability in all the correct places. ‘I Am What I Am’ received a well deserved standing ovation and ‘The Best Of Times’ was pure joy. The line “what’s left of summer but a faded rose” got a laugh as the rain had just started but did not hamper the performance.
Georges is a wonderful counter to Albin. His vocals are gorgeous.
Great supporting performances all round. Minor quibble was Jacob struggled to pitch during Cocktail Counterpoint.
I really hope to see this again before the end of its run and wish for a well deserved transfer.
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4,171 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 3, 2023 11:20:33 GMT
I saw a tweet which indicated that despite yesterdays miserable weather last night's performance went ahead.
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Post by JustJ on Aug 3, 2023 14:30:02 GMT
Are the TodayTix rush tickets front row or located in various places throughout the theatre?
Do we also think front row is restricted?
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3,325 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 3, 2023 14:45:48 GMT
Are the TodayTix rush tickets front row or located in various places throughout the theatre? Do we also think front row is restricted? From checks, they offer all over depending on availability. You are looking up from the front row, but I wouldn’t consider it a major restriction. |
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Post by harry on Aug 3, 2023 22:52:33 GMT
I enjoyed this a lot tonight.
I thought Carl Mullaney warmed into it through act 1, smashed the big interval number and absolutely nailed the second half - he keeps the audience completely onside throughout and is a so natural in the role that he never feels to be over-heightened or taking the mick. Billy Carter was adorable as Georges and a lovely counterpart. His voice felt like it was maybe in places showing the signs of a week of previews and rehearsing in changes, but often very moving and looks perfect in the part.
I loved a lot of the supporting roles - a diminutive stage manager and a towering Hanna from Hamburg. Some truly excellent dancing from all the Cagelles and Anne & Jean Michel.
I’d forgotten quite how strange the structure is in that I Am What I Am aside, the big numbers all literally stop the show and don’t advance (or even really comment upon) the plot. So it’s to the show’s and the production’s credit that it all feels very tight and pacy.
If it all seems a bit old fashioned for Regent’s Park and their famed musical re-imaginings it’s quietly updated (I think) in places - Jacob now given she pronouns throughout (which I’m pretty sure is new), Albin no longer refers to himself as a transvestite but as a drag queen, drag kings feature relatively heavily etc.
The accents really worked for me. The riviera / St Tropez references do feel a little strange but grounding all the characters in their actors’ natural accents (albeit quite definitely foregrounded) seemed to pepper the admittedly OTT shenanigans with something real and allow the moments of sentiment and emotion to land with more weight.
The whole thing seems done with love and care for the characters, the show and what it means and has meant to audiences over the past 40 years. I hope it’s a hit.
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1,477 posts
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Post by Steve on Aug 3, 2023 23:37:45 GMT
I also saw this tonight and LOVED it!
Some spoilers follow. . .
The relationship between Carl Mullaney's Albin and Billy Carter's Georges is, in my eyes, utterly absent of caricature, and is wonderfully tender and affectionate.
Consequently, the farcical comedy bits of the show don't play as funny as they have in other versions, as you care too much about them to laugh too much in the face of the bigotry they face.
The recognisable regional accents lend a sense of authenticity and lived-in comedic British self-deprecation to their connection, and that sense of their realness and frailness (they are not as young as they used to be, and they laugh about it) really made me warm to them.
The flares everyone wore, and the attitudes to homosexuality suggested to me this was set in the seventies (I didn't buy a programme), but I felt that Billy Carter's Georges could just have easily existed a hundred years earlier, his mustachioed appearance and swift smooth comic patter suggesting to me a theatrical impressario, like Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert and Sullivan.
Carter gifts his Georges with a gentleness, fragility and compassion, that in combination with his capacious hosting skills, loaded with hype and humour, like an old cruise ship entertainer that never lost his love for the show, makes this version of boring old Georges feel very rounded and loveable. And like an old cruise ship entertainer, his singing is creditable and credible, and the fact that his voice may lack the flawlessly modulated power of Philip Quast actually serves to further humanise the character.
The tender way he looks at Mullaney's Albin, for instance, when Albin is in any way distressed broke my heart, and his presence, stage side, in the show's showstopper, Mullaney's Albin's "I am what I am" vastly lifts the emotional impact of Albin's affirmation of his identity, which is under attack.
Mullaney is a revelation as Albin, a really strong singer, camp and effeminate as the character must be for plot reasons, but also deeply thoughtful and considerate, never ragingly selfish and alienating, but rather caring, considerate and touchingly aware of his own mortality. His sense of humour is razor sharp in his brilliantly timed line readings, and like Georges, his jokes are more self-deprecating than malicious.
As the villain of the piece, John Owen-Jones delivers some very gruff, and bluntly Welsh, bluster, which is in itself very funny, but given the sweetness of the principal pair, it doesn't get as much laughs as it would if we were predisposed to laugh rather than to feel defensive about the principals. It's a comfort that Owen-Jones could sing a phone book and still sound marvellous.
Also slightly villainous, in light of how likeable the leads are, is Ben Culleton's Jean-Michel, who seeks to contain their glory. Luckily, Culleton is charismatic, like a tall young Tom Rhys Harries, who can sing wonderfully, and makes his character's machinations fascinating, even if temporarily unlikeable.
The Regent's Park cosy setting, a kind of secret oasis of community hidden in woodland (an apt metaphor for a secret life the gay community must here hide from declared enemies) feels so perfect to contain and coddle the shiny gold and rainbow warmth of the set decor, which look desperately worn and faded in the light of the sun, but which acquire a golden lustrous glamour as the sun sets and the bright artificial lights bring out the variety and warmth of the colours and the costumes.
And this setting makes magic and marvels out of the Cagelles's cheeky performances, with Jak Allen-Anderson's towering gangling Hanna particularly naughty and striking, and the bird song so camp and funny I was in stitches.
All in all, this show is magnificent in almost every way except in its farcical humour, which doesn't work as well as the character-based humour. But it is the believable, warm, self-deprecating likeability of the characters, the rainbow golden glory of the Cagelles as the sun set, and Mullaney's magnificent "I am what I am" that will linger with me.
For me, the first half is perfect, but much of the farce of the second half only half-heartedly lands. I feel Timothy Sheader is going out on a high, and will be much missed. 4 and a half stars from me.
PS: Tonight's preview concluded at 10:25pm, making for a running time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, though I expect the show will tighten up before Press Night.
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Post by ladidah on Aug 4, 2023 8:41:44 GMT
4 stars for me - I really loved it last night. It's fun and warm and touching. I really felt the love between Georges and Albin. Set was beautiful.
I ended up moving seats in the second half, I had an annoying French guy next to me who kept echoing anything said in French as if it was a surprise every time. Drove me mad.
The only thing I didn't like was the character of Jacob. Felt really grating and panto and like a drag race contestant you never warm to.
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Post by shownut on Aug 4, 2023 9:28:41 GMT
Saw it last night and 4 stars from me as well.
I found the Northern England accents for a show set in the French Riviera to be a bit jarring but enjoyed the performances (particularly the two leads) and top-notch musical direction.
I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 4, 2023 9:42:53 GMT
All in all, this show is magnificent in almost every way except in its farcical humour, which doesn't work as well as the character-based humour. What a wonderful review Steve. Your enjoyment of the performance really come across. I've not seen the show but I wonder if the farcical humour you have referred to is because of the age of the piece? Like, that was funny at the time the show was written? |
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Post by ladidah on Aug 4, 2023 9:59:16 GMT
It is farcical in places, but it's quite fast moving so wasn't too irritating (not a huge fan of slapstick stuff)
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Post by alexandra on Aug 4, 2023 10:02:02 GMT
"As the villain of the piece, John Owen-Jones delivers some very gruff, and bluntly Welsh, bluster, which is in itself very funny, but given the sweetness of the principal pair, it doesn't get as much laughs as it would if we were predisposed to laugh rather than to feel defensive about the principals."
Don't forget the appalling misogyny of his character which he plays very strongly. I didn't find him funny in the least and would have liked a stronger reaction from the other characters to the abuse of his wife. Otherwise, I agree with you.
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