La Cage Aux Folles - Regent's Park 2023

[mattnyc]

Sept 9, 2023 23:03:05 GMT bobbievanhusen said:

I love the policy that the Lyric had, not sure if its the same for all Nimax. You check in, of sorts, 48 hours before and if you cant make it they'll give you options for another performance with a week or 2. No hassle, no fuss, just a straight forward exchange

Was that a Covid thing or just in general?

[bobbievanhusen]

General, they were doing it for Aspects of Love, just a few weeks back.

[mattnyc]

Amazing - that’s a GREAT policy to have!

[Sean]

Sept 10, 2023 3:40:33 GMT mattnyc said:

Amazing - that’s a GREAT policy to have!

Seems to be a general Nimax policy. I’ve seen a few shows in their venues recently and each show/venue was the exact same with the 48 hour check in and details on alternative date selection if not able make initial performance. A really good policy.

[cherokee]

Sept 9, 2023 22:09:30 GMT longinthetooth said:

John Owen Jones has just posted on Twitter / X that he is out for the rest of the run, due to an ongoing viral throat infection.

Peter Forbes has taken over as Dindon.

[Being Alive]

Oh that's MUCH better casting!

[danb]

Read the room.

[ladidah]

John Owen-Jones was great, what a shame for him.

[Being Alive]

I didn't mean to knock JOJ and sad that he's had to leave the production, I just didn't think he was particularly well suited to the part when I saw him (compared to other stuff I've seen him do)

[Dr Tom]

I made a second visit last week, managing to sit at the opposite end of the front row to my previous visit. This show is in excellent shape. Even better, I picked a perfect evening for it, plus there was the benefit of the park being dark from the start.

Everyone comes across as so much more polished and the music sounds sublime.

I could have done without the audience members in the raised section who interpreted the final 10 minutes of act one as a comedy sequence, but that happens. I did hear some people asking to move seats during the interval and the ushers were accommodating.

Peter Forbes fits perfectly into his new role.

I hadn't planned a further visit but I may well try again this week, although the weather is unpredictable. I think this deserves to find a home for a transfer, as it's the best Regents Park production for quite some time.

[ladidah]

I've seen it three times, may have to go this week before it goes!

I've had a horrendous year and it's brought me such joy.

[Jay]

We travelled down to see this last Tuesday and despite two show stops to mop the stage due to intermittent rain, it was a wonderful (albeit cold and chilly) evening. Carl was brilliant but Billy Carter and the wonderful Cagelles stole the show for me. The West End needs a show like La Cage so I hope this transfers.

[harry]

With no apparent future life for this, I went again in the final week and iI was reminded just what a triumph this production is. Even stronger than at the start of the run. Peter Forbes slots in nicely - doesn’t have the towering physicality of JOJ but is funnier. All the cast have grown, especially Ben Culleton as Jean-Michel who seems much more at ease in the role. And the central relationship feels so strongly rooted in love. Heartwarming and heartbreaking by turns meaning the emotional punches at the end of each act really land.

The dancing is still stellar and the 2 big chorus numbers in the first half were on fire, plus the emotion Carl Mullaney pours into I Am What I Am sends us into the interval in breathless wonderment and tears, but for me the way The Best Of Times builds from one person sitting on the stage singing a little “chanson” to a full blown all singing, all dancing, disco ball and revolving restaurant extravaganza is the crowning glory of the show. I only wish I could go back and see it all again.

[akh]

I have tickets for tonight, Wednesday 20th. The forecast is appalling for both rain and wind, the end of a hurricane apparently. Should I travel up? Thoughts, please.

[ladidah]

I would imagine it's cancelled, I would ring them - they are very good.

[akh]

Apparently, it’s still on atm. They will take a decision when it’s due to start, which is their weather policy. Thank you, though.

[harry]

If they cancel the show you get a voucher to see any show another night, and you get that whether you turned up or not. So the only gamble if you don’t go is that they will do the show tonight and you’ll miss it. Given the horrific forecast for the rest of the day and the fact they can’t do the dancing in the rain for safety reasons I’d say on balance you could probably pretty safely stay at home and call them tomorrow to try and get in another time before the end of the week. Especially if you have a long journey. But it is a little bit of a gamble.

[anthony40]

I live within a (safe) 30 minutes walk away from Regents Park and I'm not even venturing out to the Post Office, let alone sitting in an open-air theatre watch a performance!

[theatregeek]

I’m on a 6 show, 3 day binge and caught a performance on Tuesday night. I loved the Menier production and saw it a couple of times so was very excited to see this one. I was in Row D centre with a great view. Since this was my first time at the OAT the first thing I noticed was the quality of the sound - I heard every syllable and enjoyed every note of the lovely score. I’m giving this production a 4. I really liked it but those accents did spoil it for me. I know it was discussed many pages back on here but it just made no sense having all these British accents and keep the French character names/setting etc. Dindon is now a brash Scotsman - it just jarred and spoilt it for me I’m afraid and got worse as the show went on. It wasn’t until the second half I realised Jacqueline’s was from North East England! I honestly thought it was Caribbean in the first act. Anyway, still a great production

[akh]

Sept 20, 2023 13:53:37 GMT harry said:

If they cancel the show you get a voucher to see any show another night, and you get that whether you turned up or not. So the only gamble if you don’t go is that they will do the show tonight and you’ll miss it. Given the horrific forecast for the rest of the day and the fact they can’t do the dancing in the rain for safety reasons I’d say on balance you could probably pretty safely stay at home and call them tomorrow to try and get in another time before the end of the week. Especially if you have a long journey. But it is a little bit of a gamble.

Thank you.  I decided not to go.  Does anyone know if it was cancelled last night?

[ladidah]

Can't see anything on their socials - but surely! It was torrential.

[Mark]

Can confirm it was cancelled.

[akh]

Thank you

[Dr Tom]

This afternoon’s performance was cancelled too (read on a Facebook post).

[FrontroverPaul]

Sept 21, 2023 16:48:15 GMT Dr Tom said:

This afternoon’s performance was cancelled too (read on a Facebook post).

Indeed it was and I was there.

The musicians took their positions around 14.12 and there were just a few spots of rain. At about 14.18 they announced the start would be delayed and the mops came out, the rain continued and at 14.25 we were asked to leave the auditorium. At that very moment it turned from light rain to torrential, I was in stalls row B, umbrella-less, and by the time I reached the exit and shelter I was wet through - for the second time in 24 hours as I was also soaked leaving the Albert Hall Wednesday evening after their Best Of Broadway concert.

Cancelled around 14.45 as they said Met Office had advised rain was expected to continue until 5pm. Not sure if it did as I went straight to Guildford for my evening show there.

Exchanged for tonight albeit not in such a good seat and won't get home until after midnight but didn't want to miss the show.  Then off to York by train leaving before 6am to see Beautiful there.

All good fun -sorta !