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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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Post by drowseychap on May 17, 2017 23:55:33 GMT
Saw it tonight was unsure after reading various comments on here and seeing the great pro am productions in the 90s but with a good travel zoo offer took the plunge ..... was fun I enjoyed it and glad I went ... but didn't blow me away Set was good quality and affective but slightly claustrophobic even the out door scenes ... no st tropez beach or bay to contrast with the club Costumes very nice and sparkly but could tell were more budget .... or am I just old and hanker after the old palladium masterpieces lol ,,, The cagelles were excellent but sooooo young Adrian zmed I really liked thought he pitched it just right The audience loved Jacob .... I wasn't convinced have seen much better in the past too much Beyoncé for me John partridge felt too young for albin hated the northern accent ... looks like all the ad libs still the same even the German ref tonight and the constant getting us to clap along was annoying ... he belted out the songs and I did warm to him at the end ... but it's it's not the John p variety show someone should tell him Marti Webb Why ? Waste of her time such a small role hardly even sang maybe her name sells tickets ? All in all pleasantly surprised it's not half bad and enjoyed just being able to see this lovely musical again Stalls were half full but sure about circle ... got full ovation from the audience in stalls ... john p did appear touched and overwhelmed by it or does he do that every time ?? 🤗
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 0:41:29 GMT
Saw to show too at Hippodrome tonight, it was the best thing I've seen John in over the years and Adrian Zmed brought gravitas to the role of Georges and his singing was okay even if he did talk sing some songs but he didn't go out of his range. The Cagelles were an amazing visual site and Samson Ajewole hilarious as Jacob.
Marti Webb didn't have a huge role but made the most of her part and sung well as we would expect. I was amazed to discover she is 73 now as she certainly looks good for her age and nice featured parts may suit her more now. Alexandra Robinson was the prospective daughter in law might be one to watch as she sang well and looked stunning.
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Post by CG on the loose on May 18, 2017 14:00:42 GMT
I was there on Tuesday night and, if I view it as a standalone theatrical experience, it was pleasant enough - the first set looked wonderful, though the rest didn't quite live up to the promise, and I enjoyed the big show numbers. However I couldn't help but compare it to the Menier/Playhouse production which I saw a number of times and loved. Douglas Hodge's Albin set the bar for me and I'm afraid John P came nowhere near it. Like drowseychap , I didn't like his accent (nothing against northern accents per se, it just didn't work for me in this setting) but more than that, he simply didn't move me... at all. Samson Ajewole got his share of the laughs as Jacob, but again his performance fell far short of Jason Pennycooke's in my eyes. Marti Webb? Small part, big voice - great to see her on stage again and as @hitster says, she looks incredible for 73! I spoke to her at another event recently and she said she was having an absolute ball so good for her. So... happy I went, won't be going back.
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Post by drowseychap on May 18, 2017 17:36:11 GMT
Cg on the loose totally agree with you ...is saw John p years ago in drowsy chaperone and loved him in that ... but as u say some of the choices for this production just seem wrong An I do love Marti Webb but such a small role would have lived her to sing a little more saw her in cats years ago and the goodbye girl she was fab
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Post by hulmeman on Jun 14, 2017 22:01:48 GMT
Saw La Cage this afternoon and for what it's worth, here is my opinion. I didn't buy a programme, so forgive me not using correct names. First of all, the story, music and choreography will always carry this show as it does in this production. However, that is not the sum of the parts. Central to the story is the chemistry between George and Albin, here, there is little or none. Adrian Zmed is fine as George at times warm, then calculating but likeable and a fine singing voice. John Partridge however as Albin portrays nothing except a Manchester accent, which is at odds with the character and prevents the pointing of some jokes and other lines. For this I blame the director Marin Connor for allowing Mr Partridge to be self indulgent. There is a cross talk scene with Albin directly addressing the audience. As written by Harvey Fierstein, it is funny enough, but when you change the references to Canal St and modern shopping, it ceases to be funny. Some of the cut dialogue(the Hannah from Hamburg/Mecedes dialogue goes as does the "Diet pills have arrived.....too old, too fat" routines, which add to the funniness of the show. Of principal roles, John Partridge singularly fails. He fails to portray the mischief and vulnerability of Albin. He sings well enough, but as a pop singer rather than as a MT singer. He breaks the fourth wall too often and is more like a pantomime dame (no offence panto dames!) The actor playing Jacob mutters his way through the performance and his lack of diction prevents him delivering jokes in what should be a well over the top campfest. Note, costumes do not a performance make! Marti Webb makes a good deal of her small part. and the other principals as so Jean Michelle, Anne and her parents the Dandons. As much as anything, this is a show where the chorus have a real part and the Cagelle live up to their dangerous tag. Sets and costume are good, I didn't mind that Albin's song "Mascara" was played in the flat without the usual dressing room set. A small band sounded thin at times but overall punched above their collective weight to produce a decent and well balanced sound. At the end of the day, I was sad to see this production of one of my favourite shows. For the first time, I didn't believe any of it. I am of course in a minority as the matinee audience clambered to their feet to give the finale a standing ovation. But I regret they didn't see the show they should have seen.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 15, 2017 5:44:39 GMT
I saw it on Tuesday evening. I actually got over the accent thing within 10 minutes, I could sort of see how incongruous but possible it might be for a low rent northern drag queen to find herself falling on her feet and landing a man and a job on the Riviera. But one of my group was affronted by it and it totally spoilt it for him.
A couple of other clangers for us were the "peacock" costume, which looked terrible from the front stalls. His yellow two-piece outfit when he was playing "mother" was hideous and jarred completely in that scene and the lack of an amazing costume for the Finale was a disappointment.
On the whole we enjoyed it though. He would make a BRILLIANT Frank'nFurter. Does JP get very emotional at the end of every performance? He was in bits on Tuesday night.
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Post by hulmeman on Jun 15, 2017 12:52:10 GMT
I saw it on Tuesday evening. I actually got over the accent thing within 10 minutes, I could sort of see how incongruous but possible it might be for a low rent northern drag queen to find herself falling on her feet and landing a man and a job on the Riviera. But one of my group was affronted by it and it totally spoilt it for him. A couple of other clangers for us were the "peacock" costume, which looked terrible from the front stalls. His yellow two-piece outfit when he was playing "mother" was hideous and jarred completely in that scene and the lack of an amazing costume for the Finale was a disappointment. On the whole we enjoyed it though. He would make a BRILLIANT Frank'nFurter. Does JP get very emotional at the end of every performance? He was in bits on Tuesday night. Burly fancy you suggesting a low rent northern drag queen might find herself falling on her feet and landing a man and a job on the Riviera. That would be classified as gold digging. And in my experience, some low rent northern drag queens put more airs and graces than the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Oh, I chose to omit mention of the awful yellow outfit you mention, least people think I've got a problem, but it was bad. JP did get a tad emosh on Tuesday as well, so I think it must be part of the act.
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Post by benny20 on Jun 15, 2017 15:57:58 GMT
I saw it on Tuesday evening. I actually got over the accent thing within 10 minutes, I could sort of see how incongruous but possible it might be for a low rent northern drag queen to find herself falling on her feet and landing a man and a job on the Riviera. But one of my group was affronted by it and it totally spoilt it for him. A couple of other clangers for us were the "peacock" costume, which looked terrible from the front stalls. His yellow two-piece outfit when he was playing "mother" was hideous and jarred completely in that scene and the lack of an amazing costume for the Finale was a disappointment. On the whole we enjoyed it though. He would make a BRILLIANT Frank'nFurter. Does JP get very emotional at the end of every performance? He was in bits on Tuesday night. It was his "home town" show,first night only a few weeks after his mum had died. He made the heart symbol and said love you mum at the end
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 15, 2017 18:09:55 GMT
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Post by drowseychap on Jun 16, 2017 0:02:27 GMT
He got very emotional in Birmingham to and made the heart sign ... acted as if he was taken a back by the response when he walked down for finale ... at one point did a Liza crouch like she does at live from radio city
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