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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 9:27:21 GMT
For those keeping score Adrian Zmed still doesn't seem to know his lines... I did however love this production, and came out remembering just how much I love La Cage, and I think this production holds up well (this from someone who saw the London/Chocolate Factory production about 5-6 times)Whatever someone has slipped Bill Kenwright, keep doing it. It looks great- the club set transitions nicely to the apartment and none of it looks wobbly or cheap, and the costumes are as fabulous as you'd hope. I did think Zmed was the weak link, fumbling lines and just well not quite right- I always see Georges as suave, sophisticated and charming and I wasn't getting that from him really. He wasn't terrible just not...great. The Cagelles were fabulous, funny as well as talented and beautiful. But John Partridge is just stunning- he flits between "being Zaza" and Albin and is hilarious as ZaZa and moving as Alin- I loved him. Seemed to be mishap night- first Hanna got her whip stuck (not a euphemism!) and despite valiantly trying had to give up on her joke and sidle off stage (still trying to get the whip out of the feathers. Then John Partidge took an epic tumble down the stairs...which I thought was a fake fall at the time (and was pretty epic) but at the curtain call he took off a shoe and then when they were supposed to exit up the stairs said to Zmed 'I can't' and they both exited at the side- he tweeted after that he was in A&E so I hope he's alright. Overall it was a fun, sparkly and camp as expected but also as moving. For me there's nothing like that ending where Albin appears looking handsome as hell and Georges goes to him...I'm an old romantic under this cynical heart  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 17:52:15 GMT
I'm going tonight! Hope NHS Wales has mended John Partridge's foot ...
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Post by CG on the loose on Feb 1, 2017 18:13:13 GMT
I'm going tonight! Hope NHS Wales has mended John Partridge's foot ... According to his tweets, he'll be there - two shows today - but possibly in wellies ;-) |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 20:30:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 23:16:04 GMT
Loved this show tonight. So did the rest of the audience. From the performance, would have had no inkling of a possibility of a foot incident having occurred!
I feel so warm towards this production. It retains the Broadway element, with the music and the presence of Adrian Zmed, and it also keeps the original Riviera setting. But it's also gloriously British, with lashings of music hall vibe - and John Partridge (who I hadn't previously heard of, I'm ashamed to admit) absolutely owns the stage.
When I've stopped thinking about tonight, I'll read emicardiff's blog!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 8:32:14 GMT
Totally agree! it had a real 'British' feel in a good way, old fashioned without feeling dated. I also had never heard of Partidge before, shame on me!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 2, 2017 13:34:29 GMT
Loved this show tonight. So did the rest of the audience. From the performance, would have had no inkling of a possibility of a foot incident having occurred! I feel so warm towards this production. It retains the Broadway element, with the music and the presence of Adrian Zmed, and it also keeps the original Riviera setting. But it's also gloriously British, with lashings of music hall vibe - and John Partridge (who I hadn't previously heard of, I'm ashamed to admit) absolutely owns the stage. When I've stopped thinking about tonight, I'll read emicardiff's blog! Ok, who are you and what have you done with HG?  |
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Post by jampot on Feb 17, 2017 12:50:39 GMT
Coming to soton june...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 9:08:14 GMT
Ok I so I went to see it Saturday night in Nottingham.
I loved it, I really did. BUT with a few tweaks it could be absolutely outstanding! The majority of the cast were fantastic but there were a definite few weak links. I really really liked Adrian as Georges, I just wish he would learn his lines!!! In most scenes he stumbled across them and had to restart the line again. But I particularly liked his take on the character and his singing was great. Jon De Ville as Francis is the closest thing to an amateur performance, in a professional show I have ever seen. His delivery just seem completely off. Samson Ajewole was good as Jacob the butler BUT he just seemed a little TOO panto, a good 90% of his lines were directed straight to the audience.
Right....John as ZaZa, he is absolutely fabulous but I just don't know if he is right for the part. I think Albin should be older and more vulnerable, whereas Johns portayal is gorgeous and looks as though he would eat someone alive if they try and replace him. I also just don't think it works having him as Northern........
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 20, 2017 10:02:00 GMT
Right....John as ZaZa, he is absolutely fabulous but I just don't know if he is right for the part. I think Albin should be older and more vulnerable, whereas Johns portayal is gorgeous and looks as though he would eat someone alive if they try and replace him. I also just don't think it works having him as Northern........ What part of the north is he portraying with his accent?  Just kidding!  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 10:11:19 GMT
I think it was Scottish ;-)
x
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Post by michalnowicki on Mar 8, 2017 10:22:56 GMT
I saw La Cage last night in Edinburgh Playhouse. I enjoyed this production, but I feel like there were some things that didn't make sense. But let's start with what I liked. Les Cagelles were really good and made a great impression. I did feel like some of them knew their blocking better than others, but overall they were fab. I liked the set, the club looked like a cage, the transitions between the club, the room, the cafe, etc. were done nicely and smoothly. I loved the voice and the way the actor playing Jean-Michelle was singing. I also like the character of Jacqueline and I thought the actress playing here done a great job (sorry for no names, I'm at work with no programme next to me).
What I didn't like was the inconsistencies between the story and what was actually happening on stage. Georges open the musical by saying that we are in Saint-Tropez, but when we get to ZaZa's room, there is an Edinburgh skyline with Arthur's Seat visible in the distance... Seriously?! I get it, it's a nice nod towards the audience, but for heaven's sake, make the story stick together! And then a line about someone "who is she? An attache to CC Blooms?!" (gay club in Edinburgh).
Jacob was too much of a cliche panto character and really annoyed me. But what really confused me was when John Partridge (whom I loved in Chicago as Billy Flynn) started to make standup-like jokes at the audience, commenting on what they are wearing (and making references to brands like Primark, Debenhams and Per Una - very Saint-Tropez!). This particular scene dragged mercilessly for me (but the crowd loved it).
As for Partridge's and Zmed's performance - I really like Partridge, I think he has a good, strong voice, but for me he sounded too deep, too masculine, and was overusing vibrato. Zmed mixed up his lines couple of times and I cringed when he sang "Something about caring... sharing!.... Something about always"... But he was very good as the emcee of the club - very convincing.
Overall I had a good night (although my boyf was huffing and puffing because of all the people around us woo-ing all the time).
3/5
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 8, 2017 10:28:58 GMT
Jacob was too much of a cliche panto character and really annoyed me. But what really confused me was when John Partridge (whom I loved in Chicago as Billy Flynn) started to make standup-like jokes at the audience, commenting on what they are wearing (and making references to brands like Primark, Debenhams and Per Una - very Saint-Tropez!). This particular scene dragged mercilessly for me (but the crowd loved it). Oh God, no. Why cant people just stick to the script and stop trying to make it all about them? I dont think anyone else has mentuoned this previously so if its a sign that JP is getting bored already then it doesn't bode well for the rest of the tour. |
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Post by michalnowicki on Mar 8, 2017 10:32:06 GMT
Jacob was too much of a cliche panto character and really annoyed me. But what really confused me was when John Partridge (whom I loved in Chicago as Billy Flynn) started to make standup-like jokes at the audience, commenting on what they are wearing (and making references to brands like Primark, Debenhams and Per Una - very Saint-Tropez!). This particular scene dragged mercilessly for me (but the crowd loved it). Oh God, no. Why cant people just stick to the script and stop trying to make it all about them? I dont think anyone else has mentuoned this previously so if its a sign that JP is getting bored already then it doesn't bode well for the rest of the tour. I was really confused. Before I only heard the cast recording with Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge, in which ZaZa just sings the goddamn song! And when he was dragging the scene I was close to heckling "on with the scene!" (I would never do that, I'm a good boy). But my boyfriend asked me "What is he on about? Should that be in the scene?" |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 11:43:55 GMT
Jacob was too much of a cliche panto character and really annoyed me. But what really confused me was when John Partridge (whom I loved in Chicago as Billy Flynn) started to make standup-like jokes at the audience, commenting on what they are wearing (and making references to brands like Primark, Debenhams and Per Una - very Saint-Tropez!). This particular scene dragged mercilessly for me (but the crowd loved it). Oh God, no. Why cant people just stick to the script and stop trying to make it all about them? I dont think anyone else has mentuoned this previously so if its a sign that JP is getting bored already then it doesn't bode well for the rest of the tour. He was doing it in Cardiff too, and they seem to insert 'funny' and 'local' references too at other points in the show...it was the one thing about the production I really disliked. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 11:46:40 GMT
Yep, same in Nottingham, making references to shops and local towns
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 8, 2017 11:46:46 GMT
Did the rest of audience lap it up emi and reecey?
Maybe we're just being dreadfully snooty or something, and we're the odd ones out!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 11:53:49 GMT
well if I can judge the rest of the audience by the extremely over the top howling laugh of the guys in front of me, who may as well have been carrying banners with "look at me! look at me! I love this" then yeah they adored it!!
We may very well be the odd ones out, but I am not taking that as a bad thing! xx
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 11:56:34 GMT
Did the rest of audience lap it up emi and reecey? Maybe we're just being dreadfully snooty or something, and we're the odd ones out! Yeah they LOVED it. Bleugh, I wanted to crawl under my seat personally, cringe cringe and cringe!
Still not as bad as Kelsey Grammar's wig...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 12:24:25 GMT
Haha!
I think the three of us should start going to shows together, we clearly have very similar tastes and opinions!
x
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Post by michalnowicki on Mar 8, 2017 12:59:33 GMT
Did the rest of audience lap it up emi and reecey? Maybe we're just being dreadfully snooty or something, and we're the odd ones out! I was wondering about the same thing last night. Am I too demanding? Are others less demanding? Maybe I'm just uptight? I'm glad that people liked it though. |
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Post by paulbrownsey on Mar 8, 2017 21:02:15 GMT
"But what really confused me was when John Partridge (whom I loved in Chicago as Billy Flynn) started to make standup-like jokes at the audience, commenting on what they are wearing (and making references to brands like Primark, Debenhams and Per Una - very Saint-Tropez!). This particular scene dragged mercilessly for me (but the crowd loved it).
"
I didn't much like it either, but I could see a point to it. In previous productions of Cage I've seen, I don't remember much showing Zaza in performance as a star. Giving him an extended scene interacting the audience at least enabled you to see him as a performer in the club.
"(although my boyf was huffing and puffing because of all the people around us woo-ing all the time)."
Audience selfishness that is too common these days and which has led me to cut back considerably on theatre attendance. I really am fed up paying good money to watch what's going on on the stage only to have people chattering and whooping and rustling bags and eating and singing along and all the rest of it next to me. And standing ovations annoy me, too, because they tend to deny you the finale unless you stand up, too. Those wretched talent shows on TV seem to have encouraged this in audiences.
All told, I thought it was a pretty good show, but, like so many touring musicals, it was under-populated. The cast totalled 18: not enough. The Masculinity number was performed by a mere sextet, including Albin and Georges; I've seen production with a biggish cast of sailors and dockers and suchlike.
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Post by daniel on Mar 8, 2017 22:48:52 GMT
It reminds me of Brian Conley in Barnum...taking five minutes out of the show to break the fourth wall and start bantering his terrible jokes with the front row. The same terrible jokes he makes in panto. Every year.
Maybe sticking to the script is indeed too difficult these days!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 8:29:26 GMT
I didn't' mind the 'improv' as much in the scene as Zaza in the club- previous productions have allowed ad lobbing there and it works as it's supposed to be Zaza on stage- obviously how well it works depends on the quality of your performer (Graham Norton, we're still looking at you...) however even though it was 'appropriate' to the scene one of my pet peeves is 'funny local references' I just find it cringeworthy, so while the mocking of 'Phil Mitchell lookalike' in the front row was tolerable, jokes about Swansea and Minskeys (local drag club) made we want to curl up in a ball...
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Post by paulbrownsey on Mar 11, 2017 20:42:19 GMT
WHY WERE WE SEARCHED?
People attending the matinee in Edinburgh on March 9th had their bags searched. The searcher said something about looking for high-grade chocolate but I take it that that was a joke meant to make the situation easier (or was the Playhouse trying to stop people bringing in their own chocolate instead of buying it there?). I was too taken aback to ask what it was all about. Does anyone else know?
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