Cabaret - Playhouse Theatre

What have I just seen? I really don’t know what to make of that, apart from having Springtime for Hitler from the Producers in my head all the way home!

A full cast and unfortunately I became one of the toilet during the show people! Rare but it’s been hot and had an incredible amount of water today! They wouldn’t let me back in straight away but put me side of stage watching on a screen (Dress Circle seat) next to cast access. On my way back up I passed Amy on the stairs who said hello and said hope I was enjoying it on her way past which was a nice touch!

Tonight was a special performance for the DEC and they did speeches afterwards and 100% of tonight’s ticket money is going to DEC to help in Ukraine which is a lovely touch.

Speeches were all about no place in the world for bullying (which is close to my heart, more about that later) or aggression etc… which was led by Fra. There was the Ukrainian ambassador in attendance but didn’t come on stage.

Bullying as I said is close to my heart having been through an awful few years at work where I was continually bullied, people did notice it but didn’t speak up! This came to an end about a year ago with a new boss but there is still a lingering undercurrent there now. Why am I mentioning this well during that time I hardly did anything socially and this time last year I re found my love for theatre and to hear a speech like that a year on I know it’s been worth the effort going at least once a week for the past year.

This was the last current musical production I hadn’t seen and can proudly say I have seen everything (well musical theatre wise!)

Apologies for the lack of show content but thought it was important to highlight what was done by that cast and production company.

What a hit! I really want to see it again with Fra and Amy.

Having planned to see this on Wednesday afternoon, the cancellation of the YV show and a quick trip to the Playhouse box office late this afternoon got me a ticket exchange for tonight’s show (with a better seat in the DC than I had for the Wednesday show). Anyway, this was just an absolutely stunning piece of theatre from the very first moment you walk into the Kit Kat Club. The entire design of the production is just breathtaking. The work that was been done to make it an immersive experience by the creative team is just phenomenal from the reconfiguring of the theatre to its present design along with all the pre-show and interval stuff just adds to the fantastic experience of being inside a 1930’s cabaret club.

For the show itself, it’s easily a 5⭐️ show for me. With the two leads of Fra and Amy who both completely own the stage every time they went on, their singing was just a joy to listen to. I’ve never heard Fra sing before, but what a voice that guy has and his portrayal of the Emcee was spot on for me ( I actually preferred FF to Will Young when I saw him at the Lowry). As for Amy, I’ll admit I wasn’t entirely convinced when I’ve seen her doing the songs on the TV, but tonight I’ll happy take that all back and say she was sensational tonight. Vivian Parry and Richard Katz made a wonderful pairing as Schneider and Schultz and Anna Jane Casey as Kost / Fritizie who really was a fun watch.

Along with a great cast, I loved designer Tom Scutt’s costume designs for the Emcee. They really were some fantastic outfits for Fra to wear. The orchestra tonight bringing that classic score to life sounded great.

The only criticism I would make is that I thought the ending wasn’t as powerful in this version as in the Will Young / Louise Rednapp tour one which I thought had more emotional punch to it to close the show.

I want to take the opportunity to give a big shout out to the FOH team tonight in their handling of some disruptive audience members who where sat near me. During the first Act two ladies who had obviously had had too much to drink decided that it was appropriate behaviour to start swaying their arms in time to the music and start talking to each other at regular intervals. After a few stern words from FOH staff but obviously not having any effect on their behaviour, theatre management kicked them out at the interval despite some strong protests from the two ladies that they were “having a good time and this would be appreciated by the cast “. So being £100 out of pocket for the tickets and not seeing the complete show they will probably be nursing some bad hangovers tomorrow morning.

Despite the bad behaviour, the folk I was talking to after the incident ( one family from the US and another London based couple) all thought it was an excellent show and well worth the night out. It was also nice to be sat in the auditorium with some nice AC which was certainly welcomed after today’s heatwave.

Personally I think half an hour is enough time to enjoy the pre-show stuff.

Thanks so much everyone! X

It isn't strict at all. Can turn up whenever.

I’d say 30 seconds is more than enough. Like watching drunk drama students.

I agree about the preshow. It is good for about 3 minutes. It has nothing to do with the show itself. I loved the show, don't get me wrong, but I felt the whole immersive experience was missed. Just because you give me a free drink on the way in and decorate a whole building doesn't make it immersive! Go for the show itself. That is the true gem.

Given that the current leads are due to depart at the end of August, and seat pricing goes up dramatically from the unannounced new cast date, can we assume that it is going to be a big name again? For instance, top price currently for just a seat sits around 120 quid but from the 22nd August these shoot up to between 250-300 for just a seat without any dining.

Ah yes I remember this now. It does seem odd though that prices are nearly tripling for this without some kind of star name being added, or do we think the producers have got even more greedy than before?

I sadly still have not seen this production. I was a victim of having tickets for December and was due to attend one of the performances that was cancelled after spending 200 quid each on tickets, and was informed of the cancellation less than an hour before our arrival time on the ticket. When we were simply issued a credit note and after much toing and throughing of the box office stating that it was basically tough luck and we couldn't have the same seats and meal package at the same price for a future performance, we settled for a full refund, only for a day later the email to come through that went to all who had tickets for the cancelled performances that they would honor the original pricing, but at that time was too late as we had accepted the refund, has left a somewhat sour taste on this production, so have decided I will only see it if I ever win the todaytix lottery which despite doing nearly every day, have yet to win!

Jessie Buckley's name is currently being thrown around the producers mentioning a possible limited run return once Fra and Amy depart. Still no names for The Emcee.