Review-O-Matic: La Cage Aux Folles and a (near) perfect day

[beckymonster]

- Watching 'The Doctor Dances' while getting ready. Yes, the cut quote if from the episode. Bopping around to Glen Miller's 'In the Mood' is just an added bonus;)

- Wearing sunglasses to drive to the station. It's the first week of November and it's all blue skies and sunshine. That's not a complaint, honest!

- Have camera - will picspam!

The view from one of London's many bridges (yes, I can't remember which one!)



The view from the same bridge - but opposite side. Spot 'Torchwood One' in the background;)


The London Eye through the trees.

- Saw Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan at the BFI. Thanks to the new film I am discovering/rediscovering just how awesome Mr Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is.
Still the best of the 'original' cast films; in part because of the script and a stellar (sic) turn by Ricardo Monbatalan.
(Yes, I am woman enough to admit that I cried at the end. Just like I've done on the other cough100oddtimescough I've seen this film. If it's not 'I always have been and ever shall be...', it's Kirk quoting this book that sets me off)


The view from the Hungerford Bridge - one of my favourite sights.

- Hot chocolate and watching the world go past at Caffe Nero.

- Wandering around Trafalguar Square, waiting to meet torn_eledhwen.

Is now a good time to admit that as I hadn't seen torn_eledwhen for at least two years, I was trying not to stalk people who looked like they could be her? It didn't really help that we'd agreed to meet by the stairs... there are three sets of stairs in the Square!

Thankfully we found each other and lo there was much talking - two years of catching up and talking about Doctor Who will lead to that;) Oh and there was nice food too (which I got over my shirt too - messy monster is messy!)



A very succinct and truthful review by torn_eledhwen


In short - Fabulous.

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't apprehensive about going to see the production. The reviews in the press hadn't been... kind but the reviews I'd read from other fans were effusive. Who to believe?

Well, let's just say that I don't know which production the press got to see but I *adored* every moment of it.

Yes, John Barrowman was the main reason for going and boy did he deliver but I just adored everything about the whole production. Everyone delivered - the Cagelles were a particular standout; they were all superb - never better than during 'La Cage Aux Folles' table dancing and wrapping themselves around furniture and each other!.

I must give a special mention to Simon Burke who had the, quite frankly, unenviable task of playing 'Georges' to JB's 'Albin/Miss Zaza'. It's not a really showy role (unlike Albin) but it helps to give the show it's heart. Makes a change from being terrorized by light-phobic monsters!
Between him and JB I was sold on the fact that these two *had* been together for 20 years and loved and were in love with each other. Yes, the theatrics of the 'cabaret' side of the story were wonderful but this part (along with the beautiful 'Song in the Sand') made me fall a little in love with the show.

That's not to say that JB was any kind of slouch - nononono - he gave a barnstorming performance, obviously having the *time of his life*, no less than the final number of the first act. 'I am what I am'.

The version that JB sings for Music, music, music is on my ipod but the version he sings in the production is very different. The version on my ipod is a celebration. The version in the production is a showstopping tour de force that pretty much says 'I am mad, I am upset but the show goes on!.
When Miss Zaza starts to sing, she pauses a time or two. You could have heard a *pin* drop during those pauses. 800 people were about to get a masterclass in how to sing a showstopper;)

The costumes and makeup were beautiful (I'll never look that good as long as I live! and I'm okay with that!) as was Barrowman himself - everytime he raised his arms up I got seriously *distracted* by the armporn! As for the black suit he wears during the first part of the second act - hotter than a very hot thing! Yes, he wears trousers - don't act too surprised;)

The story demands that that Albin has to 'act' normal to placate his son's future-in-laws - and he carries it off with restraint, panache and a pair of glasses that look like they used to belong to A Certain Time Lord! Or... at least that's what I thought - even when he's sitting quietly near the back of the stage, I just couldn't take my eyes off him! His entrance as Georges 'wife' (all Chanel clone jacket, pencil skirt and mary janes in black and white) is restrained and awesome!
Not to mention that the man delivers a waltz that would at least get a seven from the Strictly Come Dancing judges;)

In short - I loved every *single* minute of it - so much so that it felt like the whole production was just an hour long - not two and a half hours. The Playhouse Theatre (which is a lovely, bijou theatre) must have a time dilation device or somesuch, that's all I'm saying!:D

I'm seriously considering going again, twice even - once more with the current cast and again when the 'original' cast - including Denis 'Wedge Antillies from Star Wars' Lawson as Georges. Have to see how the money goes. Which is a testament as to how much I loveloveloved this show!




The night ended with me traversing London with a *huge* grin on my face and singing 'I am what I am' at the top of my voice as I walked back to my car... at about ten past midnight.

My thanks go to torn_eledhwen for being excellent company and generally awesome (we WILL do something like this again, soon!) and to the Universe for giving me a day like yesterday.

One final thing - GINORMOUS and amazing picspam for the London run of 'La Cage Aux Folles' - featuring various casts - spoilers for the show by bethan_b_bad.