Put a little more mascara on
Being an account of going to see JB in Cage Aux Folles.
Went to see mr. Barrowman and mr. Simon Burke in La Cage Aux Folles on tuesday with Cathy. To say we were keyed up was putting it mildly - last time we saw him in non-panto was A Few Good Men, the last musical Cathy saw him in was Hair, and yours truly had to bloody go through her non-musicals phase in the 90s (helped that I was broke being a student). The merchandise girl saw me coming as I did my 'got that t-shirt, don't need a mug, not a poster person, and I'm not fond of the original recording' 'Simon Burke has an album.' '...I hate you.' (and the album is of the good.)
Simon Burke started it off well as Georges, the Cagelles were fab as usual (though slightly disappointed in audience who shoved the massive beach balls off to one side. killjoys.) and a nice starter for ten from the new bloke playing Jacob. Then comes Barrowman in corset, mules and stockings as Albin. It turns out my head can take middle-aged overweight bloke a little better in this get-up than Barrowman. Brilliant performance of Mascara, don't get me wrong, but this particular outfit wasn't... I dunno, quite settled? And the queeny bitching of this scene wasn't quite settled - Simon Burke came off better. Suspect it'll settle down as the show goes on. Barrowman in full-on ZaZa, though, is fucking ace and never, ever let up as brilliant and enjoying himself far too much.
Cue the son (new cast) who is far, far more likeable than the previous actor who I wanted to slap hsilly right up until the final scene. JB + Burke + the son do a very, very good family vibe. Then came the first cafe scene. Fucking hysterical, majorly believable in love, 20+ years relationship and boy is JB working the powder blue suit and sunglasses to full effect, getting as many queeny gestures in there as possible. Both of them terribly adorable.
JB as Zaza. Oh dear god. having way too much fun teasing the audience and either it's new or I blanked it from my mind - spinning nipple tassles. I think bleach maybe required. Then comes I Am What I Am. Pin. Drop. No, seriously. Entire audience holding their breath from the bit where he says 'excuse me, I have a show to do' on, and did JB fucking deliver. Did he ever. The audience erupted at the end of the song. Please, come back to musicals more often, you owe it to your voice (boy was overpowering everyone else). That and your acting skills.
Second act, the utter fucking genius cafe scene and learning to be macho song. Barrowman, stop playing naughty little boy. you're enjoying yourself too much. As well as the bit where his chair creaked alarmingly when asked to pick up that croissant. Props for recovering and making it part of the scene (seriously, this play is so tightly scripted that a break in the flow if not managed well could kill a scene).
Albin as Uncle Al. As fairyd has said, playing it as Clark Kent in a perfectly fitting suit does not make you look as frumpy as you're supposed to in this scene. Yes, JB's ego, I'm talking to you.
Plates scene fun as usual, and then... Mama. Barrowman is seriously, seriously good in this bit - completely relaxed and carrying it off with ease. With a very nice ear tweak to the son at one point.
Best of times, aka the Zaza and Jacqueline double act. With fairyd123 getting her hand kissed by JB when he sat down on the edge of the stage. fun, but segueing into a rather great end scene in the flat and the finale. Which of course culminates in the end kiss of sheer adorability and... dammit, can i see them two playing a couple in something else, where they get to kiss more?
Stage door, John came out pretty fast, with a fairly small crowd for a Barrowman stage door - about fifteen people? Where it's signing but no photos. Simon Burke we suspect of sneaking out behind John. And yes, we need to go again.
and now, off to Wimbledon for Rocky Horror
Went to see mr. Barrowman and mr. Simon Burke in La Cage Aux Folles on tuesday with Cathy. To say we were keyed up was putting it mildly - last time we saw him in non-panto was A Few Good Men, the last musical Cathy saw him in was Hair, and yours truly had to bloody go through her non-musicals phase in the 90s (helped that I was broke being a student). The merchandise girl saw me coming as I did my 'got that t-shirt, don't need a mug, not a poster person, and I'm not fond of the original recording' 'Simon Burke has an album.' '...I hate you.' (and the album is of the good.)
Simon Burke started it off well as Georges, the Cagelles were fab as usual (though slightly disappointed in audience who shoved the massive beach balls off to one side. killjoys.) and a nice starter for ten from the new bloke playing Jacob. Then comes Barrowman in corset, mules and stockings as Albin. It turns out my head can take middle-aged overweight bloke a little better in this get-up than Barrowman. Brilliant performance of Mascara, don't get me wrong, but this particular outfit wasn't... I dunno, quite settled? And the queeny bitching of this scene wasn't quite settled - Simon Burke came off better. Suspect it'll settle down as the show goes on. Barrowman in full-on ZaZa, though, is fucking ace and never, ever let up as brilliant and enjoying himself far too much.
Cue the son (new cast) who is far, far more likeable than the previous actor who I wanted to slap hsilly right up until the final scene. JB + Burke + the son do a very, very good family vibe. Then came the first cafe scene. Fucking hysterical, majorly believable in love, 20+ years relationship and boy is JB working the powder blue suit and sunglasses to full effect, getting as many queeny gestures in there as possible. Both of them terribly adorable.
JB as Zaza. Oh dear god. having way too much fun teasing the audience and either it's new or I blanked it from my mind - spinning nipple tassles. I think bleach maybe required. Then comes I Am What I Am. Pin. Drop. No, seriously. Entire audience holding their breath from the bit where he says 'excuse me, I have a show to do' on, and did JB fucking deliver. Did he ever. The audience erupted at the end of the song. Please, come back to musicals more often, you owe it to your voice (boy was overpowering everyone else). That and your acting skills.
Second act, the utter fucking genius cafe scene and learning to be macho song. Barrowman, stop playing naughty little boy. you're enjoying yourself too much. As well as the bit where his chair creaked alarmingly when asked to pick up that croissant. Props for recovering and making it part of the scene (seriously, this play is so tightly scripted that a break in the flow if not managed well could kill a scene).
Albin as Uncle Al. As fairyd has said, playing it as Clark Kent in a perfectly fitting suit does not make you look as frumpy as you're supposed to in this scene. Yes, JB's ego, I'm talking to you.
Plates scene fun as usual, and then... Mama. Barrowman is seriously, seriously good in this bit - completely relaxed and carrying it off with ease. With a very nice ear tweak to the son at one point.
Best of times, aka the Zaza and Jacqueline double act. With fairyd123 getting her hand kissed by JB when he sat down on the edge of the stage. fun, but segueing into a rather great end scene in the flat and the finale. Which of course culminates in the end kiss of sheer adorability and... dammit, can i see them two playing a couple in something else, where they get to kiss more?
Stage door, John came out pretty fast, with a fairly small crowd for a Barrowman stage door - about fifteen people? Where it's signing but no photos. Simon Burke we suspect of sneaking out behind John. And yes, we need to go again.
and now, off to Wimbledon for Rocky Horror