La Cage Aux Folles, UK Tour

Yesterday myself and my Beez popped to the Norwich Theatre Royal to see the brand new spanking touring production of La Cage Aux Folles. I have been so excited to see this for years and so has me Beez. I have loved the song, ‘I am what I am’ for ages. It is also no secret that I am a fan of drag so an amazing song plus a group of guys with make-up on and wearing sparkly dresses, I was bound to be interested in this musical. There has not been a production in the UK since 2008 which was in the West End and there has never been a UK tour before (thank you Bill Kenwright). I have watched the adaptation of the musical, The Birdcage starring Nathan Lane and Robyn Williams, which is in essence the same story. It was originally based on the French Jean Poiret play of the same name. The story sees gay couple Georges and his partner Albin who is a drag star at their nightclub. Their son, Jean-Michel, meets the love of his life who just happens to be the daughter of the local homophobic politician – great! When the two families are due to meet to bless their child’s marriage, well you can imagine how awkward things become. The 2008 revival in the West End received 7 Olivier nominations, winning Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical for Douglas Hodge as Albin.

This production stars John Partridge as Albin, Adrian Zmed as Georges and Marti Webb as Jacqueline. Partridge is a wonderful Albin but an even more fabulous Zaza (his drag act). Partridge’s camp, London accent was hilarious and I enjoyed most of his singing (too deep at times). His ad lib during his solo drag interactions with the audience were classic and he had the whole audience laughing away. Put it this way Partridge is a better Zaza than he is Billy Flynn. Star of Broadway, Television and Hollywood, Zmed, plays the role of Georges extremely well; I like to think of him as a man with too many dilemmas in his life that are simply just not worth it. Marti Webb (I am so pleased to have seen musical legend Webb sing on a stage) plays the gay couples sassy restaurant owning friend. The only problem with Webb is that she is not in the show enough with only very brief singing parts, but I was so excited to see her sing and she did not disappoint. Dougie Carter plays the couple’s son, despite being an ignorant character for the most part he has an extremely warm and powerful singing voice, I would be tempted to say that for me he had the best voice of the night. My Beez loved Samson Ajewole as Jacob, the couple’s butler (although he is a maid for the most part). There are seven guys who play Les Cagelles, Zaza’s drag entourage who do a grand job. I have to say I felt like Michelle Visage n an episode of Drag Race, seeing glimpses of Shangela and Alyssa Edwards.

The loveable Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray, Kinky Boots) writes La Cage book with music and lyrics by the amazing Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly). Herman’s score has the awesome hit, ‘I am what I am’ which Partridge makes very emotional at the end of Act 1. The score also includes catchy songs with intricate lyrics including the title song, We are what We are (a version of I am), On my arm, Look over there and the Best of times, with a very beautiful and snazzy finale. These songs do stick in your head, with gay rights song, I am, being something I often sing in the shower or while preparing the Sunday roast. This Production directed and choreographed by Martin Connor and Bill Deamer respectively, La Cage has set and costume design by Gary McCann. I have to say the costumes for the drag characters are absolutely awesome, and I would not turn any of them down once this production comes to its natural finish. They were everything you want, glittery, feathery, wavy, silky, mesmerising. The set was grand and I particularly liked at points how the side of the stage, we could not see was made to be like the stage of the nightclub and we saw backstage on the stage, really effective. Complementing the costumes how can I leave the wigs out, designed by Richard Mawbey. Blonde, rouge, brunette but my favourite were definitely the purple versions – wonderful draggy wonderful.

La Cage Aux Folles is a must see for anyone that is a fan of drag, female impersonation, but also if you are a supporter of a modern way of living and supporting the cause to get rid of old fashioned homophobic views. The musical will make you laugh and it might even make you cry. It will definitely get you singing (if you know the score) and be careful not to be caught by Zaza’s solo drag attack. Partridge has really made this character his own in a great way. The production remains at the Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday 21^st January; seats available for all the evening performances with matinees Thursday and Saturday. After Norwich you can catch this production all over the UK, including: Nottingham, Blackpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, York, Salford, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Bradford, Sunderland and Brighton with more dates to be announced. Also coming up at the NTR soon: The witches of Eastwick (Norfolk and Norwich operatic society), Matthew Bourne’s Red Shoes and Thriller Live. Please get in touch and let me know about your musical experiences; remember I am what I am, @AaronBurgess89.  

Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre

It was an overdue trip to the West End for myself and ma Beez last weekend to see the new Broadway sensation, Dreamgirls, which arrived at the Savoy Theatre in November 2016. We had such a laugh as we always do. Most of which I cannot even remember as I am sure ma Beez would agree. Secondly the thing that has stuck in my mind that I need to share was the Olive situation we got ourselves into at Zizzi’s Italian restaurant on The Strand. I had a voucher code to get two glasses of bubbly and some olives, which I later found out Beez doesn’t like. FYI you will not find this funny, the only people who will are us but I am still documenting this HAHA. So I start eating the olives but I then become bloated and they are making me feel sick. So instead of being normal and just leaving them, I feel guilty and want to hide the evidence of not eating olives to avoid negative judgement from the waiter. Where best to hide them but in the table advertisement poster on the table next door, which at this point is unoccupied. So we sit and chat, laughing like school girls at the fact we have hidden olives. When a couple sit next door with their young child, I start to have a panic attack. It felt like hours they were sat there, with these criminal olives, not even realising. Then the man goes and orders olives for his starter, this is hilarious, some on your table already mate. Then the man lifts up the table advertisement, the olives fall around on the table, me and ma Beez are dying with laughter and embarrassment and the waiter clears them off their table, with an empty olive dish sat on our table in prime view. Oh my god, how embarrassing, but funny. See told ya, you wouldn’t find it funny.  

Dreamgirls opened on Broadway in 1981 and since has never ever made it to the West End, which is ridiculous in my mind. The musical tells the fictional story of a RandB girl group, The Dreams, and their struggles to make it to the top. The dreams are the main band in the musical and the story sees their success and failures play out. The production won six Tony awards, including Best Book, Best Leading Actor and Actress, Best Featured Actor, Choreography and Lighting (losing out to Nine for Best Musical). The musical was transformed onto the big screen in 2006 starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. I love parts of the film but I thought some parts dragged a bit, the ladies songs are fabulous and some of my favourite musical songs ever. As I said last year was the first time Dreamgirls had played across the big river in London and it has been getting a lot of hype and bookings are continuing to be taken until October 2017, we will see how they fare at this year’s Olivier’s also.

Overall the production of Dreamgirls is a must-see, it has some great staging, some powerful songs, costumes that are to die for as well as a little bit of humour. I have to admit that it isn’t until ‘Family’ in Act 1 when I really got into the musical. Similar to the film, I think it has a slow start up, with nothing too catchy song wise at the start. After Family, the plot thickens, the songs get better and it becomes a fantastical show to watch. Amber Riley, best known for playing Mercedes in Glee, is playing Effie White in the London production. Oh no, not when I had planned to go to the theatre. First I miss out on Sheridan Smith in Funny Girl, then I miss out on Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard now Riley in Dreamgirls, this is not going well. I hope Amber is feeling much better and I understand this happens in live theatre, it is just annoying. As I genuinely type, I do wish Riley a speedy recovery and I hope to see you in something very soon. I think the production team must have flown in Broadway star, Marisha Wallace, as Effie White, as she was nowhere to be found in the programme. She was amazing although her ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ was a bit flaky in parts, her other songs were cut throat and her stage presence was both sassy and comedic, just what you want from an Effie White (one of my favourite musical character names, me and Beez kept saying it after every sentence – I found it funny, ma Beez was stressed bless her, and apparently my French accent is good, not intentional of course).

Deena Jones (played by Beyonce in the film) was played by Liisi LaFontaine. I enjoyed LaFontaine, she had a good voice and is very beautiful. I particularly enjoyed Ibinabo Jack’s portrayal of Lorrell Robinson – she made me laugh and sang really well. The mean and villain (if any) in Dreamgirls is Curtis Taylor, who in this production is played by Joe Aaron Reid (amazing middle name I have to say). He played the role fantastically, although the “booo” he got at curtain call I thought was unfair but it does demonstrate how well an actor he was, we cheered so don’t worry. Jimmy Early, the comedic character (as can be guessed played by Eddie Murphy in the film), was played by Adam J Bernard, again a fantastic performance and he really got the audience involved when he was on stage, really enjoyable performance. The remaining Dreamgirls cast comprises Tyrone Huntley as CC White, Nicholas Bailey as Marty and Lily Frazer as Michelle Morris.

The Dreamgirls score is not like most musicals, for those modern musical fans it is similar to The Bodyguard in the sense that R and B music is used to tell a story (note; the score is original and not based on a particular artist like Bodyguard) but it is something you need to enjoy to love the musical. Tom Eyen provides book and lyrics with music by Henry Krieger and additional material by Willie Reale. These guys have brought us classics such as ‘Family’, ‘Dreamgirls’, ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ (one of the best Act-1 endings, it is a fantastic song to attempt on karaoke and if my boyfriend attempts to break up with me, I have my Effie White performance down to a tea to get him to stay (lol!). Sorry I was talking about the songs and got distracted with my Effie White; ‘I Am Changing’, ‘One Night Only’ and of course ‘Listen’. Honestly these songs really get implanted in your head and you cannot stop singing or humming or dreaming about them, great songs.

Dreamgirls has been directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. I loved the set design (by Olivier winner Tim Hatley, also known for Bodyguard and Shrek). As in Bodyguard, he has a great way of presenting a stage on a stage if that makes any sense. By changing the stage swiftly and smoothly from front of stage to backstage, while being on a stage, works so well. The various drops are so beautiful; it has given me new ideas for when I next decorate. Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots, Aladdin), who is going to be my new stylist, costume designs and I cannot translate into a blog how amazing, spectacular and beautiful some of these designs were. In the programme there is a two-page spread on the designs and to see them come to life on the stage is gorgeous. The sparkly dresses which must weigh a tonne are so elegantly worn by those ladies; honestly, I have designed my wedding outfit based on Barnes’ work. I think I have an idea who is going to be up for costume design Olivier this year. Hugh Vanstone is our lighting designer for Dreamgirls. I always focus on the lighting in a musical, and this musical being based and telling the story of superstars, the lighting has be top notch; and it was. When you’re seeing a stage you feel like you’re at a music gig, when you’re in a side street bar, you feel like you’re there. It all makes perfect sense.

As I said for me there was a slow start to the story and you can get itchy feet. For me, half way through Act 1 and I am loving Dreamgirls. The songs are fantastic, I was singing along, the visuals of the show are amazing with the set, costumes and lighting all complimenting each other. You will leave the show singing, and I definitely annoyed the radius around us as I was practising my Effie White impression during the interval. If you have seen the film, you will enjoy the show. There aren’t too many changes and nothing major that I can recall. Dreamgirls is playing at the Savoy Theatre and bookings are being taken until October 2017. I would love to book again and try and see Amber Riley in the role of Effie, I have heard amazing things about her, but there is so much else I need to see in the West End (School of Rock, 42^nd Street, Half a Sixpence) so I don’t think I’ll get the opportunity to. I wish Dreamgirls an awesome run at the beautiful Savoy Theatre, and fingers crossed for some Olivier nominations, there are bound to be a few. Please get in touch on Twitter @AaronBurgess89 and look out for me as there are plenty of shows coming up over the next few months.