It is odd really, as a few years ago I saw an excellent Australian production of the Sam Mendes version that was exciting, well acted, well sung, fast paced and interesting. Tonight had none of this. Rufus Norris as director managed to
- Take a number of talented actors and squeeze incredibly mediocre performances out of them.
- Add a few bits of nudity that didn't make any sense and also looked dull. By the time the finale came and the cast were again stripping down you could hear the sighs in the audience...
- Add large dildos fashioned out of pantyhose and fake tits for various unknown reasons.
- Add songs that were even cut from the original production (there was good reason why "I don't care much" didn't make it).
As for the cast, Anna Maxwell Martin as Sally Bowles was a little bit too talentless and irritating. When the Nazis came to beat up Cliff I was hoping that they would also get Sally too. Alas they didn't so she did get to sing the finale. It wasn't pretty. James Dreyfus as the Emcee could sing, but not really any of the music as we know it. He was a pretty bland Emcee. Sheila Hancock also featured in the show too but was she any good? No. I guess even theatre royalty needs to work, what would do? Kander and Ebb's music didn't stand a chance alas. My nomination for this season's worst musical.
5 comments:
You said it Paul. The West End Whingers are with you all the way on this turkey. http://westendwhingers.blogspot.com
Your trite, little "critique" of Cabaret, like SO MANY of you dreary theatre "bloggers", was based on an early preview, which as we all should know by now, is constantly under transition. If you hadn't been so desperate to get £10 off your ticket price, then you might be enjoying what the majority of people, critics, and even John Kander himself have; that it is an astonishing, nihilistic take on the piece, and, to quote Kander himself, "God, I wish Fred was here to see that show tonight...he'd have been dancing in the aisles".
There's a show down the road more your level..."Daddy Cool"...
Thanks for your anonymous post... Judging by your defence of the indefencible you sound like a backer!
However at the time I saw it, it was a shit show. I don't appear to be don't alone in holding that view either... And that was after previews finished.
I will always be the first to support even the most dubious of shows, but this was crap that's been done so much better before... An astonishing production indeed... But not for the right reasons...
I will look forward to seeing Daddy Cool, just for the parrot if nothing else... I suspect it will be around a tiny bit longer than Cabaret... ;-)
Not a backer, Paul...(tired cliches from you lot). Yes, I have connection to the show, and many discussions with those involved.
The upshot is this....people who experiance theatre are NOT going to love every show, so bad luck with your £40. If you genuinely loved the theatre, you should go back to Cabaret, which is transformed into an incredible piece of drama.
Im sure the preview you saw might not have been a good show...that happens...THEY ARE PREVIEWS. So, the upshot is, you saw a duff preview, then send out vile rubbish to your queeny know-it-alls, thus writing off any future improvements as a waste of time!
What closed, spiteful little clique you are. I'd advise you to keep your over-inflated, arrogant snipings at a new website called, "amdramboreswitteraway.com
Thanks again for your comments, even if you don't like what I write (or who I am for that matter)! Absolutely it was bad luck on my part to see the show. I am not going to like everything that I see (although I usually do).
On the matter of previews I am sure like in all previews some aspects of the show do change, but again I will reiterate that from looking at the reviews of the show all the things I didn't like about it are still in it... I am sure you found the evolution of this show into its bleak nihilistic form to be fascinating, but as a theatregoer I found it to be dull and uninteresting.
Rather than just write about the shows I see I also like to write about the experience of going to the theatre. I didn't make up that bit where my neighbour announced to anybody who cared to listen "This is shit!". He said that on his own. He didn't stick around for the second half but I did, and even though the show was still in preview I could see his point by the end of it. This was a show that could have done with not making it to the West End...
Incidentally I don't know any other bloggers who write about the theatre. I don't consider myself part of any clique. But if other people can identify rubbish as rubbish good luck to them... All told, perhaps you should set up a blog as well called ilovethisversionofcabaretandamnotinsane.com? I'd read it!
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