45 replies to this topic

[Richey]

it went down very well in Salford last night. Will Young was excellent and engaged the audience from the start. There were one or two moments when he seemed drowned out by the orchestra, particularly during 'Wilkommen' and the Money song where I struggled to make out the words. Michele was a lovely suprise, her singing was perfect- I had goosebumps during 'Maybe This Time' and 'Cabaret'.
The whole cast has energy and the choreography breathtaking. Whilst the production is virtually the same as the previous west-end incarnation I was impressed by the changes which added that little bit more. The staging of 'Tomorrow belongs to me' was a personal highlight , and the final tableau still gives a chill

oh and does anyone know what's happened to Matt Rawle?

[Titan]

Is he still not in it? He was out of it in Southampton as the director had to go on

[Richey]

Titan, on 26 September 2012 - 05:45 PM, said:

Is he still not in it? He was out of it in Southampton as the director had to go on

No - we had Henry Luxemberg- his bio was in a photocopied sheet inside the programme

have just come across an interview with Michele Ryan where she says he sustained an injury onstage and consequently she has gone through four leading men on tour

[zyx123]

Matt Rawle was back on for the matinee today. Shame the understudy Sally wasn't on.

[Jamiem]

Richey, on 26 September 2012 - 07:06 PM, said:

No - we had Henry Luxemberg- his bio was in a photocopied sheet inside the programme

have just come across an interview with Michele Ryan where she says he sustained an injury onstage and consequently she has gone through four leading men on tour

Tramp

[JonnyBoy]

I have just returned from Cabaret at the Lowry in Salford.  I have seen the production twice before, once in the West End and once on a regional tour.  Tonight's show was the best of the three.  The casting is absolutely spot on.
I am not a Will Young fan and I went to this highly sceptical of the casting.  I think the production itself is superb but it seems to have been reinvented with Will Young as the Emcee.  He's camp, he spits, snarls, gurns, shouts and screams his way through the role (and he sings hauntingly well).  He takes us through the decadence and horror of the time and he gives a revelatory performance that is both funny and immensely sinister.  The show seems to be centred more around the Emcee and this is to its advantage.
Michelle Ryan was a great Sally Bowles - Samantha Barks was too young in my opinion - but Ryan gives a performance that is emotional.  Her voice is good too.
The other casting roles are all excellent.  The elderly couple are too sickly sweet for me in this production but it doesn't harm the production, although the Hawaiian dancers are possibly OTT.
I noticed quite a few changes from the West End production.  Most changes improve the show further.  Oddly though, 'Don't Tell Mama', one of my favourite songs, is now shown from a backstage point of view so we only hear snatches of it.  Tomorrow Belongs To Me was my highlight - I won't spoil how it's done but it's amazingly effective and powerful.  And the final scene is still overwhelming.
The show feels fresher than ever and Will Young is giving the performance of his life.  5/5