Hi,
I'm new to the forum so I apologise now if I put a question into the wrong group or anything!

I'm going to see the matinee of La Cage on 29th October I just wondered is there any part of the show where any of the performers go into the aisles or interact with the audience in any way, it's just as I have a phobia of people in costume if they come near me and for this show I have seats at the end of a row so i'm slightly worried.

Also I'd like to see the cast at the stage door, but as I've got to catch a train after the show and I anticipate the stage door to be very busy afterwards I may be unable to. Does anyone know what sort of time the cast may arrive before a thursday matinee?

Thanks

As long as you are not on the cabaret tables at the front, you should be fine!

I agree .. the front row & the cabaret tables are really the only places where there is interaction & those people are always talked to first & if they don't wish to sit there other people swap so don't worry

There is one occaision where 2 of the cagelles appear quite suddenly in the dress circle but at the side at the top of the stairs during the birdcage number ..... Their costumes then are probably the most striking . I once sat on the front row & ended up with Nick Cunninghams can-can skirt over my head ..... but my own son was in the show at the time & had tipped him off I suspect!!!

Enjoy the show ... it is such a laugh !

Thanks for your help

Saw the show yesterday afternoon, it was brilliant, loved every minute of it and John and Simon were amazing!

Saw John and Simon at the stage door afterwards too so i was very happy

Did most of the cast come out at the end of the afternoon show.

They all came out but most don't stop to chat as they know most people are waiting for John, many just walk off down the street presumably to get something to eat and have a break.
Simon was brilliant with everyone at the stage door, he was really chatty and stayed out there for ages and had many photos taken.
John took about 35 minutes to come out as he had to do an interview or something, you can't have your picture taken with him and he wouldn't do personalised signings as he only has a short time before the evening show. He was still lovely and chatty but many people get something signed and then just stand there so it can be hard to actually get a chance to speak to him and stuff.
Syrus Lowe stopped to chat and sign programmes as the audience loved him!
I'm sure other members of the cast would stop though.

Hi there! Here you can find an interview with the GREAT Simon Burke: http://www.todomusicales.com/content/conte...adway-musicals/

Unfortunately many of the people waiting for Barrowman at the stage door have not been to the performance and are simply autograph collectors and traders. They also tend to act in an intimidating manner towards genuine fans.

John did pull someone up on this on Saturday.

Oh really - What did he say?

Phoebe

Sorry double post

Did he? Good for him! What happened?

I think he recognised the guy and asked him if had been to the show that day. Don't think John believed him. He did sign for him but made him wait until the end.

Good for him! When my friend saw him in a pantomime last here he made a similar comment then to someone who hadn't seen the show but kept stage dooring.

Phoebe

Nice to hear that a star is finally trying to take a stand against the dealers while making sure the real fans get a signature. It's people like that who spoil things for everyone

This is an interesting point. I pass the stage door to the Noel Coward theatre for calendar girls. Its the same people queing for autographs every day.

The Award for most inventive lie from an autograph seller goes to...

A man presented John Barrowman with several sheets of glossy card at the stage door of La Cage. When Barrowman questioned him aboout his intentions, he said 'I swear to you, I'm making Christmas cards for my family and friends.'!!! Hmm...a likely story....

But did JB sign??

I'm not going to let this one go. I know the guy you are talking about from last Saturday - I was there as well. He is not a dealer, he is in fact connected with the army and is getting stuff signed for the "Help for Heroes" charity. He had the H4H book there which John signed (as did 17 other celebrities last Saturday) which is going for auction to raise funds for the charity and a couple of smaller photos, plus one official H4H photo which will go the same way. He was more than happy to wait until the end, and is not a pushy person in any way. Trust me we detest the dealers as much as you do.

Yes, because the man kept insisting that was what he wanted the signatures for. Of course there's a very small possibility it was a valid reason but I doubt it...

Errrrrr, no. Now I'm not going to let this go! I'm talking about people who haven't been to see performances, who wait at the satge door armed with Captain Jack photos, destined for Ebay. In fact, I heard someone joking that if JB was dedicating autographs he might just as well ask for it to be made "To my friend Ebay"!.

So anyway, the show...

I went for the second time yesterday and enjoyed it so much I'm going again next week! I think the cast seemed a little more settled in to their roles than the first time I saw them just after the last cast change, as it was much better (not that it wasn't great before!)

John and Simon are such a great team, I'm afraid of seeing anyone else in those roles in the future as they work so well. Can't even imagine what Norton was like!

I will say though, that to anybody wishing to get tickets for popular showtime (matinees/Friday & Sat evenings) before Barrowman leaves, you should make it quick, as I found it difficult to get relatively decent seats for his last performances (hence why I'm going next week). I've noticed that there are a lot of tickets for his last matinee and last evening on Ebay already though, which is SO annoying.

You should join Johns official yahoo talk group, which has a ticket database which lists tickets fans have for sale at about face value. There were tickets for the last few shows there last time I looked (the link for it is on his web site in the fanzone section)

Erm no you weren't. Your quote with your original post is the one that refers to the person I'm talking about. I'll say again he is NOT a dealer, his stuff does NOT go to eBay but a worthwhile charity (one maybe you should think about this Remembrance Sunday) and although he may not have been to see the show THAT DAY how do you know he hasn't already seen the show or doesn't have tickets to do so in the next couple of weeks?
Whilst on the subject of the "Great God eBay" anyone with any ounce of sense wouldn't buy autographs from there anyway. Probably 90% of the stuff is fake and COAs are worth nothing.
And again I'll say your views on dealers are exactly the same as ours!

So please take this up with the person who made the original post, not me for quoting it.

ANYWAY, so its official. La Cage closes on 2 January 2010. Will be a fun yet sad night

I haven't got round to seeing it yet, I'll def make the effort now. I'll wait until John's gone though I think!!

Sad that it's closing, but it has done incredibly well - it was initially meant to be a 12 week limited season!

Sad that its closing brilliant show
does anyone know whats going in its place? i saw it with John Barrowman and thought he was exceptional
Lucy

Dreamboats and Petticoats is replacing it. Tickets on sale now

Wow.
Saw JB last night after being a bit sceptical.
Unbelieveable, totally turned me round.
Brilliant performance, even better than the cast I saw at the previews.
Well done, this show has definitely grown during the run.
I'll miss it when it closes.

Saw the show a couple of weeks ago and am gutted it's announced it's closure. John Barrowman absolutely blew me away! His voice is stunning and he sits very comfortably in the role of Zaza. The ensemble of dancers were just mind blowing, I can't praise them highly enough! What talents. Simon Burke, I adored, and his partnership with JB is so convincing and moving, especially towards the end. It really is a very cleverly directed piece of theatre with some incredible performers. London is losing something very special.

Went to see this again Friday night, on the spur of the moment. It's changed a lot since I saw it in September - a lot ruder, in places, and funnier - the banter with the audience was a lot of fun.

I'm now wondering whether I can squeeze in another trip before the 28th....

Im seeing it on the 24th - After seeing the original production at the Menier I am really excited about this!

I am going to see this again on 24th. I saw it a few weeks ago and thought it was fantastic. John Barrowman fitted into the role of Zaza/Albin very well and I also thought the chemistry between him and Simon Burke was great. So looking forward to going again to see such a wonderful cast and I am gutted it is finishing.

Can anyone help me with some advice. One of the big theatres in our area has this show by an amatuer company next year. My daughter is 11 and quite a mature sensible girl who can appreciate a show with a BIT of adult humour and realise that she doesnt repeat it! She has seen the Birdcage film and loved it. Is the content of the show remotely suitable for an 11 year old or is there a lot if adult humour in it?
Thanks

I think you'll be fine taking her!

Hmmm, you should be fine, I wouldn't think the amateur company will do the croissant thing, if they do, then you could have some embarrassing moments and anything else is mostly double entendre so will probably be missed. The director of the London show has made a lot of the comedy visual as well, so I think your daughter will take it in a different way to an adult. Maybe 20 years ago this would have been quite shocking, but not now, kids are aware of same-sex partnerships etcc., but back then it would have been something to hide away.
There isn't any swearing, so you should be ok, maybe a bit of the audience interaction is a bit risque if they do that, but the poster would probably say if it was unsuitable for under 12's or whatever.

I think the croissant thing was very much over-emphasised by Barrowman, too, when Allam did it I don't rememeber it!

Thanks folks

I saw this show last Friday and thought it was brilliant. Hilarious and yet very moving in places. The audience interaction was very funny. Simon Burke and John Barrowman were very good together and their voices were amazing. The whole cast were fantastic and I think this is the best theatre night I have ever been too - really left on a high.

At the end of the show The Cagelles, Simon Burke and John Barrowman did a collection in the foyer for Children in Need - they spent a long time and I gather were doing it on other performances too so hope they raised lots of money.

I know I've read the answer somewhere but I can't seem to find it again - could someone kindly tell me how long Simon Burke is in the show for?

Many thanks,

Phoebe

Simon leaves at the same time as John - next Saturday (28th). Denis Lawson is back as Georges for the final few weeks.

Simon Burke is heading to Toronto to play Captain Von trap in the last 4 weeks of the SOM there.

Barrowman tweeted that Zaza took a tumble yesterday - anyone there and see it? What happened?

Forgot to add, Chris Mellon is playing Albin/Zaza tonight, while JB is doing Children in Need stuff.
I'd be interested to hear a report, if anyone is going.

I thought Barrowman was far too young and handsome for the role. I'm looking forward to seeing Doug Hodge again next month.

It's interesting that Dennis Lawson has a very similar singing voice to his nephew.

I can't imagine Graham Norton doing it either!

So, did anyone see the understudy Albin yesterday? Quite possibly his only performance.

Why? Albin is supposed to be 40-42, so JB is the right age, not "too young" at all.

Too handsome? Is such a thing possible?

Where have you been? XD Barrowman *is* the right age for Albin, but onstage, he could easily play early 30s without having anyone in the audience bat an eyelid. And how could anyone as handsome and ... confident as Barrowman successfully portray the fading flower that is Albin? He did his best, but he looked far more awkward in drag than in his Uncle Al get-up, which is absolutely not the right way round at all!

I don't think he looks awkward in drag at all - but maybe I'm just used to it now? Though I do think that he would make a really wonderful Georges, and hope he gets to play that part at some point in the future.

Anyway, Hodge and Lawson are back for the last 5 weeks of the run. So that should make everyone happy.