Zorro Turns Technical Trouble to Triumph???

Despite opening to strong reviews on Tuesday (See Review Round-up, 16 Jul 2008), Zorro was hit by more trouble last night (17 July 2008), when an automation fault halted proceedings on the £3 million production. As technicians rushed to locate and correct the problem, announcements asked the increasingly hot and bothered audience to wait for ten … then 15 … then 20 minutes more. After 45 minutes, refunds and exchanges were offered for those unable to wait any longer for the start of the two-hour-and-40-minute show.

The show finally went up nearly an hour late, by which time the audience (including this member of the Whatsonstage.com staff) was irate to say the least – with some elements having already started booing, slow-clapping and singing their own mocking songs in protest of the delays and scant communication.

But, like Zorro itself, this story has a happy ending. By the end of the evening, this toughest of houses were on their feet for a boisterous standing ovation – and more than a few left dancing in conga-line (if not flamenco) fashion. It’s a great credit to the fun nature of the musical and the tremendous energy and commitment of the cast that, despite such a rocky start, we were all so completely won round by the end. Olé indeed!

As for the technical problem, we’re informed by a show spokesperson today that it has now been fixed – so hopefully no more delays in future. That said, even if there are, we’d urge you to be patient. As masked man Matt Rawle says (aptly last night) in one of the scenes: “Ladies and gentleman, I assure you, it’s worth the wait.”