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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 17, 2022 20:29:55 GMT
The most successful Albins have been older and very much of the old school in terms of their drag/presentation
It isn't a role that calls for the modern style of drag. It would be really jarring to try to force it in that direction.
It is a period piece in so many ways and doesn't sit easily with contemporary gender theories.
Better to play it for what it is than to seek to make it something that it was never designed to be.
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Post by kyvai on Oct 17, 2022 21:32:47 GMT
I don’t disagree oxfordsimon, and I think you phrased that really well, but could a modern drag performer play the role as written, rather than just play themselves/their drag persona, that’s the question surely. I really am uninterested in an actor’s personal feelings or beliefs on gender identity, just interested in how they play the role I’m watching them in on stage.
I’ve just thought who I’d want to dreamcast…..Giles Terera
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 17, 2022 22:20:11 GMT
If a known queen was cast, audiences would be expecting to see the queen rather than Zsa-Zsa. This might be problematic if their style was at odds with the tone of the material/character.
So for it to work, it would have to be one of the old school queens who have done well in the DR franchise.
Bendelacreme, Jinxx Monsoon and Ginger Minj would all be on my list. Bianca Del Rio has done a musical in the UK and can act the role.
Of the UK queens, Vinegar Strokes is currently playing Lady Bracknell and has musicals experience. But I don't see her as having the fragility to capture Albin.
We shall see.
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Post by Jay on Oct 18, 2022 16:02:23 GMT
I would love to see someone such as Cedric Neal as Albin. He was just fantastic in the Kinky Boots concert at Drury Lane in August. He’s the right age as well.
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 18, 2022 16:14:12 GMT
Welcome to the Board, Jay. Good choice of username. CedricNeale1 would have given the game away! 🙂
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Post by Jay on Oct 18, 2022 16:22:13 GMT
Welcome to the Board, Jay. Good choice of username. CedricNeale1 would have given the game away! 🙂 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻😁
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Post by bimse on Oct 18, 2022 17:06:06 GMT
If a known queen was cast, audiences would be expecting to see the queen rather than Zsa-Zsa. This might be problematic if their style was at odds with the tone of the material/character. So for it to work, it would have to be one of the old school queens who have done well in the DR franchise. Bendelacreme, Jinxx Monsoon and Ginger Minj would all be on my list. Bianca Del Rio has done a musical in the UK and can act the role. Of the UK queens, Vinegar Strokes is currently playing Lady Bracknell and has musicals experience. But I don't see her as having the fragility to capture Albin. We shall see. The late Danny La Rue played Albin, briefly. I didn’t see the performance myself, but I’ve read that it wasn’t a big success. Danny’s drag persona seemed at odds with the role, plus he wasn’t the greatest actor, and it seems he couldn’t carry it off. His legions of fans didn’t take to him playing one of them there gays either and stayed away in droves. Similarly when he did Privates on Parade, it was not a success. His appearance in full drag (gowns supplied by Mr La Rue himself) supposedly in the middle of the jungle, interrupted the production rather than enhanced it. (As a side note, I saw him on tv in Charley’s Aunt, and again the role isn’t right for an established drag performer. The character he played is supposed to be reluctant to don the disguise of Charley’s Aunt , whereas Danny came into his own at this point, making it appear as if the character couldn’t wait to get the frock on, no surprise value, as per the plot, in fact it was expected. John Inman was a great farceur, and had more success with Charley’s Aunt , but was still not entirely convincing). I guess my musings here are making me feel an established drag performer would have to be an excellent actor to carry off the role of Albin . I saw George Hearn as Albin at the London Palladium. He was totally heartbreaking, so memorable . We’re overdue a production of the original play, La Cage aux Folles. That would require interesting casting. Ian McKellan would be great, but he’s tied up giving his Mother Goose.
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Post by n1david on Oct 18, 2022 22:27:53 GMT
We’re overdue a production of the original play, La Cage aux Folles. We had one at the Park Theatre just before 2010 lockdown, in a new translation by Simon Callow and directed by Jez Bond. It wasn't great, even with an awareness of the plot having seen the musical and the original and US film versions, it got very messy and I struggled to work out exactly what was going on. Sir Ian gave it his vote of approval but I was disappointed. But I saw it not long before everything shut down, the sense of impending doom may have affected everyone's mood. parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/la-cage-aux-folles-the-play/aboutTheatreboard opinions: theatreboard.co.uk/thread/7385/la-cage-aux-folles-london
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Post by Jon on Oct 18, 2022 22:44:27 GMT
The most successful Albins have been older and very much of the old school in terms of their drag/presentation It isn't a role that calls for the modern style of drag. It would be really jarring to try to force it in that direction. It is a period piece in so many ways and doesn't sit easily with contemporary gender theories. Better to play it for what it is than to seek to make it something that it was never designed to be. I don't think Albin is cast particularly young. The likes of Douglas Hodge, Roger Allam etc were all in their late 40s or early 50s, it wouldn't really work with someone who is in their 30s.
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 18, 2022 22:59:05 GMT
Cedric Neal wouldnt do it for me personally - I don't consider him a strong actor (that's just me) and Albin needs one
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Post by inthenose on Oct 19, 2022 11:27:28 GMT
Cedric Neal wouldnt do it for me personally - I don't consider him a strong actor (that's just me) and Albin needs one And I’ve never heard of him… I don’t watch the talent/reality shows on TV (except Judge Judy!) so I haven’t heard of most of the suggestions on this thread. As Roger Allam decisively proved, the plan should be to get an excellent actor to, you know, act. Pretend to be the character. They could be gay/straight/trans or any background, it doesn’t matter. What they should be is good enough to be there based on talent, not whether they already are close to the character in real life traits. Graham Norton at the Playhouse Menier transfer was actually embarrassing. Just cast Judge Judy.
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 19, 2022 12:01:17 GMT
Cedric Neal was a West End performer before he was on The Voice, I just don't particularly find him a good actor, which Albin needs to be.
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Post by Mark on Oct 19, 2022 13:03:21 GMT
As Roger Allam decisively proved, the plan should be to get an excellent actor to, you know, act. Pretend to be the character. They could be gay/straight/trans or any background, it doesn’t matter. What they should be is good enough to be there based on talent, not whether they already are close to the character in real life traits. Agreed. I couldn’t give a damn about whether the actor playing Albin (or indeed anyone) is gay/straight/bi/whatever. If we had a rule of exclusively gay actors for gay roles and straight actors for straight roles, we’d struggle to cast anything.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 19, 2022 14:35:49 GMT
Whilst I agree there shouldn't be a rule that certain actors can only be considered for certain roles, this is a musical written by a gay composer to a book by a gay writer about a gay couple and their extended family. I would hope that the casting is sympathetic to that.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 16, 2023 10:51:14 GMT
I hear this is going to be set in north of England #levellingup
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2023 11:03:15 GMT
I hear this is going to be set in north of England #levellingup Very weird that you resurrect the thread the very morning after I had a weird dream about the show. In the dream it was La Cage but all of the sets and costumes were in the style and colours of Legally Blonde. It looked hideous, obviously. I do hope the OAT aren’t going to screw this fabulous show up.
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Post by alece10 on Mar 16, 2023 11:05:56 GMT
I hear this is going to be set in north of England #levellingup Very weird that you resurrect the thread the very morning after I had a weird dream about the show. In the dream it was La Cage but all of the sets and costumes were in the style and colours of Legally Blonde. It looked hideous, obviously. I do hope the OAT aren’t going to screw this fabulous show up. Agree. Don't mess with a great traditional musical and let's see it as Jerry Herman intended.
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Post by richey on Mar 16, 2023 11:15:18 GMT
Didn't John Partridge play the role with a northern accent in the last tour? I didn't see it but recall reading about it. Hopefully the fact he's just been announced as Hugo in Everybody's Talking About Jamie will rule him out of this show
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2023 11:38:47 GMT
Didn't John Partridge play the role with a northern accent in the last tour? I didn't see it but recall reading about it. Hopefully the fact he's just been announced as Hugo in Everybody's Talking About Jamie will rule him out of this show Yes he did. It was terrible. Totally took you out of the mood of the story.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 16, 2023 11:40:47 GMT
Very weird that you resurrect the thread the very morning after I had a weird dream about the show. In the dream it was La Cage but all of the sets and costumes were in the style and colours of Legally Blonde. It looked hideous, obviously. I do hope the OAT aren’t going to screw this fabulous show up. Agree. Don't mess with a great traditional musical and let's see it as Jerry Herman intended. I can see the North working for this show, La cage is as French as Crazy for you is the wild west
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Post by alece10 on Mar 16, 2023 11:52:39 GMT
They could set it in Blackpool and the night club could be Funny Girls.
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Post by ladidah on Mar 16, 2023 12:42:35 GMT
Please don't let this be in a Billy Elliot or Full Monty style.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 16, 2023 12:54:01 GMT
This is a musical based a French play that was adapted into a French film. Jerry and Harvey retained the original setting - when they could easily have changed it
Song on the Sand is scored with accordion just to reinforce that sound world and setting.
Yes, Blackpool is a seaside town with a drag club but the whole vibe of the place is very far removed from the French Riviera. One setting has glorious weather, stunning scenery and glamour. The other has donkeys, sticks of rock and grit.
Some pieces can be relocated in time and/or place. This should be left alone.
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 16, 2023 14:34:51 GMT
Yes, Blackpool is a seaside town with a drag club but the whole vibe of the place is very far removed from the French Riviera. One setting has glorious weather, stunning scenery and glamour. The other has donkeys, sticks of rock and grit. Bit hard on the Rivera. I'm sure the sun must shine occasionally. 😁
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 9, 2023 23:57:23 GMT
Hoping we get some casting hints soon.
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 12, 2023 15:01:24 GMT
They should cast Hadley Fraser as Albin, but they won't and we're gonna end up with some weird interpretation
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Post by ladidah on Apr 12, 2023 15:28:42 GMT
He was wonderful in Young Frankenstein
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 12, 2023 16:59:52 GMT
I’ve heard Le Gateau Chocolat as Albin… This was also the last rumour I heard. Also I think I recall that Tim Sheader and Harvey Fierstein were in some sort of discussion about Sheader’s desires for this production, which Fierstein was resisting. My memory isn’t 100% clear and it was a while ago so I don’t know what the situation is now.
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 12, 2023 17:03:01 GMT
I just...don't need to see that
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Post by alece10 on Apr 12, 2023 17:07:33 GMT
Please don't let that be true. I really would like to see La Cage again but that casting would be a definite no for Me
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