burntcopper (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
burntcopper) wrote2009-10-06 03:26 pm
burntcopper) wrote2009-10-06 03:26 pm
Like No Business I Know
Went to see Annie Get Your Gun at the Young Vic, starring Jane Horrocks and Julian Ovenden (though given that I've never seen Foyle's War, I had no idea who he was). Which turned out to be opening night. Hee.
First, got stuffed at Maison Don Felipe, as is traditional with my family (it's a superior tapas bar opposite the theatre - tiny, stuffed to the gills and you can't hear yourself think). One day we'll make it the Young Vic restaurant or one of the others along The Cut. One day.
Trooped in, got some seats, and then started giggling because we'd managed to sit in our personal seats. (see http://twitpic.com/k8eah for evidence) Given that we've been looking for them for about two years and never found them... added bonus that we had Mum's sister Sam with us, who sat in Mum's and went 'hoi, what's this?'
Opened with a bit of full cheese 1950s Disney-type travelrama, which segued into a 1950s-ish motel foyer/dining room (where I had a bit of a headspin since it's supposed to be set around 1880), and the members of the circus advertising it. Utter. Pure. Gold. from then on in. The supporting cast gel wonderfully and would be stealing the show if the leads were any weaker, the general choreography is great and makes the most of the staging (v.small stage, wide but only a few paces deep, so the action tends to move from side-to-side and creates a few utter genius sight gags. Was a bit odd going to the Young Vic and seeing non-in-the-round, though I'd probably recommend upstairs seating since it looked like they had a better view as the stalls floor isn't on any slope whatsoever.) Julian Ovenden was good and in fine voice as Frank Butler, with a nice line of totally in love with himself showman, believably harried when it was called for, great chemistry and rivalry with Jane Horrocks' Annie. The only slightly off thing with his performance was that unlike most of the rest of the cast, he didn't sing in an American accent - when everyone else is singing with a twang, it's a bit noticeable.
Then onto the stage comes Annie. A gawky, gurning teenager from hicksville (in converse, a denim skirt and a washed out mickey mouse t-shirt). No, really. Utterly believable teenager, prone to bad giggles, with bugger all social graces. Very charming, and the bit where she starts to flirt very, very awkwardly with Frank has you going 'augh! flashbacking! flashbacking! too close to the bone!', with Frank humouring her, and they've got great 'I will not let any bastard get one over on me' any time they compete.
Annie signs up, and cometh one of the great genius piece of sets. To illustrate a train (or ship, 2nd act), standard chair lined up along the stage, but behind them is a conveyer belt which they put models of oil onkeys, telegraph poles, horses, sheep (don't ask about the sheep. never ask about the sheep.) which had the audience in fits of laughter. And everyone sways! For this scene? Special mention for all the chorus dressed as Red Indians doing deadpan in this scene. Um... the rest, the utter cuteness of Frank realising he's fallen for Annie even though she's the opposite of everything he's professed he wants, Sitting Bull being more awesome than is possible, Annie glaring at people, and any time Frank and Annie get up on their high horses with each other. Oh, and another travelogue at the beginning of act 2.
Interesting observations : Jane Horrocks' singing voice varies between country twang and what sound like one of the great musical divas (couldn't pinpoint which one) depending on the song. Considering she was the inspiration for Little Voice, one does wonder if she has her 'own' voice. I'm sure she talked about this in an interview once. Also, didn't know 'There's No Business Like Show Business' is from this musical.
only off notes : 'I've got Sunshine', though well sung, does not work. Choreography is shit and looks like they're spinning around with no plan. Doesn't fit at all with the rest of the play. And though I know this is part of the play, the first act is too bloody long. You kept expecting it to end and then another scene would come out of the woodwork. I was wondering if they'd decided to do the entire thing in one go.
Pouting muchly because they didn't have programmes, only call sheets - they hadn't got the photos done and were taking photos that night and were taking orders for the programmes. Fail on the organisation, Young Vic.
First, got stuffed at Maison Don Felipe, as is traditional with my family (it's a superior tapas bar opposite the theatre - tiny, stuffed to the gills and you can't hear yourself think). One day we'll make it the Young Vic restaurant or one of the others along The Cut. One day.
Trooped in, got some seats, and then started giggling because we'd managed to sit in our personal seats. (see http://twitpic.com/k8eah for evidence) Given that we've been looking for them for about two years and never found them... added bonus that we had Mum's sister Sam with us, who sat in Mum's and went 'hoi, what's this?'
Opened with a bit of full cheese 1950s Disney-type travelrama, which segued into a 1950s-ish motel foyer/dining room (where I had a bit of a headspin since it's supposed to be set around 1880), and the members of the circus advertising it. Utter. Pure. Gold. from then on in. The supporting cast gel wonderfully and would be stealing the show if the leads were any weaker, the general choreography is great and makes the most of the staging (v.small stage, wide but only a few paces deep, so the action tends to move from side-to-side and creates a few utter genius sight gags. Was a bit odd going to the Young Vic and seeing non-in-the-round, though I'd probably recommend upstairs seating since it looked like they had a better view as the stalls floor isn't on any slope whatsoever.) Julian Ovenden was good and in fine voice as Frank Butler, with a nice line of totally in love with himself showman, believably harried when it was called for, great chemistry and rivalry with Jane Horrocks' Annie. The only slightly off thing with his performance was that unlike most of the rest of the cast, he didn't sing in an American accent - when everyone else is singing with a twang, it's a bit noticeable.
Then onto the stage comes Annie. A gawky, gurning teenager from hicksville (in converse, a denim skirt and a washed out mickey mouse t-shirt). No, really. Utterly believable teenager, prone to bad giggles, with bugger all social graces. Very charming, and the bit where she starts to flirt very, very awkwardly with Frank has you going 'augh! flashbacking! flashbacking! too close to the bone!', with Frank humouring her, and they've got great 'I will not let any bastard get one over on me' any time they compete.
Annie signs up, and cometh one of the great genius piece of sets. To illustrate a train (or ship, 2nd act), standard chair lined up along the stage, but behind them is a conveyer belt which they put models of oil onkeys, telegraph poles, horses, sheep (don't ask about the sheep. never ask about the sheep.) which had the audience in fits of laughter. And everyone sways! For this scene? Special mention for all the chorus dressed as Red Indians doing deadpan in this scene. Um... the rest, the utter cuteness of Frank realising he's fallen for Annie even though she's the opposite of everything he's professed he wants, Sitting Bull being more awesome than is possible, Annie glaring at people, and any time Frank and Annie get up on their high horses with each other. Oh, and another travelogue at the beginning of act 2.
Interesting observations : Jane Horrocks' singing voice varies between country twang and what sound like one of the great musical divas (couldn't pinpoint which one) depending on the song. Considering she was the inspiration for Little Voice, one does wonder if she has her 'own' voice. I'm sure she talked about this in an interview once. Also, didn't know 'There's No Business Like Show Business' is from this musical.
only off notes : 'I've got Sunshine', though well sung, does not work. Choreography is shit and looks like they're spinning around with no plan. Doesn't fit at all with the rest of the play. And though I know this is part of the play, the first act is too bloody long. You kept expecting it to end and then another scene would come out of the woodwork. I was wondering if they'd decided to do the entire thing in one go.
Pouting muchly because they didn't have programmes, only call sheets - they hadn't got the photos done and were taking photos that night and were taking orders for the programmes. Fail on the organisation, Young Vic.
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