Cinderella - John Barrowman in Panto, or 'wibble'

[burntcopper]

Went to see Cinderella at New Wimbledon. With John Barrowman in it as Prince Charming, Peter Duncan as Buttons (also directing), Richard Wilson as Baron Hardup (Cinder's dad) and some girl from Milkshake (apparently it's a kid's thing on morning tv) as Cinders.


Well, we (Me, Taz and Cathy) had front row seats, and behaved disgracefully, giggling innapropriately, making comments and calling back, as you are *supposed to*. Girl playing Cinders vs. boring. Quite positive orchestra tried to drown her out while she was singing. Richard Wilson and Peter Duncan funny and adorable. We rolled our eyes or made vomiting gestures when she had a scene to herself. Dandini and the Prince turn up on stage. Engine mode set to drool, Mr Sulu...

Seriously. Gorgeous, having *way* too much fun, Prince and Dandini making comments that had *us* making comments of the extremely innapropriate nature. (It's Dandini and Prince Charming - you're supposed to, dammit! It's bloody canon that Dandini's most of the way in love with Charming.) John was having so much fun doing this that he kept corpsing and giggling. Had a Michael Rosenbaum moment with Cinders when he met her. (this is coined from the guy who plays Lex in Smallville. Lex has chemistry with everything, including inanimate objects. Kelly Brook turns up as a girlfriend. He fails completely to have chemistry with her. John has chemistry with everything, except Cinders girl.) Wisely they kept the meeting scene and most other bits where they had to talk to each other to under two minutes.

John in boots and pre-Regency wear needs to be investigated more, I tell you. In detail. Yessss. The full-bottomed coats twirl *very* nicely, which John was putting into use any moment he could - any moment he exited the stage during the ball scene, he did this step and turn that flared it out.

Anyway, giggled along, Ugly Sisters a hoot. Yellings from yours truly that got a response were one at Richard Wilson when one joke that had audience groaning and 'Hmph, they laughed at the matinee.', I yelled "They were drunk at the matinee!" "Well, they may have been drunk at the matinee, but they had taste!"
Dandini turns up in a Brownie outfit, I yell "Nice legs!" and got a thankyou.
Ashamed to say pinched an Ugly Sister's bum as they went past the front row.
Fed the orchestra chocolate at half time. This is getting to be a habit, really it is. He kept threatening not to give it back.
There was a rather cute rendition of 'Friendship' (Cole Porter, See Anything Goes) for Buttons and Cinders.

John did 'Dancing through Life' from Wicked. With Red Hot Gypsies. See me and Cathy squeal, try to resist singing along (eventually compromising by singing quietly), Cathy attempt to break my fingers, me go 'Can I have gypsies?' Taz pat my hand and go 'yes you can have gypsies'. There was cape twirling. John's singing gorgeous as always. Realised later that me and Cathy were probably the only people in the audience who knew the song. Decided John would make such a perfect Fiyero. My kingdom for an MP3 player at that point...

Had the decorating scene as slapstick (lots of added gunge) with Dandini and Buttons, Baron Hardup, Buttons and Dandini doing 'Ghostbusters', and the Ugly Sisters, Buttons, Dandini and Richard Wilson in Scouts and Brownies outfits at one point. Completely insane, but hysterical. Ball, whenever Charming and Cinders left the stage, Dandini put on rock music, sunglasses and started rocking out. Hysterical. especially as Prince kept popping back and they had to do quick change. One of the Sisters actually turned up in a performance outfit from Priscilla Queen of the Desert. See us point and go 'oh my god it actually *is*'.

Scene of Charming deciding at the end of the ball that Dandini had to go put out the proclamation, and Dandini's very slow depressed walk up the stairs had us going 'awwwww'. Fun with the Sisters trying on the slipper moment. More singing from John. :wibble: Taz and Cathy actually gagged me when Buttons complained he didn't have anyone to love after Cinders tried on the slipper. I got 'There's -' out before both of them put hands across my gob. Partially because they knew the rest of it was going to be 'There's always Dandini.'

Came out on bouncy high, got talking to a bunch of people from milliways at the stage door while we froze and awaited people coming out (got practically everyone besides Cinders), and it turned out that the cast *did* remember us, including commenting that someone had pinched an Ugly Sister's bum, me going 'um, that was me'. Got photos with John. We asked if he'd consider auditioning for Fiyero when Wicked comes to the UK in October next year and it turns out he's booked solid for the next 2 years. ooooo. Hmm, hopefully Wicked repeats its success in the UK and stays on long enough for John to take the part, because his rendition of 'Dancing through Life' is fucking gorgeous. Apparently him and Scott haven't set a date yet. He refused to say anything about Torchwood :grumble:, but did give advice to one bloke who was getting his Dr Who box set signed not to put it near anything warm as it had a tendency to peel, as his had done.

Sigh. Ohmygod he's fabulous. Wanna see agaaaaaiiiiiiin.

Comments

[andromakie.livejournal.com]

That sounds like so much fun! you do know he's in The Producers, which you have to see when it opens there. It hasn't even opened here yet, not until Christmas day except in a couple of theatres, but I saw it last week. It's good to know industry people. Also, you have to watch for Sabu the Houseboy. It's Jai Rodriguez from Queer Eye, Toronto's very own Angel.

[guyelfkin.livejournal.com]

I think Tom is miffed that he didn't get told when you were going so he could get tickets too.

Teddy