Thursday, July 26, 2007

Putting London's Drowsy Chaperone To Bed

Putting London's Drowsy Chaperone To Bed

As noted in my previous post, the West End production of The Drowsy Chaperone will close next weekend (August 4) -- just shy of two months after opening to lackluster reviews.

The big question is why? Certainly, reviews weren't that bad, and plenty of other imports from North America have fared well in spite of the inherent anti-Broadway bias of many London critics.

My own theory is two-fold.

First, take a look at the marketing campaign (above) and you'll see that British theatrical legend Elaine Paige is proclaimed as the star. Imagine the word of mouth that spread regarding how disingenuous that campaign truly is. While Paige is indeed in the title role, she is a supporting player. Huge difference.

Second, the real star of the show on opening night was the musical's creator Bob Martin as the Man in Chair. But Martin already departed the show earlier this month to prepare for the first leg of The Drowsy Chaperone's North American tour in his hometown of Toronto, where the original Fringe Festival favorite world premiered.

If seething Paige fans could get beyond the fact that their beloved star was in a supporting role to enjoy Martin's utterly enjoyable performance, all positive buzz about him came to a crashing end when he left.

It's a shame that there wasn't more truth in advertising for this curious delight of a show. It deserved better.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for London tickets.
Click here for Broadway tickets.
Click here for North American tour tickets.
Related Stories:
Go East, Young Musical, Go East (July 27, 2007)
Did Chaperone Keep London's Aging Critics Awake? (June 19, 2007)
West End Drowsy Chaperone: Another Great Paige Turner (January 19, 2007)
The Drowsy Chaperone (The SOB Review) (October 3, 2006)
Mixed Reviews Tire The Drowsy Chaperone (May 2, 2006)

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, July 26, 2007 0 comments

Friday, January 19, 2007

West End Drowsy Chaperone: Another Great Paige Turner

West End Drowsy Chaperone: Another Great Paige Turner

One of London theatre's favorite musical actresses, Elaine Paige, will be stumbling along in the title role of the upcoming West End production of The Drowsy Chaperone. She'll be joined by none other than the original Man in Chair, Canadian Bob Martin (a Brit by birth), when the musical begins performances at London's Ivor Novello Theatre this May.

Although Paige has only had one turn on the Great White Way -- as a replacement for Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in 1996 -- she's been a West End staple ever since winning a Laurence Olivier Award in 1978 for her breakthrough performance as the original Evita. As if that iconic role weren't enough, she originated the role of Grizabella in another Andrew Lloyd Webber premiere: Cats in 1981.

Five years later, Paige was nominated for a second Olivier Award for her work in Chess, and her single from that show "I Know Him So Well" became an international hit. A third Olivier nomination came for her turn as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes in 1989. Her fourth nod came via her portrayal of Edith Piaf in 1993's Piaf, while number five came in 1996 with Sunset Boulevard.

Given Paige's incredible stage status, that many place in a parallel universe with American Patti LuPone -- particulary because of the many roles they've originated/played on each side of the Atlantic -- her early addition to London's The Drowsy Chaperone will surely make this original musical a hot ticket across the pond. And to think that little show had its genesis in a Canadian fringe festival!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for The Drowsy Chaperone tickets (U.S.)

Related Stories:
The Drowsy Chaperone (The SOB Review) - Marquis Theatre, New York, NY (October 3, 2006)
The Curse Of The Understudy (October 2, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
Mixed Reviews Tire The Drowsy Chaperone (May 2, 2006)
Will The Drowsy Chaperone Wake Critics? (May 1, 2006)

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Friday, January 19, 2007 1 comments

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