Marguerite - the musical for grown-ups June 14, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Theatre Royal, marguerite , trackbackMarguerite The Musical
Marguerite is an ideal choice if you are planning a theatre break in London and fancy something a bit more grown up than the usual fare. Tempted by some of the comments on the blog we went to see Marguerite, currently playing at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. I was hoping for a rather special treat and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Theatre Royal
The Theatre Royal, Haymarket is a gorgeous traditional theatre. As we reached the grand entrance and saw the stylish posters I began to feel quite excited. We’d allowed ourselves plenty of time to get there so were in no hurry. I treated myself to a programme and we made our way to the elegant downstairs bar. The bar was comfortably cool and surprisingly airy after the heat of the busy city. After a casual glance through the programme and a glass of my favourite dry sherry it was time to head for our seats.
As we waited for the start we spent our time people watching. It’s a very different crowd to the one you see at Wicked, that’s for sure! I think it really must be a musical for grown-ups. The audience was quiet and attentive, clapping and showing their appreciation. They seemed content to wait for the interval to eat and I didn’t see any giant buckets of popcorn, or any mobile phones.
Marguerite - The Show
Soon I was swept up in the romance of the story. Based on the Dumas novel La Dame aux Camélias it is a plot that has been used many times since, most recently by Baz Lurman in Moulin Rouge. Having said that, for Marguerite the action moves forward to wartime Paris and this adds some fresh twists and turns to the plot. Marguerite is the doomed heroine, Otto her German lover and Armand the young French muscian with whom she falls so devastatingly in love. Their love affair is echoed and contrasted with that of another pair of lovers, Annette, Armand’s sister and Lucien, her Jewish partner.
The Cast of Marguerite
Our star, of course, was Ruthie Henshall as Marguerite. She starts off as brittle and brilliant as the China Doll of the song and gradually shifts into someone much more human and sympathetic. Not an easy thing to do at all but I think she did it with panache.
Played by Julien Ovendon, Armand was everything you’d expect, rash, impetuous and obsessed. Idealistic about his love for Marguerite, he’d no time for her attempts to make him see the impossible situation and dangers they faced. His voice soared in their duets but I found it most moving when he sang What’s Left of Love? Hankies at the ready!
Alexander Hanson even made Otto almost sympathetic at times, as trapped in some ways as Marguerite, before eventually showing his darker more, ruthless side.I was a bit worried that the sight of stage Nazis might be a little too close to Springtime for Hitler, or worse yet ‘Allo Allo’! but it was skilfully avoided.
I though Annalene Beechey played Annette, Armand’s sister very convincingly and her voice was just a delight, so pure and clear, quite heart rending at times. Her voice blended so well with Simon Thomas, who played Lucien, and their duet ‘Take Good Care of Yourself ‘definitely brought tears to my eyes.
Then there’s Marguerite’s agent, Georges, a slippery character played wonderfully by Andrew C Wadsworth. In the second act Gay Soper as the Chanteuse sings a couple of songs, including one in French, in the chanteuse style which I particularly enjoyed.
The ensemble deserve a mention as their singing of some pretty complex stuff was brilliant. The song Day by Day changes gradually each time it is sung till by the end the meaning has totally shifted. Their acting was good too, portraying a group who always knew how to look after themselves.
The Music
Some people have said they didn’t enjoy the music but I loved it. The songs have filled my head for the last couple of days. I do have favourites, China Doll is so sad and pretty, Jazz Time (I’m a sucker for a bit of le jazz hot!) and I like Intoxication. This was sung as a trio by Marguerite, Otto and Armand and beautifully done I might add!
Back in London
By the end of the show I was emotionally wrung out and snivelling, along with many of the audience. We wandered into the night amazed to find it wasn’t even dark yet and we were in London not Paris, sadly! Still there was time for a stroll round the West End, soaking in the buzz, talking about our favourite bits. We ended up having a quiet drink in the pub opposite Jersey Boys and watching as the crowd came out, wandered off in search of supper or climbed into the waiting rickshaws. They looked as if they’d had just as entertaining an evening as we had and after a bit of discussion we decided there has to be room in the West End for both a ‘jukebox’ musical like Jersey Boys and more original productions like Marguerite. As I said at the start, Marguerite is an ideal choice for more sophisticated musical theatre in London’s West End.
Hello,
I would like to purchase a poster from “Marguerite” the musical.
Does anyone have a connection or know where to get one? I have had no response from the Royal Haymarket Theatre, nor anyone else that I have contacted. Thank you for your help!
Marguerite Farr
margeefarr@cox.net
please could u tell me how u managed to get hold of a marguerite poster.I tried emailing dewynters but the message wouldn’t send. Many thanks.
Check your e-mail Marguerite for an update on the poster position
can you kindly help me t find aposter , thank you
Hi,
I also would like to purchase a poster from “Marguerite” the musical.
Who can help me?
Johan Winkels
j.winkels@xs4all.nl
Hi Johan,
the best thing to do is probably to contact Dewynters as they handled the publicity. Dewynters contact is -http://www.dewynters.com/#/contact/
I would like to expunge the memory of having attended this musical
The best thing about it was indeed the poster