I was there too. Loved it. I'm already familiar with the score through the recording, so I may have had less trouble understanding the lyrics - but it was also great to see/hear the rest of the piece as well. I really enjoy the cleverness of the songs (and banter), and was really thrilled with the tightness of the performances.
I wondered as well about the guy who got up to dance - I assume he's not a "plant," but I wonder if that's something they try to do if they see a willing participant. There were certainly several moments in the show where the actresses would do direct addresses to people in the front seats. I do suspect that the show already has a lot of younger followers who already know it quite well - but - maybe perhaps because I also knew it to a degree, the audience participation (which the show does seem to invite) didn't bother me. Since the show is billed as being "in concert," and there is a lot of direct talk to the audience (calling us "Cambridge" in this production), it would seem that the looser atmosphere is part of the show's design.
Anyway, I would encourage people who can see this to do so. It's very fun. And you really don't need to know much of the Tudor history to get the jokes and the stories, but of course if you already do know the stories of the 6 wives, it only adds to one's enjoyment. |
