That Man musical had two performances only at London’s Hippodrome Casino yesterday (20 September 2016) and, after the first one, I chaired a post-show discussion in front of an audience of industry guests to talk about the show’s journey to date and where it might go from here.
Yesterday’s presentation – though cast to the hilt, sumptuously presented in the lush cabaret surroundings ideal to the story’s 1950s London clubland setting and supported by the Arts Council – was a trimmed-down, 90-minute showcase version. The producers aim is to mount a full-scale production next.
Book writer Wendy Gill was inspired to write That Man after discovering the music of Dutch pop-jazz singer and YouTube sensation Caro Emerald, and it’s Emerald’s hits – including A Night Like This, Riviera Life, Liquid Lunch and the title number – that punctuate proceedings. (I have to admit I’d never heard of Caro Emerald before being asked to chair this Q&A – but I’m definitely aware of, and mightily impressed with, her now.)
For the Q&A, I was joined by Wendy and director Paul Boyd, along with That Man stars Jonny Labey, Sabrina Aloueche and Christopher Howell, who had just six days to rehearse the piece and a mere four hours to get it into the Hippodrome before yesterday’s 4pm matinee. Wow! There are also interjections from producer David Orchard and audience members from the floor. Apologies in advance for some sound issues on this podcast – some hiccoughs with mikes, air-conditioning and moving furniture.
For more information on That Man and for updates on its future development, visit the show website at thatmanmusical.com.
Pre-show video
Grabbed writer @wgill93 before the matinee @HippodromeLDN. Follow @ThatManMusical from 5.30 for Q&A tweets pic.twitter.com/eGtpDkuREQ
— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) September 20, 2016
Podcast
Live-tweeting
That Man Q&A – Curated tweets by MyTheatreMates
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
