25 comments, already:
Just got our tickets for the last night on the 17th. Seen the show four times (twice at the Menier, twice at the Playhouse) and it is just the most joyous, funny,heartwarming feelgood show. We just love you in this. Thank you so much.
Alan & Lynda () - 22 11 08 - 19:58
Hi there – I just love LA CAGE and your are asbolutely delicious in it! I’ve seen the show in its original form at the Palladium, in New York and in the English Theatre in Frankfurt whilst I was working with Richard Mawbey, the wig creator. I came to the Menier Chocolate Factory and have been twice to the Playhouse – you just get better and better, and so does Denis. I shall be in again on 10 January and for your last day on 17 January when I’m booked for the matinee and probably for the evening as well!!
I’ve followed your career since Capital City and have truly loved everything you’ve done – thank you for all the years of pleasure!! And thank Tessa too please!!
Love to you all at Cage, and especially to you dear Douglas.
Pam Stevenson () - 05 12 08 - 14:39
gosh. well thanku very much. all encouragement gratefully received.i just closed the royal variety show with i am what i am which was probably the most frightening thing ive done for a very long time. xx
doug - 15 12 08 - 14:04
I came to see the show a few weeks ago, after missing it at the Chocolate Factory and have just fallen in love with it especially this production. I thought that your depiction of the character is fantastic and am currently trying to get tickets to see the show again!
I think how the story works is extremely clever and is a powerful piece of theatre, the underlying message is fantastic along with the music and choreography the show is just not seen enough which in any sense makes it more special!
Didn’t mean to go on then but just watched the royal variety performance and it reminded me and made me go into a Musical Theatre rant to my parents!
Hope to see you in it again and best of luck in your next project!
x
Chris Cuming () - 17 12 08 - 22:26
Just watched the Royal Variety Show and had to come and Google you to check you’re who I thought you are. I would never have recognised you. I knew you were a good actor, but wow.
Elaine Walton () - 17 12 08 - 22:32
Doug….mate
You are fucking fantastic! I just watched you on the box, absolutly wonderful…really refreshing, Did see la cage, and was blown away by your performance, and I didn’t really know how talented you were before that. Watching you tonight has made me a huge fan and really wish you well.
Simon
simon () - 17 12 08 - 22:38
Hi Doug. My missus just called me into the front room to watch you on the Royal Variety. Bloody glad she did mate, you were fantastic, and you looked like my sister-in-law….scary. On the strength of that, jumped straight on to ticketmaster and got two tickets for 3rd January, lucky to do so it seems. Don’t get sick over Christmas, we need you in top form for the 3rd, that’s an order! Never wrote to say, but you blew us away as Nathan in G’n’D too. Travesty that you didn’t get the Olivier for that, you re-invented the role. Anyway, have a cracking good Christmas etc. and we look forward to seeing the show. Yours. David. (Oh, and by the way, Cowley Road is a top album, much loved in this house).
[Downsscape] () - 17 12 08 - 22:59
Well done at the Royal Variety. My wife was taken by surprised when I said I was at school with you.
Steve () - 18 12 08 - 13:19
We saw La Cage a few weeks ago at the Playhouse and I just have to congratulate you on a superb and moving performance. It is a great shame that you are leaving.
Sincerely
Wilson
Wilson Strutte () - 18 12 08 - 14:18
My wife and I saw your performance last night at the Playhouse, best night out we have had for a long time. Congratulations to all of you for a truly memorable performance/night. Tremendous
Tony Brett () - 18 12 08 - 17:25
Hi Doug,
Finally a moment of peace to get on the computer. Just to join with other people to say what a wonderful performance at the Royal Variety, only wish I could get to see the whole thing. Really enjoyed your chat to with Elaine Paige on Sunday, especially your rendition of ‘Mascara’. Is there going to be a cast recording and hows the second album coming? Hope you and your family have a great Christmas.
pat () - 19 12 08 - 20:57
I just seen La Cage on the night you slipped on the sofa (or does that happen every performance?)
I haven’t laughed or cried so much in a single evening for a long time.
Thanks to everyone for a terrific show, and in particular, to you. I was entranced the whole night.
Thanks again.
Tony () - 23 12 08 - 01:25
omg ! u were fantastic
gerard () - 23 12 08 - 14:36
Hello Doug
I saw La Cage Aux Folles last Thursday (18 Dec 2008)and I know it’s a cliche but I don’t normally write to performers/actors to say what a great performance but I felt I just had to on this occasion as you (and the rest of the cast were pretty damn brilliant, too) were mind-blowingly, life-enhancingly completely and utterly fantastic, brilliant. For the record I’ve always thought you were/are an excellent actor. For anyone reading this out there: if you can get a ticket before DH bows out, get one, you won’t be disappointed. This is a great antidote to all the crap that’s going on in the world at the moment. You come out smiling, singing and thinking isn’t life and love wonderful! It’s a pity this production and this cast can’t be preserved on DVD/CD…
Helenka Dostoyevsky - 23 12 08 - 15:14
Hello Douglas,
If the Cage aux folles ever comes up to Nottingham I would gladly see it (any chance of a tour?) ...I don’t suppose you will read this but I am related to you, your mother Christine is my great aunt…do you remember your cousin Juile Heathcote? She’s my mother. We keep track of your career and got a shock when Sir Webber announced you on the Royal Variety! Then on the next night you were a talking head in a doc about acting in the RSC…you seem to be constantly doing bits for TV and Radio that I catch just by chance and we tell our friends to watch out for our famous cousin whenever you’re doing something on the telly!!! Well my best wishes for the Cage aux Folles and to your family too.
Helen Allsop () - 26 12 08 - 20:32
Saw La Cage on the 23rd Dec and thought it was so good I’m now seeing it on the 30th! Such great performances from you and Denis Lawson and such a pleasure to watch. Thanks for Middlemarch too!
Kelly Smeeton () - 27 12 08 - 19:28
Hi Doug
I just can’t make it down to London to see you in the show before you finish…grrrr. Val and I were trying to get our heads together over a date, but diary too full!! I wish I had realised sooner, but keeping so busy, little time to get on internet at mo. Val may still be able to get a ticket, but I won’t be able to make it. Well done you – saw Variety Performance – well just you actually, completely by chance, excellent! Take care. Gill (yer ol’ pal from ye teenage years)
Gill - 01 01 09 - 16:07
Hi Doug.
Thanks for a terrific night out last night. Saw the show as planned, a truly splendid production and a real shot in the arm on a cold January evening. It’s always a boost to see a cast who know they’re on to a winner, you get an optimal effect, and no exception here. You’re portrayal of Albin is of course remarkable, and my wife and I are so glad we caught it. It only seems minutes since we first saw that curly haired kid in Behaving Badly and Capital City, and thought “he’s got a great future”. Nice to be proved right. Thanks for all your work, and every good wish for 2009 and future projects. Yours, David.
David Johnson () - 04 01 09 - 11:21
Took my Mum to La Cage matinee yesterday and we both just loved it – saw it the first time round when I was 7 and loved it even more this time, the chorus were AMAZING and what can I say about Douglas, incredible performance, the standing ovation was utterly deserved and I was in tears throughout!
Amanda
Amanda () - 04 01 09 - 13:23
Hi Doug,
I went to see La Cage yesterday at the Playhouse for my birthday and your performance was incredible. I am a massive theatre goer despite being in my early twenties and I have never witnessed such a performance. Thank you for giving me such a great time and experience! I hope you win an award for your performance – just tell me where to vote if I can!
Best of Luck in 2009!
Sindy
p.s Loved you in Mansfield Park too!!!
Sindy () - 07 01 09 - 11:23
Went to see you in La Cage yesterday afternoon. What a fantastic performance, my friend and I were absolutely bowled over by the whole show. A real feel good show and I have managed to get tickets for the matinee next week on the 15th cant wait. Wanted to see it before you left….you are a fantastic actor, such pathos and humour it has really cheered me up. Thank you and all the cast for a magnificent show. The standing ovation was truly deserved and I was amazed at the age of most of the audience, we sat near some golden oldies well thats what the lady said to me, a party of 33 of them, and they were the ones cheering the loudest and calling out for more, me too. I have also been on the Cowley Road site I shall be buying your dvds, well done. Thank you again.
CarrieS - 09 01 09 - 17:12
Brilliant comments! And so well deserved! A cast (this cast!) DVD or CD would be wonderful – any chance?
Pam Stevenson
Pam Stevenson () - 11 01 09 - 10:03
Your acting in La Cage was just brilliant, such a credible Albin. I really believed you and Georges were in love and felt that you will really miss Denis once the show finishes – let us know is this is true. Perhaps you’ll be sick of the sight of him! I sincerely believe you are one of the best British actors we have and have watched you since Capital City way back in the 80’s. I hope you continue to do such fine work so I can keep watching.
Lucy () - 14 01 09 - 21:57
My husabd and I saw the matinee on Saturday your final day. Would just like to say that we both thought it and you were absolutely fantastic and was the best show we’ve ever seen. Only wish you and Dennis were going to be in it a bit longer as we would have loved to have booked to take our whole family along to see it. The show really had everything and took us from laughter to tears – thank you so much for a wonderful afternoon.
Sharon () - 19 01 09 - 09:44
a brilliant performance – ended up going 3 times – that’s never happened before and also your performance
on The Royal Variety Performance – quite memorable.
Like everyone else – I’ve been humming the songs ever since and can mentally see you in those beautiful dresses and wigs and your baby doll pyjamas and being cheeky to the audience…..
I hope you got the bottle of champagne that I left for you – you deserved better – but it was a real spur of the moment thing as I just loved your performance and so does everyone else by the looks of things!!
I’ll be voting for you to win an Olivier Award.
It would be fair to say that the show has made my year !!
Hope this finds you well and your wife and children too.
Marnie
Marnie Henderson () - 05 02 09 - 12:33