06 03 09 + 10 - 7 DIMETOS
well here i am back in the masculine - so many comments re la cage.. thanku. theres nothing odder than moving on and knowing the rest of the cast are still there doing the show. With a play this never really happens - you all finish together - if you know what i mean - its odd to think of my cagelles still doing their stuff with someone else... and even odder at home at half past seven when you still get that surge of adrenalin with nowhere to put it. so ive grown a beard ( and all that other chest hair armpit hair leg hair) which has been like some jacobean torture - god what u girls go through - and im utterly entranced by dimetos. a play ive wanted to direct for many years and which is heartbreaking and poetic and mystical in equal measure - and i sit with my feet up marvellin at the actors in front of me and the play - which i personally think is one of the great undiscovered masterpieces of the last fifty years. weve got a couple more weeks before first preview. and then im off to do the robin hood movie with russell crowe for three weeks - to try to get out of debt and hence the beard and meanwhile sunday night im singin i am what i am in a tux at the oliviers. today i had a reheasal with the orchestra and it all came floodin back. the nerves! i had the worst news of my life this week at home so whatever bloody happens at these particular awards im going to have a raise a few glasses. thanks again for the kind words and see you when this site finally gets a face lift. x douglas29 comments, already:
Thank you so much Douglas, for the joy and entertainment you gave us in La Cage. We all know that life needs to go on and other projects crop up and who knows, this may be your albatross round your neck but boy what a good one! So when are you going to do a cast recording as you’ll have it all sold out instantly!!
Many thanks once again and good luck with your new projects.
Carolyn () - 06 03 09 - 23:16
Hi Doug – lovely to hear from you again and thanks for the update. You and Denis gave so much pleasure in La Cage – be proud of it and all the very best of luck for Sunday’s Oliviers – I do so hope to see you lifting the trophy and giving your acceptance speech! (Presuming it will be televised, of course!)
I’ve booked to see Dimetos and much looking forward to it – but have to wait until April 16th!! Almost fully booked when I rang and I nearly missed out! Phew! Good luck for the opening night!
Sorry to hear you’ve had bad news – whatever it was, keep your chin up and keep smiling – there are lots of folks out here who think you’re pretty wonderful and we’re all giving you our love and strength right now.
Have fun with the Robin Hood film and enjoy Sunday night – I’ll raise a glass or two with you!!
Hugs
Pam S.
(By the way, I’m the ‘fan’ who gave you a bottle of bubbly on your last day at La Cage prior to the matinee performance and held your hand during the performance! I’m also the ‘nut’ who’s left you loads of blog messages!! Sorry about that!)
PAMELA STEVENSON () - 07 03 09 - 15:42
Welcome back Doug. Have a fantastic, successful night on Sunday – we will all be with you in spirit if not in the flesh. Sorry about the bad news – whatever it is you are not alone – I know that all your fans will be rooting for it to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Take care. Sheila
Sheila Parry () - 07 03 09 - 18:40
Hi Doug glad you are back, sorry to hear you have had bad news, you have lots of fans behind you Doug, so keep going. I wish you luck with Robin Hood, and I really hope you win the Olivier Award on sunday you really deserve it. All the best Doug
Denise
Denise () - 07 03 09 - 22:47
Congratulations! You did it! You won the Olivier and you looked great! And what about that beard?!! I rather like it! Well done on a much deserved and long overdue award!
As ever
Pam S. xx
PAMELA STEVENSON () - 08 03 09 - 23:46
bloody well done …mark x
mark () - 09 03 09 - 09:16
Congratulations Doug & the cast of La Cage Aux Folles!!!!
Best Actor in Musical – couldn’t happened to a more deserving actor on stage right now!!!
Looking forward to Dimetos AND as much as I don’t like Russell Crowe I will see Robin Hood just to see you on the big wide screen!!!
A long time fan of yours
Chixxx
Chi () - 09 03 09 - 11:35
Dearest Doug & family
My thoughts & prayers are with you all.
Chix
Chi () - 09 03 09 - 11:44
Many congrats Doug on last nights award, it was well deserved and about time you won after so many nominations. Good luck on your future projects and enjoy not having to perform every night for a while!
pat () - 09 03 09 - 19:41
Many congratulations on the Olivier! I wish I could have somehow ‘influenced’ the awards to include something for BOTH you and Denis – but…you did it…and it was richly deserved…from the Chocolate Factory to the Playhouse a ‘triumph’.
Thanks for the great nights in the theatre!
All best wishes,
Paul
Paul Wilkins () - 10 03 09 - 14:09
Many congrats on the Olivier. It was well deserved. We adored the show (couldn’t stop singing the songs).
Hope everything else goes well. (The beard looks good).
Best wishes
Rosemary
Rosemary Potten () - 10 03 09 - 14:20
Dearest Doug and family
Just to echo Chi’s message, my love and thoughts are with you and the family right now too.
Pam S. xxx
PAMELA STEVENSON () - 10 03 09 - 16:24
Dear Doug and family,
My thoughts and prayers are also with you at this time. Take care.
Amanda
Amanda () - 10 03 09 - 23:46
Heart felt congratulations for your Olivier Award Doug, it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving actor and the news has made me so happy.
Best of luck with all of life’s challenges.
Lots of Love,
Melinda
Melinda () - 12 03 09 - 16:46
Congratulations on winning the richly-deserved Olivier award.
So sorry to hear of your sad loss. Like many other of your admirers, I’ll be thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.
Margaret
Margaret () - 12 03 09 - 17:34
My congratulations on your well deserved the Olivier award. What a pity it wasn’t televised. I protested on my Facebook profile page!
I saw La Cage three times (once at the Menier). I think it became infectious!!!!!
Janet () - 15 03 09 - 22:11
My congratulations on your well deserved the Olivier award. What a pity it wasn’t televised. I protested on my Facebook profile page!
I saw La Cage three times (once at the Menier). I think it became infectious!!!!!
Please post when you
OOPs – last post flew away!. Please post when your are singing in Oxford. My daughter works some of the time (when she is not being an extra or at SKY News at the travel radio reporting at Oxford Airport and we would love to see you perform again.
My thoughts are with you and your family for your sad loss
Janet
Janet () - 15 03 09 - 22:14
Hi Doug, just found this site and am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Obviously I knew Harry well from the MADS, he will be so sadly missed. Please pass on my condolences to the rest of your family, particularly your Mother, you are in my thoughts and prayers at this time. As you are aware my daughter and I came to see La Cage in November as a birthday treat for us, absolutely fantastic so no surprise when I’ve just read that you won the award. So very well deserved not only for that performance but for all the others down the years.I know how proud the family are of you. Well done Doug
love to the family
XXXXX Lynda
lynda smith (ex MADS) () - 20 03 09 - 23:07
Hi Doug. It’s Dave Taggart. Years ago we toured to Canada and New York with Good Lads at Heart for NYT. I expect cos I played an old character you thought I was dead. But no, I just ended up working in Security, which is much the same thing I expect. I think I’ve missed a lot of your best stuff recently either cos I was broke or useless. Is there any way of getting a copy of your songs without going though Napster? I am fairly useless at computer stuff and downloading. Are there any hard copies on disc? Am determined to get to next show also.
Dave Taggart () - 24 03 09 - 11:08
Hi Doug. You might remember me as Mrs Muir a colleague of Joyce Fowle. We ‘borrowed’ you lads from the Howard for our productions at Rainham Girls. Before I write any more, I would like to add my condolancies on your sad loss – your father kept the community and its love for drama going. Do you remember Pygmalian at Rainham Girls? In the nicest possible way, you took over the stage ,& Joyce and I knew you Would make it
Jill Hartup () - 12 04 09 - 18:16
hello. blimey people from all over… hello! dave you can get the album on itunes – just put in doug hodge.. if youre too luddite for that i dont know i think you can order a copy via my website but im not really au fe as they say with all that.. i know its all changing at the mo. not much help. yep… rainham girls.. they were my education in many many things ha ha and hello to you too – im nearly back on track. x
doug - 12 04 09 - 19:14
Hi Doug
Janice has just told me from across the pond about your dad…so very sad… I think they had moved to live near you, but maybe that hadn’t happened. Just for the record, can I just say that I was not part of your ‘education’ although from Rainham Girls .. I think actually she was from Chatham Tech!!! Lots of love to your mum and Al and family… Gill (& Val too) xxx
Gill (& Val) () - 27 04 09 - 07:51
Hi Doug
So sorry to hear from Deb about your Dad – he was such a lovely man and didn’t mind me calling him ‘Uncle Harry’ way back when. All the best to you, Alan and the family. He will be fondly remembered. Janice xx
Janice () - 27 04 09 - 10:42
Hi Doug
Heard from my Mum Barbara in Gillingham about your Dad. I know he was always a great support and inspiration to you and Al, and to many of us in the Youth Group!! He’ll be missed by many more than just your family. Thoughts and prayers are with you, and with Christine.
xxLiz (old youth group guitar companion – but you could always play much better, even without rehersal!
Liz Hughes (nee Hawkes) () - 11 05 09 - 20:28
Hi Doug glad to hear that you are nearly back on track. I went last night to see La Cage Aux Folles,it has never been the same since you left, you played the role of Albin brilliantly no one can match you, do you think you will ever go back to this role now it has been extended.Also will you be doing any gigs soon, as I would like to come along with some friends.
Kind regards Denise
Denise () - 20 05 09 - 20:00
How are things going Doug – it seems a long time since we have heard from you – any idea when the site will be finished – what about La Cage, are you taking it to Broadway? and if so, when, so that we can start saving up now to come over and join your other supporters. Take care. Sheila
Sheila Parry - 25 06 09 - 11:15
Hi Doug
Did the filming go smoothly? Would love to come to one of your Oxford gigs. My daughter works there some of the time when she is not being an extra for various films and plays!!!!!
Janet - 27 06 09 - 19:23
Broadway huh? Now you’re talking!!! Think you should do a ‘practice run’ in London before you go though 
(purely on a selfish level!!)
Melinda () - 30 06 09 - 19:18
youre right too long since i got all this together. have written a musical called meantime… in the meantime.. broadway looking pretty certain now jerry herman has announced it! will open april for six months. not sure where yet or who with even. meantime… (shameless plug) praps i better see if i can come back to la cage in london for xmas… all sorts of moves afoot. will write properly soon , have been getting things quietly straight at home but the time is coming to burst back into life….
doug - 30 06 09 - 21:45