trace_of_scarlet | Entries tagged with curse of the muppets rocks on

I’ve been tossing around the idea of doing a picspam of John Barrowman as Albin/Zaza in La Cage Aux Folles for some time now – ever since the promotional images started surfacing on the net, in fact. His run in the show has combined my current twin fangirl obsessions perfectly, even if he doesn’t make as good an Albin as Roger Allam. He’s good, yes, but Roger Allam pretty much achieved perfection.

Anyway. Like I said, I’ve been meaning to do the John-as-Zaza picspam for a while, and have finally been spurred into it to cheer an upset person on Journalfen’s Unfunnybusiness comm up. And while I’m at it, I figured, gorgeous men dressed as gorgeous women in sparkly outfits and with fantastic legs... like you can ever get enough, right? Plus, more people should know the genius that was the Roger Allam and Philip Quast run in La Cage. So this is not just the Johnspam, it’s the La Cage Aux Folles picspam!

I’ve divided it up into sections separated by LJ cuts, but be warned: THIS THING IS HUGE. Between the joint efforts of me,

plum177 and

niblick_iii, we must have acquired if not all the photos of Quast and Allam’s run on the net, then at least the majority. I haven’t used them all here, but I have used a hell of a lot.

And so, messieurs-dames, I give you... La Cage Aux Folles!

( First up, a few random Zazas that I’ve acquired photos of. Includes Grahame Norton, Douglas Hodge, the Zaza (and Georges) in the current Parisian production, and at least one whose name I don’t know. )

( Next, some shots of the supporting cast, all from various 2008/2009 London productions. Smaller section this time. )

( The first La Cages cast I ever saw, and the original reason for my obsession: Philip Quast as Georges and Roger Allam as Zaza. )

And that’s all for this post, folks! Second instalment: John Barrowman and the Cagelles!

Current Mood: accomplished

...Dude, screw that emo shit. I MET BURN GORMAN AND ROWAN ATKINSON IN THE SPACE OF AN HOUR LAST NIGHT.

(Well, still not entirely happy, but a lot better now. It's amazing what fangirl squee can do for your mood.)

Lauren and I decided to have a shot at hanging round outside Oliver! to see him when we came out, since we weren't that far away and

galacticconman had told us when it finished. We had to wait a while (I was actually quite surprised by the size of the crowd that wound up outside the stage door, probably because I am an idiot), but eventually Jodie SomethingOrOther (who plays Nancy) came out, and while she was busy being mobbed (she was, incidentally, very nice - Lauren got her autograph, and she seemed a good giggle) out sneaks Burn, hood up. I nearly missed him, and I was looking out for him, but luckily the only other Torchwood fans in the crowd nabbed him before he passed us. He seemed happy enough to be recognised, and chatted to Lauren and I for a few minutes (he says hi, Em!), but clearly didn't want to stop long. However, he posed for a photo with Lauren and gave her a cute autograph, and then when I asked for a photo too and had difficulty getting to him for it (stupid crowds) he said something along the lines of 'oh, come here' and pulled me through the crowd and really close against him. It definitely counted as a snug, he was holding me tight while Lauren took the photo. And I was happy. :D

( Photos! Burn and Lauren, then Burn and me. We hearts the Gorman, we does. )

Burn Gorman = resounding sweetie. And, as Lauren said, much better looking in real life. Okay, there's still something of a resemblance to an underfed wide-mouthed tree frog there, but the camera does him even less favours than it does me, and that's saying something.

We had to wait ages for Rowan to turn up: Lauren and I were half-frozen and the couple I'd been exchanging Blackadder quotes with had given up by the time he appeared. Even we, hardened Blackadder fangirls that we are, were well into the last ten minutes we were prepared to wait when he popped out like a ninjalike, tiny black weevil. I had no idea the guy was so short! He was only about my height, and clearly very quiet. He wasn't saying very much to anyone, just occasional 'thank you for coming's with his head down, and not personalising autographs. I was a little sad about this (totally not because I wanted him to say my name with that awesome, hilariously funny voice he's got going, whut). But after he signed for Lauren and I, I went back a second time to say 'thank you ever so much, you must be frozen' (he was only wearing a jumper, and I felt frostbitten in mittens, hoodie, boots and thick coat), and he finally looked up and gave me a rather nice smile as he said 'you're welcome', and goodbye.

Not much at all, but a lot more than anyone else in that crowd got, so I was happy. <3 Blackadder.

( Rowan signing. He really <i>is</i> slightly weevil-like. )

Round-up of the rest of the London trip to follow.

---

In other news, the BBC has cast yet another young white guy as the new Doctor. Hear the sound of my resounding lack of surprise.

I am disappointed, though. The odds on Paterson Joseph were so good that I really hoped we might have someone a bit different in the role for once.

I totally wanted Meera Syal, though, damnit. *sulks*

Current Mood: tired

Backdated to about 5pm on the 20th...

...Ahahahahaha. The curse of the Muppets strikes again! *cuddles her Cookie Monster hoodie*

Rupert Grint was on my plane home.

Like a silly cow, I managed to put my camera in the hold with the suitcases, and of course you can't use your mobile (and hence your mobile phone's camera) on a plane. ARGH! But I popped down during the flight and got his autograph.

I also got an autograph for my (wussy) small brother who refused to go say hi, and thus am firmly in the Awesome Big Sister Of Awesome territory right now. Rupert was very nice, though a bit quiet, and seemed fairly happy to be recognised. (And his sister is hot. Er.) Though given his fandom, he was probably just happy I didn't stick around long and wasn't BATSHIT INSANE. *fears the Harry Potter fandom*

So now, of course, I'm sitting in my seat on the plane handwriting my LJ post on the subject. Complete with notes in the margin of my notepad. Sometimes I'm so geeky it worries even me.

...Should I ETA if I manage to get a photo with him once we've landed? Hope he doesn't get some kind of VIP treatment - although since he's flying budget, I doubt it. How do actual megacelebs (you know, Angelina Jolie and her ilk) get their luggage and stuff, anyway?

---

ETA: (Of course I ETA'd. What kind of geek do you take me for?

You bet your arse I got pictures. With surprisingly shitty camera phone, but is Ron Weasley with me!

Am sitting in our hotel room now, on nasty hard pull-out bed. Still, is only for one night.
( He looks kinda scared, I think. There's also a rather adorable one with my Small Brother, which would be more adorable if the damn photo weren't so blurry. Wish I'd had my proper camera on me. )

*goes into hiding from the amassed Whoniverse and Harry Potter fandoms*

Current Mood: accomplished

*sniffle* Living here is so hard. I- I think I might hate my city, guys.

...Oooooor not.

:D!!!

Current Mood: chipper

I fucking LOVE my city.

Pics to follow!

Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Love Is In The Air - Colin Firth and Rupert Everett

So, right. We got off the train at about 9pm in Cardiff, instead of the 2am that Lauren and I should have been getting in at. And since we could take about ten minutes off the journey time by walking through the city centre and getting a taxi from the theatre, we decide to do that and save money, since we weren't particularly tired.

skitty_kat left because her place was in a different direction, and so did

nevaendinstorey, so it was just me,

plum177 and

requiem2adream who were fussing over whether or not a minivan-sized taxi would be more expensive than an ordinary-sized one when there's a voice behind us: "'Scuse, are you getting this taxi?"

And we turn around.

And it's DAVID FUCKING TENNANT.

Who promptly got mobbed. I was shockingly coherent, all things considered, and he was very nice and very understanding of the three squeeing fangirls he was suddenly surrounded by. Amy squeaked "Gosh, you're awfully tall!" and he laughed and said something along the lines of "...Er, I suppose so. Sorry!" and I managed to gabble something about where we'd just been.

And, of course, he posed for photos, although the girlfriend was rather grumpy about it.

( PROOF, BABY! )

Then we let him get away, and Lauren and I clung together and squealed and, apparently, missed him turning around in the taxi to wave! Luckily Amy didn't, and waved back.

David Tennant, baby. *still grinning!*

Then this Monday Natasha and I were due to meet up in Cardiff for some shopping-and-gossip therapy. Only she was late, so at 3ish I'm waiting for her outside Howells in the middle of Cardiff, and then this tall bloke walks past me into the shop. And I double take.

And then, of course, I follow him in, to see if it really is who I think it is, and being Cardiff, indeed it is one Mr Russell T. Davies Esq., who when I went up to him to say hi and that I'm a huge fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood bounced at me gleefully and wrung my hand several times and asked my name, and was quite happy to have a chat and a photo. Even though, as he put it, "...Oh, damnit, I'm in the bloody make-up section!", and even though I told him off about the lack of Martha, and that I liked her better than Catherine Tate or Billie Piper. And he was a vair nice man, and I liked him muchly.

( So, of course, photo. )

I also got ordered to watch Torchwood tonight and Doctor Who tomorrow. Then I say thank you and trot off to met Natasha, and then a few shops later, upstairs in HMV, I turn around AND THERE HE IS AGAIN.

I got stalked by Russell T. Davies. God, I love Cardiff.

And at the time, having met him, I was going to agree with

oz_the_bobble who said that after meeting him she'd forgiven him all his cock-ups.

And then I saw Torchwood, and my rough non-spoilery summary would be : DAMN YOU, DAVIES. D:

Current Mood: crushed

So, uh.

First of all: back in November, I logged onto the Cardiff Uni computers in the library and spotted a notice on the virtual noticeboard that pops up every time that said that Torchwood was filming in the Psychology building a few nights later. So

niblick_iii,

plum177,

seren_cymraeg,

galacticconman and I went to go have a nose, despite the rain and the fact that it was seriously fucking freezing. And we waited a bit, and along comes one Mr Burn Gorman. Psychology building, which is a big tower, has these huge revolving doors, and whilst the other three huddled (and, okay, Emma squeaked and went silent) I went after him, since I thought we might not get another chance. And Burn decides to arse around in these doors, and just grins at me, "This is great! Get in!"

So I do, obviously.

Except then he got bored and went in, and the horrible security guard wouldn't let me go after him, so I trooped back out. And then Emma decided we were all going to stay and wait, so we did... outside, for two bloody hours.

Admittedly, when he came out, he was awesome. He told off the guard for not letting us in to warm up (did I mention it was freezing?), and signed Emma's Owen bear, and signed autographs and had pictures taken with all of us, even though it was freezing (by the way) and a little bit rainy, and was generally very sweet. And validated my tea addiction! :D

( Photo and scan of autograph under cut )

Manchester Collectormania won at life, but that's for the next post.

Current Mood: blah

EEEEEEEEEE OMGOMGOMG. *flails!* I met Ianto from Torchwood yesterday!

Was in Cardiff with Nathan, having just had a mock argument over whether or not I'd ever find one of the Doctor Who/Torchwood stars in Cardiff. I hadn't had caffeine at all by this point, so we were about to head into the Virgin building to go get drinks when I suddenly clock the couple walking a little ahead of us. The guy (who was on the side closest to me) was strangely familar.

"Hey, isn't that the dude who plays Ianto on Torchwood?" says I. "Gareth David Lloyd?"

Nathan doesn't watch the show, so doesn't know and doesn't care. I look again, and it's HIMOMG. So Nathan skedaddles into the building without me, and I walk after them to try and catch up. They're being very couple-y, so I think 'whups, no, damn, it'd be rude to interrupt' but then suddenly they break apart a little more and so I think 'sod it, I'm never going to get another chance'.

"'Scuse me?" I call, before I can lose courage again. He turns and it IS him. "You're Ianto, aren't you? In Torchwood?"

"Oh!" he looks a bit surprised and really pleased to be recognised. (Bless.) "Oh, yes, yes I am."

:D! go I. So I tell him Ianto's my favourite (this is true- joint with Jack and Tosh) and thankfully don't tell him how jealous I am that he got to snog John Barrowman (possibly wouldn't go down too well with the girlfriend, who incidentally was Cerys from episode two- they are adorable together), and ask for an autograph. I scrabble in my bag for paper ('oshitz why do I never have any') and he laughs and says maybe he should carry around photos to sign, and eventually I produce my wage slip (of course, when I go in my bag five mins later, there's a whole sheaf of paper in there), and thankfully also a biro. So he asks my name (he doesn't sound like Ianto IRL- his voice isn't as deep and he doesn't sound like he's from North-West Wales, he's got an accent more like mine, which makes sense as he's from Bettws) and signs the wage slip.

"Can I get a photo as well?" says I, deciding to be cheeky, and he grins and says yes, and puts his arm around me, and so Cerys-the-girlfriend takes it on my mobile phone. He put his arm around me. I am never washing that shirt ever again. It's not a bad photo, wonder of wonders. And for once I didn't look a complete mess at the time- had I seen them in Cardiff on the day before, when I'd gone in to get clothes for the French meal, I was incredibly scruffy and it would have been so embarrassing.

And then I make with the squeeface and say thankyou, and that I'll stop bothering them now, and they laugh and walk off and I go gleefully on my merry way. And then I phone

rowanberries and squee at her for five minutes solid before finding Nathan again. Am going to have to only date geekboys, I think- Nathan looked at me like I'd grown an extra head when I was fangirly and gleeful, and whilst that's fine from a friend (which he is), a boyfriend would have to at least partially Get It.

Anyway... ( Scanned autograph and PHOTO OMG under cut! )

Current Mood: STILL gleeful!
Current Music: Cecilia- Simon & Garfunkel