Good Goin’ Stranger
Last night saw the Press Night of the new musical version of the classic Madonna movie “Desperately Seeking Susan” which captured Madonna at the height of the mania surrounding her early career.
Whilst titled “Press Night” this was to all intents and purposes a red carpet premiere, attended by reviewers, cast friends and family and one or two famous faces from the world of stage, screen and dance. Oh, and your MadonnaTribe correspondent, thanks to the courtesy of the kind producers.
The original movie on which the musical is based was a huge success back in 1985 and when reports surfaced early last year that a stage version was planned, eyebrows were raised as to just how this would be possible. Not in any small part due to the lack of any memorable music being included in the movie, Madonna’s iconic “Into The Groove” aside of course.
Well, the producers got around that by simply shifting the story back six years to 1979 toward the end of the punk scene and, in retaining the movie’s original New York location, the natural choice was to turn to the music of the local heroes whose hits were topping charts around the world – Blondie.
I approached this concept with some trepidation knowing how cheesy this kind of forcing existing pop songs into a dramatic story can become, but in fairness to the producers, it works just fine. Watching the show, it dawns just how uncannily Debbie Harry’s lyrics fit into Susan’s story, but taking my seat in the fourth row faced by a large safety curtain looking like the cover of Blondie’s “Parallel Lines” album cover, I was concerned the show was going to be more Blondie than Susan, but that didn’t prove the case.
The producers had blessed Tribe with the best seats in the house – front centre stalls. Perfect. The buzz around the theatre was heightened with the final bell signalling the imminent start of the show and people streamed in, most craning their necks to see if the big names would appear. Sadly, Debbie Harry is mid-way through her own solo tour in the States so was unable to attend (although a look-a-like turned many heads as she settled along our row), and Madonna was a no-show. However, original Roberta, Rosanna Arquette, strolled into the stalls on the arm of the show’s director, Angus Jackson. Looking a million dollars and wearing what looked like a million dollars’ worth of diamonds she was all smiles having braved the barrage of attention from the press and fans outside the theatre. Settling into her seat, Rosanna found herself positioned directly in front of our friends at Madonnalicious and directly behind us from Tribe.
In a flash the lights were down, the curtain was up and the audience were drawn straight into the story with ‘bored housewife’ Roberta sat at the hairdressers reading the personals, wistfully singing classic Blondie hit “Dreaming“. An appropriate start, and pleasingly true to the opening of the movie. Rosanna behind us, frequently letting out little yelps of joy at Kelly Price’s portrayal of the character she had made famous over twenty years before.
The show takes in over 17 classic Blondie hits and a new one specially written for the show, and repeatedly as the story unfolds the viewer is struck just how eerily the songs fit the story, almost as if, in some uncanny way, they were written for the story. As with any theatrical production some leeway has to be given to the parts of the story which cannot be easily replicated on stage, but in this production the producers have expertly overcome such hurdles. Particularly effective was the recreation of Roberta’s birthday party to hilarious effect, the brilliant way the chase between Alex and Roberta is played out through the supposed back streets of the Big Apple and the simple way in which the swimming pool in Roberta and Gary’s house, around which a key scene for Susan unfolds, is created.
And what of Susan? Well, Emma Williams has clearly watched the movie. A lot. She has the spirit and verve of Madonna’s Susan and injects great energy into the part, providing a great counter to Roberta’s dowdy suburban tedium. However, she does resemble a younger Debbie Harry more than Madonna which is a little distracting at times.
Fans of the movie will be thrilled at how many of the classic Susan moments have been retained into the stage show. “Good going Stranger“, the magic tricks, the Port Authority, the polaroids, the room service boy, the armpit drying, the boxer shorts and bra outfit, the pyramid jacket and Egyptian earrings are all present and for the most part correct. However, it seemed odd that, having gone to the trouble of getting such detail as the name of the second-hand clothes shop (where some of the action takes place) correct, they then get the iconic design of Susan’s boots so wrong. In keeping all the other character names the same, they change Jim to Jay? Odd.
Also, and probably understandably, the producers have taken a degree of artistic licence in introducing in a couple of extra characters and scenes to allow some light relief and big Blondie hits which didn’t fit the story so well, to nestle in amongst the film’s classic narrative. These don’t really distract and add some moments of genuine hilarity (Roberta and Gary’s maid is priceless!).
But these are small niggles. It is Desperately Seeking Susan as you remember it, bangles and ripped fishnets present and (for the most part) correct.Thre only one glaring, and from a Madonna fan point of view, unforgiveable omission is the inclusion of “Into The Groove” anywhere in the show. Surely they could have kept that in the club scene rather than the Blondie track they chose to use? Perhaps they were refused permission by the copyright owner… who knows. I’d have asked the director why this was, had we had a chance, but he was a man much in demand at the end the show so we just settled for a congratulatory shake of his hand.
During the interval Rosanna was gracious enough to sign our programmes (despite her hands already being covered in pen from signing on the red carpet!) and discussed how thrilled she was with the show. The current Roberta later let slip to us that Rosanna had spent the previous day with her giving her encouragement and telling stories from the film shoot back in the mid 80s, and her loud hoots of laugher bashing our ears throughout the show from behind was proof she was having a whale of a time; she was also one of the first on her feet at the end for a standing ovation of the hardworking cast.
It would be nice to hear that Madonna has been along to see the show and support the cast at some point during its run as, whilst it will probably feel odd seeing someone else replicating her own performance, at times literally word-for-word, it was a key turning point in her career and there are clearly fond memories of the movie and still a lot of love out there for her classic turn as Susan.
After that it was a quick stroll down the Strand to Heaven nightclub for the official After Party. Down the red carpet the whole place was decked out in Susan celebrations with free hairstyling to fit the era, free drinks and food all round and hours of great party atmosphere, DJ’ed by current hot property and life-long Madonna fan Jodie Harsh – a Triber in the past. The cast, crew and invited guests let their hair down to a soundtrack of classic party tracks and current hits and when Harsh threw on the Confessions Tour studio mix of Like A Virgin the place erupted. The party continued into the very wee hours and everyone left with a smile after a successful opening night.
Tonybecks, live from London for MadonnaTribe.com.
