Appearing as part of Cardiff’s Blysh Festival, Hitch takes us on a journey into the eponymous auteur’s dark psyche. Elin Williams investigates.
Blysh festival has really caused a stir in Cardiff bay. Not only do various acts take over the preview stage at the Wales Millennium Centre, but the wonderful marquee style roundhouse set-up outside screams Cabaret with a capital C. The speigeltent standing right outside the centre is perfect for the nature of the festival. Its stage is in the round surrounded by ample cabaret styled seating. Plush velvet covers the seats and hangs elegantly from the ceiling; the setting really is gorgeous.
Hitch, a show produced by the Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club promises an intense journey into the world of director Alfred Hitchcock, a show which attempted to explore the dizzying suspense and manic mischief of the film maker’s oeuvre. What is in fact presented is a string of underwhelming acts with a very loose and lazy attachment to anything related to Hitchcock.
The show begins promisingly with an entertaining comical chat with the audience. What initially appears to be an introduction to the evening meanders on for far too long, leading me to wonder “When is the show actually going to start?” Unfortunately, it never seems to.
This is not to say that the show lacks spectacle. Aerialist and Club co-founder Anna Sandreuter is a mesmerising sight to behold, her circus talent indisputable, but this isn’t enough to support the rest of the fragmented show. Nothing seems to run smoothly: one minute we are listening to a woman singing on a dimly-lit stage, the next we’re watching a performer in an Alfred Hitchcock fat suit doing a strip-tease. There is no consistency with the nature of the acts, no flow linking them together, and consequently, technically this made the performance a little jumpy too.
Whenever it seems that the show is attempting to delve into the more interesting, darker themes of Hitchcock’s character’s troubled psyche, it is dragged back to some cheap spectacle. For instance, on one occasion “Hitchcock” enters, an audio of a very famous and interesting interview with the film maker playing as he circles the audience. He talks of his characters and his audience reaction and, just as the show seems to provide us with something uniquely Hitchcockian, he performs a crude strip tease. Not only does it come from nowhere but it just all feels a little too offensive. Here is a great artist discussing his work and then, before the audience can digest it, he’s brandishing his genitals. It is difficult to even pinpoint which films were being referred to at some points as the connections were so tenuous.
A great chunk of the show depends heavily on audience participation, something which soon becomes tiresome. Members of the audience are asked to play out the entire plot from the film Strangers on a Train; this is a curious choice because, while Strangers is a fine film, it is not as famous or arguably engaging as other Hitchcock masterpieces like Psycho or perhaps Rear Window. Due to constant repetition, and the fact that the volunteers are asked to re-create the entire film, this section of the show seems to go on forever.
After the interval, the show proceeds at a very slow pace and it seems all the impressive performances have already appeared in the first act. There are a bare minimum circus acts with a few rope displays and some hula hooping all the show has to offer.
The main problem stems from the issue that the show has been marketed as being based on Hitchcock’s works and the man himself. Unfortunately, the only discernible connections to the auteur’s repertoire and personality was a man being attacked by birds and the playing of The Funeral March of a Marionette, the theme tune to his eponymous TV show.. It’s such a shame that a wonderful venue capable of housing a grand spectacle was hardly filled with this poorly planned, poorly executed cabaret show.
Hitch. Produced by the Mary Bijou Cabaret & Social Club. Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, CF10 5AL. 2 August. www.marybijoucabaret.com
I really hate it when this happens. I’m sorry to say I think the lady who “reviewed” the show was either not at the right one or was grumpy from, perhaps, a bad hair day!
I saw Hitch on its second night, the Thursday, and I was absolutely delighted!!
What the above criticism seems to forget is that this was a ‘Cabaret’ show, it is a collection and juxtaposition of different acts and not a set performance – such as in a play. There is room for improvisation and communication. The cheerful critic also seems to have not quite grasped that, while the foundation of the ideas for the acts came from Hitchcock films, ‘Hitch’ was just an inspired work and not meant to be in any way a copy of his masterpieces (or minor pieces).
The critique also makes references to the Hitch-strip and earlier audience participation. Lighten up!! The tease was performed by a woman who (might I add, sang earlier in the show with the voice of an angel) had the whole place in fits of laughter! The audience playing out the Train scene was equally hysterical and got a huge round of applause – perhaps this didn’t seem so entertaining on the critic’s night because the audience may have had like-minded and heavier-hearted cynics, who didn’t give as much oomph. Show-biz has to make room for the occasional numpty.
I hope the Mary-Bijou team will not be disheartened by this particular critic’s review. Both my date and I had an amazing time: it was funny; it was unpredictable; the acts were all highly skilled and the whole friendly approach to the show made you feel a part of the family. I left with a spring in my step and a feeling that Hitchcock really was a most remarkable man – and one who would have been proud to see how his work inspired this wonderful modern twist on his genius. Bravo ‘Hitch’!
I’m very surprised by the review above as it bears no resemblance at all to the show that I saw! I went along to the show last Friday and was completely enthralled, as were the other members of my party. From the minute we stepped inside the stunning spiegeltent, we were taken into a world of cabaret, music, laughter, and circus spectacle. The attention to detail was amazing, from the wittily composed programmes, to the cast dressed up and mingling with the audience, selling cigars and various Hitchcock related comedic tat. I would say that the audience felt drawn into the play itself. Fancy dress was actively encouraged and there were several Alfred Hitchcock lookalikes evident in the tent; whilst ladies wore fantastic 50s style dresses and it was great to see so many people in the audience actively enjoying the experience.
The reviewer seems to have missed the point of the show somewhat. For me, the show was a spectacle; yes there was a nod to each of Hitchcock’s most famous films, but an encyclopaedic knowledge of all his films was not necessary. This wasn’t a play only for Hitchcock devotees. It was more of an ensemble of skits: clever and funny repartee with the audience; circus tricks and tightrope wizardry which made the audience gasp in amazement; heartbreaking songs; absurd strip teases; inversions of the audiences’ expectations. It was clever, engaging and if you had some knowledge of Hitchcock’s film biography then you would also have got subtle nuances and extra entertainment from that. However it wasn’t necessary. That said, the fantastic, gruesome, yet strangely captivating shower scene at the end of the show, has made me need to see the original Psycho again! Quite how they did all that with a plastic sheet is beyond me! I put it down to fantastic lighting, agile actors and complete commitment to the performance!
I genuinely enjoyed the show, and have to say that my favourite element was the fat suited lady playing Hitchcock who stripped, and then did circus tricks on a pole. Astounding!! I would definitely recommend seeing this show, and any others that the Mary Bijou Company put on, as it’s this sort of entertainment that allows audiences to engage with theatre, and know that theatre is for everyone and that’s such an important message to send out.
I’m very surprised by the reviewer’s comments above as it bears no resemblance at all to the show that I saw! I went along to the show last Friday and was completely enthralled, as were the other members of my party. From the minute we stepped inside the stunning spiegeltent, we were taken into a world of cabaret, music, laughter, and circus spectacle. The attention to detail was amazing, from the wittily composed programmes, to the cast dressed up and mingling with the audience, selling cigars and various Hitchcock related comedic tat. I would say that the audience felt drawn into the play itself. Fancy dress was actively encouraged and there were several Alfred Hitchcock lookalikes evident in the tent; whilst ladies wore fantastic 50s style dresses and it was great to see so many people in the audience actively enjoying the experience.
The reviewer seems to have missed the point of the show somewhat. For me, the show was a spectacle; yes there was a nod to each of Hitchcock’s most famous films, but an encyclopaedic knowledge of all his films was not necessary. This wasn’t a play only for Hitchcock devotees. It was more of an ensemble of skits: clever and funny repartee with the audience; circus tricks and tightrope wizardry which made the audience gasp in amazement; heartbreaking songs; absurd strip teases; inversions of the audiences’ expectations. It was clever, engaging and if you had some knowledge of Hitchcock’s film biography then you would also have got subtle nuances and extra entertainment from that. However it wasn’t necessary. That said, the fantastic, gruesome, yet strangely captivating shower scene at the end of the show, has made me need to see the original Psycho again! Quite how they did all that with a plastic sheet is beyond me! I put it down to fantastic lighting, agile actors and complete commitment to the performance!
I genuinely enjoyed the show, and have to say that my favourite element was the fat suited lady playing Hitchcock who stripped, and then did circus tricks on a pole. Astounding!! I would definitely recommend seeing this show, and any others that the Mary Bijou Company put on, as it’s this sort of entertainment that allows audiences to engage with theatre, and know that theatre is for everyone and that’s such an important message to send out.
We travelled from Pembrokeshire to see the show. I have a strong Performance background myself and thoroughly enjoyed the show. I agree with the above comment that it should be remembered that this is a Cabaret show and indeed lends itself to many aspects of that style. I found myself both laughing hard one moment and feeling moved the next during the show. All of the cast were very talented and strong in their own right and audience participation is just simply part of the show in this genre. I would love to see more from this group and hope they continue to get the support they deserve.
Mm., what a surprise critique because the show I witnessed on the last night was amazing. It truly was a ‘Cabaret” show with so much spectacle sparkle and sensation that kept all of the senses heightened from start to finish. Music,acrobatics,comedy all thrown into the mix by highly trained and dedicated people. This was my first Mary Bijou and most definitely not the last! Well done to all the cast and crew you made my 200 mile round trip from Pembrokeshire a memorable one. Already looking forward to the next one!
Which show was the reviewer at? Certainly not the one that I went to on the Friday night and had travelled all of the way from Cornwall to see. What I experienced was true cabaret where one moment I was laughing my socks off, then transported into gasps of amazement or delight and all of the time thoroughly entertained. Everyone I was sitting with felt the same and they deserved the standing ovation at the end. I sincerely hope that this sensational show goes on tour so that others have the chance to see it and prove Ms Williams wrong!
Cabaret pretty much explains the type of show you should be watching. I am certain that this reviewer did not do their research on the type of show they would be watching.
I saw this show opening night and was not disappointed
by what i saw. Even the aidaudience participation part was hilarious and I think Strangers on a Train was the right choice of Hitchcock films to use for this.
As for the circus acts again I suggest you did not notice the clowns.
Lots of laughter and breath catching moments can’t wait until the next show Mary Bijou performance.
Reviewer make sure you know what type of show you are going to see before passing judgement.
Mary Bijou please carry on doing what your doing it works for all audiences you have.