The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
An excellent musical with great atmosphere, stunning sets, great acting and a few surprises!
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Meow Meow's almost unbearably beautiful second-half aria, Sans Toi, so encapsulated the pain-in-the-chest, utter desolation of unrequited love that several of us in the audience forgot our "roles" and sobbed.
Dominic Shellard, Times Higher Education
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
An excellent musical with great atmosphere, stunning sets, great acting and a few surprises!
Why see The Umbrellas of Cherbourg?
Twenty year old French auto mechanic Guy Fouchier has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic umbrella shop.
On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève vow to remain lovers.
After discovering she is carrying Guy’s child she must choose between waiting for his return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.
The critically acclaimed classic film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, directed by Jacques Demy, was released in 1964 starring a 19 year old Catherine Deneuve.
The film went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards and then won the 1964 Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival. The Academy Award nominated I Will Wait for You, one of the songs featured in the film, has subsequently been recorded by many artists including Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli.
Key Information
Audience
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is suitable for audiences aged 8 and upwards.
Dates
Finished 21 May 2011
Cast
Joanna Riding as Madame Emery
Meow Meow as Lola
Carly Bawden as Genevieve
Andrew Durand as Guy
Gareth Charlton as Sailor
Cynthia Erivo as Madelaine
Dominic Marsh as Cassard
Aki Omoshaybi as Sailor
Laura Brydon (ensemble)
Matt Wilman (ensemble)
Meow Meow as Lola
Carly Bawden as Genevieve
Andrew Durand as Guy
Gareth Charlton as Sailor
Cynthia Erivo as Madelaine
Dominic Marsh as Cassard
Aki Omoshaybi as Sailor
Laura Brydon (ensemble)
Matt Wilman (ensemble)
Creative
Directed by Emma Rice
Written by Jacques Demy
music by Michel Legrand
English translated by Sheldon Harwich
In association with Charles Burr
Written by Jacques Demy
music by Michel Legrand
English translated by Sheldon Harwich
In association with Charles Burr
Reviews
Customer reviews
39 reviews, average rating: (3.7 Stars)
A. Leal
Refreshingly surprising
After so many mixed reviews I went to the theatre convinced I wouldn’t have a good time and if there was a time in life when I was deeply wrong this was it.
It certainly isn’t you regular west end bust out in song in between lines – big fire works musical act – laugh out loud or cry your eyes out musical but it will definitely appeal to those who love their music and have a certain passion for the simple things in life.
The beautifully sang dialogs were really well put together in a way that even my ears, more used to the spoken lines of films, did not get tired instead, I got dragged into the whole thing and I found that the 2 hours of show suddenly went really quickly. The main musical acts really enhanced their beautiful voices and the slightly “frenchier than normal” sense of humour of the mistress really was refreshing and done the job putting the story together.
All in all it is beautiful and touching and - for the first since Amelie - it really made me want watch a French fi ... Read more
fourthofapint
This show provokes strong feelings!
I am fascinated by how split previous reviews have been - some love it, some hate it. I really enjoyed the show, - brilliant musicians, a good ensemble cast, fascinating sets and clever lighting - and as a (very) regular theatregoer, and a fan of KneeHigh I wasn't disapointed. But why insult each other for having different experiences - Some love Shakespeare, others hate him - neither is wrong - just different things excite different people.
This production certainly moved and excited me, and I'm very glad I went. ... Read more
Lyv
Inventive and original
I went to see 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' last night very wary with such loathing reviews. But I was relieved and plesantly suprised with Kneehigh's continuing creativity. Admittedly it took about ten minutes for my ears to readjust to the constant singing, but when you do you are easily transported into its world. I am not a West end fan (certainly not musicals) but I don't want to go into a slagging match. I will simply say if you enjoy watching a cast where no one "shines" because they believe in working as an emsemble and where they find new ways of using actors, props and set changes and where they take you on a ride of everchanging imagery and emotion go see "Umbrellas of Cherbourg". It has its weaknesses, of course, but I implore you to see any show that doesn't. ... Read more
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