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TABOO ... Cafe De Paris... My London trip April 24 - April 29...

Story - Page 1

What's Taboo and why was I there? ;)

Story - Page 2

Photos - Cafe De Paris

Photos - Taboo crowd

Photos - Cast photos

MAIN PAGE

Photos - the last show

(any show quotes used here just came out of my head, out of my memory, and might not be accurate. Cast member names or other fans names might not always be right. Please no offence. Some times I call characters by characters names, then I switch to the real names� sorry hope it makes sense!

Me just in front of the Venue door, the first (above) and the last (right) evening.

First of all, let me tell you I didn't really understand all the fuss about Euan Morton. I really didn't, before I saw him walk on stage in the Boadicea outfit and he just stood there, at the centre of the stage� just stood there� Before he even opened his mouth, I knew exactly what the fuss was about. And with the first line he said I was at his feet (not literally, mind you, even though I did have a first row seat for one of the shows). When he took off that hat half way through "Stranger in this world", I just couldn't believe his acting� He's a star. And a voice to kill for. I'd also like to add he was lovely in person and it was a great pleasure meeting him and talking to him at the Venue.

Me and the one and only Euan Morton.

Well I shall start at the beginning� ;) I arrived on Wednesday afternoon and after dropping my bags at the hotel, I headed straight ("uh, I hate that word"�;)) to the Venue to collect my tickets for Friday and Saturday evening shows. See, originally I had only planned to see it twice� But the idea already sneaked into my head when I was gorging on my red wine on the plane� I already knew if there would be any tickets for the same Wednesday evening, I'd go. Simply because for the Friday show which I originally planned the first I'd go to, I had the first row seat and I didn't want to be taken by surprise� ;) Having enough excuses, I bought a ticket for Wednesday evening show as soon as I arrived at the Venue. Then I met some other fans out there and eventually stayed hanging around there till the evening show. Also had a pleasure of seeing make-up-less and hat-less George walking in the Venue 10 minutes before the show starts. He walked passed me and answered my "hello, George" with a wink. He was being late.

Let me tell you what a bliss is a theatre with a bar right next to the stage, or as it was the case there, a part of the stage. And being able to take your drink to your seat and just enjoy it during the show was nice. I think it added something extra to a nice friendly atmosphere there. The cast suddenly walking around the audience right before the show really surprised me. I came to the show completely "fresh" without having heard much about the actual cast, tricks and jokes. I had heard the soundtrack of course. But other than that I was open for everything like I'd never seen/heard it before. Also dead tired from the flight and having still been at work in the morning before I left for the airport, I was just sitting there� I know in other circumstances I'd be nervous and I'd be over excited about finally being there, but on that day� I had such a right state of mind for totally giving in and just enjoying it. And the first show I saw was also the one most stuck in my mind. I had a third row seat, just in the centre, very good view (but then again the view was good from everywhere), and I sat back with my beer and enjoyed. Before the show started, one of the cast guys smiled and winked at me, probably someone I had talked to before the show outside, but I just didn't recognize him in all the make-up, I wasn't familiar with the cast and now when I am, I can't remember any more� But I remember it made me feel like I've come home. I know it's strange. But I felt at home with their feet stamping to "Tainted Love". Totally at home.

I just wish I could remember more� The first show I saw had a slightly different casting� Who played Philip? LOL.... My poor brain� I think Tamsin played Kim. And I think Paul Spicer played Billy? Or am I going out of my head now? ;) I didn't even know it's not the regular cast order. I loved Philip, so if anyone can tell me who played Philip on Wednesday April 24 I'd really appreciate it.

Inside of the venue, there were some amazing photos displayed all over the place. Photos of all the cast, as well as the photos of Taboo characters. I was especially impressed with a downstairs bar.

Should I just go over those moments that deeply impressed me that first time I saw Taboo? First of all Euan Morton, no question. "Someone make me a star cause I sure as hell can't be a man"� He impressed me beyond believable. I bet if someone had taken a picture of me during "Stranger in this world", you'd see my jaw on the floor. "Closer your eyes, Billy�" I probably just sat there shaking my head in disbelief. "You left me to ruin but I'll always know who I am"� "Petrified" nearly made me cry, but the most emotional moment for me was "Out Of Fashion" which I just found hard to believe. Maybe it was all the travelling, all the alcohol, all the tiredness, but I cried at the end of "Out Of Fashion" and definitely had tears in my eyes looking at Euan during "Pie In The Sky". His facial expressions, his voice, all his being just looked so fragile and vulnerable� "always together, always alone, frightened of silence, glued to the phone�" Emotions leering off the stage (or was it just me?)

Gary was a scream - how did he do all that in those high heels? Lots of practicing at home or something? I had to worry he'll fall over at any time during Genocide Peroxide, but of course he didn't. I held my breath when he was jumping over that sofa� Makes me smile now when I remember his manners and style on stage. And off stage. Hehe. Swoon at the man's feet, he was drop dead gorgeous. I wasn't alone in my sentiments btw - at another show there were two girls sitting next to me and comments like "I so adore that man" were directed at Gary a lot. And he deserved them right.

Me and Gary.

Well� George � ;) What can I say? "I simply impressed him with my cross-stitching" � I was really losing it. ;) George was truly priceless. Every remark, every move he made, I followed him open mouthed and wide eyed as he strolled through the audience making everyone laugh. At one particular moment he was too close for comfort, the make-up looked truly scary. LOL� "Who did you expect? Phil Collins?"
George Michael mentioning at "I'll have you all" was precious for me, of course. And the line that is stuck in my head till this day is "did you see the size of that", something about the way he sang it and his body language � Totally priceless.

That day after the show I couldn't just go back to the hotel or just leave� I walked out of the Venue and my feelings and emotions were at such high I stayed right there. Talking to other fans I met before the show was great. Julio, Kristine, Shelley, thanks so much for amazing company! Dawn thanks for some fun stories after the first show. Just being a part of that group of people over there felt amazing. Seeing the cast leave the Venue was nice. I started recognizing faces. ;) I think in my ecstatic state of mind I told Euan he stole my heart. ;) Can't remember. But I think I did. I slowly discovered the entire cast was down to earth, friendly, amazing people. When it was all nearly over and just a few people left outside, I had an experience of meeting Philip Sallon. The real one. He might be a lovely man, but it didn't come across very well that night. ;) Still it was quite thrilling. He stayed for a while and talked to us. I think Shelly (or maybe Kristine?), someone had a picture taken with him, I didn't quite felt like asking for it. Would have been nice, now looking back on it. Well there's always the next time. ;)
I returned to my hotel at early hours of the morning. I was too tired to do whatever, anything. I just sat on my bed, writing some of this stuff down when it was still fresh in my head. I felt quite sad and down, but then again, it's been such a long day. Just my first day in London and I was exhausted emotionally and physically. It was everything, the flight, the emotions, the beer, my high heel shoes all day, talking to Philip, everything was a bit too much. Eventually I realized it's just that the show wasn't as funny as it was sad. Which I didn't expect. No one had told me I will have to cry there, alright!

The next morning I felt tired, totally crashed and happy. I really woke up with Euan's voice in my head, I couldn't believe it. I had to hear it again that very day. Just had to. ;) Luckily I got a ticket with no problems.
In the morning I had to do some things, like ensure my getting in the Cafe De Paris after Taboo. George's performance for the Kitsch Lounge was actually exclusive enough to worry about getting in. And if I wanted to see Taboo, too, it means I wouldn't be able to line up there early. It meant I'd arrive roughly the same time George would� Right after the show. Enormous thanks to Kristine for giving me the right contacts for the right people. In the morning I secured my name on the guest list for the evening. It still didn't guarantee anything. But I felt a bit more safe. I definitely didn't want to miss Taboo. And of course I definitely wanted to see the Cafe De Paris performance.

Below: me, Julio and Kristine outside of the Venue , ready for Cafe De Paris. Julio's make-up fooled quite a few people ... :) He looked gorgeous.

That day's Taboo was a bit overshadowed for me with a worry about Cafe De Paris. Still I enjoyed it. Before the show Euan stopped there at the entrance to talk to some fans outside and I was just there hanging around and when he turned to me and smiled asking "and how are YOU?" it took me a while to realize he is talking to ME� I just smiled dumbly and probably came across as a red head that is blond at heart. ;) Couldn't answer the simplest question in the world - how are you? ;)
Julio had amazing blue-face black-neck make up and of course got picked at by George. "I like how you dress, like you don't care". Seeing different cast in the roles of Billy, Kim, Josie and Philip surprised me a bit. As I said, I hardly knew anything about it before the show the night before. "Pie In Sky" totally took me away that day. Some of us left as soon as Karma Chameleon started, to be at least a bit earlier at Cafe De Paris. Btw Cafe de Paris is located literally around the corner from the Venue, just about one minute walk. Oh we also run to the Cafe De Paris during the interval of Taboo to check if our names were on the guest list and how big is a queue outside. It seemed fine, we also met a Cafe De Paris guy who kindly put us on a guest list, still I felt 100% safe and sure only when we were inside of the club. After I was already back home I heard some people were actually turned down and didn't get in. Sorry to hear that. I can only say good things about Cafe De Paris staff. Except of those working at the bar� Felt quite ignored in my attempts to get a drink.

More of my Cafe De Paris pics HERE ... :)

George made us wait for good 2 hours. Quite fashionable. I would have gotten drunk while waiting for him, but luckily we managed to secure a spot very near the stage (as you can see by my pics) and I didn't want to move out of there for the sake of a drink. Which means a lot, if you know me. ;) He walked on stage at one point to tell everyone that he hasn't finished his make-up yet (which I thought was a joke, he was coming from Taboo show� lol). A girl from the audience who apparently had one too many drinks climbed on stage and by George's expression I really thought he is going to smack her in the face� but he just said, "Get off stage!" and even said "thank you" when she did. His face showed a lot of annoyance. He ordered everyone to shut their mouth. Then called the audience "fucking illiterates" when people failed to give him complete silence for his "speech". Then he introduced Declan Bennet (Billy in Taboo cast) who played a few songs before George finally made a grand entrance and pretended nothing had happened before and he is right on time and everything is fine.

His performance was amazing and truly worth waiting for. He opened his set with Out Of Fashion and closed it with Starman, and these were the only 2 songs I knew. All the others were completely new to me. There was one song that especially moved me, I think George introduced it as a song he wrote after he spoke to Julian's mother (but don't quote me on that) and I swear he had a tear running down his cheek at one point. The whole performance was very emotional; songs were extremely "out there" and lyrics very personal. Some times with really special and great things happening to you, you don't really realize it, it doesn't register with you till later, when you are just looking back at it. This wasn't the case. It registered right there, at Caf� De Paris, having George lay his heart out for us. There was a moment I really shook my head, I think it was at seeing that tear, I thought it's absolutely special and I don't think I've ever seen such an emotional performance by anyone anywhere

Rosie O'Donnel was in the audience, taking loads of pictures. Almost the entire Taboo cast was there. People just having great time. After George's performance some of our company left. I stayed with Kristine till the club closed and they turned on the lights suddenly (how cruel was that!). It was fun night, lots of drinks, lots of time on the dance floor. Some chats with Taboo cast. Philip Sallon was there again. Someone actually thought Julio was George. We arrived to the club together and later at night one girl approached me and Kristine asking if we are those girls who arrived with Boy George. We had hard time convincing her that it wasn't really George, and then when we said she is Kristine from New York and I am Kristine from Latvia, I think she didn't buy the story at all and stayed with her original idea that I am actually Amanda Ghost (cause I have red hair?;)) Lots of really strange people at that club, to be honest. ;)
I returned to my hotel at 5 a.m. and felt mighty sorry for all the cast who left the club at the same time I did and had a show to play the next day.