Coup de Theatre
Coup de Theatre — I have always loved that term. It comes from the french, but is defined as being “a sensational bit of stagecraft”. How many shows have you seen where suddenly you realise you are watching a very rare moment where staging, performance, gimmickry and just plain magic come together? The same effect may be repeated in various productions, but there is usually only one that stands out as unique.
Coup de Theatre — I have always loved that term. It comes from the french, but is defined as being “a sensational bit of stagecraft”. How many shows have you seen where suddenly you realise you are watching a very rare moment where staging, performance, gimmickry and just plain magic come together? The same effect may be repeated in various productions, but there is usually only one that stands out as unique.
Let me tell you I have been going to the theatre for nearly 60 years and I have figured out 10, so I thought you might enjoy hearing about my top ten coup de theatre pieces – if you like. Pass onto aussie theatre any you would like to share…
10. The Barricade in Les Miz the first time I saw that show (in London) when the barricade comes trawling out from the wings like a living monster. I have seen it many many times in productions all round the world, but that first time was a great technical moment.
9. The 1993 Production of West Side Story in Australia, where it seemed like the Brooklyn Bridge was coming out of the roof of the theatre. No other production of the show has ever bettered that piece of staging as it set so effectively above the rumble scene.
8. Cats on Broadway 1983 and Grizabella (Betty Buckley) goes up to her heavyside layer. It was an epic cast and I have never seen the show done as well anywhere, but that staging in that show was a revelationary moment.
7. Reg Livermore doing a flying fox moment from the very roof of the theatre of the Regent Theatre in Sydney in the Oz production of Barnum in the climax of the big “Join the Circus” number at the end of the show. Livermore created a lot of his own tricks in that show and they were later picked up by Michael Crawford in London. At the end of Act One he did the Indian rope trick which was also an amazing moment. Barnum is a show screaming for a revival.
6. Sweeney Todd London 1980. Sweeney and Mrs Lovett (Dennis Quilley and Sheila Hancock) coming up out of the floor in the finale, spotlight from below with blood dripping off them. Very rarely is this done in any production as there are few theatres with the depth under the stage that was possible at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. ( that show was so ahead of its time in London in those days, where it was a huge flop, but a brilliant and brilliantly received version)
5. Nicholas Nickleby. Also London 1980, the finale of :God Rest Ye Merry gentleman” the moment Nicholas (Roger Rees) walked through the snow being dropped on him from actors above him and picked up a child in his arms. Great effective theatre. Oh how I would love to see the whole 8 and a half hour production revived again with its huge cast. Both the London and the STC production remain theatrical highlights for me.
4. Mary Poppins flying over the heads of the crowd high, high into a place impossible to see in the roof of the theatre at the opening night of the wonderful Australian production of Mary Poppins this year. I had seen it in London, but that moment was just that much more spectacular and special in the Oz production.
3. It wasn’t planned and could never be repeated, but Jill Perryman unexpectedly being lifted onto the shoulders of the ensemble of Funny Girl, Theatre Royal, Sydney , final performance 1966 as they sang “Henry Street”. Jill’s performance in that show still remains for me, one of the great theatrical music theatres performances I have ever seen.
2. Carousel – Production Company Melbourne 2005. The final moment as the ensemble sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and Billy had done his famous “I loved you Julie, know that I loved you” line, a tiny ladder (really just a shakey step ladder) came out of the roof of the huge State Theatre and David Campbell as Billy mounted the ladder and started to climb as it slowly ascended back into the roof as the curtain fell. Campbell would be one of the few actors in the world to have the guts to pull of that terribly risky stunt, but what a theatrical moment.
1. But nothing can top or probably ever will top the moment in Cloudstreet when Dan Wyllie in the final moment of that long but wonderful production, ran onto the stage as curtain upon curtain was pulled back and the back door of the theatre was flung open and he dived headlong out into the ocean beyond the theatre. The show went all round the world, but nowhere else could they find such a setting for that show (it was an old warehouse near the Rocks, now long gone). Now that was the ultimate coup de theatre. (and somehow magically, he managed to be pulled out of the ocean and came back on the stage in a towel to take his bows. Magic!!) It’s moments like these mentioned that make it worth to keep going to the theatre. Suddenly out of nowhere one of these magical moments may appear.