Cameron’s Palace has a makeover fit for a king
THe MOnArCH who lost the American colonies has taken belated revenge on the rebels who founded the United States.
Drains installed during george III’s reign were a major factor in costly delays to a major overhaul of London’s Victoria Palace theatre, where official preview performances of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical phenomenon Hamilton — about the founding fathers who battled george’s forces — will get under way next week.
‘george III has gotten his own back,’ said Cameron Mackintosh, as he showed me the drainage area that held up the extension, remodelling and refurbishing project.
‘He put the drains in when he acquired Buckingham Palace,’ Mackintosh quipped. His comments may have been tongue-in-cheek — though it’s true the king did put in the sewerage infrastructure.
The additional, unforeseen work meant Hamilton’s first performance was put back to next Wednesday; while the official opening night was delayed to December 21.
But the progress of the show is unaffected. Director Thomas Kail and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler had their cast going through their paces at the Victoria Palace on Monday.
On Wednesday night, as Mackintosh escorted me through the magnificently restored theatre (essentially, a brand new building has been inserted into the shell of the old one) I could see and hear Jamael Westman, who portrays Alexander Hamilton — war hero, economist, master of bureaucracy — take his shot on the newly enlarged stage.
HeArInghim and his cast mates sing was a privilege. And the sight lines were as good from the rear of the grand circle as from the best seats in the stalls.
The eye for detail is stunning. The motifs from stained-glass windows, put in by original architect Frank Matcham, have been mirrored by Clare Ferraby in her designs for the four different carpets, and some of the chairs and sofas in the bars.
Workmen still have some areas to finish, but Mackintosh said the bulk of it will be completed by opening night. Other external works, which will not interfere with the show, should be finished by the summer.
The original cost of the project was £ 30 million. Mackintosh wouldn’t be drawn on the current bill, but mentioned a figure of ‘25 per cent of the £200 million cost of doing up the royal Opera House’.
So £50 million, if my maths is correct. ‘Privately done, not out of the public purse,’ he added.
I began my tour in the Tudor room, reached via a staircase from the circle.
I recall being shown that room a long time ago and it was a bit of a darkened dump. now, timber has been restored or replaced; cornicing and decorative plasterwork fixed; and there are carved lions and masks.
There’s also a spectacular light, created by Bruce Munro from glass and optical fibres, that rains down through three levels to the main foyer.
King george’s plumbing may have been suspect, but the new facilities are faultless: there are countless posh loos (including ones for the orchestra); and a couple of the newly added boxes and loggias have their own private facilities. The completely overhauled backstage has showers. There are new dressing rooms and an artists’ green room. There is also air conditioning and ingenious use made of light shafts. ‘ I wanted it to be both glamorous and contemporary,’ said Mackintosh with pride, as he showed off a room humming with computers. He took issue with nicholas Hytner’s comment — made when he and nick Starr opened the beautiful Bridge Theatre — that West end venues, despite their beauty, were no longer compatible with 21st-century productions.
MACKInTOSHadded: ‘ I hope what we’ve done makes nick Hytner eat his words. His remarks did goad me to putting on an extra few shades of gold.’
He and lead producer Jeffrey Seller are holding two ‘soft’ private performances on Monday and Tuesday to ensure all the lights work and the loos flush.
Mackintosh was particularly chuffed when he walked me through what he called the ‘Lynne Promenade’ — named in honour of famed British director and choreographer gillian Lynne and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Pride of place will be given to a photograph of Ms Lynne, taken back in the day with an old beau by the name of errol Flynn.