| Y: A Musical Cabaret | |
| Genre: | Musical theatre/cabaret |
| Location: | Piccadilly Theatre, London |
| Creatortitle1: | Director |
| Creatorname1: | Jean Marie Riviére |
| Creatortitle2: | Composer |
| Creatorname2: | Frédéric Botton |
| Creatortitle3: | Composer |
| Creatorname3: | Robert Purvis |
| Creatortitle4: | Designer |
| Creatorname4: | Pierre Simonini |
| Creatortitle5: | Choreographer |
| Creatorname5: | Molly Molloy |
Y: A Musical Cabaret was a musical review starring quick-change artist Arturo Brachetti which ran at the Piccadilly Theatre from 27 June 1983 to 28 July 1984.[1] The show was set in the style of a Paris cabaret complete with topless acts, illusion, visual effects, dancing and song.
The show started as "I"'[2] and was scheduled to preview on 16 March 1983 as the most expensive show ever mounted in the West End,[3] but was withdrawn[4] [5] the night before. It had been due to open on 22 March 1983. After substantial rewrites and development,[6] the show reopened as "Y" and ran for over a year.
The Piccadilly Theatre was remodelled to accommodate kitchens for audience members in the stalls where the seats were replaced by dining tables.[7] Some of the waiting staff would also participate in selected moments of the show. A three-course meal and the show was £25 in the stalls and a buffet in the Royal Circle was £10.00-£12.50.[8]
Reviews were mixed for the show. Martin Walker of The Guardian wrote:[9]
"Y is so luridly and brashly vulgar that it tramples aside any quibbles about taste or artistic fitness or the lunatic profligacy that spent a reputed £2 million to bring this Parisian cabaret to the London stage"
John Barber in The Daily Telegraph wrote:[10]
"Late nighters will welcome an attractive new theatre restaurant in London and will find "Y" slick and showy enough to make late" Talk of The Town" revues look pretty antediluvian".
Robert Cushman in The Observer wrote:[11]
"Y the long cursed spectacular that has finally opened at the Piccadilly, now transformed into a rather taking dinner-theatre, complete with performing waiters"
Francis King in The Sunday Telegraph observed:[12]
"Unfortunately, the performers spend much of their time miming, like drag artists on an off-night at the Vauxhall Tavern, to deafening tapes"
Y opened for previews on June 9, 1983, the day of the General Election[13] and this was used in the initial marketing of the show.[14]
On Independence Day, July 4, 1983, a free bottle of champagne was offered to any Americans who could show their passport.[15]
New Year's Eve 1983 was marketed as a "Fancy Dress Ball with Russian Extravaganza". A special "Ballet Russes" number was written and performed especially for the evening performance.[16] The theatre was licensed until 3am and breakfast was served until 4am on New Year's Day[8]
On Friday July 13, 1984, it was reported that Y was to close, "the most expensive theatrical show ever seen in London". Y closed two weeks later with losses of £4.75M.[17]
| Name | Cast Member(s) | Costumes | Composer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | Full Company | Pierre Simonini | Frédéric Botton | |
| Paris Piccadilly | The Waiters | Caroline Robho | Frédéric Botton | |
| Tribute To The Stars | Roberto Rosello | Frédéric Botton | ||
| Cabaret De Paris | Miranda Coe, Claire Lutter, Adrian Swerhun, Suzie Casabianca, Gilian Wunn, Caroline Roboh, Tracy Cullen, Lesley Collinson, Robin James, Lynne Winslo, Fiona Lewis, Tim Ricketts, Mark Elie, Heavon Grant, Stefan Reekie, John Peterson, Michael Hervieu, Tony Papas, Chris Marlowe | Robert Rosello | Frédéric Botton | |
| Dodo Dollar | Arturo Brachetti, Marc Lincoln, Caron Cardelle | Roberto Rosello | Frédéric Botton | |
| Presentation of The Orchestra | Tracy Cullen, Adrian Swerhun | Frédéric Botton | ||
| Venice Under The Sea | Full Company | Pierre Simonini | Frédéric Botton | |
| Sweet Dreams | Tracy Cullen, Lynne Winslo, Tony Papas, Adrian Swerhun | Frédéric Botton | ||
| Horror Story | Arturo Brachetti, Norbert Dingo, Caroline Roboh, Tim Ricketts, Caron Cardelle, Fiona Lewis, Bunty Bailey, Lesley Collinson, Michael Hervieu, Stefan Reekie | Frédéric Botton | ||
| Ostriches | Stefan Reekie, Adrian Swerhun | Pierre Simonini | Frédéric Botton | |
| Illusions | Nicola Kimber | Pierre Simonini | Robert Purvis | |
| Eye | Arturo Brachetti | Pierre Simonini | Frédéric Botton | |
| Gentleman | Tracy Cullen, Heavon Grant, Adrian Swerhun, John Peterson, Michael Hervieu | Pierre Simonini | Frédéric Botton | |
| Tigers | Stefan Reekie, Lesley Collins, Bunty Bailey, Miranda Coe, Robin James, Claire Lutter, Suzie Casabianca, Stefan Reekie | Roberto Rosello, Pierre Simonin | Frédéric Botton, Robert Purvis | |
| The Flight | Arturo Brachetti | Pierre Simonini | Robert Purvis | |
| Zubadia | Caroline Roboh, Adrian Swerhun, Heaven Grant, Chris Marlow, John Peterson | Roberto Rosello, Pierre Simonini | Frédéric Botton | |
| Running Wild | Tracy Cullen, Tim Ricketts, John Peterson, Orchestra | Frédéric Botton | ||
| The Grand Piano | Full Company | Roberto Rosello | Frédéric Botton | |
| Applaudissez | Full Company | Frédéric Botton |
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Jean Marie Riviere | Theatre director | |
| Pierre Simonini | Designer | |
| Molly Molloy | Choreographer | |
| Frédéric Botton | Composer | |
| Roberto Roselllo | Costume Designer | |
| Jenny Cane | Lighting Designer | |
| Jean Daniel Mercer | Musical Arranger | |
| Robert Purvis | Musical Director and Composer | |
| Tim Spain Ricketts | Assistant Choreographer | |
| Patricia Tomlinson | Ballet Mistress | |
| Paco | Assistant Director | |
| Caroline Roboh | Artistic Supervision | |
| London Production Consultant | ||
| David Astor | London Consultant | |
| Vladimir Forgency | Producer |
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Rees | Company Manager | |
| Howard Harrison | Stage Manager | |
| Jonathan Baylis | Deputy Stage Manager | |
| Peter Bouchier | Assistant Stage Manager | |
| Marc Lincoln | Assistant Stage Manager | |
| Peter Litten | Production Manager | |
| George Dugdale | Assistant Production Manager | |
| Helen Molchanoff | Interpreter | |
| Geoff Sharpe | Costume Supervisor | |
| Denise Monti-Colombi | Costume Supervisor | |
| Sean Casey | Wardrobe Master | |
| Enza Dormizzi | Wardrobe Assistant | |
| Kate Elliott | Wardrobe Assistant | |
| Yvonne Savage | Wig Supervisor | |
| Sue Strothers | Deputy Wig Supervisor |
| Name | Instrument(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Purvis | Piano and Musical Director | |
| Steve Melling | Keyboards | |
| Geoff Young | Woodwind | |
| Duncan Smith | Trumpet | |
| Mike Smith | Trombone | |
| Bobby Patrick | Bass Guitar | |
| Paul Donnelly | Guitar | |
| Peter Buchan | Percussion | |
| Porter Young Management | Orchestral Management |