Dietrich shadows

THEATRE
THE BLUE Angel, a musical play, was first seen at Stratford last year. It re-appeared at the Globe Theatre at the end of May.
The timing of its opening might be considered as impeccable as that of the star of the original film, Marlene Dietrich almost coinciding, as It did, with her death. Personally, I found this timing unfortunate.
The many television tributes to Dietrich were fresh in my memory when I saw the Globe Theatre production. It could not compare, and neither could Kelly Hunter, who played Lola.
The Marlene Dietrich of The Blue Angel was not the consummate professional of later years, but nevertheless, her talent was clearly evident. I very much doubt whether Kelly Hunter will ever be a Marlene. The degenerate and vulgar atmosphere of Hamburg in the late 1920s in the original film had style, much the same as the film Cabaret. This production seemed merely to revel in vulgarity, apparently for its own sake, and yet Philip Madoc as Professor Raat lacked the inherent lechery of Emil Jennings in the film. The death and the consequent revival of interest in the Dietrich legend may attract audiences to the Globe Theatre, but they may be as disappointed as I was.