Jenn McKean, Author at North West End UK

23Apr

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Anything Goes – Liverpool Empire

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking, but now God knows, anything goes. Last years’ Olivier Award nominations were proof that Cole Porter’s 1934 musical hit is a timeless classic and can still please audiences today. This new touring production also shows, that with the right casting, it can raise the roof on large theatre venues. Set on the SS American, as it sets sail from New York to England, the press and passengers on board are complaining that there are no celebrities to make this trip worthwhile and worth the price of the ticket. Unbeknownst to them, there are stowaways and gangsters hiding in plain sight aboard and chaos, of course, ensues. With storylines that follow four main characters, it’s easy to think you’d get confused with the multipl...

Desperate Scousewives 3: Howdy Neighbour – Floral Pavilion

18Apr

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Desperate Scousewives 3: Howdy Neighbour – Floral Pavilion

The girls are back with the third instalment of Desperate Scousewives and the laughs are back with them! Trisha’s son, Luke, is turning 16 and Trisha wants the party to be perfect. She has also made it to the finals of the local karaoke contest and her life, as she knows it depends on her winning. Sue and Nessa have been sent for the cake with £280 from Trisha, but they’ve managed to get themselves ‘locked’ in the pub. Lil is not happy and will not go back to bed until she’s found where the girls are. Of course, chaos ensues and we are taken on a hysterical journey over the course of the day. Lynne Fitzgerald has once again written a piece that resonates with Merseyside audiences and has them leaving with a stomach ache from laughing so much. There was a moment where she forgot her o...

22Feb

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

REVIEWS

Is He Musical? – MP Theatricals

In 2022, as much as we’d like to think we’re inclusive, there’s a lot of people who still aren’t, but to put it in perspective; compared to 90 years ago we have come a long way. Is he musical? Is the story of Laurence and Wilfred who are involved in a series of wonderful and indulgent nights across London’s west end, at the back end of 1933. However, because Laurence, Wilfred and their friends are gay, these evenings are held in secret. How long can this go on? Will they be found out? Jude Taylor’s (he/him) musical comedy takes us on a journey, not only back in time, but also a journey of emotions. We live the highs and lows with Laurence and Wilfred and experience their emotions too. The book on the whole, is good, but with a bit more work, it could be a truly great piece of theatre...

Boss New Plays (Friday) – Royal Court Studio

8Nov

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Boss New Plays (Friday) – Royal Court Studio

The Lantern Writers hold an annual showcase of new writing from semi-professional and amateur writers, at various stages of development. It is held over three night and the second night of new writing definitely stood up to the showcases’ name ‘Boss New Plays’. The first of the four pieces was ‘It's Not The Coughing That Carries You Off’, written by Mark Murphy. This is a comedy play, that uses a doctor’s surgery to bring comedy into everyday life. We’ve all been in a waiting room and overheard half of a phone conversation that could easily been misconstrued; or had that person next to us that can’t sit quietly for their turn and Murphy takes us to these moments and allows us to see the comedy in them. It is cleverly written and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the ha...

4Oct

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

REVIEWS

Going the Distance – Online Stream

We were all waiting for the musical and play adaptation of the Handforth Parish Council Meeting last year and it seems like Going the Distance will be the closest we will get for a while. March 2020 and the theatres have all gone dark. What happens to all those local theatres that rely on donations and local productions to get them through? Going the Distance takes us through how Matchborough Community Theatre plans to survive the global pandemic. We start with a familiar scene – the first Zoom meeting, synonymous with the ‘I can hear you, can you hear me?’ – and we are introduced to Frank (Matthew Kelly), Maggie (Penny Ryder) and Rae (Sarah Hadland). They discuss finances and ways in which they can continue to make money, despite the pandemic trying to have other ideas. They settle on ...

16Sep

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Dial M for Murder – Liverpool Playhouse

It sure is a tangled web we weave and more so for Tony Wendice, the leading man in Dial M for Murder, made famous in 1950 by a film of the same name from Alfred Hitchcock. Wendice is an ex-tennis pro, who has given it up for his wife Margo. When he discovers that she’s been having an extra-marital affair, he starts to plot his revenge, but will his tangled web be found out or will he get away with the perfect crime? Tom Chambers was ideal to lead the cast as Wendice, taking us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. From laughing with him, to feeling for him, to disgust, Chambers was really able to take us on the full character’s journey throughout the piece. Diana Vickers as Margo portrayed her as away with the fairies and whilst it worked well through act 2, it didn’t quite feel right...

24Aug

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Heathers the Musical – Empire Theatre

How very anticipated. You could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air upon arrival at the theatre. Whilst it was a week later than planned, you could tell for the majority of the audience, it was their first return to the theatre since they were shut last year and boy where they excited to see this cult classic on stage. You couldn’t tell that the cast had been off unexpectedly the week before, the energy and joy of them being back on stage was met with the reactions from the audience. It was difficult to tell who was more excited to be there, the cast or the audience. The show, based on the film of the same name, is a dark comedy about how a ‘nobody’ Veronica Sawyer becomes friends with the popular girls at school, who are coincidentally all named Heather (Chandler, Duke a...

The Show Must Go On! Live – The Palace Theatre

22Jul

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

London

The Show Must Go On! Live – The Palace Theatre

Who would have thought that a song released 30 years ago this year, would have been so relevant today, and even become the mantra/motto of theatres, shows and performers over the last 18 months?! The Theatre Support Fund was set up in March 2020 by Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton, as a direct response to the pandemic. They work alongside Acting For Others and The Fleabag Support Fund, to provide much needed funds and support to the Theatre community with their ‘The Show Must Go On campaign’. Following on from the success of the t-shirts, posters, notebooks sales (other items are also available); Marcus and Stanton put on a concert celebrating the West End’s fabulous talent and wonderful musical productions, when the restrictions were eased in June. If you missed out on tickets or forgot...

5Jun

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Judy & Liza – Floral Pavillion

What an absolute joy and honour it was to be able to be at the first show at the Floral Pavilion, whose auditorium has been closed to patrons since March last year. The staff and regulations that have been put in place to allow people to feel safe, have definitely done just that. And what a show to reopen the theatre with! Judy & Liza is a bit like the concert a lot of people would have wanted to see, but never got the chance to. 45 years after they performed together at the London Palladium, this vaudeville-style concert of a show tells us a brief history of Frances ‘Baby’ Gumm and her daughter Liza May Minnelli. It’s been well thought out and put together so well, that at times you forgot you were watching actors playing the roles and not the legends themselves. Helen Sheals as Ju...

Monday Night at the Apollo – Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

25May

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

London

Monday Night at the Apollo – Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

One positive that has come out of theatres being closed? Line ups like this evening that probably wouldn’t have happened had we not had lockdown and the closing of theatres. It’s about the only good thing I can think of – that and the streaming of shows, such as this one, that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get to! This powerhouse quintet is enough to cheer anyone up after a miserable Monday and worth the ticket price alone. Billed as an intimate evening of conversation and song filled with an eclectic mix of music from the performers’ favourite genres, the night definitely did not disappoint. The first act felt like it got off to a slow start and that it was going to be an evening more about the talking than the singing, but after each performer had sung once and chatted with host G...