London Archives - Page 109 of 113

21Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Falling Stars – Union Theatre

How can just two people command a stage and put on such a wonderful production in such a short time? Written and conceived by the male lead, Peter Polycarpou, who along with his female co-star Sally-Ann Triplett gave us a night and a show which will live on in the memory for a long time to come. Both are well established performers in their own right and their combined talents have resulted in an unforgettably entertaining history of the music from the glorious era of 1920’s musicals. The show has been put together in just three days and after the first day of rehearsals, Lockdown 2 was announced in England which put paid to many of the ideas for this production. The show’s title is taken from a Charlie Chaplin song and tells the story of the discovery of an old songbook found hidden aw...

16Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

We Missed You – Voila Festival

‘We Missed You’ is two clowns' interpretation and message of lockdown and a fitting homage to the general feeling that currently pervades. They want to tell us that they missed us and create a warm fuzzy feeling inside audiences. It’s part of Voila Festival or Voila Europe that runs annually at the Cockpit Theatre in London’s Marylebone. But of course, the pandemic has brought it to our homes via the digital world. The enigmatic clowns are Julia Masli and Viggo Venn from Estonia and Norway respectively and are not the circus ring bright wigged & make up of nightmares but a more refreshing (and less scary) Harlequino and Pierrot who have a huge variety of fun costumes and tell us they are more Commedia Dell Arte. This draws on a European tradition where clowns travelled from ma...

13Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Title of Show – London Coliseum Online

This one-act musical, by Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, is a musical about writing a musical. Yes, that’s right. Title of Show follows two writers in their quest to create “an original musical”. The complications, arguments and struggles are all aired out in this performance piece with a difference. It’s an ingenious concept. The action is constantly twisting and turning in this show within a show. It’s a complete musical with catchy numbers but also a work-in-progress where a song may be interrupted half-way through to be cut. Obviously with a lot more moments like this, it’s also a comedy. And it does offer a lot of laughs. “Four chairs and a keyboard does not a musical make” says one critic of the show… within the show. This performance proves that you can put on a musical with just ...

12Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Continuity – Finborough Theatre Company

Firstly, a warning. If this were a film it would have an over 15s certificate. It seems that every sentence has a word starting with the letter “F”, admittedly much of it in context, although I would certainly be embarrassed if I had taken my mother along to see this play. Having said that, if you look beyond the strong language, you will discover a tale of a man torn between his personal life and his political commitments to “The Cause” of the Irish freedom fighters. Written by a new playwright, Gerry Moynihan, and set in the country of Northern Ireland in the year 2017, it tells the story of a dissident Irish Republican (hence the play’s title), Padraig Devlin and his relationships with other members of his terrorist cell, Joe the leader and Eammon his somewhat intellectually-c...

9Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Educating Rita – Rose Theatre, Kingston

Willy Russell’s Educating Rita is a story about a girl from Liverpool who enrols in an open university course with a nihilistic and hedonistic tutor. Rita (Jessica Johnson) who came from a restrictive learning background wants to learn critical thinking and to change herself and her life through learning. She tries to find common ground and a genuine connection with her tutor as she emulates his identity of a Scholar and intellectual. She tries to find purpose, an appreciation for life and to change her culture, lifestyle and identity to something greater. Rita moves her apartment, changes her company to university students, changes her job and identity to lead a more enriching and authentic life. While encouraging her tutor (Stephen Tompkinson) to find a love for life through pursuing his...

Howerd’s End – The Golden Goose, Camberwell

9Nov

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Howerd’s End – The Golden Goose, Camberwell

Howerd’s End is a heartfelt story of love, acceptance and the use of humour as a way of masking the truth and revealing it. An emotional story of the story of a deceased popular comedian who comes back to visit his long time romantic and life partner, to go through an emotional journey through self love and self discovery and acceptance; in regards of sexuality, age, societal relevance and value. It encourages the audience to live life well, to let go of regrets and self doubt which are holding you back and explore the depth inside themselves. The show had regular laughs throughout and the comedic timing of both Simon Cartwright and Mark Farrelly was consistently great as well as their ability to hold tension in the room. This story also portrays how vulnerable comedians can be; neuroti...

Philharmonia: ‘American Dreams’ – Royal Festival Hall

31Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Philharmonia: ‘American Dreams’ – Royal Festival Hall

After being away from their London home since March 2020, Philharmonia have come together (albeit in a socially distanced way), to stage this concert celebrating the work of Aaron Copland, Florence Price, Steve Reich and Igor Stravinsky. Conducted by the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor Designate Santtu-Matias Rouvali, this is a wonderful opportunity for the Orchestra to celebrate their 75th Anniversary and to help to raise funds to enable them to continue to produce their lively performances. The performance begins with Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, written in 1943-4, this piece was composed for choreographer Martha Graham who asked Copland to write a new ballet. The story centres around a young couple in 19th Century Pennsylvania who meet, marry and set up home ...

Ramin Karimloo Live at The London Coliseum

24Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Ramin Karimloo Live at The London Coliseum

Whilst there is uncertainty of when we can view Live theatre in person. It’s events that are put on by stream theatre that really help us get through this challenging time. Prior to the show starting I must say it was a huge headache trying to log in to see the stream. Maybe this should be looked at if more shows are to be added. On to the concert itself. Ramin Karimloo is a giant in the world of musical theatre both on Broadway and in the west end. His debut was Les Misérables and in the show speaks of how great full he was to have this show in his life. He has always been a fan of the show and to have played Jean Valjean was an honour. If you haven’t seen him in shows such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Murder Ballad. You may recognise him on Tv Medical Drama Holby City a...

22Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Norma – Royal Opera House

Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece Norma had its premiere at La Scala, Milan, on Boxing Day 1831. After a muted initial response, the opera quickly became popular, and is now a mainstay of the repertory, being particularly acclaimed as a vehicle for the lead soprano. The priestess Norma (Sonya Yoncheva) loves Pollione (Joseph Calleja), leader of the occupying force suppressing her people, and has secretly borne two children by him. But Pollione’s love for Norma has withered, and he now loves her fellow priestess Adalgisa (Sonia Ganassi). Meanwhile, the people urgently look to Norma to lead their rebellion. Norma discovers the love between Pollione and Adalgisa. Furiously she gives the signal for war. Pollione is captured, attempting to steal away with Adalgisa. Norma, called upon to announ...

Truth To Power Café – Conway Hall, London

19Oct

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Truth To Power Café – Conway Hall, London

Inspired by his father Mick Goldstein’s friendship with ‘The Hackney Gang’ (six childhood friends - Harold Pinter, Henry Woolf, Mick Goldstein, Jimmy Law, Ron Percival and Moishe Wernick), Jeremy Goldstein has collaborated with the gang’s only living member Henry Woolf to continue his journey of discovery. In the 1940’s and 50’s the gang would meet up and throw around ideas about literature and poetry amongst other things, trying to escape from the problems going on in the big wide world and inhabit their own creative world. Previously, Goldstein Jr had worked on adapting his father’s work ‘Spider Love’ with Henry Woolf. After his father’s death in 2014, Goldstein found a play his father had written and decided to develop it. I had been written in answer to a book writ...