North West Archives - Page 51 of 128

Into The Woods – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

20Jun

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Into The Woods – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Ever since the death of Stephen Sondheim in November 2021 there has been a rush on both the professional and amateur stage to produce his works, with every performer and creative wishing to pay posthumous tribute to the most influential voice in musical theatre during the latter half of the last century. As a fully paid up 'Sondaphile', I've therefore been delighted to witness this outpouring of love for the great man with productions of Company and Sweeney Todd and 'A Little Night Music' standing next to his lesser known works (Passion, Assassins and the forthcoming Pacific Overtures) in showcasing his lyrical genius. Tonight we are firmly at the popular end of the spectrum with a production of 'Into The Woods' the 1987 collaboration with James Lapine, as Altrincham Garrick finish their s...

15Jun

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Vernons Girls – Liverpool’s Royal Court

What could be better on a hot Summer’s night than a feel good show celebrating 50’s red hot property, the Vernon Girls? Hot – weather that is: were this horror, the hairs on your neck would be too plastered down to stand up. Horror? Well, although a cheerful, intriguing blend of music and history, it is horrific, judging by the gasps from the audience at some points. On the one hand, a bunch of talented teenagers whose dreams come true, from company choir to showbiz glamour, on the other – the iron fist, barely clad in a velvet glove, their big bosses, manipulative (the usual platitudes about being one big happy family) and exploitative, don’t see their actions as such. It’s just the way it is. And what an easy way to make lots of money, for them. When Equity points out the girls are ...

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare North Playhouse

15Jun

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare North Playhouse

So, for those that do not know what Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing (and many do ask!) the story is a comedic play by William Shakespeare about misunderstandings, love and deception. Benedick, Claudio and Don Pedro arrive at Leonato's house in Messina. Beatrice and Benedick bicker with each other and Claudio, a soldier, falls in love with Leonato's daughter, Hero. Don John, who is Don Pedro's evil half-brother, tricks Claudio into believing that he has seen Hero being unfaithful. Meanwhile, Don Pedro and others plot to bring Benedick and Beatrice together. Claudio accuses Hero of infidelity and refuses to marry her. Leonato is persuaded to pretend that she is dead. Hero's innocence is proven, and Claudio repents. He agrees to accept Antonio's daughter in marriage, and she turns...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Epstein Theatre

15Jun

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Epstein Theatre

There’s a bittersweet note to tonight’s performance, in the beautiful surroundings of the Epstein, knowing that the theatre will shortly be shuttering its doors permanently having failed to secure vital funding. Indeed, Bentley Operatic Society has performed here for around 100 years and, like our titular character, are therefore about to find themselves in temporary exile whilst they find a new home. Based on tonight’s performance of Joseph though, any theatre will be lucky to have them. The society have recently moved away from their previous offerings of Gilbert & Sullivan and other operettas to include mainstream musical theatre shows, and in Joseph they have found a one that plays perfectly to their strengths. Despite its exotic ancient Egyptian setting, Joseph – based on th...

14Jun

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Dirty Dancing – Liverpool Empire

You are bound to have the time of your life with this current production of Dirty Dancing. Telling the story of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and Johnny Castle, in the summer of 1963, Dirty Dancing is a classic and a film that pretty much every person on the planet has seen at some point in their lives. Which, in a way, makes it harder to transfer it onto the stage as authentically as possible. However, the current touring production of the show manages to do just that. Whilst some of the audience decided to treat it like a pantomime, where they pleased, the cast remained professional and the behaviour couldn’t detract from the performances on the stage. Michael O’Reilly’s Johnny Castle, was definitely the hit of the night, with the ladies in the audience. From the Patrick Swayze-style hai...

Blonde Bombshells of 1943 – Octagon Theatre, Bolton

14Jun

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Blonde Bombshells of 1943 – Octagon Theatre, Bolton

On an evening where the mercury on the temperature gauge almost touched thirty degrees, the Octagon Theatre's air conditioning system was a blessed relief to the packed press night audience. They were rewarded for their dedication to the theatrical cause with a nostalgic and tender memory play that simultaneously pulled at the heartstrings and got the toes tapping. The eponymous 'Blonde Bombshells' are an all-girl swing band touring wartime Britain entertaining the troops. Due to their membership being unexpectedly depleted by three of the members running off with American GI's after a recent concert, they are forced to hastily audition for replacements ahead of their big break on BBC radio later that evening. The eclectic new recruits include naive sixth former Elizabeth (Lauren Chinne...

Towards Zero – The Little Theatre, Birkenhead

14Jun

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

Towards Zero – The Little Theatre, Birkenhead

Agatha Christie is ‘marmite’ and for me personally, not something I would spread on my toast, but it is the case that audiences love them, and many amateur theatres will always include one in their catalogue in their season as they know its bums on seats. Carlton Players being no exception, regularly produce her plays and this week its Towards Zero, a complicated mix of the usual group of suspects: house guests gathered in a large house. No surprise there’s a murder, everyone has a motive and finally, by some clever deduction, the police uncover the truth. The script, like all Christie, is pretty static and all exposition and one way a director might approach it is to find the comedy and irony: play it over the top with lots of movement and action. This director didn’t q...

The Spongebob Musical – Blackpool Opera House

14Jun

By Daniel CoxNo Comments

North West

The Spongebob Musical – Blackpool Opera House

Are you ready, Blackpool? Aye-aye, Captain! I can’t hear you! AYE-AYE, BLACKPOOL! The Spongebob Musical splashed onto stages in April as it embarked on its UK & Ireland Tour and this week it finds its home at Blackpool Opera House. But does Bikini Bottom fit in so close to The Blackpool Tower? Well, you’ll have to read to find out. The Spongebob Musical tells the story of the impending threat to Bikini Bottom and its residents that we all know and love as a nearby volcano is soon to erupt if somebody doesn’t take action. So, the question is who will save the day and protect Bikini Bottom and SHOULD YOU TRUST THE GOVERNMENT? Firstly, it is a rarity to find a musical that has various aspects that complement one another so well. But it has to be said that this musical un...

Mozart’s Double Concerto – Liverpool Philharmonic

12Jun

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

Mozart’s Double Concerto – Liverpool Philharmonic

Mozart’s Double Concerto, performed by pianists Katia and Marielle Labéque, accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Karel Deseure, is preceded by Dvořák’s The Wood Dove and followed by Prokofiev’s Symphony No.3 to create a magical and dramatic afternoon of music. The opening of The Wood Dove features a lovely contrast of heavy bass and percussion and light woodwind. This proceeds into a repetitive double bass and cello section which guides the rest of the orchestra along the progression. Gentle cymbals add a sense of drama as the piece moves into a march with a military feeling as the intricate brass blends with ominous pizzicato to create a sense of eerie magic. The piece is ideal for the summer creating a feeling of the world waking up, and a sense of d...

Rubbish Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse

11Jun

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Rubbish Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse

“The course of true love never did run smooth” goes the line and never has a stronger argument been made than tonight’s raucous take on one of the Bard’s most popular comedies. And never before have we been able to settle that age old debate – do camels live in the woods? In the sunny surroundings of the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden, and armed with a series of violently coloured wigs, water-pistols and wings that are most definitely not bedsheets, the Rubbish Shakespeare Theatre Company has brought its latest family-friendly production to the stage, channeling the sensibilities of pantomime, as our players mercilessly tease the audience throughout, whilst sprinting through the salient points of the well-loved tale. Just in case you weren’t paying attention during your English Lit ...