North West Archives - Page 99 of 179

8Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Emma – The Pantaloons at Speke Hall

I’m a long-time fan of The Pantaloons and so it was a pleasure to see them back performing in the beautiful grounds OF Speke Hall with four new Loons making up the party. Emma was Jane Austen's fourth novel, first published in 1815, and tells the story of Emma Woodhouse (Rachel Cumming), a rich and spoiled young woman who takes it upon herself to become a matchmaker for the society of the town of Highbury, Surrey - while looking out for someone handsome, clever, and rich for herself - and in which the many parts of friends, relations, romantic interests, and anyone else vaguely relevant to the plot are mixed up and performed in true Pantaloons-style by James Alston, Molly Cheesley, and Richard Lessen. The question is, amid all the shenanigans and social mores, can she avoid the tornadoe...

Alice in Wonderland – Liverpool Playhouse

7Jul

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Alice in Wonderland – Liverpool Playhouse

Last night, at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre, I was invited to watch Alice in Wonderland. A short synopsis of the story is that we (as audience members) were transported back to the old ages, specifically the 1990s (which at that point, I felt old knowing it was 30 years ago). Where stereos played cassettes. Alice (Paislie Reid) was fixing her stereo player, as it had stopped working. She wanted to hear the song her dad Simon would sing to her before he sadly wasn't around anymore. In came her brother Lewis (Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos) with a birthday cake for Alice. Like most brothers, Lewis got on Alice's nerves. Alice wouldn't let Lewis interfere with the stereo in case she made things worse. After a few more tweaks to the stereo, she was transported to a wonderland within the cassett...

6Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Wasteman – King’s Arms, Salford

In a sequin-studded change in his career path, Joe Leather whimsically recounts how he traded hi-vis for high heels in this endearing one-hour play. Despite dabbling in drag in former times, regrettable events have led him to boxing up his dreams. However, a new opportunity tempts our refuse-collecting queen to rediscover their passion for performing. Leather embraces his ‘imaginary’ audience and entertains us with engrossing words, song and dance while jumping between a past and present narrative. His stage presence is cheeky and charming, and he capably juggles additional minor roles with expressive mannerisms and accents. While there are plenty of funnies laced throughout the script, a quantity over quality situation in terms of humour is sometimes apparent: where too many ...

The Chester Mystery Plays – Chester Cathedral

6Jul

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

The Chester Mystery Plays – Chester Cathedral

This is a very different theater experience set in the towering cathedral arches, played in traverse with audiences on both sides. Director John Young's artistic vision is bold, exciting, and inclusive, and we were spellbound by its color and energy. The professional production team is impeccable in their crafts. Matt Baker's atmospheric, glorious soundtrack with magnificent chorale work is so befitting of the majestic environment. Jess Curtis's design is imaginative and magical. Emma Briggs's choreography gives the piece fluidity and variety. Lighting (Aaron J Dootsan) and sound (Kieran Lucas) enhance all the different playing areas to full effect. But it is to the company of players I give the most praise - 200 performers, singers, and musicians drawn from all walks of life, give an o...

5Jul

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Titanic the Musical – The Lowry

The RMS Titanic. Owner J. Bruce Ismay wanted to create a legend – it was the largest moving object in the world when it was built. Sadly, the legend of the Titanic we know today is not the one he wanted. In one of the worst tragedies of the 20th Century, 1517 people died when the ship sank on 14 April 1912. This production tells the story of the maiden voyage of the Titanic, and it does so with an extremely high production value. The set and costumes designed by David Woodhead are as epic as the ship itself, and are used to the maximum to indicate at every point where the action is taking place on the ship and which class the passengers are from. The lighting (Howard Hudson) and sound (Andrew Johnson) designs are clever and intricate, used to particularly excellent effect in the Act I f...

5Jul

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

Whiskey Galore – Chester Little Theatre

The Little Theatre in Chester is a charming community theatre offering two spaces and tonight the Liz Stafford auditorium was full to capacity for this jolly romp of a play. Compton Mackenzie’s Whisky Galore was made into a famous film and remade a few years ago but this reimagining, adapted for the stage by Philip Goulding, gives us an all-female cast of seven playing thirty characters (although I didn’t count them). It has some real rip-roaring comedy moments, and it was what attracted director Lexi Fox-Hutchings to bring it to CLT. The fictitious Pallas Players, a touring theatre troupe in the 1950s, transport us back to 1943 in WWII on the two islands of Little Todday and Great Todday, where a shortage of whisky causes mayhem among the villagers. A shipwreck means 50,000 bo...

5Jul

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

Heathers the Musical – Liverpool Empire

If you have never seen the movie of Heathers, it’s unlikely this musical will be what you are expecting. Heathers is a unique musical, both musically and narratively speaking. Veronica Sawyer finds herself finally as a somebody, joining the popular clique of the three Heathers, before deciding it is time to get her old self back and get away from the Heathers. The plot that ensues is dark, funny, and emotionally charged in equal measure. The music for the show is unique, rooted in pop and modern musical theatre singing. There is so much syncopation in the ensemble singing that it is truly jarring, which is befitting of the constant feeling that something is not quite right. The musical numbers are many, and each is as good as the last, it is impossible to mention them all, but the perfo...

Amy Webber: No Previous Experience – King’s Arms, Salford

5Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Amy Webber: No Previous Experience – King’s Arms, Salford

Ambitious opera graduate Amy Webber occupies the King’s Arms theatre space with a stand-up routine composed of music, role-play and just a little bit of job-hunting. Opening with a playful sing-through of her CV, the piece throws in plenty of anecdotes throughout to keep it laugh-a-minute. The way Webber ad-libs lyrics and fumbles on her mini keyboard is reminiscent of Peep Show’s hapless, wannabe musician Jeremy Usborne (in the most complimentary way). Applying an energetic and quick-witted persona as she enacts different occupations- from teacher to therapist- Webber also employs some tongue in cheek audience interaction. While no one offered any exciting career leads for her on this occasion, she shares some frivolous networking pointers nonetheless. Radio impersonations an...

4Jul

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

Leaves of Glass – Hope Mill Theatre

This play is exceptional. If only I could end my review there! Philip Ridley has written a truly heartbreaking exploration of how we use memory to protect, to manipulate and to hide; and I was captivated from start to finish. As we see glimpses of Steven’s life in the present day, and flashbacks to his childhood, we start to build a picture of Steven and his family. But is everything as clear as it seems? The acting in this play is outstanding. Director Max Harrison has brought out every drop of subtle emotion and humanity from this incredible cast of four. Ned Costello as Steven never leaves the stage. He gives a stunningly authentic performance, whether in the middle of a monologue or with one of his scene partners. His ability to move us from present to past with just a clenche...

Rachel Creeger – Whitefield Garrick Theatre

4Jul

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Rachel Creeger – Whitefield Garrick Theatre

Greater Manchester Fringe is well and truly in the swing of things, and I was honoured to review Rachel Creeger’s latest masterpiece ‘Ultimate Jewish Mother 2023’ at the intimate Garrick Theatre in Whitefield. Creeger is no stranger to the stage as she is a multi-award-winning stand-up comedian, writer, and director, and I believe the only practising orthodox Jewish woman on the mainstream UK comedy circuit. Her debut hour "It's No Job for A Nice Jewish Girl" won the Best Comedy Award at the Greater Manchester Fringe in 2017, which sold out its run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it was a Fringe Review recommended show, and went on to have a critically acclaimed, successful international tour. Her second solo hour "Hinayni!" ran at the Underbelly for Edinburgh Fringe 2019 and ...