REVIEWS Archives - Page 10 of 428

It’s a Wonderful Life – St Mary’s Creative Space

22Nov

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

It’s a Wonderful Life – St Mary’s Creative Space

Disley Theatrical Productions return to St Mary’s Creative Space with the Christmas Classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. Directed by Gail Young, we are taken along the journey of George Bailey and his life from one of his lowest points, right back to when he was a child, up to present day, and even how life would have been if he had never been born. This is all played out so Bailey’s Guardian Angel, Clarissa, can get to know who she is going to help and hopefully get her wings along with it. George Bailey is brought to life by Rob Lyon and what a role! Barely leaving the stage and so integral to the story. Lyon is great in the role, giving all the emotions needed to take us on this rollercoaster of a ride that Bailey goes on. Clarissa is played by Hilary Wiseman and brings a warmth to the...

21Nov

By H.S. BakerNo Comments

Scotland

101 Dalmatians – Edinburgh Playhouse

This musical is very much a children’s entertainment, so it’s therefore surprising that it runs the standard length of time, despite starting and finishing half an hour earlier than one normally expects. It would benefit considerably from being at least half an hour shorter, without losing any of the essential story telling or spectacle. The narrative is a simple one, the evil Cruella de Vil desires a wardrobe of outfits made of white with black spots fur, and to that end, sends her two incompetent nephews to steal all the Dalmatians in the area. With music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge, book by Johnny McKnight from an original novel by Dodie Smith, and directed by Bill Buckhurst, this musical has a lot in common with pantomime. With Cruella the villain we all love to bo...

It’s a Wonderful Life – Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio

21Nov

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

It’s a Wonderful Life – Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio

I was glad to see how busy it was in the Studio for this production. Sometimes one feels slightly exposed and as though they should fear the worst sitting in a sparsely filled audience. Old Fruit Jar Productions is beginning to build up a solid reputation for bringing trustworthy and impactful theatre to the local area and I must say they continue that trend with this staging of It’s a Wonderful Life. Firstly, if you have yet to feel Christmassy then seeing a show like this will at once change that. The wholesome and honest story is a classic for a reason, that said, a classic on screen and so I was curious to see what it could be on stage. Due to the small space, they had to be economical and efficient with set and frills; not even the most high-tech theatres can jump from an off...

21Nov

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

A Christmas Carol – Birmingham Rep

Vanity publishing, which in recent years has metamorphosed into the far more respectable “self-publishing”, was once a much frowned upon indulgence reserved for potty poets and rich romantic novelists who didn’t need to make any money. However, it seems a number of well-known titles emerged from the self-funding route - “Paradise Lost”, “Sense and Sensibility”, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and Charles Dickens himself wasn’t beyond dipping into his pocket and splurging a few shillings to get a book on the shelves. His investment in A Christmas Carol would make many modern day self-publishers jealous - having never been out of print since 1843. Scrooge must be one of the most portrayed characters on stage and screen after Sherlock Holmes and Jesus and has been played by all and sundry. The ...

20Nov

By Amanda HodgsonNo Comments

North West

That Love Thing – HOME Mcr

This moving and entertaining piece follows the inner life of Peter, a man living with cerebral palsy, and his companion Michael, as they narrate the ups and downs of life with a serious disability. All the touchstones of Peter’s life – including his love of music and Shakespeare, his relationships with his unseen mother and brother, the travails of sex and dating, and his love/hate relationships with his various wheelchairs – are covered with wry humour. Just enough detail is given in each vignette for the audience to feel that the sketch is authentic and serious without overpowering the momentum of the show. Gradually we are introduced to main characters in Peter’s life – some real, some fictional, some perhaps both, including the Satanic Mr C.P., who appears to mock and torment...

20Nov

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

An Inspector Calls – Liverpool Empire

With the size and grandeur of the Empire stage, any play has a feat to reach the farthest eyes and ears in the audience. Especially a play that has such a wide and respecting reputation, not to mention a sell-out run to precede it. I didn't watch that initial tour of this production, so I have no comparison. That said, I was keen to see the calibre of the National Theatre re-produced, albeit with a hint of apprehension as to whether it would feel big enough for a space so different to the intimate Littleton. However, sat way back in the stalls I was pleased to feel so much life from the distant stage. The characters were bold and worked very hard to keep us in that world of tailcoats and silk gloves. Sheila Birling (Leona Allan) had humility, and a subtlety needed to counteract Mr an...

20Nov

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

1984 – Liverpool Playhouse

In a new adaptation of Orwell’s seminal classic, Theatre Royal Bath productions bring their take on 1984 to Liverpool’s Playhouse. Adapted for stage by Ryan Craig and directed by Lindsay Posner, the meticulous design of the piece means as soon as you enter the auditorium, you step into the authoritative, totalitarian world in which our characters cannot escape. Setting up the Playhouse as a panopticon is an exciting start to a story that has thrilled audiences since first being published in 1949. Sadly, once the houselights dim, the thrill that Orwell constructed is slowly deflated by a meandering, technology-reliant production. It is a truly difficult task to adapt a text that is held up as a modern classic, that the majority of the population has read before they reach their mid-t...

20Nov

By NewsdeskNo Comments

North West

Blood Brothers – Palace Theatre

Full disclosure that in well over forty years of watching and reviewing theatre I have always managed to avoid watching this musical paean to our Scouse cousins down the M62. I am certainly in the minority, as since its inception in 1983, Willy Russell’s ‘Liverpudlian Folk Opera’ has been garlanded with awards galore, toured the world and clocked up over 10,000 performances in the West End. So, after a little nudge from my Liverpool FC supporting editor, I braved the November sleet and snow and made the trip to the Palace Theatre in Manchester to catch its latest incarnation and finally see what all the fuss is about. The story of the Johnstone twins ‘as like each other as two new pins’ and their enforced separation - one given a life of rich opportunity whilst the other is condemned to...

Rocky Horror Show – Opera House, Blackpool

20Nov

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Rocky Horror Show – Opera House, Blackpool

I spent my evening at Blackpool Winter Gardens, as a Rocky Horror Show virgin, I cannot believe the level of commitment of some of the costuming from the audience members, one guy was literally in gold boxing shorts and a wig and heels. I have heard before of the active audience participation during this production, in fact one of the reasons why this musical is so popular is due to said participation, but it is something that needs to be seen to be believed. Another reason is the Musical score, with catchy tune such as ‘The Time Warp’ and ‘Sweet Transvestite’ which will leave you humming on your way out of the theatre. Rocky Horror also a movie from 1975 has been a cult classic for many years. With the music lyrics and book by Richard O’Brien, this melodramatic, twee, tongue in cheek p...

Showman: An Evening With Anton Du Beke – Buxton Opera House

19Nov

By Natasha AspdenNo Comments

North West

Showman: An Evening With Anton Du Beke – Buxton Opera House

On a nippy November night, just on the cusp of turning to winter, myself and my partner had the pleasure of being invited to review the latest Strictly Theatre Co. offering at the beautiful Buxton Opera House. As a not so fussed Strictly Come Dancing viewer my partner was semi hesitant about coming to watch “Showman: An evening with Anton Du Beke”, but after some arm pulling and fluttering of eyelashes he finally relented and I’m glad he did! Accompanied by a supporting cast of 6, plus the dulcet tones of Lance Ellington, Anton Du Beke shone in this showcase of all things jazz and golden age. From dancing the Viennese waltz and Tango with the outstanding Polina Mayer, to joining the ensemble of an Irving Berlin mash up, this show had something for everyone. Anton welcomed us as an au...