REVIEWS Archives - Page 115 of 548

6Feb

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

Here You Come Again – Opera House

Here You Come Again… yes, it is indeed another musical featuring the hit songs of country icon Dolly Parton. If it wasn’t enough to bring Dolly’s movie, 9 to 5, to the stage, here’s another Dolly musical to wet your whistle. If you’re expecting a musical about Dolly’s life and music, then you may be thoroughly disappointed. Instead, the plot takes us back to a time that none of us want to re-live… the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin, played by Steven Webb, finds himself on the wrong side of 40, heart-broken, living back at home in the attic of his parent’s house, unemployed and in a bit of a ‘p-hole’ (that’s a pity hole for those who have not yet seen the show). Just when things hit rock bottom for Kevin, the queen of country herself, and Kevin’s idol, appears to show him the way. Who bette...

5Feb

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

Vanya Is Alive – Omnibus Theatre

Vanya is alive is a unique play, telling the story of political censorship and the realities of war in Russia today. In its current form, it is calling out for a more complete staging, with moments of excellence not translating into a production that fully explores its own potential. The play focuses on Alya, whose son Vanya is captured and killed in the war, and her journey of political awakening that follows this. This tragedy is explored through a central conceit, namely that in Alya's society, the sentence that began this paragraph is not permissible, indeed it doesn't even exist. Instead, Aliya is told that her son is "absolutely free". In this way characters speak and emote through antonyms. It is an interesting idea, and at times can be incredibly moving. We are told how Alya ...

The Merchant of Venice 1936 – Liverpool Playhouse

5Feb

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

The Merchant of Venice 1936 – Liverpool Playhouse

The authenticity in this production is what struck me at rst, with the Jewish culture and language centre-stage for the preamble. And it didn’t matter that we may not understand what they were saying or doing, it was unapologetic. A sentiment carried through the whole production, which was a novel idea, as it gave the relic script a new tenacity and sense of place in the present which is far removed from when Shakespeare was writing. That authenticity is also what made me realise that this piece really was an example of how these celebrated plays can be relevant to today and still teach us something about the human condition. The cast, albeit small, was able to take on the responsibility of a much larger selection of characters. Their ability to multirole was not only impressive but ...

5Feb

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Kinky Boots – Palace Theatre

A regular feature across Broadway and the West End since its debut 13 years ago, it’s no wonder Kinky Boots has a list of accolades as long as a pair of knee-high boots to its name (including Olivier, Tony and Grammy Awards to name but a few). Music and lyrics were provided by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, who created a score that perfectly underpinned the story and allowed its performers to explore their vocal talents. Lauper even says her participation in writing the songs for Kinky Boots is one of the things she is most proud of in her illustrious 40+ year career. The curtain opens on a young Charlie Price, whose father bequeaths him the family shoe manufacturing business upon his death. A crisis of confidence and identity soon ensues, as Charlie battles with the pressure of inheriti...

5Feb

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Mrs President – Charing Cross Theatre

Mary Todd Lincoln is an enigmatic character in American history, shrouded in an equal parts myth and tragedy. The much-criticised First Lady witnessed the assassination of her husband president Abraham Lincoln as well as losing three of her four children, with her fourth child controversially committing her to an insane asylum. In John Ransom Phillips’s play Mrs President we see a different side to the infamous First Lady (played by Miriam Grace Edwards) as she poses for a series of portraits with esteemed photographer Matthew Brady (Sam Jenkins-Shaw), whose iconic photography of Abraham Lincoln reportedly helped him to secure the presidency. Photo: Pamela Raith As Mary strives to control her image through these photographs, whether that’s as a strong leader, doting mother, or a g...

5Feb

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Community – Birmingham Rep

Farrah Chaudhry’s new play and, seemingly, first play is set in the epicentre of the second city and tells a comedic tale of coming of age, identity and belonging. Zoya and Leyla are ethically, morally and politically in different leagues. While Zoya could be best described slightly spoiled. Leyla is the epitome of nose-to-the-grindstone communal responsibility. When Zoya’s parents decide she no longer has a place in their home (for reasons we’re eager to discover but are never told) she turns to her friend for help, support and a couch to sleep on. Thus begins the story and were this the TV Times, I could add “with hilarious consequences” though that wouldn’t be entirely accurate. Parts are funny, parts are very funny and lots of it works very well. It’s patchy in parts, though, and ha...

5Feb

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

The Shark is Broken – Lowry

Everyone knows that the film Jaws was a box-office smash. It was based on a best-selling novel by Peter Benchley and one critic said of the book, “None of the humans are particularly likable or interesting” and they felt the shark was the most compelling character. Spielberg agreed with them, which is why he changed the characters in the movie after deciding that the book's characters were unlikeable. This play concentrates on the three stars of the film, Roy Schneider (Dan Fredenburgh), Richard Dreyfuss (Ashley Margolis) and Robert Shaw (Ian Shaw) who are forced to wait around on the boat while the film’s techies try to fix Bruce, the broken animatronic shark. At first, it appears that these actors, like the characters in the book, are not “particularly likeable or interesting.” ...

Now That’s What I Call a Musical – Hull New Theatre

5Feb

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Now That’s What I Call a Musical – Hull New Theatre

Set in Birmingham, the Brummy tones in this new musical were a joy to listen to. Now That’s What I Call a Musical, written by Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, of Strictly Come Dancing fame, charts the lives of two best school friends, whose loves, hopes, dreams (shattered or otherwise) are played out to some of the greatest pop hits of the 1980s. It’s 1989, and April (Maia Hawkins) and Gemma (Nikita Johal) are typical schoolgirls - April is blonde, bubbly and dreams of stardom in Hollywood. Her bestie, the shorter, dark-haired Gemma, dreams only of marriage and having kids. Gemma’s family are a scream - that accent again. Dad (Christopher Glover) works in a car factory, while Mum (Poppy Tierney), seems to spend her time laying the kitchen table...

4Feb

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Second Best – Riverside Studios

Asa Butterfield is immaculate in Barney Norris' one-man tragicomedy. A mixture of playful and self-deprecating, the play, based on David Foenkino's novel, explores the cumulative impact of childhood trauma. Martin (Butterfield), who is at the brink of fatherhood, becomes troubled by past wounds. He recounts his experiences which all ultimately stem from losing the part of a lifetime - Harry Potter. Like a gawky, wry man you'd find in a British sitcom, Butterfield prances across the stage. His body moves erratically, finding expression before his words can catch up. The tone is conversational. Casual. But we see his dry wit progressively morph into a gritted teeth-resentment. The slow build is structured wonderfully. Martin begins half jokingly recounting his story, aware of its r...

Figaro: An Original Musical – London Palladium

4Feb

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Figaro: An Original Musical – London Palladium

Figaro a musical with a stellar cast John Robyns as Figaro, known for his roles as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, The Phantom, in The Phantom of the Opera. Cayleigh Capaldi as Sienna currently starring as Rose in the Off Broadway musical Titanique and Aime Atkinson as Lucia a British actress and recording artist, her musical accolades in Six the Musical as Katherine Howard and Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman Daniel Brocklebank as Antonio, Ava Brennan played Gia. The two child actors Gianni played by Cian Eagle-Service and Sophia Goodman as Amelia both too have credits to their name, Cian performing as Oliver in the 2024 production. Sophia who made her West End debut in Les Misérables and recently played the title role in Matilda the Musical. It goes without saying that the musicality...