REVIEWS Archives - Page 118 of 578

Into the Woods – University of Sheffield Drama Studio

1May

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Into the Woods – University of Sheffield Drama Studio

Sondheim’s 1987 Broadway classic reinvented Grimm tales, and whilst this production from the Sheffield University Performing Arts Society needed not to reinvent, it certainly sought to invoke the classical quality of the musical and succeeded in doing so to great effect. Jamie Stephens’ and Rory Violet’s direction was fantastic. Scenes were carefully considered, and the conveyer-belt qualities of the work were well understood, bringing about an amusing and potent sense of urgency and slickness. I got a strong impression there was some really useful time put into fine-tuning the actors’ performances also, as there was evident depth and a real freedom and aliveness that can often only be wrought out by a director-actor working relationship. The layers of these performances are arguabl...

1May

By Emma WildNo Comments

North West

North by NorthWest – HOME Mcr

Adapting a film for the stage is no mean feat, especially if the film is an MGM blockbuster of its time, by hugely successful, iconic director and producer, Sir Alfred Hitchcock. These are certainly big shoes to fill. A challenge taken on by multi-award winning director, Emma Rice, in the world première adaptation of North by Northwest. How would Rice’s theatre company, Wise Children, translate Hitchcock’s use of masterful focus, suspense and tongue-in-cheek humour to the stage? Well, the resulting show did not disappoint and was an absolute joy to behold! Visiting HOME in central Manchester was a privilege and a pleasure, vibrant and buzzing with energy on the outside, and, as the name suggests, warm and welcoming on the inside. A comfortable, modern, spacious auditorium, the perfect s...

1May

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Vignettes – Hope Mill Theatre

HER Productions and Alex Keelan presented six short plays under the umbrella of ‘Six letters to the NHS’. The first presentation was titled ‘Day One’ by Clara Darcy and Directed by Martha Simon, starring Erin Riley and Sarah White featuring voice overs by Leah Marks, Joel Parry and Charlotte Faragher. The play depicts the journey of an ambulance call centre worker’s first day on the job. The play was funny and witty but also displayed the seriousness and high pressure of this difficult role. Fresh eyed and eager to help, the new employee soon realises with guidance and advice of her established supervisor that the job isn’t easy to navigate with a high burnout rate of two years. Two thirds of their calls are falls from the elderly and a high level of mental health crises with little res...

1May

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – The Forum Theatre

The programme describes this production as a musical comedy and there was certainly plenty of both on show at this performance presented by the East Cheshire Musical Theatre Company, who can always be relied upon to put on a first class and highly entertaining show. I cannot remember ever seeing a production with so many one-liners on the comedy front that had myself and the rest of the audience in absolute stiches throughout the whole of the show’s duration. I have to say right from the start that every single member of the cast on stage did an absolutely superb job, not just the main characters but also the members of the company (The Ancestors) who’s singing and dancing, choreographed superbly by Sally Hilliard, brought the whole production to life (or death, if you prefer!) The ...

I See Me & Meryl Streep – The Other Palace

30Apr

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

I See Me & Meryl Streep – The Other Palace

This show has had a successful run in Australia and is all about ‘Me’ Meryl performed by actor and comedienne Alexandra Keddie. This sixty-minute tour of her ‘obsession not really’ with Meryl Streep, showcases Keddie’s skill of impersonation. knowledge and comedic portrayal of Streep’s iconic moments from the movies. Films such as the ‘The Deer Hunter’ ‘Devil Wears Prada’ ‘Sophie’s Choice’ and many more. Diane a skit on Diane Keaton Keddie’s ‘sister’ supports her performance with music and sisterly banter. This sixteen-year-old girl for her drama teacher wanted to shine and outperform her fellow classmates with her acting skills and knowledge of Meryl Streep’s meteoric rise to fame and fortunes. Keddie ‘namesake Meryl’ is a young girl finding her way in the world, vulnerable with her ow...

Allegory of the Cave – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

30Apr

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Allegory of the Cave – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

Mythical tales re-telling the story of people’s lives is enchanting, and Allegory of the Cave excel at making the tradition of storytelling delightful in their presentation with an improvised show which also incorporates puppetry. Grandma is always good to have on hand to read these mythical tales, and in this instance, she is a G&T drinking Granny. She asks her grandchild to ask her imaginary friend what fear she had when she was a child, and of course the imaginary friend is us, the audience. Brave audience member Mark recounted his recurring bad dream of being chased by bees, and so the troupe would weave Mark’s fear of bees into the story. Photo: Andrew AB The story centres around the battle between nature and the destructive force that are humans. ...

Box of Frogs – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

30Apr

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Box of Frogs – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

This show is a fast-paced style of improvisation, for those of us who are old enough to remember ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’, you will get the idea of how this works. No Clive Anderson, but they do short-form gymnastics in the same way as the ‘Whose Line…’ crew. They begin by asking for suggestions from the audience, and poor Robert Wilson whoever you are, you were the choice of child that someone didn’t like at school, and they played a game of ‘Story, Story, Die!’, where three of the company must keep a story going or die, a bit like it’s a knockout improv. This is a good game to warm up the audience, as it shows off the skills of the improvisers and the speed of their reflexes. To show off their improvised music, the ensemble pulled together a song about scabies c...

30Apr

By Harry AltyNo Comments

North West

Death of a Salesman – The Lowry

Despite Arthur Miller’s classic play Death of a Salesman first debuting on stage over 75 years ago, this Trafalgar Theatre and Raw Material production at The Lowry helps to demonstrate how the themes of the piece still resonate with a modern audience. This slick interpretation boasts a stellar cast, combined with effective staging, light production and set design resulted in audiences being transported to 1940s Brooklyn. Our story focussed on the Loman family, led by patriarch Willie who is expertly portrayed by David Hayman as the titular salesman. David Hayman expertly traverses this complex role and when combined with Andy Arnold’s meticulous direction and staging, creates a seamless demonstration of a deteriorating man. The piece presents Willie as a character of duality, wit...

30Apr

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Bat Out of Hell – Sheffield Lyceum

Book, Music & Lyrics by Jim Steinman, this rock spectacular crowd pleaser directed by Jay Scheib, roars into the Sheffield Lyceum with a pulsating bass line and a sound quality that hits the heights at every perceivable moment. It could be said that this show is a hybrid – part Musical Theatre experience and part Rock concert – this new reimagined version of Bat Out of Hell feels to be moving more towards the latter, as the music is the unquestioned star of the show. Much of the dialogue has been removed from its initial conception and now only sporadically links Jim Steinman’s extensive back catalogue to form a convoluted storyline that is ‘undefined’ to say the least. But that said it doesn’t seem to matter… we can vaguely follow the plot – a cross between Peter Pan and Romeo and Jul...

Titus Andronicus – Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon

30Apr

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

West Midlands

Titus Andronicus – Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon

Director Max Webster arrives In Stratford to direct his first production for the Royal Shakespeare Company hot on the heels of recent critical and popular success with Macbeth at the Donmar and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the National Theatre. For his debut with the company he has given us a glorious interpretation of ‘Titus Andronicus’ which, whilst sparing none of the blood and gore associated with Shakespeare’s bloody revenge tragedy, also manages to encompass the filial love at the heart of the play. The Costume Design by Joanna Scotcher places this ‘Titus’ somewhere in the present; a gorgeous grey-black palette suffuses the stage with long luxuriant coats and smart suits replacing the martial uniform of Imperial Rome. Scotcher also designed the set, the action played out o...