REVIEWS Archives - Page 122 of 409

The Drifters Girl – Opera House, Manchester

12Oct

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

The Drifters Girl – Opera House, Manchester

The Drifters Girl musical is currently touring the UK after its original West End run and it's arrived at Manchester Opera House and what a show it is! It is an absolute showstopper, with the talented Loren Anderson taking centre stage as Faye Treadwell, the determined and resilient manager of the iconic music group, The Drifters. This production is a delightful journey through the tumultuous history of one of the most beloved bands in the world, and it’s brought to life by an outstanding cast. Loren Anderson’s portrayal of Faye Treadwell is nothing short of remarkable. She embodies the strength and grace of a woman who fought against all odds to protect and nurture the career of The Drifters. Anderson’s powerful vocals and heartfelt performance carry the emotional weight of the stor...

An Evening of Burlesque – Adelphi Theatre

12Oct

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

An Evening of Burlesque – Adelphi Theatre

This variety show of burlesque was introduced as the longest running burlesque show in the UK. It contained magic and artistic performances were a stark contrast to what may have been known as burlesque ‘Victorian or French style’. The show opened with the host Ivy Paige who explained her career as a previous lap dancer, show girl and alluded many times to her experiences and cosmetic enhancements. She encouraged greatly audience participation, photography and to cheer “her girls and boys on”. Featuring strip tease, tantalising dancing provided the audiences with appreciation of the world of tease and burlesque. The nudity was tasteful and within the context of dance and flexible extensions and body control, which was artistic. The nudity did not appear shocking and q...

12Oct

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

The Empress – Lyric Hammersmith

Tanika Gupta takes on the mammoth task of weaving three narratives spanning over 13 years marking the golden era of the British Empire under the rule of Queen Victoria with her Golden Jubilee celebration. Directed by Pooja Ghai, The Empress reveals the larger truths about Asians, especially Indian Ayahs and lascars in Victorian Britain. A boat carries Rani (Tanya Katyal), an Indian Ayah accompanying a British family, Hari (Aaron Gill), a lascar/sailor, political leaders Dadabhai Naoroji (Simon Rivers), Gandhi (Anish Roy), and Abdul Karim (Raj Bajaj), an Indian servant meant to be a gift to Queen Victoria for her golden jubilee, to the cold British Isles, all with different expectations and dreams. As their narratives progress, colonial atrocities are revealed. While a 16-year-old Rani i...

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! – HOME Manchester

12Oct

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! – HOME Manchester

Debuting at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe, this East Yorkshire-based murder mystery (a Hull-dunnit if you will) has been expanded ahead of a second run. It’s knives out in a new, Northern musical that promises slaughter and laughter - at its final destination of Manchester. Childhood besties and idlers Kathy (Bronté Barbé) and Stella (Rebekah Hinds) share a joint passion for grisly true crime through a podcast that’s about as popular as they are. However, when their favourite author is brutally murdered, the chance to take on a case of their own- and turn ‘Kathy and Stella’s Murder Podcast’ into a sensation- proves too thrilling to pass up. Kathy and Stella gets off to a flying start, with Jon Brittain’s sweary script evoking lots of belly laughter from the audience. We’re introduced to ...

TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] – Liverpool Playhouse

12Oct

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] – Liverpool Playhouse

As calls for another general election loom and the Labour Party conference ongoing only a few miles away, this show couldn’t have come at a better time. A quirky, fresh and gutsy performance that can be followed by all, it is the story of how the pop Prime Minister rose and fall. Harry Hill and Steve Brown have concocted a truly original piece, one that spans decades and international conflict, but has been overseen by the keen eye of Peter Rowe so that the farcical can shine and the ‘piss-take’ attitude can successfully overshadow the turbulent geo-political events at the mercy of New Labour at the beginning of the millennium. Stand out aspects of the performance included the live music. Mr Brown’s lyrics and score are equally funny and intelligent. From a singing princess Di to a d...

11Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Pop Music – Hull Truck Theatre

You never know what stage design Hull Truck Theatre will surprise you with for any of its productions. And Tuesday evening was no exception. As we theatregoers took our seats in a very busy Stage 1, the regulars among us would instantly notice the stage was now the centrepiece of a theatre in the round. A very clever move as the production we were there to see, Pop Music, features just two actors, two small tables and chairs, plus loads of booze, meaning there was plenty of room for an all-round view. The alcohol theme carried on up to the ceiling, from which hung dozens of upside-down wine goblets, some disguised as lights. Opaque in colour, they added interest to an otherwise sparse stage setting. But who needed a fancy stage with actors of the calibre of Natalie Anderson (Ha...

11Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dirty Dancing – Bradford Alhambra

‘I like that Johnny, he ticks a few boxes.’ That was one woman’s verdict on ripped Michael O’Reilly who plays the hero of this musical version of the classic kitsch movie, and evidently shared by someone who wolf whistled at the start when he merely sauntered onstage wearing his shades. In fairness to the talented O’Reilly he’s far more than just a six pack as he brings the required swagger and some strong dancing to Johnny who is the moody dance instructor at an early sixties American holiday resort. It’s no spoiler to anyone familiar with film history to reveal that privileged holidaymaker Baby falls in love with the muscled blue-collar dancer. The musical is pretty much a scene by scene recreation of the movie that at heart is a coming of age story at the end of the golden Eise...

11Oct

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – Pendle Hippodrome

One of my absolute favourite theatre group’s Basics Junior Theatre School presents its 2023 annual production at the delightful Pendle Hippodrome! There is definitely nothing ‘Basic’ about this magnificent delivery of ‘The Addams Family’ with its £35,000 budget for its 35th year history of productions. The staging was tremendous with its grand staircase, living quarters, torture chamber and an impressive monumental spooky 14ft tree which provided the perfect space for the characters to sparkle like the shining stars they all are. One of the most striking elements of this incredible theatre school is that it is very much a family affair, from the chaperones, the dress maker Sally who alongside her late husband Dennis founded Basics, the resident musical director Andrew Mitchell who ha...

10Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Baba Yaga – Theatre Porto

The tales of the Baba Yaga, best known in Slavic folk and fairy tale traditions, are full of rich story material, and Laura Lindow’s new play for Theatre Hullabaloo and Theatre Porto reimagines the best elements of these to present a dark, fairytale world where the children’s bravery and ingenuity ultimately triumphs. The journey of two children, Girl (Fran Burgoyne) and Boy (Ben Galpin), and their search for safety, resonates strongly with current times as they encounter a town which refuses to let them in, knowing that as a result they are almost certainly sending them into terrible danger. However, whilst there is a moral message at the heart of this piece, directed by Nina Hajiyianni and produced by Miranda Thain, about our collective responsibility to look after the most vuln...

10Oct

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

What It Means – Wilton’s Music Hall

In the realm of theatrical productions that aim to explore important historical events and their relevance to contemporary society, 'What It Means' by James Corley certainly stands out for its ambitious premise. Based on the groundbreaking 1971 article 'What It Means to Be a Homosexual' by Merle Miller, this play endeavours to shed light on the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality, a topic of paramount importance in the current climate. However, whilst the play's intentions are noble, it is, unfortunately, an absurdly and unnecessarily long production that bears a striking resemblance to a dry academic lecture rather than a traditional piece of contemporary theatre, and this ultimately leaves audiences fighting to reach the finish line. The central pillar of 'What It Means' is the (near) solo p...