REVIEWS Archives - Page 131 of 410

8Sep

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Cuckoo – Everyman Theatre

Familiarity breeds contempt and seeing the whole of this household glued to their phones is exasperating to say the least. They appear to be trapped in the mobile world, excuse the dichotomy, with every aspect covered: news flashes; online buying and selling; videos, posts, messages. It feels as if there's more ping than dialogue sometimes. Set in a slightly shabby, old-fashioned house in Birkenhead; a bit parochial but like everywhere else, places are closing down, there's a gig economy and all sorts going on in schools, the increasing vice of violence, and the influence of the would be virtuous. We learn all this through the Greek Chorus of Doreen's two daughters, didactic Sarah in particular. The division between the cosy interior and the scary outside world (and let's face it, has i...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical – Hull New Theatre

8Sep

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical – Hull New Theatre

Hull city centre was illuminated with the regal colour purple on Thursday evening, in honour of the king of chocolatiers, Mr Willie Wonka, who, along with an amazing cast, crew and orchestra, brought Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: The Musical, to life on the Hull New Theatre stage. We theatregoers also got the royal treatment by walking on a plush purple carpet into the venue, itself decorated with purple and gold balloons. What a magnificent start to the autumn season. The story centres around a young lad called Charlie Bucket, who lives with his two sets of bedridden grandparents and his mother in a shack. Charlie (Haydn Court - definitely a future stage star) spends his spare time sifting through the local rubbish site looking for trinkets he can give to his...

7Sep

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Sugar – The Old Red Lion Theatre

This one-woman show, which was performed initially online at the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe and, thereafter, live at the 2022 Fringe to critical acclaim is now being performed to London audiences at The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington. Written and performed by Mabel Thomas it charts the life of May, from schoolgirl, aged 6, to a young lady of 18 just entering the adult world. May is a feisty young lady with a determination to win at all costs. This is first demonstrated when in primary school determined to be champion at a rather strange game of " Dibbits" she takes revenge on the boy who actually wins by inveigling him to take her along to share the much-vaunted prize. Aged 10 she decides to become an entrepreneur in order to earn some money but is frustrated when the school decides...

7Sep

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Macbeth – Shakespeare North Playhouse

What more apt way to celebrate a theatre company’s 30th birthday, than to deliver a production of Shakespeare’s most popular plays Macbeth internationally, and to start this amazing tour at the iconic Shakespeare North Playhouse in the heart of the Northern town of Prescot. This is exactly what the ETT theatre company did. We are all familiar with the 17th century tale of deceit, corruption and guilt. How Macbeth, an ambitious yet submissive man, with his narcissistic and controlling wife, murder King Duncan, as he sleeps. Who, then adding to this horrendous crime, also murder Duncan’s friend Banquo, to further clear their way to power. We know that these crimes haunt them throughout the play, torturing their tormented minds and souls but ETT have taken this tale into a new exhil...

7Sep

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Three – The King’s Arms, Salford

Currently on a national autumn tour, this intimate two hander, performed by Christie Peto and Hannah Harquart, explores one woman’s life experiences both inside and outside of her mind. We observe how she deals with her ordinary, even mundane life, whilst gripped by anxiety, low self-esteem and a manic depressive health problem. Not a barrel of laughs you may imagine, but actually, these charming comediennes, with both excellent timing and expression hold their audience from start to finish. One thing that is made very clear, having depression and anxiety is very exhausting. Every action, reaction, decision is overthought, challenged, rejected, investigated to microscopic detail and the battle between being positive and optimistic vs the doubtful and self loathing is constant. Harqua...

By The Waters of Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena

7Sep

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

By The Waters of Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena

Tonight, I was lucky enough to be reviewing Helen Forrester’s ‘By the waters of Liverpool’ written by Rob Fennah and directed by Gareth Tudor Price. The play was meant to be at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre but sadly due to its closure it was moved to the M&S Arena auditorium. Which actually seemed more fitting considering the title of the play. This play is a follow on from the previous ‘Two Pence across the Mersey’ which I had previously reviewed. This play set in 1939 on the brink of World War Two. As the play opened, we hear Neville Chamberlain making that dreaded amount from the cabinet room of 10 Downing Street. The story back tracks a couple of years prior when Helen (Emma Mulligan) is aged 18. We see that during this time in Helen’s life, her father (Tom Roberts) has become ba...

The Woman in Black – Wolverhampton Grand

7Sep

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Woman in Black – Wolverhampton Grand

Like the elegant yet phantasmagorical lady of the title, this play glides before us with confidence and aplomb unfurling a cornucopia of thrills, spills, shocks, jolts and moments of truly unsettling terror. This is not fairground spookery, this is not a tuppenny ghost ride. This is your genuine ghost story with every trope you would expect and lots more you wouldn’t. Since this ghostly apparition first shimmered into existence at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in 1987 you may be forgiven for thinking the years had not treated her well and the dust and spiderwebs may have gathered and everything had started to creak a little. But no. This version from PW Productions is as sharp, as fresh and as tight as if this were its premier. The adaptation of Susan Hill’s novel has overshadowed its sour...

5Sep

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

42nd Street – Liverpool Empire

“Think of musical theatre,” says Julian Marsh, “The most glorious words in the English language!” And in the hands of director Jonathan Church, choreographer Bill Deamer and designer Robert Jones, this musical theatre production is a feast for the eyes. The transitions between scenes are impeccably planned and executed, and I love the way that the cast used the space in creative and interesting ways. The set transforms from rehearsal room to backstage to magical opening night with ease. The costumes perfectly fit both period and characters. And the clever and sumptuous lighting, designed by Ben Cracknell, is the icing on this cake! 42nd Street follows the story of Peggy Sawyer, a chorus girl from Pennsylvania who is newly arrived in New York City with dreams of joining a new producti...

4Sep

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

LIZZIE The Musical – Hope Mill Theatre

On a late Summer Sunday afternoon when the sun had finally decided to grace Manchester with its presence, I forfeit the chance of barbeques with friends (or beers in the pub garden) to attend the UK rebirth of 'Lizzie', billed as 'A True Crime Rock Musical'. Some two hours later, I emerged blinking into the light having witnessed a 'tour de force' of musical theatre with powerhouse performances and cracking choreography. A production which will stay with me for a very long time, I definitely made the right decision. 'Lizzie Borden took an axe, And gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one.' This nursery rhyme is as well known to American children as 'Ring a Roses' or 'Three Blind Mice' is to their British counterparts, and it...

3Sep

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

As You Like It – Shakespeare’s Globe

Heading back to the Globe for what seems like the last summery evening of Shakespeare this year left me slightly underwhelmed and fidgety. As You Like It directed by Ellen Mcdougall runs with a gender fluid rendition, flouncy costumes filled with frill and colour with flicks of modern song. The classic has been done countless times in the past few years however maybe we have a hit a wall with what else can be done. The cast enter the stage with the unfortunate news that one cast member has fallen ill and an actor will be stepping in with script. I’m devastated to have not caught the name as this wonderful actor breathed a real freshness into the atmosphere that felt drier when they exited. The story itself is relatively easy to grasp as a couple are in love however Rosalind being ban...