Thursday, March 28

REVIEWS

<strong>Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol – Southbank Centre</strong>
London

Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol – Southbank Centre

Dickens' tale of poverty, inequality and transformation has been a staple of the holiday season since it was first published in 1843. While Dickens was highlighting the terrible deprivation of the London slums, Dolly Parton's new musical takes the audience to the Appalachian Mountains in 1936, at the height of the Depression. As in the original tale, Ebenezer Scrooge owns everything in the town, having taken over ownership of the mine, shop and bank from his partner, Jacob Marley. The inhabitants of the town work all hours for a pittance for Scrooge, struggling, scrimping and saving, but finding joy in their families, and in their hopes and dreams. There's no such joy in Scrooge's life, and he focuses all his time and energy on making and saving money. He has no-one and regards Christmas ...
<strong>Jazz Emu: You Shouldn’t Have – Soho Theatre</strong>
London

Jazz Emu: You Shouldn’t Have – Soho Theatre

A screen cycles through a mixed bag of tweets sent to the mysterious Jazz Emu (Archie Henderson) as we wait for the show to begin. The elaborate, bright red set designed by Bonson Bonsonson JR matches his grandiosity and has a talk show feel. He parades out in a metallic emu helmet and begins a song about his proficiency and brilliance while his equipment malfunctions. Jazz emu’s eclectic character is like the result of putting a scientist, evil mastermind, superhero and a presenter in a blender. Henderson is a natural performer with his expressive darting eyes, an array of physicality and sharp comic timing directed by Adam Flynn. We are welcomed into his existential, disco-like, jazz-emu-centred world where if he’s not thinking about himself, he’s wondering about how microwaves w...
<strong>Sons of the Prophet – Hampstead Theatre</strong>
London

Sons of the Prophet – Hampstead Theatre

I begin watching any show by giving it my full attention, like any respectful audience member. But how long can one keep the focus if the production doesn’t meet you halfway? Sons of the Prophet, unfortunately, doesn’t do much to keep the audience engaged through story or performance. The production design by Samal Blak is elaborate, with the stage accommodating multiple settings spanning across two levels. Such expanse is more typical to larger shows and musicals that have larger-than-life storytelling. For this story exploring the intimacies of a family in rural Pennsylvania, constantly moving across different spaces in 105 minutes took away from the inner conflict and intricate complexities of the themes being explored. Each scene is titled like a book chapter and takes place in a d...
<strong>Jack And The Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre</strong>
Yorkshire & Humber

Jack And The Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre

I hate audience participation of any kind but found myself “booing” at the top of my lungs within two minutes of Hull New Theatre’s pantomime, Jack And The Beanstalk, starting. The object of my, and the rest of the fullish theatre’s vocal disapproval on Sunday evening, was Mrs Blunderbore (well done to local girl Chelsea Hall on a memorable panto debut), wife of the fearsome giant who lives at the top of the beanstalk. This age-old fairytale tells the story of simple farmers Jack Trot (Gareth Gates), his brother Silly Simon (Neil Hurst), their mum Dame Trot (Jack Land Noble), and Jack’s love interest Princess Jill (Allana Taylor). Under severe financial pressure and threats from the evil giant and Mrs Blunderbore, the Trots sadly decide to sell their cow Daisy - hopefully to a ki...
<strong>Once Upon a Snowstorm – Traverse Theatre</strong>
Scotland

Once Upon a Snowstorm – Traverse Theatre

This gentle rendition of Richard Johnson’s wordless picture book, adapted and directed by Jo Timmins, produced by Lyra and with support from Catherine Wheels, is a surprisingly effective Christmas gift, very nicely wrapped and presented on the modified stage, turned grotto of the subterranean Traverse 2. A delicate piece of theatre from talented duo, Adam Tompa and Fay Guiffo, who work closely together to recreate the touching relationship between father and son, and their desperation when they become separated during a snowstorm in the deep woods. Guiffo’s particular gift for electric violin is very nicely integrated into the piece to recreate through sound the snowy textures and dulled stillness of their crystalised world and the animals which inhabit it. The set design by Sophie ...
<strong>Hex – National Theatre</strong>
London

Hex – National Theatre

Merry Christmas from the National Theatre in their extraordinary retelling of Sleeping Beauty’s story in the obscure and utterly brilliantly unusual ‘Hex’ directed by Rufus Norris and based on the book by Tanya Ronder. This piece threw what I know about the story at the wall and dissected everything. What it means to love, who to love and why we make the choices that we do. Paired with stunning composition by Jim Fortune, we are left leaving with the biggest smile mixed with awe asking “How. Did. They. Do. That.” To begin, a mega shoutout to Neïma Naouri who plays the understudy of ‘Fairy’. I am so glad I got to watch their performance as they brought such sweet naivety and passion to this role, truly a stunning performer to keep us engaged, at the end of our seats thinking ‘There’s no...
<strong>The Hours – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD</strong>
REVIEWS

The Hours – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

The world-premiere staging of Kevin Puts’ The Hours, adapted from Michael Cunningham’s acclaimed novel, which also served as the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film, arrives in cinemas worldwide this December. In her highly anticipated return to the Met, soprano Renée Fleming joins soprano Kelli O’Hara and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato to portray three women from different eras who grapple with their inner demons and their roles in society. As Virginia Woolf (DiDonato) tinkers with the opening line of her new novel – Mrs Dalloway – in 1923 England, 1999 New York sees Clarissa Vaughan (Fleming) throwing a party for her friend Richard (Kyle Ketelsen), who is dying of AIDS, whilst in 1949 Los Angeles, Laura Brown (O’Hara) reads Mrs Dalloway in bed whilst dreading her duties as wife and ...
<strong>Who’s Holiday – Southwark Playhouse Borough</strong>
London

Who’s Holiday – Southwark Playhouse Borough

The Ru Paul Industrial Complex continues its imperial sashay to every corner of the globe. This franchise mission creep can be viewed as a be-wigged beacon of tolerance or a toxic cash machine that bleeds underground culture.  Drag Race alumni find themselves yanked from skanky obscurity to meet-and-greet mania in a matter of weeks. For the truly talented, this can offer a unique chance to shine and earn some coin after decades of thankless graft.  Miz Cracker was a popular contestant on Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season Ten and made the final 5. She came back for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season Five and was placed in the top 3. Since then, she has been deservedly busy; podcasts, academic seminars, YouTube channel, one-woman comedy TV specials and a cookery show. Cracker has ...
<strong>The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan – The Regent Theatre</strong>
West Midlands

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan – The Regent Theatre

Pantomime has been a British tradition for about 200 years and in many ways, despite some avid theatre goers 'rolling their eyes' at such a genre, ‘panto’ remains incredibly popular. This Christmas, the Regent Theatre welcomes the magical ‘Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan’ to a very excited Stoke- on -Trent audience. Directed by cast members Jonathan Wilkes and Kai Owen and produced by ‘Crossroads Pantomimes’, ‘The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan’ is essentially a story of enabling Peter Pan to fly again and involves another trip to the magical ‘Neverland’. Stoke-on-Trent's very own Jonathan Wilkes plays the part of ‘Smee’. This man sure loves a Panto and its clear he loves his hometown of Stoke just as much. Having performed panto for over a decade Wilkes clearly has it running ...
Grandad, Me and Teddy Too – Polka Theatre
London

Grandad, Me and Teddy Too – Polka Theatre

Encouraging children to experience theatre at a young age can be difficult, as parents and grandparents know, asking a child to sit in a restrictive environment to watch a pantomime or similar, which can be two hours long, is not ideal.  Polka Theatre in London offer the chance to combine theatre and play in their building which is especially dedicated to children.  The theatre combines a café, playground, garden with access to books, colouring-in and dressing up. Grandad, Me and Teddy Too has a target audience of 2–5-year-olds and is performed in the Adventure Theatre.  This space allows children to sit on the floor or sit around the edge of the theatre in seats.  The feeling is of informality and provides a less stressful environment for parents and children alike...