REVIEWS Archives - Page 149 of 552

3Oct

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

Sister Act – Liverpool Empire

Disco nuns and mobster boyfriends – Sister Act is an iconic film, and Alan Menken’s musical adaptation turns it into a glitzy stage production with plenty of fun. Starring Coronation Street’s Wendi Peters as the disapproving Mother Superior and West End star Landi Oshinowo, this was set to be a sparkling show. When disco singer Deloris witnesses her boyfriend murder one of his cronies, she is put into protection at a convent – the last place she would ever have expected to end up. From not knowing anything about life as a nun to transforming the church choir and finding a sisterhood she never knew she needed, Deloris’ life takes a massive turn. Landi’s voice and incredible acting skills brought this sassy character to fruition in an amazing way, allowing the audience to truly connect wi...

Opera North’s The Magic Flute – Leeds Grand Theatre

28Sep

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Opera North’s The Magic Flute – Leeds Grand Theatre

Opera North’s Magic Flute, reviving James Brining’s 2019 production of Mozart’s final opera, comes with literally all of the bells and whistles. (Well, magic bells and the eponymous magic flute, together with an ever-so-slightly-irritatingly out-of-tune set of pipes.) And, being sung in English in Jeremy Sams’s excellent translation, it’s also an ideal introduction to opera for newbies, as well as a season-opening treat for those notsos. A pre-show message from company Music Director Garry Walker proudly reminded us that Opera North delivers learning and engagement to no fewer than 3,000 school children per week, and has a full time chorus, orchestra and technical crew. A not so subtle message for the CEO of Arts Council England, in tonight’s audience, perhaps. The ...

28Sep

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Doll’s House – Crucible Theatre

A Masterful production of a Masterpiece of Theatre. ‘All my life I have been a Doll that is taken out to play with and discarded when boredom dictates, I have no voice and I have no opinion, I am never heard, I am what you want me to be... never what I truly am… but what and who am I?’ This famous Henrik Ibsen play was originally written in 1879 and was inspired by real events. In 1878 Ibsen wrote ‘There are two kinds of moral law, two kinds of conscience, one for men and one, quite different, for women. They don’t understand each other; but in practical life, woman is judged by masculine law, as though she weren’t a woman but a man’. In this statement stands the heart of this play. Shocking as it was in its time it still now remains so, although with less poignancy but y...

The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Liverpool Everyman

28Sep

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Liverpool Everyman

Martin McDonagh’s darkly satirical exploration of violence, extremism, and the cyclical nature of retribution resonates as much with today’s challenges of nationalism, radicalism, and unchecked ideology as it did to Ireland’s troubled past when, having been written in 1994, it eventually premiered in 2001. For all the talk of good luck when a black cat crosses your path, Donny (Alan Turkington), Davey (Taylor McClaine) and wayward Republicans Christy (Cameron McKendrick), Brendan (Michael Tient), and Joey (Jason Kelly) are about to discover what ensues when you cross a black cat belonging to Donny’s son, Padraic (Julian Moore-Cook) – a man so mad that much to his chagrin, most mainstream terrorist organisations won’t have him as a member. Throw in a wannabee rebel in Davey’s sister, Mai...

28Sep

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Giant – Royal Court

In 1983, weeks before Roald Dahl’s new book ‘The Witches’ is to be released, a fury is coming back round to question and confront Dahl’s recent book review in which he comments on Tony Clifton’s ‘God Cried’ picture book. This review sparked a huge amount of controversy and corrupted Dahl’s sweet and humorous image. In this imagined piece, Mark Rosenblatt creates a fictitious afternoon in which Dahl’s publicists are pushing for an apology for his review. John Lithgow as a superbly complex Dahl is adamant on standing by his beliefs no matter the consequences to who might cull his books from the shelves. Rosenblatt comments that this piece although fictitious, has intertwined verbatim comments made from Dahl on this matter. As our current day viewers are now confronted with the long hi...

28Sep

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Wonder Boy – Liverpool Playhouse

Wonder Boy is a beautifully written piece of theatre which gives the audience a real insight into the struggles of living with a stammer. Following the character of Sonny and following his journey from frustration to freedom. Written by Ross Willis and directed by Sally Cookson with thought, precision and an excellent and imaginative portrayal of the frustration and expression of speaking with a stammer. A beautifully put together play which captivates you from the beginning, you are immediately drawn and sympathetic to the main character of Sonny, who was performed by Hilson Agbangbe who produced a strong and diverse performance and helped you to warm easily to the character and depicted Sonny's difficulties within the real world. Sonny's character cannot be mentioned without the excel...

28Sep

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Two of Us – HOME Mcr

It seems somehow apposite that this play about the last meeting of Paul McCartney and John Lennon should be staged just as a certain well-known group from Manchester is about to reunite. Not just because of the massive debt that Oasis owed the Beatles but because Lennon and McCartney were in some ways like a pair of warring brothers only with more wit and talent. Throughout the seventies, until John Lennon was murdered, they would both be constantly asked if The Beatles were going to reunite. There is a story that even after Lennon’s death the remaining three were offered a fortune to get back together but they all turned it down as they said without John it wouldn’t be The Beatles. On an April night in 1976, Paul makes a surprise visit to John’s apartment in New York. Lenn...

28Sep

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Never Let Me Go – Rose Theatre

Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go has been adapted for the stage by Suzanne Heathcote. The story follows a group of clones raised at Hailsham, a boarding school where they learn about their purpose, born and bred to donate from their bodies. Here they make art, and they learn about their bodies and how to keep them healthy so that they can donate to the unknown people they are bred to serve. Although the specifics of the donation process remain shrouded in mystery, it’s clear that they are not expected to survive beyond their fourth donation. In the meantime, they take on roles as carers for those clones who have already started the donation journey. At the centre of this story are Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy. Kathy harbours feelings for Tommy, but Ruth, despite knowing this, e...

28Sep

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

Bowie Experience – Floral Pavilion

With a thirty-song, two-and-a-half hour set with a tight band and charismatic performers, Bowie Experience is a real triumph. The tone is set immediately, as the Bowie impersonator asserts that we, the audience, can take photos, sing along, even get up and dance. This breaking of regular expectations works excellently to get the audience even more excited for what’s to come. While it takes us the first half to get confident enough to rise to our feet, by the second half most of the audience are on their feet and swaying along in pure nostalgic glee. The show opens with Space Oddity, and while you can tell lead singer Oliver Slee is a natural Bowie, it takes him a minute to really ease into that Bowie-charisma. The negative space onstage ate him up a bit for the first few tunes, u...

27Sep

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Jarman – Shakespeare North Playhouse

Jarman is the retelling of the extraordinary life of Derek Jarman, an artist, film maker, activist, painter and so much more demonstrating his want for freedom and expression on the world until his unfortunate death due to AIDS in 1994. As you can tell from the synopsis to put on someone's complete life story, especially one so complex with such highs and lows is no easy feat. Mark Farrelly who not only wrote but also performed this solo performance, portrayed this strong character extremely well. His performance was thought provoking, defiant, strong and powerful as he navigated through the different chapters of Jarman's life. With a very minimal staging and his only props being a torch, roll of paper, chair and a sheet. He imaginatively brought the character and scenes to life ...