REVIEWS Archives - Page 153 of 548

The Musicals in Concert – Floral Pavilion

26Aug

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

The Musicals in Concert – Floral Pavilion

Musicals hold a certain kind of magic, and there’s always that one particular song that sticks in your mind as the highlight of the show – so a whole night of those songs could only be spectacular, and this absolutely was. Hosted by the ever charming and incredibly charismatic (and, whether he thinks so or not, very funny) Robert Daws, this was a memorable night celebrating the best of the best musical theatre tunes. Alongside Bob, we were joined by an incredibly talented live band and a cast of West End stars: Amy Robbins, Sabrina Carter, Gemma Atkins, Gerard Bentall, Chris Holland and Stephen Palfreman. Dressed to the nines in glamorous outfits, the six singers took us on a powerful journey through some of the most famous musicals, cherry picking songs that are packed full of emotion ...

26Aug

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Coming Home – King’s Arms, Salford

The link between a football fan and their team can often be like the relationship between a man and a woman. First, there is deep passion which means the supporter can love and hate his club simultaneously. Secondly, there is a lot of shouting involved, some kissing, a bit of singing and every now and then feelings of pure ecstasy. Regretfully, some people's passion for their football team surpasses their love for their significant other. If that team is the England football team you can introduce layers of hope, desire, frustration, and as we all know, ultimately disappointment. When similar emotions are applied to the romance between Jack (Christopher Wollaton) and Suzie (Lucy Farrar), you have a hilarious drama that is just as dramatic and emotional as any penalty shootout. Ja...

L’Addition: Here & Now Showcase – Summerhall

26Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

L’Addition: Here & Now Showcase – Summerhall

Two performers Bert and Nasi, dressed smartly in white shirts and grey trousers, one a customer the other a waiter, the roles interchangeable. Who is serving and who is being served, and how do the roles become assigned when seemingly no one is in charge? Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas are no strangers to the Fringe, often covering serious real-world topics like Brexit in 2016 (Eurohouse) or the Syrian conflict in 2017 (Palmyra). This year is a more absurd but no less existential proposition. The pair spend a good ten minutes explaining to the audience what they are about to witness; the waiter is going to pour a glass of wine but is not going to stop, in fact the wine is going to pour everywhere to the point where tablecloth, glass and utensils require to bundled up and thrown sta...

Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow – Assembly George Square

26Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow – Assembly George Square

The stage is set with Tez Liyas and Viraj Juneja, performing as DJ Pali and his roadie Jay, two men bonded by family ties and with generational differences set about reflecting on past and current life challenges whilst DJ’ing at an Asian Wedding. The wedding guests are provided by the audience seated with tables and chairs inclusive of a bar to replicate being at a wedding, simplistic and effective. Pali reminisces his youth when he was a top DJ with his decks and was cheated out of winning a competition by a rival DJ. He is a shy respectable man who loves his Corsa, Chi tea and dreams that one day he will have an LED dance floor. In contrast to his nephew young Jay who likes drinking when working, is self-absorbed and very dismissive of Pali’s life. Jay thinks of Jay and their rel...

Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0 – Assembly George Square Studios

24Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0 – Assembly George Square Studios

Georgie absolutely nailed it with this show! From start to finish, the laughter was non-stop, and I wasn't alone—everyone in the audience was in stitches. She had us all howling with laughter, barely giving us a chance to catch our breath. This performance easily ranks in my top three comedy shows of the Fringe this year. Don’t worry if you’re not in healthcare; you don’t need to be in the medical field to find her material hilarious. Her humor transcends professions and speaks to something everyone can relate to. That said, if you are in healthcare, especially the NHS, you're in for an extra treat. About half the audience seemed to be in the medical profession, and they were practically falling out of their seats, laughing so hard. Her stories, especially about giving the wrong dru...

DIVA: Live From Hell – Underbelly, Cowgate

24Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

DIVA: Live From Hell – Underbelly, Cowgate

Luke Bayer. Remember the name. If you combine the tongue-flicking rubber faced brilliance of a young Jim Carey, the bottom-burp comedic appeal of Rick Mayall, and the sharpness of super-smart baby Stewie of Family Guy, well…. You might just about have the voice, but nowhere near the energy of the nuclear-powered, AI-chipped, water-slurping machine that is Luke Bayer. Probably best known for his work in the original West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, or for appearing on X Factor in 2007, making it through to Dannie Minogue’s judges houses, but at 15 too young to go any further. Now is his time. And this IS the show. What a voice. Or should I say four voices to be exact. Here’s your character list; Desmond Channing (voice see above) The DIVA himself. Writ...

I Wish you Well: Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical – Underbelly, George Square

24Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

I Wish you Well: Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical – Underbelly, George Square

A camp parody of amusement based on the infamous 2023 ski trial of Gwyneth vs Terry. “Nothing ever happens in a court in Utah” then Gwyneth comes to town, and that is when the fun starts. With a cast of 4 this fast-paced musical picks at the not so subtle evidence in court where Terry is suing Gwyneth for a brain injury sustained in the accident. Gwyneth is suing Terry for $1 for the inconvenience of it all, she is not happy. From the outset the scene is set, staged in court and it is not long before each character bursts onto the scene with their individuality, and musical style. The story lines flow seamlessly, the musicality is on point, and all mixed in with a cabaret choreographic style that Judge Jude, Idnss Kargbo showcases perfectly. He leaves not...

24Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

After the Silence – Festival Theatre

In Brazil, the award-winning novel, Torto Arado has sold more than 800,000 copies. Spotlighting historical and contemporary slavery, injustice and inequality, this is perfect fictional material for Christiane Jatahy to blend with her journalistic techniques. The novel’s characters relate incidents from Torto Arado with the documentary history of João Pedro Teixeira, a militant peasant who was murdered in 1964 and the perpetrators never punished. Jatahy emphasises the root of fiction is in fact. Her objective always is to raise awareness and to connect the past and the present in immersive projects that include the audience. After the Silence works on several levels. The cast, Caju Bezerra, Aduni Guedes, Julaina França and Gal Pereira interact with the huge film screen, showing real ...

1 Moment in Time – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

24Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

1 Moment in Time – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

Sean Alexander's "1 Moment at a Time" magic show was a surprising and thought-provoking experience. We walked in with doubts but left amazed and full of questions. His magic is top-notch, combined with storytelling that really draws you in. The show features a great variety of tricks, each one more mind-bending than the last. I was lucky enough to participate, and I was wowed by the experience. The way Sean read people and got everything right, even on deeply personal things, left the whole audience in shock and awe. The show is more than just magic—it’s about opening your mind and seeing the world differently. Sean’s warmth and humanity shine through his storytelling, making the show feel personal and real. It’s no exaggeration to say this is one of the standout performances at ...

The Unluckiest Magician – C-Arts, C Alto

24Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

The Unluckiest Magician – C-Arts, C Alto

I recently went to see Steve Wilbury’s show after reading about his incredible story: "Eight medical mishaps, 14 screws, six plates, and one fully reconstructed digestive system. Meet the world’s unluckiest magician." I was curious to see how he combined magic with his life story, and what I saw was much more than just magic—it was truly inspiring. Steve’s show was a mix of his personal experiences and magic tricks. While he didn’t do a lot of tricks, the ones he did were amazing and like nothing I’d seen before. He shared that he learned magic while he was in the hospital, and that made his performance feel even more special. I was lucky enough to be a volunteer during one of his tricks. He changed something I was holding in my hand, and I still can’t figure out how he did it. I...