REVIEWS Archives - Page 161 of 549

Ariana vs Chomsky – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

17Aug

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

Ariana vs Chomsky – theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall

On 22nd May 2017 a terrorist bomb ripped through the Manchester Arena after a concert by the American pop singer, Ariana Grande. 22 people were killed, ten of them aged under 20. The youngest victim was an 8-year-old girl. More than a thousand were injured. ‘Ariana vs Chomsky’ is set against this tragic background. The play covers the relationship of Chloe and Mark over several years. In May 2017 they relocated from London to Manchester. They’re left wing and admire the works of Noam Chomsky, the American linguist, philosopher and political thinker. When Obama was President, Chomsky condemned Washington’s “global assassination campaign..the drone campaign” as “by far the worst terrorist campaign in the world”. He added: “And when you bomb a village in Yemen, say, and you kill somebod...

Murder at the Fringe – Hill Street Theatre

17Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Murder at the Fringe – Hill Street Theatre

Following up on their first instalment at this year’s Fringe (The Court), Edinburgh Little Theatre brings us another audience-forward crime puzzler. After introducing the murder case, we were given the evidence, suspects, and their testimonies. Having seen the cast perform in The Court it was wonderful to see the dynamic range of every actor – each person’s character was on the completely opposite side of the spectrum compared to their last – even if you had not seen The Court, the conviction of each actor is undeniable. I was particularly impressed by the “floozy” mistress, the bumbling butler, and the seedy financial advisor – all round authenticity. Delivering their alibis in a verbatim-esque style, the audience jotted down notes as each suspect spoke, then late...

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Pleasance Courtyard

17Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Pleasance Courtyard

Every night, the Showstoppers improvise a brand-new musical, based on a suggestion from the audience. It’s different every time. Tonight’s title is Blood Is Thicker Than Oil, and it is the story of a family-run oil rig. The opening number introduces the characters. The cast creates a catchy chorus that will be repeated later on and provide each other with backing vocals. The oil rig characters are in the middle of the stage: to one side is the band, and on the other, The Writer, who introduces the show and occasionally shakes things up if the rest of the cast are getting a bit comfortable. The Writer, the band, and the technician form a triangle, with clear lines of sight allowing nonverbal communication. Job ads often ask for candidates who can work individually and as part of a...

17Aug

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Bring It On – Liverpool Empire Youth

It's all happening as the Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre return with another triumphant musical offering. Inspired by the noughties film which then went on to more success with multiple sequels, this Broadway hit takes the usual trope of high school romances and rivalries and adds a lot of cheer. The show focuses on Campbell, a seventeen-year-old cheerleader, who's world turns upside down as she changes school after finally achieving her dream of becoming captain. Not only is this school completely different, but it also doesn’t have a cheer squad! High- energy and relevant, this musical feels like a great choice for this talented group of youngsters. How refreshing to see teenagers actually playing teenagers! From the get-go, the show relies on its leading lady to guide it onwards. ...

17Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

South East

The Marlowe Sessions – Marlowe Theatre

Two years ago, I went along to watch the recording of Tamburlaine II, intrigued by this ambitious plan to record all seven of Christopher Marlowe’s plays in quick succession, here is the link to my interview with one of the cast members Alan Cox - https://northwestend.com/spotlight-on-actor-alan-cox-and-the-marlowe-sessions-at-the-malthouse-theatre-canterbury/, which sheds some light on this project. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) the poet/playwright, was controversial to say the least, his open homosexuality during a period of gay sex being outlawed, atheism, and his involvement as a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, are evidence enough of his unorthodox thinking. This spilled over into his plays, the blood thirsty Tamburlaine, the gay Edward II, and the ambitious necromancer, Doc...

The Hound of the Baskervilles – Theatre by the Lake

17Aug

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

The Hound of the Baskervilles – Theatre by the Lake

The audience at Theatre by the Lake are howling with delight at the new production of the Sherlock Holmes classic The Hound of the Baskervilles, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth. This three-person production is a complete retake on the detective novel by Arthur Conan Doyle. The fourth wall isn’t broken, it is demolished in this hilarious retelling of the popular tale. Adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, this hit West End production captures all the elements of British comedy - farce, physical humour and clever witty lines. This is a fast moving play that all the family can enjoy together. Sherlock is called in to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, who died on the moors, after what is believed to have been an attack by a giant dog. Sir Henry has inherited the ti...

Ada Campe: Big Duck Energy – The Stand Comedy Club

17Aug

By Triona ScullyNo Comments

Scotland

Ada Campe: Big Duck Energy – The Stand Comedy Club

Award-winning cabaret star Ada Campe performs a few flights of fancy and a deep dive into some serious silliness in a show about hope, heartbreak, and finding your happy place.Described by the Scotsman as having a "magnetic presence and a ticklish way with words," and by Sandi Toksvig as "genius," I had high hopes for Ada Campe’s one-woman show, and I wasn’t disappointed. From her opening story about living in a "not yet up-and-coming area of London" to her final show tune, Campe takes us on a glorious trip through her early days on the cabaret circuit that is equal parts poignant and hysterically funny. Beginning with her first gig as one part of a Strawberries and Cream double act, hired by a funfair to open their evening show, Campe paints a picture of a budding performer with bi...

Dusk: A Bite-Size Celebration – Greenside @ George Street

17Aug

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Dusk: A Bite-Size Celebration – Greenside @ George Street

2023's Fringe sell-out Twilight parody, Dusk: A Bite-Size Love Story, returns in a shorter one-hour format as the "roasting of Edwin and Bea", a collection of highlights from the 2023 show (and, by extension, of the most famous moments from the Twilight franchise), linked together by the couple's daughter Regina (or Renesmee in the Sacred Texts). To anyone not still living the green-tinged mouth-breathing life, this might be a little confusing as the show definitely expects you to know who everyone is - or rather, who everyone is replacing - but clearly this was not an issue for the audience of (mostly) twilight fans, who were howling with laughter throughout. All the more well-known aspects get skewered. One Bea's performance (there is more than one: we all need stunt doubles) i...

17Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Hamlet – Royal Lyceum Theatre

An international festival ought to end in carnival fashion, and this blended version of Hamlet did just that. It was an explosion of success, rejoicing, a knees-up and warm audience participation. Teatro La Plaza from Lima, Peru, has created a feast of a show using back projection (Lucho Soldevilla), music, thoughtful lighting (Jesūs Reyes), a simple set and a fabulous cast of Downs Syndrome adults. This adaptation of Hamlet is both funny in itself and wonderful as a piece of art for showcasing the unquestionable talents of a marginalised sector of society. Written and directed by Chela De Farrari, a founder of the company, the intention is to entertain as you ask questions which help us better understand the contemporary world and, in this instance, the world of the Downs person in...

17Aug

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

Scotland

La Clique – Underbelly Circus Hub

So the Edinburgh festival fringe may not be the hubbling, bubbling, hustling, bustling fest of the years gone by – post Covid it's quieter slower and not as hectic, but tonight we're at the circus! We’re down in the Meadows where two huge circus rings (one wooden one) sit before us in a multi-effusion of colour. We’re trap trap trap trapping to see what La Clique has added to their production, how their programme has developed and changed over the years. It’s three years since I was last under their canvas so I’m delighted to be here again to see it once more. What wonders will this wooden O hold? Tumblers, fumblers, bumblers? And a happy ending of course? Let’s wait and see … And what we're missing in weather is more than made up for in enjoyment, fun and excitement as the...