REVIEWS Archives - Page 167 of 548

14Aug

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Lord of the Dance – Palace Theatre

Since its premiere in Dublin on July 2nd, 1996, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance has captivated over 60 million people worldwide. On Tuesday night, a packed Manchester Palace Theatre became the latest audience to experience the magic as Lord of the Dance: A Lifetime of Standing Ovations took the stage. I had the privilege of reviewing the 25th-anniversary show in 2022, which left me "astounded" and "mesmerized." Naturally, I was eager to see if this 2024 revival could match that experience. The answer is an emphatic yes—if not more so. Just as in 2022, the performance opens and closes with on-screen appearances from Flatley himself, who remains the undisputed Lord of the Dance. Throughout the show, a massive video screen plays a key role, displaying breathtaking scenes of nature a...

The Last Five Years – Paradise in Augustines

14Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

The Last Five Years – Paradise in Augustines

Never Ending Theatre’s latest production sees Ciaran Walshe and Sarah-Louise Donnely star in the two-man show that is The Last Five Years. Now this show is no easy feat to pull off, having only two actors to tell the story over an hour and a half. It takes a great amount of stamina and energy to sustain the audience’s focus and enjoyment for that long but Donnely and Walshe certainly pulled it off, giving an emotional portrayal of Cathy and Jamie’s marriage. Jason Robert Brown notoriously composes scores that leave the musicians tripping over themselves, but this band handled it smoothly with only very minor slip ups. I enjoyed seeing the band be featured on the stage – the level of musical technicality needed for this show is very much worth appreciating.&nb...

Natalie Palamides: WEER – Traverse Theatre

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Natalie Palamides: WEER – Traverse Theatre

Clown princess Natalie Palamides has become a force to be reckoned with, scoring huge acclaim with her first Edinburgh outing, Laid, in 2017, which won her Best Newcomer award, and Nate (Netflix special 2020). Last year she directed Bill O’Neill’s superb The Amazing Banana Brothers, a Fringe highlight. Any new work by this performer is now very much on the radar. So, it was an absolute delight to see that the 34-year-old LA-based performer was returning this year with a solo show to world premiere at the Traverse. The show does not disappoint. It’s a hilarious hot-mess of clown mayhem in the style of a ’90s-style romcom, which stars Palamides as a pair of star cross'd lovers, having a quarrel at a party cabin in the woods, before midnight as the millennium fast approaches. Y2K ma...

100 Years of Musicals – theSpace Triplex

13Aug

By Rebecca FosterNo Comments

Scotland

100 Years of Musicals – theSpace Triplex

Co-founded in 2017 by Jessica Broderick and Douglas Watts, Show Choir is the UK’s number one musical theatre community choir collective, with hundreds of members in multiple groups across Southwest England. This is their first year at the Fringe - not that you would be able to tell. This was a slick debut - very well-rehearsed with sublime four-part harmony and excellent use of diminuendo and crescendo. Expertly conducted by the choir’s founders, whose energy was infectious, the choir were clearly confident under their direction. There was a small amount of choreography in some numbers which was simple, but effective and attainable for all singers, maintaining the high standard of performance. The show took us through the last 100 years of musicals, picking a number from each of ...

Sushi Tap Show 2024 – Greenside @ George Street

13Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Sushi Tap Show 2024 – Greenside @ George Street

A Non-Stop Ride of Entertainment The Sushi Tap Show 2024 is an absolute entertainer, living up to its promise of being a non-stop ride of fun and excitement. From the moment the show began, it was clear that the audience was in for a treat. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the incredible tap dance performances, which were nothing short of mind-blowing. The precision, energy, and rhythm displayed by the dancers were awe-inspiring, and it was impossible not to get swept up in the sheer joy and enthusiasm that radiated from the stage. Poke and his team have done a phenomenal job of blending tap dance with comedy, creating a unique and engaging experience that had the entire audience laughing and clapping along. Poke’s interaction with the audience was particularly notewo...

Yes, We’re Related – Greenside @ Riddles Court

13Aug

By Rebecca FosterNo Comments

Scotland

Yes, We’re Related – Greenside @ Riddles Court

Grief does crazy things to people and Yes, We’re Related explores the different reactions of two sisters to the loss of their mother on the first-year anniversary of her death. The play starts with the three actors emerging from the audience and raving whilst in squirrel masks. It was an entertaining, albeit odd, start to the show which I Sara wakes from sleeping in a tent in the siblings’ mother’s old house before her serious sister, Saskia, and her dopey boyfriend, Mark, arrive to help set up the party Saskia has organised to mark the first death anniversary. When questioned about the noise coming from her bedroom, Sara confesses that there is a squirrel living in there. The play suggests that the squirrel is a metaphor for their dead mum as Sara discusses not wanting to let...

100% My Type On Paper – C Alto Studio, C Arts

13Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

100% My Type On Paper – C Alto Studio, C Arts

A Simple Look at Being Yourself in a Judgmental Society An excellent eye-opener, this show brilliantly dissects the pressures society imposes on individuals to conform, especially in the context of relationships. The narrative, driven by Benjamin as Clyde and Evie Meadows as Sammy, captures the essence of two people on their first date, struggling to hide their true selves in order to fit societal expectations. As they put on these artificial facades, it's impossible not to see yourself in their shoes—it's a mirror reflecting the sad truth that vulnerability is often misunderstood as weakness or foolishness. The show boldly challenges the stereotype that men are only after sex and are attracted to "naughty" girls, while women are solely interested in tall, handsome, and wealthy p...

13Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Don Quixote – Assembly Rooms

Clowning around, Finnish-style (remember they like naked saunas), includes a tiny bit of acrobatic bum exposure and a splash of front bottom gymnastics. So, if bottoms are off the table for you, give this one a miss. However, I liked it. Not the bum cheeks (or the dangly bits) in particular. I liked the whole thing. There was certainly a lot of energy from the two performers, Timo Ruuskanen as Don Quixote and Tuukka Vasama as his side-kick Sancho Panza. Red Nose Company combines physical comedy, live music and witty gags. They create a warm welcome with their painted faces, red curtains and interactive banter. Their commitment to their audience and their story is clear to see. The duo has been on tour since 2008. They perform in four languages: English, Swedish, Spanish and Finni...

Oedipus Rex – National Museum of Scotland

13Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Oedipus Rex – National Museum of Scotland

Set in the National Museum of Scotland with the full Scottish Opera orchestra, this one-hour Stravinski/Cocteau spectacular soared to fill the great dome of the beautiful Museum Hall. Conductor, Stuart Stratford, must have gone home buzzing along with his musicians. The instrumentalists were fabulous, as were the vocals. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that an opera has been staged in the Museum. It is a great space and allowed the audience to choose whether to watch from above, along with the ornately costumed gods, or mingle with the chorus below and feel part of the production. It is theatre in the round and that brings benefits and difficulties. You feel closer to the action but then again, you might miss bits. I looked down from “the gods” but would want to go again to ...

13Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Coleridge -Taylor of Freetown – C Arts

Taylor Aluko, a former Liverpool architect, is originally from Nigeria. He is an intelligent, politically and socially conscious individual. He also has a good voice. His morning show at The Quaker House, Coleridge-Taylor of Freetown, is a bid to bring to the light the recent history of Sierra Leone’s oppressive regime. He depicts the former cowardly diplomat, George Coleridge-Taylor, whose uncle was the renowned early twentieth century composer who lived in Croydon, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. In so doing, he uses some of the latter’s music, played live by Kristin Wong and he sings powerfully to the room. The pianist is part of the staging and therefore part of the visual landscape which tells the story. Because of the technical requirements of reading music, Wong’s intense concent...