REVIEWS Archives - Page 186 of 348

The Cher Show – The King’s Theatre, Glasgow

28Sep

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

The Cher Show – The King’s Theatre, Glasgow

Standing ovations have to be earned and the team behind the Toni Award winning musical, The Cher Show, hit the sweet spot last night at The King’s Theatre, Glasgow. The clever staging (Tom Rogers) was sumptuously lit (Ben Cracknell), especially at the finale, and the costumes (Gabriella Slade) were spectacular … especially at the finale, but more than that, it was the tale of an outsider made good. We all love a story of the underdog overcoming seemingly immovable obstacles. And I don’t know anyone who isn’t in awe of some sort of genuinely gifted individual. Cher’s gift is not just her voice, but her resilience, her obstinacy and her rebellious attitude. Who cares if she’s got parts of her body that don’t match her decades on this earth? The woman has given us decades of rousing, deep...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse

28Sep

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare North Playhouse

One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies was chosen to formally launch the main theatre at Shakespeare North Playhouse although more tragically it was to crash into more than one self-inflicted iceberg on the night. As we meet the Duke (David Nellist), and his newly conquered betrothed, Hippolyta (Yazmin Kayani), Egeus (Tia-Bella Easton) interrupts proceedings to complain about her daughter, Hermia (Rebecca Hesketh Smith), who loves Lysander (William Grint) despite her father’s preferred match of Demetrius (Tyler Dobbs), who in turn is unwelcomingly pursued by Helena (Kate James). Hermia’s choice is clear: follow your father’s wishes or face either death or life as a nun. She steals away with Lysander in the night through the forest, rapidly pursued by Demetrius and Helena. Also p...

28Sep

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Noughts & Crosses – Richmond Theatre

‘Noughts & Crosses’, adapted for the stage by Sabrina Mahfouz for Pilot Theatre, is based on a series of young adult novels written by critically acclaimed British Author, Malorie Blackman. The series includes six novels and three novellas, all of which take place in an alternative 21st-century Britain, where the Crosses operate complete power over the Noughts, and where inequality and discrimination form the backbone of society, guiding the moral and constitutional compass. In Mahfouz’s adaptation, Sephy (Effie Ansah) is a Cross, she is dark-skinned and part of the elite class. Sephy’s people call the shots. Callum (James Arden) is a Nought, he is light-skinned and lower-class. He and his family are struggling to survive. The pair have been friends for an eternity, and whilst segr...

Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical – The Lowry

28Sep

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical – The Lowry

It’s moving, touching and filled with stirring harmonious songs; Fisherman Friends - The Musical is not your usual ‘film to stage’ production! Directed by James Grieve; the Fisherman Friends Musical follows the same plot as the popular 2019 movie - a true story about a group of Cornish fishermen who are discovered by Danny (played by Jason Langley) a former A & R man for Island records which leads to the group recording a demo and eventually onto performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. This musical tugs at your heartstrings far greater than the movie and there are moments when emotions run high and moments when it becomes quite reflective and somber. It runs at quite a fast pace and although it’s 140 minutes in length; it keeps your attention throughout and the appearanc...

The Day After The Fair – Cheadle Players

27Sep

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

The Day After The Fair – Cheadle Players

Community theatre can sometimes be a mixed bag, and then you find a company that you know you can trust to produce work of real quality. The Cheadle Players Dramatic Society is one such company. They have an exceptional work ethic, a great backstage team and a true love of theatre. This opening offering in their 2022/23 season is a play adapted from a novel by Thomas Hardy. Written by Frank Harvey, The Day After the Fair is a romantic drama set in the 1890s. Rising to the challenge of the language, movement and culture of that time period is a principal cast of six; one of whom – Rob Derry – only stepped in at the last minute to play Charles Bradford after the original company member sadly contracted Covid. With only four days rehearsal, he was off-book and on stage. Well done, Rob! ...

27Sep

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

Boyzlife – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

What a pleasure it is to step inside the beautiful philharmonic hall, Liverpool, steeped in history and class, this venue is totally unique and provides great variety when it comes to music and performances. This was exactly the case tonight when the striking stage which usually hosts the philharmonic orchestra was swapped for a huge pop throwback known as ‘Boyzlife’. ‘Boyzlife’ is made up of some familiar faces, Keith Duffy who rose to fame in Boyzone and Westlife’s original Brian McFadden. These two singers have joined forces in the last number of years to create their own music and of course, to relive the classics. Noting that they have 21 number one hits between them, this duo is no stranger to the stage and the world of pop music. Tonight marks the start of their ‘Old School Tour...

27Sep

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Ghosts on a Wire – Union Theatre

Linda Wilkinson could not have written a more topical play, confronting contemporary issues of inequality, power and class divides, the conflicts that consume society and the current energy problems. It's a story about power in all its forms, a story set in the past, all the while resonating into the future. Mary Shelley, Michael Faraday and William Blake are propelled into the late 1880s as ghosts, witnessing the results of the introduction of electricity to London. Or more specifically, to the wealthy north bank of the Thames, while the south bank coughs and splutters under the smoke, noise and detritus from the new power station. The electric company's owners convince local residents and traders that clearing swathes of workers' homes in Southwark would be progress, that...

The Importance of Being Earnest – Cambridge Arts Theatre

26Sep

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

South East

The Importance of Being Earnest – Cambridge Arts Theatre

The challenge of Oscar Wilde is not in the words but ensuring the performance does them justice. There were no such fears with director Denzel Westley-Sanderson’s laugh-out loud production which delights from the off. As butler Lane (Valentine Hanson) prepares tea at the London home of dandy Algernon Moncrief (Abiola Owokoniran), the delicately balanced glasses cleverly hint at the challenges to come when his friend John Worthing (Justice Ritchie) arrives, explaining that when he tires of life in the country looking after his teenage ward, he escapes to enjoy the high life of the city under the guise of seeing his wayward brother, ‘Ernest’. Algernon, in turn, regales him with his exploits of escaping the city in reverse fashion. Algernon’s aunt, Lady Bracknell (Daniel Jacob), arrives w...

26Sep

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

SUS – Park Theatre

Writer Barrie Keeffe’s social and political drama examines unemployment, institutional racism in the Police and the use of SUS law (suspect under suspicion) which was incorporated into the 1824 Vagrancy Act. This stop and search section of the act was used extensively, particularly targeting people of colour and it allowed the Police to make the lives of their victims extremely uncomfortable. SUS is set on the eve of the 1979 election victory by Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives, which ousted James Callaghan’s Labour from office. The two policemen on duty, Karn (Alexander Neal) and Wilby (Fergal Coghlan) both support the conservative cause, largely due to Thatcher’s support of more stringent laws to support the police in their duties. Thatcher’s speech ‘Where there...

Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare North Playhouse

26Sep

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Romeo and Juliet – Shakespeare North Playhouse

This was my second visit in a week to this newly built theatre in the heart of Prescot near Liverpool - so strong was the lure of having a theatre showing Shakespeare’s works in the Northwest of England. Having this auspicious opportunity to visit such a unique and inspiring building and to have these amazing plays on offer, at only a 20- minute drive away, was for me, as a theatre lover - a dream come true. The building of the Shakespeare North Playhouse was two major projects – firstly to build a theatre on the original site, where Richard Harrington constructed a theatre (1597-1603) to show the bards plays and secondly to build an outdoor arena in memory of Liverpool’s iconic comic genius Ken Dodd. Ken Dodd’s Memorial Gardens is set out with traditional stone steps that ...