REVIEWS Archives - Page 276 of 418

3Aug

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Cher Show – Birmingham Hippodrome

35 smash hits - one pop goddess screams the strap-line for “The Cher Show” and, I think, they may well be right. Cher is an iconic goddess descending from pop heaven to regenerate herself both artistically and physiologically many times over her astounding life on earth. She may not be able to claim to be an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) but she has accumulated an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar - you can work out the acronym yourself. From stepping into producer Phil Spector’s office in 1962 and saying “Hi” to stepping off the Abbacopter in 2018 and saying, “Mes enfants, je suis arrive!” it has been a rollercoaster career in all manner of media from film to TV to music to stage. A career many may think too implausible to capture in a simple stage musical. Well, they’d be wrong… Not one, n...

3Aug

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Roped In – United Wolves Productions

Roped In from screenwriter Dylan Cullum – based on Rope by Ane Skarvǿy – is a short film from United Wolves Productions under the direction of Michael Wolf with cinematographic support from Nadia Parpova, who also edits, and sound from Tennur Daud. Filmed in a single location, Ben (Dan Kralev) appears to be in control of the situation with Selma (Zori Dragiyska) but is all as it really seems? Psychologically gripping, it’s dark on the drama and heavy on the intrigue with a healthy dose of black humour coursing through it to keep you guessing at what may be unravelling in front of your eyes. Kralev captures the hope and hopelessness of Ben perfectly whilst Dragiyska is captivating as the alluring femme fatale, and with both providing strong, believable performances and the action subt...

2Aug

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Chess – Theatre Royal Drury Lane

One of the key players in the ‘MegaMusicals’ club of the 1980s, ‘Chess’ was a megahit on both sides of the Atlantic. Springing from the minds of ABBA geniuses Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with lyrics by Tim Rice, the musical became of staple of the decade (despite being about a chess tournament being played at the height of the Cold War), with its hugely memorable synth-rock score which included the worldwide smash “I Know Him So Well”. Now, over 36 years later, the musical is back on the West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, for three performances only. Set during the height of the political tensions of the 1980s, ‘Chess’ sees the American world champion Freddie Trumper (played here by Joel Harper-Jackson) preparing to defend his title against the Russian challeng...

2Aug

By Lucy McGuireNo Comments

Scotland

Footloose – King’s Theatre Glasgow

It’s time to cut loose and head to the King’s theatre to see a show that will have you up on your feet. Footloose tells the iconic story of a boy who finds himself in the town of Bomont, where it is deemed illegal to dance due to an incident years prior. Being the new guy in town, Ren (Joshua Hawkins) causes a stir within the small community with this cheeky attitude and passion for dance. This juke box musical is not the only adaption of the original Footloose film (1984) with a remake of the classic released in 2011. However, the musical manages to merge the old with the new – paying homage to the unforgettable moments from the films while bringing its own identity to the stage. The production has a range of talented performers within its ranks. Lucy Munden, making her professio...

1Aug

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

REVIEWS

Boiling Frog – Camden Fringe Online

Before logging on to watch Boiling Frog, part of Camden Fringe 2022, I did some research and unearthed the following: “Urban myth has it that if you put a frog in a pot of boiling water it will instantly leap out. But if you put it in a pot filled with pleasantly tepid water and gradually heat it, the frog will remain in the water until it boils to death.” The production opens with scenes of burning forest fires, then four actors each share their experiences of how the Australian bush fires of 2019/2020 affected their lives. There is a fifth actor, Jordan (Tom Stevenson), but more of him later. Only one of the four, teenager Bella (Olivia Maiden), actually witnessed the fires first-hand, but it’s the impact the disaster had on her that affects the rest of her family - her gran Susan ...

1Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

Kisses on a Postcard – Online Audio

Kisses on a Postcard is a dramatic musical written by Terence Frisby, based on his own experiences of being an evacuee during World War 2. Directed by Dominic Frisby, the four hour audio recording is particularly suitable for listening to in small parts (and has been divided by the Company into chapters which suit this bitesize style of listening). It covers the four years that evacuees Terry (Brandon McGuiness) and Jack (Frankie Joel-Celoni) spend in a Cornish village after being evacuated from south-east London. The musical is narrated by an adult Terry (Dominic Frisby) which creates a feeling of nostalgia over what was a difficult but also adventurous time in his life. There is a feeling of Great Expectations, particularly as the adult Terry compares his “two childhoods” and how diff...

30Jul

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

Bugsy Malone – The Rep, Birmingham

This revival production, originally seen in the West End in 2015, has come to Birmingham for two weeks, in the summer holidays, as part of its first professional tour. Bugsy Malone first started life as a musical film where it’s use of child actors playing every role as adults, made it stand out from the crowd. Keeping to this idea, seven of the principal roles are played by children. The adult ensemble takes all the other roles filling the stage and performing with the principals in the musical numbers. Set loosely in prohibition America, Bugsy Malone transports us to the age of gangsters, flappers and mob rivalry. However as this is a family friendly show, the gangs are running a soda business and the guns fire “Splurge” the next step in custard pie weaponry. Fat Sam’s Speakeasy...

30Jul

By Andrew LeeNo Comments

North West

What He Said – The Casa Theatre

‘What he said’ is an assortment of short plays written by a range of writers and performed by a small group of actors produced by Pique Niche Productions. The common theme was varying social logics of why men feel discouraged to talk about emotional issues. As a man I was encouraged by the theme and the intention, especially given the strong link to and support of Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity united against suicide (visit thecalmzone.net for more information). It was fantastic to see that part of the drive of the production was to raise money for CALM. Both Parents Matter ‘Both Parents Matter’ is a short play written by Mark Davoren which explores the perspectives and experiences of four different fathers who meet in a dads support group. Each characterises ...

29Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Julie: The Musical – 53two

No one is more deserving of a jaunty, high-octane musical than Mademoiselle Maupin, and so this one-acter celebrates the sword-fighting, opera-singing, understated queer icon that she was. The life of Maupin, also known as Julie d’Aubigny, (Abey Bradbury) and her escapades are retold through comical, lyrical accounts. This tell-all biography-style piece may not be entirely historically accurate, but the events seen on stage are mostly all true. There is a lot to appreciate in Bradbury’s production, starting with representation in the form of an incredibly likeable bisexual heroine. Her script is witty and well-paced, with catchy songs and rib-tickling choreography making the ninety-minute run-time fly by. A slightly clumsy start gives way to a tight, tenacious performance from the...

29Jul

By Caroline JamesNo Comments

London

Tom, Dick and Harry – Alexandra Palace

Tom, Dick and Harry is a flamboyant, fun, family friendly version of what most people will recognise as The Great Escape. After extensive research, a more truthful, less Hollywood retelling is what this play gives its audience. The title, Tom, Dick and Harry reflects the research undertaken by the writers by using the code names given to the tunnels which the prisoner’s of war use in an attempt to escape German capture. Written by Michael Hugo, Andrew Pollard (both of which perform in the play) and director Theresa Heskins, the writing brings levity and humour to what could be a long and historically heavy play. The scenes can linger a little on humorous asides and there is a lack of tension in places but the pace picks back up in the group scenes. Set in the round in the beautiful Alex...