REVIEWS Archives - Page 29 of 453

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe – St Hilda’s Church Hall, Hunts Cross

13Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe – St Hilda’s Church Hall, Hunts Cross

Directors Gemma Hurst and Georgina Anwyl lead us on a delightful romp through time and space with Glyn Roberts’ adaptation of the well-loved C.S. Lewis tale. Siblings Peter (Carl Latham), Susan (Victoria Turnock), Edmund (Connor Jones) and Lucy (Zoe Marras) are evacuees staying at the house of the Professor (Zoran Blackie) and his housekeeper, Mrs McCready (Jenny Snell). When Lucy steps into the wardrobe and out again into the magical world of Narnia, a land of Beavers (Andrew Parsons; Victoria Grimbly) and Leopards (Ife Babatunde; Elise Ng) amongst other animals, where she meets fawns, Mr Tumnus (Aslan Herzen) and Mrs Tumnus (Samra Uddin). All is not well though as The White Witch (Snell), assisted by her Wolves (Juliet Shreeve; Lydia Byrne; Heather Robinson; Ray Ormsby; Michelle Conne...

13Dec

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

The Little Foxes – Young Vic

A rare revival for Lillian Hellman's play, set at the turn of the 20th century. With a title taken from the Bible's Song of Solomon, The Little Foxes is a family drama set in Alabama's cotton country. Regina, Ben and Oscar are siblings living closely together, a family who gained wealth and power when Oscar charmed and married Birdie, daughter of Southern aristocracy and rich plantation owners. They patronise their black servants and are driven by money. When Regina's husband Horace, sick and tired, fails o respond to a business deal, plans to gain the money with or without him. Lyndsey Turner’s production captures all the nastiness behind closed doors, particularly of the unsuccessful marriages at its heart. There are moments of both physical and emotional violence, and...

A Christmas Carol: The Musical – The Lowry

13Dec

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol: The Musical – The Lowry

When the December review list lands in my inbox I have to confess to my spirits lowering, the plethora of pantomimes do nothing to lift my festive mood and there are always a significant number of variations on ‘A Christmas Carol’ on offer. However, having battled the seasonal traffic to get to The Lowry my Scrooge like mood was quickly lifted by this delightful musical version of the old redemption story, sending me home smiling and full of seasonal joy. Although this production is being staged in the beautifully proportioned 420 seat Quays Theatre at the Lowry, it is the estimable duo of William Whelton and Joseph Houston from Hope Mill Theatre that are the creative powerhouses behind it. Following a decade of success showcasing musical revivals from their Ancoats home, they have cros...

12Dec

By Emma LambeNo Comments

North West

The Tale of Nobody Nose – Theatre Porto

This fun, playful interactive show was the perfect way to spread festive cheer. Our 3 clowns Boz, Yolo and Flo were warm and friendly characters from the start and had a natural way with interacting with the audience and getting them involved. They set the tone of each scene so well. Whether it be being mischievous and slapping one another with fish toy props or creating a sense of awe with the use of shadows and projections. They brought each of the puppets to life too. Harrison the puppet was beyond adorable and felt so real as he made his way across the snowy wilderness and travelled across sea, land and air. I was mesmerised each time the puppets took over the stage. Paul, Gemma and Katy-Anne really were fantastic with sharing their creativity and showcasing what Goofus Theatre are abo...

12Dec

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Miracle on 34th Street – HOME Mcr

This clumsy interpretation of the classic seasonal flick presents itself more as a school play than an actual musical. Forgettable songs, cracker-quality jokes and unembellished choreography feel like several lumps of coal in the stocking, delivered by the least convincing Santa Claus this reviewer has ever seen. Miracle on 34th Street follows Susan (Karis), a sceptical girl whose doubts about the marvel of Christmas have been handed down by her no-nonsense, workaholic mother, Doris (Jessica Joslin). When neighbour Fred (Matthew Hawksley) hears of Susan’s lack of belief, he makes it his mission to change this. A magical unveiling of Ciaran Bagnall’s charming toy shop set promises something wonderful, with floor-to-ceiling shelves brimming with teddy bears, footballs and rocking horse...

Amelie – University of Sheffield Drama Studio

12Dec

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Amelie – University of Sheffield Drama Studio

Amelie is a light, layered romantic comedy that interrogates love, loneliness, purpose and progress - and this production by the young cohort of the University of Sheffield was a strong presentation of the famous French work. Alfie Cowgill and Katie Weller’s direction was resolute - an adept understanding of space and dimensions, engaging vignettes and consistent emotional narrative evoked by this ensemble cast. Charlie Harmer and Tessa Chan’s musical direction was equally as well touched, although these driving orchestrations did not always interplay well with each other with some disjointed and missed cues. Some transitions were handled excellently, and the world was well crafted for this. This demonstration of theatrical intellect was fleeting, which is a shame as there was cl...

12Dec

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Beauty and the Beast – Richmond Theatre

Richmond Theatre's ‘Beauty and the Beast’ pantomime, penned by Alan McHugh and directed by Paul Robinson, offers a truly delightful seasonal treat, that combines the magic of traditional panto with the timeless tale of a cursed prince and his quest for love. This new production shines brightly with its blend of humour, heart, and magical enchantment, and whilst the pacing occasionally falters, and some routines feel a touch outdated for the modern stage, these moments are few, and do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment, providing a perfect holiday outing for families and friends alike. The strong cast is exceptionally talented, delivering performances that are both vibrant and engaging. Each performer brings a unique energy to the stage, creating a dynamic ensemble that...

12Dec

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

The Human Voice – King’s Arms, Salford

The insistence of a telephone ringing can be annoying, “Answer me! Answer me!”, it cries. Yet when it stops and there is silence, that is worse. A phone call is the perfect metaphor for a play about disconnection. Callers can be cut off and find themselves shouting into the void, searching for someone to talk to. We all want to find someone with whom we can connect. Jean Cocteau saw the theatrical benefit of the phone call with his play La Voix Humaine in 1930. At that time the telephone was the only way for two people to communicate at a distance. The main problem with adapting the play and setting it in the present day is that there are now so many ways for two people to “talk” to each other that the last way they would do it is to speak over a landline. However, I am willin...

The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook – Floral Pavilion

12Dec

By Katy GilroyNo Comments

North West

The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook – Floral Pavilion

It’s panto season …oh no it isn’t! But it really is, and The Floral Pavilion is currently showing The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook from now until January 5th. It’s the professional pantomime in the area, and it promises to be a night full of fun. With glamorous sets, beautiful costumes, and a great storyline, this is a fantastic show. Starring big names like Emmerdale’s Tom Lister as the evil (but spectacularly funny) Captain Hook, and local legend Sean Jones (who has played Mickey in Blood Brothers for over two decades) as Smee, there was some incredible acting talent on display. Photo: Brian Roberts The story follows Emily Darling, grand granddaughter of Wendy, as she heads to Neverland with Tinker Bell (played by West End’s Holly Atterton) to prov...

The Adventures of Pinocchio – Bradford Alhambra

12Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Adventures of Pinocchio – Bradford Alhambra

Next year Bradford becomes the UK City of Culture so what better way to prepare for that momentous year then joining local legend Billy Pearce for his 24th panto. Pinocchio is a new show for both this theatre and panto giant Crossroads, so it makes sense to launch it with Billy leading a strong company and getting the audience revved up from the moment he came on. Billy may be in his seventh decade, but he retains an infectious energy, and razor sharp comic timing honed by his years slogging round the club circuit. He’s also the king of the fart gag, much to the delight of the young kids laughing their heads off alongside their loved ones. He’s equally at home with the corny gags that are so central to a satisfying panto experience, and the smutty asides that go over the heads of...