REVIEWS Archives - Page 318 of 417

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – The Alexandra

9Mar

By Priya GuptaNo Comments

West Midlands

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – The Alexandra

If you want some adventure, then all you must do is open those wardrobe doors and step into the Alexandra Theatre where The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Tour has transported itself to town. This lavish retelling of the classic 1950’s novel by CS Lewis has had a revamp from director Michael Fentiman, whose theatricalisation of the time-honoured novel has been in rehearsal; this production itself is based upon Sally Cookson’s acclaimed stage adaptation that premiered in Leeds late in 2017 before finding a London home 2 years later at the Bridge Theatre. The book is a favourite for many and Fentiman brilliantly navigates the mythical, and magical atmosphere onstage. The production features an incredible ensemble who really took the phrase ‘triple threat’ to a whole new level. ...

9Mar

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – Liverpool Empire

The Addams Family Musical opened on Broadway in April 2010 and had its first UK premiere in 2016. Six years later and this show is back doing the rounds once again with Liverpool’s Empire Theatre kicking off this Kooky UK tour! Most of us know the famous Addams family and this show is no different in that it welcomes one and all, “the living, dead and the undecided”! ‘Morticia’ and ‘Gomez’ Addams are a devoted husband and wife who live in a wonderfully creepy and loving home with their two children ‘Wednesday’ and ‘Pugsley’. Wednesday and her new boyfriend ‘Lucas’ arrange for their families to meet for the first time and both long for just “one normal night”. Is this going to be possible in the murky, mysterious Addams home? Well, the famous ‘Uncle Foster’ isn’t far from the action...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Opera House

9Mar

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Opera House

Tenacious teen Christopher Boone is back sleuthing around the UK once again in this adaptation of ‘the nation’s favourite’, best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. With guidance from his uniquely understanding teacher Siobhan (Rebecca Root) and accompanied by Toby, his pet rat, our fifteen-year-old protagonist (David Breeds) sets out to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbour’s dog, Wellington. This proves difficult for an outsider like Christopher, who faces obstacles in the form of strangers, metaphors, the yellow bits of Battenberg cake and secrets that threaten to throw his investigation into disarray. The Curious Incident offers a unique perspective on life that regularly shifts from encouraging laughs to moments of deep reflection. While Chr...

9Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Macbeth – Leeds Playhouse

As the three witches circulate around the massive drawbridge that dominates the stark stage it's clear that Amy Leach’s latest attempt to make Shakespeare accessible will focus on the intrigue, blood and ultimately madness in arguably his most dynamic drama. Power couple the Macbeths are introduced as they mourn their dead child before the ambitious warrior muscularly played by Tachia Newall meets the witches who inform him he’s to be the King of Scotland despite the weak Duncan still being on the throne. Egged on by his wife, the brave general becomes the cowardly assassin as he takes the throne before turning on everyone around him as his hubris brings about his downfall. There is a subtle subtext of dynasty and lineage as Lady Macbeth loses another child, which helps explain he...

9Mar

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Da Vinci Code – Wolverhampton Grand

I got half way through the book of Da Vinci Code and gave up, I got half way through the film of the Da Vinci Code and gave up. I got half way through the play of the Da Vinci Code and stayed. Whether that is a comment on this production or my poor concentration skills, I don’t know, but this was well worth staying for. Now then, if you haven’t been sitting in a cave for the latter part of the twentieth century you’ll be more than aware of the phenomenally successful best-seller, “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, it sold by the barrow load and, even if this reviewer stumbled at chapter ten, many others plundered through it merrily prompting a Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks. It would seem inevitable, then someone should have a stab at staging it and Simon Friend Entertainment have do...

9Mar

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Magic Goes Wrong – Hull New Theatre

Within a few minutes of me watching Magic Goes Wrong, at the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening, I could feel myself wanting to throw up. Was the show that bad? No, just the opposite. I had laughed so hard that I’d almost made myself vomit. With over two more hours to go - how would I fare? Well, dear reader, I lived to write this review, after staggering out of the theatre with aching sides and my eye make-up decimated through crying with laughter. If you’ve ever seen this crazy gang before, you will know that the shenanigans begin way before curtain up, and Tuesday evening was no exception. Cast members frantically searched the theatre, wielding huge butterfly nets, looking for a lost white rabbit, while a roving cameraman captured images of theatregoers to be used for the s...

8Mar

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

Dead Good – Unity Theatre

Vamos Theatre, in a co-production with Corn Exchange and a co-commission with London International Mime Festival present “Dead Good”, performed tonight at The Unity Theatre Liverpool. Having never seen or heard of ‘Vamos Theatre’ before, I was very intrigued to find out what this masked performance had in store for the audience. A few hours later and it’s gone from being a theatre group I have never heard of, to one I will never forget for all the right reasons! When you hear the basics, “it’s a masked performance, with no words”, I think it’s quite natural to be sceptical as you do wonder how that could ever be something to ‘wow’ but trust me, after watching this talented group, do their very talented thing, you’ll be left astonished. The first thing to credit is not only t...

8Mar

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

Coming Home – Hope Street Theatre

Tonight, at Hope Street Theatre, Change the Act group present ‘Coming Home- Theatre unplugged’. This is a show inspired by producer and performer Callum O’Rourke’s own experience, and it explores the meaning of ‘home’. The show has been broken up into sections where songs are performed based on a wider theme such relationships, both positive and complicated, hope, love, loss and many more. It is not surprising to hear that the 6 cast members have been hand-picked from 100 auditionees as the talent, vocal range and entertainment value of this group knows no limits. Whether performing as soloist, duets, or a full company number, these talented singers belted perfection at every opportunity. It goes without saying that there are certainly no weak links within this cast and the ...

8Mar

By Hazel BumbyNo Comments

North West

Catch Me If You Can – Blackpool Grand

This was my first visit to the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, and I have to say I was somewhat underwhelmed by the building and the front of house crew (except for Sarah who made me feel very welcome) No-one seemed to know just what was happening. We couldn’t get in at first and the young man said there was a delay but didn’t know why and kept looking for others to help him. Communication was definitely lacking – maybe just an opening night blip but needs to be looked at. The music in the auditorium was lovely but very loud that you felt you were shouting at each other. And yet on stage, was quite quiet to begin with – it got better... Now for my reason to be there... I could contain my excitement as I was going to see ‘Bobby Ewing’ in person... I try not to read synopsi...

5Mar

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Orton: Fallen Angel – Epstein Theatre

A bill finally decriminalising homosexuality in England and Wales received Royal Ascent in late July 1967. Less than three weeks later gay playwright Joe Orton was murdered by his partner Kenneth Halliwell. Within days the life of closeted Beatles manager Brian Epstein would also be tragically cut short. How apt then that a play exploring Orton’s horrific killing has found a home at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre. Wes Williams' Orton: Fallen Angel looks back at the life and death of the Leicester-born author and his lover and asks the audience to imagine how Orton’s untimely demise could have come to pass. One gets a sense of the tone of the evening straight away. A near empty stage apart from four chairs, a couple of books and a leather jacket foreshadows the unapologetically stark dir...