REVIEWS Archives - Page 322 of 549

Strictly Movie Musicals – Brindley Theatre

19May

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Strictly Movie Musicals – Brindley Theatre

You know when you get that box of chocolates, and you love them all and cannot chose which is your favourite – that’s what watching this performance was like. The cast of the Centenary Theatre Company put on such a spectacular performance that for every song they delivered either as an ensemble or as solo performances they made it impossible to pick a favourite – now that is a rarity in musical theatre! The Centenary cast opened their third instalment in the Strictly franchise with a bang. The director Dan Groes had designed the performance as 5 showcases, transporting the audience to different genres of the world of music. The cast covered the Golden Years of MGM, songs from screen to stage, animated musicals, musicals from books and finally musicals that had earned Oscars. Ea...

19May

By Philip EdwardsNo Comments

North West

A Chorus Line – Pendleton College

Many choreographers have failed in their attempt to put dance into the feet of this reviewer. It makes it all the more interesting to see how it all works and admire the speed with which proper dancers understand the language and translate it into movement. A skill I will never have, but this is the main premise of this 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Of course, it is about much more than that and the show unfolds by telling the life stories of the auditionees. But first, life must imitate art and the students of Pendleton College will also have auditioned like the characters they now portray. Director Ian Bennett has put together a largely talented cast. He has also changed some of the narrative and characters to suit his cast and the ch...

A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction – Shakespeare North Playhouse

18May

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction – Shakespeare North Playhouse

For a play where its most significant feature is being ‘off the grid’, using self-generated power and a touch of candlelight, the Playhouse, styled as a mini-Globe with slightly better seating, seems like the perfect setting for it. Tonight’s show, written by Miranda Rose Hall, and directed by Nathan Powell is an incredibly clever and fresh concept. The play tours, but not the people - everyone involved is from the local area. The strip lighting and sound that encompasses the stage is produced from the efforts of four very hardy onstage cyclists, with a digital display that shows the wattage they are generating. It’s a highly creative and fascinating experiment in sustainable theatre. The conceit is that one of the play’s actors has suffered a family emergency – her mother is dyin...

Once on this Island – Regents Park Open Air Theatre

18May

By Zara OdetundeNo Comments

London

Once on this Island – Regents Park Open Air Theatre

I arrived back at the Regent’s Park Open Air theatre to watch them kick off their 2023 summer season with a revival of Once on this Island. This 1990 original musical retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson version of the little mermaid tale, was set against the heat of the Caribbean sun, in the jewel of the Antilles. Once Upon This Island tells the story of the unending love of peasant girl Ti Moune for a boy Daniel. Where we will see if love can overcome death and settle a wager made by the Gods. The story and told through the staging of informing two young girls about their culture, within a fairy tale structure. Ti Moune is an innocent girl who longs for something more than the normal day to day life she lives “Waiting for Life”, she becomes the figure of interest of the G...

Anna Karenina – Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh

18May

By Dylan MooneyNo Comments

Scotland

Anna Karenina – Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh

Leo Tolstoy’s famous novel Anna Karenina is brought to life in a modernised adaptation written by Lesley Hart and directed by Polina Kalinina. A novel seen by many as a classic romance story is brought right up to date with modern Scottish language allowing audiences unfamiliar with the book to better understand it. One thing I admire about this play as a whole is their step away from the ‘traditional’ idea of adaptation, the urge to write almost word for word what happens. Instead, Hart has crafted a story that holds a genuine theatrical charm, capable of retaining attention throughout. The story follows the title character, Anna Karenina, played by the fantastic Lindsey Campbell, as she travels across Russia to save her brother’s (Stiva, played by Angus Miller) marriage after he has a...

Love The Sinner – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

18May

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Love The Sinner – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

The Seven Deadly Sins are sometimes known as capital vices and it’s appropriate that writer and performer Imogen Stirling chooses a fever dreamscape of Glasgow as a backdrop. She says it’s ‘Glasgow-but-not-quite’ but two key components of the play are a big river and an awful lot of rain. It’s a landscape reminiscent of Alasdair Grey’s Lanark, each sinner - it might be said - redolent of the characters in David Keenan’s ‘This Is Memorial Device’ set just down the road in Coatbridge and Airdrie. Officially North Lanark. They each employ their own strategies to deal with life’s perceived flaws, but the stars of Stirling’s second book of poetry, Sloth, Envy, Greed, Gluttony, Pride, Lust and Wrath, share something in common in that they are all, apparently, isolated. It’s no surprise to learn ...

Around the World in 80 Days – Richmond Theatre

18May

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Around the World in 80 Days – Richmond Theatre

The classic tale of Phileas Fogg and Passepartout, who, to win a wager, travel around the world in no less than 80 days, is back and this magical adventure has been brought to life once more. Fact meets fiction in this production as the audience is treated to the incredible true story of American journalist Nellie Bly who decided to take Phileas’ goals and make them a reality. In a somewhat Brecht style, the show is a “play within a play” and creates some fun stylistic moments. The set is bright and vibrant, allowing for dynamic movement across several levels, featuring some unusual and fun props. Though a cast of only five, this performance is nothing less than rich. Every cast member gives a full and polished performance, each playing at least three different characters, making it ...

The SpongeBob Musical – Opera House, Manchester

18May

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

The SpongeBob Musical – Opera House, Manchester

SpongeBob SquarePants- the Nickelodeon sensation beloved across the world- made his Broadway debut in 2017. For the first time, the residents of Bikini Bottom are shipping their musical to the UK, promising seafaring silliness for fans both old and new. The impending eruption of an underwater volcano threatens to wipe out SpongeBob’s hometown: while he sets out to save the day, the other citizens plan an evacuation fundraising concert. Plot thinness is no issue here as a splendidly diverse cast puts everything into embodying their characters, making every scene an immersive joy. Anyone who has seen the show will appreciate the vast inclusion of its treasured sea creatures; Mrs Puff (Eloise Davies), Larry the Lobster (Theo Reece), Old Man Jenkins (Reece Kerridge) and Gary the Snail al...

Heathers The Musical – The Alexandra, Birmingham

18May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

Heathers The Musical – The Alexandra, Birmingham

‘Heathers’ has become widely known as a “teen” show, but anyone expecting the light frothiness of ‘High School Musical’ or ‘Glee’ will be surprised by the show’s much darker tone and razor-sharp bite, with themes of suicide, depression, attempted rape and drug use, not to mention murder. A scathing black comedy with a rock-infused edgy-pop score, the show brings the 1989 film to the stage and gives an exaggerated look at just how hellish teenaged life can be. The show became an off-Broadway hit in 2014 before gaining a huge cult following in the UK in 2018 and is currently seeing great word of mouth on its UK tour, playing the Alexandra Birmingham this week. Veronica Sawyer (played by Jenna Innes) can’t wait for college and struggles to fit in to the social hierarchy of West...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

18May

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s longest running Musical theatre company, Southern Light Opera shine extra bright for this no-expenses-spared phantasmagorical production of the stage version of the much-loved 1969 MGM musical film. With one of the best special effects, I have ever seen on stage, this is one show you do not want to miss! The original film and subsequent stage adaptation is loosely based on the children’s novel Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming (better known as the creator of James Bond) from 1964 and adapted for the silver screen by Roald Dahl. The story follows recently widowed inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children and their love of an old ex-champion racing car, threatened with the scrap heap, but brought back to life (and then some!) by Potts. Chitty take...