REVIEWS Archives - Page 329 of 548

26Apr

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Home, I’m Darling – Alexandra Theatre

Laura Wade has held her own as both a playwright and screenwriter with numerous successes to her name. “The Riot Club” was adapted from her play “Posh” offered early career chances to Freddie Fox and Tom Hollander and she soon has an adapted of agilely Cooper novel coming our from Disney. “Home, I’m Darling” opened at the National Theatre in 2019 followed by a season at the Duke of York’s and has proved itself a hit which left me wondering what I was missing. A small but keen audience arrived last night at the Alexandra and clearly enjoyed their evening. Tamara Harvey directs with attention to detail but creates scenes of such speed I was left a little bewildered. The tempo of each scene and pitch of so many of the voices is relentlessly similar and makes for a hard watch. Jessica Ranso...

26Apr

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

North West

Guys & Dolls – Forum Theatre, Romiley

This production is based on the stories and characters from the 1950 books written by Damon Runyon. These stories centred on the underground crime scene of the 1920s and 1930s and was written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows around the already established music and lyrics of Frank Loesser. The original Broadway production premiered in 1950 and has enjoyed numerous revivals over the years. The show is set in Times Square in New York City but moves along to Havana in Cuba and eventually into the underground sewers of New York, but by the end everybody ends up where they belong. The show was complimented with a live band conducted by the excellent Ed Nurse as Musical Director with, for me, a particularly impressive female reed section, although all the musicians played their parts to perfection...

26Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

All Shook Up – Daneside Theatre

For those who know me, know I am not the biggest fan of jukebox musicals, so would a trip to see the very same genre tonight in Congleton change my opinion? The short answer is no, however tonight was one of the best productions I have seen of the genre with powerhouse performances coming from the stage in rapid succession. I must start by mentioning the visuals created by Simon Matthews, who also directs the show. 8 video walls places across the stage left you in no doubt as to where the on-stage action was taking place. From an American street complete with moving bus to a disused fairground nothing on show tonight would have looked out of place on a West End Stage. Cleverly designed lighting from Nick Walker complemented the screens however at times a little more face light could hav...

The Bridges of Madison County – George Lawton Hall, Mossley

25Apr

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

The Bridges of Madison County – George Lawton Hall, Mossley

I have long since been a fan of amateur dramatics, so when the chance came to review The Bridges of Madison County by the Mossley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (MAODS), I approached the performance with a healthy mix of trepidation and anticipation. The story has multiple points of reference from its many adaptations – firstly the 1992 novel by Robert James Waller, closely followed a few years later by the 1995 motion picture starting Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, finally being adapted as a stage musical in 2013. And it’s easy to see why there has been multiple iterations of this story across the years that have captured the hearts and minds of audiences and performers alike. For those unfamiliar with the story of The Bridges of Madison County, it’s about an Italian expat ...

Pride & Prejudice *(*sort of) – Leeds Grand Theatre

25Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Pride & Prejudice (sort of) – Leeds Grand Theatre

There have been plenty of versions in every medium of Jane Austen’s biting satire on the absurd manners in 19th century England, but none quite like this irrelevant romp through one of the greatest novels ever written. This is a world where women had less rights than children, sadly still true in some parts of the world, but Austen lays down a subtle challenge to that established order. That’s the trigger for a hard-working, five strong female cast to let rip as the ludicrous Mrs Bennet ruthlessly tries to marry off one of her five daughters before they end up in the poor house, as none of them can legally inherit their father’s estate. The distinctive thing about this part farce, part panto, but always on point, production is we hear from the servants who are bit players in the nove...

The Shawshank Redemption – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

25Apr

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

The Shawshank Redemption – Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Ben Onwuke, playing Ellis ‘Red’ Redding, carries this story beautifully. He tops and tails it with a mellow voice and a story-telling style to captivate. No wonder he has numerous audio books to his credit. However, the first half is a bombardment of aggression with little remission. No doubt, prison is like that, yet, undoubtedly, there is plenty of subtle menace and understated tension simmering. A mood of depression must prevail in some corners - hence the high rate of suicide. Here we find a storm of high-pitched savagery. As a result, the director (David Esbjornson) offers the cast little scope to build tension and create climactic power. A little more ebb and flow, a smidgen of the off button in the volume would help build and release tension. Even in the supposed searing heat,...

Rock, Paper, Scissors – Traverse Theatre

25Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Rock, Paper, Scissors – Traverse Theatre

Established in 2016, Tandem Writing Collective comprising of three young(ish) writers Mhairi Quinn, Jennifer Adam and Amy Hawes, gave us a sneaky peek of a trio of (in workshop) new plays to a rapt and enthusiastic audience at the subterranean Traverse 2 tonight, for one night only. And with the juicy promise that all three will become fully developed plays later this year. Accompanied very nicely by musos, Celloist Jessica Kerr and keyboard player Aaron McGregor on stage, actors Kim Allen, Natalie Arle-Toyne and Betty Valencia, with scripts in hand bring the three workshop pieces to beautiful and dynamic animated life, to the obvious delight of the writers sitting in the front row with beaming smiles. And why not, all three pieces sounded and looked great and the actors, to a woman,...

Titanic the Musical – Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

25Apr

By Angela KellyNo Comments

West Midlands

Titanic the Musical – Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

Musical theatre based on a disaster of epic proportions would not initially seem to be a match made in heaven. With such a tragic well-known storyline, ‘Titanic the Musical’ is a brave undertaking. However, having won five Tony Awards, Titanic the Musical is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary of the London Premiere. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and directed by Thom Southerland the musical focuses on the individual passengers and their own personal stories on board this renowned Ship that set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in April 1912. Not to be confused with the cinema version, this is certainly a musical of two halves. The first and second act are polar opposites in how the story unravels. The first act demonstrates the frenzy and excitement o...

Little White Feathers – Hope Street Theatre

25Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Little White Feathers – Hope Street Theatre

I’m often excited when I get to see new works especially musicals. Last night’s offering was called ‘Little White Feathers’ a story of love, loss and laughter with 17 original songs. This story is a tale of two ladies, firstly Vivian Edwards (Kate Mulrooney) who sadly lost her daughter as a young girl. A pain that never really goes away for a mother. She believes that when she finds a white feather it’s a sign from her late mother that she (her angel) is with her watching over her. Viv owns a costume shop in Liverpool with her husband Frankie (Tony Prince) and their motto is it’s always a yes, no matter of the request. In to the shop walks in a young American girl called Emmy (Beth McShane) from the Deep South. She’s in Liverpool on the search to find her biological father. Upon enterin...

Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror – The Lowry

23Apr

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror – The Lowry

Like many of the audience members filing slowly into The Lowry’s Quays Theatre, I had no idea what to expect from such an enigmatically titled show: Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror. However, taking my seat to face a dimly lit stage, complete with ostentatious ceilings, wooden “bleacher-style” seating, and a number of aerial equipment suspended in mid-air, I very quickly got the idea. However, what I was *not* expecting was the way in which this circus was brought to life. This production was presented by the Extraordinary Bodies theatre troupe, combining the extraordinary talents of deaf, disabled and diverse artists. Supported by the Arts Council England and The National Lottery, this company “creates powerful performances that celebrate our vast potential as humans, we explore a ...