REVIEWS Archives - Page 33 of 548

29Aug

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr – Z-Arts

Manchester Musical Youth once again proved why they have built such a strong reputation for delivering high-quality family entertainment with their latest production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. With music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, and adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, this classic tale was given a fresh, imaginative twist by producers Dave and Kimberly Holden. The story follows eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children, Jeremy and Jemimah, who, with the help of the spirited Truly Scrumptious, transform an old racing car into the magical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Together, they embark on a fantastical adventure to the land of Vulgaria, ruled by the bumbling Baron and Baroness, encountering spies, danger, and laughter along the way. ...

Electric Dreams – Shakespeare North Playhouse

28Aug

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

Electric Dreams – Shakespeare North Playhouse

Welcome to the 1980s; to Athens, where four young lovers and a group of oddball actors come together in a fairy forest and find themselves at the mercy of mischievous spirits. Sound familiar? Well maybe not the 1980’s part, but the rest, of course, is that much loved comedy of Mr William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream presented to us at the beautiful Shakespeare North Playhouse. What unfolded over the next two hours I can only describe as a joy. As an 80’s child myself, and a massive Human League fan, I actually found myself quite giddy at the thought of the night ahead, and a little nervous that I could be very disappointed if my favourite Shakespeare play, studied and loved at O Level, and the music of my teenage years did not merge well. I was not disappointed. Not for one mo...

28Aug

By Joe LangNo Comments

Scotland

Chameleon – Greenside @ George Street

This minimalist one-man drama traps the audience within the four walls of a psychiatric hospital room and forces you to confront the inner workings of Delaney’s mind. First of all, I want to give Ruben Sparks all the praise for diving headfirst into such an emotionally demanding role. The character of Delaney, who we follow throughout, opens up about his past while switching between a multitude of personalities, all demanding a high quality of physical vitality from Ruben. The switching between characters definitely pays off, as it not only provides great context for his life throughout the show, but you also just can’t help but fall into a trance-like state when watching. Ruben takes advantage of the small space in relation to his physical movements to create an almost animalistic ...

27Aug

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Guys & Dolls – Frinton Summer Theatre

The arrival of the big blue tent on Frinton Greensward can only mean one thing: it’s the finale of the Frinton Summer Theatre season! No big top by the beach would be complete without a West End musical and this year it’s ‘Guys & Dolls’. Set within the colourful and gritty New York gambling scene of the 1940s, this show is about the hustlers, the showgirls, the bid for salvation and love – in all its incarnations and complications. Nathan Detroit (Fabian Soto Pacheco) is a gambling man. He’s broke and in need of a place to host his craps game (a dice game where players bet on the outcomes of the roll of a pair of dice), but Lieutenant Brannigan (Barry O’Reilly) is hot on his tail. Also, his doll Miss Adelaide (Josephina Ortiz Lewis) is getting angsty after a 14-year engagement...

The Addams Family – Blackpool Winter Gardens

27Aug

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

The Addams Family – Blackpool Winter Gardens

The infamous family are back with a spooky spectacular show to delight audiences all over the UK. This musical comedy from Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is guaranteed to have you howling with laughter, as the beloved kooky clan come to life on stage. Princess of doom and gloom, Wednesday Addams, is all grown up, and much to her own despair, is in love. With a plan to introduce the families and announce their engagement, Wednesday and her sweet-natured betrothed, Lucas, are asking for just “one normal night”. But an Addams Family dinner can’t go by without mischief, betrayal, and more twists and turns than Gomez and Morticia on the dancefloor. Join Pugsley, Lurch, Fester, Grandma and their ancestors, for an evening of freaky family fun. With a score from Tony award winning co...

Reception: The Wedding Present Musical – Slung Low Warehouse, Leeds

27Aug

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Reception: The Wedding Present Musical – Slung Low Warehouse, Leeds

If we could travel back to 1985 and tell David Gedge -the inspirational lead singer and songwriter of indie musical darlings The Wedding Present - that forty years later his songs would be used in a musical theatre production, he would have laughed in your face and maybe kicked you in the balls for good measure. Back then the worlds of musical theatre and guitar-based indie rock were so far apart musically as to be on different planets. Gedge freely admits to not even knowing whether he even liked the format when initially approached by Writer/Director Matt Aston. Thankfully his trademark curiosity won out and he engaged with the project, resulting in the World Premiere of ‘Reception - The Wedding Present musical’ at Slung Low Warehouse in the suitably gritty streets of Holbeck, Leeds, the...

Max Fulham: Full of Ham – The Cellar in Pleasance Courtyard

27Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

Max Fulham: Full of Ham – The Cellar in Pleasance Courtyard

This was Maxs last show at the Edinburgh Fringe, and it was a sell-out. A testament to his popularity in his debut run of Full of Ham. First impressions this guy has the comedic spontaneity of Micheal McIntyre with a ventriloquist dummy. Max Fulham is an innovative ventriloquist with originality and flare. For those of you who remember ‘Billy Bear Ham’ growing up, he breathes life into ‘Billy’ in a way that defies logic, but it works. “I’m ham not spam” Characters who appear in Max’s portfolio of puppetry is his very first red-haired hand puppet given to him as child and from here his interest in ventriloquism was ignited. With a nod to the great Keith Harris and Orvil. Be prepared to see ‘Jesus with his sandals’ grandad, and the ‘birthday boy’. Not forgetting a shopping trip at the...

27Aug

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Sweeney Todd – The Famous Spiegeltent

As part of their nine-show lineup at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, Captivate Theatre brings their rendition of Sondheim’s magnum opus Sweeney Todd to The Famous Spiegeltent in St Andrews Square. Humorous and gritty, the in-the-round set-up of The Spiegeltent added a voyeuristic, sinister energy to the production as the cast prowled through the audience, spying on as the action played out. Captivate’s prominence in the Edinburgh amateur theatre scene guarantees a production of consistency and talent, with Sweeney Todd certainly keeping in line with this expectation. Unfortunately for me, I was rather distracted throughout the performance as having arrived later than the general audience, I found myself dejected to a stool rather than a seat - a stool with a mirrored pilla...

Twelfth Night or What You Will – Shakespeare’s Globe

26Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Twelfth Night or What You Will – Shakespeare’s Globe

In the fictional Illyria, most of the inhabitants are enjoying a crazy summer festival, getting drunk, dancing and singing while adored in masks and oversized head-dresses. But not all the Illyrians are so joyful. Olivia, in mourning after the death of her brother; Duke Orsino, desperately in love with Olivia; and the steward Malvolio, who is also in love with Olivia, are too melancholy to take part in the revelries. Into this mix comes shipwrecked Viola, thrown into a world she must quickly come to understand, while still grief-stricken over the loss of her twin brother, Sebastian, who she believes has perished at sea. She disguises herself as Cesario and becomes steward to Duke Orsino only to then fall head over heels in love with the duke. When Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia o...

The Ladies of Juliana – Etcetera Theatre

26Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

The Ladies of Juliana – Etcetera Theatre

Taken from historical accounts of ladies who were transported to Australia between 1788-1852, as convicts who had been convicted of petty crimes, and were being used to help to populate the colonies. During this period 24,000 women were transported, and ‘The Ladies of Juliana’ tells the tale of six such ladies, and their experience aboard the ship – The Lady Juliana. The horrendous journey that these ladies suffered is graphically played out in this history play that attempts to draw back the veil of their gruelling treatment at the hands of men. The shocking treatment of these ladies on the ship was so extreme, that they nicknamed the ship ‘the floating brothel’. The six ladies in this play dramatically show their suffering, with Sarah (Lydia Moll) turning to drin...