REVIEWS Archives - Page 372 of 549

<strong>The Day After The Fair – Birkenhead Little Theatre</strong>

14Nov

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

The Day After The Fair – Birkenhead Little Theatre

These days, theatre gives us so much choice from minimalist to technical wizardry, contemporary themes and hard-hitting issues but every so often its pleasant to spend an evening watching a well written, old-fashioned play, that tells a story with rounded characters and strong production values. The Carlton players presented The Day After the Fair at the Little Theatre, Birkenhead this week. Based on Thomas Hardy’s short story, with a slight similarity to the plot of Cyrano de Bergerac in that there is a deception: a lover gains the assistance of another to write letters on their behalf. Originally set in the 1890s and adapted by Frank Harvey, Carlton players set their production in an Edwardian Salisbury, in the drawing room of the Harnham family. Arthur is the chairman of their fam...

<strong>Noor – Southwark Playhouse</strong>

14Nov

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Noor – Southwark Playhouse

A British spy of Indian Muslim heritage, Noor was an inspirational woman during World War II. Her story, with its political and moral complexities has been craftily worded by Azma Dar in this production. Dar undertook extensive research into the life of Noor over a decade ago and in 2018, Kali Theatre presented a reading of an earlier version of the play as part of its War Plays season. Now fully realised by a fabulous creative team, Noor is presented as a 105-minute play at Southwark Playhouse, outlining the values and mission of this daring woman. The play takes the audience on a journey from Noor’s aspirations as a writer to her training to become the first British woman to be a wireless operator on an international mission to her encounters in Paris, fighting for her country and for...

<strong>Ikaria – Old Red Lion Theatre</strong>

11Nov

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Ikaria – Old Red Lion Theatre

Ikaria is a moving capture of two young people's lives in college over a semester. The play recreates for us young love and passion. However, a cloud of loneliness and sadness lurks over our lead Simon. The protagonists' choices may shock and surprise you. We share the intimacy of being in their bedroom in the University halls, but all is not revealed to us until the last scene. Playwright Philippa Lawford's debut play, IKARIA, has won one of 5 runner-up awards for the Ambassador Theatre Group Playwrights' Prize 2022, in association with Platform Presents and Time Out. Her reflections during covid on loneliness, isolation and clinging to a personal relationship in the time of crisis are present in the characters' ruminations. A close observation of the challenges and realities of living...

<strong>Sister Radio – Traverse Theatre</strong>

11Nov

By Lucy McGuireNo Comments

Scotland

Sister Radio – Traverse Theatre

43 Years in 80 minutes – Sister Radio has the silence speak volumes. The sinister silence between sisters or the ignorant silence of a nation. Sister Radio skilfully explores themes of familial bonds and displaced families during its short runtime. The story follows a tale of two Iranian sisters. They live the same routine day in and day out – making coffee, reading tea leaves, and listening to the radio. When the audience is first introduced to them, they are elderly and stuck in an everlasting silence – never talking to one another. Once the global lockdown has taken affect, the sisters are forced to grapple with their past and remember the sins that changed their relationship forever. Often shifting from the present to the past, we see how the sisters initially came to li...

<strong>A Christmas Carol – Gladstone Theatre</strong>

11Nov

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol – Gladstone Theatre

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without ‘A Christmas Carol’ whether you read it, rewatch an old film or better still see it live at a theatre! There are many versions, but West Kirby Musical Theatre Company is presenting one I haven’t seen before at The Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight until Saturday. Book and lyrics by Chris Blackwood and music by Piers Charter-Robinson, who give us the same familiar Dickens’ story but with lots of new tunes and a few additional characters. In the main the songs are very good, reminiscent of Oliver! Scrooge! and others – some with lyrics so fast and furious it was like a Gilbert and Sullivan libretto and a challenge for any performer. Yet others were melodic and memorable. Perhaps, as the show lasted nearly three hours, there could have been a few less...

<strong>Pericles – Riverside Studios</strong>

11Nov

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Pericles – Riverside Studios

Flute Theatre’s Pericles begins with a hushed stage as the performers sit quietly on benches facing the audience. The sombre silence borders on ritualistic as we wait for the drama to unfold. The story begins in King Antiochus' palace. When Pericles finds out about the incest within the kingdom, Antiochus sends someone to kill him. Pericles' flight starts a long voyage through which he falls in love but then endures several tragedies. Flute Theatre specialises in staging productions of Shakespeare for autistic individuals. Scenes are cleverly brought to life with impressive movement direction and choreography by Juan Sanchez Plaza. This made the play visually captivating, and the masterfully seamless transitions kept it light and dynamic. With strong physicality and emotive expre...

Rita, Sue and Bob Too! – Theatre Royal, St Helens

11Nov

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Rita, Sue and Bob Too! – Theatre Royal, St Helens

This show was hilarious – I have to say that from the beginning -as it was rip- roaringly hilarious play and a true tonic to the soul! I went to the wonderful St Helens Theatre Royal with my best mate, she was my best mate from school, and we had loved the 1987 cult classic film when we saw it decades ago and so went together to rekindle memories and see how the live show compared to the film. It did not disappoint. With a strong and local cast of Michael Parr (Emmerdale) as Bob, Jessica Ellis (Hollyoaks) as Michelle, Crissy Rock (Benidorm) as Mum, Jamie Greer as Dad, Kay Nicholson as Rita, and Olivia Sloyan (Blood Brothers) as Sue, it was set to be a remarkable show. From the onset, when the announcer warned that the show had bad language and some scenes of a sexual nature the audie...

<strong>Confetti – Unity Theatre</strong>

10Nov

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Confetti – Unity Theatre

As part of Homotopia 2022, Quick Duck Theatre brings us this one-man queer rom com show to the Unity stage. It had its debut at this year’s Edinburgh fringe festival and received some well-deserved reviews during its run. Written and performed by Will Jackson (who also brought his show Yours Sincerely to last year’s Homotopia) Confetti tells the endearing story of Felix, wedding planner extraordinaire who is helping set the stage for his best mate’s wedding. Felix’s story takes in all the events leading up to the wedding (including the traditional hen night shenanigans) and Jackson’s vibrant script is definitely a homage to the gay best friend (always reduced to the minor character position in more traditional rom com’s). Photo: Emma Jones It is just so good to hear positive an...

<strong>Demon Dentist – Hull New Theatre</strong>

10Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Demon Dentist – Hull New Theatre

My second trip to the dentist in one week saw me at the Hull New Theatre on Wednesday evening, when Demon Dentist came to town. Thank goodness my first visit was a much less scary experience - nothing like the evil tooth-puller let loose on the stage in this adaptation of David Walliams’ book. The dental monster, the aptly-named Miss Root (Emily Harrigan), is the stuff of nightmares, especially for 12-year-old Alfie (Sam Varley), whose bad dental experience six years earlier had put him off dentists for life. However, strange things had been happening in the town where Alfie lives with his loving dad (James Mitchell), which had drawn the schoolboy back into the world of teeth, or lack thereof in some cases. Children who had lost a tooth and had placed it under their pillow read...

<strong>Evening Conversations – Soho Theatre</strong>

10Nov

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Evening Conversations – Soho Theatre

A one-woman show has its own stereotypes. Sudha Bhuchar smashes them and many others. But then, some also get reinforced. Bhuchar takes the audience on a journey of her strife and struggle, anchored in conversations had with her sons. She touches upon ideas of mixed identity (for both, her and her sons), being a middle-aged Asian woman in the entertainment industry, intergenerational trauma, the socio-political climates she’s lived through and the current generation’s outlook towards the world and life. These aren’t topics unheard of but what makes it interesting is Bhchar’s performance. She is a fabulous actor, no doubt, and her 39 years of experience clearly reflects in her delivery. She effortlessly reads the room and builds an intimate connection with the audience, making them feel ...