REVIEWS Archives - Page 44 of 580

La Fille mal gardée – The Royal Ballet and Opera House

7Nov

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

London

La Fille mal gardée – The Royal Ballet and Opera House

Based on a 1789 French ballet originally created by Jean Dauberval, Frederick Ashton’s final full-length ballet for The Royal Ballet premiered in 1960, with this the 377th performance by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House. Inspired by his love for the Suffolk countryside, the piece is set on a farm and tells the story of the burgeoning love between Lise (Francesca Hayward), the daughter of Widow Simon (James Hay), and Colas (Marcelino Sambé), a local farmer. But Widow Simone has far more ambitious plans for her only daughter and is determined that she marry Alain (Joshua Junker), the half-witted son of a wealthy landowner (Christopher Saunders). The only question is, will love win the day? The ballet displays some of Ashton’s most virtuoso choreography, that stretches the wor...

Blackadder the Third – The Little Theatre, Birkenhead

6Nov

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Blackadder the Third – The Little Theatre, Birkenhead

A thoroughly entertaining production, providing plenty of belly laughs. A lovely homage to a popular cult comedy classic. The Carlton Players take on one of the most iconic British sitcoms, Blackadder the Third. Written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, the scripts provide an absolute feast of sharp wit, blistering sarcasm, and fast-paced satire that would keep even the most seasoned actors on their toes. So, full kudos to this company for tackling such a challenge with evident enthusiasm and affection. Director Mike Sanders successfully pulls together a performance that captures the heart and soul of Blackadder. The decision to stage three of the series’ most memorable episodes — Ink and Incapability, Nob and Nobility, and Amy and Amiability — makes for a cleverly structured even...

Here & Now: The Steps Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

6Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Here & Now: The Steps Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

Here & Now is a brand-new jukebox musical packed with some of the biggest and most nostalgic hits made famous by Steps. Rather than retelling the pop group’s story, the show cleverly builds an original narrative around the music, focusing on the everyday lives of a group of shop workers at a bargain discount store called Better Best Bargains. It’s an unexpectedly relatable setting from fluorescent lighting to discount bins and it quickly becomes the foundation for a funny, heartfelt story about the friendships and found families we form at work. The plot follows several employees as they navigate their dreams, romantic anxieties and personal ambitions. Through witty dialogue and musical numbers, we watch them confide in each other about everything from love and heartbreak to c...

The Problem with the Seventh Year – White Bear Theatre

6Nov

By Charles PipeNo Comments

London

The Problem with the Seventh Year – White Bear Theatre

In this one-man show, James McGrgory plays a mediocre medical student who is also a mediocre amateur boxer. He realises that his middling skills in both fields can be combined to make him an excellent cutman: the person responsible for patching a boxer’s wounds between rounds. (Even if you don’t know much about boxing, the play explains the sport just enough that you’ll be able to keep up.) Like a Scorsese movie, the plot meanders through various events in this character’s career as he interacts with shady characters, gets into scrapes, and scrabbles to make a decent life for himself. McGregor’s performance is enjoyably intense. The character has a certain charm and sweetness, and it’s endearing to hear him gush lovingly about boxing, but there is an unsettling aggression and anger ...

The Gateway Writing Festival: Day 2 – The Studio, Edinburgh

6Nov

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Gateway Writing Festival: Day 2 – The Studio, Edinburgh

Fresh voices, bright ideas, and the occasional spark of brilliance Now in its third year and newly housed at The Studio, the Gateway Writing Festival continues to prove itself as a lively testing ground for emerging Scottish talent. Curated by Artistic Director James Wood and produced in collaboration with Capital Theatres’ Creative Engagement team, with special thanks offered by James to Claire Swanson and Izzy Sivewright for their significant support, each night offers three short plays from young writers paired with equally fresh directors and actors. The second evening’s trio explored power, guilt and the future with youthful boldness and a few rough edges, exactly what you want from a new-writing festival. Utter RadianceWritten by Mayah Reid, directed by Briony Conaghan, with In...

6Nov

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Fawlty Towers The Play – Opera House

Few British comedies have stood the test of time quite like Fawlty Towers, a series that remains one of the finest examples of farcical writing and impeccable timing ever to grace our television screens. Now, John Cleese himself has adapted the mayhem of Torquay’s most dysfunctional hotel to the stage with Fawlty Towers - The Play, directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, and currently at the Manchester Opera House as part of a UK Tour. The play cleverly combines some of the most beloved episodes from the original two series, creating a sort of ‘best of’ Fawlty Towers experience. From the chaos of the missing salad to the unforgettable fire drill and the classic German guests, the production cleverly went from one disaster to another. The two-tiered set perfectly recreates the hotel’s familiar ...

6Nov

By Anna SmithNo Comments

North West

Little Women – Liverpool Playhouse

Louisa May Alcott's classic heartwarming story is one of my favourites and centres around the coming of age of the March Sisters and is adapted by Anne-Marie Casey for the stage and directed by Loveday Ingram. The American Civil War is the backdrop and follows the lives of the four March sisters Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth as they navigate their way through life dealing with love, loss, their different ambitions and the transformation they each go through. Ruari Murchison's clever set is simple but so effective. The bare tree trunks on the stage work so well letting us imagine the outdoors and there is even a gentle falling of snow. The clever use of Matthew Buggs atmospheric music helps capture the mood and completely suits the period Li...

Dinna Trust Anyone: Witches of Peebles – Eastgate Theatre

4Nov

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Dinna Trust Anyone: Witches of Peebles – Eastgate Theatre

It’s 1629 in the market town of Peebles. There’s a war on, the harvest has failed, and rumours of witchcraft abound. The ghosts like to gather on Christmas Eve. A modern-day couple (Jennifer Bunyan, David Bon) settle into their hotel room. They gradually become aware that they are not alone. In the first act, the ghosts recount their grim stories. Some were convicted of witchcraft because they were childless, or gay, or foreign. Some seek to justify their role in the executions. But in this Peebles, the Devil wears a cassock. Reverend Syd (Will Tillotson) summons a storm from the pulpit. Examine your souls, my flock. Make a note of who’s absent from the congregation. The devil’s handmaiden has a barren womb. First-time playwright Kath Mansfield knows how to write words that come a...

Mozart Symphony No. 41, Jupiter – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

4Nov

By Bethany EastonNo Comments

North West

Mozart Symphony No. 41, Jupiter – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Upon simply stepping into the Philharmonic hall there is a sense of calm to be felt and the concerts in this grand venue are a welcome outing to be had. The afternoon’s concert was principal cellist Jonathan Aasgaard’s last with the orchestra and so the afternoon began with a celebration of his career and a speech from the man himself. Here he celebrated his colleagues and noted how lucky Liverpool is to house the orchestra in the city. Aasgaard also noted how the musicians make playing look easy, but that they all work incredibly hard. The audience shared their agreement and the concert began on a high after a wonderful community moment. Conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, the afternoon focused around Mozart’s last symphony No.41 Jupiter which is split into four movements. Surprisingly, ...

Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey – Traverse Theatre

4Nov

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey – Traverse Theatre

Opening in the post-war Western Isles, guitarist and vocalist Willie Campbell of The Metagama Ensemble, along with his fellow musicians, set the scene of Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey with its first musical number. We learn of the large groups of islanders, who due to a lack of opportunity, money, and depopulation from the war, decided to make the journey all the way to Canada on the ocean-liners SS Metagama, Canada, or Marloch. With traditional Scottish music being the focal point, it is accompanied with archival footage, illustrations (constructed by Doug Robertson), and narration by Dolina Maclennan and writer Donald S. Murray. Featuring not only original music by pianist and vocalist Liza Mulholland, Murray, and Campbell, traditional Gaelic songs are interspersed t...