REVIEWS Archives - Page 49 of 580

20Oct

By Charles PipeNo Comments

London

Skeleton – Etcetera Theatre

Skeleton is a new one-woman horror play, written and performed by Lucy Spreckley, which delivers some intriguing and spooky thrills. At its best moments, Skeleton is atmospheric, unsettling, and creepy. Spreckley’s script does an excellent job of keeping the audience slightly disorientated, by drip feeding just the right amount of information to keep us intrigued and wanting to know more, without leaving us totally confused. Uncomfortable descriptions of childhood trauma are sprinkled in with just the right amount of frequency to gradually build a sense of mystery and dread. Lloyd Smith’s direction makes effective use of sound and lighting design to enhance this sense of dread further. Spreckley’s performance is solid; she equally effectively portrays emotional vulnerability, panicked t...

Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir

20Oct

By Johanna RobertsNo Comments

North West

Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir

This afternoon saw Vasiliy Petrenko making one of his welcome returns to the Philharmonic Hall, this time to conduct the orchestra in three pieces: Liadovs’s Baba-Yaga; Haydn’s Concerto in D Major for Cello and Orchestra (following a change in programme) and Shostakovich’s monumental Symphony No. 7. Baba-Yaga, while lasting only three minutes, gave the orchestra ample opportunity to demonstrate their flair for storytelling, creating drama and tension to convey the menace of the iron-toothed witch stalking the forest in search of human children to eat, though the final chord suggests that – this time at least – her prey escaped. While the original programme had scheduled a concerto by the Russian-born composer Victoria Borisova-Ollas, reduced rehearsal time due to the breakdown of the...

Michael Rosen: Getting Through It – The Old Vic

20Oct

By Charles PipeNo Comments

London

Michael Rosen: Getting Through It – The Old Vic

Getting Through It is a poignant, inspiring, heartbreaking and heartwarming storytelling show by acclaimed children’s author Michael Rosen (We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Michael Rosen’s Sad Book). Unlike Michael Rosen’s best-known work, Getting Through It is not aimed at children. The show is a double bill of two true, personal stories. The first – The Death of Eddie – is about the sudden death of Michael’s son Eddie to meningitis, and Michael’s subsequent grief. The second story – Many Kinds of Love – is about Michael’s 48-day stay in intensive care due to COVID-19. Despite the heavy subject matter of both stories, the show is life-affirming, humorous, and absolutely engaging. Like in his children’s books, Michel’s language is simple and matter of fact. He chooses to describe events s...

The Soon Life – Southwark Playhouse Borough

20Oct

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Soon Life – Southwark Playhouse Borough

The Soon Life opens with precise staging, a brightly lit room with a sofa, table and garniture you would expect to see in any home. However, this was different a birth pool was inflated and positioned to one side of the room. Birthing books visible, a moses basket assembled, a sign of welcoming a new life, a baby. This was a planned home birth during a time of unknown risks from Covid 19, and hospital considered an unsafe place to give birth. Phoebe Mcintosh is Bec a mixed-race young woman, pregnant and in the early stage of her labour. Whilst bouncing on her birthing ball in a zen state, calm, in control, listening to direction from her headphones, in walks the ‘ex’, Alex, (Joe Boylan). This disruption sets the tone of the play and the couple’s timeline in their relationship which brou...

La Sonnambula – The Metropolitan Opera, New York

20Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

La Sonnambula – The Metropolitan Opera, New York

Opera tenor Rolando Villazón’s directorial debut at The Met hits the high notes with Bellini’s infrequently staged opera about a young woman who sleepwalks, in this co-production with the Royal Ballet and Opera that was delayed from the pandemic-struck 2020-21 season. Photo: Marty Sohl The orphan Amina (Nadine Sierra) is about to marry Elvino (Xabier Anduaga), a wealthy landowner. Lisa (Sydney Mancasola), the innkeeper, is jealous as she also loves Elvino. A visiting stranger, Count Rodolfo (Alexander Vinogradov), arrives in the village. That night, Amina is discovered outside asleep which is explained by her secret condition of somnambulism (sleepwalking) but she is wearing the Count’s coat. Elvino, consumed by jealousy, breaks off the engagement, believing Amina has been unfaithful...

Black Is the Colour of My Voice – Crucible Theatre

20Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Black Is the Colour of My Voice – Crucible Theatre

‘Black is the Colour of My Voice’ takes on the phenomenon of gospel, jazz and blues icon Nina Simone, and her activism leading up to and during the height of the civil rights movement in the United States. Fictionalising events and names so that it serves more of an ‘inspired by’ or a ‘representation of’ the life of Simone, there is a shared understanding of this unofficial autobiography being that of Simone. This solo show stars Florence Odumosu as Mina Bordeaux, unpacking her life in the wake of her father’s death. Odumosu navigates Bordeaux’s early years - wowing her family with her piano playing abilities at the age of 3 reciting her mother’s favourite hymns, through to unresolved youthful crushes and turbulent, violent relationships with men, before climaxing with the death of Doct...

Gwenda’s Garage The Musical – Sheffield Playhouse

19Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Gwenda’s Garage The Musical – Sheffield Playhouse

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, a Lesbian run garage named after the 1930’s racing driver Gwenda Stewart, three female mechanics and an apprentice, 1980’s Thatcher’s Britain, a time of protest and strikes and a time of a vibrant women’s movement. The controversial Section 28 of the local government act to prevent the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ as a ‘pretended family relationship’ empower the women through activism, solidarity and sheer hope to strive for a better future. This Out of Archive in association with Sheffield Theatres production with an onstage band of five, and written by Nicky Hallett with musical numbers by Val Regan, Gwenda’s Garage is an excitingly raw and exuberant episode taking the stories of local women and placing them into the iconic location. Directed by Jelena Budi...

19Oct

By Harry AltyNo Comments

North West

Black Power Desk – The Lowry

Set with the backdrop of the Black British civil rights movement in the 1970s, Urielle Klein-Mekongo’s original musical Black Power Desk shines a light on the underrepresented figurehead activists of the time. This heart-felt, humorous and powerful piece showcases that although times have moved on, the struggles of our cast of characters are just as relatable today. Mixing in real news reports from the time, the musical quickly creates an authentic representation of the mistreatment of the Black community during this era of British history. Our story centres around two sisters, Celia and Dina, who must navigate their place in a world that seems poised to tear them down, whilst also discover who they are after the passing of their mother. From the moment Rochelle Rose enters the stage as...

Cirque Éloize: iD Reloaded – Hull New Theatre

19Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cirque Éloize: iD Reloaded – Hull New Theatre

If I had a tenner for every time I said “oh my God!” while watching the unbelievably talented Cirque Éloize circus crew perform at the Hull New Theatre, on Friday evening, I would be laughing all the way to the bank. This production, iD Reloaded, is inspired by the company’s international hit, iD, created in 2009. Presented by Dance Consortium and directed and created by the Canadian company’s co-founder, Jeannot Painchaud, I was immediately impressed by the wonderful opening stage setting of industrial metal frames with a backdrop of a built-up city scape - an eye-popping video backdrop that changed and dazzled throughout the performance. The action takes place in the heart of a busy city, out in the open, in a space that encourages individuals to express their personalities and ...

19Oct

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Fanny – King’s Head Theatre

Fanny is a hilarious and clever play that blends fact and fiction to retell the story of Fanny Mendelssohn. Set in the nineteenth century, the play explores the life of Fanny, sister to the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn. While classical music lovers may be familiar with Felix’s work, Fanny’s contributions are often overlooked, despite evidence that she co-composed several of his pieces. The play highlights how Felix discouraged her from publishing her own music, adding a bittersweet edge beneath the comedy. This production offers a brilliantly funny introduction to the Mendelssohn family and the colourful cast of characters surrounding them. The story focuses on Fanny as she’s courted by Wilhelm, played by Riad Richie. Richie’s sharp timing, quick wit, and playful energy delivered s...