REVIEWS Archives - Page 530 of 551

Beauty and the Beast – Theatre Royal St Helens

15Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Beauty and the Beast – Theatre Royal St Helens

Last night it was nice to have some sort of normality in the theatre world. I got to review my first show in 2020 inside an actual theatre. It was nice to be back. The things that would normally annoy you in the theatre, such as people getting past you in the aisle or the rustling of crisp packets was strangely welcomed as it was just nice to have that experience again. However, I digress the reason why I was there was to review 2020 pantomime Beauty and the Beast at the St Helens Theatre Royal. The show start time was at 6pm which I was surprised at because you’d think that was to early due to audiences working even if it started at 7:30pm it would have finished before 10pm. the show itself was as flamboyant and as funny as you expect a panto to be with little hidden gems of the cast c...

15Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

A Christmas Carol – Dominion Theatre

With just two weeks of rehearsal, the London Musical Theatre Orchestra's 24 musicians and a small, hardworking cast have created a festive fantasia for all the family against the odds. Sadly, the move of London into tier 3 means this show closes today, along with all others recently opened or reopened. There have been many adaptations of the Dickens novel of Christmas redemption, including a number of musicals. This one, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Mike Ockrent. It is unabashedly sentimental alongside scenes bordering on the horrific. Even in a semi-staged concert version, these elements are not neglected. Ebenezer Scrooge is played in this version by the versatile Brian Conley, a performer who captures both the sardonic monstrosity of the miser and...

14Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Comeback – Noël Coward Theatre

The Comeback is a funny behind the scenes look at two double acts on their journey to fame. One double act is the warm up and the other is the main act but they’re both relying on their old sketches to impress and raise their profile with the crowd and possible producers in the audience. The duo playing both acts are very likeable and have great chemistry on stage, resulting a really naturally flowing and funny performance with regular gags and well delivered sketches. Behind the laughs and sketches is an introspective crisis regarding the double acts considering how natural their act is and if they belong or qualify for a higher tier of performances and venues to escape their ‘dead end’ city. It’s a narrative which a lot of people can connect to and engage with, both duos have lost fai...

14Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Prom – Netflix

When Coronavirus pressed pause in March of this year many key events were missed - weddings, christenings, graduations and proms. The high-school prom - a formal dance that originated in America which has gained global popularity – celebrates the start of adult life as teenagers tear up the dance floor in all of their finery following the ritual of ‘promposals’ (ever more inventive ways to ask someone to prom), corsages and limo rides. Netflix’s latest movie musical The Prom (an adaptation of Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin’s 2016 Broadway musical) provides a heartening tale of acceptance and redemption which is well judged to entertain audiences starved of live theatre and events. In these socially distant times seeing exuberant dancers not observing a safe two met...

12Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

South East

Peter Pan – Barn Theatre

With this one-man adaptation of the classic family tale, the Barn Theatre has another success on their hands. Equally as thrilling as it is heart-warming, this version transports the audience from normality to Neverland. All with the help of that famous, ever-youthful boy. There have been countless retellings of J.M.Barrie’s creation and everyone has their favourites. From the big screen (“Hook” coming to mind, whereas I wish I could erase “Pan” from it) to stage musicals such as “Finding Neverland”, it is obvious that the appeal for the pixie-dust sprinkled adventure has not faltered. Playing on the universal appeal for the story, the Barn team have created a play with family at its forefront. Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton) plays a travelling father who is coaxed into a bedtime story from...

The Magic of Christmas – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Scotland

The Magic of Christmas – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Perhaps the biggest nightmare for theatreland through the pandemic has been the loss of the lucrative festive shows they use to subsidise their riskier offerings during the year. So, like so many venues the team at Pitlochry Festival Theatre have been forced to offer their seasonal production online, which in all honesty is no replacement for the sheer joy of sitting in a theatre full of overexcited kids with adults in tow keen to relive their youth - all secretly hoping things will go wrong. It may be no substitute, but a four strong cast deliver a charming half hour show in the theatre’s garden as hapless elves Hari and Lari smash the fourth wall inviting cyber viewers to join a journey as they seek the missing North Star that guides Santa as he gives every kid in the world a press...

Christmas Music by Candlelight – The Shows Must Go On

10Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Christmas Music by Candlelight – The Shows Must Go On

I love a good carol concert. I’m no expert (or singer), but I love the songs and the feeling of Christmas. Online carol singing though, how’s that going to work? Well, it does, and it does it exceedingly well. Through the flickering candlelight at St Paul’s Church, Birmingham, conductor Jeffrey Skidmore takes Ex Cathedra through a range of carols old and new bringing joyous melodies and harmony to your home. I was astonished how in love with this show I became. And maybe it’s the power of the music and the beauty of the voices, but I found this performance a time to reflect. A time to step back and enjoy the wonder of the world. Visually, I felt I was there. The candlelight is so atmospheric you feel yourself drawn into the dancing lights reflecting off the church windows. ...

10Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

The Dumb Waiter – Hampstead Theatre

When watching a play written by Harold Pinter, I always feel as though the writer is asking the audience to help him to write the play. There is a feeling of inclusion as we follow the plot line, never really knowing what is coming next as we are still trying to puzzle out what just happened during the previous scene. Pinter wrote this short play in 1957 and it premiered at Hampstead Theatre Club (as it was known then) in 1960 after first being staged in Frankfurt in 1959. Pioneering his own style of writing; Pinter continues to fascinate 60 years later. The play begins with two men sitting in a shabby room with only two beds as furniture. In typical Pinter style there is no explanation as to why these men are in the room, we are supposed to pick up on clues i...

The Royal Variety Performance 2020 – Blackpool Opera House

9Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

The Royal Variety Performance 2020 – Blackpool Opera House

Well, it’s that time of year again! Christmas TV is well under way and so we are welcomed into the Blackpool Opera House (via our screens) for this year’s Royal Variety Performance. With the stage set, and the virtual audience in their seats, the night fulfilled the show’s yearly promise of talent and festive cheer. Jason Manford opened the show by journeying through the theatre to the stage, whilst singing Webber’s “As If We Never Said Goodbye”. A poignant and rousing start to the night. As Manford also hosted the Oliviers last month, it seems he is the voice of the theatre world at the moment. He used this position to present with humility, humour and class. The show was filled with its usual spectacular line-up of stars. From Gary Barlow singing his new hit “Incredible”, (an adjec...

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Garrick Theatre

8Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Garrick Theatre

Showstopper did not allow lockdown to stop their creativity, they have continued to produce online improvised shows, in fact North West End UK have reviewed some of these (see our website). For those who have somehow missed the artistry that is musical improvisation here is a quick summary. Showstopper use suggestions made by the audience to make up a musical from scratch in front of your eyes. In a normal musical production, it can take years for a production to make it to the stage, with the services of a lyricist, a composer, producer, director, actors, etc, etc! Showstopper does all of this in one night – the performers multi-task and roll all of this into one very sleek team. Ring, ring, the red phone shrills, and we know it’s going to be Cameron asking the ...