REVIEWS Archives - Page 64 of 549

24Jul

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Soaked – The King’s Arms

As Greater Manchester Fringe makes a welcome return, The King’s Arms is appropriately in the hub of it all again! This time, directed by Peter Macqueen, the play ‘Soaked’, a La'al Marra production, is gracing its stage. Written by Emma Rydal, ‘Soaked’ it is a story that many can identify with. The writing seems effortless, and the main characters could be any one of us chatting, interacting and simply trying to juggle life. Soaked is an intelligent piece of theatre with no pretentions and a thought-provoking storyline. At times it felt like the audience were presented with potentially a challenge as to whether it was appropriate to laugh or not. There are some seriously amusing parts of the play and Emma Rydal must be applauded for interjecting humour into such a serious thread of ...

24Jul

By Zoё MeeresNo Comments

London

Echo – King’s Head Theatre

I’d never been to the King’s Head Theatre before, which is criminal considering its proximity to where I’ve lived for the majority of my life. It prides itself, and rightly so, on being the longest running theatre pub in London, having been established in 1970 and recently moving to a new home, just around the corner. It’s a fantastic space with friendly, welcoming staff, and the perfect setting for an intimate and atmospheric production. And so does Suan Eve Haar’s Echo (previously titled Saugerties and performed as a one act titled Paper Dolls) begin, with Jen and Roge celebrating their tenth anniversary in a quirky B&B. Their exchange is heated and at times somewhat confusing – emotions are constantly at 11 out of 10 and the two swing between love and hate at an alarming rate. Th...

When You Die – Anthony Burgess Foundation

23Jul

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

When You Die – Anthony Burgess Foundation

When You Die pitches itself as a Gothic horror comedy exploring the afterlife through the lens of undead housemates—but despite a promising concept, the show is let down by sluggish pacing, underwhelming humour, and several frustrating production choices. Finn, Yuri, Devon, and Boby are sharing a flat in death, trying to get along in the afterlife when their already turbulent dynamic is disturbed by the arrival of a mysterious briefcase. With the help of the cryptic Lazlo, they must uncover who—or what—is behind the growing sense of threat. It’s a quirky setup with potential, and the cast give it their all, but the execution falls flat. The first half drags considerably. There’s far too much time spent establishing the characters’ personalities and routines, with little dramatic ...

The Winter’s Tale – Royal Shakespeare Company

23Jul

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

The Winter’s Tale – Royal Shakespeare Company

Yes yes yes yes yes yes! This is the type of production that makes you doubt the play has ever been better performed in the 400 years since it was written. A text often relegated to reluctant decennial repetition by repertory Shakespeare theatres, this “problem play”—only partially redeemed and abashedly esteemed for its “strong female characters”—is here staged so boldly that it not only asks but demands audiences to answer: what actually is so problematic about female strength? Why are men made so uncomfortable by powerful women? And what on earth are women supposed to do with that dangerous discomfort? Directed by Yaël Farber and dripping with the seductive intrepidity that coats her directorial tongue, this production is unmissable and unmistakable. It is contemporary not in the sen...

23Jul

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

By Royal Appointment – Richmond Theatre

The late Queen’s view on almost all topics is famously unknown. She rarely made public statements or gave interviews, and all her speeches were carefully drafted. On the other hand, she was also the most photographed woman in the world. So, exploring the use of her outfits as a way expressing her views upon the world and its events is an interesting idea, which lies behind Daisy Goodwin's new play at the Richmond theatre, part of a UK tour. The play starts and ends immediately after the Queen's funeral and in between is a series of vignettes of periods in her life, starting in 1969 and proceeding chronologically until her death 53 years later. The setting is the sumptuous interior of a royal residence, we are never quite sure which, with long drapes in glorious colours, a few well-chose...

23Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Leeches – The King’s Arms

How far would you go for influence? Would you be prepared to use work colleagues, friends, or even family, in the name of ambition? Leeches, written by Kieran Scott and slickly directed by Thomas Bateman explores themes of insecurity, cancel culture and personal ethics, amongst others, through the eyes of three highly flawed narrators. When a protest erupts in the city centre, it results in a moment of violence that has significant repercussions for all three. Simple staging with nothing more than a crowd control barrier and a couple of chairs allows the spotlight to shine on three strong actors from the Manchester School of Theatre, who do an excellent job of showcasing Scott’s tight and compelling script, peppered with deft touches of levity, and which itself smartly exposes an...

Calendar Girls the Musical – Frinton Summer Theatre

23Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

REVIEWS

Calendar Girls the Musical – Frinton Summer Theatre

I never expected to cry at ‘Calendar Girls the Musical’, but 20 minutes in and I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Such was the emotional poignancy of the story that prompts the Women’s Institute (WI) to make a nude calendar to raise funds. You may have seen the 2003 hit film, but this stage show by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, and directed by Emily Raymond, is a complete step above when it comes to pulling on the heart strings. The story is: Annie’s husband John gets sick and dies of cancer. Her fellow members of the North Yorkshire WI try best to support her, but her grief is raw. In a bid to do something positive in John’s memory, Annie comes up with the idea of raising funds for a settee for relatives at the hospital: a nude WI calendar in typically WI poses (think plum jam and bun...

23Jul

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Last Laugh – Alexandra, Birmingham

I was in Morocco once (hold on - this’ll make sense) and came across a market stall selling fezes. The stall holder asked me where I was from. I said, “UK” where upon he put on a fez and said, “Just like that!” I asked him if he knew what that meant. He shrugged and said, “No, but everyone who comes from UK puts on a fez and says, “Just like that!’” And we still do. Forty years after the death of the comic we’re imitating. Such is the impression he made and the impressions being made tonight at the Alexandra will surely be spoken for the same length of time. Three stalwarts of comedy who dominated the light entertainment landscape for many years are here evoked with uncanny accuracy by three comedy stalwarts who have to be seen to be believed. Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkh...

23Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Calamity Jane – Hull New Theatre

Within two minutes of the plush curtain raising at the Hull New Theatre, on Tuesday evening, I was singing away to the song, Black Hills of Dakota. Calamity Jane was in town and the guilty party making me join in was Theo Diedrick who, playing the banjo, purposely made a hash of the above song until getting the hang of the well-known ditty. In fact, Diedrick kept us entertained all night long with his amusing mannerisms and facial expressions. I’m sure I spotted him playing the violin as well at one point in this rip-roaring production. In the 1953 film of the same name, on which this production is based, Calamity was played by Doris Day, and it’s her singing voice that musical lovers will associate with many of the songs in this stage version. Fast forward 72 years and it’s th...

22Jul

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Chicago – Blackpool Opera House

Dubbed “the sexiest musical ever” (Metro), Chicago returns to Blackpool this week, with a huge sprinkle of razzle-dazzle with it! Set with the decadent backdrop of the 1920s Chicago jazz scene, the story follows Roxie Hart who murders her lover when he threatens to leave her. In a desperate attempt to avoid conviction, Hart hires renowned lawyer Billy Flynn to assist her in deceiving the media, public and rival cellmate, Velma Kelly. With show-stopping songs a plenty, the sultry, sassy, sensational Chicago is back at the Seaside with a bang. With lyrics from Fredd Ebb and music by John Kander, blasted out by a live band onstage (under the superb musical direction of Neil MacDonald), it’s easy to understand Chicago’s appeal. I must admit, having seen the show various times over the years...