REVIEWS Archives - Page 95 of 549

9Apr

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Little Women – The Lowry

The novel 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott is still amongst one of the most popular novels today. Following the incredible success of the Greta Gerwig film in recent years, it’s safe to say that a stage version of Little Women would have a lot to live up to. Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey and directed by Loveday Ingram, taking on the March Sisters and their story was a brave undertaking. For those unfamiliar with the story, it centres around the March Sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy and takes place around the civil war. It tells the tale of their life with their mother at the helm as they are together at home and how at some point they all realise that nothing ever stays the same. With Jo March as the central character, the story moves on to highlight her own challenges about bein...

9Apr

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Legally Blonde – Hull New Theatre

Having never seen the 2001 movie Legally Blonde, I deliberately kept myself in the dark re its storyline. I know from past experience that the talented performers of the Hessle Theatre Company would expertly bring the Legally Blonde musical to life, when performing it at the Hull New Theatre. And that’s exactly what this amateur group did on Tuesday evening, the first of a five-night run. The story follows love-sick UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles - I Googled) student, Elle Woods and her quest to hang on to the love of her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III. Elle is a frothy blonde, who loves to dress in pink - shoes and bag included - and former law student Tanya Sewell plays her to perfection. Warner, meanwhile, has his eye on his future statesman role, and Elle’s appear...

9Apr

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

The Koala Who Could – The Lowry

"In a wonderful place, at the breaking of dawn, where the breezes were soft and the sunshine was warm, a place where the creatures ran wild and played free ... A Koala called Kevin clung to a tree." As a family, we are big fans of going to see our favourite bedtime books on stage (Mog the Forgetful Cat, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, The Tiger who Came to Tea), and Rachel Bright & Jim Field write the most wonderful modern books with positive messages and catchy rhymes, so we knew we were in for a treat. Our story follows Kevin, the clingy Koala and “King of the staying-still-Kings!”, as he sits in the safety of his eucalyptus tree and watches his friends enjoy playing in the outback. Kevin is played flawlessly by Christopher Finn, who also takes on several other characters, includin...

The Play’s The Thing – Wilton’s Music Hall

9Apr

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

The Play’s The Thing – Wilton’s Music Hall

Mark Lockyer’s The Play's The Thing is a completely exhilarating performance, and an incredibly impactful version of Shakespeare’s classic. A one-person Hamlet is a serious challenge to any actor and has become something of a byword for something you should probably give a miss. Do not miss this one. Mark Lockyer is a truly singular actor, and probably one of the few whose inventiveness, energy, and total command of the language allows for this incredible feat to come off so perfectly. Taking us through director Fiona Laird’s very cleverly abridged version of the play, Locker utilises deft characterisation to bring the cast of characters to us. There are subtle changes in voice, and neat, repeated gestures and mannerisms that make the complex task of following an actor switching ...

9Apr

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Sam Newbould Quintet – Traverse Theatre

The Sam Newbould Quintet, based in Amsterdam, arrived in Edinburgh to perform the second night of their week-long Scottish tour. Playing original jazz pieces composed by Sam Newbould, this quintet captivated the Traverse’s audience with their smooth and persistent sound. Combining both simple yet relentless licks and flowing, heavily layered textures, the Sam Newbould Quintet had the audience entranced. Xavi Torres on piano played with beautiful clarity of tone and a delicacy that was refreshing to hear - his solos were incredibly captivating, playing with a heartfeltness that really struck a chord with me (no pun intended). Keeping the pace and groove was Guy Salamon on the drum kit giving us flow and drive. Salamon’s drumming style feels incredibly intuit...

7Apr

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – St Helens Theatre Royal

We all know the tale of Cinderella. Well, add a little sparkle and magic and you will find the cast of St Helens Theatre Royal and their portrayal. A wonderfully staged production which is bound to bring joy to many children and families over this Easter holiday. The cast is comprised of Coronation Streets Kimberly Hart-Simpson who plays the wonderfully sweet and fun Cinderella, Ben Keith as the very handsome and wholesome Prince Charming. Back by popular demand as always with his high energy as Buttons, Lewis Devine. The fabulously funny, and gruesome twosome ugly sisters portrayed by Shania Pain and Richard Aucott. Conor Barrie as the lively and cheeky Dandini and finally Rachael Wood as the glittering and captivating Fairy Godmother. This pantomime showcases some beautiful vocal t...

7Apr

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Scratch Night – Arts Bar, Liverpool

A new scratch night has opened its doors at the Arts Bar on Hope Street in Liverpool, offering a dynamic platform for writers to assess the reactions from a live (and lively) audience. This evocative and interesting evening highlights a variety of themes and gives sharp focus to emerging and significant talent. More than anything else I do believe that scratch night events like this really does support new writing and provides a platform for further exploration and development. Well done to the Arts Bar and organiser/curator Francesca Hill for presenting the audience with a diverse and often challenging selection. I only hope that this will be a regular event. Tonight’s showcase featured six short extracts from plays that are either at a developmental stage or almost oven re...

5Apr

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Per-Verse – Riverside Studios

Just about everyone would have those moments in life that seem to be straight out of fiction or could make for great stories. But only few of them actually go ahead and turn those into forms of entertainment. Georgie Wedge is one of them and that’s a good thing, because now we have Per-Verse. Written and performed by Wedge, this one-woman act is directed by Ilya Wray and combines poetry with stand-up with storytelling with physical comedy. It may not be all that new to get on stage and talk about your dating life, but it is the way in which Wedge does it that makes this a standout show. The script is tight, packed with wit, and engaging all through. The word play of the title carries on into the performance as well, with puns and rhymes by the dozen. You better keep up, because t...

The Story Forge: Make Your Own Myth – Unity Theatre

5Apr

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

The Story Forge: Make Your Own Myth – Unity Theatre

Creative, fun and delightfully unique. If you are looking for a family fun show to suit all ages and really get yourself immersed into a show then look no further, the Rubbish Shakespeare Company has you covered with their hilarious and eccentric performance 'The Story Forge; Make your own Myth. As the title suggests, you the audience are involved in the creativity of what you see in front of you. Every person in the theatre was engaged, laughing and left with a smile. Two very talented actors with fantastic improvisation skills, comedy and physical theatre will immerse you, and especially those children in the audience in an engrossingly lively story using information, props and input from the audience. The show could go in any direction and trust me it does, this certainly isn't a sho...

The Worst Witch – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

5Apr

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

The Worst Witch – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Before JK Rowling launched Harry Potter on the world there was Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch. A series of books which delighted young readers who fell in love with the goings on in Miss Cackles Academy for young witches. Initially adapted from the books for television and then for theatre this musical production offers everything a young audience might enjoy with its pantomime style and magical narrative. The drama presents as a play within a play. A group of trainee witches perform their story as a school production, and it is to their credit that this young cast grab the material with energy and spirit. Characters that have been well written are very well performed and the rapport amongst the cast shone through. Megan Sorrel as Mildred Hubble, the hapless new girl who doesn’t fit in, ...