Ahhh! The youthful enthusiasm approach! Recently graduated from QMU, Rona Johnston, writer and lead performer, gathers her (5) Marys to tell the story of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots. The 6 young ladies squeeze onto the tiny stage, smirking, impetuous and ready. With a strong feminist thread and music at its heart and a SOLD OUT run, this feels close to being a hit! But SIX this is not. Not yet!
Through a mixture of verse and song we follow Mary and her inner circle (known as her Marys) from France to Scotland and on to London and her ultimate demise. It is a strong story which lends itself to performance.
Eight songs (soon to be released on Spotify) light up the production, ranging from Celtic ballads to grunge-rock anthems. Alli Von Hirschberg on electric lead guitar is a star in the making.
I spy three separate amps, two electric power extension leads and a whole spaghetti load of cables and wires. There are tech problems, including Rona’s own microphone set-up, cutting in and out, and the violin getting swamped by the guitar and bass. Radio mics and a bit of housekeeping could do wonders, as could a bit of steadying and focusing direction.
However, there is no denying that there is something special here. Watch this space.
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 12th August 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 50mins
It's Christmas Eve, snow is falling, and in a traditional Irish pub a group of…
Oh, the irony: they seated us in Row F while the stage was full to…
Opening the Croydonites Festival of New Theatre, Hannah Maxwell's one-woman show, Turn Your F*cking Phones…
Appearing on stage in front of a draped red curtain, Temi Wilkey’sLover Girl is tantalisingly…
Few historical events have embedded themselves in popular culture quite like the sinking of RMS…
With plenty of suspenseful twists and turns, Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ creeps into the Sheffield…