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It’s A Wonderful Life – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Liverpool’s Royal Court and St George’s Hall

16May

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

It’s A Wonderful Life – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Liverpool’s Royal Court and St George’s Hall

‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings…’ With three acclaimed productions already under their belt, you’d have to say life was looking pretty wonderful for Old Fruit Jar Productions, one of the North-West’s leading independent theatre companies, so it seems rather apt that their fourth production is an enchanting and heart-warming adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life, inspired by the 1946 Frank Capra film of the same name. For those very few who don’t know the original, it’s Christmas Eve, Bedford Falls and George Bailey, a down-on-his-luck banker, believes life has left him behind. But when his guardian angel appears, George is astounded to witness what life could be like without all of the good deeds he’s done. Maybe life wouldn’t be as wonderful without him… As Alex C...

Stop Trying to Look at my D**k! – Canal Cafe

16May

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Stop Trying to Look at my D**k! – Canal Cafe

Challenging yet underdeveloped, Jacob Grunberger's one man show, ‘Stop Trying to Look at my D**k!’ staged at Canal Cafe Theatre aims to offer a bold exploration of masculinity in a modern world, but unfortunately falls far short of the standards expected for professional London theatre. While the play delves very lightly into provocative themes, its execution lacks the refinement and depth required for a polished production. The performance, more reminiscent of theatre student’s end of year showcase than a professional endeavour, suffers from several shortcomings. The use of props is questionable, detracting from the overall impact, the physical theatre and choreography feel rudimentary and lacking in sophistication, and the comedy and script content come across as stunted and disjointe...

16May

By Phoebe Olivia Sian HobsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Pretty Woman – Leeds Grand Theatre

Last night I took my first steps into Hollywood and wow what an amazing experience it was, I fell in love with the vibrant LED signs and light bulb infused palm trees, but nothing prepared me for the way I would become obsessed over the pretty woman storyline all over again. The beloved romance movie of the 80’s came alive once again onstage last night; Jerry Mitchell’s take on this fan favourite was everything you hoped it would be. Take a popular rom com add a little instrumental and some catchy musical numbers and you’ve got a night full of priceless entertainment and that’s exactly what was witnessed at Leeds opening night. I was in complete awe of the attention to detail, from the colourful 80’s costumes to the Beverly Hills hotel the resemblance was fascinating but also unique. As...

Edward Scissorhands – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

16May

By Nazaret RaneaNo Comments

Scotland

Edward Scissorhands – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Matthew Bourne's ballet adaptation of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands made its much-anticipated return to the stage on the opening night at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. Bourne's instinct for selecting iconic stories to adapt aligns perfectly with his choreographic finesse. Originally conceived in 2005 and revived periodically since, Bourne's rendition stars Liam Mower as our protagonist Edward, a tragic figure left incomplete with scissors for hands following his creator's sudden death. Mower's portrayal captures the essence of Johnny Depp's iconic performance, as he takes us along Edward's journey from perplexed isolation to communal acceptance, vibrantly accompanied by an ensemble of archetypes and eccentrics. The ballet unfolds against a backdrop of 1950s suburbia, skilfull...

MacBeth (An Undoing) – Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh

16May

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

MacBeth (An Undoing) – Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh

Macbeth is often one of the first Shakespeare stories that we think of, it's known for: its scottish setting, it's themes of betrayal and manipulation and of course for its gory and dramatic ending. The tale is often told in the same manner time and time again, the tale of a man being told by a group of witches that he will be king, a manipulative wife who convinces him to murder the current monarch and the insanity and guilt that rips the married couple apart until ultimately, she commits suicide, and he is slain by a former friend. Whilst the original story exists within Macbeth An Undoing, writer Zinnie Harris has turned the tale on its head, asking what would happen if it were Lady Macbeth who took control? What if she had not gone crazy and instead Macbeth himself was the one takin...

16May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Madama Butterfly – Metropolitan Opera

Paula Williams’ revival of Anthony Minghella’s original production is full of good intentions but too many gimmicks get in the way of Puccini’s devastating tragedy about a young geisha who falls in love with an American naval officer. Marriage broker Goro (Tony Stevenson) shows US naval lieutenant Pinkerton (Jonathan Tetelman) around the home he will share with his bride-to-be in Nagasaki, although American Consul Sharpless (Lucas Meachem) warns him of the tragic consequences that may follow. The Butterfly duly lands in the form of young Japanese girl Cio-Cio-San (Asmik Grigorian) supported by maid Suzuki (Elizabeth DeShong), and they are married by the Commissioner (Paul Corona). Her love makes her willing to sacrifice everything which sees her disowned by her uncle, a Bonze (Robert Po...

Drop The Dead Donkey – Liverpool Playhouse

15May

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Drop The Dead Donkey – Liverpool Playhouse

For an up-to-date satirical comedy on stage, look no further than Drop The Dead Donkey – The Reawakening! 34 years after first airing on Channel 4, the cast of Drop The Dead Donkey reunite for the first time, and for their first time on stage. From the GlobeLink newsroom, the team have been hired to be part of the brand-new Truth News channel. The original cast members Susannah Doyle, Robert Duncan, Ingrid Lacey, Neil Pearson, Jeff Rawle, Stephen Tompkinson and Victoria Wicks reprised their roles from the TV show, with a touching tribute to the two late members of the cast, David Swift and Haydn Gwynne and the iconic and award-winning TV show is reimagined in this topical commentary on the world of 24 hours news. With original writers Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin (who also wrote Outnumb...

15May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

2:22 A Ghost Story – Hull New Theatre

Having reviewed quite a few musicals this year, it was a lovely change to take my seat at the Hull New Theatre, in participation of watching a ghost story. The city’s theatregoers were out in force on Tuesday night when 2:22 A Ghost Story came to the stage. And what a stage! The setting of a big, old house was wonderfully realistic - large kitchen with the usual electrical trappings, plus a sofa, table, chairs, an Alexa and a baby monitor. Oh, and a large digital clock which my eyes were drawn to every two minutes waiting for it to turn to 2:22. It’s the home of young married couple Jenny (Fiona Wade) and Sam (George Rainsford) and their baby daughter, Phoebe. While Sam is away working on the island of Sark, Jenny and her baby girl are alone in the big, rambling house - a house...

The Phantom of the Opera – Brindley Theatre

15May

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

The Phantom of the Opera – Brindley Theatre

I have no words! I will try to express to you all the absolute stunning masterpiece that this production is. The iconic story of a disfigured musical genius, that lives under an opera house in Paris, who is besotted by a talented singer Christine and evokes fear and carries out murderous evil to get his way but whose love is lost as Christine finds love with an old flame, has been an Andrew Lloyd Webber work of genius for nearly 40 years and for the Centenary Theatre Group to have the opportunity to present this phenomenal musical in a local theatre is an opportunity this magnificent company could not resist – and rightly so. The talented cast, whom I have seen in various performances, give every show 100% and constantly show their amazing skills in both singing and dancing at every per...

15May

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Withnail and I – Birmingham Rep

“We want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now!” You either know this cult film tottering on the brink of its fortieth anniversary or, like me, you’ve remained blissfully unaware of its merits over that period. But as the big 40 approaches perhaps it’s time to acquaint myself with it, doff my cap and say hi. It seems this version, ably helmed by Sean Foley, embellishes and only slightly strays off the beaten path of the film, but this is not a bad thing. In 1987 Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann, both unknowns tottering on the brink of stardom, undertook the roles of two unemployed actors in a tale loosely adapted from the life of writer/director Bruce Robinson. The film found a following which soon coalesced into a cult and has remained so ever s...