GM Fringe Archives - Page 2 of 3

SEVEN and a half YEARS – Salford Arts Theatre

15Jul

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

North West

SEVEN and a half YEARS – Salford Arts Theatre

Mark Glentworth experienced incredible success as a composer, and then his life changed. But not in the way that you would expect. This autobiographical one-act musical tells the story of what came next: it is a journey that takes Glentworth from the heights of his success to the depths of his despair and isolation, ending with his first steps towards a new start. The production makes the most of the simple set and lighting designs, and Glentworth moves around the space well. It is his authenticity that is most striking; it cannot be easy for him to perform this material over and over and relive the best and worst moments of his life. Glentworth is clearly an outstanding musician, and the music in the show – which switches seamlessly from prerecorded tracks to live piano and back...

11Jul

By Philip EdwardsNo Comments

North West

Bosie – The Fitzgerald, Manchester

Because of his historical significance we know much about Oscar Wilde, playwright, wit, man about town and sodomite. We know he was infatuated by his muse Lord Alfred Douglas, or “Bosie” to his friends, but perhaps we know a lot less about Bosie himself. Rik Barnett corrects that with this play. Not only writer, but Rik Barnett also has an outing as the subject of this short, but sharp piece of theatre being staged as part of the Manchester festival. First a mention of the venue. The Fitzgerald advertises itself as a “speakeasy” bar and with an entrance of Little Lever Street in the city northern quarter, the heavy dark doors set the scene well. The performance space on the first-floor suits this play very well but might be a bit limiting to other ventures. I look forward to seeing h...

6Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Wasteman – King’s Arms, Salford

In a sequin-studded change in his career path, Joe Leather whimsically recounts how he traded hi-vis for high heels in this endearing one-hour play. Despite dabbling in drag in former times, regrettable events have led him to boxing up his dreams. However, a new opportunity tempts our refuse-collecting queen to rediscover their passion for performing. Leather embraces his ‘imaginary’ audience and entertains us with engrossing words, song and dance while jumping between a past and present narrative. His stage presence is cheeky and charming, and he capably juggles additional minor roles with expressive mannerisms and accents. While there are plenty of funnies laced throughout the script, a quantity over quality situation in terms of humour is sometimes apparent: where too many ...

The Pride of Pripyat: Tales from the Chernobyl Disaster – International Anthony Burgess Foundation

2Jul

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

The Pride of Pripyat: Tales from the Chernobyl Disaster – International Anthony Burgess Foundation

Some events are so burned into the general subconscious they can be immediately recollected with just one word. Chernobyl, for example. But how much do we really know about the life of the nearby town - Pripyat - beyond a vague image of an abandoned ferris wheel? American classical music ensemble the Perspective Collective set out to answer just that question in their operetta. Across a handful of vignettes, ‘The Pride of Pripyat’ explores the personal impact of the disaster on the lives of some of those living in the shadow of the doomed power plant. Beginning and ending with the perspective of the city’s chief architect, the show also explores the experience of a local school teacher with a husband at Chernobyl and a pair of nurses unsure how to approach a patient with radiation...

A Spoonful of Julie – The King’s Arms, Salford

24Jul

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

A Spoonful of Julie – The King’s Arms, Salford

Some shows need no explanation. The title does all the work. A Spoonful of Julie delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Morsels of goodness from the life and career of one of the greatest actors and singers of all time: Dame Julie Andrews. Opera singer Nicola Mills is the brave soul stepping into Andrews’ shoes. She’s accompanied on her whistle-stop tour of classics by musical director George Strickland on keyboard. Andrews’ repertoire is littered with collaborations with extraordinary lyricists and composers. From the Sherman Brothers and Lerner & Loewe to Sandy Wilson and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Yet their music was taken to another level courtesy of the voice of the young woman from Surrey. Mills can certainly belt out the operatic highs but her performance lacks some of ...

James Barr: Straight Jokes – Frog and Bucket Comedy Club

21Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

James Barr: Straight Jokes – Frog and Bucket Comedy Club

In response to being told he’s “too gay” in the workplace, podcaster James Barr delivers an hour of flippant stand-up. There are few laughs to be enjoyed here regardless of your sexuality. Some of the jokes do land, but setbacks relating to delivery, stage presence and timing result in a lot of misses. The audience were supportive as Barr repeatedly forgot his place, resorting to notes on the floor to keep him on track, but this gig needs straightening out if it wants to thrive in the comedy circuit. It’s apparent that much of the material is borrowed: on the teaching of gay relationships in schools, Barr’s quip about him learning Geography but not becoming Sri-Lankan is an obvious recycling of journalist Benjamin Butterworth’s World War Two tweet that resurfaces every Pride month. &...

12Jul

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

Arcadia 87 – Salford Arts Theatre

In this Manchester Fringe Festival production in the heart of Salford, we’re transported back to an 80’s era Brighton Pier. Live a Little perform their debut show Arcadia 87. The company consisting of 5 MA graduates from The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA); 3 Brits and 2 Americans, who endeavour to create new, innovative devised theatre that connects their stories. The story sees 4 strangers brought together when a storm hits the pier: when they become locked in an arcade to hide from the rain, things move very quickly, and they find themselves spilling their deepest, darkest secrets in order to be released. The script is a bit rough around the edges, it lacks cohesion, moving rapidly through the plot whilst never giving enough to develop characters, relationsh...

Do you remember the first rhyme? – Gullivers Lounge

11Jul

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Do you remember the first rhyme? – Gullivers Lounge

There’s no shortage of fringe shows exploring how and when people find their creative outlet. At first glance, Lisa O’Hare’s one-woman show on her mid-life epiphany (it’s not a crisis), and her re-discovery of poetry, might feel like it’s covering well-trodden ground. That doesn’t make it any less valid, though. An empathetic and enigmatic performer can help an audience enjoy anew a familiar story. That’s exactly what’s achieved in Do you remember the first rhyme?. Part monologue, part poetry performance, O’Hare transitions effortlessly between prose and verse. The show might take a little while to get going but as soon as the first self-penned rhyme is performed the audience relax in the knowledge they’re in the hands of a fabulous performer of spoken word. In some ways, the show...

8Jul

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Much Ado About Nothing – Victoria Baths

For one night only, the stunning Victoria Baths in Manchester is converted into the Messina Holiday Camp, as the Time & Again Theatre Company bring their touring production of 'Much Ado About Nothing' indoors into this stunning Edwardian water palace. Substituting the location of Shakespeare's most performed comedy from 16th Century Sicily to a 1950's British seaside resort may seem incongruous, but it allows the deck chair and parasol props to be placed in an idealised fantasy world, utilising the sumptuous fabric of the building to create a convincing whole. In addition to the relocation, the company made the decision to cast some of the leading roles as female to represent the existence of same sex relationships in every period of history, even buttoned up post-war Britain. This ...

The Crisp Review LIVE – King’s Arms, Salford

6Jul

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

The Crisp Review LIVE – King’s Arms, Salford

‘The Crisp Review LIVE’ does what it says on the packet: crisp connoisseur Adam Evans brings the antics of his snack-rating vlog to a live audience for the very first time. Set up in lockdown, The Crisp Review was born out of the desire to receive free crisps in exchange for an all-encompassing video critique. Adam shares his taste-testing methods, which cover everything from texture to value for money, and have even managed to bag him some complimentary samples. The show starts out strong, with Adam’s dry wit and self-effacing humour tickling the whole room. On-stage musings are interspersed with comedic highlights from his social media channels; his disapproval of saucy branding and triangular tubes are as relatable as they are on-topic. A light-hearted yet informative Q and...