Joe Simmons Archives - North West End UK

The hit 1984 film ‘The Karate Kid’ has marched into the Sheffield Lyceum, now reimagined as an action-packed musical production (from the book written by Robert Mark Kamen and composed by Drew Gasparini). The cast of this musical are ridiculously talented, and it makes for a deeply enjoyable watch. The show follows teenager Daniel Larusso, who moves to Southern California with his single mother Lucille. He finds himself the target of bullying at the hands of the Cobra Kai dojo, particularly Johnny Lawrence, which only derails after he falls for Ali Mills, Lawrence’s ex-girlfriend. After befriending his local maintenance man Mr. Miyagi, who is secretly a martial arts master, Larusso trains under his new sensei’s watchful eye to fight the Cobra Kai at a karate competition. Walking into...

Although an avid movie-goer, the 1999 cinema release of Cruel Intentions, passed me by, so when the musical of the same name came to the Hull New Theatre, I had no clue of what to expect. The theatre was filled far from capacity on Tuesday evening, which was a shame, but those of us who did attend were in for a treat. The many trigger warnings in the press release hinted at themes that may upset some folk, and although “explicit sexual language and behaviour, racial discrimination and drug usage” did raise their ugly heads, I can honestly say they didn’t overshadow proceedings, meaning such events came and went and then we were on to the next scene. That’s not to minimise such gross deeds, but they were so cleverly interwoven as to seem unimportant, if that makes sense. Based o...

Tag: Joe Simmons

The Karate Kid – The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

Cruel Intentions The ‘90s Musical – Hull New Theatre