Mike Jones Archives - North West End UK

12Jun

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

The 39 Steps – Gladstone Theatre

For their final instalment of their centenary season, Bebington Dramatic Society have brought the hilarious The 39 Steps to the Gladstone theatre and what a treat it is. Originating as a novel in 1915, it then inspired the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, which in turn was turned in to a play. The set, to start, is rather bare, with a covered chair, a table with a few props on, a window and 2 step ladders at the back providing the set up for the play and with clever use of different pieces such as a lamppost, a door and numerous suitcases, we are transported through many scenes from the theatre, a train, to a hotel room and everything in between. The story follows Richard Hannay (Richard Dodd) as he goes on the run after being falsely accused of murdering Annabella Schmidt (Danielle Jones...

Billy Liar – Gladstone Theatre

BDS’s latest production of Billy Liar is a great night out. Director Adam Comer presents a super cast, who bring Waterhouse and Hall’s hit play and film from the 1960’s to life. It still has humour and appeal as a northern working-class classic of its time, even if perhaps a few references are a little dated, which could have easily been cut for contemporary audiences, without losing any flavour of the period. Billy Fisher tells lies which get him into hot water. His wild imagination and storytelling mean his exasperated family don’t believe a word he says and the three young ladies in his life are all being led a merry dance. In the title role, Danny Myers, making his DBS debut, shines as Billy. His natural exuberance and energy was there from the first moment. His cheekin...

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable new musical:…. and Helen – Brighton Fringe

‘Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable new musical:…. and Helen’, was performed as part of 2021’s Brighton Fringe. Performed by the Coily Dart Theatre Company, written by Susan Ellerby and co-directed by both Ellerby and Norman Hockley, this was presented as an audio- show. The story centres on Helen Carte (Catherine Tuckey) and her role that is largely undocumented within the Gilbert and Sullivan Company. With references to several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, it relays the story of Helens life with the company (with assistance from the internet and equally the imagination) and begins from the time she left school in 1867. Rather unusually for a woman in the Victorian period she was well educated and appeared to be the backbone of the Gilbert and Sullivan success. It is an extremely enj...