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Friday, 1 March 2024

Standing at the Sky's Edge at the Gillian Lynne Theatre REVIEW: A Perfect Tale of Hope and Connection

Standing at the Sky's Edge

Gillian Lynne Theatre

Standing at the Sky's Edge is a captivating journey that swept me off my feet and left me utterly spellbound. From the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes filled the air, I was transported into a world where every emotion felt raw and real.

The story, set across three generations, unfolds with such grace and authenticity, drawing the audience into the lives of the characters living in Sheffield's iconic Park Hill estate. Through their joys and struggles, their dreams and disappointments, I found myself rooting for each one of them as if they were old friends.

Whilst this is technically a jukebox musical, it doesn't feel clunky as is so often the case. Richard Hawley's compositions, with Tom Deering's orchestrations are a beautiful fusion of rock, folk, and soul, each melody weaving its way into the narrative to really capture the essence of the musical. The lyrics are so poetic and heartfelt, they brought tears to my eyes and chills down my spine. This is a masterfully crafted musical that is so different to other West End offerings, in all the best ways.

Set wise, Ben Stones has done a glorious job, bringing the industrial feeling of Park Hill to life, but also capturing the warmth which filled it. Mark Henderson's fantastic lighting design also contributes to this realistic feeling, with even the first scene literally brining the sunrise to life. From the bustling streets of Sheffield to the towering heights of Park Hill, every detail is so meticulously crafted that I felt like I was actually there, witnessing the story unfold before my eyes. In my opinion this is a show which needs multiple visits because there's just so much to see, every nook of the stage is filled with action and there are so many stories going on that you could watch ten times and still spot something new!

But what truly struck me was the way this musical resonated with me on a personal level. Despite never having set foot in Sheffield, I felt a deep connection to the characters and their journey. Their struggles felt familiar, their triumphs felt like my own and whilst I didn't directly relate, the emotions portrayed are so genuine and truthful, you can't help but be moved by the tales of hurt and hope.

These intense feelings are a testament to the vast ensemble cast who are outstanding in every way. Elizabeth Ayodele as Joy brings subtle but effective character growth that melds to her surroundings, whilst Samuel Jordan is every level of charming as Jimmy, both also give brilliant vocal performances, a common theme throughout the cast. Opening the show, Jonathon Bentley sets the tone for the piece and showcases his beautiful voice which equally shines during his other solo moments. Perhaps the character with the biggest arc is Harry, portrayed with such nuance and integrity by Joel Harper-Jackson. Mesmerising is a word which gets thrown around a lot but Joel's performance is utterly the embodiment of it, as he brings to life a character that feels so multi-dimensional and showcases his innate acting ability. As his loving housewife partner who slowly finds her voice, Rachael Wooding is a powerhouse, with another slow burn performance that peaks in the second act and has sniffles filling the auditorium. Laura Pitt-Pulford gives one of my favourite vocal performances of the show with 'Naked in Pitsmoor' and again, brings to life her character Poppy perfectly. Lauryn Redding is her ideal counterpart, serving some wonderful vocals, especially during the title song and also bringing some lightness amongst the heavy themes of the show. The entirety of the cast bring this world to life and they're all stars. Mention must also go to the booming bassist who growls and grounds the Act two opening number 'Standing at the Sky's Edge'.

In the end, Standing at the Sky's Edge isn't just about the music or the set design – it's about the human experience. It's about love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a reminder that no matter where we come from, we're all connected by our shared humanity.

Standing at the Sky's Edge touched me in a way that few musicals ever have. It's a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of theatre. If you have the chance to see it, don't hesitate – it's an experience you won't soon forget, and the act one opening is one of the best theatrical moments possible to see on stage right now.

★★★★★

Reviewed on Thursday 29th February 2024 by Olivia

Photo Credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}

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Thursday, 10 November 2022

From Here To Eternity, Charing Cross Theatre | Review

From Here To Eternity

Charing Cross Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 9th November 2022

★★★

Based on the novel by James Jones and the classic film adaptation, From Here to Eternity follows the soldiers of G Company in the days leading up to the Pearl Harbour attack. There are dramas, romance and social commentary galore, and this production at the Charing Cross Theatre showcases it all with stunning performances, but a mishmashmed plot.

There have been a number of musical changes from the previous London production with songs being cut and some new additions made; the first act is very plot heavy and almost feels like a play with songs as opposed to a full blown musical. However, the score (lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Stuart Brayson) definitely has some stand out moments and the consistently strong cast give their all and provide absolutely divine harmonic moments throughout.

As Prewitt the leading man, Jonathon Bentley is astounding. In a vocally and physically demanding role, he completely excels and exudes star power. As Maggio, Jonny Aimes is incredibly enjoyable to watch, showcasing his versatility, beginning as the cheeky comedian before becoming beaten down by army life and what it entails. The entire male cast are strong and this is certainly a show which thrives in its ensemble moments where everything comes together in harmony and synchronicity. The female cast is small but mighty. Desmonda Cathabel as Lorene, Eve Polycarpou as Mrs Kipfer and Carley Stenson as Karen are uniformly formidable and give some great solo and trio moments. However, as with most of the characters there's limited development to their storylines so it's difficult to really root for them. Also, most of their action is just in reaction to the men and they aren't given much agency of their own which is a shame.

This is a show which pack a lot in but it's not all successful. With such a vast number of stories going on throughout and not enough time for their background exposition, there's a distinct lack of connection which means the drama never fully hits. That being said, this is a real powerhouse of a show vocally and is worth seeing for the sheer talent on display.

Another great aspect is the combination of Adam King's lighting and Stewart J Charlesworth's set design which work in unison to create a very cinematic feeling production. There are some visually striking moments and the small space of the theatre is used to its full potential. Cressida Carré's choreography also fits well and is perfectly sharp and clean.

From Here to Eternity has some faults but is ultimately a show which delivers oomph thanks to its completely committed cast. The story is a bit all over the place but the moments which hit, really do so well and it's great to see a much loved British musical back on stage.

photo credit: Mark Senior

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Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Mamma Mia! The Party Extends Booking to October 2022

Mamma Mia! The Party, London’s premier dining experience, has extended its booking period due to extraordinary demand and is now playing to Sunday 2 October 2022. Tickets for the new booking period at The O2 London are now on sale.

Created by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! The Party is a unique and magical experience in a class of its own, bringing all your favourite hits to life more vividly than ever before: over the course of four glittering hours, guests can immerse themselves in a spectacular musical extravaganza, a four-course Greek feast and an ABBA disco, all in one unforgettable evening of dancing, dining and singing!

Food is at the heart of the experience and a new menu has been created that collects the finest Greece has to offer, made from the best, freshest ingredients. Our guests will be served with a traditional meze followed by the iconic Greek salad of fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumber and feta. For the main course, confit lamb shoulder and slow-cooked beef are served with roasted garlic potatoes, courgettes peperonata, romesco and aromatic jus. For our vegetarian and vegan guests, we present roasted cauliflower with a lemon-herb dressing and stuffed tomato with lentil ragout. A sumptuous Greek lemon cake served with confit orange skin and citrus yoghurt is the perfect end to this delicious meal. For our vegan guests, we are serving traditional loukoumades, delicious dough balls accompanied by a sweet fig jam.

Guests can get the ultimate Mamma Mia! The Party experience with one of our packages. The Platinum Package gives you a Tier A ticket in a prime location, a meet & greet and photo opportunity with members of the cast, champagne on arrival, half a bottle of wine and a Mamma Mia! The Party merchandise party pack. Guests can also upgrade their existing booking by adding the VIP upgrade package taking their experience to the next level with champagne on arrival, half a bottle of wine and a Mamma Mia! The Party merchandise party pack.

The London cast includes Fed Zanni as Nikos, Steph Parry as Kate, Linda John Pierre as Debbie, AJ Bentley as Adam, Julia Imbach as Kostantina, Allie Ho Chee as Bella, Kimberly Powell as Nina, Dawn Spence as Grandma and Gregor Stewart as Fernando. Also in the cast are Oscar Balmaseda, Jonathon Bentley, Molly Cleere and Jessica Spalis. The musicians are John Donovan, Luke Higgins, Kathryn Tindall, Steve Rushton and Mark Pusey.

Mamma Mia! The Party is set in a taverna on the beautiful Greek island of Skopelos, where most exteriors of the first Mamma Mia! film were shot. Nikos and his wife Kate run this exotic and wonderful restaurant together with their family and friends. Told through dialogue and timeless ABBA songs, a warm, romantic and funny story evolves and unfolds during the evening, taking place around the guests as they sit at their tables enjoying a gourmet Greek meal. The evening ends with a 1970s disco, where audience members are welcome to stay to sing and dance to ABBA recordings.

Mamma Mia! The Party has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), and a story by Calle Norlén, Roine Söderlundh and Björn Ulvaeus, with the English book by writer, comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig.

The London version of Mamma Mia! The Party, which originally opened in Stockholm in January 2016, is co-directed and choreographed by Stacey Haynes and Roine Söderlundh, with set designed by Bengt Fröderberg, lighting designed by Patrick Woodroffe, sound designed by Gareth Owen, costumes designed by Annsofi Nyberg, music supervision by Robin Svensson and casting by David Grindrod for Grindrod Burton Associates.

Mamma Mia! The Party is executively produced by Björn Ulvaeus and produced by Sally Davies for U-Live.

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