Tuesday, 12 February 2019
Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour), New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 11th February 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
A Transylvanian delight, Rocky Horror will have you laughing in delight and dancing in your seat from the moment it begins in all its sparkly, transsexual glory.
Newly engaged couple Janet and Brad find them selves heading to an old castle when their car breaks down in the middle of a storm. There they meet Transylvania Transvestite Frank N Furter and his amazing and adoring entourage.
Rocky Horror brings a whole range of people to the theatre and everyone is welcome. Between those in full costumes and those in their normal everyday clothes, one thing is common: everyone is excited for a high energy night out. A whole range of ages and types of people clearly love this show and the smiles on everyones faces as they leave the theatre is a reminder of just how wonderful theatre can be, especially in trying times.
The show opens with a bang as the band bring the score to life (led by George Carter) and Laura Harrison as the cinema usher belts the opening number, Science Fiction/Double Feature, to rapturous applause. Laura is also fantastic as Magenta as she slinkily makes her way round the stage throughout and leads the Time Warp with high energy and oomph. Fellow slaves, Miracle Chance (Columbia) and Kristian Lavercombe (Riff Raff) also provide stellar, well characterised performances.
As Frank N Furter, Stephen Webb absolutely commands the stage. He struts around like he owns the theatre and everyone on it as as he embodies sass and sex as well as providing killer vocals.
As naïve lovebirds, Joanne Clifton (Janet) and Ben Adams (Brad) are well cast as they deliver engaging and suitably wide-eyed performances. The pair work very well with each other and bring this wacky story to life with fun and energy.
Making his theatrical debut, Dom Joly as the narrator is wonderful as he steers us through the highly chaotic tale with charisma and natural charm. Responding to the audience and adding in 'local humour' makes the piece just that bit more entertaining.
Nick Richings' lighting brings vibrance to every part of the stage and he does an outstanding job of being over the top without being unnecessary. Sue Blane's costumes are suitably glittery and indulgent, whilst, Nathan M Wright's choreography delivers punch after punch to accompany the high octane score.
Christopher Luscombe has directed a highly fun production with just enough space for audience interaction and all the ups and downs we expect from Rocky Horror. Whether you've seen the show before, or are a new viewer, there's no reason for you to dislike this wildly entertaining musical.
Rocky Horror runs at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 16th February before continuing its tour
Saturday, 9 February 2019
Friday Night is Music Night, Queen Elizabeth Hall | Review
Friday Night is Music Night: Live From The Queen Elizabeth Hall (Concert)
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Reviewed on Friday 8th February 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
The iconic Friday Night is Music Night, led by Ken Bruce took over the recently refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall last night for an eclectic 2 hours of outstandingly virtuosic performances. From Shostakovich to Barry Manilow there was something for everyone and whether you were in the room or listening on the radio, you surely had a fantastic night.
The ever wonderful BBC Concert Orchestra showcased their impressive ensemble work as they performed a variety of pieces, including highlights from West Side Story and Jurassic Park. Under the baton of Bramwell Tovey, the orchestra created magic that filled the space of Queen Elizabeth Hall with power whilst, also bringing moments of tranquility to the auditorium. A contrast, which listening back to the radio broadcast, transferred very well indeed.
Also part of the proceedings was supremely talented cornet player, Thomas Nielson who was awarded the 2018 BBC Young Brass Award. With the talent and stage presence of someone much older, Thomas showed just how versatile the cornet can be with his renditions of Napoli and Someone to Watch Over Me. With highly impressive breath control, a wonderful aura and bucket loads of talent, there's no doubt that Thomas will be highly successful in the music scene.
Gary Wilmott and Sarah Fox contributed even more beautiful performances. Gary opened with the tongue-twister Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man which showed his impressive linguistic skills. Wilmott's strong vocals were showcased more in Billy's Soliloquy (Carousel) which built to a powerful and emotive ending that had the audience in instantaneous applause. Song To The Moon was the perfect piece to highlight Sarah's strong soprano voice and provided a lovely contrast to the other pieces in the programme. Cleverly transitioning from a story which inspired a Disney film, to a Mary Poppin's number from a Disney film, the night flowed very well and shone light on the versatility of all the performers.
Joyous performances made for a really magical and highly entertaining night at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Although for most people, every night is music night, there's something special about being part of such an iconic BBC feature; and when it's as well performed as last night, you can't really go wrong.
Friday Night is Music Night is available for catch up here
The Bodyguard (UK & Ireland Tour), Grand Opera House, Belfast | Review
The Bodyguard (UK & Ireland Tour)
Grand Opera House
Reviewed on Wednesday 6th February 2019 by Damien Murray
★★★★
Literally starting with a bang… before Karen Bruce’s super-charged choreography ensured that its fiery opening number set the quality bar high for the remainder of the show, this latest touring production of the ever popular musical is another winner.
This romantic thriller, peppered with some of the best of Whitney Houston’s hits, is back in town for its third sell-out run in recent years … and it is easy to see why.
Offering the right balance of romance, suspense, dance, humour and music, this award-winning musical based on Lawrence Kasdan’s blockbuster film, which starred Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, gives audiences everything they want wrapped up in a quality-filled ‘night out’ to keep them coming back for more.
For those who are unfamiliar with the successful film, the story centres around singing superstar and budding film star, Rachel Marron, and her changing relationship with personal bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who has been hired by her manager to protect her after a series of threatening notes have been found.
Many people go to this show only to hear the music as the plot has been criticised for being too far-fetched, but, sadly, stars with stalkers of some degree or another are more common than one might think.
As someone who was once involved in protecting a performer from a stalker, I could really identify with the storyline here (although my experience was without the romantic elements of this piece!).
Played out on Tim Hatley’s clever and ever-changing sliding-door set, which not only aided the seamless flow of the show but also reinforced the ever-changing situation of the gripping story-line, this was a well-paced production, which made effective use of projections.
Yet again, the star of this show was former X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, in the role of the controlling diva-style star, Rachel Marron, and – having recently performed in such musicals as Sister Act, Chess and Chicago and having been so successful in television’s Strictly Come Dancing – it was an even more confident and experienced performer this time that filled both Marron’s shoes and the auditorium with great vocals in Houston’s many hits.
Playing opposite Burke as her equally controlling, bodyguard, Frank Farmer, Benoit Marechal was a much calmer and more controlled character who took his job very seriously. So, the karaoke scene was nice in that it showed a different side of his character while providing a degree of humour to lighten the mood of the piece.
Although I didn’t get any sense of fear from Phil Atkinson’s chilling character in his early appearances (maybe due to his direction), the sinister stares of the stalker became appropriately more threatening and unsettling as the show progressed and Atkinson developed into a truly menacing stalker, especially when he rose from the orchestra pit in his final scene.
Resentful of her life playing second-fiddle in the shadow of her successful sister, Micha Richardson was impressive as the talented, but jealous, sister, Nicki; her vocal talent getting a solo chance to shine in Saving All My Love For You.
Musical director, Michael Riley, and his eight-piece orchestra did wonders in supplying such a big and full sound for the varied score of power ballads and up-tempo dance numbers, while Mark Henderson’s versatile lighting designs complemented all aspects of the production, and both combined – especially Riley’s perfect incidental music and Henderson’s wonderful use of white light effects – to heighten tension and suspense at appropriate moments of the show.
Thea Sharrock’s direction was also spot-on throughout, but particularly in emphasising these elements of what is, after all, a thriller. A good example of this was the use of slow motion and freeze action in the club scene and at the awards ceremony.
What surprises me is that, despite being one of the few who do not even like the music of Whitney Houston (really!), this is my third time seeing this show … and, thanks to high production values and talented performances, my third time enjoying the productions.
Musical highlights included: I’m Every Woman and How Will I Know?, while the defining moment in the story was captured during One Moment In Time and Burke’s perfectly staged finale song, the emotionally-charged rendition of I Will Always Love You, proved to be the undoubted show-stopper ahead of the full company mega mix encore.
Overall, power ballads combined with powerhouse performances and strong choreography to make this a truly powerful production.
The Bodyguard runs at the Grand Opera house until 16th February 2019
photo credit: Paul Coltas
Friday, 8 February 2019
Anthropocene, Hackney Empire | Review
Anthropocene
Hackney Empire
Reviewed on Thursday 7th February 2019 by Lucy Jardine
★★★
Anthropocene opened at the Hackney Empire on Thursday 7th February. After some considerable hype and therefore a sense of anticipation, I found myself scratching my head and, frankly, was left with a sense of disappointment.
Anthropocene is the story of an arctic expedition, with various set-piece characters: the journalist out to get his story, the pompous funder of the expedition and his wife, his daughter and her love interest (who is murdered) thrown in for good measure.... The story centres around the discovery, by the expedition team, of an ethereal being trapped in ice, who proves to be alive once the ice is hacked away. Jennifer France, who plays 'ice', was the star of the show. Her high soprano matched the other-worldly nature of the character she played; it was a joy to listen to her.
As for the score, well, call me old-fashioned, but I like a bit of a melody. There was none, and nothing to latch on to. The most exciting parts were when all three female leads sang together, creating the only too brief and infrequent magical moment.
The set itself was fairly sparse - some white drapes, a white ladder or two and some odd-looking red shapes at front stage left and front stage right - it took me nearly up to the interval to realise that they were meant to represent the outline of the ship and that we were therefore supposed to be inside it.
All in all, I'd say if you're in the neighbourhood, do pop along, but don't go out of your way.
Anthropocene runs at the Hackney Empire until 9th February 2019
photo credit: James Glossop
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
Avenue Q (UK Tour), New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
Avenue Q (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 5th February 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★
The puppets are back in one of the naughtiest and funniest musicals around, and they will make you laugh, cringe, gasp and howl as they make their way round the UK.
Avenue Q is set in New York and follows English graduate Princeton as he moves into the city alone with the ambition of finding his purpose. On this journey of discovery, he meets his neighbour Kate Monster and a whole host of highly unique characters who teach him life lessons through ridiculously catchy and OTT songs. Princeton realises how important love and friends are as well as how enjoying the moment is crucial in life.
Lawrence Smith, Cecily Redman, Tom Steedon, Saoiri Oda and Oliver Stanley lead the small cast, alongside Megan Armstrong, Nicholas Mclean, Jasmine Beel, Ellis Dackombe, Chloe Gentles and Robbie Noonan. Each company member is outstanding and they provide an amazing ensemble performance that is strangely realistic in this wacky world of Avenue Q.
Special mention must go to Cecily Redman as Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut (yes, really) who is utterly wonderful. Cecily has one of the most beautiful tones and clearest voices I've ever heard and it was a real treat to see her perform in such a technically strong and well thought out way.
Cressida Carré has directed this show with a gentle hand and really lets the songs and characters shine. From the simple but highly effective set design (Richard Evans) to the powerful lighting (Charlie Morgan Jones) and fantastically designed puppets (Paul Jomain) everything has been so well put together and makes the whole show feel extremely cohesive.
So much of this production is highly memorable and the entire cast and crew have done a fantastic job in engaging the audience through the fantastic show and contemporary themes. This is a show which instills joy and celebrates amazing performers. If you miss out on this show, it'll really "suck to be you"!
Avenue Q is at the New Wimbledon Theatre until February 9th before continuing it's tour around the country.
*production photos are of previous Avenue Q tour*
*production photos are of previous Avenue Q tour*
Monday, 4 February 2019
MT Fest UK, The Other Palace | Press Launch
Brainchild of Paul Taylor-Mills, MT Fest, opens at The Other Palace in one week's time and is set to provide a host of new and exciting theatrical events. Last week saw the launch of the festival in The Other Palace Studio and featured special performances from Luke Bayer, Evelyn Hoskins and Sooz Kempner.
When introducing the festival, Paul explained how he's always wanted to put an event like this on because of the large amount of work he gets sent that doesn't get the chance to be showcased. He told us how many pieces don't lack quality, but can't be developed because there is a "lack of resource and audience appetite"; and how this festival is his way of showcasing hidden gems in musical theatre and allowing composers, writers etc... to be seen by not only a paying audience, but industry professionals who can help them develop their work in the future.
He also reminded us that no one knows what makes a successful musical (and if they say they do, they're lying.) So this whole showcase of musicals is an exploration and adventure to see what works in front of an audience and what doesn't.
The two week event is structured so there's something to see at all times of day, including:
- The Taster Menu: the main event for showcasing new musicals. Eight semi-staged shows lasting 45 minutes each. Information about the shows and tickets can be found here
- BEAM Brunches: Shining a light on some of the most talented up and coming musical theatre songwriters. Full listings can be found here
- Tea for Two: Frank and inspirational afternoon chats with some of the most celebrated people in musical theatre. Including chats about choreographing a musical, the do's and don'ts for auditions and how theatre criticism is changing. Full listings can be found here
- Night Caps: Informal late night concerts with some of the top musical theatre performers. Paul told us he's also asked the performers to add in a song or two which hints at their next career move which is exciting. To see the performers and book tickets, click here
Evelyn Hoskins described the festival as a "pick n mix of new work" and it certainly seems like there's going to be something for everyone to discover so why not immerse yourself in theatre and attend this event!
MT Fest UK runs from 11th-23rd February 2019. Tickets are available online or from the box office at The Other Palace.
post by Olivia Mitchell
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