Wednesday 14 March 2018
The Sound of Music, Palace Theatre | Review
The Sound of Music (UK Tour)
Palace Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 13th March 2018 by Becca Cromwell
★★★
The Bill Kenwright production of The Sound of Music has embarked on another UK tour, but this time with Lucy O’Byrne and Neil McDermott at the helm. Based on the 1959 Rogers and Hammerstein musical of the same name, the film became one of the highest grossing films of all time.
The well-loved story shows Maria Rainer, a young Postulant at the Nonnberg Abbey who is sent to be the Governess for the Von Trapp Family after not fitting in at the Abbey. It is there that she meets Captain Georg von Trapp and his seven children Liesl, Friedrich, Luisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretel. During her time as Governess, the Anschluss begins where the Germans invade Austria, and the second act of the show depicts the struggles and changing moods during this time.
Lucy O’Byrne is known for becoming runner up on ITV’s The Voice in 2015 and landed the role of Maria in the previous UK tour of this production. Since then, O’Byrne has gone on to play Fantine in Les Miserables in the West End, and has now thrown herself back into the iconic role of Maria von Trapp for the 2017/2018 UK Tour. Originally played by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film, she has big boots to fill. The vocals were impressive and her portrayal of Maria was fantastic. It was well acted and believable.
Neil McDermott plays the Naval Captain Georg von Trapp, who after the death of his wife lost touch with his children. McDermott is known for playing Ryan Malloy in BBC’s Eastenders, amongst many other theatre roles. With a strong voice, McDermott gave a fantastic performance.
A stand out however, was Megan Llewellyn as the Mother Abbess. Her voice was absolutely astounding. Even though she does not make too many appearances in the show as the Reverend Mother, you certainly knew about it when she did.
The child cast were superb, providing incredible vocals for their ages. They were true professionals from the beginning through to the end and I hope to see them go far in their careers. The rest of the company all gave very good performances, leading to a fantastic performance of the show.
I was pleasantly surprised with the production, and it deserved a bigger audience than the one it got. I would recommend seeing this when it comes to a theatre near you in the future, as it is a highly enjoyable family show.
The Sound of Music UK Tour unfortunately comes to an end this week; however I hope to see it tour the UK again in the next few years.
Birdsong (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Birdsong (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 13th March 2018 by Steve Willox
★★★★
This excellent performance warranted a viewing full house, however this was not to be, with only approx 150 seats occupied at Birdsong's opening in Woking.
Rachel Wagstaff has cleverly adapted Sebastian Faulks' novel Birdsong into a thought provoking play. The play takes place mainly on the Western Front in France during World War I (1916 - 1918) but intertwines back to 1910 in Amiens where we meet Stephen Wraysford before his involvement in the war.
A well designed set allowed for the easy movement from 1910 to World War 1 to pass effortlessly. Enabling us to see, through flashbacks, Stephen's memories of the love of his life, Isabelle. Low lighting gave a feeling of life in the trenches and also highlighted when there was an explosive moment of gun fire and shells.
A small but skilful cast, playing many different roles, brought Faulks's novel to the stage in an emotional and moving way. Tim Treloar gives a soul-stirring performance as Jack Firebrace; eager and intense when rallying his mates whilst tunnelling under enemy lines, but sad and emotional at the death of his son. The rest of the cast were also adept at bringing this moving and evocative novel to the stage.
Whilst initially this may not have been our first choice of theatre viewing we are so very glad that we went. A beautiful love story, inter weaved with the horrors of war. We would thoroughly recommend this production of Birdsong.
Birdsong runs at the New Victoria Theatre until March 17th before continuing it's tour.
Tuesday 13 March 2018
Hairspray (UK Tour), Edinburgh Playhouse | Review
Hairspray (UK Tour)
Edinburgh Playhouse
Reviewed on Monday 12th March 2018 by Michèle Duck & Viv Conway
★★★★★
The funny, daring and radical story of Hairspray truly dances to its own beat. After the last curtain fell at the Edinburgh Playhouse, the residue of hope of change was left in the air. Mark Goucher, Matthew Gale and Laurence Myers present the story of Hairspray with an exceptional cast and orchestra, based on the New Line Cinema film by John Waters.
The musical tells the story of racial segregation in America and the fight for racial equality. From mentions of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, the audience are reminded of a struggle that although portrayed as historic, is still relevant today all over the world. The story of bravery, friendship and ‘doing what is right’, is told in a charming and compelling manner through the lyrics of Scott Whittman and Marc Shaiman. The story is told through the bright, naïve eyes of Tracy Turnblad and her passion for dancing. As Tracy’s understanding of herself and world widens, her ambition grows into a galvanising desire for change.
It is hard to know where to start with such a talented and energetic cast. Every cast member brought life and vitality to the performance and executed the complex choreography with vigour, precision and enjoyment in equal measure.
A particularly captivating and poignant performance from Motormough Maybelle (Brenda Edwards) in I Know Where I’ve Been, caused the audience to tangibly hold a collective breath. Her words wove a story of segregation which although targeted to the 1960s, still rings true in the current global climate. This song tells a heartfelt story of loss and struggle and the promise of a better life. One wonders when we may truly get to the ‘Promised Land’ that Martin Luther King described in his speech the day before he was assassinated.
Edna and Wilbur Turnblad (Matt Rixton and Norman Pace) were a down to earth, honest and side-splitting double act, which really brought life and humour to the show. Whether forgetting their lines was intentional or not, their realistic and relaxed roles bounced (literally) off each other in a light-hearted and warm rendition of You’re Timeless to Me.
Annalise Liard-Bailey brilliantly executed her goofy portrayal of the ‘best-friend’, Penny Pingleton with perfect mix of humour, talent and relatableness. Laird-Bailey is one to watch.
However, the stand out performance of the show came from Seaweed (Layton Williams). Williams brought his character to life, and before the audience knew it, Seaweed became the leading man. Between his back flips, his energetic and sensual rendition of Run and Tell That, William’s raw talent and clear love of musical theatre shone though, infecting the audience with his energy. This leading role take-over was very appropriate considering the shows storyline of the journey to equality.
Overall, the 2018 cast of Hairspray tells a family friendly and warm hearted story. Through its upbeat songs (who doesn’t love a singalong encore), the audience are left with the important underlying message of standing up for what you believe is right, no matter your size. After all, all that really matters is the size of your heart.
Hairspray runs at the Edinburgh Playhouse until March 17th before continuing it's tour.
photo credit: Darren Bell
Thursday 8 March 2018
Good Girl, Trafalgar Studios | Review
Good Girl
Trafalgar Studios
Reviewed on Wednesday 7th March 2018 by Shaun Dicks
★★★★★
I have always had a soft spot for one person shows. I believe that it takes such skill to carry a full show on a singular pair of shoulders. Today, on International Women’s Day, I am writing about the one woman show, Good Girl. This show is everything society should be. We follow the story of GG from her informative years in the 90’s all the way into her early 30’s in 2018. We follow GG as she discovers her body, emotions and the primitive nature of humanity. This show is an uncompromising and honest story of a woman finding her way, wading through the darkness without a torch.
The show is written and performed by Naomi Sheldon. Sheldon is a star. She is hilarious, honest and real. Her storytelling is so in depth and vivid, from her use of accents (which were perfection) to her clearly defined multiple characters, who she transitioned between seamlessly. What really strikes me in Sheldon’s work is her vulnerability, she is unafraid to show real and ugly emotions, it's truly beautiful. She says what everyone else is afraid to say when it comes to emotions and expression.
In contrast to the catalogue of emotional expression, the show is gut-bustlingly funny. The script is littered with many a hilarious scenario and joke. Multiple times I cried with laughter. Sheldon uses music, physical theatre, accents and the wonderful words to tell a beautiful, and necessary story. In the world of theatre, which is a world of imitating reality, Naomi Sheldon’s show is the closest you will get to real.
This show is so beautiful. It is honest and real. It is essential viewing for every woman in the world, but also every man. It gives an understanding to the human condition when it comes to emotions and discovery. The show is relatable whether you’re a man or a woman.
Naomi Sheldon is an incredibly talented human being, an intelligent writer and actress, but also a very honest woman. From her alternative poster in the programme, where she shared hostile reactions about the show, to the plethora of emotions in the show; this show and Sheldon’s talents deserve to be recognised. I hope this show has life past its current run because everyone needs to see this.
Good Girl runs at Trafalgar Studios until March 31st
photo credit: Felicity Crawshaw
Wednesday 7 March 2018
Macbeth, National Theatre | Review
Macbeth
Olivier Theatre, National Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 6th March 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★
I've seen and studied a fair few Shakespeare plays but I wouldn't say I'm an expert in any form. I do however, know what I like when going to the theatre and recognise brilliant acting when I see it. The National Theatre's current production of Macbeth does have brilliant acting but overall it just didn't do it for me.
Walking into the wonderful Olivier theatre we are greeted with an almost bare stage, there are four poles with ragged, witchy fabric attached to the top; in the centre there is a sloped wooden platform decorated with severed limbs from plastic baby toys. Rae Smith's minimalistic set works well with the sparse life of the characters within the show; with them all (including Duncan and Macbeth) looking as though they're on the poverty line in muddy, battered clothes.
Rory Kinnear is thoughtful and suitably plagued as Macbeth; his small comedic moments are particularly enjoyable and he proves why he's such an esteemed actor.
The choice to make Alana Ramsey's Murderer a fishnet tights-clad alcoholic is a great one and she works very well to show the extents which people will go to when they feel they have nothing, just to get their fix or some quick cash.
Trevor Fox's alcoholic Porter is like a ghost moving around, silently hearing all the secrets he shouldn't know. It's refreshing to see him as a more serious, important character rather than mainly being onstage for comedic relief. This darker side emphasises him as the metaphor for the gates of hell, something which I feel is often missed in productions of Macbeth.
It's Anne-Marie Duff who steals the show as Lady Macbeth. Every movement is clearly well thought out and her transition from the headstrong wife who lacks humanity to the crumbling woman plagued by ghosts is striking.
I didn't find anything specifically wrong with this production, I just didn't really feel, well, anything. It's not scary, it's not particularly gory, it's not emotional and it's not funny, it's just a bit uninspiring. There are elements which have brought Shakespeare's play into the modern world but the emotions didn't translate for a modern audience... at least for me.
If you're a Shakespeare fan then there's no reason why you shouldn't go and judge Rufus Norris' Macbeth for yourself but if not then I wouldn't rush along, as I don't think this is the production to make you a fan.
Macbeth runs at the National Theatre until June 23rd and will be broadcast live to cinemas worldwide on May 10th as part of NT Live.
photo credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg
Cilla (UK Tour), Storyhouse | Review
Cilla (UK Tour)
Storyhouse
Reviewed on Tuesday 6th March 2018 by Becca Cromwell
★★★★
Based on both a real-life story and Jeff Pope’s Bafta Award Winning ITV drama, Cilla the Musical brings to life the story of Priscilla White, a teenage girl from Liverpool whose dreams turned to reality as she became one of the most loved Stars of the 1960s and most popular entertainers of all time. Cilla began her career in 1963 and had a career in both Music and Television which spanned five decades; including shows such as Surprise Surprise and Blind Date.
The musical score, written by Scott Alder incorporates both Cilla’s best loved songs and other well-known hits from the sixties well. You can expect to hear a majority of the songs that everyone remembers from the sixties, including Anyone Who Had A Heart and You’re My World, alongside The Beatles’ Twist and Shout and Martha and the Vandellas’ 1964 hit Dancing In The Street.
Kara Lily Hayworth, who landed the role through success at rigorous open auditions, plays the role of hopeful starlet Priscilla White whose life changes massively once introduced to Brian Epstein. It is no wonder that Hayworth bagged the role, as her portrayal of Cilla was astounding. Cilla herself would be proud. The vocals were extremely impressive and although not from Liverpool, Hayworth really did the accent justice.
Personal Assistant turned boyfriend Bobby, played by Carl Au, brought plenty of drama to the production. With a strong voice and solid acting, the character was portrayed excellently. With charm and wit, Au shone throughout the show.
Brian Epstein, played by Andrew Lancel, was executed fantastically. The character’s tragic tale was intertwined with the main plot of the show, and worked well. The audience connected with Lancel well and he received loud applause at the curtain call.
The ensemble and supporting characters all gave good performances, with Pauline Fleming and Neil MacDonald standing out in the comedy roles as Cilla’s Parents.
The first act of the show feels more like a concert than a musical theatre production, as it is done in a style that almost breaks the fourth wall, different to anything I have seen in a while. Set mostly in the Cavern Club in Liverpool, Cilla embarks on her journey from teenage starlet to national treasure.
During the second act, there are significantly more numbers which make it feel like a musical theatre production, rather than a concert. However there were a few set mishaps, with one of the backdrops being lowered completely down instead of pulled back up out of view and wonky tables. Set mishaps aside, the cast often had to deal with the band being louder than their microphones, which is a shame. Throughout the bigger numbers, Hayworth could hardly be heard over the live band, which can easily be remedied and make the whole experience even more enjoyable.
The UK tour of Cilla runs currently until April 21st. Grab your tickets whilst you can!
Honest Lies, Etcetera Theatre | Review
Honest Lies
Etcetera Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 6th March 2018 by Shaun Dicks
★★★★
‘Amateurs do it for fun, artists do it to live.’
This is one of many quotable moments of Honest Lies. The show is a commentary of the Theatre Industry as a whole; it’s peaks, it’s troughs and everything in-between. It tells the story of Claire and Sam, a couple, who are both actors. Claire has just delivered the performance of her life, or so she thinks. When she returns home, Sam is waiting for her, and gives a very blunt opinion of her performance. We follow their night as they fight, make up, practise Shakespeare with Gummy Bears and descend into an unexpected twist.
The script written by Christopher Walthorne is flowing, frank and prophetic. The script is really well written, containing deliciously sizzling dialogue and a very well-crafted commentary on theatre. One stunning moment of commentary was delivered by Claire played by Georgie Matthews, where she gave an unapologetic monologue about the state of female roles in modern theatre and the position of women in theatre. Matthews lets the words out with a passion that is second to none; she was saying what every woman in theatre wish they could say. Matthews delivers a well-rounded performance, with a fully fleshed out and realised character.
Sam, played by Alexander Jeremy was another wonderful performance, giving a scathing but humorous character who is a contradiction in himself. His performance is well pitched and gives a good contrast in energies in the beginning of the piece.
The Etcetera theatre is in the colourful and artistic Camden. It’s part of a great group of theatres that do a box office split, therefore supporting new and innovative new work like Honest Lies. This show has an amazing twist that surprised me in the best way possible, it is something that I have never seen before in theatre. I sincerely hope that this show has a long life ahead of it. It deserves to be seen in its limited run and taken further, onto a larger stage. If you want something different and innovative, Honest Lies is for you. Check it out and support new theatre.
Honest Lies runs at the Etcetera Theatre until March 10th
Hairspray (UK Tour), Bristol Hippodrome | Review
Hairspray (UK Tour)
Bristol Hippodrome
Reviewed on Monday 5th March 2018 by Calvin Welsford
★★★★
Hairspray has always been a show I’ve been dying to see live. I fell in love with the 2007 movie and then most recently with NBC’s tv special, Hairspray Live! starring Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Hudson and Dove Cameron, to name a few!
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high expectations of the show, because I did. Thankfully the show lived up to these; it was so amazing and a lot funnier than I’d anticipated.
I think my expectations were so high as previous cast members have been very strong and unique, such as Ariana Grande, Matthew Morrison, Harvey Fierstein and Queen Latifah. But the UK tour cast did a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to the stage and evoked the same emotions I’d previously felt and hoped for.
Max Rixton & Norman Price completely stole the show with their version of ‘You’re Timeless To Me’. A unscripted innuendo ‘I can feel your bells’ managed to have the audience and the cast laughing for several minutes. It was clear that the two actors on stage had a good connection as there were non stop innuendos and comebacks during the whole scene.
Rebecca Mendoza made an impressive professional debut as the larger-than-life, Tracy whilst Layton Williams and Edward Chitticks were fabulous as Seaweed and Link.
Although the show overall was incredible, the only thing which I personally think could be improved would be the set. During certain scenes the background is projected on a screen rather than being an actual set piece. This felt a little lacking and made the show feel slightly amateur.
However, I can’t knock the performances of the cast or the direction- everything else was 10/10. Mention must go to Drew McOnie’s choreography which perfectly fits the vibe of the show and is energetic throughout.
If you like musical theatre and especially Hairspray, I’d 100% recommend seeing the current UK Tour!
Hairspray is at the Bristol Hippodrome until 10th March, before continuing its tour.
photo credit: Darren Bell
Friday 2 March 2018
Bismillah! An Isis Tragicomedy, Vault Festival | Review
Bismillah! An Isis Tragicomedy
The Vaults
Reviewed on Thursday 1st March 2018 by Nicola Louise
★★★★
I’ve never really been a fan of shows with a single set (or no set in this case) and two people. It always seemed a bit boring (not that it was the actors fault, the writing was just not up to scratch), so when I decided to attend Bismillah! An Isis Tragicomedy I was little apprehensive.
Currently being shown as part of The Vault Festival at Waterloo, the tunnels provide the perfect setting for what is meant to be a holding cell controlled by Isis- as you walk in and take your seat there’s already something happening. A solider is tied to a pole in the middle of the stage with a bag over his head, he’s struggling and the action begins.
Bismillah, written by Matthew Grenhough -who also plays the prisoner of Isis- is a perfect mix of comedy and true horror. The IS solider played by Elliot Liburd arrives with food and water and the show starts; conversation flows between the two soldiers and they find themselves bonding over shifts at Wetherspoons and a £4.39 meal deal at the airport.
It soon becomes clear however, that Liburd’s character has some issues with himself. As he starts to lose his temper, you can see the confidence in Grenhough’s character leave his body as he suddenly becomes a terrified little boy.
Both actors performed Grenhough's thought-provoking script well, asking the questions: How well do you really know somebody? How different are we to them? Just because the news reports one thing does it make it true?
Never before have I been gripped so much in 75 minutes watching a conversation between two people than I have seeing this show. As this show was first staged in 2015 a few things are a little out dated but still work. Even the over use of pop culture but that’s what makes this show what it is.
Bismillah! An Isis Tragicomedy is currently showing at the Vault Festival until the 4th March 2018. Get your tickets quick.
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