"Oliver" by Erewash Musical Society Youth Group

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton

Everyone loves "Oliver", the musical by Lionel Bart, and that showed from the rapturous show of appreciation throughout, and at the end of the show at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton.

Several local theatre stalwarts joined with many newcomers to the stage to present an energetic and enthusiastic version of the musical that made musical stars of Harry Secombe, Ron Moody, Jack Wild and Mark Lester.

It's the story of the orphan boy Oliver who is sold to work at a funeral parlour after daring to ask for "more" food, glorious food at the workhouse ran by the bullying Mr Bumble. He falls in with a bad crowd of pick pockets, ran by Fagin, and mentored by Jack, aka The Artful Dodger.

The lead role was played tentatively by Joe Langley, just the way Lester played it in the film, and it was quite touching when he delivered songs like "Where Is Love", his voice cracking in all the right bits.

Tom Judson (Dodger) is a newcomer to me but was just right for the part. Cheeky confident, cocky, all the usual adjectives were there in abundance and a really cock sure vocal delivery of "I'd Do Anything". His vocals were constantly good.

Fagin was played by Dylan Singfield, and as far as I can remember another new name to me. While there were moments when the accent strayed slightly, Dylan pulled this role off well. Let's face it when you're being compared to Moody, Robert Lindsay and Bradley Walsh, among many brilliant actors who've taken on the role, you're up against it, but for his age, he did a fine job.

I loved Lewis Haycock as Bill Sykes. he was bullying, overbearing, frightening and managed to get the audience really hating his character, especially when he continuously abused Nancy (Katie Lawson), by tossing her to the floor on several occasions.

Katie, on the other hand, really had the audience eating out of her hand with her lovely and emotional renditions of "As Long As He Needs Me".

For me, the highlights, or should I say one of many, were Mr Bumble and Widow Corney with their comic scenes. Hayden Fletcher, who gets better (and taller), every time I see him and his voice, as I've said in past reviews gets ever the more stronger. He has a natural flair for comedy and at times reminiscent of the old "Carry On" films in his vignettes.

And to be a successful comedy pairing, you have to have a foil, and Ellie Simmonds was Hayden's foil, nay partner in comedic crime. their wonderful working of "I Shall Scream" was just heaven.

A great ensemble who created a wonderful sound in songs like "Food Glorious Food" and the joyous "Oom Pah Pah" and the choreography was spot on, especially with having such a large cast on a small(ish) stage. A great piece of work by Carol Lawson.

The eight piece orchestra never sounded sweeter and this time round under the musical direction of the ridiculously talented Mitch 'Gambon' Gamble. I must mention the beautiful violin work of Karen Eveson, especially in the song "Reviewing The Situation".

A wonderful multi functioning set created space for the dance and choreographed scenes folded and unfolded into the several scenes for the musical with ease and didn't distract from the action. well stage managed by Mark Robbins.

I have a feeling that you'll be very lucky to get tickets for the shows up to Saturday night when the show closes, because Thursday was sold out to the max and I have it on good authority that Friday, Saturday afternoon and evening are the same way. And I can see why!

It is brilliant to see such support for local amateur theatre and Long Eaton has a reputation for getting behind their local theatre and supporting such wonderful shows such as this, and I class myself very lucky to also be able to experience this level of talent.

"Oliver" is being performed at the Duchess Theatre at Long Eaton until Saturday 11 July 2015

"THIS PLACE"

Emerging Perspectives Company

Three short plays performed at Bonington Theatre which have an interesting thread that links the three, well there are several threads but I particularly like the relationship aspect of the three because all three are so different.

"Bonemill", written by Alison Dunne, is about Riley and Viv, Viv being the elder of the two and Riley has been landed in Viv's care due to the death of her Grandma. To start with Riley doesn't click with her elderly ward but after an education in what life was like, and when she thinks that she has lost Viv for good, Riley's true feelings emerge.

"Bonner Mox", written by Imogen joyce, is about the unlikely relationship between Wreck, a young girl whose father is involved in the 80's miner's strike, and likes school but discovers that her favourite teacher is leaving, and a fox, called Mox. She feels that everyone who she cares about is leaving her when she befriends a starving fox who manages to turn her life around and stops her from ending it all. there are subtle similarities between Mox's existence and Wreck's life, which creates a lovely parallel between the two.

"Notts Sweet Home" by Saraa Rain, is about a family who have reunited after seven years when a father who had to leave one of his daughters with their paternal Grandmother, but after she dies, the daughter, Gabrielle, travels up to Nottingham to live with her sister, Grace and their dad. Again there's that difficult start to the relationship which softens with knowledge learned, culminating in quite an emotional father/daughter sing along and dance to their Grandmother's favourite song, Ben E King's "Stand By Me".

Looking at the theatrical histories of the actors, writers, directors and production and technical people involved, there's such a wealth of talent involved in this hat trick of local stories.

The sets were minimal but all the props were chosen from two large rails on stage and the props were moved about by the actors themselves which incorporated the set shifting into the story lines.

Lyrically I loved the way the stories were told and these talented group of actors really painted pictures in your mind with the script.

I couldn't pick one of these three plays over the other two as they were so different, but so similar and each one had something really special to give story wise. There's also some emerging talent here and if you like your theatre just a little different, then I'd implore you to look out for this talent rich company. Nice use of the featured music as well.

For more information on Emerging Prospectives Company, please visit their website http://newperspectives.co.uk/?idno=676

PETER PAN GOES WRONG

Nottingham Theatre Royal

From the same company that brought you "The Play That Goes Wrong", here's another wonderful slice of comedy mayhem. Anything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong, and it does.

Missed cues, mis timed sound effects, props that don't work or not in the right place, wrong script cues, and add to this the fact that people are flying about on wires (and what can go wrong there?), oh and some wonderful bouts of over acting by Wendy darling, played by Sandra Wilkinson, played by Leonie Hill. don't worry, it'll all become clear!

People laughed at Les Dawson playing the piano out of tune, but that was a smoke screen for a talented pianist, and that is the same here. It may look like a catastrophe but every one of the actors are primed to perfection with comic timing, and that's what makes this play one of the funniest plays doing the rounds at the moment.

The Cornley Youth Theatre are the theatre company within the theatre company who are putting on "Peter Pan", After last years stripped back version of their last Seasonal Vignette, not a panto, "Jack And The Bean", comes this classic Christmas offering, in July.

Here's a play that all ages will enjoy and that showed in the audience. there's slapstick and what comes across as some really violent "accidents", but don't worry kids, it's all done in the best possible taste and within the bounds of health and safety, but boy does it look good and exercises the old chuckle muscles.

There are plenty of "boo" moments with the evil Captain Hook and the hero of the piece is Max who saves the day as the Crocodile, or is that actor Matt Cavendish. It can get a little confusing when the characters are played by actors who are really characters in the play, played by real actors.

This is an early panto treat for everyone and some classic panto lines liberally cast out by some well placed stooges, making for some great "audience participation" and adding to the overall fun of this show.

Some great scenery sections on a revolving stage which also causes some great comic moments at the end. For a really enjoyable family night out, you could do a lot worse than seeing "Peter Pan Goes Wrong" at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 11 July 2015.

"Yerma" by Frederico Garcia Lorca
Nottingham Lace Market Theatre

Michael-Craig Darmola directs an amazingly powerful and intense piece of Spanish drama about a young woman who is longing for a child of her own while everyone else in the little Spanish town are raising children of their own. Yerma asks advice of the women of the town and is told to "try harder", but what she doesn't acknowledge is that the fault is not with her but with her selfish husband.

Rosina Reading puts in a passionate performance as Yerma, the "barren" one and she makes you feel the pain behind the longing to be a proper woman who bears children.

Yerma's husband, Juan, is played by Damian Frendo and is the best that I've seen him performance wise. He really makes you feel that you want to do to him what Yerma does at the end. Not giving it away there! Juan is selfish and only sees Yerma as having limited purpose in this one sided marriage.

Everyone involved gives very credible performances and will have you on the edge of your seat with the incredible intensity and passion in this play which only lasts just over 65 minutes.

Yerma is on at the Nottingham Lace Market Theatre until Saturday 4 July 2015 and is one play in Nottingham that I'd really recommend seeing this week.

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

Nottingham Theatre Royal

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's classic rock opera about the last days of Jesus Christ. It's difficult for a reviewer not to make comparisons with previous versions of the same piece of theatre and for me this production didn't live up to some of the other productions I'd seen.

For me it started off quite weak and I found the enunciation of the lyrics hindered the timing of the musical pieces and this started to grate after a while. Tim Rogers, who played Judas, which is what the story is really all about, seemed a bit shouty in parts which in turn made some of the lyrics difficult to hear. at times it was like listening to a Shakespearean actor present lines to rock music and this was just slightly off putting. That said in Act 2, he seemed to loosen up a bit and let the lyrics flow which suited the pace of the music and the timing came back.

Jesus was played by Glenn Carter, and again I wasn't that enamoured with this casting either. Sometimes it was difficult to hear him and at other times, he seemed to be shouting. I must admit though that the crucifixion scene was played out well. I was sorry that I couldn't warm to Glenn as Jesus in the way that I've been able to warm to other professional and amateur actors who've played this iconic role, and I can't put my finger on why that was. His "Gethsemane" also disappointed me as the note that should have been held wasn't and was slightly pitchy. He didn't, for me, live up to what I had expected.

X Factor's Rachel Adedeji played Mary Magdelene, and I afraid yet again she came as a disappointment as well. Her voice didn't suit the role. Okay she has a decent soulful voice but I got the feeling that she didn't commit to the songs. Her highlight for me though was, again in Act 2, with "Can We Start Again, Please", which she duetted with Peter, played by Edward Handoll.

There were several saving graces though in Cavin Cornwall who played Caiaphas. What an amazing voice and such stage presence. Herod, the comedy role, was again done different to other productions I'd seen and Tom Gilling ramped up the camp with "Herod's Song", brilliant piece of musical theatre. Pilate, was played by Johnathan Tweedie, and you could really tell the difference in vocal technique with Johnathan and the leads.

The lighting effects for this show were amazing and really created just the right emotive atmosphere, as did the sound design which at times sent shivers down the old spine.

All in all it wasn't a complete failure but there were parts that I really loved and others that maybe fell down for me compared to, say the Arena Tour with Tim Minchin as Judas and Mel Chisholm as Mary Magdelene, but these are big sandals to fill.

Great music and classic rock opera tunes but maybe the leads need to just let rip without shouting and control those big, long notes a bit more, and maybe relax into the roles.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is on at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 4 July 2015. if you're a fan, go see it, but if there's just a passing interest, I'd pass on it.

"Grease" at Loughborough Town Hall

by Bright Lights Theatre School.

My first experience of this group and what an aptly titled theatre school because there were many bright lights on stage this afternoon; not shining on the stage but shining from the stage.

With an age range from 4 to 18 this large cast showed a little bit of nerves to start with, but then again which actor on their opening performance wouldn't, They soon got into their stride to deliver a strong and confident performance of one of the worlds best loved of the modern musicals. There were a couple of missed music cues but what struck me was the professionalism of the young actors as they found their cue for the following line and ran with it.

The ensemble gave great support to the main characters and it was lovely to see the enjoyment on the younger actors' faces during the dance routines and when giving their final bows. Such a show of confidence at such tender years should be, and was, applauded.

And so to the leads Danny and Sandy. Danny Zuko was played by Harrison Lightowler, who embraced the dancing and singing with great vigour. I am one for characterization and this boy played out the high school "jock" as a jack the lad with less arrogance but a great deal of confidence, and made Zuko as a slightly more intelligent, or maybe less goofy, version of the screen character, which in turn I felt made Danny Zuko easier to warm to. Harrison's facial expressions were good to note as well because sometimes younger actors can have a limited range of expressions but Harrison captured the light and shade of Zuko really well.

Sandy, the Olivia Newton-John role, was played by Sophie Draycott and what a lovely expressive voice she has. Her versions of "Hopelessly Devoted To You" and the reprise of "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee" sent shivers up my spine. And what a transformation from college girl to sexy leather clad bombshell! No wonder Harrison's Danny seemed lost for words!

Lots of really strong performances but I must mention a few more who I especially enjoyed watching. Keisha Richards (Rizzo) gave an amazingly mature performance throughout and has a great voice for musicals. When she sung "There Are Worse Things I Could Do", which in my humble opinion is one of the most under rated songs from a musical, you really felt what she was going through. A definite highlight.

Billy Harris ( Doody) has a future in comedy characters. He really made me smile at his goofiness. Daniel Robinson (Johnny Casino and Teen Angel) absolutely nailed Teen Angel, and could be the best version I've seen at amateur level. Good, strong, powerful voice, mixed with a bit of cheeky humour attracted a loud round of applause from the very appreciative audience as he ended his "Beauty School Dropout" section.

Emily Brewin (Frenchy) also embraced the character of the highly pitched beauty school dropout who was just a little slow on the uptake, but a lovely character part for Emily.

The other Brewin in the cast, Zak, also presented a great characterization of Kenicke, with just the right amount of arrogance. His shining moment is of course the song "Greased Lightning", which he and the cast really embraced and again drew a massive appreciation from the audience. And a great stage car as well!

These are just a few of the actors, but there was not one person on that stage that didn't win my appreciation, admiration and applause.

There's a lot of,sometimes complicated choreography in this show, but excellently done by Nick Sutcliffe with additional help from Mary Garbe and Cara Dudgeon, who also did a good job with the musical direction of the show. The enthusiasm of the whole cast with this choreography shone all the way through.

It's nice to think that I could be watching some of the future professional musical theatre actors on that stage and if they carry on with the enthusiasm, talent, and gusto shown today, I've no doubt that in years to come some of these young actors from Bright Lights will themselves have their name in bright lights.

A fun couple of hours with some really talented young people. We all knew the songs and there was not one person who didn't leave the theatre without a smile on their faces. A job done well by everyone involved.

"Grease" is on at Loughborough Town Hall until Sunday 28th June 2015.

"SPAMALOT"

Nottingham Theatre Royal

I saw this show a few years ago at the Theatre Royal. I'm not a massive Python fan but I loved this show then. This time round I love it even more. They reckoned "The Servant Of Two Masters" was the funniest show in the world but this show blows that one out of the water.

Lovingly ripped off from "Monty Python and The Holy Grail", every single minute of this show is funny. King Arthur and his trusty sidekick, Patsy are looking for knights to join them to find the Holy Grail. Written by Eric Idle, who also made an appearance as God (comedically typecast) with the music written by John Du Prez. Here's a music fact, the two of them also wrote the theme to "One Foot In the Grave" and Eric recorded the song as well.

Arthur, Patsy, and the knights overcome several obstacles with lots of silliness and end up with the marriage of Arthur and The Lady in the Lake, aka Guinevere.

One of the songs state that you have to have a star to put on a musical and this show had many stars who shone very bright.

i just knew that casting Joe Pasquale as King Arthur was bound to be a success and I was not wrong, Joe was perfect for the role and even managed to get some ad libbing in the show. With Joe's talent for ad libbing and knowing just how far to go with it,he added a little something extra to the mix. How Will Hawkesworth (Robin), managed not to laugh in the "Helen Mirren" section, I'll never know, true professional.

Casting Joe's son, Joe Tracini, as Patsy was a casting made in comedy heaven, because they worked so well together. There's just something wonderful about an actor who doesn't have to do much to raise a smile, and Joe T has obviously inherited this talent from his dad. The coconut clacking Patsy is a wonderful role for Joe T. It's only when you see a TV actor like Joe Tracini on stage that you really appreciate their comic timing and acting talent. I've never been a fan of Hollyoaks, but after tonight I am a fan of Joe Tracini.

The Lady In The Lake was played by Sarah Earnshaw. Again, what an amazing piece of casting! Sarah has a flair for comedy which is only overshadowed by her beautiful,powerful voice. Her duet with Galahad, played by Richard Meek, of "The Song That Goes Like This" was musical comedy heaven and one of my many highlights of the show.

A brilliant supporting cast made this an evening that I won't forget for a long time. The show is funny, possibly the funniest show I've ever seen,and especially in the hands of Pasquale, Tracini and Earnshaw, this trio put all previous casts in the shade.

There are some memorable songs here as well as memorable performances. The aforementioned "The Song that Goes Like This", "He's Not Dead Yet", "I'm All Alone", the very camp "His Name Is Lancelot" and of course "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life", which Joe Tracini teased into life with twinkle in his eye, knowing the reaction it was going to get.

Every actor looked like they were having just as much fun on stage as we were in the audience, and that kind of enjoyment is so contagious.

It is bright, it is fun, it is camp, it is brash and ever so non politically correct, and that is a perfect recipe for a good old night out at the theatre. And another directorial success for the very talented and all round nice person, Mr Christopher Luscombe.

"Spamalot" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 4 July 2015