"THE WIZ" by New Street Theatre and Lakeside

Nottingham Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside.

Director Martin Berry told the cast before hand to, by all means watch the film version of "The Wiz" made by Motown, but then to forget everything except the storyline, and I now see why he did that. This is an urban version of "The Wizard Of Oz" but Martin Berry has changed the settings and part of the plot to bring the storyline to 1970's Northern Soul Britain.

I'm going to be very careful so as to try and not give too much of the new plot away but let's say that it is far more entertaining than the film, it's funkier than the film, and it's so much funnier than the film version.

This musical is all about fun with a capital "F" and is a departure of sorts for Martin because this is an out and out, almost non-stop musical that is snappier than a barrel load of crocodiles.

A sparse but effective set which in parts brought memories of my mobile DJ days flooding back (yes you didn't get that with the film). The focus is on dancing, singing and having fun and if you're a fan of Northern Soul music and dance you'll love the new remixed storyline.

Charlotte-Louise Brailsford, was fun to watch as Dorothy and has a cracking singing voice. She brings a new version of Dorothy to life, a Dorothy who has more oomph than Diana Ross brought to the film role.

Sian Elise-Langley is the show's Scarecrow. Very today in the character's attitude and is found by Dorothy at a bus stop, of all places, trying to buy a brain!

Next to hook up with the Yellow Brick Road travellers is the Tinman, who is after some oil, Not for him but for his motorbike which has had a spell cast on it and won't work. The Tinman is a cool 70's biker in a mod suit, who plays not only electric guitar but a mean harmonica and dances not unlike Michael Jackson, who played the Scarecrow in the original film. Ritchie Stainsbury is the man of many talents who also showcases his bluesy voice and harmonica on the song "If I Could Feel".

Completing the quartet is the Cowardly Lion, and an actor I was really looking forward to seeing in this role as I loved him as Gavroche in "Les Mis" at The Arts Theatre. Lennon Bradley was just brilliant in this role and he exceeded all of my hopes for the role. He's especially good in the section in the Poppy Field with his smooth moves. Lennon is a little powerhouse of fun who can sing, dance and be funny all at the same time.Great confidence as stage presence for one so young.

The Wizard is played by a regular Nottingham stage actor, who I think I can honestly say, I've never seen him play a duff role, and he doesn't start here. Mark C-Bainbridge has a great little twist in his role, which I'm not going to reveal but, let's just say The Wiz really originates from not a million miles away from Nottingham and you may be surprised at The Wizard's day job!! Mark pulls on his flares and gets down in the groove and exercises his rich vocals, especially on the song that Lena Horne sung in the film, "Believe In Yourself". And ladies... there's flesh flashed as well. He may not be Magic Mike but you'll not be disappointed by Magic Mark's performance.

Alleisha Furlonge-Royal also has a great set of lungs on her in her role as Evilene, and turns in a credible and funky performance, as did all of the actors.

A brilliant ensemble who are energetic and enthusiastic with the dance routines, which I know couldn't have been easy to master, because Northern Soul dancing isn't easy to make it look as natural as they made the routines look. A brilliant job by choreographer Rebekah Roberts, ably assisted by Emily Thurston.

A live band on stage created a crisp and clear sound under the expert musical direction of Katherine Tye.

The continuity announcer was also fun to hear with some local and comical speeches that kept the flow of the musical going in between the scenes.

Oh and what about Toto, I hear you cry! Well Toto is in the show of course. You can't have Dorothy without Toto can you? But Toto looks a little different from other dogs in this version... but then again this is Martin Berry directing, so you should expect something just a little different and off the wall.

This is a fresh, fun, and much better version of the film version of "The Wiz" with a cracking cast which will have you dancing in your seats. It's also vibrant, fast moving and bright and will also bring back some lovely memories of The Twisted Wheel, The Torch and the world famous Wigan Casino with some of the routines and the film footage.

Ease On Down The Road to see "The Wiz" at Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside until Saturday 25 July 2015. Y'all got it? This is one show that you will not forget as soon as you get home.

SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE. by Spotlight Theatre School

Nottingham Arts Theatre.

An annual event which showcases the talents and the work of not only the first time board treaders, but also the more experienced actors. It's also a chance to see the group ensembles of popular music tracks and musical theatre highlights of the year and what is to come. It's also a chance to hand out some awards for the year.

I'm not going to be able to mention everyone who took part because there were so many and everyone, from the very smallest to the most experienced were brilliant.

Throughout the show, the stage was bathed in wonderful light patterns and hues and I truly feel that the Nottingham Arts Theatre now has one of the best lighting rigs and designs for any theatre, once again the hard work of Tom Mowat.

The sound also was clarity itself thanks to Rob Kettridge, Rob Temperton and Peter Hodgkinson.Together the sound and light team created aural and visual perfection.

I've had the great pleasure of visiting the Nottingham Arts Theatre and seeing Spotlight shows for a few years now, and it's also been my pleasure to see certain actors within the school grow both as people, and as talented singers, dancers and actors. These showcase shows highlight that growth.

Eva Sheppard was one of the worthy winners tonight and, especially with this year's showcase, I saw how far she has come from a few years ago. Talented in all aspects of the theatre, her voice has matured, as has her roles and she shows herself to be an able dancer also.

I know that I mention this young man almost every time, but James Murray also shone (again) tonight in several showcased sections. I saw from last night's "Our House" show that he had matured into a fine actor and singer and tonight I saw a more than capable dancer as well. A fine tap performance as well as being part of a beautiful ballet sequence. His clean lines and pointed toes were refreshing to see because this was one kind of dance that I'd not seen him perform before, proving him to be a versatile performer, and a worthy winner of a clutch of awards.

Both Georgia Hodgett-Young and Grace Hodgett-Young were also brilliant tonight, as they always are, and again worthy winners of awards, both showcasing some wonderful, spine tingling vocals.

I must also mention one of the inters, and I apologise that I didn't catch his name, could be Jacques, could be Joseph, but the little blond lad who did a brilliant little solo in "Blame It On The Boogie". He had so much rhythm and timing in all of the dance routines he was involved in, he reminded me of myself when I was that age, if only I had had Spotlight around then!! Both Jacques and Joseph also won awards tonight as well.

The music was well chosen and varied ranging from pop classics like "Uptown Funk", "Marry You", "People Help the People" and "Pack Up" to musical theatre gems from musicals as diverse as "Bugsy Malone", "Witches Of Eastwick", "Avenue Q", "Singing In The Rain", "Shrek", "A Chorus Line" and "Tarzan". I also loved Serena Eaden's emotional rendition of "Your Daddy's Son" from "Ragtime", a song new to me, which I intend to search out.

The night was celebration of all the hard work that is done on stage and behind the scenes throughout the last year. From choreography, which was amazing, through to stage management,and that was no easy job tonight either with so many bodies to manage, to lighting and sound to the tutors, chaperones, set builders and designers to the lady who was responsible for Spotlight's very being, director Amanda Hall.

Thank you every single person on that stage for a wonderful evening of entertainment. I am truly in awe of every drop of talent you all possess.

"Our House" by Spotlight Theatre School

Nottingham Arts Theatre.

"Our House" is a musical about making the right choices and the outcome of making the wrong choices and how they affect the people around them. A musical about morals with some brilliant music from the Madness songbook.

Joe Casey is celebrating his 16th birthday party and he has the world at his feet. He has good friends, he's about to leave school and go into the big world of adulthood and the girl of his dreams has accepted a date with him...,.and that's where his world starts to tumble about him.

I love this musical for the message it gives out as well as the wonderful, fun music of Suggs and Co. and the way that some of the songs are arranged really show the clever, as well as beautiful lyrics. The musical also shows how difficult it can be to sing Madness's songs. With the intricate key changes and lyrical tongue twisters, some of the songs caught some of the actors out, key wise and timing wise.

The orchestra, maybe sometimes a little on the loud side, making the actors a bit difficult to hear, were excellent musically and really captured the Madness feel. The sax playing of Morven Harrison was superb but the whole sound was also excellent under the direction of Christopher Rees.

The lighting was spectacular with really good use of intelligent lighting effects under the design of Tom Mowat. It created just the right atmosphere for the courses of the storyline.

Choreography was by MissJessica Royce and what an amazing job she did. A large ensemble were almost step perfect, that's not a criticism by the way because there aren't many professional productions who can brag that they are step perfect. I did notice that many of the "strictly-style" moves and actions were carried out so well, especially the hands and extension lines. A brilliant job which I know isn't easy for that level and with so many dancers. Loved the ensemble choreography for "The Sun And The Rain" especially as it bordered on old style Hollywood.

Joe Casey was played by Sean Goodwin. Now Sean had the hardest job in my mind because not only does he play both "good" Joe and "bad Joe, he has to make quick changes between the two characters and some of the changes are within seconds. Sean has great stage presence and although I noticed just one or two bum notes, he carried out his vocal and choreography duties with brilliant gusto. A fast moving role which I am sure proved what a versatile actor he is.

Joe's girlfriend, Sarah, was played by Catherine Cunningham, Very natural and what a lovely voice, especially highlighted in the stripped back version of "It Must Be Love".

Joe's best friends, Lewis and Emmo, were joys to watch in the capable hands of James Murray, who has matured as a performer, talent wise and height wise and Adam Tomas Monk. A brilliant comedy pairing who look like they love what they do on stage, it's the twinkle in the eyes that give it away!

I also loved the pairing of Sarah's friends, Bille and Angie, who were played by Georgia Hodgett-Young and Aston Fisher, respectively. Once again, real fun to watch these pair in these roles.

One of the "bad guys" wanting to bring out the "bad Joe" is Reecey, and what a debut performance with Spotlight for Matty Collins. Confident in his acting, singing and his choreography and it was good to see the way he presented and maintained the nasty character of the piece. Hopefully we'll see more of Matty with Spotlight because he could well be a valuable and versatile asset.

Joe's mum, Kath, is a lovely character and Kayleigh Phillips brought out the loving, caring motherly side of Kath in Kayleigh's first musical role.

Joe's dad is Joe's guardian angel throughout the play. You can see why Joe is as he is, character wise, from how his absent father behaved when he was younger. Played by the very recognisable, on most Nottingham stages, Nigel Newton.

Callum, who pops up all over the place throughout the play is played by Joseph Smith.

Fautlessly directed by Amanda Hall with this energetic and exuberant musical that is a house load of fun to watch and delivers a moralistic message. It works well with the age range of the cast which in turn makes every character believable and relevant.

What a shame it's only on for two performances.

"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.