"Bonnie & Clyde"

Nottingham Arts Theatre Youth Group.

Nottingham Arts Theatre.

And just when you thought I was all out of gush, think again because here's yet another Youth Group production that is as good as any professional production. It was hot outside but that heat was thrown into the shade by this hotter than hot show.

At the height of the Great Depression, West Texas' Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town zeroes to America's most feared heroes, and Texas law enforcement's worst nightmares.

When Bonnie and Clyde meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame immediately set them on a mission to chase their dreams.

Their bold and reckless behaviour turns the young lovers' thrilling adventure into a downward spiral, putting themselves and their loved ones, Buck Barrow - Clyde's brother - and Blanche, Buck's wife, in trouble with the law. Forced to stay on the run, the lovers resort to robbery and murder to survive. As the infamous duo's fame grows bigger, their inevitable end draws nearer.

The musical starts with young Bonnie & Clyde, showing where their roots started, and takes us all the way through to almost the end, and I say that because we all know the inevitable outcome but, with a few areas in this historical saga, we know what happens, we just don't need to see what happens.

Because this is such a big musical and there are so many people in the Youth Group, to give everyone a shot at being involved, some of the roles are shared over the four shows. Team Barrow and Team Parker.

Young Clyde is played by Isobelle Connellan and Rosie Jones. Isobelle performing on Thursday and Friday evening, and Rosie performing in both Saturday shows. Isobelle is a newcomer to NAT Youth and, may I say as with all of the other newer names in the production, fits right in with the more experienced young actors. Isobelle's timing in the "Bang Bang" section of the piece in the second act was timed beautifully, as was the first scene where we meet both young Bonnie and young Clyde.

Young Bonnie is played by Betty Metson-Scott. As with Isobelle, a lovely way to introduce the young, innocent but soon to be outlaw, who dreams of being a professional writer, singer and actor.

Clyde Barrow's role is shared by Zach Silcock and Jamie Adlam. Thursday evening I saw Jamie, who also returns on Saturday evening's performance, Zach taking the reins on Friday evening and Saturday matinee. I first met Jamie over three years ago when he played the role of Dodger in "Oliver", and I knew from that moment I was going to love every role he played because of the passion he shows for theatre. I have seen Jamie in several roles in the last three years and I was not wrong.

His voice has matured so well, incorporating a raspy growl in parts, the power and range in his voice has increased, as has the emotion that he delivers these wonderful songs with. His acting ability is supreme; the intimacy in the scenes with Morgan is so believable and tender. He morphs into every role and character he takes on; and he has raised his own personal bar another notch as Clyde Barrow. He even looks older with the way his hair is styled and how he holds himself on stage.

Bonnie Parker's role is shared by Connie Tegerdine and Morgan Spencer. Connie plays the role on Friday evening and Saturday matinee along with Zach. Here's another voice I loved, reminding slightly of the innocence of a young Olivia Newton-John, Morgan's voice blended so well with Jamie's. there's a lovely range of emotions given with this character, from the almost rattiness when Clyde kept interrupting her reading the poem that she had written about him, to the steadfastness loyalty and love she shows him.

Oli Sheard and Lenny Brady share the role of Buck Barrow, with Lenny taking the stage tonight, as well as on Saturday evening. Lenny is another actor that I have had the pleasure of reviewing over the years who manages to morph into the character he plays. Sometimes I forget how long I've been reviewing members of youth groups, and then comes a role that shows the real maturity of the actor; this is one example. Lenny has grown into a very strong leading man with an equally strong voice and a wonderfully nuanced performance showing in his face as he delivers this role.

Amelie Adams and Eloise Rees share the role of Blanche Barrow. Amelie performing on Friday evening and Saturday matinee. Eloise's "stand by your man" persona is joyful to watch as she follows Buck as he reunites with his on the run brother. What can I say, another strong singer as well as a very convincing character actor; but then I knew that as I've seen what Eloise is capable of by seeing her in quite a few other productions over the years.

Ted, who is slightly obsessive over Bonnie, which gives him an unhealthy reason to eradicate Clyde, is played by James Cragg and Rohan Badesha. Tonight, Thursday, I saw Rohan, a newer member of the group. Ted Hinton is part of the Sheriff's posse out to stop the murdering and robbing spree but that dangerous obsession overtakes Ted's view of the situation and gives the character an edge. You can tell that, even though he is new to the NAT Youth Group stage, he is not new to performing. His performance bio in the programme surprised me when reading the parts that he had played before.

Here is yet another strong set of vocals which has a lovely tenderness in the voice. There's a gorgeous duet called "You Can Do Better Than Him" which is sung after Bonnie has visited Clyde in jail, which shows the emotion that both men feel about Bonnie, but the blending of Jamie and Rohan's voices make for a dream duet. A powerful young actor who's not afraid to show the fire in his musical theatre belly.

Andrei Morris, another new face to NAT Youth audiences, plays Sheriff Schmid who is in charge of the operation to track down the outlaws and take them off the streets by whatever method in a smaller but quite ruthless character role. The newer members all have managed to slide perfectly comfortably alongside the actors who have been at NAT Youth, as if they had belonged there forever. Another very strong character actor, especially in the scene where Schmid questions Buck about Clyde's whereabouts. I spotted the steeliness and bubbling frustration in Schmid when he didn't get the answers he wanted from Buck. A brilliant standoff scene with Lenny and Andrei.

The Preacher is played by Esha Gidday and Eliza Szejda. Tonight I saw Eliza in the role. I love the sound of her voice and "God's Arms Are Always Open" and "Made In America" are real gospel infused gems, delivered with real soul and feeling. I also remember Esha from playing Pritti in "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" and commented at the time about the quality of her voice, so whichever young performer you see, you're in for a treat vocally.

Elizabeth Fitzgerald plays Bonnie's mum, Emma Parker. She's very protective of her daughter, especially when Bonnie turns up at the house with Clyde in tow, she drops into the conversation that Bonnie's husband would be home soon, just to make sure that Clyde got the lay of the land around the Parker residence, which puts Clyde on the back foot. A powerful maternal role that brings out the beauty of Elizabeth's acting arsenal.

Playing the Barrow boys parents are Lucy Jones as Cumie Barrow and Jack Kent as Henry Barrow. Lucy brings out the maternal instinct of the character whilst Jack delivers a role that shows great disappointment and silent anger for the men that his sons have become.

I also spotted Liam Brown as Bud, although I nearly didn't recognise him. Liam and Jamie I met on the same day three years ago, but how this young man has grown and matured. Liam is also Vocal captain.

Robert Murphy plays Frank Hamer, who was brought in by the police department to ramp up the capture of the pair of outlaws, but mainly Clyde. You could really see just how hungry Hamer was to get the job done; like a shark with a scent of blood in his nostrils!

The Salon Trio Eleanore, Trish and Stella are played by Izzy Hickling, Kayla Burgess and Lexie-Mae Hart and also were part of the ensemble.

The rest of the ensemble, who also doubled up in some roles, consist of Evie Jones, Connie Webster, Sophie Murphy, Caitlin Young, Roxy Smith, Zain Abed, Julian Magda, Ace Merkelt, Emily Kononowicz, Dahra Murchie O'Neill, Liam Brown and Robert Murphy,

The soundtrack to this musical has a bit of something for everyone with several earworms; try getting "Raise A Little Hell", "The World Will Remember Me", "When I Drive" and the comical "You're Going Back To Jail" out of your head!. There's blues, rock, country, bluegrass, gospel and a sprinkling of gorgeous ballads like "How 'Bout A Dance", "You Can Do Better Than Him", "Dyin' Ain't So Bad" and the wistful "Bonnie", which also shows off Jamie's ukelele playing.

Musical Director is Jonah Williams. I loved the authenticity the sound that this band created, which I am sure also added to the heat in the theatre, but the sound of the band and the acting on stage was no mirage. Jonah is like a master potter, creating beauty with his arrangements and with this group of vocalists. Just as well that this potter has the best clay to work with!

The band of Sam Ashcroft (Keyboard 2), Austin David (Guitar), Adam Case (Guitar 2), Charlie Cave (Bass), Abi Wilson (Drums/Percussion), Joey Johnstone (Fiddle), Bailey Charlesworth (Reed 1) and Katy Lane (Reeds 2) all sounded wonderful, making the score come alive and leap from the orchestra pit.

Directed by Keira Dorma-Hazell. This is no easy job because the story goes as fast as Clyde's driving, but as a passenger on this ride, I was quite surprised when the interval came around as quick as it did, I was so invested in the story. And I've seen this show three or four times in the past.

Choreographed by Jessica Royce, who is also the Production Manager and the Set Designer for this show. So many highlights where the choreography is concerned but I did enjoy the scene in the hairdressers and the song "You're Going Back To Jail".

Costumes are co-ordinated by Amanda Warriner and Connie Hatchett and are all excellent, the pin striped suits extremely stylish.

There's no mention in the programme about make up, but this area was another excellent area for me, especially the very realistic make up for Clyde after he had been beaten up in jail. I know that a lot of the actors, male and female now do their own, so if that's the case here, I applaud you all for the realism of the make up.

Props are sourced from Altrincham Garrick Theatre, Katie Bird and Nottingham Arts Theatre, and there are plenty to look out for all over the stage area. Loved how the car was constructed and that it looked so solid.

Sound Designer and Operator is George Wilson, who knows exactly what he is doing in this area, and that makes for a professionally sounding theatre show.

Lighting Design and Operation is by Oliver Read, and as with every show that Oliver is involved with in this area, it was stylish and brilliantly executed. Both Oliver and George are real gems in the Nottingham Arts Theatre.

Stage Manager is Cathy Bodman with Deputy Stage manager Jamie Clay. The Stage Crew, Rosa Lymer and Cleo Sims, swiftly and smoothly created and recreated the scenes unobtrusively, keeping a lovely continuous flow of action.

There are projections on the back wall of the stage, again adding to the story and moving the action on. These were created by Scenic Projections.

Every vocal from every actor was superb, with many of the cast showing vocal maturity beyond Youth Theatre, showing what brilliantly talented tutors they all have. The acting is fantastic delivered with realism and real intimacy, especially the face slapping scene. This really is a show not to be missed, and it was so nice to see many of the audience joining me in a standing ovation because it was so well deserved.

I think sometimes Youth Theatre is overlooked and under appreciated, and the last few weeks I have had the real joy to experience just what an excellent set of fantastically talented young actors Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have. You do not have to travel to London to see amazing talent on stage, it's here right on your doorstep, at a fraction of the price as well.

"Bonnie & Clyde" will be raising a little hell at the Nottingham Arts Theatre until Saturday 11 July.

Photography by Martin Holtom.

 "The Addams Family School Edition"

LEOS Youth Group.

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

OK, I must warn you that this review may contain gushing.

If you didn't know LEOS Youth Group, you would not believe that this show is a Youth production because every single area of this production smacks of quality to a professional level. With a show this good it makes my job quite difficult, but only in the sense that I never know when to stop saying wonderful things about everyone involved.

The story is that Wednesday Addams, the Princess of Darkness, has grown up and she has a secret; a secret that’s only known by Gomez. She has fallen in love with a nice respectable young man, Lucas Beinecke, but will the secret be kept under wraps until the two families meet for dinner?

The soundtrack, for anyone who has not seen this musical before, is packed with some fine comic lyrics wrapped in some toe tapping Latino beats. The casting is excellent. The one liners are delivered brilliantly.

There is a slight tinge of sadness with this production though because there are a few actors who are making their final appearances for the Youth Group. But what an amazing future they will all have as they move up through the ranks of local theatre. I have had the pleasure of seeing all those leaving the group blossom and mature over several shows, and I know that they will all be in demand for other groups and productions.

Roisin Parker, who plays Wednesday Addams, finds her heart is being pulled in a new direction. Her vocals are strong and she gives a new meaning to OMG as for her it’s definitely a case of “Oh My Goth!”. Roisin is one of those group members who's making her final appearance for the Youth Group.

Owain Jones plays the object of Wednesday’s inflictions, sorry affections, Lucas Beineke. Incredibly likeable character who would die before living without her. Would he regret that statement though? I've seen Owain on stage several times over the last four years and have noticed in every show how strong his voice has become over those years.

Mother Morticia, played by Phoebe Litherland, is elegant in the role. Cool, calm and very collected with an air of sophistication. A beautifully aloof characterisation and a gorgeous set of vocals, especially in the song "Just Around The Corner".

Stevie Kirkham is Gomez Addams. His ability to maintain that accent, even in song, is excellent. His comic timing was excellent, his voice is full of character, and he is Gomez, and he made me believe I was watching Gomez and not Stevie Kirkham.  Stevie is another young actor who I have had the pleasure of reviewing several times over the last few years, and Gomez absolutely tops off everything that he has done with the Youth Group. Every sentence and movement is measured to perfection with Stevie.

Wednesday's little brother, Pugsley, who loved to be tortured, is played by Louie Drake, who makes his debut for the Youth Group. You can tell that this young man must have acted previously due to the confidence that he has on stage, and I look forward to seeing the next step for Louie on stage.

Nathan Crookdale is Lurch, the Butler. The whole physicality of Lurch is excellent as he slowly dragged his feet across the stage, and his facial expression never changed until he started to sing near the end of the second act. I'm never that good at spotting vocal levels but I'd say that Nathan is a baritone, and an excellent full bodied baritone. Nathan is also tall and fitted this part perfectly. 

Grandma Addams is played by Ivan Hager. Cranky and eccentric to the last, Ivan is yet another superbly cast actor and a wonderful comedy character performer.

Findlay Parker plays Uncle Fester. Everyone knows the high regard I have for Findlay, who also bids farewell to the LEOS Youth Group after this show. He is one of the finest young character actors I have seen. He acts every second he is on stage, whether or not the spotlight is on him. His visual comedy is on a par with his physical comedy. His voice characterization is perfect. He has such energy on stage, and one of the loveliest and laid back young men away from the stage. He is an amazing comedy performer, as shown in this role, but his singing voice is equally amazing. Another actor who will be in big demand away from Youth Theatre for his chameleonic ability to portray such a wide variety of roles.

Lucas’s parents, Mal and Alice Beinecke are played by Tom Lighbown and  Izzy Pickering. Minor roles when you compare with the Addams family members but nothing less than a major comedy duo. Another two of my favourite actors. Tom really looks the part and really morphs into adulthood character role, especially with that tache. Izzy absolutely steals the scene at the Addams dinner during "full disclosure" and, as with Tom, the characterization of an elder, responsible character is brilliant. This pair, along with Owain and Roisin, delivered a great version of the song "Crazier Than You".

The Ancestors, the past members of the Addams Family, are made up of Quillen Parker (Soldier), Taylen Brodsky (Conquistador), Sam Perrin (Caveman), Niamh Syson (Saloon Girl), Harrison Ramplin (Gambler), Sophie Fletcher (Flight Attendant), Alice Whiutaker (Bride), Benjamin Whiley (Cowboy), Trinity Hramkova (Flapper Girl), Mairwen Knight (Courtesan), Keira Bordacs (Maid), Emily Decxter (Ballet dancer), Daniel Crook (Doctor), Elsie Sparks (Acrobat), Sophie Atkinson (Fortune Teller), Libby Stockdale (Ballerina), Bethany Stockdale (Edwardian Lady), Eliza Garavan (1950's Lady) and Lucy Gordon (Nanny).

The costumes and make up, wigs and hair for all of the above characters are as good as any professional production I have seen.

The Wardrobe Team are Carol McTernan, Judy Watson and Janet Whyatt.

Hairdresser is Carol McTernan.

Make Up is by Grace Collishaw, Neve Johnson, Siobhan Parker and Sinead Parker.

Directed by Siobhan Parker, who I know will be incredibly proud of her cast and the show that packed the audiences in on opening night on Thursday. Listening to the crowds as they left the theatre, there was a real buzz surrounding the show. As I have previously mentioned, you'd be mistaken for thinking that this production was a professional show, and that is due to the sheen added by an excellent Director and their team.

Choreography by Eleanor Carty. Such a mixture of dance styles which was exciting for the audience. A visual treat and an amazingly choreographed set; the opening number "When You're An Addams" set the pace for the whole show and that pace and quality continued right through to the final bows. Creative Movement is thanks to Becky Kirkham.

Giles Pettit is the Musical Director, assisted by Becky Kirkham. You can tell that both Giles and Becky have really worked the cast to get this standard of vocal excellence. 

The set design, by Katie Bird, Roydon Chalesworth and Becky Kirkham, is horrifically good, which create just the right fun, but freaky atmosphere.

The show is Stage Managed by Katie Bird, and when you think of the amount of actors are involved, the props and larger stage furniture that needs to be moved on, and off of stage, and the smoothness of this task, you'll realise just how well-respected Katie is among the theatre groups who hold her in such high regard, and rightly so.

Becky Kirkham is also the Stage Crew as well as Props Manager.

The Lighting is by Stephen Greatorex and Kiah Smith and Sound is by Granite AV Solutions Ltd, Dave Dallard and Olivia Michaud. Both of these areas professionally executed, adding to the overall enjoyment, visually and aurally.

One area that rarely gets mentioned but where would a company like this be without the Chaperones and Backstage Team of Sarah Charlesworth, Claire Collyshaw, Grace Collishaw, Jo Heathcote, Lauren Jones, Katherine Lightbown, Fiona McDowell, Siobhan Parker, Sinead Parker, Mo Syson, Adam Taylor, Emma Whitaker and Ondre Young.

So many cogs that make the wheels turn smoothly!

One of the best productions of this show that I have seen, and that includes on the professional touring scene, and you could really tell that the cast enjoyed performing this wonderful show as much as we enjoyed watching them enjoying themselves. The standing ovation at the end said it all.

I feel quite confident that even more awards are on their way for the group after this show. See you at The Eagle Awards.

“The Addams Family” is a spooktacular hit and if you don’t get to see it before Saturday 4 July, it may haunt you for a long time to come. Mwahh ha ha ha!

 "Jersey Boys"

Nottingham Royal Concert Hall.

"Jersey Boys" is a musical biography of the Four Seasons—the rise, the tough times and personal clashes, and the ultimate triumph of a group of friends whose music became symbolic of a generation. This is no tribute concert, "Jersey Boys" gets to the heart of the relationships at the centre of the group—with a special focus on frontman Frankie Valli, the small kid with the big falsetto. In addition to following the quartet’s coming of age as performers, the core of the show is about their code of honour learned in the streets of their native New Jersey which got them through a multitude of challenges: gambling debts, Mafia threats and family disasters. "Jersey Boys" is a glimpse at the people behind a sound that has managed to last over six decades in the hearts of the public.

Luke Baker plays Frankie Valli, and gets within a gnat's breath of sounding exactly like Frankie Valli. His falsetto his spectacular, and when he sings tracks like "Beggin'", "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and best of all "Fallen Angel", you feel that you could be in the same room as Frankie Valli himself. I last saw Luke as Billy Elliot's big brother at Leicester Curve, and also got to chat to him when he then became a guest on my Sunday morning radio show. His voice sounds better than ever and, like his Yorkshire roots, delivers an honest and gutsy story of the man with one of the most recognisable voices of the last century. Luke also provides some exciting dance moves, including the splits and some trademark Four Seasons choreography.

Carlo BouMouglbay plays Tommy DeVito. What a character Tommy was! Causing most of the upset, and debt within the band, but if it were not for Tommy, maybe we would not have been sat in a theatre enjoying the Jersey Boys at all. I don't need to keep reiterating the quality of the vocals from this cast; they're chosen for the quality of their voices. There's always a tempestuous member of any band and Carlo brings that to the stage with a natural Italian flair.

Lewis Kennedy plays Nick Massi, the bass in the Four Seasons. The tidy one in the band and also the man who feels the need to iron his shirts twice before going on stage. Nick is the band member who shared hotel rooms with Tommy and there's a really comical scene which explodes onto the stage, during an argument, about Tommy's health hygiene habits. A wry sense of humour which is delivered with wonderful subtlety by Lewis. 

Toby Miles plays Bob Gaudio. We get to see and hear everything about Gaudio's life; from his first hit "Short Shorts" for The Royal Teens back in 1957, through to the 1970's hits "December '63 (Oh What A Night)" - which, if you didn't already know, is influenced by quite a life changing event in any young man's life, "Silver Star" and "Who Loves You". Bob is probably the most grounded and legally aware of all the band, as well as the calmest in many of the explosive situations.

Michael Levi plays Bob Crewe. The musical depicts Crewe as being openly gay, although reports state that he hid his sexuality, especially around The Four Seasons. Crewe wrote so many hit records over the decades, many with Gaudio but also stacks of doo wop hits like "Daddy Cool" and "Silhouettes" and 1970's disco records like "Lady Marmalade" for Labelle and "Get Dancin'" for Disco Tex and The Sex O Lettes. 

Nottingham's very own local lad made very good, Aiden Carson, plays Joe Pesci. Pesci had a big hand in Bob Gaudio joining the band, long before he became the successful, award winning actor he became in the 1970's, Aiden plays several other characters throughout, so keep an eye out for him under various disguises. I always knew how talented Aiden was but tonight I saw a new talent that I wasn't aware of. His trumpet playing. Wait until the final scenes to catch him blowing his own trumpet! Well, when you have that amount of talent, why not? It was nice to see many local actors in the audience out to support Aiden, as well as to see one of the best jukebox musicals ever.

The rest of the cast consist of Artemis Chrisoulakis (Francine and others), Sydnie Hocknell (Mary Delgado and others), Olivia Mitchell (Lorraine and others), Jarryd Nurden (Hank Majewski and others), Oliver Tester (Norm Waxman and others), Damien Winchester (Barry Belson and others) and Fed Zanni (Gyp Decarlo and others).

Scott Gonclaves, Melissa Potts and Zach Sorrow make up the Swing with Joshua Spencer-Pepper being the Dance Captain and Swing. For anyone who doesn't know what a "Swing" performer is, let me explain. A swing refers to a member of the company who understudies several ensemble roles.

Directed by Des McAnuff. There's such a lot of history behind the formation and rise of The Four Seasons and Frankie Valli's solo career, and while all the highlights, and low periods are included, the pace is swift without compromising the storylines. It's one of those musicals that you want to see again and again due to the energy, pace, and of course the wonderful soundtrack.

The orchestra, under the management of Maurice Cambridge, were punchy and powerful with a brilliant brass section. Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe's songs are etched into any music fan's musical memory and still sound as good today as they ever did. All of the additional songs which punctuate the Four Seasons' career, not written by the Bobs's, are also wonderful reminders of just how great, as well as memorable the music was back then.

Ron Melrose is the Musical Supervisor, Vocal Arranger and is responsible for the incidental music in the show.

Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, the staccato dance moves that these four were famous for were all there with an abundance of energy.

The costumes are wonderfully chic and are designed by Jess Goldstein. The colourful, and trademark red jackets are in there, and there's a section when they are first used passed the quick change, and timed perfectly. the ladies' costumes are equally as eye-catching and colourful, again bringing the glamour of the Sixties girl groups to the fore.

Hair and Wig Design are by Charles G. Lapointe.

Lighting Design by Howard Binkley with Sound Design by Steve Canyon-Kennedy. I loved the set, designed by Klara Zieglerova, with the lightning scene changes and especially the TV Studio setting where there are a few fantastic live TV shots in black and white, cut into library footage of audience reactions, creating realistic sixties style TV shows akin to "Ready Steady Go" and the American equivalent. The Projection Designer is Michael Clark.

My eyes, and ears, adored hearing these classic pop songs performed so tightly and faithfully and, as I mentioned earlier, at times it was like holding court with Frankie Valli himself, who is still going strong today and still has that amazing multi-octave set of vocals.

If you love a good factual story with loads of instantly memorable songs, all of which will get your toes tapping, you will adore this musical. If you've seen this show previously, you'll know just how good this show is, and will want to see the show again. And it's always interesting to see and hear what the stories are behind certain songs.

"Jersey Boys" is at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall until Saturday 4 July.

 "The Unfriend" by Steven Moffat.

Riverside Drama Company.

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

The third piece of theatre this week that I'd not seen before, so Nottingham's theatres are really giving me an education over the past few days!

While on a cruise ship holiday, Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa: a lusty, Trump-loving widow with an outrageous sense of humour from Denver, USA. They agree to stay in touch – because no one you ever meet while on holiday ever really does, do they?

When Elsa invites herself to stay a few months later, they decide to look her up online. And that's when Peter and Debbie decide to Google her and learn the truth about Elsa Jean Krakowski. Deadly danger has just boarded a flight to London! But how do you protect all that you love from mortal peril without seeming, well, a bit impolite? Because guess who's coming... to murder!

Peter is played by Paul Norris, and I can see a lot of myself in Peter, especially his feelings towards Trump! Peter doesn't like to face situations head on, unless forced to do so by his wife, Debbie. He's a busy, busy man after all, and doesn't need the constant interference from his neighbour. I enjoyed the gradual increase in the eventual "red mist" brought on by the visitor, their sons and the neighbour, to which Paul brought the eruption of Peter's nerves to an eventual climax that brough him to his knees in frustration.

Debbie, Peter's wife, is played by Lizzie Norris. From the opening scene where Debbie has to badger Peter to pack his case, two hours before they are due to disembark their cruise, it's plain to see who was in charge in that relationship. Debbie also did all the digging and planning to try and cancel Elsa's visit, but you know what they say about the best laid plans! Lizzie always seems to get the chemistry with her co-actors on stage just right - and I'm not just talking about the Debbie and Peter thing durr! But there's a great maternal chemistry between Debbie and their two sons, Alex and Rhys, as she bosses them around in a motherly fashion. Lizzie's one of my favourite local actors and the fact that she smashes every role that she embodies proves what a flexible character actor she is.

Elsa is played by Donna Osmond. First thing that hits home for me and ticks the initial box is the accent. A lovely soft drawl that lasts from the very first sentence all the way through to the last. Anyone who doesn't know Donna would not have been able to tell that the accent was put on for the character. I love the way Elsa twists every negative into her being the victim, but just wait until the final scene!

Alex, the first of the two teenage sons we get to see, is played by Billy Stewart. Billy is a new name to me and this is his debut for Riverside Drama Company. Alex is the typical teenager, glued to his games console and rarely venturing out of his bedroom, a picturesque description of said room given by his brother, Rhys near the beginning of the first half. Alex changes throughout the play, thanks to Elsa's advice and understanding friendship, as does Rhys, to a pair of sons every parent would love to have. Billy studied acting for stage and screen at Bristol School of Acting, graduating in 2024. I look forward to see  what he does next in the area, acting wise. It's always great to see an increase locally in male actors, and the lack of male actors means that theatre groups, such as Riverside are always crying out for actors like Billy.

Rhys is played by the award winning Arden-Caspar Jennison, a young man who has been around the local stages for a long time, but this role marks his debut for Riverside. I've always had the greatest respect for this man as he has proven that he can sing, dance, play serious characters and can do comedy in equal amounts of talent and know how. Rhys is another great role, and almost the opposite of Alex as he's a little more shy, slightly reserved with people he doesn't know but, when he comes out of his shell is a lad who is happy to give and receive hugs from his parents, and Elsa. I saw Arden in May in the musical "Anything Goes" and on stage I had to look twice, he looked quite different, visually, but what I love is that Arden is one of those actors who can get away with playing roles years younger than he actually is, which means that his career on the stage will stretch decades into the future. You can never tire of seeing versatile actors like Arden on local stages.

The Neighbour is played by another actor who I always look forward to seeing on stage, Jonathan Greaves. Again, I've seen Jonathan play many roles, each one different to the last, and here is Jonathan in annoying neighbour mode. Last time I compared Jonathan to Greg Davies, this time, in this character, he reminded me so much of the actor Mark Heap, who coincidentally played the annoying neighbour in the comedy "Friday Night Dinner". Jonathan Greaves is a chameleon when it comes to treading the boards. Debbie and Peter's neighbour is always popping round regarding an issue in the garden, and when i saw always, I mean every five minutes or so, adding to the stress already building from Elsa's visit.

The final character in the play is PC Junkin, the police officer who has been appointed to have a chat, or follow up enquiries regarding the death of someone who Elsa had come into contact with the week before joining Debbie and Peter. Robert Osmond plays PC Junkin, which includes a brilliant scene regarding toilet humour and a lavatory brush!

Directed by Liz Turner, assisted by Celia Billau, this is another massive success for Liz and Celia, as well as the rest of the cast. It's pacy with an almost farce like feel to it, and it feels like a real situation, so it's completely believable. This dynamic duo strike gold yet again.

Design by Bob Baron and John Hurley. The set starts off aboard a cruise ship with a video backdrop of the sea, making the deckchairs on the deck very real for the situation. With these and the lifebuoys removed, we go straight into the living room and kitchen of the main house. The stairs, stage right, lead up to a believable set of bedrooms off stage. Probably one of the best sets that I've seen for Riverside because you can believe that you could live in a space like this set.

The Backstage Crew and Prop Wranglers consist of Sandra Read and Alison Lihou. Now, for those like me who had not come across the job title of "Prop Wrangler" this is a specialised assistant in the Art Department who is responsible for managing, maintaining and organizing specific items an actor interacts with on set to ensure they are continuous and stage ready. You learn something every day in the wonderful world of theatre.

Sound is by Anna-Birga Ostendorf and Celia Billau. Appropriate sound effects and sound bites, but what I really liked was the music fillers with the scene changes. Who doesn't love a bit of Johnny Cash to change a scene to?

Lighting is by Dave Martin and John Hurley. Stage lighting for a play is quite different to that of a musical, and Dave has great experience in both genres. Nothing fancy or flashy is needed in a comedy play like this so simplicity is the key where blackouts and fades are concerned, and these proved to be effective when executed. I say simple but it's probably not that simple where timing is concerned and both Dave and John were on the money tonight, as always.

Another excellent cast, a cleverly written story, and having not heard of this play before didn't know where it was leading by the end of the first act, and couldn't wait for the second act to commence to get the rest of the story. Totally enjoyable comedy, appreciated by an almost sold out auditorium, which by the way is gorgeously air conditioned.

"The Unfriend" is at The Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton until Saturday 27 June.