"Madagascar - A Musical Adventure Jr" by LEOS Youth Group

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

OK, I'm probably the only person who has never seen the film "Madagascar", but for me that made tonight even more enjoyable as I knew nothing of the story or the characters, so this was all shiny new for me. I did this morning though download the soundtrack to listen to, and thought it sounded fun. After seeing the show tonight, I decided the soundtrack was not fun... it was CRACK A LACKING BRILLIANT FUN!!

Based on the DreamWorks animated motion picture, "Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr". follows all of the film's characters as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.  

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo – have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape – with the help of some prodigious penguins – to explore the world.

After escaping to the New York City streets and being arrested and put into boxes to be shipped out, the penguins hijack the boat, which results in all the animals, in their boxes becoming shipwrecked, and guess where they ended up?

It's a brilliant show with a really catchy soundtrack, and the reason why the show is as good as it is, is because of the amazing cast and their commitment and passion that they showed on stage.

Jude Yellop, who played the lion, Alex, was fantastic, and you could see that he was having as much fun on stage as we were having in the audience watching him. He can sing, he has stage presence, he lived the role of Alex and his talent roared from the stage.

Grace Collishaw played the zebra, Marty, and Grace definitely earned her stripes in this role. As with Jude, she has amazing stage presence and you just want to watch her whenever she graced the stage. Two of the strongest leads from a youth production, and I think that is due to confidence and that they had fun.

Roisin Parker played the hippo, Gloria, and reminded me of every hippo I have seen in a Disney film; lovable and huggable, well that's how I see Disney hippos. 

Completing the four main leads is Lottie Ludlow who played the giraffe, Melman. Lottie actually made me feel that she was a giraffe on stage, and that could be due to the brilliant costume she has, saying that, every costume was perfect for the character and you could see the toil that had gone into every stitch of every costume. I loved the way that when Melman snored, she snored the name "giraffe" - I know little things please me, but so funny and clever. 

A well-matched quartet of character actors, and obviously a job well done by the director.

The naughty penguins, and I love penguins ever since I got up close and personal with an Emperor Penguin at Edinburgh Zoo, but that's another story, were played by Kate Whitaker (Skipper), Nefeli Fryganioti (Rico), Flori Tasker (Private) and Holly Brooks (Kowalski). They made me smile with their characterisation of the penguins complete with the waddling walk that penguins do. Another brilliant quartet.

The lemurs were played by Jake Lightbown, Findlay Parker, Darcy Boyd, Charlotte Case, Emma Lowe - who will be performing her last show in the Youth section in this role, Grace Agius, Joe Stewart, Chloe Brooks, Bella Syson, Elizabeth Rippin, Abraham Collishaw, Ivan Hager, Ella Charlesworth, Frazer Brown, Lucy Coulson-Jones, Tom Lightbown, Naomi Thomas, Max Fuller, Evie Radmore, Phoebe Mellor, Jessica Peel, Niamh Lee, Holly Chambers and Quillen Parker. They all also doubled up as other characters like zoo guests, zoo keepers, steak servers, ship captain, chimpanzee, police officers etc.

As an ensemble group, their performance was second to none. I looked at all of their faces and there was not one of them who did not look like they were enjoying what they were doing, and that always makes an audience believe in the cast and enjoys the show that bit more.

The dancing was brilliant, especially the choreography for "I Like To Move It", and the persons responsible for that were Molly Parkinson and  Siobhan Parker, who also directed this musical, assisted by Claire Collishaw.

I'd never heard the soundtrack, apart from "I Like To Move It", until today and hearing it belted out on stage, made sense after listening to it this morning, especially "Raspberry Clouds". I loved "Welcome To Me" sung by the brilliant Jake Lightbown, as King Julien and Findlay Parker as Maurice Lemur, who both have wonderful comic timing and funny bones. The song "Steak" sung by Jude made me feel hungry (I'd not had my tea at that stage), and of course the opening number "It's Showtime" really got me in the mood for the whole show. 

Musical Director is Sam Griffiths, and he has worked his magic with these kids because as the music was from backing tracks, their timing had to be spot on, which it was, every song, every time.

With this amount of kids on stage, you have to mention the stage manager role as there was not a cue missed by anyone, and that is down to Katie Bird.

I touched on the costumes earlier but I must mention them again as they were professional standard, as well as the amazing make-up and hair. The wardrobe team were Carol McTernan - who was also responsible for the hair, Judy Watson and Judy Whyatt.

The set was brilliantly designed by Roydon Charlesworth and Katie Bird and the back projection added to the enjoyment of the show.

I am really pleased to say that the sound and lighting were faultless tonight. No missed mic cues and no-one left in the dark or chasing the spot. A perfect team with the two Daves; Dave Dallard on Sound and Dave Martin on Lighting.

It's not that often that I can't find a single thing to note that could have been better, even on this, the first night, but that is the case here. For me, everything was of an extremely high standard, and I loved everything about the show, especially the energy and enjoyment on stage.

The whole team done a crack a lackin job!!

"Madagascar - A Musical Adventure Jr" is at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton until Saturday 2 July.

 "Bad Girls The Musical" by RAMTC - Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company

Mansfield Palace Theatre.

I've had the pleasure in seeing several of Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company (RAMTC)'s presentations, but this time around there is a touch of sadness, as this will be there last ever production, as the company are disbanding. I'm sure that it'll not be the last time that we see this talented bunch of actors again though on stage.

"Bad Girls" introduces us to an anarchic bunch of women on the edge and up against the odds - prostitutes, addicts, shop-lifters, murderers - each with a story to tell of lives left behind and dreams of a better future ahead, and an entrenched old guard of prison officers out to dash their every hope.

I've seen this musical several times over the years, but had forgotten just how gritty and raw the stories and the script were. In this production there is no overture and the action starts from the off. The opening also shows the back of the stage opened up to the street and the latest prisoner brought in from the street. Very different and very realistic. It then gets into the uneasy grittiness straight away.

A new Wing Governor, Helen Stewart, arrives at HMP Larkhall on a mission to reform the ‘us and them’ regime - and finds a surprising ally and soulmate in charismatic cop-killer Nikki Wade. But both face a ruthless adversary in corrupt Officer Jim Fenner, who wants Helen’s job and will do everything he can to undermine her.

Then the tragic suicide of a young inmate - in which Jim Fenner is implicated - unleashes an angry protest on the wing and forces Helen and Nikki to their opposite sides of the bars. But when it’s clear that Helen stands to lose her job over Fenner’s misdeeds, the race is on for all the women to overcome their differences and join forces against their common enemy.

Stephen Mura plays Jim Fenner, and plays him as seedily as Fenner should be. Stephen has a voice made for musical theatre and shows it off well in this role, and he can soft-shoe with the best of them. This is highlighted in Act Two with the big song and dance tap number.

Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby is played by Adela Green. I've had the pleasure of seeing Adela previously, so I knew that she had a voice to match Stephen's. Loved the chemistry between the two bent screws; a sibling like relationship with both backing each other in the naughty stakes, and both having perks to their jobs that they didn't want to give up, so the fight was there. Adela has a lovely soft style of comedy presentation, which I also enjoyed.

Marie Madej plays Helen Stewart. Now I don't think that I had seen Marie before in a main part, and so didn't know if she was in fact Scottish. If she isn't she has a talented ear for accents; If Marie is Scottish, I love her natural soft brogue even more. Marie has one of those voices that you will remember, and her duet in Act Two with Ella showed a beautiful pairing of their voices.

The Governing Guvnor, aka The Number One is played by Steve Dunning. I've seen Steve in several roles, not all musical so I also know of Steve's talents. He holds an air of authority with this character, but is as bent as Fenner and Bodybag, and also against Stewart taking over control of the wing.

Officer Justin Mattison, the junior prison officer, is played by Lucas Young. This young man has a wealth of experience under his belt as an actor, singer and dancer among many of his talents. Mattison is an important role within this story in setting Fenner up to get his rightful comeuppance. If you don't know this musical, then I'll leave it to you to see it and find out how!

Nikki Wade, who was sentenced to life for killing a policeman, is played by Ella Greenwood. I love Ella's voice. I love the power and control she has with her voice and if she ever releases a CD, I will buy it as she has one of those voices that you could listen to all night. A brilliant character for Ella to play as well.

Shell Dockley, who is doing life for the kidnap, torture and eventual murder of the woman who 'stole' her boyfriend, is played by Alice Lindley. Another great character for any woman to play because of the power that she has, and not only that but, at the start you have a very different image of Shell to what you see at the end. A proper journey character.

Yvonne Taylor plays Yvonne Atkins, who is serving four years for conspiracy to commit murder. What a character and what a brilliant actor to play this role. Yvonne really reminded me of the original TV character, who I'd always held in my mind as being great fun to have Yvonne A as an inmate. This production cemented my opinion of the character and showed me what a lovely character-driven actor Yvonne T is.

'The Two Julies' Julie Saunders and partner-in-crime Julie Johnson, both in for two years for theft, are played by Kelly Beniston & Sinead Parkin. This musical really is well written and that is shown with these two characters. Can you imagine the trouble these two would be at school. Great chemistry between Kelly and Sinead, and that made them great fun to watch.

Playing Noreen Briggs, who is doing 3 months for shoplifting ties from a department store, is Lauren Victoria Wells. Ties? Can you believe that?

Amy Wicks, who is playing Crystal Gordon, whose doing 12 months for persistent shoplifting. There will always be one inmate in any prison who has some level of religious connection, and Crystal is that character.

Charlotte Bond plays Denny Blood. Denny is doing 7 years for arson. Charlotte I've seen in several Kristian Thomas productions, usually as part of an ensemble, so it's nice to see Charlotte get a named character to play.

Rachel Hicks, who is in for 30 months for possession with intent to supply, is played by Reema Frost, who again I've seen in many an ensemble in various drama groups over the years.

The other inmates at Larkhill are played by Kate Viles, Emily Coxhead, Sabine Lakin (Congratulations), Charmian McBirdie, Cassie Barrett & Laura Taylor and the other prison guards are played by Matthew Ross, Jane Oates and Alison Bond.

A simple set design which gives all the feel of being banged up with floor to roof bars with just the one door to enter and exit. Props were moved on and off stage to create various other scenes. Simple to look at but very effective visually.

Tom Bond is the Musical Director. Tom's reputation precedes him, in my opinion, and I know that the music side of the show will not be a problem. His reputation, and talent, again proves me to be correct. The band are on stage, behind bars - probably not the bars they would like to be behind, but possibly swapped one set of bars for another after the show.

There are some wonderful ballads here as well as various other genres of music woven in. From the opening number "I Shouldn't Be Here", through the comic "Jailcraft"- a wonderful duet with Fenner and Bodybag - and the very naughty "All Banged Up" through to one of the best closing ensemble numbers "This Is My Life".

Kristian Cunningham is the Choreographer. I could just say "ditto" or "see above", because whenever I see Kristian's name as choreographer, I know it's going to be sharp. I was not disappointed.

Alysha Gomes is the Director for this musical. Alysha has really made this show pacy, as well as grittier than I remembered. The delivery that she has brought out of some of the actors playing the inmates was proper filthy; I was quite taken aback, but I loved it all the same. The show was over faster than I had expected, and that is due to great timing and pace, and also the level of enjoyment of the whole production. Something a Director can take the credit for.

I did notice that some of the lighting cues were missed and a couple of times the actors either had to move into the spotlight or, at one stage, the only actor on stage was in darkness for most of his piece, and there were also a couple of missed sound cues. This is of course first night, and I always like to get in there on first night, so I'm sure that as from the second night, everything will be absolutely perfect.

The cast of "Bad Girls The Musical" will be banged up at The Mansfield Palace Theatre until Saturday 2 July. I imagine that Saturday's final performance is going to be an emotional one for everyone involved.

 "Hang" by Debbie Tucker Green

Nottingham Lace Market Theatre.

You want to know my decision on this play? I'll tell you at the end of the review.... and no peeping, but you may guess the further you read!

The setting is a non-descript room with a table, four chairs, a stack of chairs and a plastic water dispenser butt, you know the ones that you see ina  thousand offices all over.

The play consists of three characters named One, Two and Three. 

One and Two are the care workers, appointed to advise Three of her options.

Three is a woman is the victim of a devastating crime. It's not made clear what this crime is, and if it's against herself or her family, but whatever the crime was, it has had had long-lasting effects on them. This affectation is shown clearly in Three's physicality. Her life has never recovered from the crime, she is no longer intimate with her husband, her kids are on medication and her life has fallen apart.

In the aftermath, given the power to decide the fate of her perpetrator, she now holds his life in her hands. I don't think it's giving anything away by referring back to the title as to their fate! This is decided by Three, although she had come into the meeting with the same decision as she left the meeting,  after asking how long each option took.

One and Two are very clinical in their outlook and dealing of the case, almost as if they are working from a script; a script that neither were in tune with due to the repetition of the boxes they both needed to tick. They try but all of their "can we get you anything"s seem like a formality to make Three as "comfortable" as possible, and part of their job description per case. It even takes a while before they enquire as to how she was!

One and Two succeed in winding Three up, unintentionally, and there was that embarrassing element of comedy between the case workers as they soon realised that, with Three, they were slowly digging themselves a hole that they were unable to climb out of, especially when Three turned the tables on One. I mention the comic possibility, and there were several who did laugh at the case worker's bumbling efforts to try and make things easier, if that is the right word. I didn't laugh because just looking at Three's face and physical position, you just knew she was about to explode, which she did.

Putting yourself in One and Two's position though, you just realised that they had not dealt with this level of devastation, and you could see the attempts to make sure that all the correct boxes were ticked, but without having the compassion and empathy required. As Three stated several times, they could not imagine what she had been through, or understand her situation. they were swimming against a tide of emotion and anger.

In today's designer lives, where you can compile playlists, menus, TV option choices, here is a possible glimpse of the future where you can choose the way that anyone has wronged you can meet their maker. Three is offered options like lethal injection, gas, firing squad, beheading, electric chair, hanging; it's capital punishment as a consumer choice!

The whole option of choosing someone else's demise is bordering on inhuman, this is vindicated when Three actually expresses a wish that it goes wrong for the person set to receive their fate at the hangman's hands. She knows of the possibility that the noose may be too long or short, both of which can cause harm to the person and delay the final breath, and the embarrassment of emptying of the bowels before death takes over, and with this in mind, she signs the papers to confirm her option. 

You do see that it is with a shaky hand that she does this and realises that his death will be with her, and on her conscience, forever.

At several stages of the play, the lights are dropped and a video of an eye is projected onto Three, symbolising that, whoever has committed this crime against her and her family, she still feels has control over her. This is also highlighted by a letter that the imprisoned person had written to her was introduced as a "development", which we see her reading as the play closes.

Ladene Hall (One), won me over straight away as she has the looks of the gorgeous - in my opinion - Dawn French. Okay, that out of the way, you could really see the uncomfortableness creep in as she revealed that since the last meeting, she and her husband - that is One's husband - had split. This gave Three leverage to turn the tables, well at least topple the table, on her. Ladene really showed the frustration in One's character when she was not getting the answers that she had been programmed to request through all of the training that she had been given. This role could not have been the easiest, but is probably a very satisfying role to play. With the subject matter, none of the roles would have been easy.

Ben Dixon (Two), as with Ladene really encased himself in the character, who kept slipping up on protocol, which also created an embarrassing set of situations, not only with One, but gave Three even more bullets to fire at One and Two. You could see the character slowly grow more uncomfortable as he tried to get to the next box to tick. Ben was a former member of the Lace Market Theatre Youth Group before continuing his training at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. 

Keyah Beckford (Three). As soon as Keyah emerged you could see that three was in no mood to be talked down to and patronised, and she took none of it from either One or Two. This must have been an exhausting, but so rewarding role for Keyah. She really made you feel for her, even without revealing what actually happened years ago that brought her to this meeting and decision that she had to come to. She looked completely drained when she first appeared but with all the anger she held, and then relinquished, the fire in her eyes was enough to scorch the paint from the Lace Market Studio Theatre walls. I was thinking that you would not want to mess with Keyah if you got into an argument with her if this is what the power of her acting is like.

All three showed what incredible acting is like. All three had so much script to recall; this is a very wordy and angry play, and all three, I know, were very nervous about tonight. All three delivered a production, and performances, that I personally will not forget in a very long time. I'd even go as far as to say, it's one of the best plays I've seen at the Lace Market Theatre.

Directed by Ian Smith, who I also know was really nervous beforehand when I spoke to him before the play started. This production is a massive success for everyone involved and I secretly think that they all knew that this was going to be one of those shows that everyone would be talking about afterwards, and maybe that was part of the nervousness. Set in real time, and the papers were even signed the 28^th of the month, Ian made sure that the pace was perfect and that the passion in this play was on a slow burn, right up to the end.

The lighting and projection is important here, and the combined talents of David Billen, Simon carter, Allen Green and Matt Allcock create a tense atmosphere.

Performed in the Studio upstairs at the Lace Market Theatre, this makes this dark play even more uncomfortable to watch due to it's intimacy, but would not be as effective or emotive if it had been performed on the bigger stage downstairs. You may even find yourself, like myself, flip-flopping your sympathy between the two parties. Either way, this will give you something to discuss, which is what a good play should aim to do for their audiences.

Anyway, to answer the question at the start of this review, enjoy is maybe the wrong adjective to describe it due to the content, but I am so pleased, and lucky to have experienced this amazing piece of writing, and the incredible performances by Ladene, Ben and Keyah.

This week, Monday to Saturday, is a complete sell out, every night, including the Saturday matinee, but there is a possibility of seeing "Hang" at Queen's Walk Community Centre in The Meadows on July 8^th as a one-off performance. Please contact the Community Centre for availability.

The production is dedicated to the memory of Sophia Ramcharan and Karl White.