THE PRODUCERS by Musicality
Nottingham Arts Theatre
The final song advises that if we enjoyed the show to tell all of our friends,,, so here goes! Following on from last year's amazing success with "The Phantom Of The Opera", this is completely different and allows the cast to have a bit of fun with the music and story.
Mel Brooks' musical comedy about a Broadway producer, Max Bialystock who hires an accountant, Leo Bloom to "cook the books" for him and ends up taking his advice on producing a "sure fit miss" to become rich. They team up and choose what they feel will be the worst Broadway musical in "Springtime For Hitler", written by a certain Franz Leibkind. They get him to give his permission to produce the musical and then take it to gay director Roger De Bris, and his "common law-assistant", Carmen, who finally agrees to direct the musical. They are now assured that with the worst musical, the worst producer and the worst director this will be the biggest flop and they will get their two million pay day. Oh how wrong they were!
Musicality have an over abundance of talented singers, dancers, actors and theatre folk and this is oh so obvious, yet again, in this wonderfully camp production.
Max is played by Ben Standish. Ben has a very natural acting ability about him and has such a strong, and easy singing voice to listen to. Ben performed some of the really tricky and lengthy vocal bits of songs like "Betrayed" with great dexterity which was really appreciated by the audience. A wonderful character actor. He is by no means alone here either.
Leo Bloom, the nervous accountant and wannabe director is portrayed by Oliver Smith. His panic attack near the start of the show is an absolute magical piece of theatre comedy with his baby blue comfort blanket, showing his "immature" side, which he soon grows out of when leggy actress Ulla turns up for her audition.
What can I say about Olivia Ford who plays Ulla, or to give her her full title, Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson? Gorgeous and long legged with that classic Monroe-esque dress, and that Polish accent. Who wouldn't fall for her? Olivia has a lovely powerful voice with a nice tone of light and shade which is shown off really well in Ulla's songs.
Alex Huntley as Franz, the manic German with a love of pigeons has a wonderful array of facial expressions, which is particularly useful in his big number"Der Guten Tag Hop Clop"
Leo is a touch on the camp side but he is positively macho compared with Roger de Bris ( Rob Reed ) and Carmen ( Luke Emery ). I get the feeling that both Rob and Luke really enjoyed getting in touch with their camp side because they really played up to the limp wristed stereo typical gay character, which is where the majority of the humour is rooted in "The Producers", and between the two of them, and their camp entourage wring every bit of campness from the script.
Luke has a dual role as he is also the choreographer, and he does an excellent job in this role. He could have been born to dance as he started dancing from the age of ten years old. Luke was also responsible for the choreography for last year's smash production.
Directed by Jonathan Walker and produced by Abby Hughes, these two deliver an amazingly enjoyable, fast moving production which the audience lapped up greedily.
Musically the show was under the direction of Jacob Lloyd and a lovely sound the band, nay orchestra made. well there were 23 musicians, so this must qualify for that status. The music production was also spot on, the clarity of the music mix ensured that not one word was swamped by the orchestra.
Tight dance and chorus ensemble supported all the major sections and a quick turn around of scene setting ensured that the action rolled along nicely. The show is like a jigsaw because the whole cast completed this entertaining show and if one piece was out, then the picture overall would not be quite right, but all the pieces were well and truly in place. I was quite surprised that from start to end this production weighed in at about 165 minutes with the interval. It really did not seem to be that length!
Worthy of any professional show, it is sometimes forgotten that Musicality is an amateur University production because of the very high standard of shows like these, and the only thing I felt which could have bettered last night's show was to have had the theatre full. Not a bad showing but more people need to support the hard work that amateur theatre in general produce.
Go on, have a great night out and a really good laugh and pop down to the Nottingham Arts Theatre and see "The Producers" which ends on Saturday 14 March 2015. Yet another wonderful production from some incredibly talented people,
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by The Cast
The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton
I've seen several "Little Shop Of Horrors" over the years and this version by The Cast is up there with the very best. This is the first production I've had the pleasure of seeing by The Cast, having not being free to see "Bad Girls-The Musical" last year, but I know that this will not be the last.
Almost everyone will know the story of the mild mannered, meek shop assistant, Seymour, who buys a strange tropical plant and places it in his boss's flower shop window to attract custom in order to save the shop from closing down by its' owner Mr Mushnik. This would put him and his other, more glamorous assistant, Audrey, out of a job. The plant needs a special diet in order for it to flourish, and when it does, it makes Seymour a local and nationwide celebrity. And we all know the cost of that!
First off let me say that this has to be the biggest and most evil looking plant I've ever seen. It took three puppeteers to make it look as if it was alive. What a brilliant job Adam Richmond, Damon Pipes and John Carley did. Possibly the best Audrey 2 I've seen on stage.
In fact the whole cast of The Cast were so good. Seymour, who reminded me of Freddie Garrity from 60's band Freddie and The Dreamers, only younger, was a perfect choice in Craig Arme. Craig looked the complete geek, the zero to hero, but behind those Buddy Holly glasses lay a powerful voice which worked so well in musical theatre production.
Audrey has always been one of my favourite musical comedy female roles, I think the voice does it and the fashion sense (sorry I am a bloke after all), and Emily Marshall-Sims did not disappoint. Oh no, far from it, she was brilliant and again, what a voice, and amazing legs. When she sung the wistful "Somewhere That's Green" Emily painted pictures in the mind of that place she was dreaming of settling in to.
Mr Mushnik, again a perfect choice in John Maddison provided several comedy moments, especially when getting Seymour to become the "son" in Mushnik and Son and to stop him from thinking of taking Audrey 2 away from the newly flourishing business.
Orin, the dentist and sadistic boyfriend of Audrey was played wonderfully over the top and evilly by Christopher Collington. A touch of the Meatloaf about his acting, and by that I mean that he took the character and ran with it through every red light going. Great manic laughter and some great props for Orin too.
Kevin Chatten provides the voice of Audrey 2, which at the right time created a very sinister feeling with the evil plant. Great voice though!
This musical is not just about the main characters. There are two sets of backing singers who carry the story through. The six ladies who played Crystal, Ronette, Chiffon, Petula, Dusty and Urma (Emily, Claire, Kathi, Carrie, Mina and Katie) really created just the right atmosphere for the 60's ambience.
Must also mention Rob Holsman, who has great legs which he shows off as Mrs Luce!
The atmosphere is set even before the musical starts with some of the other actors milling around the theatre in character as down and outs. And it was also good to see other cast members using the seating and audience area to expand the performance area.
The band, under the musical direction of Dave Dallard were, as always exceptional,and what a drummer they have in Jack Helan. There was the occasional time when the singer on stage was a little drowned by the band but hey, it was the first night.
The set was one of the best that I have seen for "Horrors" using a two tier set which freed up a little more of the lower stage and gave Petula, Dusty and Urma a stage of their own so that they could backing sing and dance on. Martin Holtom is the man responsible for this great design.
"Horrors" has always been one of my favourite comedy musicals and The Cast certainly did not disappoint. Memorable songs include "Suddenly Seymour", "Skid Row", "The Meek Shall Inherit" and of course Orin's song, "The Dentist".
"Little Shop Of Horrors" is on at The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until Saturday 14 March 2015
The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton
I've seen several "Little Shop Of Horrors" over the years and this version by The Cast is up there with the very best. This is the first production I've had the pleasure of seeing by The Cast, having not being free to see "Bad Girls-The Musical" last year, but I know that this will not be the last.
Almost everyone will know the story of the mild mannered, meek shop assistant, Seymour, who buys a strange tropical plant and places it in his boss's flower shop window to attract custom in order to save the shop from closing down by its' owner Mr Mushnik. This would put him and his other, more glamorous assistant, Audrey, out of a job. The plant needs a special diet in order for it to flourish, and when it does, it makes Seymour a local and nationwide celebrity. And we all know the cost of that!
First off let me say that this has to be the biggest and most evil looking plant I've ever seen. It took three puppeteers to make it look as if it was alive. What a brilliant job Adam Richmond, Damon Pipes and John Carley did. Possibly the best Audrey 2 I've seen on stage.
In fact the whole cast of The Cast were so good. Seymour, who reminded me of Freddie Garrity from 60's band Freddie and The Dreamers, only younger, was a perfect choice in Craig Arme. Craig looked the complete geek, the zero to hero, but behind those Buddy Holly glasses lay a powerful voice which worked so well in musical theatre production.
Audrey has always been one of my favourite musical comedy female roles, I think the voice does it and the fashion sense (sorry I am a bloke after all), and Emily Marshall-Sims did not disappoint. Oh no, far from it, she was brilliant and again, what a voice, and amazing legs. When she sung the wistful "Somewhere That's Green" Emily painted pictures in the mind of that place she was dreaming of settling in to.
Mr Mushnik, again a perfect choice in John Maddison provided several comedy moments, especially when getting Seymour to become the "son" in Mushnik and Son and to stop him from thinking of taking Audrey 2 away from the newly flourishing business.
Orin, the dentist and sadistic boyfriend of Audrey was played wonderfully over the top and evilly by Christopher Collington. A touch of the Meatloaf about his acting, and by that I mean that he took the character and ran with it through every red light going. Great manic laughter and some great props for Orin too.
Kevin Chatten provides the voice of Audrey 2, which at the right time created a very sinister feeling with the evil plant. Great voice though!
This musical is not just about the main characters. There are two sets of backing singers who carry the story through. The six ladies who played Crystal, Ronette, Chiffon, Petula, Dusty and Urma (Emily, Claire, Kathi, Carrie, Mina and Katie) really created just the right atmosphere for the 60's ambience.
Must also mention Rob Holsman, who has great legs which he shows off as Mrs Luce!
The atmosphere is set even before the musical starts with some of the other actors milling around the theatre in character as down and outs. And it was also good to see other cast members using the seating and audience area to expand the performance area.
The band, under the musical direction of Dave Dallard were, as always exceptional,and what a drummer they have in Jack Helan. There was the occasional time when the singer on stage was a little drowned by the band but hey, it was the first night.
The set was one of the best that I have seen for "Horrors" using a two tier set which freed up a little more of the lower stage and gave Petula, Dusty and Urma a stage of their own so that they could backing sing and dance on. Martin Holtom is the man responsible for this great design.
"Horrors" has always been one of my favourite comedy musicals and The Cast certainly did not disappoint. Memorable songs include "Suddenly Seymour", "Skid Row", "The Meek Shall Inherit" and of course Orin's song, "The Dentist".
"Little Shop Of Horrors" is on at The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until Saturday 14 March 2015
Thursday, 5 March 2015
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE by Arthur Miller
Nottingham theatre Royal
Miller's controversial, for the time, play about immigration, among other subjects, may be set in the 1950's when it had been written but look around, it's still as passionate a subject today in the media as it was back then, and this play pulls no punches.
One of the things that really excited me about this play was the intoxicating tension that was built up by all the actors and the dramatic black outs. That impending feeling that something was going to happen, something was going to kick off and not in a positive way. And of course anyone who knows the story, as I did, will know what that was. Even so, the tense atmosphere made you feel really uneasy about what was to unfold.
The play starts with lawyer and narrator of the play, Alfeiri, played by Michael Brandon, (for those old enough to remember, was Dempsey in "Dempsey and Makepeace"), and what a cracking performance he gave. Setting the scene and relating his advice throughout to Eddie, the play's protagonist, in the style of the old gangster movies, creating a wonderful 50's feel about his role and the play.
Eddie (Jonathan Guy-Lewis), is looking after his niece Catherine (Daisy Boulton) with his wife, Beatrice (Teresa Banham), but he has an unhealthy interest in her well being, and when she takes a shine to Rodolpho (James Rastall), one of the two Italian immigrants Eddie is housing, Eddie's protectiveness steps up a gear, with drastic results.
There are some really passionate performances put in here, especially from Jonathan, Daisy and Teresa. Rodolpho is perceived to be "not right" by Eddie for Catherine, which, due to Rodolpho's unusual blond hair for an Italian and his love of singing, dancing and making clothes, as well as his "confident" behaviour, is seen as gay by Eddie.Something he tries to prove to Catherine but failed to convince her. He feels that Rodolpho is using Catherine to gain legal citizenship by marrying her.
Rodolpho's brother Marco (Philip Cairns) is the polar opposite of his brother, strong, macho and silent. He is always willing to stick up for his brother and the first half ends with Marco giving Eddie a bit of a subtle warning after Eddie "accidentally" punches Rodolpho during a thinly veiled boxing lesson. This anger by Eddie towards Rodolpho sets the scene for the second half.
Miller wrote this play initially as a one act play but then re wrote it as two parts, and while I think it could still work as a one act play, the interval did give you time to digest the intensity of the "scene setting" of the first half, making the second half fly by with it's exciting action packed ending..
It takes great acting to keep the intensity of a play running, but it also takes a great director as well, and Stephen Unwin kept this nervous anticipation bubbling along.
A clever use of space onstage having all the scenes of Alfeiri's office, the bedroom, kitchen, main living area and several other minor settings all on show at the same time, but with the clever lighting, designed by Paul Pyant, we were able to focus an separate sections and areas of the stage. Plus there is a very clever, and again quite subtle touch of lighting effect when Eddie makes his decision on how to solve his issue with Rodolpho.
Really enjoyable and tension packed play with a great bit of fight choreography. You can see "A View From A Bridge" at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 7 March 2015. Should be on for a longer run in my opinion.
Nottingham theatre Royal
Miller's controversial, for the time, play about immigration, among other subjects, may be set in the 1950's when it had been written but look around, it's still as passionate a subject today in the media as it was back then, and this play pulls no punches.
One of the things that really excited me about this play was the intoxicating tension that was built up by all the actors and the dramatic black outs. That impending feeling that something was going to happen, something was going to kick off and not in a positive way. And of course anyone who knows the story, as I did, will know what that was. Even so, the tense atmosphere made you feel really uneasy about what was to unfold.
The play starts with lawyer and narrator of the play, Alfeiri, played by Michael Brandon, (for those old enough to remember, was Dempsey in "Dempsey and Makepeace"), and what a cracking performance he gave. Setting the scene and relating his advice throughout to Eddie, the play's protagonist, in the style of the old gangster movies, creating a wonderful 50's feel about his role and the play.
Eddie (Jonathan Guy-Lewis), is looking after his niece Catherine (Daisy Boulton) with his wife, Beatrice (Teresa Banham), but he has an unhealthy interest in her well being, and when she takes a shine to Rodolpho (James Rastall), one of the two Italian immigrants Eddie is housing, Eddie's protectiveness steps up a gear, with drastic results.
There are some really passionate performances put in here, especially from Jonathan, Daisy and Teresa. Rodolpho is perceived to be "not right" by Eddie for Catherine, which, due to Rodolpho's unusual blond hair for an Italian and his love of singing, dancing and making clothes, as well as his "confident" behaviour, is seen as gay by Eddie.Something he tries to prove to Catherine but failed to convince her. He feels that Rodolpho is using Catherine to gain legal citizenship by marrying her.
Rodolpho's brother Marco (Philip Cairns) is the polar opposite of his brother, strong, macho and silent. He is always willing to stick up for his brother and the first half ends with Marco giving Eddie a bit of a subtle warning after Eddie "accidentally" punches Rodolpho during a thinly veiled boxing lesson. This anger by Eddie towards Rodolpho sets the scene for the second half.
Miller wrote this play initially as a one act play but then re wrote it as two parts, and while I think it could still work as a one act play, the interval did give you time to digest the intensity of the "scene setting" of the first half, making the second half fly by with it's exciting action packed ending..
It takes great acting to keep the intensity of a play running, but it also takes a great director as well, and Stephen Unwin kept this nervous anticipation bubbling along.
A clever use of space onstage having all the scenes of Alfeiri's office, the bedroom, kitchen, main living area and several other minor settings all on show at the same time, but with the clever lighting, designed by Paul Pyant, we were able to focus an separate sections and areas of the stage. Plus there is a very clever, and again quite subtle touch of lighting effect when Eddie makes his decision on how to solve his issue with Rodolpho.
Really enjoyable and tension packed play with a great bit of fight choreography. You can see "A View From A Bridge" at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 7 March 2015. Should be on for a longer run in my opinion.
Friday, 27 February 2015
VERONICA'S ROOM by Zodiac Theatre Company
Create Theatre, Mansfield.
Veronica's Room is a play by Ira Levin, best known for Rosemary's Baby. A middle-aged Irish couple, John and Maureen Mackey, bring a young couple, Susan and Larry, to their Boston home where the Mackeys are caretakers. Susan and Larry have recently begun to date, and the Mackeys approached them at a restaurant due to Susan's resemblance to a dead woman, Veronica. The Mackeys explain that Veronica's elderly, senile sister, Cissie, is now their charge, and Susan agrees to dress up as Veronica in an effort to bring Cissie a sense of closure. The year is 1973, but Cissie believes it to be 1935. Larry and the Mackeys leave Susan alone in Veronica's preserved bedroom to change into a period outfit. But all is not as it first seemed when the Mackeys return to the room.
This action all takes place in the first half of the play and boy does part two bring some real surprises including TWO quite shocking and disturbing final sections.
Directed by Simon Ward, he keeps the shocking reveals a well kept secret. Only the last ten minutes of the play finally brought all the pieces of the jigsaw together in what was for me, one of those light bulb "eureka" moments, only to find even more to come that unless you knew the play, you may not have guessed. I deliberately did not read up on the play as I like to be shocked by great theatre and that was what I got. Great suspense in such a short time span kept you on the edge of your seats all through the second part and your mind wondering what was afoot in the first half.
There are several chunks of the play that I've left out because I would hate to present you with "spoilers" for this one, and if you do know the play, you will understand why I have done this.
The Zodiac Theatre Group have pulled, again, a very talented quartet of actors together for this little shocker, but then again they are well rehearsed in the dark side of theatre knowing some of their back catalogue, which shows that through Simon and the cast, they do not shy away from plays like this one, and thank goodness for that.
Anna Sanderson played Susan and you could really feel her fear for the situation she found herself in and the build up to that situation, proving what a talented actor she is. But i already knew that after seeing her in "Agnes Of God" at the Lace Market Theatre last year.
Lindsay Foster, who played "Agnes" in last year's production takes on the role of Maureen, who could give Kathy Bates in "Misery" a good run for her money for creating an atmosphere on stage.
Her "husband" John in the play is played by Craig Foster, who succeeds in providing even more menace.
And finally Darren Randall completes the cast as Larry, Susan's new beau, who also is not quite who he seems at first light. In fact it's not until right at the end that you discover who all the characters really are and then nothing is really confirmed, leaving your understanding of the four characters and who you perceive them to be within your head.
It's fast, so as to make the maximum impact, sharp, definitely not one for the children and, as I said, quite shocking with a good many twists along the way and definitely one to see if you like TV programmes like "Broadchurch".
"Veronica's Room" is on at The Create Theatre, West College Notts, Mansfield, Friday 27 to Saturday 28 February 2015. Tickets are £9/£7 Concessions and can be bought via Zodiac Theatre directly on: 07723 419071 or just turn up on the night and it all, quite literally, kicks off at 7.30pm
Create Theatre, Mansfield.
Veronica's Room is a play by Ira Levin, best known for Rosemary's Baby. A middle-aged Irish couple, John and Maureen Mackey, bring a young couple, Susan and Larry, to their Boston home where the Mackeys are caretakers. Susan and Larry have recently begun to date, and the Mackeys approached them at a restaurant due to Susan's resemblance to a dead woman, Veronica. The Mackeys explain that Veronica's elderly, senile sister, Cissie, is now their charge, and Susan agrees to dress up as Veronica in an effort to bring Cissie a sense of closure. The year is 1973, but Cissie believes it to be 1935. Larry and the Mackeys leave Susan alone in Veronica's preserved bedroom to change into a period outfit. But all is not as it first seemed when the Mackeys return to the room.
This action all takes place in the first half of the play and boy does part two bring some real surprises including TWO quite shocking and disturbing final sections.
Directed by Simon Ward, he keeps the shocking reveals a well kept secret. Only the last ten minutes of the play finally brought all the pieces of the jigsaw together in what was for me, one of those light bulb "eureka" moments, only to find even more to come that unless you knew the play, you may not have guessed. I deliberately did not read up on the play as I like to be shocked by great theatre and that was what I got. Great suspense in such a short time span kept you on the edge of your seats all through the second part and your mind wondering what was afoot in the first half.
There are several chunks of the play that I've left out because I would hate to present you with "spoilers" for this one, and if you do know the play, you will understand why I have done this.
The Zodiac Theatre Group have pulled, again, a very talented quartet of actors together for this little shocker, but then again they are well rehearsed in the dark side of theatre knowing some of their back catalogue, which shows that through Simon and the cast, they do not shy away from plays like this one, and thank goodness for that.
Anna Sanderson played Susan and you could really feel her fear for the situation she found herself in and the build up to that situation, proving what a talented actor she is. But i already knew that after seeing her in "Agnes Of God" at the Lace Market Theatre last year.
Lindsay Foster, who played "Agnes" in last year's production takes on the role of Maureen, who could give Kathy Bates in "Misery" a good run for her money for creating an atmosphere on stage.
Her "husband" John in the play is played by Craig Foster, who succeeds in providing even more menace.
And finally Darren Randall completes the cast as Larry, Susan's new beau, who also is not quite who he seems at first light. In fact it's not until right at the end that you discover who all the characters really are and then nothing is really confirmed, leaving your understanding of the four characters and who you perceive them to be within your head.
It's fast, so as to make the maximum impact, sharp, definitely not one for the children and, as I said, quite shocking with a good many twists along the way and definitely one to see if you like TV programmes like "Broadchurch".
"Veronica's Room" is on at The Create Theatre, West College Notts, Mansfield, Friday 27 to Saturday 28 February 2015. Tickets are £9/£7 Concessions and can be bought via Zodiac Theatre directly on: 07723 419071 or just turn up on the night and it all, quite literally, kicks off at 7.30pm
Thursday, 26 February 2015
TONY'S LAST TAPE
Nottingham Playhouse, Neville Suite.
Based on the diaries of politician Tony Benn, this play shows Tony as an obsessive recorder of his thoughts and the things that have happened to him and in his world. These are recorded on several recording devices ranging from reel to reel tapes to dictophones to cassette tapes.
He's recorded and documented everything over the last 50 years but he has reached the point that he now thinks that enough is enough and he has decided to record his last tape.
Philip Bretherton is in residence in this one man show as Benn and does actually sound a bit like him, and is strangely captivating, maybe because Benn's private life and diaries were never really splashed over the papers so it's like discovering some secret. The contents of the diaries though turned out to be not so exciting or revealing, but the man himself, Benn that is, has a certain magnetism and wit, which was brought out by Bretherton in this 75 minute or so incite into the private world of one of Britain's most respected and celebrated MPs.
Written by local author Andy Barrett, whose other well known work for the Nottingham Playhouse include "The Day That Kevin Came" and "Garage Band" and directed by Giles Croft.
"Tony's Last tape" can be seen at The Neville Suite, Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 28 February 2015 but tickets are only available for Saturday matinee, but they're few and far between so check first.
Nottingham Playhouse, Neville Suite.
Based on the diaries of politician Tony Benn, this play shows Tony as an obsessive recorder of his thoughts and the things that have happened to him and in his world. These are recorded on several recording devices ranging from reel to reel tapes to dictophones to cassette tapes.
He's recorded and documented everything over the last 50 years but he has reached the point that he now thinks that enough is enough and he has decided to record his last tape.
Philip Bretherton is in residence in this one man show as Benn and does actually sound a bit like him, and is strangely captivating, maybe because Benn's private life and diaries were never really splashed over the papers so it's like discovering some secret. The contents of the diaries though turned out to be not so exciting or revealing, but the man himself, Benn that is, has a certain magnetism and wit, which was brought out by Bretherton in this 75 minute or so incite into the private world of one of Britain's most respected and celebrated MPs.
Written by local author Andy Barrett, whose other well known work for the Nottingham Playhouse include "The Day That Kevin Came" and "Garage Band" and directed by Giles Croft.
"Tony's Last tape" can be seen at The Neville Suite, Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 28 February 2015 but tickets are only available for Saturday matinee, but they're few and far between so check first.
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
ME & MY GIRL at Nottingham Arts Theatre.
West Bridgford Operatic Society - WBOS
Me & My Girl is the story of an unapologetically unrefined cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson, who learns that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford, madly in love with his girl, Sally Smith.
From start to end this is one feel good production with some very funny lines and put downs and some memorable songs. Songs like " The Lambeth Walk", " The Sun Has Got It's Hat On", "Leaning On A Lamp Post" and of course the title song.
Bill is played by Rob Harrison, and Rob puts in a brilliant portrayal of the Cockney rogue, complete with some great facial expressions and some of the best lines in the script, especially with Sally when they are having their history lesson. Very funny scene and great characterization. He raised titters from some of the audience where there should not have been titters though due to a slight wardrobe malfunction, which I am sure the costume department will have fixed for the rest of the run. Let's just say it was a good job he was wearing something under those pants!!
Sally Smith was played by Lauren Gill, who has a gorgeously crystal clear voice as well as being lovely to look at. A lovely pairing with Rob as the lovestruck couple, making for a very believable partnership you felt comfortable watching.
Stephen Godward (Sir John Tremayne) is a class act. He has great comic timing and watching Stephen act is like watching a cross between John Savident and Richard Wilson, two of my favourite comedic actors. Mix this comedy with that voice that he has and you cannot go wrong. Stephen also plays a very convincing "squiffy" person too! Sir John is the hero of the piece when he gets Bill and Sally back together for the final scenes.
The Duchess, who tries to change Bill from being a Cockney geezer to someone worthy of the title of Earl, was also a dream to watch. Played by Julie Fowler, she really looked like she was having a ball in the role and what a singing voice she has. The Duchess gets some great put downs in towards Sir John, which drew some hearty laughs from the audience.
Meng Khaw was the family solicitor, Mr Parchester, a role which involves him occasionally bursting into song and dance, but would you take advice and pay for his services?
Alice Hands played Lady Jacqueline, a character who, believe it or not for the era actually responds to a bit of spanking from Gerald Bolingbroke, on the advice from Bill. Lady J was all for dumping Gerald, played wonderfully by Richard Hill, when she heard about the wealth due to be heading to Bill, deciding Bill would be the better catch. Shallow or what?
Alice plays it playful with her seduction of Bill with great comic aplomb and if Richard had been more aloof, he would have been through the roof. I last saw Richard in "The Lion In Winter", in some ways similar to Gerald's character and in other ways miles away. Richard showed some lovely vocals and some impressive tap dancing, and well recovered from a minor slip during his tap routine.
A large supporting cast also made the show a wonderful experience in the choral sections and the choreographed scenes by Maxine Loydall.
Lovingly and imaginatively directed by Max Bromley and a tight musical group under the direction of Steve Williams. Never too loud to drown the vocals and a perfect accompaniment to the clever and witty lyrics.
As I said, this is a lovely feel good, fun show with songs that you can tap your foot to, a warm story line and some wonderful characters, brought to life by a group of very talented and lovely actors. A show and group that deserves your support.
"Me & My Girl" by the West Bridgford Operatic Society can be seen at The Nottingham Arts Theatre until Saturday 28 February 2015
West Bridgford Operatic Society - WBOS
Me & My Girl is the story of an unapologetically unrefined cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson, who learns that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford, madly in love with his girl, Sally Smith.
From start to end this is one feel good production with some very funny lines and put downs and some memorable songs. Songs like " The Lambeth Walk", " The Sun Has Got It's Hat On", "Leaning On A Lamp Post" and of course the title song.
Bill is played by Rob Harrison, and Rob puts in a brilliant portrayal of the Cockney rogue, complete with some great facial expressions and some of the best lines in the script, especially with Sally when they are having their history lesson. Very funny scene and great characterization. He raised titters from some of the audience where there should not have been titters though due to a slight wardrobe malfunction, which I am sure the costume department will have fixed for the rest of the run. Let's just say it was a good job he was wearing something under those pants!!
Sally Smith was played by Lauren Gill, who has a gorgeously crystal clear voice as well as being lovely to look at. A lovely pairing with Rob as the lovestruck couple, making for a very believable partnership you felt comfortable watching.
Stephen Godward (Sir John Tremayne) is a class act. He has great comic timing and watching Stephen act is like watching a cross between John Savident and Richard Wilson, two of my favourite comedic actors. Mix this comedy with that voice that he has and you cannot go wrong. Stephen also plays a very convincing "squiffy" person too! Sir John is the hero of the piece when he gets Bill and Sally back together for the final scenes.
The Duchess, who tries to change Bill from being a Cockney geezer to someone worthy of the title of Earl, was also a dream to watch. Played by Julie Fowler, she really looked like she was having a ball in the role and what a singing voice she has. The Duchess gets some great put downs in towards Sir John, which drew some hearty laughs from the audience.
Meng Khaw was the family solicitor, Mr Parchester, a role which involves him occasionally bursting into song and dance, but would you take advice and pay for his services?
Alice Hands played Lady Jacqueline, a character who, believe it or not for the era actually responds to a bit of spanking from Gerald Bolingbroke, on the advice from Bill. Lady J was all for dumping Gerald, played wonderfully by Richard Hill, when she heard about the wealth due to be heading to Bill, deciding Bill would be the better catch. Shallow or what?
Alice plays it playful with her seduction of Bill with great comic aplomb and if Richard had been more aloof, he would have been through the roof. I last saw Richard in "The Lion In Winter", in some ways similar to Gerald's character and in other ways miles away. Richard showed some lovely vocals and some impressive tap dancing, and well recovered from a minor slip during his tap routine.
A large supporting cast also made the show a wonderful experience in the choral sections and the choreographed scenes by Maxine Loydall.
Lovingly and imaginatively directed by Max Bromley and a tight musical group under the direction of Steve Williams. Never too loud to drown the vocals and a perfect accompaniment to the clever and witty lyrics.
As I said, this is a lovely feel good, fun show with songs that you can tap your foot to, a warm story line and some wonderful characters, brought to life by a group of very talented and lovely actors. A show and group that deserves your support.
"Me & My Girl" by the West Bridgford Operatic Society can be seen at The Nottingham Arts Theatre until Saturday 28 February 2015
Monday, 23 February 2015
TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD by Harper Lee
Nottingham Theatre Royal.
The book is a modern day literacy classic which, after seeing this performance, now makes me want to find that book out and read it all over again. The book was first published in 1960 but the content as relevant today as it was back in the segregation days of 1933 - 1935 when the story was set.
Thomas Jefferson had famously stated that all men were created equal but this story of injustice and the fight for what was right in the face of absurdity, and humanity, proved his statement to be way off the mark. The story has a hell of a lot of warmth and humour even though it deals with rape and racial inequality as the core storyline, but it is interesting to see how the minor storylines revolve around the main story.
Such was the power of the written word that British librarians once ranked the book ahead of the Bible as one "every adult should read before they die".
Southern lawyer, Atticus Finch is set to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman, Mayella Ewell. He wants to do what's right by Tom but the whole town of Maycomb, Alabama just knows that he ain't got a chance of getting Tom off due to the deep hatred of "niggers" of the town.
The story is narrated through the eyes of six-year-old Scout Finch, who lives with her older brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Jem and Scout befriend a boy named Dill, who visits Maycomb to stay with his aunt each summer. The three children are terrified of, and fascinated by, their neighbour, the reclusive "Boo" Radley.
At the trial Tom is found guilty but that is not enough for Mayella's father, Bob, who gains his revenge when Tom is murdered while awaiting trial. Bob though is also mysteriously killed after breaking Jem's arm but who stabbed Bob? Did he really fall on his own knife as told by Sheriff Tate? Or did "Boo" have some involvement when he saw Jem being hurt by Bob?
This cast were just amazing and the children who played Scout, Jem and Dill were so professional, confident and focused, never straying from their Southern accent for a second. Not only working the stage but the stalls as well, Rosie Boore (Scout), Billy Price (Jem) and I think it was Milo Panni who played Dill tonight, I say think because there are three sets of young actors playing these parts.
Daniel Betts played Atticus, just as good as Gregory Peck in the film, if not better with Christopher Arkill as "Boo". You really felt for Tom who was played with such feeling by Zacharay Momoh, you could feel the fear he emitted as he fought for the freedom that he hoped would come his way. Susan Lawson-Reynolds was fabulous as the children's "nanny", Calpurnia,and when she broke down in tears when she heard of Tom's death, well it brought a tear to my eye as well. I won't mention all the cast, only to say that every single actor earned their pay with this play because they were all brilliant.
Sensitively directed by Timothy Sheader with a simple but effective set which included a full grown tree. How did they get that tree to be so solid on that rake stage? Only designer Jon Bouser knows! Majella Hurley also deserves a mention as being the dialect coach for this show. One thing that bugs me is when the accent "wanders" but there were no wanderings here.
A standing ovation at the end of the show let the cast know what an amazingly emotive piece of work we had just witnessed, and I don't doubt that this will be repeated every night while in Nottingham.
"To Kill A Mockingbird" is on at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 28 February 2015, continuing what is turning out to be an equally amazing season at the Theatre Royal.
Nottingham Theatre Royal.
The book is a modern day literacy classic which, after seeing this performance, now makes me want to find that book out and read it all over again. The book was first published in 1960 but the content as relevant today as it was back in the segregation days of 1933 - 1935 when the story was set.
Thomas Jefferson had famously stated that all men were created equal but this story of injustice and the fight for what was right in the face of absurdity, and humanity, proved his statement to be way off the mark. The story has a hell of a lot of warmth and humour even though it deals with rape and racial inequality as the core storyline, but it is interesting to see how the minor storylines revolve around the main story.
Such was the power of the written word that British librarians once ranked the book ahead of the Bible as one "every adult should read before they die".
Southern lawyer, Atticus Finch is set to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman, Mayella Ewell. He wants to do what's right by Tom but the whole town of Maycomb, Alabama just knows that he ain't got a chance of getting Tom off due to the deep hatred of "niggers" of the town.
The story is narrated through the eyes of six-year-old Scout Finch, who lives with her older brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Jem and Scout befriend a boy named Dill, who visits Maycomb to stay with his aunt each summer. The three children are terrified of, and fascinated by, their neighbour, the reclusive "Boo" Radley.
At the trial Tom is found guilty but that is not enough for Mayella's father, Bob, who gains his revenge when Tom is murdered while awaiting trial. Bob though is also mysteriously killed after breaking Jem's arm but who stabbed Bob? Did he really fall on his own knife as told by Sheriff Tate? Or did "Boo" have some involvement when he saw Jem being hurt by Bob?
This cast were just amazing and the children who played Scout, Jem and Dill were so professional, confident and focused, never straying from their Southern accent for a second. Not only working the stage but the stalls as well, Rosie Boore (Scout), Billy Price (Jem) and I think it was Milo Panni who played Dill tonight, I say think because there are three sets of young actors playing these parts.
Daniel Betts played Atticus, just as good as Gregory Peck in the film, if not better with Christopher Arkill as "Boo". You really felt for Tom who was played with such feeling by Zacharay Momoh, you could feel the fear he emitted as he fought for the freedom that he hoped would come his way. Susan Lawson-Reynolds was fabulous as the children's "nanny", Calpurnia,and when she broke down in tears when she heard of Tom's death, well it brought a tear to my eye as well. I won't mention all the cast, only to say that every single actor earned their pay with this play because they were all brilliant.
Sensitively directed by Timothy Sheader with a simple but effective set which included a full grown tree. How did they get that tree to be so solid on that rake stage? Only designer Jon Bouser knows! Majella Hurley also deserves a mention as being the dialect coach for this show. One thing that bugs me is when the accent "wanders" but there were no wanderings here.
A standing ovation at the end of the show let the cast know what an amazingly emotive piece of work we had just witnessed, and I don't doubt that this will be repeated every night while in Nottingham.
"To Kill A Mockingbird" is on at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 28 February 2015, continuing what is turning out to be an equally amazing season at the Theatre Royal.
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