29th Nov2018

DIetrich: Natural Duty (Theatre)

by timbaros
Peter Groom in Dietrich Natural Duty 4 Photo by Monir El HaimarMarlene Dietrich has been called to duty – and lucky for us it’s in London.
Dietrich, star of many a stage and film, as well as many a front line during WWII, was a legend, was a humanitarian, and was perhaps one of the most famous women of the 20th Century. Now, for a second time this year, we can bathe in her presence, and voice, in a show called ‘DIetrich Natural Duty: A One (Wo)man Show’ now playing at the almost gorgeous as Dietrich venue Wilton’s Music Hall.
In a stunning glittery long-beaded golden sequin dress, Dietrich (played to perfection by Peter Groom), takes us back to the time when she, in 1942, amidst the battlefields, turns her back at the country of her birth, Germany, and helps to rally, and excite, the troops. Through a mix of song, wit, curves, and a voice to die for, ‘DIetrich Natural Duty’ is an irresistible and breathtaking show where Groom just about channels his inner and outer Dietrich to shear perfection. This show, and Groom, is mesmerising and will take your breathe away.
‘DIetrich Natural Duty: A One (Wo)man Show’ ends its run on Saturday November 24th. To buy tickets, please click here:
Category : Theatre
Off
29th Nov2018

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Theatre)

by timbaros

'Everybody's Talking About Jamie' Musical performed at the Apollo Theatre, London, UKJamie, Jamie, Jamie. ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie!’ And damn right they should be.

‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,’ in case you haven’t heard by now, is the heartwarming story of Jamie – a young man from Sheffield who is different from the other kids in his class. When his teacher asks her students what they want to be when they grow up, one says doctor, another says lawyer, while Jamie says that he wants to be a drag queen! Supported by him mother and her best friend, along with some of his best mates, who all happen to be girls, Jamie’s dream may eventually come true! But first he has to overcome prejudice, as well as the school bully (and also an unloving father who has practically disowned him), to be able to be who he wants to be!
 
‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ opened to critical acclaim at the Sheffield Crucible in 2017, and has been playing to practically sold out audiences for exactly one year at London’s Apollo Theatre in the West End. It’s a heartwarming and enduring story that’s actually true. It’s based on the life of Jamie New – who appeared in a 2011 BBC documentary called ‘Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.’ With Music by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells, and Books and Lyrics by Tom MacRae,’Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is touching, but at the same time manufactured in the way ‘Kinky Boots’ is (we all know how it is going to end). John McCrea is brilliant as Jamie – he really works the stage in those high high heals! And he’s a dead ringer for the real Jamie! Rebecca McKinnis is great as Jamie’s mom Margaret, and she does get a show-stopper or two (‘He’s my Boy’ may bring a tear to your eye). In a bit of stunt casting, Michelle Visage is the teacher, but it’s Shobna Gulati who plays, and is fierce, as Margaret’s best friend, and one of Jamie’s staunchest supporters.
 
It’s a feel good show with a feel good message, and isn’t that we all need right now!
 

!’ And damn right they should be.

‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,’ in case you haven’t heard by now, is the heartwarming story of Jamie – a young man from Sheffield who is different from the other kids in his class. When his teacher asks her students what they want to be when they grow up, one says doctor, another says lawyer, while Jamie says that he wants to be a drag queen! Supported by him mother and her best friend, along with some of his best mates, who all happen to be girls, Jamie’s dream may eventually come true! But first he has to overcome prejudice, as well as the school bully (and also an unloving father who has practically disowned him), to be able to be who he wants to be!
 
‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ opened to critical acclaim at the Sheffield Crucible in 2017, and has been playing to practically sold out audiences for exactly one year at London’s Apollo Theatre in the West End. It’s a heartwarming and enduring story that’s actually true. It’s based on the life of Jamie New – who appeared in a 2011 BBC documentary called ‘Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.’ With Music by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells, and Books and Lyrics by Tom MacRae,’Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is touching, but at the same time manufactured in the way ‘Kinky Boots’ is (we all know how it is going to end). John McCrea is brilliant as Jamie – he really works the stage in those high high heals! And he’s a dead ringer for the real Jamie! Rebecca McKinnis is great as Jamie’s mom Margaret, and she does get a show-stopper or two (‘He’s my Boy’ may bring a tear to your eye). In a bit of stunt casting, Michelle Visage is the teacher, but it’s Shobna Gulati who plays, and is fierce, as Margaret’s best friend, and one of Jamie’s staunchest supporters.
 
It’s a feel good show with a feel good message, and isn’t that we all need right now!
 
Category : Theatre
Off
12th Nov2018

The Inheritance (Theatre)

by timbaros
16-The-cast-of-The-Inheritance-Part-1-West-End-Credit-Marc-BrennerFollowing a sold out and critically acclaimed run at the Young Vic theatre earlier this year, The Inheritance is back in a bigger venue with it’s still very long running time but with a cast who act their trousers off – literally.
 
The Inheritance, to sum up its 6 hour and 45 minutes two-parter running time, is the story of a group of young gay men living in present day New York City – a generation after the peak of the AIDS plague. These young men don’t really know what the previous generation before them went through; the suffering, the denials, the losses oh boy the losses. Seeing grown men withering away to nothing – one day at the gym and the next month dead, or disappeared and never to be seen again. Men, who were in their prime, who should’ve been living life to the fullest, all dying rapidly. The survivors buried and mourned, but mourning was a short-term process as it was time again to take care of someone else who was dying, and the cycle repeated itself. Yes, this was the reality of living as a gay man in New York City in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. The Inheritance overlays the gay generation of today with the gay generation of that time and weaves its story via a main central character.
 
An amazing Kyle Soller (where did they find him?) is Eric Glass, happily living with his boyfriend of seven years Toby (Andrew Burnap) in a rent-controlled apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Also living in the same building is the older, and wiser Walter (Paul Hilton), who lives upstairs with his very rich but never home long-term partner Henry Wilcox (John Benjamin Hickey). Toby is a playright who is in the middle of writing a play. One day he accidentally picks up the wrong bag at a bookstore and heads home, but is followed by the young and attractive Adam (Samuel H. Levine), the bags owner. After they exchange bags, Adam tells Toby that he is an actor – coincidentally. While Toby’s new script gets more and more attention (as does his new-found friendship with Adam), Eric is enjoying the time that he spends with Walter. Eric learns a lot from him, but also, and most important, is that Walter fondly, and longingly, remininsces about his house in upstate New York, a home that is very special to him and which turns out to be very special to others, which we learn more about at the very end of the first half. 
 
Fast forward and it is Adam who gets to play the lead role, and becomes a star, in Toby’s new play, while Eric and Toby’s relationship becomes fragile and doesn’t last; and surprisingly, after Walters passing, Eric follows his heart and marries Henry after very brief courtship that did not include sex. But Henry’s two sons strongly don’t want Eric to get any of Walter’s possessions, including the house which Walter actually bequeathed to Eric. 

 
The Inheritance author Matthew Lopez takes E.M. Forster’s gay novel Howard’s End and somehow blends it into this tale of gay men, a tale that, well, most gay men can relate to, whether young or old. Lopez uses a character by the name of Morgan (Hilton) – substituting him for Forster, to help with the narrative of the play. Was this really necessary? Personally, I don’t think so. The characters, all of whom when not on the raised center stage platform hang around on the edge, don’t really need this unnecessary plot device to help the story along. I wanted them just to get on with it. At times Morgan walks into the story to help it along, but I don’t this this works. The story of The Interitance is strong enough (the meaning of The Inheritance is the passing of HIV from one man to another), and without the narrative 30 minutes could’ve been shaved 30 off. It’s an extremely powerful story, more powerful to some of us who actually lived in big cities in the 1980’s and early 1990’s and whom were affected, effected and infected by HIV and AIDS. But I actually dreaded (and looked forward to at the same time) spending a whole day at the theatre – it’s quite a long show to get through, and I could tell the friend I had invited to join me in this perhaps once in a lifetime experience didn’t want to stay for the last third of the second part (yes, there are three parts in part 1 and part 2). But the third part in part 3 pays dividends – the legend that is Vanessa Redgraves comes out in a powerful scene to help wrap up the story in an emotional, and very strong, performance. And this is what The Inheritance gives us – direction with ease and conviction by Stephen Daldry, very strong performances, an emotional and unforgettable experience, and a perhaps an all too real story. And would I recommend it? Yes I would – both parts.   
 
The Inheritance is playing at the NOËL COWARD THEATRE until  January 19, 2019. To buy tickets, please go here:
https://www.inheritanceplay.com
Category : Theatre
Tags :
Off
28th Oct2018

42nd Street (Theatre)

by timbaros

Bonnie Langford 42nd Street prod shot 4Seventeen months ago 42nd Street opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to rave reviews. And it’s still going strong – with a new lead!

Bonnie Langford ably takes the lead (Dorothy Brock) previously held by Sheena Easton, Lulu and Steph Parry in the role as Dorothy Brock – a semi-ageing theatre star who, due to an injury (intentional or otherwise), is unable to go on with the show. So in comes Peggy Sawyer (a still amazing and wonderful Clare Halse, who is, lucky for us, still in this show) – straight off the bus from a small town and looking for a break, and she gets it! Unfortunately it’s at Brock’s expense.

Sawyer gets a job as a backup dancer in a show called Pretty Lady, and the Pretty Lady in the title is Brock. But Brock breaks her ankle, so after getting fired for causing Brock to break her leg, Sawyer is roped back into the show, this time as it’s lead, and she’s only got 48 hours to learn the part, to learn the dance moves, and is wooed and coddled by director Julian Marsh (Tom Lister – still in the role). But it’s Billy (Ashley Day) who really takes a liking to her. Will she be ready and rehearsed in time to open the show? Will the nerves get the best of her? I’m sure we can all figure out how it plays out – and plays out it does, much to our delight!

But the story line pretty much takes a back seat to the musical numbers. Songs such as ‘I Only Have Eyes for you,’ ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ and ‘We’re in the Money’ still have that wonderful toe-tapping feeling. And the sets are superb as well. Act 1 moves us from the stage of the 42nd Street theatre to The Gypsy Tea Kettle Restaurant and then on to Philadelphia, while Act 2 takes us from the dressing rooms to a Philadelphia train station – all realistically cleverly designed. And those dance numbers – wow! There is one amazing scene where a dozen or so female dancers are on the floor while a mirror hovers above them for the audience to see – it’s breathtaking! This cast is definitely the hardest working cast in town – from the opening number where they tap themselves to death to the finale where they all come down the amazing light-up stairs – it’s one singing sensation after another. Halse is superb (with an excellent voice) as the lead, Langford does a good job as Brock, and the rest of the cast are just as good. But it’s Halse, of course, who is the real star of this show, and of the show within the show. And Maggie Jones and Christopher Howell excel in their supporting roles. 42nd Street is still a must show to see.

42nd Street is playing at DTheatre Royal Drury Lane, London is booking until Saturday January 5, 2019.

https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane/

Category : Theatre
Off
28th Oct2018

Richard Carpenter is Close To You (Theatre)

by timbaros

image001-2Don’t expect to hear any Carpenters songs at the show misleadingly titled ‘Richard Carpenter is Close To You.’

Why? Because this show does not have the rights to perform any of the Carpenters songs. Performer and writer Matthew Floyd does his best to not play more than six words of any of their songs otherwise he could be sued. And there is disclaimer for this show: The affectionate but unsparing parody is not endorsed by the real Richard Carpenter. So what are we left with? A musical show that somewhat makes fun of Richard Carpenter, mocking him as the second fiddle to ‘the voice’ that was his sister’s – Karen Carpenter – for it was she, not Richard, who was the face, and of course the voice, of The Carpenters – the biggest selling American group in the 1970’s (American groups versus other Non-American groups as Floyd states in the show).
But poor poor bitter Richard. After the death of his sister 35 years ago (has it been that long already?), Richard is left to look for work in any way shape or form he can. He has an agent who pays him no mind, though she books him on the QVC channel where pushes his new remaster of last month’s remastered Carpenters Greatest Hits. He’s also trying to push his own new album but no one is having it and/or buying it. Richard used to be on top of the world (with his sister), though now he’s back at the keys of his piano and his sister’s legacy is still looming as large as ever. What will become of Richard? Will he be relegated to the not-so famous group of famous siblings in heaven – such as Solange Knowles and Serena Williams? Go see Richard Carpenter is Close To You and find out! Every sha la la la la la la la la
Category : Theatre
Off
14th Oct2018

New English Ballet Theatre (Theatre)

by timbaros
42195013_1889558497747548_1502159301332959232_n.jpeg
The New English Ballet Theatre (NEBT) presented a stunning, and moving show, last month at London’s Peacock Theatre.
 
It was two shows within one – RemembranceandThe Four Seasons. Remembrance, Wayne Eagling’s first piece made specifically for NEBT, commemorates the centenary of The Armistice of 11 November 1918. Remembrancewas inspired by the romance between the great Marie Rambert and the dashing playwright Ashley Dukes and the personal anguish created by their sudden separation as Dukes is called back to the horrors of the battlefield. This beautiful piece is set to Handel’sOde for St Cecilia’s Day.
 
42142846_1889558964414168_866460912679124992_n.jpeg
 
The Four Seasonsis Jenna Lee’s bold, stylish ballet is set to Max Richter’s recomposition of Vivaldi’s much-loved classic, The Four Seasons. Starting with spring, and ending with winter,The Four Seasons is a stunning piece, with stunning lighting and set, with dazzling costumes that represented each season – and dancers that shine throughout. 
NEBT-Logo_WEBnew.png
 For more information on New English Ballet Theatre,please click here:
 
Category : Theatre
Off
23rd Sep2018

The Keith Kat Club (Theatre)

by timbaros

keithkatklubBanner-500mbKeith Ramsey is just fantastic in his new one-man show ‘The Keith Kat Club.’

Now playing at The Phoenix Artist Club, London’s ‘most loved late night local,’ Ramsey is Keith Kat in a show that will razzle and dazzle you (while the musical Chicago plays upstairs at The Phoenix Theatre and is no match for Keith!). In perhaps the most entertaining and best 90 minute show currently playing in the West End, Keith will take you to his own version of Berlin’s Kit Kat Club where he sings songs from the greats, reminiscent of a combination of Joel Grey and Liza Minelli in the film Cabaret.

Keith completely takes control of his evening and entertains the audience with his winning smile and amazing voice, and convincingly sings songs with the voices of Cher, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and many many more. But he wows his fans by singing Stephen Sondheim’s ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’ and he saves the best for last, including stunning interpretation of Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.’

Advertisements
Category : Theatre
Off
26th Aug2018

Swan Lake (Theatre)

by timbaros
Dmitri Akulinin and Irina Kolesnikova- photo credit Vladimir ZenzinovYou’ve only got until Saturday September 1st to see perhaps one of the most amazing, and beautiful, ballet performances you’ll ever see this year, and perhaps in many years.
The internationally acclaimed St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre have made their return to the London Coliseum with their production of Swan Lake. And what a production it is! With picture perfect ballet performances, amazing costumes, and even more amazing sets, you will sit spell-bound as you watch the performers dance to one, if the not the most, famous ballet pieces of all time.
The St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre 2015 season was a sell out with over 25,000 seats sold. So due to huge demand, the company has graced London with 9 performances. This strictly limited 2018 season now takes place between Wednesday 22nd August and Sunday 2nd September 2018. 

Founded in 1994, St Petersburg Ballet Theatre is renowned globally not just for its beautiful Vaganova trained dancers, but also for its stunning full-length productions. The company travels internationally performing classical masterpieces from its repertoire includingGiselle,Don Quixote,The NutcrackerandSleeping Beauty. The incredibly popular Company is in such demand that it gives over 200 performances every year. 
 
Irina Kolesnikova, prima ballerinaat St Petersburg Ballet Theatre since the age of 21, leads the Company that continues to have remarkable successes around the world – from Sydney to Johannesburg, from Paris to Istanbul. And she is truly astonishing in the role.
 
Kolesnikova will be joined by guest stars including the Bolshoi Balletprincipals Denis Rodkin and Alexander Volchkov . Both will dance the role of Prince Siegfried. TheMariinsky Theatre’sprincipal dancer, Kimin Kimwill also dance Siegfried. Also joining isBolshoiprincipal dancerYulia Stepanova, who will also dance the role of Odette/Odile. 
Swan Lake, if you don’t know the story, tells the classic love story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. St Petersburg Ballet Theatre will perform this balletic masterpiece as it was meant to be seen, boasting gorgeous traditionally painted backdrops, Tchaikovsky’s moving score, a full-sized orchestra and critically acclaimed dancers performing the full-length production for London audiences.Swan Lakeis undoubtedly a production everyone must experience at least once in their life.
 
It’s really an amazing production, and will leave you breathless and speechless. I highly recommend getting tickets as soon as possible as the short run, might, and will probably, sell out.
Production:St Petersburg Ballet Theatre Present Swan Lake
Venue:London Coliseum,St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4ES
Dates:Wednesday 22ndAugust – Sunday 2ndSeptember 2018
Performances:Tuesday – Sunday Evenings 19:30, Thursday & Saturday Matinees 14:30, Wednesday 29thAugust & Sunday 2ndSeptember Matinee 14.30
Prices:£20 – £95 plus booking fee.
Booking:https://londoncoliseum.org/swan-lake-st-petersburg-ballet-theatre
Performance Schedule*
Odette/Odile
Irina Kolesnikova Aug 22ndeve, 23rdeve, 25thmat, 26thmat, 28theve, 29theve, 30theve, Sept 1stmat,
  2ndSept mat
Yulia Stepanova Aug 23rdmat, 24theve, 25theve, 29thmat, 30thmat, 31steve, Sept 1steve
Prince Siegfried 
Denis Rodkin Aug 22ndeve, 23rdeve, 25thmat, 26thmat, 28theve,
Kimin Kim Aug 23rdmat, 24theve, 25theve, 30thmat, 31steve, Sept 1steve, 2ndeve
Alexander Volchov Aug 29thmat, 29theve, 30theve, Sept 1stmat
*The Producers reserve the right to substitute any named artist(s) at any scheduled performance(s).
Category : Theatre
Tags :
Off
19th Aug2018

Little Shop of Horrors (Theatre)

by timbaros
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Ashman ; Directed by Maria Aberg ; Designed by Tom Scutt ; At the Regents Park Open Air Theatre, London, UK ; July 10 2018 ; Credit : Johan Persson

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Ashman ;
Directed by Maria Aberg ;
Designed by Tom Scutt ;
At the Regents Park Open Air Theatre, London, UK ;
Credit : Johan Persson

There’s a human-eating plant in Regents Park, and the more it eats the bigger it gets – and it’s all at the wonderful Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in the new show ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’

On skid row in downtown Manhattan, a flower shop called Mushnik’s is not doing much business. But Seymour Krelborn (a wonderful Marc Antolin), who works at the shop owned by Mr. Mushnick (Forbes Masson) has mysteriously acquired a plant, a plant so unlike any in the shop. It’s a plant that looks like a venus flytrap, but this plant is very different. It’s a plant he has called Audrey II (Vicky Vox plays the plant later in the show), named after the co-worker he is secretly in love with Audrey (Jemima Rooper). This plant doesn’t want water like all the other plants in the shop, as discovered by Seymour when he pricks his fingers and drips blood on the plant, and it’s happy drinking his blood. But the more blood Seymour feeds the plant, the bigger it grows, and soon enough Seymour can’t give any more blood to the plant, and it’s grown so huge that’s it’s become a celebrity (and so has Seymour). But how can Seymour continue to keep his plant happy and all the while attaining his new celebrity status (and the money that comes with it?). He has to give Audrey II more blood, and this includes people. The first to go into the plant is Audrey’s abusive boyfriend Orin Scrivello (Matt Willis – of pop group Busted). But who will be next? The plants keeps telling Seymour ‘I’m Hungry’ so he’s at odds as to what to do next. And this all takes place in the beautiful outdoor theatre.
Playing until Saturday, September 22, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is great fun to watch only.  Lets hope the good weather continues until the end of the shows run – as ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is best enjoyed when it’s not raining. The cast are all wonderful, and Vicky Vox is literally larger than life as the plant. With music and lyrics by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is still good fun and even better set amongst all those trees in Regent’s Park. Just be careful and don’t get too close to one, it might eat you!
For tickets:
Category : Theatre
Tags :
Off
15th Jul2018

It Happened in Key West (Theatre)

by timbaros

IT HAPPENED IN KEY WEST Everything’s Right With The World The Company Photo Darren Bell;A true story of a man who dug up the love of his life is a musical called ‘It Happened in Key West.’

Yes, it did happen in Key West. In the 1940’s, Count Carl Von Cosel fell in love with a woman, Elena, he was treating for tuberculosis . She died, but von Cosel was so infatuated and in love with her that he dug up her body and, for over 7 years, lived with her, well not really with her but with her body, in his house, in Key West.
Now playing at the Charing Cross Theatre, with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello, book and additional lyrics by Jason Huza, and book and original content by Jeremiah Janes who all collaborated together to create this musical, while a bit on the funny side, is too morbid and too silly to be taken seriously, and not funny enough to be camp and over the top.
Having said that, Wade Mccollum is great as the Count. He’s got a great singing voice, especially in a song where he pines for Elena (‘Undying Love’ and ‘I’ve Never Felt This way’) are two standouts. He commands the stage and surely belongs in the West End but in a better show. Alyssa Martyn is just fine as Elena, who surprisingly dies before the first half is finished – it might’ve made more sense to have her die after the first half, but she does sing ‘I Feel Love,’ while dead, in the second half, and comes ‘back to life’ at the very end to sing, beautifully, in the finale. Director and Choreographer Marc Robin doesn’t have a whole lot to work with, it seems like the same 12 boxes remained as the set the whole way through the show. ‘It Happened in Key West,’ billed as a New Romantic Musical Comedy, is not much of a musical nor a comedy.
Category : Theatre
Tags :
Off
15th Jul2018

Grindr the Opera (Theatre)

by timbaros

stag watermark grindr the opera6An operatic version of the Gay App Grindr is literally bringing down the house at Above the Stag Theatre.

It’s ‘Grindr the Opera – an unauthorized parody’ where all types of men that can be found on the app (if you have used the app you would recognize these types, however most gay men don’t confess to being on the popular app) come to life in this singing musical that encompasses all that Grindr has to offer, from the lows to the very lows. And it’s through Grindr himself (sung by the amazing Christian Lunn) who takes us on the journey of these characters. First there is young man Jack (William Spencer) who, at age 18, is navigating this world for the first time. Then we have Tim (Matthew Grove – great singer) who is experienced in using the app to get what he wants. Then we have the ever romantic doctor Devon (David Malcolm), who is looking more for a boyfriend than a one night stand. And of course there is Don (a fabulous Dereck Walker), a man we’ve all encountered on Grindr before – he’s ‘straight’ with a wife and two kids yet he’s extremely in the closet and has a kinky side that eventually gets him into trouble. Combine these characters with music and what you’ve got is a show that is funny, extremely entertaining, and just plain realistic! And the music is superb! Writer Eric Ransom cleverly writes about Grindr through the lens of operatic melodies and timely songs such as ”Manhunt,” and “We Met on Grindr” are appropriately-named while “Cum-Dumpster” is inappropriate yet relevant and hilarious! And all of us can relate to Filling Out a Profile, No Strings Attachedand The Clinic – LOL!! It’s pure musical genius! Go see ‘Grindr the Opera – an unauthorized parody’ before it ends on August 26th.
 
Also catch their other show concurrently playing – ‘The Penetration Play.’
 
Category : Theatre
Tags : ,
Off
24th Jun2018

Kiss Me Kate

by timbaros

A scene from Kiss Me Kate by Cole Porter @ Grand Theatre, Leeds. An Opera North and Welsh National Opera Production. Conductor, James Holmes. Directed by Jo Davies. (Opening 23-05-18) ©Tristram Kenton 05-18 (3 Raveley Street, LONDON NW5 2HX TEL 0207 267 5550 Mob 07973 617 355)email: tristram@tristramkenton.com

A revival of ‘Kiss Me Kate,’ the Cole Porter musical that’s been around for more than half a century, is now being performed at the London Coliseum for two weeks only.

Taking over the space which was briefly occupied by the show ‘Chess,’ ‘Kiss Me Kate’ takes a musical look, of the misconstrued shenanigans that take place behind the scenes of a musical. For a show that’s two hours and 50 minutes long, that’s quite a long haul to get from the beginning of the story to the end, and in the middle it’s all a bit of silliness and nonsense.
The cast within the show are performing ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ and ‘Kiss Me Kate’ has as it’s plot the conflict between the show’s stars Fred (Quirijn De Lang) and leading lady Lilli (Stephanie Corley) – who used to be married, and Lois (Zoe Rainey) and her gangster boyfriend Bill (Alan Burkitt).
Fred writes a love letter intended for Lois, but it’s Lilli who receives it. Lilli is actually engaged to someone else but is actually still in love with Fred. Meanwhile, Bill has signed an IOU to gangsters, in Fred’s name, and the gangsters come to the show to retrieve their money. But it’s Lilli who ends up paying for it as when she reads the note and sees it’s not actually for her, she wants to leave the show, but the gangsters (John Savournin and Joseph Shovelton) prevent her from leaving so that they can get their money from Fred (who is also the producer of the show). All this leads, as you can image, to lots of mayhem and madness – cue the laughter.
‘Kiss Me Kate’ is not really well-known for any memorable songs nor as a really great musical (‘Oklahoma’ is ‘Kiss Me Kate’s’ contemporary, and it’s a classic). While all the actors soldierly slog through such a long show and sing their hearts out in a show that’s more operatic and less razzle dazzle, it’s a bit difficult to keep one’s attention, especially when one of the final songs – ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ – goes on and on and on, and is repeated endlessly. So if Cole Porter is your thing, then you have very limited time to catch this show. If he is not your thing,  it’s OK to give it a miss.
To book, click here:
Category : Theatre
Tags :
Off
24th Jun2018

Beirut (Theatre)

by timbaros

Rob Rees (L), Louisa Connolly-Burnahm (R) - Photo Credit Loranc SparsiA disease is wiping out the human race, and those unlucky enough to be positive will die a slow death. This is the premise of the hard-hitting and surreally erotic play ‘Beirut.’

‘Beirut,’ now playing at the Park Theatre, imagines what would happen, in New York City, where a disease is wiping out some of the population.  Meanwhile, one positive man called Torch (Robert Rees), and a negative woman called Blue (Louisa Connolly-Burnham), are in love with each other. How do they express their love? The disease is spread via bodily fluids – any fluids – including saliva, sweat, and kissing. So what do they do?
Torch lives in a small underground bunker, and Blue sneaks in to be with him. But she’s breaking the law; negatives are not allowed to be with positives, but they clearly love, and lust, for each other. The two gutsy actors spend all of the time in the play (60 minutes) in their underwear, or sometimes less, but it’s not sexy, it’s hard-hitting, with raw intensity both actors convey in the emotions their characters are going through. Torch will definitely die and Blue will almost certainly live, that’s if she doesn’t give in and contract the disease from Torch.
The backstory to this play has to be mentioned. It was written by Alan Browne, from San Francisco, in the mid 1980’s, at the height of the AID’s crisis when gay men were dropping like flies. It was first performed at the Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 1986, and three years later Browne would die of the disease himself, at the age of 44. So we can assume that the unmentioned disease Browne alludes to is AIDS.
But since Browne’s original intention was to not write a story about HIV and AIDS (perhaps he thought the future was going to be just like the plot of his play), it, in my opinion, would work much better as a play about that dreadful disease. However, it still is a brutal in-your-face show that is perhaps not as relevant now as when it was written, but it still makes for explosive, and well-acted, theatre.
Category : Theatre
Tags : ,
Off
17th Jun2018

San Domino (Theatre)

by timbaros

San Domino 3 The company Photo by Rachael CummingsSan Domino is an island off the east coast of Italy that was once an island where people of a certain ‘way’ were exiled to by the facist Benito Mussolini government. He banished prisoners there to pay for their ‘crimes’ – some of the crimes being speaking out against the government. It was also a place where homosexuals were sent as well.

A new show by the name of ‘San Domino’ beautifully tells this story that very few people are aware of. 
Now playing at the Tristian Bates Theatre in Covent Garden, ten men, in 1939, are having a great time in a bar in Catania, Sicily. They have not committed any crimes, but a knock on the door will change all their lives forever. According to the government, they were degenerates because it is suspected they were homosexuals and thus were sentenced to five years. These men include men from all walks of life, including older Carlo (Matthew Hendrickson) and young handsome Claudio (Alexander Hulme). San Domino tells the men’s stories, through dialogue and music, in a show that is poignant, dramatic and superbly acted, especially when the show moves from the jovial atmosphere of the bar where the men are being themselves to the camp where they share bunkbeds and are kept under careful watch of the prison guard and the very mean chief of police.
Andrew Pepper is just superb as the androgynous Pietro, sensitive and always looking for love in all the wrong place, and Pietro never holds back and says what’s on his mind. The rest of the cast really work well together in a show that really is a must see.
San Domino first previewed to an enthusiastic audience at the Courtyard Theatre in London, then played to a full house at the Arcola Theatre’s Grimeborn Festival in 2014. With Book & Lyrics by Tim Anfilogoff, and music composed by Alan Whittaker, with Direction by Matthew Gould, ‘San Domino’ excellently tells the story of the one night in 1939 when many gay men were rounded up. It’s a story that’s should’ve been told years ago. 
To buy tickets, please go here:
Category : Theatre
Tags :
Off
Pages:«12345678...13»
« Previous Page — Next Page »