17th Jun2018

Beautiful Thing (Theatre)

by timbaros
IMG_2586n2-1There’s a fantastic new show at a fantastic new venue where both are drawing in theatre crowds.
The show is the 25th anniversary production of ‘Beautiful Thing,’  the classic gay young love story, and the venue is Above the Stag’s new beautiful home just steps away from Vauxhall tube station (instead of making a right out of the station to the old venue, make a left and it’s just past Chariots Vauxhall).
‘Beautiful Thing’, originally performed at the Bush Theatre, was turned into a hit movie in 1996. The story deals with two young men (Ste and Jamie) who fall in love and happen to live next to each other on a housing estate. In the new play, these roles are performed by the fantastic Ryan Anderson and Joshua Asaré. Their memorable next door neighbor – Leah – who also goes by the name Mama Cass – is brilliantly played by Phoebe Vigor – and she has scenes that she eats up! Kieran Mortell ably plays Tony, the boyfriend of Jamie’s mum Sandra, excellently played to perfection by Kyla Frye. The story, as you already probably know, deals with the ups and downs of Ste and Jamie experiencing first love. The story takes place on the balconies of a housing estate as well as in Jamie’s bedroom – effective for a story where it’s all about the acting, and the cast hit their marks and Vigor and especially Frye rising above and beyond.
Above the Stag’s new venue is the culmination of years and years of having a bigger venue to call home in which to stage their very popular productions. The new venue has two fabulous two theatres – a 110 seat main house and a 60 seat studio. There is also a large bar with plenty of sitting room to enjoy the drinks, and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out towards the embankment. It’s a new beautiful space, and it’s another production that Above the Stag can be proud of. Go see it, both the new venue and the new show. ‘Beautiful Thing’ is a beautiful thing.
Photo provided by Above the Stag
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26th Apr2018

Bat Out of Hell (Theatre)

by timbaros

Patrick Sullivan as Blake, Andrew Polec as Strat & Giovanni Spano as Ledoux in BAT OUT OF HELL credit SpecularBat Out of Hell returns – and it’s just as rocked up and fantastic as it was when it played in London its first time around.

Bat Out of Hell had a sold out run at the London Coliseum last year, and it was practically begging to open again – and it has – this time in a bigger venue (Dominion Theatre). It’s the same story – a musical set to Meat Loaf’s mega-selling 1977 album of the same name. While some of the actors have not returned from it’s original run, it’s still a rocktastic, fun and mega exciting ride.
Raven (Christina Bennington – returning from the original show) is literally locked up in a mega mansion in the sky by her parents Falco (Rob Fowler) and Sloane (Sharon Sexton). Raven is a lonely girl – she’s not allowed outside at all – but she really wants to experience the outside world, to ride the subway, to meet a boy. In the outside world Strat (Andrew Polec) leads a gang of nomads and hangers on, and he’s always dreamt of catching the girl – particularly Raven, but she’s not available. So all sorts of musical mayhem takes place including Strat trying to kidnap Raven so that him and her can be together. Meanwhile, one of the gang members (a fabulous Danielle Steers – returning) is slowly falling in love with another gang member, while she’s actually a maid in the Falco household. She knows their secrets, and lies.
This is the story, in a nutshell, but the way it’s told is spectacular. Motorcycles, explosions, video projection, skimpy costumes, a convertible on stage that was formerly a dining room table, and said convertible plunging off the stage into the orchestra pit – it’s all musical mayhem – from a rock classic album, and it is just as good on stage as it is on the album and when it played at the Coliseum. The cast dance and prance on stage, and with most of the songs dealing with love, Bat Out of Hell is a love story set to rock music. It’s loud, it’s crazy, it’s superb!
BAT OUT OF HELL is currently booking until 27 October 2018.
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24th Apr2018

Chicago (Theatre)

by timbaros

A scene from Chicago The Musical @ Phoenix Theatre, London. (Taken 29-03-18) ©Tristram Kenton 03-18 (3 Raveley Street, LONDON NW5 2HX TEL 0207 267 5550  Mob 07973 617 355)email: tristram@tristramkenton.com

Cuba Gooding Jr. gets top billing in the new revival of ‘Chicago.’

But can Gooding sing and dance? Does it matter? ‘Chicago’ is still a show with lots of razzle and dazzle.
In it’s third visit to London (and after a UK tour) Chicago has landed in the perfect venue that is The Phoenix Theatre. And in this intimate theatre, we are treated to all sorts of glitz and glamour with Gooding adding the star wattage, but the rest of the cast shining brighter with their excellent theatrical talents.
Sarah Soetaert is absolutely fabulous as Roxy, a woman who shot her lover point blank, even though she’s got a loving (yet neglected) husband Amos (played by Paul Rider) at home. Roxy is sent to prison for murder where she encunters Velma Kelly (Josefina Gabrielle) who also is in the clink for murder. along with several other women, who all sing an excellent number called ‘Cell Block Tango,’ where they tell their murderous exploits stories, while they are all overseen by warden Matron ‘Mama’ Morton (Ruthie Henshall).
This is where Cuba Gooding Jr. comes in. He plays Billy Flynn, dashing and debonair, the lawyer who is hired by these famous murderesses to get them off murder charges. Yet he’s fickle, he is attracted to the hottest case, so he is not the loyal lawyer he should be.
It is, however, the music that makes Chicago extra special. Ignore the 1997 film (excellent all around with a perfect cast of Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger and Oscar winner Catherine Zeta Jones) and experience this show live for yourself. The numbers keep on coming (all by the superb Fred Ebb and John Kander) who did the book with Bob Fosse), and includes one of the best numbers in a musical ‘We Both Reached for the Gun.’ The sets, costumes, and staging are all perfect, as is the the cast and backup dancers/singers. I was lucky enough to have seen the 1997 Broadway show (with Anne Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth) and while this version is not as good, Chicago is still a magical and a very entertaining show.

Phoenix Theatre

110 Charing Cross Road

London WC2H 0JP

Box Office:0844 871 7629 / www.atgtickets.com/shows/chicago/phoenix-theatre

Ticket Prices:From £20.00

Performances:Monday-Saturday 8pm, Wednesday & Saturday 3pm

Booking Period:Currently Booking Until 23 June 2018

Running Time:2 hours, 25 minutes (with interval)

Website:ChicagoWestEnd.com

Twitter:@ChicagoOnStage

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11th Apr2018

The Service (Theatre)

by timbaros

The ServiceCafé de Paris in Central London is host to The Service – the best burlesque and cabaret show in town

The Service is a theatrical and highly immersive show that is unique in that it takes the audience back to the time that Café de Paris was a roaring club back in the 1920’s, through to the 40’s – it’s one of the world’s most renowned clubs.The Servicedisplays such jaw-dropping performances that capture the history of the club – it’s amazing nine decade history. The Service is fast-paced, hilarious, outrageous – it’s a fun and sexy night where the ghosts of every era of Café de Paris come alive.
Told by the very funny and sarcastic Reuben Kaye – the evening’s host and Maitre d’ – who guides us through the evening by a gang of performers who bewitch, bewilder, and excite the audience. it’s an unforgettable experience and an unforgettable night. And hot and sexy Craig Gadd ends the show in a moving and memorable performance of balancing on one hand while war footage is displayed on his chest – it’s a pinch me moment. Even Josephine Baker makes an appearance.The Serviceis must see cabaret in a venue made for cabaret.

THE CAST

Prepare to be captivated by the brilliant, award-winning, internationally acclaimed cast. Princess Margaret is played byBettsie Bon Bon– known as ‘the body of burlesque’ and voted Best Burlesque Performer 2016; whilstSammy Dinneen, aka the Valet, is one of the best and most technical hand balancers in the UK. Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson, the star of Britain’s black swing movement in the 1940s, is played byKorri Aulakh, who trained at the National Centre for Circus Arts and the National Circus School of Montreal.

Anna the Hulagan, who plays The Club Kid, is one of the UK’s leading hula hoop teachers, best known as ‘London’s cult hula hoop artiste’ (The Times). As the winner of the Triple Crown award at the World Burlesque Games, Hulagan delivers performances that are as fun as they are sexy.

For an unforgettable evening of entertainment, there is nowhere more magical to celebrate than at the world-famous Café de Paris.

Tickets for Café de Paris’ The Service can be purchased via Design My Night:

Café de Paris

The Service: 18:00 – 22:15 Nightclub: 22:15 – 03:00

3 Coventry St, London W1D 6B

The Service launched Friday 23rdMarch and takes place every Friday thereafter.

Ticket Information

General Admission – enjoy the show from Café de Paris mezzanine with waiter and bar

service – £20 per person

2 course dining (starter and a main) in the main ballroom – £55 per person

3 course dining (starter, main and dessert) in the main ballroom – £60 per person

Gold Package (6 guests minimum) – Reserved seats, canape platters & drinks – £75 per person

VIP dining – 3 course dining, half a bottle of prosecco per person and best seats: £80 per person 

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24th Feb2018

Girls & Boys (Theatre)

by timbaros

11-2Any play that starts out with the line ‘I met my husband in the queue to board an Easyjet flight and I have to say that I took an instant dislike to the man’ you know you’re going to be hooked. And that’s how Girls & Boys pulls you in it’s grip and never lets go.

It’s not just the sharp dialogue that grabs your attention, it’s also the way it’s delivered by the superfamous actress Carey Mulligan. And she’s solo for the entire show – a one-woman show about her character’s relationship with the man she met at the airport, their life together, which produced two children, and then, as nothing in life is perfect, the relationship breaks down, but that’s not the end of it. An unspeakable tragedy happens, and by this time Mulligan, and Girls & Boys, has us in it’s grips, and doesn’t let go. Heartwrenching and heartbreaking.

Mulligan, it terrific. She flits back and forth from delivering the monologue directly to the audience but then jumps into a scene in the show, in her white living room – devoid of color, and life. There she plays with her two children, but they are actually not there, they are invisible yet a reminder that her past life was full of love and life, but is now full of emptiness. Mulligan reminisces about a life that was to good to be true, and it was.

Mulligan, star of the recent critically acclaimed film ‘Mudbound,’ is a formidable prescence on the stage. You forget she’s a famous actress because you get wrapped up in the story, her telling of it, as she wraps and grasps the audience tightly in the story. A tight sharp script by Dennis Kelly and crisp direction by Lyndsey Turner make this 90 minute show a must see.

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25th Dec2017

La Soirée (Theatre)

by timbaros
La Soiree 2017/2018

La Soiree 2017/2018

La Soirée is back in town and this time they are not in a makeshift auditorium constructed with wood and uncomfortable seats, they are in a proper theatre – the Aldwych Theatre – and again it’s a show that’s nonstop!

 

With a load of new acts and some returning from year’s past it’s a show to get you enticed and excited, and La Soirée lives up to it’s reputation as being fun, exciting, death defying, action packed, and dare I say it – sexy and scandalous!
In the smallish and intimate Aldwych Theatre, where seats are so close to the action, enough so that you can see the performers every ripple, bump, and sweat, and there are even VIP tables on the stage to put you right in the middle of the action if you so dare choose, there’s no other show like this currently being performed in London. It’s a great night out for you and your friends, family and colleagues to forget the hustle and hassle and bustle of the Christmas season and to add some sparkle and tittleation in between.

La Soiree 2017/2018

La Soiree 2017/2018

Beginning with a life-size black female puppet ‘singing’ to the tune of the disco classic ‘if you could read my mind’ – it’s a great way to start the show. Then we are treated to new acts to make this show that a blend of cabaret, comedy, circus and burlesque. The Chilly Brothers, both muscular, handsome and young, will wow you with their skills of tossing each other to and fro, enough so to take yur breathe away. Directly from India and their first time in London, the superb Mallakhamb India featuring Rajesh Amrale with Rajesh Rao will mesmerize you their acrobatic pole skills, all the while happily smiling! The beautiful and dazzling Lea Hinz is on the arial hoop, literally twirling over the head of the audiences! LJ Marles spins and twirls while his feet are tied around a strap – it’s mind blowing and breathe taking! The genetically gifted Klodi Dabkiewicz and Leon Fagbemi perform an intimate dance routine that will leave you panting. But it’s Fancy Chance, who, at the the end of the show, will literally leave you breathless as she dangles over the stage which just her hair attached to a crd – how she does I’ve got no idea – but she’s fabulous!

There’s lots more to this two hour show, including the sexy du La Serviette, two sexy men who dance and prance around the stage with only a towel to protect their modesty. But La Soirée is a show that needs to be told in photos, so here’s a selection of some of the performers:

Aldwych Theatre
49 Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF
Box office: 0845 200 7981
www.nederlander.co.uk

24 November 2017 – 3 February 2018

La Soirée Performance Schedule
Monday – Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 6pm & 9pm
Tickets from £19.50

La Soirée may contain nudity and is recommended for ages 17+

La Petite Soirée (A family friendly show) – 1 hur shw Performance Schedule
Saturday – 3pm
Extra performances on 27, 28, 29, 30 December 2017 & 2 January 2018

Tickets from £15

La Petite Soirée family friendly performances are suitable for all ages

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20th Dec2017

La Boheme (Theatre)

by timbaros

Becca Marriott as Mimi & Roger Paterson as Ralph in LA BOHEME. Credit Scott RylanderLa Bohéme, an opera in four acts, had its world premiere in 1896 in Turin, Italy. Since then, it’s been copied and re-interpreted in so many different ways that each version is unique in its own way. Another re-incarnation of this very famous opera has just recently opened up at Trafalgar Square Studios, and it’s definitely one Londoners can identify with.

This version of La Bohéme, written by Adam Spreadbury-Maher and Becca Marriott, had it’s debut at the King’s Head Theatre last year. And luckily for us it’s making a return in a central London venue. Set in present-day East London, the show presents to us broke and down and out young men and women who can barely scrap together money for the rent, or in one case, to buy drugs. Ralph and Mark (Roger Paterson and Thomas Isherwood) are roommates in a flat on Christmas Eve in Dalston, and when someone knocks on their door they instinctively hide because they suspect it’s their landlord collecting rent – they even have a window that acts as a back door to escape. Then there is Mimi (Marriott), broke and very thin, and always cold, who finds her way into the boys’ flat and meets Ralph – they have an instant connection and take a liking to each other. Then there is Musetta (Honey Rouhani), who, with her beautiful looks and luscious lips and curves that go on for miles, is the troublemaker and ingénue who sweeps in and out and leaves her mark. If these characters sound familiar, they also make up some of the cast of the characters of ‘Rent’ – that classic 1990’s musical rock opera that won a slew of awards with very memorable songs such as Seasons of Love and 525,600 minutes, Rent has withstood the test of time as one of the greatest musicals ever made. La Bohéme is also very good – it’s a musical for this generation, a generation that seems to live life through their mobile phones 24/7. And this La Bohéme involves a bit of audience unparticipation – Musetta gets cozy with some uncomfortable-looking male members of the audience, while Mimi asks for spare change – it’s surreal and hard hitting but even more so when those who get asked all shake their heads and say no, with a look of guilt on their faces. Trafalgar Studios is quite a cozy place to put on a show this big, but it works. The cast are all amazing, and by the end I almost really believed what I saw was real. The cast (some of the actors rotate with other actors on various nights) are accompanied by the Musical Director, Panaretos Kryiatzidis, on piano and Alison Holford on cello. It’s a must see!

La Bohéme is now playing at Trafalgar Studios until January 6, 2018

http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/la-boheme/trafalgar-studios/

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03rd Dec2017

Boys in the Buff (Theatre)

by timbaros

20479984_10154538926482811_3827610590174843124_n CROPThe Full Monty. Naked Boys Singing. And put Boys in the Buff in that category.

Yes, these are shows where the male cast take their clothes off and sing and act (a bit) for the audience. Of course, The Full Monty was the biggest of the bunch (biggest I mean most popular – ahem). Naked Boys Singing was the gayest, and Boys in the Buff is in a category all by itself – the campiest!

Four goodlooking young men, and a voluptuous compere, entertain us with their flare, razzle dazzle, and their bits (well not the compere – who is female!) in a show with witty and cute songs and dialogue but perhaps lacking in good taste, and in a couple cases, passable acting! But singing, and acting, is not what this show is all about – we’re left in anticipation of waiting, and wanting, for the boys to take their clothes off. In the meanwhile, we are treated to really fun songs like ’Size Doesn’t Matter,’ ‘Does My Bum Look Big in This,’ and ‘Let it All Hang Out,’ and dreadful ones that include ‘Dancing in the Semi-Nude’ and ‘My Foreskin and Me.’ There’s also audience participation much to the delight (not) of the audience. But in the intimate confines of the Kings Head Theatre, where the first two rows are so close to the stage it’s almost a crime, the boys really pour out their hearts, and display their bits, for us soldieringly. Adam Mroz is so cute and sexy, you just want to take him home and put him in your bookshelf! Hunky Adam O’Shea, who was in the original production at the Lost Theatre this past summer, brings his muscles with him, – he’s certainly got pecs-appeal! Daniel Timoney is along for the ride, as is Eli Caldwell. But Shani Cantor is just fab fab fab as the hostess with the mostest! All in all it’s one hour of fun!!!

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05th Nov2017

The Exorcist (Theatre)

by timbaros

036_The-Exorcist_Clare-Louise-Connolly-Regan_Pamela-Raith-Photography
A show about a young girl possessed by the devil is now scaring audiences in the West End in London.

Her name is Regan, and she is 12 years old. She once used to be a playful little girl, happy, singing, always with a smile on her face. Then one day she started mentioning to her mom that she had an imaginary friend in her room. This friend, which went by the name Captain Howdy, would talk to her, and tell her to do things. But eventually Captain Howdy started to take over her life, and her body, while mysterious and strange goings on take place in the house (windows opening, doors not closing, strange writing on the wall). But the worst was yet to come. Regan started to harm herself, and harm others, and the sight of blood didn’t phase her. But she was becoming extremely dangerous, not just to herself, but to the people in her household, which includes her actress mother’s best friend and film director Burke Dennings. At some point Regan needs to be tied to her bed, and it’s then, and only then, that we realize that Regan is possessed by the devil. She spews vomit, turns her head in a 360 degree angle, and levitates over her bed – actions that only can be performed by something that is very very evil – not of this world. Regan’s mother by this time has lost her wits – she doesn’t understand and can’t cope with all this, so she brings in Father Damien Karras whose job it is to determine if Regan is actually possessed, and soon enough he realizes this is the case. So it’s time for the Exorcism and it will take the work, and expertise, of one Father Merrin to free Regan of the evil inside of her, an evil that could kill Regan if it’s not exorcised out of her in time.

Based on the hit, and terrifying movie of the same name, and now cleverly adapted for the stage by John Pielmeier, ‘The Exorcist’ is scaring audiences at The Phoenix Theatre, and scaring is putting it mildly. What the director, Sean Mathias, and cast have done is to have successfully brought the story to a live audience and all of it’s bone chilling and terrifying moments. With the excellent performance by Clare Louise Connolly who lives and breathes Regan and the voice of the devil by Ian McKellan in tandem they practically make is a believeable experience. Peter Bowles chews up his scenes as Father Merrin and Adam Garcia is a very good as Karras while Tristram Wymark as Dennings has the much needed funny lines in the show to relieve the chills. ‘The Exorcist’ is downright scary, not suitable for children, but nice and scary for the adults. Perfect for this time of year.

Booking to 10 March 2018

Monday – Thursday 8pm
‘Friday is Fright-Night’ 6pm evening and ‘Fright Night late show’ 9pm
Saturday 4pm and 8pm

http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-exorcist/phoenix-theatre/
0844 871 7629

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22nd Oct2017

Hair (Theatre)

by timbaros

e3f465_1b89f804d4bc4479b321eedfe4969b4d~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2‘Hair’, the original naked musical, is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary in a new production at The Vaults in London. Is the message that it sent in the hippie lovin’ 60’s still relevant today? You betcha.

When ‘Hair’ was originally produced off Broadway in New York City in 1967, it’s message of anti-establishment and free love, anti-war, and it’s display of full frontal nudity shocked audiences back then, leading to more publicity and packed houses. Now that we have Donald Trump in the most powerful office in the world, and with the UK ready to break off from the EU, and not to mention the political and socioeconomic changes happening around the world, ‘Hair’s’ message is perhaps more relevant than ever before. But is it actually a good show?

In the tiny, cozy and very hot theatre that is The Vaults under Waterloo station, 14 actors playing hippies sing and dance and sway their young lithe bodies all over the dirt floor that is the stage, and for one brief moment at the very end of the first half, they all get naked. And before and after in the second half, we are sung and spoken to by these youngsters as they tell their anti-war tales and burn their draft cards and the unlucky ones who are sent to fight in a war but come back with limbs, and emotions, gone.

Yet all the favorite songs are here, songs that include ‘Aquarius,’ ‘Good Morning Starshine,’ and ‘Let the Sunshine In,’ songs that make this show famous, more so than the script. So if you’ve never actually seen ‘Hair’ performed, go and see it now as this might be your last opportunity, but don’t expect to be wowed and awed in this production, though it might help if you take some stimulants to get you through the evening as this show is as mellow as can be.

For tickets, please click here:

https://www.thevaults.london/hair-the-musical

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08th Oct2017

The Toxic Avenger (Theatre)

by timbaros

THE TOXIC AVENGER THE MUSICAL 1 Mark Anderson as Toxie Phorto Irina Chira

There’s a monster loose at The Arts Theatre in London; it’s toxic, it smells, and it’s completely hilarious!

It’s “The Toxic Avenger,” the show that was originally a movie (circa 1984) and just last year played at The Southwark Playhouse to rave reviews. Well, “The Toxic Avenger” is getting revenge by coming back to a much larger theatre, with a superb cast!

In a nutshell, the show takes place in New Jersey. You know the place, people only pass through there to get to the bright lights and big city of New York. Well, New Jersey is where the denizens of Manhattan dispose of all of it’s waste – not just garbage but everything and anything that they don’t want, New Jersey, unfortunately, gets.

But in a town called Tromaville, New Jersey, which gets the worst of the wasted, there is nerd and aspiring earth scientist Melvin Ferd the Third (Mark Anderson), his mom Ma Ferd (Natalie Hope), Sarah the blind librarian (Emma Salvo), and host of other characters played by Ché Francis and Oscar Conlon-Morray, named appropriately as black dude and white dude. But when Melvin decides to find out who is responsible for the vats of toxic waste in Tromaville, he plans to put a stop to it. His investigation leads to the Mayor (Hope again), but when she finds out Melvin is on her case, she gets her two goons to get rid of Melvin, and they throw him into a vat of toxic sludge. But Melvin does not get killed, he comes back bigger and better than ever – he’s been transformed into “The Toxic Avenger” (a/k/a Toxie)!

Toxie attempts to get his revenge, but in the meantime blind librarian Sarah has a thing for him because she thinks he’s French (though when Toxie was Melvin he had a huge crush on her but she rebuffed him). Meanwhile the Mayor is still up to no good and vows to kill Toxie no matter what it takes. But hilarity (and lots of physical comedy) ensue; lots of running on and off the stage by the cast, Sarah doing everything she can to get with Toxie, and the brilliant Hope has a scene with herself as both the Mayor and Ms. Ferd – and one time she’s on stage as both characters! It’s a tour de force performance! Will Sarah and Toxie find love with each other? Will the corrupt Mayor have her way and turn Tromaville into more of a toxic waste dump? Will the front row of the audience escape unscathed? You will have to find out and buy tickets to this must-see show. And did I mention that it’s a musical? Everything you want and more is this show! And the cast are brilliant! It’s hard to single out any one performer, but I’m going to. Of course Hope gets the most exercise (and laughs) as both the Mayor and Melvin’s mother, but it’s Salvo’s performance that is most memorable because she’s playing a bind woman, and it’s so believable! And she’s so funny! Kudos to the cast, and production team, including director Benji Sperring, for bringing us a show that’s one not too miss. It’s got everything a musical should have; escapism, fantasy, great story, amazing performances, and some rocking songs. Buy tickets for this show now!

From Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (original founding member and keyboardist/vocalist for Bon Jovi), the Tony Award-winning team behind the hit West End musical ‘Memphis,“ “The Toxic Avenger The Musical” is now playing at The Arts Theatre in London until December 3, 2017.
https://artstheatrewestend.co.uk/whats-on/the-toxic-avenger/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyPyZ8Jzd1gIVB5UbCh3pcQKkEAAYAiAAEgL_GPD_BwE

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22nd Sep2017

Holding the Man (Theatre)

by timbaros

stag watermark holding the man4“Holding the Man” is a show that will rip your heart out and reduce you to tears.

Now playing at Above the Stag Theatre in Vauxhall, it’s true story of two Australian men, Timothy Conigrave and John Caleo, who fall in love in the late 1970’s, who have their ups and downs during the 1980’s, and who both are diagnosed with the HIV virus and must deal with not only death knocking on their door but also the shortened time they have to be together. The show is based on the 1995 book by Conigrave, and was written by Tommy Murphy. Most of you might have already seen the excellent 2015 film, or previous London productions (including the 2010 production at Trafalgar Studios). The Above the Stage production is just as hard-hitting.

It’s the storytelling and the extremely strong performances of the cast at the Above the Stag that rate this production five stars. Jamie Barnard is excellent as Conigrave while Ben Boskovic as Caleo eerily captures his quietness and reserve. Both actors bring to this production a strength and resolute to their roles that they are almost living out these characters lives right in front of us. From the beginning of the show, we can feel that these two men were meant to be together. But this being the early 80’s, not much was known about HIV, so unfortunately, and I’m not giving anything away here because it’s a well-known story, AIDS was to rear it’s ugly head directly at these two young, beautiful men.

“Holding the Man” takes us on a heart stopping and heartbreaking journey while we travel with them in their relationship with each other in life, and in death. And it’s Barnard and Boskovic who take us on this remarkable journey. Joshua Cole as a best friend of the two men provide welcome comic relief in a show that’s very serious: he’s charming and has the best lines in the play. Faye Wilson adds some much needed sparkle as another one of the boys friends, while Liam Burke, Annabel Pemberton, and Robert Thompson round out the ensemble in various roles as parents, friends and fellow students. One scene that includes the whole cast is a hilarious masturbation scene that’s cleverly done and something I’ve never seen on stage before.

But’s is the relationship between these two men that is at the heart and soul of this show. Director Gene David Kirk keeps the drama up and running while designer David Shields provides an excellent minimalist backdrop so the audience can focus on the story, and acting, unfolding right before our very eyes..Kudos to Above the Stag Theatre for producing a serious, dramatic and extremely well-acted show that’s a welcome relief from their previous camp and silly previous productions. Categorise “Holding the Man” as a must see!

For tickets, please go to:

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19th Sep2017

Five Guys Named Moe (Theatre)

by timbaros

Five Guys Named Moe

There’s a new theatre in town, it’s fabulous, and the show now playing at this theatre is fabulous as well.

The Marble Arch Theatre, which is an Underbelly production (the team that brings us the excellent shows in the Southbank), is cleverly located right next to the arch in Marble Arch, is the newest theatre to pop up in London. It’s a gorgeous 650 seater wooden structure that includes a very large bar and an auditorium with a stage that is semi-circle in the round, a design that reflects the 1940’s New Orleans Jazz bars. And theatregoers will be able to take their seats at the cabaret tables in the Funky Butt Club and have drinks served directly to their tables for an up-close and personal musical experience all around them. And the show at this new theatre is “Five Guys Named Moe,” which is a show about Five Guys Named Moe (Big, Little, Eat, Know and Four-Eyed) who give guidance, advise and support to Nomax, who is single, broke and lamenting about a broken relationship with a woman named Lorraine. The Moes sing and dance their way throughout this two hour very lively extravaganza, while Nomax (played by Edward Baruwa) takes it all in. Songs, featuring the hits of original jazz king Louis Jordan, include “Early in the Morning,” “I Like ‘em Like That,” “Safe, Sane and Single,” and “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” are sung by the Moes in such a fun and unique style. And there is also quite a bit of audience participation. One member of the audience who was chosen to recite some sentences on the night I saw it, and it was none other than stage and movie star Freddie Fox. The Audience also gets to outdo each other, with the help of the Moes, in a sing-a-long that provides raucous laughter. It’s the oldest trick in the book to include the audience in the show to make sure they are having a great time, and the Moes use it to their advantage.

“Five Guys Named Moe” is based on a musical of the same name by Jordan in 1943, and has been around since it’s 1990 UK debut (and a 2010 UK revival). With a book by Clarke Peters, if feels like this show has never left London. But if you’ve already seen it, seeing it again at the new Marble Arch Theatre will be a whole new experience, and perhaps more of an enjoyable one in a setting that matches the fun and frivolity of the show. Kudos to all the Moes who make it a fun night out (Ian Carlyle, Idriss Kargbo, Dex Lee, Horace Oliver and Emile Ruddock) and to Underbelly for copying their successful formula to Marble Arch, and to the production team for pulling it off and producing one big party.

They’ve just announced that “Five Guys Named Moe” has been extended to 17 February 2018 due to overwhelmingly popular demand. Tickets are on sale now, get yours here:
https://www.fiveguysmusical.com

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17th Sep2017

Footloose (Theatre)

by timbaros

Kevin Bacon became a worldwide star in the 1984 hit film. And while there have been lots of stage versions produced after this, “Footloose,” no matter how many times you’ve seen it or have hummed the title song, will always bring a smile to your face.

Footloose-6-1024x683-1Another revival, now at the Peacock Theatre near Aldwych, and arriving into London right after a UK tour, keeps the toe tapping alive with the show about a small town that has banned dancing, and the young out-of-towner who plans to shake things up.

Rem McCormack (Joshua Dowen) and his mom Ethel (Lindsay Goodhand) move from their hometown in Chicago to the very small town of Bomont after Rem’s father left the family home to go ‘find himself.’ Rem integrates into his new school, filled with all sorts of people (though none of them, curiously, are black). His fellow students include Willard (Gareth Gates, who gets star billing) and the minister’s daughter Ariel (Hannah Price). It comes to light that the powerful minister, the Reverend Shaw (Reuven Gershon), has banned dancing in town because five years ago his young son and three others were killed in a car crash, no doubt, according to the minister, caused by the kid’s night out of having too much fun and possibly drinking.

But Rem wants to have fun, but at the same time can’t seem to hold down a job due to his motto of trying to do the right thing, and he’s gotten off on the wrong foot with Ariel’s boyfriend Chuck (Connor Going – who strangely disappears during the middle of the show but returns for the finale). The other kids end up getting Rem to speak up for them at the city council meeting to denounce the dancing ban while it’s no surprise that Rem and Ariel have the hots for each other. It’s lots of loose feet, catchy tunes, a hot and sexy cast and way too many crotch jokes that make this version of “Footloose” a slight winner.

The music and the talented cast make the show very entertaining, but the show as a whole could be better. While all the film’s hits are included (“Footloose” of course, “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” as well as “Holding Out for a Hero”), with some of the arrangements of these songs a bit different that what we’re used to, some of the other songs make a very big thud, including the dismal “Heaven Help Me” sung by Gershon. However, “Somebody’s Eyes” is beautifully sung by most of the cast in a very memorable scene. So while there are more ups then downs, the cast at the end of show work very very hard to get their standing ovation, practically repeating, in very shortened versions, almost every catchy and lively song from the show. And even though Gates gets top billing (and he even takes his top off to reveal an absolutely stunning body), both Dowen and Price are the true stars of the show. Their chemistry on stage is very real – both very good looking with all-American looks. Director Racky Plews and Choreographer Matthew Cole have, almost, done Kevin Bacon proud.

For tickets to Footloose, please go here:

http://footloose-musical.com

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