25th Feb2019

9 to 5 the Musical (Theatre)

by timbaros
9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL. Caroline Sheen 'Violet Newstead', Natalie McQueen 'Doralee Rhodes', Amber Davies 'Judy Bernly'. Photo Pamela RaithDolly, no last name needed, brings to the West End the musical of her huge song and hit film ‘9 to 5,’ and it’s a hoot!

How could we forget the film, which starred Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda as secretaries at Consolidated Companies who turn the tables on their misogynistic boss. The song has endured more so than the 1980 film, so it’s perfect that it’s been turned into a musical.

‘9 to 5 the Musical’ had a brief Broadway run in 2009 and finally it’s here in London at The Savoy Theatre. Natalie McQueen is just about perfect and a dead ringer for Parton in the role of Doralee Rhodes, secretary to the flirting and very handsy boss Franklin Hart Jr. (a very good and game Brian Conley). Amber Davies is in the Jane Fonda role as Violet Newstead, who is newly divorced and finds herself starting a new job at Consolidated, while Caroline Sheen is Lily Tomlin in the role of Judy Bernly, who has worked at the firm for years yet keeps on missing out on promotions that go to men. One day Judy accidentally puts rat poison in Mr. Hart’s coffee (or at least she thinks she did), but when Hart finds out he threatens to call the police so the ladies kidnap him and attempt to find dirt on him, which of course they do. But from start to finish, accompanied by fun songs and a dazzling set, and great performances from the cast (which also includes Bonnie Langford as busybody Roz Keith), ‘9 to 5 the Musical’ will drive you happy if you let it!!!

Of course, there are some cringe worthy moments, especially when Mr. Hart grabs his balls and plays with his nipples during one song (‘Here for You’), while society has moved on about this sort of treatment of women in the workplace with the #metoo movement in full force. But overlook these as we all have a good time watching the show. And it’s Dolly who is our narrator in the beginning, middle and ending (a video, not her in real life unfortunately) who sets up the story and then winds it up. ‘9 to 5’ is no longer a rich man’s game, it’s all for of us to enjoy! 
 
9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL plays at the Savoy Theatre, Savoy Court, until 31 August 2019. To buy tickets, please go here:
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25th Feb2019

Come From Away (Theatre)

by timbaros
1-Come-From-Away-lands-at-the-Phoenix-Theatre-on-30-January-2019-Credit-Matthew-Murphy-1Before September 11, 2001, no one had ever heard of the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland. But on that horrible, horrible day, the townspeople (no more than 10,000 people) welcomed in and took in 100’s and 100’s of people who were on Westbound planes that were diverted to this place in the middle of nowhere.
 
This story is told in the musical ‘Come from Away.’ Winning many awards in its Washington D.C. and Broadway runs, this popular show has arrived into London with much anticipation. And the show surely lives up to it.
 
Gander has a small airport, where the nearest Starbucks in 4 hours away, and where there are a total of 550 hotel rooms. But on 9/11, 6,579 people were grounded in Gander. And it was the townspeople who opened up their homes, and hospitality, to these passengers who at the time at arrival had no idea as to what was happening (this was before everyone had mobile phones). 
 
The characters in this show are based on (and is most cases share names of) real Gander residents and the passengers on these planes. The actors play both the passengers and citizens, switching roles every now and then. While it does get a bit confusing in the beginning, as the show rolls on and the music starts to kick in, ‘Come from Away’ gets more uplifting, until it, and the residents of Gander, have really won us over.
 
Beautiful songs such as ‘I Am Here’, beautifully sung by Cat Simmons, whose son was a firefighter in NYC, ‘Stop the World,’ sung by Robert Hands and Helen Hobson who were passengers and ended up falling in love, and ’Something’s Missing,’ sung by the entire company after the 9/11passengers all left Gander – show us how the human spirit was alive and well the week the world changed. With incredible book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and sharp direction by Christopher Ashley, ‘Come From Away’ may not only bring you to tears, but it will also lift up your spirits.
 
It had been announced that there will be afeature film adaptation of ‘Come from Away,’ with Sankoff and Hein writing the script and Christopher Ashley as director. I’m really looking forward to seeing the movie version of this moving and cathartic musical. 
Come From Away plays at the Phoenix Theatre until 19th September 2019. To buy tickets, please click here:
 
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25th Feb2019

Rip it Up (Theatre)

by timbaros
Rip It Up-9200T copyThe 60’s are back in the West End, and add a lot of dancing, throw in a few handsome pop stars, and what you have is an evening of very very light theatre.
‘Rip it Up,’ now playing at the Garrick Theatre, throws into the mix the best songs from the 60’s with beautiful choreography (by Gareth Walker, who is also the Director), and starring four former Strictly Come Dancing Contestants, and heartthrobs.
Louis Smith MBE (former Olympic gymnast and all around hunk), Aston Merrygold (former member of the X-Factor group JLS), Harry Judd (drummer in the worldwide famous pop group McFly), and last but not least Jan McGuiness (from The Wanted). These men, along with a bevy of young and sexy backup dancers, give it their all with fancy dance moves and upbeat music. But the best part of the show is the amazing singing by Jill Marie Cooper and Ant Brant. Cooper wins the audience over in her renditions of songs from Dionne Warwick to Jefferson Airplane, which lifts this show up a couple notches for without them this would’ve been just another jukebox musical without the jukebox.
All of the four male leads are fine, but they are not allowed to individually shine that much. Merrygold only gets to sing a couple songs, while we are treated to an all too short gymnastics routine by Smith (though luckily for he spends most of the time in the show either topless or wearing tight clothes). He is also a very graceful dancer. Judd is allowed a one minute drum solo (the audience wanted more), while McGuiness really doesn’t seem to offer much, though he tries his darndest to keep up with the dance moves.
Emcee Cavin Cornwall does a fine job guiding the audience through the different musical sounds of the 60’s, though he wobbles horribly through ‘Heard if Through the Grapevine‘. Videos of Lulu, Tony Blackburn, designer Zandra Rhodes and the indelible Dionne Warwick tell us what is was really like in the 60’s – show us don’t tell us! And Lulu actually comes on a few too many times.
But ultimately ‘Rip it Up’ will only appeal to fans of the X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing (of which all four stars have danced in). I can see this show selling out – in Blackpool, Bournemouth, etc. But for a London West End stage, it doesn’t quite feel right. 
 
‘Rip it Up’ is on until June 2, 2019
 
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