Posts with the label daisy maywood
Showing posts with label daisy maywood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daisy maywood. Show all posts
Wednesday 17 October 2018
Company, Gielgud Theatre | Review
Company
Gielgud Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 16th October 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Marriage is the order of the day with Marianne Elliot and Chris Harper's gender-switched version of Company. Bobbi (formerly Bobby) has reached aged 35 and is surrounded by an endless barrage of questions about why she's single and when she's gong to become 'whole' and partner up.
Bunny Christie's set design is artwork of its own in the way it reflects the isolation one can feel in life, especially when living in a city which can make you feel small. The set is make up of cool neon framed cubes which interconnect to make up the various parts of Bobbi's life. The set also works well as its own character to contrast Bobbi. The cold stage is perfectly balanced by Bobbi's vibrant red dress so she always stands out amongst the others.
The show avoids a formal linear structure and instead jumps from tableau to tableau, which are linked by a reoccurring surprise birthday party. The spitfire force that leads the show is Rosalie Craig who is humourous, enticing and charming in the lead role, Bobbi. On stage for pretty much the entire show, Rosalie performs with the stamina and vocal agility of a true star and will no doubt receive much acclaim for her portrayal.
Our leading lady's married friends are an amusing group who have been given a modern makeover and been switched up to be more fitting for a contemporary audience. As the loving but smothering Paul and neurotic Jamie, Alex Gaummond and Jonathan Bailey are outstanding. Bailey's performance of Not Getting Married is a stellar tutorial in how to perform a patter song and he's a complete revelation in the role. The scene is entirely heightened and wholly hilarious. As the couple who are always playing a game of push and pull Sarah and Harry, Mel Giedroyc and Gavin Spokes are witty and very well performed. Susan (Daisy Maywood) and Peter (Ashley Campbell) are questioning whether marriage was the right choice for them whilst Jenny (Jennifer Saayeng) and David (Richard Henders) are settling and changing to keep one another happy. Our final couple are Joanne and Larry who mirror Bobbi a huge amount. As Larry Ben Lewis is sweet and giving, whilst his partner Joanne, played by musical theatre veteran Patti LuPone warns Bobbi of the downfalls of falling into what society expects of you and how life can be empty if you simply become a wife and a lady who lunch. As expected, she is a scene stealer who brings earth shattering vocals.
Bobbi's three boyfriends are played uniquely and faultlessly to highlight some of Bobbi's issues and struggles, whilst bringing a realness to the show that is easily relatable. Matthew Seadon-Young plays Theo, who has a past with Bobbi but their snaps with each other quickly bring to light why they didn't work out. Richard Fleeshman plays the dim but kind flight attendant, Andy very well; and George Blagden is the most hisptery-hipster ever in his portrayal of PJ. All three men deliver some stellar vocals and well rounded characters despite not having a huge amount of solo stage time each. The moment they join forces in You Could Drive a Person Crazy, with sleek choreography and super sharp Barber Shop harmonies, is one of the stand out moments of the production.
Company is a show for a 2018 audience. Well directed with boat loads of humour and an equal amount of subtlety, its opens up the question of whether marriage is for everyone and prompts us to examine our own choices. Take yourself down to the Gielgud Theatre to see the musical which is sure to sweep the next Olivier Awards.
photo credit: Brinkhoff/Mögenburg
Sunday 22 January 2017
Promises Promises, Southwark Playhouse | Review
Southwark Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 18th January 2017 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Promises Promises contains the only musical theatre score ever written by the great pop writer Burt Bacharach and his lyricist partner Hal David. Based on the 1960 film The Apartment, Promises Promises tells the story of Chuck Baxter, a junior executive (played by Gabriel Vick) at a leading New York insurance company who aims to climb the corporate ladder by loaning his apartment out to be used by his co-workers for their extra marital affairs. However, things get complicated when Baxter realises his boss is having an affair with the object of his affections Fran (played by Daisy Maywood.)
The story is straight forward, witty and instantly enjoyable. The two leads carry the show fantastically so the audience becomes instantly attached to the trials and tribulations of both their lives. This is helped by the intimacy of the Southwark Playhouse which seems to be providing hit after hit at the moment. The staging is simple but effective and the choreography fits wonderfully in the venue.
Gabriel Vick's Chuck is instantly likeable through his attractive sparkle and optimism. His asides to the audience are witty and well written and along with his characterised movements create a wonderfully relatable character.
Daisy Maywood as Fran is truly spectacular. She is strong and sensible whilst still having a vulnerable side in terms of dealing with her somewhat unrequited love. Maywood's voice is impeccable, with her performance of 'A House is Not a Home' being the definite stand out moment of the show.
At almost three hours, the musical could probably be edited and cut down slightly but its certainly a fabulous base. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole production and can see a West End transfer in the near future of this sparkling and heartwarming production.
Promises Promises is a joy to watch and although the storyline is extremely dated in terms of attitudes towards women it is a stunning period piece with plenty of heart.
The story is straight forward, witty and instantly enjoyable. The two leads carry the show fantastically so the audience becomes instantly attached to the trials and tribulations of both their lives. This is helped by the intimacy of the Southwark Playhouse which seems to be providing hit after hit at the moment. The staging is simple but effective and the choreography fits wonderfully in the venue.
Gabriel Vick's Chuck is instantly likeable through his attractive sparkle and optimism. His asides to the audience are witty and well written and along with his characterised movements create a wonderfully relatable character.
Daisy Maywood as Fran is truly spectacular. She is strong and sensible whilst still having a vulnerable side in terms of dealing with her somewhat unrequited love. Maywood's voice is impeccable, with her performance of 'A House is Not a Home' being the definite stand out moment of the show.
At almost three hours, the musical could probably be edited and cut down slightly but its certainly a fabulous base. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole production and can see a West End transfer in the near future of this sparkling and heartwarming production.
Promises Promises is a joy to watch and although the storyline is extremely dated in terms of attitudes towards women it is a stunning period piece with plenty of heart.
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