Posts with the label fringe
Showing posts with label fringe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fringe. Show all posts

Sunday 14 May 2017

Tick, Tick... Boom, Park Theatre | Review


Tick, Tick... Boom
Park Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday May 11th 2017 by Olivia Mitchell
★★
With the success of Bruce Guthrie's current production of Rent, one of the defining musicals of the 90s, it's not a surprise this revival of Tick, Tick... Boom! has come about. Originally written as a one man semi-autobiographical musical, Tick, Tick... Boom! portrays the years of struggle Jonathan Larson faced and acts as a bittersweet reminder of the triumphs he never got to see after his untimely and heartbreaking death on the eve of Rents opening off-Broadway.
Bronagh Lagan's production is nostalgic and intimate whilst providing a reflective look at the brooding and anxious story of Jonathan. The staging allows warmth and engagement throughout, with Chris Jenkins as the composer often making direct eye contact with the audience therefore allowing them to really feel part of the story and environment.
For any Rent fan this is a truly brilliant piece of theatre as there are so many parallels with Larson's life and the lives of those in Rent which are explored throughout. Namely where Jon and Michael are dreaming of escaping the life they're living. There are also musical moments which conjure up the same feelings as Rent and it's lovely to hear the roots of Larson's writing and what developed from this show. 
Larson's desire was to bring rock music into the world of musical theatre and this piece acts as a clear demonstration of that; providing moments of angsty drama as well as soaring glistening moments. The inner monologue is ever present but combined with moments of humour and sadness, the show has enough depth to keep the audience focussed and committed. Gareth Bretherton's band push the music along well and capture each side of the musical styles extremely well.
Joining Chris to make up the three piece cast are Jordan Shaw as the smooth toned best friend, Michael and Gillian Saker as the loving but conflicted girlfriend, Susan. All three have wonderful voices and fit the roles extremely well, seeming like true friends and giving very realistic performances. 
This is a lovely production which works well in the space and is overall very fun and entertaining. It's up close and personal, with some brilliant singing and performances which are worth a watch!
Tick, Tick... Boom! is on at the Park Theatre until 27th May 2017
Photo by: Claire Bilyard

Tick, Tick... Boom, Park Theatre | Review

Sunday 14 May 2017

Sunday 5 March 2017

Swifties,Theatre N16 | Review


Swifties
Theatre N16
Reviewed on Wednesday 1st March 2017 by Esther Matthews
★★

Swifties…To start, I didn’t hate it. Overall I could see what the script writer and director were trying to do however somewhere in the mix something went slightly wrong. 

Swifties, based on the French play The Maids written by Jean Genet, follows the lives of two girls who claim to be Taylor Swifts “Biggest Fans” and how their attempt to murder the superstar doesn’t quite go the way they wanted. Isabella Niloufar and Tanya Cubric were brilliant as the plays main characters. Their portrayal of two slightly mad teens was humorous but terrifying at the same time. They are ones to watch out for in the wider theatre circle. 

Theatre N16 is situated above a pub in Balham, it was the perfect setting for a play like this. The theatre itself was very small with only a handful of chairs to sit on making your experience very inclusive and intimate. The set was very minimal with simple lighting which pulled you into the scene. As an audience member sometimes big sets and props can capture your attention but the actors managed to keep you captivated throughout. 

I had a problem with the script. There didn’t seem to be any structure to it. The girls did a good job at improvising but overall the script lacked good dialogue and felt slow. The Maids is rarely done in large venues or professional theatre but I think it is a very relevant story with many important themes. In the current social climate this is the kind of work that needs to be noticed. It highlights the trouble that we as a nation have with race, gender and social media/celebrities. 

For such a small stage the director did a good job. Luke Davies has had rave reviews from his previous production and if this play transferred to a larger venue I can understand what his vision would be. 


I would recommend seeing Swifties, there are good and bad points to make about this production. It certainly leaves you with questions.  

Swifts runs at Theatre N16 until March 11th

Swifties,Theatre N16 | Review

Sunday 5 March 2017

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Curl Up and Die, Questors Theatre | Review

Curl Up and Die is a fabulous farce which will grip and thrill you.


Curl Up and Die
Questors Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 15th 
November 2016 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★½

Until fairly recently I was quite unaware of all the fringe theatre on offer in and around London but since I've discovered this thriving community I've witnessed some top-notch productions. Curl Up and Die was one of them. Admittedly I don't see that many plays but the ones I have seen have ranged from absolutely fantastic to downright dismal and although I'm not the most seasoned play reviewer I think I know how to spot a good one when I see it! Curl Up and Die is witty, well thought out and clever, all things which in my books, create an admirable play.

Curl Up and Die is set in the antiquated salon Ruth inherited from her aunt along with the ageing clientele who pay a mere £5 per appointment. Struggling to keep the salon open, Ruth's only hope is to win a £50k hair dressing competition run by Fab Hair Magazine.

The plot-line although somewhat simplistic, is intriguing and has a steady pace throughout keeping us invested and giggling throughout. There are a number of humourous moments throughout expressed by each lively cast member, especially the ditzy Bryony (Rose Edwards) who delivers some hilarious one liners! My personal favourite character was Gonky Blatent-Severs played hilariously by the beautiful Abigail Ribbans, she embodied the over the top, rich daddies-girl perfectly and had me laughing throughout.

It was interesting to see such a female led cast and it really epitomises girl power. Each character was very clearly thought out and it was obvious a lot of work has been done during the creative rehearsal process. It was also interesting that nearly all characters were on stage at all times, this created the frantic atmosphere required whilst also keeping the audience on their toes flittering their eyes to see what each character was up to.

Anna Longaretti has done a wonderful job writing and producing this unique play and I really look forward to seeing how it develops and if it will continue to have a long life after its limited run at the Questors Theatre. I certainly enjoyed it and at approximately an hour and a half its a perfect distraction for a short amount of time. If you're around the Ealing area definitely snap up a ticket and enjoy this fabulous production.

Curl Up and Die runs at the Questors Theatre until November 19th, tickets can be purchased at: http://www.questors.org.uk/event.aspx?id=614


Curl Up and Die, Questors Theatre | Review

Wednesday 16 November 2016