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Thursday 30 November 2017
Miracle on 34th Street, Bridge House Theatre | Review
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play
Bridge House Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 29th November 2017 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★
I must admit that I had never heard of Penge until I received my invite to review the new production of Miracle on 34th Street at the Bridge House Theatre. Somehow it had slipped off my radar but I can now say that I'll definitely be visiting again and will be recommending people to take a trip to this gem of a theatre, above the Bridge House pub.
I couldn't have asked for a sweeter, more heart-warming show to welcome me to the Bridge House Theatre; Miracle on 34th Street tells the story of a young girl, Susan who doesn't believe in Father Christmas until she meets a mystical Santa Claus hired by her mother at Macy's. Her perspective and that of those around her begins to change as we follow this magical story which lights the imaginations and warms the hearts of everyone watching.
Adapted from the 1947 Lux Radio Broadcast, this production, directed by Guy Retallack, is staged as a live radio broadcast which is extremely interesting to watch. As the announcer and musical director, Jamie Ross leads Jon Lorenz's fetching score of original songs and new arrangements of Christmas classics with precision and draws the audience in from the moment he gives us the all clear to cheer and laugh to our hearts content.
Guy Retallack's direction makes the piece feel immersive but not conceited. We see the actors 'behind the scenes' when they introduce themselves and joke around with one another when they're sat down, but the performances are top notch and it feels like a well rounded theatrical piece. The various ad's about Penge and use of sounds effects are hilarious and very cleverly done.
The heart and soul of this show are of course the seven member cast. Jamie Ross is versatile and brilliant as he splits himself between being the Foley artist, accompanist, singer and actor! Amy Reitsma is extremely amusing in her various characters, from little children, to a receptionist; each role is unique, witty and she seamlessly transitions from accent to accent. Equally as versatile in his roles is Lewis Rae who gets laugh after laugh as he portrays a number of characters, including the hilariously uptight psychiatrist.
As Fred Gailey, Ellis Dackombe is charming and likeable with some stunning vocal moments. His chemistry with Lowenna Melrose as Doris is touching and they bounce off one another very well. Lowenna's transition from the straight-laced divorcee to the festive woman who loves and believes in Santa Claus is lovely to see unfold and she gives the role plenty of heart as does Emily Carewe as her daughter, Susan. Emily is suitably childlike whilst humourously grown up at the same time. As her belief grows, we see the joys Christmas really can bring to children around the world.
As our main man, Kris Kringle, Richard Albrecht is fantastically mystical and magical... I began to believe he really is Santa! The tight-knit cast work brilliantly together and its joyous to watch them perform.
I can't find a reason why you shouldn't see this show. It's festive, warm and provides the well needed break we all crave during these somewhat trying times! If you want to have your heart warmed and your imagination opened then get along to South East London and enjoy this sparkling, festive show!
Miracle on 34th Street runs at the Bridge House Theatre until December 23rd.
Tuesday 29 October 2019
The Girl on the Train (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
The Girl on the Train (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 28th October 2019 by Melanie Mitchell
★★★★
Having never read the book nor seen the film apart from the first 20 minutes, I was unsure what to expect from the stage version of Paula Hawkins' 2015 bestseller The Girl on the Train. I knew that it was a psychological thriller involving a girl, a lot of train journeys and a murder but that was all!
I was unsure how the train element of the story would be transferred on to a fairly small theatre stage, but thanks to the extremely clever set design by Anthony Banks accompanied by the atmospheric lighting from Jack Knowles and sound by Ben & Max Ringham, this was very successfully and effectively achieved.
The story focusses on Rachel Watson after the breakdown of her childless marriage. Her life begins to unravel and she sinks deeper and deeper into the bottom of a bottle. Whilst on her daily commute she starts to watch a couple on their balcony, living close to where she used to live. Convinced that they have the perfect life that she no longer has, she becomes fixated and obsessed by them. But as we all know, things aren’t always as perfect as they seem...
Samantha Womack plays the alcoholic Rachel superbly, conveying her feelings of inadequacy, confusion, loneliness and envy, interspersed with moments of laugh out loud one liners, that don’t take away from the drama at all.
All members of the production are very well cast, especially Adam Jackson Smith who portrays Rachel's caring ex and now perfect husband to Anna, played by Lowenna Melrose who also gives a strong performance.
As the story goes on it becomes increasingly apparent that people are often not living the lives that are seen and admired by outsiders or people looking in. Things are very different behind closed doors and when one of the characters disappears these facades begin to fall away, culminating in an unexpected twist, which I didn’t see coming. Altogether this is a very clever adaptation and production of the book, which takes you on a journey of human emotions and is well worth seeing.
The Girl on the Train runs at the New Victoria Theatre until 2nd November before continuing its tour.
photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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