Posts with the label new victoria theatre
Showing posts with label new victoria theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new victoria theatre. Show all posts
Tuesday 3 July 2018
Thriller Live (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Thriller Live (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 2nd July 2018 by Valerie Field
★★★★
Thriller Live is currently running in the West End as well as being on a UK Tour. Whilst theres no plot, it's clear that audiences are loving it due to it celebrating and drawing together the songs of music legend, Michael Jackson in a glitzy, concert format.
As soon as the show began the two leading performers, Britt Quentin and Shaquille Maurice Hemmans involved the audience and took us from a theatre to a concert. This audience/cast co-ordination lasted throughout the entire night and provided a lot of fun.
The performances of all the cast, dancers and singers were great, with not a weak link among them. The individuals who stood out to me most were Rory Taylor, especially with his moving performance of She's Out of My Life and Adriana Louise who gave a vocally exceptional performance throughout. Also, the young boy singing as Michael was outstanding.
Eddy Lima's resemblance of the Great Michael Jackson was
uncanny at times; especially when he did the iconic moonwalk across the stage. It was almost as if he transformed into Michael in front of our eyes.
Another interesting part of the show were the special effects which worked very well, especially the screens on stage which again add to the concert vibe. I was very surprised when the screens opened to reveal the fabulous band who kept the night going with energy and precision. Mention must go to the two guitarists, Alan Salmon and Rob Minns who were fantastic.
The show's namesake, Thriller, was performed towards the end of the second half and although the set and costumes and performances were good I felt they could have made more of it.
However, all in all this is a great feel good show and a fantastic celebration of Michael Jackson songs through the ages. Don't go for a plot but if you want a fun night out with good music, Thriller Live is well worth a visit.
Thriller Live runs at the New Victoria theatre until July 7th before continuing it's tour.
Friday 1 June 2018
Shrek (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Shrek (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 31st May 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Leaving the theatre after seeing Shrek, my nieces had beaming smiles on their faces and said "it was amaaaaaaaaazing", if that's not testament enough to the show then I don't know what is. This show is aimed at children, and they clearly love it.
If for some reason you've never heard of Shrek, it tells the story of an ogre whose swamp has been invaded by fairytale characters, banished there by leader of Duloc, Lord Farquaad. Shrek is sent on a mission to save a princess from a tower who is more than meets the eye.
Steffan Harri bursts onto the stage with energy and a brilliant portrayal of the iconic Scottish ogre. Steffan is a joy to watch; he genuinely seems to enjoy his time on stage as well as providing some beautiful singing, especially during Who I'd Be. There is a depth to Shrek which is lovely to see played out on stage and he emotively puts the message across that being yourself is the best way to live.
As Shrek's companion, Marcus Ayton is hilarious as Donkey. Marcus is close enough to the original portrayal by Eddie Murphy that the character from the film isn't lost, but unique enough to still keep the role surprising. Marcus has sass and facial expressions for days and is truly joyous to watch on stage. Plus his voice is killer!
Laura Main is energetic and eccentric in her portrayal of Princess Fiona. She puts a smile of your face whilst providing a humourous, vocally strong performance. Her chemistry with Steffan is also great and the pair bounce off one another well, especially during I Think I Got You Beat.
Samuel J Holmes is certainly the stand out of the show as Lord Farquaad. His quick humour and stage presence are outstanding. I'm sure everyone mentions how bruised his knees must be, but it's seriously impressive that he moves with such agility every night. Samuel knows how to work both the audience and his cast mates; particularly humourous last night was when he picked up a dropped cloth mid monologue and asked his guard to take it back to costume. This not only had the audience in stitches but also had his cast mates evidently hiding laughter.
All the iconic fairytale characters also appear in the show, with Jemma Revell as Gingy and the Sugar Plum Fairy stealing her scenes with her insanely good vocals. Equally as brilliant is Lucinda Shaw who plays the Dragon and the Fairy Godmother. Her voice is off the charts good and I can't wait to see what other roles she tackles in the future as she's surely destined for stardom.
This production is smooth and exciting, with great lighting and sparkle to make it a magical show for children and adults alike. One thing which fell flat personally, was I Know It's Today. As someone who's never seen the show before, I was only aware of this song, performed so brilliantly by Sutton Foster. In previous productions it's staged with a young Princess Fiona, a teenage Fiona and the current adult Fiona but in this production the two youths are replaced by puppets. This is most likely due to costs which is understandable but it was a little too cheesy for me.
This is a great family show that fans of the film series will love. Solid performances all round, clever songs and a whole load of musical theatre references thrown in, Shrek is certain to thrill anyone who sees it.
Shrek runs at the New Victoria Theatre until June 10th, before continuing it's tour.
photo credit: Helen Maybanks
Wednesday 23 May 2018
Summer Holiday: The Musical (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Summer Holiday: The Musical (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 22nd May 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Based on the 1963 Cliff Richard hit, Summer Holiday: The Musical, taps into nostalgia and humour as a group of youngsters hop on a bus to live their dreams and go on a whirlwind adventure of self-discovery and love. The story follows four mechanics who, on a quest for the perfect summer holiday, travel around Europe on a double-decker bus as they plan a travel business. Along the way they meet a three person girl group and a runaway singer. Romance, laughter and catchy songs ensue.
Having not seen the film (it came out 33 years before I was born) I was not sure what to expect but this production delivered on so many levels and pleasantly surprised me. The humour is predictable and the plot isn't anything special but this is a high-energy, feel good show that's perfect for warm summer nights of escapism.
The set is basic but the big red bus certainly provides the wow factor. Steve Howell's design is simplistic without being basic and really helps highlight Racky Plews' fantastic choreography which is certainly one of the finest aspects of the production. The mixture of dance styles are extremely impressive. There are some West Side Story vibes as well as fabulous rock and roll moments. I didn't expect this show to be so choreography heavy but was very dazzled. The sleek movements are pulled off by the entire cast to great affect. There were a few errors such as dropped props but the professional cast did a wonderful job of covering up and making mistakes a part of the show.
Summer Holiday's cast give high-energy performances matched with strong vocals. Ray Quinn as Don gives an especially strong performance although his different accent whilst singing vs speaking did throw me a bit. However, he is a very strong singer, dancer and actor and is perfect for the role- suitably cheesy but well-rounded. As runaway singer, Sophie Matthew gives a lovely performance, with her bright eyes gleaming from the stage and her vocals shining during act two especially.
Each cast member does a great job of looking as though they're having fun on stage. This show is a real team piece with everyone working together well; particular stand out's are Billy Roberts as Steve and Alice Baker as Alma.
Summer Holiday: The Musical is lighthearted fun, perfect for those who want to reminisce on the 60s as well as those experiencing the story with fresh eyes. Take a break from the weight of the world and board the red bus for a few hours of carefree, musical fun.
Summer Holiday: The Musical runs at the New Victoria Theatre until May 26th before continuing it's UK tour.
Wednesday 25 April 2018
Son of a Preacher Man (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Son of a Preacher Man (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 24th April 2018 by Valerie Field
★★
Son of a Preacher Man is directed by Craig Revel Horwood. Based on the music of Dusty Springfield, I expected good things. Unfortunately the story is not very believable and times the production felt disjointed and rather amateurish.
As I have never seen any of Craig's work before it’s difficult to compare, but I wouldn’t have thought this was his best.
The three main characters are brought together because they are all looking for love. They decide to go to ‘Soho’ to find the record shop of the 60s named ‘The Preacher Man’ as they had heard the owner was someone who everyone went to for advice, especially when it came to ‘Love’. Unfortunately the owner had died and it was now a coffee shop run by his not so clever son, played by Nigel Richards.
Alison, a young widow played by Michelle Gayle had a very good singing voice. I felt she should have been more involved in the show as Alice Barlow who played Kat was definitely not such a good singer, although she came across as very confident in her acting. The reason she wanted to go to the record shop was because her gran who had just died told her the story of ‘The Preacher Man’
Paul played by Michael Howe remembers going to shop in the 60’s and was hoping to rekindle a lost love from those days.
I felt the show had been advertised around Dusty Springfield and I was disappointed that more was not mentioned about her as I thought the production was going to include some of her life. A photo of her on stage or as a backdrop I feel would have enhanced her songs and made some form of connection rather than being completely unrelated.
The singing by the ensemble was not the best and I don’t think it worked very well having the musicians on stage throughout. The girls playing the Cappuccino Sisters however, were very energetic and a gave a lively and uplifting performance throughout.
The second half of the show was so much better and more lively and ‘Dusty Springfield’ inspired although it still wasn't the best.
I do feel anyone going to see it because of Dusty Springfield could be a bit disappointed, but in saying that it was an entertaining and enjoyable evening and the audience seemed to appreciate it. Go along for fun but don't expect a masterpiece.
Son of a Preacher Man runs at the New Victoria Theatre until 28th April
Wednesday 18 April 2018
The Rat Pack- Live From Las Vegas (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
The Rat Pack- Live From Las Vegas (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 17th April 2018 by Valerie Field
★★★★
The Rat Pack Live opens with Garrett Phillips who plays Sinatra introducing himself and the show and trying to get the audience participation go. Unfortunately this didn't quite work out as the theatre was very under-booked.
Once this initial opening was over and the show got going everyone enjoyed his performance. He has a great voice and even the look of Frank Sinatra. In fact if you closed your eyes it could have been him. Philips really knows how to channel the musical master.
Nigel Casey also has a good voice but unfortunately doesn't come across as relaxed and cool as his character Dean Martin. There was a change of actor at the last minute for Sammy Davis Jr. He was played by last night by Darren Charles who I must say was a very good entertainer but didn't quite come across as his character.
Part way through the show we are introduced to the Burelli Sisters played by Laura Darton, Amelia Adams-Pearce and Joanna Walters. This brings glamour and a bit of pizzazz to the show as their performances are very, very good.
The late appearance of Nicola Emmanuel as Ella Fitzgerald really lifts the show as she is fantastic- it's a shame she is not utilised more in the show.
The orchestra are great and all the music and songs are brilliantly and energetically performed. Unfortunately for the cast the theatre was fairly empty but the audience who were there were very appreciative and gave them a standing ovation after the rousing rendition of My Way.
Anyone who is Sinatra fan will enjoy the show. The music is nostalgic, well performed and provides fantastic entertainment. The Rat Pack- Live From Las Vegas is well worth a visit and I had a very enjoyable evening.
The Rat Pack- Live at Las Vegas runs at the New Victoria Theatre until 21st April before continuing it's tour.
Monday 26 March 2018
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 20th October 2017 by Glenys Balchin
★★★★
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, hit musical tribute show featuring Lejaune André, the star of The Magic of Motown, playing homage to Stevie Wonder.
The show included many of Stevie’s extensive memorable songs featuring the Grammy award winning Signed, Sealed, Delivered as well as Superstition, Higher Ground, Master Blaster, Sir Duke, Part-Time Lover, Isn’t She Lovely and the biggest international hit of all time – I just Called To Say I Love You, plus many, many more!
The performance tonight was really a show of two halves Lejaune André being Stevie and then Lejaune as himself singing Stevie Wonders music. Although, he remained dressed as Stevie with the braids for the second half so I found that a little disjointed visually.
He was joined on stage by a seven-piece band and four backing vocalists, who were all good musicians and singers but at times seemed not to be at ease on the stage or uniformed in their overall performance collectively. Two vocalists Portia and Nathan delivered a more polished performance than the other couple.
The same can be said for the band the brass, percussionist and drummer section were more in tune with the overall stage performance than the keyboards and guitarists. The two guitarists really did not look like they wanted to be on stage and were not engaging with the audience, so it was very distracting.
The same cannot be said, about Karen Straw who not only pulled off a polish performance on the trumpet, danced incredibly well, was energetic and mesmerising to watch
Lejaune Andre performance also, was well received by the audience and enjoyable to watch, if a little uncomfortable when he was first led onto the stage by the female vocalists, as Stevie Wonder.
The first half of the show had been hampered with technical difficulties and at times it was difficult to always hear the other singers but the second half was more enjoyable. The rendition of Happy Birthday had everyone up on their feet dancing in the aisles. The finale of Signed, Sealed and Delivered was executed well; the whole overall stage presence and performance of all the cast came together much better in the second part of the show.
That is why I would rate this show a four out of five and not a five, as there is room for improvement, a start would be for the guitarist and keyboard player to look like they wanted to be be on stage!
Tuesday 20 February 2018
Flashdance (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Flashdance (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 19th February 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★
If you want some ab-inspiration then Flashdance is the show for you. I saw the show in Wimbledon back in October and wasn't the biggest fan, however, knowing what to expect I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone seems a lot more settled into their roles and there was much more of a flow throughout.
Flashdance centres around the story of Alex, a welder who dreams of being a dancer and attending the distinguished Shipley Academy. On her journey she meets a dapper love interest who also happens to be the boss' son. Aside from this there are some other side plots such as Jimmy who wants to make it big as a comedian, his girlfriend Gloria being pulled into a seedy drug filled world at a rival club and the imminent job cuts for all the apprentices. With regards to these I feel the same as previously that they're not really explored enough to be of that much importance but I totally get that they have to be in there to pad out the show.
But Flashdance is all about the classic, big money numbers which are delivered with spades of energy and commitment. Hits such as 'Gloria', 'What A Feeling' and 'Manic' are instantly recognisable and work brilliantly to hype the audience up and draw them into the Flashdance world.
A lot of the other songs are a little unmemorable but they vigour they are performed with makes up for it. Joanne Clifton is exceptional as Alex. From Strictly fame she's of course known for her dance but seeing her on stage performing Matt Cole's choreography is extra special. She's magnetic and draws you in even when performing a group number. Her vocals are strong although at times I found her diction lacking but she is certainly cut out for the role and I can see why she has abs of steel from being that full out every night! As her rich-boy boyfriend, Ben Adams is equally as strong. Whilst his pop vocals are not commonplace in the musical theatre world, they are strong and fit with the character. The pair have a lovely chemistry and really draw you into the story.
I have to mention Colin Kiyani as Jimmy who again gave me Ben Platt vibrato vibes and Hollie-Ann Lowe who was versatile and vulnerable as his girlfriend, Gloria. Again, the two have a sweet chemistry. Sasha Latoya is vocally breathtaking and equally humourous whilst Sia Dauda and Demmileigh Foster (who is literally Victoria Hamilton-Barritt reincarnated) were full out in their high octane numbers as Kiki and Tess.
There were a few technical issues such as mics being too quiet and the irony wasn't missed when one of the girls' top wouldn't stay done up when singing about keeping her clothes on! Totally no ones fault though and a very small detail in a big production. I'm also not a big fan of megamixes at the end of shows but there's no denying that it got everyone up on their feet and in a good mood as they left the theatre.
Flashdance isn't the most astounding piece of theatre but it's high energy from start to finish with some memorable songs that'll definitely get stuck in your head. For a fun night out that'll leave you smiling and in my case, dancing round the house, then be sure to pay a visit to this 80s classic on stage.
Flashdance runs at the New Victoria Theatre until February 24th before continuing it's UK Tour.
Wednesday 22 November 2017
The Little Mermaid (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
The Little Mermaid
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 21st November 2017 by Melanie Mitchell
★★★★★
Being a ballet novice, having only seen 2 before, I was a little unsure what to expect from
this production. I have to say, that in my humble opinion, The Little Mermaid is a masterful
adaptation, especially as the idea to create a completely new ballet was only borne in
September 2016. David Nixon and his team have produced a stunning piece of work in only
13 months.
Most of us know the story of The Little Mermaid from the now famous Disney film and show,
however those of us, perhaps a bit older will remember the much darker and sinister tale by
Hans Christian Anderson. This is the tale on which the production is based.
After seeing the picture of a handsome young prince in a locket, Marilla a young mermaid
falls in love. On rescuing the prince from a shipwreck she longs to be with him and sacrifices
her beautiful voice in exchange for human life. Although she is able to walk, every step
causes her unimaginable pain, yet she is unable to cry. The principle dancer made this
feeling so palpable with her agonised movement and silent screams.
Disorientated the prince awakens and mistakes a passing girl for the owner of the beautiful
voice he had previously heard, the mermaid is now unable to tell him that it was her, shattering her dreams and aspirations. This production doesn’t have the happy ever after of
the Disney story and is true to the Hans Christian Anderson original with its moral core.
The staging and costumes are stunning, with the colours and fabrics perfectly reflecting the
magical dwellers of the sea and the hard solid land. Absolutely transporting the audience to
the ethereal reflective underwater world.
The dancers especially the principles and soloists are magnificent, moving with absolute
grace and ease. The strength of the male dancers is incredible with the females looking
absolutely weightless as if under the waves at times. I wondered how it would be possible to
give the impression of the graceful movements of the mermaids. This has certainly been
achieved and it is truly mesmerising.
The music, an original score composed by Sally Beamish is hauntingly beautiful throughout,
perfectly suiting and setting the tone and mood to every scene. It is played wonderfully by
the Northern Ballet Sinfonia, with John Pryce-Jones as its musical director.
This World Premiere production makes for a truly magical evening at the theatre. If you are
already a lover of the ballet, a newcomer as I am, or have never seen one, then I urge you to
see it if you can and be immersed into the mystical, magical underwater world.
Wednesday 27 September 2017
The Addams Family (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
The Addams Family (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 26th September 2017 by Valerie Field
★★★★
The spooky, kooky classic, The Addams Family has made its way to the New Victoria theatre, Woking in its spectacular UK tour.
The Addams Family first become known to the public in the 1960’s as a TV show, they then made their way to the big screen in 1991 and on finally to Broadway in 2010. This production is the first ever professional one in the UK and has received brilliant reviews since it opened.
The story is about the very weird and spooky family whose daughter, Wednesday falls in love with a ‘normal’ boy. This causes many problems and some hilarious situations and she tries to tell her overprotective family and discovers that no one is really as normal as they seem.
The energy was up right from the get go of the show. During the iconic opening theme tune music, the entire audience joined in with the signature clicks which was very funny and set the night off on a fantastic foot.
Carrie Hope Fletcher as Wednesday Addams and Cameron Blakely as Gomez were the stand out performances for me, with fantastic acting and singing from both. Cameron was suitably wacky and humourous whilst Carrie was suitably moody and full of love.
Samantha Womack looked great, but I felt that she didn't have the presence you would have expected from her character of Morticia. Whilst she looks the role and embodies the character well, she was a little underwhelming at times and could have played the character up a little more.
Les Dennis was unable to perform as Fester but his understudy, Scott Paige did very well as the man who’s in love with the moon. Dickon Gough' was the biggest surprise as Lurch. When he burst into song at the end, the whole audience were shocked at his fantastic voice.
All the scenery, stage sets and special effects were brilliant and all in all it was a very entertaining and enjoyable show. I would have liked it to be a little more spooky but its definitely worth a visit before the tour ends.
The Addams Family is at the New Victoria Theatre until September 30th before continuing its tour.
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