Posts with the label norman bowman
Showing posts with label norman bowman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label norman bowman. Show all posts
Wednesday 7 June 2023
Frankie and Beausy at Crazy Coqs review: A Spectacular Musical Showcase
Frankie and Beausy
Crazy Coqs
★★★★
Last night the Crazy Coqs played home to Frankie and Beausy, a high-end, West End musical extravaganza that left me thoroughly impressed. The talented duo, comprised of the fantastic Frances Ruffelle and the dashing Norman Bowman, created and performed a show with some magical moments. Under the skilful direction of Paul Baker, they took us on a captivating journey that began 26 years ago on a train station platform in Scotland.
The stage came alive as Beausy donned a Scottish tartan kilt and sporran, while Frankie exuded charm in her tartan bodice and platform shoes. Their outfits added a touch of punkish cheeky glamour to the already punchy and fun atmosphere of the show. With musical arrangements by David Barber, they delivered a medley of musical favourites, seamlessly transitioning from Brigadoon to Broadway, and from the Highlands to Hollywood. Their harmonies were beautifully blended, and they even treated us to a stunning rendition of Luther Vandross's 'A House is Not a Home'.
The grand finale was nothing short of spectacular, as they belted out The Proclaimers' iconic hit, 'I'm Gonna Be (500) Miles'. The backing trio, led by the talented Ryan McKenzie, also had their moment to shine with individual solos that had the entire audience clapping, tapping, and singing along. It was an electrifying experience that left everyone on a high.
I must say, I was blown away by the quality of this cabaret show. It was a must-see performance that exceeded my expectations. If you're lucky enough to secure a ticket, don't miss out on this gem. Otherwise, mark your calendars for their upcoming shows at 54 Below in New York this November. Frankie and Beausy are a true musical powerhouses, and their concert will provide an absolute delight for any theatre enthusiast.
Reviewed on Tuesday 6th June by Justin Woodgate
photo credit: Debbi Clark
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
Thursday 6 April 2017
42nd Street, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane | Review
42nd Street
★★★★★
It seems that 2017 is the year of old Hollywood musicals coming back into fashion. The West End is getting a smattering of big budget, glitzy, over the top glamorous productions and I'm certainly not complaining about it!
42nd Street is a timeless, Classic, toe-tapping 'backstage-musical' which is sure to be a hit. Telling the story of struggling performers trying to get their big Broadway break we see their trials and tribulations and meet the young chorus girl Peggy Sawyer as she is thrown into the manic theatre world with the chance of getting her big break.
The choreography (by Randy Skinner) is key in this show so if you're not big on dance heavy performances then it's not for you. Personally though, there's not much that's more exhilarating than a beaming stage full of crystals, colours and thunderous feet pulling off steps with ease and grace.
The show runs seamlessly with smooth costume changes, especially when a seemingly unorganised array of dresses suddenly arrange themselves into a sensational rainbow. Douglas W. Schmidt's set design is ambitious, exciting and magical and certainly creates a spectacle. The silhouette work is slick and spectacular and the moment when the mirror rises to show impeccable synchronised company work, there were audible gasps of awe from the audience. Every moment of this show is a complete extravaganza of brilliance and it's full of moments which will leave you open-mouthed.
The stars of the show are wonderfully cast, with Clare Halse portaying Peggy Sawyer's energy and vigour extremely well. Sheena Easton's vocals as the fading star Dorothy Brock are impeccable and Tom Lister as Julian Marsh is strong but charming and hits each note with dexterity.
Of course, this show would be nowhere as brilliant without its unblemished ensemble work. There are beaming smiles all round, faultless feet and enough energy to power the underground! The stage is filled with colour and life and each moment just works. The show is certainly one of the biggest and flashiest I've seen recently but everything fits and nothing feels too over the top. Everything has a place, nothing is there just for the flashiness, it all works to give the show drama whilst still remaining cohesive- utterly faultless.
42nd Street earned the royal seal of approval from the Duchess of Cambridge herself and I'm sure it will continue to be loved and praised by everyone who steps into the huge Theatre Royal. The stage is large, the cast is large and the whole thing is bigger and brighter than you can imagine. If you want to step back to the decades of glitz and glamour, be blown away by talent, have your ears tapped off and escape the real world for a few hours then 42nd Street is the show for you! Go see it and be prepared to tap all your way home!
Watch my 42nd Street vlog: https://youtu.be/-7FksKHBGoc
Thursday 6 October 2016
Murder Ballad, Arts Theatre | Review
Murder Ballad
The Arts Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 5th October 2016 by Olivia Mitchell
Reviewed on Wednesday 5th October 2016 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Press nights are always exciting but the atmosphere on this particular one was more electric than normal. If you're at all in the loop with the theatre community you must have heard about Murder Ballad! It seems to have been everywhere and since little snippets were released and previews began I'd only heard good things so I was super excited to finally see the show myself.
I'm one to encourage going into shows blind and this definitely one production to go into without looking up a synopsis. It's absolutely a show that you'll benefit from seeing with no preconceptions of the plot. All you need to know is that it follows three characters in a love triangle and a narrator who all merge into each others lives. Oh, and someone ends up dead! Intriguing right?!
The story is accompanied by a rock score which works well to give the story a sort of grounded realism. It really helps in the moments of anger and tension to build and crash and bring out every emotion on stage. This is a raw and gripping 90 minute fully-sung-through rock musical with love, darkness and death.
The cast of Murder Ballad are stellar and all give the outstanding performances you'd expect from these veterans of the stage. Kerry Ellis is a regular star of the West End and her portrayal of Sara really shows why. Her voice effortlessly glides into all the notes of this rock score. Her unique growl and rasp add a depth to the character and help to emphasise the emotions Sara feels, especially in the opening argument scene. The audience see the development of Sara's personality throughout and Kerry manages to capture all the little changes perfectly with an ease and innovativeness only seen in true stars. Her chemistry with Ramin Karimloo fills the whole room and they create a dark and believable pairing.
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| photo by Mark Brenner |
I have been a huge fan of Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for a long while now so was super excited to see her take on the deep, dark role of the narrator. Victoria's voice is on another level in this production; her sultry, beautiful tone completely fit the mysterious narrator. Not only is Victoria's voice insane but her facial expressions told a whole story of their own. No spoken or sung words were needed for Victoria to convey exactly what she was feeling, her little knowing glances into the audience conveyed 1000 words; its truly a joy to see how this lady owns the stage at all times!
Now onto the men... Ramin Karimloo is a favourite of the West End and Broadway alike with a number of huge roles under his belt. Most of his famous roles such as the Phantom and Valjean are more operatic, typical musical theatre roles so it was refreshing to see him showcase the rocky, raspy side of his voice as the dark and handsome Tom. As with Sara, we get to see a lot of character development with Tom, he goes from a young-lovesick boy to a possessive man in a short space of time and Ramin carries this transformation out with dexterity and all the nuances of the in-depth character are very clear.
Norman Bowman for me has one of the most underrated voices on the West End. He's starred in a number of shows but I personally don't hear enough about him. His voice blew me away whilst he played the role of the agreeable Michael and left me with chills at points. His character is less in depth that Ellis' and Karimloo's but he still achieves a well performed character arc.
Richard Kent's set design is innovative and adds a dimension to the show, making it exciting to watch and making you feel somewhat part of the action. The revolve cleverly highlights key moments and adds a nice flow to the show. The lighting is also very clever; from the single lightbulb on stage to the green and orange tinted lights later on; David Plater's design backs up the transitions of all the characters and heightens the tensions at the crucial points.
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| photo by Mark Brenner |
Sam Yates' direction has created a truly wonderful piece of contemporary theatre. Although I found the show to drag a little at the beginning, it soon picked up pace and I could physically feel my heart beating at points. The fantastic cast give faultless, lifelike performances which are so refreshing to see in these days of more fantastical productions. I truly enjoyed this show and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Its a unique, lively and deadly production which ticks all the boxes for an enjoyable night out! The realistic storyline and killer soundtrack are a deadly combination, leaving you on the edge of your seat, anticipating whats to come until the very last moment in this arresting production.
Murder Ballad is running at the Arts Theatre until December 3rd
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