Friday, 23 October 2015
Dogfight in Concert, St James Theatre | Review
A number of the cast reprised their roles: Jamie Muscato, Laura Jane Matthewson, Cellen Chugg Jones, Nicholas Corre, Joshua Dowen, Ciaran Joyce, Amanda Minihan, Rebecca Trehearn and Samuel J. Weir, all of whom you could tell from their high energy, emotive performances and their beaming smiles in the curtain call, absolutely loved getting back into the Dogfight world.
Dogfight tells the story of three young Marines who on their last night at home seduce unsuspecting local girls to try and win a bet, but one Marine gets more than he bargained for when he falls in love with his unassuming and idealistic target. The story is told beautifully through a number of both upbeat and balladic songs with a folky feel, delivered perfectly by the whole cast.The young cast are incredibly talented and perform this cleverly written show flawlessly.
Matthewson portrayed a mesmerising, vulnerable but optimistic Rose, whilst Muscato was a greatly magnetic central character as Birdlace, starting out as a cavalier young buck and returning as a cracked man. By the end we understand the importance of love, friendship and pain, but perhaps one of the most important themes is the strength of women, something which is ever more resonant for audiences today. This was a truly magnificent concert and if/when it comes back to the West End, I would not hesitate to recommend seeing it to everybody.
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Pentatonix Track By Track Review
I have been waiting for this album for what seems like forever and I was not let down at all! In case you don't know, Pentatonix are an a capella group who have been making YouTube videos ever since they won The Sing-Off; they have amassed a huge following online and are becoming more and more popular everyday. This album is just the beginning of their world domination!
Monday, 19 October 2015
Shoshana Bean Concert, The Singer's Lounge | Review
Despite watching Shoshana online and listening to her albums for years, this was the first time I had seen her in concert, and with a 54 below vibe where you can order food and drinks whilst listening to some amazing music, the intimate venue provided the perfect atmosphere to witness the amazingness of Ms Bean.
Shoshana performed a mix of her own songs with some covers, including an amazing Broadwayified version of Blank Space by Taylor Swift. An infectious personality combined with absolutely killer vocals made the evening incredible with a number of anecdotes and jokes helping to create the perfect warm experience.
There's no way I can pick out a favourite song from the evening because everything was so fantastic but some of my favourite performances included 'This War',which was so touching, 'Start Tomorrow' in which Bean gave some motivational words about how sometimes the best thing to do is just to go through the hard times and to accept what's happening because it will always get better. Another stand out moment was when Bean and Luke Higgins (who also performed a beautiful song for his sister) were joined by Vula Malinga for a performance of the Whitney classic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'- complete with a Diva riff-off!
The amazing thing about Shoshana is not just her natural stage presence and charming personality, but her ability to make every song touch each person individually whilst showing off her crazy vocals: slaying the belting and riffing like its as simple as breathing. Shoshana is definitely a star and deserves so so much praise and recognition. For anyone reading this I urge you to listen to Shoshana's solo albums because I guarantee you will not be let down, and Shoshana, if you're reading this, please come back to London as soon as possible!
***** 5 out of 5 stars
Thursday, 15 October 2015
In The Heights, King's Cross Theatre | Review
From the moment I stepped into the King's Cross theatre and was transported from the busyness of London rush hour to a bustling Subway station in New York, I knew this show was going to be something special. I'd heard the buzz since previews began and with all the hype around Hamilton I was expecting great things from the brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and oh boy, I was not let down at all!
In The Heights is set over the course of 3 days and centres on a small community living in Washington Heights in the Northern tip of Manhattan- a place where the doors are always open, the music is always flowing and theres always gossip to be heard. The community is full of the hopes and dreams of those trying to build a better life whilst keeping their traditions with them. In The Heights won four Tony awards in 2008, a Grammy Award and was also nominated for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Miranda's mix of typical musical theatre melodies with a rap score perfectly creates an energy and story that you can't help but fall in love with. Combined with Drew McOnie's athletic, racy and hip-swivelling choreography the show has an urban salsa vibe which totally complements the West Side Story-esque plotline.
Each musical number is delivered impeccably by the stellar company and superb band. Sam MacKay's Usnavi tells the struggles of wanting to leave but needing to keeps his roots exquisitely; whilst Joe Aaron Reid's Benny combines both comedic and emotional scenes in a seemingly flawless way whilst interacting perfectly with the other characters namely Kevin (played by David Bedella) and Nina (played by Lily Frazer) both of whom's killer acting and vocals make every scene pop and flow. Jade Ewen's incredible belting skills are shown off in her portrayal of Vanessa and a special mention must go to Victoria Hamilton-Barritt who despite being heavily pregnant still manages to dance and sing like crazy! The whole company are harmonious and truly feel like the community they are portraying.
Luke Sheppard's production creates the perfect night out with an electrifying energy that will leave you wanting to salsa your way to the box office to book another night in Washington Heights.
***** 5 out of 5 stars
***** 5 out of 5 stars
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