Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Garrick Theatre | Review
Showstopper!
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 7th June 2021 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★
It's hard to say what you'll enjoy about Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, because as the name suggests, every show is different but what you can expect is to laugh like there's no tomorrow, see an array of outstanding performances, watch some truly wacky goings on and overall to have a really good time.
The basic structure is that the audience are invited to put in suggestions for settings, themes, musicals, styles and composers and then the Showstoppers team make these into a stagey spectacle like no other. Whilst this was previously done via the audience shouting from their seats, thanks to Rona, it now takes place via tweets or texts, which are then voted for via which one gets the loudest claps and feet stamps.
Last night's suggestions included a Deep South setting, a school reunion and the winning choice: a dog show where the prize pup had been murdered. Limitless possibilities provided the most entertaining show, full of various twists and turns, a selection of plot points and a surprising amount of character development. No one was who they claimed to be and the ending really was a surprise.
As the host with the most, Dylan Emery took control of the proceedings, often popping in with suggestions for character moments and musical styles (Hamilton and The Phantom of the Opera were two highlights) as well as adding some great guitar backing.
The entire cast: Pippa Evans, Adam Meggido, Justin Brett and Lucy Trodd gave performances that more than anything just had the audience in awe. It's quite amazing how they can be so stellar whilst improvising and working so tightly as a team. Craig Apps on percussion and Chris Ash on keys kept the music flowing as they seamless transitioned between styles and interacted brilliantly with the cast.
The comedic timing of the whole cast is second to none and it felt so wonderful to be at a theatre, genuinely laughing and having a good time after such a trying year. There's not much more to say than GET A TICKET. Showstopper! is a treat that will always be unexpected but outstanding.
Photo by Hugo Glendinning
Thursday, 3 June 2021
Becoming Mila by Estelle Maskame Book Review
Becoming Mila by Estelle Maskame
Published: 3rd June 2021 by Ink Road
★★★★
Estelle Maskame is a writing fiend, having had her first book published at age seventeen, she has gone onto publish a further five books, all of which received critical acclaim and huge love and support from her fanbase. Becoming Mila is the latest offering and the first instalment in a new trilogy about a teenage girl who is sent back to her off the grid Tennessee place of birth, so she doesn't show her film star father up close to the premiere of his new movie.
This is a great coming of age story as well as a romance and like Estelle's other books, it reads incredibly well and has you hooked from the get go. Estelle is brilliant at getting the angst and tension of new relationships on the page and from the first encounter between love interests Blake and Mila, there is a frisson of energy that starts and never lets up. The romance itself is very cute and I love how developed the characters are not only as a pair, but individually too. A lot of layers are added even to the side characters and there's so much scope for the subsequent books in the series.
I did however, find a slight disconnect at times between the writing and the characters. Mila and Blake sometimes come across much more mature than sixteen year olds whilst, the writing feels aimed at younger teens. This had no negative impact on the story but I do think it would be really interesting and exciting to read a more grown up, New Adult style book from Estelle. I'm sure it's only a matter of time!
As lead characters, Blake and Mila are extremely likeable. Mila is multi-faceted and really sure of her own mind, she faces problems head on and it's really refreshing to see a couple who communicate so well. Blake is a semi-bad-boy who you can't help but fall for. A lover of country music, he's pretty swoon worthy from the moment he nicknames Mila. The friendships are also incredibly sweet (I have a suspicious things may be not quite as they seem as the series continues) with Savannah playing a big role. There are also some lovely familial aspects, especially between Mila, her aunt and her grandpa- very wholesome.
Becoming Mila is a treat of a book though and the carefree, contemporary vibes are perfect for a quick beach read. Sizzling levels of angst, musical interludes and a couple you really root for make it a surefire summer hit... just be ready to need the second book as soon as you finish.
{AD PR product- book gifted in exchange for honest review}
Friday, 28 May 2021
Public Domain, Vaudeville Theatre | Review
Public Domain
Vaudeville Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 27th May by Olivia Mitchell
★★★
Francesca Forristal and Jordan Paul Clarke first premiered their verbatim musical Public Domain in January as part of the Southwark Playhouse's lockdown streaming series. Directed by Adam Lenson, they have moved to the Vaudeville Theatre to bring their fresh, British musical to in person audiences.
Public Domain is interesting in the way that it doesn't have a fixed narrative or structure. Instead it's a melange of different characters' lives and their journeys with social media. There are two influencers, Z who drops out of school at 16 to make YouTube his career but who really doesn't know what he's doing with his life; and Millie, a health and lifestyle vlogger who is all about the #positivevibes. Alongside these two, we also hear mostly from Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr Priscilla Chan. A number of other characters, all played by the extremely talented Francesca Forristal and Jordan Paul Clarke (who also wrote the book, lyrics and orchestrations) join together to take us back to the roots of Facebook and see how what started as a harmless way of keeping in contact, has become so ingrained in our everyday lives without us even realising.
The set is simple but effective, with Libby Todd setting up see through screens that separate the actors and the audience, a clever nod to the divide between online personalities and their viewers. The space in the middle becomes the "real world" and the screens also provide the backdrop for a selection of extremely well done projections by Matt Powell. In a show about technology, it's delightful that there is so much of it used so well. The video overlays of real life comments made by Mark Zuckerberg amongst others are seamlessly woven in and the virtual choir who join for one number work really well. Cameo's by Donald Trump and George Bush also feel painfully poignant.
The verbatim musical takes quotes directly from posts, tweets, videos and other online content to create a semi-real, semi-distorted reality which is moved along by an entertaining techno-pop score. Forristal and Clarke are relentless and excellent in their performances and they cleverly highlight the struggles and contradictions of today's social media world, however, it does end up feeling a little one layer.
Whilst the topics covered are very affecting, especially that of the Facebook content moderators who were left scarred by watching hundreds of videos of abuse and murder, it was overall very 'the internet sucks, we're in an endless cycle of bad things'. Which to an extent is obviously true, but it would have been interesting to have a little balance with the more positive, community driven, wholesome sides of social media. There is a heart-warming moment with some senior citizens discussing their use of the internet but the positives felt somewhat outdated and brushed over.
That's not to say this isn't a good show though and aside from anything, it's a real treat to see a new, British musical paving the way in the West End. The music is incredibly catchy and the overall presentation of the show is great, it just feels like it's almost scratching the surface of what social media is, and what message the show wants to put across. This will certainly be a musical that has many iterations and it will be very interesting to see how it grows and changes alongside social media.
photos by Jane Hobson
Thursday, 27 May 2021
Here Come the Boys, London Palladium | Review
Here Come The Boys
London Palladium
Reviewed on Wednesday 26th May by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Here comes the sun, here comes the bank holiday, here comes some form of normality and most importantly, Here Come The Boys. In their West End transfer, following a successful UK tour, four of Strictly's favourite boys take to the stage to showcase their impeccable dance skills and take us on a journey of styles and music.
Backed by an excellent ensemble of professional dancers, Aljaž Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Robin Windsor and Graziano di Prima are joined by Strictly celebrity finalist Karim Zeroual, who also hosts the night in a fiercely entertaining dance contest. The audience play they key role in "deciding" who wins each round and ultimately becomes the King of Dance. The boys are also joined by Nadiya Bychkova who is utterly brilliant and serves some girl power realness throughout.
A latin filled first half, followed by a ballroom and swing filled second half mean there's something for everyone, with Karim's tiktok segment also proving an audience favourite. The selection of top 40 music, combined with great mash ups and reworked versions of classics works really well, and the resident DJ does a great job of engaging the crowd, although it perhaps would be nice to have some aspect of live performance, just to add some extra oomph.
It's a show which knows exactly what it is and thrives off of giving the audience completely what they want. Of course the dancing is outstanding but aside from that there is witty banter between the performers on stage and cheeky smiles, winks and bum-wiggles with the audience.
Here Come The Boys almost feels like the winning combo of Magic Mike and Strictly Come Dancing. There are moments that feel highly cheesy but what else would you expect? It's a really fun, glitzy and enjoyable night out that'll leave you smiling and tapping your toes, what more could you want?
Photos by Fiona Whyte for The TCB Group
Tuesday, 25 May 2021
Monday Night at the Apollo, Apollo Theatre | Review
Monday Night at the Apollo
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 24th May by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Since my last trip to the theatre in December, I have been dreaming of starting my week enveloped in the stagey comfort of musical theatre and I am oh so happy that last night my dream came true. Created by Wild Mountain Productions and presented by Greg Barnett, a spectacular lineup were brought to the stage of the Apollo to take us through a night of vocal gymnastics, diversity, humour and just a bunch of fun in the first instalment of Monday Night at the Apollo.
You couldn't have gotten a much better bunch than the first five performers in the series: Aimie Atkinson, Cassidy Janson, Lucie Jones, Cedric Neal and Julian Ovenden. Every artist gave powerhouse performances, as well as bouncing off one another and highlighting the fantastic camaraderie and community that comes along with the world of theatre.
After a lockdown of creating content online, forming a girl band and most recently performing on This Morning, seeing Aimie Atkinson back on stage was a real treat. Don't Rain On My Parade felt very apt as we all hold our breath hoping theatres can remain open and Aimie's performance was top notch. Sparkles galore, being a complete professional during technical difficulties and serving sassy vocals were the best reminders of why Aimie is quickly becoming West End royalty.
If you search "riff legend", it should really show a whole host of pictures and videos of Cedric Neal who is the definition of control. His smooth, pin-sharp vocals are passionate and utterly mesmerising. It's also incredibly impressive to see and hear how versatile he is as a performer, with So You Wanted to see the Wizard and Hold Me in Your Heart showcasing contrasting vibes but both being completely absorbing and joys to watch.
As always, Lucie Jones provided not only the most stunningly dexterous, ice clear and faultless vocals, but also showed off her excellent humour and stage presence which create a perfect performance. At this point I think Lucie just needs to star in everything and sing everything!
I also wouldn't complain if Julian Ovenden started singing everything, including phone books, instruction manuals, weather reports etc... His absolute dream of a voice carried so well throughout the night and I found myself in complete awe of the the technical ability he displays in every note. He really is a masterclass in the importance of support, diction and classical technique. All of his songs were honestly just joyous to hear.
Completing the line up, recent Olivier Award winner Cassidy Janson brought her usual magnetism and soulful vocals to the Apollo as she performed a variety of songs, with Nobody's on Nobody's Side proving a real highlight.
The evening absolutely wouldn't have been the musical success it was without the stellar band who both backed the singers and also shed light on the importance of live music. The synchronicity and musicality was evident throughout and it really seemed like everyone was thrilled to be back on stage. The simplistic stage adorned by rugs and bathed in warm light worked brilliantly to create a welcoming atmosphere.
Also streaming online via Thespie the future Monday Night at the Apollo events are sure to be complete treats and the perfect way to bring back the stageyness we've all been missing.
photo credit: Danny Kaan
Monday, 23 November 2020
The Digi Creative release Theatrical Coffee Table Book
The Digi Creative release Dear Audience, a theatrical coffee table book filled with over 140 pages showcasing the Arts industry. With exclusive imagery, personalised letters to the Audiences, and more, this book is a celebration of Theatre and everyone who works in it.
Featuring Lucie Jones, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Cedric Neal, Lambert Jackson Productions, Layton Williams, Alice Fearn, Nicole Raquel Dennis, Rachel Tucker, Carl Man, Paul Taylor-Mills, Sejal Keshwala, Frances Ruffelle and so many more.
15% of profits will be donated to Applause For Thought a triple award-winning organisation that facilitates lower-cost Mental Health; support, talks, accredited courses, and bespoke Mental Health and Well-being Consultancy for all those working within the Arts and Entertainment Industry.
Digi Creative co-founder, Sophie Ross says: “We hope that this coffee table book will bring joy in a time when the Arts industry needs to be celebrated the most. Theatre is made up of so many people, (this being just a small percentage) and it’s important to showcase that at every given opportunity. I’m so proud of Danny and I for creating something that is an homage to this year and something we can look back on in years to come. Super grateful for everyone who gave up their time to be involved and can’t wait to share the book with everyone.”
Digi Creative co-founder, Danny Kaan says: I’ve always wanted to make a coffee table book but making it in 2020 feels even more special. The number of people that were willing to be involved was overwhelming and shows how supportive this industry is and how passionate we all are for the Arts. Combining Photography and my love for this industry has been a joy and I’ve honestly had the best time. Seeing so many faces in a time where human contact has been so limited has been heartwarming and wonderful”.
Pre-order the book here: www.dearaudiencebook.com (Christmas guarantee)
General on-sale Wednesday 25th November 10am (second batch delivery)
Pricing £35 with worldwide shipping available
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