Saturday 24 March 2018
Don Giovanni (Welsh National Opera Tour), Mayflower Theatre | Review
Don Giovanni (Welsh National Opera Tour)
Mayflower Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 22nd March 2018 by Lucy Jardine
★★★★
This performance of Don Giovanni was part of a short Welsh National Opera (WNO) season at the handsome, art deco Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. WNO are touring England and Wales until mid-April performing Don Giovanni, Tosca and La Forza del Destino and based on this performance I would recommend seeing any of the three productions if you can.
Don Giovanni is one of Mozart’s best known operas, first performed in Prague in 1787. The events take place in 18th century Seville and this production is true to the original setting, with elaborate costumes to match. The production is sung in Italian, but surtitled in English on a discreet display high above the stage, so you can easily follow the words and see where the story is heading.
Our hero – or anti-hero – is the amoral libertine Don Giovanni (played by Gavan Ring), whose only purpose in life is to seduce as many women as he can, using whatever mixture of money, deception & physical violence is necessary to complete the task.
Somewhat reluctantly aided and abetted by his servant, Leporello (David Stout), Giovanni attempts to seduce the newly-married peasant girl Zerlina (Katie Bray), while avoiding her husband Masetto (Gareth Bynmor John) and trying to elude his former lover, Donna Elvira (Elizabeth Watts), who cannot make up her mind whether the man who betrayed her deserves forgiving or murdering.
Meanwhile, Donna Anna (Emily Birsan), attended by her steadfast lover Don Ottavio (Benjamin Hullett), is bent on avenging the killing of her father, the Commendatore (Miklos Sebestyen), at the hands of a masked assailant who's eventually revealed to have been the Don himself.
As you might expect from the full title of the opera, “Il dissoluto punito, ossia il Don Giovanni” or “The Rake Punished, or, Don Giovanni”, things do not end well for our main character when he finally has to face something that he can’t bribe, beat up or outwit.
Overall this was an enjoyable performance with a strong cast, but Emily Birsan as Donna Anna and Katie Bray as Zerlina stood out for the combination of great singing and good acting they brought to their roles. David Stout as Leporello also outshone his master on a number of occasions.
photo credit: Richard Hubert Smith
Friday 23 March 2018
Tosca (Welsh National Opera Tour), Mayflower Theatre | Review
Tosca (Welsh National Opera Tour)
Mayflower Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Victoria Hayward
★★★★
Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre is a well presented 90 year old theatre with excellent acoustics and architectural surroundings. This provided the perfect setting for Puccini’s Tosca. After its first performance in Rome 118 years ago, Puccini’s Tosca is brought to life by the phenomenal Welsh National Opera (WNO), bringing a diverse audience along with it.
Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre is a well presented 90 year old theatre with excellent acoustics and architectural surroundings. This provided the perfect setting for Puccini’s Tosca. After its first performance in Rome 118 years ago, Puccini’s Tosca is brought to life by the phenomenal Welsh National Opera (WNO), bringing a diverse audience along with it.
Tosca is divided into three acts with two intervals. The curtain opened and conveyed the dimly lit church of Saint Andrea Della Valle. This is where we meet the first of our two lead gentlemen: Mario Cavaradossi played by the truly wonderful tenor Hector Sandoval; who is more than qualified after singing the title role of Don Carlos twice in Moscow. Hector’s Mario is a talented passionate lover, embroiled in a love so deep with his beau Floria Tosca.
Floria is played by our very own Hampshire leading lady Claire Rutter. Claire plays the role in a bouncy, vibrant and refreshing way and able to switch from lover to murderer easily and with conviction.
To Mario’s Tenor, Baron Scarpia’s baritone matched unequivocally. Mark S Doss’ portrayal of the venomous villain owned the production. With his masculinity taking over the stage every time he took his place, he delivered a strong yet vulnerable character.
To Mario’s Tenor, Baron Scarpia’s baritone matched unequivocally. Mark S Doss’ portrayal of the venomous villain owned the production. With his masculinity taking over the stage every time he took his place, he delivered a strong yet vulnerable character.
The magnificent orchestra during this production were expertly conducted by Timothy Burke who led them through the stunning and complex score. It was beautifully rehearsed which was clear from the impeccable timing.
One criticism would be that during the first act the orchestra out-volumed the singers on stage, although, this seemed to have been corrected by Act 2.
We must show gratitude to the scenery and stage design produced by Cardiff Theatrical Services. The glorious sets throughout really took the audience on a journey seen through the characters eyes.
If you, like me, have never been to the opera, you should not feel intimidated. The whole production was surtitled (not subtitled, as I have learnt) so you are able to see where the story is leading. The screens are above the stage and are placed discreetly so you are not drawn away from the performance.
Tosca is a great introduction to opera. It has an incredible score, an excellent cast and a flawless story. Filled with love, murder and tragedy it’s a whirlwind production sure to keep you on the edge of your seats. The audience were gripped from the very beginning.
I will leave you with this quote:
‘With a thousand kisses I shall seal your eyes,
and call you by a thousand names of love.
photo credit: Richard Hubert Smith
Thursday 22 March 2018
Misty, Bush Theatre | Review
Misty
Bush Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 21st March 2018 by Shaun Dicks
★★★★★
Arinzé Kene is a star on the rise. Playwright and Actor, he has endless noteworthy credits. Tonight’s viewing is Misty, written by and starring Kene. Misty is a show of two stories; the first being a story of a young man, travelling on the night bus in London, who makes a bad decision before unravelling. We follow him as events unfold. The second story is led not by a character but Kene the person. It follows his process of creating this show and all the negativity and hardship that he faced while doing it.
Firstly, Kene as a writer is outstanding. The script is fantastically interwoven with its dual narrative; the structuring and execution is positively breath-taking. This script is a masterpiece and a masterclass in how to create an effective, powerful and colourful script. Kene has found the right balance of intense, thought provoking and politically/racially charged material and mixing it with great wit and humour. There is an elegance in the script that is rare, the imagery is so vivid and clear- it is beautiful.
Kene as a performer is enthralling and captivating. He is a scintillating storyteller, with a presence second to none. Underscored by brilliant music, everything he delivered was real, honest and intense. The performance was outstanding, creating a very stirring and thought-provoking show. Everything is so well rounded, so complete, and incorporates multiple storytelling devices so effectively, that it becomes a show that needs to be seen, heard and enjoyed by everyone and anyone.
It is a show that needs recognition from the higher ups in awards. It needs thrusting in front of decision makers in Parliament. It is a show that legitimises itself and gives visibility to unrepresented issues.
Kene as a performer is enthralling and captivating. He is a scintillating storyteller, with a presence second to none. Underscored by brilliant music, everything he delivered was real, honest and intense. The performance was outstanding, creating a very stirring and thought-provoking show. Everything is so well rounded, so complete, and incorporates multiple storytelling devices so effectively, that it becomes a show that needs to be seen, heard and enjoyed by everyone and anyone.
It is a show that needs recognition from the higher ups in awards. It needs thrusting in front of decision makers in Parliament. It is a show that legitimises itself and gives visibility to unrepresented issues.
I have been watching theatre for eleven years, appreciating for the last five. This show is in my top three, of greatest shows I have ever seen. It is excellence and I cannot be happier or feel more privileged to have experienced it.
It is theatrical perfection. Go see it, tell everyone about it. Tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it, Tumblr it, Snapchat it. Make sure that this masterpiece is seen and heard. Give it the visibility that it deserves. Kene is a genius, plain and simple.
Misty runs at the Bush Theatre until April 21st.
Read Shaun's other reviews here.
photo credit: Helen Murray
Misty runs at the Bush Theatre until April 21st.
Read Shaun's other reviews here.
photo credit: Helen Murray
Wednesday 21 March 2018
The Lady with a Dog, Tabard Theatre | Review
The Lady with a Dog
Tabard Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 20th March 2018 by Shaun Dicks
★★★
Tonight, we find ourselves at a Chekhov piece. Not one of his plays but an adaptation of one of his short stories. The interesting thing when it comes to adaptations is that it can be either a hit or a miss, in this rare case, it was neither. We find ourselves following the story of two married couples, each with a spouse on holiday alone. They form a bond, and this story follows that bond through a certain length of time. This show tackles the themes of love, open relationships and age differences, all within an age where two out three were taboo. I’ll let you guess which two.
For me the show felt like a show of two halves, the first act seemed a little laboured. There was a lack of intent and pace that didn’t make me want to follow the story or the characters within it. The story itself is decent, it follows the formulaic way of presenting a story of infidelity but contained some interesting characters. The shows use of the spouses that weren’t on the holiday as a Greek chorus was an interesting and ultimately inspired device of storytelling.
However, despite the unnecessary interval, the second half was infinitely better. There was a drive in the second half that the first lacked. The intent shown by all members of cast in the second half really drove the story home and made me care about them as characters and the story of their lives unfolding. Each member of the cast was strong in their own ways but sadly there were a few weaknesses on show that do need improving.
One thing that does need improving overall is the script. The overuse of monologues within the text was arduous at times. The script needed to show more and tell less, it felt like the characters were giving us large amounts of information, when really, they should’ve shown us. Monologues are all well and good but give your audience some credit and let them receive information in a more interesting and creative way.
The Lady with A Dog is a decent show. It is neither good or bad. If you are near to the Tabard Theatre or a fan of Anton Chekhov, then I say go see the show. But if you are looking for something new and exciting, this show isn’t for you. The show needs work both on the performance side regarding pacing and intent but also from the writing side as the script is very formulaic and needs to make some changes before this show becomes something special. This show has the potential to be great and as a fan of Chekhov myself, I want it to achieve that. It just needs to develop to get there.
The Lady with a Dog runs at the Tabard Theatre until April 7th
photo credit: Andreas Lambis
Cilla (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Cilla (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 21st March 2018 by Melanie Mitchell
★★★★
Cilla The Musical, intertwines the story of the rise from teenage typist to number one singing star, with the evolving love story between her and her future husband Bobby Willis.
In the 1950’s Liverpool was becoming increasingly well known, worldwide, for its unique style of music known as the Mersey beat. It was in the clubs around Merseyside that the young Cilla White worked as a coat check girl, often performing on stage along side the likes of Gerry and the Pacemakers and most notably the Beatles. When Brian Epstein discovers the 20-year-old Cilla at the Blue Angel Jazz Club, her meteoric rise to fame begins.
The set design is superb, cleverly changing from the tiny flat in which Cilla lives with her family to the Clubs and streets of Liverpool. You really get the feeling for the area at the time and that you are part of the audience in the now legendary Cavern club.
The lighting changes throughout, reflecting the mood of each scene, especially in the second half when Cilla is an international star with her own UK TV show. My only criticism was that from where I was sitting at times it was quite blindingly bright.
Kara Lily Hayworth is simply superb as the young Cilla. She absolutely brings the character to life, showing not only Cilla’s humour and confidence but also her naivety of the industry at the time. Her Liverpudlian accent is excellent and if you closed your eyes you would of thought Cilla was in the room. Kara’s singing voice is absolutely faultless, perhaps a bit sweeter and dare I say more professional than our Cilla’s was. However, this is probably down to her classical training background.
Carl Au, plays Bobby Willis, Cilla’s long-time boyfriend who goes on to become her manager and Husband. Carl is totally believable in the part and has an extremely good singing voice.
The part of Brian Epstein is played by Andrew Lancel, an extremely talented performer who you may know from Coronation Street and The Bill. You may not know that he also has an excellent singing voice as well. He plays the tortured Epstein brilliantly, giving a sadness and poignancy to the role that I hadn’t expected.
The whole company give a sparkling, lively and energetic performance, especially when playing the various groups such as The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. However, the standout group performance for me was the casts portrayal of the Momma’s and the Poppa’s rendition of California Dreaming.
Cilla The Musical is showing at the New Victoria Theatre until 24th March 2018. Get a ticket if you still can, not only will you see some fabulous performances and hear some wonderful singing, you are guaranteed to have a most enjoyable evening and a Lorra Lorra fun!
photo credit: Matt Martin
Saturday 17 March 2018
Sondheim on Sondheim, Royal Festival Hall | Review
Sondheim on Sondheim
Royal Festival Hall
Reviewed on Thursday 15th March 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Stephen Sondheim is one of the most loved musical theatre composers ever but because so much of his music is deeply rooted into it's source shows, his songs are rarely performed in a revue style as it tends to make little sense. However, people often try to make it work which is how Sondheim on Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, was born. Instead of just being a series of songs, it includes footage and commentary from Stephen himself.
There is a mixture of biographical footage as well as more musically descriptive passages which meld into the live performances. Particularly effective moments were when Sondheim describes the various opening numbers for A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum before they're sung live, and when he explains the musical complexities of Sweeney Todd as Julian Ovenden gives a rousing rendition of Epiphany.
The cast of this concert were sublime, with some outstanding ensemble moments including the jazzy, extra-swung version of West Side Story's Something's Coming. Claire Moore and Liz Callaway are both spectacular, with their touching mash up of Losing My Mind and Not a Day Goes By being a stand out of the night as well as their solo performances of Send in the Clowns and Buddy's Eyes. Julian Ovenden showed off his powerful voice in a number of songs, especially the glorious Finishing the Hat from Sunday in the Park with George.
I felt that Rebecca Trehearn and Tyrone Huntley were underused in the concert. However, Rebecca's rendition of I Read and Tyrone's, Being Alive were absolutely wonderful. Both performers are firm favourites of mine and it was joyous to hear them backed by a full, flowing orchestra, even if it was only for a brief period. Damian Humbley replaced Ben Forster and provided some fantastic vocal moments, namely during Franklin Shepard, Inc.
Aside from the vocal performances, the BBC Concert Orchestra were splendid, however at times, especially in the first act, the balance between them and the performers just didn't work and led to very uneven sound. At points it seemed like the microphones were not working at all whilst at others it sounded over amplified.
Overall this was a beautifully moving concert with some light hearted moments as well as some more moving flashes such as when Sondheim describes his relationship with Oscar Hammerstein and talks candidly about receiving a letter from his mother saying she wished she never birthed him. I left the Royal Festival Hall in awe of the performers, in love with Sondheim's music and connected to him as a person. Of course we just saw him on screen but in his candid moments he came across as a genuinely kind person who adores music- something which we can all relate to.
Sondheim on Sondheim will be broadcast on Tuesday 20 March, 7.30pm on BBC Radio 3
photo credit: Mark Allan
Friday 16 March 2018
Female Parts: Shorts, Hoxton Hall | Review
Female Parts: Shorts
Hoxton Hall
Reviewed on Thursday 15th March 2018 by Nicola Louise
★★★★
Female Parts: Shorts tells the story of three very different women through their three very different monologues. A Woman Alone, An Immigrant and A Mother, each one battling their own series of events and demons.
The show opens in a living room, clothes hanging on the wall and baby things over tables and floor; the Women Alone busts into the living room singing and dancing her heart out, it’s not until she notices that a new neighbour has moved in that she starts talking. The Women Alone, played by Gehane Strehler, starts to describe her life as this happy fairy tale, it isn’t until we get further into the story that we realise appearances are not all they’re cracked up to be.
Strehler delivers a fantastic performance as a hard done by woman having to live her life according to her husband. The emotions she displays in this hour monologue pull you into the story wondering what her next move is.
The next monologue is from The Mother played by Rebecca Saire, a woman who just found out her son’s a terrorist. She asks the audience, ‘what would you do?’ You could see the pain in her eyes, as she asked herself: ‘why me?’ ‘what did I do?’. Saire takes you on a journey of love, hatred, and disgust in this 40-minute monologue and I wager a bet that you don’t come out of there questioning the way you look at terrorists and their families.
Saire talks us through a dream she had, being the mother of a terrorist and takes us through her experience. She’s able to add in other characters, completely different to herself and give them lives of their own.
The last performance was The Immigrant portrayed by Clare Perkins, a west indies woman whose dream was always something bigger than what her family had for her back home. She came to London, got an engineering degree, came home and got a job at the UWI (University of West Indies), got married and had a child.
The conversation was aimed towards the Imperial College London graduating class of 2018 where her daughter sat. Perkins spoke about the injustice of her going up into space, how, if she were a man, no paper would ever dare question her role as a parent, papers up and down the country were labelling her as the mother who abandoned her child. Perkins delivers an emotional speech of truth and realisation when she starts to address her daughter and it was refreshing to see that she knew she was more than just a mother … she was an astronaut.
Female Parts: Shorts is a moving and outstanding look at the highs and lows women go through and deserves to be seen.
Female Parts: Shorts is playing at Hoxton Hall until the 31st March 2018.
photo credit: Sharron Wallace
Wicked (UK Tour), Bristol Hippodrome | Review
Wicked (UK Tour)
Bristol Hippodrome
Reviewed on Thursday 15th February 2018 by Isobelle Desbrow
★★★★★
Come with me to the Emerald City...
Wicked is a phenomenal show that has been taking the West End by storm over it’s 11 year run and I’m pleased to say that the tour equally amazing. The cast couldn’t have been better and it was a privilege to be able to watch Glinda’s understudy take to the stage during the matinee performance at the Bristol Hippodrome.
Amy Ross’s Elphaba is the seamless combination of good and wicked. Every note she sings is bone chillingly beautiful and her stellar diction allows us to hear every word and become immersed in the story. A stand out was ‘Defying Gravity’ which was a perfect way to end Act 1 and left me eager so the final half.
Unfortunately Helen Woolfe (Glinda) wasn’t performing for this performance. Instead we were treated to the equally cheerful and Popular Charli Baptie who has an excellent voice and plays a fabulous, frilly, humourous Glinda who manages to have depth, light and shade in her performance.
The glorious music is note perfect and I was pleased that it was not too loud (as I have experienced previously) so dialogue could still be heard whilst it was being accompanied.
The dancing was crisp and spell blindly visually; whilst the cast’s singing made each song sound new and exciting. The quality of this tour is almost West End standard and I’d thoroughly recommend anyone who can’t get to London, to see this show as it flies round the UK on it’s current tour.
If you get the opportunity, spend One Short Day watching Wicked as it’s a tour not to be missed!
photo credit: Matt Crockett
Thursday 15 March 2018
Bat Out of Hell, Dominion Theatre | Press Launch
Yesterday afternoon I attended a strobe filled, electrifying press launch for Bat Out of Hell's sure-to-be-triumphant return to the West End as it prepares to take over the Dominion Theatre from April.
Now I must admit, I didn't adore the show when I saw it at it's Coliseum press night but I think that's because I had no idea what to expect. Seeing the performances yesterday put the show into a new light for me (quite literally) and made me really appreciate the skill and talent that goes into it. It's true that Bat Out of Hell has a very random and vague plot, but this show, the performances and the way its presented is unlike anything currently in the West End and for that it should be applauded.
The event took place at the American International Church; an out there choice for an out there musical. The brightness and space of the room perfectly showcased the music and the juxtaposition of a rock musical being performed in a church was really very special.
Once the doors opened we were ushered in, handed a branded notebook, pen and lanyard and shown the way to our seats to get a wonderful view of the wild performances. The pews and upstairs area quickly filled up with a selection of excited fans who'd won tickets, as well as press and other guests. For those that couldn't be there, the launch was also live-streamed and as we counted down to go live there was a buzz of excitement in the air.
The event was co-hosted by Planet Rock Radio and their presenter Paul Anthony who stepped out in a flash of light and introduced us to the rocking cast. From then on it was high energy entertainment as the cast performed five songs and showcased their talents brilliantly. The small venue felt like a full-scale arena as it was filled with loud, rock music, dry ice and lots and lots of lights. The cast opened with Bat out of Hell then performed Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, What Part of My Body Hurts The Most, Dead Ringer for Love and finally, the rousing I Would Do Anything For Love. The cast gave each song their all and seemed to genuinely be loving what they were doing.
After the performance we were invited to meet Andrew Polec, Christina Bennington, Sharon Sexton and Rob Fowler, we took a very quick photo and briefly congratulated them on their work before heading to the Dominion Theatre for some drinks and a sneak peek at the get in.
With a cast of 34 and 145 people on the payroll each night, everything about this show is big, including it's set which filled 17 containers and took 5 weeks to get back to London after the shows run in Canada. It was extremely impressive to see the hard work that goes in behind the scenes to make this show what it is and also to see how passionate everyone that's a part of it is.
Despite not being a number one fan of Bat Out of Hell when I made my way to this launch, I can now say that I am more than excited to see the show as its rocks, rolls and rages at it's new home, the Dominion Theatre from April 2nd. The energy, talent, passion and drive from the performers and everyone involved in this show is infectious and is sure to take the West End by storm on it's second run.
If you missed the livestream you can watch it here.
Post written by Olivia Mitchell, Editor
Cilla (UK Tour), Bristol Hippodrome | Review
Cilla: The Musical (UK Tour)
Bristol Hippodrome
Reviewed on Tuesday 13th March 2018 by Isobelle Desbrow
★★★★
Cilla: The Musical is a refreshing and fun new musical about the life of the one and only Cilla Black. Just a few years after her death it lovingly remembers her life as a singer and tv presenter.
Kara Lily Hayworth is a breath of fresh air; her wonderful characterisation of Cilla along with her strong Liverpudlian accent and blissfully wonderful singing voice would do Cilla proud. Her rendition of ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart' which drew he first half to an end is a performance I’ll never forget. With a flawlessly clear and powerful voice it really did give me goosebumps!
Kara Lily Hayworth is a breath of fresh air; her wonderful characterisation of Cilla along with her strong Liverpudlian accent and blissfully wonderful singing voice would do Cilla proud. Her rendition of ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart' which drew he first half to an end is a performance I’ll never forget. With a flawlessly clear and powerful voice it really did give me goosebumps!
The second act opened and was met with tears, laughter and applause. Unfortunately I’m unable to give a full review of the second act as there were 2 medical emergencies. However what I can say is that when the cast returned to the stage they were met with yet more applause. The whole cast were spectacular in closing and finished with a standing ovation.
It was wonderful to see so many different tributes to amazing bands and singers on the stage in one night, that thanks must go to the exceptionally talented musical director Scott Alder who managed to make The Pacemakers', The Beatles' and Cilla Black's music flow seamlessly.
This was a wonderful production, I only wish I had time to watch it again! All the cast and crew should be incredibly proud of themselves not only for their performances, but also for being able to end the show in such spectacular fashion even after a break.
Cilla runs at the Bristol Hippodrome until 17th March before continuing it's tour.
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