Thursday 2 March 2023
Sylvia, The Old Vic | Review
Sylvia
The Old Vic
★★★★
Following its 2018 'work in progress' run, Sylvia has returned to The Old Vic, this time as a fully staged production. Telling the story of Sylvia Pankhurst- the daughter of the supreme Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the Suffragette movement- the show is a fresh look at history, that feels inherently British in all the best ways.
The titular role is played by the utterly charming Sharon Rose, who gives a masterfully intimate performance, as well as showcasing her fantastic vocals. Sharon is really impressive at showing the gradual growth of Sylvia, as she finds her voice and what she stands for and feels continually authentic throughout. The character of Sylvia come across in a very relatable, endearing way and really allows the audience to root for her- a very special feeling.
This performance saw the debut of Hannah Khemoh as Emmeline Pankhurst. Really coming into her own towards the end, Hannah gave a commanding performance, with great vocals and really shone in moments when the whole family came together.
Completing the Pankhurst family are Ellena Vincent as Christabel and Kirstie Skivington as Adela, both of whom give impressive performances and show some wonderful character development. Kelly Agbowu is absolutely fantastic as Mrs Flora 'The General' Drummond, giving a truly commanding performance that's superbly entertaining.
A complete standout role, is Jay Perry as Winston Churchill, giving a performance which is so so enjoyable and witty that you can't help but side with him, even when he's stamping on the Suffragette movement! As his wife Clementine, Verity Blyth is a dream. Her beautiful voice soars around the auditorium and her witty, sweetly conniving performance is so enjoyable to watch. Rounding out the Churchill trio is the matriarch, Lady Jennie, played at this performance by Jade Hackett who is equally as strong, and provides some really unexpected moments that have the audience in the palm of her hand. Both Alex Gaumond and Sweeney provide vocal moments as Kier Hardie and Silvio Corio respectively.
This is definitely a show where the cast really take the forefront, with costuming and sets that are fairly simplistic, but that work exceptionally well. Andrzej Goulding's animation and video brilliantly add dimension to the show, whilst Natasha Chivers' lighting is both emotive and exciting. Combined with Ben Stones' set and costume, the show is a visual delight; at times almost feeling like a film. The black and white majority, combined with splashes of red is incredibly striking.
Whilst this is a musical which excels in many aspects, there are parts which don't quite hit the spot. At times the dialogue is somewhat clunky and some characters don't get enough development to be truly effective. Even Sylvia herself, only really comes into her own towards the end and it takes a bit too much time for her story to get going. The end of the show comes across rushed, with loose ends suddenly being tied up and Emmeline's character doing a complete 180. Of course the show is based on real events, but as it covers so many years, some moments don't get the justice they deserve, whilst others get a bit too much. However, musically the show is choc-a-block with fun, fiery moments. Kate Prince, Josh Cohen, and DJ Walde's score is exciting and multifaceted. The lyrics and musical styles, paired with the great humour that's woven in, feel perfectly British and are truly effective.
Sylvia is an innovative production which does a mostly great job at telling the story of some really powerful women. There are parts which come out of nowhere and moments when you feel a bit awkward, but at the same time you can't help but enjoy yourself! For the faults it has, this show remains a really fun night out, that boats a top notch cast and has a lot of charm.
Reviewed on Monday 27th February 2023 by Olivia Mitchell
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
Someone of Significance, The Vaults | Review
Someone of Significance
The Vaults
★★
Last night I attended a performance of Someone of Significance at The Vaults and unfortunately, it was one of the weaker shows I've seen at the festival. It basically chronicles the life of two business people and the issues they have when mixing work, politics and their social lives. In theory it could be entertaining, and whilst there are occasional moments and pieces of social commentary that make you think, overall it doesn't offer much and fails to really nail home any enduring messages.
The two hander written by Amalia Kontesi, is led well by Funlola Olufunwa (Rosie) and Simon Bass (Brad) who bring some elements of charm to their characters. The duo's chemistry isn't particularly strong but they do a good job of bringing the story to life, and have brief sparks where they really bounce off one another well. Unfortunately they've not got much to work with as the script itself is lacklustre and fails to be engaging. The pacing of the play is also quite slow, which make it difficult to maintain interest, even with it only being an hour long.
Additionally, the technical aspects of the production leave something to be desired. The lighting and sound effects are often out of sync with the action on stage, and the incessant costume changes between every scene feel completely unnecessary and take you out of the action continually. These issues are frequently distracting and make is very difficult to fully immerse yourself in the story.
Overall, while the show has some interesting moments, it never really develops any ideas enough and as a whole is an aggressively fine production. In its current form, the play doesn't feel like it has much to say. It would be much more interesting if it further developed its exploration of classism instead of trying to be a love story. The underwhelming script and strange scene changes definitely need tweaking to make any future versions of this show memorable enough to recommend.
Reviewed on Wednesday 1st March 2023
Photo credit: Vasiliki Verousi
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
Caligula and the Sea, The Vaults | Review
Caligula and the Sea
The Vaults
★★★
Caligula and the Sea is a beautiful theatrical experience, that really works within the setting of the Vaults Festival. The play does a good job at immersing its audience in a vivid and surreal world, and expertly brings scenes to life with minimal set and just a few well-crafted props. The performances are great, with each actor bringing a unique energy and presence to their role.
Noah Silverstone as Caligula has both a childlike innocence and an unstable menace that works well to bring the mad Emperor to life; his guard, friend and confidant Cassius played by Felix Ryder is pretty nicely nuanced and has some well thought out character development which works well, and bodes well for future iterations of the play. Early on, Caligula meets Neptune (Riko Nakazono), God of the sea, who he makes a deal with for absolute power. Riko's performance is mystical and a lovely addition to the story which is dark and thought-provoking, delving into themes of power, corruption, and the consequences of unchecked desire.
Under the direction of Yuxuan Liu, Caligula and the Sea is hugely impressive in both technical aspects and staging. Fiona McKeon’s set design and visual aesthetic bring about striking visuals, from a forceful storm to a disappearing tide; it continually transports the audience to a world that is both familiar and otherworldly. The show's use of lighting (Hannah Bracegirdle) and sound (Aaron J Dootson) is particularly impressive, creating a haunting and evocative atmosphere that lingers long after the performance has ended. Also noteworthy is the use of puppetry, designed by Silverstone, that moves so well and adds an element of true interest to the show.
Whilst a lot of the show works, there are elements that need a fresh sweep over. The short running time means that in trying to cram in an epic story which spans many years, a lot doesn't have time to be properly explored and the nuances which work so well at the start, cannot be retained throughout. Beginning with Caligula’s exile, his rise to power and through to his eventual assassination, there's a lot to be seen and some of the more moving and effective aspects, such as Caligula's relationship with Cassius don't have time to be really developed. This means that there are some pacing issues and in attempting to say a lot of things, the show loses an overall moral or key plot point so the audience leave unsatisfied.
There's a lot of good in this show and with some edits it could certainly become a hit. While the play can be challenging at times, it is ultimately a rewarding and interesting show. Good performances and really strong theatrical elements make it a solid production.
Reviewed on Wednesday 1st March 2023
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
Shirley Valentine, Duke of York's Theatre | Review
Shirley Valentine
Duke of York's Theatre
★★★★★
From the audience at the Duke of York's Theatre, it's clear that Shirley Valentine is a much loved story and after seeing Sheridan Smith's performance, I think it's only going to receive further love and praise. The one woman show follows disillusioned mother and wife Shirley as she reminisces on her "unused life" and wonders how she can really find herself and her happiness again. The show is a glorious manifesto on being a woman and is so incredibly moving in all the best ways. It celebrates the small things and highlights hardships so many people go through in such a seamless and engaging way. You truly couldn't ask for more.
Sheridan Smith has had many star turns in her career and is a hugely celebrated actress for good reason and this production completely hammers that home. Smith is completely born for this role, giving into it and making the audience feel like she's truly lived the life she talks about; and also making the audience feel like they've lived it with her. There's no way to not sound overly gushy, because Sheridan is just that good; her performance is an absolute dream and truly couldn't be better.
Watching this show, it's quite amazing to realise that, without being condescending, it was written by a man. Willy Russell has completely nailed the female spirit and the entire script feels incredibly natural. For a show written over thirty years ago, it remains as fresh and sadly relevant as ever.
Paul Wills' set is completely fitting for the story and allows the story to shine, almost becoming a character of its own, especially given the personification of the kitchen wall. The simplistic staging works perfectly as does the gorgeous lighting design from Lucy Carter. Understated lighting changes parallel the emotions Shirley is feeling and work well to really emphasise the most emotive moments.
What's so wonderful about this show, and I'm sure why it resonates with so many, is that it's all about a normal person. There's no larger than life drama or swooping romantic relationships, instead there's a genuine character discussing real life issues. In a way it's sad that so many can relate to Shirley's feelings but hopefully this show will help people realise that they are not alone and that your life, however small it may feel, is a glorious, stage worthy one too!
Under Matthew Dunster's excellent direction, with Sheridan Smith at her absolute best, this is perhaps one of the most grounded and well performed productions in the West End and I just wish everyone could see it. Stunning, stunning work.
Photo Credit: John Wilson
Reviewed on Saturday 25th February 2023 by Olivia Mitchell
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
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