Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 5 January 2020
Reviewed by Jo Gordon
4****
The season is well and truly in the swing of things and this was my third one so far but I’m yet to be fatigued of the thigh slapping, glitter filled, innuendo giving Panto. Its always a full house for a panto at this venue, rows of guiding and scout groups, whole families, friends and work colleagues all coming together to enjoy this long time tradition. This years extravaganza is Peter Pan, the well known story of the boy who never grows up and his adventures in Neverland.
It is the familiar plot of Peter and his friend Wendy coming together to fight against the evil Hook (Marti Pellow) who wants revenge on Peter (Jaymi Hemsley) for losing his hand to the crocodile. Along with Smee (Darren Day), Tinker Bell (Kellie Gnauk), Starkey and Mullins (The Grumbleweeds) there is much swashbuckling and scheming to overcome Hooks plan. Its not all sword fights and rope swinging though, oh no it isn’t! We see Wendy (Cassie Compton) and Peter fly well above the London skyline into space followed by an intergalactic motorbike straddled by Smee, a rather grown up Tiger Lily (Micha Richardson) and her troupe of fire limbo-ing acrobats (the Timbuktu Tumblers), a galleon ship and the biggest crocodile ever to grace a stage that left the first few rows in the audience either in awe of its magnificence or terrified!
Inbetween the show tunes and main story we were entertained by Smees many impressions and skits along with the comedic duo Starkey and Mullins, definitely something to make all ages laugh amongst their antics from tongue twisters to a cheeky passing on a skateboard.
With its colourful set, fast paced story and funny jokes it keeps the younger members of the audience transfixed and it was a delight to hear them chuckling and booing. With well known faces like Darren, Marti and the Grumbleweeds ( who those of us of a certain age will remember) along with the rest of a talented cast it makes the perfect family trip to the theatre.
Olivier Award-winning and internationally-acclaimed Irish theatre company, Fishamble: The New Play Company, will be bringing its production of On Blueberry Hill to the West End in Spring 2020. Following hugely successful and sell-out seasons in Dublin and New York, Fishamble’s critically acclaimed production of Sebastian Barry’s new play opens at London’s Trafalgar Studios on 5 March (Press Night 11 March) for a strictly limited season until 2 May. Tickets are on on-sale now.
On Blueberry Hill is Sebastian Barry’s first new play in 10 years. He is one of Ireland’s greatest living writers and the current Laureate of Irish Fiction. Born in Dublin in 1955 his novels and plays have won, among other awards, the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Prize, the Costa Book of the Year award, the Irish Book Awards Best Novel, the Independent Booksellers Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. He also had two consecutive novels, A Long Long Way (2005) and The Secret Scripture (2008), shortlisted for the MAN Booker Prize.
On Blueberry Hill received huge critical acclaim on both sides of the pond with The New York Times describing the play as “Radiant”, The Sunday Independent calling the new work “Phenomenal” and British Theatre Guide hailed it as “Perfection”. The New Yorker described it as “Beautiful” and “Mesmerising”.
In Barry’s beautiful style, On Blueberry Hill features best of friends and worst of enemies Christy (Niall Buggy) and PJ (David Ganly), who are destined to share their lives for twenty years. As the two men reflect on the hope and torment of life outside – they slowly uncover the events that have led them to their world with explosive, bittersweet consequences.
Reprising their roles as Christy and PJ are Irish Times Theatre Award and Olivier Award winner Niall Buggy and West End and Broadway star David Ganly. Directed by Fishamble’s Jim Culleton, this new play is bursting with humanity, as it explores forgiveness, survival and, ultimately, love.
Sebastian Barry said: “So happy to hear the splendid news that the truly brilliant work of Niall Buggy, David Ganly, director Jim Culleton and all the crew at Fishamble, will be seen at the fabulous Trafalgar Studios. We all longed for a further life for characters Christy and PJ, holed up in Mountjoy Jail, and now here it is, wonderfully, in very best style.”
The production is designed by Sabine Dargent, with lighting design by Mark Galione, sound design and composition by Denis Clohessy and is produced for Fishamble by Eva Scanlan. This production of On Blueberry Hill was originally produced by Fishamble and will be produced in the West End by Trafalgar Theatre Productions and Fishamble.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
TRAFALGAR STUDIOS
Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7:30pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2:30pm
Previews from: 5 March
Ticket prices: From £15
To book tickets please visit: onblueberryhill.co.uk
EVELYN HOSKINS ANNOUNCED TO JOIN THE CAST OF WAITRESS AND MARISHA WALLACE TO RETURN IN JANUARY 2020
MUSICAL THEATRE STAR EVELYN HOSKINS WILL TAKE OVER THE ROLE OF DAWN FROM 27 JANUARY AND ORIGINAL LONDON CAST MEMBER MARISHA WALLACE WILL RETURN TO PLAY BECKY ON 6 JANUARY
MONIQUE ASHE-PALMER IS ALSO ANNOUNCED TO JOIN THE ENSEMBLE IN THE NEW YEAR
THE NEW CAST WILL PERFORM ALONGSIDE SARA BAREILLES AND GAVIN CREEL WHO WILL BE JOINING THE COMPANY FROM 27 JANUARY.
WAITRESS RECEIVES SEVEN NOMINATIONS IN THE 2019 WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS AND IS SHORTLISTED FOR BEST NEW MUSICAL, BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL, BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL AND BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Waitress the musical will welcome Evelyn Hoskins (Assassins, Spring Awakening) to the role of Dawn in the New Year while original London cast member Marisha Wallace (Dreamgirls, Aladdin) is also announced to return to the West End production. Evelyn Hoskins will join the smash hit musical comedy on 25 January following Hannah Tointon’s final performance, and Marisha Wallace will resume the role of Becky on 6 January following Sandra Marvin’s final performance. Monique Ashe-Palmer will also join in the ensemble from 9 January, taking on the role from Cindy Belliot.
Waitress features an original score by 8-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave), who has recently been announced to join the West End cast as Jenna opposite Gavin Creel (The Book of Mormon, Hello Dolly!) as Dr Pomatter for a strictly limited six-week season from 27 January to 7 March 2020
Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams her way out of a loveless marriage. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.
Waitress celebrated its official opening night at the AdelphiTheatre on 7 March 2019 and the Tony-nominated musical is now running in the West End through to 4 July 2020 before embarking on a major nationwide UK tour with further dates and details to be announced in due course.
Evelyn Hoskins (Dawn) most recently starred on stage in Assassins (Nottingham Playhouse/Watermill) and previously in the West End in Spring Awakening. Her other theatre credits include Cruel Intentions (Bill Kenwright), Mayfly (Orange Tree Theatre), Mrs Henderson Presents (Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto), Peter and the Starcatcher (Royal and Derngate), the title role of Carrie (Southwark Playhouse), Hero’s Welcome (UK Tour, Off-Broadway), This Is My Family (Sheffield Crucible, UK Tour), The Boy Who Fell Into A Book (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Peter Pan (US Tour) and The Secret Garden (Birmingham Rep). For television she has starred in ITV’s A Confession and The Sound of Music Live, BBC series’ Casualty, Holby City and Doctors and E4’s Misfits. She has also performed in concert in The Hired Man (Cadogan Hall), Christmas with the Stars (Royal Albert Hall), Peter Pan (Adelphi) and Cool Rider (Lyric, West End).
Marisha Wallace (Becky) made her West End debut playing Effie White in Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre) after playing the role at the Tony-winning regional theatre Dallas Theater Center. Since landing in London she has performed in numerous concerts at The Royal Albert Hall, the London Palladium, and she’s a part of Broadway and West End Divas. She previously performed the role of Celie in The Color Purple in Concert at Cadogan Hall and had two sold out nights at Zedel. Marisha’s Broadway credits include the original Broadway productions of Something Rotten and Disney’s Aladdin, and she also appeared in the first US national tour of The Book of Mormon. Other stage credits include Sistas!, Aladdin (Toronto), Oklahoma!, for which she won the Drammy for Best Actress, One Night With Janis Joplin, Rent and Hair. Screen credits include Aladdin (the forthcoming live action film), Disney’s Frozen Fever, The Tony Awards, Good Morning America, The View and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Monique Ashe-Palmer’s (ensemble) theatre credits include Madagascar the Musical (UK and International Tour) as Kowalski/ensemble, onstage swing, dance captain and in which she also understudied Gloria. Fairy Everywhere in Sleeping Beauty (Camberley Theatre) and various performances at Leeds Grand Theatre and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Brought to life by a ground breaking, female-led creative team, Waitress features an original score by Sara Bareilles, a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland) and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The production recently toured across the US and Canada and has announced an Australian premiere in 2020 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre with further productions to open in Holland next year and Japan in 2021.
On its Broadway opening at the Brooks Atkinson Theater where it has since become the longest running show in the venue’s history, Waitress was nominated for four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical; two Drama League Award Nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical; six Drama Desk Nominations, including Outstanding Musical; and four Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical.
Edinburgh Fringe 2018 Hit ‘Zoo’ At Vault Festival 2020
By Lily Bevan // Co-directed by Lily Bevan and Hamish Macdougall // Performed by Lily Bevan and Lorna Beckett
Tuesday 25th February to Sunday 1st March, 7:50pm
Nick Hern Books will also publish both ‘Zoo’ and a selection of Lily Bevan’s character monologues
Guardian Best Shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2018
‘A Brilliant Play’ – The Times
‘Lily Bevan [has] a wry eye for human comedy, great gag lines, and a wellspring of empathy, Zoo manages the neat trick of being laugh out loud funny, and slowly, sneakily moving’ *****The Wee Review
‘Clever, funny and touching… this is a truly special production’’****The List
‘It was impossible not to completely fall in love with this unlikely duo … two of the most endearing characters I have stumbled on yet. Heart-warming, silly … you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pair with which to weather a storm ****ThreeWeeks
‘Performers Lorna Beckett and Bevan bring this touching two-hander alive, leaving the audience in stitches along the way’.****The Skinny
A tale of animal instinct, fight or flight and a woman trying to trap 47 flamingos in a urinal.
An inventive comedy drama of heroism, feminism, friendship.
Following a hit run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018 and then Theatre 503 in November 2018, Lily Bevan brings her critically acclaimed two-hander Zoo to Vault Festival 2020. This humorous yet touching tale of tragedy, courage, flamingoes and the need to escape, will run in the festival’s fifth week, from Tuesday 25th February to Sunday 1st March.
Until today the most dangerous event at the zoo was the Tapir’s caesarian section. But when a hurricane heads straight for Miami, zookeeper Bonnie rushes to keep her animals safe. Across the world in the Yorkshire dales – Carol feels the repercussions. And the danger turns out to be deeper and darker than the weather.
Bonnie is busy devoting her life to working at the ‘Cherokee Valley Zoo and Conservation Centre’, Carol (Bonnie’s best friend) lives in North Yorkshire, working with bats. Bonnie loves animals, but she struggles with people and has got caught up in some difficult gender politics at the Zoo. Sometimes our loyalty and commitment make us who we are… sometimes, like Bonnie we drink too many margaritas and go home with notorious zoo lothario, Ian Butterwick.
Carol has her own challenges, her angry ex-husband, her silent son Paul, meddling local caving groups and the South Yorkshire bat group. Bonnie gives Carol the confidence she requires to face a dark day when Paul goes missing in the winding underground caves. Their friendship helps them both surmount immense personal challenges.
What do you do when you’ve always liked animals more than people and suddenly those animals are under threat? How do the decisions we make in a crisis shape our destiny?
Zoo is a play about ‘climate change’ not only in the weather but also in the discussion of the female experience, our relationships to the natural world, and perceptions of a life well lived. This is a story of two complex, funny, awkward women; both in a mire of bosses, exes, hierarchies, both who prefer animals to people, both need to escape.
Featuring voice performances by Robert Mountford, Mike Wozniak and James Rastall. Sound design by Mike Winship, design by Erica Greenshields, and Lighting design by Tom Clutterbuck.
Performed by Lorna BeckettWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Northern Stage), Time and the Conways (National Theatre), Duet For One (Almeida), and Lily Bevan; writer of The French Welcome (for Globe Theatre 2019), co-writer of Talking to Strangers (BBC Radio 4 and Edinburgh Fringe w/ Sally Phillips 2016) “I doubt there will be anything as seriously funny for years.” – Gillian Reynolds (The Telegraph), and writer/performer of Pheasant Plucker (Edinburgh Fringe sellout 2015). Other performing credits include Dr Faustus (Globe Theatre, 2019), As You Like It (Globe Theatre 2019), Dr Who (BBC), A Voyage Round My Father (Donmar Warehouse), Kindertransport (Shared Experience).
Directed by Hamish MacDougall – Directing includes ‘Hammerhead’ (Pleasance comedy show of the year 2017) & ‘Soothing Sounds For Baby’ (4 Chortle Awards, nominated for Edinburgh Comedy Award, listed in The Guardian Top Ten shows of the year) by Joseph Morpurgo (Edinburgh/Soho Theatre/UK Tour), ‘The Narcissist’ performed by Graham Dickson (Underbelly) ‘Life and Rhymes’ by Abandoman (Udderbelly/Southbank/UK Tour) ’24 Hour Plays’ (Old Vic New Voices) ‘A Slight Ache’ starring Simon Munnery and ‘Below The Belt’ starring Mike Wozniak (Pleasance, Edinburgh).
More praise for Zoo from Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018
‘Zoo is an inventive, charming and funny play … an excellent two-hander with friendship and poignancy at its core … Zoo will likely stay with you long after you leave the theatre’.****The Edinburgh Reporter
‘Zoo carefully lays an emotional beartrap, Bevan’s play is encouraging and funny, but also handles an emotional core with sensitivity and dexterity’. ****Broadway Baby
‘Lily Bevan and Lorna Beckett are a winning combination in this bitter-sweet, heartfelt and inspirational story based on real-life events. And it’s funny too!’**** ToDoList
‘Zoo is a charming and extremely likeable play, inspired by real events and sensitively acted by … this is a poignant yet often amusing tale about heroism and the power of friendship’.****Bouquets and Brickbats
‘Both actors are excellent in their roles … a heart-warming play with an intriguing premise’ ****VoiceMag
LILY BEVAN CHARACTER MONOLOGUES
Sunday 2nd Feb & Sunday 9th Feb, 3pm
As well as performing Zoo, Lily Bevan will also perform a dazzling array of ten-character comedy monologues for women alongside a flock of talented actors on two consecutive Sundays during the second week of the festival (2nd Feb and 9th Feb).
Lily presents an eclectic variety of monologues; from Tudors to tattooists… a joyous, hilarious collection of misfits full of longing and loss and sadness.
The performances by Lily Bevan at Vault festival will coincide with the publication of Zoo, along with several of Bevan’s character monologues, by Nick Hern Books (text available for sale at VAULT 2020).
Northern Broadsides presents QUALITY STREET By J. M. Barrie
CASTING ANNOUNCED TODAY FOR LAURIE SANSOM’S INAUGURAL PRODUCTION AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF NORTHERN BROADSIDES
RARE REVIVAL OF J.M. BARRIE’S QUALITY STREET, OPENING IN HALIFAX, THE TOWN WHERE THE CHOCOLATES NAMED AFTER THE PLAY ARE MADE, AND ON A NATIONAL TOUR
THE FULL CAST INCLUDES JESSICA BAGLOW, DARIO COATES, JIM ENGLISH, JOHN GULLY, CLAIRE HACKETT, LOUISA MAY PARKER, ALICIA MCKENZIE, SOPHIE MERCELL AND GABRIEL PAUL
Casting is today announced for Quality Street, Laurie Sansom’s debut production as Artistic Director of Northern Broadsides. The production, a rare revival of J.M. Barrie’s farce, will open in February 2020 in Halifax, the home of Quality Street™ the UK’s most popular brand of chocolates. Barrie’s play was so popular in its day that it gave the chocolates their name.
Jessica Baglow will play the title role of Phoebe Throssel and Dario Coates as love interest, Valentine Brown. Further cast features Jim English as Fanny Willoughby/Arthur, John Gully as Recruiting Sergeant/Spicer/Georgy, Claire Hackett as Patty, Louisa May Parker as Susan Throssel, Alicia McKenzie as Mary Willoughby, Sophie Mercell as Charlotte Parratt and Gabriel Paul as Ensign Blades/Isabella.
The show marks the beginning of a new producing model for Broadsides, with each production co-created with “creation squads” formed from the local community. For this production, the actors will collaborate with workers from the Quality Street™ factory, developing contemporary tales of hapless love and a live commentary that will frame the action of Barrie’s regency rom-com. As well as providing a modern lens through which to view Barrie’s story, Broadsides also aims to build long-lasting relationships between the employees and their local theatre company.
Jessica Baglow’s recent stage credits include: Macbeth (RBL), The Big Corner (Bolton Octagon), Hamlet (Bolton Octagon), Jane Eyre (Bolton Octagon), First Words: Blue (Bolton Octagon), Educating Rita (Bolton Octagon/Derby Theatre), Pericles (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Family Way (Bolton Octagon) and Noises Off (Bolton Octagon). Film & TV include: Vera, Gentleman Jack, Apostasy, Holby City, Doctors,Salvage, Waterloo Road and Emmerdale.
Dario Coates’s stage credits include: The Rubenstein Kiss (Southwark Playhouse), Country Music (Omnibus Theatre Clapham), one man show Sid (Camden Fringe), Another Country (Trafalgar Studios & Chichester Festival), Single Spies (Rose Theatre), Posh (Nottingham/Salisbury), Penthouse (Edinburgh Fringe 2017) and Electra (Bunker Theatre). Television includes: Damned, The Coroner, Doctors, Drifters and Coronation Street, ITV’s Endeavour.
Jim English’s stage credits include: This Space is Occupied (Bent Architect), For Love Or Money, Richard III (Northern Broadsides), The Northern School (Bent Architect), Darknet (Southwark Playhouse), Dancing Through The Shadows (Hull Truck Theatre), Hurling Rubble At The Moon (Park Theatre), Death At Dawn (Cloud Nine), Solid Air (Theatre Royal Plymouth), What You Will (Shakespeare’s Globe). Television and film includes: Peterloo, Coronation Street, Holby City, New Blood and Doctors.
John Gully’s recent stage credits for Northern Broadsides include: When We Are Married, The Merry Wives, King Lear, Wars of the Roses and A Woman Killed With Kindness. Other recent theatre include: Herding Cats (Play With Fire Productions), The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Salt of the Earth (Hull Truck Theatre), Spending Frank (SJT Scarborough) and The Hired Man (Salisbury Playhouse). TV includes: Home Fires, Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Coming Down The Mountain, Emmerdale, Strictly Confidential, Jane Hall’s Big Bad Bus Ride, Sparkhouse, Fat Friends, Hollyoaks, Doctors, Elizabeth, Castles, Criminal, The Royal Today, Heartbeat and The Bill.
Claire Hackett’s recent stage credits include: East is East (Bolton Octagon) and All My Sons (Apollo Theatre, West End). TV appearances include: Holby City, Coronation Street, Line of Duty, Wallander and Poirot. Film work includes: Apostasy, Harry Brown, Liam and Linda in Willy Russell’s Dancin’ thru the Dark.
Louisa May Parker’s stage credits include: Sitcom Stories (Edinburgh Fringe), If I Should Fall (RedBobble Theatre – Regional Tour), To Walk In Your Shoes (RedBobble Theatre – Regional Tour), Five Kinds of Silence (Arcola), The Iliad Live (Almeida), The Academy of Melancholy (Old Operating Theatre London Bridge), Three Sisters (Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute Moscow), Orestes (Imalis Theatre Greece), A Good Day: Love, Death & Virginia Woolf (RNCM). Film/TV credits include: Hollyoaks, Support, The Limehouse Golem, Metronome and Death Comes to Pemberley.
Alicia McKenzie’s recent stage credits include: The Crucible and Blonde Bombshells (Pitlochry 2019 Season), Wind in in the Willows (New Vic), Whisky Galore (Oldham Coliseum, Hull Truck, New Vic and UK tour), A Christmas Carol (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Tinkerbell in Peter Pan (Mercury Theatre) Cinderella (Octagon, Bolton) and Fuse (Crucible, Sheffield).
Sophie Mercell’s stage credits include: Jack and The Beanstalk (Oldham Coliseum), One Hundred Trillion (The Dot Collective – Old Vic Workrooms), Barbican Openfest (Told By An Idiot – The Barbican), The Ugly Duckling Christmas Special (The Herd – Hull Truck Theatre), All You Need is LSD (Told By An Idiot – Birmingham Rep), Bread and Roses (Oldham Coliseum), Let Me Play the Lion Too (Told By An Idiot – The Barbican), The Importance of Being Earnest (Jack Studio Theatre – David Ball Productions), Passing (The Bunker Theatre), Fémage à Trois (Loquitur Theatre – Theatre 503), Autumn (The Pensive Federation – Tristan Bates Theatre), Random (StoneCrabs – The Albany) and The Roaring Girl (The Sam Wanamaker Festival – The Globe).
Gabriel Paul’s stage credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (West End and UK Tour), Queen of Chapletown (Leeds Playhouse), Bouncers (Esk Valley Theatre), Othello (Demi-Paradise Productions), Street Voices 3 (Freedom Studios). Television and film include: Safe, Snatch, From Darkness, The Syndicate, Doctors and The Hybrid.
Phoebe Throssel lives on Quality Street, the bustling hub of a quaint northern town where she runs a school for unruly children.
Ten years since a tearful goodbye, an old flame returns from fighting Napoleon. But the look of disappointment on Captain Valentine’s face when he greets a more mature, less glamorous Phoebe, spurs our determined heroine to action.
She becomes the wild and sparkling Miss Livy, a younger alter-ego who soon entraps the clueless Captain. As their romance is rekindled, can she juggle both personas? Or will her deception scandalise the town and wreck any future with the man she loves?
Quality Street will tour to Halifax, Salford, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leeds, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hull, York, Lancaster, Bury St Edmunds, Guildford, Derby, Scarborough and Harrogate. Tickets are on sale now from www.northern-broadsides.co.uk
Quality Street is directed by Laurie Sansom, with design by Jessica Worrall, lighting design by Joe Price and sound design by Nick Sagar.
The Grand Opera House, York – until 4 January 2020
Reviewed by Sara Garner
4****
One of the classic brothers Grimm tales, which has changed/evolved over time. Disney introduced the idea of the dwarfs and other changes to the tale. Chris Morenos version sees variations in elements of the story. The wicked Queen is Snow Whites auntie who is jealous of her youth and beauty. She plots to kill Snow White using her Lord Chancellor and soldiers but is thwarted by an array of characters all of whom are friends of Snow White and love her dearly in comfortably traditional pantomime.
Yes it was cliche but it was reassuringly so, with all the expected characters coming out of storage for the pantomime season. With the usual share of straight characters, funny characters and daft characters.
The first half meandered along at a bit of worryingly plodding pace with some of the humour falling a bit flat. Yes we were introduced to the main characters and there was the usual flurry of borderline gags. However despite some great characters, including Martin Daniels as Muddles and Steve Wickenden as Nurse Brexit, something did not sit right with the first half. Whether it was the odd fluffed line or the occasionally unbelievable characterisation, such as the apparently evil Queen who was just not nasty enough. Also at first I found the seven dwarfs just a bit too creepy to be likable and the voice overs used for them was like a badly synced martial arts movie.
The second half however was a revaluation, a tour de force of panto campness and silliness. Here the characters truly blossomed and the interaction with the audience was perfectly pantoesque. Even the adult groups around us sang and danced along when they could and the laughometer was working overtime with the endless bad gags and funny interactions.
Louise Henry in her professional debut as Snow White was excellent, if not a bit quiet at times. However her singing was stunning. As was Johnny Muirs as Prince Rudolph.
However as with all pantomimes it is the funny characters that carry the show. I’ve already mentioned the super Martin Daniels as Muddles and Steve Wickendens as Nurse Brexit. Ben Fry as the town crier was also very funny in only his second pantomime role and Mark Littles Lord Chancellor, once he settled into the role was very good. Despite my earlier reservation Vicki Michelle carried her role as the Wicken Queen really well.
Special mention of the dances and the youngsters in the cast who were flawless in their performances.
The way to judge a pantomime is how you feel when you leave the theatre. Well I felt thoroughly entertained and cheered up enough to feel quite festive, not my usual ‘Bah humbug’.
ADAM BLANSHAY PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS LUCIE JONES LIVE AT THE ADELPHI SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2020, 7PM
Musical theatre sensation Lucie Jones, star of hit musical Waitress, performs her first West End solo concert at the historic Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 16 February 2020 at 7pm. Accompanied by the 22-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra, Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi will be a celebration of all that Lucie has achieved to date across her multi-platform career.
Lucie first came to prominence when she melted audiences’ hearts singing to millions on The X Factor in 2009. She represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, where she placed 15th, the UK’s highest result since 2011.
She is now firmly at home on the stage, and over the last few years has played Elle in Legally Blonde, Holly in The Wedding Singer, Maureen in Rent, Molly in Ghost and Cosette in Les Misérables, before landing the much coveted lead role of Jenna in Waitress, which she currently plays 8 times a week at the Adelphi Theatre.
Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi will be packed with old classics and modern hits, and Lucie will share stories from her remarkable career.
As Lucie’s time ‘at the diner’ draws to a close next summer, this is the perfect moment to celebrate all that she has done in a venue she now calls home.
Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi is produced by Adam Blanshay Productions, and sponsored by Alpha Club.
A brand new production of the classic thriller, Dial M for Murder, tours the UK in 2020 opening at Richmond Theatre on Monday 13th January 2020. The genre-defining thriller – based on Frederick Knott’s stage and screen play, made world-famous by Hitchcock’s iconic 1954 film – will be directed by Anthony Banks.
TV and stage favourite, Tom Chambers, (Top Hat, Strictly Come Dancing) stars as the charismatic and manipulative Tony Wendice, a jaded ex-tennis pro who has given it all up for his wife Margot, played by Sally Bretton *(Not Going Out, Death In Paradise, The Office). When he discovers she has been unfaithful his mind turns to revenge and the pursuit of the ‘perfect crime’. Christopher Harper(Coronation Street, Strangers on a Train) performs in the dual roles of Captain Lesgate and Inspector Hubbard and Michael Salami (Hollyoaks) as Max Halliday, Margot’s lover.
Tom Chambers plays Tony Wendice. Tom’s theatre creditsinclude: Crazy For You (UK tour); Private Lives (UK tour); White Christmas (Dominion); Top Hat (Aldwych); White Christmas (Sunderland Empire); The Rover (Young Vic Studio); Journey’s End (Courtyard Theatre); Bloody Poetry (Brockley Jack Theatre); Pendragon (City Theatre Broadway NYMT and Sadler’s Wells); October’s Children (NYMT and Hammersmith Lyric); Cyrano De Bergerac and Macbeth (Derby Rep Theatre); Damn Yankees (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre); The Innocents (Derby Playhouse) and Stepping Out (Electric GSA).Film includes: Fakers and Great in Britain: the Movie. Television includes: Midsomer Murders, Emmerdale, Casualty, Father Brown, The Great Train Robbery, Waterloo Road and Holby City. Radio includes: Mellow Magic every Saturday 10am-1pm.
Sally Bretton appears as Margot Wendice. Sally’s theatre credits include: An Ideal Husband (Classic Spring Company); King Lear, The Front Line and In Extremis (Shakespeare’s Globe); A Conversation (Manchester Royal Exchange); All My Sons (Library Theatre, Manchester); Present Laughter (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour) and Hay Fever (Oxford Stage Company). Sally was nominated for Best Actress – Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards 2002 for her role in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at The Library Theatre, Manchester. Film includes: Outlaw, So Long Charlie Bright and Peaches. Television includes:Not Going Out, Death in Paradise, The Office, Green Wing, Absolute Power, Thanks for the Memories, Casualty, Lewis, How Not to Live Your Life, Hotel Babylon, Vincent, Open Wide, Blessed, Blackbeard, If…we eradicate violent crime, Wild West, Blue Murder, Happy Together, Dr Terrible’s House of Horrible, Beast, Armstrong and Miller and The People’s Harry Enfield.
Christopher Harper performs as Captian Lesgate and Inspector Hubbard. Christopher’stheatre credits include: Strangers on a Train (UK tour); Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s’ Globe); Slipping (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough); The Wind in the Willows,Man of the Moment and Private Fears in Public Places (Royal & Derngate); I Know How I Feel About Eve (Hampstead Downstairs); The Night Before Christmas (Different Breed); The Village Bike (Sheffield Crucible Studio); A Kid Like Jake (Old Vic New Voices); OurCountry’s Good and Journey’s End (Original Theatre Company); Persuasion, After Miss Julie and People at Sea (Salisbury Playhouse); Saturn Returns (Finborough Theatre); Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and Lie of the Land (Arcola). Television includes: Holby City, Endeavour, Coronation Street, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher,Doctors, Upstairs Downstairs, The Bill, Heartbeat, The Roman Mysteries, Housewife 49,Life on Mars and Rosemary and Thyme. Chris also produced and voiced the award-winning charity animation The Mouse.
Michael Salami is Max Halliday. Michael Salami is a multi-award-winning actor. Born in America and raised in London, Salami discovered his passion for acting in 2007. Salami made his first on stage appearance at Oval Theatre in 2010 and has since then performed at The Old Vic, Soho Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, Southwark Playhouse and Theatre503. Salami studied at Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York graduating in 2016 and since then has appeared in Hollyoaks; Catastrophe; The Temple and Magic Hour. His leading role in Just A Couple has landed him a number of nominations and awards such as a Screen Nation Award for Best Actor. Just A Couple is now in full development with Channel 4.
Anthony Banks directs Frederick Knott’s Dial M For Murder,adding to credits that recently includeGaslightandStrangers on a Train. His production of the hit thriller, Girl on a Train, continues to tour the UK. The creative team is completed by David Woodhead, Designer; Katy Osborne, Resident Director; Lizzie Powell, Lighting Designer; Ben & Max Ringham, Sound Design; Betty Marini, Wigs Supervisor; Siobhan Boyd, Costume Supervisor, Luke Child as Production Manager and Alison de Burgh as Fight Director.
Dial M For Murder is produced by Simon Friend and Gavin Kalin.
Controversial literary classic Lady Chatterley’s Lover adapted for UK tour UK Tour: February – April 2020
A Tilted Wig and Churchill Theatre, Bromley production
TV regular Rupert Hill (Casualty, BBC; Coronation Street, ITV) will star alongside Phoebe Marshall (Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall) in a sensual new stage adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s controversial masterpiece, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, directed by Ciaran McConville (The Snow Queen, The Creature [Frankenstein Retold], Rose Theatre Kingston) as part of a UK tour.
Considered sensationalist erotica when first published and banned worldwide, Lawrence’s text caused outrage not just because of the explicit language, but also because it bridged social and class divides. This impassioned tale of female agency and the desire to live more than a half-life changed the literary landscape of Britain.
Sixty years after the scandalous trial of the unexpurgated publication, this beautiful new production reflects the monumental changes in attitude towards female sexuality. It is also an exploration of the scars of war and the dangers of toxic masculinity. Above all, Lady Chatterley is a passionate and optimistic love story.
Trapped in a sexless marriage following her husband’s disability, Connie is burdened with her female duty of care and an increasing sense of isolation. She instigates a physically charged love affair with the gamekeeper, Mellors, flouting expectations and obligations in the name of selflove.
Ciaran comments, It’s a privilege to bring this book to the stage. I’ve loved Lawrence’s writing since I was a teenager, but revisiting Lady Chatterley, I’m struck by how modern so much of it feels. It’s a comment on the fragility of masculinity and the need for an honest approach to our physical life. And it’s beautiful, too. I’m really excited to be working with Tilted Wig, whose values and ethos make for wonderful tours
Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre and Ray Rackham Theatrical are delighted to announce that Darren Day will star as Beauregard, alongside Tracie Bennett in the title role and Harriet Thorpe as Vera, in the critically acclaimed first professional UK revival of Jerry Herman’s much loved musical MAME. The production opened at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester earlier this year to rave reviews, and will play Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 7 to 11 January 2020 and Salisbury Playhouse from 21 to 25 January 2020.
MAME recently received 7 WhatsOnStage Award nominations including Best Regional Production, Best Musical Revival and Best Actress in a Musical.
Darren Day was well known in the 90s for presenting several popular children’s TV shows, and since then has been a regular presenter on mainstream television, notably, as the host of You Bet!. He was in the very first series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2012 and was a finalist in the 2016 series of Celebrity Big Brother. As an actor, some of Darren’s television roles include Danny Houston in Hollyoaks (Channel 4) and Stella alongside Ruth Jones (Sky One). Darren’s first starring theatre role was as Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium and on tour internationally. Some of his other leading theatre credits include Don in Summer Holiday, Tony in Copacabana and Danny in Grease (all West End).On tour, he has played the title role in Alfie, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Pip in Great Expectations, Jesus in Godspell, FranknFurter in The Rocky Horror Show, Cornelius Hackle in Hello Dolly and Khashoggi in We Will Rock You.
Also in the cast are Chase Brown as Older Patrick, Grace Chapman as Gloria Upson, Lauren Chia as Pegeen Ryan, Soo Drouet as Mother Burnside/Madame Branislowski, Mark Faith as Mr Upson/Uncle Jeff, Jessie May as Agnes Gooch, Hugh Osborne as Dwight Babcock, Lewis Rae as M Lindsay Woolsey, Pippa Winslow as Mrs Upson/Sally Cato, Benjamin Wong as Ito and Liam Wrate as Junior Babcock. Harry Cross, Isaac Lancel-Watkinson and Lochlan White will alternate the role of Young Patrick. Completing the cast are Jabari Braham, Aston Newman Hannington and India Thornton.
MAME, a classic 1960s musical, with book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, has not been seen in the UK since the original West End production in 1969 starring Ginger Rogers. Set in New York City and spanning the Great Depression and World War II, the musical focuses on eccentric bohemian Mame Dennis.
The madcap life of Mame Dennis and her intellectual, arty clique is disrupted when her deceased brother’s 10 year-old son Patrick is entrusted to her care. Rather than bow to convention, Mame introduces the boy to her free-wheeling lifestyle, instilling in him her favourite credo, “Life is a banquet, and most poor sons-of-bitches are starving to death.” Mame loses her fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and tries her hand at a number of jobs with comically disastrous results, but perseveres with good humour and an irrepressible sense of style, before marrying the Southern aristocrat and plantation owner, Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside.
MAME is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, assisted by Ben Stock, with musical direction by Alex Parker, set design by Philip Witcomb, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Ben Harrison, orchestrations by Jason Carr, casting by Jane Deitch, children’s casting by Emily and LJ Keston and wigs by Richard Mawbey.
MAME is presented by arrangement with Tams Witmark and is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre and Ray Rackham Theatrical with associate producers Evan Sacks and Adam Mackie.
