Theatre Royal Concert Hall Nottingham – until Saturday 24 September 2022
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
1*
The Wicked Lady is a 2-hander play, written and directed by James Williams, the play is inspired by the legend of a noblewoman turned highway-woman Katherine Ferrers, known as the Wicked Lady, who is said to haunt the village of Markyate in Hertfordshire. We are led to believe that Ferrers’ tale is the background to a modern-day mystery in which a child has been abducted, but here begins the bewildering experience that was The Wicked Lady.
It started out marvellously, as we took our seats in the theatre, atmospheric sounds were being played and there were ominous sheets draped and a forest scene on the stage. Then boom, on walks a police detective to set the scene and implant seeds of fear. He spoke directly to the audience and told us that the police were on the case of the missing child and how they needed to call in the help of a paranormal debunker to support the case. We were then introduced to Alice Beaumont. After some initial reluctance, Alice agreed to spend a few nights at Ferrers’ disused manor house Markyate Cell, which is where they suspect the missing child is, and where things begin to go bump in the night.
The story of The Wicked Lady made no sense. There appeared to be a moral, and a message the writer was trying to get across, but it was lost in translation with a lot of unnecessary dialogue, static and stilted staging and a very strange choice of pace. The sound levels were poor, and we were unable to hear a lot of what was being said, but even when this was rectified in the second half, it didn’t seem to improve viewing. The narrative would benefit from stripping out some of the lengthy explanations, the story would not need it had it made sense.
The initial jump scares were effective, from slams to shadows, some of the audience actually jumped, unfortunately these became repetitive and expected.
The lighting and smoke effects were great, but the set was strange. It did not give images of gothic architecture but more that of a ski cabin. Also, there were some parts of the set which didn’t make sense. There was furniture that was suddenly accessible because it now lended itself to the story: A locked bureau is now open and contains whiskey glasses and a fresh apple, but they are in a disused gothic manor house?
The characters did questionable things which made them comical and unbelievable. The intentional jokes did not land, and the audience were laughing during the supposed scary parts. The Wicked Lady missed the mark on so many levels.
Nicki Davy plays Alice Beaumont and is largely a sole actor during the manor house scenes. She did exceptionally well with the amount of dialogue she needed to deliver, but it was difficult to endear ourselves to her as she was pretty one note in her story and delivery. I feel this is more down to the writing than the performance.
Saul Bache plays the detective sergeant Sean Fenton. He is slick and likeable, helping us to understand his diligent efforts to discover the whereabouts of the missing child. Again, the writing let is performance down, as it meandered into the ridiculous.
The Wicked Lady could have been amazing, it has all the basics for a wonderful gothic horror story, with a truly horrific modern twist, but unfortunately it fell foul to being verbose, having glaring plot holes and it was at best, an amateur production.
THE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING, INTERNATIONAL CABARET SENSATION IS BACK!
Underbelly today announces that the critically acclaimed, genre-defining and world-renowned cabaret, La Clique is returning to London’s glittering West End this Christmas, fresh off a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe season. Starting on the 9th of November and concluding on the 7th of January 2023 in the majestic Spiegeltent in Leicester Square. With less than 100 days until Christmas, a night with La Clique is the ultimate, awe-inspiring experience to get you into the festive spirit. Featuring a brand-new cast bringing you spectacular entertainment, jaw-dropping acrobatics and never seen before performances – plus some returning favourites.
The outstanding cast will be announced in due course and will feature incredible and breath-taking acts from around the globe – a night with La Clique is not to be missed, prepare to be amazed and astounded this festive season. La Clique is returning to the Leicester Square Spiegeltent after successful seasons in 2019 and 2021 and has become a well-loved staple on the London festive scene.
Born at the Edinburgh Festival in 2004 and subsequently travelling the world to international acclaim, La Clique is widely regarded as THE original Spiegeltent cabaret show that created a genre of its own with its award winning and superlative family of circus, cabaret and music performers as well as its unique and irreverent atmosphere.
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK TOUR OF NEW STAGE ADAPTATION OF THE LAVENDER HILL MOB
Full casting is announced for the UK tour of the classic Ealing Comedy, The Lavender Hill Mob, based on the screenplay by T.E.B. Clarke, adapted for the stage by Phil Porter.Joining the previously announced Miles Jupp (Holland)and Justin Edwards (Pendlebury/Ambassador)are Victoria Blunt (Audrey), Guy Burgess (Farrow), Aamira Challenger (Fernanda), Tessa Churchard (Lady Agnes), John Dougall (Sir Horace) and Tim Sutton (Sammy). Directed by Jeremy Sams, the production has its world premiere at Cheltenham Everyman from 13th October 2022, before touring to Clwyd, Cardiff, Malvern, Richmond, Brighton, Chichester, Cambridge, Guildford, Glasgow, Bath and Truro, Hall for Cornwall.
The much-loved film was released in 1951, directed by Charles Crichton, and starring Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway and Sid James, as well as Audrey Hepburn in one of her earliest screen appearances. It was ranked by the BFI as one of the greatest British Films of all time and was restored and re-released in UK cinemas in 2011 for its sixtieth anniversary.
Patrick Myles, David Luff and Act Productions, Alexander “Sandy” Marshall
in association with Tulchin Bartner Productions and Weird Sisters Productions present
THE LAVENDER HILL MOB
Based on the screenplay by T.E.B. Clarke, by special arrangement with STUDIOCANAL and adapted for the stage by Phil Porter
Cast: Victoria Blunt (Audrey), Guy Burgess (Farrow), Aamira Challenger (Fernanda), Tessa Churchard (Lady Agnes), John Dougall (Sir Horace), Justin Edwards (Pendlebury/Ambassador), Miles Jupp (Holland), Tim Sutton (Sammy), Steven Rostance (u/s Holland/Sir Horace), Sharon Adugna (u/s Audrey/Fernanda/Lady Agnes), Paul Willcocks (u/s Pendlebury/Sammy/Farrow)
Director: Jeremy Sams; Designer: Francis O’Connor; Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson; Sound Designer: Fergus O’Hare; Associate Director: Louise Shephard; Casting Director: Ginny Schiller CDG; Illusions and Music: Tim Sutton; Movement Director: Alyssa Noble; Fight Director: Bethan Clark; Costume Supervisor: Jackie Holt; Production Manager: Paul Hennessy; Company Stage Manager: Adrian Quinn; Deputy Stage Manager: Rachel Graham; Assistant Stage Manager: Molly Goodison; Production Assistant: Darryl Oakley; General Manager: Gareth Johnson
UK Tour
13 October 2022 – 18 February 2023
Press Night: Tuesday 18 October at Cheltenham Everyman
The men who broke the bank and lost the cargo are back!
The world premiere adaptation of The Lavender Hill Mob, the classic Ealing Comedy which starred Alec Guinness, is heading to a theatre near you.
Come and see one of the “greatest British films of all time” (BFI) brought to life on stage by Olivier-nominated playwright Phil Porter, directed by Tony and Olivier-nominated Jeremy Sams and starring acclaimed comic actors Miles Jupp and Justin Edwards.
This side-splittingly funny, fast-paced comedy tells the story of Henry Holland, an unassuming bank clerk who dreams of stealing the van full of gold bullion he drives across London each day. When Henry learns that his new lodger makes Eiffel Tower paperweights out of lead, he devises a plan to make his dream a reality. It’s a golden opportunity to pull off the crime of the century, they’d have to be fools to mess it up…
Come and rediscover this much-loved classic in this brand-new stage play that promises to be the most fun night out of the year!
Sharon Adugna understudies Audrey, Fernanda and Lady Agnes. She is a recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and The Lavender Hill Mob mark her professional debut.
Aamira Challenger plays Fernanda. Her theatre work includes Macbeth, The Great Gatsby (US tour), Blithe Spirit (Theatre Royal Bath, West End, UK tour), Macbeth (The Shakespeare Project), The Case of the Frightened Lady (UK your), Romeo and Juliet (Wales Millennium Centre), and The Bacchanals (Etcetera Theatre).
Victoria Blunt plays Audrey. Her theatre work includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth (The Watermill Theatre), Newsrevue (Canal Café Theatre), Passion (Oxford School of Drama), Ratchet (Soho Theatre, Oxford School of Drama), Once Upon a Christmas (Unicorn Theatre), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Oxford Shakespeare Company), Dead Funny (Vaudeville Theatre), Lady Windemere’s Fan (Classic Spring Theatre Company), Twelfth Night (The Watermill Theatre, Wilton’s Music Hall), A Christmas Carol (RSC) and Prism (Hampstead Theatre). For television, her work includes Borderline; and for film, Ammonite.
Guy Burgess plays Farrow. His theatre work includes Playboy of the West Indies (Birmingham Rep), The Railway Children (Hull Truck Theatre Company), Hamlet (National Theatre), Imperium Parts 1 & 2 (Gielgud Theatre, RSC), The Ascending, Satellite (Sheffield Theatres), The National Joke (Stephen Joseph Theatre), The Jew of Malta, Love’s Sacrifice, Volpone (RSC), The Winter’s Tale (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Waiting for Godot (West Yorkshire Playhouse and UK tour), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Novello Theatre). For television, his work includes Whitstable Pearl, Waffle the Wonder Dog and Which Side Are You On?; and for film, Looking for Langston.
Tessa Churchard plays Lady Agnes. Her theatre work includes The Good Life (UK tour), Dying in the Street (The Print Room), Family Business, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Blithe Spirit (Watford Palace Theatre), The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre), Lady of Leisure, Astonished Heart (Liverpool Playhouse), The Fabulist (Old Red Lion Theatre), As You Desire Me (Playhouse Theatre), Don Juan, Galileo’s Daughter, Man and Superman (Bath Theatre Royal), Noises Off (Comedy Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre and UK tour), and Remember This (National Theatre). For television, her work includes Coroner, Dixi and Call the Midwife.
John Dougall plays Sir Horace. His theatre work includes Private Peaceful, The Girl on the Train (UK tours), Imperium Parts 1 & 2 (RSC), Hamlet, The Duchess of Malfi, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII (Shakespeare’s Globe), Twelfth Night/The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale/Henry V, Richard III/The Comedy of Errors, The Merchant of Venice (Propeller), Macbeth (Sheffield Theatres), All My Sons (Curve, Leicester), and The White Devil (Menier Chocolate Factory). For television, his work includes Waking the Dead, Taggart, Hew Knew He Was Right, Randall and Hopkirk Deceased and Monarch of the Glen.
Justin Edwards plays Pendlebury/Ambassador. His theatre credits include The Ferryman (Broadway and West End), The Rivals (Arcola Theatre), The Comedy of Errors (RSC), The Opinion Makers (Colchester Mercury) I Killed Rasputin (George Square Theatre), Art (Holders Festival), Jeremy Lion Goes Green (Pleasance Theatre), and Jeremy Lion, For Your Entertainment (Menier Chocolate Factory). His television credits include Avenue 5, The Witchfinder, Ghosts, This England, Death in Paradise, There She Goes, The Trip, The Thick Of It, Endeavour, Murder in Successville, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry and Paul, The Hollow Crown, Skins, Black Mirror, Sorry I’ve Got No Head;and for film, 1917, Paddington and Paddington 2, Yesterday, The Death of Stalin, Love and Friendship and The Duchess. He is a regular voice on BBC Radio 4 as an actor and presenter, including The Consultants, In and out Of The Kitchen, Cabin Pressure, Where This Service Will Depart, Party’s Over and The Unbelievable Truth.
Miles Jupp plays Holland. His theatre credits include People, Rules for Living (National Theatre), The Way of the World (Northampton Royal Theatre), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Glasgow Citizens) Neville’s Island (Duke of York Theatre) and The Life I Lead (UK Tour and Wyndham’s). As a comedian he has toured his shows Miles Jupp is the Chap You’re Thinking Of, Songs Of Freedom and Fibber In The Heat. His television credits include Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, The Durrells, Rev, The Thick Of It, The Crown, Alan Partridge’s Scissored Isle, A Very British Scandal, SAS: Rogue Heroes, Balamory, Sex Education, Bad Move and Howard’s End; and for film, Misbehaviour, The Monuments Men, Greed, The Look of Love, Made in Dagenham, Journey’s End and The Man Who Invented Christmas. He has contributed to a number of BBC Radio 4 including The News Quiz, which he chaired for four years, and In and Out of the Kitchen, which he wrote and created. He is the author of three books, the most recent of which is a novel, History.
Steven Rostance understudies Holland and Sir Horace. His theatre credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Palace Theatre/ UK tour), Crimes of the Christmas Pudding (Lichfield Garrick), The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre), Robin Hood (New Vic Theatre), The Complete History of Comedy, The Railway Children, The Merchant of Venice (UK tour), London Road (Bristol Old Vic), The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Lion, The Witch an The Wardrobe (Redgrave Theatre), The Hound of the Baskervilles (Theatro Technis) and The Rivals (Camden Peoples Theatre). His film credits include London Road.
Tim Sutton plays Sammy. As an actor, his theatre credits include The Three Musketeers (Barbershopera), The Mother (Visiting Moon), Hymn to Love (Drill Hall), and for film; Reasons. As a composer, his credits include To the Streets! (China Plate/Birmingham Hippodrome), Measure for Measure (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Good Life (Bath Theatre Royal), As You Like It, Titus Andronicus, Two Noble Kinsmen, Women Beware Women (RSC), The Omission of the Family Coleman (Ustinov, Bath), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Skin of our Teeth (Young Vic), The Secret Garden (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Dreamfighter (Lichfield Festival), The Bacchae (National Theatre of Scotland), Cinderella (Royal and Derngate Northampton), A Wedding Story (Birmingham Door/Soho Theatre), A Fool and His Money (Nottingham Playhouse/Birmingham Rep).
Paul Willcocks understudies Pendlebury, Sammy and Farrow. His theatre credits include Coram Boy (Minack Theatre), Emmeline (Cockpit Theatre), Secret Thoughts (Southwark Playhouse), Jubilee Voices (Arcola Theatre), A Passage to India, The Canterbury Tales (Tower Theatre), Twelfth Night, The Human Comedy (Young Vic), Arcadia (Bridewell Theatre), Bronte (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), The Crucible (The Red Hedgehog), The Revenger’s Tragedy (Riverside Studios), Goldilocks and The Three Bears (Princess Theatre) and The Tempest (King’s Head Theatre). His television credits include This England, The Diplomat, Capital Women, What’s Your Story? and for film; My Policeman, Rickshaw, Hold Me Tight and Funny Bones.
Phil Porter’s playwriting credits include The Boy with Two Hearts (Wales Millennium Centre / National Theatre), Vice Versa, The Christmas Truce, A Mad World My Masters, The Tempest (RSC), The Miser (West End, nominated for an Olivier Award), Sometimes Thinking (Frantic Assembly), Blink (Soho Theatre and worldwide), God Of Chaos, The Man With The Hammer (Plymouth Theatre Royal), The Cracks In My Skin (Manchester Royal exchange, winner of a Bruntwood Award), Stealing Sweets And Punching People (Theatre 503 / Off-Broadway), The Flying Machine (Unicorn Theatre) and Starseeker (Northampton Theatre Royal). Opera libretti include Gods Of The Game (Grange Park Opera / Sky Arts) and Pinocchio (Royal Opera House).
Jeremy Sams is a composer, director and writer. As a director, his theatre credits include Oklahoma!, The Rehearsal, The Water Babies (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Sound of Music (international tour), Peter Grimes (Grange Park Opera), The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium), La Perichole (Garsington Opera), Educating Rita (Menier Chocolate Theatre and Trafalgar Studios), The King and I (Royal Albert Hall), 13 (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre), Donkey’s Years, Little Britain Tour (UK tour), Noises Off (National Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre, Brooks Atkinson Theatre), Mozart in Milan (Barbican Centre), The Card (The Watermill Theatre), Entertaining Mr Sloane (Greenwich Theatre), The Wind in the Willows (The Old Vic), Neville’s Island (Nottingham Playhouse and Apollo Theatre), Forty Years On (West Yorkshire Playhouse), and What The Butler Saw (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour).
Full casting announced for Hope Mill Theatre’s production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella the Musical
Full casting announced for Hope Mill Theatre’s production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella the Musical
Tuesday 1st November – Sunday 11th December 2022
Full casting has been announced for the UK theatrical premiere of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, opening at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester in November.
Leading the creative team for this new production are venue founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with Houston directing and Whelton co-directing and choreographing. Announced today is that Tarik Frimpong (The Wiz Hope Mill Theatre, Mary Poppins Returns) will join the creative team as Assistant Director.
Joining the previously announced Grace Mouat (she/her) (SIX, & Juliet, Legally Blonde) who plays Ella and Jacob Fowler (he/him) (Heathers the Musical, Little Mix: The Search) who plays Prince Topher are Annie Aitken (she/her) (The Phantom of the Opera) who will play Madame, Julie Yammanee (she/her) (Carousel) who will play Marie/Fairy Godmother, Lee Ormsby (he/him) (Les Miserables) who will play Sebastian, Matthew McDonald (he/him) (HMS Pinafore) who will play Lord Pinkleton (U/S Prince Topher), Katie Ramshaw (she/her) (Jeremy Jordan in Concert) who will play Charlotte, Olivia-Faith Kamau (she/her) (Million Dollar Quartet) who will play Gabrielle and Adam Filipe (he/him) (The Prince of Egypt) who will play Jean-Michel.
Completing the cast will be featured ensemble members Morgan Broome (she/her) (U/S Madame/ Gabrielle), Lois Glain Postle (she/her) (U/S Marie/ Fairy Godmother),Ria Tanaka (she/her) (U/S Ella), Ella Valentine (she/her) (U/S Charlotte), Jamie Jonathan (he/him) (U/S Sebastian), Will Fisher (He/Him) (U/S Pinkleton), Trevor Lin (he/him) and Milo McCarthy (they/them) (U/S Jean-Michel).
Completing the creative team are Musical Supervisor Leo Munby, Musical Director Audra Cramer, featuring New Musical Arrangements by Jason Carr, Set and Costume Designer Elly Wdowski, Projection Designer George Reeve, Lighting Designer Aaron J Dootson, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Associate Choreographer Charise Renouf, Wig Designer Richard Mawbey, Wig Supervisor Lucy Packham-O’Brien, Assistant Costume Designer Eve Salter, Sound No 1. Josh Evans, Casting by Jane Deitch and Artwork by Steph Pyne.
Director Joseph Houston said: “We are thrilled to finally share our full cast for Rodger’s + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The whole Cinderella casting process was a joy from beginning to end, and the sheer talent that we have assembled is truly remarkable. Having Grace Mouat in the title role, is so exciting and I know audiences are in for a treat, seeing her take on such an iconic role, alongside Jacob Fowler, who is also set to stun audiences. We have assembled an incredible creative team to help bring this show to life and we can’t wait for audiences to experience our most ambitious show to date.”
The smart and beautiful young Ella lives in the care of her wicked, self-absorbed stepmother Madame and her two stepsisters Charlotte and Gabrielle. In another part of the kingdom, Prince Topher is trying to find himself and learn his place in the world. When his scheming advisor Sebastian suggests throwing a ball so the Prince can meet potential brides, Ella and Topher’s different worlds come together. Expect the unexpected in this clever retelling of the beloved fairy tale.
Cinderella is the only musical written for the television by legendary duo Rodgers & Hammerstein (South Pacific, Carousel, The Sound of Music). Originally broadcast live in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, the broadcast was watched by more than 100 million people, before subsequently being remade for TV again in 1965 and 1997 (starring Whitney Houston and Brandy).
A new Broadway version with a Tony-nominated book by Douglas Carter Beane premiered in 2013 featuring several fresh characters and songs. This will be the first time a fully staged version of the show has been performed in the UK (following a 2019 one-night concert version in London).
The musical’s previously postponed 2020 run will be staged this Autumn at Hope Mill Theatre, from Tuesday 1st November until Sunday 11th December with a press night on Sunday 6th November.
The smash hit Tony Award-winning Broadway musical AIN’T TOO PROUD – The Life and Times of The Temptations, will bring the incredible true story of the greatest R&B group of all time to the West End. Reuniting many of the award-winning creative team behind the musical Jersey Boys, AIN’T TOO PROUD – The Life and Times of The Temptations begins performances at the Prince Edward Theatre on 31 March 2023. Casting to be announced soon. Tickets on sale at 12.00noon today, Friday 23 September 2022. www.london.ainttooproudmusical.com
Otis Williams, the group’s founding member and an executive producer of the show said today, “I am truly thrilled that our Tony Award-winning musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, which was a smash hit on Broadway and is currently touring to 50 cities in the U.S., will be opening in the West End next Spring. The UK has always loved our music and embraces it as much today as it did 60 years ago. All of us involved with the show can’t wait to share this very production with you all.”
AIN’T TOO PROUD, which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography is the electrifying new musical that follows the remarkable journey of THE TEMPTATIONS from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. The rest is history – how they met, how they rose, the ground-breaking heights they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s Grammy Award-winning music including the hits My Girl, Just My Imagination, Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone and so many more.
AIN’T TOO PROUD has a book by Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau and reunites two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff with Tony and Olivier Award winning choreographer Sergio Trujilio, whose previous collaborations include the Tony Award winning hit show Jersey Boys. It has Scenic design by Tony Award nominee Robert Brill with Costume design by Tony Award winner Paul Tazewell. Tony Award winning lighting designer Howell Binkley and Tony Award winning sound designer Steve Canyon Kennedy unite once again following their success working together on Jersey Boys. Projection design is by Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini, Hair and Wig design by Charles G. LaPointe. Music Supervision and Arrangements are by Kenny Seymour, Orchestrations by Drama Desk Award winner Harold Wheeler and Music Direction by Matt Smith.
The Temptations are often referred to as American Music Royalty, with an expansive catalogue of hit songs and an ongoing prolific six-decade career. Ranked Number One in Billboard Magazine’s recent list of ‘Greatest R&B/Hip Hop Artists of All Time’, the group were also named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘100 Greatest Artists of All Time’. “My Girl,” released in December 1964, was The Temptations’ first #1 charted record and sold multi-millions of copies. “My Girl” was inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and in 2018 it was entered into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. It has become a standard now. The Temptations have over 50 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards all combined, and also have been awarded five Grammy® Awards, including the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Grammy® Award. They won Motown’s, and their first ever GRAMMY in 1969 for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group for their song “Cloud Nine.” In 1989 The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and their songs “Just My Imagination”, “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone” and “My Girl” are among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s ‘500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.’ In 1994 The Temptations were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California and in 2019 a star on the Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame in Harlem, New York City. Still helmed by founding member, Otis Williams, The Temptations celebrate their 60th Anniversary with a brand-new album, Temptations 60, available now. Next week the group are kicking off their international concert tour in the United Kingdom, followed by appearances in France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
AIN’T TOO PROUD is produced in the West End by Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Stephen Gabriel and Jamie Wilson.
Theatre Royal, Brighton – until 24th September 2022
Reviewed by Sue Bradley
4****
Starting in India with a scene set at the funeral of the previous hotel owner, the story then opened like a classic ‘who-dunnit’, with this gentle comedy bringing together a group of retired strangers to a past-its-best hotel in Bangalore, having to learn about themselves and each other in an unfamiliar setting that is far from the opulence they were promised.
This is far from a dry exploration of the effects of ageing; rather, it is a wry meditation on re-discovering yourself beyond a point where you might have thought the best parts of your life are over. And, whilst all the men have significant parts to play in this story, it is the women who enjoy the most significant changes; finding unexpected new love and happiness.
When we were younger, we were often told to ‘act our age’. It was an absolute pleasure to see actors such as Hayley Mills (Wild at Heart, The Parent Trap), Paul Nicholas (Jesus Christ Superstar, Just Good Friends, Eastenders) and Rula Lenska (Rock Follies, Coronation Street) very much acting their age and reminding us that there is a great deal of living (and loving) to be had in our retirement years. Harmage Singh Kalirai was also excellent in the several roles that he played, and especially moving as the Sadhu.
The beautifully designed set really captures the feel of an Indian ‘heritage’ hotel and it provides the setting for almost all of the story.
The show took a little while to get going as the first half was slow and the pace was a little uneven – many of the significant transformations for the characters happened well into the second half, but we were kept entertained along the journey. With plenty of light one-liners and throw-away quips we were kept smiling and laughing throughout.
The best-selling book These Foolish Things, by Deborah Moggach, was the basis for the hit film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and she has adapted her own novel to provide the stage play for this show, treading a fine line between the lighter tone of the film and the darker complexities of the book.
Whether this show will appeal to a young audience is yet to be seen but for those of us who have had some experience of life and perhaps feel that some of our better years are behind us this was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. It was genuinely moving in places and the uplifting end to the show sent us all away happy.
THE LOWRY, SALFORD, MANCHESTER – UNTIL 24 SEPTEMBER 2022
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4****
Girl From The North Country is not just another jukebox musical but a powerful and deeply moving production, written and directed by Irish dramatist Conor McPherson. The story is built around nineteen vintage songs by Bob Dylan. These songs are performed by the cast throughout the production, each song backed by instruments form the 1930’s. Girl From The North Country first premiered at the Old Vic in London in July 2017 and made it’s North American Off-Broadway premiere in New York, September 2018. Last night the accomplished cast performed to a packed-out audience at The Lowry.
As the audience walk into the theatre, you notice different instruments scattered across the floor of the stage. A member of the cast walks in unannounced and so begins the production’s first musical number ‘Sign On The Window’. Right from the outset the music transports the audience to a different time and place.
The musical is set in a guesthouse in 1934 in the middle of the great Depression and seven years before the songwriter was born, in Duluth, Minnesota, the birthplace of Dylan. The story is narrated by Dr Walker (Chris McHallem), the physician to the Laine family. The guesthouse is owned by Nick Laine (Colin Connor) and Elizabeth Laine (Frances McNamee), who has dementia and is facing foreclosure. Their son Gene (Gregor Milne) is a drunken would-be writer, whilst their adopted black daughter Marianne (Justina Kehinde) is pregnant and closely guards the identity of the father of her baby. The story focuses not just on Nick and his family woes, but on the residents of the guesthouse. Also staying there is Mrs Neilsen (Nichola Macevilly), a widow who is waiting for her late husband’s will to clear probate and the Burke family, Mrs Burke (Rebecca Thornhill) and Mr Burke (Neil Stewart) with their mentally disabled son Elias (Ross Carswell). Late at night, during a storm, a self-styled bible salesman, Marlowe (Owen Lloyd) and down-on-his-luck boxer Joe Scott (Joshua C Jackson) arrive looking for shelter and cause a catalyst of events and change everything for everyone in the house.
Arguably the strongest element of Girl From The North Country is its’ musical numbers. The songs are drawn from right across Dylan’s back catalogue including ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, ‘Hurricane’, ‘Make You Feel My Love’ and ‘Forever Young’. The cast is outstanding with their Fargo accents, emotional monologues, dancing and playing of musical instruments! The standout numbers for me were ‘Tight Connection To My Heart’ and ‘I want You’. McNamee who plays Elizabeth, the dementia suffering wife, deserves a particular mention. She is outstanding with her rip-roaring performance of ‘Like A Rolling Stone’.
Girl From The North Country is no doubt a must see for all music lovers but Dylan fans in particular.
WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is delighted to welcome back Mark Curry as ‘The Wizard’ from Tuesday 18 October 2022. Gary Wilmot will play his final performance as ‘The Wizard’ at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on Sunday 16 October 2022.
Actor, broadcaster, and former Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry previously played ‘The Wizard’ as part of the 10th Anniversary London cast in 2016/17. In a career spanning more than five decades, Mark first came to prominence in Yorkshire Television’s Junior Showtime in 1969. Filmed at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds, he stayed with the show for six years. During this time, he also appeared as ‘Oscar DeVelt’ in Alan Parker’s film Bugsy Malone as well as in numerous variety shows and pantomimes. Following three years with the Harrogate Theatre Company and a budding career as a television presenter (including The Saturday Picture Show and Screen Test), he joined the BBC’s Blue Peter in 1986, becoming its 15th presenter. During his more than three years with the legendary show, he presented alongside Janet Ellis, Peter Duncan, Caron Keating and Yvette Fielding. His career as an actor has seen him star at theatres across the UK, most notably and frequently in the plays and comedies of Alan Ayckbourn. In 2018, he starred as ‘Philip Markham’ in the 50th anniversary production of Ray Cooney & John Chapman’s comedy Move Over Mrs Markham, directed by Ray Cooney. His London credits include Talent, written and directed by Victoria Wood, and Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, directed by Robin Herford. A keen tennis player and a qualified tennis coach, Mark is also a frequent tennis commentator on BBC Radio 5, Eurosport, LBC, Radio Wimbledon and Talk Radio Europe. In 2017, he and Amy Dowden won the Pudsey Glitterball Trophy in the Strictly Come Dancing special for Children in Need.
Mark Curry commented: “I’m thrilled to be returning to Oz after 5 years away and to have this opportunity to play The Wizard again in the incredible Wicked. I look forward to joining this brilliant cast and working again with the fantastic creative team and producers.”
“One of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News), Wicked recently welcomed its 11 millionth theatregoer toLondon’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. The “global sensation” (Independent) has won over 100 awards, including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, and a Grammy.
Wicked currently stars: Lucie Jones (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Gary Wilmot (The Wizard, until 16 October 2022), Mark Curry (The Wizard, from 18 October 2022), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Michael Colbourne, Fergus Dale, Nolan Edwards, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Maggie Lynne, Rhidian Marc, PaddyJoe Martin, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Harry Mills, Lewis Newton, Natalie Spriggs, Samantha Thomas, Joe Thompson-Oubari and James Titchener.
Cast subject to change from Tuesday 7 March 2023.
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wickedhas music and lyrics by multi-Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted and its new Disney+ sequel Disenchanted). It is based on the bestselling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominee Winnie Holzman, creator of the landmark American television series My So-Called Life. Musical staging is by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.
Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is published in the UK by Headline (the book is recommended for readers aged 16+). Wicked: The Grimmerie, a behind-the-scenes look at the musical by David Cote, is published in the UK by Hyperion.
The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG
Tom Chambers will be playing the character Walter Hobbs, the rediscovered father of Buddy, in ELF, the smash hit musical which returns to London in a new production at the Dominion Theatre for a strictly limited 8-week season. ELF will begin previews on 14 November and open on 24 November 2022, with the season finishing on 7 January 2023. Tom Chambers’ credits include (Holby City (BBC), Waterloo Road (BBC), Father Brown (BBC), Jerry Travers in Top Hat (West End),Bob Wallis in White Christmas (West End)).
Also in the cast are Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible in Wicked (West End), Tanya in MAMMA MIA! (West End)) who will play Debs, Nicholas Pound (Old Deuteronomy in Cats, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables (UK tour), Juan Perón in Evita (UK tour)) who will play Santa and Dermot Canavan (Hairspray (London Coliseum), Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof (Menier Chocolate Factory and West End)) who will play Store Manager.
They join the previously announced Simon Lipkin and Georgina Castle as Buddy and Jovie, respectively.
Also in the cast are Evonnee Bentley-Holder Kyle Cox, Jade Davies, Bethan Downing, Francis Foreman, Morgan Gregory, Ryan Jupp, Ellis Linford-Pill, Shane O’Riordan, Theo Reece, Chloe Saunders, Heather Scott-Martin, Jessica Spalis, Michael Tyler, Katie Warsop and Natalie Woods.
Dexter Barry, Logan Clark, Alfie Morwood and Frankie Treadaway will alternate the role of Michael.
Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell, ELF features a book by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), with songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer).
The new production will be directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, with original set and costume design by Tim Goodchild, choreography by Liam Steel, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound by Gareth Owen, video design by Ian William Galloway and wig and hair design by Richard Mawbey. Casting is by Grindrod Burton Casting.
ELF is the funny and charming tale of Buddy, who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts as a baby and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf! Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities finally cause him to face the truth and realise he’ll never belong in the North Pole. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York to find his birth father, discover his true identity and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Further casting is to be announced.
ELF the Musical is produced by Temple Live Entertainment.
Simon Russell Beale and Eben Figueiredo will return to the Bridge Theatre in Nicholas Hytner’s production ofA Christmas Carol for four weeks only this December. They are joined by Lyndsey Marshal who completes casting. Devised by Hytner, A Christmas Carol was previously seen at The Bridge in December 2020, before its acclaimed run was cut short by the coronavirus lockdown. Now, it returns this festive season, from 6 to 31 December 2022. Suitable for all ages, the show runs at 90 minutes without interval. Priority booking opens today (22 September 2022) at 11am, with public booking from 10am on 27 September 2022.
A Christmas Carol didn’t just invent Christmas as we know it. It’s also scary, joyful, spooky, hilarious, furious, beautiful, and a triumphant declaration that even the hardest hearts can melt.
Set and costume designs are again by Rose Revitt, with lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Gareth Fry, video design by Luke Halls and Zakk Hein, music by Grant Olding and choreography by James Cousins.
Simon Russell Beale made his Bridge Theatre debut in A Christmas Carol in 2020 followed by Bach & Sons and can be seen in the forthcoming John Gabriel Borkman, all directed by Nicholas Hytner with whom he has previously collaborated on The Alchemist, Much Ado About Nothing, Major Barbara, Collaborators, London Assurance and Timon of Athens, all at the National Theatre. In 2019 he was seen in The Lehman Trilogy at the National Theatre, then the West End and on Broadway for which he won the Tony award for Leading Actor in a Play. As well as being the recipient of multiple theatre awards, in 2003 he was made a CBE for his services to the Arts and in 2019 he was made a Knight Bachelor.
Eben Figueiredo previously played Schram in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Young Marx as well as roles in A Christmas Carol, bothat The Bridge. His other theatre credits include Cyrano de Bergerac at the Playhouse Theatre, Primetime at the Royal Court, Ross for Chichester Festival Theatre, Peter Pan at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Pitcairn for Minerva Theatre. His film credits include Solo:A Star Wars Story and Daphne. On television his credits include The Attack and Scatooney.
Lyndsey Marshalis making her debut at The Bridge. Her recent theatre credits include Force Majeure at the Donmar Warehouse, The Wild Duck at the Almeida Theatre, Diminished at Hampstead Theatre, The Oresteia at HOME Manchester and Othello, directed by Nicholas Hytner, at the National Theatre. On television her credits includeInside Man, playing Agatha in Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar, Ellie in League of Gentleman, Cleopatra in Rome and Lady Sarah Hill in Garrow’s Law. On film her credits include The Hours, Trespass Against Us, Festival and Up the Catalogue.
For the Bridge Theatre Nicholas Hytner has directed Young Marx, Julius Caesar, Allelujah!, Alys, Always, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,Two Ladies, Beat the Devil, The Shrine, Bed Among the Lentils, A Christmas Carol, Bach & Sons and The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage. He recently directed Ralph Fiennes in David Hare’s Straight Line Crazy at The Bridge and at The Shed, New York, later this year and Alex Jennings in Stephen Beresford’s The Southbury Child at Chichester Festival Theatre and The Bridge. Later this month, he will direct Simon Russell Beale in John Gabriel Borkman. In February 2023 he will direct Guys & Dolls, the first musical to be presented at The Bridge. Previously he was Director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015.
LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR THE BRIDGE THEATRE
Address: Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG
