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Trafalgar Studios London – until 18 November 2017.  Reviewed by Catherine Françoise

4 ****

APOLOGIA is Alexia Kave Campbell’s third play and second incarnation here in London after first being seen in 2009. It also marks the return of American actress Stockard Channing to the West End stage after a decade. There’s no denying her strong and charismatic presence as world renown professional art historian Kristin Miller reaching her sixth decade and known for her lifelong radical left wing views and demonstrations outside Grosvenor House and in Paris in the politically charged 1960s. She still has a portrait of Karl Marx hanging above the loo in her bathroom.

Alongside all of this she has been a wife, a mother and a divorcee who lost custody of her two young sons at an early age and it is in the domestic setting of her homely kitchen, rather than what has defined her public life that we meet her. Her sons are coming to dinner to celebrate her 60th birthday with their respective partners and as the evening unfolds we discover that in recently published memoirs of her life, neither of her sons are mentioned at all. Tensions rise. Campbell explores the damage caused within family by all sorts of decisions made for the best reasons at the time. As is always the case with hindsight, things seem much clearer and simpler in retrospect, and the damage wrecked by an unintentionally neglectful mother to her now two adult sons, has also inflicted its own damage on her.

There is wit and compassion and gentle observation but I found the play to be a little disjointed and forced in places. Whilst activism and conviction is admirable, unbelievable rudeness to those who do not share similar views is not and there is a jarring disconnect between wanting better for people in general yet treating those standing in your kitchen with absolute disdain, which is what Kristin Miller does to her son’s partners. But Campbell’s characters are well cast with Channing magnificent as Kristin at the centre, with an unstoppable array of fierce, droll jibes. She also elicits sympathy from us as she struggles to understand why her sons have been so badly affected when she always acted with the very best of intentions both for them and society as a whole.

Joseph Millson impresses playing both of Kristin’s sons (banker Peter and depressive writer Simon). Millson is superb and particularly profound playing Simon who has been completely broken by his mother’s abandonment as a child. The scene between mother and son was especially poignant and extremely moving. Laura Carmichel playing Peter’s girlfriend Trudi is outstanding, warm, intelligent, open and multifaceted. Freema Agyeman is fearless and gutsy as Simon’s soap actress girlfriend, despised by his mother. Desmond Barrit as long-time family friend articulates a warm and genuine vision for a better world that fuelled protests and demos of the tempestuous 60s. Thoughtfully directed by Jamie Lloyd, Channing leads a superb cast in Campbell’s sharp, witty, insightful play.

 

Today I am going to do some bragging – forgive me if it appears we are self indulgent.

We’ve managed to review some fabulous shows – more hits than misses thankfully and we have had some lovely feedback on the reviews on the website, facebook and twitter.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Pleasance One – until 28 August.  Reviewed by Jessica Brady

3***

Based on the 1984 cult classic directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman, this musical remake of The Toxic Avenger hits the fringe after a successful run in London’s Southwark Playhouse.

Despite going up 35 minutes later than planned, the show managed to pack a punch for the audience! The story follows Melvin (played by Mark Anderson), a geeky New Jersey boy who is in love with a local blind girl Sarah (played by Emma Salvo) and wants to win her heart by saving the town from the toxic waste that seems to be destroying everything in its path. Melvin seeks out the mayor (played by Natalie Hope) and pin points her as the culprit and vows to tell the town. She uses her sexually persuasive powers to convince him otherwise and once he is out of her sight she sends her two thugs to ‘take care’ of him. The two thugs (played by Che Francis and Oscar Conlon-Morrey) rough poor Melvin up and throw him into a pipe of toxic waste transforming the measly boy into a grotesque mutant. He saves the helpless Sarah from the very same thugs who attack her and she falls head over heels for the newly named ‘Toxie’.

This is a silly hour and 15 minutes that has 5 talented performers who give it everything they have with powerful vocals and a rock and roll score! It’s a cross breed between Little Shop of Horrors and Urine Town and has some pretty funny one liners at times. I would say that throughout the music was so loud and over powering that I couldn’t hear a lot of what the performers were singing about which wasn’t great but over all if you’re looking for something that will give you a whirlwind experience then The Toxic Avenger is for you.

CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD TO PLAY MISS HANNIGAN FOR 10 WEEKS IN

HIT WEST END PRODUCTION OF

A N N I E

BOOKING EXTENDS AT PICCADILLY THEATRE TO 18 FEBRUARY 2018

Today (4 August 2017) Michael Harrison and David Ian, Producers of the West End production of Annie are delighted to announce that from 18 September to 26 November 2017, Craig Revel Horwood will join the West End Company to play the role of Miss Hannigan for 10 weeks.  In addition, it is announced today that Nikolai Foster’s production will extend booking at the Piccadilly Theatre to 18 February 2018.

Best known on television as a judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and for a role he returns to this Autumn, Craig Revel Horwood received great critical acclaim in Foster’s production of Annie that toured the UK in 2015. Previously in the West End he has performed the role of Munkustrap in Cats, was Dance Captain in Miss Saigon and played the role of Harry in Crazy for You.  His production of Son of a Preacher Man will open in Bromley in September before embarking on an extensive UK tour.  During his 10-week run, because of his Strictly Come Dancing commitments, Craig Revel Horwood will not play the role of Miss Hannigan on Saturdays.

Craig Revel Horwood said:  “I am so pleased to be returning to the West End, especially to a role I had such a brilliant time performing on tour.  Miss Hannigan is evil, sassy and fab-u-lous.  It will be a real challenge for me not to take her man-hungry, wicked ways to the Strictly judging panel each Saturday night – though I am sure my fellow judges will keep me in check!  I can’t wait to get started.”

 The Annie West End Company also includes Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks, Holly Dale Spencer as Grace Farrell, Jonny Fines as Rooster and Djalenga Scott as Lily.  The title role of Annie is shared by Madeleine Haynes, 13-years old from Hadley Wood, Barnet, Lola Moxom, 12-years old from Rochester, Kent and Ruby Stokes, 12-years old from Hampshire. They are joined by three teams of young performers who play the girls in Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Amber, a 4 year-old Labradoodle, plays Annie’s dog Sandy.  Completing the company are adult are Russell Wilcox, Bobby Delaney, Keisha Atwell, Sophie Ayers, Nic Gibney, Patrick Harper, Ben Harrold, George Ioannides, Megan Louch, Benjamin Mundy, Ben Oliver,Heather Scott-Martin, Anne Smith, Kate Somerset How and Katie Warsop.  Miranda Hart will play the role of Miss Hannigan until 17 September 2017.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family…

 

Annie has book by Thomas Meehan adapted from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie, music byCharles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin.  The West End production will have sets and costumes designed by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker and orchestration and musical direction byGeorge Dyer. 

 

Foster’s production arrived in the West End 40 years after the original Broadway production opened in 1977 and received seven Tony awards including the Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.  The last West End production of Annie opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 1998. In 1982, Annie was adapted for the big screen directed by John Huston with a cast including Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters and Albert Finney and in 2014 a further feature film was released, directed by Will Gluck, with a cast including Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.  The much-loved score includes the classics It’s A Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow and Easy Street.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                  Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7DY

Dates:                    now booking to 18 February 2018

Performances:          Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7.30pm, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm

At certain performances, the role of Miss Hannigan will be played by Anne Smith, see website for details

Prices:                    Tickets from £20 which include a restoration levy of £1.75.  No booking or transaction fees through official sales outlets, Children Go Half-Price (Monday to Thursday performances, top price only, subject to a maximum of 2 children aged 16 or under with each full paying adult, and subject to availability)

Box Office:              0844 871 7630

Twitter:                   @AnnieMusicalUK

Facebook:               AnnieMusicalUK

Instagram:              anniemusicaluk

Website:                 www.AnnieWestEnd.com

REND Productions and Lighthouse Poole present the
UK Tour of Howard Barker’s Judith:
A Parting From The Body
Tuesday 5th – Saturday 30th September 2017

Judith: A Parting From The Body by internationally-renowned playwright Howard Barker returns to the stage for a UK tour this autumn, telling the apocryphal story that has fascinated artists for centuries. Barker, lauded by The Times as ‘England’s greatest living dramatist’, pulls back the dusty sheets of Holofernes’ tent in this radical re-telling revealing what really happened in this mystic tale.

Catherine Cusack (Coronation Street, ITV; The Crucible, Belfast Lyric; All That Fall, Broadway, Arts Theatre, Jermyn Street) leads the cast of this powerful reimagining. The cast also includes Liam Smith (Cuffs, BBC; The Winterling, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick; Through The Night, Finborough) playing Holofernes and Kristin Hutchinson (Beyond Caring, National Theatre; The Empress, RSC; The Waves, National Theatre) playing the Servant.

The city under siege, the night before the battle that will see this country fall. A beautiful widow, Judith, infiltrates the enemy camp with her Servant, with the intention of seducing and killing the blood-crazed army general, Holofernes, to save her country from invasion and destruction. Her land is at stake – but what of her heart and mind? In Robyn Winfield-Smith’s unsettling and emotionally
charged production, we see a passionate double-seduction and a web of truth and lies between a man who has chosen murder and a woman who has chosen love.

Brimming with political potency, Judith probes deep into fundamental questions about the human experience, about the nature of truth, and about the apparently inescapable cycles of violence in our world.

Robyn Winfield-Smith, Artistic Director of REND Productions, comments, REND is thrilled to be taking JUDITH on national tour in co-production with Lighthouse, Poole, following the success of our 4-week run at Arcola in 2015 (the 20th anniversary year of the play’s TMA-winning premiere at the Traverse). With ongoing global controversy over the trustworthiness of those in political power, and with continued violence and political unrest sweeping across the world, this intense and hard-hitting play is as devastatingly urgent as it was in both 1995 and 2015 – testament to the state of affairs internationally, the uncomfortable truths about human nature, and the calibre of Barker’s writing.

Stephen Wrentmore, Artistic Producer of Lighthouse, says, In a little less than 60 minutes, Judith manages to deftly expose the hypocrisy and influence of the state that other plays take hours to tackle. It is a brilliant and exposing piece that muscularly deals with complex themes of desire, love, power and its abuse. It addresses war, propaganda, and wraps itself around the most physical and
gruesome acts of apocryphal storytelling. This production is important to Lighthouse and our new Sherling Studio theatre as we continue to celebrate new and bold plays in our programming, working in partnership and collaboration, and setting our bar of quality and ambition high.

Howard Barker’s original TMA-winning production of Judith premiered at the Traverse in 1995. Judith was first performed at the Arcola Theatre as part of REND Productions’ HOWARD BARKER DOUBLE BILL in 2015, which received an Arts Council England Grant For The Arts.

Exhilarating and provoking. An insightful, innovative staging that breathes humanity and humourinto [a play] by one of the UK’s most uncompromising writers (★★★★ Tom Wicker, The Stage).

Following a successful partnership on the HOWARD BARKER DOUBLE BILL at Arcola in 2015, REND Productions will once again be collaborating with VocalEyes to provide accessible performances where possible, most notably Omnibus’ first ever tour and audio-described performance.

Alongside this production of Judith, REND Productions will continue to organise university and sixth form workshops, directing masterclasses as well as additional educational and outreach events.

Tour Dates
5th – 9th September Arcola Theatre, Studio 2, London (£17/£14 concessions)
24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL
Tickets available from www.arcolateatre.com (0207 503 1646)

13th – 15th September Omnibus Theatre, London (£15/£12 concessions)
1 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 0QW
Tickets available from www.omnibus-clapham.org (0207 498 4699)

28th September Lighthouse, Sherling Studio, Poole (£14/£12 + booking fee)
21 Kingland Road, Poole BH15 1UG
Tickets available from www.lighthousepoole.co.uk (01202 280 000)

29th – 30th September Mercury Theatre, Studio, Colchester (£13.50/£9 concessions)Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT
Tickets available from www.mercurytheatre.co.uk (01206 573 948)

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING

S C H O O L   O F   R O C K  –  T H E   M U S I C A L

WELCOMES NEW KIDS CAST

 

BOOKING EXTENDS AT NEW LONDON THEATRE TO 2019

LIVERPOOL AND LONDON AUDITIONS SET FOR THE AUTUMN

 

WWW.SCHOOLOFROCKTHEMUSICAL.COM

 

Later this month (26 August 2017) Andrew Lloyd Webber will welcome a new group of kids to his Olivier award-winning production of School of Rock – The Musical at the New London Theatre.  Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, the record breaking West End production of School of Rock – The Musical opened to rave reviews and in April this year the show’s ‘kids’ cast, who play live music on stage at each performance, were the recipients of the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

For the fourth time since its West End premiere, today 4 August 2017, School of Rock – The Musical announces a further extension to its West End run, now booking to 13 January 2019.  In New York, the Broadway production now in its second year, continues to play to packed houses at the Winter Garden Theater.

Continuing the countrywide search for the opportunity to ‘join the band’, further kids open auditions will take place in the Autumn on 23 September in Liverpool and 20 and 22 November in London.  If you’re between 8 – 12 years old and play the drums, keys or the electric or bass guitar, registration and further details can be found at www.schoolofrockthemusical.co.uk/opencallor by contacting Jessica Ronane Casting at [email protected]

From 26 August 2017 the ‘kids’ cast comprises Jacob Swann, twelve years old from London, Annabel Gracey, twelve years old from Bradford and Siam Elvidge, ten years old from West Yorkshire who play Freddy; Santiago Cerchione, twelve years old from London, Phoenix Taylor, eleven years old from York and Jack Goodacre, twelve years old from Norfolk, will play Zack; Eliza Cowdery, eleven years old from Hampshire, Imogen Bowden, eleven years old from London and Audrey Newman, ten years old from London who play Katie; Cole Lam, ten years old from Surrey, Milano Preston, twelve years old from Hertfordshire and Johnny Evans-Hutchison, fourteen years old from London who play Lawrence; Joseph Black, ten years old from London, Harry Vallance, twelve years old from Essex and Archie Lewis, twelve years old from Surrey who play Billy; Aaliyah Monk, eleven years old from Suffolk, Stella Haden, eleven years old from Birmingham and Caoimhe Judd, thirteen years old from Essex, will play Summer; Tia Figgett eleven years old from East Sussex, Jasmine Sakyiama, eleven years old from Milton Keynes and Nerys Obeng, ten years old from London, will play Tomika; Nathan Reeve twelve years old from West Sussex, Stanley Jarvis twelve years old from London and Josh White, eleven years old from Worcestershire, will play James; Alex Stuckey ten years old from Essex, Charlie Vyacheslavov eleven years old from Berkshire and Dylan Miles-Davis, thirteen years old from Bradford, will play Matthew; Ellie Wilcox ten years old from London, Romanie Jija-Wakeham nine years old from London and Grace Wood eleven years old from Surrey who play Marcy; Cody Molko eleven years old from London, Austin Kindler eleven years old from London and Nicolas Ong twelve years old from Buckinghamshire who play Mason; Saffron Pennycooke eleven years old from London, Aaylia Rose nine years old from London and Miami Holness, ten years old also from London, will play Shonelle; Teri Ofon eleven years old from Surrey, Navaeah Hoath ten years old from London and Darcy Dennis, ten years old from Kent, will play Sophie.

 

The three teams of thirteen kids who make up Dewey’s band are joined by the adult cast comprising Gary Trainor as Dewey Finn with Florence Andrews as Rosalie Mullins, Oliver Jackson as Ned Schneebly and Preeya Kalidas as Patty Di Marco.  They are joined on stage at each performance by one of three teams of thirteen young performers who make up Dewey’s band.  The ‘grown up’ cast is completed by Stephen Leask as the alternate Dewey with ensemble members Jonathan Bourne, Nadeem Crowe, Michelle Francis, Rosanna Hyland, Cassandra McCowan, Joel Montague, Andy Rees, Cameron Sharp, Andrew Spillett, Alex Tomkins and Lucy Vandi and swings, Charlotte Bradford, Jason Denton, Cellen Chugg Jones, Alfie Parker and Tasha Sheridan.

 

Based on the iconic hit movie and with a rocking new score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock – The Musical follows slacker and wannabe rock star Dewey Finn turn a class of straight-A 10 year old students into an ear popping, riff scorching, all conquering rock band!  Dewey poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet, and when he discovers his fifth graders’ musical talents, he enlists his class to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands. As Dewey falls for the beautiful headmistress, can he and his students keep this special assignment secret as they learn to fully embrace the power of rock?

 

Based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock features music from the movie, as well as new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes.  School of Rock – The Musical is directed by Laurence Connor with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, set and costume designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter, music supervision by John Rigby with Matt Smith as musical director.

 

Produced by Paramount Pictures, the 2003 hit film School of Rock was directed by Richard Linklater and starred Jack Black in a career-defining performance.

School of Rock — The Musical is produced in the West End by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Really Useful Group and Warner Music Group & Access Industries with Madeleine Lloyd Webber as Executive Producer.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                  New London Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW

Dates:                    now booking to 13 January 2019

Running time:          approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval

Box Office:                0844 811 0052

Performances:          Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm, Sundays at 3pm

                             Please check website for Christmas schedule

Prices:                    from £15.00 – £75.00

Student rush tickets for £10 on Wednesday evening

All ticket prices include a £1.50 restoration levy.  No booking fee via official box office channels

Website:                 www.SchoolOfRockTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter & Instagram: @SchoolofRockuk

Facebook:               facebook.com/schoolofrockmusical

Grand Opera House York – until 5 August.  Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

3.5***

Stage Experience once again brings musical theatre to the Grand Opera House York. Fame! “I’m gonna live forever” is the name of the game for this year’s show for the young cast members (aged between 10 – 21), directed by Louise Denison.

The show is a product of the hit 1980’s film, following a group of young hopefuls wanting to attend New York City High School for the Performing Arts, or PA as we get to know it later on. We follow the fortunes of a group of dancers, actors and musicians, the cream of the crop, from their auditions through to graduation, in the quest for one thing – fame.

The show concentrates on a selected few students, one being Carmen Diaz, played by a very confident Lydia Bradd. She does an amazing job of showcasing her dancing and acting abilities especially the vulnerability as we see Carmen on the downward spiral, seduced by the quick fix and drugs. Finn East as Joe Vegas delivers a strong comedic performance which had us all laughing. Other mentions must be given to Charlotte McCamley (Serena Katz), Amelia Cook (Mabel Washington), Luke Wilby (Nick Plazza) and Sam Rippon (Schlomo Metzenbaum) who are all integral to the story and showed different strengths in their performances.

There is another young man who I have not as yet mentioned and that is Max Mulrenan as Tyrone Jackson. He had great stage presence and there was certainly something about him. Although he can sing, dance and act, I did think sometimes that he was not quite “powerful” enough, that was until I realised that he is only 14, so young. He has so much potenial and I would love to see him in 5 – 10 years time as he matures and can truly deliver that powerful performance which he has within him.

The extremely young cast are energetic and you could feel their enthusiasm straight from the get go, you could tell that they all so wanted to be there, setting the tone for the whole show. The live music was a treat and it was so welcoming to see the conductor loving his job so much.

Overall a great vibrant show and the cast deserve to have a full house in every performance they do, especially knowing that they had less than 2 weeks to put it together.

 

Day three was cold and wet and miserable.  So with no shows due until later, we decided to be cultural and see some of the city and went on a bus tour.  We chose City Sightseeing (www.city-sightseeing.com) with their distinctive red busses but there was plenty of choice for tours from the stop at the top of the High Street, by the Castle, where we got on.  It was informative and entertaining and we discovered that many many cafe’s were laying claim to where a certain author wrote about a certain boy wizard.

After getting flyered by the many who were out and about braving the elements we went for lunch.  Gordon’s Trattoria again (www.gordonstrattoria.com).  We had the most delicious lasagne – it was everything we thought it would be and more.  The garlic and rosemary focaccia and for the best dessert ever I had sticky toffee pudding and Jo had chocolate fudge cake.  They looked like a work of art and tasted like heaven.  The staff are friendly, the service amazing and the food sublime – you must, MUST visit Gordon’s and if you do – tell them fairypowered sent you.

More flyering and people watching before our first show of the day – a very funny tale of overcoming zombies by being northern in the Assembly.  Followed by a comedy psychic medium who might actually have turned out to be real.  Either way both were 5* shows and you can read the reviews on here and on facebook and twitter

Tom and Bunny Save the World https://fairypoweredproductions.com/tom-bunny-save-world-review/

Tom Binns is Ian D Montfort https://fairypoweredproductions.com/tom-binns-ian-d-montfort-review/

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Assembly George Square – until 28 August.  Reviewed by Joanne Gordon

5*****

The third Ian Talk by Ian D Montfort (Tom Binns) is all about “proving there is no need to provide proof that his methods work by providing evidence that evidence does not matter” !

Stood barefoot and donned in his ying yang wolf top, Ian certainly looks the part. You enter the performance believing you are going to see someone take the proverbial out of the celebrity “psychics” we are all aware of . Heavily dependant on audience participation, Ian, with the help of his Indian spirit guide (Raj, a call centre worker from Mumbai) brings messages from the other side and surprisingly gets most of the personal information correct!

We see the spirit of Shakespeare (his first appearance at the fringe) correctly quote a passage from his works previously circled by a member of the audience, there is a visit from Churchill himself, guessing his quote written on a British fiver, proven to be him as he wasn’t around when these fivers were invented and a very impressive moment involving various wallet cards from the audience (including mine ) which left me in awe! Very funny throughout and the accuracy he delivers will have even the most cynical of us turned into believers!

He is either a comic genius or the seventh son of a seventh son, I cant decide!

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Assembly Box – until 28 August

5*****

A deadly virus has been unleashed upon the world and the only people who can save the day are geek Tom (Jamie Mawson) and free spirit Bunny (Robyn Grant).  There plan is to get to Yorkshire, to Leeds, to make sure Bunny’s family and pet dog Cliff are okay.

On their way there they pick up Vet Gareth (Luke Dunford) from a strange farm in Wales and the threesome end up at a research lab in Nottingham. Here they meet Kai (Rosie Raven) a mechanic who worked at Porton Down and heavily pregnant Pearl (Allie Monro) a Scientist trying to find a cure for the zombies now invading the land.

All the while they are being watched on CCTV from a bunker in Scotland by Mike (Jonny Holbek) who is Kai’s partner.

This is full of humour and some fantastic musical pieces, mostly played on guitar by Holbek.  There is a gritty and at points worrying story at it’s heart but the jokes compound the piece without turning serious silly.

I can’t give away the plot as you need to see the show for yourselves but being a Northern woman I was proud of this show

This is Fat Rascal Theatre’s second show at this years fringe (the other being Buzz the Musical at the Pleasance Courtyard), proving just how multi talented they are doing two totally different shows every day.  It’s a tight ensemble and they all work well together.  Another must see show from this fabulous company