Author: FairyPoweredProductions

The Other Palace Theatre, – until 8th September 2024

Reviewed by Ava Clarkson

5*****

The Other Palace Theatre close to Victoria is the venue for the musical adaptation of the amazing book of the same name by Kate Pankhurst – a distant relative of Emmeline Pankhurst – very distant…. But as Kate says, with a surname like Pankhurst, who could not be inspired by such an iconic woman of history – the leader of the suffragettes who campaigned to secure votes for women in the early 1900’s and her call for “deeds not words”. This musical promises to wow us with more great women who changed the world and boy (or should I say girl) did it deliver…

The Other Palace Theatre is a modern and trendy venue, with a lively bar in the foyer which was buzzing with excitement when we arrived. The theatre inside is a steep 300 seated space which makes for a perfect view for all.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is the award-winning musical which returns to London, for 7 weeks only. Chris Bush (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Gillian Lynne Theatre) and Miranda Cooper have adapted the books of Kate Pankhurst to the stage along with music by Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo and direction by Amy Hodge.

The story surrounds Jade, a schoolgirl separated from her class trip and feeling not only lost on the trip but lost in the world. She stumbles upon the “Gallery of Greatness” and is told not to enter at all costs… so in true female determined style, she goes inside where she meets 12 brilliant women from history – Amelia Earhart, Emmeline Pankhurst, Sacagawea, Gertrude Ederle, Jane Austen, Frida Kahlo, Agent Fifi, Mary Seacole, Mary Anning, Marie Curies, Rosa Parks and Anne Frank.

Each character is brought to life through songs such as “Deeds not words”, “Mary, Mary and Marie” and “Rosa’s Lullaby” to name but a few. These songs are high energy and full of colour and comedy. The Suffragette Rap and Jane Austen’s Operatic moment are truly amazing, combined with incredible choreography and use of props, mean every musical number is a joy and has the audience clapping and singing along. There is a happy vibe coming from everyone inside the theatre and as the play continues this ramps up even more.

The costumes really deserve a mention in this musical, Joanne Scotcher has done a stunning job with the outfits. Each historical woman feels true to character but with a modern twist. You know exactly who each woman is even though they are dressed in fluorescent camouflage or a PVC jumpsuit!

As we move through the stories of these 12 great women, we learn a little about each and Jade, the focus of the story, becomes more and more inspired and empowered – as do we the audience. These women really have changed the world, Marie Curie was the 1st woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Gertrude Ederle at just 20 years old swam the English Channel 2 hours faster than the 5 men who had attempted it before her. The stories go on and as we come to the end of the show I want to jump up and punch the air. We are treated to a megamix of the show’s songs at the end and the musicians Audra Cramer, Nicola T. Chang and Isis Dunthorne, who we have seen above the stage throughout the show join the stage. The audience stands and dances along to the catchy songs we have been treated to. A ticker tape finale brings the show to a close in an explosion of noise and colour.

The cast have been spectacular throughout. Georgia Grant-Anderson played a great role as the schoolgirl Jade who navigated us through the show. The performers Elena Breschi, Meg Hateley, Charlotte Jaconelli and Anelisa Lamola played several parts each, all seamlessly changing into each character. A mention must go to the amazing voice of Anelisa Lamola, who gave me goosebumps when she sang “Rosa’s Lullaby!”

I can truly say this is one of my favourite plays. The energy, colour and empowerment on the stage was inspiring. We leave the theatre feeling we can change the world. We are reminded that “you must never be fearful of doing something right” and “a better world for everyone begins with better dreams”.

Every woman leaves with a membership card to the Fantastically Great Women Club – to continue the work of great women everywhere!. My number is 59,746,280,445 and I am going to use it!!

York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 3rd August 2024

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

Around the World in 80 Days-ish is a York Theatre Royal production and is currently wowing the audience in York. Directed and adapted by Juliet Forster, it first hit the city of York in the summer of 2021, in an outdoor setting due to Covid restrictions, it has since added ish the title. I was lucky enough to see it then and I was blown away, so I jumped at the chance to catch it again within a theatre setting.

This time it was me and three grandchildren, 8 and under, attending on press night. The theatre had some pre-show activities in the foyer and outside courtyard. We were encouraged to participate in some plate spinning, juggling and other bits, plus with a fire-eating show also laid on. We all enjoyed taking part and were wowed with the breathtaking fire show, though I did have to explain to the boys not to try the latter at home. Thank you YTR for a fabulous start to the evening.

As we entered the theatre, the stage is set with a big-top tent, indicative of the circus theme that runs through this adaptation. Based on the Jules Verne book, not any of the films which you might have seen. Did you know there is not a hot air balloon in the book? You do now, and it was a surprise to me when I first saw this show, as it is such an iconic image of certainly, the first film I ever saw of Around the World in 80 Days.

Phileas Fogg (Kiefer Moriarty), is set in his ways, doing the same thing day after day, at the same time, that is until he agrees on a wager to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. Along with his newly appointed man servant Passepartout (David Abecassis), they set off on their travels. It’s a wild ride, through many different countries, these were written on a reel as the journey unfolded, the boys enjoyed spelling and reading these out. A range of characters are encountered on the way, Mr Fix (Rowan Armitt-Brewster), Aouda (Ambika Sharma). This show is not just about Phileas Fogg and his travels, but also covers the real-life adventures of Nellie Bly (Maria Gray), a female American journalist, who actually managed to circumnavigate the globe in only 72 days, a huge feat in Victorian times, and by a woman at that. A remarkable story that is not often heard about.

Moriaty, resplendent in his ringmaster outfit and wonderful moustache, is a commanding presence on stage. Gray not only plays Bly, but she is also the acrobat, twirling on a ring in the air, the captain of the ship and many more, jumping from accent to accent, from American to Hull. The supporting cast bring a lot of energy to the stage and some wonderful comedic moments with their clownish antics. A highlight with the audience was Armitt-Brewsters over the top accents.

The stage and props were imaginatively used by the five actors, used to depict a ship, steamboat, carriage, and a train, changing as we travelled from country to country.

The costumes were quite stunning, from Fogg’s ringmaster attire to Aouda’s tradition Indian wear, and Bly’s magnificent, chequered coat, which tied in nicely with Fogg’s waistcoat. There was even an elephant costume, depicted by Gray, simple but effective.

We really enjoyed the show, and afterwards the boys said they loved it, but at 2 ½ hours long, with interval, they were very fidgety at times. After the interval we did sit in different seats, in order not to disturb others. For the suggested age group, it could have been shorter, with a bit less storytelling and more action.

Around the World in 80 days-ish is a wonderful riot of colour and should be watched. Recommend to all ages over 10 and Theatre is an amazing experience for children

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK TOUR OF

THE OSCAR-WINNING LOVE STORY

ON TOUR ACROSS THE COUNTRY

FROM 22 AUGUST 2024

Bill Kenwright Ltd is proud to announce the cast for the globally acclaimed Ghost the Musical. The tour will open on 22 August 2024 at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre ahead of a major national tour continuing into 2025.

Rebekah Lowings (The Sound of Music) and Jacqui Dubois (People, Places and Things) will reprise their iconic roles, having previously captivated audiences as Molly Jenson and Oda Mae Brown respectively. Josh St. Clair (Frozen) will star as Sam Wheat and James Mateo-Salt (Bonnie and Clyde) as Carl Bruner. 

Joining them is the legendary entertainer, Les Dennis playing the contrasting roles of Hospital Ghost and Lionel Ferguson. Known to audiences through his extensive screen credits, including being a regular face of Saturday Night television thorough the 80s and 90s. More recently he has also appeared on stage in the hugely popular West End shows Only Fools and Horses The Musical and Hairspray.

Jules Brown (The Shawshank Redemption) is also reprising the role of Willie Lopez, and completing the cast is Garry Lee (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Subway Ghost, Tanisha Butterfield (Sister Act The Musical) as Clara, Keiahna Jackson-Jones (professional stage debut) as Louise, Molly Cleere (Mamma Mia! The Party) as Mrs. Santiago/Bank Officer, Gabrielle Cummins (Annie) as Officer Wallace, Olivia-Rose Deer (professional stage debut) as Susan/Ortisha, Wade Lewin (The Lion King) as Orlando, Jamie Pritchard (Les Misérables) as Detective Biederman, with Joe Readman (Grease The Musical) in the ensemble.

Written by multi-Brit Award winner Dave Stewart and Grammy award winning Glen Ballard, with a script by Bruce Joel Rubin based on his Oscar winning screenplay, Ghost the Musical brings all the romance and magic of the classic story to life on stage.

Walking back to their apartment late one night, a tragic encounter sees Sam murdered and his girlfriend Molly alone, in despair and utterly lost. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam, trapped between this world and the next, tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her from grave danger…

The movie Ghost is one of cinema’s biggest all-time hits. Starring the late Patrick Swayze, alongside Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, it was the highest grossing film of 1990 and won an Oscar for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin who has adapted his screenplay for this musical. Premiering in Manchester in 2011, the show has played sell out seasons in the West End and on Broadway as well as numerous international tours.

A smash hit across the globe, Ghost the Musicalfeatures The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody alongside many more terrific songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.

Ghost the Musical has been adapted by Oscar winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin (book and lyrics) with music by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard andis directed by Bob Tomson with choreography by Alistair David. Design is by Mark Bailey withlighting design by Nick Richings, sound design by Dan Samson and illusions by Richard Pinner. Music Direction is by Jordan Alexander.

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright Ltd presents

GHOST THE MUSICAL
UK TOUR 2024 & 2025

BOOK AND LYRICS BY BRUCE JOEL RUBIN

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY DAVE STEWART AND GLEN BALLARD
DIRECTED BY BOB TOMSON

CHOREOGRAPHED BY ALISTAIR DAVID

DESIGNED BY MARK BAILEY

LIGHTING DESIGNED BY NICK RICHINGS

SOUND DESIGNED BY DAN SAMSON

ILLUSIONS BY RICHARD PINNER

MUSICAL DIRECTOR JORDAN ALEXANDER

MUSIC SUPERVISOR JEREMY WOOTTON

DATES AND VENUES

2024

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre                                    atgtickets.com/Aylesbury

22 – 24 August                                                                        

Sunderland Empire                                                    atgtickets.com/Sunderland

27 – 31 August                                                                        

Liverpool Empire                                                        atgtickets.com/Liverpool

03 – 07 September                                                                  

Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre                                 bournemouthpavilion.co.uk

10 – 14 September                                                     03005 000595            

Darlington Hippodrome                                             darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk           

24 – 28 September                                                      01325 405 405            

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre                                 everymantheatre.org.uk           

01 – 05 October                                                          01242 572573

Curve Theatre Leicester                                             curveonline.co.uk

08 – 12 October                                                          01162 423585

Princess Theatre Torquay                                          atgtickets.com/Torquay

15 – 18 October                                                                         

Belgrade Coventry                                                     belgrade.co.uk

22 – 26 October                                                          02476 553055

Alhambra Theatre Bradford                                      bradford-theatres.co.uk

29 October – 02 November                                        01247 432000

Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre                               aberdeenperformingarts.com

05 – 09 November                                                       01224 641122

Stoke Regent Theatre                                                atgtickets.com/Stoke

12 – 16 November                                          

Theatre Royal Bath                                                    theatreroyal.org.uk

19 – 23 November                                                      01225 448844

Blackpool Opera House                                                  wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

03 – 07 December                                                             01253 629600

2025

Churchill Theatre Bromley                                            churchilltheatre.co.uk

22 – 25 January 2025                                                     0343 310  0020

Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe                                 wycombeswan.co.uk

28 January – 1 February 2025                                       0343 310 0060

Wimbledon New Theatre                                             atgtickets.com/new-

4 – 8 February 2025                                                       wimbledon-theatre

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton                              mayflower.org.uk

11 – 15 February 2025                                                  023 8071 1811

Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff                                  wmc.org.uk

4 – 8 March 2025                                                           029 2063 6464

Sheffield Lyceum Theatre                                             sheffieldtheatres.co.uk         

11 – 15 March 2025                                                      0114 249 6000

The Alexandra, Birmingham                                         atgtickets.com/Birmingham

3 – 6 April 2025

Hull New Theatre                                                          hulltheatres.co.uk

29 April – 3 May 2025                                                   01482 300306

Further 2025 tour dates to be announced.                                        

Website: kenwright.com 

Social Media:

Facebook and Instagram:       @BKLProductions

X/Twitter:                                @BKL_Productions

Darlington Hippodrome – until 27th July 2024

Review by Stee Leahy

5*****

Directed by Ian Tolbot OBE

After yet another warm welcome to the beautiful Darlington Hippodrome, I took my seat. I did not know what to expect from the 70th anniversary tour of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’… I had no prior knowledge of what the play was about, other than it was a classic who-done-it murder mystery. I was so excited to find out. 

The first visual I experienced was that of the beautiful set, completely captivating me and pulling me right back into the 1950’s. It was the same set throughout the show and it was stunning.

The way the technical team executed the snow feature was exceptional, constantly subtle and painted the picture so well.  

It’s at this point we are introduced to Molly and Giles Ralston, played to perfection by both Hollie Sullivan and Barnaby Jago. The chemistry these two brought to the stage was sublime … Both captivating and cast perfectly, complimenting one another and playing with dynamics throughout. A happily married couple eagerly awaiting the arrival of their hotel guests. 

The first of the guests to arrive was Shaun McCourt’s Christopher Wren, one the stand out performances and perhaps the most obvious source of comedy relief. His flamboyance was unmatched, completely changing the tone of the show. He was honestly hilarious throughout. Chefs kiss! 

Next up we meet Mrs Boyle, brought to life by the insanely talented Judith Rae. Boyle is somewhat of a nuisance character in the story and with this comes an awful lot of comedy. Her interactions with the other characters is nothing short of exquisite. A typical nagging old lady and possibly my personal favourite character. Her ability to send a blanket of laughter across the entire audience with a simple facial expression is a skill. 

After Mrs Boyle we meet Major Metcalf, played respectively by Todd Carty. His booming deep voice and physicality was a welcomed shock to what Carty is best known for (Eastenders, The Bill) – a mysterious character to say the least and most definitely one to keep an eye on. His ability to steal a scene with the delivery of one line is a real testament to Carty’s skill set. Bravo.

The next character we meet is in my opinion, the most mysterious – Miss Casewell. Amy Spinks’ portrayal of Casewell was delicious. I had my eye on her the entire time. Spinks’ emotional thermometer was unmatched. From subtle line deliveries to dramatic outbursts, she had me hooked. She’s one to watch for sure. 

Next up, Steven Elliot’s Mr Paravicini – perfection! That’s all I can say. He was honestly so funny. His one liners were side splittingly funny. Elliot’s presence was welcomed with open arms at every opportunity, his comedy timing was great and his ability to “tease” the other characters made way to more welcomed laughter. 

And finally, rounding of the cast we’re most dramatically introduced to Detective Sgt. Trotter – played by Michael Ayiotis. Finally, someone to save the day! 

Trotter brings a layer of stability to an incredibly untrustworthy environment. His character is far more grounded than all of the others and he plays this dynamic fantastically. Ayiotis’ scenes with each of the suspects is so much fun. Seeing how each suspect interacts with the detective was great. 

Set in three acts, I was completely and utterly captivated the entire time. I did not want it to end. 

Going into a show with no prior knowledge or expectations and falling in love with that piece of theatre is one of the greatest feelings. 

Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ at the Darlington Hippodrome was easily one of the best plays, one of the best pieces of theatre I’ve experienced in a long time. I’ll be a fan for life and 5 stars just does not do it justice enough. 

COME FALL IN LOVE

A NEW MUSICAL INSPIRED BY

BOLLYWOOD’S MOST SUCCESSFUL FILM

DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE

TO OPEN IN THE UK SUMMER 2025

DIRECTED BY ADITYA CHOPRA,

THE FILM’S ORIGINAL DIRECTOR

For more information, sign-up at www.comefallinlovemusical.com

Come Fall in Love, a ‘high energy, colourful’ new musical based on one of the biggest blockbuster films in the history of Indian cinema, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, will make its UK premiere in Summer 2025.  

Come Fall in Love will be set in the UK and will be directed by Aditya Chopra, the original director of the record-breaking, award-sweeping Hindi-language film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, also known as DDLJ. DDLJ is the longest-running title in Indian cinema, playing continuously in Mumbai since its release in 1995.

To be the first to hear more information, including venue and performance dates, sign-up at www.comefallinlovemusical.com

Come Fall in Love is the story of Simran, a young British Indian woman whose future is set: an arranged marriage back in India to a family friend. But when she convinces her very strict dad that she should spend a summer of freedom and fun in Europe, she falls in love with Roger, a British charmer with a heart of gold, and her careful, logical plans go out the window. Can she be true to both her heritage and her heart? Can carefree Rog win over her traditional father?

Cultures collide in the stage musical adaptation of the beloved hit romantic-comedy film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, set to the exuberant beat of 18 all-new songs created for the stage.

The award-winning creative team for Come Fall in Love includes Book and Lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls with Tina Fey, Olivier Award winner for Legally Blonde with Laurence O’Keefe), Music by Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani (popularly called Vishal & Sheykhar in India), Choreography by Rob Ashford (Tony, Olivier and Emmy Award winner whose credits include Frozen, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, How to Succeed on Broadway), Associate Choreography – Indian Dances by Shruti Merchant (Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl, Taj Express), Scenic Design by Derek McLane (two-time Tony Award winner whose credits include MJ the Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway and West End) and Casting by David Grindrod CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.

Venue, performance dates and further creative team and casting will be announced at a later date.

Come Fall in Love is produced by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films.

LISETTE AUTON TO LAUNCH NEW BOOK AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Award winning author Lisette Auton to launch her brand new book, Lights Up, at Darlington Hippodrome on Tuesday 30 July.

Lisette Auton is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist based in Darlington, who works as an author, playwright, activist, creative practitioner, mentor, filmmaker and performer.

In this interactive family event you will discover more about Lisette’s journey to becoming an author, how to get inspiration from the places around you, meet Rex the theatre ghost dog, and decide what you would keep in your beard!

The hour-long event includes a question and answer session with the author. There will be the opportunity to buy books from local independent Drake the Bookshop and to meet Lisette while she signs your copy. There will also be a display of some of the items from the Hippodrome’s archive that inspired Lisette to write the magical new story full of ghosts, theatre, love, friendship and family.

This free event starts at 11am on Tuesday 30 July. The event will be BSL interpreted and audio described.

To book your free space at the event visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01325 405405

Hull New Theatre – until 25th July 2024

Reviewed by Cath Wright

4****

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance made a triumphant return to Hull New Theatre, with its stunning celebration of Irish dance and culture. Lord of the Dance is Michel Flatley’s “brainchild” and incorporates his more fluid style of Irish dance, it is a classic tale of good versus evil in which the Lord of the Dance (Matt Smith) must fight against the Dark Lord (Zoltan Papp), and of course the Lord of the Dance triumphs. The music is composed by Geard Fahy, combining traditional Irish music with other sounds and styles, providing the perfect soundscape for the performance.

Matt Smith is a superb dancer and an absolute delight to watch, he is the perfect Lord of the Dance. At times his feet were moving so fast that they seemed to blur, the rhythms and syncopation created were mesmerising. His dance duels with Zoltan Papp (the Dark Lord) were outstanding.

This is a young and extremely talented cast and the ensemble pieces were amazing, with the dancers moving in perfect harmony, the sound of the shoes on the stage filling the theatre. The finale ensemble pieces were one of my favourite parts of the performance.

The story is also told in song by Erin the Goddess (Celyn Cartwright), adding beautifully to the atmosphere of the piece. Celyn has a beautiful voice with wonderful tones. Two fiddle players, Giada Costenaro Cunningham and Helena Gullan add to the mix with their fast and furious delivery of traditional Irish music and what a treat it was to watch the dancers dancing to live music.

The scenery is simple with just some wide stairs, however there is a video backdrop providing stunning scenery and settings for the dancers. In addition, there was also a video of Michel Flatley talking about his life and his career.

Lord of the Dance is a fabulous tribute to Irish music and dance, the packed Hull New Theatre loved every minute of it and roared their approval for the dancers throughout. If you love Irish music and dance then this is the show for you.

Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 27th July 2024

Reviewed by Louise Ford

3***

Move it, Move it!

The musical of Madagascar looks to reproduce on stage the first Dreamworks’ film which came out in 2005. It’s a tough ask to condense down the film to well under two hours on stage, especially when you add in the songs and the dance routines.

The opening scene is in New York Central Zoo and some of the four spoiled animals aren’t quite as content with their life behind bars, as others. A birthday wish by Marty, the zebra, played by Francisco Gomes, leads to the team leaving the zoo and being ship wrecked in Madagascar. The first half is a little confusing and the link between the penguins’escape plan and the four animals ending up in crates isn’t very clear. But hey we are talking about a melancholic zebra on a running machine ,so anything is possible!

The four main characters Alex (Joseph Hewlett), Melman (Joshua Oakes-Rogers), Gloria (Jarneia Richard-Noel) and Marty all work well together and move the story along. One of the best bits is when Alex and Marty duet about their unbreakable friendship and how they will stick together. However in Act 2 when Alex gets hungry and isn’t happy eating seaweed he starts to dream about eating steaks and ends up with his jaws on Marty’s (ample) rump! So maybe their friendship won’t last !

The pace hots up in the second half when the team arrive on the island paradise. They are greeted by a mix of furry creatures. Alex helps save some of the smaller animals from the fossa and is feted by King Julian (Karin Zeroual). Everyone is joining in with ”I like to move it!“

The staging is imaginative and the lighting really helps to create a smooth transition from New York to the jungle in Madagascar.

The whole cast worked so hard but special mention has to go to the chorus who had so many different roles, from zoo keepers, penguin puppets, police officers, grandmas, monkey puppets and of course the lemur puppets. The puppets were designed by Emma Brunton and directed by Darren Johnson.

Tonight’s audience was,not surprisingly, very young and they were all very excited and enthusiastic. What an excellent way to start the long summer holidays. All hail the New York Giants!

The Exchange 1856 North Shields – until 28th July 2024

Reviewed by Sandra Little

4****

This current offering from Astravaganza Entertainment, produced by Liam Glendinning and directed by David Ducasse, is an absolute joy to watch! The musical is billed as an amateur production however the show has an extremely professional feel from start to finish. On this opening night there was a full house and everyone seemed to love every minute of this high energy production.

As most people will know, this musical is based on the Old Testament story of jealousy between Joseph( played by Chris Perry) and his many brothers. This jealousy is fuelled by the gift of a coat of many colours given to Joseph by his father, Jacob ( played by John Cowell). Joseph’s brothers are also angered by Joseph’s dreams which seem to indicate that he will eventually rule over them. The brothers decide to hatch a plot to get rid of Joseph and he eventually becomes a slave to Potiphar ( played by Daniel Shilling) who is a wealthy Egyptian. Meanwhile Jacob is led to believe that Joseph is dead! Despite these dark themes, this uplifting musical does have a happy ending! Thanks to the genius of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber the whole performance relies solely on great songs and a playful and amusing interpretation of this biblical message.

Stage sets for this show mainly use clever computer graphics and creative lighting which provides a perfect backdrop for some fantastic costumes and singing. Apart from the spectacular coat of many colours we have cowboy outfits, a 1920’s style fan dance a 1960’s dance routine complete with Mary Quant style shift dresses with PVC hats and boots, and a Vegas style Elvis costume for the Pharaoh.

Whilst the cast seemed to be giving their all, and having a fun time, there are some performers who deserve a special mention. The narrator (Gina Faed) has a lovely clear and powerful voice and Joseph (Chris Perry) was able to switch mood effectively from the lighthearted to more serious and intense moments. Despite great performances from the adults, a special mention must also be given to the children taking part. They were so professional and enthusiastic! It’s great to think that local children are being given such a fantastic opportunity to gain experience of the performing arts.

Colourful costumes, great singing and an enthusiastic cast, was a perfect combination for a great night of entertainment at Exchange. Pharaoh (Gareth Lilley) with his guards using spears as air guitars was such fun and the disco themed finale complete with a glitter ball ended the evening perfectly.

Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Cornwall – until 27 July 2024

Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert

4****

‘Grease really is the word! Don’t miss out on this energetic performance which was full of nostalgia’

It’s 1959 and the Burger Palace Boys (T-Birds in the film) and Pink Ladies return to Rydell High School in this production of Grease at The Hall for Cornwall. Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions has produced an incredible show that is an absolute must watch.

Grease is so iconic a musical, it really needs no introduction. It tells the story of Danny and Sandy who meet on a beach and spend the summer together before bumping into each other in school. Danny suffers ridicule for his crush on a ‘good girl’, destroying his ‘cool bad boy’ image. It’s arguably grittier than the film though, and you get a much more distinct feel for the rawness of working-class kids floundering through the awkwardness of adolescence, struggling to work out their identities, their place in life, and what they want from it.

If you’re a Grease fan, then you’re going to love it, the only challenge I found was resisting the urge to sing along to the songs you love.

The quality of the singing elevated the show with many standout moments. The leads Marley Fenton and Hope Dawe playing Danny and Sandy, gave fantastic vocal performances. From the electrifying ‘Grease is the Word’ to the poignant ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, each number showcased excellent vocals paired with dynamic choreography. Marley portrays Danny’s multifaceted personality well, smoothly transitioning from putting on a hardman front to showing his softer side in scenes with just Sandy. Marley and Hope’s voices pair well together in their duet of ‘You’re the One That I Want’.

The Burger Palace Boys are Kenickie (George Michaelides), Sonny (Sario Solomon), Roger (Lewis Day), and Doody (Kieran Lynch) who all embody their characters superbly. Together, they present a fun and energetic performance of ‘Greased Lightnin’ led by Kenickie (with a car centre stage, of course).

Kieran has wonderfully smooth vocals throughout, with his rendition of ‘Those Magic Changes’ being a vocal highlight. He also captures the awkward energy of his character with the right level of humour whilst still being endearing.

Rizzo (Rebecca Stenhouse) is the one who gives everyone goosebumps with her rendition of ‘There are Worse Things I Could Do’, and Frenchy (Alicia Belgarde) gives us a superb performance as a bewildered Beauty School Dropout. Marty (India Chadwick) and Jan (Emerald B) also formed part of the Pink Ladies, bringing energy to the stage.

Joe Gash playing Vince Fontaine was brilliantly funny, he delivered a strong performance and showcases strong vocals.

The production value is outstanding, the set is framed like a high school gym with scene/song transitions featuring Vince Fontaine’s radio show to combat the dead-air feeling many shows face during changes.

It is clear how much everyone enjoyed being on the stage and that rubbed off on the audience. Grease The Musical absolutely raised the roof at the Hall for Cornwall, concluding with a hearty Megamix sing-a-thon with a standing ovation and was the perfect conclusion to a wonderful night out!