King’s Theatre Edinburgh – until 6th October

Reviewed by James Knight

3***

There’s always a danger when adapting something from one medium to another – scenes that are possible in big-budget films cannot be reproduced on stage; an insightful inner monologue in a novel must be translated to a subtle glance onscreen; favourite moments may be dispensed with entirely. With remakes and adaptations all the rage in Hollywood, there should be a purpose to these, to find something new or different to say about the themes, otherwise, what’s the point?

I have not seen the original ‘Rain Man’, the film that won Dustin Hoffman an Oscar, so I was at least able to view the inaugural production of Bill Kenwright’s Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company without having to compare the two. Despite this, however, I do feel that the production was trying to simply reproduce the 1988 film rather than expand or re-examine key points of it.

Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey, Outlander) plays the entitled Charlie Babbitt, who, while trying to make good on his expensive car imports to rich dealers, discovers that his estranged father has died and left him a classic Buick Roadmaster and some rose bushes, while the rest of his $3 million fortune goes to his savant brother, Raymond (Mathew Horne – Gavin & Stacey, The Pride), a brother that Charlie was unaware even existed. And so, Charlie comes up with a plan to retrieve his share – ‘liberate’ Raymond from the psychiatric institution where he has spent most of his life and force his trustee, Dr. Bruner (Neil Roberts – Emmerdale, Charmed), to hand over the cash.

The best moments in the play arrive when both brothers are allowed to connect with each other, overcoming their inherent difficulties. Charlie, bereft of a proper family for most of his life, does not fully understand Raymond’s various rituals or the reasons for them. Raymond is frightened of physical contact, recites entire TV schedules from memory and is confused why his new underwear (briefs, not boxer shorts) do not have his name in them (instead they ‘belong’ to some guy named Calvin Klein). In these moments of bonding, Speleers moves between frustration and bemusement as he gets to know his estranged brother, and he takes great care to bring the audience along on Charlie’s journey from self-absorbed yuppie to caring brother. My personal highlight was the dance lesson – Charlie teaching Raymond how to dance, a huge step forward in their relationship, followed by Raymond showing off his skills to Susan (Elizabeth Carter – Between Us, Dreamboats and Petticoats), Charlie’s long-suffering girlfriend.

The performances of the cast were, I feel, hampered by the unimaginativeness of the rest of the production. As with any play depicting a road-trip, it’s usually best to keep things sparse, but with scene changes denoted by dimming the lights and playing some 80s music, I felt more could have been done to show the brothers on their journey to LA. At other points, the stage felt too large for the intimacy of the scenes portrayed, and we arrived in Vegas with some flashing lights, music, and two casino waitresses swapping exits while the audience waited for a costume change to happen. Add to this the fact we never actually saw Raymond counting cards in the casino, simply the two brothers appeared with their chips mounted up on platters. Because of this, their triumph at the tables felt a bit underwhelming.

Overall, Rain Man has strong performances in a production that could afford to take more risks to match the emotional content.

 

Albion Electric Warehouse –  until Saturday 20th October 2018

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

4****

Red Ladder Theatre Company is celebrating fifty years of radical theatre and they are reputed for its qualitative work to address the issues that matter to the many including social and political injustices. Their production, Mother Courage and her Children is no exception and what Red Ladder Theatre does, and is good at doing, is provoking the audience to think about the story and its themes beyond the stage.

Set to Bertolt Brecht’s play and translated by Lee Hall, Mother Courage, which is considered the anti-war play of all time, challenges the horrors of war and that hard work doesn’t guarantee rewards during such corrupt times. It is set to a 30 year war in the 17th Century (1618-1648) which was happening across Europe. The main character is Mother Courage (known as Canteen Anna from numerous sources) (Pauline McLynn) and her aim is to earn a living despite experiencing horrors including loss of life.

The play is set in the most of unlikely of places, an industrial warehouse basement in an unfamiliar part of the city, however the space is used very well and Sara Perk’s staging of this production is done creatively and with innovation. Each scene and its plot are told intimately at close quarters from its enclosed space, and the audience moves to each space under the guidance of the cast members. It isn’t the most comfortable of theatre experiences as there is a lot of moving about and standing for prolonged periods – however this way the audience can relate to and appreciate the physical journey and struggles which Mother Courage and her family endured when they pulled their cart and belongings from place to place and the hardships they experienced.

McLynn is excellent as Mother Courage and she portrays the role so well with the hardness, irony and wit. Her inner deep strength to survive is projected perfectly in the face of adversary. She is supported by an excellent cast who play the key characters and members of the company’s community chorus. It was an excellent performance in all and well done to Red Ladder Theatre for another successful production.

Brecht writes in a way to discourage many to look at play in a traditional way and from a distance. Instead the audience is encouraged to immerse Mother Courage physically and to an extent uncomfortably in order to get the maximum theatrical experience. This is also what Red Ladder Theatre, under the direction of Rod Dixon, encourages from the very beginning. More so to feel the realities refugees and migrant experience when they are in a new country and the transient lives they involuntary have to live. Mother Courage offers this opportunity from a civilian and humanity perspective.

The play is long, under three hours, but it is packed with entertainment and reflective poignancy with singing and music, set to Boff Whaley’s music, and the sharing of summative text in between scenes. The spirit of Mother Courage is more about the utilisation of senses other than just seeing it.

 

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT,

HOPE MILL THEATRE & SENBLA PRESENT

THE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED UK TOUR OF

THE LEGENDARY ROCK MUSICAL 

Following the critically-acclaimed 50^th anniversary production of Hair – The Musical at Hope Mill Theatre and sell-out transfer to The Vaults, London, the celebrated production will now embark on a nationwide tour.

This award-winning production (2018 WhatsOnStage Award – Best Off-West End Production) will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 22 March 2019, with national press night on 28 March, before visiting Cheltenham, Manchester, Cardiff, Plymouth, Birmingham, Sunderland, Dartford, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Edinburgh, Oxford, Sheffield, Brighton and Milton Keynes, with further dates to be announced in due course.

Welcome to the ‘Age of Aquarius’. It’s 1967 and HAIR’s hippie ‘tribe’ youngsters in the East Village of New York are yearning to change the world, questioning authority and the American flag. Wild, colourful, sexually liberated and free, they are united in protest and song, under the shadow of the Vietnam War.

Hair, which is adored for its Grammy award-winning score featuring iconic hits such as ‘Aquarius’, ‘Let the Sun Shine In’, ‘I Got Life’ and ‘Good Morning Starshine’ is written by Gerome Ragni (book and lyrics), James Rado (book and lyrics) and Galt MacDermot (music).

The 50^th anniversary production is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Pippin, Rain Man, Aspects Of Love), who is reunited with the brilliant creative team from Hope Mill Theatre: Gareth Bretherton (Musical Director), William Whelton (Choreographer), Maeve Black (Designer), Ben M Rogers (Lighting Designer), Calum Robinson (Sound Designer) and producers Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Joseph Houston & William Whelton for Hope Mill Theatre, Ollie Rosenblatt for Senbla, and associate producer Guy James. The production will be cast by the previous BBC Head of Casting Jane Deitch, and will be announced in due course.

LISTINGS

HAIR – THE MUSICAL

50^TH ANNIVERSAY PRODUCTION

UK TOUR

 

Website: www.hair50.com

 

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @Hair50UK

Suitable for ages 14+. Contains nudity.

 

DATES & VENUES

Tickets are now on sale*

*Cardiff and Sheffield coming soon.

New Wimbledon Theatre                                                                 atgtickets.com/wimbledon

Fri 22 March – Sat 30 March                                                                                08448 717 646

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre                                                everymantheatreorg.uk

Mon 1 April – Sat 6 April                                                                         01242 572 573

Manchester Palace Theatre                                                 atgtickets.com/manchester

Mon 8 April – Sat 13 April                                                                       08448 713 019

Cardiff New Theatre                                                                 newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

Mon 15 April – Sat 21 April                                                                    02920 878 889

Plymouth Theatre Royal                                                                    theatreroyal.com

Mon 22 April – Sat 27 April                                                                     01752 267 222

Birmingham New Alexandra                                             atgtickets.com/birmingham

Mon 29 April – Sat 4 May                                                                        08448 713 011

Sunderland Empire                                                              atgtickets.com/sunderland

Mon 6 May – Sat 11 May                                                                          08448 713 022

Dartford Orchard Theatre                                                             orchardtheatre.co.uk

Mon 13 May – Sat 18 May                                                                        01322 220 000

Liverpool Empire                                                                     atgtickets.com/liverpool

Mon 20 May – Sat 25 May                                                                         08448 713 017

Portsmouth King’s Theatre                                                         kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Mon 10 June – Sat 15 June                                                                     02392 820 557

Edinburgh Playhouse                                                              atgtickets.com/edinburgh

Mon 17 June – Sat 22 June                                                                      08448 713 014

Oxford New Theatre                                                                  atgtickets.com/oxford

Mon 24 June – Sat 29 June                                                                     08448 713 020

Sheffield Lyceum                                                                            sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Mon 1 July – Sat 6 July                                                                             01142 495 999

Brighton Theatre Royal                                                             atgtickets.com/brighton

Mon 8 July – Sat 13 July                                                                           08448 717 650

Milton Keynes Theatre                                                    atgtickets.com/milton-keynes

Mon 15 July – Sat 20 July                                                                       08448 717 652

New Victoria Theatre – until October 6th

Reviewer Heather Chalkley

4****

Selladoor Worldwide had big shoes to fill taking on the iconic Fame. This is the classic coming of age story line, full of love and hope, broken dreams and success born of hard work.

Outstanding vocals from Stephanie Rojas (Carmen) brought to life the theme tune and her performance gave a gritty reality that there is no quick route to Fame. Jamal Kane Crawford (Tyrone) and Jorgie Porter (Iris) were beautiful together, creating one fluid movement in their dance. The vocal performance of the night, not surprisingly, came from Mica Paris (Miss Sherman). She brought soul to the stage, creating a fullness and richness to the story. The ensemble provided humour and energy, getting the audience to their feet, mirroring the emotional roller coaster and vitality of untamed, exuberant youth.

There were a few times when the players had their back to the audience during solos and duets, which may be to do with the set or where I was sat in the audience. Otherwise the creatives have formed a simple but ingenious set, creating layers that provided alternative perspectives and imbued a range of atmospheres.

Director and choreographer, Nick Winston, has succeeded in capturing the essence of the Fame story, bringing in some modern references for younger audiences. With the vocal strength of Mica Paris and Stephanie Rojas, it has been lifted out of the quagmire of ordinary.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 6 October, then touring until 1 December 2018.

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

4****

Alan Bennett has somehow achieved status as the nation’s favourite human teddy bear, but this play from 2009 is reminder that he has often dealt in dark and complicated themes. Here he gives us the imaginary meeting in 1972 of two great, ageing artists, the poet WH Auden and the composer Benjamin Britten, in an intense, serious drama that also makes you laugh.

What we see is a play about the rehearsal for a play about this meeting that didn’t happen, so prepare your head for multiple levels of reality. It could be a farce – a messy rehearsal space, a harassed stage manager, actors forgetting their lines and a playwright tearing his hair out. But Bennett uses the comedy and shifting layers of artifice to delve into creativity, secretive sexuality (in a very frank, raw language), theatre, relationships and the interplays and disconnects between artists’ life and work.

Director Philip Franks and a strong cast keep things grounded and clear. Matthew Kelly (yes, as in Stars in their Eyes) is stunning as a physically decrepit but searingly honest Auden, contemplating the end of life and the oddity of being both revered and sordid. In total contrast, David Yelland makes a convincingly prissy Britten. John Wark is solid as the (real-life) BBC interviewer and biographer Humphrey Carpenter, providing a commentary on the lives of the two men. Veronica Roberts stands out as the mother-hen stage manager who soothes egos and keeps everything going. Roberts and her assistant (Alexandra Guelff) also have a tiny but wonderful surreal moment as the actual art that has been produced. Hard to explain, but it works.

FASCINATING AÏDA’S ADÈLE ANDERSON TO JOIN

MARK WILLIAMS  IN THE NEW STAGE PRODUCTION OF LESLIE BRICUSSE’S

DOCTOR DOLITTLE

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

UK & IRELAND TOUR OPENS ON 9 NOVEMBER 2018

Fascinating Aïda’s Adèle Anderson is confirmed to join Mark Williams, who plays Doctor Dolittle, in the UK & Ireland Tour of Doctor Dolittle. Adèle will play Lady Bellowes/Poison Arrow at the first six venues of the tour – Bromley, Salford, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Hull. 

 

As previously announced, Brian Capron, Vicky Entwistle, Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan will play Albert Blossom/Straight Arrow, Polynesia, Emma Fairfax and Matthew Mugg respectively.  Mark Williams and Brian Capron will play the first ten venues on the tour – Bromley, Salford, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Hull, Aberdeen, Northampton, Nottingham and Sheffield.  Vicky Entwistle, Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan will play the entire tour. 

 

Also in the cast will be Femi Akinfolarin, Erica Jayne Alden, Lydia Bannister, Joel Bayliss, Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Jane Crawshaw, Emily Essery, Jacob Fisher, George Hankers, Catherine Hannay, Evan James, Leon Kay, Emma Lloyd, Owen McHugh, Ross Meagrow, Tom Norman, Emily Ann Potter, Ellie Seaton and Richard Vorster.  The role of Tommy Stubbins will be shared by Harry Cross, Elliot Morris, Quillan O’Meara McDonald, Louis Parker, Elliott Rose and Thomas Ryan.

 

This new production of Doctor Dolittle, with book, music and lyrics by double Academy Award-winner Leslie Bricusse, will be part of the 50^thanniversary celebrations of the original film starring Rex Harrison and will feature the same songs, including the Academy Award-winning Talk To The Animals.  Featuring stunning visual puppetry, this new production, with the book reworked by Leslie Bricusse, will be directed by Christopher Renshaw.

 

Adèle Anderson is best known as a member of the acclaimed cabaret group Fascinating Aïda and co-writes much of their material with founder member Dillie Keane. They have been nominated for the Perrier Award, the Olivier Award (three times) and the New York Drama Desk Award. Adèle’s theatre credits include Follies and Achilles In Heels at the Landor Theatre, Into The Woods at the Derby Playhouse and The Forum, Wythenshawe, the national tour of Ken Hill’s Phantom Of The Opera, and the European Chamber Opera tour of Die Fledermaus. Her film credits include Lady Jane, directed by Trevor Nunn, and Company Business, in which she serenaded Gene Hackman and Mikhail Baryshnikov.  She will be seen in the highly-anticipated new Matthew Weiner series, The Romanoffs, which will air on Amazon Prime in October.

 

Mark Williams’s screen credits include The Fast Show, Father Brown, 101 Dalmatians, The Borrowers, Shakespeare in Love and seven of the Harry Potter films.  His many theatre credits include Fanshen at the National Theatre, Doctor of Honour for Cheek by Jowl, Moscow Gold, Singer, A Dream of People and As You Like It for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Art in the West End, Toast at the Royal Court and Tartuffeat the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

 

Brian Capron is probably best known for his role as Richard Hillman in Coronation Street, for which he won a clutch of awards, including a record-breaking five at The Soap Awards.  Other well-known television roles include Mr Hopwood in Grange Hill and Ozias Harding in Where The Heart Is.  His theatre credits include James in Harper Regan at the National Theatre, Nathan Detroit in The Donmar/West End/UK Tour of Guys and Dolls, Geoffrey in Stepping Out (MEN Award nomination for Best Actor in a touring show) and Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show in the West End/UK Tour.  He can currently be seen in the Channel 5 series Celebrity 5 Go Caravanning.  He is most proud that he was a finalist in Celebrity Masterchef!

 

Vicky Entwistle is probably best known for her role as Janice Battersby in Coronation Street.  Other television credits include Father Brown and Sandra in Ackely Bridge.  Her theatre credits include East is East for Northern Stage, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Madame Thenardier in the West End production of Les Misérables and the UK tour of The Vagina Monologues.

 

Mollie Melia-Redgrave appeared in Drew McOnie’s production of On the Town at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the UK & Ireland Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Music & Lyrics.  Patrick Sullivan most recently played Blake in Bat Out Of Hell the Musical at the Dominion Theatre, a role he created in the original Manchester Opera House/London Coliseum production. 

 

Eccentric Doctor Dolittle embarks on an extraordinary adventure to find the Giant Pink Sea Snail that holds the secret of life and makes the world a happier place. Helped by his human companions and an exotic menagerie of animal friends, including the Pushmi-Pullyu and trusty sidekick Polynesia the parrot, the larger-than-life Doctor Dolittle teaches us not only to talk to the animals but to listen to them as well! 

 

Leslie Bricusse has written the book, music and/or lyrics for more than 40 musical films and plays.  Stage musicals include Stop the World – I Want to Get Off, Pickwick, Harvey, Goodbye, Mr Chips, Scrooge and Victor/Victoria, while films (songs and/or screenplays) include Scrooge,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Goodbye, Mr Chips, Superman, Victor/Victoria, Home Alone 1 & 2, Hook, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, The Last Emperor and various Pink Panthers.  His songs include What Kind of Fool Am I?, My Old Man’s A Dustman, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, On A Wonderful Day Like Today, The Candy Man and Oompa-Loompa-Doompa-Dee-Doo.  As well as winning two Oscars, he has won a Grammy and eight Ivor Novello Awards.

 

The new stage production of Doctor Dolittle will be directed by Christopher Renshaw (Le Grand Mort, Zorro, Taboo, We Will Rock You, The King and I), with choreography by Josh Rhodes (Carousel and Sweeney Todd at the London Coliseum, Company starring Neil Patrick Harris for PBS, and Cinderella and Bright Star on Broadway), design by Tom Piper (Associate Designer at the RSC from 2004  to 2014, and designed the installation for the Tower of London poppies installation and subsequent tours – original concept and Poppies by Paul Cummins), puppet design by Nick Barnes, puppet direction by Jimmy Grimes, lighting by Chris Davey, sound by Ben Harrison, and musical supervision by Mike Dixon (most recent theatre includes Mrs Henderson Presents, Oh What A Lovely War, Bodyguard, Taboo, Hair, Zorro, Never Forget and We Will Rock You). 

Doctor Dolittle is based on the Doctor Dolittle stories by Hugh Lofting and the Twentieth Century Fox film. 

 

Doctor Dolittle is performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Ltd.

 

The UK & Ireland Tour of Doctor Dolittle is produced by Music & Lyrics Limited, the producers behind the highly successful recent tours of The Addams Family, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof, High Society and The King and I, in association with Churchill Theatre Bromley.

 

Website: www.doctordolittlemusical.com

Facebook: Doctor Dolittle The Musical

Twitter: @DolittleMusical

 

 

TOUR SCHEDULE

9 – 24 November 2018                   Churchill Theatre Bromley*⁺                                        020 3285 6000                                                                                                       www.churchilltheatre.co.uk                                        

11 December – 5 January 2019      The Lowry Salford*⁺                                                   0843 208 6000                                                                                                        www.thelowry.com                                                    

15 – 26 January                              Oxford New Theatre*⁺                                                0844 871 3020                                                                                                        www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford

29 January – 9 February                Wolverhampton Grand Theatre*⁺                                01902 42 92 12

                                                        www.grandtheatre.co.uk                                            

12 – 23 February                            Newcastle Theatre Royal*⁺                                          0844 811 2121

                                                       www.theatreroyal.co.uk                                             

26 February – 9 March                   Hull New Theatre*⁺                                                     01482 300 306                                                                                                      www.hulltheatres.co.uk                                              

12 – 23 March                                His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen*                               01224 641122

                                                      www.aberdeenperformingarts.com                             

26 March – 6 April                         Royal & Derngate Northampton*                                 01604 624811                                                                                                          www.royalandderngate.co.uk                                     

9 – 20 April                                    Nottingham Theatre Royal*                                         0115 989 5555   

                                                      www.trch.co.uk                                                    

                                                                                                                            

23 April – 4 May                            Sheffield Lyceum Theatre*                                         0114 249 6000

                                                      www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk                                      

 

14 – 25 May                                  Festival Theatre Edinburgh                                         0131 529 6000

                                                      www.edtheatres.com                                                 

 

28 May – 8 June                           Alhambra Theatre Bradford                                       01274 432000

                                                      www.bradford-theatres.co.uk                                     

 

11 – 22 June                                 Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin                              0844 847 2455

                                                     www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie                                    On sale to be announced

 

25 June – 6 July                           Millennium Forum, Derry                                            02871 264455

                                                     www.millenniumforum.co.uk                                      

 

9 – 20 July                                    The Marlowe, Canterbury                                            01227 8787787

                                                     www.themarlowetheatre.com                                     

                                                   

23 July – 3 August                        Glasgow King’s Theatre                                             0844 871 7648

                                                     www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

 

6 – 17 August                               Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff                                02920 636464

                                                      www.wmc.org.uk                                                       On sale to be announced

 

20 – 31 August                              Mayflower Theatre, Southampton                               02380 711811

                            www.mayflower.org.uk                                

 

3 – 14 September                          Blackpool Winter Gardens                                         0844 856 1111  

                            www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk             

                  

17 – 28 September                        New Wimbledon Theatre, London                               0844 871 7646

                                                       www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

 

8 – 19 October                              Milton Keynes Theatre                                                0844 871 7652

                                                      www.atgtickets.com/milton-keynes-theatre

 

22 October – 2 November             Birmingham Hippodrome                                            0844 338 5000

                                                       www.birminghamhippodrome.com                              On sale to be announced

 

⁺Adèle Anderson dates

*Mark Williams & Brian Capron dates

TOM CONTI ALONGSIDE JENNY SEAGROVE

TO SUPPORT THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR 

BY STARRING IN

NOËL COWARD’S 

BRIEF ENCOUNTER ON AIR

A SPECIAL LIVE STAGED RADIO PLAY ADAPTATION

OF THE ICONIC MOVIE SCREENPLAY

 

DIRECTED BY ROY MARSDEN

RUNNING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR 

FROM 2 – 6 OCTOBER 2018

 

With a last minute drop out from its programming, most theatres would go dark. Not so at Theatre Royal, Windsor. From tomorrow evening, Tuesday 2 October, the Theatre Royal sees Tom Conti and Jenny Seagrove star in Brief Encounter On Air, the live staged radio play version of the movie classic, alongside Sue Holderness, Roy Marsden, Daniel Casey and Verity Rushworth.

Brief Encounter On Air is the first in a two-week season of live radio play productions that also includes Mystery On Air, a collection of adapted classic thrillers. The live radio play productions replace the previously advertised production, which is to be staged at a later date. Now, Windsor audiences can experience this unique retelling of Britain’s greatest cinematic love story.

Trapped in a loving but unsatisfying marriage, Laura Jesson is unable to stop herself from falling for a stranger she encounters at the train station. The man, Alec Harvey, is also married and the pair are troubled to find their innocent friendship developing into something more serious. As passion takes over, Laura must make an impossible decision and a heart-wrenching goodbye.

A story of temptation, passion and forbidden love, Brief Encounter On Air is presented in the style of 1940s radio and steeped in romantic glamour, with Tom Conti and Jenny Seagrove leading this all-star cast who perform this radio adaptation of the award winning 1945 film, live on stage.

 Tom Conti is one of the most respected and celebrated actors of his generation. Unforgettable as the leading man in hit films such as Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and Shirley Valentine he has also appeared as a myriad of different characters on both the big and small screens as well as on stage. Recent movies include: The Dark Knight Rises and Street Dance. Awards include an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his stage performance in Whose Life is it Anyway? and a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his role in Reuben Reuben.  He and Dame Judi Dench were jointly voted the Most Popular Actors in the West End in the last 25 years.

 

LISTINGS

 

BRIEF ENCOUNTER ON AIR 

Theatre Royal Windsor

Directed by Roy Marsden

Sound Design by Dan Sampson

Tuesday 2 October – Saturday 6 October

Performances:

Tuesday – Saturday Evening at 8pm

Thursday Matinee at 2.30pm

Saturday Matinee at 4.45pm

Ticket Prices: From £15

Box Office: 01753 853 888

Website: theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

Phoenix Theatre – until 6 October

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

There isn’t much that’s new in this latest production of perennial favourite Chicago, with the original direction and choreography from the 1997 production being recreated and no major changes to the design. But then, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? This production’s latest cast change, with Alexandra Burke and Duncan James taking on the roles of Roxie Hart and Billy Flynn, is guaranteed to bring in a whole new audience.

Duncan James oozes mercenary charisma as Billy, manipulating the proceedings in a bravura performance – and boy can he sing! Laura Tyrer is a gutsy and snarling Velma and Mazz Murray is a brilliant Mama Morton. Alexandra Burke manages to portray Roxie’s cold hard ambition but sometimes overeggs the pudding with Roxie’s stylised mannerisms, so Roxie’s usual goofy screwball ditziness doesn’t quite come through.

The antics of fame-hungry female murderers and their slippery lawyer as they compete to grab headlines to feed the voracious and ghoulish fascination of the public still has a sharp satirical edge, and this is Kander and Ebb at their very best, with a score that is simply sublime, packed with familiar iconic numbers. The orchestra take centre stage, where they truly belong, receiving some of the loudest cheers of the night for their energetic Entr’acte performance.

The talented company handle the Ann Reinking choreography with sizzling energy, a sea of gyrating hips, kicks and flicks that is mesmerising and moody. The staging is deceptively simple, with Velma and the girls wowing the audience using only wooden chairs in Cell Block Tango. Other standout numbers include We Both Reached for the Gun (showcasing James’ and Burke’s comedy chops brilliantly), Mr Cellophane (Paul Rider winning the audience’s hearts as pathetically loyal Amos) and Hot Honey Rag, using Fosse’s original choreography.

It’s fantastic to have Chicago back in the West End, and this slick and sexy production is still a guaranteed crowd pleaser full of fierce razzle dazzle.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane – booking until January 2019

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

5*****

There’s something irresistible about 42nd Street, the audience leave with a spring in their step after experiencing such an uplifting and unashamedly old-fashioned musical.

The story of the talented dancer plucked from the chorus line to take the starring role in a Broadway musical is the Cinderella story of the American Depression, and this revival is injected with new energy by Bonnie Langford joining the cast as Dorothy Brock, the star of “Pretty Lady”.

The story is pretty cheesy, but that doesn’t matter when the musical numbers are so stunning. Under music director Jae Alexander, the orchestra belt out familiar tunes as the cast dance the audience’s cares away. Randy Skinner’s choreography is straight out of Hollywood musicals, with glorious costumes and staging that makes jaws drop. Keep Young And Beautiful, We’re In The Money and 42nd Street will just blow your mind.

Claire Halse is a powerhouse of tap, with unbelievable solos in 42nd Street, and nails Peggy Sawyer’s naivety and ambition. Ashley Day as cocky tenor Billy Lawler is the perfect dance partner, while Tom Lister as Julian Marsh marshals proceedings with convincing egotism and drive. But Bonnie Langford steals every scene, bubbling with energy and presence. Her first scene feels like a fabulous remake of her Bugsy Malone performance as a youngster, with great comic timing and lack of vanity. Whether she’s belting out Boulevard of Broken Dreams or swooning in I Only Have Eyes For You, Langford’s vast experience and huge talent lights up the stage.

42nd Street is simply phenomenal, with two stellar leading ladies lifting this wonderful production to unbelievable new heights.

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