A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham

Rating: 4 out of 5

https://www.whatsonstage.com/newcastle-upon-tyne-theatre/reviews/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-durham_31203.html

• WhatsOnStage Reviewer

Locations

• Newcastle upon Tyne

04 July 2013

Gala Theatre, Durham

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham is a two hour romp through 1400 years of history telling the story of The Lindisfarne Gospels.

With just three talented actors (Chris Connel, Robert Hudson and Viktoria Kay) telling us the history of Cuthbert’s book we given puns, witticisms and belly laughs on this historical and hysterical tale.

If you like your history to be of the Monty Python and Horrible Histories variety then this was a show for you. We learn how the Vikings wanted to build an Ikea on Lindisfarne and gave us their version of YMCA.

How the Strolling Bones (Rolling Stones) led by Mick and Keith found themselves eventually in Durham and how the Gospel was “Too Sexy” for its cover. And we all know the Gospel is the weight of an adult badger.

With starring roles for Henry VIII, Sherlock Holmes and Watson and the Gospel itself the play is daft, educational, irreverent and totally worth a visit to see. If you’re in the North East pop along to a show and you may learn something if you can stop laughing long enough.

The Mousetrap (Tour – Darlington)

Rating: 5 out of 5

https://www.whatsonstage.com/darlington-theatre/reviews/the-mousetrap-tour-darlington_31076.html

• WhatsOnStage Reviewer

Locations

• Darlington

13 June 2013

Celebrating 60 years, Agatha Christie’s most iconic whodunit, The Mousetrap reaches Darlington. And it was so worth the wait.

Originally titled Three Blind Mice, and written in 1952, The Mousetrap is as fresh today as when it was written. Full of Christie’s trademarks with red herrings aplenty and intelligent well rounded characters, you are drawn in from the beginning. And with your little grey cells all working overtime to wonder why someone said this, someone else said that and why that reaction?

In order not to give anything away, there is little I can tell you about the show. It begins with a murder in London and ends in Monkswell Manor Guest House.

The fine cast of actors have made the classic characters their own on this very long tour and the dedication to their craft shows in excellent acting. Elizabeth Power shines as miserable Mrs Boyle and Steven France is a very effervescent Christopher Wren.

Bruno Langley and Jemma Walker play Giles and Mollie Ralston novice owners of the guest house. Graham Seed as Major Metcalf and Claire Wilkie as Miss Casewell bring an air of suspicion and Karl Howman is the rather comical Mr Paravicini. Outstandingly, Bob Saul is Detective Sergeant Trotter.

I would advise you go once to see a fantastic show but if I’m honest I would advise you go twice – the first time to let your mind work over time as you constantly try to work out whodunit and why, and the 2nd time to just to enjoy the pure excellence of the show.

We Will Rock You – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/we-will-rock-you-motorpoint-arena-sheffield/

31/05/2013 

Book: Ben Elton

Music/Lyrics: Queen

Director: Tony Edge

4*

In a distant future, the Earth is now known as the i-planet, under the control of Globalsoft. We now live in a virtual world where live music and instruments are banned. Thus is the chilling premise of Ben Elton’s scarily accurate script.

The Gaga kids are all virtual clones but Galileo and Scaramouche are the Dreamer and his “chick” helping to lead the rebellious Bohemians to the place of living rock.

MiG Ayesa and Lauren Samuels reprise their west end rôles of Galileo and Scarmouche interacting well with each other. The character of Scaramouche is easily the best written character with some of the best lines with her witty and sarcastic comments. While Kevin Kennedy and Brenda Edwards take a Busman’s Holiday from the west end production to play Pop and the Killer Queen on the Sheffield leg of the tour. Kennedy is wonderfully comedic and woefully under used as Pop. While his part is important to the plot it’s a shame it’s not larger as he really plays a wonderful part. Ms Edwards is hilarious in her rôle of half pixelated-half human Head of Globalsoft, The Killer Queen, business woman of the year and dynamite with a laser beam. A special mention should also go out to her cleavage defying costumes which she rocks with aplomb.

There are some sound issues with the show, in the first half there are issues with echo when the actors are speaking. There are also problems in some of the songs with the fantastically rocking band drowning out the lyrics of the singers. This is more noticeable with the weaker vocalists and Sean Kingsley’s Khashoggi loses the battle in his rendition of Seven Seas of Rhye. Outstanding vocals of the night must go to Lucie Jones for her character Meats hauntingly beautiful version of Only the Good Die Young, with not a dry eye in the house at the end of the song.

The 10th Anniversary Arena World Tour works well in Sheffield, only half of the arena is in use so the space isn’t much more than a large theatre. The production is wonderfully, interactively enjoyable. Whether a fan of Queen or not, this show has a lot to offer from its fantastic staging, wonderful costumes and energetic singing and dancing.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Grand Opera House, York

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-grand-opera-house-york/

14/05/2013 

Writers: Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott

Director: Simon Phillips

Costume Designer: Tim Chappel, Lizzy Gardiner

4*

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a rip roaring, riotous feast for the eyes and ears. Full of cheesy disco classics, wonderful scenery, and dancing diva’s unfortunately not descending from the heavens and exquisitely beautiful costumes.

Telling the story of two drag queens and a post-op transsexual crossing the Australian outback from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at the club belonging to Marion (Julie Stark) the wife of Tick/Mitzi (Noel Sullivan) and giving him the chance to meet and bond with his young son. It’s funny and sad in equal measure with a beautiful touching love story between post-op Bernadette (Richard Grieve) and mechanic Bob (Giles Watling) and showing discrimination and acceptance this is a glitzy and glamorous feel good show. Poignant and sensitive, it’s a “cock in frock on a rock” at the top of Ayres Rock singing We Belong is a truly magical moment.

The only thing that disappoints is the Priscilla bus. Closely resembling a milk float, its lack of glamour is in direct opposition to the rest of the show. Having to be moved and positioned by the cast it’s unwieldy and ungainly and anyone who saw Priscilla in the West End will be very disappointed by this shadow of its former glory.

Alan Hunter as Miss Understanding is a stunning highlight of the piece; his Tina Turner is stunning and more Tina than the real thing. The love/hate relationship between the glorious Felicia/Adam (Graham Weaver) and Bernadette is bitchily glorious. This was Noel Sullivan’s first show tonight and there were one or two teething problems that can be forgiven, especially when joining a really well established show like this. By the weekend I’m sure he’ll be batting his lashes teasing his wigs and storming the stage in his stilettos like a pro.

Catch the show in York by Saturday 18th May and you too will be “Colouring Your World”

War of the Worlds – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/war-of-the-worlds-motorpoint-arena-sheffield/

10/12/2012

Music/Lyrics: Jeff Wayne

Book: HG Wells

Director: Steve Nolan

3*

First published in 1897, HG Wells’s visionary novel is still as ground-breaking today as it was when it first shocked Victorian England and now over 30 years since first composed from the moment the music starts you are transported into a terrifying story of Martians landing on the Earth and taking over. With an orchestra on one side, a rock band on the other in the middle you have Jeff Wayne, bouncing around like tigger, clearly enjoying himself conducting the two.

For the music alone, this would be a 5 star performance but it’s the singing that lets it down, especially from the 3 main stalwarts of musical theatre, Marti Pellow singing the thoughts of the Journalist and Jason Donovan and Kerry Ellis who play parson Nathanial and his wife Beth. All three of them fight to be heard over the amazing orchestration and all three lose. Their parts are brief and could easily be pre-recorded to ensure a higher quality performance. There is however, a shining beacon of hope with Brave New World outstandingly sung by Ricky Wilson in his performance as the Artilleryman and The Voice of Humanity. Will Stapleton also gives an amazing performance with his rendition of Thunderchild.

The staging is incredible; Liam Neeson takes over the iconic rôle of the Journalist, portrayed for many years by the late Richard Burton. Now more interactive with a 3d hologram that appears to pass over a drink to the Artilleryman and punch the Parson. A huge alien descends from the ceiling and menacingly shoots fire at the poor front rows, the lighting, pyrotechnics and incredible music drag you into the atmosphere and your attention never wavers from the show.

You are sure to have the music in your brain as you leave the Arena and find yourself humming the magnificent score. But it’s the synthesised note that portrays the Martian that terrifies and even knowing it’s a show and you are safe, it cannot fail to send shivers down your spine.

Soul Sister – Civic Theatre, Darlington

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/soul-sister-civic-theatre-darlington/

20/11/2012 

Directors: Pete Brooks &Bob Eaton

Producers: Bill Kenwright &John Miller

Choreographer: Jason Pennycooke

2.5*

Unfortunately for Darlington we were treated to an almost complete understudy show for Soul Sister, telling the story of Ike and Tina Turner. The programme is at pains to point out that the show is not an authorised biography and is inspired by the music of Ike and Tina.

Rochelle Neil plays Tina from her beginnings in the 50’s when she lived in Nutbush as Annie Mae Bullock who sang gospel in Church to the 1980’s when she found fame again. Neil has an amazing voice when singing but clearly tired towards the end of each half. The end of the first half finishes with River Deep Mountain High which lacks the power from the vocals at the beginning of the show. Likewise, the second half starts with a powerhouse version of Proud Mary but by Simply the Best at the end her voice was flagging again. Her performance and movements are distinctly Tina Turner but her acting was stilted and didn’t flow.

Chris Tummings is Ike Turner, misogynist drunk and drug taker, his violence towards his wife is legendary but Tummings characterisation is one dimensional almost pantomime-esq, not showing Ike with any redeeming features at all.

The show spans over 30 years but glosses over the most salient points of the couples years together. Ike and Tina come from an America that is still racially segregated, their music too white for the black community and too black for the white community. The couple works hard to make it big, performing up to 30 times a week even when Tina is 8 months pregnant. They eventually get their big break with the help, of the disembodied voice, of Phil Spectre. River Deep Mountain High is a massive hit in Europe where racism isn’t as severe as the states but this is almost ignored within the confines of the story.

The violence between Ike and Tina is less graphic for the stage than reality but you don’t feel the despair from the abused Tina or the relief she finds from Buddhism. Neither do we get the spiral of abuse as Ike loses Tina and fame to his dependence of drink and drugs.

The scenery is different with sliding doors passing along the stage to show the changes, while cartoon type pictures are projected on a back drop while the voice of Annie Mae talks us through her life story. Or we were treated to the live band during the song performances.

The last part of the show is supposed to be a concert and although the audience are encouraged to get up and dance only a few take up the offer, which seems a shame as it feels that the entire audience should have been up dancing in the aisles.

If you are a Tina Turner fan you should maybe go to see a Tina Turner tribute act as you may be disappointed with Soul Sister.

Bouncers – Civic Theatre, Darlington

Posted by: The ReviewsHub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/bouncers-civic-theatre-darlington/

15/11/2012 

Writter and director: John Godber

Designer: Pip Leckenby

Lighting Designer: Adrian Barnes

4.5*

Bouncers is 35 years old this year and according to author, John Godber, even though it has been updated for this 2012 production, the essence of the show never changed. Its update was merely replacing the music. He claims you can leave the theatre and in any town and city in the UK you will see the same performance played out in front of you in the bars, pubs and clubs across the land.

Bouncers is the story of a night out from the 3 different perspectives of the girls celebrating a 21st, the lads night out and the bouncers who keep an eye on them all. The same 4 actors -Ace Bhatti, Don Gilet, William Ilkley and Ian Reddington – play all the parts with the minimum of fuss. From scenes in the hairdressers with the girls, the barbers with the boys and the outside of the club with the bouncers, we even get to see part of a Swedish porn film all in the very sparse set, with just barrels as props. It’s the excellence of the acting, the writing and the lighting that sets you in the right place. There is a powerful imagery that Godbers writing conjures: the mascara-streaked faces of a group of tearful girls are “like a miner’s back in the shower” and discarded condoms lie like “dead Smurfs” around the back of the nightclub.

We can probably all relate to the night out, getting ready, having a drink and a dance and good time. And while Godber exaggerates the scenes for comic and dramatic effect it’s all very real. But the production and the cast give an outstanding performance of a play which is a classic of its type. The cast’s rapid changes from character to character, girl to boy to man, at first makes you feel that the characters are one dimensional and little more than caricatures, but gradually individuality begins to emerge. The actors don’t receive any help from costume changes – not even the addition or taking away of a single item of clothing (except that, as girls, they have white hand bags) – so they must use body language and voice. The fact that, by the end of the play, we recognise each character even before they begin to speak is a tribute to the cast.

In the middle of all the comedy we get Lucky Eric, Reddington, and his speeches. Each of the monologues gives you a pause for thought and we are left with more questions than answers and a profound idea of our own and state of the nation’s morality. The speech at the end describing a sex scene, with the boy pounding away and the girl feeling nothing and eating pizza, hits you so hard. With Bouncers now on the GCSE syllabus you can only hope and pray that any young girls reading this will be hit by the realism and outstanding imagery and maybe not go out in next to nothing, not go out and drink til they are unconscious or maybe not go out at all and cherish their childhood before being forced to grow up too soon

Blood Brothers- Civic Theatre, Darlington

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/blood-brothers-civic-theatre-darlington/

06/11/2012 

Book: Willy Russell

Music/Lyrics: Willy Russell

Director: Bob Tomson, Bill Kenwright

4.5*

Blood Brothers is a haunting, beautifully tragic show, with genuine humour and pure emotion it begins at the end and then goes on to tell the story of how we got there. Currently in its last few weeks in London’s West End, the tour continues deliver the story of Mrs Johnstone and her twins, now in its 28th year.

Set in Liverpool in the seventies, Marti Pellow snarls his way through the rôle of Narrator, spreading malevolence in his rôle of Devil in human form. Even in scenes where he doesn’t speak his presence just exudes menace. His liverpudlian accent is fine for short sentences but in the longer monologues his accent travels until we are left with a very scary hybrid scouse/Scottish.

X-Factor finalist, Niki Evans, plays poor downtrodden Mrs Johnstone who makes the heart wrenching decision to give one of her twins to infertile employer Mrs Lyons, Tracy Spencer. Evans has a powerhouse of a voice, squeezing every bit of feeling out of her vocals. Her show stopping rendition of Tell Me it’s Not True takes your breath away and your heart genuinely breaks with the raw emotion in her performance.

The twins are played by Jorden Bird as upper class and indulged Eddie, the child who was given away, and James Templeton as Mickey the child who was kept. Templeton delivers an outstanding performance ranging in age over the best part of 20 years. In his hand me down jumper and ragged shorts he is genuinely believable seven year old who is nearly eight, his 14 year old is hilarious and his tragic spiral down into despair in his later years is distressing to watch. Such is the performance that you really do believe in his problems and forget that he is acting.

Olivia Sloyan plays Linda, in love with both brothers and both in love with her. But it is Mickey who marries her after getting her pregnant although it is Eddie who helps her and Mickey in the later years, leading to the ultimate disastrous ending.

The set is simple with just a row of houses and a street with a back drop of the familiar sights of Liverpool. The first half has the old run down inner city estate and the second half the fresh new start in the country. The cast use props to portray the other scenes, such has desks for school and seats for the bus and cinema.

You must take tissues with you to the performance because you will need them, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house last night and the audience in Darlington gave a rousing, deserved, standing ovation to the cast who gave many curtain calls as the cheering and clapping continued for some time.

Three Men in a Boat – Civic Theatre, Darlington

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/three-men-in-a-boat-civic-theatre-darlington/

27/09/2012 

Writer: Jerome K Jerome

Director: Craig Gilbert

5*

It was with a sense of irony, after the recent flooding in the north east, that the Tuesday press night for Three Men in a Boat became a Thursday matinée. But it was well worth the wait.

A very liberal interpretation of the classic book, the performance takes place in the back room of the Elusive Pelican public house. Where Mr Jerome is giving a lecture to members of the Royal Geographical Society, which is actually the theatre audience.

Mr Jerome K Jerome, J to his friends, is brought to life by Alastair Whatley. Trying to bring a sense of decorum to the proceedings he is helped into disorder by friends George (Christopher Brandon) and Harris (Tom Hackney). With all three suffering from various cases of hypochondria the chums decide a holiday rowing down the river will help them all to be well again. The fellows of the Royal Geographical Society are treated to the tale of the river from different points of view of the spiffing boys and Montmorency the dog.

Nelly, the highly talented Sue Appleby, gives a musical accompaniment to the tales of adventure. From the initial version of Row, Row, Row the Boat through to a tango version while J packs is brilliant. The frantic countdown tune for Harris’ attempt to remember what is packed while J and George pose as showgirls is inspired. But the magical ending to the first half of the lecture, with the tin of pineapple, a chorus of Daylight comes and I want to go home and the theme to Chariots of Fire will have you wiping the tears of laughter from your eyes. It is truly hilarious.

Part two has some sadness, with a beautifully haunting lament as the men recount the sad tale of finding a woman’s body in the river. But more comedy comes involving a swan attack, a parody of the immortal scene from Titanic and a tense card game that turns into a spaghetti western with poor Nelly getting shot by Harris’ pipe.

The set is beautiful, looking almost exactly like a country pub. Full use of the props and scenery are used to show off the boat and the scenes from the Thames. And full use of the audience from becoming members of the society to towing the boat upsteam

This production from The Original Theatre Company is performance at its best.

Chicago – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

Posted by: The Reviews Hub 

https://www.thereviewshub.com/chicago-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/

25/09/2012 

Music/Lyrics: John Kander & Fred Ebb

Book: Fred Ebb &Bob Fosse

Director: Scott Farris

3*

Even though Chicago has now closed in the West End this tour keeps the performance going. Telling the story of how Roxie Hart gets away with murder with the help of slick lawyer Billy Flynn. Her time in prison with the notorious Velma Kelly, duping her ever loving husband Amos and being good to Mama Morton while in Prison. It is based on a true story from the 1920’s.

But this classic Kander and Ebb musical lacks the razzle dazzle. With all the principal characters played by people previously in soap operas this seems like stunt casting. Using the past characterisations of the actors to fill the seats rather than relying on the musical itself to fill theatres. We were also relying on understudies due to illness from two of the principals.

Tupele Dorgu shows her abilities well with a wonderful version of Velma Kelly, singing All That Jazz with vocals that are thrilling and unexpected, stealing every scene she is in. Stefan Booth was indisposed so Ian Oswald stepped up but he lacks the spark needed to play the devious Billy Flynn. Rather surprisingly, Bernie Nolan fails to hold the stage with her rather seedy Mama Morton and her accent moves between Irish and American with ease. Ali Bastion was also ill and we had understudy Chloe Ames proving she can sing and dance her way through Roxie Hart but while Roxie is devious using people as she needs them, Ames comes across as too nice and it’s hard to take her rôle seriously. Her voice also comes over as weak especially during My Own Best Friend, but that could be because Dorgu has a particularly strong voice, drowning out Ames’ efforts. Jamie Baughan is fabulous as Mr Cellophane, Amos Hart, and is definitely the most sympathetic character on stage.

The set is interesting with the band in a nightclub setting in the middle of the stage all the way through the show. The ensemble are sat on chairs at the side of the stage, as if in a rehearsal room.

Despite the weather, it was a full house and the Sheffield audience seemed to enjoy themselves. Let’s hope that the illness soon passes and the show can be up at full strength soon