Debra Warren
(6 Reviews)

My Mum and I went to watch the show as I had heard Shane Richie on The One Show talking about this play so was intrigued to see what his performance would be like.  It’s safe to say that if you were expecting to see him play a lovable rogue like his “Alfie Moon” character then you would not have got what you expected!  My Mum knew the film version, with Laurence Olivier, which oddly enough my Dad was an extra in when he was 10 years old and it was being filmed in his home town of Morecambe, and as we had not realised that it had also been a stage production were interested to see how it translated to the theatre.

John Osborne’s play, written in 1956 at the time of political turmoil promoted by the Suez Crisis, was strangely pertinent and wholly relevant to the political and social climate of today.  The central character, Archie Rice, is an entertainer from an age of music halls and theatre battling against the pull of more modern and wider media and desperately trying to avoid the taxman.  He is not a pleasant character, selfish and self-centred with a destructive penchant for a large glass of gin.  Richie played the part very well, he was wholly believable with the arrogant swagger of Archie Rice, and his wider repertoire of song, comedy and theatre work ensured that all aspects of the character’s persona worked.

On the night we watched the play, the part of Archie’s long-suffering second wife Phoebe was played by Alice Osmanski, rather than Sara Crowe.  Her performance was worthy of notes as she reflected well the downtrodden yet loyal personality of Phoebe.

The play had been modernised through being set at the outbreak of the Falklands Conflict, this not only supported the tale for today’s audiences but was also personally relevant to my family as my father is a veteran of this conflict.  The humour portrayed as part of Archie’s stage act must be viewed within this setting and his character as it could definitely not have been described as politically correct by today’s standards.  We’d go so far as to say that if you’re easily offended then this isn’t the play for you!  We weren’t sure whether we should laugh or cringe at times, but this was reflective of the nature of the character and not due to any individual’s performance.

Overall the play was good and the actors played their parts well.  It was not a jolly night out but was a thought provoking portrayal of society and generational relationships. 

Having heard lots about the film for years but not actually managing getting around to watching it until very recently, I was really looking forward to this play. I wasn't disappointed.
As fast paced as the film version, I have to admit that I was glad that I had re-watched it before attending the play, as it helped me to keep up! Both leading men, Mark Benton and Nigel Harman were fabulous in their respective roles and the play was every bit as edge of the seat gritty as the film version. In fact the only disappointment was that it was over, what appeared to be, so quickly.

Having studied the Bard's play at school and knowing the story well, I was really looking forward to see how it would translate to the ballet. Knowing as well that many of the most famous ballerinas in the world originate from Russia, I was excited to see the Moscow City Ballet's performance. I was not disappointed!

The staging supported the telling of a complex tale in a manner which was easy to follow. The use of mime alongside the more classical ballet dance moves not only helped to bring the story to life but also provided humour and personality of the dancers which added another dimension to their character interpretation.

From the harbingers of doom to Juliet and Romeo's seamless performance and expertly executed dances, it was enjoyable from start to finish.

Highly recommended - full marks!!

This was an extended birthday treat for me and all the more special to share it with my Mum. The Sound of Music has always reminded me of family times when the girls would all watch it whilst my Dad and Grandad snuck off to the pub for a beer – Climb Every Mountain was not their favourite! I was really impressed with the whole performance.

Lucy O’Byrne was excellent as Maria, with a strong voice and mannerisms which reflected Julie Andrews’ portrayal without trying to just copy it. Megan Llewellyn as Mother Abbess was stunning, with a strong voice that really raised the roof. Climb Every Mountain gave me goosebumps and made me feel very emotional.

Howard Samuels as Max was funny and played the role of the lovable rogue perfectly.
The Von Trapp children were brilliant, with Leisl – played by Katie Shearman – really standing out with her beautiful voice.

The staging was also really effective. Changes were swift and the different scenes were cleverly portrayed with simple stage changes.

Once again a thoroughly delightful evening which had me still humming the tunes at work this morning!

I have to admit not being sure what to expect. I like the music of the King of Pop and remember avidly awaiting the new releases of his singles and videos on Top of The Pops throughout my childhood and teenage years, however I would not consider myself a super fan so was a little apprehensive in case I didn’t really know the music as well as I thought I did!

I need not have worried, from the outset the songs were recognisable and the 4 lead vocalists were all stunning in their portrayal of many of the most well known and certainly many of my favourite tracks. The stage setting was simple which ensured that it did not detract from the dancing and singing which was the main focus of the show. Having said this, there was a mixture of small scale pyrotechnics and video montage which added to the atmosphere.

Adrianna Louise’s version of “The Way You Make me Feel” definitely rocked the house and showed the strength of her voice.

The more rock style of Rory Taylor’s voice perfectly suited popular classics such as Dirty Diana, whilst also showcasing his softer items with a heartwarming version of “She’s out of My Life”.

The show for me was stolen by Shaquille Hemmans and Eddy Lima. Shaquille’s range of voice perfectly suited the range of classic songs he sang and his mannerisms were a tribute to the talents of Michael Jackson. Eddy Lima’s dancing, particularly for Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal and Thriller had the audience on their feet- both joining in and in appreciation. His uncanny resemblance to Mr Jackson also helped to wow the audience.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the show and felt like I was waiting for each song as if it was the release of the videos and singles from my youth.