Priscilla Queen Of The Desert 29.04.16

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

Location: The Orchard Theatre, Dartford

Date Seen: Friday 29^th April

Seen With: Mum

Understudies at This Performance: Rebecca Botterill as Diva

Summary

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is a musical based on a film of the same name following the journey of group of friends and drag queens as they cross Australia for a new gig. On the way they experience the judgement of others as well as acceptance of each other and themselves.

I’d previously seen Priscilla in the West End several years ago and absolutely loved the upbeat songs and lavish costumes. My mum in particular wanted to see this at our local theatre as when I saw it with her in the West End we were in the upper circle with a pretty dire view.

Acting

The show is very over the top and cartoonish in a way due to the comedy and costumes. Behind this, the actors do well to not over-act and as a result there is still emotion in the characters which means there is a developing story throughout.  There are moments such as when the trio of Tick, Felicia and Bernadette face prejudice from out of town locals and Tick meeting his son for the first time that have moments of poignancy and balance the fast pace of the rest of the show.

Music & Songs

The music featured are a variety of pop songs from different eras which have been artistically arranged to provide a unique identity for this show. The Divas provide some solid vocals throughout and provide the backdrop to many of the drag acts. The vocal highlight of this show comes in Act 2 when Tick, Felicia and Bernadette are stood on Ayers Rock singing ‘We Belong’ symbolising how far they’ve come together. It’s a change of tempo and a great opportunity for vocals and harmonies to be thrust into the limelight. There appeared to be a single song change from the West End production which was from ‘Both Sides Now’ to ‘True Colours’. Whilst I appreciate ‘True Colours’ is better known, I much preferred the original song.

Choreography

The routines in Priscilla are one of the reasons why I’ve seen this show so many times. Each number has its own unique identity with lots of energy. Stand out numbers are ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ which puts an interesting spin on a  party, ‘I Will Survive’ which finishes Act 1 on a real high note and the medley towards the end of the show really uses the cast in an extremely clever and effective way.

Direction

This touring production hasn’t lost too much of its West End flare thanks to the direction that has been applied. Although being performed on smaller stages, the production doesn’t look messy or cluttered due to some clever choices.

Set/Lighting

Due to it being a touring production, some of the set pieces I recall from the West End run are smaller and less technical. The Priscilla bus is the same but due to the smaller stages of the touring venues, it does not rotate as much though it doesn’t lose its affect. I also appreciate that due to touring restrictions that Felicia’s aria cannot be performed on top of the bus but the staging using a single chair centre stage - whilst funny - feels a bit cheap and no where near as good as the original west end staging.

Costumes

The costumes in this show are absolutely outrageous (in a good way!) and highly memorable. They feature bold and bright patterns with various themes throughout such as paintbrushes during ‘Colour My World’ and cakes during ‘MacArthur Park’. The  

Stand Out Performances

Duncan James as Tick – After my bad experience of star castings in Chicago I wasn’t getting my hopes up for Duncan James though I needn’t have worried. He delivered a stellar performance as Tick with great vocals and emotional depth. Through his eyes you really experience the prejudice he and his friends experience on their journey.

Adam Bailey as Felicia – Adam Bailey puts in an energetic and highly memorable performance as Felicia. His line delivery hits the mark every time and provides some of the funniest moments of the show.

Show to Show Comparisons

With its jukebox musical style and high tempo numbers, Priscilla reminds me a lot of Mamma Mia! It’s a typical feel good musical with a great story linking all of the well known songs together. Priscilla is much more over the top than Mamma Mia but with both of these musicals you leave singing the songs of the show.

Would I Recommend?

Yes however unfortunately due to the publish date of this review; the tour has now completed its current run across the UK.

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

4 Stars 

Les Miserables 20.04.16

Les Miserables

Location: Queen’s Theatre

Date Seen: Wednesday 20th April

Seen With: 1 Friend

Understudies at This Performance: Adam Bayjou as Jean Val Jean, Jo Parsons as the Factory Foreman

Summary

I’ve seen Les Miserables on two previous occasions and absolutely love this musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel. This visit was a gift for my friend’s birthday but the date I picked was significant as I specifically wanted to see Adam Bayjou in the role of Jean Valjean after I heard rave reviews from people when I attended the onstage tour last year.

Acting

There is so much emotion due to the various plights of the characters. Adam Bayjou really makes you feel sorry for Jean Valjean in the beginning and then grants your respect as the character gets older. Patrice Tipoki played a beautifully tragic Fantine and you really saw how her strength is completely eroded away. Jeremy Secomb’s Javert commands attention and his conciseness really contrasts against the frenetic poverty that the ensemble portrays so well. The other featured actors are just as strong, clearly living their character’s lives and emotions throughout.

Music & Songs

The music is where Les Miserables truly reigns with most of the show sung with few gaps of pure dialogue. The score is mesmerising with a sound that reflects both the light and dark moments of the show. The vocals from the lead actors to the ensemble marry together so well and this is best presented in the Act 1 Finale ‘One Day More’. Every vocalist in Les Mis has such a big part to play to create the rich sounds and they all deliver with such effort.

Choreography

The choreography of Les Mis is not big dance numbers which most people would associate with a musical. The numbers are more physical movement based and set up the status of the characters.

Direction

The show has maintained its strength for 30 years because the direction has been consistent. The show is extremely tight from the ensemble pieces to smaller scenes with the principal characters. Every character has been clearly set without it feeling forced and the whole musical feels organic.

Set/Lighting

The revolving stage and the barricade are iconic set pieces in this production and they are used so effectively. I cannot imagine worldwide productions without the revolving stage as it creates such an interesting dynamic. The lighting is also used well such as bright lights to show when a character has passed on and spotlights on actors for solo songs.

Costumes

The costumes are fitting for the setting and even though the colours and styles are typically understated, they still create a visual impact. The female costumes in the first act are quite something as they were multiple layers that they remove as they progress to the ‘Lovely Ladies’ number. On the onstage tour, we go to see some of the costumes in person and every effort has gone into accuracy.

Stand Out Performances

Adam Bayjou as Jean Valjean – there was such a depth to his Jean Val Jean and I believed every emotion he portrayed. His version of ‘Bring Him Home’ was crisp and poignant. As a understudy you can catch him once a week (at the time I saw the show this was Wednesdays but this has changed to Mondays as of 20th June) and I would highly recommending seeing the show twice to capture both Jean Val Jeans.

Jeremy Secomb as Javert - I absolutely love his stage presence and the energy he brings to Javert. His rendition of Stars is one of my favourite musical performances vocally and visually.

Show to Show Comparisons

Musically, the style of Les Miserables has similarities to Miss Saigon due to them being composed by the same people. It also features similar dark themes where not everyone gets their happy ending and focuses on the reality of such harrowing situations.

Would I Recommend?

Yes – there is very good reason why this show is the longest running show in the West End. Since I saw the show, the ensemble has changed casts but the success of this show has been consistent so whatever cast you see, you will not be disappointed.

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

5 Stars 

An Update..

So with my big move coming up, I have to apologise for the lack of review posting on this page. As a result I am behind on all my reviews since I saw Les Miserables all the way back in April.

I've got some typed up ready to publish but need to get some earlier reviews completed before I can publish those.

Some reviews may now be out of date as a result of the productions no longer running but I still plan to post a review for everything I've seen.

Apologies for the absence but head over to my '2016 Shows' page to see what I've still got planned for this year!

Weekly Round Up 13.05.16

Shows Seen (From Saturday To Friday): 1

Shows Booked For Future: 0 

On Saturday I saw the first production in Emma Rice's Wonder Season at The Globe, A Midsummer Night's Dream. The show was a delight in the appearance of the British Summer with wonderful acting, entertaining choreography and visually stunning costumes. On seeing the production I cannot wait to post my review once I get through my backlog and I am well and truly excited to see further productions in the season - I am booked to see The Taming Of The Shrew and Macbeth. 

Tonight I'm off to see Romeo & Juliet at The Garrick as part of Kenneth Branagh's season of 'Plays At The Garrick.' At the moment I am currently located in the worst seats in the house but I am hoping that this might change as I've also entered the daily lottery for front row seats. Also in the upcoming week I am seeing Doctor Faustus tomorrow and Mrs Henderson Presents on Thursday. My review backlog isn't going to clear itself any time soon!

Wicked 14.04.16

Wicked

Location: Apollo Victoria

Date Seen: Thursday 14^th April

Seen With: 3 friends

Understudies at This Performance: Helen Woolf as Glinda

Summary

Wicked has a huge fan following worldwide. Recently, I was disappointed with the Broadway production feeling that it lacked a certain magic sparkle to it and with the actor playing Fiyero lacking any depth at all. I had been wanting to see the West End version again for some time especially with Oliver Saville in the role of Fiyero (I previously saw him cover Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera). As I love seeing an understudy, I knew we’d get one when my friends booked the tickets as Savannah was on holiday but to get the second cover was a pleasant surprise which I’ll explore in my review.  

Acting

Each actor plays their character to a high standard and you can clearly identify the different personalities. Emma Hatton’s Elphaba is strong willed with a mischievous edge in contrast to Helen Woolf’s well poised and uptight Glinda. What is beautiful is seeing how each of them clearly changes throughout the performance to show Glinda’s loving side and Elphaba’s caring side. Oliver Saville’s Fiyero commands attention whilst clearly having a connection with Emma Hatton. The whole cast does a great job of transitioning from the naïve school days to fear trodden Oz.

Music & Songs

I can’t think of many people who couldn’t sing part of a Wicked song as the songs have become so well known. They have impact and the score is highly memorable. ‘Defining Gravity’ is probably the most well known song but there are songs such as ‘No Good Deed’ that really demonstrate the power of the orchestra and the vocals of the lead actors.

Choreography

The choreography of Wicked is cleverly put together making the most of the ensemble and space on the stage. The routine featured in the instrumental piece of ‘Dancing Through Life’ is one of my favourite routines with lifts and in sync couples dancing together.

Direction

Strong direction has meant that nothing has been left amiss in Wicked. Intimate scenes are tastefully displayed whilst oozing with passion and big group scenes have been directed to create a buzzing atmosphere without distracting from the key moments. 

Set/Lighting

The arch of the theatre provides much of the set for this show with its staircases and metalwork as well as the dragon suspended from the ceiling. Other pieces are brought onto stage such as benches, blackboards, podiums, Dorothy’s house etc to set up each scene. The lighting is used to great effect in this show to highlight when Elphaba is conjuring magic.

Costumes

Wicked’s costumes are some of my favourite in any musical. They are over the top and colourful throughout, filling the stage for visually spectacular group numbers. The leads’ costumes really are the triumph of this show and I’ve actually spent a lot of time away from the theatre researching them. Elphaba’s Act 2 Dress and Glinda’s Bubble Dress are the two stand outs with their layers, colours and craftsmanship. As an aside from this blog, I am currently attempting to make Glinda’s dress and it is spectacularly complex.

Stand Out Performances

Emma Hatton as Elphaba - She has such a voice on her and it really does blow you away. She plays Elphaba with so many dimensions that you really feel you can connect with her.

Helen Woolf as Glinda - Glinda is a tough role to fill but Helen did the role absolute justice. I believe the way she delivered Glinda’s journey from self centred child to a strong-headed woman. Her opening vocals gave me goose bumps!

Oliver Saville as Fiyero – the best Fiyero I’ve seen as he captured his charm, had real chemistry with Emma Hatton and has a great voice. I’d love to come and see this again with him opposite Savannah as well!

Mark Curry as The Wizard – this was by far my favourite representation of the wizard I’ve seen. He came across as a family man with a real sincerity throughout and I loved his vocal arrangement in his songs.

Show to Show Comparisons

I have to compare this to the Broadway version which left me feel cold. The West End version seemed to have some much more energy to it. I’m not sure whether the Apollo Victoria assists in this as the stage is smaller and you instantly feel a greater part of it in comparison to the Gershwin Theatre. The actors just seemed to be more together and the chemistry between actors was stronger and more believable. I’d like to see it again on Broadway to hopefully prove me wrong, but in my eyes the West End version reigns.

Would I Recommend?

Yes - It’s a timeless show about friendship and believing in yourself

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

5 Stars 

The Book Of Mormon 22.03.16

The Book Of Mormon

Location: Tuesday 22^nd April

Date Seen: 22^th March 2016

Seen With: N/A

Understudies at This Performance: Sean Parkins as The Doctor, Oliver Ormson & David McMullan (Swings)

Summary

The fact that this was the fifth time I saw The Book Of Mormon speaks volumes. It is an extremely original show with high energy and a great story. It has some moral lessons within it as well as being rip-roaringly funny.  The basic plot of the musical follows two Elders who are assigned to Uganda to try and convert people to The Church Of Latter Day Saints.

Acting

The acting in this show is what makes it. There are clear contrasts between the two main Elders who could not be more different played by K.J Hippensteel as Elder Price and Brian Sears as Elder Cunningham. Elder Price is played clean and precise whilst Elder Cunningham is played more erratic and excitable. Stephen Ashfield’s Elder McKinley is stand out as he fights with his true self through out the show bringing great comedy moments throughout, all delivered with impeccable timing from Ashfield. The whole cast delivers on the acting front, from the over exaggerated Elders to the fed up Ugandans.

Music & Songs

You will go home singing the songs which is a testament to the clever scoring and brilliantly written lyrics. You’ll need to catch yourself before you enter into a full on rendition of ‘Hasa Diga Eebowi’ as this is easily the catchiest – and most offensive – song in the whole show. I’ve heard stories of audience members walking out at this point but for those of us who aren’t as easily offended it is a work of genius. I found with this show since I first saw it that the score nods to other musicals with some of the arrangements. The finale definitely echoes ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’ from Hairspray.

Choreography

The choreography is not only cleverly done, but is highly comedic which is in keeping with the rest of the show. The number I always look forward to is ‘Turn It Off’ with its incredible tap choreography and mid-song quick change.

Direction

The show’s success is reflective of the strong direction it has had. All the actors, from the leads to the ensemble, work well together and clearly work off each other’s reactions. The show felt fresh which is probably partly due to some new cast members but because the director has clearly encourage a certain amount of ‘play’ for the actors to change it up.

Set/Lighting

The set changes several times throughout the show. Use of backdrops creates short scenes such as the mission centre. Larger and longer scenes use of wooden sets depicting the Ugandan homes (I was fortunate enough to go on an onstage tour after this show to see the sets up close and they regularly have to sand the wood down to prevent splinters to the actors). The lighting cleverly reflects the hot climate of Uganda but it gets its best used during ‘Spooky Mormon Hell Dream’ to conjure up a stage representation of hell.

Costumes

The costumes have two sides. The Mormons are very clean and precise in their white shirts and black trousers whilst the Ugandan characters are adorned in bright colours and prints.  There are also a variety of other costumes featured in scenes such as ‘Spooky Mormon Hell Dream’ which are cleverly used to clearly show that we have moved away from the normal setting of this show.

Stand Out Performances

Brian Sears as Elder Cunningham – I have been extremely lucky to have seen Brian every time I’ve seen The Book Of Mormon and every time I’ve seen him he seems to give something new. He is a joy to watch and you genuinely believe his character and that every time he is experience the events of the show for the first time.  

Stephen Ashfield as Elder McKinley – he won an Olivier award for this role and its always clear to see why. He plays the closeted Elder McKinley effortlessly and delivers some of the funniest moments of the show.

Show to Show Comparisons

I recently compared Something Rotten and Hand To God to this show with the comparisons being to the impressively choreographed routines and the unapologetic offensive humour. I stand by these comparisons though The Book Of Mormon definitely set the bar for this before these shows came along. I saw the 2015/16 cast of the show who became firm favourites of mine. I do miss Chris Jarman’s General as his height gave him real presence but other than this personal preference I cannot find any faults.

Would I Recommend?

If you’re not easily offended then absolutely  

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

5 Stars 

Weekly Round Up 06.05.16

Shows Seen (From Saturday To Friday): 0

Shows Booked For Future (since 15/04): 3

First off I will start by apologising for my absence. My full time job has kept me busy as well as university work and trying to sort out my big house move. As a result the blog and my reviews have all but come to a stop. Since I went to see Wicked on the 14th April I've only seen one other show - Les Miserables on 22nd April. I need to review both, which I'm looking forward to due to seeing some amazing understudies at each. 

I've also been busy on the show booking front and have booked to see 2 shows since my last round up as well as winning a competition for tickets to see another show.

1. Mrs Henderson Presents

I can't say this was a show that I was desperate to see but I had been interested in it. However LoveTheatre's flash sale gave me the perfect excuse to see this show (I got a top price stalls seat for £25!). I have no idea what to expect though I'll probably try and watch the Judi Dench film before I go. 

Booked For: 19th May

At: Noel Coward Theatre

2. Doctor Faustus

The recent mixed reviews of this show got me interested in seeing Doctor Faustus however it was only when a friend said she was going that I decided I absolutely had to go. I've never read the play so I will be making sure I do so before I go to see this. 

Booked For: 14th May

At: Duke Of Yorks Theatre

3. Doctor Faustus

This is probably the most miraculous booking as it wasn't a booking at all. I review all my seats on the website Seat Plan and as a result of each review, you get entered into their regular competitions to win tickets to West End shows. This month I was picked as their winner and will be going to see No Man's Land starring Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart. The tickets are worth £75 each so it is a real blessing to have won these. Even more of a plus is that they're on a Saturday so I can come back to London to see it.  

Booked For: 22nd October

At: Wyndhams Theatre

As I mentioned before, I still have some theatre vouchers to use and hope to use these before I go to Cornwall as I have an extra week in London I hadn't accounted for meaning I can probably squeeze in another show.

Weekly Round Up 15.04.16

Shows Seen (From Saturday To Friday): 1

Shows Booked For Future: 0

This week saw me make a return to Wicked. After disappointment with the Broadway production when I visited last September, I was pleased that once again the West End production reignited my love for the show. I think the theatre has a lot to do with my enjoyment as the stage feels more encompassing. 

I'm starting to catch up with my blog posts with at present only 3 to write up. I'm off to see another show next week which for benefits of my friend who still doesn't know what we're seeing, will remain unnamed! 

I haven't booked up any more shows however have various vouchers I want to use before I move to Cornwall in a couple of months. I've currently short-listed Showboat, Sunny Afternoon and Funny Girl as they are all shows I haven't seen previously. I'd like to try to see The Phantom Of The Opera again however this will be money permitting and moving our into a flat of my own isn't cheap!

So here's to being back in full swing!

Matilda 13.03.16

Matilda

Location: Shubert Theatre, New York City

Date Seen: 13^th March 2016

Seen With: Dad

Understudies at This Performance: Geoff Packard as Miss Trunchbull, Sean Montgomery as Mr Wormwood, Scott Difford as The Party Entertainer, Colin Israel as Doctor/Sergei and Amanda LaMotte as The Acrobat

Summary

This review comes just as they’ve recently announced the closure of the Broadway production of Matilda next year. I first saw the show in the West End and the decision to see it on Broadway was last minute, a choice of my dad’s, with tickets purchased from the TKTS Booth in Times Square. Matilda is a musical stage production of the book by Roald Dahl. This review will partly review the Broadway production specifically with regards to the acting, but will cover both productions in terms of the choreography, music and songs and set.

Acting

The acting on the most part was fantastic for this production. Geoff Packard made a formidable Miss Trunchbull and Allison Case was the perfect Miss Honey. They each delivered their performances with my expectations from this show. Mimi Ryder as Matilda gave a headstrong performance and her fellow classmates provided great comedy throughout. Whilst most of the performances were fantastic I was extremely put off by Amy Spanger’s Mrs Wormwood. It felt like all of her lines were shouted and as a result the character seemed one dimensional. It was a disappointment after seeing Mrs Wormwood nailed perfectly by Rebecca Thornhill.

Music & Songs

Tim Minchin’s lyrics and music are such a success. The lyrics in songs such as the ‘School Song’ are extremely clever. It actually took me a listen of the soundtrack to really appreciate the thought that has gone into this song in particular. There are clear flairs of Tim Minchin’s character featured in ‘The Smell Of Rebellion’ which really showcases the character of Miss Trunchbull.  

Choreography

Like the music and lyrics, the choreography is clever and effective. Again, ‘The School Song’ demonstrates this with every letter of the alphabet on a block that fills up the school gates and two ensemble members clever move to climb up these blocks. The choreography also showcases the talents of the child cast, particularly in ‘Revolting Children’ with some great synchronised sections.

Direction

The direction for this show is huge as there are so many elements to focus on but it had been balanced extremely well. Although Matilda is the titular character, every other character has been rounded out well and the dynamics between them has been clearly portrayed.

Set/Lighting

The set revolves around the theme of books and words, which is Matilda’s main interest and a recurring theme in the show. My favourite piece of set is the swings that drop down at the beginning of act two for ‘When I Grow Up’ and is one of the most memorable parts of the show with the cast swinging out above the audience.

Costumes

The costumes for Crunchem Hall are grey or dulled colours and I think this has cleverly represented the misery of life there. Miss Honey’s colourful but understated palette represents the hope that is there for the students. In contrast, the colours used for the Wormwoods are garish and clashing which represents their big and outrageous personalities. I think these contrasts are extremely clever and the costumes have been executed well.

Stand Out Performances

Allison Case as Miss Honey – this was casting done right. Not only did she look right, she had real warmth which is needed. I saw a wonderful Miss Honey in the West End but Allison Case outdid this role by a mile and will be hard to top.

Geoff Packard as Miss Trunchbull – both times I’ve seen Miss Trunchbull it’s been an understudy and both times they’ve got the harshness and unbalanced nature of her correct. I did prefer the understudy Oliver Brooks in the west end as his great height really made him domineering by Geoff Packard performance will be remembered.

The Entire Child Cast – child casts never cease to surprise me and Matilda is no exception. I think Matilda is a more demanding musical for child casts but each actor delivered an impeccable performance.

Show to Show Comparisons

I’m making comparisons here to the London production which for me was superior to its Broadway counterpart.  I feel the London production had more heart and soul behind it and I think this is because it was home grown there. For me, certain actors in the Broadway production didn’t provide the same dynamic or chemistry as those that were seen in London. This could just be due to a large number of understudies however I doubt this was the case as understudies in my experience always give as much, and normally more, than the original casts.

Would I Recommend?

Matilda is a wonderful musical and I’d definitely recommend it, but I’d recommend seeing it in London over Broadway as I think it reigns in its originating country.

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

4 Stars 

Something Rotten 11.03.16

Something Rotten

Location: St James Theatre, New York City

Date Seen: 11^th March 2016

Seen With: Dad

Understudies at This Performance: David Hibbard as Nick Bottom, Eric Giancola as Eyepatch Man/Francis Flute & Matt Allen as Yorick/Shakespeare’s Valet

Summary

When I visited New York City in September 2015, I heard ripples of admiration for Something Rotten from previous patrons as I walked past on numerous occasions. It got me wanting to see it and my recent trip to New York City provided the perfect opportunity. Focussing on the story of two brothers and their attempt to write a hit to rival renaissance idol William Shakespeare, we see the ‘birth’ of the modern musical.

Acting

The acting is very strong throughout from the leads to the ensemble members. Most of the heavier dialogue scenes fall between the lead characters and within the comedy there are moments of sincerity particularly from Heidi Blickenstaff as Bea. Although she has a storyline with quite a comedic portrayal, she also demonstrates the real values and relationships that are core to the story and to her character. In contrast, some of the characters like Nostradamus played by Brad Oscar, have to be over exaggerated and grotesque and this is done equally as well.

Music & Songs

I briefly listened to the soundtrack before I saw the show but it didn’t prepare me for how good the songs in the show are. The music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick are a work of genius. I never thought anyone could come up with a musical song about omelettes but they did with a hilarious outcome. ‘A Musical’ makes reference to many hit musicals and the way it has brought these together is inspired. My favourite song is ‘Hard To Be The Bard’ about Shakespeare’s struggles to keep writing great hits and meet the expectation of his fans.

Choreography

The show is choreographed by Casey Nicholaw who choreographed The Book Of Mormon and Aladdin which are two of my favourite shows. He did not disappoint with Something Rotten with superb ensemble routines that were clever and comedic. One of the signatures of his work for me is his tap dance breaks that feature in ‘Turn It Off’ from The Book Of Mormon and ‘A Friend Like Me’ in Aladdin. Here they are seen in numbers ‘A Musical’ and ‘Make An Omelette’ and they are truly impressive. Another great tap moment in this show is a ‘tap off’ between Shakespeare and Nick Bottom. You need to see it to believe it. The annunciation onfeach beat is remarkable and unforgettable.

Direction

Casey Nicholaw also directed this show and it is an absolute triumph. He brings Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick’s script to life and has truly pulled off all the comedy elements that are fundamental to this show. I’ve laughed a lot in musicals but not as frequently as I did here. The staging itself is quite simple but it focuses in on what is being said by the actors. I think they’ve achieved what they set out to here as so much of the narrative is based on the words of Shakespeare’s works and the big hit the Bottom brothers are attempting to write.

Set/Lighting

The set features traditional Tudor buildings on flats with several larger pieces including The Globe Theatre which also doubles up as Nick and Nigel Bottom’s rehearsal space for their own theatre troupe. Throughout, the scenes are often changed mainly through use of different cloths and flats. Overall the set on face value seems quite simple but it does a great job of setting the time period and filling the stage with atmosphere.

Costumes

I’ve seen some amazing costumes in productions but Something Rotten’s costumes by Gregg Barnes really stood out. The bold colour of the renaissance wardrobe really fills the stage. The stand out costumes was the female ensemble costumes featured in the song ‘A Musical’. The best way to describe them is as renaissance showgirls with rouched skirts and fitted bodices accompanied with stunning velvet covered heeled tap boots. I also absolutely loved the modern take on Shakespeare. He wore what was expected of the time but it was brought into the 21^st century with leather and detailing on the back of his doublet. I found a great article about the designs of the costumes and the thought process behind them which you can find here.

Stand Out Performances

Christian Borle as Shakespeare – there is a reason why he won a Tony Award for his performance as he makes the perfect Shakespeare. He knows how to gain attention from the show audience to the actual audience. When he dons his disguise, his versatility as an actor is put to the forefront with a convincing Yorkshire accent.

Brad Oscar as Nostradamus – if he hadn’t been up against his co-star, he would have deservingly won the Tony award for this role. His highlight is his role in ‘A Musical’ but he entertains throughout the show with his insight into the future.

David Hibbard as Nick Bottom – although I had wanted to see Brian D’arcy James, David Hibbard effortlessly filled the boots of Nick Bottom and his vocals seemed like it was the same person. I would say he is a superman of sorts, as he covers 3 main roles in the show whilst normally performing in the ensemble on a daily basis.

Me with Christian Borle who plays Shakespeare

Show to Show Comparisons

I can compare the comedy of this show to The Book Of Mormon despite the differences between the plots. The comedy is less crude in Something Rotten but it gets you laughing out loud in the same way. As I’ve also previously mentioned, the fact the shows are choreographed by the same person also draws similarities with the dance numbers in both being original and memorable.

Would I Recommend?

If you’re in New York and get a chance to see this then absolutely and there are often tickets in the TKTS booth at a discount price. It is the funniest musical I’ve ever seen and the whole coming together of this show is an absolute triumph.

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

5 Stars 

Weekly Round Up 08.04.16

Shows Seen (From Saturday To Friday): 1

Shows Booked For Future: 0

I'm aware that I haven't posted a weekly round up in a few weeks which is due to me being on holiday in Las Vegas. I also realise that I still haven't posted reviews from my trip to New York or my last visit to The Book Of Mormon. 

Whilst I was in Vegas, I went to see two Cirque Du Soleil shows and this includes the one show I saw this week on Saturday. Whilst not strictly 'theatre' I plan to do a joint review of these two shows together once I get through my existing review backlog! The 2 Cirque Du Soleil shows I saw were Mystere at Treasure Island and Zarkana at the Aria. It was my first dabble into circus on this scale and its well and true to say that I am completely hooked. I'm already looking up dates for Ama Luna at The Royal Albert Hall next year.

So even though I'm behind on the blog, it doesn't mean I won't catch up and it is my intention to over the next couple of weeks. I will also have another review to add to my list next week when I see Wicked for the 4th time, with it being my 3rd time in the UK. 

Weekly Round Up 18.03.16

Shows Seen (From Saturday To Friday): 1

Shows Booked For Future: 1

Since my last weekly round up, I've been and returned from New York City. I'm missing it already as I had a fantastic time. I'm trying to work out when I can next make a trip but due to some huge life changes, its not looking like this year.

Whilst I have contemplated writing a separate post for my trip, it didn't seem necessary as I will be posting my reviews for the shows I saw separately next week (I've been too jet-lagged this week to even begin to write them!). As per my previous blog posts, I saw Something Rotten last Friday 11th March, which I cannot wait to review as it was absolutely superb. It certainly challenges the top of my list for favourite musical! I waited at the stage door for the first time in a while and got my programme signed and a photo with the incredible double Tony Award Winning Christian Borle. What I will say is that this show needs to make its way to the UK as I think it will do brilliantly in London seeing as the whole show focuses on Shakespeare's success. 

My dad and I didn't have anything else booked so we planned to see a show by booking tickets at the TKTS booth, something else I've not done before. I put an initial spanner in the works as after entering the Hamilton daily lottery every day since we were there, on our last full day I decided to try the cancellations queue. 

Tip: If you really want to see Hamilton and get a ticket from the cancellations queue then you really have to be prepared to queue up super early in the morning OR get there partway through the night. I queued on a Sunday which apparently is normally quieter due to Lin Manuel-Miranda not performing, however I was still 13th in the queue when I joined at midday! On the day I went, only 7 tickets were resold via cancellations as the day before it had only been 8 and 3 for the respective shows. 

Whilst I wallowed in my disappointment of my Hamilton dream dying for about a year I quickly went round to the TKTS booth and queued whilst I waited for my dad. He gave me a short list of his preferred shows and in the end I plucked for Matilda because I got good seats near the front of the Orchestra plus I was personally feeling this over Kinky Boots on the day. My dad and I thoroughly enjoyed Matilda so it took the edge off my Hamilton disappointment. I will hopefully post my review for this next week and I will definitely make comparisons to the West End original!

On a look to the future, my best friend booked one show this week for us to see just before here birthday:

1. Wicked 

Wicked is a bit of a firm favourite of mine despite me feeling underwhelmed by my trip to see it on Broadway last year. This will be my 4th time seeing the show and I'm quite excited as right now I'm in the process of creating my own version of Glinda's Bubble Dress. What I know already is that Savannah Stevenson who normally plays Glinda on the West End is on holiday the date we are going so I will be seeing her standby Carina Gillespie instead. This is exciting in itself as it means I've seen a different Glinda each time I've seen this show!

Booked For: 14th April

At: Apollo Victoria

Going With: My best friend, her boyfriend and one of her friends. 

Next week I am seeing The Book Of Mormon for the 5th time but it'll be the first time I've seen it on my own. I've also got a post-show backstage tour which I'm more excited about as this is my favourite musical to date (though this is now being strongly contested by Something Rotten!)

Weekly Round Up 11.03.16

Shows Seen (From Saturday To Friday): 1

Shows Booked For Future: 0

I've pre-scheduled this post as I will be in The Big Apple when this post is due to go out!

This week I posted two reviews for the shows I saw last week, a 5 star review for the beautiful War Horse, and a 3 star review for the disappointing Chicago UK Tour .

If you read this on the Friday, I will be going to see Something Rotten tonight which I cannot wait for. 

I'm hoping to catch another show whilst I'm here but at the moment I'm not sure what that will be!

Chicago (UK Tour) 04.03.16

Chicago (UK Tour)

Location: The Orchard Theatre, Dartford

Date Seen: 4^th March 2016

Seen With: Mum & Dad

Understudies at This Performance: Helen Siveter as Velma Kelly

Summary

Chicago is one of my all time favourite musicals. I love the two female leads, - particularly Velma Kelly - the choreography, the songs and I absolutely love the staging with the orchestra on the stage. I am spoilt in a way as I saw this on Broadway last year and it was one of the best musical performances I had ever seen. On watching this performance, I tried not to compare them like for like.

Acting

This was a huge let down for me from the leads. I am always dubious of ‘big star’ names being cast as I feel it is at the expense of full time musical theatre actors and actresses who do this day in day out. My point was proven with Sam Bailey, who whilst has a strong voice, fell flat as the bolshie Mama Morton I’d expect. John Partridge’s Billy Flynn was limp and not the suave lawyer I was expecting. He lacked the presence he really needed and his manipulation of the other characters felt false. Hayley Tamaddon did a fair job as Roxie Hart though I think she could have had so many more layers in her character – she felt very one dimensional and could have pushed more for a more exciting performance. Helen Siveter as Velma Kelly was probably the only lead I could say I was happy with. Despite coming on as the understudy fairly early in the tours run, I think she did a great job and certainly had the majority of Velma’s sarcasm there. I feel she should have had more presence and sometimes I lost her amongst the ensemble but I think over the tour’s run, she will get the opportunity to really hit home.

Music & Songs

I cannot fault the orchestra who for me are the glue of this particular show mainly because they are on stage rather than being hidden in the orchestra pit as is the norm with most musicals. They have a real flare and Chicago’s staging allows them to show their personalities without detracting from the actors.

The songs are some of my favourites in musicals though I think the sound system let some songs down as you couldn’t hear the lead vocals over ensemble. But I have to criticise John Partridge as I was left highly disappointed with his rendition of ‘All I Care About’. The vocal sounded unnatural and strained and was difficult to listen to. He slightly redeemed himself in ‘We Both Reached for the Gun’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’ but for a musical theatre performer, I really did expect better.

Choreography

Other than a couple of awkward moments in ‘All That Jazz’ (though I think this was a result of the staging rather than the choreography), the choreography in Chicago is some of the most iconic. The ensemble is showcased at their strongest in the group numbers as well as standout numbers ‘Me and My Baby’ and ‘Honey Hot Rag’. The choreography was one of the redeeming features of this production.

Direction

I think part of the problem with this show has to stem from the direction. Roxie Hart, for me, is a cunning, sexy minx who manipulates everyone around her to get what she wants. Whilst Hayley Tamaddon had the comedy elements of her role down, I didn’t get the sexy or manipulative feeling from her. She was just ‘too nice’. I feel if the director had pushed her, her performance would have sky rocketed. Whether this was an actor limitation or a director’s misdirection I won’t know but either way something was amiss for this particular character.

Set/Lighting

There is not a lot of set to speak of with the orchestra stage taking up about 50% of the stage. Chairs are the main prop used and I don’t think this show needs more than that. The lighting is sultry and captures the harshness of the prison setting whilst also emulating the sexiness that Chicago is so well known for.

Costumes

I absolutely love the sexy costumes of Chicago. They’re simple in the sense they’re all black and use similar sheer and lace materials but they’re so effective. The only costume let down was Hayley Tamaddon’s first dress as Roxie Hart. It seemed too big and the front sheer panels were extremely unflattering. Again it reflected on the fact she seemed ‘too nice’ and needed a serious vamping up to portray the seductive side of the character.

Stand Out Performances

A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine: In a show where the lead performances were disappointing, A.D. Richardson made up for this in buckets. The vocal was so impressive and I’ve not heard ‘A Little Bit Of Good’ as good as it was sung in this performance. Richardson was the best Mary Sunshine for me, outshining those I saw in the West End and Broadway.

The Ensemble: Lead actors are often talked about at the expense of the ensemble but the ensemble stood out for me over the leads. They were slick, together and felt like they were performing for their lives.

The Orchestra: I have never seen an orchestra have as much fun as these musicians and conductor did. I love the Entr’acte and their short skit after the finale. It really showed them off as individuals and for me was one of the best bits of the night!

Show to Show Comparisons

At the beginning of this review I said I wouldn’t compare this to the other productions of Chicago I’ve seen but its hard not too. I saw Amra Faye-Wright as Velma Kelly in 2009 in the West End and last year on Broadway. In my eyes she has Velma’s sarcasm and bluntness down to a point and this wasn’t felt in this performance. Overall I hope the UK Tour improves as it is seriously lacking in certain areas at present. I would personally like to see some of the leads change to ‘unknown’ actors and actresses as I think this really would have benefited. 

Would I Recommend?

If you’re an avid fan on Chicago then I’d steer clear as it probably won’t live up to your expectations and I think some of the casting was a huge mistake. If you’ve never seen Chicago and want to then I’d say go and see it as the ensemble and orchestra were outstanding.

Overall Verdict (Out of 5 Stars):

3 Stars – I think ‘star’ casting is what let this production down. Chicago is in my top 3 musicals of all time and I was left frustrated with some weak performances of the big supporting characters. I would have given in 2 stars but the ensemble, orchestra and a couple of the leads meant I couldn’t justify bumping it down another star.