Musical Geek - Musical Theatre Reviews

One of the ever popular musicals for amateur societies and it's fair to say that there was very little that could be classed as 'amateur' about this production by a society with a major reputation and an accomplished cast and crew. Leading by example are Katie Taylor as Eliza Dolittle and Simon Theobald as Professor Henry Higgins, both exemplary performances in acting style, characterisation and musicality with facial expressions that enhanced the experience significantly for the audience. Comedy is not down to 'a little bit of luck' you can either be comedic or you can't and Ian Pottage certainly can as Alfred P Doolittle, ably assisted by Chris Sims as Jamie and Paul Johnson as Harry. This isn't really a laugh out loud musical but, one could certainly feel the rise of a chuckle when these three guys entered the acting area. Belying his true age, I'm sure, was Rob Harrison as Colonel Hugh Pickering, stiff upper lip, classical accent for an ex mili...

It's difficult to know what there is left to say about this standard of musical theatre, little could Lord Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice have known when they sat down back in the Swinging Sixties and produced something based on a story in the Book of Genesis that it would still be as popular as ever and touring on a regular basis. Taking the role of Joseph the Dreamer in the current tour is X Factor discovery, he of the mellifluous voice, Joe McElderry and it would be fair to say that he has stamped his mark on the role with a distinct likelihood that he will be asked back to perform it again and again over coming years. Joining Joe as the Narrator is another discovery from the world of TV in BGT's Lucy Kay but, at this performance however we were treated to the equally talented Anna Campkin who without doubt is giving Lucy a run for her money. With the songs tripping-off the tongue of every audience member we are taken along the rocky road that Joseph travels, disowned and...

In the words of the song 'nice work if you can get it' and anything from George & Ira Gershwin probably fits neatly into that category and this little gem started life as 'Girl Crazy' back in the 1930s but, was revitalised with a new plot for a more modern audience, opening on Broadway in 1992. Current touring production has a Strictly Come Dancing flavour starring Tom Chambers as Bobby Child a whirling dervish of speech, song and dance, Caroline Flack oozing sexuality as fiance Irene Roth and the enchanting all round performance of Charlotte Wakefield as the hotly pursued yet hard to get Polly Baker. Bobby sent from New York to foreclose on a rundown theatre in Deadrock, Nevada by his domineering mother (played perfectly by Kate Milner-Evans) immediately falls for Polly the only female in this one woman town. In order to win the girl he comes up with the idea of putting on a show to pay off the mortgage, unfortunately Polly realises why he has originally come a...

Bringing a bit of Christmas Cheer early to Birmingham (even before the Frankfurt Christmas Market descends) is the stage musical adaptation of the made for television film of the same name with songs to warm the heart and a polished cast including some prodigious youth actors who have no right to be that capable at such a young age. Telling the story of three childhood friends Paul, Jennifer and Gordon in Coventry all with pretencions of a career in the theatre are ultimately drawn to the teaching profession, after all if you can't act then teach. Paul and Jennifer strike up a relationship leaving Gordon spurned and compelled to use his tyrannical want to be more successful at the local posh preparatory school, Jennifer moves to Los Angeles to a role in Hollywood although not quite what she pitches to Paul who returns to his teaching role at St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School. In a moment of weakness Paul, played with empathy by Daniel Boys, who has been forced into di...

For those that grew up with the music of the 1970s and early 1980s you couldn't fail to remember some of the meaningful lyrics and memorable melodies of Ian Dury and the Blockheads and this production manages to intertwine these with a touching story of life with a father dying from cancer. Valiantly leading the cast (on crutches) in the role of the central character Vinnie is Stephen Lloyd walking the fine line between narration from the outside in contrast to being a character on the inside and doing it well. His role is complimented by his friend and resident Ian Dury Expert in the form of Stephen Collins as Colin. Both drive the story along at pace and with great music and comic effect, no mean feat in and around quite a crowded but, effective stage area. Taking as one of his roles the part of the dying father Bobby is Gerard McDermott with impressive character play of a man slowly fading, already blind but, desperate not to lose his love for life and importantly music. As ...

Amidst a staggering array of makeup, shaved legs, vibrant colours, vivacious dance numbers, divas descending from the roof space and a character with an unusual use for ping pong balls is a masterpiece of a production from SAOS (Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society) of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical. Let's not underestimate the complexity of this show, it takes a cast, crew and society with some ambition and drive to deliver this well and that is exactly what they do. Led by three dynamic actors in the form of the almost omnipresent Leon Davies as Tick/Mitzi, Mark Horne cornering the market in the more mature leading role as Bernadette and Adam Shaw teetering on the brink of outlandish with just enough outrageous as Adam/Felicia. For a spell of a couple of hours (which seemed far less) we are taken on the journey from Sydney to Alice Springs (some almost two thousand miles in real terms) in the company of these guys (or should I say girls !). Treated to their adven...

One can never be sure exactly what sort of audience (size or responsiveness) that will appear on a Saturday Matinee, fortunately this one was particularly responsive even though not particularly large for the latest from the Craig Revel Horwood stable of productions, Son Of A Preacher Man based on the music of Dusty Springfield. I am always interested to know how keen the stars of shows are when it comes to matinees and my attention was even more aroused when all three of the household names here Diana Vickers, Debra Stephenson and Ian Reddington were absent for this performance, I must however say they were ably replaced by some great understudies. Straight out of the Jukebox Musical genre (with the added Revel Horwood touch of actors playing instruments on stage) this story centres around three characters all drawn back to a building in London that used to be a record store and was run by the musically knowledgeable 'Preacher Man', sadly he has now passed away and the sto...

When it comes to being seen as a 'feelgood musical' there are many productions that could see themselves in that bracket but, Hairspray simply must be vying for the gold medal position. Despite what are contentious issues around the treatment of people based on, to name only two body image and race, it manages to fuel a rapturous reception from audiences from the first note to the final bow. Stepping-up and owning the role of Tracy Turnblad I was lucky enough to see Rosie O'Hare who surely deserves higher billing in future, joined by Edward Chitticks as (and I quote, which hits the nail of his performance on the head) the 'ever sparklin' Link Larkin. Matt Rixon is truly magnificent as Edna Turnblad and has built the perfect comedy partnership with somebody who does comedy as second nature in Norman Pace as outsized but, not overshadowed husband Wilbur, their duet of 'Your Timeless To Me' was perfectly comedic and frankly sublime. John Tsouras is perfec...

Very popular production for amateur societies at the moment is the Monty Python inspired Spamalot a testament to the comic genius that is Eric Idle who is now appearing as God at venues all over the world, a feat I expect not many will achieve (don’t grovel, if it’s one thing I can’t stand it’s people grovelling). South Staffs MTC have managed to pull together a comical yet immensely stage seasoned team for their production, highlighted by the simply exceptional voice of Natasha Bennett Ince who shares the role of Lady of the Lake and probably should be vying for the same in the current touring professional production. All for one and one for all are a team of misfit Knights of the Round Table, Simon McGee as the proudly masculine (at least for most of the show) Sir Lancelot, Chris Dowen as the fiercely questioning Sir Gahald, Mike James as the fundamentally scared Sir Robin and Carl Cook, he of the ‘grand lapin en bois’ (that’s a large wooden rabbit to the uninitiated). Whether...

There is always room for the classics in the musical theatre genre and My Fair Lady (the musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion) is squarely in that bracket. Loved by many this can make it one of the more challenging productions to deliver successfully as it is known almost in minute detail by audiences but, BHMTC take that challenge head on. Stepping into the almost unfillable shoes of Julie Andrews and surpassing the performance of Audrey Hepburn in the movie (as this lady sings and well) is the scintillating Lucy Follows as Eliza Dolittle delivering all the intense characterisation required in a role on a transformational journey. Sharing the spotlight is the eloquent Tim Brown as ‘dialectician and grammarian’ Professor Henry Higgins, proud bachelor with a weak spot for this one woman. Cutting a fine figure as Colonel Hugh Pickering is John Leaman with all the traits of a privileged life in India and has one of my favourite lines in ‘Mr Brewster Budgeon please...

Never thought I’d ever have to consider the impact of ‘star names’ and their inclusion in the cast of professional musical theatre but, it appears that may have to be a consideration based on the poor attendance at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre for the current Spamalot tour. It’s true there isn’t a household name in the programme but, there is a team of dedicated and talented actors who do more than justice to the screwball comedy antics of this production, written by Eric Idle and based on the comedy classic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Bob Harms displays innate wit and charm as King Arthur, his ability to respond comically in any situation is second to none which allows him and Rhys Owen as Patsy to build a tightly knit on stage relationship. Johnathan Tweedie is intensely amusing as the rough, tough (yet ultimately nothing of the sort) Sir Lancelot amongst many other parts, I particularly enjoyed his portrayal of the enchanter Tim and his animated descri...

Having seen this show on a number of occasions during the tour, I can honestly say it is one of the most blatantly entertaining productions I've seen for some time. Some of this reasoning is down to the 80s feel and reminiscing about a bygone and yet totally memorable era for those of us of a certain age. However much is also down to an uber talented cast, an amazing soundtrack and some skillful direction and choreography by Nick Winston. Jon Robyns is outstanding as Robbie Hart, a talented singer, actor and musician and delivers a top rate performance as does Cassie Compton as unavailable love interest Julia, another stunning voice. Ray Quinn is dynamic and strangely sinister as Julia's intended, the aptly named Glen Gulia (the Julia Gulia gag is a classic and Ray's deadpan expression while asking why that is funny is a masterful piece of acting). Proving that great actors just keep performing is the irrepressible Ruth Madoc as Robbie's politically incorrect gr...