Musical Geek - Musical Theatre Reviews

It’s rare that what is probably one of the quintessential musicals is ever produced using anything other than the standard style and format and I guess it remains to be seen whether this colourful, dynamic and above all different interpretation is remembered for its differences, however it certainly should be as it sparkles in the open-air environment of the Kilworth House Theatre. Director & Choreographer Andrew Wright has reinvented the story from the Book of Genesis interlinking the traditional biblical piece with a more modern story of Joseph rejected as a child by his friends (rather than his brothers) simply for being different which addresses some wider modern life concerns. Matthew Jeans is a vibrant and confident Joseph, shadowed by (on this occasion) Isaac Williams from the Red Team of youngsters as Young Joseph, touching and engaging moments when the two lock eyes to sing some short duets at poignant moments throughout the performance. Shanay Holmes Steward is an e...

Probably the least likely venue for this rather revealing musical, the intimate surroundings of the Old Joint Stock Theatre with the audience in close proximity must have been a slightly unnerving prospect for the male cast of the Full Monty Musical. However some inventive directing and choreography from Adam and Pippa Lacey allows action almost inches from the public to feel like a much larger and more expansive arena and a set consisting of just a small amount of scaffolding is transformed into a multitude of locations. Alex Wadham’s confident Jerry and Oliver Britten’s almost broken Dave build a deeply empathetic relationship at the centre of this story about deflated, out of work steelworkers in Buffalo, New York. Jerry’s idea to stage a male strip show purely to meet the maintenance demands of his ex wife is greeted initially with laughter and derision but, is ultimately destined for success as they build their team soon to be known as Hot Metal who will provide ‘the goods’ and ...