Musical Geek - Musical Theatre Reviews

I suspect that the enigma that is Bob Fosse spends a lot of time looking down from above on performances of productions with which he will be eternally linked, however he won't always be able to think to himself, 'that's exactly how I wanted it to be'. Ben Cole as Director/Choreographer, Ian Room as Musical Director and James Maddison as Assistant Musical Director will I am sure have made him (and John Kander/Fred Ebb) think exactly that as right from Adam Partridge's opening speech quoting murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery ,  the audience is entertained and enlightened with the seamier side of life in 1920's Chicago. This production is packed full of intense and incredible performances from both principals and ensemble cast, Claire Flavell's powerhouse Velma Kelly never reduces in intensity from the classic 'And All That Jazz' right through to my own personal favourite number 'Nowadays' and is matche...

Panto has hit Kinver with traditional exuberance as a gloriously entertaining team take the audience to Hardup Hall in the village of Stoney Broke for a night of song, dance and comedy shenanigans, created with some swagger by Sam Houlston (Director) and Nina Best (Musical Director). Emma Davies is a delightfully innocent Cinderella around which the story revolves, protected by Ray Howell as her upright father Baron Hardup until he mistakenly gets hitched to money-pursuing Cathy Moreton, an entertainingly comic performance as the Baroness. Sadly a consequence of this liaison are two further daughters, the grotesquely ugly yet stunningly hilarious Gertrude and Grizelda, barnstorming performances from Brian Ashmead-Siers and Claire Jackson who take advantage of Cinders and considerable vocal exchanges with an enthusiastic audience. Trying desperately to pursue Cinders despite her distinct lack of reciprocal feelings, Ricky Dowell is a completely engaging Buttons building a touching...

What is now a regular fund-raising effort for the Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge this is a special production in so many ways and a talented team that bring another pantomime to the stage at Stourbridge Town Hall. After Wizard of Oz and Cinderella this year audiences are treated to the classic Aladdin created and performed by an outlandishly talented team that could easily be gracing the stage at much bigger and prestigious venues. Will Phipps as Director, James Totney as Choreographer and Rob Murray as Musical Director have conjured up a piece of entertainment that has everything and cannot fail to send an audience home feeling exhilarated and full of cheer. Will and James not happy with roles as part of the creative team have also decided to perform as Wishee Washee and Aladdin, Will is a born comedian and audience pleaser, his ability to keep a scene moving and react to any eventuality is second to none, James is more of the character player and movement coordinator, his skil...

The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his journey from miserly old curmudgeon to enlightened lover of Christmas comes in many guises, this particular version with musical score by one of the great musical composers, Alan Menken is certainly gaining in popularity and takes full benefit of all the sentiments within Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Vitally important in any interpretation is casting of the Scrooge role, get this right and you will probably have a hit on your hands otherwise and despite the endeavours of the other performers, you could be looking at something as dead as Jacob Marley. Fortunately Stephen Duckham as Director has enlisted the services of Alistair Jolliffe in the lead role and the first glimpse of his characterisation on the opening night at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham makes the whole audience realise that this is going to be a truly impressive production. Scene after scene of Christmas Joy (delivered incredibly by Stage Manager, Thomas Jevons and his...

It’s always amazing the sheer volume of talent on the amateur musical theatre scene in the Midlands, I could be reviewing every night of the week and still not manage to see everything and it therefore comes down to taking a punt based on the shows I particularly like and anything from Stephen Sondheim is firmly at the top of the list. Leicester Theatre Group’s production of Sweeney Todd is finely tuned, incredibly performed and stunningly atmospheric, opening with a stage containing a solitary pie (probably filled with a little priest !) and culminating with a complete cast taking a rapturous curtain call, absolutely deserved across the board. George Pavey is an incredibly measured Todd, it isn’t about gratuitously accentuating the killing and the blood, it’s about calculating revenge and had he been able to dispense with the Judge at the first attempt it could have been a completely different story, suffice to say simply top class acting. Summer Garrett as Mrs Lovett matches her ...

It's not often you can say that there is a performance of cat-apultic proportions and it have a double meaning, so I have to take the opportunity to describe the Redditch Operatic Society production of Cats with just that word as it launches itself full throttle at an unsuspecting audience. Choreography by Paula Lacey is nothing short of incredible, not the largest stage, an extensive cast and yet at no point did any scene feel overcrowded, instead some visually stunning interpretations of T.S.Eliot’s poems. So to the performers about whom there is so much to extemporise as this is by no means your average musical, it needs something that bit greater in talent to deliver successfully. Whether it’s the sheer gymnastic athleticism of Jacob Finch as Mr Mistoffelees and Kirstie Boyden as The Rumpus Cat, the velvety vocals of Sophie Hill as Demeter and Laura Woodall in the iconic role of Grizabella or the pinpoint characterisation of John Reeves as Gus, Paul Mitchell as Rum Tum Tugg...

One can only guess at what was going through the genius brain of Mel Brooks whilst writing 'The Producers' that pushed him towards a story about trying to make a 'Broadway Flop' and abscond with the disguised profits from the whole escapade. Now almost twenty years after it first appeared on Broadway itself the storyline seems so clear and strangely entertaining but, it must have been a risk with that level of controversial subjectivity and irreverence, perhaps this means that theatre is indeed exempt in some ways from 'political correctness'. St Augustine's Musical Theatre Company bring their production of this musical to the stage at the Solihull Core Theatre with John Morrison as failed Broadway Producer, Max Bialystock an outstanding performance of pathos, comedy and more facial expression than you can shake a big stick at. Partnering with Richard Perks as meek accountant Leo Bloom, a skillful portrayal of a flawed character with plentiful dreams but, ...

When I’m stuck with a day that’s grey and lonely, I’m always hoping that the evening will bring something enriching and entertaining on whichever stage I happen to be in front of and on this occasion that goal was resoundingly achieved with Trinity MTC’s production of the immensely popular Annie at the Dormston Centre in Sedgley. An opening scene populated by some quite forthright and yet captivating young ladies, led by Freya Poulton in the title role is a sight to behold, it would be too easy to focus on age and the fact that Freya is probably a little too old for the part but, she has a silky smooth vocal and an immense acting talent as within seconds I’d forgotten her age and was engrossed in her characterisation, let’s be clear that acting younger than you are is difficult, occasionally embarrassing and rarely done as well as this young actress. Other orphans with a conversational role building that effective picture of isolation and yet being part of a team that is just findi...

Another theatre that has been turned-over to Argentina in the 1940s is the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, Leicestershire as their resident company present a vivid and vibrant production of Evita to an appreciative audience. Much credit must go to Choreographer, Lisa Marsh, filling the stage with evocative Latin American dance, complementing and bringing to life the music from Musical Director, Sarah Bright and the finely tuned direction of the action from Director, Nanette Goodman. This is definitely not a circus but, very much a show designed to not only entertain but, to inform and educate, lofty ideals that are absolutely achieved, I personally found myself experiencing many emotions from smiling to crying, sometimes both at the same time. Principal character actors are nothing short of excellent, Emma Clift as Eva delivering controlled and clear vocals and appearing likable even when she is taking personal advantage of people and situations, Ashley Bright as a totally engaging ...

Let's hear it for the CHAOS Tour, well it might not be a tour but, it probably could easily grace other venues and in (almost) the words of the song, it's being an incredible success at least that is my view based on this performance. Let's be clear that Evita needs some considerable on stage presence and craft to be successful and inspiring, something it absolutely should aspire to be and that doesn't come without some innate skill from the whole team behind the production and some hard graft in the rehearsal room. Steve Humpherson (Director), Richard Lathbury-Howell (Assistant Director/Choreographer) and Chris Handley (Musical Director) have created something both inspiring and successful if the response from the audience is anything to go by, a delightfully smouldering piece of musical theatre that tells the story of Eva Peron through all the good and bad of her life and the impact she has on those around her. Starring as Eva, Liz Compton powers her way through s...

In what is the 60th Anniversary of the original stage production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'The Sound of Music' it is I guess no surprise that many operatic/musical theatre companies have chosen this classic for their production in 2019. My latest viewing is currently running at Evesham Arts Centre and is the offering from Evesham Operatic and Dramatic Society transporting the audience back to those distressing days during the Nazi invasion of Austria but, made somehow tolerable by the engaging storyline and the musical elements we all know and love. Much I am sure to the chagrin of the adult cast, I have to say the Von Trapp Children (in this case Team A) are a group of little stars who light-up the stage both with individual character and team togetherness. I would normally give the prize for cuteness to whoever is playing youngest child Gretl and there is no doubt that Effie Howdle is an audience pleaser that evokes the appropriate reactions from the crowd but, sh...

Probably recognised as a Jukebox Musical based on the Elvis Presley Songbook and full to the brim with recognisable tunes although it is strange to think that the cast will not have been born at the point these songs were released. Whilst that may be the case it doesn't mean that a youth cast cannot deliver a really compelling and entertaining performance, something that WBOS Youth Theatre certainly do to an exemplary level. Audiences are treated to an interesting storyline with multiple interlinking relationships, at times one might even wonder who is in love with who which poses a further challenge to the actors, one they absolutely have the measure of and one shouldn't underestimate how difficult this could be during a performance. At the centre of the story is heart-throb roustabout Chad (we never find his surname) and played with some panache by Joe Simmons, who arrives in a dreary little town only to be the catalyst to turn it upside-down. Arriving at a honky-tonk (fo...

Whilst one of the most well known Musical Movies of the 1950s (1955 to be precise) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is surprisingly rarely performed as a stage production on either the professional or amateur circuits and I suspect this may be down to the scary volume of choreography involved, whilst there are some timeless songs such as 'Bless Your Beautiful Hide', 'Wonderful, Wonderful Day' and 'Spring, Spring, Spring' it is probably the dance routines that it is particularly remembered for and that may lead to it not being a regular choice. Fortunately for the audience at Solihull Core Theatre this challenge does not remotely concern Director/Choreographer, Robert Bateman or Assistant Choreographer, Ellen Tozer (who both appear in the production as well, a frightening level of commitment and talent) and leads to an action packed performance, filling the stage to almost overflowing. Leading the cast are Richard Bateman as Adam Pontipee, eldest of the seven ...

Seemingly incredibly popular for societies in the Midlands currently, Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'The Sound Of Music' in its 60th year is undoubtedly a classic of the musical theatre genre and allows performers of all ages to contribute to the overall production. One can always rely on Nottingham Operatic Society to 'pull out all the stops' and deliver a spectacle that will live on in the memory and Dave Partridge as Director/Choreographer and Morven Harrison as Musical Director have done exactly that at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Settling into my seat I can see a sizable orchestra which is always a good sign and the opening 'Preludium' proves the power that such a group of musicians can create, then joined by a plentiful array of nuns, led by Kate Taylor as an exceptionally voiced Mother Abbess, burst forth with Latin Chants that really engage the audience attention. Abby Wells is a lively, energetic, bordering on feisty Maria Rainer, full of emoti...

Before settling down to watch this production I noticed a quote from Chris Passey one of the Creative Team (a guy with more passion than a passion fruit !) suggesting that there had been only three hours rehearsal per week, yet over a period of a year to create what we were about to see, how can anything with such a protracted rehearsal period and such an extensive gap between those rehearsals really deliver is my immediate thought as the lights fade and Chris (who is MD amongst many other roles) displays even more of that passion and fervently strikes up the band. Took all of about thirty seconds for those thoughts to fade and an overwhelming sense of 'this is going to be something to remember' to engulf me as the choreography in the opening scene from the other member of this dynamic production duo, Attiye Partridge, graphically creates a picture that starts to tell a story that is probably very familiar to most fans of the musical theatre genre. From the moment Max Eade ...

I'm always amazed at the standard of productions in some of the smallest provincial venues, one really doesn't have to hit the West End of London to see really great Musical Theatre. Instead you should look at the Norbury Theatre in Droitwich and their current production of Annie, probably one of the most authentic and well performed versions of this story that I've ever seen (and I have seen a lot !) a credit to the direction of Melanie Brown who has created a really warm and engaging night of entertainment for any audience. Let's be clear from the start that Bertie playing the part of Sandy the Dog is a flagrant show stealer, despite only infrequent appearances on stage he captures the heart of everybody and strangely is very comfortable on stage unlike most pooches. Even the girls playing the orphans can't quite achieve his level of lovable, although it is fair to say that Tallula Rose Eglesfield as Molly had a really good go and her cohorts on stage from Team ...

Currently a highly popular choice with societies in the Midlands, the Rodgers & Hammerstein standard ‘The Sound Of Music’ is the current production for TADLOP (Telford And District Light Operatic Players) at The Place in Oakengates. Fiona Hunter as Director uses the full extent of the venue to provide an immersive experience for the audience with the aisles of the auditorium occupied on a regular basis with anything from Nuns to Nazi Soldiers and this adds to the atmosphere and supplements a relatively light touch set using a video wall to provide the core of the background. Adele Clarkson literally owns the stage as Maria, a performance and voice of stratospheric proportions that is the glue which holds this production together alongside the imposing figure of Adam Wheeler as Captain Von Trapp, a measured and definitive performance of a character trying desperately to hide his emotions. Team ‘Re’ rather than ‘Do’ or ‘Mi’ are the Von Trapp Children for this performance and are ...

Another outing for the much performed Lionel Bart classic Oliver!, this time on the stage at Stourbridge Town Hall and in the hands of David Shaw (Director), George Stuart (Musical Director) and Amy Williams (Choreographer) from Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society and frankly a remarkable set of hands they are, creating a production that fills the stage with audience enriching enjoyment from beginning to end. Since the title role is part of the youth section of the cast, let me mention them first and Harrison Eno as a charming and appropriately sensitive Oliver Twist with a natural yet thoroughly able voice, George Blower creating an effervescent persona as the Artful Dodger, William Shillingford as one of the leading lights of this thieves kitchen, Charlie Bates, complemented by an enthusiastic youth ensemble taking on various roles throughout the production. It is Terry Gormley’s delightfully bumbling Dr Grimwig who suggests there are only two types of boys, mealy faced or beef ...

One of the classics of musical theatre but, what makes this version from Peterbrook Players, currently running at the Core Theatre, Solihull, a little different are the regular date stamped updates of exactly what happened during that period in history when Austria was pretty much consumed by the advancing Nazi Machine, an horrific time for all concerned I am sure. I was unable to find in the programme the name of the person portraying Chancellor Hitler during these short interludes but, credit to them for a scarily authentic presence. Fortunately despite this backdrop the story of the Von Trapp Family is a much more compelling and engaging one performed by a talented cast, led by Iona Cameron as a bubbly and energetic Maria and Thom Stafford as a quietly confident Captain Von Trapp. There is something special about the relationship they have on stage that seems to spark during the 'Something Good' number that brought a tear to my (one of happiness I might add) and following ...

Having seen more than my fair share of staged versions of Sister Act, I naively thought that there wouldn’t be anything really different that could be presented to me, how wrong was I on that front ? Evesham’s Phoenix Theatre Group have a diverse age range highlighted forthrightly by Curtis (played with brooding menace by Dan Hampshire) and his team of perhaps not particularly intimidating but, incredibly entertaining gangsters. Leading this trio a terrific performance from Craig Hopkins as TJ supported by Hugo Malan as Joey, Max Barclay as Pablo and Dominic Hampshire as Ernie, these guys have the audience in the palm of their hands and elicit laughter and applause with almost every move. Jessica Dixon is a vocally robust Deloris Van Cartier capturing all of the diverse traits of the character from confidence to vulnerability, finding herself hidden in a convent and having to make the best of it, much to the annoyance of the Mother Superior (a powerful vocal and stage presence from...

Probably one of the least performed yet most powerful musicals from the stable of the great Leslie Bricusse, in collaboration with Frank Wildhorne, there is something totally absorbing about the story of Henry Jekyll and his attempt to rid the human psyche of its evil side, only to be taken over by his own dark persona in the form of Edward Hyde. Brierley Hill Musical Theatre Company under the continued excellent direction of Tye Harris have brought this story to the stage at the Civic Hall and delivered musical theatre at its best, led by a gargantuan performance from Alec White in the lead role, his performance in the scenes when the character lurches from Jekyll to Hyde in quick succession is quite frankly phenomenal and his singing is equally outstanding, not least of all his delivery of the instantly recognisable ‘This is the Moment’. When it comes to vocals, this production has more than its fair share of stunning singers in particular Niamh Slater as Jekyll’s fiancé Emma Car...

If there is a musical that has the fight for equality written all over it, Made in Dagenham has to be that musical which tells the story of the female workers at Ford Dagenham to be granted equal pay to their male colleagues and it’s only when you watch and take in exactly what happened that you realise quite what a different world we live in now. Jo Hargreaves provides a Herculean performance as Rita O’Grady thrust into the limelight as the provider of hope for her female coworkers as she fights with every fibre of her being to achieve the equilibrium they so deserve whilst trying to keep her marriage to husband Eddie (a touching performance from Andrew Sutton) on the rails. Fortunately Rita has a team of supportive ladies at her workplace to keep her motivated in the form of the rather foul mouthed but, well meaning Beryl (a thoroughly entertaining performance from Rachel Philpott), the attractive Sandra Beaumont (a vocally outstanding portrayal from Millie Coles), the somewhat f...

When it comes to a long standing, respected and well loved story like The Wizard of Oz it can be tempting to make subtle changes in order to make a production individual, in this case though West Bromwich Operatic Society have chosen to take a very traditional approach, enhanced only with some inclusive video footage to link scenes together and I can honestly say the performance was a delight to watch and had me drifting back to the 1939 Movie (is it really that long ago). Jessica Harrison is an enchanting and vocally captivating Dorothy Gale providing that consistent link as the story progresses, joined initially by Alex Woolliscroft as a physically dexterous Hunk/Scarecrow, then by Elliott Mann as a vocally outstanding Hickory/Tin Man and finally by Andy Foggin as a highly entertaining Zeke/Cowardly Lion. As a team these four work exceptionally well and engage the audience continually with the story, the songs and (certainly in the case of the Cowardly Lion) their antics. When it...

It's almost as if the jazz-age setting of Kander & Ebb's Chicago was made for the unusual confines of the stage at the Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham, they regularly manage to fit shows into an unusually structured acting space and this one works exquisitely as the audience almost become part of the action. Entering to Joash Musundi's announcer/narrator role, every audience member is left in no doubt that they must turn everything (literally) off and keep their drinks to their own side of the table, anything creeping to the acting side is likely to be consumed without question. Cassie Wooldridge is a defiant, sultry and totally engaging Roxie Hart, perhaps a little more intense than the character is regularly played but, that only makes her more engaging and leaves one wondering whether to love her, hate her or perhaps equal mixtures of both. Conversely Alanna Boden's powerful and intoxicating Velma Kelly leaves no doubt as to what she wants (or expects...

I class myself as a bit of a Stephen Sondheim aficionado and it is therefore always exciting to see an interpretation of his works, couple that with a deep array of talent that I have seen before with previous productions from Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Society Youth Section and that heightens the thrill to much greater proportions. Todd is a complex character who could very easily be seen as just inherently evil, hell bent on revenge no matter what the cost but, in reality he wants his life back and to recreate his family relationships, had he realised that the half crazed beggar woman was his wife Lucy the story would have been completely different and probably considerably less engaging. Thus it is as much about the acting talent of the person portraying him as anything else and James Bastable takes the role and makes it completely his own with an epic stage performance only enriched by his powerful vocal. Darcie Edwards is another stage talent that has to be experienced to be ...

It's fair to say that this production of the classic West Side Story could easily lead you to believe that you've stumbled into a West End Theatre of the future and you are witnessing some of the stars of the day entertain the masses as they always hoped they would. However in reality you’re at one of the best provincial theatres in the UK, the Birmingham Hippodrome, experiencing the pick of local youth talent deliver a quite exceptional performance that would be worthy of any West End Stage. What is even more astounding is the sheer creative artistry and stagecraft on display, both leads Alex Cook (Tony) and Kamilla Fernandes (Maria) are so young yet display the skill of seasoned professionals, in an industry in which it is notoriously difficult to 'make it' one cannot just be a singer, dancer or actor, one has to be all three and these two are exactly that, one can only speculate what standards they will achieve when they complete their respective Musical Theatre qu...

It's always a little more of a challenge to review a production you've never seen before, so have little to go on or comparison to make and this couldn't be more true of Soho Cinders, written by the decidedly well known George Stiles and Anthony Drewe but, still relatively rarely performed with this being the Midlands Premiere by TFTR Productions. Loosely based on the Cinderella Story, I guess one could say this is an unusual, possibly daring retelling of a classic fairytale, performed with vigour by a talented cast, gloriously orchestrated for the first time in the role of Director/Choreographer by Gaynor Whitehouse, ably assisted by Jez Luckins as Assistant Director and Chris Corcoran as Musical Director. At the centre of this colourful piece of Musical Theatre is Robbie a young, gay guy running a launderette that he's about to lose due to his now deceased mother not having made a will and played with naive charm and a quietly powerful vocal by Joshua Hawkins. He ...

So let's kick this one off with the obligatory caveat that the performance I am reviewing was the Final Dress Rehearsal and therefore not the absolutely complete item and performed to an almost empty theatre, still some minor tweaks to be made and if I am honest there is the opportunity for this cast to 'blow the roof' off the venue. Had a brief chat with Chris Psaras, part of the Creative Team behind this production and I detected that the scale of the job might have been underestimated, after all this is a Rock Musical based in the 1980s about to hit the stage in the hands of performers, none of whom would have been born at the time these songs were hits and might even wonder who Starship, Twisted Sister or Foreigner are, let alone their status in the history of Rock Music. However Chris, Sally Evans, Jo Greswell and Martin Francis need not worry as my belief is that audiences will have 'nothing but, a good time' experiencing this one and it will likely live lon...

Stephen Schwartz's Godpsell is probably one of the most adaptable musicals available for performance, as long as the story (primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew) remains intact, the opportunities are limitless, it is therefore strange that it probably doesn't get the interest and performance time it probably should. MYTS under the skilled direction of Hannah Morris have taken up that gauntlet and brought a bright, vibrant and engaging production to the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, enhanced by some innovative musicality from Laura Foxcroft and inventive choreography from Kevin LaMey, all the more exceptional considering the size of the cast and the sheer volume of brightly clad and energetic performers on stage for some of the numbers. Leading the performers as a commanding Jesus is Greg Wood, delivering a measured performance and always in control of the storytelling, complemented by a more exuberant portrayal of Judas Iscariot by Charlie Allen Smith, eating up the stage...

Footloose is very much a story of struggle, whether it's Reverend Shaw Moore's struggle to come to terms with his son's death, Willard Hewitt's struggle to take his relationship with girlfriend Rusty to the next level or any of the other intertwined storylines. As an audience there are complex patterns to understand and it takes some very clear direction to the cast in order to create a performance that delivers those stories in an entertaining way, it is without doubt that Rachel Davies as Director/Choreographer and George Stuart as Musical Director have managed to achieve this with some style. However without a stellar cast it wouldn't be possible to supply the outstanding performance that this was, a stage almost groaning under the weight of youth talent has the audience in the palm of their hands from the opening notes of the overture. Leading this stunning array of performers are Joe Simmons as Ren McCormack and Sami Brasenell as Ariel Moore who supply fran...

Strangely the hot and oppressive auditorium at the Colton Hills Community School Theatre added something to this performance of Kander & Ebb's, Chicago from Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company as the atmosphere felt even more like that of a club, complemented by James Maddison's quartet of musicians, who despite being small in number filled the room with those jazz sounds. Some considerable recognition must go to Director/Choreographer, Kimmy Corsellis and her assistant Denny Robinson, as the dance shoes of the great Bob Fosse, who will forever be linked with this musical are big ones to fill but, fill them they did with an abundance of dance numbers in the style of the man himself and performed by an outstandingly talented cast. Pascale Mellor is a vivacious and stage commanding Velma Kelly alongside Harriet Hommers as a sultry and stunningly characterful Roxie Hart, despite the fact that both characters are dripping in unlikable traits, one cannot help but, be engros...

It's a little known fact that George Bernard Shaw didn't want Pygmalion to be made into a musical or that Rodgers & Hammerstein had a crack at the job before Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe finally created the classic we all know and love. What makes this version from Norbury Players, currently running at the Norbury Theatre in Droitwich, memorable in its own right are some epic performances, not least of all from Beth Smith as Eliza Doolittle who creates a flawless character and combines it with an outstanding singing voice. Andrew Bartlett is a creative and animated Professor Henry Higgins, genuinely finding it hard to relinquish a relationship/friendship with Eliza that he never expected to develop and Andy Brown's distinctly military and upper class Colonel Pickering is the perfect foil for both of the lead characters, acting in some ways as a referee to their initially opposing views and approaches. Tam Weir's thoroughly entertaining Alfred P. Doolittle ...

Recently revived on Broadway with The Divine Miss M (Bette Midler) in the leading role, Hello Dolly! is currently running at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, presented by Walsall Operatic Society and with an equally divine and intoxicating Vicki Hardy as Dolly Gallagher Levi meddling matchmaker amongst many other talents. Whilst her success in matchmaking is prolific, her attempts to find a match for 'half a millionaire' Horace Vandergelder, an imposing and authoritative performance from Craig Smith, seem to singularly fail, perhaps because she has eyes for him herself. Her latest attempt at matching Mr Vandergelder is with millinery shop owner Irene Molloy, a charming and beautifully voiced portrayal from Lizzie Buckingham who finds herself more attracted to Vandergelder's chief clerk Cornelius Hackl, played with great self-assurance and stage presence by Adam Gregory who has skipped work and Yonkers to spend a day in New York with fellow clerk Barnaby Tucker, an athle...