Musical Geek - Musical Theatre Reviews

In the words of the song 'Friendship' this is just a perfect 'blendship' of a production from The Tab Operatic Society as an interesting combination of saints and sinners board the SS America bound for the UK. Much credit is due to those not out front, direction from Andy Poulton, choreography from Helen Kendrick, stage management from Lisa Bird (I did think the sliding doors revealing the cabins might be your nemesis but, you kept them under amazing control) and the on stage presence of the nattily dressed Nick Jeavons and his Ship's Orchestra making this Cole Porter classic everything it should be. Sinner No.1 (it's not Moonface Martin, he just thinks he's a sinner!) is evangelist turned nightclub singer, Reno Sweeney and I marvel at why the West End Production felt the need to import Sutton Foster from the US, it can only be that Fleur Petford wasn't available to take her stunning triple threat of singing, dancing and acting to The Barbican and the au...

If you somehow managed to stumble into Central Park, New York and find the residence of the spooky Addams Family, your imagination is obviously something special (much to the disappointment of many, they aren't real) but, you don't have to go that far at the moment, just head down to The Rose Theatre in Kidderminster and you'll find them in residence at least for the next few days. I think it was the great W.C.Fields who said 'never act with children or animals' and I fear he was right as Harrison Bianco steals this performance as young Pugsley Addams, a stage presence that forces the whole cast to raise their game. As for animals, well Josh Dibble could be described as 'a bit of an animal' as the exuberant Uncle Fester, not only does he fall in love with the moon but, he's not averse to an ad-lib or two and abounds with energy, much to the joy of a packed house. Bringing some cool, calm, collected assurance to the story (with a glint in his eye and a se...