The upcoming arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar has an impressive if slightly unusual cast. Melanie C, the former Spice Girl will take the lead role as Mary Magdalene, Radio One DJ Chris Moyles, in his musical debut, will play King Herod and comedian Tim Minchin will play Judas Iscariot. Minchin is also known for composing ‘Matilda The Musical’.
The tour is to celebrate 40 years of the musical since it first opened at the Palace Theatre in the West End. The story around Jesus Christ Superstar is based on the last days of his life. The show includes well known songs such as ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’, Everything’s Alright’ and, of course, ‘Superstar’. The show will play eight dates in the UK and the tour starts at the O2 Arena in London on September 21st.
The only leading cast member missing is Jesus himself. Who will play this demanding role on stage will be decided on an ITV talent show in the same form as ‘Over The Rainbow’ and ‘I’d do Anything’ when leading cast members were found for the musicals The Wizard of Oz and Oliver.
The judging panel on the show, ‘Superstar’, will consist of Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, Melanie C and Jason Donovan who is definitely no stranger to musicals himself. He was the star of ‘Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and also ‘Priscilla Queen of The Desert The Musical’.
Tags: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar, musicals on tour
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Billy Elliot-The Musical is extending its run until December 2013 and a twelve-year-old boy from Nottinghamshire will become the 30th boy to take the lead role since the show started in the West End in 2005. Harrison Dowzell will join Ryan Collinson, Adam Vesperman, Harris Beattie and Kaine Ward who will all take turns at playing the title role.
Dowzell says he is really excited about playing the part of the boy from a Northern mining town who pursues his dream of becoming a ballet dancer. Although nervous at first, Dowzell says he has fitted in well and now feels like he has been there for months.
There will be an extra 640,000 tickets available because of this extended run. The show also stars Gillian Bevan, Deka Walmsley, Michael Peavoy and Ann Emery as the Grandma. She was actually the original Grandma seven years ago when Billy Elliot-The Musical first opened at the Victoria Palace.
Billy Elliot-The Musical is based on the film Billy Elliot which received an Oscar nomination. The show was brought to the stage seven years ago by the film’s writer and director, Lee Hall and Stephen Daldry. The music for the show was written by the Elton John.
Because Billy Elliot-The Musical is part of the ‘Get Into London Theatre summer 2012’, cut price tickets are being offered for the period of 21st June until 7th September but you only have until 31st May to book these so if you want to see this great show, you need to move fast.
Tags: Billy Elliot extends West End run, Billy Elliot the musical, west end musicals
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Absent Friends is about bereavement, which in itself may be a strange subject for a comedy, but as Alan Ayckbourn has acknowledged himself, it is also about the death throes of love. It is at times cringingly embarrassing to watch as the characters stumble through that emotional battleground we call love. It is also hilariously funny.
The play is set in the suburban house inhabited by Paul, played by Steffan Rhodri and his wife Diana, played by Katherine Parkinson. Diana knows all about her husband’s philandering ways and is suffering her own bereavement over the state of her lifeless marriage, literally crying out in grief for it.
The action is set around a tea party for Colin who is an old friend of the couple. Friends have gathered at Paul and Diana’s house to comfort Colin who has just lost his fiancée in a drowning accident. They await his arrival with a mixture of dread and discomfort because it soon becomes clear that they don’t really like him anyway and have no idea what to say to him.
When Colin, played wonderfully by Reece Shearsmith, does arrive he turns out to be stoically cheerful, happy that he found love, even for such a fleeting moment in time. As he waxes lyrical about his wonderful fiancée and browses through the photo albums which he has brought along, he is totally oblivious to the devastation around him.
People’s marriages, and their lives, are literally falling apart as Colin carries on spouting off regardless forcing the other couples to take stock of what is actually happening in their lives. There are some wonderfully funny moments but it is painful to watch at the same time. Thoroughly enjoyable but thought provoking too in a strange way
Tags: Absent Friends, Alan Ayckbourn, new plays
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Tyne Daly, who some of you may remember from the popular television show of yesteryear, Cagney and Lacey, certainly steals the show in Terence McNally’s play, Master Class. She plays Maria Callas in her twilight years, after Onassis had left her for one Jackie Kennedy and her voice had all but gone.
It is a hugely entertaining play, sometimes sad, a lot of the time funny and full of clichés but for a great night at the theatre you can’t go far wrong with this play. Daly treats the stage as her own and has the audience in the palm of her hands. Although this may be out of fear of her cruel taunts which she uses with devastating effect on her two students, played by Dianne Pinkerton and Naomi O’Connell.
Indeed, Daly’s Callas, La Divina herself, often comes across as a bully but you can also sense her vulnerability as she copes with the march of time. She knows she is past her prime and takes this out on her students because she knows they have a whole future before them and she has…well, only her glorious past.
The play is set in the opera classes that Maria Callas gave to up and coming opera singers in New York at the Juilliard School. By all accounts these classes were not nearly as entertaining as this play makes them out to be. Daly gives Callas the full diva treatment and treats students and stagehands alike.
Garrett Sorenson plays the slightly overweight but cocksure tenor and does a grand job of playing off Tyne Daly. He seems to be the only one who has a calming effect on the nit-picking legend. This Stephen Wadsworth production is well worth the time and the effort if you fancy a thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre.
Tags: 'Master Class', new plays, Tyne Daly
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Soul Sister is something of a tribute act to Tina Turner, but in many ways it is also a biography. This is going to be something that is very enjoyable for Tina Turner fans, and it is unlikely that they will mind the fact that it is not her appearing on stage, but an actor.
Turner is played by Emi Wokama and her version of Tina Turner is much more than passable. She has the moves, and the look, and with the assistance of some sound engineering, she definitely comes close to replicating Tina Turner’s voice.
The real achievement of Wokama in this production is the way that she shows the development of Tina Turner, from a young smalltown girl, to the music superstar that she becomes. It is interesting to see how her voice gets rougher as the play progresses, her heels get higher and skirts get shorter.
The first act of the play concludes with the famous song River Deep Mountain High, which was the first major hit of Tina Turner and largely led to her breakthrough. One act two opens, the audience will know that they are going to be hearing songs that are very familiar to them from then on. After this very successful musical release, Tina Turner released such hits as Proud Mary and Simply The Best.
This production is based on the biography of Tina Turner by Pete Brooks and John Miller. This is a good book which is best when the small details are ignored, and this is something that the stage production does well. The character of Ike is played by Chris Timmings and the character is not as demonised as it was in the 1993 film about Tina Turner. Overall the storytelling and direction is excellent and this makes it a very enjoyable production
Tags: new plays, Soul Sister, Tina Turner play
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Part of the run-up to the London Olympic Games is the Shakespeare Festival which is an event which is seeing some of the most famous plays in the world being put on in a wide variety of languages. 37 shows are being included in this marathon event, and the first production has recently taken place in London.
The performance was put on in rather wet and cold weather, but despite this the cast did not seem at all affected by it. They were moving around the stage in their costumes which are hardly any protection from the warmth, without any indication that it affected them at all. They were not self-conscious in any way, despite their rather revealing costumes.
The audience found themselves completely absorbed by the production, being absolutely convinced that the actors on stage were not actors at all, but ancient warriors. This central plot of this production, Troilus, is about the stalemate that occurs during the siege of Troy. It also tells the story of Achilles, who has retired, and it is all very interesting.
The entire play however is in Maori, and without any sort of subtitles, this can make understanding the production a little difficult. There are certainly scenes when you have no idea what’s going on, unless you are very familiar with the play. There are scenes that drag on a long time but the reward you get for waiting through them is very worthwhile.
The event in all was very strange, however it did have a certain amount of magic to it which made it incredibly enjoyable. The anger and love which is such a key part of this story, are something that cannot be hidden behind language, and the audience will be able to understand this through the production.
Tags: Olympics events, Shakespeare, the Shakespeare Festival
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
In recent years a sequel to the Phantom of the Opera was released and it was called Love Never Dies. Unfortunately, the returns at the box office were very disappointing for the production and many people are going to be pleased to see that the original musical is going to start touring in the UK again.
The musical has been greatly reinvigorated by an incredible cast which involves John Owen Jones and Katie Hall. As well as the incredible cast, the set is wonderfully designed and is quite unlike anything that the production has ever seen before. Phantom of the Opera was first performed 25 years ago and many people would be delighted to see this exceptional production put on once again in celebration of this anniversary.
Katie Hall is a relative newcomer to the musical scene but she is still an incredible talent. She has recently been involved by playing the lead role in a tour of Les Miserables. She is known for her dedicated performances on the stage which really see her give her absolute all.
It is not just Hall who has completely thrown themselves into the role and John Owen Jones seems entirely involved in his character. He will have the audience wrapped up in the story with how emotionally invested he has become in the character. His performances so spectacular that many of the plot holes usually associated with Phantom of the Opera will become non-issues because the audience is so enthralled by his beautiful singing.
It is not just these two characters who are putting on exceptional performances and the entire cast shine through. The songs in the production were written in the 1980s, and it is remarkable that they have remained enjoyable up into the present day and a large amount is due to the excellent interpretation in this production.
Tags: John Owen Jones, Phantom of the Opera, Phantom of the Opera tour
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Dirty Dancing is one of the most classic musicals that has ever been on the West End. Despite all of its success it has never really moved off this location in central London to the rest of the country, but for the first time the production is going to be transferring to a location outside of the city. During May this year, the production is going to be heading to Milton Keynes, where it is going to be warmly welcomed by all of the local residents.
Johnny Castle is going to be played by Paul Michael Jones in the production. Many people think he is an excellent choice and is going to be able to live up to the famous dancing by Patrick Swayze in the original film which was released in 1987.
Mr Jones trained initially at Laine Theatre Arts, and graduated in 2007. So far he has been involved in several productions including Mamma Mia at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in London. He has also been involved in a national tour of Never Forget and has also played Jack in the famous production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
He has also appeared on television, regularly dancing on shows with such famous names as Paul O’Grady and Shirley Bassey. He has also competed for his country dancing including the ballroom dancing categories and Latin American dance. He competed at these events in Singapore and was rated as one of the top performers.
He is joined on stage by Emily Holt who is going to play Baby Houseman. She has also been involved in television through her role in The Pillars of The Earth, which she starred alongside Donald Sutherland in. She has also been involved in film productions including The Boat That Rocked. Working together these two stars are sure to put on an incredible performance.
Tags: Dirty Dancing, Dirty Dancing the musical, west end musicals
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
The Women of Troy is a new theatre production that only stars women and it has been based on the tragedy from ancient Greece, Euripides. The play is being put on at the Blue Elephant Threatre and this is a wise choice of venue as it is intimate and will bring the audience into the production. The whole play is dimly lit which really adds to the whole intimate atmosphere that has been developed for this production.
The story is relatively well known and it details the lives of the women who have been left behind after their husbands and fathers have been killed while fighting a war that was ultimately lost. Modern audiences will find themselves involved with the production as the idea of men dying at war is still a modern reality faced by many in society. For a play that is so old, it is quite remarkable how so many aspects of it can be brought forward and remain relevant today.
Normally when this production is put on the focus is typically on the men and the various efforts they have made in the war. In this production though the focus is on the women instead and is an enjoyable break away from the typical telling of the story.
The show is very stylised and this is a wise choice by director Ricky Duke as it deals with the lack of naturalism in the dialogue. From the very beginning of the production the stylised way of the play is evident.
The cries of the women at the start of the play set the scene in an effective and chilling way, Overall this is an excellent play and it has done well to remain relevant to the present day. The great direction by Duke and strong performances by all on stage, make this a production well worth seeing.
Tags: Blue Elephant Theatre, new plays, Women of Troy
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
Long Day’s Journey was written around fifteen years before the production was finally put on in 1956. It was written in the early 1940s and by the time the play had finally been shown, its author had already been dead for three years. Despite all of this the production is thought to be one of the greatest works by the writer, Eugene O’Neill, in fact, many regard it as his masterpiece.
The play is somewhat based on truth and follows the story of the actors family. James Tyrone is an actor who was once respected but after his career declines he turns to drinking too much alcohol to dull his pain. His wife also struggles with addiction issues, although her poison is morphine.
The play takes place over a single day and really looks deeply into the relationships of the different characters. As well as the relationship between the two characters mentioned above, the audience also gets an insight into the relationship that these parents have with their children, There children also have various problems and their son is also an actor although he has not come across any success.
This production is directed by Anthony Page who works well with the rest of his creative team which includes, Lez Brotherton, who has designed the set and the lighting director, Mark Henderson. The production has recently had its opening night and it is going to be showing at the Apollo until August this year.
Those who choose to come and see this piece of theatre will not be disappointed. It takes a play that is already fantastic and builds on it. It contains all of the elements that make a production great and the audience will leave the theatre feeling as if the play has been given new life by the cast
Tags: Apollo Theatre, Eugene O'Neill, Long day's Night
Posted in Plays | No Comments »
