London Theatre Bookings

Ghost - The Musical Wed 6th july 2011

2011-07-11T04:01:00.000-07:00

The west end seems to be filling up nicely with movie to stage adaptations, be it with, Shrek, Priscilla, Legally Blonde, Billy Elliot, Lion King and more. So it looks like a natural transition to take another new pop at a Hollywood blockbuster. And it comes in the form of Ghost. We were invited to go along and see it for ourselves. And what a show it was.

Sticking top the entirety of the original plot and structure we see Mollie (Caissie Levy) and Sam (Richard Fleeshman) make there way seamlessly through an outstanding production. We know the story we know how it ends, but some how the creative team were able to take us into a realm of the unknown and provide us with a fresh new look. On a timeless piece.

Walking into the Piccadilly its clear the theatre has had a new lease of life no more bright pink front of house. But more of a subdued royal Blue. There was a real Buzz in the auditorium as the production started, everyone was anxious to see the iconic scenes and hear that one song. “oh, my love. My darling…iv hungered for your touch” it did rear its head on a few occasions during the evening. As the audience gasped.

Caissie Levy of Wicked, Hair, and Hairspray fame comes from Broadway a spectacular actress, living the role step by step and flawlessly providing a vocal that is next to none. Her character is spot on and vastly different from anything iv seen her do before. A true genius. She held up what is a very emotive piece. She cries a lot she belts and she just remained wonderful. A true professional at her craft. Worth seeing just to see miss Levy at work. Richard Fleeshman whom at first I was a bit dubious about playing a role famed from the late Patrick Swayze, well I couldn’t have been more wrong, Richard played the masculine Muscle hero of Sam to perfection. He seemed to have grown up a far way and he sounded amazing. By far the best leading couple in a musical I have witnessed in a while. Sharon D Clarke makes a comedic Oda Mae Brown stealing any laughter the house has to offer and breaking the tension of the plot while still fitting into a masterpiece. The ensemble did a fantastic job with what the had to work with, choreography being clumpy and more “movement” than dance but for the nature of the show and the setting it works. It shows the rush of NYC and the disconnected nature of the plot. The set was outstanding, sets in the west end are just out-doing the previous opening show. To have a fully automated projectable lcd set was fabulous. It really brought a new and fresh feeling to seeing a show. By far the best part of the night was the original songs which were fabulous. And the illusions. People disappear fly walk through doors hover levitate cans disappear people appear, then reaper and go on there way. It really is a circus to behold. The illusions make the audience gasp with wonder and applaud with praise. It really is a wonder to be seen, so pop along to the Piccadilly this summer and . Believe. keep track of goings on in the west end with joining us on facebook.

Lend Me A Tenor 13th June 2011

2011-06-14T04:52:00.000-07:00

On a wet Monday evening we pondered over to the Gielgud Theatre to enjoy the delights of “Lend me a tenor” and we were not disappointed.

The Gielgud has a strange feeling when your in there as to get to the stalls you decent about 4 flights of stairs each one turning in a different direction, so one is not aware of where you are, this feels like a strange transformation, like your being transported to another world (the theatre world)

Its Opens with Splendour, gusto, and bravura with its high energy operatic feeling score. The audience where overwhelmed with the opening number reaching musical highs of “masquerade” and ”do you hear the people sing” the kind of song that fills your bones and makes you shake. Casting was stupendous, perfect role filling and fabulous performances from all. Matthew Kelly as Henry Saunders while slightly over acting at first found his place on set and it was a joy to watch him, flouncing around. Tights and all. Micheal Matus was every inch the Italian tenor, who takes a turn for the worse. But alas delivered a very worth while performance. Arriving on scene was the marvellous “Joanna Riding” her stage presence captures you and her very morticia Addams look (minus all the black) she was dressed in FUCIA. With a killer black wig on, she looked every part the Italian diva wife. Going on to bring the house down on more than one occasion. Sophie-Louise Dann came to her own in the 2^nd Act where she could show her opera chops off. She sang through every popular aria in the most comic way. Reaching heights of soprano-ness that you think the 2 chandeliers above will crack. Fabulous. And Miss CJ Jenson, coming from roles like (standby) Elphaba in Wicked and Kate Monster ave Q, she is keeping type casting to a minimum as this foxy lovable sweet sounding young Maggie Saunders, she floats thought the show with great presence and fantastic placement. Leading up the cast was the spectacular Damien Humbley. You can really only sum the man up in one word WOW! His performance was top notch and really deserved every whoop cheer and the full standing ovation he received.

The Ensemble held up very well, the sound that came from them was amazing, very hearty full sounding and they looked like they were having such a good time on stage. Which always make the audience feel at ease, when the performers appear to be having such a hoot as the rest of the house. A special mention must go to the fantastical Set. Wow its been a while since such a set has graced a stage in the west end that actually gets a "awwwww" and a clap as the curtain raises. It moved it changed it morphed and it set the scene many times over. Looked fresh and fabulous in its lovely shade of lavender and gold. It was really a spectacle to see the set at work. And brought life to the show also. If you like the producers and acorn antiques then this show definitely is one for you. Its light hearted farce comedy that hits the spot and makes you laugh till you almost cant laugh no more. Deaths, breakups cheating and high opera all come into play. But well worth a night out at a fabulous theatre with a new ORIGINAL production set to take the summer by storm. Grazie per la lettura

Shrek: The Musical 19th May 2011

2011-05-20T02:56:00.000-07:00

Once Upon a time….we were thrown into the newly Green Drury Lane, to experience a Broadway transfer. A long awaited adaptation of Pixar’s Shrek: The Musical. And that we were we were truly whizzed to Duloc where our beloved fairytale creature are “freaks” and men are, well, little. Walking into the Drury Lane you cant help but feel immersed in its theatrical history . one of my favourite west end houses, it just feels magic in that theatre. And Huge. Well the audience filled up and the murmuring begun. Every one seemed so excited to catch a glimpse of our 20^th century Ogre. The Overture Begins.

The sound was slightly canned as the orchestra seemed very quite but into the Overture the sound board seemed to rectify this. So the scene is set a huge bookcase drops. Illuminated with 80`s florescent colours. As the door creeks open out pops young Shrek along with mama and papa Shrek. A huge aw and the show begins on a strong smelly Ogre foot.

Having seem the Broadway theatres production n New York bout 2 years ago, I went in having to wipe the slate clean knowing changes had been made. But when you’ve seen Sutton Foster and Brian D`arcy James, you cant help but cross your fingers and hope this west end cast holds up the good name and sound of which has come before it. And on the most part it did. “Bear” in mind (ha bear in mind, yeah) were still in Previews. It was a thoroughly satisfying production.

There was a stand out Performance from the amazing Nigel Harman, on his knees the entire performance lord farquad has been brought to life with impeccable comic timing and a rapturous applause every time he walked on stage left the stage and spoke a word, the audience Loved him. Mr Nigel Lindsay played Shrek very well, quite reserved but all in all a nice loveable onion layered Ogre. Richard Blackwood as the Donkey was up and down in my opinion, stronger in areas than others, but again he played it competently. Now miss Holden, as much as I was reserved in this casting, she proved me wrong in many ways, she acted great through and her timing was on point, vocally not as strong as one would like on a west end stage but for what she has she used it well, she kept up with the character of Fiona in some scenes she appeared stronger and confident than in others, but in all she was justified and a great performance. One of the best performances of the evening was from the Dragon, WoW landi oshinowo was amazing such a powerful voice and a great presence for the Dragon (of which I will not spoil, what happens during Act2) but one of the highlights of the show!

The Ensemble proved to be the backbone of the entire production. Giving us references from 42nd street (rat tap), rent (donkey Shrek song) les mis (freak flag) phantom, wicked (lord farquad) dream girls (dragon) and Ragtime. These parts where the audience realised got huge cheers. But the ensemble can hold their head high as one of the strongest in the west end, and within them looks like there will be a few really fabulous Understudies.

Costumes were truly fabulous some great hardship has went into creating such sparkly and lively costumes, the set on the other hand was quite underwhelming. I imagined the drum revolve would come into play like the broadways version and like in Lord Of The Rings, but possibly they have since removed this feature. Some really good set pieces like the bridge ect, but on the most part it was all flats, and looked very pantomime set. Alas the production as a whole by opening im sure will be great. It has a few more weeks to preview and sort glitches and the rest. Its well worth a visit. And well worth the experience. A fab night out for all the family.

Frankenstein 26th+29th April 2011

2011-05-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

on first thought when you hear a play called Frankenstein many a thought passes through your mind "he`s alive, alive i tell you" and a weird looking creature all the mod cons of current movies and fictional base. But my oh my were we wrong. The National took this idea and ran with it, ran to Geneva, Oxford, and northern Scotland, that’s where scenes took us in the 2 hour spectacle. never would i imagine the idea to work, but. i was proved wrong, you walk into the famous Olivier theatre with its hexagonal stage and suddenly your hit with a vast atmosphere and clever red lighting. suddenly making you feel on edge. a bare stage lay before a confused audience on on the revolve stood a contraption that bore the unborn Frankie. with Bells ringing people taking and a eerie soundtrack getting louder by the second it fades, house Lights Dim, and the house goes dark. out comes the naked Benedict Cumberbatch. and if you thought you felt awkward before. now is the time, when your faced with a supreme actor in his form (literally). the make up and prosthetics used was stunning adding to the performance which is award worthy. lets hope, mr, C gets recognition for a well played sympathetic monster, Jonny Le Millers Doctor was as strong captivating and slightly mad. in all both leading men took us out of reality with ease and transported us to the place where dreams are made. The set was out of this world, turning, lifting, dropping, going on fire, snowing. A spectacle to behold. The ensemble performance was as strong holding together a tight piece. with no interval one doesn’t think of it during the performance, as your so captivating. heres hoping for a transfer or another chance to see this show in action. perhaps a dvd of the recoded show (that was broadcast live in cinemas) its not to be missed.

Billy Elliot: The Musical 5th May 11

2011-05-11T02:48:00.000-07:00

taking a trip up to the North East Of England in the Middle of London’s Victoria, is what has occurred. we popped into see Billy Elliot on Thursday of last week, and after seeing it 5 times a sixth showing was much needed, to see how the shows is fairing in a west end that is becoming more sparkly by the month, what with Oz Betty and Shrek creeping in. for a show that’s been thrilling audiences for 6 years, its looking in incredibly great shape, the house was nicely filled for a Thurs eve and after a warm up the audience began to really come alive. in terms of performance the Billy holding his very own upon a west end stage was little, Josh Baker - so young and so talented, the boy pirouetted fuete`d and tendu`d his way to a standing ovation, much deserved. the audience were on their feet by the end of Act1 for his supreme talent. the little boy actor who played Michael was in a league of his own making the audience howl, Connor Kelly at age 11, tapped and sang beautifully both boys are promising talent in years to come. the girls ensemble were en Pointe (literally). very strong. the dream sequence with Billy and his older self undertone`d with Swan Lakes swan theme (song of the swans) was chilling, and one of the best heart wrenching moments of the show. holding up the fort was Stevie Hutchinson who was on for "Tony" wow. he made the part so real, and stood out impeccably from the curtain raising till the drop. in total the show looks fabulous, and from what was seen the other evening looks like its not going anywhere, and good. another fabulously British show, teaching and educating and treating audiences to a fab night at the Theatre.