"We eat Jam, and Ham, and SPAM!" - Spamalot, Playhouse Theatre, London 8.10.13

So having just seen Rock of Ages for the third time, I guess it was time to go and see Spamalot for the third time also! Not only because it was a special of 2 for 1 tickets on a Tuesday, but because The Warrick Davis was playing for only a limited time only Patsy! Then after I bought the tickets I found out that it would also be part of the last weeks of Jon Robyn's run as Sir Galahad! I was so thankful that he was playing that night, and I got a cuddle later on!

So again im not going to go through the whole story line of the show and the venue that can be found on my first review Here, however with the deal being 2 for one myself and my mate Jessica had central stall tickets for G14 and 15, they had a great view, however those that sit in front could get in the way and I was finding myself moving from side to side to get a look in, in parts of the show! but for 29.75 each I wasn't complaining (I think the deal is going on still now! So go buy!)

The cast tonight was brilliant no understudies whatsoever!

King Arthur - Les Dennis

Lady of the Lake- Bonnie Langford

Patsy - Warrick Davis

Sir Bedevere - Robin Armstrong

Sir Robin - Rob Delaney

 Prince Herbert - Adam Ellis

Sir Lancelot - Kit Orton

Sir Galahad - Jon Robyns

I suppose the first person I should talk about who was new to the cast is THE Warrick Davis, Oh my god!! he was made for the role! he was brilliant!! he had the timing, the moves and amazingly the voice! (sings always look on the bright side of life!) just everything you could want for Patsy, and what was brilliant is they just laughed with him with his height, the bit with the shrubbery, where he was struggling to lift it, and in the end, he just dropped it pulled a handle out of it and then just rolled it off like a carry on suitcase! LOVED IT! He looked like he was enjoying himself so much up there, and loving working with the cast, he even made fun of Les when he had to sing his we are know longer the knights who say Ni! "Even I have to admit sir...that was embarrassing!" Having known Warrick as a massive film star mainly Star Wars, and for me Harry Potter, it was such a blast to get to meet him at the end at the stage door and get a photo. Now I have met two professors in the wizard world! Professor Umbridge, and now Professor Flitwick!!

Warrick Davis

 

Then there was the new cast Bonnie Langford, a west end star, and returning to play the Lady of the Lake, she was as she is a WEST END STAR, she really knows how to bring a character to life, and not just through her voice but her facial expressions! Her What ever happened to my Part was such a highlight, as she took centre stage! Les Dennis, totally forgot how good his voice was, having forgotten that I have seen him before perform in Legally Blonde the musical at the Mayflower Theatre! He was a great enjoyment as King, and although his Knights who say Ni was 'Embarrassing' its great to see him also getting in with the cast and just laughing with themselves and the audience.

Les Dennis

Bonnie Langford

Adam Ellis

I will admit that I missed Graham McDuff at the performance, as I will always loved his Lancelot, but Kit Orton was very funny also, and not to shappy in his little Lancelot pants (you will have to see the show for that) but the other group, Robin, and Rob, and Adam all the great character they were the 2nd time around, and even got a quick photo with Adam at the stage door, but like I said I am so pleased that every time I have been to see the show Jon Robyn's has played Galahad! He is a lovely guy, and a terrific actor, and im not sure if this is bad or good, but to me its amazing! Because of the fact that he actually remembers me and is happy to give me two cuddles to get a nice photo!

Jon Robyns!

Warrick, Kit, Bonnie, Les, and Jon have all now ended there run with Spamalot, at the moment Carley Stenson from Hollyoaks is playing the Lady of the Lake, and the others i'm not too sure, however Dick and Dom are now announced to be playing King Arthur, and Patsy during the Christmas term.

 

But one thing is for sure, I am off to London on the 14th of December to go and see Jon Robyns, and Kit Orton in Dicken's Abridged, so hopefully another photo and cuddle is on the cards!

Although I myself am not sure if I will go and see the show again, because the memories I have I'm not sure I want to replace, but all the same Spamalot is such a great show! So go and get tickets and be prepared to laugh out loud!

Im Wanted...Dead or Alive! - Rock of Ages, The Garrick Theatre, London 30/8/13

So it was a given, after months of not seeing the show, and a Theatre Offer and seats that could not be refused, I was off to the loudest Theatre in London! Garrick Theatre, to see for the 3rd time Rock of Ages. When I bought these tickets a few days later they announced that it was closing on November 2nd, I was so thankful that I got the chance to see this amazing show, 3 times, with the amazing cast that it had, it will be truly missed on the West End, but already Twitter is announcing a Tour...and I'm hoping that means a trip down to Southampton Mayflower at some point next year....maybe?

To finish off the lovely Bank Holiday weekend in the month of August, myself and 2 good friends took ourselves to London, we walked about Covent Garden, and then I took them to their first trip to Harrods (As I couldn't believe that they had both not have gone there, and 1 friend even worked there!!). We then enjoyed the 50% off food at the Slug and Lettuce and chilled out at Trafalgar Square, we walked up to the Garrick Theatre to prepare to be Rocked!

This time I remembered from last time to get seats that weren't under the circle, and we managed to get seats B 7,8,9 and that meant we were dead centre of the row and a perfect view from the stage! And it just felt good because they only cost us £35.50!!

 

Now I have already explained the venue and what the storyline of this Musical is, in my first blog here, So I wont go into detail again, this blog is based on the performers and this time round I had some new faces and some old :)

 

So Tonights cast was as follows!

 

 



Lonny - Nathan Amzi (understudy)

Drew - Ian McIntosh (Understudy)

Sherrie - Natalie Andreou

Dennis Dupree - Daniel Fletcher

Stacie Jaxx - Tim Howar

Hertz - Rohan Tickell

Franz - Sandy Moffat

Regina - Jodie Jacobs

Joey Primo - Dylan Turner

Justice - Racheal McFarlane

 

 

First off I shall do the firsts, now before the show I was aware that Ian McIntosh would be playing Drew that night, having followed him on twitter and that he had placed his dates on a tweet, so I was quite excited! Then during the day, I knew that Simon had been signed off from work due to a trapped muscle and he also confirmed in a tweet that he wasn't on, so I knew Nathan being the first cover would be most likely playing Lonny!

 

Boy did Nathan really bring the house down! Normally playing the role of the Mayor and Agent of Drew, seeing Nathan shine as Lonny was a great experience, with some liking towards Simon in the role, such as the scarf, he also brought his own characteristics in the performance, from the very beginning, such as the entrance when he slid down the stairs and slammed right into the wall! He had the audience in fits of laughter! Not going to lie also he totally made my night, being so close to the stage, it is clear that the actors can see the audience, and throughout you get small glances from them, but Nathan just topped it all off, cause it was Myself that night that got the invitation to the Dressing room at the interval (didn't mean you get to go, but he Lonny points at you and says "you my Dressing room, 2 Minutes Now!") I was just smiling after that, and apparently you could tell!! Even though I love Simon to bits, it was really nice to see Nathan perform as Lonny, he is a very sweet guy, and it ended with me getting a cuddle, and a follow on Twitter (NO Complaints There!)

 

 

Then there was Ian, With Tim Driesen having left for Amsterdam to go and perform as Freddie in Jersey Boys, Ian because the first cover of Drew, and I was so happy because he was AMAZING! He had all the quirks that Drew needed, the shyness, the dopiness, and yet the sexy, sweet guy! I was so excited to also hear his voice belt out all the songs, especially loved Oh Sherrie (That song always will be my favourite!) His Voice was amazing and perfect for Drew, and when listening to him it kind of reminded me of when Oliver is in the role! Loved him and he is such a sweet guy also, Catch him now in The Commitments, at the Palace Theatre playing the role of Deco on Sunday evening performances. (That is one of the list, and wouldn't mind a theatre trip on a Sunday!)  

 

Having seen the show 3 times now it was about time I was honoured with the presence of the lead girl Natalie Andreou who plays Sherrie, and get to see how she performs the role! I wasn't displeased, I was worried at first cause I did have trouble hearing her at the beginning (especially the bit about the where she keeps her money and valuables) but then as it went on it was clearer. She was just great, and i'm so Jealous of her body! But she had the moves, and the voice to be a terrific Sherrie! Im so thankful I got to finally see her before the show ended, and meet her also! :) She was quite surprised it was my first time seeing her! Sadly though she ran away before I could get a photo but I do have that one from West End Eurovision! (she is the one of the far right)

 

Those were the 3 performers that I had yet to see and I wasn't upset! it just made my last experience seeing the show totally an amazing one! How many times can  girl get invited to a dressing room!

 

As for the rest of the cast, Sandy so pleased that he has played my Franz all the times I've been to the show, it just makes his Franz just the one to remember and Love, and the same goes with Daniel as Dennis, although my first time was Justin Lee Collins, to me he will always be Dennis and he was made for the role, (Though sadly due to his new show Miracle on 34th Street, the EPIC beard is no more! sad times). It was also my second time seeing Tim Howar, as Staciee, and ill admit the first time I wasn't so sure, but the second time around he grew on me, and I enjoyed him more the 2nd time round.

Sandy Moffat, and Dylan Turner Sandwich!

Daniel Fletcher

Tim Howar

 

Then there is Jodie, and Racheal and Rohan in the roles of Regina, Justice and Hertz, two times seeing Jodie, and Hertz, and Justice I had the pleasure of 3 times :) they were just as good, as the first time around! And a photo with them all is just the icing on the cake!  

Jodie Jacobs

Rachel McFarlane

Rohan Tickell

 

This show will be truly missed in London by the many supporters and Fans it brought. I myself feel lucky to have had the chance to have seen it three times! Like I said though the Venues are starting to be named for the Tour, and if it does make an appearance in Southampton I shall be first to see what it is like there... and will be interesting to see what the cast is going to be too!

 









Go, Go, Go JOSEPH! - Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - The King's Theatre, Portsmouth. 8.07.13

So my parents were away for 2 weeks and just searching through Travelzoo I come across a deal I could not past off! For travelzoo were offering better than half price tickets for Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, playing at the Kings theatre!

So on Thursday 8th August, myself and a friend took ourselves down to Portsmouth South sea to the Edwardian style, The Kings Theatre. This was both mine and my friends first time to this theatre, and I wasn't sure what to expect, the area for the theatre is not really one you would imagine, but either way inside was clean and very Edwardian, with the amazing Travelzoo we were seated in row B seats 30 and 31 in the grand circle, selling at the price of £13.50 originally £32.50, which was very good view, as you can see from below.

The interesting thing about this circle was it only consisted of 5 rows, below were the stalls, and above the upper circle which I believe had more than 5 rows. So in my opinion anywhere you sat in the circle you were at perfect height and good view for all to see. I am currently unaware of what views are like from the upper circle and stalls, as this is the first time a production has attracted me to come to this particular Theatre, but who knows what new will come to the stage here.

 

As you are aware from my first ever entry to this blog, Joseph was my first ever theatre production I have seen on stage, and yes I saw the one with the great Jason Donavon...now I myself just remember little snippets from my first show, having been only 4, but then it was a newish musical, now it seems to be Joseph is one for the kids to see.

 

Joseph, is based on the bible story telling the tale of Joseph and his eleven jealous brothers, as Joseph was the favourite son of father Jacob. However Joseph does not help within his group of brothers as Joseph tells his brothers all about his dreams, and how they always seem to involve around the idea that his brothers in the future will one day bow down to him, it is easy to see why they lose their patience after Jacob buys him a multi-coloured coat, it just puts the icing on the cake for the brothers.  They go off and plan the ending of Joseph and his dreams, they plan to throw him in a pit, to which they did, but it wasn't enough, not until a hairy crew comes riding by, and the brothers "in a flash" change their plans, for "we need cash, lets sell him if we can"

 

So Joseph goes on to Egypt to be sold to be a slave, and he does get bough by Potiphar, one of Egypts Millionaires "Having made a fortune buying shares in Pyramids" Though a cruel world, Joseph found he likes is master, and worked hard, which led Potiphar to see that he was cut above the average and made him leader of the house hold.  However Joseph wasn't just the eye of his master but the eye of his masters unfaithful wife, who fancies Joseph, and lure him to his chambers, much against Josephs will, she continues, to the point that Potiphar finds her straddling Joseph and orders his guards to send him locked in jail.

 

Here Joseph resides in his cell, worried just certain of his future "Give me a number instead of my name, forget all about me and let me decay, I do not matter, im only one person, destroy me completely and throw me away!" Although it seems that his luck is out, though the dreams he spoke of to his brothers start to show their true meaning, when Joseph finds himself no longer alone in Jail and accompanied by two of the Pharaohs servants, the butler, and baker, in the cells they tell joseph of their dreams which they do not understand, and afraid that they will never see the light of sun again.  They each take turn in speaking their dream and Joseph gives it a go and interprets them.  The Butler luckily gets told that he will be freed, however the baker sadly has his execution set.

 

Being the Butler gets set free, when the Pharaoh suffers dreams that bring him worry and sleepless nights, the Butler informs him of Joseph who gets brought to the Pharaoh and gives him piece of mind to tell him what his crazy dream means, and how he can change what future holds for Egypt, and in doing this gets Hires as Pharaohs number two! We see here that Joseph has gone as far as he can go, but as for Josephs brothers...

 

A famine has spread its days around the canaan and the brothers and Jacob are finding it hard to live, they even start to miss Joseph's dreams, they decided to go to Egypt, in hope that they will help them and give them food, little did they know it would be a reunion, but first although the brothers do not recognise him while they bow before him (see his dream is true) Joseph decides to teach his brothers a lesson one more time, and plants a cup in one of the bags of food he provides for his brothers. His brothers grovel and fight for the youngest brother Benjamin, proving that he is innocent, and proving to Joseph they are not honest men, and reveals himself to his brothers. The brothers bring Jacob to Egypt and so ends a happy ever after.

 

This Show is really a true musical, as this story above is told throughout in song, there is no spoken words in his show, only lyrics and singing. (very Andrew Lloyd Webber). Now when I saw this show it was done with care and passion, and now I feel that the only audience they wish to attract is children and familys, as much as I love this musical this was not a favourite production, yes it was good entertainment, but I feel now that they really have turned it into a big joke in some parts, making it childish and immature (such as the sign with the question mark, and then the AH over Josephs head) I just felt a little bit heart broken sometimes. but nevertheless I highly recommend this show now for families with young children, and I myself would most likely wont be seeing this show again until I have children.  Now I see why it was my first, and maybe it was that silly when I was little, how can I know.

 

The setting was basic, have two sets of steps where the children's choir sat throughout, but enough space for the performers to climb, with a small performance space on the ground and a little one at the top, the backgrounds would change to set the place, for example the canaan days, and then when they go to Egypt there is Pyramids in the background. the thing with this setting being basic it really gave you the opportunity to watch the performers and focus on their dancing, I do thing that the probably could have been more thought out, as the funniest thing ever was when the sheep made an appearance and were inflated only half made it fully up, leaving some leaning or face down on the ground!

 

Now the cast for the production was a bit of a surprise, having booked the Tickets, the show revealed that it would be the Ian Watkins, known better as H from music pop band Steps.  Though earlier this was not the case, and instead Ian's understudy would be playing Joseph during its run at the Kings Theatre, and I think this was rather cheeky of the promoters and myself and my friend were looking forward to seeing H perform and I feel that they should have informed us when booking the tickets. However nothing could be done so that nights cast was as follows:

 

Joseph - Rob Wilshaw

Narrator - Jennifer Potts

Jacob/Potiphar - Henry Metcalfe

Pharaoh/Reuben- Luke Jasztal

Benjamin- Benjamin Pomeroy

Butler/Levi - Andrew Bateup

Baker/Judah - Richeard J Hunt

Gad - Michael Ward

Asher-Simon Ouldred

Zebulun - Scott Matson

Simeon - Benjamin Beechey

Issacher - Ross Lee Fowkes

Dan - Sackie Osakonor

Napthali - Callum Fitzgerald

Handmaidens - Jennie Abbotts

Danielle Acors

Meg Astin.

 

Now just like Cats this is a touring company, and many of the performers I have not seen or met before, however if H had been in it, it may have been different.

 

Rob Wilshaw as Joseph was very good, he kept the character strong and had a very good voice, and having the lead role that is all singing its a pretty good voice that he had a strong voice.  His body also was not a disappointment either, and having to play Joseph you have to have a nice body, as you do spend most of the show performing in a loin cloth kind of!

Jennifer Potts, from her biography in the programme is mostly seen in pantomimes, you can tell what I attracted her and why she was cast in this role, the narrator is always on stage, and sings throughout the whole performance, Jennifer though I fell that her pantomime background made her the sweet friendly narrator who tells the story to the chorus (primary school choir) however I feel that her voice wasn't a strong one, and she could of done so much better! This role one of my dream roles, and would love to maybe one day, even if it is just once to play her one day, as I have known all the lyrics to here song since I was 10 it would be a dream come true!

 

Those were the two main characters throughout the show, the brothers double up into different portrayals of characters whether it be the brothers, or the pharaoh's guards, or the handmaidens being the wives, and dancers they were all a great professional bunch and the thing with this show is you have to be able to dance, and sing! (very much like Cats, and again very Andrew Lloyd Webber) I enjoyed watching a different brother each song, just to see how they would perform or portray there character to show a different side to Jacob's son, for instance Benjamin played by Benjamin Pomeroy, you could see that his character though wanting to be accepted by the other brothers, still cared for Joseph as you would see him giving Joseph a hug, or supporting him after the others would make fun.  They each had their own approach and it was fun to see what they had created!

 

If it wasn't for the Travelzoo deal I may not have seen this show, and I am happy that I got to relive my past, and childhood. Though now I feel that this is going to be a first show I am going to take my children if it is still running that is. But being one of the eldest productions I do recommend that you will need to see this show, and I know its popular for school productions, and I hope one day I get the chance to perform in it maybe one day.

 

 



 

"No Good Deed...Goes Unpunnished!!"- Wicked- Apollo Victoria Theatre, London. 4.7.13

 

So I had only a few days before I started my new job, and an amazing friends birthday was coming up.  So what a better way to celebrate, and to treat my friend then to go to London and see the one and only Wicked!
On Thursday 4th July, myself and the birthday girl took to London and arrived at Victoria Station, and what is just outside Victoria...But the Apollo Victoria Theatre, and at nights it gleams Green for its home show Wicked! Having seen Wicked in 2009, I just had to see it 4 years later to see if was still at good as it was... and it succeeded.

Apollo Victoria Theatre, is one of the big wide ones in London.  2009 I was sat in the stalls on the right hand side however this was quite a restricted view as I didn't get to see the Lion scene as there were students blocking our view, so this time I went higher in the Circle, row P seats 12 and 13 costing me £35 which is one of the cheapest fees of the tickets, and its very rare to find Wicked on a theatre offer, as most nights its sold out! and still a high demanding show to go and see! Our view was high up but you could see everything and the dragon puppet up above was amazing to watch.

Now onto the show. Wicked is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, with music and lyrics by the amazing Stephen Schwartz. It tells the untold story of the Witches of OZ, Glinda the Good, and the Wicked Witch of the West, or better known in this musical Elphaba. The story follows the two and their journey from school to the real world, and how the enemies become friends, and how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West. I'm pretty sure Wicked is a musical that everyone knows  about, even if it just from the songs "Defying Gravity" and "Popular" and the fact the Idina Menzel was the original Elphaba someway or another you would know about this musical, and if you don't where have you been??? :-P but really it really is a story of what happened before Dorothy dropped in!

From up above the scenery looked amazing, based a lot around a clock with the mechanics of the inside always on show, and how the change in scenery is helped along with a turning wheels of a clock, and shows that throughout the show the dials of time are always going. But with such a wide space they throughout fill the space! with dancers and the actors, and the Dragon puppet that overlooks it all it always exciting to watch! Below is my view from my seat, as it was taken by my iphone so it may look further but the view was brilliant!

When I bought the tickets I double checked the website and had a looked at who was playing in the current cast, and from that I found out that it was Louise Dearman's night off so I was aware that the Understudy would be performing, and for once I didn't mind, I would have minded if Fiyero's understudy was playing and luckily he wasn't! So the nights cast list was:

 

Glinda - Gina Beck

Elphaba - Hatley Gallivan. (understudy)

Nessarose-Katie Rowley Jones.

Boq-Sam Lupton

Madame Morrible-Harriet Thorpe

Fiyero-Ben Freeman

The Wizard of Oz- Christopher Howell (understudy)

 

So I am going to discuss the has as the order they came out in the stage door, as yes I waited for them all, as its  quite close to the exit and opposite the station its quite easy to wait and meet them!

 

So First out the door that night was Christopher Howell, who normally plays Dr. Dillamond usually in the show was tonight however playing The Wizard of Oz. He was a younger than the usual age for the Wizard, but either way he was very good and I enjoyed him being the cunning and wise Oz, yet inside he showed just how cowardly he really is!

 

Next out was Sam Lupton, who is playing Boq in his west end debut! I have seen Sam before as he was Princeton and Rod in the Avenue Q tour, and he was very good in that so, and because of this I was really interested to see how he would perform with out the puppet in hand but as himself, and Boq himself is quite a comic yet sympathetic part because he loves Glinda who does not return the feelings back, so during the school years he follows her round like a little puppy (which is where we see alot of the comic moments from Boq) but then when we go on we sympathise with him as he becomes trap in a love that he does not wish to have with Nessarose (you will have to see the show to understand). Sam Lupton was a very good actor to be Boq with his acting and his characteristics, and at times your could see a little Princeton show during his performance, especially the moment when Glinda touches him! 

 

Then Close behind was Katie Jones, who I had returned to reprise her role as Nessarose, who I had actually seen when I saw the show the first time around, and she was just like she was the first time around, and this time I was so happy to get to meet her. 

Then another Reprisal in Wicked with Harriet Thorpe playing Madame Morrible once again and again she was the Madame Morrible I had seen the first time around! I loved her playing Madame as she really has the character inside to play the sweet and innocent Morrible, but really she is the sly, conceiving lady who at first you feel is there to help but really has a terrible plan and a evil on. Harriet really does show the difference in character, and with it comes great comic timing. 

 

Then after the removal of the green make up Hayley Gallivan came out, along with Gina Beck, Hayley I can see why she is the standby or Elphaba she blew me away, at first I was quite anxious when she started to sing, but once she hit the powerful notes she was breathtaking, and her acting was so Elphaba! Even my friend gasped and Wowed when she belted out the final vocals for 'Defying Gravity' loved her!

Then with Gina Beck she gives me hope! as she is brunette and brown eyed and yet she plays the strong willed, sweet and innocent Glinda, and gives me hope that I can hopefully maybe one day in another dimension I can perform Glinda! Gina did a great job, the only criticism I could make was for to maybe slow down a few of her lines, and some comic moments in the show was lost in some of her songs, although if you had watched it for the first time it would be something that you wouldn't have noticed or worried about. But other wise she was lovely to watch and great and being the preppy Glinda that everyone loves and enjoys, and even afterwards I found out that we attended the same school in Alresford, Perins community school, just wish I could have mentioned that when I was talking to her but I wasn't aware. (photo below Hayley middle, Gina Right)

And closely last behind was Ben Freeman, known for is role in Emmedale he now hits the stage in the dancing and singing role of Fiyero. Now the last time I saw this show Oliver Tompsett was playing Fiyero...and we all know how much I love him! and yes he was an amazing Fiyero. So does Ben Freeman come to his standards...I would like to say yes but i'm finding it hard, yes Ben had his own take on Fiyero, who knows he's good looking and one fore the ladies and cocky but at the end we see him as sweet and handsome and that he learns that love is what's in the inside even though Elphaba is beautiful also. once again Oliver Tompsett is trained to perform on stage it is the only thing he has done, and has had limited time on telly, Ben is mostly used to the TV so you can tell the difference in acting from film to theatrical and it does show in his performance in my opinion sometimes when tv starts portray and acting role they feel that they need to perform stronger and sometimes that can come over as over the top or a little to much. Although I was pleasantly surprised to find that he had a very nice and warm voice whilst singing his solos in Dancing Through Life, and As Long as Your Mine, which was nice to see as if you haven't got the voice for Fiyero then your not Fiyero!

 

And so ended the cast meet and greet at the stage door and I returned back to Waterloo (which was an eventful travel ending in a very poorly toe from a very painful escalator, I knew there was a reason I like to walk around London and avoid taking the underground) with a smile on my face after an another amazing night in the theatre, and seeing Wicked again... and yes I would defiantly see it again! But maybe this time I would try and see if I can get centre stalls or in the front circle seats...though I am aware that these are quite expensive seats. 



'Jellicle Cats Come Out Tonight' - Cats on Tour, The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. 20.6.13

Now after being abroad for a week in Lanzarote with my girls, I return and instead of being down, I had something enjoyable to look forward to, on Thursday the 20th of June, I headed down to Southampton once again, to The Mayflower Theatre to see the evening performance of Cats on Tour.

 

Having already reviewed this Theatre many times, again I can't express how nice it is to have a big theatre that shows, some of the classic productions that have hit Britain and West End. This time I was seated in the stalls once again but in Row E and seats 17 to 22 Centre to the stage. and the view was brilliant, charging at 32.50 which is quite cheap for such a high and well known show, I was very happy with our seats.

 

Onto the show. Cats is one of Andrew Lloyd Webbers top running West End and Broadway musicals, which is based upon T.S Elliot's Timeless Poems 'Old Possum's Book of Pratical Cats', which were read to Andrew when he was little by his mother, and had always had a soft spot for them and wanted to create something from it as he states in the programme brochure:

 

 "I sensed there was some sort of theatrical future in the project although I had no clue what it was or how it could be achieved. So I staged my work so far in a concert at the 1980 Sydmonton Festival.  In the audience was Valerie Eliot. Afterward she gave me unpublished material that her husband had written about a cat entertainment. it was priceless. there was a letter suggesting a sort of plot. After a 'Jellicle Ball' the cats were to go 'up past the Russell Hotel' in a balloon 'to the Heaviside Layer'.  there was an introductory poem about cats and dogs that became the basis of the present opening lyric. but the clincher was the story of a cat called Grizabella that Eliot thought was too sad to be included in a children's book. with that discovery Cats, as it was to become, had the potential for light and shade that I need to compose a whole score."

 

Now Cats is an all singing all Dancing production, very Andrew Lloyd Webber.  But within the songs many who view this performance might miss the story that is being told, the key is to listen to the lyrics for within them tells the story (mainly sung by Munkustrap the leader and protector of the Jellicle cats). Having owned the Special Edition film version of Cats on DVD, as I thought I would never get the chance to see this show actually on stage, I was very understanding of the story when seating in the audience and Thoroughly enjoyed watching it performed in front of me. But to some of my friends who came with me they really didn't understand what was happening. Now in the programme which I highly recommend buying provides us with a great synopsis of the full performance, and if you haven't seen this show before I feel if you read this before you see it, it may just help. The synopsis in this programme is very long so I'm just going to give a brief story plot that is also provided in the programme.

 

"The cast of cat characters would come together for the Jellicle Ball, with the master of ceremonies being their wise leader, Old Deuteronomy. The climax of the proceeding would be the choice of on of the cats to be given an extra life, a second chance as it were, and this chosen one would ultimately ascend to the Heaviside layer"

 

So the performance is a celebration of all Jellicle cats, and within this storyline we see the many different cats being introduced, these include Jennyanydots, the Old Gumbie Cat, that sleeps and lounges all day long. Rum Tum Tugger the prankstar tom cat that the felines love, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer the pair of cat burglars that leave their family wondering what they will pinch next, and which one did it, Bustopher Jones the high up tubby cat, Gus the Theatre Cat who worked with the greatest actors of his day, Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat, an uncle to the cats who attends the trains he rides and makes sure every detail is perfect, and Mr Mistoffelees, the conjuring cat with magical powers. Then there is Makavity, who is dubbed 'the Napoleon of crime,' and Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, who is shunned by the rest of the tribe despite being a Jellicle Cat, who left the tribe years ago to explore the outside world and now wants to return.

You could say that some of these stories are contenders of who goes on to the Heaviside Layer, that Old Deuteronomy has to choose from.

But also there is entertainment within this story, entertainment for Deuteronomy, narrated by Munkustrap, the tribe perform "The Aweful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" together with "The Markching Song of the Pollicle Dogs" dressing up as the two rival dogs factions who bark ceaselessly at each other until they are frightened away by the great Rumpus Cat, a sleek and powerful Feline. And then there is the "Jellicle Ball", the great annual dance in which all the cats celebrate.

 

so if you look at it like this Cats is full of lots of stories which follows a small plot throughout. and I hope it helps you understand what you will or have viewed!

Now the set for this production is based in a kind of rubbish dump with lots of different articles of rubbish scattered about that are presented and used within the performance (especially for demonstrations of stories) its the same set throughout as your focus always remains on the cats that are scattered around it, below is a small photo of the stage, in the middle is Old Deuteronomy who remains on stage in the interval for the audience to go and meet him. (I choose not to, as I tend to enjoy meeting the actors behind the characters, than the character himself.) I think another great aspect of this production is once again there is no 4th wall, with many numbers coming into the audience and including them also, just made the show more enjoyable.

 

Now in this production each cat has its unique name, and the cast is one of a large one. Again being a tour it was very unlikely to have understudies, and lucky enough we had all the principles playing their roles, but with a production like cats, you need some amazing performers to portray the athletic and dancing ability that is presented and needed to show the Cats. So many of these actors are not well known names, which was exciting to see as they were all just amazing, and I hope them all the best in their near future, and they are so lucky to be in such an amazing show!

 

Alonzo - James Darch

Bill Bailey - Will Lucas

Bombalurina-Melissa James

Bustopher Jones/Asparagus/Growl Tiger-Paul F Monaghan

Carbucketty-Joel Morris

Cassandra-Jessica Buckby

Coricopat-Richard Astbury

Demeter-Lily Frazer

Grizabella-Joanna Ampil

Jellylorum/Griddlebone-Clare Rickard

Jemima-Dawn Rickard

Jennyanydots-Alice Redmond

Macavity/Admetus-Cameron Ball

Mungojerrie-Barnaby Thompson

Munkustrap-Ben Palmer

Old Deuteronomy -Ben Palmer

Quaxo/ Mistoffelees - Joseph Poulton

Rumpleteazer-Katie Warsop

Rum Tum Tugger-Oliver Savile

Skimbleshanks-Ross Finnie

Tantomile -Lizze Franklin

Victoria/White Cat-Alicia Beck

Swing-Matthew Caputo

Collette Coleman

Barry Haywood

Ian Parsons

Freya Rowley

Francesca Whiffin.

 

Now it would take me maybe a dissertation amount of words to go through each and every cast member of this performance, but I can clearly state that they are all a talented group! They perform the production so well and their dancing is breath taking, I found myself constantly scanning the different cats and how each performer created their cats personality in their own cat like behaviours, especially Carbuckly played my Joel Morris, when you set your eyes on him you could always see that he was playing with some sort of prop, like a cat would do if it saw a string.  The head of the group Munkustrap was very well portrayed, and even gave a comic moment after the interval with assisting some of the audience with going back to their seats! Rum Tum Tugger the prankstar I myself have known him performed by John Partridge the original performer, and he is on the DVD, but Oliver Savile did him proud, and was great in his role! My friends favourite was Skimbleshanks as I heard, who seems to be a happy cat, and a fun role to play and well played by Ross Finnie.

 

Not all found it entertaining as it could be, from my group, but agreed the dancing was amazing, and one especially enjoyed when they creation of the train during Skimbleshanks number, some found it hard to understand the story, others just couldn't get drawn in, and they seemed to enjoy act 2 more than act 1.  Now for myself Cats holds a special spot in my heart, as it helped me through a tough time in the past, so to see it live was just as important to me and a want which it did not disappoint, I was smiling throughout, and wished I could see it again before it hides away again from the theatre world. So if you get the chance before it goes and if its coming close to you, go and see it, and I hope this blog helps you understand it a bit better before you do of after you have.





Overview. Halfway Through the Year.

So it has come to the 6 month of this 2013 year, and I am quite lucky to have seen some amazing shows so far! my next blog which is in process right now, is Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Cats' but I just wanted to do an overview of all the various shows I have seen, and one way to show it is my collection of programmes.

At the beginning of this blog I posted a photo of my collection on my bed,

and yes it looks like quite a few...but lets have a look at the latest photo I have taken recently...minus my recent programmes from Cats.

 

Safe to say its quite a difference from before, and much more busy, its getting harder to put them on my bed! going to have to find a new place to view them!! but they are all kept safe under my bed.

 

So I hope you are all enjoying my blogs, as I am writing them, its nice to get out how I feel about these shows and express how they impact on myself. So thanks for reading, and I hope that at the end of the year, this collection isn't going to be on my bed but taking over somewhere else! With New Programmes of shows, new and maybe ones to see again! (hopefully Les Miserable! I will see that show!!)

 

So thank you and watch this blog for Cats the Musical on Tour!! :) 

'Falling Slowly' - Once the New Musical -The Phoenix Theatre, London 23.5.13

 

What at first was supposed to be a trip to London to see the MadTrust's West End Eurovision (Blog up soon!) turned out to be so much better! Having travelled up earlier than I thought I was it meant we had some time to kill before heading over to the Dominon Theatre at 11.30pm. What better way to spend it than to see another show! Our choices were Rock of Ages, We Will Rock You, or Once the Musical so we decided to go around and see what seats were available and on top of that the prices.  Our winner was, the newest musical in the West End, 'Once.'

 

Showing at the Phoenix theatre, and was the second time going to this particular theatre having seen Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers' in the past, its one of the small theatre and we got our ticket on the day as I said before.  We were seated in the stalls Row O seats 4 and 5, that were priced at £32.50 with now booking fee (yay) and our view was very good, and non disruptive from those in front of us! So don't feel you need to be so close to the stage and you need the top priced tickets to see this production!

 

 'Once the Musical' is based on the 2006 musical film starring Glen Hansard, and Marketa Irglova, The story follows a Guy, a Dublin Guitarists/Singer-songwriter busker who makes a living by fixing Vacuum cleaners at his Dad's Hoover Repair Shop.  Then there is a Girl who is Czech who plays piano when she can, and does odd jobs by day, looking after her mother and daughter by night. Guy meets Girl, and they hit it off quickly, they get to know each other as the Girl helps the Guy to create a demo disc of his music which he can hopefully land a music contract.  During the same several day period, the Guy and Girl work through their past loves, and reveal their budding love for one another, through their music.  However their love is something that cannot be.

 

I LOVED the film, and the music created by Glen and Marketa are so beautiful, I was really excited about hearing that it was coming to the West End after a lot of success on Broadway in the states.  I wasn't disappointed. The story on stage is just as powerful if not stronger than the story in the film, you are instantly drawn and brought into it by the performers and get lost in the love that the Guy and Girl share and want to scream at them for the stubbornness of them for not pursuing their love, but yet you understand why they can't. That is what makes this story so good! All throughout the performance, the music is played by the performers, no orchestra, no backing track, the instruments are there with the actors, and played right in front of you during the songs and singing.  Enda Walsh the playwright of this production talks about this approach in the program:

 

"I always wanted the actors to be the musicians - to present them honestly and allow the music to be central to their storytelling...I was confident that I could tell the love story but the other story - of peoples potential - of our ability to create things out of nothing - that also needed to be seen and told...it's only people up there with guitars and other instruments telling and singing their way through an everyday love story - but without pretention and shot from the heart-it's become the sweetest strongest thing - it is true ensemble playing. it belongs on stage." 

 

 

Now on to the Staging.

 

The staging design in this production is based around a traditional Irish pub, and never changes throughout, on the walls which you would expect to see many memorabilia, and photos of Irishmen, and country side are all mirrors, with a huge one in the centre of the walls. Created by Bob Crowley the New York Times have described it as:

 

"Bob Crowley's single set, given multifarious life by Natasha Katz's expert lighting, suggests the kind of pub where people come to lose themselves in song as well as drink, and the audience is invited to join an improvised pre-show hootenanny on the stage."

 

 Yes you get to go onto the stage as not only is it a bar in the production, but a bar to the audience and believe me if you love the theatre and to perform, you wont believe the amazing thrill it was to actually stand on a west end stage! to look out into the audience and see what the performers see it just gave me goose bumps and took a lot not to break out into song myself just to see what that felt, but I opted for a drink instead, but it was a nice change and experience that just added that little bit extra!

 

With being a one set performance, it really does allow you to be lost in the story, and focus more on what you are watching then the multiple scene changes one would get in most West End Musicals (not to say that's not a bad thing) but with a story like Once that itself has such a powerful love story it was well suited.  The Mirrors also allowed you to see scenes in different perspectives in certain numbers and Bob Crowley describes:

 

"IF you look in the mirrors, you can see part of a face or part of a hand playing a guitar, they fracture the space, they fracture events. 'Once' is a modern fairy tale in lots of ways.  It's odd and eccentric and told at a bit of an angle, and that's what those mirrors are part of." 

 

 

Now with not many set changes it is easy to focus on those who are performance, and the actors/musicians did not disappoint. The cast was as follows: *in brackets are the instruments they played

 

 

Guy-Declan Bennett (Piano)

Girl - Zrinka Cvitesie (Piano)

Baruska - Valda Aviks (Accordian)

Svec - u/s Robbie White (Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Drums, Cojon)

Billy -Aidan Kelly (Guitar, Cojon, Bodhran)

Eamon - Gareth O'Connor (Mandolin)

Da - Micheal O'Connor (Mandolin)

Ex Girlfriend - u/s Christina Tedders (Violin)

Andre - Jos Slovick (Guitar, Uke, Bass, Conjon, Banjo)

Reza - Flora Spencer-Longhurst (Violin)

Bank Manager - u/s Jaime Cameron (Guitar. Cello, Mandolin)

Emcee - Gabriel Vick (Guitar, Piano, Mandolin, Harmonica, Cajon,Uke, Banjo)

Im going to first discuss the role of the Girl first or quote a quote that playwright Edna Walsh describes Girl in the production:

"The character of the Girl was suddenly a very active presence. where in the movie she was almost ephemeral - for me she became the story's initial engine...She is the instigator of all things. she takes us through the five days - she turns around a musicians' life but suddenly she's falling in love with him.  for all her effervescence she's yearning for a love she knows she can't have. it made the movie so wonderfully bittersweet a love story unfinished - and all the more beautiful for that...I wanted the girl to transform everyone around her. the light she shines on them over the five days affects smaller narratives."

So does Zrinka Cvitesie pull this powerful and important role of the Girl off?  the answer is yes, from the minute she walks through the centre of the audience, she takes the role of the girl exactly as Edna describes her, and she is so funny and natural that you fall in love with her! and wish she was your friend she could help you out and get your life on track! Her playing and singing is beautiful alongside the rest of the ensemble, and you can tell that they love her too.  She does Marketa proud!

But the person she mostly helps is Guy, played by Declan Bennett, and Oh MY GOD, he has made me fall in love with the Irish accent! (kind of was a Scottish accent girl before :p) especially in song, his emotion in his songs are just spot on, every time he sang he gave me goose bumps and you just wanted him not to stop, it was just that good.  But also you can tell that he feels what Guy would have felt for Girl, their relationship on stage was so strong that you just wanted them to kiss already! Declan is such a lovely man having being able to chat at the stage door, a girl asked him how he kept his energy strong for 8 shows a week, he replied that it was the power of the story that helped bring alive his character, that the story its self is what keeps the energy on stage every time its performed because it is that powerful.  You could really tell he was loving performing the show, and you can tell from his twitter account that vocally it is quite demanding cause he is constantly showing all the different voice remedies he uses...keep it up cause to hear that voice is just WOW!

As for the rest of the ensemble, they create not just characters but a family in one.  from the beginning you just see how much fun they are having, and that its not a job but just another night out on the town, or down the pub for a few beers and create beautiful music.  it seems like a great show to be in, and I only wish I carried on my piano lessons in hope that I could be part of it....guess ill just have to go and see it again and just stand on the stage once more instead.

I highly recommend seeing Once, even if you haven't seen the film, I hope that they bring out their own London Recording as from listening on iTunes of the Broadway one its just not the same! So go and get your tickets! I am defiantly going to try and see it again!! I bet it will be at the West End for a while!  :)