Tag Archives: theatre review

Sons Of The Desert, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Roy Brandon, Michael Starke, Lori Haley Fox, Penelope Woodman, Matt Connor, Jonathan Markwood.

The distinctive music, the sight of two comedy greats on stage giving the audience a laugh and great entertainment in two different settings and somehow transported in time from the golden age of Hollywood comedy to the 21st Century comedy central of the Royal Court in Liverpool. Such is how nights of class are made and in the iconic Laurel and Hardy film Sons of The Desert, recently given such status as warranting to be preserved forever in the American National Congress, they don’t come much bigger, then again, it can always be given a new lick of paint and introducing to a newer audience.

Sons Of The Desert, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(476 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Voices, Theatre Review. 81 Renshaw Street, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

In today’s world, art can be seen as being under threat. There are many who knock the idea of the young band making their way slowly into the world of performance, insisting that they should be concentrating on being a valuable member of society by finding a “real” job. The same goes for aspiring playwrights, poets and performers, too easily knocked for having an idea or wanting to be creative.

Voices, Theatre Review. 81 Renshaw Street, Liverpool. full post

(385 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

A Day Of Pleasure, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre Studio. Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Stuart Richman.

A well written story needs a powerful performance in which to hang its tale upon and they don’t come much more emotionally and spiritually brilliant than Isaac Bashevis Singer’s A Day of Pleasure and the man who enraptures and leads an audience through the near derelict streets and run down housing of pre and post First World war Warsaw, the outstanding Stuart Richman.

A Day Of Pleasure, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre Studio. Liverpool. full post

(383 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

The Pride, Theatre Review. Trafalgar Studios, London.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Hayley Atwell, Harry Hadden-Paton, Mathew Horne, Al Weaver.

Occasionally a play grabs you by the hand and takes you to places that you never thought you would ever see performed on stage, such was the power of Alexi Kaye Campbell’s writing and the absolute conviction of Hayley Atwell, Harry Hadden-Paton, Mathew Horne and Al Weaver’s performances and the nature of the subject made The Pride compelling, forceful and required watching.

The Pride, Theatre Review. Trafalgar Studios, London. full post

(429 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Bon Voyage, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jennifer Bea, Lindzi Germain, Michael Swift, Warren Donnelly, Tony James, Richie Grice, Mickey Finn.

The thing with some productions is that they do exactly what they say on the tin, there is no small print suggesting that the production will be akin to some lost Shakespeare play, full of pathos and anger, cunning and revenge. Instead it just happens to be good, in some cases very good at being able to give people exactly what they need, especially in a world that seems to be very bleak and full of unpleasantness, that of laughter and an excuse to crack a smile and laugh till it hurts. For Bon Voyage, presented by Boom Boom Productions, this is that type of play and for that the smile just got a little broader.

Bon Voyage, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(505 words, estimated 2:01 mins reading time)

The Unthinkable Mystery of The Indigo Star, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Tom Burroughs, John Doull, Gary Cain, Will Matthews.

Just who are the greatest ever fictional detectives? Or perhaps rather, who are the greatest detectives who could give the criminal element a run for their money when it comes to the game.  In The Unthinkable Mystery of The Indigo Star, written by Ed Bixter and directed by Suzy Walker, the game is, as Sherlock Holmes said, “a foot”.

Three men on a train out of Paris; all asked by their Government to investigate the death of Sherlock Holmes and the disappearance of the world famous Indigo Star jewel, surely only Hercule Poirot, Inspector Maigret and Chief Inspector Clouseau can crack the case?

The Unthinkable Mystery of The Indigo Star, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(378 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Cabaret, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Will Young, Siobhan Dillon, Lyn Paul, Matt Rawle, Linal Haft, Valerie Cutko, Nicholas Tizzard, Carly Blackburn, Emily Bull, Luke Fetherston, Simon Jaymes, Alessia Lugoboni, Callum Macdonald, Alastair Postlethwaite, Oliver Roll, Alexzandra Sarmiento, Shahla Tarrant, Cydney Uffindell-Phillips.

There are musicals that grace the stage with such spellbinding brilliance that the glitter and sheen never seems to rub off, never falters and certainly never lets the audience come away feeling anything other than wanting to dance all the way home and sing their favourite song with gladness in their heart. Then there are those that are so astonishing because they have made the crowd question everything they know about humanity and the darkness in people’s hearts and in a nation’s deeds. Perhaps it can be argued that only Cabaret manages to do both at the same time.

Cabaret, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(601 words, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)

Lennon, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: John Power, Matt Breen, Tom Connor, Jessica Dyas, Kirsten Foster, Ross Higginson, Adam Keast, Jonathan Markwood, Mark Newnham.

Even almost 33 years after John Lennon was cruelly and untimely taken from his fans and from the city of Liverpool and the world, his iconic memory still has the power, the absolute authority of spirit, in which to inspire and encourage rousing feelings of love and joy and ultimately the sadness of a life cut short well before his time.

Lennon, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(566 words, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

Grease, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Stage Experiance, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Callum Cavanagh, Bridie Flanagan, Michael Twigg, Grace Galloway, Katie Furlong, Hannah Pitt, Kay Nicholson, Peter Meall, Jonathan Marsh, Annie Howarth, Tom Nolan, Eleanor Cooke, Daniel Greenwood, Sarah Dickson.

When the Liverpool Empire Theatre puts on a show that gives the young blossoming talent of Liverpool and its surrounding areas, it really does put on a show. A kaleidoscope of colour catching the very best that was on stage, whether through dancing, singing or acting in this year’s production, the timeless classic Grease. Every single young actor gave their absolute best and gave the audience who turned out in their droves to catch the performance, a taste of what is to come and to reflect that the future of theatre in the city will be in very good hands for a long time to come.

Grease, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Stage Experiance, Liverpool. full post

(551 words, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

The Sunshine Boys, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Helen Carter, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Liam Tobin.

Sometimes there are no words that can ever justify the praise or warmth you wish to impart to people or future audiences on how good a play or performance is.  You just have to watch the crowd’s reaction and listening to the cheering of those that had made their way Epstein Theatre to watch The Sunshine Boys too know that the production is just simply amazing.

The Sunshine Boys, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(485 words, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)