Just a quick update! As you may have read, I have joined the Birkenhead Operatics Society. They are widely regarded as being the best operatics group in the area and regularly put on big productions in the empire theatre and the floral pavillion in new brighton!
Not long after I was accepted into the group, one of the directors for the show they were in the middle of rehearsing - Jesus Christ Superstar - asked me and the other new lad if we could join the cast and be a part of the show as roman soldiers and in other smaller scenes. We were only too happy to oblige! And so it was that on 13th-16th October, I was in Jesus Christ Superstar, performing in front of 600-800 people a show as part of a remarkably talented cast of individuals! I loved it! Absolutely loved it and cant wait for the next show, which I hope I can also be a part of!!!!
Monday, 8 November 2010
Friday, 10 September 2010
A new site feature!!!
I've decided that I want to update this blog a bit more often and as a way of doing that I want to bring in a few features over the next few weeks! I've decided that I am going to include my musical song of the week, complete with a youtube clip of said song. I will also try and update with a top five run down of all things theatre, from top five plays and musicals I've seen, to top 5 sad songs, top five actors and actresses etc..
I would very much like it if you (if you are reading this!!) to comment on these additionos - do you agree with my choices or not! What would be your top 5?!
Anyway for now, I'll leave you with my first musical song of the week! It's from the Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde, and I think it is one of the best songs written for a male in theatre!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31i-5F__1tw
I would very much like it if you (if you are reading this!!) to comment on these additionos - do you agree with my choices or not! What would be your top 5?!
Anyway for now, I'll leave you with my first musical song of the week! It's from the Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde, and I think it is one of the best songs written for a male in theatre!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31i-5F__1tw
I've joined BOST!!!
After a suprisingly successful audition, yours truly will become a member of the Birkenhead Operatics Society Trust!!! They're one of the better amateur theatrical groups in the area and put on at least one big show a year so I'm very priveledged to become a part of their group!! For my audition I sang a song from Phantom of the Opera!! The link below will take you to youtube to tell you which one I performed!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HWNKDmlnnQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HWNKDmlnnQ
Hamlet @ The Liverpool Lantern Theatre
This autumn's most anticipated Shakespeare may be Antony and Cleopatra, but it doesn't stop one of the Bards more popular pieces from packing a punch down at the Lantern Theatre.
Hamlet, Shakespeare's longest play, follows the story of a young prince who wishes to exact revenge on his murderous uncle Claudius. Many of the themes within the play, inclusing greed and sexual depravity, are just as relevant today as they were when the play was first written, over four hundred years ago.
This version, by Liverpool's Black Box Theatre Company, is part of a cultural exchange with Rome's Blue in the Face theatre group. They brought the last collaboration, The Juggler's Take, to the city in June this year.
The cast of nine are generally good. Keir Howard is a formidable Hamlet, handling the text well. The standout performance however, is from Ben Patterson, who portrays both Claudius, and the ghost of his brother, with chilling passion.
The modest set is utilised well. This production benefits from being performed in a theatre inside an old warehouse, which gives the feeling of actually being inside Elsinore. The combination of mood lighting and actors using the centre aisle adds atmosphere and heightens the feeling of claustrophobia.
One of the traits of Shakespeare's plays is that they can be set in any place, any time. This version, from the choice of costumes, appears to be set in the mid twentieth century, but it never becomes clear why.
Full to the brim of action and suspense, this is a production which is worth venturing out to see. Performed in a small theatre, which is a hideen gem in its own right, this Hamlet deserves to be seen on a larger scale.
7/10
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Reply to Mark Shenton of the stage
In his blog today, Mark Shenton talks about actors and actresses becoming famous on the back of musical theatre. The "Wicked factor", as he calls it has led to the success of stars such as Shoshana Bean who was in town last night for her concert debut. Marks blog entry can be seen here.
I agree with much of what Mark has said and have gone even further with my reasons why these people are becoming famous on the back of big shows. I think it is a good thing that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve for their talent, but think that it's a shame that smaller shows which don't have the big teenage following that some shows have, go under the radar and maybe even end up closing early - Spring Awakening comes to mind as one such recent show. I'm sure that the majority of the actors who were in that show will go onto bigger and better things, but I feel it was a shame it closed early because I thought that the cast were exceptional!
I agree with much of what Mark has said and have gone even further with my reasons why these people are becoming famous on the back of big shows. I think it is a good thing that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve for their talent, but think that it's a shame that smaller shows which don't have the big teenage following that some shows have, go under the radar and maybe even end up closing early - Spring Awakening comes to mind as one such recent show. I'm sure that the majority of the actors who were in that show will go onto bigger and better things, but I feel it was a shame it closed early because I thought that the cast were exceptional!
Thursday, 12 August 2010
42nd Street and Pygmalion
Sorry for not posting a blog in a while! I've been rather busy completing my PGCE but hopefully I shall be updating my blog a bit more regularly over the next few weeks and months!
Just wanted to quickly mention that I've been down the Chichester this summer and had the chance to see their two biggest shows of the season - the epic, toe-tapping musical extravaganza that is 42nd street, and the play which My Fair Lady is based on - Pygmalian.
42nd street first open on Broadway in 1980, and ran for nearly 3500 performances. The West End version began the high profile career of Catherine Zeta Jones. The basic story is of a small town girl who wants to audition for a Broadway show. After being told she is too late to audition, Peggy Sawyer goes off with some of the other chorus girls and shows them her skills. Eventually she is cast in the show.
The show is laden with big Broadway hits which you will instantly recognise - Were in the Money and 42nd street being the two most well known. The beginning of the Chichester revival is as clever, and as memorable as the initial Broadway run where the curtain rose slightly to reveal a row of legs tap dancing in time to the music!
The leads are all good, with Kathryn Evans, as prima donna, Dorothy Brock showing why she is one of the best current leading ladies of the stage. There is not a weak performance in the whole show, despeite it being early in previews. The choreography is simply breathtaking - I wish I could dance like that! This is one musical that is possibly more famous for its dance than its music! The costumes are also superb - this is one of the best musicals - if not the best muscial I've seen in Chichester! Sweeney Todd next year has a lot to live up to! 8.5/10
This is in contrast to the slightly disappointing Pygmalian. Maybe it was because the show is so well known that caused me to be so disappointed. It was all there in the advertising! George Bernards Shaws most prolific play, starring Rupert Everrett, Susie Blake and Honeysuckle Weeks in the best regional theatre in the country. I was expecting this to be out of this world!
Doubts started to arise in my mind with the start of the first interval, barely 45 minutes in. The production up until then was good - the acting was decent, the costumes good, and it was suprisingly funny! The set wasn't that exciting but that was my only majoy complaint. Then another interval started barely 15 minutes after the start of the show after the last interval. It wasn't enough time to get lost in the words of Bernard Shaw or to forget that the actors weren't acting. Rupert Everrett was good in the role, however he was probably the weakest link in the show. Occasionally forgetting lines, and perhaps appearing too young for the role meant that he wasn't quite as believable as the other characters. On the whole, the story of East End bum being turned into upper class beauty was good, but that was all. When expectatations were so high, it was always going to be difficult to exceed them, however I just felt disapointed. It could have been so much better. 6/10
I will try and post again soon! Thanks for reading! If you know of any good theatre blogs out there please post them on my comments box or email me it so I can have a good read! x x
Just wanted to quickly mention that I've been down the Chichester this summer and had the chance to see their two biggest shows of the season - the epic, toe-tapping musical extravaganza that is 42nd street, and the play which My Fair Lady is based on - Pygmalian.
42nd street first open on Broadway in 1980, and ran for nearly 3500 performances. The West End version began the high profile career of Catherine Zeta Jones. The basic story is of a small town girl who wants to audition for a Broadway show. After being told she is too late to audition, Peggy Sawyer goes off with some of the other chorus girls and shows them her skills. Eventually she is cast in the show.
The show is laden with big Broadway hits which you will instantly recognise - Were in the Money and 42nd street being the two most well known. The beginning of the Chichester revival is as clever, and as memorable as the initial Broadway run where the curtain rose slightly to reveal a row of legs tap dancing in time to the music!
The leads are all good, with Kathryn Evans, as prima donna, Dorothy Brock showing why she is one of the best current leading ladies of the stage. There is not a weak performance in the whole show, despeite it being early in previews. The choreography is simply breathtaking - I wish I could dance like that! This is one musical that is possibly more famous for its dance than its music! The costumes are also superb - this is one of the best musicals - if not the best muscial I've seen in Chichester! Sweeney Todd next year has a lot to live up to! 8.5/10
This is in contrast to the slightly disappointing Pygmalian. Maybe it was because the show is so well known that caused me to be so disappointed. It was all there in the advertising! George Bernards Shaws most prolific play, starring Rupert Everrett, Susie Blake and Honeysuckle Weeks in the best regional theatre in the country. I was expecting this to be out of this world!
Doubts started to arise in my mind with the start of the first interval, barely 45 minutes in. The production up until then was good - the acting was decent, the costumes good, and it was suprisingly funny! The set wasn't that exciting but that was my only majoy complaint. Then another interval started barely 15 minutes after the start of the show after the last interval. It wasn't enough time to get lost in the words of Bernard Shaw or to forget that the actors weren't acting. Rupert Everrett was good in the role, however he was probably the weakest link in the show. Occasionally forgetting lines, and perhaps appearing too young for the role meant that he wasn't quite as believable as the other characters. On the whole, the story of East End bum being turned into upper class beauty was good, but that was all. When expectatations were so high, it was always going to be difficult to exceed them, however I just felt disapointed. It could have been so much better. 6/10
I will try and post again soon! Thanks for reading! If you know of any good theatre blogs out there please post them on my comments box or email me it so I can have a good read! x x
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Blood Brothers @ The Empire Theatre
It is always nice to see a show which has done very well return to the city where it made it's name, and Blood Brothers is no exception.
The tale of the twins separated at birth has delighted audiences for over twenty years, gaining standing ovations every night as well as some of Britains finest leading ladies. Set in Liverpool, the show begins with the death of the two young men who ended up living two very different lives. One child was kept and one given away by the mother who couldn't afford to keep both of them, and the story follows the life of both boys as they grow up world's apart in the same city.
Both boys fight to keep their friendship alive, becoming blood brothers in the process. No matter how far apart their families move they are always brought back together. As they leave their childhood years behind them however, their destiny leads them down completely different paths - one to local government and the other to prison.
Sean Jones as Mickey and Paul Jones as Eddie both do sterling jobs as the two young brothers. It is Lyn Paul who shines however as the Marilyn Monroe obsessed mother. Her rendition of Tell me it's not true will have audiences reaching for their tissues, long after they've left the theatre. Her acting skills are good, but it is her voice, which projects from the stage right to the back of the auditorium, which distingishes her from the rest of the cast.
Robbie Scotcher as the narrator does disappoint however. It is true that much of the material which he has to deliver isn't particularly strong, but he delivers many of his lines in such a rush that the diction suffers and so it is hard to understand exactly what he is saying. This becomes quite distracting during the second half when his character is suposed to move the storyline on.
Whilst this show keeps returning to Liverpool is will continue to sell well, and rightly so. It is a good story which is told very well. However some of the lyrics are too contrived and this means that the flow of the story is occasionally affected. The show and the set are beginning to look dated now, although will the current economic climate there is more relevance to today.
The show does bring in the crowds, but it would be nice if it encouraged the audiences it does get to stay and watch other musicals - many of which are much better both lyrically and musically.
What the show does very well is that it lets you re-live your youth- it lets you revel in it.. the long, hot summer days at the fayre; the walks through the countryside and the nights sat looking out over the city. It lets you connect with the characters, and so it becomes ever more poignant at the ending.
If you have yet to see this show then you should get yourself a ticket - if you've already seen it then splash out the cash you would have spent on a ticket on another musical - you never know, you may even enjoy it more!
7/10
The tale of the twins separated at birth has delighted audiences for over twenty years, gaining standing ovations every night as well as some of Britains finest leading ladies. Set in Liverpool, the show begins with the death of the two young men who ended up living two very different lives. One child was kept and one given away by the mother who couldn't afford to keep both of them, and the story follows the life of both boys as they grow up world's apart in the same city.
Both boys fight to keep their friendship alive, becoming blood brothers in the process. No matter how far apart their families move they are always brought back together. As they leave their childhood years behind them however, their destiny leads them down completely different paths - one to local government and the other to prison.
Sean Jones as Mickey and Paul Jones as Eddie both do sterling jobs as the two young brothers. It is Lyn Paul who shines however as the Marilyn Monroe obsessed mother. Her rendition of Tell me it's not true will have audiences reaching for their tissues, long after they've left the theatre. Her acting skills are good, but it is her voice, which projects from the stage right to the back of the auditorium, which distingishes her from the rest of the cast.
Robbie Scotcher as the narrator does disappoint however. It is true that much of the material which he has to deliver isn't particularly strong, but he delivers many of his lines in such a rush that the diction suffers and so it is hard to understand exactly what he is saying. This becomes quite distracting during the second half when his character is suposed to move the storyline on.
Whilst this show keeps returning to Liverpool is will continue to sell well, and rightly so. It is a good story which is told very well. However some of the lyrics are too contrived and this means that the flow of the story is occasionally affected. The show and the set are beginning to look dated now, although will the current economic climate there is more relevance to today.
The show does bring in the crowds, but it would be nice if it encouraged the audiences it does get to stay and watch other musicals - many of which are much better both lyrically and musically.
What the show does very well is that it lets you re-live your youth- it lets you revel in it.. the long, hot summer days at the fayre; the walks through the countryside and the nights sat looking out over the city. It lets you connect with the characters, and so it becomes ever more poignant at the ending.
If you have yet to see this show then you should get yourself a ticket - if you've already seen it then splash out the cash you would have spent on a ticket on another musical - you never know, you may even enjoy it more!
7/10
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