Thriller Live @ The Empire Theatre

It may be nearly two years since the superstar's tragic death, but going by the reaction of the audience at the Liverpool Empire last night, it seems that the music of Michael Jackson is as popular as ever.

Brought to the stage by Adrian Grant, Thriller Live celebrates the back catalogue of one of the most talented stars the world has ever seen.

The show begins with an X-Factor style montage, complete with images of the king of pop and facts about his career. The only thing missing is te voice-over by Peter Dickson.

The first half follows Jackson's music as he sings with his brothers in the Jackson Five. Too many of these songs are lost on the audience and so it takes a while to build any atmosphere. Die hard fans may be engaged during this segment, but too many people around me started to grow restless.

The audience interaction is a nice touch, but goes on too long. Altogether there is a distinct lack of substance in the first half.

The second half of the show is much better, with a barrage of instantly recognisable hits. "Beat it" is a real highlight, as well as the title song. This is where the show really becomes alive, the catchy melodies and lyrics tearing deep into your soul.

Hayley Evetts, who reached the final five in the inaugual series of Pop Idol, sand many of the hit songs. Her vocals were excellent and she has a realstage presence.

The standout performance though, came from Nathan James, whos unique voie gave a real edge to Jacksons lyrics. The live band also gives an added energy to the production.

At times the music drowns out the singng, and there were a few problem with the sound last night.

The dancin and the choreography are outstanding. The whole ensemble give their all, performing much of the late singers complex routines with ease throughout the two hour show.

The set includes a series of screens, onto which projections are added to change the mood and the atmosphere of each era,

Not suprisingly, the show doesn't mention anything about Jackson's offstage persona. This makes the show slightly less exciting, as many people found his real-life antics just as interesting as his music and dancing, particularly his more recent years.

Despite the lack of extra substance to the show, Thriller Live is undoubtably an enjoyable ight out, showcasing the music of one of the legends of pop music. Fans of Michael Jackson are in for a treat.

6/10

Update on BOST!

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!!!!

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'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

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

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!

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