Duke Of York’s Theatre April 23, 2008
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The Duke of York’s theatre is currently in between shows.
“Rent” has closed and “That Face” opens in May
This photo was obviously taken when The Little Shop of Horrors was still there. Let’s hope it will soon welcome something as long running and successful!
Billy Elliot - Victoria Palace April 23, 2008
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I can’t resist posting this picture of the wonderful art nouveau Victoria Palace Theatre
That’s Anna Pavlova the ballet dancer on top.
Billy Elliot - Victoria Palace April 23, 2008
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Billy Elliot the musical continues a long run at the beautiful Victoria Palace Theatre, opposite Victoria Station.
** book Billy Elliot theatre breaks**
Mamma Mia - the film trailer is here! April 23, 2008
Posted by admin in : Mamma Mia!, Musicals, Prince of Wales, cast changes, comedy, news, offers , add a commentMamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is one of the most popular shows in the West End at the moment and it is easy to forget just how good it actually is. It premiered in London in April 1999 and is likely to be given a boost by the opening of the new film version in a few weeks. You’d think that might put people off the stage version, but in fact the opposite is usually true. Once people see the film they often decide they want to see the original.
The book was written by Brit Catherine Johnson and music composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of Abba. It’s now the most successful musical on Earth. It has grossed more than $2 billion. There are currently 10 productions worldwide. People take theatre breaks in London, Berlin, and even Las Vegas just to see the different productions! More than 30 million people have seen it. Now even more will see the film.
Mamma Mia! the Movie
The film cost $65-million and stars Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Like the stage show it tells the story of single mum and taverna owner Donna Sheridan, and her daughter’s search for her father. Streep plays Donna, and Brosnan plays one of Donna’s three old flames, one of whom might be the long lost dad, that show up for Donna’s daughter’s wedding.
The trailer for the Mama Mia film has just been released and here it is:
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Mamma Mia in London
Currently Mamma Mia is playing at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Coventry Street. The theatre’s nearest tube station is Leicester Square or Piccadilly.
Here’s a delicious peep backstage with some of the London cast’s leading ladies:
Blood Brothers April 23, 2008
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Willy Russel’s “Blood Brothers” is set in 1960’s Liverpool. Twin boys are born to a loving mother who can’t afford to look after both children. Her wealthy, childless boss, persuades poor Mrs Johnston to give up one of her boys in exchange for money. The boss offers one twin a home as her own child and better life. They both vow to never tell anyone what they’ve done.
Of course the two boys, Mickey and Eddie, meet again in when they are older. They become friends but only time will tell if their friendship survives and if their mothers ever tell them the truth about their relationship.
The Lion King - Lyceum Theatre April 23, 2008
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Disney’s “The Lion King” is in its 9th year at the Lyceum theatre.
Meanwhile in London Ontario: Twist and Shout April 22, 2008
Posted by Andy in : Musicals, international , 1 comment so farIf you think London, England has too many tribute band shows on the West End instead of proper musicals then look what’s on in London, Ontario, Canada:
Not only do you get tribute songs from lots of old bands sung by a smaller number of singers but also a large TV screen showing A Heinz pickle advertisement. That’s by no means the first time recorded video footage has been used in conjunction with live performance (Brief Encounter) but it may pioneering for product placement at the theatre. Heinz do still make pickle don’t they?
Twist and Shout: The British Invasion
Twist and Shout: The British Invasion
Performed by cast of 14
Written & Directed by Alex Mustakas
Grand Theatre Production
Grand Theatre, London, Ontario, Canada.
April 15 to May 11, 2008This show is aimed at the demographics of our times. Statistics tell us that the baby-boomer population is now in the 45 to 55 age range. If the theatre’s goal is to put “bums in seats”, then it makes perfect sense to put on a show that will appeal to the bulk of the population.
The audience is taken back to a mid-sixties TV studio, complete with microphones on booms and old TV cameras. Two high large-screen televisions show the action on stage in living black and white. Watchers are treated to some 1960’s commercials – a Heinz pickle ad is particularly entertaining.
As well as the Beatles and all their familiar tunes, we see Dave Clark Five (Glad All Over), The Searchers (Needles and Pins), Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (Game of Love), Donavon (Mellow Yellow – and he still appears to be suffering from that early drug bust), Gerry and the Pacemakers (Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying), Freddy and Dreamers (I’m Telling You Now), Swinging Blue Jeans (Hippy Hippy Shake), Spencer Davis Group (Gimme Some Lovin’), Herman’s Hermits (Henry the Eighth sing along version), The Hollies (Carrie Anne, Bus Stop, ) and more groups with many more familiar songs.
And while all the early rock groups are covered, there is good representation of the female singers: Lulu with To Sir, With Love, Petula Clark’s Downtown and I Know a Place, Mary Hopkins, (Those Were the Days), and the late great Dusty Springfield with fantastic songs like You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me and You Don’t Own Me.
The showstopper is Danny Williams, first when he sings The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun, then Procul Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, and also He Ain’t Heavy; He’s my Brother, which is better than the original. Next he brings the house down when he does his Mick Jagger imitation for Honky Tonk Woman, Let’s Spend the Night Together and Satisfaction.
Similarly, Christine Glen’s powerful voice rocks the house with Dusty Springfield’s Son of a Preacher Man.
So if you fancy a nostalgic night out based entirely on cover versions of well known songs, glitter and dancing, and hardly any plot at all then you should take advantage of one of the new budget transatlantic airline deals and get over to Ontario, Canada where the long dark winter has just about ended.
Gone With the Wind - The biggest flop? Not yet anyway! April 20, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Gone With the Wind, opinion , 3comments
** Book Gone with the Wind musical theatre break tickets **
Well, according to the Guardian arts section, that’s what Gary Cooper said about the movie. I think it’s not really fair to judge the musical yet. It’s still on previews. Press night and the official opening night on April 22nd will give us a better idea.
At the moment it’s still a bit long, three and a half hours at last count but more cuts are promised. It’s billed as ‘a play with music’ rather than a musical as such. Still it will probably be the most expensive West End production of the year and a huge gamble in a year that’s seen the closing of that other vastly expensive behemoth, LOTR.
If you’ve ever read Margaret Mitchell’s 1,000-page novel about the American Civil War you’ll be slightly stunned by the thought of trying to fit it into such a short time. It’s more like a Wagernian epic than your average simple musical plot. Even so it’s not quite as long as LOTR and I can sort of see how the basic story might be made to work on stage. Trevor Nunn is no idiot. He has a great track record and lots of people thought Les Mis would be a disaster.
Margaret Martin, who wrote the stage play and music has no stage or music experience. She’s a doctor! I’d love to know how she managed to convince people to back her. No, really 
The Guardian seems to think Darius Danesh, as Rhett Butler, and Jill Paice as Scarlett O’Hara, might have trouble competing with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in the 1939 movie. Personally I doubt it. OK they loom large in my imagination, (“It’s me age y’know!“) but the younger West End going audience have probably never even seen more than a few clips from the movie much less read the book.
Our readers are so far divided with Michael hating it:
My Goodness! What a pity I didn’t read this article before I just wasted three hours & forty minutes watching ‘Gones with the wind’ (the most boring show I have ever had the misfortune to see on the Wesr End Stage.) I have just returned from seeing a preview performance at the Duchess Theatre & simply couldn’t wait for it to end.
Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to leave.there were too many people in the row that I would have disturbed.
Simply dreadful adaptation by Trever Nunn of Margaret Martin’s lyrics & music. ( Music? is that what they call it?.
very good effort from the principal performers with such poor songs with very little melody whatever.
The applause from a practically ‘full house’ was barely audible at times & many patrons failed to reappear after the first Interval (90 Minutes.
If this show runs 90 days I’ll eat my hat.( It’s made from Candy anyway!) I had especially booked this musical production for my Mothers 84th Birthday & havin seen “Buddy” the night before she couldn’t comprehend how two west end musicals could be so wildly different.
I simply can’t wait to see what the London Theatre critics have to say after it opens officially on 22nd April.
Londoners BEWARE
And Pam off to see it for the third time:
I went on the first preview night and what an honour seing the whole uncut show…..
I did feel that things would need to be changed.
To me the second half was fast moving, good/great songs and excellent acting.
But it was the first preview and you should expect it not to be the finished product.I returned last night….many changes
The show now feels like a musical rather than a drama with music.Also went this afternoon and loved the audiences reaction at the end, they loved it.
There are going to be people who don’t like it but I think the majority will….I’m sure it will be a HUGE sucess.
I’ve been lucky enough to get tickets for press night….can’t wait!
So although the production has had more than it’s fair share of problems in this preview season I think we should really reserve judgement until after the official opening on Tuesday.
** Book Gone with the Wind musical theatre break tickets **
Free foyer music at the National Theatre April 20, 2008
Posted by Andy in : National , add a commentFoyer Music
Enjoy free concerts in the ‘Djanogly Concert Pitch’ Monday to Saturday evenings (pre-performance) and at lunch time on Saturdays. Feel free to hum along, tap your toes or just sit back and listen to a lively mix of music from around the world… from cool jazz to upbeat ethnic and much, much more.
Mondays to Fridays at 5.45pm and Saturdays at 1pm & 5.45pm, unless otherwise indicated.
Music
Brigitte Beraha Trio
Singer performs contemporary Latin jazz.
Apr 28
Jandira Silva & Chico Chagas
Vocalist & pianist from Brazil present A Tribute To Tom Jobim.
Apr 29
Laura Zakian Trio
Vocalist performs jazz and swing
Apr 30
Oh La La
Jazz & pop with a French twist
May 01
Andrea Quintarelli
virtuoso guitarist plays own blend of exhilarating rhythms.
May 02
Pinky Umbrella
Klezmer, Cajun and bluegrass music on guitar and accordion
May 03 >
David Perkins
Plays Scott Joplin’s rags and waltzes.
May 05
Christian Brewer Quartet
Contemporary hard swinging jazz from lyrical alto sax player.
May 06
Fumi Okiji Duo
Vocalist performs jazz standards and originals.
May 07
The Groanbox Boys
Duo play old time American blues, rags and minstrel songs.
May 08
Joanna Eden Quartet
Latin jazz singer.
May 09
Fueye Tango
Traditional Argentine tango trio feat. Ninon Foiret on bandoneon.
May 10 >
Duck Baker Trio
American fingerstyle guitarist plays jazz with clarinet and bass.
May 12
Kelvin Christiane Trio
Flute/sax-led Latin jazz.
May 13
Paul Malsom Trio
Brazilian jazz guitar, bass & percussion.
May 15
Annie Bright & The Dave Gelly Quartet
Perform swinging standards and warm ballads.
May 16
Tommaso Starace Duo
Sax-led jazz standards and originals.
May 17 >
Basil Hodge Trio
Piano-led blues and hard bop originals and standards.
May 20
Renato D’Aiello Trio
Italian alto player performs jazz standards and originals.
May 21
TangoDuo
Passionate tango songs and instrumentals by inspired by the poetry.
May 22
Liam Grundy
Honky-tonk Blues singer-pianist with guitar and bass.
May 23
Jason Carter
Guitar virtuoso plays folk, world and flamenco.
May 24 >
Mario Basilisco & Fernando Reyes
Guitarist and singer perform traditional flamenco.
May 26
Michael Storey
New Country Blues on piano/harmonica.
May 27
Guillermo’s Fine and Mellow
Argentine vocalist pays tribute to the masters of Gentle Singing.
May 28
Clare Foster Trio
Great American standards and Brazilian repertoire.
May 29
Michael Garrick Trio
Veteran jazz pianist performing his best loved standards and originals.
May 30
The Virtuosos
Gypsy folk on accordion and violin.
May 31
We Will Rock You - sequel planned says Brian May. April 19, 2008
Posted by admin in : wewillrockyou , add a commentBrian May, of Queen, has confirmed rumours that he’s planning a sequel to ‘We Will Rock You’, the hit musical inspired by the band.
May told the Beeb that there are no dates as yet scheduled for the musical.
“We are planning the sequel,” May said. “It is a real challenge.”
‘We Will Rock You’, was written and directed by Ben Elton. It’s been an absolutely solid smash hit and has been seen by over two million people in the last six years.
