Shows
Moonshadow – Yusuf Islam at the O2 Dublin
Cat Stevens, Yusuf on tour and Moonshadow
Cat Steven is currently engaged on a concert tour at the same time as his new musical, Moonshadow is being prepared for a possible West End run.
But according to the Times Online review, all is not going too well.
The bad vibes began when Islam paused the performance for a 40-minute preview of his forthcoming musical, Moonshadow. A cast led by the former Hear’say singer Noel Sullivan trooped on to act, dance and deliver a mix of new material as well as the Cat Stevens classics Father and Son and Wild World. By the latter, streams of people were walking out, dismayed at Islam for handing over his hits. In truth, the musical segment lasted far too long and was confusingly introduced. In the West End of London, where it is expected to open next year, Moonshadow could go down a storm. In front of an audience who had come to hear Islam trawl his back catalogue, it was never going to work.
However, the bulk of the audience remained for a final segment of the show that began on shaky ground — they groaned as Islam introduced more new songs and pulled a plucky Sullivan back on to duet — but ended on a high with a lengthy, rocky rendition of Peace Train. (read more)
Oh dear, at first sight that wouldn’t seem to bode well for the musical. The people who want to be nostalgic about the songs may not be the right audience for the new show yet nostalgia would seem to be its main appeal. On the other hand there’s a lot of great material in that back catalogue and still some time left to turn it into a popular musical with wider appeal than just the hard core Cat Stevens fans who would only ever want to hear himself singing his old hits.
The Telegraph has a short interview which examines his life journey Yusuf Islam: coming out of the Moonshadows
..he continues to attract new audiences – his singing voice, at least, crosses generations and he recently won new fans when a track of his was used in the television show Skins.
and a review of the same concert the Times correspondent went to
Gosh, what a show. There was a standing ovation, disgruntled walk outs, some unfeasibly beautiful music, some “we are bored” slow hand clapping plus a surprise appearance by Ronan Keating. Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, must be feeling very confused this morning.
What is it, Dylan Moran?
Dylan Moran “What It Is” Theatre Breaks
Dylan Moran, star of TV’s Black Books, Shaun Of The Dead and Run Fat Boy Run is back in London with his show, What It Is.
At The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue London until December 5th, Dylan Moran “What It Is” tickets are also available as Comedy Theatre Breaks in London, with tickets and hotel room included.
I saw him head the bill at the Hackney Empire’s New Act of The Year show many years ago and very much enjoyed his surrealist monologues.
Since then, Dylan Moran’s legendary stand up rants have sold out across the world cementing this unkempt wordsmith’s reputation as one of the foremost comics of his generation. Likened to Dave Allen and labelled ‘The Oscar Wilde of Comedy’ Dylan is unpredictable, bizarre, elegiac, often cruel but above all painfully funny.
Dylan Moran sees through the joys and disappointments of human existence with the sensibility and intense perception of a man teetering on the edge. He chews life up and coughs it out, he’s a one of a kind.
Booking Until: Saturday, 05 December 2009
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 8pm
Running Time: 2 hours
Suitable for ages 14+
Dylan Moran on Germany
** Book Dylan Moran Theatre Breaks **
Pete Townsend – New Musical
Peter Townsend of The Who has written anther rock musical. This one isn’t about growing up but rather about growing old. The musical is called Floss and tells the story of an ageing pub rocker and relationship with his wife.
Songs from the show will appear on the next Who album. Townsend is said to be in talks for a US opening in 2011.
He says he wants to tackle the issues the Baby Boomers are facing as they realise they didn’t die before they got old. The music will reflect the anger and disillusionment of this newly retired generation.
Meanwhile that other Townsend offering, Quadrophenia continues its UK tour.
Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption
A new serious play comes to Charing Cross after the summer, The Shawshank Redemption. The world stage premiere of The Shawshank Redemption ran at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin this May where it received an almost unbroken run of standing ovations.
** Book The Shawshank Redemption Theatre Breaks **
The Shawshank Redemption is to receive its London premiere at the Wyndham’s Theatre on 13th September with previews starting on the 4th of September, 2009
The Shawshank Redemption book and film
Based on the 1982 Stephen King novella, The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne, who is sentenced to life in Shawshank Prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Stripped of his freedom, Andy is forced to endure a spirit-crushing routine, but with his quiet strength and inner courage there is one thing Andy never loses: hope.
The story was adapted into a film in 1994, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, which was nominated for seven Oscars.
Audience Reaction to the Shawshank Redemption
Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns’s new stage adaptation stars American actors Reg E Cathey and Kevin Anderson. Cathey is known for his role in hit US television drama The Wire and has appeared on Broadway in The Green Bird. Anderson is a member of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company and has Broadway credits including Death Of A Salesman, which earned him a Tony Award nomination, Come Back Little Sheba and Brooklyn, while in London he starred in the premiere production of Sunset Boulevard.
The Shawshank Redemption will run at Wyndhams Theatre with evening performances from Tuesday to Saturday and Matinees on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Serious is what the public wants
Serious drama is the new black
Writing in the Evening Standard Nicholas Hytner makes a ‘confident prediction’. He says:
the hot tickets in London this summer will be for Shakespeare, Chekhov and Racine.
He suggests there’s serious hunger amongst the theatre audience for more complex plays. He goes on to say:
Over the next few months, sold out houses, a thousand strong, will discover again that honesty, intelligence and nobility of mind can be a crippling handicap (Hamlet).
That the destruction of a decayed old order is necessary and absolutely heart-breaking (The Cherry Orchard).
That obsessive love is an affliction that can turn a woman into a stalker (All’s Well That Ends Well) or prompt her to accuse an innocent young man of rape (Phedre) – but that in both cases the audience will stay with her, will not easily condemn, will not turn tabloid editor and cry witch.
I can’t disagree with any of that. They are all productions that I’d love to see. Rich, complex, serious drama. And there is an audience for it. Those productions, in the main, sell out before most of that potential audience can even book seats.
He’s not saying the West End musicals are dead. He’s being much more subtle than that. His point seems to be that the London theatre can both celebrate and satirise ‘pop culture’. I think he might be saying that we can have our ‘jukebox’, feel-good, musicals so long as they come with a suitable spoon full of self-awareness and make us think, as well as sing.
It will become part of a London theatre that is thriving because it provides escape, because it both satirises and embraces a debased popular culture. But above all, because it is serious. And it turns out that serious is what the public wants.
What do you want?
I hate to point out the obvious but Nicholas Hytner is Director of the National Theatre. To an extent he has to believe serious drama is what the public wants.
So it’s over to you, dear reader, what is it that you want?
More serious drama? Or more fluff like Legally Blonde?
(Oh and please, don’t try to persuade me it’s making a serious feminist point!)
Original Cast Recordings of Musicals
I’ve found a great new free way to listen to original cast recordings of lots of musicals on my computer. Right now I’m enjoying Zorro!
Spotify is a legal way to listen to music online either for free (with occasional ads) or if you pay for premium it’s ad free.
Spotify is sort of like radio on demand. It’s a streaming service so you can’t store the music on your computer or transfer it to an MP3 player but it’s good enough to listen to music whilst working on your computer.
You can make up your own playlists and share them with friends.
The service pays a small fee to access the songs legally so it’s perfectly ok to use. You have to download the software onto your computer but it’s really easy and works on both PC and Mac computers via Adobe Air
Cast recordings I found on Spotify so far
They are adding stuff all the time so it’s worthwhile searching. So far I’ve managed to find:
They are lots more – so I hope you enjoy Spotify.
Shout! now playing at the Arts Theatre
Shout!, is described as a musical celebration of the swinging 60s. The show is at The Arts Theatre from 17 April to 28 June, press night on 29th April.
The score features more than 30 of the biggest pop hits of the decade, including Downtown, Son Of A Preacher Man, These Boots Are Made For Walking, I Only Wanna Be With You and,of course, Shout! It tells the story of a group of young girls who arrive to try their luck in London the start of the 1960s.
The show has just completed a successful tour despite accusations of being just another jukebox musical.
This video, although it’s about the Chicago production will give you a flavour of what the show is like.
Duet for One transfers to Vaudeville
Duet for One re-opens May 12th
Following a successful run the Almeida production of Duet for One, which finished today (March 14th), will transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre for a 12 week run in the West End. The show will re-open on May 12th.
Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman will continue in the leading roles.
Duet for One tells the story of Stephanie Abrahams, a brilliant concert violinist who is forced to re-evaluate her life when struck down by an unforeseen tragedy. She consults psychiatrist Dr Feldmann and through a series of highly charged encounters is led to examine her deepest emotions and finally to consider a future without music.
Kempinski’s play is thought to be loosely based on the life of cellist Jaquelline Du Pre and was turned into a hit film (1986)starring Julie Andrews and Anthony Bates.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, at Trafalgar Studios
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf opens at the Trafalgar Studios on 14th April – 9th May 2009
Mathew Kelly will play George and Tracey Childs will play Martha.
Albert Albee’s depiction of the cocktail party from Hell is undoubtedly a masterpiece so I’m looking forward to this. It’s not that long since Kathleen Turner played Martha in the West End (2006) so it does seem a little soon for another outing.
This production was originally seen at Lichfield last year where it got some very good reviews:
We find ourselves virtually sitting in George and Martha’s living room, audience members visibly wincing, laughing, cringing…Matthew Kelly and Tracey Childs give towering performances as the tortured pair…superb performances from Mark Farrelly and Louise Kempton’
The Stage
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
National Theatre Live Broadcasts to Cinema
The Nation Theatre based at London’s Southbank is to embark on a radical new initiative to broadcast live performances of plays onto cinema screens worldwide. A pilot season of four shows is planned starting with a broadcast of the play Phèdre, with Helen Mirren, Margaret Tyzack and Dominic Cooper on July 25th. This will be restricted to fifty UK cinemas, but clearly if the technology holds up it could be expanded worldwide wherever there is sufficient interest. NESTA which is a Quango supporting innovation is sponsoring:
National Theatre : NT Live : What is it? How does it work?
NT Live
What is it? How does it work?Live theatre broadcast to cinema screens around the world.
‘I grew up in Manchester in the 60s. If I had been able to see Olivier’s National Theatre at my local cinema, I would have gone all of the time.’ Nicholas Hytner
On 25 June the performance of Phèdre will be filmed in high definition and broadcast via satellite to approximately 50 cinemas and arts centres, reaching a widespread audience live across the UK. Tickets will cost £10. Over 100 venues around the world will also screen the production.
The remaining three shows in the pilot season have yet to be announced but will feature a range of the National’s diverse repertoire. The performances will be nominated in advance to allow cameras greater freedom in the auditorium.
Broadcasts will also feature behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with artists. We hope to open the walls of the National Theatre and invite cinema audiences around the country and the world to share in the work we create.
Find out if NT Live is at a cinema near you on 25 June.
NT Live is funded in partnership with: NESTA
Future international venues for live screenings of Phèdre are intended for
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Sweden & US.
The big question which this initiative perhaps seeks to answer is this:
Do people really want to see “live” theatre at the cinema?
Well do you?
Thanks for reading Theatre Breaks articles about Shows on the London Theatre Breaks Blog
