Six Characters In Search Of An Author transfers to the Gielgud August 4, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Plays, Six Characters In Search Of An Author, dates , add a commentPirandello’s Six Characters In Search Of An Author, will transfer from Chichester to the Gielgud Theatre. The play will preview from the September 10th for a limited run until November 8th.
Priandello Updated
Pirandello’s 1921 classic has been ‘re-imaged’ by Ben Power and Rupert Goold. The play has been updated and adapted for a modern audience. I’d really like to see this. This new production has been very well received at Chichester. It is a play I know well in its original form and have enjoyed in the past. I am sure it will be interesting to see what this team have made of it.
Six Characters in search of a film editor?
The play still tells the story of six strangers but now they arrive unannounced during the editing of a documentary film. As their chilling story unfolds it becomes clear that they are fictional characters and they want the film maker to make their story into a documentary. The play questions both fiction and reality and I can see how this could work well for our media-obsessed age.
The Chichester Cast
Ian McDiarmid
Noma Dumezweni
Jamie Bower
Eleanor David
Dyfan Dwyfor
Christine Entwisle
Denise Gough
Jake Harders
Jeremy Joyce
John Mackay
Freya Parker
Robin Pearce
Exclusive Saturday Night Theatre Breaks August 2, 2008
Posted by admin in : Dirty Dancing, Grease, Hairspray, Musicals, Oliver, Special Offers, jersey boys, offers, theatre breaks , add a commentExclusive Saturday night theatre tickets
A new offer from Superbreak gives you the chance to choose Saturday night tickets for one of a range of popular shows with two nights in a London hotel for a very reasonable price. There’s also a fantastic bonus pack but more about that later. The top London show Saturday night tickets for these particular dates can be hard to find which is part of what makes this exclusive theatre break deal particularly attractive. You can not only choose from a range of 3* and 4* hotels but also specify from a range of theatre ticket price bands.
For example, two could stay 2 nights in a 3* hotel and see Oliver! (with Jodie!) in January from as little as £252 ! Or go in November and see Lee Mead in Joseph before he finishes, 2 nights in a 3*hotel plus tickets for 2 from £262
Not only that you get a VIP Theatre Pack full of goodies including a special exclusive CD and loads of valuable discount vouchers. But just wait until you see which West End Musicals are included in this exclusive offer.
Want to be sure of getting tickets? Book now
Shows and Dates
The offer is for specific dates in the autumn and winter of 2008. You could even book more than one.
Dirty Dancing Saturday 18 October 2008
do I see a girls’ night out in your future? Plus these weekends in London would be perfect for anyone planning a Hen Night.
November
Feeling like a musical November to chase away the winter chills?
Grease - Saturday 08 November 2008
Is this the one that you want?
Dirty Dancing - Saturday 15 November 2008
Wedding not till November? No Problem!
Joseph - Saturday 22 November 2008
Yes, see Lee before it’s too late!
Hairspray - Saturday 29 November 2008
Top show, what can I say, these are class shows! check availability
December
What about a shopping break in London combined with a show?
Jersey Boys - Saturday 06 December 2008
Dirty Dancing - Saturday 13 December 2008
January 2009
Oliver! - Saturday 24 January 2009
Oh yes, would you believe it? Tickets to see Jodie on a Saturday in January could be yours!
Act Fast - Book Now
You are going to have to act fast to grab these. It’s such a good offer the shows will book up fast.
So act now to book your Saturday Night Exclusive Theatre Break in London
What’s in the VIP Theatre Pack?
- An Exclusive Directors Choice CD
- A free subscription to Passport of the Arts (worth £20)
- A host of discount vouchers for London Attractions
Further details and check availability of tickets on the Exclusive Saturday Peformance Offer page
Imagine This - New London Musical set in Poland July 24, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Imagine This, Musicals, New London Theatre , add a commentImagine This - the musical
Imagine This is a new musical set in Poland which is moving to The New London Theatre in the West End after a very successful run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. The musical will start previews on November 4th and opens on November 19th.
Imagine This - the story
The story is set in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942 Poland and follows the passions, relationships and courage of a troupe of actors staging a play to try to keep hope alive in their community. The story is very much about ordinary people forced by extraordinary circumstances into making heroic decisions.
The theatre director Daniel Warshowky persuades his closest family and friends to put on a play that will inspire the community and force them to imagine a world beyond Nazi domination. He bases the play on the classic Jewish story of the martyrs of Masada. Trapped in their stronghold on top of Masada almost 1000 Jews, with their leader Eleazar ben Yair chose to commit suicide rather than give in to the Romans.
The action moves between the two stories, that of the Ghetto players and the Masada play.
Despite the grim situation the musical is full of hope, energy and optimism. Surprisingly there is also lots of humour in such tragic circumstances.
Imagine This - the music
The score is by Shuki Levy, whose previous work seems to have been mostly for children’s TV. He wrote the themes for Power Rangers, Inspector Gadget and He Man Masters of the Universe . This didn’t seem too promising but then I realised I could still remember the tunes of all these 90s classics! On further investigation I found there are samples from the Plymouth production available on the web site and I have to admit I was favourably impressed. The music is described as soaring and uplifting and from what I’ve heard that’s accurate. Juke box musical this is not! I suspect if you like the music from Marguerite you’ll like this.
The lyrics are by David Goldsmith who has worked with Levy before.
Imagine This - the cast
A full cast list for Imagine This has not yet been announced but so far we only know that Peter Polycarpou will carry on from the Plymouth production. Stephen Ashfield is unlikely to appear as he’s now in Jersey Boys and Annette McLaughlin seems to have other commitments as well.
The Female of the Species Reviewed July 17, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Vaudeville, comedy, female of the species, reviews , add a commentThe Female of the Species, Vaudeville Theatre 15-07-08
The Female of the Species a comedy, opened last night at the Vaudeville Theatre. The play is ‘loosely’ based on an incident in the life of Germaine Greer. The author Joanna Murray-Smith is at pains to deny that the feminist writer at the heart of the play is based on Greer stating that she wouldn’t dare to portray her on stage. Germaine Greer begs to differ, points out that the incident itself was nearer to tragedy than farce, and is suitably outraged.
I’ve read most of Germaine Greer’s books and I’m a great admirer of her work. This made me rather uneasy but we’d been given some complementary tickets (one of the perks of blogging ) and I thought I’d go with an open mind.
There is nothing like a Dame
Dame Eileen Atkins takes the lead as Margot Mason, a famous feminist author. I’m trying here to avoid mentioning Germaine Greer again but it’s very hard. She even looks a tiny bit like her, although at least she’s not wearing one of those classic grey Greer frocks. Her performance is quite wonderful, pure class and very funny. She dominates the stage and the play showing us in turn the vast ego of the woman, her undeniable intellect and her vulnerability. Atkins mixes this with some great comic timing and some lovely, physical comedy. Even in moments when the focus was off her it was hard to drag my eyes away from her expressive face.
I think her real triumph was to take a potentially unsympathetic part and make us see Margot as very human and often actually right in her assessment of people. Atkins’ Margot is witty and smart with a tiny edge of self-doubt. Even though Margot is the focus of everyone’s anger in the play Atkins’ performance steals the show and it is the other characters who end up looking hollow and foolish.
So far so good.
I was not so happy with some of the other performances. I felt that the rest of the cast were patchy. Everyone had good moments but no one shone. Each of the characters in turn gets to have a go at Margot (by now handcuffed to her desk) and tell her just where she, and the rest of the feminist movement have gone wrong. Each tries to tell her she is to blame for the situation they find themselves in.
The two younger women, Anna Maxwell Martin (the self styled ‘homicidal intruder’) and Sophie Thompson (the ‘disappointing’ daughter) both played their parts with gusto but with a rather exaggerated use of physical ticks.
I quite enjoyed Paul Chahidi as the son -in -law. Despite the character being dense, well meaning, full of platitudes but a bit of a cardboard cut out Chahidi managed to make me feel quite sympathetic to him.
Poor Con O’Neill has a strange and amazingly short part to play, coming on only for the last 15 minutes or so as the taxi driver. He’s almost the last to speak and is made to give voice to the argument that it’s these nasty feminists who have messed up a system that’s worked fine since the time of the cave men (no - really!) Unfortunately the biggest laugh he raised the night we saw it was when he slightly corpsed in response to a line from Sophie Thomson.
There’s also a very small cameo role as Margot’s publisher for Sam Kelly right at the very end.
So is it funny?
Well, yes. There are some wonderful one liners and moments of hilarity. It’s not the great intellectual comedy, which it sort of aspires to be but it is funny. It made an interesting and enjoyable evening at the theatre. If I had paid for my ticket I wouldn’t have felt in the least bit cheated. It was a real treat to see a genuine Dame of the theatre in action.
** Find Cheap Tickets for Female of the Species**
Come Dancing - Ray Davies new musical July 16, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Musicals, Theatre Royal Stratford East, come dancing, dates , add a commentCome Dancing with the Kinks
Come Dancing, is a new musical written by former Kinks singer-songwriter Ray Davies. It will open at the Theatre Royal Stratford East for a short run (13 September to 25 October 2008) before a possible West End transfer. Although the title comes from a song written by Davies in 1983 the show is not a jukebox musical. Original music and lyrics have been written by Davies. The multi-talented Davies (no mean poet as well as song writer) originated the story and co-wrote the book with Paul Sirett, there’s also additional material by Terry Johnson.The show will be directed by Theatre Royal Stratford East’s artistic director Kerry Michael.
The Story
Come Dancing is set in the Ilford Palais in the 1950s. According to the web site it:
“takes us back to a time when Saturday night dancing at the local palais was the magical, not-to-be-missed highlight of every young person’s week”.
Back in 2000 in an interview with Rolling Stone Davies said:
“‘Come Dancing’ is a musical with lots of actors and actresses. It’s about my sisters and how they lived through that time in post-war Britain.”
Ray Davies
Londoner Ray Davies was the frontman and main song writer for The Kinks from the early days (1963) to the end of the band in mid-1990s. He wrote classic hits such as “You Really Got Me”, “All Day and All of the Night”, “Lola”, “Waterloo Sunset”, “Do It Again” and one of my particular favourites “Muswell Hillbilly Boy”. As I mentioned he’s also a published author of both fiction and poetry.
My thoughts on Come Dancing
It’s been a long time coming but it might just be worth the wait. It had a pretty good eight week workshop at the National way back in 2000 and has been promised for further development ever since. Now I’m a Kinks fan of old and I think Ray Davies is a brilliant song writer so I will definitely be hoping to see this at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. I just wonder if Come Dancing will finally make it to the West End, we shall see….
Come Dancing Kinks Video
Meanwhile here’s a video taster of Come Dancing
The Female of the Species - new comedy play July 15, 2008
Posted by Andy in : Vaudeville, comedy, female of the species , add a comment
** Find Cheap Tickets for Female of the Species**
The Female of the Species
“The Female of the species” is the title of a song from Space which was a big hit in the early nineties and gets rolled out as a soundtrack to TV stories about spiders or women.
It’s also the title of a play by Joanna Murray-Smith which previews this week at the Vaudeville Theatre in London where it is set to run until October 2008. The play is an Australian export in the form of a comedy/farce which explores the roles of motherhood and celebrity feminism.
Dame Eileen Atkins plays the lead role of Margot Mason, a 1970s feminist pioneer having authored “The Cerebral Vagina” and other bestsellers.
The play was initially inspired by an event in April 2000 when Germaine Greer was “held captive in her home by a deluded young student” but that’s just a departure point for a work of fiction and Germaine Greer herself has criticised the play saying in a Sunday Times interview that “Murray-Smith is an insane reactionary who boasts that she has not read a single feminist text. She holds feminism in contempt.”
Also starring Con O’Neill (Blood Brothers) and Anna Maxwell Martin (Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who)
Is more deadly than the male.
Here’s the Space video of the young Liverpudlians performing the classic hit The female of the species
** Find Cheap Tickets for Female of the Species**
Where are they now? TV Contestants On Stage July 13, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals , 3commentsTV audition show contestants - where are they now?
Lots of people, including myself, have raised questions about the fad for TV audition shows. Well in some cases I’m more than happy to eat my words 
Here’s a round up of some of musicals whose casts include TV show contestants.
They’re Playing Our Song
Connie Fisher - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? winner 2007
Having played Maria in the Sound of Music Connie will soon star in this Neil Simon show. The musical starts its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory on July 25 and runs till September 28.
Joseph
Lee Mead - Any Dream will Do winner 2007
Still the People’s Joseph, Mead goes from strength to strength.
Grease
Danny Bayne - Grease is the Word 2007
Danny plays the leading male role, Danny Zuko in Grease
Ray Quinn - X-Factor 2006 (2nd)
In his West End debut Ray plays Doody for a limited season - until 15 November 2008.
Oliver
Jodie Prenger -I’d Do Anything, 2008
Rehearsals for Oliver begin in September. Jodie will be Nancy six of the eight performances a week at the Theatre Royal from December.
We Will Rock You
Rachel Tucker from I’d Do Anything, 2008 will play Meat in We Will Rock You
Les Miserables
Nancy Sullivan - I’d Do Anything, 2008
Nancy plays the adult Eponine in Les Mis
Leanne Dobinson “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” 2007
Leanne plays Cosette
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (UK Touring Production)
Susan McFadden - Grease is the Word 2007
Over to you…
I’m sure there must be some I’ve missed. Who else is currently playing in the West End but got their start on a TV audition show?
Theatre Breaks in London with the kids - top 5 shows this summer. June 20, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Grease, High School Musical, Musicals, joseph, lion king, opinion, theatre breaks in London, wicked , add a commentA theatre break in London with the kids sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? There’s so much to do and see in London, even in a British summer. The hotels aren’t too expensive and you can book the whole thing, show tickets, 2 or 3 nights hotel, extras as an all in one package, you can even include the return rail fare. If your children are over the age of 3 you should be able to find a show to suit your family.
So which shows do you go to see?
It really depends on the age of the children and their interests.
Don’t be put off by worries that the shows will all be sold out, companies that sell packages often have good, reasonably priced tickets for hit shows when no one else does.
The Lion King
The Lion King is pure Disney and one of the best shows for mixed ages. The Lion King is so much more than the cartoon. The story is simple and familiar but the spectacle and the power of the live music makes it really something special. Ideal for boys, girls, and just about anyone who likes animals!It is long though and that partly explains the age restrictions (see below).
- Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes including the interval
- Matinees: Sunday - 3:pm Weds - 2:30pm and Sat 2:00
- Evenings: Shows start at 7:30 except Mondays (no show)
- Recommended age limit
Ideal for 7 plus, below 7 use your discretion but be realistic. Under 4s will not be admitted to the theatre. They are quite strict about this.
** book Lion King theatre breaks **
Joseph
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version of the biblical story is a family classic. Good for mixed ages the show has plenty of action, strong, well-known songs and is performed by a lively, young cast. Joseph was originally written for children the show keeps their interest well but has enough going on to keep the adults involved too. If you want to see Lea Meads you should know he will be on holiday 28th July - 5th August.
- Running time - 2 hours including interval.
- Matinees: Weds and Sat 3:00pm
- Evenings: Mon, Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, 7:30 Tues 7:00 (No show Sunday)
** book Joseph theatre breaks **
Wicked
Wicked is ideal for those of you with pre and early teen girls. They will love it! The story is set in Oz before Dorothy gets there and sets out to explain why Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of The West is so wicked and so very green. Wicked sets the record straight about that poor, misunderstood witch. It has some sinister moments but nothing too scary. There aren’t any stated age restrictions but use your judgement. It is very, very long.
- Running time: 2hrs 50mins including interval.
- Matinees:Weds,Sat 2:30
- Evenings:Mon, Tues, Weds,Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 (No show Sunday)
** book Wicked theatre breaks **
High School Musical
High School Musical - this is one that anyone between 8 and 16 will know more about than you do!Based on a hit TV series this is the story of Troy, a popular high school basketball star, and Gabriella, a shy, academically gifted newcomer, who discover they share a secret passion for singing. Lively, fun, and very American this is one that the kids (and the adults!) will either love or hate. This is the one they are likely to think is ‘cool’ to see and to brag about.
- Running time :2 hours 20 with interval
- Matinees: Sun, Weds and Sat 3:00
- Evenings: Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 (Monday - no show)
** book High School Musical theatre breaks **
Grease
We all know the story of Sandy the goody two-shoes from Australia who falls in love with bad boy Danny Zuko over the summer holiday and their reunion at Rydell High School. The songs from Grease are classics and they are sung with great energy by this lively cast. Best for 10 plus the story and music will appeal to both boys and girls. If you want to see Ray Quinn (X-Factor) remember he’s on holiday 19th-25th of August.
** book Grease theatre breaks **
Top Tips
- Try for aisle seats- so much easier!
- A bag of small, non-messy snacks (small bags of sliced apples,carrots, etc., little boxes of raisins) and juice cartons is a good idea. Minimise the sugar intake!
- Take small, wriggly people for regular walks.
The Shows To Avoid
- Despite the puppets Avenue Q is not suitable for under 15s and has adult themes.
- Billie Elliot includes a lot of language that makes it unsuitable for young children.
Dickens Unplugged - close announced June 18, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Comedy theatre, comedy, dates , add a commentDickens Unplugged will close on 29 June at the Comedy.
A spokesperson for the show said:
“The producers wish to thank the talented cast, creative team and company for all their hard work and dedication to this production. Despite fantastic performances and enthusiastic audiences, the ticket sales have not been sufficient and the producers have had to make the difficult decision to close the show.”
Dickens Unplugged opened May 23rd.
Zorro the Musical - Emma Williams and Matt Rawle June 4, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Musicals, cast changes, garrick, zorro , add a commentEmma Williams as Luisa
Zorro the Musical will feature Emma Williams as leading lady, Luisa, according to an interview in The Evening Courier. Emma will play Zorro’s love interest, the role played by Catherine Zeta Jones in the film. Emma has impeccable West End credentials having played Johanna in Sweeney Todd at the Royal Festival Hall. She also took leading roles in Sex, Chips and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Batboy The Musical and Promises Promises. This was based on the 1960s Billy Wilder comedy The Apartment. Emma played Fran Kubelik, a role made famous by Shirley MacLaine. Her first West End performance was as Truly Scrumptious in the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2002, when she was only 19. More recently she played Madonna in the ill-fated Desperately Seeking Susan.
Matt Rawle as Zorro
Matt Rawle is Zorro. Zorro is the secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy caballero and master swordsman living in Spanish California, who defends the people of the land against injustice. Matt also has a host of musical credits, including Chris in Miss Siagon, the title role in Martin Guerre and Marius in the touring production of Les Miserables. Most recently he played Che Guevarra in Evita at the Adelphi in the 2006 production.
Zorro the Musical
Johnston McCulley created the the iconic character Zorro in 1919. Two blockbuster films were made in recent years, based on McCulley’s story, Mask of Zorro in 1998 and Legend of Zorro in 2005, both featured Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones in the lead roles.
In 2005 Isabelle Allende wrote Zorro: A Novel in which she retells the tale of the original Zorro legend adding her own brand of magical realism and South American culture to McCulley’s original story. It is this book rather than the earlier one which was the inspiration for the musical.
The combination of Allende’s story, two fine leading actors, the music of the Gypsy Kings, lots of spectacular sword play, extraordinary aerial acrobatics, incredible magic trickery and genuine flamenco dancing, should make for a really stunning evening in the London theatre.
Zorro the Musical opens at the Garrick on June 30th.
Thanks for reading London Theatre articles about Shows
