Christmas with The Rat Pack - Darlington Civic Theatre

Christmas with the Rat Pack
Director & Choreographer:Mitch Sebastian
Musical Director:Dominic Barlow
Reviewer:Linda Barker

Celebrating the incredible singing talent of three legends of the twentieth century, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr, this spectacular festive production transports you back to the glamorous, glitzy nights of The Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, in the late 1950s and early 60’s.

Collectively known as ‘The Rat Pack’, Frank, Dean and Sammy were a force to be reckoned with. Now, their talent, energy, charisma and mannerisms are stunningly recreated by Stephen Rashbrook (Sinatra), Mark Halliday (Martin) and Matthew Henry (Davis Jr). The guys are also joined by Robyn Currell, Nikki Stokes and Rachel Parrott as the fabulous Burrelli Sisters.

In terms of sheer sophistication, nothing quite compares to the sound of a big band and three great singers. The camaraderie between the three performers was evident and they clearly enjoyed every minute of the show as much as the audience did. The talented twelve piece band was also in fantastic form, although they sometimes seemed to drown out some of the vocals.

The show began with a selection of ‘Rat Pack’ hits including ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, ‘Mr Bojangles’, ‘Sway’ and ‘New York, New York’, before taking a more seasonal turn.

Classic Christmas songs such as ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’, ‘Let it Snow, Let it Snow’, ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ were also given the swing treatment.
The show authentically recreated the performance styles of each crooner. Numbers were performed with a cigarette in one hand and a large scotch in the other and Sammy Davis Jr was the butt of a couple of mildly racist jokes. Although this may have offended or upset some of the more politically correct members of the audience, I felt it was a necessary element that had to be included as a matter of historical accuracy.

The crooning continued with those stalwarts of every Italian trattoria, ‘That’s Amore’, ‘Volare’ and ‘On an Evening in Roma.’ Also included, for good measure, were a couple of songs from the musicals: ‘Mack The Knife’ from ‘The Threepenny Opera’ and the title song from ‘Guys And Dolls.’

As you might expect, the evening was rounded off with one of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ biggest numbers, ‘That’s Life’, much to the delight of the audience, most of whom were swaying, swinging and singing along.

Photos from previous production

Runs until Saturday 28 November 2009

Jest End - Jermyn Street Theatre. London

Jest End
Writer/Director: Gary Lake
Musical Supervisor: Gareth Ellis
Choreographer: Rebecca Howell
Musical Director: Bob Broad

Reviewer: Elizabeth Vile

If you are a fan of Musical Theatre, know a bit about the current situation of the West End and enjoy watching actors lovingly send up their profession then this is the show for you.

The Jermyn Street Theatre is the perfect space for this production which only uses the bare essentials. With a cast of four actors, two male & two female, a pianist and a variety of costumes the audience are presented with a high paced selection of songs from the musicals that are either currently in the West End or have recently closed.

The intimate nature of the theatre meant that every word could be heard. This is particularly important when the audience have no idea what the lyrics are going to be and because the success of the songs all depend on the audience hearing the punch lines.

The enthusiasm and enjoyment of the actors was faultless and they all looked tired by the end of the show. This exuberance was contagious and enhanced the enjoyment of the audience by making them feel comfortable. The laughter was constant throughout and the jokes, which ranged from themes of reality TV to the trials of an undiscovered actor, were fresh and relevant.

Some stand out performances for me were Michael Ball and Me, a parody of Good Morning Baltimore from the musical Hairspray performed by Chris Thatcher, Jodie Jacobs and Laura Brydon. Special mention must go to Chris Thatcher's impersonation of Michael Ball in this number, it had me giggling, as well as his performance of John Barrowman in I Am Barrowman, a parody of I am what I am from La Cage aux Folles.

Superchoredodgitastic which included the above three actors and Stuart Matthew Price, was a brilliant way to close the first act. Its slick choreography and witty lyrics left the audience on a high. The high point for me in the second act was the song Savoy which charted the Savoy Theatre's recent history.

This show may not be for everyone as it has many 'in' jokes about the West End Theatre scene that some people may not understand, but if Musical Theatre is an interest for you then you will have a very enjoyable night. The show was the perfect length and I left the theatre wanting more as well as singing the lyrics all the way home.

Photos from previous production

runs until Sun 20th Dec

The Lady Boys of Bangkok Mile High Tour - The Sabai Pavilion, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Lady Boys of Bangkok
Artistic Director:Phillip Gandey
Reviewer: Ian Cain
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A glamorous slice of Bangkok nightlife has been broken off and transported to Newcastle upon Tyne. Funnier, flirtier, and even more fabulous than ever before, the Lady Boys of Bangkok are back in town.

Having played Newcastle, annually, for the past five consecutive years, their ‘Mile High’ show is a sensational, soar-away success. This high-altitude production blazes a spectacular jet-stream of fun, frivolity and frolics as it takes the audience on a first-class journey from the disco floor to the Broadway stage. Inspired by the world of aviation, the spectacular show glides high above the clouds and into the highest stratosphere of entertainment. Which other show boasts a line-up that includes Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud, Abba, Shirley Bassey and The Nolan Sisters?

This is no ordinary ‘drag’ act. From the show-stopping choreography to the designer-inspired hand-made costumes, from the painstakingly immaculate make-up to the style and spectacle of the performances, sixteen of the world’s most stunningly beautiful show-girls – who just happen to be men! – entrance and entertain, in a party atmosphere, for over two hours.

You may think that if you’ve seen one female impersonator, you’ve seen them all. Think again. The originality, creativity and sheer professionalism of The Lady Boys of Bangkok sets them above and apart from the rest. Particular highlights include a solo performance in which one artiste performs both the male and female roles in the 1982 Rene and Renato duet, ‘Save Your Love’, an hilarious ‘Riverdance’ pastiche and an homage to classic movie love songs – all delivered in the inimitable style of The Lady Boys.

From the word go, the name of the game is enjoyment and the performance that I attended was a complete sell-out. As you might expect, the crowd were made up, predominantly, of the three g’s - girls, grannies and gays – and each and every one of them had the time of their lives. Throwing normal ‘theatre etiquette’ to the wind, the audience is encouraged to dance and sing along with the show. Indeed, audience participation is integral to some of the more raunchy, raucous routines, as a couple of unsuspecting men found to their embarrassment.

Taking the production values and standards into account, it is no surprise that the show is a headliner at two of the world’s largest performing arts festivals – the Edinburgh Fringe and the Brighton Fringe. It is an exotic extravaganza, in every sense of the word that dazzles, delights and dispels everyday worries and stresses and replaces them with a feel-good factor that should be made available from the NHS.

The Lady Boys of Bangkok, once again, have taken Tyneside by storm with their glitzy, glamorous and unique brand of entertainment. If you want to experience the vibrancy and hedonism of Thailand’s nightlife, take my advice and book early – this is the hottest ticket in town.

runs until Sat 10th October

Forbidden Broadway - Menier Chocolate Factory

Forbidden Broadway
Writer: Gerard Alessandrini
Director: Phillip George
Reviewer: John Roberts

For the past twenty seven years no show has been safe from the sharp satirical stab of Gerard Alessandrini’s theatrical savaging, and it is a joy to finally see the show over the waters the first time in over ten years.
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What started off as a small night time cabaret spot to showcase Alessandrini’s talent as a performer has spawned various incarnations throughout the musical theatre world.

Forbidden Broadways latest production includes some of the ‘old time’ favourites from previous Forbidden Broadway shows including the hilarious send up of Les Miserables and the Lion King to a new song which highlights the trend for camp in the West End with Hairspray, Priscilla and soon to open Legally Blonde, even the Menier’s own Midas Man (David Babani) isn’t safe from the battering as the show spoofs his current productions of A Little Night Music and La Cage Aux Folles.

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Although a knowledge of musical theatre would be a distinct advantage for any viewer watching this production I feel you wouldn’t be alienated from any of the sketches and skits as director Phillip George has produced a slick and very comic 2 hours worth of entertainment.

The strong cast of four; Anna-Jane Casey, Sophie-Louise Dann, Alasdair Harvey & Steven Kynman give their all, including a dazzling array of facial grimaces and strong vocals, but it was Steven Kynman and his Silly Billy (Billy Elliot) routine that provided this reviewer with the most laughs along with a very witty Elaine Page and The King and I skit.

Don’t get me wrong there were certain elements of the show that I feel needs a little tightening, the constant blackouts after every song really started to grate, and loosing certain lyrics due to badly mixed sound at times meant very funny lyrics were left with a very big blank.

Forbidden Broadway is a breath of fresh air and loving provides numerous pokes at the shows and composers that litter the West End I just hope its not another ten years before it finds a home here again!

Photos: Alastair Muir
Forbidden Broadway runs at the Menier until Sat 19th September 09

ENIGMA - Lowry Theatre

ENIGMA by Derren Brown

Director: Andy Nyman

Reviewer: Helen Patrick

Being a complete Sceptic, I was dreading going to the Lowry Theatre with my husband to review Enigma, Derren Brown’s latest theatrical event. But I was soon put firmly in my place by a master of showmanship, one just couldn’t help but be swept along by the whole event and found myself laughing and clapping along and gasping with the audience in this sell out show.

Derren , throughout the show talks about randomness and how nothing in life is random even when you think you’re making a random choice. You make choices in life best on even the silliest of reasons whether it’s the colour of an item or the look of somebody, your mind really can’t do random things. Which is quite Ironic that he should chose a random way of selecting people to take part in his show by throwing a Frisbee into the audience or is it random? Well I can truthfully answer a resounding yes to this as my husband Steve caught the Frisbee and found himself and his thoughts at centre stage in front of 100’s of people and by the smile on his face he was loving every minute of his five minutes of fame, which horrified me as 3 years ago you couldn’t even get him inside a theatre.

I quote now from my husband Steve: “I am so pleased my wife and i had the opportunity to go to the show I had been looking forward to it for ages and always watch his TV programmes. When Derren threw the Frisbee and I caught it ,it made my night. The illusion he performed with me and another two audience members was phenomenal, so much so that me and my wife were still talking about it on the way home. Derren Brown I applaud you, you are talented and definitely worthy of the standing ovation you received last night. You made even the most cynical of people (my wife) believe anything is possible.”

Derren is a fantastic story teller being able to bring tears to your eyes, especially during one intimate and heartfelt story about his grandfather with whom it was obvious he was close to and held very dear to his heart, and again he magnificently weaves you on a journey that leaves you awed in silence and amazement.

I would like to go into more detail on the reason this show is called ENIGMA but this would only give far to much information away. If you want a night that you will never forget, that will leave you puzzled for days afterwards then make sure you book tickets for this show...believe me if you only experience this show by word of mouth alone then you have missed out on the theatrical event of the year!

Photo: Mark Berry

The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) - UK National Tour

The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)
by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
additional material by Matthew Croke
Director: Matt Rippy
Reviewer: by Ian Cain

Condensing the entire Bible into a theatre production that runs for just under two hours is no small undertaking, but that’s exactly what the Reduced Shakespeare Company have achieved.

From fig leaves to Final Judgement – and almost everything in between – the cast of three, comprising Simon Cole, John Kielty and William Meredith, appear as a multitude of biblical characters in this satirical, fast-paced jaunt through the Holy Book.

This is strictly a tongue-in-cheek production that should be taken with a large pinch of salt: do not expect a reverential re-telling of Christianity. Instead, prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride through the Old and New Testaments and prepare to be entertained, shocked and surprised all in the same evening.

Many well-known biblical tales are retold with some topical twists, including Gabriel, Angel of The Lord, presiding over a game of Deal or No Deal, David’s battle with Goliath being performed in slow-motion as a parody of Chariots of Fire, and members of the audience, imitating animals, being boarded onto Noah’s Ark.

There is no doubt that the controversial script, penned by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, will have some people screaming ‘blasphemy’ from the nearest church steeple but, if you’re a fan of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, the schoolboy humour will, undoubtedly appeal.

The three performers are on stage for, virtually, the whole duration of the show and they each deliver energetic and extremely physical performances. They also demonstrated their skill for ad-libbing to particular effect when a pair of late-comers took their seats.

Particular highlights include the re-enactment of the Last Supper, in which the three actors portray Jesus and all twelve of his disciples by poking their heads through cut-outs in a drop cloth, and William Meredith dressed in a pink and white bunny costume recounting the events of the Resurrection.

If you think you may enjoy a romp through the history of religion which includes searing satire, juvenile jokes and madcap mayhem, then this is a show for you – but take one piece of advice from me: don’t bring the vicar!

The Bible: The complete works of God (Abridged) is on a UK tour for more details visit tour page