The Rocky Horror Show - 16/09/16

Maybe I'm just a sap, but I was feeling the love this time round.

It was a two show day, I love RH, so in true fangirl style I had booked for both and after many months of waiting had five hours at the castle.

The set is the same as I remember from its last time here. The costumes too, although Frank came out in the floorshow looking like he should be put on top of a Christmas tree in a festive red number. You don't change what isn't broken, and the creative team have a colourful array of designs that bring the whole piece together.

Steven Punt guides us through as the Narrator. Famous comedian but I didn't really know who he was. The man is ready for your call backs. As the evening crowd got rowdier and shouted more obscene things he pulled out the quick jokes and got the bigger laughs. There's a few different narrators this time round. You can see Steve until the 22nd October.

Hayley Flaherty is the current Janet Weiss. You can catch her in the role up to the 26th November. Previously she's been a fan favourite as the kind teacher Miss Honey in Tim Minchin's Matilda. Now she just can't wait to get out of her reserved pink dress and into Frank's dressing up box. It's hard to say with such a fantastic cast who has the best voice, and whilst you can't really choose between them I'm going ahead and saying it's this lady. As well as that she brings a fun and cheeky Janet to the stage.

Richard Meek is husband Brad Majors (asshole)! A character that has never been my favourite when compared with everyone else, but Meek and Majors won new fans tonight. Flaherty and Meek play so well off their Frank.

S Club 7 were my favourite group as a kid so it was an extra treat to have Paul Cattermole in the doubled up role of Eddie and Dr. Scott. He looks like he's having so much fun and brings a really great energy.

Dominic Anderson is everything I love in a Rocky, topped off with a nice pair of animal print pants and some body glitter. He comes out innocent as a lamb, steals the scene and in the time that follows fits in a whole bunch of character development (Yes, it's there. There's more than just lovely actors in corsets). He reaches for Frank at the end and you have to be sad. And he can sing. They all sing, you are seeing some of the best singers when you see this show.

Kristian Lavercombe is back as Riff Raff. At this point he's played the role over a thousand times and is going to go down in Rocky Horror history as one of the best. His love for the role shines through in every performance and he is a joy to see.

Kay Murphy is his sister, Magenta (and the beloved Usherette who opens and closes the show). She made me laugh the most, and you could only hope she'd follow in Lavercombe's footsteps as subsequent Magenta's now have a lot to live up to.

Hannah Malekzad steps out as my personal favourite character, Columbia. Little Nell played her with such verve it's always a hard act to follow but Malekzad does her justice and makes her her own. She's an understudy which is as good as being a leading lady.

Liam Tamne is Frank n Furter this time round. He's been in lots of west end shows and did well on The Voice. Vocal performance wise you already know you're in safe hands. But, after his first outing as the sweet transvestite I was a little unsure. He has so many quirks with someone else it might have become too much. Then act two starts and it all comes together, there's a lot of tenderness in the role and by the end of the night I'd grown very fond of this new Frank.

No Rocky Horror show is complete without the Phantoms (no, not of the Opera). Dressed in black they come out to play in every scene and are well worth diverting your gaze from the main action to watch. There is always so much character interaction going on in the background it's impossible to see it all in one show.

If you're a Rocky fan you'll love it any time of day, but the matinee is slightly quieter so if you want a better chance of an uninterrupted floorshow (the songs are beautiful and call backs there on are generally discouraged and will be met by a chorus of audience shushes). At night, especially a Friday night, it is one giant party and a great initiation for the Rocky virgin. Whenever, wherever, Rocky Horror is always going to give you a good time.

Blackeyed Theatre's Dracula

Blackeyed Theatre invites you in to see their rendition of Bram Stoker's classic novel Dracula.

The well-known tale is brought once more to the stage by the company of five actors. Everyone flits between their multiple roles with so much ease it is as simple as a change of hair or coat.

It is a delight when you hear the rattling of chains, Will Bryant becoming at once the dramatic and crazed inmate Renfield after a scene as the reserved Jonathan Harker. Paul Kevin Taylor keeps you on edge doubling up as the work-driven Professor Van Helsing and the alluring grand vampire himself. Rachel Winters and Katherine Gibson excel as Harker's wife Mina and the ill fated Lucy Westenra respectively.

And with the actors being on stage at all times, even whilst they were blending in as part of the library or a window, you still feel their main characters coming through. Lucy and Dracula are hardly seen together, but when their actors are stood near each other in other scenes you still feel the pull between them.

Lighting and a well designed, industrial feeling set, along with the use of narrative and voiced thoughts set us into the scenes which carry through with ease and a fast pace.

Costumes by Jenny Lethbridge open up the Victorian era with brightly coloured neckties and bold, layered dresses.

The use of sound is most effective, with the haunting voices of Winters and Gibson repeating throughout to build up the character's journeys. Instruments- which the cast play themselves, silent cinema and shadows aid in taking us on a coach ride through Europe, seeing a ship sailing through a storm and witnessing a beheading. To use so many techniques, though they are all styles that were being used with the public when the novel was being written, could still come across as choppy and disjointed, but it all gels together into a cohesive piece, which when all put together creates moments of tension, suspense, and indeed amusement. A faithful and compelling adaptation that flows from beginning to end.

But all in all this is an actor led piece with a cast that clearly loves the story, and Stoker's Dracula is still as fresh as the day it was conceived with new, inspired performances like this granting it new life.

The Rocky Horror Show Anniversary Tour

Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror show is celebrating it's 40th anniversary year in style!

Dani Harmer (Tracy Beaker), who came 4th in last year's Strictly Come Dancing has put her newly honed skills to good use as Janet, singing and dancing on par with the rest of the cast and Sam Attawater (Eastenders, Dreamcoats and Petticoats) relishes the part of Brad 'asshole' Majors.

Phillip Franks looks as if he's been playing the role of narrator his entire life, delivering the age old quips like they're freshly formed thoughts, and building up a rapport with the audience as he guides us through the show.

Ceris Hines is a sparkling, loveable ball of energy as Columbia, Abi Jaye opens the show to wondrous applause as the Usherette with 'Science Fiction' and continues to do so as Magenta.
Henry Davis gives us a bratty toddler of a Rocky, as opposed to the innocent, newly born babe, which is nice to see, but perhaps a bit over the top at certain moments.
Kristian Lavercombe's Riff Raff is a delight to watch, making the role his own and showing off some powerful vocals, which only makes it a shame he isn't on stage more often.

Finally, we have Oliver Thornton as Frank n Furter. No stranger to stockings and heels after a previous run in Priscilla, he struts around the stage with ease, oozing sex appeal and becoming the larger and life transvestite we all know and love. Not all fun and frolicks, he's just as adept at showing the vulnerable side to Frank, giving a truly moving performance during the floorshow, reminding us all 'Don't dream it, be it.'

This is a show like no other; audiences dress up, shout out and dance in the aisles, always eager to do the Time Warp one more time so grab your feather boa and come join in the fun.

Bohemian Rhapsody

An all-out celebration of one of the world's greatest bands, 6 singers, 6 dancers and a stellar band bring you the thrill of seeing Queen's songs performed live.

A mix of the big anthems, such as I Want To Break Free, performed by Giovanni Spano in some delightful red knickers are intermingled with the more somber stuff, including a beautiful performance of No One But You by Kelly Ann Glover.

Rebecca Kelly. my favourite singer of the night, owns the stage, surrounded by dancers as she knocks out Killer Queen.

It's hit after hit, with everyone bringing huge amounts of talent and energy to the stage.

Trips to the theatre no longer always mean being sat still in your seats, applauding politely at the end of each song, but joining in with the fun the cast are having on stage and rocking the night away. It's a fun night out and an extremely talented bunch of people, which does honour to the spirit of Freddie Mercury.

Three Phantoms

The concept is simple; three people who have played the Phantom come together and celebrate musical theatre. This time round sees Earl Carpenter, Stephen John Davis and Matthew Cammelle giving us a night of show tunes, laughs and fine blue suits. Not only that, special guest for the tour is leading lady Rebecca Caine, who has been Christine to Michael Crawford and Colm Wilkinson.

All together there are songs from 26 shows, new and old, so there's more than a few surprises in store. And with a talented team of three other singers, all of whom have done the rounds at Phantom, it provides an opportunity for some dazzling ensemble numbers.

Highlights from the show include a very moving rendition from the trio of Ghost's hit song 'Unchained Melody', and the entirety of the Les Mis segment which gave us something special with every song. The chance to see  Rebecca Caine, who originated the role of Cosette at the RSC, singing A Heart Full of Love was a particular delight for me.

A cello and a piano provide the music, by Yvonne Marie Parsons and Musical Director Anthony Gabrielle respectively, and they do so with such joy and ease that there is no need for any other accompaniment other than the beautiful voices of the singers.

This is a chance to see some of theatre's finest voices singing a host of your favourite songs. A must for any musical theatre fan!

Northern Ballet's The Great Gatsby

The roaring twenties. Filled with glitz and glamour. The music of the Jazz age plays soundtrack to the sideways glances and fleeting touches of people conducting their love affairs.

We are a nation in love with the past with period dramas dominating our TV screens and another Gatsby, from director Baz Lurhmann set to hit the screens later this month. Fitzgerald's classic book has been adapted many times, but there is always something new to discover.

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's music is the perfect compliment to the show with upbeat numbers for the parties and slow, romantic melodies for Gatsby and Daisy's scenes together. Add to that a lively Charleston and the seductive tango and we are fully immersed in the era.

The decadence of Gatsby's parties are brought to life beautifully, but you find yourself always on the look out for the title character, and whilst you can sense his presence as the obsessesive, you sometimes find yourself wishing he was on stage a little more for the first half. Of course, once he has been reunited with his love he is more than given his time to shine.

The costumes, also designed by Nixon are tailored to be an extension of each character's personality. The sets, designed by Jérôme Kaplan, are simple and stylish, right down to Gatsby's famous yellow car and Tim Mitchell's lighting design also adds to the mood, as well as help with the many scene changes.

All this is but an elegant backdrop to the dancers. The ensemble each bring their own unique personalities to the stage whilst those playing the leads all show they have a deep understanding of their roles, always dancing with an emotion and flair that makes you feel for all of them.

Once again, Nixon has shown his skill at adapting beloved novels for the ballet and it is the passion evident in everyone's involvement that makes this one of Northern Ballet's finest productions yet.

The Ladykillers

One of the classic Ealing comedies, The Ladykillers has now made it's way to the stage in Gary Linear's new adaptation.
There is always a suspicion surrounding any classic piece of work that is going to be brought to the stage, but time and time again it's been proven that it does work. These are not remakes but retellings of classic stories that give us the chance to see them in a new light and introduce them to new people. You know what's coming, but you will still watch with bated breath as each of the players meet their end.

It is more of a farce than the movie, but it doesn't have to try too hard and the laughs come in droves. Michele Dotrice (Some Mother's Do 'Ave 'Em') leads the show as the sweet and determined Mrs. Wilbeforce, with the thieves posing as a string quartet practising in her spare room each bringing their own, unique, vibrant personalities to the stage. Paul Brown heads the troupe with an assertive yet understated performance as mastermind Professor Marcus, with William Troughton being a stand out as Harry Robinson, darting round the stage whilst his pill popping drives him to obsessive cleaning. Clive Mantle is not so secret transvestite Major Courtney, Chris McCalphy faux Cello player One-Round and Cliff Parisi looms in the background as Romanian mafia type Louis.

A character in itself is Michael Taylor's set. A beautifully quaint house interior, suffering subsidence and close proximity to the railway. When I first saw it I couldn't help but wonder how exterior scenes were going to work, so was delighted when we were treated to a car chase and even a glimpse inside the railway tunnel. A perfect example of the magic and frivolity one expects at the theatre.

And with its continued success it has just been announced that another West End run is in store. The Ladykillers will be at the Vaudeville theatre from June 2013.

The Woman In Black

The Tour

The sound of nervous laughter fills the theatre as the audience takes their seats. It can't really be as scary as everyone says, can it?

A lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Julian Forsyth) has a story to tell. Grown old, it has plagued him for many years and we meet him on the day he has hired an actor (Anthony Eden) to help him tell his tale. We could be watching a comedy as we see the actor's rather bemused frustration at the old man's lacklustre reading. And so the actor suggests to tell it in the form of a play. The actor will play the young lawyer and Arthur will play the people he meets along the way.

What follows is a chilling performance with the tension building until you are gripping your seat and glancing around in fear of seeing The Woman in Black. Forsyth and Eden, who have both played the role on the West End, both give fantastic performances and of course not forgetting the other stars of the show, the sound and lighting crews who create the perfect atmosphere for such a ghostly tale. Nothing is overdone so you never know what to expect and the scary moments are always different and exciting. Not much else is needed, with just a few props and your imagination you will be left hiding behind your hands and filling the room with your screams.

And so it is easy to see why the show has continued to play to packed crowds for more than 25 years, the mystery and undeniable curiosity that surrounds it drawing people in. A marvellous piece of theatre, The Woman In Black will stay with you and haunt you well into the night.