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April 22, 2012

A TALE OF TWO CITIES



Dicken’s novel, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution is set to music by composer David Pomeranz and lyricist Steven David Horwich.  Commissioned by director Paul Nicholas, it tells of the love and anguish of French peasants, brutal revolutionaries and ousted aristocrats.  The musical has been in development over several years and was last seen in London during 2008, Upstairs at the Gatehouse.  Nicholas states “The journey isn’t over” so there are clearly future aspirations, but for now Charing Cross Theatre plays host in the bicentennial year of Dicken’s birth.  The book is a joint work by Horwich and David Soames, with musical arrangement by John Cameron.
 
The cast of seventeen must be the largest seen in this theatre for quite some time and it’s good to see the venue being put to such good use, having had such varied fortune over too long a period.  A pair of pianos provide accompaniment to the pleasant score in a well-worked and complimentary fashion.  Hipflask-grasping Sydney Carton is one of the two lead male characters and is well played by Michael Howe, filling the shoes once worn by Nicholas himself in an earlier Birmingham airing at the end of the nineties.  Charles Darnay is a former nobleman who stands trial for treason to the Crown, played admirably by Jonathan Ansell, whose lyrically-rich duet ‘Fleeting Years’ with his teacher Gabelle (Tom Murphy) is particularly pleasing.  Mark Slowey plays the devious Barsad with East-End flair.  Craig Berry and Jemma Alexander shine as revolutionaries Monsieur and Madame Defarge; his ‘I See’ towards the end of the first act being a highlight.  It is Alexander however who performs what is probably the best song ‘Why She Lived’ a number she deservedly conveys with great appetite and gusto.
 
David Alder is the veteran of the cast and at times I found his Jarvis Lorry, the banker, tiresome.  However a delightfully arranged scene with the child Katherine (role shared by Tara Hayes, Eliza Light and Bells Wordsworth) on his knee and singing ‘Fleeting Years’ provided a tender touch.  Snooty spinster Miss Pross is both frightful and amusing, Pippa Winslow plays the part with just the right balance of comedy and nose-in-the-air aloofness.  Charged with caring for Katherine, she certainly proves to be no Mary Poppins.  Her duet with Alder ‘I Remain Unwed’ providing an alluring diversion from the tribulations of the main plot, although both could do with relaxing a little more during its delivery.
 
Inevitably, there will be comparisons made with other musicals, notably Les Miserables which has musical and staging similarities, being set in the same period.  A gun scene in act two has some likeness to the shooting in Love Never Dies.  Miss Pross would certainly make a convincing sister to Madame Giry!  However, set that aside and this production is entertaining and offers good value.  Without exception, the lyrics are all fully discernable which makes a refreshing change.  Suzi Lombardelli’s fine costumes add to the overall feeling of quality.  So, does it follow that if you like Les Mis then you should like this too? I’m not sure, but I do and it works for me.

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REVIEWED: 18/04/12
By Gareth Richardson @BargainTheatre

5th April - 12th May 2012
Charing Cross Theatre, London, WC2.


Tags: bargain theatre deals discounts reviews london theatre fringe west end plays comedy musicals musical theatre charing cross theatre players a tale of two cities dickens charles dickens david pomeranz steven david horwich david soames john cameron sydney carton charles darnay jonathan ansell tom murphy mark slowey craig berry jemma alexander david alder pippa winslow

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April 15, 2012
1 note

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD



With catchy tunes, great performances and delightful comic turns, this fun-filled evening at the Landor comes highly recommended! 

Based upon the nineteenth century, unfinished novel by Charles Dickens, Rupert Holmes’ musical adaptation of the story takes the form of a play within a play – using the old Victorian traditions of Music Hall as a framework on which to hang the evening.

Warning: Audience participation mandatory.


As the we file into the Landor’s intimate space the cast interact with you, even taking your drinks to your seat! Song sheets are also distributed, a daunting hint of what was to come – sing along. These audience inclusive moments are handled in expert fashion and are actually very nice touches (something I thought I’d never say about sing-alongs, thinking back to the Menier’s recent production of Pippin!)

This Music Hall backdrop lends itself perfectly to comedy, farce and elements of pantomime as Edwin Drood ‘himself’ is played by Natalie Day.  Rousing ensemble numbers, undoubtedly the highlight of the entire show, are strongly delivered by the whole cast with notable act one opener “And There You Are”.

Best known from TV’s Coronation Street, Wendi Peters proves that she has true talent beyond the screen. Peters sparkles in her dual roles of Princess Puffer and Miss Angela Prystock, she single handedly steals the show from underneath the rest of the talented cast.  Her numbers “The Garden Path of Hell” and “Puffers Revelation” are two of the best in the show, in which Peters displays her impressive voice. 

Victoria Farley is charming as Rosa Budd and Miss Deirdre Peregrine; an abundance of elegance and sophistication and a lovely singing voice to top off her delightful performance. Daniel Robinson is well suited to his characters John Jasper (Edwin’s mad Uncle in love with Rosa), and sings very well. Loula Geater is extremely funny as Helena Landless and Miss Angela Prystock, with a “Geographically untraceable” accent in her first role. 

David Francis is hilarious as Neville Landless/Mr Victor Grinstead, although the transitions between these two characters was not perhaps as clear as the others had been. An intensely funny and menacing performance in his ‘panto villain’ role, he does markedly well. Other notable highlights included Denis Delahunt as Chairman, our guide to the “Music Hall Royale”, Richard Stirling as the agitated Reverend and Ben Goffe as Harry Sayle, a charming midget.

Matthew Gould directs with comic flair and a real sense of Victorian theatrical traditions which evoke the surroundings perfectly; helped by Natasha Piper’s simple but effective set design.  James Cleeve leads a great-sounding five piece band. 

Overall, get down to the Landor to enjoy some jolly old fashioned entertainment, this production is a winner and likely to put a smile on the face of even the most miserable attendee on a cold and rainy night in Clapham.




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REVIEWED: 12/02/12
By @Matthew_Ililfe

11th April - 5th May 2012
The Landor Theatre, London, SW9.

 

Tags: bargain theatre deals discounts reviews london clapham theatre plays musical theatre vaudeville musical hall landor theatre fringe charles dickens the mystery of edwin drood literature aria entertainment matthew gould natalie day wendi peters pippin menier coronation street victoria farley david francis denis delahunt richard stirling ben goffe loula geater theatre review

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March 30, 2012

FEATURE: THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD



During the bicentennial year of Charles Dickens’ birth it seems only fitting for it to be marked by the novel that encompassed his death: The Mystery Of Edwin Drood.

Rupert Holmes, encouraged by Joseph Papp, wrote the musical loosely based on Dickens’ unfinished tale through a mixture of pantomime and British music hall traditions, which gained momentum in the years following Dickens’ death.

Inspired by the novel’s ambiguous, non-existent, ending, Holmes created the first musical with multiple outcomes determined by the audience, a different resolution depending on who the murderer is…if there is one.

From the production team who brought you The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and Children of Eden at the venue that housed The Hired Man and Ragtime comes the Drama Desk and Tony Award winning musical Drood.  The cast led by Natalie Day, Victoria Farley, Daniel Robinson and Corrie’s own Wendi Peters, will have to work extremely hard to quickly accommodate the audience’s choice each night making sure that every performance is never quite like the next, no matter how many times you attend.



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@BenVivianJones

11th April - 5th May 2012
The Landor Theatre, London, SW9. 


 

Tags: bargain theatre deals discounts bargains reviews feature coronation street wendi peters landor theatre musical theatre charles dickens dickens the mystery of edwin drood drood natalie day victoria farley daniel robinson ragtime the hired man the best little whorehouse in texas children of eden katy lipson matthew gould andrew keates rupert holmes joseph papp WEST END LONDON fringe clapham