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May 24, 2012

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD



Let me start this review with one fact about me – I do not like audience participation. At least, I didn’t think I did. When I was handed a song sheet on my way into an auditorium full of cast members leading a preshow sing-a-long of Music Hall classics, I thought I was in hell. Admittedly I did not make any attempt to join in the preshow but by the interval I was too caught up in belting out songs about father decorating the parlour and some girl with long hair that my drink remained untouched – a first time for everything!

It must have been the charming first act of endless laughs and wonderfully drawn characters which caused me to let down my ‘anti-participation barrier’ as I found myself booing and cheering along with the packed out house at the show’s new home – The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square. It was very pleasing to see a theatre (albeit a smaller one) buzzing with a large crowd after spending far too many of my recent outings in sparsely populated auditoriums watching disheartened casts try their upmost to make the best of an empty midweek show.

I liked many things about this production but the one thing which left me most satisfied was the use of its ‘star name’, Wendi Peters. Yes, she may have her face and name on the poster but when it came down to her performance, she was a member of the cast who worked just as hard as anyone else and looked in her element taking part in the rousing company numbers which complimented and, to my mind, made the production. Despite her having quite an impressive theatrical background, most people will remember Peters from her days in Coronation Street and nothing made me happier to see a soap star returning to the stage who actually has the talent to carry a part. She is a revelation in the double role of Angela Prysock/Princess Puffer.

The production itself transfers brilliantly into the Arts Theatre. The cast make full use of two staircases leading from the stage to the auditorium and also appear regularly in the balcony making sure that the audience are completely involved regardless of their seats. The sound of the show really benefits from the larger sound system with the cast perfectly in balance with the brilliant orchestra under the baton of James Cleeve.

There are excellent performances overall from a very hardworking cast. My one grumble would be Daniel Robinson as Clive Paget/John Jasper who, despite seeming an incredibly talented performer with a lovely voice, didn’t quite grasp the ‘Music Hall’ style of acting as the rest of the cast did. Stand out performances for me were from Loula Geater as Janet Conover/Helena Landless and Tom Pepper as Nick Cricker/Deputy; both of whom I struggled to peel my eyes from during the scenes and production numbers.

The ‘audience vote’ towards the end of the show really makes the evening and adds such a unique touch of fun to the piece. Talking to other audience members after the show I was very pleased to hear that the ending is actually different every night, the vote is not just a very well-acted diversion!

All in all, a very enjoyable evening and a production which deserves so much more than just 35 performances in town. I whole heartedly recommend it – I will definitely be returning before it closes.


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REVIEWED: 22/05/12
By David Coverdale @davidcoverdale9

18th May - 17th June 2012
Arts Theatre, London, WC2. 

Tags: bargain theatre deals discounts reviews london fringe arts theatre landor theatre musical theatre music hall comedy thriller plays musicals the mystery of edwin drood edwin drood drood wendi peters tom pepper loula geater james cleeve rupert holmes charles dickens

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April 15, 2012
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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