Fiddler on the Roof
July 15, 2008
Venue : Sunderland Empire
Date : July 14th 2008
Fiddler on the Roof won 9 Tony awards when it opened in 1964 and although the original star was Zero Mostel, it will be always associated with Topol. Like Rex Harrison will always be the definitive Professor Higgins, Topol will always be Tevye, a role he has played on the very stage where Joe McGann is now given his interpretation. McGann, best known for his role as Charlie Burrows in The Upper Hand, takes time to settle in to the role of Tevye, the man who dreams of riches, respect and a quiet family life.
Unfortunately the main song of the show “If I Were a Rich Man” comes very early in Act 1 before he has shaken the ghost of Topol off to prove he was a worthy successor in a charming understated performance.
The musical is set in year is 1905 where Jewish community in the village of Anatevka, Tsarist Russia are trying to eke out a living. The story revolves around Tevye a milkman who has a personal relationship with God, as he strives to keep up the traditions of his faith, race and culture.
Tevye is father to five daughters and trying to find husbands for eldest three. He turns to Yente, the matchmaker, who does her best, but with no money and dowry to offer she is struggling. Read more
Eurobeat
July 7, 2008
Venue: Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Date Reviewed: 7th July, 2008
Eurovision is not a show that’s ever appealed to me. But after seeing EuroBeat at the Theatre Royal tonight, I may have just become their newest convert.
The premise of EuroBeat is very simple. A two hour musical that basically spoofs everything that Eurovision is renowned for, with a slight twist to it. And it’s done in such a camp way that it leaves Alan Carr, Dale Winton and Graham Norton, all rolled into one, standing.
The countries competing in EuroBeat are Italy, Estonia, Iceland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Russia, Greece, Ireland, Germany and Sweden and all offer their own brand of eccentric and unique acts.
Sir Terry Wogan, one of the foremost experts on Eurovision, opens the night with a pre-recorded message to the audience, explaining what’s coming up and what to expect from an evening that is fantastically over the top, before passing over to the EuroBeat hosts.
Les Dennis and Mel Giedroyc play EuroBeat hosts Sergei and Boyka, who are presenting EuroBeat “Live” from Sarajevo. They basically step in each time an act finishes and keep the pace of the show going while the next act prepares to perform. Their chemistry together is unparalleled and their gags are a perfect send up of all things Eurovision. In fact their gags are filled full of innuendo and are timed perfectly to deliver the most delicious mix of smut and camp send up, that it really is hilarious and had most of the audience in stitches – myself included. Read more
Darlington Daydream over as Monkees show is cancelled
July 3, 2008
Seven weeks before its scheduled opening – and just a week after Whatsonstage.com announced the production – Monkees musical Daydream Believer has been pulled. The new musical, based on the greatest hits of the 1960s pop group, was scheduled to premiere on 26 August 2008 at the Theatre Royal Plymouth ahead of an extensive UK tour which included a stop at Darlington.
A statement issued by the show’s producers today said: “It is with regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the production of Daydream Believer has been cancelled for the foreseeable future.” Actor James Bisp, who recently announced on his website that he had been cast in the show, has since posted a message saying that the show’s demise was due to “poor ticket sales”.
According to promotional material, Daydream Believer would tell the story of four boys who audition for a band, and “unwittingly become stand-ins for the most famous group in the world”. It promised “a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who remember the TV series”, while producers hoped the “enduring charm” of The Monkees’ back catalogue would appeal to a “whole new generation”. Read more
Panto star TITAN stops the City Centre
July 3, 2008
The press launch for Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates turned in to a real scream!
As specially invited school children took their first glimpse of the special guest star when he emerged from a marquee in Newcastle’s City Centre, they ran screaming from the event.
Press and Communications Officer for the Theatre Royal, David Brookbanks, taken totally by surprise , along with school teachers, soon rounded them up and within minutes the initial fear turned to delight as they befriended TITAN the eight foot robot .
The human stars of the show Clive Webb (Mr Crusoe) and Danny Adams (Robinson Crusoe) back for their forth pantomime along with Kathryn Rooney (Magical Mermaid) and Chris Hayward (Dame Rita) , who were both in last year’s show Aladdin, all dressed in full costume were overshadowed by the giant robot. After formal introductions were over and done with Titan sang to the human members of the cast as the crowd of onlookers grew.
Titan then started a mini walkabout before mounting his “chariot” and driving off to meet unsuspecting shoppers in Newcastle City Centre, all under the watchful eye of Wallsend born Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos pantomimes, who is once again writing and directing the show.
Also joining in the fun was Pudsey Bear, as this year the pantomime is supporting Children in Need. Read more
Panto Dames make it 3-D
July 2, 2008
This year’s panto at the Journal Tyne Theatre goes 3-D for the first time ever!
Yes, the comic trio of Brendan Healy and Maxie & Mitch will be pulling out all of the stops this year for Cinderella, when they take to the stage as Three Dames!
The award winning comedians, who have kept panto audiences entertained at Christmastime for the last 10 years, return to the Journal Tyne Theatre this December as Cinderella’s Wicked Stepmother and the Ugly Sisters.
Brendan Healy, who also directs the show, said:“Every panto season our aim is to bring good clean family fun to the audiences who come to see us year after year. We are firmly entrenched in the values of traditional pantomime, and the only way we are going to go hi-tec in a 3-D fashion is by cranking up the comedy value with three terrifically over-the-top dames. And believe me, when you see Maxie & Mitch as Ugly Sisters Sharon and Tracey - it doesn’t get ANY uglier than this!” Read more
-
Recent Posts
Advertisement
Other Regional Sites