Dancing On Ice Returns
October 30, 2008
While the Imperial Ice Stars are still wowing the audiences at the Sunderland Empire with their production of Cinderella on Ice ITVs Dancing on Ice has announced it will be bringin its live touring version back to the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena in April 2009.
The tour is being billed as a celebration of Torvill and Deans Bolero, which is 25 years old. While no cast details have been announced with the TV show due back on very soon we should see names popping up in the not too distant future.
Review - Cinderella on Ice
October 30, 2008
Date Reviewed: 29th October, 2008
Venue: Sunderland Empire
When the Prokofiev estate refused director Tony Mercer permission to use the music he wanted for Cinderella on Ice, he turned to Tim Duncan to write the score. Luckily the new score is a brilliant piece of work that backs up one of the best touring ice shows around today.
However, anyone expecting to see the British pantomime version of Cinderella placed on ice will be disappointed. This is a romantic tale, with Cinderella training to be a ballerina and the prince, we are so used to, is actually the Mayors son. Cinderella losing her slipper remains in the story and leads to the female skaters appearing with just one ice skate as they are eager to try on the slipper.
We know the Mayors son and the Watchmakers daughter, Cinderella, will live happily ever after, but the story taking us there is fresh, different and fantastic entertainment. Read more
Review - The Mikado
October 29, 2008
Date Reviewed: 28th October, 2008
Venue: Theatre Royal, Newcastle
The Mikado is the latest Gilbert and Sullivan production to be toured by Carl Rosa and very enjoyable it is too. Using the Oscar winning Topsy Turvey settings and costumes, Director Peter Mulloy gets the most from his cast, they produce an energy which certainly crosses the footlights. It is therefore a pity that the orchestra continually drown out a first rate cast making many of the lyrics inaudible.
Set in Japan the production tells the story of Nanki -Poo , the son of the Mikado, who has run away to stop his marriage to the elderly Katisha. He has though fallen in love with Yum-Yum, but cannot marry due to her guardian Ko-Ko. When Ko-Ko is ordered by the Mikado to execute someone, Nanki-Poo is the ideal victim as he is preparing to commit suicide as he cannot marry Yum-Yum.
But of course things do not run that smoothly and by the time the Mikado arrives Ko-Ko is having to pretend he has executed Nanki-Poo. But upon realising that as he is the Mikado’s son, he knows he will also be executed, so to save his life he marries the elderly Katisha himself. Finally we have the happy ending we have been waiting for as the Mikado finds out his son is not in fact dead, but really married to Yum-Yum. Read more
Review - Far From The Madding Crowd
October 22, 2008
Date Reviewed: 21st October, 2008
Venue: Northern Stage
The English Touring Theatres production of Far From The Madding Crowd is a clear, well produced version of the Thomas Hardy novel. Mark Healy’s adaptation goes at a cracking pace, despite its running time of just under three hours, the first half is so action packed that it is hard to believe over an hour and a quarter has gone by when the lights go up for the interval.
I must admit though I cannot recall having read the book, or sat through the entire film version, but I still found the adaption very clear to follow. Read more
Review -Flashdance
October 21, 2008
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Date Reviewed: 20th October, 2008
It is very unusual in musical theatre for the person making the most impact on the show to not be on stage, but that is the case with Flashdance The Musical. In this screen to stage adaptation the choreography, by Arlene Phillips, stands head and shoulders above anything else. It appears as if the cast are drilled within inches of their lives and it shows, as the chorus numbers are thankfully what make this show watchable.
To be honest I have never seen the film so I have nothing to compare the stage version too, therefore any changes from the film were unnoticed and I took on face value the story that was being presented. Read more
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