Looking back and those reviews!
December 31, 2008
As 2008 draws to a close its good to look back at the memories we have from the theatres around the region over the past 12 months.
The first production that springs to mind is Geoff Dead : Disco for Sale, which opened at the Live Theatre, Newcastle. This is one of those rare events when you knew you were not watching a run of the mill performance. Within seconds you realised you were part of an event, something special, everything was clicking in to place and the audience and the actors were all part of the experience.
Infact the last time I felt this way in a theatre was during one of the final preview performances for Guys and Dolls starring Ewan McGregor in London (it was a treat for my birtday, not work). Again everything gelled and at the curtain call the entire audience rose, as one, to applaud and cheer, not the usual smattering of fans standing so the people behind have to stand to see, which slowly results in a standing ovation.
I only hope this production has the same history as the Pitmen Painters (which had its second run at the Live this year) that found its way from Tyneside to the National Theatre and deservedly so and return there for a second run early in 09.
We also had the final performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in England before the tour finished in Cardiff. The show returned to the Sunderland Empire where the international tour was launched.
The Bloody Chamber at the Northern Stage, certainly needed the warning about nudity and during the year we also chatted to the orginal stars, and current performers, of Puppetry of the Penis before their Newcastle performance.
Our House, at the Sunderland Empire, was one of the great musicals of the year, set to the music of Madness this show was like the movie “Sliding Doors” as the hero had to make life changing decisions while being guided by his dead father. The fun was seeing the outcome of both decisions with some very quick changes that left you wondering how they had been done live.
Dads Army brought the TV show back to life for a new audience, at the Theatre Royal, and the performers were so well cast that you forgot about the orginal TV stars in seconds and accepted the new company, as those you had seen on the TV for years.
Tommy Steele found his long tour of Doctor Doolittle played one of the final weeks in Newcastle.
While Sunderland played host to the magnificient production of Sinatra. This hi-tech show took the image of Frank through his career and by the use of projections, dancers and a band, brought his music to life. I honestly did not expect much but was hooked from the start, it was simply brilliant and I am not a Sinatra fan in anyway.
Over the year I suppose The Bang Gang, which was heading to the Edinburgh Festival, has the dubious honour of the show I liked the least.
Other highlights have been helping out at the Whatsonstage Awards Nominations and chatting to the stars and understanding how a panto comes together as we followed Micheal Harrison during the year as he wrote and prepared for this years Theatre Royal Pantomime.
One moment that will stay with me forever was at the Whatsonstage Awards Nominations, when Lesley Garrett was doing her sound check. In a almost empty venue she stood centre stage and sang You Will Never Walk Alone. But with no one between Ms Garrett and me ( who was directly infront of me around 25 feet away) it was like a private concert. This song does move people in anycase but I can tell you the hairs on my neck were certainly standing up during this.
It has also been rewarding to see this site, as a microsite of Whatsonstage.com, grow. More people enter the competitions and more of you leave comments which I enjoy reading even if it is to disagree with my views.
As a reviewer you are invited to see one performance of a show, usually it is the opening night of a touring show, or second if its a two week run. With pantomimes it can be the opening perfromance or more likely the forth or fifth perfromance, as the producers want the reviews published as quickly as possible.
This is where it can be slightly problematic as often the show has not settled in to its run but you have to review on what you have seen not what you think it will be like in a weeks time, which could be different. Also it is my view, and will not be the same as other reviewers or other members of the audience. Where it is a show directed at children I will ask my daughters opinion, as I have more than once sat demused by the show only to find the target age group loves it. (You only have to read through the reviews to find those shows but the Doubtful Guest springs to mind as one of them).
So when comments, such as those about this years show are left totally disagreeing with me, I read them with interest, as your views are as valued as mine and have the right to be heard. But I write about what I see and how I feel, they are my views, not those I think people would want to read. I am asked to review shows and I do that as honestly as I can. If you read my review of Shout! you will find I did not like the performace of the leading lady, others did, but I will not just follow everyone else, there is no point in that. Likewise saying everything is wonderful and give each production a four or five star rating does no good at all.
I do not review on ballet or opera as a rule, as it is not something I am qualified to comment on, enjoy or know a lot about.
So during 2009 you will read reviews that are based on the way I view productions and if my reviews differ to others, so be it. Theatre changes at every performance, the cast or stars could have an off day or the audience may not just gel with the production, it is two to three hours between a cast and an audience which can never exactly be repeated.
Les Mis is one of the worlds most loved shows yet I have a friend who hates it, it does not mean he is right or wrong, its just not for him.
I look forward to reading your comments as we head through 2009 and remember we are always on the look out for new reviewers, but the last time I mentioned this we failed to get a good response. As a reviewer you have to take the comments made about your reviews, just as you have made comments about the performance. Just as the perfromers and producers have asked for the reviewers comments by inviting them to review the show, by publishing the review itself you are inviting people to make comment about your views
Finally, there is a lot of exciting theatre hitting the region in 2009, including Connie Fisher in The Sound of Music, Evita, Waiting for Godot, Blood Brothers, the RSC and West Side Story, so we should have plenty to report on in the New Year.
Happy New Year
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