Review-Little Shop of Horrors
April 14, 2009
Date Reviewed: 13th April, 2009
Venue: Sunderland Empire
The Menier Chocolate Factory production of Little Shop of Horrors has moved out of the intimate surroundings it had when the revival was first launched way back in 2006. Via way of the West End, the show is now on tour, which includes such large venues as the Sunderland Empire, but I am pleased to say it still works.
Having seen the original London production, then Richard O’Brien (creator of the Rocky Horror Show) appear in the show in Newcastle, playing flower shop owner Mr Mushik, I was looking forward to this revival. In fact I have always felt there are similarities between Rocky Horror and Little Shop, as both are similar in there send up of the 1950s style B Movie. Read more
Review-Le Grand Cirque Fantazie
April 7, 2009
Date Reviewed: April 7th, 2009
Venue: Theatre Royal, Newcastle
The ideal Easter show arrived on the latest leg of a world tour at the Theatre Royal. The Le Grand Cirque Fantazie is two hours of comedy and fantastic speciality acts that leave you wanting more.
There is one clown character who links the acts together, but be warned he does select audience members to assist him with several routines, so if you are in the stalls be ready.
Once the show itself actually starts the thirty strong cast carry out some amazing routines, two of the most memorable are a troupe of girls (balancing eight plates each) who move to the tune of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” . If plate spinning could ever be classed as elegant this is it. Then there were two couple flying high to Bolero. Forget Torvill and Dean, these four performers make the music their own as they gracefully spin, twist and leterally defy gravity. Read more
Review- The Maid of Buttermere
April 2, 2009
Date Reviewed: 26th March, 2009
Venue: Theatre By The Lake, Keswick
“The Maid of Buttermere” is set in 1802, in the early days of tourism in the Lakes. The story tells the tale of Mary Robinson, a staggeringly beautiful innkeeper’s daughter from Buttermere. Joseph Budworth, author of the 1792 “A Fortnight’s Ramble in the Lakes”, an early travel guide, says she “looked like an angel and I doubt not but that she is the reigning lily of the valley”. Read more
Review-Andromaque
April 2, 2009
Date Reviewed: 1st April, 2009
Venue: Northern Stage, Newcastle
This play is a Greek tragedy centring on Andromaque (Camille Cayol), who was widowed after her husband had been slain by Achilles. She is taken prisoner by Pyrrhus (Christophe Gregoire), Achilles’ son, who falls in love with her, however he is betrothed to Hermione.
However, Oreste (Xavier Boiffier) is sent as ambassador to sort out the love triangle however he is in love with Hermione. The complex situation progresses throughout the play with tragic consequences. Read more
Review- An Inspector Calls
March 31, 2009
Date Reviewed: 31st March 2009
Venue: Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Opening with children playing in 1945 and kicking a radio in to life, the curtain rises to reveal a small house on stilts, breaking out from a rain soaked cobbled street below. Inside are a family gathered for a celebration and though the windows we can see them at the dining table, although they are far bigger than the room and we catch just glimpses of them as they pass the windows, a head here and an arm there. Finally the walls of the house burst open and transport us to 1912 and in to the world of The Inspector Calls.
But the children in the street continue to watch the action of the Birling family as the characters spill out from the small house, their lives about to change forever. Read more
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