Open Roads and Theatre Seats: August 2022

REVIEW| The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Gillan Lynne Theatre

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Photo Credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
10/08/2022
★★★★★

Some shows out there are destined for big things, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe currently playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London's glittering West End is one of those shows.

I first saw this show during its UK Tour and I fell in love with its magical feel and nostalgic story. The show is based on the original story by C.S Lewis and is directed by Michael Fentiman and immerses you into the magical world of Narnia complete with full sized amazing lion puppet that has been designed by Max Humphries and directed by Toby Olie.

The stage's set design and costumes by Tom Paris alongside Lighting design by Jack Knowles and Sound design by Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker gives the show its magical feel, complete with illusions and magic created by Chris Fisher so excellent that even after two watches I still can't figure out. Creatively this show has been finished to the highest order in all aspects.

The cast complete with many actor-musicians, moving with choreography by Shannelle "Tali" Fergus is no mean feat, moving both actors and their instruments around the stage with great ease as well as creating some brilliant large group moments including the start of act two, with its very special guest.

Photo Credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

The cast was full of new faces and tour faces. The Pevensie children Robin Sinclair, Ammar Duffus, Shaka Kalokoh and Delainey Hayles worked brilliantly of each other, you would not have guessed that Delainey only started this show when it began in London as their family chemistry is second to none.

Other new faces in this London production include Emmanuel Ogunjinmi, Myla Carmen, Jasmine Colangelo, Julian Hoult, Ashlee Irish, Sean Lopeman, Micha Richardson, Ciaran Roger and Charlotte-Kate Warren who work wonders alongs the tour performers Scott Brooks, Rachel Dawson, Oliver Grant, Matthew James Hinchcliffe, Shaun McCourt, Christina Tedders, Johnson Willis, Jez Unwin, Chris Jared and Samantha Womack who were great to watch again.

Samantha Womack returns as the White Witch, verging just on the right side of scary for a family friendly show, and remains one of my favourite performances in the show alongside Oliver Grant's Head Cruel character and the two work brilliantly well.

The collective quartet behind Aslan, Oliver Grant, Sean Lopeman and Shaun McCourt as the puppeteers and Chris Jared as the actor and voice of Aslan. How they all work together to create one character is very clever and excellently portrayed by the four actors.

The beavers played wonderfully by Christina Tedders and Julian Hoult are two of the stars of my show, two characters who are on the outskirts of central characters but that lighten the stage with every appearance, they are always a joy to watch work together and some of their lines have become some of my new favourite catchphrases to say in day to day life.

This show is one for anyone and everyone, a tale that all know told in a magical and exciting new way. 1000% recommend for all the family, a perfect first show for any new theatre go-er young or old. Currently showing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London until 8th January.

Tickets can be bought straight from the LW Theatre Website. Get your tickets now, you will not be disappointed.

REVIEW|Kinky Boots in Concert at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Photo Credit: Mark Senior

Kinky Boots in Concert
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
09/08/2022
★★★★★

It is no secret that Kinky Boots is up there as one of my favourite shows, the story and its message of acceptance of yourself and everyone else is one that needs to be heard. I have seen Kinky Boots multiple times in London and on Tour so as soon as I heard that the concert had been announced I was ready to book and then when they sprinkled in some cast glitter I was sold.

This show has seen me through good times and bad, shaped my life and hugged my heart through it all. This production, which was a staged concert, had the feel of the show just without some of the large choreographed moments and with the music being played by the amazingly talented London Musical Theatre Orchestra and with background ensemble vocals being performed by the London Musical Theatre Chorus alongside actors taking the main roles on stage.

Creatively it was amazingly complete with excellent lighting designed by Ben Cracknell and sound by Tom Marshall, which alongside the direction by Omar F. Okai kept the feel of the full show in this concert but also made it a treat for the eyes and ears. Literally Creatively Flawless.

Photo Credit:Mark Senior

The cast were pretty special too. Led by the glorious Cedric Neal as Lola/Simon, Joel Harper-Jackson as Charlie and Courtney Bowman as Lauren, alongside Graham Bickley, Duane Gooden, Hannah Lowther, Kayleigh McKnight, Madison Swan, Nikki Bentley, Sean Needham, Ahmed Hamad and Daisy Wood-Davis.

Cedric was outstanding as Lola, a role they were born to play, putting all of their heart and soul on the line, which when you learn about the journey Cedric has been on with this role through the years. It was also great to see Joel perform as Charlie after he last took on the role on the UK Tour, especially after you remember that over the last two weeks Joel has done two of these staged concerts, his career is really on the rise as of late.

Lola's angels played by Ashley Samuels , Eli Caldwell, Finton Flynn, Jayred Lempriere, Jordan Bennett and Ross Carpenter were outstanding, from the moment they arrived on stage until the final bows, absolutely exceptional and I was in love with them all.

This was the greatest homage to a great show and literally highlighted that this show needs a return in full either in the West End or on Tour. The audience were one hundred per cent behind it all and was the perfect way to spend my birthday weekend.

REVIEW|The Cher Show (UK Tour)

Friday, August 12, 2022

Photo Credit:Pamela Raith

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

The Cher Show (UK Tour)

Curve Theatre, Leicester

★★★★★

There are some shows out there that as soon as they are announced, you know you need a ticket. Some may be down to hype, some due a to cast announcement and others are so special you know you need to see them. The Cher Show, which had its European premier at the Curve Theatre in Leicester before touring the UK until Spring 2023 had all the boxes ticked and I was lucky enough to see it on opening night.

This show, which features 35 fantastic hits and a book by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family), shows all the aspects of Cher from her sudden rise at sixteen, through the highs, lows and higher higher, all with the most perfect level of humour, shimmer and sorrow. Using not just one actress playing Cher but three separate Chers, nicknamed Babe, Lady and Star, who portray different portions and moments in the icon's life but also supporting each other through the entire show.

The creative behind this production is full of amazing names. Arlene Phillips directs with grace and understanding and Oti Mabuse's choreography is visually stunning, mixing a range of styles together in the most excellent energetic way. Gabriella Slade's costumes fill the stage with all the glitter and glitz that you'd expect from a show about one of the most glamorous women in pop.

The set design by Tom Rogers, which looks like the backstage of a concert with rack after rack of costume hangers, from floor to rafters, is very effective and my personal favourite props were the ones indicating the passing of time, which varied from light up numbers to mannequins and my personal favourite a set of traffic lights. Alongside the set the lighting design by Ben Cracknell completed the concert feel of the show another hit from Cracknell here.

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

The thing about this show is that it could be thought that it is merely a tribute act to the icon, the myth and the star herself, with her mannerisms and one of a kind voices but this is so much more and the three Chers are nothing short of perfect and on point casting.

Millie O'Connell plays Babe, the youngest of the Cher characters, who gets flung into stardom at a relatively young age where she meets Sonny and becomes the start of who she is now. Millie's Babe is played so well and she really plays the young star who is almost naive to it all, with O'Connell's own mix of the character perfectly. Following Babe comes Lady played by Danielle Steers, who continues on the story and dominates the stage in voice and spirit. I was unable to take off my eyes off Danielle, Lady has a lot to go through and it is portrayed so well by Steers. Finally finishing off the trio in comes Debbie Kurup as Star and that is what she is, her vocals like the other two were amazing and her presence as the ultimate diva is a thing of wonder. The casting of these three was perfect as was the rest of the cast.

The supporting men in her life, Sonny played by Lucas Rush, Bob Mackie played by Jake Mitchell and Greg Allman, Rob Camiletti, Phil Spector and Joe Southall all played by Sam Ferriday all shone. Rush's Sonny who goes through a lot from the doting lover, husband and father to the intense, fiery and passionate manager, who loses sight of the love in his life was a wonder to watch. Ferriday's multiple character and wig changes were all executed so well and Mitchell's Bob Mackie was the perfect support to Cher through everything. The ensemble of this show work their socks off throughout the show and hardly break a sweat even throughout Mabuse's amazing but quick choreography and are a joy to watch especially through the big dance moments.

Complete with a finale to end all finales the show saw the roof and smashed it into a million sequinned and studded glittering pieces. The show will leave you humming all the songs and running to the box office to box another ticket (or ten).

If you don't believe my review, believe in life after love and head to the official website to see where and when it is coming to a theatre near you. Get the newest hottest ticket in UK theatre and you will not be sorry.

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