REVIEW| The Commitments UK Tour

Saturday, October 29, 2022

 

Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz

The Commitments (UK Your)
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
★ ★ ★ ★


Originally Written for Theatre and Tonic.


The Commitments, based on the book by Roddy Doyle and directed by Andrew Linnie (former Commitment member from the London West End Run) brought me many surprises. I had not seen the show in its last tour or when it was in London and I hadn’t even seen the 1990s film of the same name but I really enjoyed my evening at the theatre.

The underdog story of a group of “nobodies”, oddities and misfits, who under the caring and passionate arm of their manager, self-professed music fan Jimmy, played brilliantly by James Killeen in this production to become one of “the hardest working bands in Dublin”. The story is humorous but heartfelt. It’s a show of great soul music, with 20 soul classics including Mustang Sally, Try a Little Tenderness and I Heard it Through the Grapevine to name a few. It will leave you dancing in your seats and a warm feeling in your soul.

The Commitments in the show are played by an excellent team, each playing their own instruments live on stage, from guitar and bass to saxophone and trumpet. Each character has their moments in the plot, from the middle-aged horn player (Jimmy the Lips played by Stuart Reid) who makes his way through the backing singers to the saxophone player (Dean played by Conor Litten) who strikes fear in the band with his new love of jazz.

Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz

Vocals of the band come from the “backing singers” The Commitmentettes Imelda, Natalie and Bernie (Ciara Mackey, Eve Kitchingman and Sarah Gardiner respectively) and the “lead singer” Deco. The girls have amazing vocals singularly and together, the harmonies they create are stunning. I’m so grateful they get their time to shine throughout the show like Deco, played in our performance excellently by alternate James Deegan, leads the band brilliantly with his powerful, soulful voice…even if he isn’t their favourite person in the band at times.


The rest of the cast blends brilliantly with the band, the ensemble is small but mighty and performs many roles and tasks throughout the show. Nigel Pivaro plays Jimmy’s Da and brings his own version of dad humour to the role, being supportive to his son and the band from his armchair and finally Mickah, the band’s security played spectacularly by Ronnie Yorke had me laughing probably more than it should have with his hard man character, complete with a bald head and bright red Doc Martins, ready to take out anyone at any moment.


Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz

I had a great time watching the show, the set was brilliantly designed by Tim Blazdell with lighting design by Jason Taylor and sound by Rory Madden, which truly came into their element in the finale of the show where it becomes more of a concert.

This show has the lot..a great and talented cast, fantastic music and a good amount of laughs. If I had one negative it would be that the ending to the story is very sudden after a lot of great storytelling, it is suddenly over. But maybe that is just the thing, I enjoyed it so much I didn’t want to end. 


If you want a great evening of excellent entertainment and a good time, I would definitely recommend grabbing a ticket to see this show, whilst it is out on tour until July 2023. Tour dates and tickets are available through the website.

REVIEW|The Color Purple UK Tour

Thursday, October 27, 2022

  

Manuel Harlan

The Color Purple, UK Tour
Birmingham Hippodrome
★★★★★


Written originally for Theatre and Tonic.

Every so often a show comes along that will remain with you for a while, whether in the mind or soul it is always there to give you comfort and hope. For me, one of these is The Color Purple is one of these. I was lucky enough to see this show in 2019 as part of the collaboration between the Birmingham Hippodrome and Curve, Leicester. When it was announced that the same production, with most of the original creatives would be returning for a seven venue UK Tour, running until early November 2022 I jumped at the chance to be reunited with this production.

The show, based on the novel by Alice Walker, was created by Marsha Norman, Allee Willis, Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray and tells the heartbreaking, hard-hitting but empowering story of the central character Celie, who goes through so much during her journey in the show including childhood pregnancy, rape and abuse from her father and later husband, known mostly as Mister. 

However, she discovers the power she has within thanks to the amazing women she finds in her life, from her sister Nettie to the fiercely independent Sofia and through the love she finds with the glamourous singer Shug Avery and also in herself.

Me’Sha Bryan takes on the role of Celie this time and was incredible as she takes the audience along with her, making you feel all that she is going through culminating in her big moment in Act Two “I’m Here”, which left the audience with goosebumps and teary eyes.

Bryan is joined by other new cast members Bree Smith as Shug Avery, Aaliyah Zhane as Nettie, Ahmed Hamad as Harpo and Jimand Allotey, who is making her professional stage debut as Squeak.

Manuel Harlan

Manuel Harlan

Completing the cast was the amazing ensemble of Kyle Birch, Kayla Carter, Joshua Clemetson, Esme Laudat, DeeArna McLean, Monifa James, Nathaniel Morrison, Alex Okoampa and Neil Patterson who all shone. The talent on stage was clear to see and you can see how much it truly means to each and every cast member on that stage as demonstrated in the movement during the finale of the show The Color Purple (Reprise).


Creatively, a lot of the names from 2019 production return. Direction by Tinuke Craig wih revival direction by Lakesha Arie-Angelo and Musical Supervision by Alex Parker. The wonderful choreography by the amazing Mark Smith shone out again, with big numbers such as Push the Button making you want to get up and join in. 


Alex Lowde’s cleverly simplistic set design worked perfectly alongside Joshua Pharo’s lighting and video design, which uses clever projections help to move the story through Celie’s life.


Returning cast from the 2019 run include Ako Mitchell as Mister, Anelisa Lamola as Sofia, KM Drew Boateng as Pa, Rosemary Annabella Nkruma as Darlene and Karen Mavundukure as Doris/Alternate Celie. It was lovely to see them perform again, some in different roles but all brilliant just the same.

This show is one that stays with you for a long time, leaving you with a warm heart and a teary eye. A must-see over the next seven weeks in Plymouth, Northampton, Salford, Cardiff, Southampton and Norwich.



REVIEW|My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?)

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Photo Credit:Mark Senior


My Son's a Queer, But What Can You Do?
Garrick Theatre, London
October 2022
★★★★★

Like many people, I was reacquainted with the wonderful Rob Madge in the glory days of lockdowns, in which he made many a funny video on social media or with their excellent Leave the Light On streamed concert. During 2020, Rob also started writing this hit autobiographical one person show called My Son's a Queer, But What Can You Do? in which they tell their own story growing up in the West Midlands, complete with costume changes, songs and projected home movie clips on a large screen at the back of the stage.

The show, which is set in Rob's childhood living room and follows their journey through childhood, weaving each story with humour, laughs and emotions leaving you gripped for the entire sixty five minutes. The show also features songs written by Rob and Pippa Clearly that will stay in your head and hearts for long after the show has ended.

Photo Credit:Mark Senior

Everyone has the ability to take something from this show, you will laugh, cry and want to be an honorary Madge. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to see this show during it's run at the Garrick Theatre, after past runs at Turbine Theatre and also the Edinburgh Fringe. 

The show runs at the Garrick until 6th November and I would 100% recommend the show to everyone, maybe pack a tissue or two. Hopefully this show will not end here, it needs a tour or stream so that everyone has the chance to see this excellent show. 









 

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