Thursday, October 12, 2017

CABARET TOUR 2017

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Bill Kenwright Productions)

Will Young & Louise Rednapp
“The girls are beautiful. The boys are beautiful. Even the orchestra are beautiful.” Life Is A Cabaret at Malvern Festival Theatre this week with pop superstars, Will Young and Louise Rednapp headlining the show.

Kander and Ebb’s musical is set in Berlin, during 1931, at the beginning of Hitler’s rise to power. Sally Bowles, an educated girl from Chelsea, is working as a cabaret performer in the infamous Kit Kat club, a hedonist’s paradise, when an American novelist fortuitously arrives on the day she is sacked. They get swept up in the decedent rhythms of the German capital at a time of huge political upheaval and change.

Rufus Norris’ direction is suitably dark and he utilises the wonderfully adaptable set designed by Katrina Lindsay. Javier De Frutos’ choreography is incredibly physical, requiring an immense level of skill and trust from the dancers. The ensemble are fully committed throughout and their focus is unwavering.

Will Young is wonderfully grotesque as the Emcee and clearly revels in his role. He obviously delivers vocally with the classics ‘Wilkommen’ and ‘The Money Song’. While Louise Rednapp’s lack of experience as an actress shows, her skill as a singer shines through with ‘Mein Herr’ and ‘Maybe This Time’. She delivers a perfectly clipped Chelsea accent too. Susan Penhaligon and Linal Haft enchant the audience as the twilight lovers Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz and Basienka Blake is striking as ‘a lady of the night’, Fräulein Kost. Her rendition of ‘Tomorrow Belongs To Me’ is as haunting as the Emcee’s version is disturbing. Charles Hagerty gives a truly superb performance as the novelist, Clifford. The authenticity will which he portrays his character is faultless and captivating. An interpretation that is worthy of top billing.

This is a sell out at Malvern Festival Theatre but is definitely worth trying to obtain returns. If you already have tickets, then you are in for a great night.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

HAIRSPRAY 2017 TOUR

Birmingham Hippodrome

(Mark Goucher Ltd)

It's 5 star fabulousness at the Birmingham Hippodrome this week with a sparkling new production of Hairspray.

The most phenomenal talent has been brought together to wow audiences with this bubbly, feel good musical about a girl, from Baltimore, who dreams of a better world for all, no matter what shape, size or colour you happen to be.

Making her professional debut, in the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, is Rebecca Mendoza, who shines bright along side the seasoned pros with her powerful vocals, hilarious characterisation and boundless energy. Matt Rixon is absolutely perfect as Edna and Norman Pace is adorable as Wilbur. They charm the audience as Tracy’s parents with their comical, yet endearing, duet, ‘Timeless To Me’. The Turnblads are just an average American family, until they are thrust into the limelight when Tracy auditions for a TV show and ends up becoming an activist for equal rights.

Gina Murray and Aimee Moore are wonderfully dislikable as the scheming mother and daughter team, Velma and Amber Von Tussle, who are determined to scupper Tracy’s plans. Luckily she has TV show host, Corny Collins, on her side, played by the devilishly handsome, Jon Tsouras, whose performance is as cheerful as his suits. Annalise Liard-Bailey, with her amazing vocals, is at Tracy’s side as her best friend, Penny Pingleton, who falls for the exotic moves of Seaweed, perfectly executed by the very flexible, Layton Williams. Edward Chitticks is lovely as Tracy’s unexpected love interest Link Larkin, while the incredible Brenda Edwards gives the most awe inspiring performance as Motormouth Maybelle.

The ensemble also ooze with talent, each and every one proving their metal from beginning to end. Local lad, Drew McOnie, provides the cast with exquisite choreography, which they present with precision and unwavering energy. Director, Paul Kerryson, brings a gritty freshness to the script, keeping focus on the story and its message and although Takis’ set design seems clumsy and distracting, at times, his new costume design is simply stunning! Musical Director, Ben Atkinson, and his band are faultless, with their accompaniment of this memorable score.

The casting of this new production is absolutely superb and is certainly what makes this tour of Hairspray the best yet! Make sure you get to see it! It runs in Birmingham until Saturday before continuing on to other venues until June next year.

5 stars