HARVEY

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Don Gregory in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre) 

‘Harvey’ makes an appearance at Malvern Festival Theatre this week. Or does he? This charming story of a man and his invisible friend, a six foot three and a half inch, white rabbit, is a jolly jaunt through the human psyche of belief and what is acceptable, and often preferable, when it comes to someone’s sanity.

James Dreyfus is brilliant and simply adorable as the endearingly gentle Elwood P Dowd who, following the death of his mother, acquired the companionship of Harvey, a pooka (a faery creature of Celtic folklore) in the form of a giant rabbit. Elwood’s insistence to introduce Harvey to everyone that he meets drives his social climbing sister, Veta, to distraction and leaves his lovelorn niece, Ethel, devoid of suitors. So dire is their situation that they decide to commit him to Chumley’s Rest, the local sanatorium. Misunderstandings twinned with misdiagnosis leads to a series of unfortunate events that leaves everybody’s psychological stability in question.

Maureen Lipman delights as the dithering sister, as does Amanda Boxer as the despondent niece. An ample cast of thirteen others make up the collection of characters to tell the tale, notably Jack Hawkings and David Bamber, as the psychologists, Dr Sanderson and Dr Chumley.

Although this is a thoroughly enjoyable play, it seems to fall a little short of it’s potential due to the seeming lack of direction and cohesion of characters. It is almost as if the actors were left to their own devices without an overseer of action. This is surprising, considering the apparent calibre of director, Lindsey Posner. The blocking was awkward in places, characterisations were underdeveloped and two dimensional at times and the use of some props, in particular the home telephone, drew too much focus with its unnerving potential for catastrophe. Having said that, the writing is wonderful, the performances engaging overall and Peter McKintosh’s set design breathtaking. A double revolve, impressively glides from beautiful, wood panelled, library to hygienically imposing sanatorium to smoke filled, Charley’s Bar; a stunning feet of artistic engineering. Effective stage tricks really help bring the eponymous character to life too.

Harvey is one of those shows that you will find yourself grinning through from beginning to end and is certainly worth experiencing.

4 stars

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Theatre Royal Bath Productions with Robert Stigwood)

Theatre Royal Bath has done it AGAIN! Their revival of Saturday Night Fever, in association with Robert Stigwood, is phenomenal. Breathtaking. Stunning!

The date is 1976 and in New York, Tony Manero, a young man from a tough Brooklyn neighbourhood with a dead-end job and an extraordinary ability to dance, has only one ambition in life - to become the disco king.  Every Saturday night, Tony dons his flares and hits the dance floor, creating a stir as he wows the crowds with his phenomenal moves and routines. When he meets Stephanie, who also dreams of a world beyond Brooklyn, and they decide to train together for a dance competition, their lives begin to change forever.

Ryan McBryde’s creative vision and direction has stripped this musical back to its gritty, pre John Travolta, roots. This coming of age story is raw and fresh and as relevant now as in the decade of disco, when it is set. The original and classic Bee Gee’s discography score has be superbly reinvented by Musical Supervisor, Paul Herbert, making it contemporary and more relevant to the storyline and modern audiences, in an Ed Sheeran, Jessie Jay and Sam Smith style, while remaining true to the original genius. Simon Kenny’s brilliant design cleverly incorporates movie projections on a simplistic and functional set to bring the stage to life as the action seamlessly glides from scene to scene. All this is topped off with Andrew Wright’s delicious choreography, which fuses classic ballroom with iconic disco that is perfectly executed by the unbelievably talented cast of actor musicians.

Danny Bayne absolutely nails the lead role of the anti-hero, Tony Manero, giving the performance of a lifetime with his honest characterisation, awesome vocals and dynamic moves! Naomi Slights is a wonderfully captivating match as his muse and love interest, Stephanie and Bethany Linsdell is equally endearing as Annette, the victim of Tony’s unrequited affections. Every single person in the cast is truly amazing, without exception, as they showcase their wealth of talent across all of the performing disciplines. CiCi Howells has to be mentioned for her powerhouse vocals, as the Club Singer, that were hauntingly woven through the protagonists journey of self realisation.

This is musical theatre at its best! Make sure you see this production. It runs at Malvern Theatres until Saturday before continuing on the UK tour.

5 STARS!

ALADDIN

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Martin Dodd for UK Productions)

UK Productions return to Malvern Festival Theatre this yuletide with a gem of a pantomime, Aladdin! For those of you who have been locked away in the Cave of Wonders for all eternity, this is the tale of a poor street urchin with big dreams, who falls in love with a princess and the magical journey that takes him from China to Morocco and back again in order to make his dreams come true.

Hi-5 presenter, Chris Edgerley, is utterly adorable in the title role and arguably the most likeable Aladdin ever. Equally charming and immensely mischievous is Milkshake presenter, Derek Moran, as the cheeky chappy, Wishee Washee. Both run rings around their mother, Widow Twanky, who scrapes together a living running the local launderette. Ian Good is hilarious as this iconic dame, with a fabulous array of outrageous costumes and the most impressive collection of wigs ever seen. The energy that these three exude throughout the show is exhilarating. Rebecca Marks is a beautiful princess with a refreshingly determined attitude, as she fights for what she truly believes, despite being bullied by her father, the Emperor, convincingly played by Spencer K Gibbins. Mark James is brilliant as PC Pong, whose attempts to keep law and order, in Peking, are thwarted at every corner. The magical characters are perfectly presented by Carrie Rawlings, who is the feisty, yet lovable, Slave of the Ring, and Connor J Barrie, with his washboard abs and enchanting smile, as the Genie. Show business royalty, Robert Powell, is wonderful as the evil Abanazar. His booming voice and humility at being the butt of many jokes about his career and theatrical training make him the most endearing of baddies.

Jak Skelly, Emily Brown, Nikki Foulkes, Amelia Arnold and Sabrina Egerton, along with young dancers from Cecilia Hall Dance Centre, execute Alistair Bull’s choreography with precision and poise, under Dean McDermott’s up-beat musical direction. As well as being dame, Good is also the director and he does a superb job at telling the story of Aladdin, a factor that is often overlooked by many directors less skilled in the art of pantomime. Despite this production being rich in dialogue in the first act and comedic ‘business’ heavy in the second act, the story was never sacrificed for the sake of the slapstick scenes.

With songs ranging from chart hits to musicals, even an ingenious inclusion of You And Me (But Mostly Me) from The Book of Mormon, this panto really has something for everyone and is a guaranteed great outing for all the family. Aladdin runs until Sunday 4^th January 2015.

CALAMITY JANE

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Jamie Wilson Productions, Triumph Entertainment & Watermill Theatre Productions)

The touring revival of Calamity Jane is as fresh, gritty and feisty as the title character. This superb actor musician production by the innovative Watermill Theatre evokes all of the rustic, raw charm of the old Wild West. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, Calamity travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood Stage. But things don’t go too smoothly for her, as everyone in town favours the new girl and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense.

Director, Nikolai Foster, more than succeeds in reworking the show making it greatly deserving of the standing ovation it received. Matthew Wright's design perfectly encapsulates the era and location, providing the perfect stage for Foster's vision as the audience is swiftly transported from scene to scene without ever leaving the timbered saloon.

Jody Prenger and Tom Lister head the immensely talented cast as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Both give show stopping performances, with Lister treating us to the most wonderful acoustic rendition of 'My Heart Is Higher Than A Hawk'. Phoebe Street is perfect as the delectable Katie Brown, the wannabe actress from Chicago, and Rob Delany, who is also the musical director, and Sioned Saunders are absolutely adorable as musical double act, Francis Fryer and Susan, their piano duet an unmissable addition.

Nick Winston's choreography is authentically vibrant and slickly executed, while accompanied by the amazing musical skills of the entire cast, some of whom play more than one instrument. The musical numbers, including The Dark Hills of Dakota and The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), are given new life and the hoe-down finale leaves it impossible not to clap and tap along as it sweeps you up into a frenzy.

This is an absolute 'must-see' show and another triumph for the Watermill Theatre who make a welcome return to Malvern Theatres, following there last show, Radio Times starring Gary Wilmot. Calamity Jane runs until Saturday. Go and treat yourself! 

5 Stars

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Theatre Royal Bath Productions)

The comic writing genius of Richard Bean, who has enjoyed high acclaimed for his recent adaptation of the hugely popular One Man, Two Guvnors in the West End, twinned with the ever-reliable production qualities of the Theatre Royal Bath is sure to see Moliere’s The Hypochondriac flushed with success!

Fully embracing the bawdy performance style of the era, with plentiful measures of smut, wit, sauciness and melodram,a the company titillate the audience with the trials and tribulations of a man and his family who are as dysfunctional as his bowel movements. He believes he is plagued with a myriad of ailments, teetering on the step of Death’s door, ready to fall through at any moment. Of course, there is nothing at all wrong with him, other than an idle mind and too much money, which allows the opportunity for his vivid imaginings and the means to be indulged by the many doctors quick to line their own pockets.

Tony Robinson is delightfully uninhibited in his portrayal of Argan, the hypochondriac who is obsessed with daily enemas and forcing his poor nursemaid, Toinette, to inspect and report on his stool samples as part of her daily duties. Tracie Bennett is wonderfully expressive in this role and particularly hilarious in the second act as she carries out her deception to rid her boss of his fixations. Imogen Stubbs is perfect as the ‘gold-digging’ wife, who blatantly carries on an affair with her solicitor, while patiently waiting for her husband to keel over and pass on his fortune. All of the remaining cast provide a superb collection of characters, giving excellent performances in the telling of the story, with a notable interpretation of the unfortunate Thomas Diafoirehoea by the talented Craig Gazey.

The show is interspersed with original, medically inspired, comedy songs in a Monty Python style that Andrew Bevis delivers with impressive vocals. The only questionable part of this production is the ending, which jars and heads off in a direction that isn’t particularly necessary. However, it certainly doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of this refreshingly frank and raucous farce and the audience laughter was clear testament to the fact.

4 STARS

DREAMBOATS AND MINISKIRTS

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Bill Kenwright Ltd & Laurie Mansfield)

Dreamboats and Miniskirts is the 60s sequel to the hugely popular Dreamboats and Petticoats musical. It continues the story of Bobby and Laura, as they struggle to produce another hit, following their initial recording success, at a time when music and the world is undergoing historic transformation, not unlike Norman and Sue who are preparing for the arrival of their first child.

Yet again, another talented bunch of actor musicians make up this ensemble cast, delivering wonderful renditions of classics such as Twist & Shout, Pretty Woman, Be My Baby, and many more. Due to a curious directorial decision to understudy a lead role with someone in another lead role, it meant that press night saw two understudies playing two lead characters. Despite Alan Howell and Will Tierney doing an excellent job in their respective understudy roles of Norman and Tony, it is unknown the effect that this had on the overall production that night. Unfortunately, there was an absence of chemistry between the leads Alex Beaumont as Bobby and Elizabeth Carter as Laura and they had a general lack of energy, which led me to think that something wasn’t right. Their vocals, however, were undeniably delicious and a joy to hear.

Writers, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, managed to link a plethora of unconnected, 60s pop hits, throwing in a good dose of laugh-out-loud one liners, many of which were brilliantly delivered by Sheridan Lloyd as Andy. David Luke as Ray is a perfect match for Anna Campkin, returning to the part of Donna, who gives the most superb and captivating performance of Hello Stranger and I Only Want To Be With You. Without question, the star of the show is Louise Olley, also returning to her part as Sue. She oozes stage presence from ever pore and gives an utterly truthful and engaging performance throughout. She delivers her songs with effortless precision and musically enchants like a siren of the sea. This lady is a star!

Carole Todd’s staging of the musical numbers is a bit hit and miss. Some are beautifully choreographed and really add to the song and others look as if they were forgotten about. Sean Cavanagh’s set is simple but effective and vibrantly lit by Tim Oliver’s lighting design. Although there is scope for improvement with this production, it is still a thoroughly enjoyable night out. The music is timeless and a feast for the ears, particularly Josef Pitura-Riley’s impressive trumpet solos. Dreamboats and Miniskirts runs at Malvern Festival Theatre until Saturday and then continues on tour around the UK.

THE KITE RUNNER

Malvern Festival Theatre

(UK Productions & Flying Music / Flying Entertainment)

Andrei Costin & Ben Turner

The European premiere of The Kite Runner received a much-deserved standing ovation on its opening night at Malvern Festival Theatre, as it tours the UK. Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel, which achieved added acclaim as a movie in 2007, has been adapted for stage by Matthew Spangler to present the captivating and, at times, harrowing tale of two boys growing up in Afghanistan in the seventies and how events shape their lives in tragically unforeseen ways into adulthood. Their story spans nearly thirty years from just prior to the Russian occupation that resulted in civil war and continues well into the oppression of the Taliban regime, as the action moves from Afghanistan to Pakistan, America and back again.

Barney George’s simplistic set provides a beautifully adaptable kite sail that, coupled with William Simpson’s projection design, transports us around the world. Live sound is woven throughout the performance creating the most incredible atmosphere and, along with Jonathan Girling’s composition, encapsulates the very essence of the Middle Eastern culture.

This is an ensemble piece with many of the ten actors playing more than one role. All are excellent in their casting, in particular Emilio Doorgasingh as Baba and Andrei Costin as Hassan (and later Sohrab). Nicholas Karimi, is perfectly intimidating as the sociopath, Assef, whose scene in the second act is very uncomfortable to watch with recent news coverage of similar horrors. Without question though, Ben Turner is most impressive in his epic role as Amir, who is on stage for the duration of the show (nearly three hours) and consistently switches between storyteller and participant. He gives a truly awe inspiring performance!

This is a stunning production of a fantastic story and the time flies. It may well leave you emotionally exhausted but it is certainly to be experienced. The Kite Runner is an absolute must see that maintains the amazing standard set by last week’s To Kill A Mocking Bird.

5 Stars