Big hair, big hearts, and timeless friendship at the People’s Theatre
in Heaton with STEEL MAGNOLIAS!
Clairee (Moira Valentine) & Ouiser (Alison Carr) photo Jess Williams |
Annelle (Ashton Matthews) & Truvy (Emma Robson) photo Jess Williams |
Big hair, big hearts, and timeless friendship at the People’s Theatre
in Heaton with STEEL MAGNOLIAS!
Clairee (Moira Valentine) & Ouiser (Alison Carr) photo Jess Williams |
Annelle (Ashton Matthews) & Truvy (Emma Robson) photo Jess Williams |
Cruel Intentions The ‘90s Musical based on the iconic film
and inspired by Les Liaisons Dangereuses exploded onto the stage at Darlington
Hippodrome. Full of ‘90s pop classics, incredible
choreography and the deception, romance and temptations of the students at the
exclusive Manhattan high school.
The story follows the students through step-siblings Sebastian
Valmont, Will Callan and Kathryn Merteuil, Nic Myers. As Kathryn manipulates
Sebastian to seduce Annette Hargrove, Abbie Budden, with a bet, he just can’t refuse. As they
both meddle with the innocence of Cecile, Lucy Carter.
The entire cast produced a high energy performance, but Nic
Myers stole the show with a powerful voice and commanding performance.
The ‘90s pop music ranges from Britney Spears, Christina
Aguilera, R.E.M., the Verve with my highlight being The Spice Girls with Wannabe,
which will never be the same again when I hear it.
The songs brilliantly match the story, with a romantic or
comedic device driving the action forward at an incredible speed.
The set changes almost instantly adding to the ferocious
pace of the evening, the lighting design by Nick Richings is perfect
throughout. The slick choreography by Gary Lloyd enhances the ‘90s feel to the
show.
For the ultimate ‘90s night out, you’ll need to be quick to
get tickets. I’ll certainly be back.
Runs until Saturday 24th May.
If you fancy something completely different with a brand-new
freshness, part musical theatre, part rock concert and vampires with an
appetite for romance, then this is for you.
This is the continuation of Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock -Eternal
Love The Musical. It certainly won’t matter if you’d seen any of the previous shows
from Steve Steinman, I’d been lucky enough to have caught previous productions
and I wasn’t disappointed with this brand-new show.
With a basic story of Baron Von Rockula, Steve Steinman, bringing
the castle back to life with the help of Bosley, John Evans. Bosley turns it
into a diner, helped by the vampires. The Baron is looking to replace Pandora,
the love of his life and meets Xena, Claire Zamore.
The story may be simple, but it is surrounded by twenty original
rock anthems. The pace is fast and furious and the theatrical performance
around it is incredible. You really feel that you’re in a well themed rock
concert. Every track drives the story on with powerful vocals with a superb
band.
Steve Steinman’s vocals are outstanding and performs in his
own unique style, clearly enjoying the show especially when talking to the
audience directly. John Evans steals the
show in turns of his comedic performance.
The production is perfectly complemented with the set design
by Steve Steinman and the lighting designed by Luke Thomson.
It’s a great touch that the cast appear in the foyer, for
autographs, photos or just to chat to the audience after the show.
With amazing vocals, hints of the silliness of pantomime, a
high level of production values and plenty of satisfaction, this is a must see
on so many levels.
Eternal Love The Musical runs until Saturday 26th
April at Darlington Hippodrome.
Alan Ayckbourn’s play ‘Just Between Ourselves’ has taken us back almost 50 years. Written and set in 1976, with some brilliantly performed comedic scenes. Though with Ayckbourn there is always so much more going on beneath the characters, here it explored deeper into the lives of two unhappy marriages, one controlling mother and five birthdays covering 4 scenes between February and January the following year.
Set mainly in the garage, Dennis, Tom Richardson, spends most of his time tinkering on jobs, without completing anything important or getting it to work. He has put the mini up for sale, which his wife, Vera, Holly Smith, no longer drives, due to her illness. She is constantly being put down by Dennis and ridiculed when she drops the tea cups or does something wrong. Neil, Joseph Clowser, arrives to look at the car for his wife, Pam, Helen Philips. Their friendship develops during the scenes focusing on different birthdays during the year. Dennis’s mother, Marjorie, Helen Phillips, also undermines Vera. Helen Philips is outstanding, providing the lighter moments of comedy.
The play was incredibly well paced, the moments of comedy are quick paced with perfect timing, then with times of silence and the slower sections as you are drawn into the darkness of the inner turmoil of the characters.
At times the audience were audible with the shock in the way that Vera‘s treated with her illness.
Well worth seeing this production, which will have you discussing the dark humour and difficult family relationships long after the show ends.
Just Between Ourselves runs until Thursday 17th April at Darlington Hippodrome.
Nick Lane’s adaptation of Dracula has brought Bram Stoker’s
gothic novel to the stage in a fresh and exciting way. I’ve seen Dracula
several times, but I have to admit, this has definitely been my favourite.
The small ensemble of six actors - Maya-Nika Bewley, David
Chafer, Richard Keightley, Pelé Kelland-Beau, Marie Osman and Harry Rundle – play
multiple parts brilliantly using costumes and accents to change between their
characters. Including three actors playing Dracula as he gets gradually younger.
The story focused on five clear chapters, starting with Harker’s journey to Transylvania,
The Demeter setting sail, Whitby, Renfield, where it runs alongside the first
three chapters and finally the pursuit of Dracula. The action changed between
small scenes interspersed with narration across the actors as they relate the
story through letters, diary extracts and newspaper articles. This style
perfectly fitted the story.
The multileveled set, designed by Victoria Spearing, is
static, yet it perfectly allowed the imagination to be in many different
locations with its versatility. With the moving of a few props and boxes, it
instantly transformed us to being onboard the Demeter or Renfield’s cell. The
lighting, designed by Naomi Gibbs, perfectly complementing the action and the
set. The haunting songs by Tristan Parkes increased the atmosphere.
This is one version of Dracula which really isn’t to be
missed.
Runs until Saturday 12th April, Darlington
Hippodrome.
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Adam Strong (Frank n Furter) Photo credit David Freeman |
THE Rock and Roll Musical from Richard O’Brien’s Rocky
Horror Show has become such a cult over the years, the buzz around the auditorium
on opening night was electric, with a large number of audience members dressed
up emulating their favourite characters. It’s still one of the most deliciously
entertaining nights out.
The story follows Brad, Alex Hetherington, and his new
fiance Janet, Lauren Chia, as their car breaks down and they stumble upon a
castle, where they hope to find help. Here they encounter the subordinates of
Riff Raff - Job Greuter, Magenta - Natasha Hoeberigs and Columbia - Jayme-Lee
Zanoncelli. The power-crazed Frank N Furter - Adam Strong, creates Rocky - Morgan
Jackson, as Brad and Janet’s values are undermined.
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Adam Strong (Frank n Furter) Photo credit David Freeman |
Adam Strong is an incredible performer; I’ve seen him a
number of times in other shows. As Frank N Furter, as soon as he entered the
stage his presence was immense, he commanded the stage, looking as if he was
born to play this part.
I didn’t think previous narrators could get any better, but
with Jackie Clune as The Narrator, she took it to a whole new level, perfectly
interacting with the audience with perfect timing.
There is not one weak element in this production every piece
of acting and singing is absolute perfection, including the set, lighting,
sound and the band.
There is only one warning – if you see this show, you’ll
want to go again and again!
Rocky Horror Show runs until Saturday 5th April
at Darlington Hippodrome.
This week at the People’s Theatre in Heaton, Michelle Magorian’s much-loved classic GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM.