Crackerjack Gloucestershire Reviews

Annie: Everyman

PaulDallison — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:50:03 +0000

As family shows go, this wonderfully entertaining presentation of Annie ranks amongst the best of them. Round up some excitable children, the odd cute pooch, some versatile federal administrators and a rousing chorus of diverse New Yorkers, and savour a visual and musical masterpiece.

The King and I: Everyman

jamie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:44:09 +0000

“I whistle a happy tune,” says Anna to her son Louis in the first scene; a buoyant start which was to set the benchmark for the remainder of this jaunty performance.

The ambitious Cotswold Operatic and Dramatic Society has yet again excelled itself, this time with an ambitious production of The King and I.

For a musical, the script ruminates on some pretty heavy themes including the role of women, the emancipation of slaves, political posturing and cultural identity.

But on the whole, this is a comedy of manners.

New English Contemporary Ballet: Bacon Theatre

jamie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:56:39 +0000

With a stream of varied summer events to come at Dean Close, it was sad to see only a small attendance for this particularly fine evening of modern dance.

Neo-classical is the label attached to the New English company. And if that ruled out ballerinas on points, it created an exciting blend of modern and adapted traditional techniques.

Most notable was In C Sharp Major by Davide Bombana, to a late Beethoven string quartet orchestrated by Dimitri Mitopoulos.

Simon Amstell is pondering the nature of existence

jamie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:32:47 +0000

Big shoes can be hard to fill, but when he took up the baton of presenting the BBC's Never Mind The Buzzcocks show, Simon Amstell quickly gained a legion of fans.

And taking to the stage in Cheltenham as part of his national stand-up tour, the Essex boy is pondering the nature of existence.

Some may consider this a weighty topic for a Sunday night but balancing self-deprecation and occasionally challenging observations, he reveals the essence of his show was an “attempt to overcome ego”.

Into The Woods: Everyman

jamie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:57:10 +0000

The world of fairy tales is turned on its head in this Sondheim musical in which Cinderella, Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel and Jack (of Beanstalk fame) all clash and interact on stage together.

It's all a bit confusing, but the parallel stories develop and by the interval everyone's wish has come true and the protagonists settle down to live "happy ever after".

An Evening with Gervase Phinn: Roses Theatre

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:40:12 +0000

Not being familiar with his books, I was curious to find out how this former school inspector could sell out the theatre well in advance.

It didn’t take long.

Colourfully dressed in scarlet and grey, he engaged the audience immediately with his transparent honesty and humour.

Poking fun at himself he gave us the knowledge that he was not posh, was brought up on a council estate, and that his unusual name was the result of his pregnant mum’s obsession with French yoghurt.

We'll Meet Again: Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:47:22 +0000

This was an unashamed helping of pure nostalgia that mostly brought back for the audience warm memories of the war-time years. But not all the memories were warm and only too often the young woman left behind and the young man going off to war never did meet again. The words of Vera Lynn's big hit must still have left a lump in the throat of many at the Everyman matinee.

The Cunning Little Vixen: Longborough Festival Opera

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:04:12 +0000

The natural world has invaded Longborough this year, so you do not need to walk over the Cotswolds in the hope of spotting a badger, a frog, a grasshopper, a fox or an owl.

Instead, you'll find them all moving around the undulating stage set designed by Richard Studer, who also directs this opera.

Cyber Surfing: Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:12:01 +0000

"Think before you click" was the stark message reiterated in Cyber Surfing, a play giving a humorous twist to a serious subject.

Performed by students from the National Star College in collaberation with Everyman Outreach, the cleverly devised Screen Cross Code with catchy pop song hammered home the message.

Using relevant pre-recorded narration and video clips with live performance the students powerfully conveyed the dangers of social networking sites and mobile phones used inappropriately.

Lola: Studio Theatre, Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:43:53 +0000

If the real Lola Montez was as charismatic, passionate and sexy as her alter ego Georgina Roberts, it is little wonder that the charlatan Spanish dancer became the Madonna of the mid 1800s.

Miss Roberts gives a performance of unrelenting energy in Trestle Theatre's distillation of her extraordinary and short life, which kept a full house in the Everyman's studio totally engaged.

Playing Burton: Studio Theatre, Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:56:41 +0000

In any worthwhile list of great actors, the name Richard Burton emerges close to the top.

As the title suggests, however, Mark Jenkins' one-man-play is no mere celebration. It asks: How did a child from a family of thirteen fathered by a drunken Welsh miner and raised by an older sister, become a great classical actor and a huge international star of movies and celebrity gossip?

Burton died aged 59 in 1984. Here, portrayed by Josh Richards, he reviews his life story with cynical wit and a fast reducing bottle of scotch.

Song Recital: Pittville Pump Room

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:15:37 +0000

Matthew Rose's bass voice resonated around the Pump Room. His mellow velvety timbre and wide vocal register reached all notes with equal assuredness and projection.

Gareth Hancock, an equal partner with empathetic piano accompaniment, ensured seamless teamwork.

With excellent breath control and long phrasing Matthew's expressive singing perfectly suited the narrative storytelling of the folksongs.

Let's Play: Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:09:23 +0000

BEFORE I had children I would never have dreamt that I would actually enjoy a theatre show featuring characters from popular BBC children's television programmes.

But Let's Play, the first ever CBeebies at the Theatre adventure, which ran at the Everyman in Cheltenham last week, was actually rather engaging, not least because as any parent of small children will tell you, if the kids are happy then so are you.

Estonian Television Girls Choir: Pittville Pump Room

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:19:59 +0000

Colourfully dressed in striking National Costume of embroidered white blouses and striped skirts the Estonian Television Girls Choir gave an outstanding performance.

Singing unaccompanied contemporary choral works ranging from folk song settings to prayers and harmony to dissonance their sound was mature and assured.

Ingrid Fliter: Pittville Pump Room

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:27:39 +0000

Cheltenham Music Festival may have dropped the "international" description from its title, but it seems more cosmopolitan than ever.

The latest musician to make her Festival debut was Ingrid Fliter, a vivacious young pianist from Argentina with a passing resemblance to the young Emma Thompson.

The Wedding Singer: Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:35:58 +0000

I tell you what. It doesn't pay to have a sore throat – not when you're Jonathan Wilkes and your understudy is Simon Lipkin. Wilkes, known across the land as Robbie Williams' best mate, spent Monday afternoon in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with a camera down his throat.

His opening night departure – it now looks as if he might miss the whole run – left a lead role-sized hole in The Wedding Singer cast.

But the ensuing reshuffle was nothing short of a triumph.

Anything Goes: Bacon Theatre

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:43:49 +0000

For sheer entertainment and a 'happy-ever-after' feeling Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES does the trick.

Promenade Productions has again woven its magic in a show packed with wit and well-known numbers. Using traditional scenery, with revolving doors and two sets of stairs leading to an upper deck, cleverly facilitated continual movement and a seamless flow to the show. A kaleidoscope of colourful costumes captured the feel of the 1930's era.

The Good Doctor: Playhouse

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:51:25 +0000

I must confess my visits to The Playhouse have tailed off in recent years. This is due not to a dearth of good shows, but rather my aversion to sitting for long periods in extreme discomfort and the fear I would be unable to extricate myself from my seat at the final curtain.

Now I no longer have that excuse. The interior of the theatre has been transformed with brand new, comfortable seats each offering a perfect view of the stage.

Beautiful Thing: Studio Theatre, Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:10:40 +0000

In a first for the Everyman the theatre is offering a gay-themed production. Beautiful Thing, written by Jonathan Harvey is staged by the Gloucestershire-based Hillyer Theatre Company. Despite the 'warning' on the Everyman's publicity that the play “contains scenes of a mild homosexual nature”, or perhaps because of it, the five night run is a sell out.

Private Lives: Everyman

jamie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:36:56 +0000

A glittering cast, fine performances and stunning sets marked Monday night’s opening of Noel Coward’s Private lives at the Everyman Theatre.

Written in 1930 and originally designed as a vehicle for himself and Gertrude Lawrence, Coward’s scintillating comedy has stood the test of time incredibly well. Full of witty repartee and acerbic one-liners delivered at an incredible pace, the play is a joy to watch.