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Gaslight opens at the New Alex Theatre
A Victorian melodrama that was actually written in 1938 and has been filmed twice doesn’t necessarily sound like the most obvious play for a revival, But Gaslight is absolutely riviting, with excellent performances from the three leads, and a story that twists and turns and grips right from the very start. The action takes place over the course of one night, in the year 1871, with all events focusing on the drawing room in the home of Bella and Jack Manningham. What seems like a happy marriage is very soon shown to be anything but, as Bella is unveiled as a woman most definitely on the edge of madness, a…
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Treasure Island – Pirates arrive at the Birmingham Rep
Firstly, I’d like to point out that this was not quite what I expected when I arrived at the Birmingham Rep to review this year’s seasonal offering, Treasure Island. I was expecting a rip roaring yarn featuring cartoon pirates, a stage glistening with gold and treasure and ‘x’ marks the spot. In short, I was expecting a panto version of the Robert Louis Stephenson classic. What I actually got was a deliciously dark pirate and treasure story, with a healthy smattering of girl power that the Spice Girls themselves would’ve been proud of. In short, it’s a real festive treat, albeit one with not a hint of Christmas. Photo credit:…
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Ooh Mr Bennett! Pride and Prejudice a triumph at the Birmingham Rep
[affilinet_performance_ad size=468×60] It was the first one of the classics that I ever read, and remains one of my all time favourite books, so I had high expectations for Pride and Prejudice, which opened at the Birmingham Rep last night. Luckily I was not to be disappointed, in the careful hands of a note perfect cast, Pride and Prejudice proved to be as fresh and funny as it was over 200 years ago, when it first appeared in print. The story of Mr and Mrs Bennett, and their five unwed daughters is a literary classic, one which shows that it’s writer, Jane Austen, was well ahead of her times. The…
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The Glenn Miller Story at The New Alex Theatre – Thoroughly Entertaining
For a night packed with unforgettable songs, a lead character that is both iconic and the subject of one of the most enduring mysteries of the 2oth Century, and for the chance to watch a real living legend still exuding his charm and personality in his 80th year, you must catch The Glenn Miller Story, which is currently at the New Alex Theatre with the legendary Tommy Steele in the lead role. With a big band on stage to give you that 1940s feel, this is a show that has charm in abundance, but it is not without it’s issues. The main one, unfortunately, being Tommy Steele in the lead…
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Rent at The Old Rep Theatre
It is the classic musical of modern times, a tour de force that has a back story just as tragic as the one that unfolds on stage, and, last night, Rent, the updated version of La Boheme, opened at the Old Rep Theatre Birmingham with a brilliant ensemble performance. Rent is the story of a group of artistic bohemians living in East Village, New York during the early 1990s. The talented bunch include a dancer (Mimi), a film-maker (Mark), a guitarist and lead singer (Roger), a transsexual woman (Angel) and a teacher turned anarchist (Tom Collins). They live an impoverished existence and, in the case of Mimi, Collins and Roger,…
