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Grease at Wolverhampton Grand – Good Fun
A new touring production of the classic musical Grease opened at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre last night, and although it was a real crowd pleaser with the appreciative audience simply loving it, you may not recognise all the songs and scenes if you are a fan of the musical film version. There can’t be anyone (my husband aside) who hasn’t seen the film version of this much loved musical at least once. The story of a holiday romance between Danny and Sandy, that is hampered by Danny’s ego and friends, and Sandy’s squeaky clean persona when she just happens to start at his school, Rydall High, after the summer, is…
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Funny Girl – A Star Is Born in Natasha J Barnes
It’s an old cliché, maybe from 42nd Street, that you go on a stage unknown and walk off a star. That is what happened at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre last night, when Natasha J Barnes, taking on the role of Fanny Brice made famous by Barbara Streisand, gave the performance of her life in ‘Funny Girl’, It echoed another role that Streisand starred in, because truly, a Star was Born. Funny Girl has been theatres most recent phenomenon, with Sheridan Smith winning huge plaudits for her performance as Ziegfeld star Fanny Brice. When Sheridan faced a period of illness and personal trouble, Natasha J Barnes took over the role, and…
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The Sound of Music triumphs at Wolverhampton Grand
The hills were alive last night, as The Sound of Music celebrated a tremendous opening night at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The classic, some might say ultimate, Rogers and Hammerstein musical shows no signs of losing its evergreen popularity, with a full house in attendance to watch the remarkable story of the Von Trapp family singers, and their escape from Nazi occupied Austria through the power of song. Although liberties have been taken with their story, the power of the telling of the tale, and the wonderful soaring songs means that the audience is totally swept away by the charm offensive. The Sound of Music is just beautiful, it is…
